sage, but looking
both very well, and much improved. Having no clothes, they could not
appear at dinner, but nevertheless _debuted_ after dinner in their
_neglige_. Ernest is grown quite handsome; Albert's _beauty_ is
_most striking_, and he so amiable and unaffected--in short, very
_fascinating_; he is excessively admired here. The Granvilles and Lord
Clanricarde[59] happened just to be here, but are gone again to-day.
We rode out yesterday and danced after dinner. The young men are very
amiable, delightful companions, and I am very happy to have them here;
they are playing some Symphonies of Haydn _under_ me at this very
moment; they are passionately fond of music.

In the way of news I have got nothing to tell you to-day. Everything
is quiet here, and we have no particular news from abroad. In Spain
the Fueros[60] seem to give sad difficulty to the Cortes.

Ever, my dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 59: Ulick John, first Marquis of Clanricarde
(1802-1874), Ambassador at St Petersburg, afterwards Lord
Privy Seal.]

[Footnote 60: Certain rights and privileges of the Basques.]

[Pageheading: A MOMENTOUS DECISION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th October 1839._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--This letter will, I am sure, give you pleasure,
for you have always shown and taken so warm an interest in all that
concerns me. My mind is quite made up--and I told Albert this morning
of it; the warm affection he showed me on learning this gave me
_great_ pleasure. He seems _perfection_, and I think that I have the
prospect of very great happiness before me. I _love_ him _more_ than I
can say, and I shall do everything in my power to render the sacrifice
he has made (for a _sacrifice_ in my opinion it is) as small as I
can. He seems to have a very great tact--a very necessary thing in his
position. These last few days have passed like a dream to me, and I
am so much bewildered by it all that I know hardly how to write; but I
_do_ feel _very_, _very_ happy.

It is absolutely necessary that this determination of mine should be
known to _no one_ but yourself, and Uncle Ernest--till the meeting of
Parliament--as it would be considered otherwise neglectful on my part
not to have assembled Parliament at once to have informed them of
it.... Lord Melbourne, whom I of course have consulted about the whole
affair, quite approves my choice, and expresses g