ing given for Lord Melbourne and the
Ministry. At a civic banquet given in Sir R. Peel's honour, he
expounded the principles of Conservative Reform.]

[Pageheading: SPAIN AND PORTUGAL]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_23rd January 1837._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,-- ... The affairs of the Peninsula are indeed very
distressing,[5] and what you tell me in your letter of the 20th, as
also in the former one, is highly interesting and, alas! but too true.
I trust, not withstanding what you say, I may yet live to see Spain
and Portugal settled. But I greatly fear that the time is far distant.

Do you know Mendizabal?[6] I saw him at our house in 1835. Alava[7]
presented him to us; he is a tall, dark, fine, and clever-looking man.
I remember his being so much struck with my likeness to Donna Maria,
which I was not aware was the case. Pray, dear Uncle, may I ask you a
silly question?--is not the Queen of Spain[8] rather clever? You know
her, and what do you think of her? And do you know what sort of people
are about poor little Queen Isabel?[9] Poor, good Donna Maria! I feel
much for her; her education was one of the worst that could be. As
long as those Ficalhos and Melos remain about her, nothing can be
done. Could they not be got rid of in time?

I was sorry to see that the French Chambers were rather stormy.[10]

I thank you much for the list of the ball of the 18th, which must
have been very splendid. The last ball _I_ was at was our own, and
I concluded that very ball at half-past three in the morning with a
country dance, Albert being my partner.

Pray, dear Uncle, tell both young gentlemen, with my kindest love,
that I _often_ think of that night and of many other pleasant evenings
we passed together. The singing will come all in time. Who is their
singing-master? I wish they had my worthy Lablache. I sing regularly
every evening, as I think it better to do so every day to keep
the voice manageable. Oh, my beloved Uncle, could you join us, how
delightful that would be! How I should delight in singing with you all
our favourite things from _La Gazza_, _Otello_, _Il Barbiere_, etc.,
etc.

The little Cousin[11] must be a little love: oh, could I but see him
and play with him! Pray, dear Uncle, does he know such a thing as that
he has got an Aunt and Cousin on the other side of the water? ...

Pray, dear Uncle, have you read Sir R. Peel's two speeches? I wish you
would, and give me