case Lord Melbourne would have been accused of an attempt
to take a political advantage of the general enthusiasm and to mix
himself and the Government with your Majesty's personal popularity.
Lord Melbourne fears that for some time your Majesty will find
yourself somewhat incommoded by the desire, which naturally prevails
amongst all ranks and classes, to obtain an opportunity of seeing your
Majesty....

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _9th October 1837._

... I have also told Stockmar to try to settle something for _regular_
safe communication; in quiet times like the present, one a week would
be sufficient. You know now that all letters are read, and that should
not be _always_ the case with ours. There is, however, one thing
about which I think it right to warn you. This way of reading people's
letters is often taken advantage of by the writers of them, who
are _not so ignorant of the thing as is imagined_ to write the very
subject which they wish to convey to the ears of persons without
compromising themselves. I will give you an example: we are still
plagued by Prussia concerning those fortresses; now, to tell the
Prussian Government many things, which we _should not like_ to tell
them _officially_, the Minister is going to write a despatch to our
man at Berlin, sending it _by post_; the Prussians _are sure_ to read
it, and to learn in this way what we wish them to hear. The diplomats
in England may resort to this same mode of proceeding to injure
people, to calumniate, and to convey to your knowledge such things
as they may hope to have the effect of injuring some people _they may
fear_, in your eyes. I tell you the _trick_, that you should be able
to guard against it; it is of importance, and I have no doubt will be
resorted to by various political people.... Ever, my dearest Victoria,
your faithfully devoted Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND FRANCE]

[Pageheading: LOUIS PHILIPPE'S POLICY]

[Pageheading: COUNT MOLE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

TRIANON, _19th October 1837._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... There is a great disposition here to be on
the best possible terms with England. As it has but too often happened
that the diplomatic agents of the two countries have drawn, or been
believed to draw, different ways, I recommended strongly to Count
Mole[71] to give strong and clear instructions to his people,
particularly at