The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-27 00:00:00

LOUIS PHILIPPE.

TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE FRENCH.
Madrid, June 23, 1846.
My very dear Uncle,—l received yesterday, by M.
Bresson, the letter which your Majesty had the good-
ness to address to me, dated the 16th of the present
month. It, every time that I receive these marks of
your goodness, I feel the most lively satisfaction, I can-
not conceal from you, my dear uncle, that this, which I
have just received, has at this time proved to me a
great source of bitterness, because I perceive by your
word that your heart has been irritated and wounded
by the language and the controversy which has arisen
in the different journals, in consequence of the article
written by my secretary, M. Rubio. His motive in
writing that article was pure. He would never have
written if a deputy (sic), who has the fortune to ap-
proach you, and to be your minister, had not dared to
pronounce, in the Chambor of Deputies of France, words
which could be interpreted here in a sense very unsatis-
factory to myself.
You know, my dear uncle, the preference which we
had given to my brother Trapani was the result of the
conferences at En; and it was to this fact, too well
known, that M. Rubio wished to refer, and not to other
matters, for he knows how to respect kings and royal
persons as a good and true Spaniard.
You have had the goodness, my dear uncle, to recal to
me the different conversations we have had en famille
respecting the marriage of my daughter. Our hearts
were there open. Your niece spoke there with all the
freedom that your goodness and friendship permitted to
her.
Yes, I recollect with sorrow that it was there
I was made to perceive the utter impossibility of a
marriage between my daughter and one of the princes
of your family. In such a union I thought I could see
the happiness of my Isabella; and it was only
her happiness and that of Spain which I sought,
and shall seek, in her marriage. A prince who
may render both. Spain and my daughter happy,
was and is my principle. If a Bourbon com-
bines these qualities, I prefer him; if not, I
should prefer another Prince; for it is my duty to con-
sider this question as a mother and a Spaniard. I doubt
not that your excellent heart as a father, and your love
for France, will make you recognize the justice of these
sentiments in the heart of a mother and of a Spaniard;
and that you may be sure no other interests, no hostile
feelings, could make your niece act in the manner that it
. has been endeavoured to make you believe. A Catholic
Prince, religious, moral, educated, is what I desire for
my Isabella, provided she be content with the choice,
for I do not conceive that a mother has a right to inter.
fere with her daughter's freedom in such circumstances.
I appeal to your excellent heart if you can do otherwise.
You tell me in your letter that neither you nor your
Government have ever had any thought of imposing
anything either upon the Queen, upon Spain, or myself;
and that it was in the way of advice for our interests,
and for the interests of Spain and France, that you told
me that the marriage of my daughter should be with a
Bourbon. I shall be very happy if those interest can be
conciliated, for I yield to no one in a desire to see the
two nations prosper, always united.
I thank your Majesty for the sentiments you have
expressed towards my children, and I offer to you their
homage. Believe, my dear uncle, the affectionate senti-
ments with which I subscribe myself your most affec-
tionate and dutiful niece,