I want from your kind Majesty is, that you will _occasionally_
express to your Ministers, and particularly to good Lord Melbourne,
that, as far as it is _compatible_ with the interests _of your own_
dominions, you do _not_ wish that your Government should take
the _lead_ in such measures as might in a short time bring on the
_destruction_ of this country, as well as that of your uncle and his
family.

Europe has enjoyed ever since 1833, in our part of it, a state of
_profound peace_ and real happiness and prosperity. None can deny that
the measures which I adopted to organise this country have greatly
contributed to this happy state of affairs; this makes me think that
the changes which are to take place should be brought about in a _very
gentle manner_....

I am sorry to have you to listen to so much about politics, but it is
not my fault; I wished nothing so much as _to be left alone_. I shall
do all I can to bring about a good conclusion, but it must not be
forgotten that these seven years _all the dangers, all the trouble_,
fell constantly to _my share_....

Now I will make haste to conclude, and remain ever, my dearest
Victoria, your truly devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 17: The execution of the treaty of 1831, called the
Twenty-four Articles, assigning part of Luxemburg to Holland,
had been reluctantly agreed to by Leopold, but the King of
Holland withheld his assent for seven years.]

[Pageheading: ANGLO-BELGIAN RELATIONS]

[Pageheading: PROGRESS OF BELGIUM]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th June 1838._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--It is indeed a long while since I have written to
you, and I fear you will think me very lazy; but I must in turn say,
dearest Uncle, that your silence was longer than mine, and that it
grieved me, and _m'a beaucoup peinee_. I know, however, you have had,
and still have, _much_ to do. Many thanks, my dear Uncle, for your
very kind letter of the 2nd inst....

It would indeed, dearest Uncle, be _very wrong_ of you, if you thought
my feelings of warm and devoted attachment to you, and of great
affection for you, could be changed. _Nothing_ can ever change them!
Independent of my feelings of affection for you, my beloved Uncle, you
must be aware that the ancient and hereditary policy of this country
with respect to Belgium must make me most anxious that my Government
not _only_ should not be parties to any measure