produce a painful impression upon their minds.

If properly explained to Parliament and the country, I cannot foresee
the slightest difficulty in getting such a necessary measure passed,
particularly if it be made quite clear to the House of Commons that it
is in no way connected with a desire to obtain an increased grant for
the Prince.[30]

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 30: See _post_, 28th June, 1856, note 33.]

[Pageheading: SABBATARIANISM]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Hardinge._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _1st June 1856_.

The Queen understands that there is an attempt to be made to prevent
the military bands from playing when the Troops march to church on a
Sunday.

She is anxious to express to Lord Hardinge her very strong feeling on
this subject, and her wish that he should on _no_ account give way
to such a proposal. _Whatever_ has been the custom should be firmly
adhered to, and Lord Hardinge is perfectly at liberty to make use of
the Queen's name, and say he could not bring such a proposal before
her, as he knew she would not consent to it.[31]

[Footnote 31: The custom of bands playing in the public parks
on Sundays had been objected to by various religious bodies,
and in April a letter on the subject was written to Lord
Palmerston by the Archbishop of Canterbury, after which the
performances were discontinued, the Government giving way
before the threat of a vote of censure. A similar movement
was made in opposition to the playing of regimental bands. See
_ante_, 7th August, 1855, note 71.]

[Pageheading: WELLINGTON COLLEGE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _3rd June 1856_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I hasten to thank you for your very kind letter
of yesterday, just received. Your kind _question_ puts me into
considerable perplexity, and I think I cannot do better than by
putting you in full possession of the state of the case.

Our house is very full--and it is _possible_ that we may have very
shortly the visit of Prince Oscar of Sweden. These Princes have very
large _suites_, and I should therefore in such a case be totally
unable to lodge you and _them_. But there is another reason. While
Fritz Wilhelm is here, _every_ spare moment Vicky has (and _I_ have,
for I must chaperon this loving couple--which takes away so much of my
precious time) is devoted to her bridegroom, who is _so_ much in
love, that, even if he is out dr