| Collection | Victorian Additional Papers |
| Description | Queen Victoria comments on the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) and her annoyance 'at the tone... in which you write as to our conduct & position'. She recounts her ceaseless struggles: 'I have frequently gone as far as to say l would abdicate rather than see our Position lowered &c., but that I knew you felt as strongly as I did'. The Queen blames 'Mr Gladstone's & his followers conduct in 76' for the present situation, not helped by Lord Derby's 'mad apathy', and suggests the Prince of Wales might express his feelings to Lord Beaconsfield. In this context the Queen also notes 'how very unfortunate I think it that Affie should have married a Russian. You know I always said so'. The Queen also refers to the visit of Rudolph, Crown Prince of Austria, to Osborne, reporting that 'I am much pleased with him', and to the death of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy, noting that he was 'always very kind to me & mine'. |