rston's note and enclosures. She
rather expects to be advised by her Ministers as to the course to
be adopted in matters which may lead to angry debate in the House
of Lords, than to give personal directions on a case so incompletely
placed before her; Lord Willoughby's letter does not even name the
persons in question nor the grounds upon which he assumes "they
would not be received at Court."[5] The Queen does not know how far
admission or non-admission trenches upon the privileges of the House;
from the submitted printed regulation, however, she would gather that
the Lord High Chamberlain has full power to admit or exclude. If
Lord Palmerston were to see Lord Granville as Leader, and the Lord
Chancellor as Speaker, of the House of Lords together with Lord
Willoughby, they might so far discuss the question as to enable
Lord Palmerston to submit a decision for the Queen's consideration
to-morrow.

[Footnote 5: Lord Willoughby's question had reference to a
Peeress, who, he thought, would not be received at Court.
The difference between a State Opening of Parliament and
a Drawing-room was pointed out in Lord Palmerston's reply.
Though it would be "unpleasant to the Peeresses to find
themselves sitting next to a person with whom they do not
associate," the Premier advised no interference with the lady
in question, if she persisted in attending.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _31st January 1860_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Accept my warmest thanks for your kind letter of
the 27th, received on Saturday--by which I am delighted to see what
sport you have had. I have _such_ an aversion for hunting that I am
_quite_ pleased to hear of the destruction of the _fifty-one_ foxes. I
suppose it was not cold enough for _wolves_.

I think Parliament has had a wholesome effect upon certain people;
and that they are _altogether frightened_. There has been a strong
despatch written relative to Savoy--and altogether I think matters are
taking a better turn. The feeling of _all_ parties and this _whole_
country is--to _let Italy settle its own affairs_--and _England to
keep quite out of it_....

We shall see the good Aumales to-night, who are staying with the Van
de Weyers at _New Lodge_,[6] which is _un vrai bijou_: you _must_
see it when you come here again, for it is one of the nicest and most
charming houses I know.

I must now end. With Albert's affectionate lo