prived of almost all its possessions in consequence
of it.

Recently there have been two cases of Catholic marriages, but the main
branch has remained, and is, in fact, very sincerely Protestant. Both
Ernest and Albert are much attached to it, and when deviations took
place they were connected more with new branches transplanted out of
the parent soil than with what more properly must be considered as the
reigning family.

The Peerage question may remain as it is, but it will not be denied
that the great object must be to make Albert as English as possible,
and that nothing will render this more difficult than a foreign
name....

I shall be most happy to see poor Charlotte's bust in the Gallery at
Windsor, and it is kind of you to have had the thought. She was a high
and noble-minded creature, and her affection and kindness for me
very great. She had placed the most unbounded confidence in me; our
principle had been never to let a single day pass over any little
subject of irritation. The only subjects of that sort we had were
about the family, particularly the Regent, and then the old Queen
Charlotte. Now I must conclude with my best love. Ever, my dearest
Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: A MISSING LETTER]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th December 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--Many thanks for your two most kind letters. I
suppose I _may_ send for Aunt Charlotte's bust, for which I am most
grateful--and say I have your authority to do so? You are very kind to
think about my stupid health; I don't think I _ever_, at least not
for _very_ long, have _walked_ so regularly as I have done this last
month--out in fog, and mist, and wind, and cold. But I cannot be
otherwise than agitated; getting _no_ letter makes me ill, and
_getting_ them excites me....

I have much to write, and therefore cannot make this a long letter,
but _one_ thing more I must mention. The very day of the Declaration
in Council, on the 23rd ult., I sent off a letter to Albert, by Van
de Weyer, saying it was to be forwarded _sans delai_ to Coburg; now,
Albert _never_ has received that letter, which was a long one, and
thanks me for two, of the 26th and 29th. This vexes me much, and
I can't help thinking the letter is lying either at Wiesbaden or
Brussels. Would you graciously enquire, for I should not like it to be
lost.

Forgive my writing such a letter so full of _myself_. Eve