27th November 1839.
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty....
A little civility would be well bestowed upon Lord and Lady Tankerville, and might not be without its effect, but if your Majesty does not like it, it cannot be helped.
The others also shall, if possible, be kept in good humour.
The misrepresentation, respecting Prince Alexander72 your Majesty will see corrected in the Morning Chronicle of that morning, but of course your Majesty will not expect that this contradiction will put an end to bitter and offensive remarks. It will now be said that, knowing the true religion, he has given over his children to the false, and that he has sacrificed their eternal welfare to his own worldly objects.73 There is nothing which cannot be turned in an hostile and malignant manner by malignant and perverted ingenuity.
Can your Majesty inform Lord Melbourne what is the arrangement respecting King Leopold's children? They are, Lord Melbourne presumes, to be brought up Roman Catholics.
Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes to hear that your Majesty is better and more free from pain. He is himself very well.
Footnote 72: Prince Alexander of Würtemberg.
Footnote 73: See ante, p. [150.]