I think you know pretty well, _how_ much I love you. When I think
that but two hours ago we were happily together, and that now you are
travelling every instant farther and farther away from us, and that I
shall with all probability not see you for a _year_, it makes me cry.
Yes, dearest Uncle, it is dreadful in this life, that one is destined,
and _particularly unhappy me_, to be almost always separated from
those one loves most dearly. I live, however, in the hopes of your
visit next year with dear Aunt, and I cannot say how thankful and
happy I am that we have had you here for six short, and to me _most
bright happy_ days! I shall look back with the greatest delight on
them.

Believe me, always, your ever devoted and most affectionately attached
Niece and _Child_,

VICTORIA.

[Footnote 12: Written at the conclusion of the King's visit to
England.]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS AND THE CHURCH]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _11th November 1836._

MY VERY DEAR CHILD,-- ...I know attempts have been made to represent
you as indifferent to the established Church. You know that in England
the Sovereign is the head of the Church, and that the Church looks
upon the Protestant religion as it is established as the _State_
Religion. In times like the present, when the Crown is already a good
deal weakened, I believe that it is of importance to maintain as much
as possible this state of affairs, and I believe that you will do
well, whenever an occasion offers itself to do so without affectation,
to express your sincere interest for the Church, and that you
comprehend its position and count upon its good-will. The poor Church
will be a good deal persecuted, I have no doubt, but it would be
desirable that the men belonging to it should be united, _sensible_,
and moderate....

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

RAMSGATE, _14th November 1836._

... What you say to me relative to Church matters I quite comprehend,
and always am very thankful for advice from you.

I am reading away famously. I like Mrs. Hutchinson's Life of her
husband[13] only _comme cela_; she is so dreadfully violent. She and
Clarendon are so totally opposite, that it is quite absurd, and I only
believe the _juste milieu_....

Your speech interested me very much; it is very fine indeed; you wrote
it yourself, did you not?

Belgium is indeed the happiest country in the world,