oud. The majority of the Powers agreed to place him
under the protection of Europe, and to warn Mehemet Ali
that the matter was for Europe, not him, to decide. France,
however, wished to support Mehemet, and direct the Alliance
against Russia. But Nicholas I. of Russia was prepared to
support England as far as regarded the affairs of Turkey and
Egypt, and to close the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to warships
of all nations, it being stipulated that Russian ships of war
only were to pass the Bosphorus, as acting under the mandate
of Europe in defence of the Turks. _See_ further, Introductory
Notes for 1839 and 1840. (to Ch. VIII and Ch. IX)]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTENDE, _24th August 1839._

... The King's intention would be to leave Eu in the evening, let us
say at eight or nine o'clock, and to land, perhaps at ten or eleven,
at Brighton on the _following morning_. He would have the honour of
dining with you, and would re-embark in the _evening of the same day_,
so as to be back on the _following morning_ at Eu. He will therefore,
as you see, _not_ sleep in England.

If you cannot give any _pied-a-terre_ in the Palace for these few
hours, they will remain in an hotel. But I must say that as the King
and Queen put themselves to _some inconvenience in coming_ to see
you, it would be _rather desirable_ to offer them rooms in the Palace,
which I think might be easily managed. As far as we are concerned, it
_does not matter_ if we are housed in an hotel or where we bivouac. I
will charge Van de Weyer to take rooms for us somewhere....

Do not imagine that I have done the least to bring this about for my
own satisfaction, which is _very limited_ in this business, but the
King wished _much to see you once_, and so did the Queen, who abhors
sailing more than anybody, and this is perhaps the _only_ opportunity
which may ever offer of doing it, even with some political benefit, as
it certainly is desirable that it should appear that the two maritime
Powers are on good terms.... And now, God bless you! Ever, my dearest
Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: LOUIS PHILIPPE'S VISIT]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTENDE, _25th August 1839._ (_La St Louis._)

MY DEAR VICTORIA,--To keep up the fire of letters, I write again,
having received this morning interesting news. As I must forward
this letter by Cala