Lord Melbourne went to the Palace about half-past four, but learning from the porter at the gate that your Majesty was not returned, went away thinking that there was not left time to see your Majesty before the House of Lords.
Lord Melbourne is very much concerned that your Majesty should have hastened at all, and most earnestly requests your Majesty never will do so upon his account.

Lord Melbourne hears with great pleasure that your Majesty has had a pleasant ride, and likes your horse.
Lord Melbourne is very well himself, and will wait upon your Majesty to-morrow morning about ten minutes before ten.
[Pageheading: FAVOURITE HORSES] _Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._ BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th April 1838._ MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I received your kind letter of the 5th on Sunday, and return you my best thanks for it.

I shall, before I say another word, answer your question about the horses which I ride, which I do the more willingly as I have got two _darlings_, if I may use that word.

They are, both of them, _quite perfect_ in every sense of the word; _very handsome_, full of _spirit_, delightful easy-goers, very quiet, and _never_ shying at anything.

Is not this perfection?
The one called _Tartar_ (which belonged to Lord Conyngham), an Irish horse, is a very dark brown, a beautiful creature; the other, which Lord Uxbridge[11] got for me, is called _Uxbridge_; he is smaller than Tartar, and is a dark chestnut, with a beautiful little Arabian head.