act the
permission which in my letter of yesterday I said I would give to Lord
Westmorland.[39] When I said so, I had _not_ received the opinion of
the Ministers, which I have since done, and this is, I am sorry to
say, conclusive _against_ it. I quite overlooked _one_ very important
case of very late date, viz. the Plenipotentiary at Paris--on whom the
Emperor pressed very hard to confer his order in commemoration of the
Peace; but it was refused, and the Emperor was a good _deal hurt_. If
_now_ Lord Westmorland received the permission, the Emperor might with
_right_ complain. I am much grieved, dearest Uncle, at all this, but
it was quite unavoidable, and I was at the time much distressed at
your giving the order to Lord Westmorland as I foresaw nothing but
difficulties. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 39: King Leopold had proposed to bestow a decoration
on Lord Westmorland.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _1st August 1856_.

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... When your excellent Ministers will consider
things coolly, which is not to be expected in this hot weather, I am
sure they will come to other conclusions. The rule is a _very wise
one_, and has been kept up even at the time of those great congresses
of Paris, Vienna, and ditto Paris in 1815. But in cases of particular
affection and feeling _not_ connected with politics, there have been
during the reigns of George IV. and William IV. exceptions. The Duke
of Devonshire was sent to the Coronation, I think, of the Emperor
Nicholas, because one knew the Emperor liked him. And he has worn ever
since that diamond star of the St Andrew of the largest dimensions.

Our Napoleon is too wise not to understand that a treaty has a direct
political character. And, during the next fifty years of your glorious
reign, there will be most probably a great many more treaties and
congresses. You may get all sorts of things during that time, but you
cannot either by the power of heaven or of earth get a new uncle, who
has kept his word twenty-five years; rather an undertaking considering
circumstances.... I remain, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

ON BOARD THE _Victoria and Albert_,
_14th August 1856_.

DEAREST UNCLE,--You will be surprised to get a letter so soon again
from me, and still more on _so_ trivial a subject, but I come as a
petitioner for a