POTTER United Families

his possessions in Flanders to promote Belgian renewal. By April
1826, Louis married Sophie Van Weydeveldt who was the daughter
of a Bruges textile craftsman.
Louis' independent attitude no doubt enhanced his popularity with
the Protestant administration. Not only did he dine with Secretary of
State Falck, he had been a schoolmate of Van Gobbelschroy, now
the Minister of the Interior, and knew well baron Goubau, king
William's Director of Catholic worship.
In Brussels, Louis socialized with other young liberals who were
sympathetic towards the government. Three of these men were
Philippe Lesbroussart, Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet, and
Sylvain Van De Weyer. King William had instituted a Museum of
Sciences and Letters in Brussels where these men were teaching.
Lesbroussart, friend of Louis, was a professor of French literature;
Van De Weyer, legal advisor from Leuven, became the Head librarian
of Brussels as well as the lawyer of Louis, next to Gendebien.
Van De Weyer's career was linked closely to Louis' curriculum, as the
latter says: "Mr. Van de Weyer, first my devoted friend, then my
heartful lawyer when in prison, then agile colleague when running the
country, then political opponent forever when separating and finally,
opportunistic ambassador” (who eventually emigrated in a British
colony island where he became vice-king).
In April 1826, Louis, Van De Weyer, Lesbroussart, Quetelet, Smits,
Tielemans, Van Meenen and four others founded "The Belgian
Society for Instruction of Morale and Literature", which was
interested in literature and philosophy. Minister Van Meenen, friend
of Louis although fourteen years older than him, was an attorney and
journalist of “The Observer”, with which Louis corresponded.
The Society then formed a Hellenic philosophy committee at the
urging of Van De Weyer, and organized some demonstrations to raise
217