n trusts Lord Melbourne
will be less tired in the morning.

[Footnote 56: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. (to Ch. VIII)]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTENDE, _21st September 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Your _delightful_ little letter has just arrived
and went like _an arrow to my heart._ Yes, my beloved Victoria! I _do
love you tenderly_, and with all the power of affection which is often
found in characters who do not make much outward show of it. I love
you _for yourself_, and I love in you the dear child whose welfare I
carefully watched. My great wish is always that you should _know_
that I am _desirous_ of _being useful_ to you, without _hoping for
any other return_ than some little affection from your warm and kind
heart. I am even so far pleased that my eternal political affairs are
settled, as it takes away the _last possibility_ of imagining that I
may want something or other. I have all the honours that can be given,
and I am, politically speaking, very solidly established, more so than
most Sovereigns in Europe. The only political longing I still have
is for the Orient, where I perhaps shall once end my life, unlike
the sun, rising in the West and setting in the East. I never press
my services on you, nor my councils, though I may say with some truth
that from the extraordinary fate which the higher Powers had ordained
for me, my experience, both political and of private life, is great. I
am _always ready_ to be useful to you _when and where_ it may be, and
I repeat it, _all I want in return is some little sincere affection
from you_....

And now I conclude for to-day, not without expressing again my
satisfaction and pleasure at having seen you yesterday morning with
your dear honest face, looking so dear in your morning attire. Our
time was spent very satisfactorily, and only the weather crossed our
wishes, and to that one can submit when everything else is delightful.
Once more, God bless you! Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted
Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _25th September 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--You will, I think, laugh when you get this letter,
and will think I only mean to employ you in _stopping_ my relations at
Brussels, but I think you will approve of my wish. In the first place
I don't think one can _reckon_ on the Cousins arriving here on the