Englishuser  +  290753 Wed, 08 Nov 06 04:36 PM Hi all, Is there something you'd like to change in the letter? Her Majesty Queen Victoria's letter to Miss Florence Nightingale: January 1856 You are, I know, well aware of the high sense I entertain of the Christian devotion which you have displayed during this great and bloody war, and I need hardly repeat to you how warm my admiration is for your services, which are fully equal to those of my dear and brave soldiers, whose sufferings you have had the privilege of alleviating in so merciful a manner. I am, however, anxious of marking my feelings in a manner which I trust will be agreeable to you, and therefore send you with this letter a brooch, the form and emblems of which commemorate your great and blessed work, and which, I hope, you will wear as a mark of the high approbation of your Sovereign! It will be a very great satisfaction to me, when you return at last to these shores, to make the acquaintance of one who has been so bright an example to our sex. Source: www.royal.gov.uk Englishuser Englishuser Joined on Thu, Mar 30 2006 Regular Member 717

	nona the brit  +  290778 Wed, 08 Nov 06 05:46 PM No. Though of course formal Victorian writing is not an appropriate style for modern writing. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all.

	Englishuser  +  290784 Wed, 08 Nov 06 06:21 PM Hi nona the brit, Why not? What could possibly be nicer than receiving an e-mail written in a formal, Victorian style? Englishuser Englishuser

	nona the brit  +  290786 Wed, 08 Nov 06 06:24 PM To you maybe but the rest of us would assume that it was a joke. Why not write in Anglo-saxon or middle English instead? nona the brit Jokes

	Englishuser  +  290825 Wed, 08 Nov 06 08:02 PM Hi nona the brit, Feel free to write in Anglo-Saxon or Middle English in the forums and elsewhere. I don't mind. Actually, I'd be intrigued. Most unfortunately, many people would find such obsolete language quite difficult, though, so you might not get your point across. Those who communicate in beautiful Victorian English will always be understood, and people will always admire them for the way they write and speak. Englishuser Englishuser

	nona the brit  +  291038 Thu, 09 Nov 06 11:03 AM I don't agree. I don't believe admiration would be the response it would provoke in most people. nona the brit

	Mister Micawber  +  291082 Thu, 09 Nov 06 02:07 PM s there something you'd like to change in the letter? It seems a bit orotund to me, Englishuser.  I'd revise to something more clear and direct, like this: Dear Florence, I'm sure you know how greatly I admire all the effort you've put in during this awful war, and I don't think I have to tell you how much I appreciate your working like a trooper to take such great care of our soldiers.  As a mark of appreciation, please find enclosed a commemorative brooch which I hope you'll wear with pride. Please stop in when you come back home; I would be delighted to meet such a wonderful woman. Yrs, Victoria Regina Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,803 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	Englishuser  +  291100 Thu, 09 Nov 06 02:31 PM Hi Mister Micawber, I appreciate your suggestions, however, I must say I prefer Her Majesty Queen Victoria's version. Your revised version seems much less sophisticated and hence much less regal. Englishuser Englishuser

	Sextus  +  291110 Thu, 09 Nov 06 02:54 PM I couldn't agree more with you, EU. What I don't really understand is how you can be so right on so many things; it's amazing... Sextus Joined on Sat, Nov 6 2004 Buenos Aires Regular Member 731