Queen Victoria to Lady Russell

    OSBORNE, January 22, 1872

DEAR LADY RUSSELL,—­I meant ere this to have thanked you for your very kind letter of the 1st, but my dear son’s illness brought with it much writing besides much to do, in addition to which, there is the correspondence with four absent married daughters, which is no light task.  I thank you now both most warmly for the great kindness of your expressions about my own long and severe illness, when you so kindly wrote to Lady Ely to inquire, and relative to this last dreadful illness of my dear son’s, coming, as it did, when I was far from strong myself.  Thank God!  I was able to be near him and with my beloved daughter, the Princess of Wales (who behaved so beautifully and admirably), during that terrible time, when for nearly a week his life hung on a thread.  Indeed, for a whole month at least, if not for five weeks, his state was one of the greatest anxiety and indeed of danger.  Since the 4th we may look on his progress as steady and good, and I hear that he was able to drive out yesterday for a little while.  But great quiet will be necessary for a long while to come.  You are very kind in your accounts of Helena, who no doubt must have suffered much from being so far off....  I hear that she is really better and stronger.  She speaks often of the pleasure it is to her to see you and Lord Russell, of whom I am delighted to hear so good an account.  Though not very strong and not free from rheumatic pains at times, I am much better and able to walk again out of doors, much as usual.

    With kind remembrances to Lord Russell and Agatha,

    Ever yours affectionately, V.R.

In the spring they all came back to England.  Lord John had benefited in health by wintering abroad; he was still vigorous enough to resist in the House of Lords the claim of the United States for the Alabama indemnity, and to give a presidential address to the Historical Society; but the years were beginning to tell on him.

    PEMBROKE LODGE, April 18, 1872

John did not venture out—­still looks tired and not as he did when we arrived, but no cold.  Sad, most sad to me, that when I take a brisk turn in the garden, it is no longer with him—­that his enjoyments, his active powers, yearly dwindle away—­that it is scarcely possible he should not at times feel the hours too long from the difficulty of finding variety of occupation.  Writing, walking, even reading very long or talking much with friends and visitors all tire him.  He never complains, and I thank God for his patience, and oh! so heartily that he has no pain, no chronic ailment.  But alas for the days of his vigour when he was out and in twenty times a day, when life had a zest which nothing can restore!

    Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline

    PEMBROKE LODGE, August 8, 1872