You have given me so many proofs of affection, and your kind speech at Windsor is so fresh in my memory, that it would be _very wrong_ in me to think that in so short a time, and without any cause, those feelings which are so _precious_ to me could have changed.

This makes me appeal to those sentiments.
The independent existence of the Provinces which form this Kingdom has always been an object of importance to England; the surest proof of it is, that for centuries England has made the greatest sacrifices of blood and treasure for that object.

The last time I saw the late King at Windsor, in 1836, he said to me: "If ever France or any other Power invades your country, it will be a question of immediate war for England; we cannot suffer that." I answered him I was happy to hear him speak so, as I also did not want any foreign Power to invade us....
All I want from your kind Majesty is, that you will _occasionally_ express to your Ministers, and particularly to good Lord Melbourne, that, as far as it is _compatible_ with the interests _of your own_ dominions, you do _not_ wish that your Government should take the _lead_ in such measures as might in a short time bring on the _destruction_ of this country, as well as that of your uncle and his family.
Europe has enjoyed ever since 1833, in our part of it, a state of _profound peace_ and real happiness and prosperity.

None can deny that the measures which I adopted to organise this country have greatly contributed to this happy state of affairs; this makes me think that the changes which are to take place should be brought about in a _very gentle manner_....
I am sorry to have you to listen to so much about politics, but it is not my fault; I wished nothing so much as _to be left alone_.

I shall do all I can to bring about a good conclusion, but it must not be forgotten that these seven years _all the dangers, all the trouble_, fell constantly to _my share_....
Now I will make haste to conclude, and remain ever, my dearest Victoria, your truly devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 17: The execution of the treaty of 1831, called the Twenty-four Articles, assigning part of Luxemburg to Holland, had been reluctantly agreed to by Leopold, but the King of Holland withheld his assent for seven years.] [Pageheading: ANGLO-BELGIAN RELATIONS] [Pageheading: PROGRESS OF BELGIUM] _Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._ BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th June 1838._ MY DEAREST UNCLE,--It is indeed a long while since I have written to you, and I fear you will think me very lazy; but I must in turn say, dearest Uncle, that your silence was longer than mine, and that it grieved me, and _m'a beaucoup peinee_.