"There's something in [Hamlet's] soul / O'er which his melancholy sits on brood, / And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose / Will be some danger; which for to prevent, / I have in quick determination / Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England / For demand of our neglected tribute. / Haply the seas, and countries different, / With variable objects, shall expel / This something-settled matter in his heart" (Shakespeare 3.1.178-187)
King Claudius was listening to what Hamlet was saying to Ophelia, when something Hamlet said caught his ear. Hamlet said, "Those that are married already, / all but one, shall live" (3.1.160-161). After hearing this, plus everything else Hamlet said about being depressed,not being in love with Ophelia, etc, Claudius believes that Hamlet may know that he killed Hamlet's father. Claudius grows fearful of this revelation, and as a result, he quickly plans a way to get Hamlet out of his life. His solution: sending Hamlet to England, where he will be fay away from Claudius, and will be unable to exact his revenge on him. The King says to Polonius that he hopes Hamlet will calm down and forget about whatever is troubling him if he's out of Denmark, but Claudius conceals the fact that he believes he knows why Hamlet is so depressed. However, will Claudius be able to send Hamelt to England, or will Hamlet find a way to stay in Denmark?
This passage also develops Claudius's character as a coward; he inconspicuously kills King Hamlet to take the crown, and when he believes his cover is blown, he cowers behind a "plan" to save himself. He too much of a coward to do something proactive to rid himself of this problem he has. I've got a feeling that Claudius's cowardice will come back to haunt him further on in the play.
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