My dearest Victoria,—I have to offer my affectionate thanks for a most gracious and long letter of the 2nd.
Within these days we have not had anything very important, but, generally speaking, there has been, at least in appearance, a quieter disposition in the ruling power at Paris. We are here in the awkward position of persons in hot climates, who find themselves in company, for instance in their beds, with a snake; they must not move, because that irritates the creature, but they can hardly remain as they are, without a fair chance of being bitten.... Your devoted Uncle,
Leopold R.
Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Osborne, 9th March 1852.
My dearest Uncle,—Your dear letter of the 5th reached me just after we arrived here, at our sweet, peaceful little abode.
It seems that Louis Napoleon's mind is chiefly engrossed with measures for the interior of France, and that the serious question of Switzerland is becoming less menacing. On the other hand, Austria behaves with a hostility, and I must say folly, which prevents all attempts at reconciliation. All the admirers of Austria consider Prince Schwartzenberg21 a madman, and the Emperor Nicholas said that he was "Lord Palmerston in a white uniform." What a calamity this is at the present moment!
We have a most talented, capable, and courageous Prime Minister, but all his people have no experience—have never been in any sort of office before!
On Friday the House of Commons meets again, and I doubt not great violence will be displayed.