Your Majesty may think this a small matter, but the Duke is a small Sovereign.
[Footnote 16: For many years Sardinian Minister in England.] [Footnote 17: Lucca was an independent Italian State.] [Pageheading: PORTUGAL] _Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ _9th March 1839._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and feels very deeply the very kind and gracious concern which your Majesty expresses for his health, as well as your Majesty's solicitude and interest upon all occasions.

Lord Melbourne will take your Majesty's advice, but his experience teaches him that illness is not so easily put off, and that it will have its course in spite of precaution....
Lord Melbourne thinks, upon the whole, that your Majesty had perhaps better write by messenger a few lines of kindness and recollection.
It can be no descent on your Majesty's part to do so, and as we may be obliged to take very strong measures with respect to Portugal, it is as well that there should be no appearance of any deficiency of affection or attention.

Lord Melbourne [thinks] that, for the reason given by your Majesty, your Majesty may perhaps as well not go to the play this evening, but is very sorry to hear that your Majesty is low and out of spirits.
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._ BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _14th March 1839._ MY DEAR UNCLE,--Many thanks for two letters, one which I received last Sunday, and the other enclosing a letter from Stockmar this morning.

I am glad you agree with me about Victoire.[18] Since I wrote to you, I got these two letters from the Portuguese children--as I disrespectfully but very deservedly call them--which I send you, in order that you may see how they wish Victoire to come to them, which I fear and think is totally impracticable, for it would never do for Victoire to go so far without her mother.

Nevertheless, I thought it but right by them to send you these letters, and I have written to them giving them little hope.
The French Ministry are gone, and I am sure the poor King will be much vexed by it.