The worst symptom which Lord Melbourne perceives is the general fear which seems to prevail there, and which makes every danger ten times as great as it really is.
[Footnote 34: The birth of an heir on 16th September 1837 conferred on Prince Ferdinand the right to the title of King.] [Footnote 35: See _ante_, p.131.

(Ch VII, Footnote 30)] [Footnote 36: Lord Duncannon (1781-1847), at this time Lord Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests, was afterwards (as Earl of Bessborough) Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.

He must not be confused with the Lord Dungannon who sat in the House of Commons as Mr Hill-Trevor from 1830-1841, and, as Viscount Dungannon, was elected in 1843, but immediately unseated on petition.] [Pageheading: BELGIUM AND ENGLAND] _The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._ LAEKEN, _24th November 1838._ MY DEAR VICTORIA,--Van Praet[37] is bearer of this letter.

The present moment being one of some importance--which may, if imprudently managed, cause great disturbances in the West of Europe, and exercise a reaction on your own Government--I think it my duty to inform you of what is going on.
I join a copy of a letter to Lord Palmerston.

I should feel obliged to you if you would read it _in the presence_ of good Lord Melbourne, in whose fairness and sense of justice I must say I feel great confidence....
I will not complain, only one subject I must touch upon as really very unfair.