QUEEN VICTORIA'S LETTER. 5 when the silence was broken by the king, who asked in a pleasant voice "If we bad seen bim?" To tbis inquiry we were enabled, witliont any deviation from the truth, to reply that we certainly bad. After this preliminary we were each of us introduced by name to the king, who caused a good deal of amusement to all present by bis attempts to repeat the outlandish words by which Mr. Mackay designated us. I was always subsequently called " Doctori " by the king, a word which be could easily remember.

After a good many questions the Queen's letter, of which we were the honoured bearers, was presented and read to the king. He was much pleased with it, and said that be was very anxious to remain friends with our Queen, adding the extraordinary remark that Her Majesty and himself were the only monarchs in the world worth the slightest consideration. To this, of course, we listened with all due gravity, and then read to him the letter from the Church Missionary Society. He listened to this with evident interest, and stated that it gave bim the liveliest satisfaction to find that people were willing to come so far for a sight of his gracious person— a sight, however, which he considered worth any sacrifice and trouble. He seemed anxious to know the state of public opinion in Europe with regard to himself and his realm ; and inquired if much talk about his