On 3rd October 1870, Princess Louise, fourth daughter and sixth child of Queen Victoria, got engaged to John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne at Balmoral.
“A fine morning, after frost, & the sky as cloudless as yesterday. — Walked a little & sat out reading & writing. — Jane C. & May L. came to wish me good bye. — Fritz is at Versailles & the accounts of the Hospital being in the Salle des Glaces, where the poor Emperor & Empress had given us that great Ball, & of a religion service being held there are very striking! The Prussians have got to St. Cloud & shots are being frequently exchanged with the Garde Municipale. The state of Paris is dreadful. — After luncheon writing. — Drove with Beatrice & Mary P. by the Bridge of Muich, where we had a change of horses & then to the Pannanich Wells, beyond Ballater, on this side of the river. Many years ago I had been there. Nu fortunately almost all the trees which used to cover the hills, have been cut down. Got out & tasted the water, which is strongly impregnated with iron, looked at the bath, & the humble, but very clean accommodation, in the curious little old I am, which used formerly to be much frequently, On our way back, stopped to take tea, in the woods near Birkhall. A glorious evening with the same wonderful sky & light. – Louise had gone with Janie, E., the Lord Chancellor, & Ld Lorne to Loch Muich & the Glassalt. They returned some time after I got home, & Louise came to speak to me & tell me, that while walking up to the Dhu Loch, Ld Lorne had told her of his feelings for her & had in fact proposed to her, & Knowing that I would approve & liked him, she had accepted him. I embraced her & gave her my blessing, but felt greatly agitated. I was not unprepared but did not expect it would come so quick. Of course nothing can be said till Lorne has heard from his Parents. – Jane C., Mme Van de Weyer, the Ld Chancellor, Lorne & young Fitzroy dined. —”