The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.
Laeken, 8th January 1841.
... I trust also that affairs will come right; what is to be feared is the chapter of accidents. Your name bears glorious fruits in all climes; this globe will soon be too small for you, and something must be done to get at the other planets....
Memorandum—Mr Anson.
THE QUEEN'S EDUCATION
Windsor Castle, 15th January 1841.
Lord Melbourne said, "The Prince is bored with the sameness of his chess every evening. He would like to bring literary and scientific people about the Court, vary the society, and infuse a more useful tendency into it. The Queen however has no fancy to encourage such people. This arises from a feeling on her part that her education has not fitted her to take part in such conversation; she would not like conversation to be going on in which she could not take her fair share, and she is far too open and candid in her nature to pretend to one atom more knowledge than she really possesses on such subjects; and yet, as the world goes, she would, as any girl, have been considered accomplished, for she speaks German well and writes it; understands Italian, speaks French fluently, and writes it with great elegance. In addition to this old Davys instilled some Latin into her during his tutorship. The rest of her education she owes to her own natural shrewdness and quickness, and this perhaps has not been the proper education for one who was to wear the Crown of England.
"The Queen is very proud of the Prince's utter indifference to the attractions of all ladies. I told Her Majesty that these were early days to boast, which made her rather indignant. I think she is a little jealous of his talking much even to men."
Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH