scount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_17th May 1838._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thinks
that your Majesty had better direct Lord Conyngham to ask the
Archbishop, before the Audience, who has generally been there and how
it ought to be conducted.

Your Majesty had better read the Answer and not give it to the
Archbishop, as Lord Melbourne apprehends the Archbishop does not give
your Majesty the Address.

Your Majesty had better say something kind to each of the Bishops as
they are presented. They are presented to your Majesty in this manner
as a sort of privilege, instead of being presented at the Drawing-Room
with others, and your Majesty should conduct yourself towards them
exactly as if they had been presented in the usual circle. The time is
about half-past one, and your Majesty had better be punctual so as not
to delay the Drawing-Room.

[Pageheading: THE SLAVE TRADE]

_In the same letter is enclosed a draft of a letter which it was
suggested by Lord Melbourne that the Queen should write to the King of
Portugal, with regard to the suppression of the Slave Trade._

[Draft enclosed]

That you hope that the King and Queen of Portugal will not consider
the strong representations made by your Government on the subject of
the Slave Trade as arising from any desire to embarrass them. That
there is every disposition to make allowance for the difficulties
of Portugal, but allowance must also be made for the feelings of
the people of England; that those feelings on the Slave Trade are as
strong as they are just. That England has made great sacrifices
for the suppression of that crime, that she has made sacrifices to
Portugal, and that she has been extremely indignant at finding that
traffic so obstinately continued to be sheltered and protected under
the flag of Portugal. That Portugal must not expect that England will
much longer refrain from taking effectual measures for preventing
these practices. That you have spoken thus openly because you wish
them to be aware of the truth, and that you entreat both the Queen and
the King to use their power and influence in procuring such a treaty
to be concluded without delay, as will satisfy England and exonerate
Portugal from the reproach under which she now labours.

This is the substance of what might be written. It is perhaps a little
harshly worded, but your Majesty may soften it.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgi