mayed and overwhelmed with
the melancholy intelligence of death after death which has followed
us. I was much concerned for poor Charles Howard's loss, but we were
quite struck down by the melancholy event of poor Mrs W. Cowper.[62]
She promised to suit us all well, my sister particularly, and to be a
great source of happiness and comfort.

Your Majesty is quite right in supposing that Lord Melbourne would at
once attribute your Majesty's visit to the Chateau d'Eu to its right
cause--your Majesty's friendship and affection for the French Royal
Family, and not to any political object. The principal motive now
is to take care that it does not get mixed either in reality or in
appearance with politics, and Lord Melbourne cannot conceal from
your Majesty that he should lament it much if the result of the visit
should turn out to be a treaty upon any European matter, unfavourable
to England and favourable to France. Do not let them make any treaty
or agreement there. It can be done elsewhere just as well, and without
any of the suspicion which is sure to attach to any transaction which
takes place there.

[Footnote 62: Mr and Mrs William Cowper had only been married
on 24th June.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _8th September 1843._

MY DEAREST AND MOST BELOVED VICTORIA,--I have been highly gratified
that you found a moment to write me such a dear letter. I am sure that
the personal contact with the family at Eu would interest you, and
at the same time remove some impressions on the subject of the King,
which are really untrue. Particularly the attempt of representing
him like the most astute of men, calculating constantly everything to
deceive people.

His vivacity alone would render such a system extremely difficult,
and if he appears occasionally to speak too much and to seem to hold a
different language to different people, it is a good deal owing to his
vivacity and his anxiety to carry conviction to people's mind.

The impression of your visit will besides do wonders in removing the
silly irritation which had been got up since 1840, and which might
have in the end occasioned serious mischief, and that without being
_in the least_ called for, the passions of nations become very
inconvenient sometimes for their Governors.... Your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

My best love to dearest Albert; he seems to have had the greatest
success, and I am very glad of it, as it had some