alik of Egypt.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _26th December 1840._

... I can well understand that you feel quite astonished at finding
yourself within a year of your marriage a very respectable mother of
a nice little girl, but let us thank Heaven that it is so. Any illness
to which, unfortunately, we poor human creatures are very subject,
would almost have kept you longer in bed, and make you longer weak and
uncomfortable, than an event which in your position as Sovereign is of
a very great importance.

Because there is no doubt that a Sovereign without heirs direct, or
brothers and sisters, which by their attachment may stand in lieu of
them, is much to be pitied, viz., Queen Anne's later years. Moreover,
children of our own, besides the affection which one feels for them,
have also for their parents sentiments which one rarely obtains from
strangers. I flatter myself therefore that you will be a delighted and
delightful _Maman au milieu d'une belle et nombreuse famille_....

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER X

At the beginning of the year the Ministry were confronted with
monetary difficulties and bad trade; their special weakness in
finance, contrasted with Sir Robert Peel's great ability, in addition
to their many reverses, indicated that a change was at hand; and
confidential communications were, with Lord Melbourne's full approval,
opened up by the Prince with Sir Robert Peel, to avert the recurrence
of a Bedchamber dispute. The Ministry were defeated on their Budget,
but did not resign. A vote of want of confidence was then carried
against them by a majority of one, and Parliament was dissolved; the
Ministers appealing to the country on the cry of a fixed duty on corn.
The Conservative and Protectionist victory was a decisive one,
the most significant successes being in the city of London,
Northumberland, and the West Riding. Somewhat improving their position
in Scotland and Ireland, and just holding their own in the English
boroughs, the Whigs were absolutely overwhelmed in the counties, and
in the result three hundred and sixty-eight Conservatives and only two
hundred and ninety-two Liberals were returned. The modern practice of
resigning before meeting Parliament had not then been introduced, and
the Ministry was defeated in both Houses on Amendments to the Address,
the Duke of Wellington taking the opportunity of eulogising Lord
Melbourne's great services to th