. By this system
you avoid disappointing those whose hopes may remain unchanged, as
your own choices, as it were, are not yet made. Parties, which at
present are so nearly balanced, remain _in statu quo_, and you gain
time.

I must conclude now this letter. My winding up is, keep your mind
_cool_ and _easy_; be _not alarmed_ at the prospect of becoming
perhaps sooner than you expected Queen; aid will not be wanting, and
the great thing is that you should have some honest people about you
who have your welfare _really at heart_. Stockmar will be in this
respect all we can wish, and we must hope that _useful_ occupation
will prevent his health from suffering. Now once more God bless you.
Ever, my dear child, your faithful Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 48: The entry into Paris of the Duke and Duchess of
Orleans, who had been married at Fontainebleau on May 30th.]

[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION IMMINENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _15th June 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--I hope that to-day will not pass over without
bringing me a letter from you. In the meantime I will begin this
epistle, which will go by a messenger of my own to-morrow. In every
letter I shall write to you I mean to repeat to you, as a _fundamental
rule_, _to be courageous, firm and honest, as you have been till now_.
You may count upon my faithful good offices in all difficulties,
and you have at your command Stockmar, whose _judgment_, _heart_, and
_character_ offer all the guarantees we can wish for. I wish nothing
but to see you _happy and prosperous_, and by Sunday I shall probably
write you a long letter, which will enter into details about most
things.

My object is that you should be no one's _tool_, and though young, and
naturally not yet experienced, your good natural sense and the _truth_
of your character will, with faithful and proper advice, get you very
well through the difficulties of your future position, should it be
the will of Providence to take the King from this earthly life. Of his
real position I am still not quite able to judge, there being so much
contradictory in the reports. Be this as it may, the great thing for
you is, not to be hurried into important measures, and to _gain time_.
A new reign is always a time of hope; everybody is disposed to see
something for his own wishes and prospects. The policy of a new
Sovereign must therefore be to act in such a manne