the one came to pass _before_, the other after, your
departure from here. Some weeks back I was walking in the streets with
Dr Praetorius,[156] when, finding myself opposite the house of one
of my friends, it came across my mind to give him a call. Praetorius
wanted to leave me, on a conception that, as a stranger, he might
obstruct the freedom of our conversation. I insisted, however, on his
remaining with me, and we were shown into the drawing-room, where
in all there were five of us. For some minutes the conversation had
turned on insignificant things, when the person talking to me said
quite abruptly: "So I find the Queen is in daily correspondence with
Lord Melbourne." I replied, "Who told you this?" The answer was, "Mrs
Norton; she told me the other evening. Don't you believe that Lord
Melbourne has lost his influence over the Queen's mind; he daily
writes to her, and receives as many answers, in which she communicates
everything to him." Without betraying much emotion I said, "I don't
believe a word of it; the Queen may have written once or twice on
private matters, but the daily correspondence on all matters is
certainly the amplification of a thoughtless and imprudent person, who
is not aware of such exaggerated assertions." My speech was followed
by a general silence, after which we talked of other things, and
soon took our leave. When we were fairly in the open air, Praetorius
expressed to me his amazement at what he had heard, and he remained
for some time at a loss to comprehend the character of the person who,
from mere giddiness, let out so momentous a secret.

The other fact took place the day after you had left. From the late
events at Brussels, it had become desirable that I should see Sir
Robert Peel. From Belgium we travelled over to Home politics. I
expressed my delight at seeing the Queen so happy, and added a hope
that more and more she would seek and find her real happiness in her
domestic relations only. He evidently caught at this, and assured me
that he should at all times be too happy to have a share in anything
which might be thought conducive to the welfare of Her Majesty. That
no consideration of personal inconvenience would ever prevent him from
indulging the Queen in all her wishes relating to matters of a private
nature, and that the only return for his sincere endeavours to please
Her Majesty he looked to, was honesty in public affairs. Becoming then
suddenly emphatic, he continued, "B