ord
Melbourne from _all evil_, and which it will make her very happy if he
will put [? it with] his keys. If the ring is too small Lord Melbourne
must send it back to her, and she will have it altered.

The Queen has made up her mind at length to ask Lady Clanricarde, as
Lord Melbourne wishes it so much. Shall Surrey invite her, or Lord
Palmerston? and from Thursday to Friday?

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I have to thank you for three kind letters of the 1st,
4th, and 5th, the last which I received yesterday. I received another
letter from Alex. M. yesterday, _since Ernest's arrival_, and he says
that they have determined on setting off, so as to embark at Antwerp
on the 9th and be here after all on the 10th! I suppose you will have
also heard. I shall therefore (unless I hear from you to the contrary)
send one of my equerries and two carriages to the Tower on _Thursday_.

I am sorry to hear of the serious disturbances at Ghent; I trust it
is all got under now. If you should hear anything more of Roi
Guillaume's[58] marriage, pray let me hear it, as it is such an odd
story. Old Alava, who was here for two nights last week, told me he
knew _Pauline d'Oultremont_ many years ago, when she was young and
very gay and pretty, but that he wonders much at this marriage, as the
King hates Catholics. Alava is _rayonnant de bonheur_.

I told Lord Melbourne of your alarms respecting the financial crisis,
which _we_ did not bring on--those wild American speculations are the
cause of it--and he desires me to assure you that we will pursue as
moderate and cautious a course as possible.

The Queen Dowager came here yesterday and stays till to-morrow; she is
very cheerful and in good spirits....

I must conclude in haste. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Many thanks for the two supplies of ortolans, which were delicious.

[Footnote 58: William I., King of the Netherlands, was greatly
attached to the Roman Catholic Countess d'Oultremont, and in
October 1840, being sixty-seven, abdicated his Crown to marry
her. He was father of the Prince of Orange, who succeeded
him.]

[Pageheading: ARRIVAL OF PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--... The dear cousins arrived at half-past seven on
Thursday, after a very bad and almost dangerous pas