share with you
everything that rejoices me, everything that vexes or grieves me, and
I am certain you will take your part in it....

To-day I saw Lord William Russell--you know him, don't you? I forgot
to tell you that you will have a _great Officer of State_ at the head
of your Household, who is called the _Groom of the Stole_; it is a
position in the Court for prestige only, without any business; he will
be a _Peer_....

[Footnote 77: Mr T. Phillips, the Mayor of Newport,
Monmouthshire, had behaved with great coolness and courage
during the riot on 4th November. He read the Riot Act among
showers of bullets before ordering the troops to fire.]

[Footnote 78: Frost, Williams, and others, afterwards
convicted at Monmouth.]

[Footnote 79: The Queen had begun the word "confidence" but
struck it out and substituted "love."]

(_Continued 10th December_).--I am very impatient at your bust not
having yet arrived; the Duchess of Sutherland wrote to me she had seen
it in Rome, and it was so beautiful!...

Who has made the little copy which you sent me, and who the original?
Feodore writes to me so much about you....

We expect Queen Adelaide to-day, who will stay here until the day
after to-morrow. Melbourne has asked me to enquire of you whether
you know Lord Grosvenor? He is the eldest son of the Marquis
of Westminster, and does not belong to any party; he is not in
Parliament. He is very pleasant, speaks German very well, and has been
a good deal on the Continent. If he accepts, he might be one of
your _gentlemen_. _Lord Melbourne is particularly desirous of doing
everything that is most agreeable to you._ I have a request to make,
too, viz., that you will appoint poor Clark your _physician_; you need
not consult him unless you wish it. It is only an honorary title, and
would make him very happy....

[Pageheading: THE PROTESTANT QUESTION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th December 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--... I was quite miserable at not hearing from Albert
for _ten_ days; such a long silence is quite insupportable for any
one in my position towards Albert, and I was overjoyed on receiving
yesterday the _most_ dear, _most_ affectionate, delightful long letter
from him. He writes so beautifully, and so simply and unaffectedly.
I hope, dear Uncle, you received my last letter (quite a packet) for
Albert, on the 5th or 6th? I send you ano