t du "friendly call" a Eu et des cooperations des 2
pays dans differentes parties du monde, et particulierement pour
l'Abolition de la Traite des noirs.

Ayez la grace, Sire, de deposer nos hommages et nos felicitations aux
pieds de la Reine et de votre S[oe]ur. Agreez encore une fois, les
expressions d'amitie et d'attachement sincere avec lesquelles je suis,
Sire et mon bien cher Frere, de votre Majeste, la bien bonne S[oe]ur
et fidele Amie,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th December 1845._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your kind letter of the 27th,
by which I see how glad you are at our good Peel being again--and I
sincerely and confidently hope for many years--my Minister. I have
heard many instances of the confidence the country and _all_ parties
have in Peel; for instance, he was immensely cheered at Birmingham--a
most Radical place; and _Joseph Hume_ expressed great distress when
Peel resigned, and the greatest contempt for Lord John Russell. The
Members of the Government have behaved extremely well and with much
disinterestedness. The Government has secured the services of Mr
Gladstone and Lord Ellenborough,[44] who will be of great use. Lord E.
is become very quiet, and is a very good speaker.

We had a very happy Christmas. This weather is extremely unwholesome.
Now, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 44: Lord Ellenborough was one of the few
Conservative statesmen of the day who, after remaining
faithful to Sir Robert Peel till the middle of 1846,
subsequently threw in his fortunes with Lord Derby and Mr
Disraeli. He was President of the Board of Control with those
Ministers in 1858 for the fourth time.]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XV

The closing days of the year 1845 had been marked by startling
political events, and Lord John Russell's failure to form a
Government, and Sir Robert Peel's resumption of office, with Mr
Gladstone substituted for Lord Stanley, were now followed by the
Ministerial measure for the Repeal of the Corn Laws. Embarrassed as
he now was by the attacks of his old supporters, led by Bentinck
and Disraeli, Peel was supported whole-heartedly but in a strictly
constitutional manner by the Queen and the Prince. Amid bitter taunts,
the Premier piloted the measure through Parliament, but on the night
that it finally passed the Lords he was defeated on an Irish Coercion
B