Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine's letter to her mother Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Ireland, dated August 6, 1862

Source:

Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse, Princess of Great Britain and Ireland: Biographical Sketch and Letters, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1884

https://archive.org/details/alicegrandduches03alic/page/40/mode/2up

Above: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Ireland with her daughter Princess Alice with a bust of the late Prince Albert, Alice's father, who died on December 14, 1861.

The letter:

DARMSTADT, August 6th.

DEAR BELOVED MAMA: — Can you give me no ray of hope that you in some way, bodily or mentally, feel better? It makes my heart ache bitterly, to hear those sad accounts you give of yourself, though I well know what for you life without him must be! God comfort you! is my constant prayer.

We saw the dear old Baron for some time. The meeting was sad on both sides; he was very kind, but so desponding as to every thing! In England and abroad he looks at every thing in a black light, and was full of complaints about himself. He asked much after you, and is anxious to see you again.

German translation (my own):

Darmstadt, 6. August.

Liebe, geliebte Mama: — Kannst Du mir keinen Hoffnungsschimmer geben, dass es Dir körperlich oder seelisch irgendwie besser geht? Es tut mir im Herzen weh, diese traurigen Berichte über Dich selbst zu hören, obwohl ich gut weiß, was ein Leben ohne ihn für Dich sein muss! Möge Gott Dich trösten! ist mein ständiges Gebet.

Wir sahen den lieben alten Baron einige Zeit lang. Das Treffen war auf beiden Seiten traurig; er war sehr nett, aber so mutlos über alles! In England und im Ausland sieht er alles schwarz an und war voller Klagen über sich. Er hat viel nach Dir gefragt und ist ungeduldig, Dich wiederzusehen.