VI, Footnote 71)] [Pageheading: THE FRENCH IN AFRICA] _The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._ TRIANON, _27th October 1837._ ...

Political matters I shall not touch upon to-day; there is nothing very particular except the taking of Constantin.[74] The Duc de Nemours has greatly distinguished himself.

I am sorry to see that in England people are sometimes _sufficiently absurd_ to be jealous of these French conquests.

Nothing indeed can be more absurd, as nothing is of greater _importance to the peace_ of Europe than that a powerful and military nation like the French should have this outlet for their love of military display.

If one had named a council of wise men to fix upon a spot where this might be done with _the least mischief_ to the rest of the world, one should have named the coast of Africa.