e
you there soon after my arrival there.

I have very pleasant large dinners every day. I invite my Premier
generally once a week to dinner as I think it right to show publicly
that I esteem him and have confidence in him, as he has behaved so
well. Stockmar is of this opinion and is his great admirer....

[Pageheading: MADAME DE LIEVEN]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

NEUILLY, _12th July 1837._

... Having still a few moments before a special messenger sets off, I
take advantage of it to add a few words. By all I can hear, there are
many intrigues on foot in England at this moment. Princess Lieven[61]
and another individual recently imported from her country seem to be
very active in what concerns them not; beware of them. A rule which I
cannot sufficiently recommend is, _never to permit_ people to speak
on subjects concerning yourself or your affairs, without your having
yourself desired them to do so. The moment a person behaves improperly
on this subject, change the conversation, and make the individual feel
that he has made a mistake.... People will certainly try to speak to
you on your _own personal_ affairs; decline it boldly, and they will
leave you alone....

Now I conclude with my warmest wishes for your happiness. Ever, my
dear Victoria, your faithfully attached Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 61: The Princess Dorothea de Benckendorff married the Count
de Lieven at fifteen; in 1812, he became Russian Minister (and later
Ambassador) in London, whither she accompanied him. She was a woman
of extraordinary cleverness, enjoying the confidence of George
IV., Liverpool, Canning, Castlereagh, and Wellington. Inspiring the
efforts, and even composing the despatches of her husband, she became
herself the confidential correspondent of Nesselrode, Esterhazy, Posso
di Borgo, Guizot, and Lord Aberdeen. In 1834, the Lievens returned to
St Petersburg, where the Emperor Nicholas, though indifferent to the
society of women of talent, showed her special marks of regard. Her
husband died at Rome, in January 1838, and she established herself
in Paris, afterwards seeking a home in England during the troubles
of 1848. Returning to Paris, her _salon_ became again the resort of
diplomatists, politicians, and men of the world. She died in January
1857.

Madame de Lieven about this time told Greville that she had had an
audience of the Queen, "who was very civil and gracious, but timid
and