_All_ we wanted might have been got, if it had not been for the unaccountably strange conduct of Charles Elliot (_not Admiral_ Elliot,[9] for _he_ was obliged to come away from ill-health), who completely disobeyed his instructions and _tried_ to get the _lowest_ terms he could....

The attack and storming of the Chorempee Forts on the 7th of January was very gallantly done by the Marines, and immense destruction of the Chinese took place.[10] The accounts of the cruelty of the Chinese to one another are horrible.

Albert is so much amused at my having got the Island of Hong Kong, and we think Victoria ought to be called Princess of Hong Kong in addition to Princess Royal.
She drives out every day in a close carriage with the window open, since she has been here, which does her worlds of good, and she is to have a _walk_ to-day.
Stockmar writes me word that Charlotte[11] is quite beautiful.

_I_ am very jealous.
I think Vecto quite right not to travel without Nemours; for it would look just as if she was unhappy, and ran to her parents for help.

I am sure _if_ Albert ever should be away (which, however, _will_ and _shall never_ happen, for I would go with him even if he was to go to the _North Pole_), I should never think of travelling; but I can't make mamma understand this.