te horses,
belonged to the Queen; but it strikes her that it would be well if the
Queen was to give the Queen-Dowager the choice of two or three of her
own horses, and that she might keep them. The Queen would wish Lord
Melbourne to give her his opinion on this subject....

[Pageheading: STOCKMAR]

[Pageheading: SUBJECTS FOR STUDY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _30th June 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--... I am glad to see that you are so much pleased
with Lord Melbourne. I believe him to be as you think him. His
character is a guarantee which is valuable, and remember that
_cleverness_ and _talent_, _without an honest heart and character_,
_will never do for your Minister_. I shall name nobody, but what I
said just now applies to some people you have recently seen.

I am so happy that you enter into the important affairs which
Providence has entrusted to you with so much interest and spirit; if
you continue you will be _sure of success_, and your own conscience
will give you the most delightful and satisfactory feelings. To be
_National_ is the _great thing_, and I was sure you would agree with
what I said repeatedly to you on this _vital subject_, and you will be
certain in this way of the _love_ of the nation you govern.

I recommend to your kind attention what Stockmar will think it his
duty to tell you; he will never press anything, never plague you with
anything, without the thorough conviction that it is indispensable
for your welfare. I can guarantee his independence of mind and
disinterestedness; nothing makes an impression upon him but what his
experience makes him feel to be of importance for you. I am delighted
with your plan. You will recollect that I pressed upon you repeatedly
how necessary it was for you to continue your studies on a more
_extended_ scale, more appropriate to the station you were destined
once to fill. No one is better qualified to direct those studies for
the next few years than Stockmar, few people possess more general
information, and very, very few have been like him educated, as it
were, by fate itself since 1816. There is no branch of information in
which he may not prove useful--

(1) History, considered in a practical and philosophical way; (2)
International Law and everything connected with it; (3) Political
Economy, an important branch nowadays; (4) Classic studies; (5)
_belles lettres_ in general; (6) Physical Science in all its branches