that would be
prejudicial to Belgium, but that my Ministers should, as far as may
not conflict with the interests or engagements of this country, do
_everything_ in their power to promote the prosperity and welfare of
your Kingdom.

My Ministers, I can assure you, share all my feelings on this subject,
and are most anxious to see everything settled in a satisfactory
manner between Belgium and Holland.

We all feel that we cannot sufficiently or adequately express how much
Belgium owes to your wise system of government, which has rendered
that country so flourishing in every way, and how much all Europe is
indebted to you for the preservation of general peace; because it is
certain that when you ascended the throne of Belgium that country
was the one from which the occasion of a general war was much to be
feared; whereas now it is become a link to secure the continuance of
peace; and by the happy circumstances of your double near relationship
to me and to the King of the French, _Belgium_--which was in former
times the cause of discord between England and France--becomes now a
mutual tie to keep them together.

This, my beloved Uncle, we owe to you, and it must be a source of
pride and gratification to you.

I perfectly understand and feel that your position with respect to all
these affairs is very difficult and trying, and the feelings of your
subjects are far from unnatural; yet I sincerely hope that you will
use the great influence you possess over the minds of the leading men
in Belgium, to mitigate discontent and calm irritation, and procure
acquiescence in whatever arrangements may ultimately be found
inevitable.

You are right in saying that I, though but a child of twelve years old
when you went to Belgium, remember much of what took place, and I have
since then had the whole matter fully explained to me. The Treaty of
November 1831 was perhaps not so advantageous to the Belgians as could
have been wished, yet it cannot have been thought very advantageous to
the Dutch, else they would have most probably urged their Government
before this time to accept it; besides, when these conditions were
framed, England was only one out of _five_ Powers whose concurrence
was required, and consequently they were made under very difficult
circumstances. This treaty having been ratified, it is become binding,
and therefore it is almost impossible to consider it as otherwise,
and to set aside those parts of it which have