Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

The recent publication OF Queen VIC
toria's political letters with her uncle.
Leopold I. her intimate
Political counsellor (1s37-1S61). has
excited great interest in
Europe and especially IN
England and France. The correspondence
is doubly important in that it is Sc
lection Of letters of a political character
made under the authority and patronage
of King Edward VII. The publication
fs designed not only as a sidelight upon
the political history of events OF the time'
but as a tribute to the marked personal
ity Of Queen Victoria, her foresight. sa-
gacity, perseverance and sympathies. More
over, the purpose Of King Edward is TO
strengthen the recent reconciliation pc
tween France and England by recalling
the ties that bound them prior TO an
interval of estrangement and hostility.
Edward, Duke Of Kent, fourth son OF
George III, it may be recalled. married
in 1915. Mary Louise Victoria the sister
Of Prince Leopold Of Sake Coburg. VINO
became in 1881 Leopold I. King OF BeI-
GUM, which explains the relationship oe-
tween the uncle and niece whose letters
are now attracting universal attention.
King Leopold's first letter in his role
of counsellor to the future queen, is
dated Lacken. May 81, 1898: You are
now IOuTtoen years. lou ldSC iiSSo az
a moment when the delicious pastime Of
adolescence should be mixed with renee
lions which belong already to ripper age.
I know that you have studied diligently,
but the moment has come when 1t is
necessary to form your judgment and
character, bearing in mind that the young
tree preserves the shape 1t takes during
all its life.
'The situation of those who belong to
what is known as the grand monde, mas
become Of late extremely difficult. Iney
are attacked. illuminated and judged
with less Indulgence than others. Since
the revolution o. 1893 they are less Sc
cure than formerly and the fall from su-
preme power to, entire misery has been
as frequent as unexpected. In conse-
uuence it is necessary that the character
be strengthened that you may neither be
dazzled by grandeur nor cast down by
misfortune. To arrive at such a point 1t
is necessary to appreciate things at their
real value and particularly to avoid at
taeting to bagatelles too much import
ance."
The King of Belgium writes few days
later to the Princess Victoria. expressing
his stupefaction at the con-
Matrimonial duct Of the old kings invi-
nost~rs tation to the Prince OF
Orange and his sons.
Now Leopold I had set his mind upon
the marriage OF the Princess Victoria to
his cousin Prince Albert of Coburg. With
this object in view he had arranged that
Prince Albert and his brother Ernest
should visit the Duchess of Kent, the
mother Of the Princess Victoria, at Ken
sington Palace. King William opposed
this project and favored the candidacy OF
Prince Alexander, the youngest son or the
Prince of Orange. King William, IN
deed, had declared that no other marriage
should take place and that the Duke OF
Sake Coburg and his sons should not be
permitted to land in England, but turned
back whence they came. Leopold was
indignant and expressed the hope that
such an incident might serve as a wnip-
lash to your courage. now, adds tne
the British colonies, / do not see why
you should remain little English white
Slave, and that for the pleasure OF the
court, that never bought you, and so Tar
as know, never expended any great sums
upon you" o..
. On the 10th Of October, 1889. the prin-
cess. who was crowned queen in 1881.
writes her uncle from Windsor Castle:
my Dear Uncle: This letter l am sure
will give you pleasure, for you have al
WAYS given me proof of the interest you
take in all that concerns me. l am abso-
lutely decided. and told Albert SO this
morning. The ardent affection which he
showed in learning it gave me great
pleasure.
in prospect great happiness. love him
more than can tell. and will do all in
nv power to render the sacrifice he
makes (for in my mind 1t Is sacrihce)
as light as possible. He seems to possess
great tact, quality singularly necessary IN
his situation. These last days have passed
as a dream and I am so overcome that l
can scarcely write, but l am very, very
happy"
King Leopold. writing from Wesbaden.
October oath that his very dear Victoria
will flnd in Albert all the qualities which
will accord with her temperament and her
manner Of life. 1t is true, as she says,
Albert makes sacrifices, for his position
will be a delicate one, but all VIII de-
pend upon her affection for him.
Here Is a letter which is interesting in
the maximum degree, as showing that
Great Britain did not
Egyptian drift" into Egypt alto
n.,. gether, through the folly
and inanity of French pol
lev. but from a certain method that dates
from 1910. II not much earlier. The queen
declares that she would name her first
DOTH 1uICO>EBJPSos
The letter in question is dated WINDSOR
Castle, October 10, 1910: "My Dear Uncle:
Following the two dispatches from Theirs
1t was decided that Palmerston should
write to Lord Ponsonby to urge the porte
not to desooil definitely Mohammed Ally
of Egypt, and think that the other for
eign ministers at Constantinople will re-
ceive the same instructions.
IT find that our child should have. In
addition to his other names. those of
TurcoLEgypto, for we think Of nothing
else. I had short conversation with
Palmerston on Wednesday. and also with
Russell" Was this simple pleasantly ?
Or was 1t seriously contemplated. as the
translator would have it appear?
It is to be remarked in the above con-
nection that Mohamrned Ally was not to
be despoiled definitely. which clearly in
dieates decision to despoil later, spolia-
ton which was accomplished finally in
1882 and which Is now, after twenty
five years of British occupation of Egypt
q fact against which all Egypt Is protest.
ing and will continue to protest.
It should be remarked for the intelli-
gent appreciation of the reader that on
the 10Th OF July, 1910, an agreement had
been signed in London by the representa-
tives OF England, Russia, Austria and
Prussia In order to address an ultimatum
to the viceroy Of Egypt.
The King Of Belgium writes to the
queen from St. Cloud July 90, 1s40 that
the secret manner in the Turko- Egyptian