Volume I Part 124 (1/2)
[Footnote 58: Lady Evelyn Leveson Gower, married, on 4th October, to Charles, Lord Blantyre.]
[Pageheading: VISIT TO THE CHaTEAU D'EU]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
CHaTEAU D'EU, _4th September 1843._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I write to you from this dear place, where we are in the midst of this admirable and truly amiable family, and where we feel quite at home, and as if we were one of them. Our reception by the dear King and Queen has been most kind, and by the people really gratifying.[59] Everything is very different to England, particularly the population. Louise has told you all about our doings, and therefore tell you nothing but that I am highly interested and amused.
Little Chica (Mdme. Hadjy)[60] is a charming, sprightly, lively creature, with immense brown eyes. We leave this the day after to-morrow for Brighton, where the children are, who are extremely well, I hear. Many thanks, dearest Uncle, for your kind letter of the 29th, by which I see that poor Prince Lowenstein[61] came to see you; he is Mamma's old friend. As I am in a great hurry, and as I hope, G.o.d willing, to see you very soon, I must conclude in haste, and leave all my remarks for another day. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
Pray forgive this confused and horrid scrawl.
[Footnote 59: The Queen was enthusiastically received at Treport. On the 2nd there was a great entertainment in the banqueting-room of the Chateau, and on the 4th a _fete champetre_ on the Mont d'Orleans in the forest. On the 5th there was a review, and on the 7th the Queen returned to England.]
[Footnote 60: The Princess of Joinville. See _ante_, p. 451.
(Ch. XII, 10th January, 1843).
Hadjy is the Prince of Joinville.]
[Footnote 61: Prince William of Lowenstein (1783-1847).]
[Pageheading: THE FRENCH VISIT]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
MELBOURNE, _6th September 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks your Majesty much for your letter of the 27th ult., which he received here some days ago. We have been quite dismayed and overwhelmed with the melancholy intelligence of death after death which has followed us. I was much concerned for poor Charles Howard's loss, but we were quite struck down by the melancholy event of poor Mrs W. Cowper.[62]
She promised to suit us all well, my sister particularly, and to be a great source of happiness and comfort.
Your Majesty is quite right in supposing that Lord Melbourne would at once attribute your Majesty's visit to the Chateau d'Eu to its right cause--your Majesty's friends.h.i.+p and affection for the French Royal Family, and not to any political object. The princ.i.p.al motive now is to take care that it does not get mixed either in reality or in appearance with politics, and Lord Melbourne cannot conceal from your Majesty that he should lament it much if the result of the visit should turn out to be a treaty upon any European matter, unfavourable to England and favourable to France. Do not let them make any treaty or agreement there. It can be done elsewhere just as well, and without any of the suspicion which is sure to attach to any transaction which takes place there.
[Footnote 62: Mr and Mrs William Cowper had only been married on 24th June.]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _8th September 1843._