LL]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_28th April 1837._

MY MOST BELOVED UNCLE,--.... Sir Henry Hardinge's[35] motion was quite
lost, I am happy to say, and don't you think, dearest Uncle, that
it has almost done good, as it proves that the Tories have lost all
chance of getting in? It was a trial of strength, and the Ministry
have triumphed. I have been reading in the papers, what I suppose you
already know, that it is believed that the Lords _will_ pass the Irish
Corporation Bill;[36] and also that Ministers mean to drop for the
present the question about Church Rates,[37] as the Radicals, being
angry with Ministers relative to the Canada business, would not
support them well.

[Footnote 35: On a motion for going into supply, Sir H.
Hardinge proposed an amendment censuring the Government for
the authorisation of the raising of a force of Volunteers to
assist the Spanish Government, and for the method in which
that force had been organised. The amendment was lost by a
majority of 36, on 19th April.]

[Footnote 36: The Irish Municipal Bill, to convert
Corporations of Municipalities into Electoral Councils, was
introduced in the House of Commons on the 15th of February.
The Bill was opposed by the Conservatives, but passed the
House of Commons. In the Lords an amendment of Lyndhurst's
struck out the constructive clauses, and the Act became, on
the 18th of May, an Act for the Abolition of Municipalities
in Ireland. Lord John Russell brought forward a motion to
reconstruct the Bill. But the Peers declined to pass it, and
it was postponed.]

[Footnote 37: As Ministers only obtained a majority of 5 in a
house of 569, the measure was dropped.]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _28th April 1837._

... I hope you occupy yourself with the several great questions which
agitate parties. I think a good mode will be to talk concerning them
sometimes with the Dean. He is a good moderate man, and still well
able to give you sufficient information. From conversation with clever
people, such as dine sometimes with you, much may be very usefully
gathered, and you will do well to attend to this. I am no enemy to
this way of instruction, and have seen people who were sharp enough
to profit wonderfully by it. You hear in this way the opinions of a
variety of persons, and it rests with your own good