claration,
which you will, before this can reach you, have seen in the
newspapers. I cannot describe to you with what a mixture of
self-possession and feminine delicacy she read the paper. Her
voice, which is naturally beautiful, was clear and untroubled;
and her eye was bright and calm, neither bold nor downcast,
but firm and soft. There was a blush on her cheek which made
her look both handsomer and more interesting; and certainly
she _did_ look as interesting and as handsome as any young
lady I ever saw.

"I happened to stand behind the Duke of Wellington's chair,
and caught her eye twice as she directed it towards him, which
I fancy she did with a good-natured interest. ...The crowd,
which was not great but very decent, I might almost say
respectable, expressed their approbation of the Duke of
Wellington and Sir R. Peel, and their disapprobation of the
Ministers very loudly. Lord John and Lord Normanby, they tell
me, were positively hooted.... Lord Melbourne ... seemed to me
to look _careworn_, and on the whole the meeting had a sombre
air."--_Croker Papers_, ii. 359.]

[Pageheading: THE PEERAGE QUESTION]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

WIESBADEN, _22nd November 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I was delighted with your dear little letter.
You write these kind of letters with a very great facility, and they
are generally so natural and clever, that it makes one very happy
to receive them. I had written less of late, because I thought you
occupied more agreeably than to read my letters. I have on purpose
kept back a courier, to be able to send you the latest news from here
of M. Albert. The young people arrived here only on the 20th, in the
morning, having very kindly stopped at Bonn. I find them looking well,
particularly Albert; it proves that happiness is an excellent remedy,
and keeps people in better health than any other. He is much attached
to you, and moved when he speaks of you. He is, besides, in great
spirits and gaiety, and full of fun; he is a very amiable companion.

Concerning the peerage, that is a matter to be considered at any
time; the only reason why I do wish it is, that Albert's foreignership
should disappear as much as possible. I have, in different
circumstances to be sure, suffered greatly from my having declined
conditionally the peerage when it was offered me in 1816.[69] Your
Uncle[70]