This communication of Queen Isabella to Queen Victoria is to this day wholly unrevealed.
With regard to Leopold's annuity (which I explained in the 'Edinburgh Review'), it was not only secured by act of Parliament, but by treaty; for there was a regular treaty of marriage concluded between Prince Leopold and the Crown of England on his marriage with the Princess Charlotte.
The intrigues going on with reference to Belgium, both in France and in Holland, during the Polignac Ministry have been alluded to in a former page. [Footnote: Ante, pp. 111-12.] But it is less generally known that at this same time, the Prince of Orange, afterwards William II., was intriguing to form a party to place him on the throne of France in the event of the overthrow of the Bourbons.
He spent thirty or forty millions of francs in bribing officers of the army and others, which was the cause of his subsequent embarrassment and debts. The French found the plot out, and demanded of the King of Holland that the Prince should be signally punished. He was accordingly deprived of his command and of his rank in the army, and even for a time arrested and put in confinement. He then found out that his French adherents had only been deluding him to get his money.
December 4th.—To Teddesley. Shooting there. Thence to Crewe, to meet Lady Egerton of Tatton.
12th.—Henry Greville died. To Farnborough. I determined to publish the Greville Journals.
To Bracknell to see the Winkfield land; and to Timsbury for Christmas.
1873.—At Bournemouth early in January, about the house. To London on January 11th.
January 25th.—Lord Lytton's funeral in Westminster Abbey.
February 14th.—Dined at Harvie Farquhar's. He was one of C. Greville's executors, and was curious about the Journals.