thus make it known that the general
line of policy recently pursued has had the full sanction of your
Majesty, and will not be departed from.

These were the honours conferred upon Lord Auckland.

If they were conferred _on the instant_, it might rather seem a rebuke
to the East India Company than a deliberate approval of the conduct
of Lord Ellenborough, but these honours might shortly follow
the conclusion of the affair respecting the selection of Lord
Ellenborough's successor, and any discussion that may arise in
Parliament.

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE'S _BROCHURE_]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

CLAREMONT, _24th May 1844._

DEAREST UNCLE,--Though _not_ my day I must write you a line to say
_how vexed_ we are at this _most unfortunate_ and _most imprudent
brochure_ of Joinville's;[12] it has made a _very bad_ effect here,
and will rouse all the envy and hatred between the _two Navies_ again,
which it was our great effort to subdue--and this _all_ for _nothing!_
I can't tell you how angry people are, and how poor Hadjy will get
abused. And this _all_ after our having been on such intimate terms
with him and having _sailed_ with him! If he comes here, _what_ shall
we do? Receive with open arms one who has talked of ravaging our
coasts and burning our towns? Indeed it is most lamentable; you know
how we like him, and that therefore it must be very annoying to us to
see him get himself into such a scrape. _We_ shall overlook it, but
the people _here_ won't! It _will_ blow over, but it will do immense
harm. We who wish to become more and more closely united with the
French family are, of course, much put out by this return. We
shall forgive and forget, and feel it was _not_ intended to be
published--but the public _here_ will _not_ so easily, and will put
the worst construction on it all.

Pray, dearest Uncle, tell me what _could_ possess Joinville to write
it, and still more to have it printed? Won't it annoy the King and
Nemours very much? _Enfin c'est malheureux, c'est indiscret au plus
haut degre_--and it provokes and vexes us sadly. Tell me _all_ you
_know_ and think about it; for you _can_ do so with perfect safety by
our courier.

I have written dearest Louise an account of my _old_ birthday, which
will please you, I think. The weather is very fine. Ever your _truly_
devoted Niece and Child,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 12: The _brochure_ was entitled, _Notes sur les for