invitation of the Prince of Orange and his sons, this forcing him
upon others, is very extraordinary.[4] It is so, because persons in
political stations and champions of great political passions cannot
put aside their known character as you would lay your hat upon a
table.

Not later than yesterday I got a half official communication from
England, insinuating that it would be _highly_ desirable that the
visit of _your_ relatives _should not take place, this year--qu'en
dites-vous_? The relations of the Queen and the King, therefore, to
the God-knows-what degree, are to come in shoals and rule the land,
when _your relations_ are to be _forbidden_ the country, and that
when, as you know, the whole of your relations have ever been very
dutiful and kind to the King. Really and truly I never heard or saw
anything like it, and I hope it will a _little rouse your spirit_;
now that slavery is even abolished in the British Colonies, I do not
comprehend _why your lot alone should be to be kept, a white little
slavey in England_, for the pleasure of the Court, who never bought
you, as I am not aware of their having gone to any expense on that
head, or the King's even having _spent a sixpence for your existence_.
I expect that my visits in England will also be prohibited by an Order
in Council. Oh consistency and political or _other honesty_, where
must one look for you!

I have not the least doubt that the King, in his passion for the
Oranges, will be _excessively rude to your relations_; this, however,
will not signify much; they are _your guests_ and not _his_, and will
therefore _not_ mind it....

[Footnote 4: King Leopold had for some time cherished a hope
of uniting the Princess Victoria in marriage with her cousin,
Prince Albert of Coburg. He therefore arranged that the
Prince, with his elder brother, Prince Ernest, should pay
a visit to the Duchess of Kent at Kensington Palace. King
William naturally opposed a scheme which he knew met with
the approval of his sister-in-law. He accordingly invited
the Prince of Orange and his two sons at the same time, and
favoured the candidature of the younger son, Prince Alexander.
The King (it is believed) went so far as to say that no
other marriage should ever take place, and that the Duke of
Saxe-Coburg and his son should never put foot in the country;
they should not be allowed to land, and must go back whence
they came.