many persons eager to please the first, and to flatter and encourage
the last. Selfishness, however, makes the individual itself miserable,
and is the cause of constant disappointment, besides being the surest
means of being disliked by everybody.

Vanity, on the other hand, is generally artfully used by ambitious and
interested people to make one a tool for purposes of their own, but
too often in opposition with one's own happiness and destruction of
it.

To learn to know oneself, to judge oneself with truth and
impartiality, must be the great objects of one's exertion; they are
only attainable by constant and cool self-examination.

The position of what is generally called great people has of late
become extremely difficult. They are more attacked and calumniated,
and judged with less indulgence than private individuals. What they
have lost in this way, they have not by any means regained in any
other. Ever since the revolution of 1790 they are much less secure
than they used to be, and the transition from sovereign power to
_absolute want_ has been as frequent as sudden.

It becomes, therefore, necessary that the character should be so
formed as not to be intoxicated by greatness and success, nor
cast down by misfortune. To be able to do so, one must be able to
appreciate things according to their real value, and particularly
avoid giving to trifles an undue importance.

Nothing is so great and clear a proof of unfitness for greater and
nobler actions, than a mind which is seriously occupied with trifles.

Trifling matters may be objects of amusement and relaxation to a
clever person, but only a weak mind and a mean spirit consider trifles
as important. The good sense must show itself by distinguishing what
is and what is not important.

My sermon is now long enough, my dear child. I strongly recommend it,
however, to your reflection and consideration.

My gift consists in a set of views of the former Kingdom of the
Netherlands, out of which you will be able to discover all those of
the present Belgium.

Let me soon hear from you; and may God bless and preserve you. Ever,
my dear Love, your affectionate Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: VISIT TO HEVER CASTLE]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _14th September 1834._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Allow me to write you a few words, to express
how thankful I am for the very kind letter you wrote me. It made me,
thou