you
a favourable description of her. I think you would be amused to see
Albert dancing her in his arms; he makes a capital nurse (which I do
not, and she is much too heavy for me to carry), and she already seems
so happy to go to him.

The christening will be at Buckingham Palace on the 10th of February,
our dear marriage-day.

Affairs are certainly still precarious, but I feel confident all will
come right....

Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _8th January 1841._

... I trust also that affairs will come right; what is to be feared
is the _chapter of accidents_. Your name bears glorious fruits in all
climes; this globe will soon be too small for you, and something must
be done to get at the other planets....

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S EDUCATION]

_Memorandum--Mr Anson._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th January 1841._

Lord Melbourne said, "The Prince is bored with the sameness of his
chess every evening. He would like to bring literary and scientific
people about the Court, vary the society, and infuse a more useful
tendency into it. The Queen however has no fancy to encourage such
people. This arises from a feeling on her part that her education has
not fitted her to take part in such conversation; she would not like
conversation to be going on in which she could not take her fair
share, and she is far too open and candid in her nature to pretend to
one atom more knowledge than she really possesses on such subjects;
and yet, as the world goes, she would, as any girl, have been
considered accomplished, for she speaks German well and writes it;
understands Italian, speaks French fluently, and writes it with great
elegance. In addition to this old Davys instilled some Latin into her
during his tutorship. The rest of her education she owes to her own
natural shrewdness and quickness, and this perhaps has not been the
proper education for one who was to wear the Crown of England.

"The Queen is very proud of the Prince's utter indifference to the
attractions of all ladies. I told Her Majesty that these were early
days to boast, which made her rather indignant. I think she is a
little jealous of his talking much even to men."

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S SPEECH]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_19th January 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has just
received your Majesty's letter. Lord Me