lighted are we at the conduct of the Belgians,[17]
and at their loyalty and affection for you and yours, which I am sure
must be a reward for all that you have done these seventeen years.
I must beg to say that you are wrong in supposing that no mention is
made of what took place on the 9th in our papers; on the contrary, it
has been _most gratifyingly_ mentioned in the _Times_, _Chronicle_,
_John Bull_, _etc._ _You_ are held up as a pattern to the German
Sovereigns, and the Belgians as a pattern to the German people.

In France, really things go on _dreadfully_.... One does not like to
attack those who are fallen, but the poor King, Louis Philippe,
_has_ brought much of this on by that ill-fated return to a _Bourbon
Policy_. I always think he _ought not_ to have abdicated; every one
seems to think he _might_ have stemmed the torrent _then_ still. On
the other hand, Joinville says it was sure to happen, for that the
French want constant change, and were quite tired of the present
Government. _Qu'en dites-vous?_ How is poor, dear Louise? I hope her
spirits are better.

Our weather is terribly rainy, though very fine between. We have got
nightingales in the pleasure ground, and in the wood down near the
sea. We are all extremely well, and expect the Prince of Prussia here
to-day for two nights. Ever your devoted and attached Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 17: A party of French Republicans entered Belgium
with the intention of exciting an insurrection; the attempt
signally failed.]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _1st May 1848._

The Queen has this morning received Lord Palmerston's letter.[18] She
cannot see any reason for deviating from the established rules, and
inviting to Court Frenchmen who are not recognised in their official
capacity, and have no natural representatives to present them as
private individuals. As an invitation cannot be claimed by them, the
omission of it ought not to lead to any misrepresentation; whilst the
contrary, under the fiction of their being private individuals, might
lead to misconstruction and to most inconvenient precedents.

[Footnote 18: M. de Tallenay had arrived in London with a
letter from M. Lamartine, accrediting him as provisional
_charge d'affaires_ of the French Government, and Lord
Palmerston had suggested to the Queen that etiquette would not
be violated by inviting him to a Court Ball.]

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