injure yourself and others--but it does not prevent the being sterling
and true. Nothing in persons gives greater reliance, greater weight,
than when they are known to be _true_. From your earliest childhood
I was anxious to see in you this important virtue _saved_ and
_developed_, and Lehzen will still be able to recollect that. If it is
God's pleasure that you should once[21] fill the arduous situation to
which you seem destined, you will find the importance of what I now
say to you. And when others may tremble to have at last their real
character found out, and to meet all the contempt which they may
deserve, your mind and heart will be still and happy, because it will
know that it acts honestly, that truth and goodness are the motives of
its actions. I press you now against my heart; may God bless you as
I wish and hope it, and may you always feel some affection for your
sincerely devoted camp preacher and Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 20: The Princess was confirmed at the Chapel Royal,
on 30th July 1835.]

[Footnote 21: King Leopold not infrequently uses "once" like
the Latin _olim_, as referring to any indefinite date in the
future as well as in the past. "Some day" is what is intended
here.]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER V

THE year 1836 was not an eventful one at home; the Whig Ministry were
too weak to carry measures of first-rate importance, and could hardly
have maintained themselves in power against the formidable opposition
of Sir Robert Peel without the support of O'Connell. Parliament was
chiefly occupied by the consideration of the Secret Societies in
Ireland, Tithes, Municipal Corporations, and such matters; the
Marriage Act, and the Act for the Registration of Births have probably
been the most important measures of the year to the country. Troubles
which were destined to become more acute arose in Lower Canada and
Jamaica, both taking the form of disputes between the executive and
the legislature.

On the continent of Europe, affairs were more disturbing. Several
attempts were made on the life of the King of the French, while an
abortive insurrection with a view of establishing a military empire
was made by Louis Bonaparte at Strasburg. The Prince was allowed to
leave the country and go to the United States, but his accomplices
were detained for trial. In Algiers the French Government determined
to prosecute operations against the Arab Chief Abd-el-Kader, and