asure, and to have an American form of
Government, with an elective head of State.

Fortunately, there has always hitherto been in England a very
aristocratic feeling freely accepted by the people, who like it, and
show that they like it.... I was much amused, some time ago, by a
very rich and influential American from New York assuring me that they
stood in great need of a Government which was able to grant protection
to property, and that the feeling of many was for Monarchy instead
of the misrule of mobs, as they had it, and that he wished very much
_some branch of the Coburg family might be disposable_ for such a
place. _Qu'en dites-vous_, is not this flattering?...

There is nothing very remarkable going on, besides I mean to write
again on some subjects. Give my best love to Albert, and Pussy, who
may remember me perhaps, and I remain, ever, my beloved Victoria, your
devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th December 1843._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Your kind and dear letter of the 15th, written
in your true wit and humour, reached me on Sunday and gave me great
pleasure. We have had also most wonderfully mild weather, but _I_
think very disagreeable and unseasonable; it always makes me so
bilious. The young folks are very flourishing and prosperous--Pussette
knowing all her letters, and even beginning to read a little. When I
mentioned your birthday to her, she said, "I cried when I saw Uncle
Leopold," which _was_ the case, I am sorry to say, the first time she
saw you this year....

I don't believe that the _white_ flag on the house at Belgrave
Square[97] is true. Lord Melbourne and the Beauvales were here for
three nights; and it was a pleasure to see Lord Melbourne so much
himself again; the first evening he was a good deal excited and talked
and laughed as of old; the two other evenings he was in the quite
silent mood which he often used to be in formerly, and really _quite_
himself, and there was hardly any strangeness at all. Lady Beauvale is
really a _very, very_, charming person, and so attentive and kind to
both her husband and Lord Melbourne. Our little chapel here (which is
extremely pretty) is to be consecrated this morning, and Lady Douro
comes into Waiting for the first time. To-morrow Mamma gives us a
dinner. Poor Lord Lynedoch[98] is, I fear, dying, and Lord Grey is so
bad he cannot last long.[99]

Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTOR