en of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

PARIS, _3rd May 1841._

MY BELOVED VICTORIA,--As you know surely already, the day of yesterday
went off very well. The christening[22] was very splendid, the weather
beautiful, and everything extremely well managed.... The arrival
at Notre-Dame, and the _coup d'[oe]il_ of the old church, all hung
interiorly with crimson velvet draperies and trophies of flags, was
very splendid. There was in the church three rows _de tribunes_ all
full of well-dressed people. _Les grands corps de l'Etat etaient
ranges de chaque cote et dans le ch[oe]ur; l'Autel etait place au
centre de l'eglise. Les cardinaux et tout le clerge etaient alentour._
When my father arrived, the Archbishop of Paris received him at the
door of the church, and we all walked in state. My father _ouvrait la
marche_ with the Queen. _Prie-dieu_ and chairs were disposed for us
_en demi-cercle_ before the altar, or rather before the baptismal
font, which was placed in front of it, in the very middle of the
Church. My father and mother stood in the centre of the row near each
other. Your uncle, Chartres, and all the Princes followed on the
side of my father, and the princesses on the side of my mother. Paris
remained with Helene till the moment of the christening. When the
ceremony began he advanced near the font with my father and mother
(sponsors), and was taken up in the arms of his nurse. After the
christening a Mass and _Te Deum_ were read, and when we came back to
the Tuileries the _corps municipal_ brought the sword which the City
of Paris has given to the Comte de Paris....

[Footnote 22: Of the Comte de Paris, at this time nearly three
years old, son of the Duc d'Orleans.]

[Pageheading: THE SUGAR DUTIES]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _4th May 1841._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that Lord Stanley yesterday postponed his Bill
for a fortnight, which at this period of the year is equivalent to its
abandonment.

On the other hand, Lord Sandon gave a notice for Friday for a
Resolution on Sugar Duties.

If, as is probable, this Motion is made as a party movement, it is
probable that, with the addition of those on the Ministerial side who
have an interest in the West Indies, the Motion will be successful.

The whole scheme of finance for the year will thus be overturned.

The Tory party seem to expect a dissolu