_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _1st February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I hope you will be pleased with me, as I send a messenger on purpose to inform you of Albert"s arrival. He will write himself this night, though rather inclined to surrender himself to Morpheus.
He looks well and handsome, but a little interesting, being very much irritated by what happened in the House of Commons. He does not care about the money, but he is much shocked and exasperated by the disrespect of the thing, as he well may.
I do not yet know the exact day of their departure, but I suppose it will be on the 5th, to be able to cross on the 6th. I have already had some conversation with him, and mean to talk _a fond_ to him to-morrow. My wish is to see you both happy and thoroughly united and of one mind, and I trust that both of you will ever find in me a faithful, honest, and attached friend.
As it is eleven o"clock at night, I offer you my respects, and remain, ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
Your poor Aunt fainted this morning; she is much given to this, but it was rather too long to-day.
[Pageheading: AMIABILITY OF THE PRINCE]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _4th February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I have now treated all the questions you wished me to touch upon with Albert, and I was much pleased with his amiable disposition. At a certain distance explanations by letter are next to impossible, and each party in the end thinks the other unreasonable.
When he arrived he was rather exasperated about various things, and pretty full of grievances. But our conversations have dissipated these clouds, and now there will only remain the new parliamentary events and consequences, which change a good deal of what one could reasonably have foreseen or arranged. You will best treat these questions now verbally. Albert is quick, not obstinate, in conversation, and open to conviction if good arguments are brought forward. When he thinks himself right he only wishes to have it _proved_ that he _misunderstands_ the case, to give it up without ill-humour. He is not inclined to be sulky, but I think that he may be rendered a little melancholy if he thinks himself unfairly or unjustly treated, but being together and remaining together, there _never_ can arise, I hope, any occasion for any disagreement even on trifling subjects.... Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _8th February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--This letter will arrive when I trust you will be most happily occupied; I don"t mean therefore to trespa.s.s on your time.
May Heaven render you as happy as I always wished you to be, and as I always tried hard to see you. There is every prospect of it, and I am sure you will be mistress in that respect of your own _avenir_.
_Perfect confidence_ will best ensure and consolidate this happiness.
Our rule in poor Charlotte"s time was never to permit _one single day_ to pa.s.s over _ein Missverstandniss_, however trifling it might be.[8]
I must do Charlotte the justice to say that she kept this compact most religiously, and at times even more so than myself, as in my younger days I was sometimes inclined to be sulky and silently displeased.
With this rule no misunderstandings can take root and be increased or complicated by new ones being added to the old. Albert is gentle and open to reason; all will therefore always be easily explained, and he is determined never to be occupied but by what is important or useful to you....
Now I conclude, with my renewed warmest and sincerest good wishes for you, ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD.
[Footnote 8: _(From an unpublished Contemporary Memoir by Admiral Sir William Hotham, G.C.B.)_
"Her Royal Highness was now and then apt to give way to a high flow of animal spirits, natural at her time of life, and from carelessness more than unkindness to ridicule others. In one of these sallies of inconsiderate mirth, she perceived the Prince, sombre and cold, taking no apparent notice of what was going on, or if he did, evidently displeased. She at length spoke to him about it, and he at once manifested reluctance to join in the conversation, saying that though he had been a tolerably apt scholar in many things, he had yet to learn in England what pleasure was derived from the exercise of that faculty he understood to be called "quizzing"; that he could by no means reconcile it to himself according to any rule either of good breeding or benevolence. The tears instantly started in her eye, and feeling at once the severity and justice of the reproof, a.s.sured him most affectionately that, as it was the first time she had ever merited His Royal Highness"s reproof on this subject, she a.s.sured him most solemnly it should be the last."]
[Pageheading: THE WEDDING-DAY]
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._[9]
_10th February 1840._
DEAREST,--... How are you to-day, and have you slept well? I have rested very well, and feel very comfortable to-day. What weather! I believe, however, the rain will cease.
Send one word when you, my most dearly loved bridegroom, will be ready. Thy ever-faithful,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 9: A note folded in _billet_ form, to be taken by hand. Addressed:
"HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE.
"THE QUEEN."
This was the day of their marriage at the Chapel Royal. After the wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace they drove to Windsor, and on the 14th they returned to London.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th February 1840._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I write to you from here, the happiest, happiest Being that ever existed. Really, I do not think it _possible_ for any one in the world to be _happier_, or AS happy as I am. He is an Angel, and his kindness and affection for me is really touching. To look in those dear eyes, and that dear sunny face, is enough to make me adore him. What I can do to make him happy will be my greatest delight.
Independent of my great personal happiness, the reception we both met with yesterday was the most gratifying and enthusiastic I ever experienced; there was no end of the crowds in London, and all along the road. I was a good deal tired last night, but am quite well again to-day, and happy....
My love to dear Louise. Ever your affectionate,
VICTORIA R.
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _21st February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I am more grateful than I can express that, notwithstanding your many _empechements_ and occupations, you still found a little moment to write to me. News from you are always most precious to me, and now almost more than ever. This is such an important moment in your life, it will so much decide how the remainder is to be, that I am deeply interested in all I can hear on the subject. Hitherto, with the exception of your own dear and Royal self, I have not been spoiled, _et j"ai puise beaucoup de mes nouvelles_ in the _Times_ and such like sources.