teness of her character, and, what is still more
remarkable at her age, her frankness and outspokenness in expressing
her feelings.

In the second place, they show with what interest and eagerness the
Princess was following the course of foreign politics. Her view was
naturally a personal one, but it may be said that there can have been
very few, if any, girls in England, of the Princess's age, who were
taking any interest at all in Continental affairs. It is true that
King Leopold had early impressed upon the Princess that it was a
duty to become acquainted with the course of current events; but the
letters show that the interest she felt was congenial and innate, and
did not spring from a sense of duty. The allusions to home politics
are not so frequent, but still show that here also her attention was
alert.

Thirdly, they reveal her abounding vitality, her love of life and
amusement, her devotion to music, and the simple unspoilt zest with
which she threw herself into all that surrounded her.

There is a special interest which attaches to the correspondence
between Queen Victoria and King Leopold after the Accession. The
letters reveal, as no other documents could do, the monarchical point
of view. However intimate may be the relations between a Sovereign
and a subject, there is bound to appear a certain discretion, and
even condescension, on the one hand, and on the other a due degree of
deference. But here we have the remarkable spectacle of two monarchs,
both of eminent sagacity, and both, so to speak, frankly interested in
the task of constitutional government, corresponding freely on all the
difficulties and problems inseparable from their momentous task,
and with an immense sense of their weighty responsibilities. It is
impossible to exaggerate the deep and abiding interest of such a
correspondence; and the seriousness, the devotion, the public spirit
that are displayed, without affectation or calculated impressiveness,
make the whole series of letters singularly memorable.

The King of the Belgians had married Princess Louise of Orleans,
daughter of Louis Philippe, in 1832. She was only seven years older
than the Princess Victoria, who grew to regard her with the tenderest
affection.

The letters from Queen Louise are very numerous. A few are in French,
but they are mostly written in brisk, lively English, not always very
correct, either in construction or in spelling. They are full of small
family deta