I am happy to take this opportunity of again expressing to you my firm determination to maintain the Church of England as settled at the Reformation, and my firm belief in her Articles and Creeds, as hitherto understood and interpreted by her soundest divines." Nothing could go off better than the dinner.

Everybody was much pleased with the Prince.
Lord Melbourne is not conscious of having slept.[41] [Footnote 41: It seems that some one had told the Queen that Lord Melbourne had fallen asleep at dinner.] [Pageheading: FEELING IN FRANCE] _The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._ BRUSSELS, _20th May 1841._ MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I receive this very moment your dear letter of the 18th, and without loss of time I begin my answer here, though the messenger can only go to-morrow.

I cannot _sufficiently_ express to you my _gratitude_ for the frankness with which you have written to me--and let me entreat you, whenever you have anything _sur le c[oe]ur_, to _do the same_.

I shall begin with your postscript concerning the idea that I wished your present Ministers to retire, because they had become disagreeable to France.

The people who _avancent quelque chose de la sorte_ probably have some ill-natured motive which it is not always easy to guess; perhaps in the present instance does it mean, let us say, _that ?_ whatever opinion he may then express we can easily counteract it, representing it as the result of _strong partiality to France_.