CHAPTER VI.
1837 _The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._ _16th January 1837._ MY DEAREST UNCLE,-- ...

We saw Van de Weyer[1] on Tuesday, and his conversation was most interesting.

He praises our dear Ferdinand most exceedingly, but as for the poor Queen, what he told us does not redound much to her credit; one good quality, however, she has, which is her excessive fondness for and real _obedience_ to Ferdinand.

She is unfortunately surrounded by a _camarilla_[2] who poison her ears, and fetter all her actions; poor soul! she is _much_ to be pitied.
About Lavradio[3] you will also have, I fear, heard but too much.
Honesty and single-heartedness seems to have left Portugal.

Van de Weyer is so clear in all that he says, so sensible, so quiet, so clever, and, last but not least, so agreeable; I hope we shall soon see him again.