elieve me always, my
dearest Uncle, your most affectionate and dutiful Niece,

VICTORIA.

[Footnote 19: Marie de Rabutin Chantal, Marquise de Sevigne,
born 1626. At twenty-four she was left a widow, and devoted
herself to her children's education. When her daughter married
the Count de Grignan, she began that correspondence with her
on which her reputation chiefly rests. She died in 1696, and
the letters were first published in 1726.]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S CONFIRMATION]

[Pageheading: HONESTY AND SINCERITY]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

CAMP OF BEVERLOO (in the North of the Province of Limburg), _3rd
August 1835._

MY DEAR LOVE,--By your Mother's letter of the 31st ult^o., I learned
of the serious and important action in your young life[20] which has
passed recently, and I cannot let it pass without saying some words
on the subject. I am perhaps rather strangely situated for a
preaching--somewhat in the style of those old camp preachers who held
forth to many thousand people on some heath in Scotland. I am also
on an immense heath, surrounded by 16,000 men, mostly young and
gay, cooking, singing, working, and not very like the stern old
Covenanters; however, I shall try. First of all, let me congratulate
you that it passed happily and well off. Secondly, let me entreat you
to look with a serious and reflective mind on the day which is past.
Many are the religions, many the shades of those religions, but it
must be confessed the principles of the Christian religion are the
most perfect and the most beautiful that can be imagined.... There is
one virtue which is particularly Christian; this is the knowledge of
our own heart in _real humility_. _Hypocrisy_ is a besetting sin of
all times, but _particularly of the present_, and many are the wolves
in sheep's clothes. I am sorry to say, with all my affection for old
England, the very _state of its Society and politics_ renders many in
that country _essentially humbugs and deceivers_; the _appearance_ of
the thing is generally _more_ considered than the _reality_; provided
matters go off well, and opinion may be gained, the _real good is
matter of the most perfect indifference_. Defend yourself, my dear
love, against this system; let your dear character always be true
and loyal; this does not _exclude prudence_--worldly concerns are
now unfortunately so organised that you _must be cautious_ or you may