l
reflect upon the importance of not driving France to extremities, and
of conciliatory measures, without showing fear (for our successes on
the coast of Syria show our power), or without yielding to threats.
France has been humbled, and France is in the wrong, but, therefore,
it is easier than if we had failed, to do something to bring matters
right again. The Queen has thus frankly stated her own opinion, which
she thought it right Lord Palmerston should know, and she is sure he
will see it is only dictated by an earnest desire to see _all_ as much
united as possible on this important subject.

[Footnote 55: A copy of this letter was sent at the same time
to Lord Melbourne.]

[Footnote 56: The unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of
the Chamber.]

_Baron Stockmar to Viscount Melbourne._

_21st November 1840._

MY DEAR LORD,--I have just received Her Majesty's order to express
to you her great desire to have from this day the Prince's name
introduced into the Church Prayer. Her own words were: "that I should
press it with Lord Melbourne as the wish she had most at heart at this
moment." Ever yours most sincerely,

STOCKMAR.

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD ON FRENCH AFFAIRS]

_The King of the Belgians to the Prince Albert._

[_Translated._]

LAEKEN, _26th November 1840._

... As to politics, I do not wish to say much to-day. Palmerston,
_rex_ and autocrat, is, for a Minister finding himself in such
fortunate circumstances, far _too irritable and violent_. One does not
understand the use of showing so much hatred and anger. What he says
about the _appeal to the personal feeling of the Queen, on the part
of the King of the French_, is childlike and malicious, for it has
_never_ existed.

The King was for many years the great friend of the Duke of Kent,
after whose death he remained a friend of Victoria. His relations with
the latter have, up to 1837, passed through very varied phases; she
was for a long time an object of hatred in the family, who had not
treated the Duke of Kent over-amicably, and a proof of this is the
fact that the Regent, from the year 1819, forbade the Duke his house
and presence--which was probably another nail in the Duke's coffin.
Many of these things are quite unknown to Victoria, or forgotten
by her. Still it is only fair not to forget the people who were her
friends before 1837; after that date there was a violent outbreak of
affection among peopl