LETTERS FROM 1866 TO 1872. 77 



me. I enclose the translation for you. But 

 does not S. learn French ? If so, it would 

 be good practice for her to try and read the 

 note. Please tell her to take care of it, as it 

 cannot be replaced, and will be of great value 

 to me in after-life. If I were seeking a place 

 on a London paper the production of that note 

 would be a wonderful recommendation. Well, 

 the reception of that acknowledgment en- 

 couraged me, and on the following morning I 

 set to work and wrote a letter to the Prince, 

 communicating some rather important infor- 

 mation which I had learnt whilst connected 

 with the press. The result was a second letter 

 from the aide-de-camp, this time dictated by 

 the Empress Eugenie, who had read my note. 

 I send you this letter too, and must beg you 

 to carefully preserve it. I took it and 

 had it translated by the same French lady, 



Madame , and I enclose her translation. 



She says that the expressions are very 

 warm, and cannot be adequately rendered 

 into English. She says it would be impos- 

 sible to write more cordially in French than 

 the Empress has done. Now came another 



