to Granville
"that it would be a source of great satisfaction to England, if this
would be the cause of bringing back France to that alliance (with
the other Four Powers) from which we had seen her depart with so much
regret." I hope this will have a good effect. Now, in _my_ humble
opinion (but this I say of myself and without anybody's knowledge),
if France, upon this, were to make some sort of advance, and were to
_cease arming_, I think all would do; for you see, if France goes on
arming, we shall hardly be justified in not doing the same, and that
would be very bad. Couldn't you suggest this to the King and Thiers,
as of yourself? My anxiety is great for the return of amity and
concord, I can assure you. I think our child ought to have besides its
other names those of _Turco Egypto_, as we think of nothing else!
I had a long talk with Palmerston on Wednesday, and also with J.
Russell.

I hope I have done good. The Dutch don't like the abdication. I'm so
sorry for poor little Paris![49]

Pray excuse this dreadful scrawl, but I am so hurried. Ever your
devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 49: The Comte de Paris, born 24th August 1838,
eldest son of Ferdinand, Duke of Orleans, who was Louis
Philippe's eldest son.]

[Pageheading: ATTEMPT ON LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _17th October 1840._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--You will, I am sure, have been very much shocked
on hearing that on the 15th there was a new attempt made to kill the
poor good King at Paris.[50] The place was cleverly chosen, as the
King generally puts his head out of the carriage window to bow to
the guard. I join the letter which he had the goodness to forward us
through an _estafette_.[51] May this melancholy _attentat_ impress
on your Ministers the necessity of aiding the King in his arduous
task.... You will have the goodness to show this letter to Albert.

Louise was much alarmed when it arrived at such an unusual hour; it
was ten o'clock. At first we thought it might be something about poor
little Paris, who is not yet so well as one could wish.

We have gloomy miserable weather, and I feel much disgusted with this
part of the world. Ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 50: The King was fired at as he was leaving the
Tuileries, by Darmes, a Marseillais. As Croker wrote to Lord
Brougham on the 31st of October 1840:--"Poor Louis