e love to my dear
Aunt, and my most respectful _hommages_ to the Members of the Family
with you. Believe me, always, your affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA.

Old Pozzo[41] dined here last Wednesday, and he gave me a long, I
must say clever, dissertation about the state of France, during
dinner-time.

[Footnote 40: After an obstinate investment by the Carlists,
Espartero had relieved Bilbao on Christmas Day, 1836. The
Christino commanders then began to concert a combined
movement on the Carlist lines, which stretched from Irun to
Villafranca.]

[Footnote 41: Count Pozzo di Borgo (1764-1842), Russian
Ambassador. By birth a Corsican and a devoted patriot, he was
a life-long opponent of Napoleon and his designs. He entered
the Russian diplomatic service in 1803, and after Waterloo
became Russian Ambassador in Paris. He was Ambassador in
London for two years, when his health gave way.]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S ESTABLISHMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _25th May 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--You have had some battles and difficulties of which
I am completely in the dark. The thing I am most curious to learn
is what the King proposed to you concerning your establishment....
I shall reserve my opinion till I am better informed, but by what
I heard I did not approve of it, because I thought it ill-timed.
Stockmar will be able to do much. Two things seem necessary; not to be
fettered by any establishment other than what will be _comfortable
to you_, and then to avoid any breach with your mother. I have
fully instructed Stockmar, and I must say he left me in such good
disposition that I think he will be able to be of great use to you.
The great thing is to act without precipitation and with caution. The
King seems better again. I am very curious to know what he proposed;
you will have it in your power to modify his proposition, as it is
difficult your _approbation_ should be dispensed with; it would be a
great fault in your situation to _submit_ to this.... They seemed to
think the King dying, which does not appear to be the case. Be steady,
my good child, and _not_ put out by _anything_; as long as I live _you
will not want a faithful friend and supporter_....

Here your somewhat curious little soul has at least the outlines of
things....

_26th._--I received yesterday the whole of the papers concerning the
King's propositions.[42