Princess had
been brought up with strong Whig leanings, and, as is clear from
her letters, with an equally strong mistrust of Tory principles and
politicians.

A word may here be given to the Princess's own character and
temperament. She was high-spirited and wilful, but devotedly
affectionate, and almost typically feminine. She had a strong sense
of duty and dignity, and strong personal prejudices. Confident, in a
sense, as she was, she had the feminine instinct strongly developed of
dependence upon some manly adviser. She was full of high spirits, and
enjoyed excitement and life to the full. She liked the stir of London,
was fond of dancing, of concerts, plays, and operas, and devoted to
open-air exercise. Another important trait in her character must be
noted. She had strong monarchical views and dynastic sympathies,
but she had no aristocratic preferences; at the same time she had no
democratic principles, but believed firmly in the due subordination
of classes. The result of the parliamentary and municipal reforms of
William IV.'s reign had been to give the middle classes a share in
the government of the country, and it was supremely fortunate that the
Queen, by a providential gift of temperament, thoroughly understood
the middle-class point of view. The two qualities that are most
characteristic of British middle-class life are common sense and
family affection; and on these particular virtues the Queen's
character was based; so that by a happy intuition she was able to
interpret and express the spirit and temper of that class which,
throughout her reign, was destined to hold the balance of political
power in its hands. Behind lay a deep sense of religion, the religion
which centres in the belief in the Fatherhood of God, and is impatient
of dogmatic distinctions and subtleties.

CHAPTER III

QUEEN VICTORIA'S RELATIONS AND FRIENDS

It may be held to have been one of the chief blessings of Queen
Victoria's girlhood that she was brought closely under the influence
of an enlightened and large-minded Prince, Leopold, her maternal
uncle, afterwards King of the Belgians. He was born in 1790, being the
youngest son of Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and his youth
was spent in the Russian military service. He had shown talent and
courage in the field, and had commanded a battalion at Luetzen and
Leipsic. He had married, in 1816, the Princess Charlotte, only child
of George IV. For many years his home