A Transcriber's Note is at the end of the book. 

 * * * * *

[Illustration: QUEEN VICTORIA RECEIVING THE NEWS OF HER ACCESSION TOTHE THRONE, JUNE 20, 1837

From the picture by H. T. Wells, R. A. , at Buckingham Palace

_Frontispiece, Vol. I. _]

THE LETTERS OFQUEEN VICTORIA

A SELECTION FROM HER MAJESTY'SCORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE YEARS1837 AND 1861

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OFHIS MAJESTY THE KING

EDITED BY ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, M. A. AND VISCOUNT ESHER, G. C. V. O. , K. C. B. 

IN THREE VOLUMES

VOL. I. --1837-1843

LONDONJOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1908

_Copyright in Great Britain and Dependencies, 1907, by_ H. M. THE KING. 

_In the United States by_ Messrs LONGMANS, GREEN & CO. 

_All rights reserved. _

PREFACE

Entrusted by His Majesty the King with the duty of making a selectionfrom Queen Victoria's correspondence, we think it well to describebriefly the nature of the documents which we have been privileged toexamine, as well as to indicate the principles which have guided usthroughout. It has been a task of no ordinary difficulty. Her MajestyQueen Victoria dealt with her papers, from the first, in a mostmethodical manner; she formed the habit in early days of preservingher private letters, and after her accession to the Throne all herofficial papers were similarly treated, and bound in volumes. ThePrince Consort instituted an elaborate system of classification, annotating and even indexing many of the documents with his own hand. The result is that the collected papers form what is probably the mostextraordinary series of State documents in the world. The papers whichdeal with the Queen's life up to the year 1861 have been boundin chronological order, and comprise between five and six hundredvolumes. They consist, in great part, of letters from Ministersdetailing the proceedings of Parliament, and of various politicalmemoranda dealing with home, foreign, and colonial policy; among theseare a few drafts of Her Majesty's replies. There are volumes concernedwith the affairs of almost every European country; with the historyof India, the British Army, the Civil List, the Royal Estates, and allthe complicated machinery of the Monarchy and the Constitution. Thereare letters from monarchs and royal personages, and there is furthera whole series of volumes dealing with matters in which thePrince Consort took a special interest. Some of them are arrangedchronologically, some by subjects. Among the most interesting volumesare those containing the letters written by Her Majesty to her uncleLeopold, King of the Belgians, and his replies. [1] The collectionof letters from and to Lord Melbourne forms another hardly lessinteresting series. In many places Queen Victoria caused extracts, copied from her own private Diaries, dealing with important politicalevents or describing momentous interviews, to be inserted in thevolumes, with the evident intention of illustrating and completing therecord. 

 [Footnote 1: A set of volumes containing the Queen's letters to Lord John Russell came into our hands too late to be made use of for the present publication. ]

It became obvious at once that it was impossible to deal with thesepapers exhaustively. They would provide material for a historicalseries extending to several hundred volumes. Moreover, on the otherhand, there are many gaps, as a great deal of the business of Statewas transacted by interviews of which no official record is preserved. 

His Majesty the King having decided that no attempt should be made topublish these papers _in extenso_, it was necessary to determine uponsome definite principle of selection. It became clear that the onlysatisfactory plan was to publish specimens of such documents aswould serve to bring out the development of the Queen's character anddisposition, and to give typical instances of her methods in dealingwith political and social matters--to produce, in fact, a book forBritish citizens and British subjects, rather than a book forstudents of political history. That the inner working of the unwrittenconstitution of the country; that some of the unrealised checks andbalances; that the delicate equipoise of the component parts of ourexecutive machinery, should stand revealed, was inevitable. We havethought it best, throughout, to abstain from unnecessary comment andillustration. The period is so recent, and has been so often traversedby historians and biographers, that it appeared to us a waste ofvaluable space to attempt to reconstruct the history of the yearsfrom which this correspondence has been selected, especially as SirTheodore Martin, under the auspices of the Queen herself, has dealt sominutely and exhaustively with the relations of the Queen's innermostcircle to the political and social life of the time. It is tempting, of course, to add illustrative anecdotes from the abundant Biographiesand Memoirs of the period; but our aim has been to infringe as littleas possible upon the space available for the documents themselves, and to provide just sufficient comment to enable an ordinary reader, without special knowledge of the period, to follow the course ofevents, and to realise the circumstances under which the Queen'schildhood was passed, the position of affairs at the time of heraccession, and the personalities of those who had influenced her inearly years, or by whom she was surrounded. 

The development of the Queen's character is clearly indicated in thepapers, and it possesses an extraordinary interest. We see one ofhighly vigorous and active temperament, of strong affections, and witha deep sense of responsibility, placed at an early age, and after aquiet girlhood, in a position the greatness of which it is impossibleto exaggerate. We see her character expand and deepen, schooled bymighty experience into patience and sagacity and wisdom, and yet neverlosing a particle of the strength, the decision, and the devotion withwhich she had been originally endowed. Up to the year 1861 theQueen's career was one of unexampled prosperity. She was happy in hertemperament, in her health, in her education, in her wedded life, inher children. She saw a great Empire grow through troubled times inliberty and power and greatness; yet this prosperity brought with itno shadow of complacency, because the Queen felt with an increasingdepth the anxieties and responsibilities inseparable from her greatposition. Her happiness, instead of making her self-absorbed, onlyquickened her beneficence and her womanly desire that her subjectsshould be enabled to enjoy a similar happiness based upon the samesimple virtues. Nothing comes out more strongly in these documentsthan the laborious patience with which the Queen kept herself informedof the minutest details of political and social movements both in herown and other countries. 

It is a deeply inspiring spectacle to see one surrounded by everytemptation which worldly greatness can present, living from day today so simple, vivid, and laborious a life; and it is impossible toconceive a more fruitful example of duty and affection and energy, displayed on so august a scale, and in the midst of such magnificentsurroundings. We would venture to believe that nothing could so deepenthe personal devotion of the Empire to the memory of that great Queenwho ruled it so wisely and so long, and its deeply-rooted attachmentto the principle of constitutional monarchy, as the gracious act ofHis Majesty the King in allowing the inner side of that noble life andcareer to be more clearly revealed to a nation whose devotion to theirancient liberties is inseparably connected with their loyalty to theThrone. 

EDITORIAL NOTE

Our special thanks, for aid in the preparation of these volumes, aredue to Viscount Morley of Blackburn, who has read and criticisedthe book in its final form; to Mr J. W. Headlam, of the Board ofEducation, and formerly Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, for muchvaluable assistance in preparing the prefatory historical memoranda;to Mr W. F. Reddaway, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, forrevision and advice throughout, in connection with the introductionsand annotations; to Lord Knollys, for criticism of selected materials;to Lord Stanmore, for the loan of valuable documents; to Dr EugeneOswald, for assistance in translation; to Mr C. C. Perry and M. G. Hua, for verification of French and German documents; to Miss BerthaWilliams, for unremitting care and diligence in preparing the volumesfor press; to Mr John Murray, our publisher, for his unfailingpatience and helpfulness; and especially to Mr Hugh Childers, forhis ungrudging help in the preparation of the Introductory annualsummaries, and in the political and historical annotation, as well asfor his invaluable co-operation at every stage of the work. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Ancestry of Queen Victoria--Houses of Brunswick, Hanover, and Coburg--Family connections--The English Royal Family--The Royal Dukes--Dukeof Cumberland--Family of George III. --Political position of the Queen(Pages 1-7)

CHAPTER II

Queen Victoria's early years--Duke and Duchess of Kent--Parliamentarygrant to Duchess of Kent--The Queen of Würtemberg--George IV. And thePrincess--Visits to Windsor--Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld--Education of the Princess--The Duchess of Kent's letter to theBishops--Religious instruction--Result of examination--Speech byDuchess of Kent--The Princess's reminiscences of Claremont--William IV. And the Princess--The accession--Queen Victoria's character andtemperament--Her sympathy with the middle classes (Pages 8-21)

CHAPTER III

Queen Victoria's relations and friends--King Leopold's influence--Queen Adelaide--Baroness Lehzen--Baron Stockmar (Pages 22-26)

CHAPTER IV1821-1835

Observations on the correspondence with King Leopold and others--Firstletter received by Queen Victoria--Her first letter to Prince Leopold--Birthday letters--King Leopold's description of his Queen--Hisvaluable advice--The Princess's visit to Hever Castle--King Leopold'sadvice as to reading, and the Princess's reply--New Year greeting--On autographs--The Princess's confirmation--King Leopold's advice asto honesty and sincerity (pages 27-42)

CHAPTER V1836

Visit of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg--Invitation to the Prince ofOrange--Arrival of Princes Ernest and Albert--The Princess'sappreciation of Prince Albert--King Leopold's advice as toconversation--Crisis in Spain--Farewell letter--The Princess and theChurch--Death of Charles X. --Abuse of King Leopold--Revolution atLisbon--The Princess's name--Newspaper attacks on King Leopold(pages 43-55)

CHAPTER VI1837

Spain and Portugal--Music with Princes Ernest and Albert--Parliamentary language and political passion--The throne of Greece--Queen of the Belgians' dowry--The English Press--The Princess'sestablishment--Young Belgian cousins--Irish Municipal Bill--WhigMinisters--Birthday rejoicings--King Leopold's advice andencouragement--Accession imminent--Condition of the King--Reliance onLord Melbourne--The Princess and the Church--The Accession--TheQueen's journal--Interview with Lord Melbourne--The Queen's firstCouncil--Letter from the King of the French--Congratulations fromKing Leopold--Nationality of the Queen--The Queen and her Ministers--Reflection advised--Baron Stockmar--Important subjects for study--Sister Queens--Letter from Queen Adelaide--Buckingham Palace--Madamede Lieven--Parliament prorogued--England and Russia--Discretion advised--Singing lessons--The elections--Prevalence of bribery--End of KingLeopold's visit--Reception at Brighton--Security of letters--Englandand France--France and the Peninsula--Count Molé--The French in Africa--Close of the session--Prince Albert's education--Canada--Armyestimates--Secretaries of State (pages 56-101)

CHAPTER VII1838

Lord Melbourne--Canada--Influence of the Crown--Daniel O'Connell--Position of Ministers of State in England and abroad--New Poor Law--Pressure of business--Prince Albert's education--Favourite horses--Deaths of old servants--The Coronation--Address from Bishops--Ballat Buckingham Palace--Independence and progress of Belgium--Anglo-Belgian relations--Foreign policy--Holland and Belgium--Coronation Day--Westminster Abbey--The enthronement--Receivinghomage--Popular enthusiasm--Coronation incidents--Pages of honour--Extra holidays for schools--Review in Hyde Park--Lord Durham andCanada--Government of Canada--Ireland and O'Connell--Death of LadyJohn Russell--The Queen's sympathy with Lord John Russell--Belgiumand English Government--Belgium and Holland--Canada--Resignation ofthe Earl of Durham--English Church for Malta--Disappointment of Dukeof Sussex--Brighton (pages 102-140)

CHAPTER VIII1839

Murder of Lord Norbury--Holland and Belgium--Dissension in the Cabinet--The Duke of Lucca--Portugal--Ireland and the Government--England andBelgium--Prince Albert's tour in Italy--Jamaica--Change of Ministryimminent--The Queen's distress--Interviews with the Duke of Wellingtonand Sir Robert Peel--Lord Melbourne on Sir Robert Peel--The Household--Proposed new Cabinet--Interview with Lord Melbourne--The Ladies ofthe Household and Sir Robert Peel--Reply to Sir Robert Peel--Resignation of Sir Robert Peel--The Queen's journal--Cabinet minute--Whigs resume office--Ball at Buckingham Palace--Lord John Russelland Sir Robert Peel--The Queen on the crisis--King Leopold's approval--The penny postage--The Queen and Prince Albert--Syria--England andthe Sultan--Proposed visit of King Louis Philippe--Preparing theQueen's speech--King Leopold's feeling for the Queen--Coming visit ofPrince Albert--Arrival of Princes Ernest and Albert--The Queen'sengagement to Prince Albert--Lord Melbourne's congratulations--KingLeopold's satisfaction--Austria and the Porte--The Queen's happiness--Queen Louise's congratulations--The Queen's letters to the RoyalFamily--The Prince's religion--Announcement to the Council--Marriagetreaty--Question of a peerage--English susceptibilities--Letter fromDonna Maria--Household appointments--Mayor of Newport knighted--Theword "Protestant"--The Prince's coat-of-arms--The Prince and Mr Anson--Appointment of Treasurer--The Prince and Lord Melbourne (pages 141-208)

CHAPTER IX1840

Letters to Prince Albert--Opening of Parliament--The Prince's grant--The Prince at Brussels--Marriage of the Queen and Prince--Publicenthusiasm--Plays in Lent--Debate on the Corn Laws--England and China--Disturbance at the Opera--Murder of Lord William Russell--Mrs Norton--Character of Princess Charlotte--English manners--Oxford's attempton the Queen's life--Egypt and the Four Powers--Prince Louis Napoleon--King Leopold at Wiesbaden--A threatened crisis--France and the East--A difficult question--Serious measures--Palmerston and France--Viewsof King Louis Philippe--Propositions for settlement--Attitude ofFrance--Pacific instructions--The Porte and Mehemet Ali--Bombardmentof Beyrout--Guizot and Thiers--Differing views--The Queen's influence--An anxious time--Attempt on life of King Louis Philippe--Negotiationwith France advised--Thiers more moderate--Death of Lord Holland--Change of Ministry in France--Importance of conciliation--ThePrince's name in the Prayer-book--King Leopold on Lord Palmerston--Birth of the Princess Royal--Settlement of Eastern Question(pages 209-252)

CHAPTER X1841

Letter to King Leopold--The Prince and literature--The speech from thethrone--Domestic happiness--Duke of Wellington's illness--England andthe United States--Operations in China--Lord Cardigan--Army discipline--The Nottingham election--The Budget--Irish Registration Bill--Sugarduties--Ministerial crisis--Lord Melbourne's advice--Dissolution orresignation--The Household question--Sir Robert Peel--Mr Anson'sintervention--Interview with Lord Melbourne--King Leopold's sympathy--The Corn Laws--The Queen's journal--The Prince's support--Furtherinterviews--Resignation postponed--The Queen and the Church--KingLeopold's advice--The Queen's impartiality--Difficulties removed--Voteof want of confidence--The country quiet--King Leopold's views--FiscalPolicy--Marriage of Lord John Russell--Visit to Nuneham--ArchbishopHarcourt--The Prince visits Oxford--Letter from Lord Brougham--Visitto Woburn Abbey--Lord Melbourne and the Garter--A dreaded moment--Debate on the Speech--Overwhelming majority--Resignation--Newarrangements--Parting with Lord Melbourne--The Prince in a newposition--The Queen and Sir Robert Peel--Lord Melbourne's opinion ofthe Prince--The Household question--New Cabinet--Lord Melbourne'sofficial farewell--Sir Robert Peel's reception--New appointments--Council at Claremont--The Lord Chamberlain's department--The Frenchambassador--Confidential communications--The diplomatic corps--Governor-General of Canada--India and Afghanistan--Lord Ellenborough--Russia and Central Asia--Indian finances--The Spanish mission--Correspondence with Lord Melbourne--Fine Arts Commission--Peers andaudiences--Lord Radnor's claim--The Chinese campaign--English andforeign artists--Lord Melbourne and the Court--The Queen and herGovernment--Baron Stockmar's opinion--Lord Melbourne's influence--Baron Stockmar and Sir Robert Peel--Professor Whewell--QueenChristina--Queen Isabella--French influence in Spain--Holland andBelgium--Dispute with United States--Portugal--The EnglishConstitution--The "Prime Minister"--The "Secretaries of State"--BaronStockmar expostulates with Lord Melbourne--Birth of Heir-apparent--Created Prince of Wales--The Royal children (pages 253-369)

CHAPTER XI1842

Letter from Queen Adelaide--Disasters in Afghanistan--The Oxfordmovement--Church matters--The Duke of Wellington and the christening--Lord Melbourne ill--A favourite dog--The King of Prussia--Marriageof Prince Ernest--Christening of the Prince of Wales--The Corn Laws--Marine excursion--Fall of Cabul--Candidates for the Garter--The Earlof Munster--The Queen and Income Tax--Lambeth Palace--Sale atStrawberry Hill--Selection of a governess--Party politics--A brilliantball--The Prince and the Army--Lady Lyttelton's appointment--Goetheand Schiller--Edwin Landseer--The Mensdorff family--Attack on theQueen by Francis--Letters from Queen Adelaide and Lord Melbourne--Successes in Afghanistan--Sir R. Sale and General Pollock--Debateon Income Tax--The Queen's first railway journey--Conviction ofFrancis--Presents for the Queen--Another attack on the Queen by Bean--Death of Duke of Orleans--Grief of the Queen--Letters from the Kingand Queen of the French--Leigh Hunt--Lord Melbourne on marriages--Resignation of Lord Hill--Appointment of Duke of Wellington--Manchester riots--Military assistance--Parliament prorogued--Causesof discontent--Mob in Lincoln's Inn Fields--Trouble at the Cape--Tourin Scotland--Visit to Lord Breadalbane--Return to Windsor--Royalvisitors--A steam yacht for the Queen--Future of Queen Isabella--ThePrincess Lichtenstein--Historical works--Walmer Castle--LordMelbourne's illness--The Crown jewels--Provision for Princess Augusta--Success in China--A treaty signed--Victories in Afghanistan--Honoursfor the army--The gates of Somnauth--France and Spain--Major Malcolm--The Scottish Church--A serious crisis--Letter from Lord Melbourne--Esteem for Baron Stockmar (370-449)

CHAPTER XII1843

Recollections of Claremont--Historical writers--Governor-Generalshipof Canada--Mr Drummond shot--Mistaken for Sir Robert Peel--Death ofMr Drummond--Demeanour of MacNaghten--Letter from Lord Melbourne--Preparations for the trial--The Royal Family and politics--KingLeopold and Sir Robert Peel--The American treaty--Position of thePrince of Wales--Good wishes from Queen Adelaide--Proposed exchangeof visits--Mr Cobden's speech--The new chapel--Fanny Burney's diary--MacNaghten acquitted--Question of criminal insanity--Princess Maryof Baden--The Prince and the Levées--Sir Robert Peel's suggestions--Police arrangements--Looking for the comet--Flowers from LordMelbourne--The Royal children--The toast of the Prince--King ofHanover's proposed visit--Gates of Somnauth restored--Death of Dukeof Sussex--Birth and christening of Princess Alice--Irish agitation--Rebecca riots--Duchess of Norfolk's resignation--Duelling in theArmy--Outpensioners of Chelsea--Crown jewels--Obstruction of business--Lord Melbourne on matrimonial affairs--Visit to Château d'Eu--Increased troubles in Wales--Royal visitors--England and Spain--Arrest of O'Connell--Duc de Bordeaux not received at Court--Duc deNemours expected--Visit to Cambridge--Duc d'Aumale's engagement--Indian affairs--Loyalty at Cambridge--Proposed visit to DraytonManor--Travelling arrangements--Duchesse de Nemours--Birmingham--Canadian seat of government--Chatsworth--American view of monarchy--Prince Metternich and Spain (450-512)

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

QUEEN VICTORIA RECEIVING THE NEWS OF HER ACCESSION TO THE THRONE, 20TH JUNE 1837. _From the picture by H. T. Wells, R. A. , at Buckingham Palace_

T. R. H. THE DUCHESS OF KENT AND THE PRINCESS VICTORIA. _From the miniature by H. Bone, after Sir W. Beechey, at Windsor Castle_

H. R. H. THE PRINCESS VICTORIA, 1827. By Plant, after Stewart. _From the miniature at Buckingham, Palace_

H. M. KING WILLIAM IV. _From a miniature at Windsor Castle_

H. R. H. THE PRINCE CONSORT, 1840. _From the portrait by John Partridgeat Buckingham Palace_

H. M. QUEEN VICTORIA, 1841. _From the drawing by E. F. T. , after H. E. Dawe, at Buckingham Palace_

 * * * * *

CHAPTER I

THE ANCESTRY OF THE QUEEN--HOUSES OF BRUNSWICK, HANOVER, AND COBURG

QUEEN VICTORIA, on her father's side, belonged to the House ofBrunswick, which was undoubtedly one of the oldest, and claimed to beactually the oldest, of German princely families. At the time of herbirth, it existed in two branches, of which, the one ruled over whatwas called the Duchy of Brunswick, the other over the Electorate(since 1815 the Kingdom) of Hanover, and had since 1714 occupied thethrone of England. There had been frequent intermarriages between thetwo branches. The Dukes of Brunswick were now, however, representedonly by two young princes, who were the sons of the celebrated Dukewho fell at Quatre-Bras. Between them and the English Court there waslittle intercourse. The elder, Charles, had quarrelled with his uncleand guardian, George IV. , and had in 1830 been expelled from hisdominions. The obvious faults of his character made it impossible forthe other German princes to insist on his being restored, and he hadbeen succeeded by his younger brother William, who ruled till hisdeath in 1884. Both died unmarried, and with them the Ducal familycame to an end. One Princess of Brunswick had been the wife of GeorgeIV. , and another, Augusta, was the first wife of Frederick I. , Kingof Würtemberg, who, after her death, married a daughter of George III. The King of Würtemberg was also, by his descent from Frederick Princeof Wales, first cousin once removed of the Queen. We need only notice, in passing, the distant connection with the royal families of Prussia, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The Prince of Orange, who was one of thepossible suitors for the young Queen's hand, was her third cousin onceremoved. 

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]

The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, to which the Queen belonged on hermother's side, and with which she was to be even more intimatelyconnected by her marriage, was one of the numerous branches into whichthe ancient and celebrated House of Wettin had broken up. Since the11th century they had ruled over Meissen and the adjoining districts. To these had been added Upper Saxony and Thuringia. In the 15thcentury the whole possessions of the House had been divided betweenthe two great branches which still exist. The Albertine branchretained Meissen and the Saxon possessions. They held the title ofElector, which in 1806 was exchanged for the title of King. Thoughthe Saxon House had been the chief protectors of the Reformation, Frederick Augustus I. Had, on being elected to the throne of Poland, become a Roman Catholic; and thereby the connection between the twobranches of the House had to a great extent ceased. The second line, that of the Ernestines, ruled over Thuringia, but, according to thecommon German custom, had again broken up into numerous branches, among which the Duchies of Thuringia were parcelled out. At the timeof the Queen's birth there were five of these, viz. , Gotha-Altenburg, Coburg-Saalfeld, Weimar-Eisenach, Meiningen, and Hildburghausen. Onthe extinction of the Gotha line, in 1825, there was a rearrangementof the family property, by which the Duke of Hildburghausen receivedAltenburg, Gotha was given to the Duke of Coburg, and Saalfeld withHildburghausen added to Meiningen. These four lines still exist. 

The Ernestine princes had, by this constant division and sub-division, deprived themselves of the opportunity of exercising any predominantinfluence, or pursuing any independent policy in German affairs; andthough they had the good fortune to emerge from the revolution withtheir possessions unimpaired, their real power was not increased. Likeall the other princes, they had, however, at the Congress of Vienna, received the recognition of their full status as sovereign princes ofthe Germanic Confederation. Together they sent a single representativeto the Diet of Frankfort, the total population of the fiveprincipalities being only about 300, 000 inhabitants. 

It was owing to this territorial sub-division and lack of cohesionthat these princes could not attach to their independence thesame political importance that fell to the share of the largerprincipalities, such as Hanover and Bavaria, and they wereconsequently more ready than the other German princes to welcomeproposals which would lead to a unification of Germany. 

It is notable that the line has produced many of the most enlightenedof the German princes; and nowhere in the whole of Germany were theadvantages of the division into numerous small States so clearly seen, and the disadvantages so little felt, as at Weimar, Meiningen, Gotha, and Coburg. 

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF COBURG]

The House of Coburg had gained a highly conspicuous and influentialposition, owing, partly, to the high reputation for sagacity andcharacter which the princes of that House had won, and partly tothe marriage connections which were entered into about this time bymembers of the Coburg House with the leading Royal families of Europe. Within ten years, Princes of Coburg were established, one upon thethrone of Belgium, and two others next to the throne in Portugal andEngland, as Consorts of their respective Queens. 

By the first marriage of the Duchess of Kent, the Queen was alsoconnected with a third class of German princes--the Mediatised, asthose were called who during the revolution had lost their sovereignpower. Many of these were of as ancient lineage and had possessed aslarge estates as some of the regnant princes, who, though not alwaysmore deserving, had been fortunate enough to retain their privileges, and had emerged from the revolution ranking among the ruling Houses ofEurope. The mediatised princes, though they had ceased to rule, stillheld important privileges, which were guaranteed at the Congressof Vienna. First, and most important, they were reckoned as"_ebenburtig_, " which means that they could contract equal marriageswith the Royal Houses, and these marriages were recognised as validfor the transmission of rights of inheritance. Many of them had vastprivate estates, and though they were subjected to the sovereignty ofthe princes in whose dominions these lay, they enjoyed very importantprivileges, such as exemption from military service, and frommany forms of taxation; they also could exercise minor forms ofjurisdiction. They formed, therefore, an intermediate class. SinceGermany, as a whole, afforded them no proper sphere of politicalactivity, the more ambitious did not disdain to take service withAustria or Prussia, and, to a less extent, even with the smallerStates. It was possible, therefore, for the Queen's mother, a Princessof Saxe-Coburg, to marry the Prince of Leiningen without losing caste. Her daughter, the Princess Feodore, the Queen's half-sister, marriedErnest, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and thus established aninteresting connection with perhaps the most widely-spread and mostdistinguished of all these families. The House of Hohenlohe wouldprobably still have been a reigning family, had not the Prince ofHohenlohe preferred to fight in the Prussian army against Napoleon, rather than receive gifts from him. His lands were consequentlyconfiscated and passed to other princes who were less scrupulous. The family has given two Ministers President to Prussia, a General inchief command of the Prussian army, a Chancellor to the German Empire, and one of the most distinguished of modern military writers. Theyheld, besides their extensive possessions in Würtemberg and Bavaria, the County of Gleichen in Saxe-Coburg. 

[Pageheading: FAMILY CONNECTIONS]

It will be seen therefore that the Queen was intimately connected withall classes that are to be found among the ruling families of Germany, though naturally with the Catholic families, which looked to Austriaand Bavaria for guidance, she had no close ties. But it must be bornein mind that her connection with Germany always remained a personaland family matter, and not a political one; this was the fortunateresult of the predominance of the Coburg influence. Had that of theHouse of Hanover been supreme, it could hardly have been possiblefor the Queen not to have been drawn into the opposition to theunification of Germany by Prussia, in which the House of Hanover wasbound to take a leading part, in virtue of its position, wealth, anddignity. 

It will be as well here to mention the principal reigning families ofEurope to which Queen Victoria was closely allied through her mother. 

The Duchess of Kent's eldest brother, Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg, was the father of Albert, Prince Consort. Her sister was the wife ofAlexander, Duke of Würtemberg. The Duchess of Kent's nephew, Ferdinand(son of Ferdinand, the Duchess's brother), married Maria da Gloria, Queen of Portugal, and was father of Pedro V. And Luis, bothsubsequently Kings of Portugal. 

The Duchess's third brother, Leopold (afterwards King of theBelgians), married first the Princess Charlotte, daughter of GeorgeIV. , and afterwards the Princess Louise Marie, eldest daughter ofKing Louis Philippe. Prince Augustus (son of Ferdinand, the Duchessof Kent's brother) married another daughter of Louis Philippe, thePrincess Clémentine, while Prince Augustus's sister, Victoria, marriedthe Duc de Nemours, a son of Louis Philippe. Another nephew, DukeFriedrich Wilhelm Alexander, son of the Duchess of Würtemberg, marriedthe Princess Marie, another daughter of Louis Philippe. 

Thus Queen Victoria was closely allied with the royal families ofFrance, Portugal, Belgium, Saxe-Coburg, and Würtemberg. 

On turning to the immediate Royal Family of England, it will be seenthat the male line at the time of the Queen's accession was limited tothe sons, both named George, of two of the younger brothers of GeorgeIV. , the Dukes of Cumberland and Cambridge. The sons of George III. Played their part in the national life, shared the strong interest inmilitary matters, and showed the great personal courage which was atradition of the family. 

[Pageheading: THE ENGLISH ROYAL FAMILY]

It must be borne in mind that abstention from active political lifehad been in no sense required, or even thought desirable, in membersof the Royal House. George III. Himself had waged a life-long strugglewith the Whig party, that powerful oligarchy that since the accessionof the House of Hanover had virtually ruled the country; but he didnot carry on the conflict so much by encouraging the opponents of theWhigs, as by placing himself at the head of a monarchical faction. Hewas in fact the leader of a third party in the State. George IV. Wasat first a strong Whig, and lived on terms of the greatest intimacywith Charles James Fox; but by the time that he was thirty, he hadsevered the connection with his former political friends, which hadindeed originally arisen more out of his personal opposition to hisfather than from any political convictions. After this date he became, with intervals of vacillation, an advanced Tory of an illiberaltype. William IV. Had lived so much aloof from politics before hisaccession, that he had had then no very pronounced opinions, though hewas believed to be in favour of the Reform Bill; during his reign hisTory sympathies became more pronounced, and the position of the WhigMinistry was almost an intolerable one. His other brothers were menof decided views, and for the most part of high social gifts. They notonly attended debates in the House of Peers, but spoke with emotionand vigour; they held political interviews with leading statesmen, andconsidered themselves entitled, not to over-rule political movements, but to take the part in them to which their strong convictionsprompted them. They were particularly prominent in the debates on theCatholic question, and did not hesitate to express their views with anenergy that was often embarrassing. The Duke of York and the Duke ofCumberland had used all their influence to encourage the King in hisopposition to Catholic Emancipation, while the Duke of Cambridge hadsupported that policy, and the Duke of Sussex had spoken in the Houseof Lords in favour of it. The Duke of York, a kindly, generous man, had held important commands in the earlier part of the Revolutionarywar; he had not shown tactical nor strategical ability, but he was formany years Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and did good administrativework in initiating and carrying out much-needed military reforms. Hehad married a Prussian princess, but left no issue, and his death, in 1827, left the succession open to his younger brother, the Duke ofClarence, afterwards King William IV. , and after him to the PrincessVictoria. 

[Pageheading: THE ROYAL DUKES]

The Duke of Kent was, as we shall have occasion to show, a strong Whigwith philanthropic views. But the ablest of the princes, though alsothe most unpopular, was the Duke of Cumberland, who, until the birthof the Queen's first child, was heir presumptive to the Throne. He hadbeen one of the most active members of the ultra-Tory party, who hadopposed to the last the Emancipation of the Catholics and the ReformBill. He had married a sister-in-law of the King of Prussia, and livedmuch in Berlin, where he was intimate with the leaders of the militaryparty, who were the centre of reactionary influences in thatcountry, chief among them being his brother-in-law, Prince Charles ofMecklenburg. 

In private life the Duke was bluff and soldier-like, of rather abullying turn, and extraordinarily indifferent to the feelings ofothers. "Ernest is not a bad fellow, " his brother William IV. Said ofhim, "but if anyone has a corn, he will be sure to tread on it. " Hewas very unpopular in England. 

On the death of William IV. He succeeded to the throne of Hanover, andfrom that time seldom visited England. His first act on reaching hiskingdom was to declare invalid the Constitution which had beengranted in 1833 by William IV. His justification for this was that hisconsent, as heir presumptive, which was necessary for its validity, had not at the time been asked. The act caused great odium to beattached to his name by all Liberals, both English and Continental, and it was disapproved of even by his old Tory associates. None theless he soon won great popularity in his own dominions by his zeal, good-humour, and energy, and in 1840 he came to terms with theEstates. A new Constitution was drawn up which preserved more of theRoyal prerogatives than the instrument of 1833. Few German princessuffered so little in the revolution of 1848. The King died in 1851, at the age of eighty, and left one son, George, who had been blindfrom his boyhood. He was the last King of Hanover, being expelled bythe Prussians in 1866. On the failure of the Ducal line of Brunswick, the grandson of Ernest Augustus became heir to their dominions, he andhis sons being now the sole male representatives of all the branchesof the House of Brunswick, which a few generations ago was one of themost numerous and widely-spread ruling Houses in Germany. [1]

 [Footnote 1: Of the daughters of George III. , Princess Amelia had died in 1810, and the Queen of Würtemberg in 1828; two married daughters survived--Elizabeth, wife of the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg, and Mary, who had married her cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, and lived in England. There were also two unmarried daughters, the Princesses Augusta and Sophia, living in England. ]

The Duke of Sussex was in sympathy with many Liberal movements, andsupported the removal of religious disabilities, the abolition of theCorn Laws, and Parliamentary Reform. 

The Duke of Cambridge was a moderate Tory, and the most conciliatoryof all the princes. But for more than twenty years he took little partin English politics, as he was occupied with his duties as Regent ofHanover, where he did much by prudent reforms to retain the allegianceof the Hanoverians. On his return to England he resumed the positionof a peacemaker, supporting philanthropic movements, and being agenerous patron of art and letters. He was recognised as "emphaticallythe connecting link between the Crown and the people. " Another memberof the Royal Family was the Duke of Gloucester, nephew and son-in-lawof George III. ; he was more interested in philanthropic movements thanin politics, but was a moderate Conservative, who favoured CatholicEmancipation but was opposed to Parliamentary Reform. 

Thus we have the spectacle of seven Royal princes, of whom twosucceeded to the Throne, all or nearly all avowed politicians ofdecided convictions, throwing the weight of their influence andsocial position for the most part on the side of the Tory party, and believing it to be rather their duty to hold and express strongpolitical opinions than to adopt the moderating and conciliatoryattitude in matters of government that is now understood to be thetrue function of the Royal House. 

[Pageheading: INDEPENDENCE OF THE QUEEN]

The Queen, after her accession, always showed great respect andaffection for her uncles, but they were not able to exercise anyinfluence over her character or opinions. 

This was partly due to the fact that from an early age she had imbibeda respect for liberal views from her uncle Leopold, King of theBelgians, to whom she was devoted from her earliest childhood, and forwhom she entertained feelings of the deepest admiration, affection, and confidence; but still more was it due to the fact that, from thevery first, the Queen instinctively formed an independent judgmenton any question that concerned her; and though she was undoubtedlyinfluenced in her decisions by her affectionate reliance on her chosenadvisers, yet those advisers were always deliberately and shrewdlyselected, and their opinions were in no case allowed to do more thanmodify her own penetrating and clear-sighted judgment. 

CHAPTER II

MEMOIR OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S EARLY YEARS

ALEXANDRINA VICTORIA, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empressof India, was born on Monday, 24th May 1819, at Kensington Palace. 

Her father, Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (1767-1820), thefourth son of George III. , was a man of decided character, kindly, pious, punctual, with a strict sense of duty and enlightened ideas. Hewas a devoted soldier, and, as Queen Victoria once said, "was proud ofhis profession, and I was always taught to consider myself a soldier'schild. " He had a wide military experience, having served atGibraltar, in Canada, and in the West Indies. He had been mentioned indespatches, but was said to be over-strict in matters of unimportantdetail. His active career was brought to an end in 1802, when he hadbeen sent to Gibraltar to restore order in a mutinous garrison. Orderhad been restored, but the Duke was recalled under allegations ofhaving exercised undue severity, and the investigation whichhe demanded was refused him, though he was afterwards made aField-Marshal. 

He was a man of advanced Liberal ideas. He had spoken in the Houseof Lords in favour of Catholic Emancipation, and had shown himselfinterested in the abolition of slavery and in popular education. Histastes were literary, and towards the end of his life he had evenmanifested a strong sympathy for socialistic theories. 

At the time of the death of the Princess Charlotte, 6th November 1817, the married sons of King George III. Were without legitimate children, and the surviving daughters were either unmarried or childless. Alliances were accordingly arranged for the three unmarried RoyalDukes, and in the course of the year 1818 the Dukes of Cambridge, Kent, and Clarence led their brides to the altar. 

[Pageheading: THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT]

The Duchess of Kent (1786-1861), Victoria Mary Louisa, was a daughterof Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She was the widow of EmichCharles, Prince of Leiningen, [1] whom she had married in 1803, and whohad died in 1814, leaving a son and a daughter by her. 

 [Footnote 1: _Leiningen_, a mediatised princely House of Germany, dating back to 1096. In 1779 the head of one of the branches into which it had become divided, the Count of Leiningen-Dachsburg-Hardenburg, was raised to the rank of a prince of the Empire, but the Peace of Lunéville (1801) deprived him of his ancient possessions, extending about 232 miles on the left bank of the Rhine. Though no longer an independent Prince, the head of the House retains his rank and wealth, and owns extensive estates in Bavaria and Hesse. ]

The Duke of Kent died prematurely--though he had always been aconspicuously healthy man--at Sidmouth, on the 23rd of January 1820, only a week before his father. 

A paper preserved in the Windsor archives gives a touching account ofthe Duke's last hours. The Regent, on the 22nd of January, sent to hima message of solicitude and affection, expressing an anxious wish forhis recovery. The Duke roused himself to enquire how the Prince was inhealth, and said, "If I could now shake hands with him, I should diein peace. " A few hours before the end, one who stood by the curtainof his bed heard the Duke say with deep emotion, "May the Almightyprotect my wife and child, and forgive all the sins I have committed. "His last words--addressed to his wife--were, "Do not forget me. "

The Duchess of Kent was an affectionate, impulsive woman, with moreemotional sympathy than practical wisdom in worldly matters. But herclaim on the gratitude of the British nation is that she brought upher illustrious daughter in habits of simplicity, self-sacrifice, andobedience. 

As a testimony to the sincere appreciation entertained by thepoliticians of the time for the way in which the Duchess of Kent hadappreciated her responsibilities with regard to the education of aprobable heir to the Crown of England, we may quote a few sentencesfrom two speeches made in the House of Commons, in the debatewhich took place (27th May 1825) on the question of increasing theParliamentary annuity paid to the Duchess, in order to provide dulyfor the education of the young Princess. 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Robinson, afterwards Lord Ripon, said:

 "The position in which this Princess stood with respect to the throne of the country could not fail to make her an object of general interest to the nation. He had not himself the honour of being acquainted with the Duchess of Kent, but he believed that she had taken the greatest pains with her daughter's education. She had been brought up in principles of piety and morality, and to feel a _proper_ sense, he meant by that an humble sense, of her own dignity, and the rank which probably awaited her. Perhaps it might have been fit to have brought this matter before Parliament at an earlier period. "

Mr Canning said:

 "All parties agreed in the propriety of the Grant, and if Government had anything to answer for on this point, it was for having so long delayed bringing it before the House. There could not be a greater compliment to Her Royal Highness than to state the quiet unobtrusive tenor of her life, and that she had never made herself the object of public gaze, but had devoted herself to the education of her child, whom the House was now called upon to adopt. "

[Pageheading: EARLY REMINISCENCES]

In the year 1872 Queen Victoria wrote down with her own hand somereminiscences of her early childhood, the manuscript of which ispreserved at Windsor, and which may be quoted here. 

"My earliest recollections are connected with Kensington Palace, where I can remember crawling on a yellow carpet spread out for thatpurpose--and being told that if I cried and was naughty my 'UncleSussex' would hear me and punish me, for which reason I alwaysscreamed when I saw him! I had a great horror of _Bishops_ on accountof their wigs and _aprons_, but recollect this being partiallygot over in the case of the then Bishop of Salisbury (Dr Fisher, great-uncle to Mr Fisher, Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales), by his kneeling down and letting me play with his badge of Chancellorof the Order of the Garter. With another Bishop, however, thepersuasion of showing him my 'pretty shoes' was of no use. Claremontremains as the brightest epoch of my otherwise rather melancholychildhood--where to be under the roof of that beloved Uncle--to listento some music in the Hall when there were dinner-parties--and to goand see dear old Louis!--the former faithful and devoted Dresser andfriend of Princess Charlotte--beloved and respected by all who knewher--and who doted on the little Princess who was too much an idol inthe House. This dear old lady was visited by every one--and was theonly really devoted Attendant of the poor Princess, whose governessespaid little real attention to her--and who never left her, and waswith her when she died. I used to ride a donkey given me by my Uncle, the Duke of York, who was very kind to me. I remember him well--tall, rather large, very kind but extremely shy. He always gave me beautifulpresents. The last time I saw him was at Mr Greenwood's house, whereD. Carlos lived at one time, --when he was already very ill, --and hehad Punch and Judy in the garden for me. 

[Pageheading: EARLY REMINISCENCES]

"To Ramsgate we used to go frequently in the summer, and I rememberliving at Townley House (near the town), and going there by steamer. Mamma was very unwell. Dear Uncle Leopold went with us. 

"To Tunbridge Wells we also went, living at a house called Mt. Pleasant, now an Hotel. Many pleasant days were spent here, and thereturn to Kensington in October or November was generally a day oftears. 

"I was brought up very simply--never had a room to myself till I wasnearly grown up--always slept in my Mother's room till I came to theThrone. At Claremont, and in the small houses at the bathing-places, I sat and took my lessons in my Governess's bedroom. I was not fond oflearning as a little child--and baffled every attempt to teach me myletters up to 5 years old--when I consented to learn them by theirbeing written down before me. 

[Pageheading: GEORGE IV. ]

"I remember going to Carlton House, when George IV. Lived there, asquite a little child before a dinner the King gave. The Duchess ofCambridge and my 2 cousins, George and Augusta, were there. My Aunt, the Queen of Würtemberg (Princess Royal), came over, in the year '26, I think, and I recollect perfectly well seeing her drive through thePark in the King's carriage with red liveries and 4 horses, in a _Cap_and evening dress, --my Aunt, her sister Princess Augusta, sitting_opposite_ to her, also in evening attire, having dined early with theDuke of Sussex at Kensington. She had adopted all the German fashionsand spoke broken English--and had not been in England for manymany years. She was very kind and good-humoured but very large andunwieldy. She lived at St James's and had a number of Germans withher. In the year '26 (I think) George IV. Asked my Mother, my Sisterand me down to Windsor for the first time; he had been on bad termswith my poor father when he died, --and took hardly any notice of thepoor widow and little fatherless girl, who were so poor at the timeof his (the Duke of Kent's) death, that they could not have travelledback to Kensington Palace had it not been for the kind assistance ofmy dear Uncle, Prince Leopold. We went to Cumberland Lodge, the Kingliving at the Royal Lodge. Aunt Gloucester was there at the sametime. When we arrived at the Royal Lodge the King took me by the hand, saying: 'Give me your little paw. ' He was large and gouty but with awonderful dignity and charm of manner. He wore the wig which was somuch worn in those days. Then he said he would give me something forme to wear, and that was his picture set in diamonds, which was wornby the Princesses as an order to a blue ribbon on the left shoulder. Iwas very proud of this, --and Lady Conyngham pinned it on my shoulder. Her husband, the late Marquis of Conyngham, was the LordChamberlain and constantly there, as well as Lord Mt. Charles (asVice-Chamberlain), the _present_ Lord Conyngham. 

"None of the Royal Family or general visitors lived at the RoyalLodge, but only the Conyngham family; all the rest at CumberlandLodge. Lady Maria Conyngham (now dead, first wife to Lord Athlumney, daughter of Lord Conyngham), then quite young, and Lord Graves(brother-in-law to Lord Anglesey and who afterwards shot himself onaccount of his wife's conduct, who was a Lady of the Bedchamber), weredesired to take me a drive to amuse me. I went with them, and Baroness(then Miss) Lehzen (my governess) in a pony carriage and 4, with 4grey ponies (like my own), and was driven about the Park and taken toSandpit Gate where the King had a Menagerie--with wapitis, gazelles, chamois, etc. , etc. Then we went (I think the next day) to VirginiaWater, and met the King in his phaeton in which he was driving theDuchess of Gloucester, --and he said 'Pop her in, ' and I was liftedin and placed between him and Aunt Gloucester, who held me roundthe waist. (Mamma was much frightened. ) I was greatly pleased, andremember that I looked with great respect at the scarlet liveries, etc. (the Royal Family had crimson and green liveries and only theKing scarlet and blue in those days). We drove round the nicest partof Virginia Water and stopped at the Fishing Temple. Here there wasa large barge and every one went on board and fished, while a bandplayed in another! There were numbers of great people there, amongstwhom was the last Duke of Dorset, then Master of the Horse. The Kingpaid great attention to my Sister, [2] and some people fancied hemight marry her!! She was very lovely then--about 18--and had charmingmanners, about which the King was extremely particular. I afterwardswent with Baroness Lehzen and Lady Maria C. To the Page Whiting'scottage. Whiting had been at one time in my father's service. He livedwhere Mr Walsh now does (and where he died years ago), in the smallcottage close by; and here I had some _fruit_ and amused myself bycramming one of Whiting's children, a little girl, with peaches. Icame after dinner to hear the band play in the Conservatory, whichis still standing, and which was lit up by coloured lamps--the King, Royal Family, etc. , sitting in a corner of the large saloon, whichstill stands. 

 [Footnote 2: The Princess Feodore of Leiningen, afterwards Princess of Hohenlohe, Queen Victoria's half-sister. ]

"On the second visit (I _think_) the following year, also in summer, there was a great encampment of tents (the same which were used atthe Camp at Chobham in '53, and some single ones at the Breakfasts atBuckingham Palace in '68-9), and which were quite like a house, madeinto different compartments. It rained dreadfully on this occasion, I well remember. The King and party dined there, Prince and PrincessLieven, the Russian Ambassador and Ambassadress were there. 

"I also remember going to see Aunt Augusta at Frogmore, where shelived always in the summer. 

"We lived in a very simple, plain manner; breakfast was at half-pasteight, luncheon at half-past one, dinner at seven--to which I camegenerally (when it was no regular large dinner party)--eating my breadand milk out of a small silver basin. Tea was only allowed as a greattreat in later years. 

[Pageheading: DUCHESS OF SAXE-COBURG-SAALFELD]

"In 1826 (I think) my dear Grandmother, the Dowager Duchess ofSaxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, came to Claremont, in the summer. Mamma and mysister went on part of the way to meet her, and Uncle Leopold I thinkhad been to fetch her as far as Dover. I recollect the excitement andanxiety I was in, at this event, --going down the great flight of stepsto meet her when she got out of the carriage, and hearing her say, when she sat down in her room, and fixed her fine clear blue eyes onher little grand-daughter whom she called in her letters 'the flowerof May, ' 'Ein schönes Kind'--'a fine child. ' She was very clever andadored by her children but especially by her sons. She was a good dealbent and walked with a stick, and frequently with her hands on herback. She took long drives in an open carriage and I was frequentlysent out with her, which I am sorry to confess I did not like, as, like most children of that age, I preferred running about. She wasexcessively kind to children, but could not bear naughty ones--and Ishall never forget her coming into the room when I had been crying andnaughty at my lessons--from the next room but one, where she hadbeen with Mamma--and scolding me severely, which had a very salutaryeffect. She dined early in the afternoon and Uncle Leopold asked manyof the neighbours and others to dinner to meet her. My brother PrinceLeiningen came over with her, and was at that time paying his courtto one of her ladies, Countess Klebelsberg, whom he afterwardsmarried--against the wish of his grandmother and mother--but which wasafterwards quite made up. In November (I think, or it may have beenat the end of October) she left, taking my sister with her back toCoburg. I was very ill at that time, of dysentery, which illnessincreased to an alarming degree; many children died of it in thevillage of Esher. The Doctor lost his head, having lost his own childfrom it, and almost every doctor in London was away. Mr Blagden camedown and showed much energy on the occasion. I recovered, and rememberwell being very cross and screaming dreadfully at having to wear, fora time, flannel next my skin. Up to my 5th year I had been very muchindulged by every one, and set pretty well _all_ at defiance. OldBaroness de Späth, the devoted Lady of my Mother, my Nurse Mrs Brock, dear old Mrs Louis--_all_ worshipped the poor little fatherless childwhose future then was still very uncertain; my Uncle the Duke ofClarence's poor little child being alive, and the Duchess of Clarencehad one or two others later. At 5 years old, Miss Lehzen was placedabout me, and though she was most kind, she was very firm and I hada proper respect for her. I was naturally very passionate, but alwaysmost contrite afterwards. I was taught from the first to beg my maid'spardon for any naughtiness or rudeness towards her; a feeling I haveever retained, and think every one should _own_ their fault in a kindway to any one, be he or she the lowest--if one has been rude to orinjured them by word or deed, especially those below you. People willreadily forget an insult or an injury when others _own_ their fault, and express sorrow or regret at what they have done. "

[Pageheading: THE EDUCATION OF THE PRINCESS]

In 1830 the Duchess of Kent wished to be satisfied that the system ofeducation then being pursued with the Princess was based on the rightlines, and that due moral and intellectual progress was being made. A memorandum, carefully preserved among the archives, gives aninteresting account of the steps which she took to this end. 

[Pageheading: LETTER TO THE BISHOPS]

[Pageheading: RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION]

The Duchess therefore brought the matter under the considerationof those whom, from their eminent piety, great learning, and highstation, she considered best calculated to afford her valuable adviceupon so important a subject. She stated to the Bishops of Londonand Lincoln[3] the particular course which had been followed in thePrincess's education, and requested their Lordships to test theresult by personal examination. The nature and objects of Her RoyalHighness's appeal to these eminent prelates will be best shown by thefollowing extracts from her letter to the Bishops:--

 "'The Princess will be eleven years of age in May; by the death of her revered father when she was but eight months old, her sole care and charge devolved to me. Stranger as I then was, I became deeply impressed with the absolute necessity of bringing her up entirely in this country, that every feeling should be that of Her native land, and proving thereby my devotion to duty by rejecting all those feelings of home and kindred that divided my heart. 

 "'When the Princess approached her fifth year I considered it the proper time to begin in a moderate way her education--an education that was to fit Her to be either the Sovereign of these realms, or to fill a junior station in the Royal Family, until the Will of Providence should shew at a later period what Her destiny was to be. 

 "'A revision of the papers I send you herewith will best shew your Lordships the system pursued, the progress made, etc. I attend almost always myself every lesson, or a part; and as the Lady about the Princess is a competent person, she assists Her in preparing Her lessons for the various masters, as I resolved to act in that manner so as to be Her Governess myself. I naturally hope that I have pursued that course most beneficial to all the great interests at stake. At the present moment no concern can be more momentous, or in which the consequences, the interests of the Country, can be more at stake, than the education of its future Sovereign. 

 "'I feel the time to be now come that what has been done should be put to some test, that if anything has been done in error of judgment it may be corrected, and that the plan for the future should be open to consideration and revision. I do not presume to have an over-confidence in what I have done; on the contrary, as a female, as a stranger (but only in birth, as I feel that this is my country by the duties I fulfil, and the support I receive), I naturally desire to have a candid opinion from authorities competent to give one. In that view I address your Lordships; I would propose to you that you advert to all I have stated, to the papers I lay before you, and that then you should personally examine the Princess with a view of telling me--

 "'1. If the course hitherto pursued in Her education has been the best; if not, where it was erroneous. 

 "'2. If the Princess has made all the Progress she should have made. 

 "'3. And if the course I am to follow is that you would recommend, and if not in what respect you would desire a change, and on what grounds. 

 "'Mr Davys[4] will explain to you the nature of the Princess's religious education, which I have confided to him, that she should be brought up in the Church of England as by Law established. When she was at a proper age she commenced attending Divine Service regularly with me, and I have every feeling, that she has religion at Her heart, that she is morally impressed with it to that degree, that she is less liable to error by its application to Her feelings as a Child capable of reflection. The general bent of Her character is strength of intellect, capable of receiving with ease, information, and with a peculiar readiness in coming to a very just and benignant decision on any point Her opinion is asked on. Her adherence to truth is of so marked a character that I feel no apprehension of that Bulwark being broken down by any circumstance. 

 "'I must conclude by observing that as yet the Princess is not aware of the station that she is likely to fill. She is aware of its duties, and that a Sovereign should live for others; so that when Her innocent mind receives the impression of Her future fate, she receives it with a mind formed to be sensible of what is to be expected from Her, and it is to be hoped, she will be too well grounded in Her principles to be dazzled with the station she is to look to. '"

 [Footnote 3: Charles James Blomfield, Bishop of London, 1828-1853, and John Kaye, Bishop of Lincoln, 1827-1853. ]

 [Footnote 4: The Rev. George Davys, the Princess's instructor, afterwards successively Dean of Chester and Bishop of Peterborough. ]

The examination was undertaken by the Bishops, with highlysatisfactory results. Their report says:

 "The result of the examination has been such as in our opinion amply to justify the plan of instruction which has been adopted. In answering a great variety of questions proposed to her, the Princess displayed an accurate knowledge of the most important features of Scripture History, and of the leading truths and precepts of the Christian Religion as taught by the Church of England, as well as an acquaintance with the Chronology and principal facts of English History remarkable in so young a person. To questions in Geography, the use of the Globes, Arithmetic, and Latin Grammar, the answers which the Princess returned were equally satisfactory. 

 "Upon the whole, we feel no hesitation in stating our opinion that the Princess should continue, for some time to come, to pursue her studies upon the same plan which has been hitherto followed, and under the same superintendence. Nor do we apprehend that any other alterations in the plan will be required than those which will be gradually made by the judicious director of Her Highness's studies, as the mind expands, and her faculties are strengthened. "

[Pageheading: RESULT OF EXAMINATION]

The Duchess of Kent referred all this correspondence to the Archbishopof Canterbury. [5] His memorandum is preserved; it states he hasconsidered the Report, and further, has himself personally examinedthe Princess. He continues:

 "I feel it my duty to say that in my judgment the plan of Her Highness's studies, as detailed in the papers transmitted to me by command of your Royal Highness, is very judicious, and particularly suitable to Her Highness's exalted station; and that from the proficiency exhibited by the Princess in the examination at which I was present, and the general correctness and pertinency of her answers, I am perfectly satisfied that Her Highness's education in regard to cultivation of intellect, improvement of talent, and religious and moral principle, is conducted with so much care and success as to render any alteration of the system undesirable. "

 [Footnote 5: Dr William Howley. ]

The Princess was gradually and watchfully introduced to public life, and was never allowed to lose sight of the fact that her exaltedposition carried with it definite and obvious duties. The followingspeech, delivered at Plymouth in 1832, in answer to a complimentarydeputation, may stand as an instance of the view which the Duchess ofKent took of her own and her daughter's responsibilities:--

 "It is very agreeable to the Princess and myself to hear the sentiments you convey to us. It is also gratifying to us to be assured that we owe all these kind feelings to the attachment you bear the King, as well as to his Predecessors of the House of Brunswick, from recollections of their paternal sway. The object of my life is to render the Princess worthy of the affectionate solicitude she inspires, and if it be the Will of Providence she should fill a higher station (I trust most fervently at a very distant day), I shall be fully repaid for my anxious care, if she is found competent to discharge the sacred trust; for communicating as the Princess does with all classes of Society, she cannot but perceive that the greater the diffusion of Religion, Knowledge, and the love of freedom in a country, the more orderly, industrious, and wealthy is its population, and that with the desire to preserve the constitutional Prerogatives of the Crown ought to be co-ordinate the protection of the liberties of the people. "

[Pageheading: CLAREMONT]

The strictness of the _régime_ under which the Princess was broughtup is remarkable; and it is possible that her later zest for simplesocial pleasures is partly to be accounted for by the austere routineof her early days. In an interesting letter of 1843 to the Queen, recalling the days of their childhood, Princess Feodore, the Queen'shalf-sister, wrote--

"Many, many thanks, dearest Victoria, for your kind letter of the7th from dear Claremont. Oh I understand how you like being there. Claremont is a dear quiet place; to me also the recollection of thefew pleasant days I spent during my youth. I always left Claremontwith tears for Kensington Palace. When I look back upon those years, which ought to have been the happiest in my life, from fourteento twenty, I cannot help pitying myself. Not to have enjoyed thepleasures of youth is nothing, but to have been deprived of allintercourse, and not one cheerful thought in that dismal existence ofours, was very hard. My only happy time was going or driving out withyou and Lehzen; then I could speak and look as I liked. I escapedsome years of imprisonment, which you, my poor darling sister, hadto endure after I was married. But God Almighty has changed bothour destinies most mercifully, and has made us _so_ happy in ourhomes--which is the only real happiness in this life; and those yearsof trial were, I am sure, very useful to us both, though certainly notpleasant. Thank God they are over!. .. I was much amused in your lastletter at your tracing the _quickness_ of our tempers in the femaleline up to Grandmamma, [6] but I must own that you are _quite right_!"

 [Footnote 6: Augusta Caroline Sophia, Dowager-Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, a Princess of Reuss Ebersdorf (1757-1831). ]

But if there was little amusement, there was, on the other hand, greatdevotion; the Princess, as a child, had that peculiar combinationof self-will and warm-heartedness which is apt to win for a child aspecial love from its elders. The Princess Feodore wrote to the Queen, in 1843--

". .. Späth[7] wished _me_ to thank you for the coronation print, asshe could not write to you or Albert _now_, she says! why, I don'tsee. There certainly never was such devotedness as hers, to all ourfamily, although it sometimes shows itself rather foolishly--with youit always was a sort of idolatry, when she used to go upon her kneesbefore you, when you were a child. She and poor old Louis did allthey could to spoil you, if Lehzen had not prevented and scolded themnicely sometimes; it was quite amusing. "

 [Footnote 7: Baroness Späth, Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess of Kent. ]

[Pageheading: WILLIAM IV. ]

The Princess was brought up with exemplary simplicity at KensingtonPalace, where her mother had a set of apartments. She was often atClaremont, which belonged to her uncle Leopold, King of the Belgians;holidays were spent at Ramsgate, Tunbridge Wells, Broadstairs, andelsewhere. 

In June 1830 George IV. Died, and William IV. Succeeded to the Throne. He had no legitimate offspring living; and it consequently becamepractically certain that if the Princess outlived her uncle she wouldsucceed him on the Throne. The Duchess of Kent's Parliamentary Grantwas increased, and she took advantage of her improved resources tofamiliarise the Princess with the social life of the nation. They paidvisits to historic houses and important towns, and received addresses. This was a wise and prudent course, but the King spoke with ill-humourof his niece's "royal progresses. " The chief cause of offence was thatthe Princess was not allowed by the Duchess of Kent to make her publicappearances under his own auspices, as he not unnaturally desired. He also began to suspect that the Princess was deliberately keptaway from Court; a painful controversy arose, and the Duchessbecame gradually estranged from her brother-in-law, in spite of theaffectionate attempts of Queen Adelaide to smooth matters over. Hisresentment culminated in a painful scene, in 1836, when the King, ata State banquet at Windsor, made a speech of a preposterous character;speaking of the Duchess, who sat next him, as "that person, " hintingthat she was surrounded with evil advisers, and adding that he shouldinsist on the Princess being more at Court. The Princess burst intotears; the Duchess sate in silence: when the banquet was over, theDuchess ordered her carriage, and was with difficulty prevailed uponto remain at Windsor for the night. The King went so far in May 1837as to offer the Princess an independent income, and the acceptance ofthis by the Princess caused the Duchess considerable vexation; but theproject dropped. The King died in the following month, soon after thePrincess had attained her legal majority; he had always hoped that theDuchess would not be Regent, and his wish was thus fulfilled. 

It is no exaggeration to say that the accession of the PrincessVictoria reinstated the English monarchy in the affections of thepeople. George IV. Had made the Throne unpopular; William IV. Hadrestored its popularity, but not its dignity. Both of these kings weremen of decided ability, but of unbalanced temperament. In politicsboth kings had followed a somewhat similar course. George IV. Hadbegun life as a strong Whig, and had been a close friend of Fox. Laterin life his political position resolved itself into a strong dislikeof Roman Catholic Relief. William IV. Had begun his reign favourablyinclined to Parliamentary Reform; but though gratified by the personalpopularity which his attitude brought him in the country, he becamealarmed at the national temper displayed. It illustrates the tensionof the King's mind on the subject that, when he was told that if theReform Bill did not pass it would bring about a rebellion, he repliedthat if it did bring about a rebellion he did not care: he shoulddefend London and raise the Royal Standard at Weedon (where therewas a military depôt); and that the Duchess of Kent and the PrincessVictoria might come in if they could. 

[Pageheading: CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT]

[Pageheading: SYMPATHY WITH MIDDLE CLASSES]

The reign of William IV. Had witnessed the zenith of Whig efficiency. It had seen the establishment of Parliamentary and Municipal Reform, the Abolition of Slavery, the new Poor Law, and other importantmeasures. But, towards the end of the reign, the Whig party begansteadily to lose ground, and the Tories to consolidate themselves. Lord Melbourne had succeeded Lord Grey at the head of the Whigs, andthe difference of administration was becoming every month more andmore apparent. The King indeed went so far as abruptly to dismiss hisMinisters, but Parliament was too strong for him. Lord Melbourne'sprinciples were fully as liberal as Lord Grey's, but he lackedpractical initiative, with the result that the Whigs graduallyforfeited popular estimation and became discredited. The new reign, however, brought them a decided increase of strength. The Princess hadbeen brought up with strong Whig leanings, and, as is clear fromher letters, with an equally strong mistrust of Tory principles andpoliticians. 

A word may here be given to the Princess's own character andtemperament. She was high-spirited and wilful, but devotedlyaffectionate, and almost typically feminine. She had a strong senseof duty and dignity, and strong personal prejudices. Confident, in asense, as she was, she had the feminine instinct strongly developed ofdependence upon some manly adviser. She was full of high spirits, andenjoyed excitement and life to the full. She liked the stir of London, was fond of dancing, of concerts, plays, and operas, and devoted toopen-air exercise. Another important trait in her character must benoted. She had strong monarchical views and dynastic sympathies, but she had no aristocratic preferences; at the same time she had nodemocratic principles, but believed firmly in the due subordinationof classes. The result of the parliamentary and municipal reforms ofWilliam IV. 's reign had been to give the middle classes a share inthe government of the country, and it was supremely fortunate that theQueen, by a providential gift of temperament, thoroughly understoodthe middle-class point of view. The two qualities that are mostcharacteristic of British middle-class life are common sense andfamily affection; and on these particular virtues the Queen'scharacter was based; so that by a happy intuition she was able tointerpret and express the spirit and temper of that class which, throughout her reign, was destined to hold the balance of politicalpower in its hands. Behind lay a deep sense of religion, the religionwhich centres in the belief in the Fatherhood of God, and is impatientof dogmatic distinctions and subtleties. 

CHAPTER III

QUEEN VICTORIA'S RELATIONS AND FRIENDS

It may be held to have been one of the chief blessings of QueenVictoria's girlhood that she was brought closely under the influenceof an enlightened and large-minded Prince, Leopold, her maternaluncle, afterwards King of the Belgians. He was born in 1790, being theyoungest son of Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and his youthwas spent in the Russian military service. He had shown talent andcourage in the field, and had commanded a battalion at Lützen andLeipsic. He had married, in 1816, the Princess Charlotte, only childof George IV. For many years his home was at Claremont, where thePrincess Charlotte had died; there the Princess Victoria spent manyhappy holidays, and grew to regard her uncle with the most devotedaffection, almost, indeed, in the light of a father. It is said thatPrince Leopold had hoped to be named Regent, if a Regency should benecessary. [1] He was offered, and accepted, the throne of Greece in1830, but shrank from the difficulties of the position, and withdrewhis acceptance upon the plea that Lord Aberdeen, who was then ForeignSecretary, was not prepared to make such financial arrangements as heconsidered satisfactory. [2]

 [Footnote 1: A practical proof of his interest in his niece may be found in the fact that for years he contributed between three and four thousand a year to the expenses of her education, and for necessary holidays by the sea, at a time when the Duchess of Kent's Parliamentary Grant was unequal to the increasing expenses of her household. ]

 [Footnote 2: Greece after having obtained autonomy was in a practically bankrupt condition, and the Powers had guaranteed the financial credit of the country until it was able to develop its own resources. ]

It is interesting to observe from the correspondence that King Leopoldseems for many years to have continued to regret his decision; it wasnot that he did not devote himself, heart and soul, to the country ofhis adoption, but there seems to have been a romantic element in hiscomposition, which did not find its full satisfaction in presidingover the destinies of a peaceful commercial nation. 

[Pageheading: THE KING OF THE BELGIANS]

In 1831, when Louis Philippe, under pressure from Lord Palmerston, declined the throne of Belgium for his son the Duc de Nemours, PrinceLeopold received and accepted an offer of the Crown. A Dutch invasionfollowed, and the new King showed great courage and gallantry in anengagement near Louvain, in which his army was hopelessly outnumbered. But, though a sensitive man, the King's high courage and hopefulnessnever deserted him. He ruled his country with diligence, ability, andwisdom, and devoted himself to encouraging manufactures and commerce. The result of his firm and liberal rule was manifested in 1848, when, on his offering to resign the Crown if it was thought to be forthe best interests of the country, he was entreated, with universalacclamation, to retain the sovereignty. Belgium passed through thetroubled years of revolution in comparative tranquillity. King Leopoldwas a model ruler; his deportment was grave and serious; he wasconspicuous for honesty and integrity; he was laborious and upright, and at the same time conciliatory and tactful. 

He kept up a close correspondence with Queen Victoria, and paid herseveral visits in England, where he was on intimate terms withmany leading Englishmen. It would be difficult to over-estimate theimportance of his close relations with the Queen; by example andprecept he inspired her with a high sense of duty, and from the firstinstilled into her mind the necessity of acquainting herself closelywith the details of political administration. His wisdom, good sense, and tenderness, as well as the close tie of blood that existed betweenhim and the Queen, placed him in a unique position with regard to her, and it is plain that he was fully aware of the high responsibilitythus imposed upon him, which he accepted with a noble generosity. Itis true that there were occasions when, as the correspondence reveals, the Queen was disposed to think that King Leopold endeavoured toexercise too minute a control over her in matters of detail, and evento attempt to modify the foreign policy of England rather for thebenefit of Belgium than in the best interests of Great Britain; butthe Queen was equal to these emergencies; she expressed her dissentfrom the King's suggestions in considerate and affectionate terms, with her gratitude for his advice, but made no pretence of followingit. 

For her aunt, Queen Adelaide, the Princess Victoria had always felta strong affection; and though it can hardly be said that this gentleand benevolent lady exercised any great influence over her morevigorous and impetuous niece, yet the letters will testify to thecloseness of the tie which united them. 

[Pageheading: QUEEN ADELAIDE]

Queen Adelaide was the eldest child of George, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen;her mother was a princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. 

At the age of twenty-six she was married to the Duke of Clarence, thenin his fifty-third year, without any preliminary courtship. Theylived for a year in Hanover, and then principally at Bushey Park. Twodaughters were born to them, the elder of whom lived only a few hours;the younger, Princess Elizabeth, died in the first year of her age. Their married life was a happy one, in spite of the disparity ofage. Queen Adelaide was a woman of a deeply affectionate disposition, sensible, sympathetic, and religious. She had a very definite ideal ofthe duties of a wife and a Queen; she made it her pleasure to meet andanticipate, as far as possible, her husband's wishes; and her husband, hasty and choleric though he was, repaid her with tender affection. Tosuch an extent did the Queen merge her views in those of her husband, that she passed at one time through a period of general unpopularity. It was believed that she was adverse to Reform, and used her influenceagainst it. She was mobbed in the streets at the time when the Reformagitation was at its height; and it is said that when the MelbourneMinistry of 1834 was dismissed, London was (owing to an unjustifiablecommunication of Lord Brougham to the _Times_) placarded with postersbearing the words, "The Queen has done it all!"

It is a pathetic instance of the irony of fate that Queen Adelaideshould have thus been supposed to desire to take an active part inpolitics. It is obvious, from her letters, that she had practicallyno political views at all, except a gentle distrust of all proposedchanges, social or political. Her one idea of her position as Queenwas to agree with any expression of opinion that fell from the King. She was fond of music, and took a deep interest in her religiousduties and in all that concerned the welfare of the Protestantcommunion. But apart from this, her interests were entirely domesticand personal, and her letters reveal her character in the mostamiable light. Her devotion to the King, and the tender and respectfuldiffidence with which she welcomed her niece to the Throne, show avery sweet nature. 

The rest of her life, after King William's death, was passed to agreat extent under invalid conditions, though she was only forty-fourat the time of her niece's accession. She travelled a good deal insearch of health, and lived a quiet life in England, surrounded bya small but devoted circle of friends and relations. Her personalpopularity with the nation became very great, not only for the simplekindliness of her life, but for her splendid munificence; it is saidthat her public subscriptions often exceeded £20, 000 a year. She diedin December 1849. Queen Victoria was very much attached to her gentle, simple-minded, and tender-hearted aunt, and treated her with theutmost consideration and an almost daughterly affection. 

[Pageheading: BARONESS LEHZEN]

Another person who had a large share in forming the Queen's characterwas Louise Lehzen, the daughter of a Hanoverian clergyman, who cameto England as governess to Princess Feodore of Leiningen, QueenVictoria's half-sister, shortly before the Queen's birth. In 1824she became governess to the Princess Victoria. In 1827 George IV. Conferred upon her the rank of a Hanoverian Baroness. When the Duchessof Northumberland, in 1830, was appointed the Princess's officialgoverness, she remained as lady in attendance. The Princess wasdevoted to her, but "greatly in awe of her. " She remained at Courtafter the accession till 1842, without holding an official position, and then returned to Germany, where she died in 1870. 

[Pageheading: BARON STOCKMAR]

Baron Stockmar was another of the interesting personalities who cameinto very close contact with the Queen in her early years. He wasforty-nine at the time of the accession, but he had come to Englandmore than twenty years before as private physician to Prince Leopold. He endeared himself to the Princess Charlotte, who died holding hishand. He afterwards became Prince Leopold's private secretary, andtook a prominent part as the Prince's representative in the successivenegotiations with regard to his candidature for the thrones of Greeceand Belgium. Upon the accession of Queen Victoria, Stockmar joinedthe Court in a private capacity, and for fifteen months he held anunofficial position as her chief adviser. There was a general feelingof dislike in the minds of the English public to the German influencesthat were supposed to be brought to bear on the Queen; and LordMelbourne found it necessary to make a public and categorical denialof the statement that Stockmar was acting as the Queen's privatesecretary. But the statement, if not technically, was virtuallytrue. Stockmar lived at Court, had interviews with the Queen and herMinisters, and though he industriously endeavoured to efface himself, yet there is no doubt that he was consulted on most importantquestions. In 1838, he had been entrusted by King Leopold, with theQueen's knowledge and consent, with a mission of great delicacy: hewas asked to accompany Prince Albert on a tour in Italy, with the ideaof completing his education, and in order to satisfy himself thatthe Prince would be a worthy Consort for the Queen. This task hedischarged admirably, and became the most confidential and trusted ofall the Prince's friends. There are many letters of Stockmar's to thePrince extant, which prove that Stockmar never shrank from speakingthe plainest truth to the Prince on matters of duty and faults oftemperament, without any courtier-like attempt to blink criticismthat might have been unpalatable. The Prince had the generosity andhumility to value this trait of Stockmar's very highly, to such anextent that Stockmar's influence possessed if anything too great apreponderance. Stockmar had jealously nursed two profound politicalideals--the unity of Germany under Prussia, and the establishment ofclose relations between Germany and England. He induced Prince Albert, heavily burdened as he was with work, to devote almost too much timeand thought to the former of these aims. Stockmar was a profoundstudent of social and constitutional questions. He had made a closestudy of English political institutions; but though he grasped theconstitutional theory of the English Throne, and saw that the firstnecessity for the Sovereign was to hold a position independent ofparty, he never clearly understood that the Monarch should keep asfar as possible clear of political details. Stockmar's view of theposition was that the Sovereign should be practically Premier as well;and much of the jealousy that was felt, on various occasions, atthe position which Prince Albert assumed with regard to politicalsituations, is referable to Stockmar's influence. 

He was a very able man, with immense political knowledge, and withoutpersonal ambition; Lord Palmerston, who was no friend to Stockmar'stheory of government, admitted that he was the most disinterested manhe had ever encountered. Stockmar's ambition was to achieve hisown political ideals, and to modify the course of events in what heconceived to be beneficial directions; he was entirely indifferentto the trappings of power, and this very disinterestedness made hisinfluence more supreme. 

He suffered all his life from feeble health and a hypochondriacaltendency, and was genuinely fond of retirement and quiet life. Hecertainly deserved the devoted confidence reposed in him by PrinceAlbert and the Queen; it may perhaps be questioned whether his own_doctrinaire_ bias did not make itself too strongly felt, in theminuteness with which Prince Albert dealt with English politics; butthe net result of his influence was that the danger, which lies inwait for strictly constitutional Sovereigns, was averted--the danger, that is, of leaving the administration of State affairs in the handsof specialists, and depriving it of the wise control and independentcriticism which only the Crown can adequately supply. 

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER IV

Queen Victoria, from the very first, took great pleasure in filingthe correspondence addressed to her. There are many volumes of lettersreceived from her various relations. We have thought it best to givesome of Queen Adelaide's early letters; they indicate in a remarkablemanner the growing estrangement between King William IV. And theDuchess of Kent. In the earlier letters the King enquires veryaffectionately after the Duchess, and constant mention is made ofpresents sent to her; but the references made to her become lessfrequent and colder, till at last the King contents himself withsending messages only to the Princess. But the letters of QueenAdelaide are always written in a strain of touching devotion andaffection, and reveal her as a woman of large heart and greatsimplicity of character. 

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD]

But the most interesting series of letters are the Queen's owncorrespondence with King Leopold, of which several hundred arepreserved. The letters, too, received by her from the King of theBelgians are preserved in their entirety. 

The letters which the Queen wrote to King Leopold are of extraordinaryinterest; she kept up an unbroken correspondence with him, and spokefreely of all that was in her mind. Two points are worthy of specialmention: though she was early convinced of the necessity of holding anindependent constitutional position in politics she mentions the Toryparty with undisguised mistrust; and further, the name of King Williamhardly ever occurs until his last illness. 

King Leopold's early letters reveal his character in the most amiablelight. He familiarised the Queen with all the complicated details offoreign politics; he gave her the most sensible and wise advice; hewarned and encouraged her; he answered her enquiries with the minutestcare: and the warm affection to which he gave frequent expression is avery sacred and beautiful thing to contemplate. 

We have selected several of the Princess Victoria's letters to theKing of the Belgians before her accession, because they throw aremarkable light upon her temperament. In the first place, they revealthe deep affectionateness of her character, and, what is still moreremarkable at her age, her frankness and outspokenness in expressingher feelings. 

In the second place, they show with what interest and eagerness thePrincess was following the course of foreign politics. Her view wasnaturally a personal one, but it may be said that there can have beenvery few, if any, girls in England, of the Princess's age, who weretaking any interest at all in Continental affairs. It is true thatKing Leopold had early impressed upon the Princess that it was aduty to become acquainted with the course of current events; but theletters show that the interest she felt was congenial and innate, anddid not spring from a sense of duty. The allusions to home politicsare not so frequent, but still show that here also her attention wasalert. 

Thirdly, they reveal her abounding vitality, her love of life andamusement, her devotion to music, and the simple unspoilt zest withwhich she threw herself into all that surrounded her. 

There is a special interest which attaches to the correspondencebetween Queen Victoria and King Leopold after the Accession. Theletters reveal, as no other documents could do, the monarchical pointof view. However intimate may be the relations between a Sovereignand a subject, there is bound to appear a certain discretion, andeven condescension, on the one hand, and on the other a due degree ofdeference. But here we have the remarkable spectacle of two monarchs, both of eminent sagacity, and both, so to speak, frankly interested inthe task of constitutional government, corresponding freely on all thedifficulties and problems inseparable from their momentous task, and with an immense sense of their weighty responsibilities. It isimpossible to exaggerate the deep and abiding interest of such acorrespondence; and the seriousness, the devotion, the public spiritthat are displayed, without affectation or calculated impressiveness, make the whole series of letters singularly memorable. 

The King of the Belgians had married Princess Louise of Orleans, daughter of Louis Philippe, in 1832. She was only seven years olderthan the Princess Victoria, who grew to regard her with the tenderestaffection. 

The letters from Queen Louise are very numerous. A few are in French, but they are mostly written in brisk, lively English, not always verycorrect, either in construction or in spelling. They are full of smallfamily details--the movements of various relations, the improvement inher brothers' looks, Court festivities, the childish ailments of herlittle boys, the journeys and expeditions, recollections of Windsor, their visitors, elaborate descriptions of dresses--interesting toread, but difficult to select from. They are full of heart-feltexpressions of the sincerest affection for "your dear Majesty, " aquaint phrase that often occurs. 

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT]

After their marriage in 1840, Prince Albert naturally became theQueen's confidential Secretary. 

A close study of the Queen's correspondence reveals the character ofthe Prince in a way which nothing else could effect. Traces ofhis untiring labour, his conscientious vigilance, his singulardevotedness, appear on every page. There are innumerable memoranda inhis own hand; the papers are throughout arranged and annotated by him;nothing seems to have escaped him, nothing to have dismayed him. Asan instance of the minute laboriousness which characterised the Royalhousehold, it may be mentioned that there are many copies of importantletters, forwarded to the Prince for his perusal, the originals ofwhich had to be returned, written not only by the Prince himself, butby the Queen under his direction. But besides keeping a vigilant eyeupon politics, the Prince took the lead in all social and educationalmovements of the time, as well as devoting a close and continuousattention to the affairs of Europe in general, and Germany inparticular. It is obvious from the papers that the Prince can hardlyever have taken a holiday; many hours of every day must have beendevoted by him to work; yet he was at the same time a tender husbandand father, always ready with advice and sympathy, and devoted toquiet domestic life. 

After the Queen's marriage the correspondence becomes far morevoluminous. It is difficult to exaggerate the amount of conscientiouslabour bestowed by the Queen and the Prince Consort on all matterswhich concerned the welfare of the nation. The number of documentswhich passed through their hands, and which were carefully studied bythem, was prodigious. 

The drafts of the Queen's replies to letters are in many cases in thehandwriting of the Prince Consort, but dated by herself, and oftencontaining interlinear corrections and additions of her own. Whetherthe Queen indicated the lines of the replies, whether she dictated thesubstance of them, or whether they contain the result of a discussionon the particular matter, cannot be precisely ascertained. Butthey contain so many phrases and turns of expression which arecharacteristic of her outspoken temperament, that it is clear thatshe not only followed every detail, but that the substance ofthe communication bore in most cases the impress of her mind. Aconsiderable number of the drafts again are in her own hand, withinterlinear corrections and additions by the Prince; and these sostrongly resemble in style the drafts in the handwriting of thePrince, that it is clear that the Queen did not merely acceptsuggestions, but that she had a strong opinion of her own on importantmatters, and that this opinion was duly expressed. 

One fact must, however, be borne in mind. It happens in many casesthat a correspondence on some particular point seems to be about tolead up to a definite conclusion, but that the salient and decisivedocument is absent. In these cases it is clear that the matter wassettled at a personal interview; in many cases the Prince prepareda memorandum of an important interview; but there are a considerablenumber of such correspondences, where no record is preserved of theeventual solution, and this incompleteness is regrettable, but, by thenature of the case, inevitable. 

[Pageheading: LEADING STATESMEN IN 1837]

The young Queen, on coming to the Throne, had little technicalknowledge of the details of diplomacy, but she already had a real andintelligent acquaintance with foreign affairs, though it was ratherpersonal than political, and, as we have seen, was more inspired byher interest in the fortunes and position of her numerous maternalrelations than by the political views of her paternal relatives. Amongthe English statesmen of the day there were few who were qualifiedto help and instruct her. The two men who for over twenty yearsalternately guided the foreign policy of the country were LordAberdeen and Lord Palmerston. They represented two opposed schools. Lord Aberdeen, a Peelite, was naturally and by tradition inclined todesire harmonious relations with all foreign Powers, and to abstain, as far as was consistent with maintaining British interests, from anysort of intervention in European affairs; Palmerston was a disciple ofCanning, who had definitely broken with the principles of the Congressof Vienna, and openly avowed his approval of a policy of intervention, to any extent short of actual war, in the interests of liberty andgood government. The only other man who had any title to speak withauthority on foreign affairs was the Duke of Wellington, who had heldthe seals as Foreign Secretary for a few months in 1834 and 1835. Hehad, however, lost much of the reputation for political sagacity whichhe had held at the time when he was the arbiter of Europe and virtualruler of France. Moreover, being, as he was, a much occupied man, withvaried business to transact, and at the mercy of his almost excessiveconscientiousness, he held himself to a considerable extent alooffrom current politics, though he never lost his absorbing interest inContinental affairs. 

CHAPTER IV

1821-1835

[The first letter ever received by Queen Victoria appears to be thefollowing little note, written by the Duchess of Clarence, afterwardsQueen Adelaide, in May 1821, when the Princess entered upon her thirdyear. It is pathetic to recollect that the Duchess's surviving child, Princess Elizabeth, had died, aged three months, in March of the sameyear. ]

MY DEAR LITTLE HEART, --I hope you are well and don't forget AuntAdelaide, who loves you so fondly. 

Loulou and Wilhelm[1] desire their love to you, and Uncle Williamalso. 

God bless and preserve you is the constant prayer of your most trulyaffectionate Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

 [Footnote 1: Princess Louise and Prince William of Saxe-Weimar, children of Duchess Ida of Saxe-Weimar (sister of the Duchess of Clarence). They were the eldest brother and sister of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar. ]

_The Duchess of Clarence to the Princess Victoria. _

_24th May 1822. _

Uncle William and Aunt Adelaide send their love to _dear littleVictoria_ with their best wishes on her birthday, and hope that shewill now become a _very good Girl_, being now _three years old_. UncleWilliam and Aunt Adelaide also beg little Victoria to give dear Mammaand to dear Sissi[2] a kiss in their name, and to Aunt Augusta, [3]Aunt Mary[4] and Aunt Sophia[5] too, and also to the _big Doll_. UncleWilliam and Aunt Adelaide are very sorry to be absent on that day andnot to see their _dear, dear_ little Victoria, as they are sure shewill be very good and obedient to dear Mamma on that day, and on many, many others. They also hope that dear little Victoria will not forgetthem and know them again when Uncle and Aunt return. 

To dear little Xandrina Victoria. 

 [Footnote 2: Princess Feodore, the Queen's half-sister. ]

 [Footnote 3: Augusta, daughter of Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, wife of the Duke of Cambridge. ]

 [Footnote 4: Princess Mary, a daughter of George III. , married to her cousin the Duke of Gloucester. ]

 [Footnote 5: Princess Sophia, daughter of George III. ]

[Pageheading: EARLY LETTERS]

[The following is the earliest letter preserved of the long serieswritten by the Queen to King (then Prince) Leopold. The Princess wasthen nine years old. ]

KENSINGTON PALACE, _25th November 1823. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I wish you many happy returns of your birthday; Ivery often think of you, and I hope to see you soon again, for I amvery fond of you. I see my Aunt Sophia[6] often, who looks very well, and is very well. I use every day your pretty soup-basin. Is it verywarm in Italy? It is so mild here, that I go out every day. Mama istolerable well and am quite well. Your affectionate Niece, VICTORIA. 

_P. S. _--I am very angry with you, Uncle, for you have never written tome once since you went, and that is a long while. 

 [Footnote 6: Princess Sophia, daughter of George III. ]

_Prince Leopold_[7] _to the Princess Victoria. _

PARIS, _20th April 1829. _

MY DEAREST LOVE, --Though in a few days I hope to have the happinessof seeing you, still I wish to recall myself even before that time toyour recollection, and to tell you how delighted I shall be to embracemy dearest little child. I have travelled far over the world and shallbe able to give you some curious information about various matters. 

Stockmar, who was very ill, and whom I despaired of seeing here, didarrive before yesterday, [8] and you may guess what pleasure it gaveme. Now I will conclude; _au revoir_, and let me find you grown, blooming, and kind to your old and faithful Uncle, LEOPOLD. 

 [Footnote 7: Afterwards King of the Belgians. ]

 [Footnote 8: I. E. _avant hier_. ]

[Pageheading: BIRTHDAY LETTERS]

_The Princess Hohenlohe[9] to the Princess Victoria. _

[_May 1829. _]

If I had wings and could fly like a bird, I should fly in at yourwindow like the little robin to-day, and wish you many very happyreturns of the 24th, and tell you how I love you, dearest sister, andhow often I think of you and long to see you. I think if I were oncewith you again I could not leave you so soon. I should wish to staywith you, and what would poor Ernest[9] say if I were to leave him solong? He would perhaps try to fly after me, but I fear he would notget far; he is rather tall and heavy for flying. So you see I havenothing left to do but to write to you, and wish you in this way allpossible happiness and joy for this and many, many years to come. Ihope you will spend a very merry birthday. How I wish to be with you, dearest Victoire, on that day!

I have not thanked you, I believe, for a very dear letter you havewritten to me, which gave me the greatest pleasure. Your descriptionsof the plays you had seen amused me very much. I wish I had seen yourperformance too. Your most affectionate Sister, FEODORE. 

 [Footnote 9: The Princess Feodore of Leiningen, the Queen's half-sister, had married, in January 1828, the Prince (Ernest) of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. ]

_The Duchess of Clarence to the Princess Victoria. _

BUSHEY PARK, _14th August 1829. _

A thousand thanks to you, dear Victoria, for your very nice andwell-written letter full of good wishes, which I had the pleasure toreceive yesterday; and many thanks more for the pretty gifts your dearMamma has sent me in your name. I wore them last night for your sake, dearest child, and thought of you _very often_. 

It gives me great satisfaction to hear that you are enjoying the seaair and like the place which you now occupy. I wish I could pay yourMamma a visit there and see you again, my dear little niece, for Ilong to have that pleasure, and must resign myself at being deprivedof it some time longer. Your Uncle desires to be most kindlyremembered to you, and hopes to receive soon also a letter from you, of whom he is as fond as I am. We speak of you very often, and trustthat you will always consider us to be amongst your best friends. .. . 

God bless you, my dear Victoria, is always the prayer of your mosttruly affectionate Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _22nd May 1832. _

MY DEAREST LOVE, --Let me offer you my _sincerest_ and _best_ wishes onthe return of the anniversary of your birthday. May heaven protect andprosper you, and shower all its best blessings on you. 

Time flies: it is now thirteen years that you came into the worldof trouble; I therefore can hardly venture to call you any longer alittle Princess. 

This will make you feel, my dear Love, that you must give yourattention more and more to graver matters. By the dispensation ofProvidence you are destined to fill a most eminent station; to fillit _well_ must now become your study. A good heart and a trusty andhonourable character are amongst the most indispensable qualificationsfor that position. 

You will always find in your Uncle that faithful friend which hehas proved to you from your earliest infancy, and whenever you feelyourself in want of support or advice, call on him with perfectconfidence. 

If circumstances permitted my leaving Ostend early to-morrow morning, I should be able to place myself my birthday present into your fairhair; as this happiness has not fallen to my lot, your excellentmother has promised to act as my representative. 

You will probably have little time to spare. I therefore conclude withthe assurance of the sincere attachment and affection with which Ishall ever be, my dearest Love, your faithful and devoted Friend andUncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, [10] _31st August 1832. _

MY DEAREST LOVE, --You told me you wished to have a description of yournew Aunt. [11] I therefore shall both mentally and physically describeher to you. 

She is extremely gentle and amiable, her actions are always guided byprinciples. She is at all times ready and disposed to sacrifice hercomfort and inclinations to see others happy. She values goodness, merit, and virtue much more than beauty, riches, and amusements. Withall this she is highly informed and very clever; she speaks and writesEnglish, German and Italian; she speaks English very well indeed. In short, my dear Love, you see that I may well recommend her as anexample for all young ladies, being Princesses or not. 

Now to her appearance. She is about Feodore's height, her hairvery fair, light blue eyes, of a very gentle, intelligent and kindexpression. A Bourbon nose and small mouth. The figure is much likeFeodore's but rather less stout. She rides very well, which she provedto my great alarm the other day, by keeping her seat though a horse ofmine ran away with her full speed for at least half a mile. What shedoes particularly well is dancing. Music unfortunately she is notvery fond of, though she plays on the harp; I believe there is someidleness in the case. There exists already great confidence andaffection between us; she is desirous of doing everything that cancontribute to my happiness, and I study whatever can make her happyand contented. 

You will see by these descriptions that though my good little wife isnot the tallest Queen, she is a very great prize which I highly valueand cherish. .. . 

Now it is time I should finish my letter. Say everything that is kindto good Lehzen, and believe me ever, my dearest Love, your faithfulFriend and Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 10: The Royal Palace, four miles from Brussels, which Napoleon owned for many years. A monument to King Leopold now stands there. ]

 [Footnote 11: Louise Marie, Princess of Orleans, daughter of King Louis Philippe of France, was married to King Leopold on 9th August 1832. ]

[Pageheading: A BIRTHDAY LETTER]

[Pageheading: VALUABLE ADVICE]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _21st May 1833. _

MY DEAREST LOVE, --To make quite sure of my birthday congratulationsreaching you on that day, I send them by to-day's messenger, andconfide them to the care of your illustrious mother. 

My sincere good wishes for many happy returns of that day whichgave you, dear little soul, to us, will be accompanied by some fewreflections, which the serious aspect of our times calls forth. My dearest Love, you are now fourteen years old, a period whenthe delightful pastimes of childhood must be mixed with thoughtsappertaining already to a matured part of your life. I know that youhave been very studious, but now comes the time when the judgment mustform itself, when the character requires attention; in short when theyoung tree takes the shape which it retains afterwards through life. 

To attain this object it is indispensable to give some little time _toreflection_. The life in a great town is little calculated for suchpurposes; however, with some firmness of purpose it can be done. 

_Self-examination_ is the most important part of the business, anda very useful mode of proceeding is, for instance, every evening torecapitulate the events of the day, and the motives which made one actoneself, as well as to try to guess what might have been the motivesof others. Amiable dispositions like yours will easily perceiveif your own motives _were good_. Persons in high situations mustparticularly guard themselves against selfishness and vanity. Anindividual in a high and important situation will easily see a greatmany persons eager to please the first, and to flatter and encouragethe last. Selfishness, however, makes the individual itself miserable, and is the cause of constant disappointment, besides being the surestmeans of being disliked by everybody. 

Vanity, on the other hand, is generally artfully used by ambitious andinterested people to make one a tool for purposes of their own, buttoo often in opposition with one's own happiness and destruction ofit. 

To learn to know oneself, to judge oneself with truth andimpartiality, must be the great objects of one's exertion; they areonly attainable by constant and cool self-examination. 

The position of what is generally called great people has of latebecome extremely difficult. They are more attacked and calumniated, and judged with less indulgence than private individuals. What theyhave lost in this way, they have not by any means regained in anyother. Ever since the revolution of 1790 they are much less securethan they used to be, and the transition from sovereign power to_absolute want_ has been as frequent as sudden. 

It becomes, therefore, necessary that the character should be soformed as not to be intoxicated by greatness and success, norcast down by misfortune. To be able to do so, one must be able toappreciate things according to their real value, and particularlyavoid giving to trifles an undue importance. 

Nothing is so great and clear a proof of unfitness for greater andnobler actions, than a mind which is seriously occupied with trifles. 

Trifling matters may be objects of amusement and relaxation to aclever person, but only a weak mind and a mean spirit consider triflesas important. The good sense must show itself by distinguishing whatis and what is not important. 

My sermon is now long enough, my dear child. I strongly recommend it, however, to your reflection and consideration. 

My gift consists in a set of views of the former Kingdom of theNetherlands, out of which you will be able to discover all those ofthe present Belgium. 

Let me soon hear from you; and may God bless and preserve you. Ever, my dear Love, your affectionate Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: VISIT TO HEVER CASTLE]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _14th September 1834. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Allow me to write you a few words, to expresshow thankful I am for the very kind letter you wrote me. It made me, though, very sad to think that all our hopes of seeing you, which wecherished so long, this year, were over. I had so hoped and wished tohave seen you again, my _beloved_ Uncle, and to have made dearestAunt Louisa's acquaintance. I am delighted to hear that dear Aunt hasbenefited from the sea air and bathing. We had a very pretty party toHever Castle yesterday, which perhaps you remember, where Anne Boleynused to live, _before she lost her head_. We drove there, and rodehome. It was a most beautiful day. We have very good accounts fromdear Feodore, who will, by this time, be at Langenburg. 

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate anddutiful Niece, VICTORIA. 

[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _18th October 1834. _

MY DEAREST LOVE, --I am happy to learn that Tunbridge Wells has doneyou good. Health is the first and most important gift of Providence;without it we are poor, miserable creatures, though the whole earthwere our property; therefore I trust that you will take great care ofyour own. I feel convinced that air and exercise are most useful foryou. In your leisure moments I hope that you study a little; historyis what I think the most important study for you. It will be difficultfor you to learn human-kind's ways and manners otherwise than fromthat important source of knowledge. Your position will more or lessrender practical knowledge extremely difficult for you, till you getold, and still if you do not prepare yourself for your position, youmay become the victim of wicked and designing people, particularly ata period when party spirit runs so high. Our times resemble most thoseof the Protestant reformation; then people were moved by religiousopinions, as they now undoubtedly are by political passions. Unfortunately history is rarely written by those who really werethe chief movers of events, nor free from a party colouring; thisis particularly the case in the works about English history. In thatrespect France is much richer, because there we have authenticatedmemoirs of some of the most important men, and of others who reallysaw what passed and wrote it down at the time. Political feelings, besides, rarely created _permanent_ parties like those in England, with the exception, perhaps, of the great distinctions of Catholicsand Protestants. What I most should recommend is the period before theaccession of Henry IV. Of France to the throne, then the events afterhis death till the end of the minority of Louis XIV. ; after thatperiod, though interesting, matters have a character which is morepersonal, and therefore less applicable to the present times. Stilleven that period may be studied with some profit to get knowledge ofmankind. _Intrigues_ and _favouritism_ were the chief features of thatperiod, and Madame de Maintenon's immense influence was very nearlythe cause of the destruction of France. What I very particularlyrecommend to you is to study in the Memoirs of the great and goodSully[12] the last years of the reign of Henry IV. Of France, and theevents which followed his assassination. If you have not got the work, I will forward it to you from hence, or give you the edition which Imust have at Claremont. 

As my paper draws to a close, I shall finish also by giving you mybest blessings, and remain ever, my dearest Love, your faithfullyattached Friend and Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 12: Maximilien, Duc de Sully, was Henry's Minister of Finance. A curious feature of the Memoirs is the fact that they are written in the second person: the historian recounts the hero's adventures to him. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S READING]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _22nd October 1834. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --You cannot conceive how happy you have made me, byyour very kind letter, which, instead of tiring, delights me beyondeverything. I must likewise say how very grateful I feel for the kindand excellent advice you gave me in it. 

For the autographs I beg to return my best thanks. They aremost valuable and interesting, and will be great additions to mycollections. As I have not got Sully's Memoirs, I shall be delightedif you will be so good as to give them to me. Reading history is oneof my greatest delights, and perhaps, dear Uncle, you might like toknow which books in that line I am now reading. In my lessons with theDean of Chester, [13] I am reading Russell's _Modern Europe_, [14] whichis very interesting, and Clarendon's _History of the Rebellion_. Itis drily written, but is full of instruction. I like reading differentauthors, of different opinions, by which means I learn not to lean onone particular side. Besides my lessons, I read Jones'[15] accountof the wars in Spain, Portugal and the South of France, from the year1808 till 1814. It is well done, I think, and amuses me very much. InFrench, I am now in _La Rivalité de la France et de l'Espagne_, parGaillard, [16] which is very interesting. I have also begun Rollin. [17]I am very fond of making tables of the Kings and Queens, as I go on, and I have lately finished one of the English Sovereigns and theirconsorts, as, of course, the history of my own country is one ofmy first duties. I should be fearful of tiring you with so long anaccount of myself, were I not sure you take so great an interest in mywelfare. 

Pray give my most affectionate love to _dearest_ Aunt Louisa, andplease say to the Queen of the French and the two Princesses howgrateful I am for their kind remembrance of me. 

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate, verydutiful, and most attached Niece, VICTORIA. 

 [Footnote 13: The Rev. George Davys. See _ante_, p. 15. (Ch. II, Footnote 4)]

 [Footnote 14: This _History of Modern Europe_, in a series of letters from a nobleman to his son, 5 vols. (1779-1784), deals with the rise of modern kingdoms down to the Peace of Westphalia (1648). ]

 [Footnote 15: Sir John Thomas Jones, Bart. (1783-1843), a Royal Engineer, who served in the Peninsular War. ]

 [Footnote 16: Gabriel Henri Gaillard (1726-1806), Member of the French Academy. ]

 [Footnote 17: The _Histoire Ancienne_, by Charles Rollin (1661-1741), Rector of the University of Paris. ]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

ST. LEONARDS, _19th November 1834. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --It is impossible for me to express how happy youhave made me by writing so soon again to me, and how pleased I am tosee by your very kind letter that you intend to write to me often. Iam much obliged to you, dear Uncle, for the extract about Queen Anne, but must beg you, as you have sent me to show what a Queen _ought not_to be, that you will send me what a Queen _ought to be_. [18]

Might I ask what is the very pretty seal with which the letter I gotfrom you yesterday was closed? It is so peculiar that I am anxious toknow. 

Believe me always, dear Uncle, your very affectionate, very dutiful, and very attached Niece, VICTORIA. 

 [Footnote 18: King Leopold had sent the Princess an extract from a French Memoir, containing a severe criticism of the political character of Queen Anne. ]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _2nd December 1834. _

MY DEAREST LOVE, --You have written a very clever, sharp little letterthe other day, which gave me great pleasure. Sure enough, when I showyou what a Queen ought not to be, I also ought to tell you what sheshould be, and this task I will very conscientiously take upon myselfon the very first occasion which may offer itself for a confidentialcommunication. Now I must conclude, to go to town. I must, however, say that I have given orders to send you Sully's Memoirs. As they havenot been written exclusively for young ladies, it will be well to haveLehzen to read it with you, and to judge what ought to be left forsome future time. And now God bless you! Ever, my beloved child, yourattached Friend and Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: A NEW YEAR GREETING]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

ST. LEONARDS, _28th December 1834. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I must again, with your permission, write you a fewlines, to wish you a very happy new year, not only for _this_ year, but for _many_ to come. I know not how to thank you sufficiently forthe _invaluable_ and precious autographs which you were so very kindas to send me. Some of them I received a few days ago, and the othersto-day, accompanied by a very kind letter from you, and a beautifulshawl, which will be most useful to me, particularly as a favouriteone of mine is growing very old. I wish you could come here, formany reasons, but also to be an eye-witness of my extreme prudence ineating, which would astonish you. The poor sea-gulls are, however, not so happy as you imagine, for they have great enemies in thecountry-people here, who take pleasure in shooting them. 

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate and mostgrateful Niece, VICTORIA. 

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

KENSINGTON PALACE, _2nd February 1835. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I know not how to thank you sufficiently forthe most valuable autographs you were kind enough to send me. I amparticularly delighted with that of Louis Quatorze, "le grand Roi, "and my great admiration. .. . You will not, I hope, think me verytroublesome if I venture to ask for two more autographs which I shouldvery particularly like to have; they are Mme. De Sévigné's[19] andRacine's; as I am reading the letters of the former, and the tragediesof the latter, I should prize them highly. Believe me always, mydearest Uncle, your most affectionate and dutiful Niece, VICTORIA. 

 [Footnote 19: Marie de Rabutin Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné, born 1626. At twenty-four she was left a widow, and devoted herself to her children's education. When her daughter married the Count de Grignan, she began that correspondence with her on which her reputation chiefly rests. She died in 1696, and the letters were first published in 1726. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S CONFIRMATION]

[Pageheading: HONESTY AND SINCERITY]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

CAMP OF BEVERLOO (in the North of the Province of Limburg), _3rdAugust 1835. _

MY DEAR LOVE, --By your Mother's letter of the 31st ult^o. , I learnedof the serious and important action in your young life[20] which haspassed recently, and I cannot let it pass without saying some wordson the subject. I am perhaps rather strangely situated for apreaching--somewhat in the style of those old camp preachers who heldforth to many thousand people on some heath in Scotland. I am alsoon an immense heath, surrounded by 16, 000 men, mostly young andgay, cooking, singing, working, and not very like the stern oldCovenanters; however, I shall try. First of all, let me congratulateyou that it passed happily and well off. Secondly, let me entreat youto look with a serious and reflective mind on the day which is past. Many are the religions, many the shades of those religions, but itmust be confessed the principles of the Christian religion are themost perfect and the most beautiful that can be imagined. .. . There isone virtue which is particularly Christian; this is the knowledge ofour own heart in _real humility_. _Hypocrisy_ is a besetting sin ofall times, but _particularly of the present_, and many are the wolvesin sheep's clothes. I am sorry to say, with all my affection for oldEngland, the very _state of its Society and politics_ renders many inthat country _essentially humbugs and deceivers_; the _appearance_ ofthe thing is generally _more_ considered than the _reality_; providedmatters go off well, and opinion may be gained, the _real good ismatter of the most perfect indifference_. Defend yourself, my dearlove, against this system; let your dear character always be trueand loyal; this does not _exclude prudence_--worldly concerns arenow unfortunately so organised that you _must be cautious_ or you mayinjure yourself and others--but it does not prevent the being sterlingand true. Nothing in persons gives greater reliance, greater weight, than when they are known to be _true_. From your earliest childhoodI was anxious to see in you this important virtue _saved_ and_developed_, and Lehzen will still be able to recollect that. If it isGod's pleasure that you should once[21] fill the arduous situation towhich you seem destined, you will find the importance of what I nowsay to you. And when others may tremble to have at last their realcharacter found out, and to meet all the contempt which they maydeserve, your mind and heart will be still and happy, because it willknow that it acts honestly, that truth and goodness are the motives ofits actions. I press you now against my heart; may God bless you asI wish and hope it, and may you always feel some affection for yoursincerely devoted camp preacher and Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 20: The Princess was confirmed at the Chapel Royal, on 30th July 1835. ]

 [Footnote 21: King Leopold not infrequently uses "once" like the Latin _olim_, as referring to any indefinite date in the future as well as in the past. "Some day" is what is intended here. ]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER V

THE year 1836 was not an eventful one at home; the Whig Ministry weretoo weak to carry measures of first-rate importance, and could hardlyhave maintained themselves in power against the formidable oppositionof Sir Robert Peel without the support of O'Connell. Parliament waschiefly occupied by the consideration of the Secret Societies inIreland, Tithes, Municipal Corporations, and such matters; theMarriage Act, and the Act for the Registration of Births have probablybeen the most important measures of the year to the country. Troubleswhich were destined to become more acute arose in Lower Canada andJamaica, both taking the form of disputes between the executive andthe legislature. 

On the continent of Europe, affairs were more disturbing. Severalattempts were made on the life of the King of the French, while anabortive insurrection with a view of establishing a military empirewas made by Louis Bonaparte at Strasburg. The Prince was allowed toleave the country and go to the United States, but his accompliceswere detained for trial. In Algiers the French Government determinedto prosecute operations against the Arab Chief Abd-el-Kader, and theysent an expedition to Constantin. 

Holland and Belgium were occupied with a dispute about their boundaryline, the cession to Belgium of Luxemburg being the chief pointof difference. The difficulties that arose in passing an importantMunicipal Act for Belgium caused King Leopold temporarily to regret hehad not accepted the throne of Greece. 

Portugal was still convulsed by revolutionary agitation. Dom Pedro, the eldest son of King John VI. , had been proclaimed Emperor of Brazilin his father's lifetime, and had abdicated the throne of Portugal infavour of his daughter Donna Maria, a child seven years old, while DomMiguel, his younger brother, who had acted in opposition to his fatherin Portugal, claimed the throne for himself. Dom Pedro had agreed thathis daughter should marry Miguel, who was in 1827 appointed Regent. Miguel, had he acted wisely, might have maintained himself onthe throne, but Dom Pedro, who had been expelled from Brazil by arevolution, took active steps to recover the Portuguese throne forhis daughter, and equipped an expedition for that end with English andFrench volunteers. In this way, Donna Maria, who had spent part of herexile in England, and formed a friendship with the Princess Victoria, was through British instrumentality placed on her throne, but stillcould only maintain herself with difficulty against Miguel. She was afew weeks older than the Princess Victoria, and had recently lost herfirst husband, the Duc de Leuchtenberg. She was married by proxy onthe 1st of January 1836, and in person on the 9th of April, to PrinceFerdinand of Saxe-Coburg. 

There was also a disputed succession in Spain, where by the ancientlaw women might succeed to the throne. Ferdinand VII. , who had revokedthe Pragmatic Sanction of 1711 and restored the former system, died in1833, leaving no son. His elder daughter Isabella, then three yearsof age, was proclaimed Queen (her mother Christina being appointedRegent), and Isabella's claims were recognised by England and France. The late King's brother, Don Carlos, taking his stand upon the SalicLaw as established by the Pragmatic Sanction, raised the standard ofrevolt and allied himself with Dom Miguel, the young Queens Mariaand Isabella mutually recognising each other, and being supported byFrance and England against the "Holy Alliance" of Austria, Russia, andPrussia. A seven years' civil war resulted, which did not endtill, from sheer exhaustion, the Carlists had to cease fighting theChristinos, as the loyal party was called. The English Government inthe previous year had sanctioned the enlistment of 10, 000 men; who, commanded by Colonel (afterwards Sir de Lacy) Evans, landed at SanSebastian in August to assist the Christinos. A British auxiliarycontingent was already with the Spanish army, while a naval squadronunder Lord John Hay was active on the coast. Mendizabal was PrimeMinister at the beginning of the year 1836, and was succeeded in Mayby Isturitz. Riots took place at Madrid, and Isturitz fled to France;Calatrava succeeding him, assisted by Mendizabal. The Christino causedid not much advance during the year. 

CHAPTER V

1836

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

_4th March 1836. _

MY DEARLY BELOVED CHILD, --You wrote me again a long, _dear_, _good_letter, like all those which I received from your kind hands. Timeapproaches now for the arrival of the cousins, and most probably ofyour Uncle Ferdinand also. He has informed me of his arrival for the7th or 8th; notwithstanding this, I mean to leave everything settledas it has been arranged. They will set off on the 7th, arrive at Parison the 8th, and leave it again on the 12th. .. . Fernando[1] has still avery bad cold; change of air is likely to cure that. The stay here hasdone Fernando a great deal of good, and it cannot be denied that he isquite another person. It has given me some trouble, but I have writtendown for him everything which he ought to know about the organisationof a government _in general_, and what will be necessary in specie tocarry on successfully the Government in Portugal. .. . My inclinations, as you are aware, would have led me to the East, but certainly theonly thing which reconciles me with my not having done so is that ithas made me to remain near you, and will enable me to see you and tobe useful to you. 

 [Footnote 1: The Queen's first cousin, Prince Ferdinand (son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, who was brother of the Duchess of Kent and the King of the Belgians), aged nineteen, who married the Queen of Portugal on 9th April. He was at this time visiting the King of the Belgians on his way to Portugal. ]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

KENSINGTON PALACE, _7th March 1836. _

. .. You are very kind, my dearest, best Uncle, to say that "the onlything which reconciles you" for not having gone to Greece is, that youare near me and can see me. Thank Heaven that you did not go there! itwould have been dreadful for me and for all your relations to be thus, as it were, cut off from almost all intercourse! It is _hard_ enough, that you are as far as you are, when I recollect the happy time when Icould see you, and be with you, _every_ day!. .. 

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

KENSINGTON PALACE, _29th March 1836. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, -- . .. As concerning the "fatigues" we are said tohave undergone, they were none to me, and made me very happy; I onlywish they could have lasted longer, for all, all is over now, and our_beloved_ Ferdinand[2] himself leaves our shores this _very_ morning. We accompanied them all on Sunday, where we took a final leave of ourdear Ferdinand, and I cannot tell you how sorry I was, and am, to seehim go, for I love him dearly. He is so truly excellent, kind, and good, and endears himself so much by his simplicity andgood-heartedness! I may venture to say, that no one has his prosperityand happiness more at heart than I have. I am extremely sanguine abouthis success. He goes there full of courage, spirits, and goodwill, and being naturally clever and observant, I doubt not that with goodcounsel, and prudence, he will do very well. _Your_ kind advice willbe of the greatest and most important use to him, the more so as he isso exceedingly fond of you. .. . Ferdinand leaves behind him here a mostfavourable impression on all parties, for _I_ have even _heard_ fromsome great Tories themselves that there was a great feeling _for_ himin this country. 

 [Footnote 2: See _ante_, p. 45. (Ch. V, Footnote 1). He had latterly been visiting the Duchess of Kent. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCES ERNEST AND ALBERT]

_The Princess Hohenlohe to the Princess Victoria. _

STUTTGART, _16th April 1836. _

. .. You will like our two Coburg cousins also, I think; they are moremanly than I think the two others are, after the description. I amvery fond of them both. Ernest is my favourite, although Albertis much handsomer, and cleverer too, but Ernest is so honest andgood-natured. I shall be very curious to hear your opinion uponthem. .. . 

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

KENSINGTON PALACE, _26th April 1836. _

MY DEAREST, BEST UNCLE, -- . .. You will, I am sure, have been delightedwith M. De Neumann's[3] account of the complete success of our dearFerdinand. All has gone off better than even our most sanguine hopescould have desired. He is much pleased with the good Queen, and she isdelighted with him, and M. De Neumann says that they are already quitehappy together. This is really a great blessing, but I fear that allthe _exterior_ affairs are not in quite _so_ good a state. I hope, however, that the good people will not make any more difficultiesabout Fernando's being Commander-in-Chief, as I hear from all accountsit is necessary he should be so. .. . 

Uncle Ernest and my cousins will probably come here in the beginningof next month, I hear, and will visit you on their return. 

You ask me about Sully's Memoirs, and if I have finished them. I havenot finished them, but am reading them with great interest, and findthere is a great deal in them which applies to the present times, anda great deal of good advice and reasoning in them. As you say, verytruly, it is extremely necessary for me to follow the "events of theday, " and to do so impartially. I am always both grateful and happywhen you give me any advice, and hope you will continue to do so aslong as I live. 

I am glad to hear you approve my singing, and I cannot tell you howdelightful it would be for me, if you could join with us. _À propos_, dear Uncle, you did not answer what I said to you in a former letterabout your visiting us again. You know, dear Uncle, that this is asubject upon which I am very _earnest_ and _very_ eager, and as thesummer approaches I grow more and more anxious about it. You know, also, that _pleasure_ does more good than a hundred walks and rides. 

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your truly devoted and attachedNiece, VICTORIA. 

 [Footnote 3: Baron Neumann, who acted as Minister Plenipotentiary during the absences of Prince Esterhazy, succeeded him as Austrian Minister in 1842. He married Lady Augusta Somerset in 1844. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE OF ORANGE]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

_13th May 1836. _

MY DEAREST CHILD, --I got this time a very small letter from your goodlittle Ladyship, and I shall repay it probably in larger coin, as myletter going through a messenger of my own will become longer, as itwill be more confidential than through the usual mode of conveyance. 

I am really _astonished_ at the conduct of your old Uncle the King;this invitation of the Prince of Orange and his sons, this forcing himupon others, is very extraordinary. [4] It is so, because persons inpolitical stations and champions of great political passions cannotput aside their known character as you would lay your hat upon atable. 

Not later than yesterday I got a half official communication fromEngland, insinuating that it would be _highly_ desirable that thevisit of _your_ relatives _should not take place, this year--qu'endites-vous_? The relations of the Queen and the King, therefore, tothe God-knows-what degree, are to come in shoals and rule the land, when _your relations_ are to be _forbidden_ the country, and thatwhen, as you know, the whole of your relations have ever been verydutiful and kind to the King. Really and truly I never heard or sawanything like it, and I hope it will a _little rouse your spirit_;now that slavery is even abolished in the British Colonies, I do notcomprehend _why your lot alone should be to be kept, a white littleslavey in England_, for the pleasure of the Court, who never boughtyou, as I am not aware of their having gone to any expense on thathead, or the King's even having _spent a sixpence for your existence_. I expect that my visits in England will also be prohibited by an Orderin Council. Oh consistency and political or _other honesty_, wheremust one look for you!

I have not the least doubt that the King, in his passion for theOranges, will be _excessively rude to your relations_; this, however, will not signify much; they are _your guests_ and not _his_, and willtherefore _not_ mind it. .. . 

 [Footnote 4: King Leopold had for some time cherished a hope of uniting the Princess Victoria in marriage with her cousin, Prince Albert of Coburg. He therefore arranged that the Prince, with his elder brother, Prince Ernest, should pay a visit to the Duchess of Kent at Kensington Palace. King William naturally opposed a scheme which he knew met with the approval of his sister-in-law. He accordingly invited the Prince of Orange and his two sons at the same time, and favoured the candidature of the younger son, Prince Alexander. The King (it is believed) went so far as to say that no other marriage should ever take place, and that the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and his son should never put foot in the country; they should not be allowed to land, and must go back whence they came. 

 The Prince of Orange had himself been a candidate for the hand of Princess Charlotte, and had no reason to be friendly to King Leopold, of whom it is recorded that he said, "Voilà un homme qui a pris ma femme et mon royaume. "]

[Pageheading: ARRIVAL OF PRINCE ALBERT]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_23rd May 1836. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, -- . .. Uncle Ernest and my cousins arrived here onWednesday, _sains et saufs_. Uncle is looking remarkably well, and mycousins are most delightful young people. I will give you no detaileddescription of them, as you will so soon see them yourself. But Imust say, that they are both very amiable, very kind and good, andextremely merry, just as young people should be; with all that, they are extremely sensible, and very fond of occupation. Albert isextremely handsome, which Ernest certainly is not, but he has a mostgood-natured, honest, and intelligent countenance. We took them to theOpera on Friday, to see the _Puritani_, and as they are excessivelyfond of music, like me, they were in perfect ecstasies, having neverheard any of the singers before. .. . 

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_7th June 1836. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --These few lines will be given to you by my dearUncle Ernest when he sees you. 

I must thank you, my beloved Uncle, for the prospect of _great_happiness you have contributed to give me, in the person of dearAlbert. Allow me, then, my dearest Uncle, to tell you how delighted Iam with him, and how much I like him in every way. He possesses everyquality that could be desired to render me perfectly happy. He is sosensible, so kind, and so good, and so amiable too. He has, besides, the most pleasing and delightful exterior and appearance you canpossibly see. 

I have only now to beg you, my dearest Uncle, to take care of thehealth of one, now _so dear_ to me, and to take him under _yourspecial_ protection. I hope and trust that all will go on prosperouslyand well on this subject of so much importance to me. 

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your most affectionate, devoted, and grateful Niece, VICTORIA. 

[Pageheading: CONVERSATION]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

_17th June 1836. _

MY DEAREST AND MOST BELOVED CHILD, --I begged your Mother, in themeantime, to offer you my best thanks for your very pretty drawingrepresenting the Provost of Bruges and his daughter[5]; I admired alsothat for your Aunt. They do your spirit of invention honour, and it isa very good plan to draw subjects from books or plays which interestyou. You will feel the loss of a pleasant society in the old Palace, the more so as your relations are good unsophisticated people, a thingwhich one does not so often meet with. I suppose that part of yourLondon amusements will soon be over. You were going to Windsor, which you will probably have left by this time. I hope you were veryprudent; I cannot disguise from you, that though the inhabitants aregood-natured people, still that I think you want all your naturalcaution with them. Never permit yourself to be induced to tell themany opinion or sentiment of yours which is _beyond the sphere ofcommon conversation_ and its ordinary topics. Bad use would be madeof it against yourself, and you cannot in that subject be too muchguarded. I know well the people we have to deal with. I am extremelyimpartial, but I shall also always be equally watchful. .. . God blessyou! Ever, my dear child, your very devoted Uncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 5: Leading characters in _The Heiress of Bruges_, by Grattan. ]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_9th August 1836. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, -- . .. I was sure you would be very much pleased withErnest and Albert as soon as you knew them more; there cannot be twomore good and sensible young men than they are. Pray, dear Uncle, sayeverything most kind from me to them. 

We go to Buxted[6] to-morrow morning, and stay there till next Monday. 

All the gaieties are now over. We took leave of the Opera on Saturday, and a most brilliant conclusion to the season it was. Yesterday I tookmy farewell lesson with Lablache, [7] which I was very sorry to do. Ihave had twenty-six lessons with him, and I look forward with pleasureto resume them again next spring. 

 [Footnote 6: Lord Liverpool's house. Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, third Earl of Liverpool, was fifty-three years old at the time of the Queen's accession. He was a moderate Tory, and had held office as Under-Secretary for the Home Department in 1807, and in 1809 as Under-Secretary for War and the Colonies. He succeeded to the Earldom in 1828. The title, since revived, became extinct on his death in 1851. He was a friend of the Duchess of Kent, who often stayed with him at Buxted Park in Sussex, and at Pitchford in Shropshire. At three successive visits at the latter house the Princess occupied the same small room without a fireplace. ]

 [Footnote 7: Luigi Lablache (1794-1858), a famous opera-singer, was the Princess's singing-master. ]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_2nd September 1836. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, -- . .. The state of Spain is most alarming andunfortunate. [8] I do hope something will be done. The news were ratherbetter yesterday and the day before. The Christinos had gained avictory over the Carlists. [9] I take a great interest in the whole ofthis unfortunate affair. I hope and trust Portugal may not suffer byall the affairs of Spain, but much is to be feared. Dieskau will havetold you much about the internal affairs, which seem to go on veryprosperously. Pray has the Duchess of Braganza[10] written to you orAunt Louise since Ferdinand's marriage?

You did not send me the King of Naples'[11] letter, as you said youwould; pray do so in your next letter. I hope he will come here nextyear. You do not mention France, so I hope all is quiet. The Duke ofOrleans is quite well again, I am happy to hear from Aunt Louise. NowI must conclude, begging you to believe me, always, your most trulyattached and really devoted Niece, VICTORIA. 

 [Footnote 8: See Introductory Note for the year, _ante_, p. 44. (to Ch. V)]

 [Footnote 9: The civil war was favourable to the Carlists at this time, General Gomez obtaining a victory on 30th August. By the end of the year he had twice traversed the kingdom, hampered with plunder and prisoners, and surrounded by armies greater than his own, and in no district did he find the inhabitants disposed to act against him. ]

 [Footnote 10: Step-mother of the Queen of Portugal. ]

 [Footnote 11: Ferdinand II. , commonly named "Bomba. " He married _en secondes noces_, the Archduchess Theresa of Austria. ]

[Pageheading: A FAREWELL LETTER]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _[12]

CLAREMONT, _21st September 1836. _

MY MOST DEARLY BELOVED UNCLE, --As I hear that Mamma is going to send aletter to you which will reach you at Dover, and though it is only anhour and a half since we parted, I must write you one line to tell youhow _very, very sad_ I am that you have left us, and to repeat, whatI think you know pretty well, _how_ much I love you. When I thinkthat but two hours ago we were happily together, and that now you aretravelling every instant farther and farther away from us, and that Ishall with all probability not see you for a _year_, it makes me cry. Yes, dearest Uncle, it is dreadful in this life, that one is destined, and _particularly unhappy me_, to be almost always separated fromthose one loves most dearly. I live, however, in the hopes of yourvisit next year with dear Aunt, and I cannot say how thankful andhappy I am that we have had you here for six short, and to me _mostbright happy_ days! I shall look back with the greatest delight onthem. 

Believe me, always, your ever devoted and most affectionately attachedNiece and _Child_, VICTORIA. 

 [Footnote 12: Written at the conclusion of the King's visit to England. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS AND THE CHURCH]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _11th November 1836. _

MY VERY DEAR CHILD, -- . .. I know attempts have been made to representyou as indifferent to the established Church. You know that in Englandthe Sovereign is the head of the Church, and that the Church looksupon the Protestant religion as it is established as the _State_Religion. In times like the present, when the Crown is already a gooddeal weakened, I believe that it is of importance to maintain as muchas possible this state of affairs, and I believe that you will dowell, whenever an occasion offers itself to do so without affectation, to express your sincere interest for the Church, and that youcomprehend its position and count upon its good-will. The poor Churchwill be a good deal persecuted, I have no doubt, but it would bedesirable that the men belonging to it should be united, _sensible_, and moderate. .. . 

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

RAMSGATE, _14th November 1836. _

. .. What you say to me relative to Church matters I quite comprehend, and always am very thankful for advice from you. 

I am reading away famously. I like Mrs. Hutchinson's Life of herhusband[13] only _comme cela_; she is so dreadfully violent. She andClarendon are so totally opposite, that it is quite absurd, and I onlybelieve the _juste milieu_. .. . 

Your speech interested me very much; it is very fine indeed; you wroteit yourself, did you not?

Belgium is indeed the happiest country in the world, and it is _all, all_ owing to your _great care_ and _kindness_. "Nous étions desenfans perdus, " General Goblet[14] said to me at Claremont, "quand leRoi est venu nous sauver. " And so it is. .. . 

Pray, dear Uncle, say everything most kind from me to Ernest andAlbert, and believe me, always, your affectionate Niece, VICTORIA. 

Pray, dear Uncle, is the report of the King of Naples' marriage to theArchduchess Theresa true? I hear the king has behaved uncommonlywell at Naples during the cholera panic. I enclose the measure of myfinger. 

 [Footnote 13: The regicide, Colonel Hutchinson's, fame rests more on his wife's commemoration of him than on his own exploits. She was the daughter of Sir Allen Apsley, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, and highly educated. Between 1664 and 1671 she wrote the biography of her husband, first published in 1806. "The figure of Colonel Hutchinson, " says J. R. Green, "stands out from his wife's canvas with the grace and tenderness of a portrait by Van Dyck. "]

 [Footnote 14: The Belgian General, Albert Joseph Goblet. Count d'Alviella. ]

[Pageheading: DEATH OF CHARLES X]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _18th November 1836. _

. .. Poor Charles X. Is dead, it is said of the cholera. I regrethim; few people were ever kinder to me than the good old man. He wasblinded by certain absolute ideas, but a good man, and deserving tobe loved. History will state that Louis XVIII. Was a most liberalmonarch, reigning with great mildness and justice to his end, but thathis brother, from his despotic and harsh disposition, upset allthe other had done, and lost the throne. Louis XVIII. Was a clever, hard-hearted man, shackled by no principle, very proud and false. Charles X. An honest man, a kind friend, an honourable master, sincerein his opinions, and inclined to do everything that is right. Thatteaches us what we ought to believe in history as it is compiledaccording to ostensible events and results known to the generality ofpeople. Memoirs are much more instructive, if written honestly and notpurposely fabricated, as it happens too often nowadays, particularlyat Paris. .. . I shall not fail to read the books you so kindlyrecommend. I join you a small copy of our very liberal Constitution, hitherto conscientiously executed--no easy matter. You may communicateit to your Mother; it is the best answer to an infamous Radical orTory-Radical paper, the _Constitutional_, which seems determined torun down the Coburg family. I don't understand the meaning of it;the only happiness poor Charlotte knew was during her short weddedexistence, and there was but one voice on that subject, that weoffered a bright prospect to the nation. Since that period I have(though been abused, and vilified merely for drawing an income whichwas the consequence of a Treaty ratified by both Houses of Parliament, and that without one dissenting voice, a thing not very likely tohappen again) done everything to see England prosperous and powerful. I have spared her, in 1831, much trouble and expense, as _withoutmy coming here very serious complications, war and all the expensiveoperations connected with it_, must have taken place. I give the wholeof my income, without the reservation of a farthing, to the country; Ipreserve unity on the Continent, have frequently prevented mischief atParis, and to thank me for all that, I get the most scurrilous abuse, in which the good people from _constant practice so much excel_. .. . The conclusion of all this--and that by people whose very existencein political life may be but of a few years' standing--is scurrilousabuse of the Coburg family. I should like to know what harm the Coburgfamily has done to England? But enough of this. Your principle is verygood; one must not mind what newspapers say. Their power is a fictionof the worst description, and their efforts marked by the worst faithand the greatest untruths. If all the Editors of the papers in thecountries where the liberty of the press exists were to be assembled, we should have a _crew_ to which you would _not_ confide a dog thatyou would value, still less your honour and reputation. .. . 

[Pageheading: REVOLUTION AT LISBON]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S NAME]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_21st November 1836. _

MY MOST DEARLY BELOVED UNCLE, --You cannot imagine how happy you havemade me by your very dear, kind, long, and interesting letter of the18th, which I received yesterday morning, and for which I beg youto accept my _very warmest_ and best thanks. You know, I think, mydearest Uncle, that _no_ creature on earth _loves_ you _more_ dearly, or has a higher sense of admiration for you, than I have. Independentof all that you have done--which I never, never can be grateful enoughfor--my love for you exceeds all that words can express; it is innatein me, for from my earliest years the name of _Uncle_ was the dearestI knew, the word _Uncle_, _alone_, meant no other but you!

Your letter is so interesting and instructive that I could read itover and over again. I hope, dear Uncle, you will in process of timegive me the _aperçu_ you mention, which would be so very interestingfor me. 

I cannot tell you how distressed I was by the late unfortunate_contre-révolution manquée_ at Lisbon, [15] and how sorry I was to seeby the letter you wrote me, that you were still unaware of it on the18th. Mamma received a letter from Lord Palmerston yesterday morning, which she has sent you, and which is consolatory, I think. He speaksin the highest terms of our beloved Ferdinand, which proves that hebecomes daily more and more worthy of his arduous situation, and saysthat the Queen's situation "is better than it was, " less bad than itmight have been "after such an affair, " and not so good as it wouldhave been had poor Donna Maria waited patiently till all was ripe foraction. Dietz[16] wrote Mamma a most desponding letter, so much so, that had we not got Lord Palmerston's letter we must have thoughtall, all was over. [17] I hope, dear Uncle, you will tell _me_ _your_feeling about the whole, which will only satisfy me; no one elsecould, for I take an interest in Ferdinand's welfare as though he weremy brother. 

Allow me, dearest Uncle, to say a few words respecting my _name_, towhich you allude. You are aware, I believe, that about a year afterthe accession of the _present_ King there was a desire to change myfavourite and dear name _Victoria_ to that of _Charlotte_, also _mostdear_, to which the King willingly consented. On its being told me, Isaid nothing, though I felt grieved beyond measure at the thought ofany change. Not long after this, Lord Grey, and also the Archbishop ofCanterbury, acquainted Mamma that the country, having been accustomedto hear me called Victoria, had become used to it, _enfin_, _likedit_, and therefore, to my great delight, the idea of a change wasgiven up. [18]

I was sure the death of old Charles X. Would strike you. .. . 

I thank you much for the _Constitution de la Belgique_. Those attackson you are infamous, but must not be minded; they are the languageof a _few jealous_, _envious_ people. _En revanche_, I enclose aparagraph from a speech of O'Connell's[19] I think worth your reading. 

Pray, dearest Uncle, say everything most kind to my beloved anddearest Aunt, and thank her in my name for her kind letter, which Ishall answer on Friday. I am happy she and the dear little man arewell. 

Believe me, always, your most devoted and affectionately attachedNiece, VICTORIA. 

 [Footnote 15: Prince Ferdinand was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese army on the advice of the Duc de Terceira, then Prime Minister. The appointment was highly unpopular; riots broke out, the army mutinied, and rose against the authorities, with the result that the Queen of Portugal was compelled to accept the Radical Constitution of 1820, in the place of Dom Pedro's constitutional Charter of 1826. Later in the year the Queen, assisted by Palmella, Terceira, and Saldanha, made a counter-move, believing that the people of Lisbon would support her, and proposed to dismiss her Ministers; she had, however, been misled as to the popular aid forthcoming, and had to give up the struggle, Sá da Bandeira becoming Prime Minister. The Queen, virtually a captive, had to accede to the revolutionary requirements. ]

 [Footnote 16: Dietz was a former Governor of Prince Ferdinand, who accompanied him to Portugal on his marriage with Donna Maria, and took a considerable part in political affairs. ]

 [Footnote 17: A former Minister of the Interior was killed by the National Guards, who threatened to march on Belem, where the Queen was; she had to apply to the British Marines for protection. ]

 [Footnote 18: In the course of the debate (3rd August 1831) on Lord Althorp's proposition to add £10, 000 a year to the Duchess of Kent's income, Sir M. W. Ridley suggested changing the Princess's name to Elizabeth, as being "more accordant to the feelings of the people, " saying that he had heard the subject "frequently and seriously argued. " Hunt, the Radical, who opposed the grant, saw no objection to the change, and Lord Althorp thought the matter of no particular consequence. The Princess's own feelings, and those of her mother, do not seem to have been considered. See _Hansard_, 3rd series, vol. V. 591, 654 _et seq. _]

 [Footnote 19: Probably that on the Irish Church Question at the General (formerly "Catholic") Association, Dublin. ]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CLAREMONT, _5th December 1836. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --. .. I have begun since a few days Lord Clive'sLife, by Sir John Malcolm, [20] which is very interesting, as it givesmuch insight into the affairs of India, over parts of which, I fear, it would be well to throw a _veil_. I am reading it by myself, _et jevous le recommande_. .. . 

 [Footnote 20: The book reviewed by Macaulay, who spoke of Sir John Malcolm as one whose "love passes the love of biographers, and who can see nothing but wisdom and justice in the actions of his idol. "]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER VI

The closing months of the reign of William IV. Were not marked by anystirring events at home. The Conservative opposition to the MelbourneMinistry was strengthened before the meeting of Parliament by a greatspeech by Sir Robert Peel at Glasgow, and Lord Brougham later onemerged from his retirement to become the able and venomous critic ofhis former friends. The Government failed to carry important measureson Church Rates and Irish Municipal Corporations, while the Radicalgroup pressed persistently their favourite motions in support ofthe Ballot, and against the Property qualification of members, Primogeniture, the Septennial Act, the Bishops' seats and Proxy Votingin the House of Lords. The Ministry was saved from shipwreck by thedemise of the Crown and by the accession of the Princess Victoria, who, on attaining her legal majority a month earlier, had receivedmarked signs of enthusiastic popular favour. 

The General Election in the Autumn did not materially affect theposition of parties, the Radicals losing and O'Connell gainingseats; but the prestige of Lord Melbourne was increased by the uniqueposition he now held in reference to the Sovereign. Parliament wasopened in person by the Queen on 20th November, and the Civil Listdealt with, the amount allocated being £385, 000 as against £510, 000 inthe late reign (of which £75, 000, formerly paid in pensions, was nowstruck off, and other arrangements made). 

For some time past the state of Canada had caused grave anxiety. Byan Act of 1791, it had been divided into Upper and Lower Canada, eachwith a Governor, Council, and House of Representatives, Lower Canadabeing in the main French, while Upper Canada was occupied by Britishsettlers. Friction first arose in the former, between the nomineeCouncil and the popular Assembly, the Assembly declining to pay thesalaries of officials whom they had censured, but whom the Executivehad retained in their posts. Mr Papineau, who had been Speaker ofthe Assembly, was leader in the popular movement. Lord Gosford, theGovernor of Lower Canada, dismissed some Militia officers who hadtaken part in political demonstrations, and warrants were issued forthe apprehension of certain members of the Assembly, on the chargeof high treason: within a short time the discontented party broke outinto rebellion. The course which events would take in Upper Canadawas for a time doubtful. Sir Francis Head, the Governor, placed hisregular troops at the service of Lord Gosford, preferring to rely onthe militia. This unusual action was successful, but was not approvedby the Colonial Office. The state of affairs became very alarming atthe close of the year, when it was announced in Parliament that LordGosford had resigned and that Sir John Colborne (afterwards LordSeaton) had been appointed to succeed him. 

In France the confederates of Louis Napoleon in the Strasburg outbreakwere tried and acquitted; a treaty was concluded at Tafna withAbd-el-Kader, but negotiations for a similar agreement with Achmet Beywere less successful, and operations were continued against Constantinwith successful results, the town being carried by an assault on 13thOctober, with some loss of officers and men on the French side. 

Affairs continued unsettled in the Peninsula. In Spain General Evanswas defeated near San Sebastian, but afterwards, in conjunction withLord John Hay, captured Irun, the frontier town. Don Carlosmeanwhile marched on Madrid, but was encountered by Espartero, Commander-in-Chief of the Christinos, who was Prime Minister for abrief period during the year. The British legion was dissolved, andEvans returned to England. 

In Portugal the English were becoming unpopular for their supposedintervention: Ferdinand, the Queen's consort, who was naturallybelieved to be in harmony with the British Cabinet, acted tactlesslyin accepting the Commandership-in-Chief, and internal hostilitiescontinued throughout the year. 

In Hanover a reactionary step was taken by King Ernest, who hadsucceeded his brother, William IV. Of England, on the throne ofHanover; by letters patent he abrogated the Constitution of 1833, anaction which, imperfect and open to criticism though the Constitutionwas, naturally aroused anxiety among the supporters of representativeinstitutions throughout Europe. 

CHAPTER VI

1837

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_16th January 1837. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, -- . .. We saw Van de Weyer[1] on Tuesday, and hisconversation was most interesting. He praises our dear Ferdinandmost exceedingly, but as for the poor Queen, what he told us does notredound much to her credit; one good quality, however, she has, whichis her excessive fondness for and real _obedience_ to Ferdinand. Sheis unfortunately surrounded by a _camarilla_[2] who poison her ears, and fetter all her actions; poor soul! she is _much_ to be pitied. About Lavradio[3] you will also have, I fear, heard but too much. Honesty and single-heartedness seems to have left Portugal. Van deWeyer is so clear in all that he says, so sensible, so quiet, soclever, and, last but not least, so agreeable; I hope we shall soonsee him again. You see, dear Uncle, how much interest I take inPortugal; but I must say that I think every one who knows dearFerdinand, and particularly who loves him as I do, must feel a verydeep interest as to the fate of the unhappy country in which he isdestined to play so prominent and difficult a part. 

I have been reading to-day a very clever speech of Sir Robert Peel's(not a political one) to the University at Glasgow, on the occasion ofhis being elected Lord Rector of that college. There is another speechof his at the dinner at Glasgow which _is political_, but which I havenot yet read. .. . [4]

 [Footnote 1: Sylvain Van de Weyer (b. 1802) was, in 1830, Belgian Plenipotentiary at the Conference of London. He returned to his own country and became Foreign Minister. His exertions contributed greatly to render successful the candidature of Prince Leopold for the throne of Belgium. The King appointed him Belgian Minister in London, to which post he returned in 1851, and held it till 1867. He was treated by the Queen until his death in 1874 as a very intimate friend and adviser. ]

 [Footnote 2: _I. E. _ a clique. ]

 [Footnote 3: The Portuguese Statesman who had gone to Gotha to arrange the Queen's marriage, and was destined to act in a similar manner for her son in 1857. ]

 [Footnote 4: Sir R. Peel was installed as Lord Rector of Glasgow on 11th January, and delivered an address on the principles of Education: strong political feeling was manifested, groans being given for Lord Melbourne and the Ministry. At a civic banquet given in Sir R. Peel's honour, he expounded the principles of Conservative Reform. ]

[Pageheading: SPAIN AND PORTUGAL]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_23rd January 1837. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, -- . .. The affairs of the Peninsula are indeed verydistressing, [5] and what you tell me in your letter of the 20th, asalso in the former one, is highly interesting and, alas! but too true. I trust, not withstanding what you say, I may yet live to see Spainand Portugal settled. But I greatly fear that the time is far distant. 

Do you know Mendizabal?[6] I saw him at our house in 1835. Alava[7]presented him to us; he is a tall, dark, fine, and clever-looking man. I remember his being so much struck with my likeness to Donna Maria, which I was not aware was the case. Pray, dear Uncle, may I ask you asilly question?--is not the Queen of Spain[8] rather clever? You knowher, and what do you think of her? And do you know what sort of peopleare about poor little Queen Isabel?[9] Poor, good Donna Maria! I feelmuch for her; her education was one of the worst that could be. Aslong as those Ficalhos and Melos remain about her, nothing can bedone. Could they not be got rid of in time?

I was sorry to see that the French Chambers were rather stormy. [10]

I thank you much for the list of the ball of the 18th, which musthave been very splendid. The last ball _I_ was at was our own, andI concluded that very ball at half-past three in the morning with acountry dance, Albert being my partner. 

Pray, dear Uncle, tell both young gentlemen, with my kindest love, that I _often_ think of that night and of many other pleasant eveningswe passed together. The singing will come all in time. Who is theirsinging-master? I wish they had my worthy Lablache. I sing regularlyevery evening, as I think it better to do so every day to keepthe voice manageable. Oh, my beloved Uncle, could you join us, howdelightful that would be! How I should delight in singing with you allour favourite things from _La Gazza_, _Otello_, _Il Barbiere_, etc. , etc. 

The little Cousin[11] must be a little love: oh, could I but see himand play with him! Pray, dear Uncle, does he know such a thing as thathe has got an Aunt and Cousin on the other side of the water? . .. 

Pray, dear Uncle, have you read Sir R. Peel's two speeches? I wish youwould, and give me your opinion of them. 

 [Footnote 5: Some interesting observations on these events may be read in Borrow's _Bible in Spain_. ]

 [Footnote 6: Don Juan Alvarez y Mendizabal (1790-1853), Spanish politician and financier. ]

 [Footnote 7: Miguel Ricardo di Alava (1771-1843), Spanish General; he acted as the representative of Spain at Paris, at the Court of the Bourbons; he was a great friend of the Duke of Wellington, and was with him at his headquarters during the Peninsular War. ]

 [Footnote 8: The Queen Regent, Christina. ]

 [Footnote 9: Then six years old; she died in 1904. ]

 [Footnote 10: This was in reference to the trial at Strasburg of the confederates of Prince Louis Bonaparte (afterwards Napoleon III. ) in his abortive attempt to establish a military despotism on 30th October. The Prince was permitted to go to the United States, being conveyed in a French frigate; the other conspirators were acquitted. ]

 [Footnote 11: Leopold, born in 1835, afterwards Duke of Brabant, the present King of the Belgians. ]

[Pageheading: PARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CLAREMONT, _30th January 1837. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, -- . .. I am very sorry that the Portuguese news arestill so very unfavourable; I trust that, in time, things will comeright. The Portuguese are, as you say, a most inconceivable set ofselfish politicians. 

Our friend, Mr Hume, [12] made a most violent speech at a dinner givento him and old George Byng[13] at Drury Lane last week. [14] He calledSir R. Peel and some other Tories "the cloven foot, " which I thinkrather strong. I think that _great_ violence and striving such a pity, on both sides, don't you, dear Uncle? They irritate one another souselessly by calling one another fools, blockheads, liars, and soforth for no purpose. I think violence so bad in everything. Theyshould imitate you, and be calm, for you have had, God knows! enoughcause for irritation from your _worthy_ Dutch neighbours and others. You will, I fear, laugh at my _politics_, but I like telling _you_ myfeelings, for you alone can put me right on such subjects. 

 [Footnote 12: Joseph Hume, leader of the Radical party, was now M. P. For Middlesex. ]

 [Footnote 13: George Byng, for many years Member for Middlesex, was great-grandson of William Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, of the 1711 creation. His younger brother, Sir John Byng, the well-known General of the Peninsula and Waterloo, was created Earl of Strafford in 1817. ]

 [Footnote 14: This was a dinner given by the Middlesex reformers to their representatives. Grote also spoke and said that the Tories well knew that their dominion rested upon everything that was antiquated and corrupt and anti-popular in the nation--upon oligarchical predominance in the State, and sectarian pride and privileges in the Church. ]

[Pageheading: POLITICAL PASSION]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

_3rd February 1837. _

MY DEAR CHILD, -- . .. I am sorry to see so much violence in England atthis moment; I consider it as the most lamentable circumstance, as itrenders matters so very difficult to settle. Besides, the poor Crownis more or less the loser in all this, as it generally ends with theabolition of something or other which might have proved useful for thecarrying on of Government. A rule which you may thus early impress onyour mind is, that people are far from acting generally according tothe dictates of their interests, but oftener in consequence of theirpassions, though it may even prove injurious to their interests. If the Tory part of Parliament could have brought themselves to actwithout passion, much in the reform of Parliament might have beensettled much more in conformity with their best interests. I wasauthorised, in 1831, to speak in this sense to the Duke of Wellingtonby Lord Grey;[15] the effect would have been highly beneficial toboth parties, but passion made it impossible to succeed. This is adangerous part of the business, and we must see during the presentsession of Parliament if parties are grown wiser. I fear they are not. The business of the highest in a State is certainly, in my opinion, to act with great impartiality and a spirit of justice for the good ofall, and not of this or that party. [16]

 [Footnote 15: This refers to the rejection of the Reform Bill by the House of Lords in 1831; as a consequence, mobs broke the windows of Apsley House, and fired Nottingham Castle. ]

 [Footnote 16: On 14th April 1837, Sir Robert Peel wrote to J. W. Croker:-- . .. "We are, in short, in this state of things. All the convictions and inclinations of the Government are with their Conservative opponents. Half their actions and all their speeches are with the Radicals. " (_Croker Papers_, ii. 306. )]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CLAREMONT, _6th February 1837. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, -- . .. I do not know quite for certain when we leavethis place, but I should think to-day week. You must be pleased, dearUncle, I think, for we shall have been _six months_ in the countrynext Thursday, as we left town on the 10th of August last, and I amsure you will stand by me for my having my season fully, as you mayunderstand that my _Operatic_ and _Terpsichorean_ feelings are prettystrong, now that the season is returning, and I have been a very goodchild, not even _wishing_ to come to town till now. We shall certainlycome here for the Easter week. 

Dr Clark[17] arrived here quite happy last night, bringing the newsthat Van de Weyer had had the best news from Lisbon he had receivedsince his return, that all had gone off quietly, that Ferdinand wasdaily gaining popularity, and that both he and the Queen had been verywell received at the theatre. The man who threw a stone at Ferdinandwas a Frenchman, whom, it seems, Ferdinand had relieved with moneyover and over again. A fine specimen of gratitude!

I hope and trust with you that there will be less violence inParliament this year, but much is to be feared. 

You will miss my good cousins Ernest and Albert very much, I am sure;I hope you will instil into them to take enough exercise and not tostudy too much. 

There were two questions in my last letter but one, which you havenot answered, dear Uncle. They are: 1st, What you think of the QueenChristina of Spain, what opinion _you_ have of her, as one cannotbelieve _reports_? 2nd, If you know what sort of people are aboutpoor little Queen Isabel, and if she is being _well_ or _ill_ broughtup?. .. 

 [Footnote 17: Afterwards Sir James Clark, and Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen. ]

[Pageheading: A DINNER PARTY]

[Pageheading: THE THRONE OF GREECE]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_14th March 1837. _

. .. We had a dinner on Saturday which amused me, as I am very fondof _pleasant_ society, and we have been for these last three weeksimmured within our old palace, and I longed sadly for some gaiety. After being so very long in the country I was preparing to go out inright earnest, whereas I have only been _twice_ to the play since ourreturn, which is marvellous! However, we are to have another dinnerto-morrow, and are going to the play and Opera. After Easter I trustI shall make ample amends for all this solitariness. I hope to beginsinging with Lablache shortly after Easter. But to return to lastSaturday's dinner. We had the Archbishop of Dublin, [18] a clever butsingular man, and his lady; Lord Palmerston, with whom I had muchpleasant and amusing conversation after dinner--you know how agreeablehe is; then Lady Cadogan, [19] who enquired much after you and AuntLouise; Lord and Lady Rosebery, [20] Mr and Mrs E. Stanley, [21] LordMorpeth, [22] Lord Templetown, [23] Sir John Cam Hobhouse, [24] DrLushington, [25] and Mr Woulfe, [26] the Solicitor-General for Ireland, a Roman Catholic and a very clever man. Lady Cadogan, who is not longcome back from Paris, says that the Duke of Orleans has been going outvery little and is remarkably well. I saw a report in the papers thathe and the Duc de Nemours were coming over here, which I fear is nottrue; I wish it was. .. . 

There is one thing in your former letter which I must answer, or, rather, more advert to. You said to me, that if it was not for me, youwould regret Greece very much. Now, I assure you, dearest Uncle, youought not to regret it, though there is not a doubt that _Greece_would be much happier were you there. But I have heard from variouspeople who have been staying in Greece that they very soon got to likethe Turks much better than the Greeks, who are very untrue, and arequite banditti-like; then, again, the country, though undoubtedly finein parts, is a rocky and barren country, and also you are constantlyexposed to the effects of the Plague, that most dreadful of all evils;and then, lastly, how very, very far you would be, how cut off fromall those who are dear to you, and how exposed to dangers of allkinds!

I much grieve that they are quarrelling so much in the FrenchChambers. [27] I must now conclude. 

 [Footnote 18: Richard Whateley, formerly Principal of St Alban Hall, and Drummond Professor of Political Economy at Oxford. ]

 [Footnote 19: Louisa Honoria, wife of the third Earl, and sister of Joseph, first Lord Wallscourt. ]

 [Footnote 20: Archibald, fourth Earl of Rosebery, and Anne Margaret, his second wife, daughter of the first Viscount Anson. ]

 [Footnote 21: Edward Stanley, afterwards fourteenth Earl of Derby, thrice Prime Minister. ]

 [Footnote 22: Chief Secretary for Ireland. ]

 [Footnote 23: John Henry, first Viscount, formerly M. P. For Bury St Edmunds. ]

 [Footnote 24: Sir John Cam Hobhouse, a Radical, and a friend of Byron, at whose wedding he acted as best man; he was imprisoned in 1819 for breach of privilege. He was elected M. P. For Westminster in 1820 as Burdett's colleague, and afterwards for Nottingham and Harwich. Commissioner of Woods and Forests (the old Houses of Parliament being burned down during his term of office), and later President of Board of Control. Created Lord Broughton, 1851. ]

 [Footnote 25: Stephen Lushington, advocate in the old Ecclesiastical Court, M. P. For Ilchester and the Tower Hamlets, and a Judge in the Ecclesiastical and Admiralty Courts from 1828 to 1867. ]

 [Footnote 26: Stephen Woulfe, M. P. For Carlisle, Solicitor-General, and subsequently Attorney-General, for Ireland, becoming Chief Baron in 1838. ]

 [Footnote 27: On 10th March a heated debate took place in the French Chamber on the question of the Queen of the Belgians' dowry, a Deputy calling for the production of King Louis Philippe's rent-roll, and a complete statement of his income. ]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _31st March 1837. _

MY BELOVED CHILD, --Your dear letter of the 28th gave me the greatestpleasure. I was sure from your constant affection for us that youwould feel much interested in the event of the 24th. It was a momentof some anxiety, but all passed over very well. Your Aunt is goingon very well, and the little cousin[28] also. He is smaller than hisbrother was, but promises to be like him; the features are much thesame, the shape of the forehead and mouth. The elder Prince wasmuch interested about his _frère_, and anxious to see him; at first, however, he declared after a long contemplation, "_pas beau frère!_"Now he thinks better of him, but makes a very odd little face when hesees him. The name of the little one will be Philippe Eugène FerdinandMarie Clément Baudouin (Baldwin)--a name of the old Counts ofFlanders--Léopold Georges. My Aunt, who is his godmother, wishedhe should be called Philippe in honour of his grandfather, andas Philippe _le Bon_ was one of the most powerful Princes of thiscountry, I gave him the name with pleasure. Eugène is her own name, Ferdinand that of Chartres, Marie of the Queen and also of PrincessMarie, Clément of Princess Clémentine; Léopold your Aunt wished, andGeorge in honour of St George of England and of George IV. Probably Ishall hereafter give to Léopold the title of Duke of Brabant, and toPhilippe that of Count of Flanders, both fine old titles. 

 [Footnote 28: Philippe, second son of King Leopold, afterwards Count of Flanders. He died in 1905. ]

[Pageheading: PRESS COMMENTS]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _7th April 1837. _

MY DEAREST CHILD, --. .. You have been the subject of all sorts ofnewspaper paragraphs; your good and sensible way of looking on thesevery creditable productions _will be of use to you_. If the press saysuseful things, and makes observations which merit attention, thereis no doubt that sometimes, though God knows very rarely, somethinguseful may be gleaned from them. But when you see its present state, when the one side says black and the other white, when the oppositepolitical characters are treated by their respective antagonists asrogues, fools, blockheads, wretches, and all the other names in whichthe English political dictionary is so _very rich_, one stands likethe ass, between two bundles of hay, considerably embarrassed whichought to be chosen. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S ESTABLISHMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _11th April 1837. _

. .. As I believe the visit at Windsor is fixed for the 15th, I hopethis letter will arrive in time. Perhaps the King will speak to youabout the necessity of forming you an establishment. [29]. .. Yourposition, having a Mother with whom you very naturally remain, wouldrender a _complete_ independent establishment perhaps matter of _real_inconvenience; still something like that which Charlotte had willbecome desirable. My idea, if it meets with your approbation, wouldbe this: The Duchess of Northumberland would remain your first Lady, Baroness Lehzen would fill a position similar to that of Mrs Campbell, who had been Charlotte's governess in her younger days, and theDean[30] would step into the position which good Dr Short[31] held. An Equerry, I do not think--as you will not go out without yourMother--you would require. On the other hand, it may become matterof examination if you will perhaps like to have some young ladiesattendants in the style of Lady Catherine Jenkinson;[32] should thisbe your wish, it would become necessary to make very good choices, else perhaps you would derive more trouble than comfort from thearrangement; _cela va sans dire_, that the choice could only bemade by yourself, and that nobody should be given you _against_ yourwishes. Should the King speak to you on the subject, I would at onceexpress this my wish if you should approve some such arrangement, and beg him to let _you choose_. Resist mildly but _positively_ anynomination of a Gentleman other than the Dean; it is highly probablethat any other would be put about you as a spy, and turn out at allevents a great bore, which is better avoided. .. . 

I received a messenger from Coburg. I enclose the letters and alsoa packet with fans. Ever, my beloved child, your faithfully attachedUncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 29: The Princess was to attain her legal majority on 24th May. ]

 [Footnote 30: George Davys, the Princess Victoria's instructor, Dean of Chester, and afterwards Bishop of Peterborough. ]

 [Footnote 31: Thomas Vowler Short, Rector of St George's, Bloomsbury, appointed in 1841 Bishop of Sodor and Man. ]

 [Footnote 32: Lady Catherine Jenkinson, daughter of the Earl of Liverpool, soon after the Queen's accession married Colonel Francis Vernon Harcourt. ]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_12th April 1837. _

. .. What you say about the newspapers is very true and veryflattering. They are indeed a curious compound of truth and untruth. Iam so used to newspaper nonsense and attacks that I do not mind it inthe least. .. . 

How happy I am that that beloved Aunt is going on so well and does notsuffer from the cold, as also the _jeune Philippe_. Leopold mustbe great fun with his Aunt Marie;[33] does he still say "_pas beaufrère!_" or is he more reconciled to his brother? It is very noble inthe Duc de Nemours to have thus given up his _apanage_;[34] I am sorrythere were such difficulties about it. There is no Ministry formedyet, I see by the papers. 

 [Footnote 33: Princess Marie of Orleans, born 1813, daughter of King Louis Philippe, and thus sister to the Queen of the Belgians. ]

 [Footnote 34: This grant was surrendered in order that due provision might be made by the Legislature for the elder brother, the Duke of Orleans, on the occasion of his marriage with the Princess Hélène of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. ]

[Pageheading: THE IRISH MUNICIPAL BILL]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_28th April 1837. _

MY MOST BELOVED UNCLE, --. .. . Sir Henry Hardinge's[35] motion was quitelost, I am happy to say, and don't you think, dearest Uncle, thatit has almost done good, as it proves that the Tories have lost allchance of getting in? It was a trial of strength, and the Ministryhave triumphed. I have been reading in the papers, what I suppose youalready know, that it is believed that the Lords _will_ pass the IrishCorporation Bill;[36] and also that Ministers mean to drop for thepresent the question about Church Rates, [37] as the Radicals, beingangry with Ministers relative to the Canada business, would notsupport them well. 

 [Footnote 35: On a motion for going into supply, Sir H. Hardinge proposed an amendment censuring the Government for the authorisation of the raising of a force of Volunteers to assist the Spanish Government, and for the method in which that force had been organised. The amendment was lost by a majority of 36, on 19th April. ]

 [Footnote 36: The Irish Municipal Bill, to convert Corporations of Municipalities into Electoral Councils, was introduced in the House of Commons on the 15th of February. The Bill was opposed by the Conservatives, but passed the House of Commons. In the Lords an amendment of Lyndhurst's struck out the constructive clauses, and the Act became, on the 18th of May, an Act for the Abolition of Municipalities in Ireland. Lord John Russell brought forward a motion to reconstruct the Bill. But the Peers declined to pass it, and it was postponed. ]

 [Footnote 37: As Ministers only obtained a majority of 5 in a house of 569, the measure was dropped. ]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _28th April 1837. _

. .. I hope you occupy yourself with the several great questions whichagitate parties. I think a good mode will be to talk concerning themsometimes with the Dean. He is a good moderate man, and still wellable to give you sufficient information. From conversation with cleverpeople, such as dine sometimes with you, much may be very usefullygathered, and you will do well to attend to this. I am no enemy tothis way of instruction, and have seen people who were sharp enoughto profit wonderfully by it. You hear in this way the opinions of avariety of persons, and it rests with your own good sense to classifyand appreciate them. .. . 

[Pageheading: MINISTERIAL ANXIETY]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_2nd May 1837. _

. .. You may depend upon it that I shall profit by your excellentadvice respecting Politics. Pray, dear Uncle, have you read LordPalmerston's speech concerning the Spanish affairs, [38] which hedelivered the night of the division on Sir Henry Hardinge's motion? Itis much admired. The Irish Tithes question came on last night in theHouse of Commons, [39] and I am very anxious for the morning papers, to see what has been done. Lord Melbourne looks remarkably well, LordPalmerston not very well, and as for poor little Lord John Russell, he is only a shadow of himself. It must be dreadfully fagging work forthem; they sit so very late too, for when the Spanish question cameon, the division only took place at four o'clock in the morning, and Isaw them at the Drawing-Room the same day afterwards. .. . 

 [Footnote 38: Lord Palmerston indignantly asked whether England should continue to fulfil her engagement with the Queen of Spain, or disgracefully abandon an ally whom she had pledged herself to succour. ]

 [Footnote 39: The Irish Tithe Bill, a measure to facilitate the collection of tithes, was abandoned because the Tories would not consent to any secular appropriation of Church revenues, and the Whigs would not consent to the withdrawal of their amendments. A remarkable feature in the Bill was a proposal that a portion of every clergyman's income should be applied to education, as was already prescribed by a former Act. ]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_9th May 1837. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --It was very kind of you to write to me from yournew château; I hardly ventured to hope for my usual letter, and yet Ishould have been much disappointed had I not received it. I am sorrythat the house is so bad, but hope you will have found a good positionfor a new one. .. . 

Pray, dearest Uncle, may I ask such an indiscreet question as, ifMajor Stroekens is a clever man; he was so nervous and embarrassedwhen he came here, that I could not make him out. He brought me a verynice letter from Donna Maria. 

I am anxiously waiting to hear the issue of the battle betweenthe Carlists and Christinos, which is, they say, to decide a greatdeal. [40]

Now farewell, dearest Uncle. I beg my affectionate love to my dearAunt, and my most respectful _hommages_ to the Members of the Familywith you. Believe me, always, your affectionate Niece, VICTORIA. 

Old Pozzo[41] dined here last Wednesday, and he gave me a long, Imust say clever, dissertation about the state of France, duringdinner-time. 

 [Footnote 40: After an obstinate investment by the Carlists, Espartero had relieved Bilbao on Christmas Day, 1836. The Christino commanders then began to concert a combined movement on the Carlist lines, which stretched from Irun to Villafranca. ]

 [Footnote 41: Count Pozzo di Borgo (1764-1842), Russian Ambassador. By birth a Corsican and a devoted patriot, he was a life-long opponent of Napoleon and his designs. He entered the Russian diplomatic service in 1803, and after Waterloo became Russian Ambassador in Paris. He was Ambassador in London for two years, when his health gave way. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S ESTABLISHMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _25th May 1837. _

MY DEAREST CHILD, --You have had some battles and difficulties of whichI am completely in the dark. The thing I am most curious to learnis what the King proposed to you concerning your establishment. .. . I shall reserve my opinion till I am better informed, but by whatI heard I did not approve of it, because I thought it ill-timed. Stockmar will be able to do much. Two things seem necessary; not to befettered by any establishment other than what will be _comfortableto you_, and then to avoid any breach with your mother. I havefully instructed Stockmar, and I must say he left me in such gooddisposition that I think he will be able to be of great use to you. The great thing is to act without precipitation and with caution. TheKing seems better again. I am very curious to know what he proposed;you will have it in your power to modify his proposition, as it isdifficult your _approbation_ should be dispensed with; it would be agreat fault in your situation to _submit_ to this. .. . They seemed tothink the King dying, which does not appear to be the case. Be steady, my good child, and _not_ put out by _anything_; as long as I live _youwill not want a faithful friend and supporter_. .. . 

Here your somewhat curious little soul has at least the outlines ofthings. .. . 

_26th. _--I received yesterday the whole of the papers concerning theKing's propositions. [42] I approve your letter to the King, as itis amiable and generous, and this in your position will always tellfavourably. I think that if _he_ is well advised he will chieflyconsult _your wishes_. This is the footing on which you must placematters. It is not worth while to be told that one is in some sortof age when the consequence is that you are not consulted in whatconcerns you most personally. Avoid in future to say much aboutyour great _youth_ and _inexperience_. Who made the letter? Was ityourself, or came it from your Mother? You have now the Baron at yourelbow, and even your Mother was most anxious for his arrival. _Speaksometimes with him_; it is necessary to accustom you to the thing. 

About the King's health. [43] I am doubtful what to think. We haveforeseen the case and treated it formerly. The great thing would be tomake no change, to keep Ministers and everything as it is, and to gaintime; in this way _no one is hurt and no amour-propre blessé_. For this reason I lean to your keeping, to begin with, Sir HerbertTaylor[44] for your _official_ secretary, though I am not quite_decided_ on the subject. He knows the manner in which the _dailybusiness_ is carried on; this is important. I believe him, and havefound him to be an honest man, that would do for State matters; itwould not be required that he should be your _confidential_ adviser. Now I conclude, and send you this letter through Stockmar. My bestregards to Lehzen. Ever your faithful Uncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 42: The King had offered the Princess an establishment of £10, 000 a year, independent of her mother. This was accepted, to the great vexation of the Duchess of Kent, but the arrangement was not carried into effect. ]

 [Footnote 43: King William's health was at this time causing much anxiety. ]

 [Footnote 44: Private Secretary to King William IV. ]

[Pageheading: BIRTHDAY REJOICINGS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_26th May 1837. _

. .. The demonstrations of affection and kindness from all sidestowards me on my birthday, were most gratifying. The parks and streetswere crowded all day as though something very extraordinary hadhappened. Yesterday I received twenty-two Addresses from variousplaces, all very pretty and loyal; one in particular was very wellwritten which was presented by Mr. Attwood[45] from the PoliticalUnion at Birmingham. 

I am delighted to hear Stockmar is at length arrived; he reachedLondon on Wednesday, and we shall see him to-day. 

How distressed I am that poor dear Ernest[46] has been so ill! ThankGod! that he is now better. 

The Spanish affairs have turned out better than you had expected; thetriumphant capture of Irun[47] was a great thing for the Christinos. 

The King is much better. 

 [Footnote 45: Thomas Attwood founded in 1829 the Birmingham Political Union, which helped to pass the Reform Act. Previously he had been known for his opposition to the Orders in Council, and the resumption of cash payments. Birmingham elected him without opposition in 1832, and he sat till 1840. ]

 [Footnote 46: Prince Ernest of Saxe-Coburg. ]

 [Footnote 47: The frontier town of Spain, near St Sebastian, captured, 16th May, by the Christinos, supported by British troops. ]

[Pageheading: ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

TUILERIES, _7th June 1837. _

. .. The _entrée_[48] last Sunday was something remarkably splendid; wesaw it from the Tuileries, as we had nothing to do with the businessitself, and your Aunt's rank would have clashed with that of theDuchess of Orleans. The effect of all this on the people of this greattown has been _very great_, and evidently much ground has been solidlyregained. The King, getting out of that sort of confinement in whichit was necessary to keep, has gained much in personal comfort, andalso in a political point of view; because to have a King who cannotshow himself without being shot at, is a state of society which lowershis authority. .. . 

For the present the best plan is to continue to act as you havedone hitherto; to avoid quarrels, but also to stick _firmly to yourresolution when once_ taken. The violence which is sometimes shown isso well known to you, you know also so well that you have nothingto fear from these people, that _you must keep up your usual coolspirit_, whatever may be tried in the House to _teaze you out of it_. I mean to wait some more detailed accounts of what is going on inEngland before I give my opinion on what ought to be done in the casethat the King's disease should take a more fatal turn. 

As I told you before, however, when we treated this subject verballyand in writing, I believe it to be your interest to act very mildly, _to begin by taking everything as the King leaves it_. By this systemyou avoid disappointing those whose hopes may remain unchanged, asyour own choices, as it were, are not yet made. Parties, which atpresent are so nearly balanced, remain _in statu quo_, and you gaintime. 

I must conclude now this letter. My winding up is, keep your mind_cool_ and _easy_; be _not alarmed_ at the prospect of becomingperhaps sooner than you expected Queen; aid will not be wanting, andthe great thing is that you should have some honest people about youwho have your welfare _really at heart_. Stockmar will be in thisrespect all we can wish, and we must hope that _useful_ occupationwill prevent his health from suffering. Now once more God bless you. Ever, my dear child, your faithful Uncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 48: The entry into Paris of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans, who had been married at Fontainebleau on May 30th. ]

[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION IMMINENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _15th June 1837. _

MY BELOVED CHILD, --I hope that to-day will not pass over withoutbringing me a letter from you. In the meantime I will begin thisepistle, which will go by a messenger of my own to-morrow. In everyletter I shall write to you I mean to repeat to you, as a _fundamentalrule_, _to be courageous, firm and honest, as you have been till now_. You may count upon my faithful good offices in all difficulties, and you have at your command Stockmar, whose _judgment_, _heart_, and_character_ offer all the guarantees we can wish for. I wish nothingbut to see you _happy and prosperous_, and by Sunday I shall probablywrite you a long letter, which will enter into details about mostthings. 

My object is that you should be no one's _tool_, and though young, andnaturally not yet experienced, your good natural sense and the _truth_of your character will, with faithful and proper advice, get you verywell through the difficulties of your future position, should it bethe will of Providence to take the King from this earthly life. Of hisreal position I am still not quite able to judge, there being so muchcontradictory in the reports. Be this as it may, the great thing foryou is, not to be hurried into important measures, and to _gain time_. A new reign is always a time of hope; everybody is disposed to seesomething for his own wishes and prospects. The policy of a newSovereign must therefore be to act in such a manner as to hurt aslittle as possible the _amour-propre_ of people, to let circumstancesand the force of things bring about the disappointments which no humanpower could prevent coming sooner or later: that they should come as_late_ as possible is in your interest. Should anything happen to theKing before I can enter more fully into the necessary details, limityourself to _taking kindly_ and in a _friendly_ manner the presentAdministration into your service. They are _naturally friendly to yourinterests_, _as you are in fact the only possible Sovereign of thewhole family_, with the exception of the Duke of Sussex, they can_serve_ with _sincerity_ and _attachment_. This is of great importanceto you, as it is by no means the same thing to have people who aid andassist you with feelings of real attachment, or merely from cold andcalculating motives of political expediency and self-interest. This being done, no other step should be taken without consultingseriously. The very time which is necessary to attain this end isfavourable to you, as it is your greatest interest for the _presentmoment_ to act most cautiously and to gain as much _time_ as possible. In high positions it is excessively difficult to _retrace_ a falsemove to get out of a mistake; and there exists very rarely, except intime of war and civil feuds, a necessity for an _immediate_ decision. Your part must be, to resume once more what I said before, toremain as long as possible _agreeable_ to all parties, and after theformation of the Ministry, to be most careful how you take any measureof importance. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE KING'S ILLNESS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_16th June 1837. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, --. .. I cannot say how happy I am that the _entréepublique_ into Paris succeeded so well, and that the dear King wasso well received; I trust he will now at last be rewarded for all thetroubles and anxiety he has had ever since 1830. Lord Palmerston saidthat the French say that _l'assassinat est hors de mode_. I hope andtrust in Heaven that this may be the case, and _for ever_!

You know, of course, dear Uncle, how _very ill_ the King is; itmay _all be over_ at _any moment_, and yet _may_ last a few days. Consequently, we have not been out anywhere in public since Tuesday, 6th, and since Wednesday all my lessons are stopped, as the news mayarrive very suddenly. .. . 

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _17th June 1837. _

MY BELOVED CHILD, --. .. I shall to-day enter on the subject of what isto be done when the King ceases to live. The moment you get officialcommunication of it, you will entrust Lord Melbourne with the officeof retaining the present Administration as your Ministers. You will dothis in that honest and kind way which is quite your own, and say somekind things on the subject. The fact is that the present Ministers arethose who will serve you personally with the greatest _sincerity_ and, I trust, attachment. For them, as well as for the Liberals at large, you are the _only_ Sovereign that offers them _des chances d'existenceet de durée_. With the exception of the Duke of Sussex, there isno _one_ in the family that offers them anything like what they canreasonably hope from you, and your immediate successor, with themustaches, [49] is enough to frighten them into the most violentattachment for you. 

. .. The irksome position in which you have lived will have the meritto have given you the habit of _discretion_ and _prudence_, as in yourposition you never can have _too much_ of either. Great measures ofState I hope you will be able to avoid at first. I have already--ifyou would read it over, and perhaps let Stockmar see it--written toyou some months ago on the subject of the necessity of maintaining theinfluence of conservative principles, and of protecting the Church. You will do well to keep both objects in view. You will do wiselyby showing yourself attached to the English Protestant Church as itexists in the State; you are particularly where you are, because youare a Protestant. I know you are averse to persecution, and you areright; miss, however, _no opportunity_ to show your sincere feelingfor the existing Church; it is _right_ and _meet_ that you should doso. I must repeat that you will do well as long as it will be possibleto hurt no one's hopes or prospects. That this will not always, orvery long, be possible is the consequence of the state of parties;still, one may be frank and honest, and still kind to all. Concerningforeign policy I shall write on some future occasion. In the meantimeI trust you will protect the two Queens in the Peninsula, who aremiserably ill off. I am sure, with your good sense you will not findit difficult to judge questions yourself. I cannot too much recommendthis, as it will then become a habit, and even an amusement to you. Cultivate always a genuine feeling of right and wrong, and be verytrue and honourable in your dealings; this gives great strength. Ihave taken into consideration the advantage or disadvantage of mycoming over to you _immediately_. The result of my _examen_ is that Ithink it better to visit you later. If, however, you wanted me at anytime, I should come in a moment. People might fancy I came to enslaveyou, while I glory in the contrary; and, thirdly, that they might bejealous, or _affect_ it at least, of my coming, as if I thought ofruling the realm for _purposes of my own_. .. . 

I am now at the end, I think, of what I had to say. May Heaven blessyou and keep up your spirits. Ever, my beloved child, your faithfulUncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

Pardon the hurry in which this letter was written. 

 [Footnote 49: The Duke of Cumberland. ]

[Pageheading: THE KING'S CONDITION HOPELESS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_19th June 1837. _

MY DEARLY BELOVED UNCLE, --Your _kind_ and _dear_ letter, containing_most wholesome_, _prudent_, _sound_ and _excellent_ advice, was givenme by our _good_ and _invaluable honest_ friend, Stockmar, and I begyou to accept my best thanks for it. Before I say anything else, letme tell you how happy and thankful I am to have Stockmar here; hehas _been_, and _is_, of the _greatest_ possible use, and be assured, dearest Uncle, that he possesses my _most entire confidence_!

The King's state, I may fairly say, is _hopeless_; he may _perhaps_linger a few days, but he cannot recover _ultimately_. Yesterday thephysicians declared he could not live till the morning, but to-day heis a little better; the great fear is his _excessive_ weakness andno _pulse_ at all. Poor old man! I feel sorry for him; he was alwayspersonally kind to me, and I should be ungrateful and devoid offeeling if I did not remember this. 

I look forward to the event which it seems is likely to occur soon, with calmness and quietness; I am not alarmed at it, and yet I donot suppose myself quite equal to all; I trust, however, that with_good-will_, _honesty_, and _courage_ I shall not, at all events, _fail_. Your advice is most excellent, and you may depend upon it Ishall make use of it, and follow it, as also what Stockmar says. I_never showed_ myself, _openly_, to belong to _any party_, and I _donot_ belong to any party. The Administration will undoubtedly be wellreceived by me, the more so as I have _real_ confidence in them, andin particular in Lord Melbourne, who is a straightforward, honest, clever and good man. 

I need not add much more, dearest Uncle, but that I trust that theall-powerful Being who has so long watched over my destinies willguide and support me, in whatever situation and station it may pleaseHim to place me!. .. 

[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _20th June 1837. _

Viscount Melbourne[50] presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andbeing aware that your Majesty has already received the melancholyintelligence of the death of his late Majesty, will do himself thehonour of waiting upon your Majesty a little before nine this morning. Viscount Melbourne has requested the Marquis of Lansdowne[51] toname eleven as the hour for the meeting of the Council at KensingtonPalace. 

 [Footnote 50: Lord Melbourne, so far as can be augured from his handwriting, which is extremely difficult to decipher, appears always to have written his own name _Melburne_. But it is not the correct spelling, and no one else seems to have employed it. ]

 [Footnote 51: Lord President of the Council; formerly for a brief period (1806-7) Chancellor of the Exchequer. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_20th June 1837_ (_half-past eight_ A. M. ). 

DEAREST, MOST BELOVED UNCLE, --Two words only, to tell you that my poorUncle, the King, expired this morning at twelve minutes past two. The melancholy news were brought to me by Lord Conyngham[52] and theArchbishop of Canterbury[53] at six. I expect Lord Melbourne almostimmediately, and hold a Council at eleven. Ever, my beloved Uncle, your devoted and attached Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 52: Francis Nathaniel, second Marquis of Conyngham, had been M. P. For Westbury and Donegal, and was now Lord Chamberlain. ]

 [Footnote 53: William Howley (1766-1848), Bishop of London 1813-1828, Primate 1828-1848. ]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th June 1837. _

MY DEAREST NIECE . .. I feel most grateful for your kind letter full ofsympathy with my irreparable loss, and thank you with all my heart foryour feeling expressions on this melancholy occasion. I am, as youmay suppose, deeply affected by all the sad scenes I have gone throughlately; but I have the great comfort to dwell upon the recollection ofthe perfect resignation, piety, and patience with which the dear Kingbore his trials and sufferings, and the truly Christian-like manner ofhis death. 

Excuse my writing more at present, my heart is overwhelmed and myhead aches very much. Accept the assurance of my most affectionatedevotion, and allow me to consider myself always as your Majesty'smost affectionate Friend, Aunt, and Subject, ADELAIDE. 

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S FIRST COUNCIL]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Tuesday, 20th June 1837. _

I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me that the Archbishop ofCanterbury and Lord Conyngham were here, and wished to see me. I gotout of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown)and _alone_, and saw them. Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain)then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and hadexpired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that Iam _Queen_. Lord Conyngham knelt down and kissed my hand, at the sametime delivering to me the official announcement of the poor King'sdemise. The Archbishop then told me that the Queen was desirous thathe should come and tell me the details of the last moments of my poorgood Uncle; he said that he had directed his mind to religion, and haddied in a perfectly happy, quiet state of mind, and was quite preparedfor his death. He added that the King's sufferings at the last werenot very great but that there was a good deal of uneasiness. LordConyngham, whom I charged to express my feelings of condolence andsorrow to the poor Queen, returned directly to Windsor. I then went tomy room and dressed. 

Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station, I shalldo my utmost to fulfil my duty towards my country; I am very youngand perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I amsure that very few have more real goodwill and more real desire to dowhat is fit and right than I have. 

Breakfasted, during which time good, faithful Stockmar came and talkedto me. Wrote a letter to dear Uncle Leopold and a few words to deargood Feodore. Received a letter from Lord Melbourne in which he saidhe would wait upon me at a little before 9. At 9 came Lord Melbourne, whom I saw in my room, and of _course quite alone_, as I shall_always_ do all my Ministers. He kissed my hand, and I then acquaintedhim that it had long been my intention to retain him and the rest ofthe present Ministry at the head of affairs, and that it could not bein better hands than his. He again then kissed my hand. He then readto me the Declaration which I was to read to the Council, which hewrote himself, and which is a very fine one. I then talked with himsome little time longer, after which he left me. He was in fulldress. I like him very much, and feel confidence in him. He is a verystraightforward, honest, clever and good man. I then wrote a letter tothe Queen. At about 11 Lord Melbourne came again to me, and spoke tome upon various subjects. At about half-past 11 I went downstairs andheld a Council in the red saloon. 

I went in of course quite alone and remained seated the whole time. My two Uncles, the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex, and Lord Melbourneconducted me. The Declaration, the various forms, the swearing in ofthe Privy Councillors, of which there were a great number present, and the reception of some of the Lords of the Council, previous to theCouncil, in an adjacent room (likewise alone) I subjoin here. I was_not_ at all nervous and had the satisfaction of hearing that peoplewere satisfied with what I had done and how I had done it. Receivedafter this, audiences of Lord Melbourne, Lord John Russell, LordAlbemarle (Master of the Horse), and the Archbishop of Canterbury, all in my room and alone. Saw Stockmar. Saw Clark, whom I named myphysician. Saw Mary. Wrote to Uncle Ernest. Saw Ernest Hohenlohe, whobrought me a kind and very feeling letter from the poor Queen. I feelvery much for her, and really feel that the poor good King was alwaysso kind personally to me, that I should be ungrateful were I notto recollect it and feel grieved at his death. The poor Queen iswonderfully composed now, I hear. 

Wrote my journal. Took my dinner upstairs alone. Went downstairs. Saw Stockmar. At about twenty minutes to 9 came Lord Melbourne andremained till near 10. I had a very important and a very _comfortable_conversation with him. Each time I see him I feel more confidence inhim; I find him very kind in his manner too. Saw Stockmar. Went downand said good-night to Mamma, etc. My _dear_ Lehzen will _always_remain with me as my friend, but will take no situation about me, andI think she is right. 

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _22nd June 1837. _

Lord John Russell[54] presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andhas the honour to report that he presented to the House of Commonsthis day your Majesty's gracious Message. 

He then moved an Address of Condolence and Congratulation, whichwas seconded by Sir Robert Peel. Sir Robert Peel very properly tookoccasion to speak in terms of high admiration of the deportment ofyour Majesty before the Privy Council on Tuesday. The Address wasagreed to without a dissentient voice, and your Majesty may restassured that the House of Commons is animated by a feeling of loyaltyto the Throne, and of devotion to your Majesty. 

[Footnote 54: Writing as Leader of the House of Commons. ]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

(Undated--_22nd or 23rd June 1837. _)

MY DEAREST NIECE, --I am most grateful for your amiable letter andtruly kind offer to come and see me next week. Any day convenient toyour Majesty will be agreeable to me, the sooner the better, for I amequally anxious to see you again, and to express to you in person allthat I feel for you at this trying moment. If Monday will suit youI shall be ready to receive you and your dear Mother on that day. Myprayers are with you and my blessing follows you in all you have to gothrough. My health is as well as it can be after the great exertionsI have suffered, and I try to keep up under my heavy trial and deepaffliction. 

My best wishes attend you, my dearest Niece, and I am for ever yourMajesty's most affectionate and faithful Friend, Aunt and Subject, ADELAIDE. 

[Pageheading: CONGRATULATIONS]

_The King of the French to Queen Victoria. _

PARIS, _le 23 Juin 1837. _

MADAME MA S[OE]UR, --J'ai appris avec une vive peine la perte que votreMajesté vient de faire dans la personne de son très cher et bien aiméOncle le Roi Guillaume IV. D'auguste et vénérable mémoire. La vive etsincère amitié que je porte à votre Majesté, et à ceux qui lui sontchers, les liens de parenté qui rapprochent nos deux familles parl'alliance de ma fille chérie avec le Roi des Belges votre Oncle bienaimé, et enfin le souvenir qui m'est toujours bien cher de la tendreamitié qui m'attachait au feu Prince votre Père, depuis que nousnous étions vus en Amérique, il y a déjà trente-huit ans, [55] medéterminent à ne pas attendre les formalités d'usage, pour offrirà votre Majesté mes félicitations sur son avènement au Trône de laGrande-Bretagne. Il m'est doux de penser que l'heureuse direction quela Princesse votre excellente et bien aimée Mère a si sagement donnéeà votre jeune âge, vous met à portée de supporter dignement le grandfardeau qui vous est échu. Je fais les v[oe]ux les plus sincères pourque la Providence bénisse votre Règne, et qu'il soit une époque debonheur et de prospérité pour les peuples que vous êtes appelée agouverner. Puissiez-vous aussi jouir longtemps de tout le bonheurpersonnel que je vous souhaite du fond de mon c[oe]ur. Je seraitoujours bien empressé de manifester à votre Majesté tous lessentiments d'attachement et d'affection que je lui porte. Qu'elleme permette d'y ajouter l'expression de la haute estime et del'inviolable amitié avec lesquelles je ne cesserai d'être, Madame maS[oe]ur, de votre Majesté Le Bon Frère, LOUIS PHILIPPE R. 

 [Footnote 55: In 1799 the Duke of Kent was Commander-in-Chief in British North America. ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _23rd June 1837. _

MY BELOVED CHILD, --Your new dignities will not change or increasemy old affection for you; may Heaven assist you, and may I have the_happiness of being able to be of use to you_, and to contribute tothose successes in your new career for which I am so anxious. Yourletter of the 19th, written very shortly before the important eventtook place, gave me _great satisfaction_; it showed me a temper ofmind well calculated for the occasion. To see the difficulties of thetask without shrinking from them or feeling alarm, and to meet themwith courage, is the way to succeed. I have often seen that the_confidence_ of success has been the _cause of the success itself_, and you will do well to _preserve_ that sentiment. 

I have been most happy to learn that the swearing in of the Councilpassed so well. The Declaration in the newspapers I find simple andappropriate. The translation in the papers says, "_J'ai été élevés enAngleterre. _" 1. I should advise to say as often as possible that youare _born_ in England. George III. _gloried_ in this, and as _none_of your cousins are born in England, it is your interest _de fairereporter cela fortement_. 2. You never can say too much in praise ofyour country and its inhabitants. Two nations in Europe are reallyalmost ridiculous in their own exaggerated praises of themselves;these are the English and the French. Your being very national ishighly important, and as you happen to be born in England and never tohave left it a moment, [56] it would be odd enough if people triedto make out the contrary. 3. The Established Church I also recommendstrongly; you cannot, without _pledging_ yourself to anything_particular_, _say too much on the subject_. 4. Before you decideon anything important I should be glad if you would consult me; thiswould also have the advantage of giving you time. In politics mostmeasures will come in time within a certain number of days; to retraceor back out of a measure is on the contrary extremely _difficult_, andalmost always _injurious_ to the highest authority. 

 [Footnote 56: The Duke and Duchess of Kent were settled at Amorbach, in Leiningen, till a short time before the birth of their child, when they came to Kensington. ]

[Pageheading: THE MINISTERS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_25th June 1837. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, --Though I have an _immense_ deal of _business_to do, I shall write you a few lines to thank you for your kind anduseful letter of the 23rd, which I have just received. _Your_ adviceis always of the _greatest importance_ to me. 

Respecting Claremont, Stockmar will be able to explain to you the_total_ impossibility of my being out of London, as I must see myMinisters _every_ day. I am _very_ well, sleep well, and drive everyevening in the country; it is so hot that walking is out of thequestion. Before I go further let me pause to tell you how fortunate Iam to have at the head of the Government a man like Lord Melbourne. I have seen him now every day, with the exception of Friday, and themore I see him, the more confidence I have in him; he is not only aclever statesman and an honest man, but a good and a kind-hearted man, whose aim is to do his duty for his country and not for a _party_. Heis of the greatest use to me both politically and privately. 

I have seen almost all my other Ministers, and do regular, hard, but to _me delightful_, work with them. It is to me the _greatestpleasure_ to do my duty for my country and my people, and no fatigue, however great, will be burdensome to me if it is for the welfare ofthe nation. Stockmar will tell you all these things. I have reasonto be highly pleased with all my Ministers, and hope to God thatthe Elections[57] may be favourable, as I well know that the presentMinistry is the best and most moderate we can have. 

Do not, my dearly beloved Uncle, fear for my health; I shall take_good_ care of it. I beg your advice on the enclosed paper. 

Ever your devoted and grateful Niece and affectionate _Child_, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 57: At that time rendered necessary by the demise of the Crown. ]

[Pageheading: DELIBERATION ADVISED]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _27th June 1837. _

MY DEAR CHILD, --. .. Now I must touch on another subject which is ofvital importance for you and your comfort, viz. The habits of businesswhich you will contract now. The best plan is to devote certain hoursto it; if you do that, you will get through it with great ease. Ithink you would do well to tell your Ministers that for the presentyou would be ready to receive those who should wish to see you betweenthe hours of eleven and half-past one. This will not plague you much, and will be sufficient in most cases for the usual business that is tobe transacted. 

I shall add to this a piece of advice. Whenever a question is of someimportance, it should not be decided on the day when it is submittedto you. Whenever it is not an urgent one, I make it a rule not to letany question be forced upon my _immediate_ decision; it is really notdoing oneself justice _de décider des questions sur le pouce_. Andeven when in my mind I am disposed to accede, still I always keep thepapers with me some little time before I return them. The best modefor you will be, that each Minister should bring his box with him, and when he submits to you the papers, _explain them to you_. Then youwill keep the papers, either to think yourself upon it or to consultsomebody, and either return them the next time you see the Ministerto whom they belong, or send them to him. Good habits formed _now_ mayfor ever afterwards be kept up, and will become so natural to you thatyou will not find them at all fatiguing. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

KENSINGTON PALACE, _29th June 1837. _

The Queen has received Lord Melbourne's communication, and thinks, as Prince Ernest of Hesse goes to the funeral, it would be proper thePrince of Leiningen should do just the same. The Queen requests thatLord Melbourne will be so good as to take care that the Prince ofLeiningen is informed as to the proper dress he ought to wear on theoccasion. 

Lord Albemarle mentioned yesterday to the Queen, that all the ladies'saddle-horses, including the Queen-Dowager's own favourite horses, belonged to the Queen; but it strikes her that it would be well if theQueen was to give the Queen-Dowager the choice of two or three of herown horses, and that she might keep them. The Queen would wish LordMelbourne to give her his opinion on this subject. .. . 

[Pageheading: STOCKMAR]

[Pageheading: SUBJECTS FOR STUDY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _30th June 1837. _

MY DEAREST CHILD, --. .. I am glad to see that you are so much pleasedwith Lord Melbourne. I believe him to be as you think him. Hischaracter is a guarantee which is valuable, and remember that_cleverness_ and _talent_, _without an honest heart and character_, _will never do for your Minister_. I shall name nobody, but what Isaid just now applies to some people you have recently seen. 

I am so happy that you enter into the important affairs whichProvidence has entrusted to you with so much interest and spirit; ifyou continue you will be _sure of success_, and your own consciencewill give you the most delightful and satisfactory feelings. To be_National_ is the _great thing_, and I was sure you would agree withwhat I said repeatedly to you on this _vital subject_, and you will becertain in this way of the _love_ of the nation you govern. 

I recommend to your kind attention what Stockmar will think it hisduty to tell you; he will never press anything, never plague you withanything, without the thorough conviction that it is indispensablefor your welfare. I can guarantee his independence of mind anddisinterestedness; nothing makes an impression upon him but what hisexperience makes him feel to be of importance for you. I am delightedwith your plan. You will recollect that I pressed upon you repeatedlyhow necessary it was for you to continue your studies on a more_extended_ scale, more appropriate to the station you were destinedonce to fill. No one is better qualified to direct those studies forthe next few years than Stockmar, few people possess more generalinformation, and very, very few have been like him educated, as itwere, by fate itself since 1816. There is no branch of information inwhich he may not prove useful--

(1) History, considered in a practical and philosophical way; (2)International Law and everything connected with it; (3) PoliticalEconomy, an important branch nowadays; (4) Classic studies; (5)_belles lettres_ in general; (6) Physical Science in all its branches, etc. , etc. --the list would be very long if I were to enumerate it all. The _sooner_ you do this the better; in all countries and at all timesmen like Stockmar have filled similar situations, even in the mostbigoted and jealous countries, such as Spain, Austria, etc. You willhave him in this case _constantly near you without_ anybody having theright of finding fault with it, and to be useful to you he should benear you. Stockmar would have the _immense_ advantage, for so younga Queen, to be a _living_ dictionary of all matters scientific andpolitic that happened these thirty years, which to you is of thegreatest importance, because you _must study_ the political history ofat least the last thirty-seven years _more particularly_. I had begunsomething of the sort with you, even so far back as George II. ; youwill do well to go through the reign of George III. , and to follow thevarious circumstances which brought on finally the present state ofaffairs. .. . 

My letter grows too long, and you will not have time to read it; Iwill therefore come to an end, remaining ever, my beloved Victoria, your faithfully attached Uncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: SPANISH AFFAIRS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_3rd July 1837. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I had the happiness of receiving your kind letterof 30th June yesterday, and hasten to thank you for it. Your dear andkind letters, full of kind and excellent advice, will always be of thegreatest use to me, and will always be my delight. You may dependupon it that I shall profit by your advice, as I have already so oftendone. 

I was sure you would be of my opinion relative to Lord Melbourne. Indeed, dearest Uncle, nothing is to be done without a good heart andan honest mind; I have, alas! seen so much of bad hearts and dishonestand _double_ minds, that I know how to value and appreciate _realworth_. 

All is going on well at present, and the elections promise to befavourable. God grant they may be so! I had a very long and highlyinteresting conversation with Palmerston on Saturday, about Turkey, Russia, etc. , etc. I trust something may be done for my sister Queens. They have got a Constitution in Spain at length, and the Cortes havedone very well. We hope also to conclude a treaty of commerce with theSpaniards shortly, which would be an immense thing. 

If you could get my kind and dear friend Louis Philippe, whom I do sorespect, and for whom I have a great affection, to do something forpoor Spain, it would be of great use. 

I am quite _penetrated_ by the King's kindness in sending good oldGeneral Baudrand[58] and the Duc d'Elchingen[59] over to complimentme; Baudrand did it very well, and with much good feeling. InPortugal, affairs look very black, I grieve to say. They haveno money, and the _Chartists_ want to bring about anothercounter-revolution, which would be fatal to the poor Queen'sinterests, I fear. 

That you approve my plan about Stockmar I am delighted to hear. 

I hope to go into Buckingham Palace very shortly after the funeral. 

Now, dearest Uncle, I must invite you _en forme_. I should be most_delighted_ if you, dearest Aunt Louise, and Leopold (_j'insiste_)could come about the _middle_ or _end_ of _August_. Then I should begyou would stay a little longer than usual, a fortnight at _least_. Youcould bring as many gentlemen, ladies, _bonnes_, etc. , etc. , as youpleased, and I should be _too_ happy and proud to have you under _myown_ roof. .. . 

 [Footnote 58: General Comte Baudrand (1774-1848). ]

 [Footnote 59: Son of Marshal Ney. ]

_The Earl of Liverpool to Baron Stockmar. _

_5th July 1837. _

Went about half-past ten o'clock to Apsley House, and told the Dukeof Wellington the whole of my communication with the Queen, Duchessof Kent, and Sir John Conroy on 15th June, also of my communicationsubsequently with Lord Melbourne, all of which he very much approvedof. He said that he was quite sure that the Queen would find LordMelbourne an honourable man, and one in whom Her Majesty might putconfidence; that he was a man apt to treat matters too lightly, or, as he expressed it, a _poco curante_, but in the main an honest andan honourable man. Upon my speaking to him of the kind and paternalconduct of King Leopold towards his Niece, he said that he was fullypersuaded of this, and should at all and any time be ready to upholdit by his approbation, but that he had no immediate connection withthe Press, whose attacks indeed he held very cheap, though they werefrequently very offensive. He then asked me whether it was not truethat the Queen had thought of some reviews at which she would appearon horseback. I said there had been some talk of it. He desired me tosay that he thought this would be very dangerous, that she had muchbetter do this in an open carriage, as no one except such as himselfknew how difficult it was to get steady riding horses, and besidesthat, she could not be attended by any female, and that this wouldappear indelicate. 

[Pageheading: QUEEN ADELAIDE]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th July 1837. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --I must, before I leave this dear Castle, once moreexpress to you the grateful sense I entertain for the kind treatment Ihave experienced from you since it has pleased our heavenly Father toput you in possession of it. You have contributed much to my comfortunder all the painful and distressing circumstances of this timeof woe, and I assure you that I ever shall remember it with sinceregratitude. 

I hope that you continue quite well and do not suffer from theexertions and duties of your new position. My best wishes and prayersattend you on all occasions, for I shall be for the rest of mylife devoted and attached to you as your most affectionate Aunt andSubject, ADELAIDE. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

KENSINGTON PALACE, _10th July 1837. _

The Queen regrets very much to hear of Lord Melbourne's indisposition, and trusts it will be of no duration. 

The Queen has just seen the Lord Chamberlain and has given him all herorders. The Lord Chamberlain says that he will do everything inhis power to facilitate the Queen's going into Buckingham Palace onThursday. 

The Queen fears that there may have been some mistake with respect tothe Chapter of the Garter, for Lord Conyngham, [60] as well as severalothers, imagined it would be held on _Wednesday_ instead of _Friday_. The Queen requests Lord Melbourne to rectify this mistake, as it isthe Queen's intention to hold the Chapter on _Friday_. 

 [Footnote 60: The Lord Chamberlain. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_11th July 1837. _

MY DEAREST, BEST UNCLE, --. .. I have got very little time and verylittle to say. I _really_ and _truly_ go into Buckingham Palace theday after to-morrow, but I must say, though I am very glad to do so, Ifeel sorry to leave for _ever_ my poor old birthplace. .. . 

_25th. _--I shall not go out of town, I think, before the 20th orthereabouts of next month. Windsor requires thorough cleaning, and Imust say I could not think of going in sooner after the poor King'sdeath. Windsor always appears very melancholy to me, and there are somany sad associations with it. These will vanish, I daresay, if I seeyou there soon after my arrival there. 

I have very pleasant large dinners every day. I invite my Premiergenerally once a week to dinner as I think it right to show publiclythat I esteem him and have confidence in him, as he has behaved sowell. Stockmar is of this opinion and is his great admirer. .. . 

[Pageheading: MADAME DE LIEVEN]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

NEUILLY, _12th July 1837. _

. .. Having still a few moments before a special messenger sets off, Itake advantage of it to add a few words. By all I can hear, there aremany intrigues on foot in England at this moment. Princess Lieven[61]and another individual recently imported from her country seem to bevery active in what concerns them not; beware of them. A rule which Icannot sufficiently recommend is, _never to permit_ people to speakon subjects concerning yourself or your affairs, without your havingyourself desired them to do so. The moment a person behaves improperlyon this subject, change the conversation, and make the individual feelthat he has made a mistake. .. . People will certainly try to speak toyou on your _own personal_ affairs; decline it boldly, and they willleave you alone. .. . 

Now I conclude with my warmest wishes for your happiness. Ever, mydear Victoria, your faithfully attached Uncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

[Footnote 61: The Princess Dorothea de Benckendorff married the Countde Lieven at fifteen; in 1812, he became Russian Minister (and laterAmbassador) in London, whither she accompanied him. She was a womanof extraordinary cleverness, enjoying the confidence of GeorgeIV. , Liverpool, Canning, Castlereagh, and Wellington. Inspiring theefforts, and even composing the despatches of her husband, she becameherself the confidential correspondent of Nesselrode, Esterhazy, Possodi Borgo, Guizot, and Lord Aberdeen. In 1834, the Lievens returned toSt Petersburg, where the Emperor Nicholas, though indifferent to thesociety of women of talent, showed her special marks of regard. Herhusband died at Rome, in January 1838, and she established herselfin Paris, afterwards seeking a home in England during the troublesof 1848. Returning to Paris, her _salon_ became again the resort ofdiplomatists, politicians, and men of the world. She died in January1857. 

Madame de Lieven about this time told Greville that she had had anaudience of the Queen, "who was very civil and gracious, but timidand embarrassed, and talked of nothing but commonplaces"; and Grevilleadds that the Queen "had probably been told that the Princess was an_intrigante_, and was afraid of committing herself. "

Madame de Lieven wrote to Lord Aberdeen on the 30th July 1837:--

J'ai vu la Reine deux fois, je l'ai vue seule, et je l'ai vue dans lasociété du soir, et avec son Premier Ministre. Elle a un aplomb, unair de commandement, de dignité, qui avec son visage enfantin, sapetite taille, et son joli sourire, forment certainement le spectaclele plus extraordinaire qu'il soit possible de se figurer. Elle estd'une extrême réserve dans son discours. On croit que la prudence estune de ses premières qualités. Lord Melbourne a auprès d'elle unair d'amour, de contentement, de vanité même, et tout cela mêlé avecbeaucoup de respect, des attitudes très à son aise, une habitude depremière place dans son salon, de la rêverie, de la gaieté, vous voyeztout cela. La Reine est pleine d'aimables sourires pour lui. 

La société le soir n'était composée que du household de la Reine, detout le household de la Duchesse de Kent (moins la famille Conroy, quin'approche pas du Palais), et de quelques étrangers. La Duchesse deKent est parfaitement mécontente, --elle m'en a même parlé. Je douteque la mère et la fllle habitent longtemps sous le même toit. Quantà Lord Melbourne, il me semble que la Duchesse le déteste. Il estévident qu'il est dans la possession entière et exclusive de laconfiance de la Reine, et que ses ressentiments, comme ses peinespassées, sont confiés sans réserve à son Premier Ministre. .. . ]

[Pageheading: PARLIAMENT PROROGUED]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_18th July 1837. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, --. .. I have been so busy, I can say but two wordsmore, which are that I prorogued Parliament yesterday in person, wasvery well received, and am not at all tired to-day, but quite frisky. There is to be no review _this year_, as I was determined to have itonly if I _could ride_, and as I have not ridden for two years, it wasbetter not. Believe me, always, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

STANHOPE STREET, _22nd July 1837. _

. .. With regard to Count Orloff, [62] your Majesty will probably renewto him, on his taking leave, the assurances which your Majesty hasalready given, of your desire to cement and maintain the friendlyalliance which subsists between the two Crowns; and an expressionmight be repeated of the pleasure which your Majesty has derived fromthe selection of a person who possesses the confidence and esteem ofthe Emperor so fully as Count Orloff is known to do. 

It might, perhaps, be as well to avoid any allusion to your Majesty'snot being personally acquainted with the Emperor, or anything thatmight be construed into an invitation to that Sovereign to come toEngland, because Viscount Palmerston has reason to believe that anysuch hint would be eagerly caught at, while at the same time sucha visit does not, under all circumstances, seem to be a thingparticularly to be desired. .. . 

 [Footnote 62: The Russian Ambassador. ]

[Pageheading: DISCRETION ADVISED]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _24th July 1837. _

MY DEAREST CHILD, --. .. I hear that the Levée went off very well, and Ihave no doubt that the Drawing-Room did the same. Your _spirit_ in allthese new and trying proceedings makes me _happy beyond expression_. Believe me, with _courage_ and _honesty_, you will get on beautifullyand successfully. The firmness you displayed at the beginning of yourreign will be for your quiet of the utmost importance. People mustcome to the opinion _it is of no use intriguing, because when her mindis once made up, and she thinks a thing right_, no earthly power willmake her change. To these qualities must be added one which is ofgreat importance, this is _discretion_; humble as it seems, it hasoften brought about successes in which talent failed and geniusdid not succeed. Discretion in the great affairs of the world doeswonders, and safety depends frequently and is chiefly derived fromit. .. . 

Now I must quickly conclude, with the prayer that you will _notpermit_ anybody, be it even your Prime Minister, to speak to you onmatters that concern you _personally_, without _your_ having expressedthe wish of its being done. You have no idea of the importance of thisfor your peace and comfort and safety. I always act on this principle, and I can say with great success. 

Believe me ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _29th July 1837. _

MY DEAREST CHILD, --Your dear letter of the 24th inst. Is, amongst _somany kind letters_, _almost the kindest I yet received_ from yourdear hands. My happiness and my greatest pride will always be, to bea _tender and devoted father to you, my beloved child_, and to watchover you and stand by you with _heart_ and _soul as long_ as the heartwhich _loves_ you so sincerely will beat. 

I have no doubt that Lord Melbourne will always do everything in hispower to be useful to you. His position is become extremely happy;after having been, under the late King at least, in an awkwardposition, he is now sure of enjoying your confidence and sinceresupport. If the elections turn out favourably to the Ministry, itwill, I hope, give them the means of trying to _conciliate_ thegreat mass of the _moderate_ Tories, who from their nature and inconsequence of their opinions are safe and desirable supporters of theCrown. The two extremes will give them trouble, and the ultra-Toriesappear to me to be even the _more unreasonable_ of the two. 

I am most happy to see you on your guard against Princess Lieven andsuch-like people. Your life amongst intriguers and tormented withintrigues has given you an experience on this important subject whichyou will do well not to lose sight of, as it will unfortunately often_reproduce itself_, though the names and manner of carrying on thething may not be the same. 

I also think Windsor a little melancholy, but I believe that one likesit more and more, as the Park in particular is uncommonly beautiful. We shall try our best to enliven it by our presence, and probably soonafter your arrival. I am most happy to see you so spirited and happyin your new position; it will go a great way to ensure your success, and your spirit and courage will never be _de trop_. 

Now I will conclude for the day, not to bore you, and beg you alwaysto believe me, my dear and beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle andFriend, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: PRINCESS HOHENLOHE]

_The Princess Hohenlohe to Queen Victoria. _

LANGENBURG, _31st July 1837. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --On arriving here, I found your dear letter ofthe 9th of this month; and some days ago I received the one of the16th. Many, many thanks for them both; it is indeed kind of you towrite to me now when you have so much to do. You have no idea what afeeling it is, to hear and read of you, and to think that it is _you_, _my own dear sister_, who are the object of general observation, and, I may say, admiration; it is sometimes like a dream. For those who arenear you it is quite different than for me, who have not seen you yetin your new position, but must represent to myself all through thereport of others. The description in the papers of your proroguingParliament I read with great interest; it must have been an imposingmoment for you, your standing for the first time in your life inthe middle of that assembly where the interests and welfare of yourcountry are discussed and decided upon. It is with pride, pleasure, and anxiety I think of you at the description of such scenes andoccurrences. I saw too by the papers that your _incognito_ at theOpera was not quite kept as you wished it. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE ELECTIONS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _1st August 1837. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --. .. I should be _most_ happy to "peep once" intoyour country, and wish that it _could_ be. 

With respect to Politics, Lord Melbourne told me this morning that hethinks the Lords will be more moderate and reasonable next Session. The Duke of Wellington made a speech shortly before the Dissolution ofParliament, in which he said that _he wished as much as the Governmentdid to pass the questions now pending_. 

You do not think Alexander[63] _near_ handsome enough in my opinion;you know, ladies are much better judges. He is somewhat colossal, I own, but very proportionate and good-looking, I think. I am allimpatience to hear more about all this, and when you imagine themarriage will take place. 

I have resumed my singing lessons with Lablache[64] twice a week, which form an agreeable recreation in the midst of all the business Ihave to do. He is such a good old soul, and greatly pleased that I goon with him. I admire the music of the _Huguenots_ very much, but donot sing it, as I prefer Italian to French for singing greatly. Ihave been learning in the beginning of the season many of your oldfavourites, which I hope to sing with you when we meet. I wish I couldkeep Lablache to sing with us, but he will be gone by that time, Igreatly fear. 

Now farewell, my beloved Uncle. Give my affectionate love to my dearAunt, and believe me always, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_J'embrasse Léopold et Philippe. _

[Footnote 63: Prince Alexander of Würtemberg, betrothed to PrincessMarie of Orleans, daughter of Louis Philippe. She died 10th January1839. See Letter of Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians, 11thJanuary 1839. ]

 [Footnote 64: See _ante_, p. 50. (Ch. V, Footnote 7)]

[Pageheading: THE ELECTIONS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_9th August 1837. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, --. .. With respect to the Elections, they are, I'mthankful to say, rather favourable, though not quite so much so aswe could wish. But upon the whole we shall have as good a House as wehad, and, _I_ hope (as Lord Melbourne does also), a more moderate onethan the last one. The Irish Elections are very favourable to us; wehave gained six in the English boroughs, and lost, I grieve to say, several in the counties. 

The country is very quiet, and I have good reason to believe all willdo very well. 

The King of Würtemberg is to arrive to-night, under the name of CountTeck, and wishes to be in strict _incognito_. He comes on purpose tosee me; you know he is my second cousin--his mother[65] was sisterto Queen Caroline and daughter to my grand-aunt. [66] I shall give theKing a large dinner on Friday and a little concert after it. .. . 

 [Footnote 65: Queen Augusta of Würtemberg. ]

 [Footnote 66: Augusta, Duchess of Brunswick, sister of George III. ]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

ENDSLEIGH, _15th August 1837. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to lay before your Majesty a general statement of theresult of the elections, which, with the exception of one or twodoubtful counties in Ireland, may be said to be completed. .. . 

It is not to be denied that this near balance of parties makes thetask of conducting the government difficult for any Ministry. Onthe other hand, the circumstances of the country do not present anyextraordinary difficulty, and were any such to arise, the generalcomposition of the new House of Commons affords a security that themaintenance of the Constitution and the welfare of the country wouldbe permanent objects to the majority of its Members. [67]

Lord John Russell had some time ago the honour of stating to yourMajesty that the return of Mr Fox Maule for Perthshire, and of Mr Humefor Middlesex, were hardly to be expected. In this as in many otherinstances the superior organisation of the Tory party have enabledthem to gain the appearance of a change of opinion, which has not infact taken place. 

Lord John Russell is sorry to add that bribery, intimidation, anddrunkenness have been very prevalent at the late elections, and thatin many cases the disposition to riot has only been checked by theappearance of the Military, who have in all cases conducted themselveswith great temper and judgment. 

 [Footnote 67: While the extreme Radicals were in several cases defeated, the number of O'Connell's followers was decidedly increased. The general balance of parties was not much affected, though the complaint made by Mr Roebuck, the Radical Member for Bath, in the last days of William IV. 's reign, that there was no Government, and that the machinery of legislation was at a dead stop, was no longer warranted. ]

[Pageheading: LEAVING WINDSOR]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

ENDSLEIGH, _21st August 1837. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andhas the honour to submit to your Majesty a letter from the Earl ofCoventry requesting an Audience. 

It is usual for the Sovereign to receive any Peer who may be desirousof an Audience, without any other person being present. But if thePeer who is thus admitted to the honour of an Audience should enterupon political topics, it has been the custom for your Majesty'spredecessors merely to hear what is offered, and not to give anyopinion, or to enter into any discussion or conversation upon suchtopics. 

Should your Majesty be pleased to grant Lord Coventry's request ofan Audience, perhaps the most convenient course will be that theLord-in-Waiting should signify to him, direct from Windsor, yourMajesty's pleasure. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _[68]

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th September 1837. _ (_20 m(inutes) p(ast) 11. _)

MY DEAREST, MOST BELOVED UNCLE, --One line to express to you, _imperfectly_, my thanks for all your _very_ great kindness to me, and_my great_, _great_ grief at your departure! God knows _how sad_, _howforlorn_, I feel! _How_ I _shall_ miss you, my dearest, dear Uncle!_every, every where_! _How_ I shall miss your conversation! _How_ Ishall miss your _protection_ out riding! Oh! I feel _very_, _very_sad, and cannot speak of you both without crying!

Farewell, my beloved Uncle and _father!_ may Heaven bless and protectyou; and do not forget your most affectionate, devoted, and attachedNiece and _Child_, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 68: Written on the conclusion of a visit of the King of the Belgians to England. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians_. 

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd October 1837. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, --. .. I am quite sad to leave this fine place, where, if it had not been for the meeting of Parliament _so_ early this year, I would have remained till November. I have passed _such_ a pleasanttime here, the _pleasantest summer_ I have _ever_ passed in my life; Ihave had the _great_ happiness of having you and my beloved Aunt here, I have had pleasant people staying with me, and I have had deliciousrides which have done me more good than anything. It will be such abreak-up of our little circle! Besides my own people, Lord Melbourneand Lord Palmerston are the only people who have been _staying_ here, and this little party was very social and agreeable. The PrincessAugusta of Saxony[69] has been here for two nights; she is neitheryoung nor handsome, but a very kind good person. 

The news from Portugal are bad which I got this morning. The Civil Waris _ended_, and the _Chartists_ have been _completely defeated_; thisis sad enough, but I was fearful of it: a counter-revolution _never_does well. [70]

_En revanche_, the news from Spain are by far better. .. . 

Believe me always, in haste, your devoted and affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 69: Daughter of King Frederick Augustus of Saxony. ]

 [Footnote 70: On July 1st a new Ministry had come into power in Portugal. The finances of the country were in great confusion, a military insurrection broke out in the North at Braga, the Ministry resigned, and a new Ministry came into office in August. On the 18th August, the Duke of Terceira, followed by many persons of distinction, joined the insurgents, and, establishing himself at Mafra, advanced upon Lisbon with the Chartist troops, issuing a proclamation of provisional regency. A Convention was eventually signed, and the Cortes proceeded to discuss measures of Constitutional Reform. ]

[Pageheading: RECEPTION AT BRIGHTON]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_6th October 1837. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and inacknowledging your Majesty's gracious communication, of yesterdayreturns his thanks for the very lively account which your Majesty hasgiven of the journey and the entrance into Brighton. Lord Melbourneentirely partakes in the wish your Majesty has been graciously pleasedto express that he had been there to witness the scene; but yourMajesty will at once perceive that it was better that he was not, asin that case Lord Melbourne would have been accused of an attemptto take a political advantage of the general enthusiasm and to mixhimself and the Government with your Majesty's personal popularity. Lord Melbourne fears that for some time your Majesty will findyourself somewhat incommoded by the desire, which naturally prevailsamongst all ranks and classes, to obtain an opportunity of seeing yourMajesty. .. . 

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _9th October 1837. _

. .. I have also told Stockmar to try to settle something for _regular_safe communication; in quiet times like the present, one a week wouldbe sufficient. You know now that all letters are read, and that shouldnot be _always_ the case with ours. There is, however, one thingabout which I think it right to warn you. This way of reading people'sletters is often taken advantage of by the writers of them, whoare _not so ignorant of the thing as is imagined_ to write the verysubject which they wish to convey to the ears of persons withoutcompromising themselves. I will give you an example: we are stillplagued by Prussia concerning those fortresses; now, to tell thePrussian Government many things, which we _should not like_ to tellthem _officially_, the Minister is going to write a despatch to ourman at Berlin, sending it _by post_; the Prussians _are sure_ to readit, and to learn in this way what we wish them to hear. The diplomatsin England may resort to this same mode of proceeding to injurepeople, to calumniate, and to convey to your knowledge such thingsas they may hope to have the effect of injuring some people _they mayfear_, in your eyes. I tell you the _trick_, that you should be ableto guard against it; it is of importance, and I have no doubt will beresorted to by various political people. .. . Ever, my dearest Victoria, your faithfully devoted Uncle and Friend, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND FRANCE]

[Pageheading: LOUIS PHILIPPE'S POLICY]

[Pageheading: COUNT MOLÉ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

TRIANON, _19th October 1837. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --. .. There is a great disposition here to be onthe best possible terms with England. As it has but too often happenedthat the diplomatic agents of the two countries have drawn, or beenbelieved to draw, different ways, I recommended strongly to CountMolé[71] to give strong and clear instructions to his people, particularly at Madrid, Lisbon, and Athens. .. . He is going to readthem to Lord Granville, and also to communicate as much as possibleall the despatches of the French diplomats to the English Government. This will be a proof of confidence, and it will besides have theadvantage of giving often useful information, enabling thereby theEnglish Government to hear two opinions instead of one. It cannot bedenied that the idea that the Plenipotentiaries of the two countrieswere following two different lines of policy has been hurtful tothe causes of the two Queens in the Peninsula. To put a stop to thisdouble action is the only benefit which the Queens will at presentderive from a better understanding between England and France; but asit is, it will be still of some importance to them, and take away fromthe different political parties the possibility of using the pretendedmisunderstanding against the Government of the Queens. I trust thatyou will tell your Ministers to meet this friendly disposition withfrankness and kindness. The wish of the King here is, to have mattersconcerted between the Plenipotentiaries of both countries. In this wayit would become difficult for the parties in Spain or Portugal tosay that the two Plenipotentiaries support different candidates forMinisterial power, and the division in the parties connected with theQueens might be in this manner _prevented_ or _reconciled_. Many andmany are the ill-natured hints thrown out against the King's policyhere, and because he is clever, he is suspected of having _ambitiousschemes without end_; it may not be without some importance to setthis, in your mind at least, to rights. Whatever may have been theKing's views immediately after the revolution of July[72] I will notdecide; perhaps he may a moment have wished to be able to do somethingfor France. Supposing this for the sake of argument to have been so, two months of his reign were sufficient to show him that the greatquestion was not to conquer territories or foreign influence, butto save Monarchy. He saw clearly that though _he_ might begin a war, necessarily it would soon degenerate into a war of propaganda, andthat he and his family would be the first victims of it. His strugglehas constantly been to strengthen his Government, to keep together orcreate anew the elements indispensable for a Monarchical Government, and this struggle is far from being at its end, and most probablythe remainder of his life will be devoted to this important task; andwhatever may be the more lively disposition of the Duke of Orleans, great part of his reign if he comes to the throne, and perhaps the_whole_ of it, will, _bon gré mal gré_, take the same turn. That itshould be so _is very natural_, because of _what use_ would be some_foreign provinces_ if they would only add to the difficulty ofgoverning the old? Therefore, knowing as I do all the proceedingsof the King and his Cabinet, even more fully than I do those of yourGovernment; seeing constantly in the most unreserved manner the wholeof the despatches; knowing as the nearest neighbour the system thatthey constantly followed up towards us, I must say that no one ismore against acquiring influence in foreign States, or even gettingburthened with family aggrandisement in them, than he. He rejectedmost positively the marriage of Joinville with Donna Maria because hewill not have anything to do with Portugal. He rejects a _mille_ timesthe idea of a future union of the Queen of Spain with Aumale, becausehe will not have a son where it _is not_ his intention to support him. 

His fear of being drawn into a real intervention has been the causeof his having been so anxious not to have a French Legion in Spain. Hemay be right or wrong on this subject--I do not decide this, as I wasof a different opinion last year; but his fear of being drawn toofar, like a man whose clothes get caught by a steam-engine, is naturalenough. His dislike to the ultra-Liberals in the Peninsula is alsovery natural, because they uphold principles of Government whichrender Monarchy impossible, and the application of which to Francewould be the ruin of the King. England, from the peculiarity ofits position, can do many things which in France would upseteverything. .. . I must close my letter, and shall answer yoursto-morrow. God bless you! Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devotedUncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 71: French Premier and Foreign Secretary. ]

 [Footnote 72: 1830. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

PAVILION, BRIGHTON, _25th October 1837. _

. .. Now, dearest Uncle, I must speak to you _un peu de Politique_. I made Lord Melbourne read the _political_ part of your letter. Hewished me to communicate to you part of the contents of a letter ofLord Granville's which we received yesterday. Lord Granville complainsa good deal of Molé, [73] and says, that though he is apparently verycordial and friendly towards us, and talks of his desire that weshould be on a better footing as to our foreign Ministers than we havehitherto been, that whenever Lord Granville urges him to do anythingdecisive (to use Lord G. 's own words) "he _shrinks_ from thediscussion, " says he must have time to reflect before he can give anyanswer, and evades giving any reply, whenever anything of _importance_is required. This, you see, dear Uncle, is not satisfactory. I merelytell you this, as I think you would like to know what Molé tells _our_Ambassador; this differs from what he told _you_. What you sayabout Louis Philippe I am sure is very true; his situation is a verypeculiar and a very difficult one. .. . 

 [Footnote 73: See _ante_, p. 93. (Ch. VI, Footnote 71)]

[Pageheading: THE FRENCH IN AFRICA]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

TRIANON, _27th October 1837. _

. .. Political matters I shall not touch upon to-day; there is nothingvery particular except the taking of Constantin. [74] The Duc deNemours has greatly distinguished himself. I am sorry to see that inEngland people are sometimes _sufficiently absurd_ to be jealous ofthese French conquests. Nothing indeed can be more absurd, as nothingis of greater _importance to the peace_ of Europe than that a powerfuland military nation like the French should have this outlet for theirlove of military display. If one had named a council of wise men tofix upon a spot where this might be done with _the least mischief_ tothe rest of the world, one should have named the coast of Africa. Bytheir being there they will render to civilisation a country which forabout 800 years has been growing worse and worse, and which was in thetimes of the Romans one of the richest provinces. It settles, besides, upon the French a constant _petite guerre_ with the natives, which isthe very thing that will do them good. 

 [Footnote 74: The French losses amounted to 19 officers and 86 men killed, with 38 officers and 468 men wounded. The French Government had failed in its efforts for an amicable arrangement with Achmet Bey, and it appeared probable that the Turkish fleet would also oppose them. The commander, however, merely landed some men at Tripoli, and the French success was complete. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _19th November 1837. _

. .. Now, dearest Uncle, before I say anything more, I will answer thevarious questions in your letter, which I have communicated toLord Melbourne and Lord Palmerston. (1) With respect to Ferdinand'squestion to you, it is impossible for _us_ to say _beforehand_ _what_we _shall_ do in _such_ an _emergency_; it depends so entirely on thepeculiar _circumstances_ of the _moment_ that we cannot say what weshould do. You know, dear Uncle, that the fleet has orders to protectthe King and Queen in case they should be in any personal danger. Asto Lord Howard, [75] though what you say about him is true enough, itwould not do to recall him at present; it would give Bois le Comte[76]all the advantage he _wishes_ for, and which would be injurious to ourinterests and influence. 

(2) With regard to Spain, a very decided mention is made of the_Queen_ herself in the speech which is to be delivered by me to-morrowin the House of Lords. 

We have great reason to know that, of late, the Queen has positivelydeclared her intention to remain at Madrid to the very last. 

Villiers'[77] conduct has been, I fear, much misrepresented, for his_own_ opinions are not at all those of the _ultra-Liberal_ kind; andhis _only_ aim has been, to be on good terms with the Spanish Ministryfor the time being. 

(3) Concerning France, I need not repeat to you, dear Uncle, how_very_ anxious we all are to be upon the _best_ and _most friendly_terms with her, and to co-operate with her. 

 [Footnote 75: Lord Howard de Walden, British Minister at Lisbon. ]

 [Footnote 76: French Minister at Madrid. ]

 [Footnote 77: British Minister at Madrid, afterwards fourth Earl of Clarendon, and twice Foreign Secretary. ]

[Pageheading: CLOSE OF THE SESSION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th December 1837. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --. .. You will, I am sure, be happy to hear thatthis Session is happily closed, and that the whole has gone off verysatisfactorily, much more so even than any of us could hope. I wenton Saturday to the House of Lords to give my Assent to the Civil ListBill. I shall return to town on the 16th of January, when Parliamentmeets again; it meets sooner than it was at first intended it should, on account of the affairs of Canada. 

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _[78]

LAEKEN, _26th December 1837. _

MY DEAREST CHILD, --You were _somewhat irritable_ when you wrote tome!. .. Affairs stand now as follows: the studies at Bonn take thewhole of April, and may be concluded at the beginning of May. From Maytill the end of August, if you approved of the visit, the time shouldbe _utilisé_. A _séjour_ at Coburg would _not_ be of much use; herewe are generally absent in the summer. To confide therefore the younggentleman to his Uncle Mensdorff[79] for three months, would give himso much time for some _manly accomplishments_, which do no harm to ayoung man. To make him _enter the Service_ would _not_ do at all. Whatyou say about his imbibing principles of a political nature, thereis no great fear of that. First of all, Prague is not a town wherepolitics are at all agitated; these topics are very rarely touchedupon; besides, Albert is clever, and it is not at the eleventhhour that anybody in three months will make him imbibe politicalprinciples. Perhaps you will turn in your mind what you think on thesubject, and communicate me the result of it. .. . 

 [Footnote 78: This letter refers to the course of study which Prince Albert was about to pursue. ]

 [Footnote 79: Count Emmanuel de Mensdorff-Pouilly, who married, in 1804, Sophia, Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. ]

[Pageheading: CANADA]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_27th December 1837. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and acquaintsyour Majesty that he has this morning received a letter fromthe Speaker[80] consenting to remain until Whitsuntide. This isinconvenient enough, but the delay relieves your present embarrassmentupon this head, and puts off changes until a period of the Sessionwhen public affairs will be more decisively settled. 

Lord Melbourne is sorry to have to inform your Majesty that there wasa good deal of difference of opinion yesterday in the Cabinet upon theaffairs of Canada. [81] All are of opinion that strong measures shouldbe taken for the repression of the insurrection, but some, and moreparticularly Lord Howick, think that these measures of vigour shouldbe accompanied by measures of amendment and conciliation. We are tohave a Cabinet again upon the subject on Wednesday next, when LordMelbourne hopes that some practical result will be come to withoutserious difference. 

 [Footnote 80: Mr James Abercromby, afterwards Lord Dunfermline. He remained in the Chair till 1839. He had little hold over the House, and many regrettable scenes occurred. ]

 [Footnote 81: See Introductory Note, p. 56. (to Ch. VI)]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _28th December 1837. _

The Queen received Lord Melbourne's communication yesterday evening, and is glad to see that the Speaker consents to remain a little whilelonger, though, as Lord Melbourne says, it is still very inconvenient. 

The Queen regrets that there should have been any difference ofopinion with respect to Canada, but hopes with Lord Melbourne thatsome final arrangement may be come to next Wednesday. 

The Queen is very sorry to learn that Lord Melbourne will be detainedin London until Saturday. She omitted to ask Lord Melbourne when hethinks it would be convenient for Lord Palmerston to come down toWindsor for a few days, as it is the Queen's wish to ask him in thecourse of the Recess. The Queen is very thankful to Lord Melbourne forhis kind enquiries after her health; she is sorry to say she had oneof her bad headaches yesterday, but feels very well this morning andthinks a drive will quite cure her. 

[Pageheading: ARMY ESTIMATES]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th December 1837. _

The Queen received Lord Melbourne's two letters yesterday evening, andanother this morning, enclosing one from Lord Duncannon. [82] The Queenis very much gratified by the kind expressions in the letter she gotlast night; she is grieved to see Lord Melbourne is so much oppressedwith business. 

The Queen thinks Lord Melbourne has acted with the greatest judgmentwith respect to Sir J. Conroy, [83] and highly approves the course heintends pursuing. 

The Queen regrets that there should be so much difficulty with respectto the Report of the Army Estimates, but fervently trusts that noserious difficulties will arise from it; she will be very anxious totalk about this and many other matters when she sees Lord Melbourne, which the Queen _hopes_ (as Lord Melbourne says nothing to thecontrary) she will do on the 3rd or 4th. 

The Queen thinks that it will be quite right if Lord Melbourne writesto Lord John about the Staffordshire Yeomanry. The Queen will bedelighted to see Lady John Russell's little girl, and would be veryhappy if Lady John was to bring the _Baby_ also. The Queen begs LordMelbourne to invite them (Lord and Lady John) in her name on the 8th, and to stay till the 11th. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are here, and the Queen is verysorry to say, that from what she _sees_ and _hears_, she has reason tofear all is _not_ as it _should_ be; _her_ mother is most _markedly_civil and affectionate towards both the Duke and Duchess, and spokePolitics with the former. The Queen will tell Lord Melbourne moreabout this when she sees him. 

The weather was beautiful yesterday, and the Queen had a _long_ driveand _walk_, which have done her great good; it is still finer to-day. 

 [Footnote 82: Commissioner of Woods and Forests and Lord Privy Seal. ]

 [Footnote 83: Sir J. Conroy, who had been Comptroller to the Duchess of Kent, made certain claims which it was not considered expedient to grant. He received a pension and a baronetcy. ]

[Pageheading: CANADA]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_30th December 1837. _

. .. Lord Melbourne will do his utmost to compose these differencesrespecting Canada and the Army, [84] but your Majesty must contemplatethe possibility, not to say the probability, of his not being ableto succeed. It will not do for the sake of temporary accommodation tosacrifice the honour of your Majesty's Crown or the interests of yourMajesty's subjects. 

 [Footnote 84: _See_ Introductory Notes for 1837 and 1838, pp. 56 and 102. (to Ch. VI and Ch. VII)]

[Pageheading: STATE DEPARTMENTS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_31st December 1837. _

. .. Lord Melbourne has not yet been able to leave London. In order tohave a chance of arranging these troublesome affairs it is necessarycontinually to see those who are principally engaged in them. Froma conversation which he has had this evening with Lord Howick, LordMelbourne has better hopes of producing a general agreement uponCanadian affairs, but the question of the administration of the Army, which is of less immediate importance, is of more difficulty. YourMajesty knows the importance attached by the King of the Belgians tothis matter. The opinion of the Duke of Wellington is also stronglyagainst the projected alteration. On the other hand, five CabinetMinisters have pledged themselves to it by signing the report, andconsider themselves as having publicly undertaken to the House ofCommons that some such measure shall be proposed. Lord Melbourne hasasked for the opinions of Lord Hill[85] and Sir Hussey Vivian[86] inwriting. When Lord Melbourne receives them he must submit them to yourMajesty with as short and as clear a statement as he can make of aquestion which is of a technical and official character, and withwhich Lord Melbourne does not feel himself to be very familiar. LordMelbourne transmits a copy of the proposed Order in Council to carrythe recommendation of the report into effect, which will acquaint yourMajesty precisely what the powers and duties are which it is intendedto transfer from the Secretary of State[87] to the Secretary-at-War. It is the more necessary to be cautious, because it can be donewithout taking the opinion or having recourse to the authority ofParliament. 

Your Majesty will not suppose that Lord Melbourne by laying before youthe whole case has an idea of throwing the weight of such a decisionentirely upon your Majesty. Lord Melbourne will deem it his duty tooffer your Majesty a decided opinion upon the subject. 

Lord Melbourne is much rejoiced to hear that your Majesty enjoysWindsor. The Duchess of Sutherland, [88] who appreciates both the grandand the beautiful, could not be otherwise than delighted with it. .. . 

Lord Melbourne has the pleasure of wishing your Majesty a happy andprosperous New Year. 

 [Footnote 85: Commander-in-Chief. ]

 [Footnote 86: Master-General of the Ordnance. ]

 [Footnote 87: The Secretaries of State (then three, now five in number) have co-extensive authority, that is to say, any one of them can legally execute the duties of all, although separate spheres of action are for convenience assigned to them; at that time the administration of Colonial and Military affairs were combined, the Secretary-at-War not being a Secretary of State. After the Crimean War a fourth Secretary was appointed, and after the Indian Mutiny a fifth was added, entrusted severally with the supervision of Military affairs and the administration of India. See letters of Lord Melbourne of 1st, 4th, and 5th November 1841. (Ch. X, 'Secretaries of State')]

 [Footnote 88: Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana, Duchess of Sutherland (1806-1868), was the daughter of the sixth Earl of Carlisle, and married her cousin, Earl Gower (1786-1861), who became Duke of Sutherland in 1833. On the accession of the Queen, the Duchess of Sutherland became Mistress of the Robes, a post which she held till 1841, and on three subsequent occasions. The Duchess was a cultivated woman with many tastes, and made Stafford House a great social centre. She was deeply interested in philanthropic and social movements, such as the Abolition of Slavery, and had a strong sympathy for national movements, which she showed by entertaining Garibaldi in 1864. She combined a considerable sense of humour with a rare capacity for affection, and became one of the Queen's closest friends; after the Prince Consort's death she was for some weeks the Queen's constant companion. ]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER VII

The Melbourne Ministry were able to maintain themselves in officeduring the year (1838), but were too weak to carry important measures. The prevailing distress led to much criticism of the Poor Law Act of1834, and the disturbances in Canada turned the tide of emigrationto Australia. But public interest in politics was eclipsed by thegaieties of the Coronation, in which all ranks partook. The eventsof Imperial importance elsewhere centred in Jamaica and Canada, theapprenticeship system in the former place leading to a renewal of theanti-slavery agitation at home, and the passing of a Colonial Bill forabsolute emancipation. The Canadian troubles brought about the passingof an Imperial Act for the suspension for two years of the LegislativeAssembly of Lower Canada, and Lord Durham, an impulsive andgenerous-hearted man, was sent out as High Commissioner. Havingdismissed the Executive Council of his predecessor, he nominated afresh one, but an ordinance thereafter promulgated in reference tothe rebels was severely criticised. Lord Brougham, rejoicing at theopportunity of paying off old scores, castigated the Government, especially Lord Glenelg, the Colonial Secretary, and carried a measurecensuring their Canadian policy. The Ministry disallowed the ordinanceof Lord Durham, who, finding himself unsupported, resigned hisCommission and returned home. On his arrival at Plymouth, he made aspeech, in which he described the rebellion as finally at an end;the news, however, subsequently arrived that after his departure fromCanada, disturbances had broken out afresh. Sir John Colborne wasappointed to succeed Lord Durham with full powers. 

The Civil War continued in Spain through the year, and intermittentrioting took place in Portugal, a country which was now verging onbankruptcy. The old Dutch and Belgian controversy as to the possessionof Luxemburg was revived, the King of Holland, who had obstinatelywithheld his concurrence for six years from the Articles on the faithof which King Leopold accepted the throne of Belgium, now showingovert hostility in the disputed territory. As was natural, France wasin sympathy with Belgium, and the two countries entered into a treatyof commerce and reciprocity. 

CHAPTER VII

1838

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_1st January 1838. _

. .. Lord Melbourne feels most deeply the extreme kindness of yourMajesty's expressions. Whatever may happen in the course of events, it will always be to Lord Melbourne a source of the most livelysatisfaction to have assisted your Majesty in the commencement of yourreign, which was not without trouble and difficulty, and your Majestymay depend that whether in or out of office Lord Melbourne's conductwill always be directed by the strongest attachment to your Majesty'sperson, and by the most ardent desire to promote your Majesty'sinterests, which from his knowledge of your Majesty's character anddisposition Lord Melbourne feels certain will be always identifiedwith the interests of your People. 

[Pageheading: CANADA]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_14th January 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has thehonour of acknowledging your Majesty's gracious communication, whichhe received this evening. Lord Melbourne has this morning seen LordDurham upon the subject of his assuming the Government of Canada, [1]and has had a long conversation with him. Lord Melbourne is to receivehis final answer before the Cabinet to-morrow, which meets at teno'clock. Lord Durham is anxious that your Majesty should express tohim your wish, or rather, as he phrased it, lay upon him your commandsthat he should undertake this duty, and also that, as his absence willbe but temporary, that Lady Durham[2] should retain her situation inyour Majesty's household. Lord Melbourne thinks that your Majesty mayproperly gratify him in both these points. Lord Durham made some otherstipulations, which Lord Melbourne will explain to your Majesty, but, upon the whole, Lord Melbourne feels little doubt that he will accept. 

Lord Glenelg[3] is on Monday to make a statement to the House of Lordsupon the subject of Canada, on which a debate may not improbably ariseby which Lord Melbourne may be detained. On Wednesday there is neitherHouse of Lords nor Cabinet dinner. Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday willtherefore be festive days, on which Lord Melbourne will have greatpleasure in obeying your Majesty's commands and also on Monday, if heshould not be kept in the House of Lords. 

Lord Melbourne thinks it was prudent in your Majesty not to exposeyourself to the cold of the Chapel. He is himself better, but hasstill much cough, though he has kept himself very quiet and been verycareful of his diet since he has been in London. 

 [Footnote 1: In the room of Lord Gosford. See _ante_, p. 102. Ch. VII, (Introductory Note to Ch. VII)]

 [Footnote 2: Daughter of Earl Grey. ]

 [Footnote 3: Colonial Secretary. ]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th January 1838. _ (_Half-past nine o'clock. _)

The Queen has written _approved_ on Lord Melbourne's letter ashe desired; but adds a line to express her _satisfaction_ at LordDurham's having accepted the office of Governor-General of Canada. 

The Queen will be very happy to see Lord Melbourne at half-past three. 

[Pageheading: INFLUENCE OF THE CROWN]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _16th January 1838. _

MY DEARLY BELOVED CHILD, --. .. I am very grateful for Lord Melbourne'skind recollection of me. I have a sincere regard for him, and I thinkthat our intercourse has satisfied him of one thing, that I havenothing so much at heart than your welfare, and what is for the goodof your Empire. I wish very much that you would speak with him onthe subject of what ought to be done to keep for the Crown the littleinfluence it still may possess. His views on this important subjectare the more trustworthy as he always has belonged to the moderateLiberals, and therefore has had the means of judging the matterwith great impartiality. Monarchy to be carried on requires certainelements, and the occupation of the Sovereign must be constantly to_preserve these elements_, or should they have been too much weakenedby untoward circumstances, to contrive by every means to _strengthenthem again_. You are too clever not to know, that it is _not_ thebeing _called_ Queen or King, which can be of the _least consequence_, when to the title there is not also annexed the power indispensablefor the exercise of those functions. All trades must be learned, andnowadays the trade of a _constitutional Sovereign, to do it well, is avery difficult one_. 

. .. I must end, and remain ever, most affectionately, my dear Child, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

_24th January 1838. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --Having just been informed of your graciousconsideration of, and your generosity towards, the dear King'schildren, [4] I must express to you how deeply I feel this kind proofof your attachment to the late King, whose memory you respect by thegenerous continuance of their former allowances from the Privy Purse. Nothing could have given me more real satisfaction, and I trust andhope that they will prove their gratitude and entire devotion to youby their future conduct. Let me thank you, dearest Victoria, from thebottom of my heart, and be assured that the heavenly blessing of ourbeloved King will be upon you for your generous kindness to those heloved so much in this world. 

I hope that you have not suffered at all from the severity of theweather, and are as well as all your subjects can wish you to be, amongst whom there is none more anxiously praying for your welfareand happiness than, my dear Niece, your most devoted and affectionateAunt, ADELAIDE. 

 [Footnote 4: The eldest of the five illegitimate sons of William IV. And Mrs. Jordan had been created Earl of Munster, and his sisters and brothers had been given the precedence of the daughters and younger sons of a Marquis. The Queen now continued the same allowances as they had received from the late King. ]

[Pageheading: DANIEL O'CONNELL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _22nd February 1838. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --. .. I had a very brilliant Levée again yesterday, atwhich O'Connell and all his sons, son-in-law, nephew, etc. , appeared. I received him, as you may imagine, with a very smiling face; he hasbeen behaving very well this year. [5] It was quite a treat for me tosee him, as I had for long wished it. 

We are going on most prosperously here, which will, I am sure, giveyou as much pleasure as it does me. We have no fear for any of thequestions. Lord John Russell is much pleased with the temper of theHouse of Commons, which he says is remarkably good, and the Duke ofWellington is behaving uncommonly well, going _with Ministers_, andbehaving like an honest man _should_ do. .. . 

 [Footnote 5: Ever since the Accession, O'Connell's speeches had been full of expressions of loyalty, and he had been acting in concert with the Whigs. ]

[Pageheading: DEPARTMENTS OF STATE]

[Pageheading: BUREAUCRACY]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

STANHOPE STREET, _25th February 1838. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and withreference to your Majesty's question upon the subjects to which LordWilliam Russell's recent despatch relates, he has the honour to state:that in the Governments of the Continent, and more especially in thosewhich have no representative Assemblies, the second class of personsin the public offices possess and exercise much more power andinfluence than the corresponding class of persons do in thiscountry. In England the Ministers who are at the head of the severaldepartments of the State, are liable any day and every day to defendthemselves in Parliament; in order to do this, they must be minutelyacquainted with all the details of the business of their offices, andthe only way of being constantly armed with such information is toconduct and direct those details themselves. 

On the Continent, where Ministers of State are not liable so to becalled to account for their conduct, the Ministers are temptedto leave the details of their business much more to theirUnder-Secretaries and to their chief clerks. Thus it happens thatall the routine of business is generally managed by these subordinateagents; and to such an extent is this carried, that ViscountPalmerston believes that the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, in France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, seldom take the trouble of writingtheir own despatches, except, perhaps, upon some very particular andimportant occasion. 

Your Majesty will easily see how greatly such a system must place inthe hands of the subordinate members of the public departments thepower of directing the policy and the measures of the Government;because the value and tendency, and the consequences of a measure, frequently depend as much upon the manner in which that measureis worked out, as upon the intention and spirit with which it wasplanned. 

Another circumstance tends also to give great power to thesesecond-class men, and that is their permanence in office. 

In England when, in consequence of some great political change, theHeads of Departments go out, the greater part of the Under-Secretariesgo out also; thus the Under-Secretary (with two or three exceptions)having come in with his Chief, has probably no more experience thanhis Chief, and can seldom set up his own knowledge to overrule theopinion, or to guide the judgment, of his superior. 

But on the Continent, changes of Ministers are oftener changes ofindividual men from personal causes, than changes of parties frompolitical convulsions; and therefore when the Chief retires, theUnder-Secretary remains. There are consequently in all the publicoffices abroad a number of men who have spent the greater part oftheir lives in their respective departments, and who by their longexperience are full of knowledge of what has been done in formertimes, and of the most convenient and easy manner of doing what may berequired in the time present. This affords to the Chiefs an additionalmotive for leaning upon their subordinates, and gives to thosesubordinates still more real influence. 

This class of subordinate men has, from the fact of its beingpossessed of so much power, been invested by the jargon of the daywith the title of "Bureaucratic"--a name fabricated in imitation ofthe words "aristocratic" and "democratic, " each being compounded ofthe word "cratic, " which is a corruption from the Greek word "kratos, "which means power; and the prefix, denoting the particular class ofsociety whose power is meant to be expressed. Thus "_aristo_-cratic"is the power of the upper, or, as in Greek it is called, the "aristos"class of society; "_demo_-cratic" is the power of the people, which inGreek is called the "demos"; and "_bureau_-cratic" is the power of thepublic offices or "bureaus, " for which latter the French name has beentaken instead of a Greek word. 

It appears, then, to be the opinion of Lord William Russell, that thissecond class of public men in Prussia are animated by a desire tosee the general policy of their country rendered more national andindependent than it has hitherto been; that for this purpose they weredesirous of urging on the Government to take its stand against foreigninfluence upon some point or other, not much caring what thatpoint might be; that they thought it would be difficult to choose apolitical question, because on such a question the King of Prussiamight be against them, and that consequently they chose a religiousquestion, on which they knew they should have the King with them;and that accordingly they led the Government on to a quarrel with theCourt of Rome, and with the Catholic or Austrian party in Germany, more with a view to place Prussia in an independent national positionthan from any particular importance which they attached to thequestion itself upon which the rupture was to be effected. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_21st March 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The Housesate until half-past eleven last night. Lord Stanhope[6] made a longdeclamatory speech, very violent, but having in it nothing definedor specific, and was answered by Lord Brougham in a most able andtriumphant defence and maintenance of the late Act for Amending theLaws for the Relief of the Poor. [7]

Lord Melbourne was very sorry to be prevented from waiting upon yourMajesty. He is very grateful for your Majesty's enquiries, and feelsvery well this morning. .. . 

Lord Minto[8] told Lord Melbourne last night to acquaint yourMajesty that Lord Amelius Beauclerck, [9] your Majesty's first NavalAide-de-Camp, intended to ask an Audience to-day of your Majesty, and that the object of it was to request that he and the otherAides-de-Camp might wear sashes. This was always refused by thelate King as being absurd and ridiculous--as it is, particularlyconsidering Lord Amelius's figure--and your Majesty had perhaps bettersay that you can make no change. 

Lord Melbourne will be at St James's twenty minutes before ten. 

 [Footnote 6: Philip Henry, fourth Earl. ]

 [Footnote 7: Before 1834 a great source of public abuse was the out-door relief given to able-bodied paupers, either in kind or money. The Act of that year was based on the principle that no one must perish through the want of the bare necessities of life. Poor Law Commissioners were established, England was divided into Districts, and the Districts into Unions. Out-door relief was to be given, on the order of two justices, to poor persons wholly unable, from age or infirmity, to work. But there was much opposition to the new law; it was considered a grievance that old couples were refused relief at home, and that the sexes must be separated at the workhouse, to which the name of "Bastille" began to be attached. In Devonshire it was even believed that the bread distributed by the relieving officers was mixed with poisonous ingredients. ]

 [Footnote 8: The First Lord of the Admiralty. ]

 [Footnote 9: A son of the eighth Duke of St Albans. ]

[Pageheading: PRESSURE OF BUSINESS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th April 1838. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --_Vous ne m'en voudrez pas_, I sincerely hope, fornot having written to you sooner to thank you for your kind letter, which I received last week, but I really could not do so. As _honestyis the best policy_, I will tell you the simple fact. I have been outriding every day for about three hours, which quite renovates me, and when I come home I have consequently a good deal to do, what withseeing people, reading despatches, writing, etc. You will, I trust, now quite forgive your poor niece, whom you so often call "the littleQueen, " which is, I fear, true; but her _feelings_ of affection arenot so small as her _body_ is, I can assure you. 

The Prince de Ligne[10] will be received with every possibleattention, I can promise; it would have been so _without_ his beingrecommended; his rank, and, above all, his being one of your subjects, would of course entitle him to a good reception from me. .. . 

There is another _sujet_ which I wish to mention to you, _et que j'aibien à c[oe]ur_, which is, if you would consult Stockmar with respectto the finishing of Albert's education; he knows best my feelings andwishes on that subject. .. . 

 [Footnote 10: He was appointed to attend the Coronation as Minister Extraordinary from King Leopold. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_5th April 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is muchdistressed that, being in the House of Lords, he was unable to answeryour Majesty's letter as soon as he received it. Lord Melbourne wentto the Palace about half-past four, but learning from the porter atthe gate that your Majesty was not returned, went away thinking thatthere was not left time to see your Majesty before the House of Lords. Lord Melbourne is very much concerned that your Majesty should havehastened at all, and most earnestly requests your Majesty never willdo so upon his account. Lord Melbourne hears with great pleasurethat your Majesty has had a pleasant ride, and likes your horse. Lord Melbourne is very well himself, and will wait upon your Majestyto-morrow morning about ten minutes before ten. 

[Pageheading: FAVOURITE HORSES]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th April 1838. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I received your kind letter of the 5th on Sunday, and return you my best thanks for it. I shall, before I say anotherword, answer your question about the horses which I ride, which I dothe more willingly as I have got two _darlings_, if I may use thatword. They are, both of them, _quite perfect_ in every sense of theword; _very handsome_, full of _spirit_, delightful easy-goers, veryquiet, and _never_ shying at anything. Is not this perfection? The onecalled _Tartar_ (which belonged to Lord Conyngham), an Irish horse, is a very dark brown, a beautiful creature; the other, which LordUxbridge[11] got for me, is called _Uxbridge_; he is smaller thanTartar, and is a dark chestnut, with a beautiful little Arabianhead. I am afraid I shall have bored you with this long account of myhorses. 

I am going to Windsor to-morrow afternoon, and have got a great dealto do in consequence. .. . 

Poor dear Louie[12] _lingers_ on, but, alas! I can only say _lingers_;she does not gain strength. I cannot say how it grieves me, I am sosincerely attached to the good old soul, who has known me ever sincemy birth. But I still entertain a hope that she may get over it. 

We shall have a fortnight's respite from our Political Campaign. Itrust we shall do as well as we have done when Parliament meets again. Believe me always, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 11: Henry, Earl of Uxbridge, afterwards second Marquis of Anglesey (1797-1869). ]

 [Footnote 12: Louisa Louis was born at Erbach in 1771. The Queen erected a tablet to her memory in St Martin's-in-the-Fields, where she is described as "the faithful and devoted friend of Princess Charlotte of Wales, and from earliest infancy honoured by the affectionate attachment of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. " See Reminiscences, _ante_, p. 10. (Ch. I, 'Early Reminiscences')]

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT'S EDUCATION]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

_13th April 1838. _

. .. Concerning the education of our friend Albert, it has beenthe best plan you could have fixed upon, to name Stockmar yourcommissary-general; it will give _unité d'action et de l'ensemble_, which otherwise we should not have had. I have communicated to himwhat your uncle and the young gentleman seem to wish, and what strikesme as the best for the moment. Stockmar will make a regular report toyou on this subject. They will return to Bonn at the beginning of May, and remain till the end of August. .. . I agree with this, as nothingenlarges the mind so much as travelling. But Stockmar will best treatthis affair verbally with you. The young gentlemen wished to pay meanother visit at the beginning of May, prior to their return to Bonn. Nothing definite is, however, as yet settled about it. On one thingyou can rely, that it is my _great anxiety_ to see Albert a _verygood_ and _distinguished young man_, and _no pains will be thought toomuch_ on my part if this end can be attained. .. . 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

(_Undated. _)

Your Majesty will perceive by this box, which I received this morningbut had not time to open, that Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, [13]has been appointed Ambassador to the Coronation. .. . 

 [Footnote 13: Soult entered the French army in 1785, and became Marshal of France in 1804. After distinguishing himself at Austerlitz in 1805, he was made Duke of Dalmatia in 1807. Serving in the Peninsular War, he pursued Moore to Corunna, and became Commander-in-Chief in Spain in 1809. Subsequently he conducted the French retreat before Wellington in Southern France, 1813-14; was banished, but recalled and created a peer. He was Minister of War 1830-34. ]

[Pageheading: OLD SERVANTS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th April 1838. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --. .. You will by this time have learnt the _sad_loss we have all sustained in the death of _dearest_, _faithful_, _excellent_ Louie, who breathed her last, without a struggle or asuffering, on Sunday night at nine o'clock. I don't think I have_ever_ been so much overcome or distressed by anything, almost, as bythe death of this my earliest friend; it is the first link that hasbeen broken of my first and infantine affections. I always lovedLouie, and shall cherish her memory as that of the purest and best ofmortals as long as I live! I took leave of her before I left London onWednesday, and _never_, _never_ shall I forget the blessing she gaveme, and the grasp she gave my hand! I was quite upset by it! And Ifeared and felt I should behold her on earth no more; it was, however, a beautiful lesson of calmness and contentment and resignation to thewill of her God! Prepared as she was at every moment of her life tomeet her heavenly Father, she was full of hope of recovery, and quiteunconscious of her approaching end. You will, I am sure, dearestUncle, feel the loss of this excellent creature; I cannot restrain mytears while writing this. One great consolation I have, which is, thatI have been the means of making her last days as happy as she couldwish to be, after having lost what she loved most!

. .. Poor _Mason_, our faithful coachman for so many years, is alsodead. These old servants cannot be replaced; and to see those whom onehas known from one's birth drop off, one by one, is melancholy! Youwill think this letter a very sad one, but _I feel sad_. .. . 

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, _17th April 1838. _

. .. I can well enter into all your feelings of regret at the death ofone so truly attached and so faithful as dear old Louie had been toyou from your infancy, and I quite understand your grief; yet I feelsure that you will also rejoice for her, that she has been relievedfrom her earthly sufferings. For _her_ the change of existence was ahappy one; good and pious as she was, we may trust that her state atpresent is one of felicity and bliss through the redeeming grace ofour Saviour. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE CORONATION]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

_17th April 1838. _

. .. The Parliamentary affairs will, please Heaven, continue to go onwell; I am more than ever bound to wish it, as I am not anxious toexchange my clever and well-informed friend Palmerston, with LordAberdeen, for instance, of whose sweetness the Greek negotiation[14]has given me very fair means of judging. Now I will conclude bytouching on one subject which concerns your great goodness to us. When we left England you expressed a wish to see us at the time of theCoronation, which was then believed to take place at the end of May. More mature reflection has made me think that a King and Queen at yourdear Coronation might perhaps be a _hors-d'[oe]uvre_, and I think, ifit meets with your approbation, that it may be better to pay you ourrespects at some other period, which you might like to fix upon. I donot deny that having been deprived by circumstances from the happinessof wishing you joy at your birthday, since 1831, in person, I feelstrongly tempted to make a short apparition to see you, as seeing andspeaking is much pleasanter than ink and paper. .. . 

 [Footnote 14: Referring to the offer of the throne of Greece to King Leopold in 1830. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th April 1838. _

MY BELOVED UNCLE, --. .. With respect to the happiness of seeing you andmy dearest Aunt, I shall now respectfully state my feelings. It wouldhave made me very happy to see you both at the Coronation, but I thinkupon the whole it is perhaps better you should not do so. Then, withrespect to your coming for my _old_ birthday, I must observe that Icould not enjoy you or my Aunt at all _à mon aise_. First of all, Icould not lodge you, and if one is not in the same house together, there is _no real_ seeing one another; secondly, the town will be sofull of all sorts of foreigners that I should have _no peace_ to seeyou and Aunt quietly. If therefore, dearest Uncle, it suits you andAunt Louise, would you come about the end of August, and stay with meas long as you can? I trust, dearest Uncle, _que vous me comprendrezbien_, and that you are assured of the great happiness it is for me tosee you at any time. 

Since I have written to you we have received from Lord Granville thenews of Marshal Soult's appointment as Ambassador for the Coronation, and of the Duc de Nemours' intention of coming here as a spectator. You may be assured that I shall be delighted to see the Duke, as Ialways am any of the dear French family. With regard to Soult, Iam sure you are aware that whoever the King chose to send would beequally well received by me and the Government. 

[Pageheading: THE TRAIN-BEARERS]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _5th May 1838. _

The Queen sends the papers relating to the Coronation as LordMelbourne wished. The Queen also transmits the names of the youngladies who she proposes should carry her train. If Lord Melbourne seesany objection to any of these she hopes he will say so. 

The Queen has put down Lady Mary Talbot, as being the daughter of theoldest Earl in the Kingdom[15] and a Roman Catholic; and Lady AnneFitzwilliam, as she is anxious to show civility to Lord Fitzwilliam, who has been very kind to the Queen. 

Perhaps, when the names are agreed to, Lord Melbourne would kindlyundertake to speak or write to the parents of the young ladiesproposing it to them. 

 Lady Caroline Lennox. Lady Adelaide Paget. Lady Fanny Cowper. Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope. Lady Mary Talbot. Lady Anne Fitzwilliam. Lady Mary Grimston. Lady Louisa Jenkinson. 

 [Footnote 15: John, sixteenth Earl of Shrewsbury (1791-1852). ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_17th May 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thinksthat your Majesty had better direct Lord Conyngham to ask theArchbishop, before the Audience, who has generally been there and howit ought to be conducted. 

Your Majesty had better read the Answer and not give it to theArchbishop, as Lord Melbourne apprehends the Archbishop does not giveyour Majesty the Address. 

Your Majesty had better say something kind to each of the Bishops asthey are presented. They are presented to your Majesty in this manneras a sort of privilege, instead of being presented at the Drawing-Roomwith others, and your Majesty should conduct yourself towards themexactly as if they had been presented in the usual circle. The time isabout half-past one, and your Majesty had better be punctual so as notto delay the Drawing-Room. 

[Pageheading: THE SLAVE TRADE]

_In the same letter is enclosed a draft of a letter which it wassuggested by Lord Melbourne that the Queen should write to the King ofPortugal, with regard to the suppression of the Slave Trade. _

[Draft enclosed]

That you hope that the King and Queen of Portugal will not considerthe strong representations made by your Government on the subject ofthe Slave Trade as arising from any desire to embarrass them. Thatthere is every disposition to make allowance for the difficultiesof Portugal, but allowance must also be made for the feelings ofthe people of England; that those feelings on the Slave Trade are asstrong as they are just. That England has made great sacrificesfor the suppression of that crime, that she has made sacrifices toPortugal, and that she has been extremely indignant at finding thattraffic so obstinately continued to be sheltered and protected underthe flag of Portugal. That Portugal must not expect that England willmuch longer refrain from taking effectual measures for preventingthese practices. That you have spoken thus openly because you wishthem to be aware of the truth, and that you entreat both the Queen andthe King to use their power and influence in procuring such a treatyto be concluded without delay, as will satisfy England and exoneratePortugal from the reproach under which she now labours. 

This is the substance of what might be written. It is perhaps a littleharshly worded, but your Majesty may soften it. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th May 1838. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I am most thankful for your very kind letter, andfor the beautiful little sword, which delights me. 

I have been dancing till past four o'clock this morning; we have had acharming ball, and I have spent the happiest birthday that I have hadfor many years; oh, _how_ different to last year! Everybody was sokind and so friendly to me. 

We have got a number of Austrians and Milanese here, among whom area Prince Odescalchi, and a Count Eugène Zichy, renowned for hismagnificent _turquoises_ and his famous valzing, a good-natured_élégant_; we have also Esterhazy's daughter Marie--now CountessChorinsky--a Count and Countess Grippa, and a Marquis and Marchionessof Trivalzi, etc. 

Old Talleyrand[16] is at last dead. I hear he showed wonderfulcomposure and firmness to the last. He was one of those people who Ithought never would die. Did you know what Pozzo said to somebody hereabout him? He said he (Talleyrand) would not die yet, "_parce que leDiable ne voulait pas l'avoir_. "

 [Footnote 16: Died 17th May, aged eighty-four. ]

[Pageheading: INDEPENDENCE OF BELGIUM]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _2nd June 1838. _

. .. I have not all this time touched on our affairs, from motives of_great discretion_, but as the battle draws nigh, [17] I cannot verywell help writing a few words on the subject. I found an Article inthe French _Constitutionnel_ which paints our position in pretty truecolours. As it is not very long, I beg you to have the goodness toread it. You have given me so many proofs of affection, and your kindspeech at Windsor is so fresh in my memory, that it would be _verywrong_ in me to think that in so short a time, and without any cause, those feelings which are so _precious_ to me could have changed. Thismakes me appeal to those sentiments. 

The independent existence of the Provinces which form this Kingdom hasalways been an object of importance to England; the surest proof ofit is, that for centuries England has made the greatest sacrifices ofblood and treasure for that object. The last time I saw the late Kingat Windsor, in 1836, he said to me: "If ever France or any otherPower invades your country, it will be a question of immediate war forEngland; we cannot suffer that. " I answered him I was happy to hearhim speak so, as I also did not want any foreign Power to invadeus. .. . 

All I want from your kind Majesty is, that you will _occasionally_express to your Ministers, and particularly to good Lord Melbourne, that, as far as it is _compatible_ with the interests _of your own_dominions, you do _not_ wish that your Government should takethe _lead_ in such measures as might in a short time bring on the_destruction_ of this country, as well as that of your uncle and hisfamily. 

Europe has enjoyed ever since 1833, in our part of it, a state of_profound peace_ and real happiness and prosperity. None can deny thatthe measures which I adopted to organise this country have greatlycontributed to this happy state of affairs; this makes me think thatthe changes which are to take place should be brought about in a _verygentle manner_. .. . 

I am sorry to have you to listen to so much about politics, but it isnot my fault; I wished nothing so much as _to be left alone_. I shalldo all I can to bring about a good conclusion, but it must not beforgotten that these seven years _all the dangers, all the trouble_, fell constantly to _my share_. .. . 

Now I will make haste to conclude, and remain ever, my dearestVictoria, your truly devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 17: The execution of the treaty of 1831, called the Twenty-four Articles, assigning part of Luxemburg to Holland, had been reluctantly agreed to by Leopold, but the King of Holland withheld his assent for seven years. ]

[Pageheading: ANGLO-BELGIAN RELATIONS]

[Pageheading: PROGRESS OF BELGIUM]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th June 1838. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --It is indeed a long while since I have written toyou, and I fear you will think me very lazy; but I must in turn say, dearest Uncle, that your silence was longer than mine, and that itgrieved me, and _m'a beaucoup peinée_. I know, however, you have had, and still have, _much_ to do. Many thanks, my dear Uncle, for yourvery kind letter of the 2nd inst. .. . 

It would indeed, dearest Uncle, be _very wrong_ of you, if you thoughtmy feelings of warm and devoted attachment to you, and of greataffection for you, could be changed. _Nothing_ can ever change them!Independent of my feelings of affection for you, my beloved Uncle, youmust be aware that the ancient and hereditary policy of this countrywith respect to Belgium must make me most anxious that my Governmentnot _only_ should not be parties to any measure that would beprejudicial to Belgium, but that my Ministers should, as far as maynot conflict with the interests or engagements of this country, do_everything_ in their power to promote the prosperity and welfare ofyour Kingdom. 

My Ministers, I can assure you, share all my feelings on this subject, and are most anxious to see everything settled in a satisfactorymanner between Belgium and Holland. 

We all feel that we cannot sufficiently or adequately express how muchBelgium owes to your wise system of government, which has renderedthat country so flourishing in every way, and how much all Europe isindebted to you for the preservation of general peace; because it iscertain that when you ascended the throne of Belgium that countrywas the one from which the occasion of a general war was much to befeared; whereas now it is become a link to secure the continuance ofpeace; and by the happy circumstances of your double near relationshipto me and to the King of the French, _Belgium_--which was in formertimes the cause of discord between England and France--becomes now amutual tie to keep them together. 

This, my beloved Uncle, we owe to you, and it must be a source ofpride and gratification to you. 

I perfectly understand and feel that your position with respect to allthese affairs is very difficult and trying, and the feelings of yoursubjects are far from unnatural; yet I sincerely hope that you willuse the great influence you possess over the minds of the leading menin Belgium, to mitigate discontent and calm irritation, and procureacquiescence in whatever arrangements may ultimately be foundinevitable. 

You are right in saying that I, though but a child of twelve years oldwhen you went to Belgium, remember much of what took place, and I havesince then had the whole matter fully explained to me. The Treaty ofNovember 1831 was perhaps not so advantageous to the Belgians as couldhave been wished, yet it cannot have been thought very advantageous tothe Dutch, else they would have most probably urged their Governmentbefore this time to accept it; besides, when these conditions wereframed, England was only one out of _five_ Powers whose concurrencewas required, and consequently they were made under very difficultcircumstances. This treaty having been ratified, it is become binding, and therefore it is almost impossible to consider it as otherwise, and to set aside those parts of it which have been ratified by all theparties. 

I feel I must in turn, dearest Uncle, entreat your indulgence for solong a letter, and for such full explanations, but I felt it my dutyto do so, as you had spoken to me on the subject. 

You may be assured, my beloved Uncle, that both Lord Melbourne andLord Palmerston are most anxious at all times for the prosperity andwelfare of Belgium, and are consequently most desirous of seeing thisdifficult question brought to a conclusion which may be satisfactoryto you. Allow me once more therefore, dearest Uncle, to beseech youto use your powerful influence over your subjects, and to strive tomoderate their excited feelings on these matters. Your situation is avery difficult one, and nobody feels more for you than I do. 

I trust, dearest Uncle, that you will, at all times, believe me yourdevoted and most affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: FOREIGN POLICY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _June [18] 1838. _

MY DEAREST AND MOST BELOVED VICTORIA, --You have written me a _verydear_ and long letter, which has given me _great pleasure andsatisfaction_. I was much moved with the expressions of truly feltaffection, which it contains, and I shall _never_ again doubt youraffection for me, but rely on your dear heart and the constancy ofyour character. 

I will now tell you honestly that I had some misgivings; I did notexactly think that you had quite forgotten me, but I thought I hadbeen put aside as one does with a piece of furniture which is nolonger wanted. I did not complain, because I fear if affection is onceon the decline, reproaches only diminish it the faster. I thereforesaid nothing, but in a life full of grief and disappointments likemine, the loss of your affection would have been one of the mostsevere. It was in this point of view that the declaration made byLord Palmerston at the beginning of May to the Prussian Governmentchagrined me much. [19] It was premature, because the negotiationwas not yet renewed. It looked as if the English Government hadbeen anxious to say to the Northern Powers, who always steadfastly_protected_ Holland, "You imagine, perhaps, that we mean to have_égards_ for the uncle of the Queen; there you see we shall make evenshorter work with him now than we did under our late master. "

This impression had been _general_ on the Continent; they consideredthe declaration to Prussia in this way: "La Reine et ses Ministressont donc entièrement indifférents sur le compte du Roi L. ; _celachange entièrement_ la position, et nous allons faire mains basses surlui. " From that moment their language became extremely imperious;they spoke of nothing but acts of coercion, bombardment, etc. , etc. Ifirmly believe, because I have been these many years on terms of greatand sincere friendship with Palmerston, that he did not himself quiteforesee the importance which would be attached to his declaration. Imust say it hurt me more in my _English_ capacity than in my Belgian, as I came to this country _from England_, and was chosen _for thatvery reason_. Besides, I am happy to say, I was never as yet in theposition to ask for any act of kindness from you, so that whateverlittle service I may have rendered you, remained on a basis of perfectdisinterestedness. That the first diplomatic step in our affairsshould seem by your Government to be directed against me, createdtherefore all over the Continent a considerable sensation. I shallnever ask any favours of you, or anything that could in the least beconsidered as _incompatible_ with the interests of England; but youwill comprehend that there is a great difference in claiming favoursand in being treated as an enemy. .. . 

I will conclude my overgrown letter with the assurance that younever were in greater favour, and that I love you dearly. Believe me, therefore, ever, my best beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 18: The day of the month is not given. ]

 [Footnote 19: Prussia was giving unmistakable evidence of a disposition to support Holland against Belgium. ]

[Pageheading: THE CORONATION]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

MARLBORO' HOUSE, _28th June 1838. _ (_At a quarter before 12 o'clock onthe Coronation Day. _)

MY DEAREST NIECE, --The guns are just announcing your approach to theAbbey, and as I am not near you, and cannot take part in the sacredceremony of your Coronation, I must address you in writing to assureyou that my thoughts and my whole heart are with you, and my prayersare offered up to Heaven for your happiness, and the prosperity andglory of your reign. May our Heavenly Father bless and preserve you, and His Holy Ghost dwell within you to give you that peace which theworld cannot give! Accept of these my best wishes, and the blessing ofyour most devoted and attached Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Thursday, 28th June 1838. _

I was awoke at four o'clock by the guns in the Park, and could not getmuch sleep afterwards on account of the noise of the people, bands, etc. , etc. Got up at seven, feeling strong and well; the Parkpresented a curious spectacle, crowds of people up to ConstitutionHill, soldiers, bands, etc. I dressed, having taken a little breakfastbefore I dressed, and a little after. At half-past 9 I went into thenext room, dressed exactly in my House of Lords costume; and met UncleErnest, Charles, [20] and Feodore (who had come a few minutes beforeinto my dressing-room), Lady Lansdowne, Lady Normanby, the Duchess ofSutherland, and Lady Barham, all in their robes. 

 [Footnote 20: Prince Charles of Leiningen, the Queen's half-brother. ]

[Pageheading: THE ABBEY]

At 10 I got into the State Coach with the Duchess of Sutherland andLord Albemarle and we began our Progress. I subjoin a minute accountof the whole Procession and of the whole Proceeding, --the route, etc. It was a fine day, and the crowds of people exceeded what I have everseen; many as there were the day I went to the City, it was nothing, nothing to the multitudes, the millions of my loyal subjects, who wereassembled _in every spot_ to witness the Procession. Their good humourand excessive loyalty was beyond everything, and I really cannot say_how_ proud I feel to be the Queen of _such_ a Nation. I was alarmedat times for fear that the people would be crushed and squeezed onaccount of the tremendous rush and pressure. 

I reached the Abbey amid deafening cheers at a little after half-pasteleven; I first went into a robing-room quite close to the entrancewhere I found my eight train-bearers: Lady Caroline Lennox, LadyAdelaide Paget, Lady Mary Talbot, Lady Fanny Cowper, Lady WilhelminaStanhope, Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, Lady Mary Grimston, and Lady LouisaJenkinson--all dressed alike and beautifully in white satin and silvertissue with wreaths of silver corn-ears in front, and a small one ofpink roses round the plait behind, and pink roses in the trimming ofthe dresses. 

After putting on my mantle, and the young ladies having properlygot hold of it and Lord Conyngham holding the end of it, I left therobing-room and the Procession began as is described in the annexedaccount, and all that followed and took place. The sight was splendid;the bank of Peeresses quite beautiful all in their robes, and thePeers on the other side. My young train-bearers were always near me, and helped me whenever I wanted anything. The Bishop of Durham[21]stood on the side near me, but he was, as Lord Melbourne told me, remarkably _maladroit_, and never could tell me what was to takeplace. At the beginning of the Anthem, where I've made a mark, Iretired to St Edward's Chapel, a dark small place immediately behindthe Altar, with my ladies and train-bearers--took off my crimson robeand kirtle, and put on the supertunica of cloth of gold, also in theshape of a kirtle, which was put over a singular sort of little gownof linen trimmed with lace; I also took off my circlet of diamonds andthen proceeded bareheaded into the Abbey; I was then seated upon StEdward's chair, where the Dalmatic robe was clasped round me by theLord Great Chamberlain. Then followed all the various things; and last(of those things) the Crown being placed on my head--which was, I mustown, a most beautiful impressive moment; _all_ the Peers and Peeressesput on their coronets at the same instant. 

 [Footnote 21: Edward Maltby, 1770-1859. ]

My excellent Lord Melbourne, who stood very close to me throughoutthe whole ceremony, was _completely_ overcome at this moment, andvery much affected; he gave me _such_ a kind, and I may say _fatherly_look. The shouts, which were very great, the drums, the trumpets, thefiring of the guns, all at the same instant, rendered the spectaclemost imposing. 

[Pageheading: HOMAGE]

The Enthronisation and the Homage of, first, all the Bishops, and thenmy Uncles, and lastly of all the Peers, in their respective orderwas very fine. The Duke of Norfolk (holding for me the Sceptre with aCross) with Lord Melbourne stood close to me on my right, and theDuke of Richmond with the other Sceptre on my left, etc. , etc. All mytrain-bearers, etc. , standing behind the Throne. Poor old Lord Rolle, who is 82, and dreadfully infirm, in attempting to ascend the stepsfell and rolled quite down, but was not the least hurt; when heattempted to re-ascend them I got up and advanced to the end of thesteps, in order to prevent another fall. When Lord Melbourne's turn todo Homage came, there was loud cheering; they also cheered Lord Greyand the Duke of Wellington; it's a pretty ceremony; they first alltouch the Crown, and then kiss my hand. When my good Lord Melbourneknelt down and kissed my hand, he pressed my hand and I grasped hiswith all my heart, at which he looked up with his eyes filled withtears and seemed much touched, as he was, I observed, throughout thewhole ceremony. After the Homage was concluded I left the Throne, tookoff my Crown and received the Sacrament; I then put on my Crown again, and re-ascended the Throne, leaning on Lord Melbourne's arm. At thecommencement of the Anthem I descended from the Throne, and went intoSt Edward's Chapel with my Ladies, Train-bearers, and Lord Willoughby, where I took off the Dalmatic robe, supertunica, etc. , and put on thePurple Velvet Kirtle and Mantle, and proceeded again to the Throne, which I ascended leaning on Lord Melbourne's hand. 

There was another most dear Being present at this ceremony, in thebox immediately above the royal box, and who witnessed all; it was mydearly beloved angelic Lehzen, whose eyes I caught when on the Throne, and we exchanged smiles. She and Späth, Lady John Russell, and Mr. Murray saw me leave the Palace, arrive at the Abbey, leave the Abbeyand again return to the Palace!!

[Pageheading: POPULAR ENTHUSIASM]

I then again descended from the Throne, and repaired with all thePeers bearing the Regalia, my Ladies and Train-bearers, to St Edward'sChapel, as it is called; but which, as Lord Melbourne said, wasmore _un_like a Chapel than anything he had ever seen; for what was_called_ an _Altar_ was covered with sandwiches, bottles of wine, etc. , etc. The Archbishop came in and _ought_ to have deliveredthe Orb to me, but I had already got it, and he (as usual) was _so_confused and puzzled and knew nothing, and--went away. Here we waitedsome minutes. Lord Melbourne took a glass of wine, for he seemedcompletely tired. The Procession being formed, I replaced my Crown(which I had taken off for a few minutes), took the Orb in my lefthand and the Sceptre in my right, and thus _loaded_, proceeded throughthe Abbey--which resounded with cheers, to the first robing-room;where I found the Duchess of Gloucester, Mamma, and the Duchess ofCambridge with their Ladies. And here we waited for at least an hour, with _all_ my ladies and train-bearers; the Princesses went away abouthalf an hour before I did. The Archbishop had (most awkwardly) putthe ring on the wrong finger, and the consequence was that I had thegreatest difficulty to take it off again, which I at last did withgreat pain. Lady Fanny, Lady Wilhelmina, and Lady Mary Grimston lookedquite beautiful. At about half-past four I re-entered my carriage, the Crown on my head, and the Sceptre and Orb in my hands, and weproceeded the same way as we came--the crowds if possible havingincreased. The enthusiasm, affection, and loyalty were reallytouching, and I shall ever remember this day as the _Proudest_ of mylife! I came home at a little after six, really _not_ feeling tired. 

[Pageheading: INCIDENTS OF THE CORONATION]

At eight we dined. Besides we thirteen--my Uncles, sister, brother, Späth, and the Duke's gentlemen--my excellent Lord Melbourne and LordSurrey dined here. Lord Melbourne came up to me and said: "I mustcongratulate you on this most brilliant day, " and that all had goneoff so well. He said he was not tired, and was in high spirits. Isat between Uncle Ernest[22] and Lord Melbourne; and Lord Melbournebetween me and Feodore, whom he had led in. My kind Lord Melbourne wasmuch affected in speaking of the whole ceremony. He asked kindly if Iwas tired; said the Sword he carried (the first, the Sword of State)was excessively heavy. I said that the Crown hurt me a good deal. Hewas so much amused at Uncle Ernest's being astonished at our stillhaving the Litany. We agreed that the whole thing was a very finesight. He thought the robes, and particularly the Dalmatic, "lookedremarkably well. " "And you did it all so well--excellent!" said he, with tears in his eyes. He said he thought I looked rather pale and"moved by all the people" when I arrived; "and that's natural;and that's better. " The Archbishop's and Dean's copes, which wereremarkably handsome, were from James the Second's time; the very samethat were worn at his Coronation, Lord Melbourne told me. Spoke of theBishop of Durham's awkwardness, Lord Rolle's fall, etc. Of the Ducde Nemours being like his father in face; of the young ladies'(train-bearers') dresses; which he thought beautiful; and he saidhe thought the Duchess of Richmond (who had ordered the make of thedresses, etc. , and had been much condemned by some of the young ladiesfor it) quite right. She said to him: "One thing I was determinedabout; that I would have no discussion with their Mammas about it. "Spoke of Talleyrand and Soult having been very much struck by theceremony of the Coronation; of the English being far too generous_not_ to be kind to Soult. Lord Melbourne went home the night before, and slept very deeply till he was woke at six in the morning. I said Idid not sleep well. Spoke of the Illuminations and Uncle Ernest's wishto see them. 

 [Footnote 22: The King of Hanover. ]

After dinner, before we sat down, we (that is Charles, Lord Melbourne, and I) spoke of the numbers of Peers at the Coronation, which, LordMelbourne said, with the tears in his eyes, was unprecedented. Iobserved that there were very few Viscounts; he said: "There are veryfew Viscounts, " that they were an odd sort of title and not reallyEnglish; that they came from _Vice-Comités_; that Dukes and Baronswere the only _real_ English titles; that Marquises were likewise notEnglish; and that they made people Marquises when they did not wish tomake them Dukes. Spoke of Lord Audley who came as the First Baron, andwho Lord Melbourne said was a very odd young man, but of a very oldfamily; his ancestor was a Sir Something Audley in the time of theBlack Prince, who, with Chandos, gained the Battle of Poictiers. 

I then sat on the sofa for a little while with Lady Barham and thenwith Charles; Lord Melbourne sitting near me the whole evening. Mammaand Feodore remained to see the illuminations and only came in later, and Mamma went away before I did. Uncle Ernest drove out to see theIlluminations. 

[Pageheading: PAGES OF HONOUR]

I said to Lord Melbourne when I first sat down that I felt a littletired on my feet; "You must be very tired, " he said. Spoke of theweight of the Robes, etc. , etc. , the Coronets; and he turned round tome with the tears in his eyes, and said _so_ kindly: "And you did itbeautifully--every part of it, with so much taste; it's a thing thatyou can't give a person advice upon; it must be left to a person. "To hear this, from this kind impartial friend, gave me great and realpleasure. Mamma and Feodore came back just after he said this. Spokeof the Bishops' Copes, about which he was very funny; of the Pages whowere such a nice set of boys, and who were so handy, Lord Melbournesaid, that they kept them the whole time. Little Lord Stafford andSlane (Lord Mountcharles) were pages to their fathers and lookedlovely; Lord Paget (not a fine boy) was Lord Melbourne's page andremarkably handy, he said. Spoke again of the young ladies' dresses, about which he was very amusing; he waited for his carriage with LadyMary Talbot and Lady Wilhelmina; he thinks Lady Fanny does not make asmuch show as other girls, which I would not allow. He set off for theAbbey from his house at half-past eight, and was there long beforeanybody else; he only got home at half-past six and had to go roundby Kensington. He said there was a large breakfast in the JerusalemChamber where they met _before_ all began; he said, laughing, thatwhenever the Clergy, or a Dean and Chapter, had anything to do withanything, there's sure to be plen'y to eat. 

Spoke of my intending to go to bed, etc. ; he said, "You may dependupon it, you are more tired than you think you are. " I said I hadslept badly the night before; he said that was my mind, that nothingkept people more awake than any consciousness of a great event goingto take place, and being agitated. He was not sure if he was not goingto the Duke of Wellington's. 

Stayed in the dining room till twenty minutes past eleven, butremained on Mamma's balcony looking at the fireworks in Green Park, which were quite beautiful. 

Uncle Ernest, Charles, Feodore, and the Ladies and Gentlemen (likeLehzen, etc. ) saw me leave the Palace, arrive at the Abbey, leave theAbbey, and return to the Palace. Got a long letter from Aunt Louise. 

[Pageheading: EXTRA HOLIDAYS FOR SCHOOLS]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _29th June 1838. _

The Queen is very anxious to hear if Lord Melbourne got home safe, andif he is not tired, and quite well this morning. 

Lord Melbourne will be glad to hear that the Queen had an excellentnight, is not the least tired, and is perfectly well this morning;indeed she feels much better than she has done for some days. 

The Queen hears that it is usual to ask for an additional week'sholiday for the boys at the various Public Schools, on the occasionof the Coronation. Perhaps Lord Melbourne will enquire about this, inorder that there may be no neglect on my part. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _2nd July 1838. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --_Many_ thanks for _two_ kind letters, one which Igot last Monday and one this morning. The kind interest you take inme and my country (of which, and of the nation, I'm more proud than Iever was, since I've witnessed their excessive affection andloyalty to me) makes me certain that you will be glad to hear how_beautifully_ everything went off. It was a memorable and glorious dayfor me. The millions assembled to witness the progress to and from theAbbey was _beyond_ belief, and _all_ in the highest good-humour. Itis a fine ceremony, and a scene I shall _ever_ remember, and withpleasure. I likewise venture to add that people thought I did my partvery well. 

The amiable Duc de Nemours dined with me on Friday, comes to _my_ ballto-night, and dines again with me on Wednesday. Pray tell dearest AuntLouise that I thank her much for her very kind letter, and will availmyself of her kindness and _not_ write to her this mail. 

Feodore is writing in my room, well and happy. Uncle Ernest still verylame, and Charles well. There's an account of the family. Ever andever your most devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_8th July 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. As yourMajesty does not ride, the question is between driving down the lineor not going down it at all, [23] and it appears to Lord Melbournethat the first is the best, namely, to drive down; but if your Majestyfeels a strong repugnance, there is no more to be said. 

Lord Melbourne thinks it safer and more prudent that your Majestyshould not ride; but still it might have been done, and if LordMelbourne had thought that your Majesty wished it much, he would nothave dissuaded it. 

[Footnote 23: Referring to the Hyde Park review on the next day. ]

[Pageheading: LOYAL DEMONSTRATIONS]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

NEUILLY, _12th July 1838. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I am very grateful for your kind letter; itis extremely _meritorious_, amidst such fatigues and festivities andoccupations of every kind, to find a moment to write. I expressedalready the _great satisfaction_ with which I read and heard allthe accounts of the Coronation, and I believe that there _never_ wasanything like it. The only one which in point of loyal demonstrationmay approach it is that of George III. , but I think it fell short ofyours. 

I am happy to see that it has _increased_, if possible, your affectionand attachment to your country, and this is in every respect a greatblessing. You will remember that I have never varied on that subject, the great thing is to be the _National_ Sovereign of your _own_country, and to love its very faults. This strengthens the _mutualattachment_, and that can _never be too strong_. .. . 

Believe me, ever, my dearest Victoria, your very devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

The whole of the family here offer their best _hommages_. 

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

NEUILLY, _20th July 1838. _

I feel most grateful for your dear kind letter of the 10th inst. , which I received a few days ago. I hear that the review was something_most splendid_, and I feel always some regret at having been deprivedof the happiness of seeing you _en fonction_, which you do in a degreeof rare perfection. May the remembrance of all this long remain inyour mind, to cheer and strengthen you when occasionally there will bea darker sky. .. . 

[Pageheading: LORD DURHAM]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_10th August 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The verydifficult and embarrassing situation in which Lord Durham and theCanadas and the Ministry are left by the vote of the House of Lordsof last night, requires that a Cabinet should be held to-day, and LordMelbourne has directed one to be summoned at two. Lord Melbourne willwait upon your Majesty either before that hour or after, about fouro'clock. The vote of last night and the Bill of Lord Brougham[24] isa direct censure upon Lord Durham. Lord Durham's conduct has been mostrash and indiscreet, and, as far as we can see, unaccountable. But tocensure him now would either be to cause his resignation, which wouldproduce great embarrassment, and might produce great evil, or toweaken his authority, which is evidently most undesirable. .. . 

 [Footnote 24: This Bill (which emphasised the illegality of Lord Durham's ordinance) was read a second time by 54 to 36. On the following day Lord Melbourne announced to the Peers that Ministers had resolved to advise that the ordinance should be disallowed. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_10th August 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toinform you that the Cabinet have determined to advise your Majestyto disallow Lord Durham's ordinance, and to announce the same to theHouse of Lords. [25]

This is absolutely necessary, but very disagreeable, and will be verymuch so to Lord Durham. 

 [Footnote 25: _See_ Introductory Note for the year, _ante_, p. 102. (Introductory Note to Ch. VII)]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

_25th September 1838. _

MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA, --I can never thank you enough for the dearletter which I found on my table on arriving here, Sunday evening. Itwas most kind of you to have written so soon after our departure, andsuch an affectionate, good, kind letter. The tears came to my eyesas I read it, and I felt quite moved. Short as has been our stay, and great, as always, the pain of leaving you, it has been a _greathappiness_ for me to see you again, a happiness for which I shallalways thank God, you, and your dear Uncle. I need not add how _veryprecious_ is your affection to me, and how _very grateful_ I am forevery new proof of it. You know my feelings on this point, andyou know they are better _felt_ than _expressed_. Your calling me_Louise_, and in such a kind way, gave me great pleasure. Almost allthose dear to me call me so, and I think it looks more affectionate;I would fain say now _sister-like_, although I am rather an old sisterfor you now. .. . 

Leopold is half crazy with the steam-engine, and particularly withthe _tools_ which you sent him. I enclose here the expression of hisgratitude. I wrote exactly what he told me to write, and I did not adda word. He has found again his kie (key), and he wears it suspendedto his neck by a blue riband, with the Duchess's little seal. He feltdeeply the attention you had to have an _L_ engraved on each tool, andafter his letter was closed he charged me to thank you for it, andto tell you that it gave him great pleasure. An _iron spade_ was thegreatest object of his ambition, and he worked so hard yesterday withit, that I feared he would hurt himself with the exertion. He will goto-day to the races with us, in the Scotch dress which the Duchess hadthe kindness to send him. It fits very well, and he is very proud ofhaving a coat shaped _like that of a man_. .. . 

[Pageheading: IRELAND AND O'CONNELL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_25th October 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. .. . 

Mr Stanley of the Treasury[26] arrived in London yesterday, andacquaints me that Lord Normanby makes no secret of his willingness, and indeed his desire, to undertake the government of Canada. Itwould have been better if Lord Normanby had acquainted Lord Melbournequietly of this, and not made it at once public to all the world. Itis not necessary to do anything at present. If Lord Durham remains, which Lord Melbourne does not, however, think likely, there will beno successor to be appointed, and if he returns, the authority ofGovernor of Lower Canada will devolve upon Sir John Colborne, [27] inwhose hands it may be very safely left for the present. 

If Ireland should be vacant, there is a strong feeling amongst manythat it would be nice to name the Duke of Sussex. It is said that itwould be popular in Ireland, that the name of one of the Royal Familywould do good there, and that it would afford to O'Connell a pretextand opportunity for giving up his new scheme of agitation. It is alsoadded that the Duke would suffer himself to be guided on all essentialmatters by the advice of his Chief Secretary, and that he wouldcontent himself with discharging the ceremonial duties. Here are thereasons for it--your Majesty is so well acquainted with the reasons onthe other side, that it is unnecessary for me to detail them. 

I am afraid that times of some trouble are approaching, for whichyour Majesty must hold yourself prepared; but your Majesty is too wellacquainted with the nature of human affairs not to be well awarethat they cannot very well go on even as quietly as they have gone onduring the last sixteen months. 

[Footnote 26: "Ben" Stanley, afterwards Lord Stanley of Alderley, Secretary to the Treasury. ]

[Footnote 27: Field-Marshal Sir John Colborne, afterwards Lord Seaton, had been Military Secretary to Sir John Moore, had commanded a brigadewith much distinction in the Peninsula, and had contributed greatly tothe success of the British arms at Waterloo. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_4th November 1838. _

Lord Melbourne is very well, but Sir James Clark, [28] a Scotchman anda physician, and therefore neither by country nor by profession veryreligious, detained him from Church in order to go through the reportupon the state of Buckingham Palace. This is not a very good excuse, but it is the true one. Lord Melbourne is very grateful to yourMajesty for your enquiries, and having some letters to submit, will behappy to attend upon your Majesty. 

 [Footnote 28: Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen. ]

[Pageheading: DEATH OF LADY JOHN RUSSELL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th November 1838. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --. .. . We have all been much distressed by themelancholy and untimely death of poor Lady John Russell, [29] whichtook place on the 1st. She was safely confined on the 20th of Octoberwith a little girl, who bears my name, and seemed to be going on verywell; but on Wednesday she began to sink from weakness, not disease, and died at three o'clock on Thursday. It is a dreadful blow to _him_, for he was _so_ attached to her, and I don't believe two people everwere happier together. I send you his pretty letter to me, which Ithink you may be interested to see; he is _dreadfully_ beat down byit, but struggles manfully against his grief, which makes one pity himmore. She has left four children by her first husband, _now orphans_, the eldest a sweet girl twelve years old, and two little girls by LordJohn; the eldest of these two is two and a half, and the youngest a_fortnight_. I had known her _very_ well and liked her, and I assureyou I was dreadfully shocked at it. You may also imagine what a lossshe is to poor Miss Lister, who has no mother, and whose only sistershe was. I fear, dear Uncle, I have made a sad and melancholy letterof this, but I have been so much engrossed by all this misery, andknowing you take an interest in poor Lord John, that I let my pen runon almost involuntarily. 

We have very good accounts of the Queen-Dowager from Gibraltar. 

Please return me Lord John's letter when you have done with it. 

Lord and Lady Howard[30] have been here, and I urged him to _bear_Dietz as an inevitable evil, and I think he seems very anxious to dowhat is right. I have likewise written to Ferdinand, urging _him_ andDietz to be reasonable. 

Will you tell Aunt Louise that she will receive a box containing theLimerick lace dress (just like mine), which I lay at her feet. Ifear, dear Uncle, you will think I'm making you my commissioner _detoilette_, as in these two letters I have plagued you with commissionson that subject. .. . 

 [Footnote 29: Daughter of Mr Thomas Lister. She had been widow of the second Lord Ribblesdale, and married Lord John Russell in April 1835. ]

 [Footnote 30: Charles Augustus, sixth Lord Howard de Walden, was the British Minister at Lisbon, and afterwards (1846-1868) at Brussels. ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _9th November 1838. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --Your kind and interesting letter of the6th reached me yesterday morning. I hail in you those simple andunaffected feelings which it contains. May you _always_ preserve thatgreat warmth and truth of character which you now possess, and restassured that it will be an ornament to you, and the means of findingthe same truth and warmth of feeling in others. Those who serve, fromwhatever motive it may be, have always their eyes wide open on theirsuperiors, and no qualities impose so much on them the necessity ofrespect, which they _gladly avoid_, than a warm and noble characterthat knows how to feel for others, and how to sympathise with theirsorrows. I pity Lord John from all my heart, having always had for himsentiments of the sincerest regard. I fear that as a political man itmay prove also a severe blow. All depends on how he takes it, if hewill wish to forget his grief by occupying himself with politicalstrife or if his greater sensibility will make him wish to indulge itin solitude. .. . 

[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th November 1838. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I was certain you _would_ take interest in and feelfor poor Lord John; he is, I hear, still dreadfully shaken, and quiteunequal to do any business at present. His chief consolation is inattending to the children. 

I felt much for you, and still more for poor dear Aunt Louise, whenthe sad separation from poor Marie[31] took place; it is so melancholyto see a dear relation depart who is _so ill_. 

I have this morning heard from Ferdinand that the good Queen isat last confined, after keeping us for _two months_ and _more dansl'attente_ of the event. It took place on the 3rd, and Ferdinandwrites such a funny letter, saying, "nous sommes tous bien heureuxsurtout moi qui craignais que ce ne fût une petite fille ce qui m'eûtété un peu désagréable, car en fait d'enfants j'aime mieux les petitsgarçons, parce qu'ils sont plus gais et plus tapageurs. "[32] Isn'tthis very good?

I believe the King of the French is to be godfather. .. . 

 [Footnote 31: See _post_, p. 144. (Ch. VIII, 11th January, 1839)]

 [Footnote 32: The Prince received the title of Duke of Oporto. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_20th November 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and transmitsa copy of Mr. Macaulay's letter. [33]. .. 

Lord Melbourne fears, from what he hears of the language of LordHowick and Mr. Monson, that much difficulty will be found in makingarrangements and deciding upon questions. But Lord Melbourne will useevery effort in his power in order to keep the Administration togetherand to carry on the public service. Lord Melbourne hears with concernfrom Mr Fox Maule that Lord John Russell does not return to businessas readily as Mr Maule had hoped that he would, and Lord Melbournefears that he will not do whilst he remains at Cassiobury withthe children. Solitude and retirement cherish and encourage grief. Employment and exertion are the only means of dissipating it. 

 [Footnote 33: Declining to join the Government. The original is not preserved among the Queen's papers. ]

[Pageheading: CANADA AND LORD DURHAM]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_22nd November 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toacknowledge your Majesty's gracious communication received yesterday. Lord Melbourne had nothing particular to lay before your Majesty, butstill regrets that he did not write, as your Majesty might have wishedto hear from him. 

Lord Melbourne returns the King of Portugal's[34] letter, which, asyour Majesty observes, is very rough and ill-tempered with referenceto Lord Howard. [35] Lord Melbourne read it with much concern, as itshows so much dislike and alienation, as renders it very improbablethat they should ever go on together well and in a friendly spirit. Lord Melbourne fears that the epithets applied to Lord Howard, thoughvery severe and full of resentment, are not entirely ill-chosen andinappropriate. 

All the Ministers, except Lord Duncannon[36] and Lord John Russell, dined here yesterday, and they all appeared to be in very good-humourand disposed to co-operate in order to meet the difficulties by whichwe are surrounded. .. . 

With respect to Canada, Lord Melbourne feels that it may be consideredsomewhat presumptuous in him to undervalue danger, which is consideredby those upon the spot to be so great and so imminent, but still hecannot feel the alarm which seems to be felt there. Lord Durham, LordMelbourne is convinced, exaggerates the peril in order to give greater_éclat_ to his own departure. The worst symptom which Lord Melbourneperceives is the general fear which seems to prevail there, and whichmakes 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. Thepresent moment being one of some importance--which may, if imprudentlymanaged, cause great disturbances in the West of Europe, and exercisea reaction on your own Government--I think it my duty to inform youof what is going on. 

I join a copy of a letter to Lord Palmerston. I should feel obliged toyou if you would read it _in the presence_ of good Lord Melbourne, in whose fairness and sense of justice I must say I feel greatconfidence. .. . 

I will not complain, only one subject I must touch upon as really veryunfair. That your Ministers should take a line unfavourable to thiscountry may be explained by their political position, but why shouldthey press so much on the French Government? I really see no cause forit. England is in an _excellent_ position for a _mediator_, andfor all parties it is highly desirable that that position should bemaintained. [38]

I will not plague with a longer letter. You know from experience thatI _never ask anything of you. _ I prefer remaining in the position ofhaving rendered services without wanting any return for it but youraffection; but, as I said before, if we are not careful we may seeserious consequences which may affect more or less everybody, and_this_ ought to be the object of our most anxious attention. I remain, my dear Victoria, your affectionate Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 37: Jules van Praet, author of a History of Flanders, was Secretary of the Belgian Legation in London in 1831, and took a leading part in the negotiations which placed King Leopold on the throne. ]

 [Footnote 38: King Leopold considered that the interests of Belgium were being neglected by the four Powers, and in his speech at the opening of his Parliament, on 13th November, stated amid loud acclamations that those interests would be defended with perseverance and courage. The Deputies, in reply, said that Belgium had consented to painful sacrifices only under a formal guarantee by the Powers, which they now shrank from carrying out. ]

[Pageheading: BELGIUM AND HOLLAND]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_2nd December 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and returnsthis letter with the enclosures. He has read it and them with greatattention. Your Majesty will probably think it right to acquaint theKing that your Majesty had already seen his letter to Lord Palmerston. 

Lord Melbourne cannot perceive the justice of the King's complaint. For the sake of the King himself and of the Belgian nation, we aremost anxious to settle speedily and definitely the questions solong pending between Belgium and Holland, and which arose from theseparation of the two countries in 1830. We can only settle it by theagreement of the four Great Powers who constitute the Conference towhich the question was referred, viz. , Austria, Prussia, England, France. Of course it is of vital importance for us to carry them allalong with us, and for that reason we press France. If she differsfrom us, there is a ground immediately laid for difference and war. 

Lord Melbourne would suggest that your Majesty should say "thatyour great affection for the King, as well as your anxiety for theinterests of your own country, and your desire for the promotionof peace, render you most solicitous to have the Belgian questionspeedily and definitively settled; that it appears to you that it canonly be settled by the agreement of the four Powers who constitute theConference, and that therefore you cannot but wish most strongly tocarry France as well as the two others along with you. "[39]

 [Footnote 39: See the Queen's letter of 5th December to the King of the Belgians. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_3rd December 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsto acquaint that as soon as he arrived at half-past two, Sir GeorgeGrey[40] ran in to acquaint him that the whole insurrection in Canadawas put down and suppressed. [41] Despatches have been received fromSir John Colborne to say that the British turned out with the utmostalacrity, the volunteers beat the French wherever they met them, thewhole are dispersed, and Sir John says that he feels no doubt of thetranquillity of the Colony during the rest of the winter. Unless, therefore, the Americans make an attempt upon Upper Canada, all iswell. Lord Melbourne will have the pleasure of returning to Windsorto-morrow, unless there should be any impediment, of which LordMelbourne will inform your Majesty. 

 [Footnote 40: Sir George Grey (1799-1882), at this time Under-Secretary for the Colonies, afterwards Secretary of State successively for Home and Colonial Affairs. ]

 [Footnote 41: On the 3rd of November, however, the insurrection had broken out anew in Lower Canada, while in Upper Canada many American "sympathyzers" joined the insurgents there; these were decisively defeated at Prescott. This fight cost the British 45 in killed and wounded; 159 of their opponents (including 131 natives of the United States) were taken, and conveyed to Kingston, to be tried by court-martial. ]

[Pageheading: BELGIAN AFFAIRS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _5th December 1838. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I have to thank you for two letters, one brought byVan Praet, and the other received on Tuesday. Before I proceed furtherI must tell you that both Lord Melbourne and I had already seenyour letter to Lord Palmerston, which he sent to us immediately onreceiving it. I have read these letters with the greatest attention, and can quite understand that your difficulties are great in trying torestrain the eagerness and violence of some of your people. 

My great affection for you, of course, makes me most anxious to seethese troublesome and long pending affairs settled, for the sake of acontinuance of peace and tranquillity; but, dear Uncle, as it appearsto me that these affairs can only be settled by the agreement of thefour Powers, it is absolutely necessary that France should go withus as well as the others, and I think, dear Uncle, you wrong us inthinking that we urged France too much and unfairly. You must not, dear Uncle, think that it is from want of interest that I, in general, abstain from touching upon these matters in my letters to you; but Iam fearful, if I were to do so, to change our present delightfuland familiar correspondence into a formal and stiff discussion uponpolitical matters which would not be agreeable to either of us, andwhich I should deeply regret. These are my reasons, and I trust youwill understand them, and be convinced of my unalterable and _very_great affection for you, my dearest Uncle, and of the great interestI take in all that concerns your welfare and happiness and theprosperity of your country. .. . 

Pray give my affectionate love to Aunt Louise and the children, andbelieve me, always, your most affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: LORD DURHAM'S RESIGNATION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_8th December 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasjust received your Majesty's letters. Lord Durham arrived yesterdayevening, and Lord Melbourne has just seen Mr. Stanley, who has seenhim. He represents him as calm, but much hurt and vexed at the lastdespatch which expresses your Majesty's disapprobation of his conductin issuing the proclamation. [42] Lord Durham said that he shouldimmediately write an answer to it, in which he should state that hewould communicate to the Government all the information which he hadcollected upon the state of the Canadas. That he should not ask anaudience of your Majesty. This is his present decision. He may alterit; if he should, and through any channel request an audience, LordMelbourne is now clearly of opinion that your Majesty should merelysay that an answer will be sent and the propriety of granting anaudience may then be fully considered by your Majesty's confidentialservants. Mr Stanley represents Lord Durham as not speaking with muchviolence or asperity, but seeming to feel much the censure conveyed inthe last despatch. 

Your Majesty will receive from the Colonial Office a _précis_ ofSir John Colborne's despatches. Nothing can be more honourable. TheAmerican force which made an incursion into Upper Canada have all beentaken prisoners. .. . 

Lord Melbourne thinks that as long as Lord Durham is here and somecommunication has been received from him, he had better remainto-night in London. He will return to Windsor to-morrow. .. . 

 [Footnote 42: Lord Durham stated at Devonport: "I shall, when Parliament meets, be prepared to make a representation of facts wholly unknown here, and disclosures which the Parliament and people have no conception of. "]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_8th December 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toacquaint your Majesty that Lord Glenelg has this evening receiveda letter from Lord Durham, tendering formally his resignation, andstating that his general report upon the affairs of Canada must bedelayed until the gentlemen connected with his Mission return fromthat country, which they were to leave on or about the 20th oflast month, and therefore may be shortly expected here. It willbe necessary to ask Lord Durham whether he has no intelligence ofimmediate importance to give. 

[Pageheading: AN ENGLISH CHURCH FOR MALTA]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

PALACE, VALETTA, [43] _13th December 1838. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --The English mail going to-day gives me anotheropportunity to address you, and to name a subject to you which I thinkdeserves your consideration, and about which I feel most anxious. Itis the want of a _Protestant church_ in this place which I mean. There are so many English residents here, it is the seat of an EnglishGovernment, and there is _not one_ church belonging to the Church ofEngland. .. . The consequence of this want of church accommodation hasbeen that the Dissenters have established themselves in considerablenumbers, and one cannot blame persons for attending their meetingswhen they have no church of their own. 

I address myself to you, as the head of the Church of England, andentreat you to consider well this important subject, and to talk itover with your Ministers and the Archbishop, in order to devise thebest means of remedying a want so discreditable to our country. Shouldthere be no funds at your disposal to effect this object, most happyshall I feel to contribute to any subscription which may be set onfoot, and I believe that a considerable sum may be raised amongst theProtestants of this island, where all parties are most anxious tosee a proper place of divine worship erected; without assistance fromEngland, however, it cannot be effected. I therefore most humbly andconfidently submit this subject to you, dearest Victoria, who willbestow upon your Protestant subjects of this island an everlastingbenefit by granting them what they want most. [44]. .. 

I hope this will find you quite well and happy, and that I shall soonagain have the pleasure of hearing from you. Give my affectionate loveto your dear Mother, and all my dear sisters, and believe me ever, mydearest Niece, your most devoted and faithfully attached Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

 [Footnote 43: The Queen-Dowager was at this time cruising in the Mediterranean, and made some stay at Malta. ]

 [Footnote 44: Queen Adelaide herself erected the church at a cost of £10, 000. ]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ANXIETIES]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_21st December 1838. _

. .. Lord Melbourne saw Mr. Stephenson this morning and learns from himthat the Duke of Sussex[45] is in the highest degree discontented atbeing informed decisively that there is no intention of sending himto Ireland. He is very loud against the Government, and is also veryangry with Mr Stephenson, and the latter expects that he shall receivehis dismissal. .. . Mr Stephenson assures Lord Melbourne that he hasmentioned this matter to no one but Lord Melbourne and Lady Mary, and it is of importance that it should be kept secret. Lord Melbournethinks it his duty to apprise your Majesty of the feelings of theDuke, and of the possible origin of them. 

Lord and Lady Holland return to London to-day and Lord Melbourne isgoing to dine with them. 

 [Footnote 45: The Duke of Sussex was anxious to be appointed Viceroy of Ireland. Mr Stephenson was his Private Secretary. See _ante_, p. 129. (Ch. VII, 'Ireland and O'Connell)]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_22nd December 1838. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and cannotexpress how deeply concerned he is to find himself restrained fromobeying your Majesty's commands, and repairing without delay toBrighton. Both his duty and his inclination would prompt him to dothis without a moment's delay, if he did not find it incumbent uponhim to represent to your Majesty the very important circumstanceswhich require his presence for two or three days longer in London. The session of Parliament approaches; the questions which are to beconsidered and prepared are of the most appalling magnitude, and ofthe greatest difficulty. Many of your Majesty's servants, who fillthe most important offices, are compelled by domestic calamity tobe absent, and it is absolutely necessary that there should be somegeneral superintendence of the measures to be proposed, and someconsideration of the arrangements to be made. Lord Melbourne assuresyour Majesty that he would not delay in London if he did not feel itto be absolutely necessary for your Majesty's service. .. . 

[Pageheading: BRIGHTON]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _28th December 1838. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I have to thank you for two extremely kind anddear letters, which made me very happy, and your kind heart wouldbe pleased to know _how happy_. Sir H. Seymour[46] gave me a veryfavourable account of your dearest Majesty, and was deeply gratifiedby your gracious reception. 

I am glad to find that you like Brighton better than last year. Ithink Brighton very agreeable at this time of the year, till the eastwinds set in. It also gives the possibility of seeing people withouthaving them on one's hands the whole day, as is the case in thecountry. The Pavilion, besides, is comfortable; that cannot be denied. Before my marriage it was there that I met the Regent. Charlotteafterwards came with old Queen Charlotte. How distant all thisalready, but still how present to one's memory. 

The portrait of your Aunt and Leopold is nicely done. Don Leopoldo islike, and has at times even a more intelligent look; he would amuseyou--he is very original and very sly. I often call him the littletyrant, because nobody knows so well _de faire aller le monde_. .. . Mymost beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 46: Sir Hamilton Seymour, Minister at Brussels. ]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER VIII

THE chief political event of the year (1839) at home arose out of thetroubles in Jamaica. In addition to the apprenticeship question, the state of the prisons, much overcrowded owing to the planters'severity, had excited attention, and an Imperial Act was passed fortheir regulation. To this action the Colonial Assembly showed markedhostility, and, after the dissolution by Sir Lionel Smith, theGovernor, the new House was no more placable. Accordingly, the homeGovernment brought in a Bill, in April, to suspend temporarily theJamaica Constitution, but on a division had a majority of five onlyin a house of five hundred and eighty-three. The Ministers thereforeresigned, and Sir Robert Peel was sent for; a difficulty as tothe Ladies of the Household, commonly called the Bedchamber Plot, compelled him to resign the task, and the Whigs, much injured inreputation, resumed office. Some changes took place, Macaulay joiningthe Ministry, and Lord Normanby, who had succeeded Lord Glenelg at theColonial Office, exchanging places with Lord John Russell, the HomeSecretary. The trial of strength over the Speakership ended in avictory for the Ministerial candidate, Mr Shaw Lefevre, by a majorityof eighteen in a house of six hundred and sixteen. 

Penny Postage was introduced by an Act of this session. 

The Princes Ernest and Albert of Saxe-Coburg arrived on a visit to theQueen in October, and on the 14th the Queen's engagement to the latterwas announced by herself to Lord Melbourne. A few weeks later theQueen announced her betrothal at a meeting of the Privy Council. 

During the year risings in favour of the "people's charter" took placein various parts of the country, especially Birmingham and Newport, the six points demanded being the ballot, universal suffrage, annual Parliaments, payment of members, the abolition of a propertyqualification for members, and equal electoral districts. AtNewport one Frost, a linen-draper whom Lord John Russell had made amagistrate, headed a riot. He was tried with his confederates by aspecial commission at Monmouth, and, with two others, sentenced todeath; a sentence afterwards commuted. 

In the East, war broke out between the Sultan Mahmoud and the Pasha ofEgypt, Mehemet Ali, who had originally helped Turkey against Greece, but had since revolted and driven the Turks from Syria. On thatoccasion (1833) Turkey had been saved by Russian intervention, adefensive alliance, known as the treaty of Unkiar Skelessi, madebetween Russia and Turkey, and Mehemet granted Syria as well as Egypt. On the revival of hostilities, Ibrahim, son of Mehemet, defeated theTurkish army on June 24; a week later the Sultan Mahmoud died, andthe Turkish admiral treacherously delivered over the Turkish fleetto Mehemet at Alexandria. Once more the four Powers (Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia) interfered to save the Sultan. TheCzar accepted the principle of a joint mediation, the advance of theEgyptians was stopped, and the Sultan was informed that no terms ofpeace would be accepted which had not received the approval of thePowers. The terms were settled at a congress held in London. Mehemetrefused to accept the terms, and was encouraged by France to perseverein his refusal. 

The dispute between Belgium and Holland as to the Luxemburg territorywas settled by a treaty in the course of the year. Lord Durhampresented his report on Canada, a document drafted by Charles Bullerbut inspired by Lord Durham himself; though legislation did not takeplace this year, this document laid the foundation of the federalunion of the Canadas, and of the Constitution of other autonomouscolonies, but for the present the ex-Commissioner met with muchcriticism of his actions. 

Our troops were engaged during the year against Dost Mahommed, theAmeer of Afghanistan, a usurper who many years earlier had drivenShah Sooja into exile. Lord Auckland, the Viceroy of India, had sentCaptain (afterwards Sir Alexander) Burnes on a Mission to Cabul, and the Ameer had received him hospitably at first, but subsequentlydismissed him from his Court. Lord Auckland thereupon resolved torestore Shah Sooja, and in the autumn of 1838 issued a manifestodethroning Dost Mahommed. Operations were accordingly directed againsthim under Sir John (afterwards Lord) Keane, who, on August 6, 1839, entered Cabul and placed Shah Sooja on the throne. However open tocriticism, the news of this result was enthusiastically received inEngland, and Lord Auckland was promoted to an Earldom. 

In China a dispute of long standing became acute. With the renewal ofthe East India Company's charter, in 1834, the Chinese ports had beenthrown open, and the opium trade became a source of great profitto private traders. In spite of the prohibition which the ChineseGovernment laid on importation of opium, the traffic was activelycarried on, and, as a result of the strained relations which ensued, Captain Elliot, the British Chief Superintendent, requested thatwarships should proceed to China for the protection of British lifeand property. 

CHAPTER VIII

1839

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

PAVILION [BRIGHTON], _1st January 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --. .. I don't like your _croaking_ so about dampclimates; if a niece may venture to say such a thing, I might almostsay it is ungrateful to your faithful and attached Belgians. 

The Queen-Dowager's letters do tantalize one a good deal, I mustown. [1] You will see that old Lord Clarendon[2] is dead, which makesour friend Villiers Earl of Clarendon, but I am afraid not with alarge income. 

Lord Palmerston has been unwell and obliged to go to Broadlands, wherehe still is. He had gone through so much grief and labour, that it wasabsolutely necessary for him to recruit his strength. The Normanbysspent two nights here. [3] Lord Melbourne is the only person staying inthe house besides several of my Court and my suite, and, I am sorry tosay, is not very well; he has also had, I fear, too much business todo. 

Lady Breadalbane[4] is my new Lady of the Bedchamber, and a very niceperson. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Forgive this short scrawl. 

 [Footnote 1: Queen Adelaide had described the orange-trees and tropical fruits in the gardens of the Palace of St Antonio, Valetta. ]

 [Footnote 2: John Charles, third Earl, Chief Justice-in-eyre, North of Trent. His successor, who had been Minister to Spain since 1833, was afterwards the celebrated Foreign Secretary. ]

 [Footnote 3: Lord Normanby, at this time Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, became successively during the year, Colonial and Home Secretary. Lady Normanby, who had been a Lady-in-Waiting since the accession, was a daughter of the first Lord Ravensworth. ]

 [Footnote 4: Eliza, daughter of George Baillie of Jerviswood. Her brother afterwards became tenth Earl of Haddington. ]

[Pageheading: MURDER OF LORD NORBURY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_6th January 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andreturns his best and warmest thanks for the very kind and graciouscommunication which he had the honour and pleasure of receiving fromyour Majesty yesterday evening. Your Majesty will have seen in thenewspapers that Lord Norbury was shot at in his own grounds anddangerously wounded. [5] Lord Melbourne learns to-day by a letterfrom Lord Morpeth that Lord Norbury is since dead. This is a shockingevent, and will, of course, create a strong sensation, much strongerthan the death in the same manner of several persons of inferiordegree. It is almost the first time that an attempt of this kind hasbeen directed against an individual of that rank or station. .. . 

Lord Melbourne has seen Sir Henry Halford, [6] who says that his pulseis low and his system languid. He has prescribed some draughts, whichLord Melbourne trusts will be of service, but he feels much depressedto-day. He dined yesterday at Lady Holland's, where he met MrEllice, [7] civil and friendly enough in appearance, but Lord Melbournefears hostile at heart, and a determined partisan of Lord Durham. LordDurham has not yet made to Lord Glenelg the promised communication ofhis report and plan, but it is said that he will do so soon. .. . 

 [Footnote 5: At Kilbeggan Abbey, County Meath. The murderer escaped. ]

 [Footnote 6: The celebrated physician: he attended George IV. And William IV. , as well as Queen Victoria. ]

 [Footnote 7: Son-in-law of Lord Grey, as was also Lord Durham. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th January 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --The dreadful moment has arrived, and dear Marie[8] isno more to bless her loving relations with her presence on this earthof grief and troubles! It is a heavy dispensation, and one that it isdifficult to comprehend, but we must submit. 

I thought it best to write to my poor dear Aunt, for whom this willbe a sad blow; but I abstained from doing so to the dear Queen of theFrench just as yet. I have no letters, and only learnt the melancholyevent by the papers. Poor wretched Alexander! What a loss, what achange for him, poor fellow!

_You_ will, I am sure, regret that sweet amiable creature, as poorMarie was, very much, having known her so well, and her attachment toyou was great. 

I will not prolong this letter, but merely repeat _how_ much I feelfor you all, and beg you to believe me, your most affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 8: Princess Marie of Orleans, born 1813, sister to the Queen of the Belgians, had married Prince Alexander of Würtemberg, in 1837. ]

[Pageheading: HOLLAND AND BELGIUM]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _18th January 1839. _

. .. Your Aunt as well as myself are very anxious to be of use to poorAlexander. The dispositions of the whole family are extremelykind towards him, but he is shy and a little helpless; his presentmelancholy situation is of course calculated to increase this. His position puts me in mind of mine in 1817. .. . He, besides, issurrounded by people who are kind to him. Of George IV. , then Regent, it was observed that for years he had not been in such goodspirits than by the loss of his daughter. She was more popular thanhimself--that was, since her mariage, her only crime. .. . 

I feel very grateful for Lord Melbourne's kindness on the subject ofour sad loss. He is so feeling and kindhearted that he, much more thanmost men who have lived so much in the _grand monde_, has preserved acertain warmth and freshness of feeling. .. . 

Your cousins kiss your hands, and I remain, my dearest Victoria, yourdevoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

STANHOPE STREET, _27th January 1839. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andreturns to your Majesty the accompanying papers which he receivedfrom Viscount Melbourne. Your Majesty will have seen by Sir EdwardDisbrowe's[9] despatches that the concentration of Dutch troopsmentioned in these reports was purely defensive, and was theconsequence of the military demonstrations previously made by theBelgians; and it appears, moreover, that the Dutch force is inferiorin number to the Belgian force opposite to it; and that affords anadditional security against the chance of an invasion of Belgium bythe Dutch. It is, however, undeniable that when two armies are drawnup in face of each other, separated by a small distance, and animatedby mutual hatred, the chances of collision become great and imminent. But it is to be hoped in the present case that the communication madeby the Conference to the two parties on Thursday last may avert dangerof hostilities between the Dutch and Belgians. [10]

 [Footnote 9: Minister at the Hague. ]

 [Footnote 10: _See_ next letter. ]

[Pageheading: BELGIUM AND ENGLAND]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _7th February 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I am much grieved to learn that poor Philippe[11] hasgiven you such anxiety. My poor Aunt! it really is too much upon herto have these cares added to her recent severe affliction. I hope toGod that I shall get news of Philippe's complete recovery to-morrow. 

I regret to hear that your Government gives you so much trouble, but trust that you will exert all your influence, as you have sofrequently done, to persuade your Ministers to be reasonable, and notto resist the favourable offers made to the Government. _Everybody_here is exceedingly anxious for the conclusion of these long pendingaffairs, and hope that the answer from Belgium will soon arrive. [12]You will forgive me, dear Uncle, if I express to you my earnest hopethat these expectations may not be disappointed, for I feel thatsince the Dutch have so instantly accepted the proposition of theConference, Belgium would suffer in the eyes of this country were sheto delay, and, what I am still more fearful of, my beloved Uncle, youmight be blamed, and suffer for what your Government may do. You will, I know, forgive this freedom, which is prompted by my great anxietyfor your _welfare_ and _happiness_ (which I know you are well awareof), and for the preservation of the inestimable blessings of peace. No one feels more for you than I do at this difficult moment, nor thanI have done throughout these trying and embarrassing affairs. That allmay be peaceably and amicably settled is my earnest prayer. 

Everything went off well yesterday, [13] and we are again launched intoa political campaign, which it is impossible not to contemplate with acertain degree of anxiety. 

Adieu! my dear Uncle. Give my love to my dear Aunt, and believe me, always, your most devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 11: See _ante_, p. 65. (12th April, 1837)]

 [Footnote 12: The twenty-four Articles, to which Belgium had acceded in 1831, had then been rejected by Holland. Now, however, Holland wished to adopt them. The Belgian Government vainly proposed different schemes, but at last the Bill for ratifying the proposal of the Powers (made 23rd January 1839, and accepted by Holland on 11th February) passed the Belgian Chambers. ]

 [Footnote 13: The Queen opened Parliament in person on 6th February. ]

[Pageheading: CABINET DISSENSION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_10th February 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thinksit right and necessary to acquaint your Majesty that the Cabinetyesterday was very stormy and unpleasant. Lord John Russell brought onthe question of the Civil Government of the Army, in a temperate andjudicious manner, but Lord Howick made a most violent speech, stronglycondemning the whole of the present system and arraigning the conductof the Treasury and other Departments, saying that he should not throwup his office because no measure was brought forward, but that, whenquestioned upon the subject by Mr Hume in the House of Commons, as itwas certain that he would be, he should say that Government would donothing upon the subject, until he (Mr Hume) compelled them, and thathe should express his entire disapprobation of the present system, and his reasons in detail for that disapprobation. Your Majesty willperceive that nothing could be more violent than this course. It wasborne with great patience by the rest of the Cabinet, although Mr. Rice, [14] against whom the greater part of Lord Howick's speech wasdirected, felt himself most deeply hurt, and so expressed himself inprivate afterwards to Lord Melbourne. Upon the whole, Lord Melbournecannot but consider that affairs are in a most precarious state, andthat whilst there is so much discontent fermenting within the Cabinetitself, there must be great doubt of Lord Melbourne's being muchlonger able to hold the Administration together. 

 [Footnote 14: The Chancellor of the Exchequer. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_10th February 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is verysorry that his communication has occasioned your Majesty so much alarmand uneasiness. Lord Melbourne hopes that there is nothing imminentand immediate, but this sort of outbreak and contention may so soonbecome serious, that Lord Melbourne thought it his duty to take anearly opportunity of informing your Majesty of what had taken place. Lord Melbourne would wait upon your Majesty without delay, but truststhat this letter will be sufficient to dispel any disquietude whichhis former communication may have excited. 

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF LUCCA]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _20th February 1839. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that Mr Charles Villiers[15] moved yesterday, after a very able speech, that the petitioners against the Corn Lawsshould be heard at the Bar of the House. 

Sir Robert Peel opposed the Motion on the ground that he meant toresist any change in the Corn Laws. He made a very skilful use of thereturns of cotton, etc. , exported. 

 [Footnote 15: M. P. For Wolverhampton 1835-1898, becoming "Father of the House. "]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

STANHOPE STREET, _5th March 1839. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and requests to be honoured with your Majesty's commands upon theaccompanying letter from Count Pollon. [16] Viscount Palmerston at thesame time begs to state that he has reason to believe, from what CountPollon said to him in conversation two days ago, that the Duke ofLucca[17] has a notion that Sovereign Princes who have had the honourof dining with your Majesty, have been invited by note and not bycard. If that should be so, and if your Majesty should invite theDuke of Lucca to dine at the Palace before his departure, perhaps theinvitation might be made by note, instead of by card, as it was whenthe Duke last dined at the Palace. Your Majesty may think this a smallmatter, 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 feelsvery deeply the very kind and gracious concern which your Majestyexpresses for his health, as well as your Majesty's solicitude andinterest upon all occasions. Lord Melbourne will take your Majesty'sadvice, but his experience teaches him that illness is not so easilyput off, and that it will have its course in spite of precaution. .. . 

Lord Melbourne thinks, upon the whole, that your Majesty had perhapsbetter 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 beobliged to take very strong measures with respect to Portugal, itis as well that there should be no appearance of any deficiency ofaffection or attention. Lord Melbourne [thinks] that, for the reasongiven by your Majesty, your Majesty may perhaps as well not go to theplay this evening, but is very sorry to hear that your Majesty is lowand 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 lastSunday, and the other enclosing a letter from Stockmar this morning. Iam glad you agree with me about Victoire. [18] Since I wrote to you, I got these two letters from the Portuguese children--as Idisrespectfully but very deservedly call them--which I send you, inorder that you may see how they wish Victoire to come to them, whichI fear and think is totally impracticable, for it would never do forVictoire to go so far without her mother. Nevertheless, I thought itbut right by them to send you these letters, and I have written tothem giving them little hope. 

The French Ministry are gone, and I am sure the poor King will be muchvexed by it. They talk of Broglie as Minister for Foreign Affairs, [19]but I am afraid Thiers is inevitable. We are rather in fear of Thiershere, but it is a pity that Louis Philippe should show so much disliketo a man he must take, for it will have the effect of a defeat. 

I have no time to add more, but to beg you to believe me, always, yourmost affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 18: Daughter of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, and married in April 1840 to the Duc de Nemours. ]

 [Footnote 19: After a provisional Cabinet, in which the Duc de Montebello was Foreign Minister, the King appointed a Ministry with Soult as Premier and Foreign Minister. ]

[Pageheading: DIFFICULTIES OF THE MINISTRY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_22nd March 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toacquaint your Majesty that the Cabinet have decided--

1. That it is impossible to acquiesce in the vote of last night in theHouse of Lords. [20]

2. That it would not be justifiable to resign in the face of thedeclaration which I made in the year 1836, in the House of Lords, thatI would maintain my post as long as I possessed the confidence of theCrown and of the House of Commons, particularly as there is no reasonto suppose that we have lost the confidence of the House. 

3. That the course to be pursued is to give notice in the Houseof Commons to-night, that the sense of that House will be takenimmediately after the Easter Holidays, upon a vote of approbation ofthe principles of Lord Normanby's government of Ireland. 

If we lose that question, or carry it by a small majority, we mustresign. If we carry it, we may go on. 

This is a plain statement of the case, and this course will at leastgive your Majesty time to consider what is to be done. 

 [Footnote 20: By 63 to 58 Lord Roden carried a motion for a Select Committee to enquire into the state of Ireland; the Ministry replied by obtaining a vote of the House of Commons in their favour by 318 to 296. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, [21] _1st April 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has justreceived your Majesty's letters, for which he returns many and warmthanks. Nothing could be more prosperous than his journey down, although it rained hard the greater part of the way. Lord Melbourneslept well, and has walked out this morning, although it was stillshowery. Nothing is so fatiguing as the first exposure to the air ofthe country, and Lord Melbourne feels the influence of it. 

Lord Melbourne returns the letters of the King of the Belgians. Heaccounts very naturally for the conduct of the poor Duchess, [22] butshe should have recollected the extreme disadvantage and discreditwhich attaches to a change of religion. _Un gentilhomme ne changejamais la religion_, was the saying of Napoleon, and is very just. Itis difficult to understand the movements and motives of parties in aforeign country, and therefore Lord Melbourne does not feel able topronounce any opinion upon the transactions in France. Lord Melbournehad seen G----'s letters, a pert jackanapes, who always takes theworst view of every subject, and does as much mischief as he can. .. . 

Lord Melbourne is just starting for Panshanger. [23] The evening isbetter than the morning was, but cold. 

 [Footnote 21: Lord Melbourne's house on the Lea, about three miles north of Hatfield. Its construction was begun by Sir Matthew Lamb, and completed by his son, Sir Peniston, the first Lord Melbourne. ]

 [Footnote 22: Princess Alexander of Würtemberg. On her death-bed, she had expressed a wish to her husband that he should join the Roman Catholic Church. ]

 [Footnote 23: Panshanger, not far distant from Brocket, the house of Lord Melbourne's brother-in-law, Lord Cowper, and celebrated for its pictures, was bought by Lord Chancellor Cowper, _temp. _ Queen Anne. ]

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND BELGIUM]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th April 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --. .. I regret to learn you are still not easy aboutyour own affairs, but trust all will now be speedily adjusted. Youalways allow me, dear Uncle, to speak frankly to you; you will, therefore, I hope, not be displeased if I venture to make a fewobservations on one or two parts of your letter. 

You say that the anger of the Belgians is principally directed againstEngland. [24] Now, I must say you are very unjust towards us, and (ifI could) I might be even a little angry with you, dear Uncle. We only_pressed_ Belgium for her _own_ good, and _not_ for ours. It may seemhard at first, but the time will come when you will see that we wereright in urging you not to delay any longer the signature of thetreaty. 

I think that you will see in this frank expression of my sentiments nowish to annoy or hurt you, but only an anxious desire to prove to youthat England is Belgium's sincere friend, and that my Governmentare ever desirous of doing what is in their power for the welfare, security, and prosperity of yourself and your kingdom. 

I regret much the state of affairs in France, [25] which cannot butmake us all somewhat anxious; you will, I hope tell me what news youhear from Paris. 

Pray, dearest Uncle, receive my best, my very warmest, wishes for manyhappy returns of dear Leopold's birthday, and also, though somewhatlate, for Philippe's birthday. 

Give my love to my dear Aunt, and believe me, always, your mostdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 24: He had written on 5th April:--"The feeling is strongest against England, in which the people expected to see a support, and only found a strong determination to decide _everything against them_ and at _their expense_. If there was a great explosion in France, it would not be astonishing to see the people here join it; it would rather be astonishing to see it otherwise, after the kind treatment they received from the Powers. "]

 [Footnote 25: The King was for a time without any Ministry, and the meeting of the Chambers had to be postponed. ]

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT IN ITALY]

_Baron Stockmar to Queen Victoria. _

NAPLES, _16th April 1839. _

MADAM, --As it is some time that I had the honour to address yourMajesty, I hope that a further account of our crusades will meet witha favourable reception. 

It is now somewhat better than a month that we left Florence, I maysay with regret, for we were there very comfortably in every respect. On our route to Rome we enjoyed the beautiful sight of the cataract atTerni, the place where Queen Caroline sojourned for some time. We wereparticularly fortunate that day, as the brightest sunshine heightenedits picturesque effects beyond description. We found old Rome veryfull, and to see it and its ecclesiastic governors to advantage, theHoly Week is certainly the properest time. From morning to noon thePrince was at seeing sights, and he made so good a use of his time, that I don't think that something really remarkable was left unseen. Upon this very principle, we paid our respects to the Holy Father, [26]of which interview the Prince made so admirable a sketch, so veryworthy of H. B. , [27] that I am very much tempted to send it for theinspection of your Majesty. We assisted at the Church ceremonies ofthe Holy Week from the beginning to the end. The music of the SistineChapel, which is only vocal, may be well considered as unique, and hasnot failed to make a lasting impression upon a mind so musical as thePrince's. .. . 

I never think of your Majesty--and I take the liberty of thinkingvery frequently of you--without praying for health, serenity of mind, comfort and success for you, and I can well say that I am from myheart, your Majesty's sincerely attached and devoted Servant, STOCKMAR. 

 [Footnote 26: Gregory XVI. ]

 [Footnote 27: Initials adopted by Mr Doyle, father of Richard Doyle, in his _Reform Caricatures_. ]

[Pageheading: BELGIUM]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

_19th April 1839. _

. .. I am glad I extracted some spark of politics from your dearMajesty, very _kindly_ and _nicely_ expressed. I know that yourgenerous little heart would not have wished at any time but what wasgood for a country in which you were _much beloved_. But the fact is, that certainly your Government have taken the lead in maintaining acondition which time had rendered difficult to comply with. Physicianswill tell you that often an operation, which might have been performedat one time, could not, without great danger for the patient, beundertaken some years later. We have not been listened to, andarrangements _are forced_ on us, in themselves full of seeds ofdanger, when by consulting the _real interests_ of Holland andBelgium, both countries might have been placed on a footing of_sincere peace_ and good neighbourhood. This country feels now humbledand _désenchanté_ with its _soi-disant_ political independence as itpleased the Conference to settle it. They will take a dislike to apolitical state which _wounds their vanity_, and will, in consequenceof this, _not wish it to continue_. Two things will happen, therefore, on the very first opportunity, either that this country willbe involved in war to better a position which it thinks _toohumiliating_, or that it will voluntarily throw up a nominalindependence in which it is now hemmed in between France and Holland, which begins on the North Sea, and ends, of all the things in thisworld, on _the Moselle_!

I think old Pirson, who said in the Chamber that if the treaty wascarried into execution I was likely to be the first and last Kingof the country, was not wrong. Whenever this will happen, it will be_very awkward_ for England, and _deservedly so_. To see, after eightyears of hard work, blooming and thriving political plantations cutand maimed, and that by those who have a real interest to protectthem, is very melancholy. I do not say these things with the mostdistant idea of bringing about any change, but only because in thehigh and very responsible position in which Providence has placedyou, it is good to tell you the truth, as you ought to have weightand influence on the affairs of Europe; and England, not being inthe possibility of making territorial acquisition, has a real andpermanent interest in the proper maintenance of a balance of politicalpower in Europe. Now I will leave you to enjoy the beginning ofSpring, which a mild rain seems to push on prodigiously. Believe meever, my dear Victoria, your very attached Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: JAMAICA]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_26th April 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toinform your Majesty that the result of the Cabinet has been a decisionto stand by the Bill as we have introduced it, and not to accede toSir Robert Peel's proposal. The Bill is for suspending the functionsof the Legislative Assembly of Jamaica, and governing that island forfive years by a Governor and Council. [28] If Sir Robert Peel shouldpersist in his proposal, and a majority of the House of Commons shouldconcur with him, it will be such a mark of want of confidence as itwill be impossible for your Majesty's Government to submit to. 

 [Footnote 28: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. ( to Ch. VIII)]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _30th April 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I have to thank you for your last letter, whichI received on Sunday. Though you seem not to dislike my politicalsparks, I think it is better not to increase them, as they mightfinally take fire, particularly as I see with regret that upon thisone subject we cannot agree. I shall therefore limit myself to myexpressions of very sincere wishes for the welfare and prosperity ofBelgium. 

The Grand Duke, [29] after a long delay, is at length to arrive onFriday night; I shall put myself out of my way in order to be verycivil to such a great personage. I am already thinking how I shalllodge all my relations; you must prepare Uncle Ferdinand for its notbeing _very ample_, but this Palace, though large, is not calculatedto hold many visitors. .. . 

Believe me, always, your very affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 29: The Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia, afterwards the Emperor Alexander II. ]

[Pageheading: MINISTERIAL CRISIS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_7th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has toacquaint your Majesty that the division upon the Jamaica Bill, whichtook place about two this morning, was two hundred and ninety-nineagainst the measure, and three hundred and four in favour of it. [30]Lord Melbourne has not heard from Lord John Russell since this event, but a Cabinet will of course be summoned early this morning, and LordMelbourne cannot conceal from your Majesty that in his opinion thedetermination of the Cabinet must be that the relative numbers uponthis vote, joined to the consideration of no less than nine membersof those who have hitherto invariably supported the Government havinggone against it now, leave your Majesty's confidential servants noalternative but to resign their offices into your Majesty's hands. They cannot give up the Bill either with honour or satisfaction totheir own consciences, and in the face of such an opposition theycannot persevere in it with any hope of success. Lord Melbourneis certain that your Majesty will not deem him too presuming ifhe expresses his fear that this decision will be both painful andembarrassing to your Majesty, but your Majesty will meet this crisiswith that firmness which belongs to your character, and with thatrectitude and sincerity which will carry your Majesty through alldifficulties. It will also be greatly painful to Lord Melbourne toquit the service of a Mistress who has treated him with such unvaryingkindness and unlimited confidence; but in whatever station he may beplaced, he will always feel the deepest anxiety for your Majesty'sinterests and happiness, and will do the utmost in his power topromote and secure them. 

 [Footnote 30: The numbers are apparently incorrectly stated. The division was 294 to 289. ]

[Pageheading: RESIGNATION IMMINENT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_7th May 1839. _

The present circumstances have been for some time so probable, orrather so certain, that Lord Melbourne has naturally been led to weighand consider maturely the advice which, if called upon, he shouldtender to your Majesty when they did arrive. That advice is, at onceto send for the Duke of Wellington. Your Majesty appears to LordMelbourne to have no other alternative. The Radicals have neitherability, honesty, nor numbers. They have no leaders of any character. Lord Durham was raised, one hardly knows how, into something of afactitious importance by his own extreme opinions, by the panegyricsof those who thought he would serve them as an instrument, and by themanagement of the Press, but any little public reputation which hemight once have acquired has been entirely dissipated and destroyed bythe continued folly of his conduct in his Canadian Government. Thereis no party in the State to which your Majesty can now resort, exceptthat great party which calls itself Conservative, and of that party, his rank, station, reputation, and experience point out the Duke ofWellington as the person to whom your Majesty should apply. 

Lord Melbourne therefore advises that your Majesty should send for theDuke of Wellington, and should acquaint him, provided your Majesty sofeels, that you were entirely satisfied with your late Government, andthat you part from them with reluctance; but that as he and the partyof which he is the head have been the means of removing them fromoffice, you naturally look to him to advise you as to the means ofsupplying their places and carrying on the business of the country. 

If the Duke should be unwilling to form the Government himself, andshould desire to devolve the task upon Sir Robert Peel, Lord Melbournewould advise your Majesty to accede to that suggestion; but LordMelbourne would counsel your Majesty to be very unwilling to sufferthe Government to be formed by Sir Robert Peel, without the activeassistance in office of the Duke of Wellington. 

With respect both to measures and appointments, your Majesty shouldplace the fullest confidence in those to whom you entrust themanagement of affairs, exercising at the same time, and fullyexpressing, your own judgment upon both. 

Your Majesty will do well to be from the beginning very vigilant thatall measures and all appointments are stated to your Majesty in thefirst instance, and your Majesty's pleasure taken thereon previouslyto any instruments being drawn out for carrying them into effect, andsubmitted to your Majesty's signature. It is the more necessary to bewatchful and active in this respect, as the extreme confidence whichyour Majesty has reposed in me may have led to some omission at timesof these most necessary preliminaries. 

The patronage of the Lord Chamberlain's Department is of the greatestimportance, and may be made to conduce at once to the beneficialinfluence of the Crown, and to the elevation and encouragement of theprofessions of the Church and of Medicine. This patronage, by beingleft to the uncontrolled exercise of successive Lord Chamberlains, hasbeen administered not only wastefully but perniciously. The physiciansto the late King were many of them men of little eminence; thechaplains are still a sorry set. Your Majesty should insist with thenew Ministers that this patronage should be disposed of, not by theLord Chamberlain, but, as it has hitherto been during your Majesty'sreign, by your Majesty upon consultation with your Prime Minister. 

[Pageheading: DISTRESS OF THE QUEEN]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839. _

The Queen thinks Lord Melbourne may possibly wish to know how sheis this morning; the Queen is somewhat calmer; she was in a wretchedstate till nine o'clock last night, when she tried to occupy herselfand try to think less gloomily of this dreadful change, and shesucceeded in calming herself till she went to bed at twelve, and sheslept well; but on waking this morning, all--all that had happenedin one short eventful day came most forcibly to her mind, and broughtback her grief; the Queen, however, feels better now; but she couldn'ttouch a morsel of food last night, nor can she this morning. The Queentrusts Lord Melbourne slept well, and is well this morning; and thathe will come precisely at eleven o'clock. The Queen has received noanswer from the Duke, which is very odd, for she knows he got herletter. The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne received her letter last night. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_8th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and ismuch grieved that he did not answer your Majesty's letter yesterdayevening, as your Majesty desired, but he did not get it till late, andhe felt much tired and harassed by all that had passed during the day. The situation is very painful, but it is necessary for your Majesty tobe prudent and firm. It is of all things necessary not to be suspectedof any unfair dealing. Whilst Lord Melbourne holds his office, everything of course may be written to him as usual; but still theresolutions for the formation of the new Government will now commence, and it will never do, whilst they are going on, either for appearanceor in reality, that Lord Melbourne should dine with your Majesty, ashe did before this disturbance. It would create feeling, possibly leadto remonstrance, and throw a doubt upon the fairness and integrityof your Majesty's conduct. All this is very painful both to do and tosay, but it is unavoidable; it must be said, and it must be done. LordMelbourne will wait upon your Majesty at eleven. [31]

 [Footnote 31: Lord Melbourne had made the not unnatural mistake of recommending to the Queen, as members of her first Household, ladies who were nearly related to himself and his Whig colleagues. No doubt these were the ladies whom he knew best, and in whom he had entire confidence; but he ought to have had sufficient prescience to see that the Queen would probably form strong attachments to the ladies who first served her: and that if the appointments had not in the first instance a political complexion, yet that the Whig tendencies which these Ladies represented were likely to affect the Queen, in the direction of allying her closely with a particular party in the State. ]

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

_8th May 1839. _

The Queen told Lord Melbourne she would give him an account of whatpassed, which she is _very_ anxious to do. She saw the Duke for abouttwenty minutes; the Queen said she supposed he knew why she sent forhim, upon which the Duke said, No, he had no idea. The Queen then saidthat she had had the greatest confidence in her late Ministry, andhad parted with them with the greatest reluctance; upon which the Dukeobserved that he could assure me no one felt more pain in hearing theannouncement of their resignation than he did, and that he was deeplygrieved at it. The Queen then continued, that as his party had beeninstrumental in removing them, that she must look to him to form anew Government. The Duke answered that he had no power whatever inthe House of Commons, "that if he was to say black was white, [32] theywould say it was not, " and that he advised me to send for Sir RobertPeel, in whom I could place confidence, and who was a gentleman and aman of honour and integrity. The Queen then said she hoped he would atall events have a place in the new Cabinet. The Duke at first ratherrefused, and said he was so deaf, and so old and unfit for anydiscussion, that if he were to consult his own feelings he wouldrather not do it, and remain quite aloof; but that as he was veryanxious to do anything that would tend to the Queen's comfort, andwould do everything and at all times that could be of use to theQueen, and therefore if she and her Prime Minister urged his acceptingoffice, he would. The Queen said she had more confidence in himthan in any of the others of his party. The Queen then mentioned thesubject of the Household, and of those who were not in Parliament. TheDuke did not give any decisive answer about it, but advised the Queennot to begin with conditions of this sort, and wait till the matterwas proposed. The Queen then said that she felt certain he wouldunderstand the great friendship she had for Lord Melbourne, who hadbeen to her quite a parent, and the Duke said _no one felt and knewthat better than he did, and that no one could still be of greateruse to the Queen than Lord Melbourne_. The Duke spoke of his personalfriendship for Lord Melbourne, and that he hoped I knew that he hadoften done all he could to help your (Lord Melbourne's) Government. The Queen then mentioned her intention to prove her great _fairness_to her new Government in telling them, that they might know there wasno unfair dealing, that I meant to see you often as a friend, as Iowed _so_ much to you. The Duke said he quite understood it, and knewI would not exercise this to weaken the Government, and that he wouldtake my part about it, and felt for me. He was very kind, and said hecalled it "a misfortune" that you had all left me. 

The Queen wrote to Peel, who came after two, embarrassed and put out. The Queen repeated what she had said to the Duke about her formerGovernment, and asked Sir Robert to form a new Ministry. He does notseem sanguine; says entering the Government in a minority is verydifficult; he felt unequal to the task, and far from exulting in whathad happened, as he knew what pain it must give me; he quite approvedthat the Duke should take office, and saw the importance of it; meantto offer him the post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and if herefused, Lord Aberdeen; Lord Lyndhurst, Chancellor; hoped to secureStanley and Graham; Goulburn to be the candidate for the Speaker'sChair; he expects a severe conflict then, and if he should be beatmust either resign or dissolve Parliament. Before this the Queen saidshe was against a dissolution, in which he quite agreed, but of coursewished no conditions should be made; he felt the task arduous, andthat he would require me to demonstrate (_a certain_ degree, if _any_I can only feel) confidence in the Government, and that my Householdwould be one of the marks of that. The Queen mentioned the same thingabout her Household, to which he at present would give no answer, andsaid nothing should be done without my knowledge or approbation. Herepeated his surprise at the course you had all taken in resigning, which he did not expect. The Queen talked of her great friendship for, and gratitude to Lord Melbourne, and repeated what she had said to theDuke, in which Peel agreed; but he is such a cold, odd man she can'tmake out what he means. He said he couldn't expect me to have theconfidence in him I had in you (and which he never can have) as he hasnot deserved it. My impression is, he is not _happy_ and sanguine. Hecomes to me to-morrow at one to report progress in his formation ofthe new Government. The Queen don't like his manner after--oh! howdifferent, how dreadfully different, to that frank, open, natural andmost kind, warm manner of Lord Melbourne. [33] The Duke I like by farbetter to Peel. The Queen trusts Lord Melbourne will excuse this longletter, but she was so very anxious he should know all. The Queen wasvery much collected, and betrayed no agitation during these twotrying Audiences. But afterwards again _all_ gave way. She feels LordMelbourne will understand it, amongst enemies to those she most reliedon and esteemed, and people who seem to have no heart; but what isworst of all is the being deprived of seeing Lord Melbourne as sheused to do. 

 [Footnote 32: _Sic_: an obvious mistake for "black was black. "]

 [Footnote 33: Lady de Grey had written to Peel on 7th May:--"The Queen has always expressed herself much impressed with Lord Melbourne's open manner, and his truth. The latter quality you possess, the former not. 

 "Now, dear Peel, the first impression on so young a girl's mind is of immense consequence, accustomed as she has been to the open and affectionate manner of Lord Melbourne, who, _entre nous_, treats her as a father, and, with all his faults, feels for her as such. "--_Sir Robert Peel_, Parker, vol. Ii. P. 389. ]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ADVICE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_9th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has readwith the greatest attention the very clear and distinct account whichyour Majesty has written of that which passed at the Audiences whichyour Majesty has given to the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel. Nothing could have been more proper and judicious than your Majesty'sconduct, and they appear to have acted upon their part with proprietyand sincerity. Lord Melbourne has no doubt that both with respectto him (Lord Melbourne) and to themselves and their own feelings andposition, they expressed what they really think. The Duke was right insaying that in general, in affairs of this nature, it is best not tobegin with conditions; but this matter of the Household is so personalto yourself, that it was best to give an intimation of your feelingsupon it in the first instance. Lord Melbourne has little doubt that ifthey could have acted from themselves, they would have acceded to yourMajesty's wish at once; but your Majesty must recollect that they haveothers to satisfy, and must not attribute entirely to them anythingthat is harsh and unreasonable. Lord Melbourne advises your Majestyto urge this question of the Household strongly as a matter due toyourself and your own wishes; but if Sir Robert is unable to concedeit, it will not do to refuse and to put off the negotiation upon it. Lord Melbourne would strongly advise your Majesty to do everything tofacilitate the formation of the Government. Everything is to bedone and to be endured rather than run the risk of getting into thesituation in which they are in France, of no party being able to forma Government and conduct the affairs of the country. [34]

The Dissolution of Parliament is a matter of still more importance, and if this should be again pressed upon your Majesty, Lord Melbournewould advise your Majesty to reserve your opinion, not to give apromise that you will dissolve, nor to say positively that youwill not. You may say that you do not think it right to fetter thePrerogative of the Crown by previous engagements, that a dissolutionof Parliament is to be decided according to the circumstances at thetime, that you mean to give full confidence to the Government thatshall be formed, and to do everything in your power to support them, and that you will consider whether Parliament shall be dissolved, whenyou are advised to dissolve it, and have before you the reasons forsuch a measure. 

Lord Melbourne earnestly entreats your Majesty not to suffer yourselfto be affected by any faultiness of manner which you may observe. Depend upon it, there is no personal hostility to Lord Melbourne norany bitter feelings against him. Sir Robert is the most cautious andreserved of mankind. Nobody seems to Lord Melbourne to know him, buthe is not therefore deceitful or dishonest. Many a very false man hasa very open sincere manner, and _vice versâ_. .. . 

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is better thismorning. 

 [Footnote 34: Alluding to the successive failures of Soult, Thiers, and Broglie. ]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839. _

The Queen cannot sufficiently thank Lord Melbourne for his most kindletter, and for his excellent advice, which is at once the greatestcomfort and of the greatest use to her; the Queen will follow it inevery respect, and nothing of importance shall be done without duereflection; and she trusts Lord Melbourne will help her and be to herwhat she told him he was, and begged him still ever to be--a father toone who never wanted support more than she does now. 

Lord Melbourne shall hear again after she sees Peel this morning. .. . 

The Queen has just now heard Lord Liverpool is not in town. 

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is able to read her letters; if everthere is anything he cannot read, he must send them back, and markwhat he can't read. 

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S GRATITUDE]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

STANHOPE STREET, _9th May 1839. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsto return your Majesty his grateful thanks for your Majesty's graciouscommunication of this morning. It affords Viscount Palmerston the mostheart-felt satisfaction to know that his humble but zealous endeavoursto promote the interests of his country and to uphold the honour ofyour Majesty's Crown, have had the good fortune to meet with yourMajesty's approbation; and he begs most respectfully to assureyour Majesty that the deep impression produced by the condescendingkindness which he has upon all occasions experienced from your Majestycan never be effaced from his mind. 

[Pageheading: THE HOUSEHOLD]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_9th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs tosuggest that if Sir Robert Peel presses for the dismissal of those ofyour Household who are not in Parliament, you may observe that in sodoing he is pressing your Majesty more hardly than any Minister everpressed a Sovereign before. 

When the Government was changed in 1830, the principal posts of theHousehold were placed at the disposal of Lord Grey, but the Grooms andEquerries were not removed. 

When Sir Robert Peel himself became Minister in 1834, no part of theHousehold were removed except those who were in Parliament. 

When I became Prime Minister again in 1835, none of the Grooms orEquerries were removed because none of them were in Parliament. 

They press upon your Majesty, whose personal feelings ought from yourcircumstances to be more consulted, a measure which no Minister beforeever pressed upon a Sovereign. 

If this is put to him by your Majesty, Lord Melbourne does not see howhe can resist it. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839. _

The Queen writes one line to prepare Lord Melbourne for what _may_happen in a very few hours. Sir Robert Peel has behaved very ill, and has insisted on my giving up my Ladies, to which I replied that Inever would consent, and I never saw a man so frightened. He saidhe must go to the Duke of Wellington and consult with him, when bothwould return, and he said this must suspend all further proceedings, and he asked whether I should be ready to receive a decision, which Isaid I should; he was quite perturbed--but this is _infamous_. I said, besides many other things, that if he or the Duke of Wellington hadbeen at the head of the Government when I came to the Throne, perhapsthere might have been a few more Tory Ladies, but that then if you hadcome into Office you would never have _dreamt_ of changing them. I wascalm but very decided, and I think you would have been pleased to seemy composure and great firmness; the Queen of England will not submitto such trickery. Keep yourself in readiness, for you may soon bewanted. 

[Pageheading: PROPOSED NEW CABINET]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Thursday, 9th May 1839. _

_At half-past two_ I saw the Duke of Wellington. I remained firm, andhe told Sir Robert that I remained firm. I then saw Sir Robert Peel, who stopped a few minutes with me; he must consult those (of whom Iannex the List) whom he had named:

 THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON _Secretary for Foreign Affairs_ SIR JAMES GRAHAM _Secretary for the Home Department_ LORD STANLEY _Secretary for the Colonies_ LORD LYNDHURST _Lord Chancellor_ LORD ELLENBOROUGH _President of the Board of Control_ SIR H. HARDINGE _Secretary at War_

and he said he would return in two or three hours with the result, which I said I should await. [35]

 [Footnote 35: It was a curious circumstance, much commented on at the time, that in the _Globe_ of 9th May, a Ministerial evening paper, which would probably have gone to press at two o'clock in the afternoon, the following paragraph appeared: "The determination which it is well known Her Majesty has taken, not to allow the change in the Government to interfere with the ladies of her Court, has given great offence to the Tories. "]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839. _

The Queen has received Lord Melbourne's letter. Lord Melbourne willsince have heard what has taken place. Lord Melbourne must not thinkthe Queen rash in her conduct; she saw both the Duke and Sir Robertagain, and declared to them she could not change her opinion. TheLadies are not (as the Duke imagined was stated in the Civil ListBill) in the _place_ of the Lords; and the Queen felt this was anattempt to see whether she could be led and managed like a child;if it should lead to Sir Robert Peel's refusing to undertake theformation of the Government, which would be absurd, the Queen willfeel satisfied that she has only been defending her own rights, ona point which so nearly concerned her person, and which, if they hadsucceeded in, would have led to every sort of unfair attempt at power;the Queen maintains _all_ her ladies, --and thinks her Prime Ministerwill cut a sorry figure indeed if he resigns on this. Sir Robert isgone to consult with his friends, and will return in two or threehours with his decision. The Queen also maintained the Mistress of theRobes, for as he said _only_ those who are _in Parliament_ shall beremoved, I should like to know if they mean to give the _Ladies_ seatsin Parliament?

We shall see what will be done. The Queen would not have _stood sofirmly_ on the Grooms and Equerries, but her _Ladies_ are _entirely_her own affair, and _not_ the Ministers'. 

[Pageheading: THE CRISIS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_9th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. LordMelbourne had certainly never expected that this demand would beurged, and therefore had never advised your Majesty as to what was tobe done in such a case. Lord Melbourne strongly advises your Majestyto hear what the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel urge, but totake time before you come to a peremptory and final decision. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_9th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. This is amatter of so much importance, and may have such grave results, that any advice which Lord Melbourne could give would be of littleimportance unless it coincided with the opinions of others, andparticularly of all those who were and intend still [to] continue tobe his colleagues. 

It will depend upon their determination whether your Majesty is to besupported or not. The best course will perhaps be that you shouldhear Sir Robert Peel's determination, say nothing, but send for LordMelbourne, and lay the matter before him. Lord Melbourne will thensummon a Cabinet to consider of it. 

[Pageheading: THE LADIES OF THE BEDCHAMBER]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_9th May 1839. _

At half-past six came Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till tenminutes past seven. 

[Pageheading: THE LADIES]

I then began by giving him a detailed account of the whole proceeding, which I shall state here as briefly as possible. I first again relatedwhat took place in the two first interviews, and when I said thatthe Duke said he had assisted my Government often very much, LordMelbourne said: "Well, that is true enough, but the Duke did all hecould about this vote. " "Well, then, " I said, "when Sir Robert Peelcame this morning, he began first about the Ministry. I consented, though I said I might have my personal feelings about Lord Lyndhurstand Lord Aberdeen, but that I would suppress every personal feelingand be quite fair. I then repeated that I wished to retain about methose who were not in Parliament, and Sir Robert _pretended_ thatI had the preceding day expressed a wish to keep about me those who_were_ in Parliament. I mentioned my wish to have Lord Liverpool, towhich Sir Robert readily acceded, saying he would offer him the placeof Lord Steward, or of Lord in Waiting. He then suggested myhaving Lord Ashley, [36] which I said I should like, as Treasurer orComptroller. Soon after this Sir Robert said: 'Now, about the Ladies, 'upon which I said I could _not_ give up _any_ of my Ladies, andnever had imagined such a thing. He asked if I meant to retain _all_. '_All_, ' I said. 'The Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of theBedchamber?' I replied, '_All_, '--for he said they were the wivesof the opponents of the Government, mentioning Lady Normanby[37] inparticular as one of the late Ministers' wives. I said that would notinterfere; that I never talked politics with them, and that theywere related, many of them, to Tories, and I enumerated those of myBedchamber women and Maids of Honour; upon which he said he did notmean _all_ the Bedchamber women and _all_ the Maids of Honour, hemeant the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber; towhich I replied _they_ were of more consequence than the others, andthat I could _not_ consent, and that it had never been done before. Hesaid I was a Queen Regnant, and that made the difference. 'Not here, 'I said--and I maintained my right. Sir Robert then urged it upon_public grounds only_, but I said here I could not consent. He thenbegged to be allowed to consult with the Duke upon such an importantmatter. I expressed a wish also to see the Duke, if Sir Robertapproved, which he said he did, and that he would return with theDuke, if I would then be prepared for the decision, which I said Iwould. Well, " I continued, "the Duke and Sir Robert returned soon, andI first saw the Duke, who talked first of his being ready to take thepost of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which I had pressed Peelto urge on him (the Duke having first wished to be in the Cabinet, without accepting office), and the Duke said, 'I am able to doanything, ' for I asked him if it would not be too much for him. ThenI told him that I had been very well satisfied with Sir Robertyesterday, and asked the Duke if Sir Robert had told him what hadpassed about the Ladies. He said he had, and then I repeated all myarguments, and the Duke his; but the Duke and Sir Robert differedconsiderably on two points. The Duke said the _opinions_ of the Ladieswere nothing, but it was the _principle_, whether the Minister couldremove the Ladies or not, and that he (the Duke) had understood it wasstated in the Civil List Bill, 'that the _Ladies were instead of theLords_, ' which is quite false, and I told the Duke that there were not_twelve Lords_, as the expense _with the Ladies_ would have been toogreat. " Lord Melbourne said: "There you had the better of him, and what did he say?" "Not much, " I replied. I repeated many of myarguments, all which pleased Lord Melbourne, and which he agreed to, amongst others, that I said to the Duke, Was Sir Robert so weak that_even_ the Ladies must be of his opinion? The Duke denied that. TheDuke then took my decision to Sir Robert, who was waiting in the nextroom; after a few minutes Sir Robert returned. After stopping afew minutes, as I have already stated, Sir Robert went to see hiscolleagues, and returned at five: said he had consulted with those whowere to have been his colleagues, and that they agreed that, withthe probability of being beat the first night about the Speaker, andbeginning with a Minority in the House of Commons, that unlessthere was _some_ (_all_ the Officers of State and Lords I gave up)demonstration of my confidence, and if I retained all my Ladiesthis would not be, "they agreed unanimously they could not go on. " Ireplied I would reflect, that I felt certain I should not change mymind, but that I should do nothing in a hurry, and would write him mydecision either that evening or the next morning. He said, meanwhile, he would suspend all further proceedings. 

 [Footnote 36: Afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury, the well-known Philanthropist. ]

 [Footnote 37: J. W. Croker wrote to the King of Hanover:--

 "_11th May 1839. _

 ". .. This is the sum of the whole affair. Sir R. Peel could not admit that broad principle that all were to remain. Lady Normanby (whom the Queen particularly wishes for), for instance, the wife of the very Minister whose measures have been the cause of the change, two sisters of Lord Morpeth, the sisters-in-law of Lord John Russell, the daughter of the Privy Seal and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. .. . 

 "Her Majesty's ball last night was, I am told, rather dull, though she herself seemed in high spirits, as if she were pleased at retaining her Ministers. She has a great concert on the 13th, but to both, as I hear, the invitations have been on a very exclusive principle, no Tories being invited who could on any pretence be left out. These are small matters, but everything tends to create a public impression that Her Majesty takes a personal and strong interest in the Whigs--a new ingredient of difficulty. "--_Croker Papers_, II. 347. ]

I also told Lord Melbourne that I feared I had embarrassed theGovernment; that I acted quite alone. Lord Melbourne saw, and saidI could not do otherwise. "I must summon the Cabinet, " said LordMelbourne, at half-past nine. "It may have very serious consequences. If we can't go on with this House of Commons, we may have to dissolveParliament, and we don't know if we may get as good a House ofCommons. " I begged him to come, and he said: "I'll come if it is inany time--if it's twelve; but if it's one or two, I'll write. "

After dinner (as usual with the Household) I went to my room, andsat up till a quarter past two. At a quarter to two I received thefollowing letter from Lord Melbourne, written at one o'clock:--

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S ULTIMATUM]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_10th May 1839_ (1 A. M. ). 

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The Cabinethas sate until now, and, after much discussion, advises your Majestyto return the following answer to Sir Robert Peel:--

"The Queen having considered the proposal made to her yesterday by SirRobert Peel to remove the Ladies of her Bedchamber, cannot consent toadopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to usage, and whichis repugnant to her feelings. "[38]

 [Footnote 38: Greville asserts that the plan adopted by the outgoing Cabinet, of meeting and suggesting that this letter should be despatched, was "utterly anomalous and unprecedented, and a course as dangerous as unconstitutional. .. . They ought to have explained to her that until Sir Robert Peel had formally and finally resigned his commission into her hands, they could tender no advice. .. . The Cabinet of Lord Melbourne discussed the proposals of that of Sir Robert Peel, and they dictated to the Queen the reply in which she refused to consent to the advice tendered to her by the man who was _at that moment_ her Minister. "--_Greville's Journal, 12th May 1839. _]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

_10th May 1839. _

The Queen having considered the proposal made to her yesterday by SirRobert Peel, to remove the Ladies of her Bedchamber, cannot consent toadopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to usage, and whichis repugnant to her feelings. [39]

 [Footnote 39: Sixty years later the Queen, during a conversation at Osborne with Sir Arthur Bigge, her Private Secretary, after eulogising Sir Robert Peel, said: "I was very young then, and perhaps I should act differently if it was all to be done again. "]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th May 1839. _

The Queen wrote the letter before she went to bed, and sent it atnine this morning; she has received no answer, and concludes she willreceive none, as Sir Robert told the Queen if the Ladies were notremoved, his party would fall directly, and could not go on, and thathe only awaited the Queen's decision. The Queen therefore wishes tosee Lord Melbourne about half-past twelve or one, if that would do. 

The Queen fears Lord Melbourne has much trouble in consequence of allthis; but the Queen was fully prepared, and fully intended to givethese people a fair trial, though she always told Lord Melbourne sheknew they couldn't stand; and she must rejoice at having got out ofthe hands of people who would have sacrificed every personal feelingand instinct of the Queen's to their bad party purposes. 

How is Lord Melbourne this morning?

[Pageheading: AN ANXIOUS WEEK]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th May 1839. _

Half-past one will do as well as one; any hour will do that LordMelbourne likes, for the Queen will not go out. 

There is no answer from Peel. 

The Queen is wonderfully well, considering all the fatigue ofyesterday, and not getting to bed till near half-past two, which issomewhat of a fatigue for to-night when the Queen must be very late. Really all these Fêtes in the midst of such very serious and anxiousbusiness are quite overwhelming. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th May 1839. _

The Queen forgot to ask Lord Melbourne if he thought there would beany harm in her writing to the Duke of Cambridge that she really wasfearful of fatiguing herself, if she went out to a party at GloucesterHouse on Tuesday, an Ancient Concert on Wednesday, and a ball atNorthumberland House on Thursday, considering how much she had to dothese last four days. If she went to the Ancient Concert on Wednesday, having besides a concert of her own here on Monday, it would be fournights of fatigue, really exhausted as the Queen is. 

But if Lord Melbourne thinks that as there are only to be Englishsingers at the Ancient Concert, she ought to go, she could go therefor one act; but she would much rather, if possible, get out of it, for it is a fatiguing time. .. . 

As the negotiations with the Tories are quite at an end, and LordMelbourne _has been here_, the Queen hopes Lord Melbourne will notobject to dining with her on _Sunday_?

[Pageheading: RESIGNATION OF PEEL]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

_10th May 1839. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has hadthe honour of receiving your Majesty's note of this morning. 

In respectfully submitting to your Majesty's pleasure, and humblyreturning into your Majesty's hands the important trust which yourMajesty had been graciously pleased to commit to him, Sir Robert Peeltrusts that your Majesty will permit him to state to your Majesty hisimpression with respect to the circumstances which have led to thetermination of his attempt to form an Administration for the conductof your Majesty's Service. 

In the interview with which your Majesty honoured Sir Robert Peelyesterday morning, after he had submitted to your Majesty the names ofthose whom he proposed to recommend to your Majesty for the principalexecutive appointments, he mentioned to your Majesty his earnest wishto be enabled, with your Majesty's sanction, so to constitute yourMajesty's Household that your Majesty's confidential servants mighthave the advantage of a public demonstration of your Majesty's fullsupport and confidence, and that at the same time, as far as possibleconsistently with that demonstration, each individual appointment inthe Household should be entirely acceptable to your Majesty's personalfeelings. 

On your Majesty's expressing a desire that the Earl of Liverpool[40]should hold an office in the Household, Sir Robert Peel requested yourMajesty's permission at once to offer to Lord Liverpool the office ofLord Steward, or any other which he might prefer. 

Sir Robert Peel then observed that he should have every wish to applya similar principle to the chief appointments which are filled bythe Ladies of your Majesty's Household, upon which your Majestywas pleased to remark that you must reserve the whole of thoseappointments, and that it was your Majesty's pleasure that the wholeshould continue as at present, without any change. 

The Duke of Wellington, in the interview to which your Majestysubsequently admitted him, understood also that this was yourMajesty's determination, and concurred with Sir Robert Peel in opinionthat, considering the great difficulties of the present crisis, andthe expediency of making every effort in the first instance toconduct the public business of the country with the aid of the presentParliament, it was essential to the success of the Commission withwhich your Majesty had honoured Sir Robert Peel, that he should havethat public proof of your Majesty's entire support and confidencewhich would be afforded by the permission to make some changes inthat part of your Majesty's Household which your Majesty resolved onmaintaining entirely without change. 

Having had the opportunity through your Majesty's graciousconsideration, of reflecting upon this point, he humbly submits toyour Majesty that he is reluctantly compelled, by a sense of publicduty and of the interests of your Majesty's service, to adhere to hisopinion which he ventured to express to your Majesty. 

He trusts he may be permitted at the same time to express to yourMajesty his grateful acknowledgments for the distinction which yourMajesty conferred upon him by requiring his advice and assistance inthe attempt to form an Administration, and his earnest prayers thatwhatever arrangements your Majesty may be enabled to make for thatpurpose may be most conducive to your Majesty's personal comfort andhappiness, and to the promotion of the public welfare. 

 [Footnote 40: Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, third Earl, 1784-1851, became Lord Steward in 1841. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Friday, 10th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne came to me at two and stayed with me till ten minutesto three. I placed in his hands Sir Robert Peel's answer, which heread. He started at one part where he (Sir Robert) says, "_some_changes"--but some or all, I said, was the same; and Lord Melbournesaid, "I must submit this to the Cabinet. " Lord Melbourne showed mea letter from Lord Grey about it--a good deal alarmed, thinking Iwas right, and yet half doubtful; one from Spring Rice, dreadfullyfrightened, and wishing the Whig ladies should resign; and one fromLord Lansdowne wishing to state that the ladies would have resigned. Lord Melbourne had also seen the Duke of Richmond, and Lord Melbournesaid we might be beat; I said I never would yield, and would neverapply to Peel again. Lord Melbourne said, "You are for standingout, then?" I said, "Certainly. " I asked how the Cabinet felt. "JohnRussell, strongly for standing out, " he said; "Duncannon, verymuch so; Holland, Lord Minto, Hobhouse, and the Chancellor, all forstanding out; Poulett Thomson too, and Normanby also; S. Rice andHowick alarmed. "

[Pageheading: CABINET MINUTE]

CABINET MINUTE. 

_Present. _

 The LORD CHANCELLOR. The LORD PRESIDENT. The LORD PRIVY SEAL. VISCOUNT MELBOURNE. The MARQUIS OF NORMANBY. The EARL OF MINTO. The CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER. The LORD JOHN RUSSELL. The VISCOUNT PALMERSTON. The VISCOUNT HOWICK. The VISCOUNT MORPETH. Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE, Bart. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. Mr. POULETT THOMSON. 

Her Majesty's Confidential Servants having taken into considerationthe letter addressed by Her Majesty to Sir Robert Peel on the 10th ofMay, and the reply of Sir Robert Peel of the same day, are of opinionthat for the purpose of giving to an Administration that character ofefficiency and stability and those marks of the constitutional supportof the Crown, which are required to enable it to act usefully for thepublic service, it is reasonable that the great offices of the Courtand the situations in the Household held by members of either House ofParliament should be included in the political arrangements made on achange of Administration; but they are not of opinion that a similarprinciple should be applied or extended to the offices held by Ladiesin Her Majesty's Household. [41]

 [Footnote 41: This paragraph was read by Lord John Russell to the House of Commons during the course of the Ministerial explanations on 13th May. ]

Her Majesty's Confidential Servants are therefore prepared to supportHer Majesty in refusing to assent to the removal of the Ladies of herHousehold, which Her Majesty conceived to be contrary to usage, andwhich is repugnant to her feelings, and are prepared to continue intheir offices on these grounds. 

Viscount Howick concurs in the opinion expressed in the foregoingMinute that the removal of the Ladies of Her Majesty's Householdought not to form part of the arrangements consequent upon a changeof Administration, and shares in the readiness his colleagues havedeclared to support Her Majesty in acting upon this opinion; buthe thinks it his duty to state his conviction that the immediateresumption of their offices by Her Majesty's Confidential Servants isnot the mode in which their support can be most effectively affordedand is not calculated to promote the good of Her Majesty's service. 

He conceives that before it is determined that the presentAdministration should be continued, further explanation should besought with Sir Robert Peel, by which it is not impossible that hisconcession to Her Majesty's just objection to the removal of theLadies of her Household might have been obtained, while the endeavourto arrive at this result, even though unsuccessful, would at allevents tend to secure additional support to Her Majesty's presentServants, and thus to enable them to surmount those difficulties, which have recently compelled them humbly to tender their resignationsto Her Majesty, and which he fears will be found not to have beendiminished by the course it has now been determined to pursue. 

In humbly submitting this opinion to Her Majesty, Viscount Howick begspermission to add that he nevertheless acquiesces in the determinationof his colleagues, and will render them the best assistance in hispower in their endeavour to carry on Her Majesty's service. 

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE RESUMES OFFICE]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th May 1839. _

The Queen is very anxious to hear that Lord Melbourne has not sufferedfrom the ball last night, as it was very hot at first. The beginningwas rather dull and heavy, but after supper it got very animated, andwe kept it up till a quarter past three; the Queen enjoyed herselfvery much and isn't at all tired; she felt much the kindness of manyof her kind friends, who are her _only real_ friends. Lady Cowper andLord and Lady Minto, the Duchess of Somerset, and Lord Anglesey wereparticularly kind. On the other hand, there were some gloomy faces tobe seen, and the Duchess of Gloucester was very cross. 

The Queen is ashamed to say it, but she has forgotten _when_ sheappointed the Judge Advocate; when will the Cabinet be over?

The Queen danced the first and the last dance with the Grand Duke, [42]made him sit near her, and tried to be very civil to him, and Ithink we are great friends already and get on very well; I like himexceedingly. 

 [Footnote 42: The Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia, afterwards the Emperor Alexander II. ]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th May 1839. _

The Queen anxiously hopes Lord Melbourne is quite well this morning, and has _not_ suffered from the dinner at Pozzo's. 

The Queen wishes to know if she ought to say anything to the Duchess, of the noble manner in which her Government mean to stand by her? Theaccount in the _Observer_ of the whole proceeding is the most correctboth as to details and facts, that the Queen has yet seen; were theytold what to put in? There was considerable applause when the Queenentered the Theatre, which she, however, thought best and mostdelicate not to encourage, and she was cheered when she drove up tothe Theatre and got out, which she never is in general. 

The Grand Duke came and sat with the Queen in her box, for at leasthalf an hour last night--and the Queen asked him if he knew exactlywhat had happened, which he said he did not--and the Queen accordinglygave him an account of what passed, and he was _shocked_ at Sir RobertPeel's proposal, thought his resignation on that account absurd, andwas delighted at the continuance in office of my present Government. 

The Queen supposes and fears that Lord Melbourne dines with theLansdownes to-morrow, but she wishes to know if Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday would suit him?

Lord Melbourne must not forget the List of our supporters in theHouse of Commons, which the Queen is very anxious to have as soon aspossible. If Lord Melbourne can dine here to-morrow the Queen would beglad, of course. 

[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S OPINION]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_13th May 1839. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that he this day made his statement to the House, in answer to Sir Robert Peel. 

Sir Robert Peel made a skilful, and not unfair statement. He, however, spoke only of his intention of changing some of the Ladies of theBedchamber. But he did not say that he had made this intention clearto your Majesty; only that he had so arranged the matter with hispolitical friends. The popular impression is greatly in favour of thecourse pursued by your Majesty. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_14th May 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is mostsorry to hear that your Majesty does not feel well. It is very naturalthat your Majesty does not. Lord Melbourne does not believe that therewas anything wanting in your Majesty's manner yesterday evening, [43]but depend upon it, if there was, every allowance would be made forthe fatigue and anxiety which your Majesty has gone through, and forthe painful and embarrassing situation in which your Majesty is stillplaced. 

Lord Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty at two, and will have thehonour of conversing with your Majesty upon Peel's speech. 

 [Footnote 43: At the State Concert. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S VIEW]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _14th May 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I begin to think you have forgotten me, and you willthink I have forgotten you, but I am certain you will have guessed thecause of my silence. How much has taken place since Monday the 7thto yesterday the 13th. You will have easily imagined how dreadfulthe resignation of my Government--and particularly of that trulyinestimable and excellent man, Lord Melbourne--was for me, and youwill have felt for me! What I suffered I cannot describe! To have totake people whom I should have no confidence in, . .. Was most painfuland disagreeable; but I felt I must do it, and made up my mind toit--nobly advised and supported by Lord Melbourne, whose characterseems to me still more perfect and noble since I have gone through allthis. 

I sent for the Duke of Wellington, who referred me to Peel, whom Iaccordingly saw. 

Everything fair and just I assented to, even to having Lord Lyndhurstas Chancellor, and Sir H. Hardinge and Lord Ellenborough in theCabinet; I insisted upon the Duke in the Foreign Office, insteadof Lord Aberdeen. .. . All this I granted, as also to give up all theOfficers of State and all those of my Household who are in Parliament. 

When to my utter astonishment he asked me to change my Ladies--myprincipal Ladies!--this I of course refused; and he upon _thisresigned_, saying, as he felt he should be beat the very first nightupon the Speaker, and having to begin with a minority, that unless hehad this demonstration of my confidence he could not go on!

You will easily imagine that I firmly resisted this attack upon mypower, from these people who pride themselves upon upholding theprerogative! I acted quite alone, but I have been, and shall be, supported by my country, who are very enthusiastic about it, andloudly cheered me on going to church on Sunday. My Government havenobly stood by me, and have resumed their posts, strengthened by thefeelings of the country. .. . 

Pray tell my dearest Aunt that I really cannot write to her to-day, for you have no conception of what I have to do, for there are balls, concerts, and dinners all going on besides. Adieu! my beloved Uncle. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: APPROVAL OF KING LEOPOLD]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _17th May 1839. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I feel deeply grateful for your very kind andinteresting letter, which reached me yesterday, inclusive of thepapers. 

You have passed a time of great agitation and difficulty, which will, however, contribute to enlarge the circle of your experience. _Iapprove very highly of the whole mode in which you proceeded_;you acted with great _good faith_ and _fairness_, and when finallypropositions were made which you considered you could not submit to, you were very right to resist them. The march of the whole affair isvery clear and fair, and does you _great credit_. .. . Peel in makinghis demand misjudged you; he remembered George IV. , and even the lateKing, and dreamt of Court influence of people near the Sovereign. Youhave the great merit, for which you cannot be too much praised, ofbeing _extremely honest_ and honourable in your dealings. If you hadkept Peel, you would have acted honestly by him, without any Lady'shaving a chance of doing him a bad turn. When he asked the measureas an expression of your great confidence in him, it was not fair, because _you_ had not wished to take him; he was forced upon you, andtherefore, even if you had granted his request, nobody would have seenin it a proof of your confidence in him, but rather a sacrifice to afar-stretched pretence. 

Besides, that he was to have encountered difficulties as a Ministerwas partly the consequence of the policy of his party, and you werenot bound to give him any assistance beyond what he had a right to askas a Minister. I was sure that Lord Melbourne would give you both thefairest and the most honourable advice in this painful crisis. He waskind enough last year to speak to me on the subject, and I could butapprove what he said on the subject. Altogether, keeping now yourold Ministers, you will have reason to congratulate yourself on theresult; it is likely to strengthen them, by showing the Radicals whatmay be the consequences. 

Rumour spoke of their wishing to add some Radicals to the Cabinet;I don't see that they could improve the Ministry by it, which isperfectly well composed as it is at present, and new elements oftenhave a dissolving effect. It was very kind of you to have explainedeverything so clearly to me, but I deserve it for the _great interest_I take in all that concerns you. .. . 

[Pageheading: A SMALL LIBERAL MAJORITY]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_6th June 1839. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that Sir Robert Peel's Bill[44] was discussedyesterday in the House of Commons, with great fairness and an entireabsence of party spirit. 

Viscount Melbourne will have acquainted your Majesty with the resultof the Cabinet of yesterday. It appears to Lord John Russell that theLiberal party, with some explanation, will be satisfied with thestate of things for the present, and that the great difficulties whichattend the complete union of the majority will be deferred tillthe commencement of next Session. It is always well to have somebreathing-time. 

 [Footnote 44: The Jamaica Bill for the temporary suspension of the Constitution. ]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _11th June 1839. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to state that the division of last night was extremelyencouraging to the future prospects of the Government. 

Combined with the division on the Speakership, [45] it shows that theLiberal party have still a clear though small majority in the Houseof Commons, and that it may probably not be necessary to resort to adissolution. Indeed, such a measure in present circumstances would beof very doubtful issue. 

Lord John Russell stated last night that he would not divide on theCanada resolutions, but move for leave to bring in a Bill. 

 [Footnote 45: Mr Shaw Lefevre was elected by 317 against 299 for Mr Goulburn. ]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_6th July 1839. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that Mr. Rice yesterday brought forward hisfinancial statement with great ability. 

He moved a resolution in favour of a penny postage, which Sir RobertPeel declared it to be his intention to oppose on the report. Thiswill be on Friday next. This seems a mistake on the part of theOpposition. [46]

 [Footnote 46: The penny postage scheme came into operation on 10th January 1840. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th July 1839. _ (_20 minutes to 12. _)

The Queen is really quite shocked to see that her box was taken toLord Melbourne to Park Lane, and she fears (by the manner in whichLord Melbourne's note is written) that he was at dinner at LadyElizabeth H. Vere's when he got it. The Queen had imagined that theHouse of Lords was still sitting, and therefore desired them to takethe box there, but never had intended it should follow him to dinner;she begs Lord Melbourne to excuse this mistake which must haveappeared so strange. 

Did the dinner go off well at Lady Elizabeth H. Vere's, and were theremany people there? Did Lord Melbourne go to Lady R. Grosvenor's partyor did he go home?

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is quite well and not tired. 

Monday at two o'clock for the Judge Advocate. 

The Queen hears Lady Sandwich is very much delighted at herappointment. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _15th July 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I have no letter from you, but hope to get onesoon. .. . 

I shall send this letter by a courier, as I am anxious to put severalquestions to you, and to mention some feelings of mine upon thesubject of my cousins' visit, which I am desirous should nottranspire. First of all, I wish to know if _Albert_ is aware of thewish of his _Father_ and _you_ relative to _me?_ Secondly, if he knowsthat there is _no engagement_ between us? I am anxious that you shouldacquaint Uncle Ernest, that if I should like Albert, that I can make_no final promise this year_, for, at the _very earliest_, any suchevent could not take place till _two or three years hence_. For, independent of my youth, and my _great_ repugnance to change mypresent position, there is _no anxiety_ evinced in _this country_ forsuch an event, and it would be more prudent, in my opinion, to waittill some such demonstration is shown, --else if it were hurried itmight produce discontent. 

Though all the reports of Albert are most favourable, and thoughI have little doubt I shall like him, still one can never answerbeforehand for _feelings_, and I may not have the _feeling_ for himwhich is requisite to ensure happiness. I _may_ like him as a friend, and as a _cousin_, and as a _brother_, but not _more_; and should thisbe the case (which is not likely), I am _very_ anxious that it shouldbe understood that I am _not_ guilty of any breach of promise, for_I never gave any_. I am sure you will understand my anxiety, for Ishould otherwise, were this not completely understood, be in a verypainful position. As it is, I am rather nervous about the visit, forthe subject I allude to is not an agreeable one to me. I have littleelse to say, dear Uncle, as I have now spoken openly to you, which Iwas very, _very anxious_ to do. 

You will be at Paris, I suppose, when you get this letter, and Itherefore beg you to lay me at the feet of the whole family, and tobelieve me ever your very devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _20th July 1839. _

The Queen anxiously hopes Lord Melbourne has slept well, and has notsuffered from last night. It was very wrong of him not to wish theQueen good-night, as she expected he would in so small a party, forshe _saw_ that he did _not_ go away immediately after supper. Whendid he get home? It was great pleasure to the Queen that he came lastnight. We kept up the dancing till past three, and the Queen was muchamused, and slept soundly from four till half-past ten, which she isashamed of. She is quite well, but has got a good deal of cold in herhead; she hopes to see Lord Melbourne at two. 

[Pageheading: THE DUCHESS OF BRAGANZA]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th July 1839. _

The Queen has seen the Duchess of Braganza, [47] who, though a gooddeal changed, is still handsome, and very amiable; she seemed so glad, too, to see the Queen again. The child[48] is grown a dear fine girl. Lord Palmerston thought it right that I should ask her to dinner alsoon Saturday and take her to the Opera; and on Sunday, as she came onpurpose to see the Queen, and goes on Monday. 

On Sunday (besides Lord Melbourne) the Queen proposes askingPalmerston, Normanby, Uxbridge, and Surrey, and no one else except theDuchess's suite. The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne will approve of this. He will not forget to let the Queen know how the debate is going on, at about nine or ten, as she will be curious to know. She trusts hewill not suffer from the fatigue of to-night. 

 [Footnote 47: The step-mother of Donna Maria. Pedro I. Assumed the title of Duke of Braganza after his abdication. ]

 [Footnote 48: Probably the princess known as "Chica, " afterwards Princesse de Joinville. ]

[Pageheading: SYRIAN AFFAIRS]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

ST CLOUD, _26th July 1839. _

. .. Everything is pretty quiet, and the _grâce accordée à Barbès_[49]has put down the rage against the King personally, at least for somelittle time. The affairs of the Orient interest a good deal. I thinkthat it is better the Porte should be on a favourable footing withMehemet Ali than if that gentleman had pushed on in arms, as it willput the _casus foederis_ out of the question, and the Turks will notcall in the assistance of the Russians. Whoever pushed the late Sultaninto this war has done an act of great folly, as it could only bringthe Porte into jeopardy. 

 [Footnote 49: Armand Barbès, the leader of a fatal riot in Paris, was sentenced to death, a sentence afterwards remitted. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_3rd August 1839. _

Lord Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty at a quarter before five, if possible, but there is much to discuss at the Cabinet. The CaspianPasha has taken the Turkish fleet to Alexandria, [50] and Mehemet Alisays that he will not give it up to the Sultan until he dismisses theGrand Vizier, and acknowledges the hereditary right of the Pasha tothe countries which he at present governs. This is to make the Sultanhis subject and his vassal. 

The accounts from Birmingham are by no means good. [51] There hasbeen no disturbance of the peace, but the general disposition is bothviolent and determined. 

 [Footnote 50: The Viceroy of Egypt had revolted against the Porte, and on 8th June the Sultan purported to deprive him and Ibrahim, his son, of their dignities. War was declared, and the Turkish fleet despatched to Syria. But the Admiral treacherously sailed to Alexandria, and the Ottoman troops, under Hafiz, who had succeeded Mehemet Ali in the Government of Egypt, were utterly routed. With the traitorous conduct of the Turkish admiral, Disraeli, a few years later, compared Peel's conversion to Free Trade. ]

 [Footnote 51: Chartist riots were very frequent at the time. _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. (to Ch. VIII)]

[Pageheading: THE OPERA]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th August 1839. _

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is quite well this morning, and did notsit up working very late last night; the Queen met him twice yesterdayin the Park, and really wondered how anybody _could_ ride, for shecame home much hotter than she went out, and thought the air quitelike as if it came out of an oven; to-day we can breathe again. It wasintensely hot at the Opera; the Queen-Dowager visited the Queen in herbox, as did also the young Grand Duke of Weimar, who is just returnedfrom Scotland, and whom the Queen has asked to come after dinnerto-morrow. The Queen has not asked the Duke of Sussex to come afterdinner to-morrow, as she thought he would be bored by such a sort ofparty; does not Lord Melbourne think so? and she means to ask him todinner soon. 

The Queen has not asked Lord Melbourne about any days this weekbesides to-morrow (when she trusts he may be able to come, but shedoes not know what there is in the House) and Wednesday; but perhapsLord Melbourne will consent to leave Thursday and Friday open in_case_ he should be able to come one or both of those days. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th August 1839. _

The Queen has just received Lord Melbourne's letter; and wishes toknow if Lord Melbourne means by "to-day" that he is also coming tosee her _this afternoon_, (which she does not expect) as well as _thisevening_? for she did _not_ ask him in her note of this morning _if_he would come to-night (for she felt _sure_ of that), but if he couldcome _to-morrow_, about which he has not answered her, as to whetherhe expects there will be anything of great length in the House ofLords. Lord Melbourne will forgive the Queen's troubling him again, but she felt a little puzzled by his letter; she sent him a card forWednesday without previously asking him, as she thought that wouldsuit him, and hopes it does?

The Queen will follow Lord Melbourne's advice respecting the Duke ofSussex. 

We have just returned from hearing not only a very long, and very bad, but also, a very ludicrous, sermon. 

The heat is somewhat less, but the Queen is undecided as to drivingout or not. 

[Pageheading: KING LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _9th August 1839. _

. .. I am sorry that you are less pleased with the old Duke, but partyspirit is in England an incurable disease. These last two years he hadrendered essential service to the present Administration; perhaps hehas been soured by last summer's events. It was my intention to haveanswered your questions sooner, but from Paris I had not the means. Now the time draws so near when I hope to have the happiness of seeingyou, that I think it will be better to treat the matter verbally, themore so as my most beloved Majesty is easily displeased with what maybe written with the best intention, instead that in conversation theimmediate reply renders any misunderstanding, however small, verydifficult; and as I do not wish to have any great or small with you, and see no occasion for it, I will give my answer _de vive voix_. 

Now comes a subject which will _astonish_ you. I am charged _desonder_ your will and pleasure on the following subject. The King myfather-in-law goes to Eu, where he hopes to remain till the 5th or 6thof September. Having at his disposition some very fine steamers, hisgreat wish would be to go over to Brighton, just for one afternoon andnight, to offer you his respects in person. He would in such acase bring with him the Queen, my Aunt, Clémentine, [52] Aumale andMontpensier. The first step in this business is to know whatyour pleasure is, and to learn that very frankly, as he perfectlyunderstands that, however short such a visit, it must be submitted tothe advice even of some of your Ministers. What renders the thing verydifficult, in my opinion, is that in a country like France, and withso many Ministerial difficulties, the King to the _last hour_ willhardly know if he can undertake the thing. As, however, the firstobject is to know your will, he begged me to ascertain that, and totell you that if you had the _smallest objection_ you would not becarried away by the apprehension of hurting him by telling me honestlythat you did _not_ see how the affair could be arranged, but to speakout, that he knew enough how often objections may arise, and that evenwith himself he could only be sure of the thing at the last moment. 

 [Footnote 52: Who afterwards married Queen Victoria's cousin, Prince Augustus (Gusti) of Coburg. ]

[Pageheading: THE NEW SULTAN]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _19th August 1839. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and insubmitting the accompanying private letter from the Earl Granville[53]begs to state that neither Viscount Melbourne nor Viscount Palmerstonare of opinion that it would be expedient that your Majesty shouldsend an Ambassador Extraordinary to compliment the young Sultan[54]on his accession. The circumstances connected with his accession areindeed fitter matter for condolence than for congratulation, and hewould probably be better pleased by the restoration of his fleet thanby the arrival of Ambassadors Extraordinary. Moreover, it has not beencustomary for the Sovereign of England to send such missions upon theaccession of Sultans. 

 [Footnote 53: The first Earl Granville (1773-1846), formerly Ambassador Extraordinary to the Russian Court, at this time Ambassador at Paris. ]

 [Footnote 54: Abdul Medjid, a lad of sixteen, succeeded the Sultan Mahmoud. The majority of the Powers agreed to place him under the protection of Europe, and to warn Mehemet Ali that the matter was for Europe, not him, to decide. France, however, wished to support Mehemet, and direct the Alliance against Russia. But Nicholas I. Of Russia was prepared to support England as far as regarded the affairs of Turkey and Egypt, and to close the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to warships of all nations, it being stipulated that Russian ships of war only were to pass the Bosphorus, as acting under the mandate of Europe in defence of the Turks. _See_ further, Introductory Notes for 1839 and 1840. (to Ch. VIII and Ch. IX)]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

OSTENDE, _24th August 1839. _

. .. The King's intention would be to leave Eu in the evening, let ussay at eight or nine o'clock, and to land, perhaps at ten or eleven, at Brighton on the _following morning_. He would have the honour ofdining with you, and would re-embark in the _evening of the same day_, so as to be back on the _following morning_ at Eu. He will therefore, as you see, _not_ sleep in England. 

If you cannot give any _pied-à-terre_ in the Palace for these fewhours, they will remain in an hotel. But I must say that as the Kingand Queen put themselves to _some inconvenience in coming_ to seeyou, it would be _rather desirable_ to offer them rooms in the Palace, which I think might be easily managed. As far as we are concerned, it_does not matter_ if we are housed in an hotel or where we bivouac. Iwill charge Van de Weyer to take rooms for us somewhere. .. . 

Do not imagine that I have done the least to bring this about for myown satisfaction, which is _very limited_ in this business, but theKing wished _much to see you once_, and so did the Queen, who abhorssailing more than anybody, and this is perhaps the _only_ opportunitywhich may ever offer of doing it, even with some political benefit, asit certainly is desirable that it should appear that the two maritimePowers are on good terms. .. . And now, God bless you! Ever, my dearestVictoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: LOUIS PHILIPPE'S VISIT]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

OSTENDE, _25th August 1839. _ (_La St Louis. _)

MY DEAR VICTORIA, --To keep up the fire of letters, I write again, having received this morning interesting news. As I must forwardthis letter by Calais, and know not who may read it in these times ofcuriosity, I am forced to be guarded; but the news are as follows, of the 23rd--curious coincidence, as your letter was also of thatdate--that, the moment _approaching, many and serious_ difficultiesarise, and that the expedition was considered imprudent by somepeople, that, besides, the presence would perhaps be required, before the _possible_ departure, at the _usual home_ of the personinterested, that therefore for the present it would perhaps be best togive it up. I must say that I am _most happy_ that matters have cometo this pass, because it would have been next to impossible to arrangeaffairs properly in proper time. You may now consider everything _asover_, and settle your plans without reference to it. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE VISIT POSTPONED]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _26th August 1839. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I had already written you a letter when I receivedyour two very kind ones, and I shall therefore not send my first. Myfriendship for the dear King and Queen makes me, as you may easilyunderstand, wish most exceedingly to see them and to make theacquaintance of the Queen and all the family. And I feel the immensekindness of them all in wishing to see me, and in coming over for onlya few hours. Politically it would be _wished_ by _us all_, and the_only_ difficulty I see is the following, which is, that _I do notfeel quite_ equal to going to Brighton and receiving them all, so soonafter the Prorogation. [55] I do not _feel_ well; I feel _thoroughly_exhausted from all that I have gone through this Session, and am quiteknocked up by the two little trips I made to Windsor. This makes mefear, uncertain as it all is, with such a pressure of business, somany affairs, and with so much going on, that I should be unequal tothe journey and the whole thing. This, and this _alone_, could make meexpress a wish that this most kind visit should take place _next_year instead of this year. I feel such regret really in saying this--Ishould so wish to see them, and yet I feel I am not _quite_ up toit. You will understand me, dear Uncle, I am certain, as I know theanxiety you always express for my health. For _once_ I _long_ to leaveLondon, and shall do so on Friday. If you could be at Windsor by the4th, I should be delighted. 

The dear Ferdinands, whom I _all dearly_ love, will await you here. I have had so much to do and so many people to see, that I feel quiteconfused, and have written shockingly, which you must forgive. Everyour devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 55: On 27th August. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S SPEECH]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _26 August 1839. _ (_10 minutes to 12. _)

The Queen has received both Lord Melbourne's notes; she was a gooddeal vexed at his not coming, as she had begged him herself to do so, and as he wrote to say he would, and also as she thinks it right andof importance that Lord Melbourne should be here at large dinners; theQueen _insists_ upon his coming to dinner to-morrow, and also begs himto do so on Wednesday, her two last nights in town, and as she willprobably not see him at all for two days when she goes on Friday;the Queen would wish to see Lord Melbourne _after_ the Prorogationto-morrow at any hour _before_ five he likes best. 

The Queen has been a good deal annoyed this evening at Normanby'stelling her that John Russell was coming to town next Monday in orderto _change_ with _him_. [56] Lord Melbourne _never_ told the Queen thatthis was definitely settled; on the contrary, he said it would "remainin our hands, " to use Lord Melbourne's own words, and only be settledduring the Vacation; considering all that the Queen has said on thesubject to Lord Melbourne, and considering the great confidence theQueen has in Lord Melbourne, she thinks and feels he ought to havetold her that this was _settled_, and not let the Queen be thelast person to hear what is settled and done in her own name; LordMelbourne will excuse the Queen's being a little eager about this, butit has happened once before that she learnt from other people what hadbeen decided on. 

The Queen has such unlimited confidence in Lord Melbourne that sheknows all that he does is right, but she cannot help being a littlevexed at not being told things, when she is accustomed to greatconfidence on Lord Melbourne's part. 

Lord Melbourne may rely on the Queen's secrecy respecting Howick; heknows the Queen always keeps things to herself; Normanby hinted at hiswish to get rid of Howick. 

The Speech is safely arrived, has been read over twice, and shall notbe forgotten to-morrow; the Queen wishes they would not use such thinand slippery paper--for it is difficult to hold with nervous, and, asLord Melbourne knows, _shaking_ hands. The Queen trusts Lord Melbournewill be less tired in the morning. 

 [Footnote 56: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. (to Ch. VIII)]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

OSTENDE, _21st September 1839. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --Your _delightful_ little letter has just arrivedand went like _an arrow to my heart. _ Yes, my beloved Victoria! I _dolove you tenderly_, and with all the power of affection which is oftenfound in characters who do not make much outward show of it. I loveyou _for yourself_, and I love in you the dear child whose welfare Icarefully watched. My great wish is always that you should _know_that I am _desirous_ of _being useful_ to you, without _hoping forany other return_ than some little affection from your warm and kindheart. I am even so far pleased that my eternal political affairs aresettled, as it takes away the _last possibility_ of imagining that Imay want something or other. I have all the honours that can be given, and I am, politically speaking, very solidly established, more so thanmost Sovereigns in Europe. The only political longing I still haveis for the Orient, where I perhaps shall once end my life, unlikethe sun, rising in the West and setting in the East. I never pressmy services on you, nor my councils, though I may say with some truththat from the extraordinary fate which the higher Powers had ordainedfor me, my experience, both political and of private life, is great. Iam _always ready_ to be useful to you _when and where_ it may be, andI repeat it, _all I want in return is some little sincere affectionfrom you_. .. . 

And now I conclude for to-day, not without expressing again mysatisfaction and pleasure at having seen you yesterday morning withyour dear honest face, looking so dear in your morning attire. Ourtime was spent very satisfactorily, and only the weather crossed ourwishes, and to that one can submit when everything else is delightful. Once more, God bless you! Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devotedUncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _25th September 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --You will, I think, laugh when you get this letter, and will think I only mean to employ you in _stopping_ my relations atBrussels, but I think you will approve of my wish. In the first placeI don't think one can _reckon_ on the Cousins arriving here on the30th. Well, all I want is that _you_ should detain them one or twodays longer, in order that they may arrive here on _Thursday, the3rd_, if possible _early_. My reason for this is as follows: a numberof the Ministers are coming down here on Monday to stay till Thursday, on affairs of great importance, and as you know that people are alwayson the alert to make remarks, I think if _all_ the Ministers were tobe down here when they arrive, people would say--it was to _settlematters_. At all events it is better to avoid this. I think indeed aday or two at Brussels will do these young gentlemen good, andthey can be properly fitted out there for their visit. Ever yoursdevotedly, VICTORIA R. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st October 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I received your kind letter on Sunday, for which manythanks. The _retard_ of these young people puts me rather out, but ofcourse cannot be helped. I had a letter from Albert yesterday sayingthey could not set off, he thought, before the 6th. I think they don'texhibit much _empressement_ to come here, which rather shocks me. 

I got a very nice letter from dear Alexander yesterday fromReinhardtsbrun;[57] he says Albert is very much improved, but nottaller than Augustus. His description of him is as follows:--"Albert, I found, had become stronger and more handsome; still he has not grownmuch taller; he is of about the same size as Augustus; he is a mostpleasant, intelligent young man. I find, too, that he has become morelively than he was, and that sits well on him, too. " (_Translation. _)I think you may like to hear this, as I know Alexander is a verycorrect observer of persons, and his opinion may be relied upon. Headds that Albert plagues Leopold beyond measure. 

I shall take care and send a gentleman and carriages to meet mycousins, either at Woolwich or the Tower, at whichever place youinform me they land at. The sooner they come the better. I have gotthe house _full_ of Ministers. On Monday the Queen Dowager is comingto sleep here for two nights; it is the _first time_, and will be asevere trial. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 57: A picturesque castle, about eight miles from Gotha. ]

[Pageheading: A CHARM AGAINST EVIL]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th October 1839. _

The Queen sends the little _charm_ which she hopes may keep LordMelbourne from _all evil_, and which it will make her very happy if hewill put [? it with] his keys. If the ring is too small Lord Melbournemust send it back to her, and she will have it altered. 

The Queen has made up her mind at length to ask Lady Clanricarde, asLord Melbourne wishes it so much. Shall Surrey invite her, or LordPalmerston? and from Thursday to Friday?

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th October 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I have to thank you for three kind letters of the 1st, 4th, and 5th, the last which I received yesterday. I received anotherletter from Alex. M. Yesterday, _since Ernest's arrival_, and he saysthat they have determined on setting off, so as to embark at Antwerpon the 9th and be here after all on the 10th! I suppose you will havealso heard. I shall therefore (unless I hear from you to the contrary)send one of my equerries and two carriages to the Tower on _Thursday_. 

I am sorry to hear of the serious disturbances at Ghent; I trust itis all got under now. If you should hear anything more of RoiGuillaume's[58] marriage, pray let me hear it, as it is such an oddstory. Old Alava, who was here for two nights last week, told me heknew _Pauline d'Oultremont_ many years ago, when she was young andvery gay and pretty, but that he wonders much at this marriage, as theKing hates Catholics. Alava is _rayonnant de bonheur_. 

I told Lord Melbourne of your alarms respecting the financial crisis, which _we_ did not bring on--those wild American speculations are thecause of it--and he desires me to assure you that we will pursue asmoderate and cautious a course as possible. 

The Queen Dowager came here yesterday and stays till to-morrow; she isvery cheerful and in good spirits. .. . 

I must conclude in haste. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Many thanks for the two supplies of ortolans, which were delicious. 

 [Footnote 58: William I. , King of the Netherlands, was greatly attached to the Roman Catholic Countess d'Oultremont, and in October 1840, being sixty-seven, abdicated his Crown to marry her. He was father of the Prince of Orange, who succeeded him. ]

[Pageheading: ARRIVAL OF PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th October 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --. .. The dear cousins arrived at half-past seven onThursday, after a very bad and almost dangerous passage, but lookingboth very well, and much improved. Having no clothes, they could notappear at dinner, but nevertheless _débutéd_ after dinner in their_négligé_. Ernest is grown quite handsome; Albert's _beauty_ is_most striking_, and he so amiable and unaffected--in short, very_fascinating_; he is excessively admired here. The Granvilles and LordClanricarde[59] happened just to be here, but are gone again to-day. We rode out yesterday and danced after dinner. The young men are veryamiable, delightful companions, and I am very happy to have them here;they are playing some Symphonies of Haydn _under_ me at this verymoment; they are passionately fond of music. 

In the way of news I have got nothing to tell you to-day. Everythingis quiet here, and we have no particular news from abroad. In Spainthe Fueros[60] seem to give sad difficulty to the Cortes. 

Ever, my dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 59: Ulick John, first Marquis of Clanricarde (1802-1874), Ambassador at St Petersburg, afterwards Lord Privy Seal. ]

 [Footnote 60: Certain rights and privileges of the Basques. ]

[Pageheading: A MOMENTOUS DECISION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th October 1839. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --This letter will, I am sure, give you pleasure, for you have always shown and taken so warm an interest in all thatconcerns me. My mind is quite made up--and I told Albert this morningof it; the warm affection he showed me on learning this gave me_great_ pleasure. He seems _perfection_, and I think that I have theprospect of very great happiness before me. I _love_ him _more_ than Ican say, and I shall do everything in my power to render the sacrificehe has made (for a _sacrifice_ in my opinion it is) as small as Ican. He seems to have a very great tact--a very necessary thing in hisposition. These last few days have passed like a dream to me, and Iam so much bewildered by it all that I know hardly how to write; but I_do_ feel _very_, _very_ happy. 

It is absolutely necessary that this determination of mine should beknown to _no one_ but yourself, and Uncle Ernest--till the meeting ofParliament--as it would be considered otherwise neglectful on my partnot to have assembled Parliament at once to have informed them ofit. .. . Lord Melbourne, whom I of course have consulted about the wholeaffair, quite approves my choice, and expresses great satisfactionat the event, which he thinks in every way highly desirable. LordMelbourne has acted in this business, as he has always done towardsme, with the greatest kindness and affection. 

We also think it better, and Albert quite approves of it, thatwe should be married very soon after Parliament meets, about thebeginning of February; and indeed, loving Albert as I do, I cannotwish it should be delayed. My feelings are a _little_ changed, I mustsay, since last Spring, when I said I couldn't _think_ of marrying for_three or four years_; but seeing Albert has changed all this. 

Pray, dearest Uncle, forward these two letters to Uncle Ernest(to whom I beg you will enjoin _strict_ secrecy, and explain thesedetails, which I have not time to do) and to faithful Stockmar. 

I think you might tell Louise of it, but none of her family. I shouldwish to keep the dear young gentlemen here till the end of next month. Ernest's sincere pleasure gave me great delight. He does so adoredearest Albert. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _16th October 1839. _

Lord Melbourne will be ready to wait upon your Majesty at a littlebefore one. 

Lord Melbourne reads with great satisfaction your Majesty's expressionof feeling, as your Majesty's happiness must ever be one of LordMelbourne's first objects and strongest interests. 

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD'S SATISFACTION]

[Pageheading: AUSTRIA AND THE PORTE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

WIESBADEN, _24th October 1839. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --Nothing could have given me greater pleasurethan your dear letter. I had, when I saw your decision, almost thefeeling of old Zacharias[61]--"Now lettest Thou Thy servant departin peace"! Your choice had been for these last years my conviction ofwhat might and would be _best_ for your happiness; and just because Iwas convinced of it, and knowing how _strangely_ fate often _deranges_what one tries to bring about as being the best plan one could fixupon, _the maximum of a good arrangement_, I feared that it would_not_ happen. In your position, which may and will, perhaps, becomein future even more difficult in a political point of view, _you couldnot exist_ without having a _happy_ and an _agreeable intérieur_. 

And I am much deceived--which I think I am not--or you will findin Albert just the very qualities and dispositions which areindispensable for your happiness, and _which will suit your owncharacter, temper, and mode of life_. You say most amiably that youconsider it a sacrifice on the part of Albert. This is true in manypoints, because his position will be a difficult one; but much, I maysay _all_, will depend on your affection for him. If _you love him, and are kind to him_, he will easily bear the burthen of the position;and there is a steadiness and at the same time cheerfulness in hischaracter which will facilitate this. I think your plans excellent. If Parliament had been called at an unusual time it would make themuncomfortable, and if, therefore, they receive the communication atthe opening of the Session, it will be best. The marriage, as you say, might then follow as closely as possible. 

Lord Melbourne has shown himself the _amiable_ and _excellent_ man Ialways took him for. Another man in his position, instead of _your_happiness, might have merely looked to his own personal views andimaginary interests. Not so our good friend; he saw what was best _foryou_, and I feel it deeply to his praise. 

Your keeping the cousins next month with you strikes me as a very goodplan. It will even show that you had sufficient opportunity of judgingof Albert's character. .. . 

On the 22nd, Prince Metternich came to see me. He was very kind, andtalked most confidentially about political affairs, particularly theOriental concerns. [62] M. De Brunnow had been with him. The short ofhis views is this: he wishes that the Powers could be _unanimous_, as he sees in this the best chance of avoiding measures of violenceagainst the Pasha of Egypt, which he considers _dangerous_, either as_not_ sufficiently effective, or of a nature to bring on complicationsmost earnestly to be avoided, such as making use of Russian troops. Austria naturally would like to bring about the best possiblearrangement for the Porte, but it will adhere to any arrangement orproposition which can be agreed upon by England and France. He is, however, positive that Candia must be given back to the Porte, itsposition being too threatening, and therefore constantly alarming thePorte. He made me write the import of our conversation to King LouisPhilippe, which I did send after him to Frankfort, where he was toforward it to Paris. Perhaps you will have the goodness to communicatethis political scrap to good Lord Melbourne with my best regards. Hespoke in praise of Lord Beauvale. [63] The Prince is better, but grownvery old and looking tired. It gave me great pleasure to see himagain. 

I drink the waters now four days, and can therefore not yet judge oftheir good or bad effects. My palpitations are rather increased here;if my stupid heart will get diseased I shall soon be departing forsome other world. I would it could be soon then. 

Till further orders I shall say nothing to your Mother, Charles, orFeodore. 

Now I will conclude with my best blessings, and remain, my dearest andmost beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 61: An obvious slip for Simeon. ]

 [Footnote 62: _See_ Introductory Notes for 1839 and 1840. (to Ch. VIII and Ch. IX)]

 [Footnote 63: Frederick Lamb, younger brother of Lord Melbourne, Ambassador Extraordinary at Vienna, who had recently been made a Peer. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S HAPPINESS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th October 1839. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Your most kind and most welcome letter of the 24tharrived yesterday, and gave me very, very great pleasure. I was sureyou would be satisfied and pleased with our proceedings. 

Before I proceed further, I wish just to mention one or twoalterations in the plan of announcing the event. 

As Parliament has _nothing_ whatever to say respecting the marriage, can neither approve nor disapprove it (I mean in a manner which might_affect_ it), it is now proposed that, as soon as the cousins are gone(which they now intend to do on the 12th or 14th of November, as timepresses), I should assemble all the Privy Councillors and announce tothem my intention. .. . 

Oh! dear Uncle, I _do_ feel so happy! I do so adore Albert! he isquite an angel, and so very, very kind to me, and seems so fond of me, which touches me much. I trust and hope I shall be able to make himas happy as he _ought_ to be! I cannot bear to part from him, for wespend such happy, delightful hours together. 

Poor Ernest has been suffering since Wednesday last with the jaundice, which is very distressing and troublesome, though not alarming. .. . Ilove him dearly too, and look upon him quite as a brother. 

What you say about Lord Melbourne has given me great pleasure; it isvery just and very true. There are not many _such_ honest kind friendsto be found in this world. He desires me to say that he is deeplysensible of your good opinion, and that he can have no other objectthan that which he considers best to secure my happiness, which isclosely connected with the well-being of the country. 

I am glad you saw Prince Metternich, and that you were satisfied withthe interview. 

I hope and trust you may derive much benefit from your stay atWiesbaden. Pray name me to good Stockmar, and believe me, always, yourmost devoted Niece and Child, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: CONGRATULATIONS]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _9th November 1839. _

MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA, --Your Uncle has already told you, I trust, with what feelings of deep affection and gratitude I received the so_interesting_ and _important_ communication which you permitted himto make to me; but I was longing for an opportunity to speak to youmyself of the great subject which fills now our hearts, and to tellyou how very grateful I have been, I am, and will ever be, for theconfidence and trust which you so kindly placed in me. All I cansay is that you did full justice to my feelings, for _nothing_ couldinterest _more_ my heart than _your_ marriage, my most dearly lovedVictoria, and I could not have heard even of that of Clémentine with_more_ anxious affection and sisterly love. I cannot really tell you_with words_ how deeply and strongly I was moved and affected by thegreat news itself, and by your dear, unaffected, confiding, happyletter. When I received it I could do nothing but cry, and sayinternally, "May God bless her now and ever!" Ah! may God bless you, my most beloved Victoria! may He shower on you His best blessings, fulfil _all_ your heart's wishes and hopes, and let you enjoy for_many, many years_ the happiness which the dearest ties of affection_alone_ can give, and which is the only _real_ one, the only worthy ofthe name in this uncertain and transitory world!

I have seen much of dear Albert two years ago, I have watched him, asyou may well think, with particular care, attention, and interest, andalthough he was very young then, I am well convinced that he is notonly fit for the situation which he is now called to fulfil, but, whatis still more important in my eyes, that he has _all those qualities_of the heart and the mind which can give and ensure happiness. I thinkeven that his disposition is particularly well calculated to suityours, and I am fully confident that you will be both happy together. What you tell me of your fear of not being worthy of him, and able tomake him sufficiently happy, is for me but a proof more of it. Deepaffection makes us always diffident and _very humble_. Those that welove stand so high in our own esteem, and are in our opinion so muchabove us and all others that we naturally feel unworthy of them andunequal to the task of making them happy: but there is, I think, amingled charm in this feeling, for although we regret not to bewhat we should wish to be for them, feeling and acknowledging thesuperiority of those we love and must always love and respect, is agreat satisfaction, and an increasing and everlasting one. You willfeel it, I am sure, as well as I do. .. . 

You will excuse my blots and hurried scribbling when I will tell youthat in order to profit of the private messenger which goes to-morrowmorning I write to you at ten in the evening, a thing quite unusualfor me, and even rather forbidden: but after having been deprived ofexpending my heart for so many days, I could not _not_ avail myself ofthe present opportunity. When I write to you by the ordinary messengerI will continue to be _silent_; but I trust you will permit me tosay some time a word, when a safe opportunity presents itself, for myheart is with you more than I can tell. I would that I could see you, when it could be, for an hour. I remain, my most beloved Victoria, ever and ever your most affectionate

LOUISE. 

[Pageheading: THE ANNOUNCEMENT]

_Queen Victoria to the Duke of Sussex. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th November 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --The affection which you have shown me makes me feelcertain that you will take interest in an event which so nearlyconcerns the future happiness of my life; I cannot, therefore, delayany longer to inform you of my intended marriage with my CousinAlbert, the merits of whose character are so well known by all whoare acquainted with him, that I need say no more than that I feel asassured of my own happiness as I can be of anything in this world. 

As it is not to be publicly known, I beg you not to mention it exceptto our own Family. 

I hope you are well and enjoying yourself. Believe me, always, youraffectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. [64]

 [Footnote 64: Similar letters with slight variations were written to the Duke of Cambridge, the Princess Augusta, the Princess Sophia, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess Sophia Matilda, the King of Hanover, and the Princess Elizabeth (Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg). ]

_Queen Victoria to Queen Adelaide. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _14th November 1839. _

MY DEAR AUNT, --Your constant kindness and the affection you have evershown me make me certain that you will take much interest in an eventwhich so nearly concerns the future happiness of my life; I cannot, therefore, any longer delay to inform you of my intended marriage withmy Cousin Albert. The merits of his character are so well known to allwho are acquainted with him, that I need say no more than that I feelas assured of my own happiness as I can be of anything here below, andonly hope that I may be able to make him as happy as he deserves tobe. It was both my duty and my inclination to tell you of this assoon as it was determined upon; but, as it is not to be yet publiclyannounced I beg you not to mention it except to our own Family. Ithank you much for your kind letter, and rejoice to hear you haveenjoyed yourself so much. Believe me, always, your very affectionateNiece, VICTORIA R. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _18th November 1839. _

The Queen just writes two lines to send Lord Melbourne theaccompanying civil letter from the Queen Dowager, and to give him anaccount of the visit of the Cambridges. They were all very kind andcivil, George grown but not embellished, and much less reserved withthe Queen, and evidently happy to be _clear_ of me. He gave a veryindifferent account of the King of Greece, but a favourable one of theQueen. 

The Duchess said she had expected the Queen would marry Albert, andwas not surprised at the event. They were very discreet and asked noquestions, but described the Duchess of Gloucester to be _suffering_much from the necessity of keeping the secret. 

The weather cleared up, and the Queen has just returned from a walk. She hopes Lord Melbourne got safe to London in spite of the wetand the water on the road; and she hopes he will take great care ofhimself. She would be thankful if he would let her know to-morrow ifhe will dine with her also on Thursday or not. 

[Pageheading: LETTERS TO PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th November 1839_. 

MY DEAR UNCLE, --Many thanks for your kind letter of the 5th, receivedlast week. I am in a great hurry, and therefore have only time towrite to you a line to tell you, first, that on the 15th I wroteto all the Royal Family announcing the event to them, and that theyanswered all very kindly and civilly; the Duchess of Cambridgeand Augusta, with the Duke and George, came over on purpose tocongratulate me yesterday; secondly, that the marriage is to be_publicly announced_ in an Open Council on the 23rd, at BuckinghamPalace, where I am going to-morrow. I return here _after_ the Councilon the 23rd. I am so happy to think I need not then conceal myfeelings any longer. I have also written to the King of Hanover andthe Landgravine, [65] and to all our relations abroad. I hope, dearUncle, you will not have _ill-treated_ my dearest Albert! I am veryanxious to hear from him from Wiesbaden. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 65: Princess Elizabeth (1770-1840), daughter of George III. And widow of the Landgrave Frederick Joseph Louis of Hesse-Homburg. ]

[The following extracts of letters from the Queen to Prince Albertwere written partly in English and partly in German. The Englishportions are printed in italics, the German, translated, in ordinarytype. These letters are all written in terms of profound affection, which deepened very shortly into complete and absolute devotion to thePrince. ]

_Queen Victoria to Prince Albert. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _21st November 1839. _

. .. It is desired here that the matter should be declared at Coburgas soon as possible, and immediately after that I shall send you theOrder. [66]

_Your rank will be settled just before you come over, as also your__rank in the Army. _ Everything will be very easily arranged. LordMelbourne showed me yesterday the _Declaration_, which is very simpleand nice. I will send it you as soon as possible. .. . 

_Lord Melbourne told me yesterday, that the whole Cabinet are stronglyof opinion that you should NOT be made a Peer. _ I will write that toUncle. .. . 

 [Footnote 66: The Garter. ]

[Pageheading: THE RELIGIOUS QUESTION]

_22nd November 1839. _

. .. Lord Melbourne has just been with me, and greatly wishes theDeclaration to be made at Coburg as soon as possible. _He also desiredme to ask you to see if you can . .. A short History of the House ofSaxe-Coburg, who our direct ancestors were, and what part they took inthe Protestant, or rather Lutheran, religion; he wishes to hear thisin order to make people here know exactly who your ancestors are, fora few stupid people_ here _try_ to say you are a _Catholic, but nobodywill believe it. _ Send (it) as soon as possible; perhaps good Mr. Schenk would write it out in English. .. . 

_As there is nothing to be settled for me, we require no treaty ofmarriage; but if you should require anything to be settled, the bestwill be to send it here. Respecting the succession, in case Ernestshould die without children, it would not do to stipulate now, butyour second son, if you had one, should reside at Coburg. That caneasily be arranged if the thing should happen hereafter, and theEnglish would not like it to be arranged now. .. . _

[Pageheading: THE DECLARATION]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd November 1839. _

. .. Just arrived here, 5. 30. Everything has gone off very well. TheCouncil[67] was held at two o'clock; more than a hundred persons werepresent, and _there_ I had to read the Declaration. _It was rather anawful moment, to be obliged to announce this to so many people, manyof whom were quite strangers, but they told me I did it very well, andI felt so happy to do it. _

Good Lord Melbourne was deeply moved about it, and Uxbridge likewise;it lasted only two or three minutes. _Everybody, they tell me, is verymuch pleased, and I wish you could have seen the crowds of people whocheered me loudly as I left the Palace for Windsor. _ I am so happyto-day! oh, if only _you_ could be here! I wish that you were ableto participate in all the kindness which is shown to me. To-day I canonly send you the Declaration. [68] _The description of the whole_ Iwill send after this. .. . 

Send me as soon as possible the report of the announcement at Coburg. I wear your dear picture mornings and evenings, and wore it also atthe meeting of the _Conseil. _

 [Footnote 67: A Special Meeting of the Privy Council was held on the 23rd November, to receive the Queen's intimation of her engagement. The Queen wrote in her Journal:--

 "I went in; the room was full, but I hardly knew who was there. Lord M. I saw, looking at me with tears in his eyes, but he was not near me. I then read my short Declaration. I felt my hands shook, but I did not make one mistake. I felt more happy and thankful when it was over. "]

 [Footnote 68: J. W. Croker wrote to Lady Hardwicke:--

 "_24th November 1839. _

 ". .. She then unfolded a paper and read her Declaration, which you will, before this can reach you, have seen in the newspapers. I cannot describe to you with what a mixture of self-possession and feminine delicacy she read the paper. Her voice, which is naturally beautiful, was clear and untroubled; and her eye was bright and calm, neither bold nor downcast, but firm and soft. There was a blush on her cheek which made her look both handsomer and more interesting; and certainly she _did_ look as interesting and as handsome as any young lady I ever saw. 

 "I happened to stand behind the Duke of Wellington's chair, and caught her eye twice as she directed it towards him, which I fancy she did with a good-natured interest. . .. The crowd, which was not great but very decent, I might almost say respectable, expressed their approbation of the Duke of Wellington and Sir R. Peel, and their disapprobation of the Ministers very loudly. Lord John and Lord Normanby, they tell me, were positively hooted. .. . Lord Melbourne . .. Seemed to me to look _careworn_, and on the whole the meeting had a sombre air. "--_Croker Papers_, ii. 359. ]

[Pageheading: THE PEERAGE QUESTION]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

WIESBADEN, _22nd November 1839. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I was delighted with your dear little letter. You write these kind of letters with a very great facility, and theyare generally so natural and clever, that it makes one very happyto receive them. I had written less of late, because I thought youoccupied more agreeably than to read my letters. I have on purposekept back a courier, to be able to send you the latest news from hereof M. Albert. The young people arrived here only on the 20th, in themorning, having very kindly stopped at Bonn. I find them looking well, particularly Albert; it proves that happiness is an excellent remedy, and keeps people in better health than any other. He is much attachedto you, and moved when he speaks of you. He is, besides, in greatspirits and gaiety, and full of fun; he is a very amiable companion. 

Concerning the peerage, that is a matter to be considered at anytime; the only reason why I do wish it is, that Albert's foreignershipshould disappear as much as possible. I have, in differentcircumstances to be sure, suffered greatly from my having declinedconditionally the peerage when it was offered me in 1816. [69] YourUncle[70] writes to you in German: as far as I understood him, hespeaks of the necessity of a marriage treaty; that is a matter ofcourse. There is, however, something additional to be regulatedconcerning the possible succession in the Coburg-Gotha dominions, there being betwixt it and Albert but good Ernest. Some regulationbecomes therefore necessary, at least reasonable. The Duke wishes alsoto know if the treaty is to be made in England or in Germany. Should the last of the two be fixed upon, he thinks that one of yourMinisters abroad would be the proper person for it. Ever, my dearVictoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 69: The Dukedom of Kendal was offered to, and, after consideration, declined by, Prince Leopold. ]

 [Footnote 70: The Duke of Saxe-Coburg (Ernest I. ). ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th November 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I thank you for your kind letter which I receivedthe day before yesterday; but I fear you must have been very dull atWiesbaden. .. . 

Everything went off uncommonly well on the 23rd, but it was ratherformidable;[71] eighty-two Privy Councillors present; everybody verymuch pleased--and I was loudly greeted on leaving the Palace _after_the Council. 

The _whole Cabinet_ agree with me in being _strongly_ of opinion thatAlbert should _not_ be a Peer; indeed, I see everything against it and_nothing_ for it; the English are very jealous at the idea of Albert'shaving any political power, or meddling with affairs here--which Iknow from himself he will _not_ do. 

As Wiesbaden is half-way (or thereabouts) to Coburg, I take theliberty of enclosing a large letter to Albert, which I beg you to sendon to him. 

We are quite flooded here, and the road to Datchet is quiteimpassable. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 71: Greville mentions that the Queen's hands trembled so, that she could hardly read the Declaration which she was holding. ]

[Pageheading: BRITISH SUSCEPTIBILITIES]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_27th November 1839. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. .. . 

A little civility would be well bestowed upon Lord and LadyTankerville, and might not be without its effect, but if your Majestydoes not like it, it cannot be helped. 

The others also shall, if possible, be kept in good humour. 

The misrepresentation, respecting Prince Alexander[72] your Majestywill see corrected in the _Morning Chronicle_ of that morning, but ofcourse your Majesty will not expect that this contradiction will putan end to bitter and offensive remarks. It will now be said that, knowing the true religion, he has given over his children to thefalse, and that he has sacrificed their eternal welfare to his ownworldly objects. [73] There is nothing which cannot be turned in anhostile and malignant manner by malignant and perverted ingenuity. 

Can your Majesty inform Lord Melbourne what is the arrangementrespecting King Leopold's children? They are, Lord Melbourne presumes, to be brought up Roman Catholics. 

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes to hear that your Majesty is better andmore free from pain. He is himself very well. 

 [Footnote 72: Prince Alexander of Würtemberg. ]

 [Footnote 73: See _ante_, p. 150. (Ch. VIII, Footnote 22)]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _27th November 1839. _

_The English are very jealous of any foreigner interfering in thegovernment of this country, and have already in some of the papers(which are friendly to me and you) expressed a hope that you would notinterfere. Now, though I know you never would, still, if you were aPeer, they would all say, the Prince meant to play a political part. _I am certain you will understand this, but it is much better not tosay anything more about it now, and to let the whole matter rest. The Tories make a great disturbance (saying) that you are _a Papist_, because the words "_a Protestant Prince_" have not been put into theDeclaration--a thing which would be quite unnecessary, seeing that I_cannot_ marry a _Papist_. .. . 

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

_29th November 1839. _

I had a talk with Lord Melbourne last night. He thinks your view aboutthe Peerage question quite correct. Uncle seems to me, after all, muchmore reasonable about it. We had a good talk this morning aboutyour arrangements for our marriage, and also about your officialattendants, and he[74] has told me that young Mr. Anson (his PrivateSecretary), who is with him, greatly wishes to be with you. I am verymuch in favour of it, because he is an excellent young man, and verymodest, very honest, very steady, very well-informed, and will be of_much use_ to you. He is not a member of the House of Commons, whichis also convenient; so long as Lord Melbourne is in office he remainshis Secretary--but William Cowper[75] was also for some time Secretaryto his Uncle, and at the same time my Groom-in-Waiting. Lord Melbournefeared it was not advisable for you to have Mr. Anson, and also hisuncle, but I told him that did not matter if the people are fit forthe posts. .. . 

 [Footnote 74: Lord Melbourne. ]

 [Footnote 75: Afterwards William Cowper-Temple and Lord Mount Temple, author of the well-known amendment to the Education Act of 1870. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN OF PORTUGAL]

_Queen Maria II. Of Portugal to Queen Victoria. _

LISBONNE, _1 Décembre 1839. _

MA BIEN CHÈRE VICTOIRE, --Hier ayant reçu la communication de votremariage avec Albert, je ne veux pas tarder un seul instant à vousen féliciter sur votre heureux choix, et en même temps vous prier decroire aux v[oe]ux sincères que je forme pour votre bonheur avec votreexcellent c[oe]ur il n'est pas possible le contraire. Permettez que jevous dise que votre choix ne m'a pas dû étonner, car sachant combienAlbert est bon, vous ne pouviez pas choisir un autre dont vous fussiezaussi sûre qu'il puisse vous rendre aussi heureuse comme vous leméritez, chère Victoire. Pour que tous mes souhaits soient exaucés jevous désire un bonheur aussi complet que l'est le mien. Qu'Albert soitcomme Ferdinand et vous serez parfaitement heureuse. Adieu! ma chèreVictoire. Je vous prie de me croire, votre dévouée Cousine, MARIE. 

Ferdinand vous fait dire mille choses. 

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S HOUSEHOLD]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th December 1839. _

As to your wish about your gentlemen, my dear Albert, I must tell youquite honestly that it will not do. You may entirely rely upon me thatthe people who will be about you will be absolutely pleasant people, of high standing and good character. _These gentlemen will not be incontinual attendance on you; only on great occasions, and to accompanyyou when you go anywhere, and to dinners, etc. Seymour is yourconfidential attendant, and also Schenk and Anson, [76] whom Lehzenhas written to you about. _

_Old Sir George Anson has been told of your gracious wish to have himas Groom of the Bedchamber and is delighted. _

_I_ can only have _Lords_, and they will not be _Peers_, but _Lords_, the eldest sons of Dukes or Marquesses, or Earls (Counts), and who asfar as possible are not in Parliament, for then they need not change, _but your people are appointed by you and not by me (nominally), andtherefore, unless they were to vote against my Government (which wouldbe awkward), they need not change. You may rely upon my care that youshall have proper people, and not idle and not too young, and LordMelbourne has already mentioned several to me who would be verysuitable. .. . _

I have received to-day an ungracious letter from Uncle Leopold. Heappears to me to be nettled because I no longer ask for his advice, but dear Uncle is given to believe that he must rule the roasteverywhere. However, that is not a necessity. As he has written toMelbourne, Melbourne will reply to him on every point, and will alsotell him that Stockmar ought to come here as soon as possible toarrange everything about the treaty. That will be a very good thing, because Stockmar understands all English things so well. 

The _Second_, as you always called Palmerston, is to be married withinthe next few days to Lady Cowper, the sister of my Premier (_Primus_);I have known this for a long time, but Melbourne asked me not to tellit to any one. They are, both of them, above fifty, and I think thatthey are quite right so to act, because Palmerston, since the deathof his sisters, is quite alone in the world, and _Lady C. _ is a veryclever woman, and _much_ attached to him; still, I feel sure it willmake you smile. 

 [Footnote 76: Mr George Anson had been Private Secretary to Lord Melbourne; it was on Lord Melbourne's recommendation that the Queen appointed him Private Secretary to Prince Albert. The Prince was inclined to resent the selection, and to think that in the case of so confidential an official he should have been allowed to make his own nomination. But they became firm friends, and the Prince found Mr Anson's capacity, common sense, and entire disinterestedness of the greatest value to him. Later he became keeper of the Prince's Privy Purse, and died in 1849. ]

(_Continued on the 9th_). --To-day I have had a _Conseil_, and then Iknighted the Mayor of Newport[77] (who distinguished himself so muchin that _riot of the Chartists_[78]); he is a very timid, modest man, and was very happy when I told him orally how exceedingly satisfied Iam with his conduct. .. . The officers have been rewarded too. .. . I amplaguing you already with tiresome politics, but you will in that finda proof of my [confidence] love, [79] because I must share with youeverything that rejoices me, everything that vexes or grieves me, andI am certain you will take your part in it. .. . 

To-day I saw Lord William Russell--you know him, don't you? I forgotto tell you that you will have a _great Officer of State_ at the headof your Household, who is called the _Groom of the Stole_; it is aposition in the Court for prestige only, without any business; he willbe a _Peer_. .. . 

 [Footnote 77: Mr T. Phillips, the Mayor of Newport, Monmouthshire, had behaved with great coolness and courage during the riot on 4th November. He read the Riot Act among showers of bullets before ordering the troops to fire. ]

 [Footnote 78: Frost, Williams, and others, afterwards convicted at Monmouth. ]

 [Footnote 79: The Queen had begun the word "confidence" but struck it out and substituted "love. "]

(_Continued 10th December_). --I am very impatient at your bust nothaving yet arrived; the Duchess of Sutherland wrote to me she had seenit in Rome, and it was so beautiful!. .. 

Who has made the little copy which you sent me, and who the original?Feodore writes to me so much about you. .. . 

We expect Queen Adelaide to-day, who will stay here until the dayafter to-morrow. Melbourne has asked me to enquire of you whetheryou know Lord Grosvenor? He is the eldest son of the Marquisof Westminster, and does not belong to any party; he is not inParliament. He is very pleasant, speaks German very well, and has beena good deal on the Continent. If he accepts, he might be one ofyour _gentlemen_. _Lord Melbourne is particularly desirous of doingeverything that is most agreeable to you. _ I have a request to make, too, viz. , that you will appoint poor Clark your _physician_; you neednot consult him unless you wish it. It is only an honorary title, andwould make him very happy. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE PROTESTANT QUESTION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th December 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --. .. I was quite miserable at not hearing from Albertfor _ten_ days; such a long silence is quite insupportable for anyone in my position towards Albert, and I was overjoyed on receivingyesterday the _most_ dear, _most_ affectionate, delightful long letterfrom him. He writes so beautifully, and so simply and unaffectedly. I hope, dear Uncle, you received my last letter (quite a packet) forAlbert, on the 5th or 6th? I send you another now. I fear I am veryindiscreet about these letters, but I have so much to tell him, andit will only last two months, so that I trust you will forgive it, andforward them. 

I mentioned the topics you spoke of to me in your letter to our goodfriend Lord Melbourne, and as he is writing, I leave it to him toexplain to you, as he writes so much better than I do. He will explainto you _why_ the word Protestant was left out in the Declaration, which I think was quite right; for do what one will, nothing willplease these Tories. .. . I shall be delighted to see Stockmar here, forso many reasons, and the quicker he comes the better. .. . 

I have a favour to ask you, dear Uncle, which I hope you will grant, unless it should be _indiscreet_ in me. It is, if you have still gotAunt Charlotte's bust at Claremont, if you would give it to me to putin the Gallery here, where you would see it _oftener_ than you do atClaremont, and I am so anxious there should be one of her _here_. 

We have _vile_ weather, cold and foggy; such fogs we have here! I moveto London for good on the 9th or 10th of January. Ever your devotedNiece, VICTORIA R. 

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th December 1839. _

. .. I like Lady A---- very much too, only she is a little _strict andparticular_, and too severe towards others, which is not right; forI think one ought always to be indulgent towards other people, _as Ialways think, if we had not been well brought up and well taken careof, we might also have gone astray_. That is always my feeling. Yetit is always right to show that one does not like to see what isobviously wrong; but it is very dangerous to be _too_ severe, and I amcertain that as a rule such people always greatly regret that in theiryouth they have not been as careful as they ought to have been. I haveexplained this so badly, and written it so badly, that I fear you willhardly be able to make it out. 

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th December 1839. _

. .. Again no letter from you!. .. Lord Melbourne left here thismorning, but comes back to-morrow evening, after the wedding of hissister. I hope he will remain here, because I am fond of him, andbecause he has a share in all my happiness, and is the only man withwhom I can speak without _gêne_ on everything, which I cannot do withmy Court. 

"Islay"[80] is still plagued by him every evening--a thing which hemuch enjoys--and constantly begs for the spectacles. I forgot to tellyou that Karl has given me a pretty little Rowley, who likewise livesin the house. The multitude of dogs is really terrible!

The ceremony of Declaration must have been very fine and touching, andI am most happy that the good people of Coburg are so pleased with ourmarriage. .. . 

 [Footnote 80: A pet dog of the Queen's. ]

_Dec. 17th. _--I have spoken to Lord M. About your wish, and hesays--what is my own opinion too--_that your people ought to be asmuch as possible out of Parliament when they have hardly any politics, which is the best thing--as your Household must not form a contrastto mine--and therefore you could not have violent Tories amongst yourpeople; but you may be quite certain that both I and Lord Melbournewill take the greatest care to select respectable and distinguishedpeople, and people of good character. Perhaps Lord Grosvenor may beyour Groom of the Stole, though he is no Peer; but his rank and familyare so high, that he would do very well; and, besides, not belongingto any party, and being out of Parliament, is such a great advantage. _

The design of our Arms without _supporters_ is unfortunately notfinished, but I send you a little drawing which I have made of itmyself. The report of Sir William Woods I beg you will send back, butthe Arms you can keep. 

I add a little pin as a small Christmas present. I hope you willsometimes wear it. 

[Pageheading: THE PROTESTANT QUESTION]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _14th December 1839. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I lived in the hope of receiving some lettersfor you from Albert, but nothing is arrived to-day. Your dear longletter gave me great pleasure. Before I answer some parts of it, Iwill say a few words on Lord Melbourne's letter. Perhaps you will beso good to tell him that it gratified me much. It is the letter of anhonest and an amiable statesman, practical and straightforward. Inthe omission of the word "Protestant" he was probably right, and it isequally probable that they would have abused him--maybe even more ifhe had put it in. There is only this to say, however: the Ernestinebranch of the Saxon family has been, there is no doubt, the real causeof the establishment of Protestantism in Germany, and consequently ingreat parts of Northern Europe. This same line became a martyr to thatcause, and was deprived of almost all its possessions in consequenceof it. 

Recently there have been two cases of Catholic marriages, but the mainbranch has remained, and is, in fact, very sincerely Protestant. BothErnest and Albert are much attached to it, and when deviations tookplace they were connected more with new branches transplanted out ofthe parent soil than with what more properly must be considered as thereigning family. 

The Peerage question may remain as it is, but it will not be deniedthat the great object must be to make Albert as English as possible, and that nothing will render this more difficult than a foreignname. .. . 

I shall be most happy to see poor Charlotte's bust in the Gallery atWindsor, and it is kind of you to have had the thought. She was a highand noble-minded creature, and her affection and kindness for mevery great. She had placed the most unbounded confidence in me; ourprinciple had been never to let a single day pass over any littlesubject of irritation. The only subjects of that sort we had wereabout the family, particularly the Regent, and then the old QueenCharlotte. Now I must conclude with my best love. Ever, my dearestVictoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: A MISSING LETTER]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th December 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --Many thanks for your two most kind letters. Isuppose I _may_ send for Aunt Charlotte's bust, for which I am mostgrateful--and say I have your authority to do so? You are very kind tothink about my stupid health; I don't think I _ever_, at least notfor _very_ long, have _walked_ so regularly as I have done this lastmonth--out in fog, and mist, and wind, and cold. But I cannot beotherwise than agitated; getting _no_ letter makes me ill, and_getting_ them excites me. .. . 

I have much to write, and therefore cannot make this a long letter, but _one_ thing more I must mention. The very day of the Declarationin Council, on the 23rd ult. , I sent off a letter to Albert, by Vande Weyer, saying it was to be forwarded _sans délai_ to Coburg; now, Albert _never_ has received that letter, which was a long one, andthanks me for two, of the 26th and 29th. This vexes me much, andI can't help thinking the letter is lying either at Wiesbaden orBrussels. Would you graciously enquire, for I should not like it to belost. 

Forgive my writing such a letter so full of _myself_. Ever, dearestUncle, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S SECRETARY]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE. 

_The 22nd. _--I have but little time to write. The Duchess ofSutherland is here, who admires you much, and is very sympathetic. .. . 

_The 23rd. _--Your letter of the 15th just received. I will now answerat once. _It is, as you rightly suppose, my greatest, my most anxiouswish to do everything most agreeable to you, but I must differ withyou respecting Mr Anson. .. . What I said about Anson giving you advice, means, that if you like to ask him, he can and will be of the greatestuse to you, as he is a very well-informed person. He will leave LordMelbourne as soon as he is appointed about you. With regard to yourlast objection, that it would make you a party man if you took theSecretary of the Prime Minister as your Treasurer, I do not agree init; for, though I am very anxious you should not appear to belong to aParty, still it is necessary that your Household should not form a toostrong contrast to mine, else they will say, "Oh, we know the Princesays he belongs to no party, but we are sure he is a Tory!" Thereforeit is also necessary that it should appear that you went with me inhaving some of your people who are staunch Whigs; but Anson is notin Parliament, and never was, and therefore he is not a violentpolitician. Do not think because I urge this, Lord M. Prefers it; onthe contrary, he never urged it, and I only do it as I know it is foryour own good. _ You will pardon this long story. _It will also not doto wait till you come to appoint all your people. I am distressedto tell you what I fear you do not like_, but it is necessary, mydearest, most excellent Albert. Once more I tell you that you canperfectly rely on me in these matters. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE TORIES]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1839. _

. .. The Historical Sketch has interested us greatly; Lord Melbourneread it through immediately. I greatly thank you also for thegenealogical tree you sent me. 

Now, my dearest, to be about what is _not so pleasant or amusing. I mean, now for business. I always think it safer to write that inEnglish, as I can explain myself better, and I hope you can read myEnglish, as I try to be very legible. I am much grieved that you feeldisappointed about my wish respecting your gentlemen, but very gladthat you consent to it, and that you feel confidence in my choice. Respecting the Treasurer, my dearest Albert, I have already writtenat great length in my last letter, so I will not say much more aboutit to-day, but I will just observe that, tho' I fully understand(indeed no one could feel more for you in the very trying position youwill be placed in than I do) your feelings, it is absolutely necessarythat an Englishman should be at the head of your affairs; therefore(tho' I will not force Mr. Anson on you) I ask you if it is not betterto take a man in whom I have confidence, and whom I know well enoughto trust perfectly, than a man who is quite a stranger, and whom Iknow nothing of?_

I am very glad that your father knows Lord Grosvenor. As to theTories, I am still in a rage;[81] they abuse and grumble incessantlyin the most incredible manner. 

I will tell good Lord Melbourne that you are very grateful. That youwill write to him is very nice of you, and makes me glad. I shallalways feel very happy if you, my dearest Albert, will be veryfriendly to this good and just man; and I am convinced that, when youwill know him more intimately, you will be as fond of him as I am. No one is more abused by bad people than Lord M. --_and nobody is soforgiving_. .. . 

I have just learned that my two uncles, the Dukes of Sussex andCambridge (_to whom Lord M. Had written_) _very willingly consent tolet you take precedence of them; it was, of course, necessary to askthem about it. .. . _

 [Footnote 81: _Lit. _ raging (_wuthend_). The phrase was a favourite one of King Leopold's, from whom the Queen had adopted it. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _27th December 1839. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --Just two words (though you don't deserve _half a one_, as your silence is unpardonable) to say I have just heard from Albert, who, I am glad to say, consents to _my_ choosing his people; so _oneessential_ point is gained, and we have only the Treasurer to carrynow. I am sure, as you are so anxious Albert should be thoroughlyEnglish, you will see how necessary it is that an Englishman should beat the head of his financial affairs. 

I see that you wrote to Lord Melbourne that you were glad to hear Itook more walking exercise, but I must tell you that ever since Ihave done so I sleep badly, and feel unwell! If the weather would onlyallow me to ride I should be quite well. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE AND LORD MELBOURNE]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th December 1839. _

. .. I here enclose Lord Melbourne's letter. I have read it, and _Ithink that nothing could be better; it is just what I told you, and itis the honest and impartial advice of a very clever, very honest, and very impartial man, whose_ greatest wish is to secure your andmy happiness. Follow this advice and you may be sure of success. LordMelbourne told me that he had it written on purpose in a clear hand, by one of his secretaries, as he thought and feared you would not beable to read his own hand, which I daresay would have been the case, as he writes a very peculiar hand; he has therefore only signed it. 

I saw to-day the Duke of Cambridge, who has shown me your letter, withwhich he is quite delighted--and, indeed, it is a very nice one. TheDuke told Lord Melbourne he had always greatly desired our marriage, and never thought of George; but that _I_ do not believe. 

I must conclude, my dearest, beloved Albert. Be careful as to yourvaluable health, and be assured that no one loves you as much as yourfaithful VICTORIA. 

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER IX

The marriage of the Queen and Prince Albert took place amid greatsplendour and general rejoicings on the 10th of February; the generalsatisfaction being unaffected by the tactless conduct of Ministerswho, by not acting in conjunction with the Opposition, had beendefeated on the question of the amount of the Prince's annuity, theHouse of Commons reducing it from £50, 000 to £30, 000. 

At home, the Privilege Question aroused great interest, a point whichfor months convulsed the Courts and Parliament being whether a report, ordered by the House to be printed, of a Committee appointed by theHouse, was protected by privilege against being the subject of anaction for libel. The Courts having decided that it was not, anAct was passed to alter the rule for the future, but meanwhile thesheriffs had been imprisoned by the House for executing the judgmentin the usual course. 

The Ministry tottered on, getting a majority of nine only on theirChina policy, and twenty-one on a direct vote of confidence. TheBill for the union of the two Canadas was, however, passed withoutdifficulty. 

An attempt by a barman named Oxford to assassinate the Queen onConstitution Hill fortunately failed, and Oxford was committed, aftertrial, to a lunatic asylum. In July, the prospect of an heir beingborn to the throne led to the passing of a Regency Bill, naming PrinceAlbert Regent, should the Queen die leaving issue; the Duke of Sussexalone entered a formal protest against it. 

Afghanistan continued unsettled, and Lord Auckland's policy seemedhardly justified by the unpopularity at Cabul of Shah Sooja; DostMahommed still made efforts to regain his position, but he ultimatelysurrendered to Sir William Macnaghten, the British Envoy at Cabul. The disputes with China continued, and hostilities broke out; Britishships proceeded to China, and Chusan was captured. 

In France an attempt against the Government was made by LouisNapoleon, who landed at Boulogne in a British steamer, was captured, and sentenced to life imprisonment. More serious difficulties betweenthis country and France arose out of Eastern affairs. The Four Powers, England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, had addressed an ultimatum toMehemet, requiring him to evacuate North Syria, France declining totake part in the conference on the subject. An Anglo-Austrian armyundertook to eject him, St Jean d'Acre was stormed, and France thrustinto a position of unwilling isolation. Thiers, who had been madeMinister, expected that Mehemet would be able to retain his conquests, and for a time it looked as though France would interfere to protecthim. Ultimately, in spite of some ostentatious preparations in France, peaceful counsels prevailed, and Thiers found it advisable to retirein favour of Guizot. 

In Holland, William I. (then sixty-seven) abdicated in favour of hisson, the Prince of Orange (William II. ). The need of a youngerand firmer ruler was the reason officially stated in the RoyalProclamation. The real reasons were probably the King's attachmentto the Roman Catholic Countess d'Oultremont, whom he now privatelymarried, and the humiliation he felt at the unfavourable terminationof the Belgian dispute. 

CHAPTER IX

1840

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th January 1840. _

STOCKMAR is here; I saw him yesterday and to-day, and have begged himto explain to you _all the Court affairs, and the affairs concerningthe Treaty_, in my name. He will explain to you the Treasury affair, and will do it much better than I should. I am very happy to see himagain, and to have him here; he can give such good advice to both ofus, and he understands England so fully. .. . Stocky (as I alwaysused to call him) is so sensible about everything, and is _so much_attached to you. 

I shall have no great dinners, because the large rooms in the upperstory here are not yet ready. My good old Primus[1] usually dineswith me three or four times a week, almost always on Sundays, _when Icannot invite other people to dinner, as it is not reckoned right herefor me to give dinners on Sunday, or to invite many people_. Your song(the bust has been mentioned before) is very fine; there is somethingtouching in it which I like so much. .. . 

 [Footnote 1: _I. E. _ Premier. ]

[Pageheading: OPENING OF PARLIAMENT]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th January 1840. _

This letter will be handed you by Torrington personally. I recommendyou not to leave late, so as to make the journey without hurry. I didnot go to church to-day; the weather is very cold, and I have to becareful not to catch cold before the 16th, because I open Parliamentin person. _This is always a nervous proceeding, and the announcementof my marriage at the beginning of my speech is really a very nervousand awful affair for me. I have never failed yet, and this is thesixth time that I have done it, and yet I am just as frightened as ifI had never done it before. They say that feeling of nervousnessis never got over, and that Wm. Pitt himself never got up to makea speech without thinking he should fail. But then I only read myspeech. _

I had to-day a visit from George[2] whom I received _alone_, and hewas very courteous. His Papa I have also seen. 

 [Footnote 2: Prince George of Cambridge. ]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th January 1840. _

. .. Yesterday just as I came home from the House of Lords, [3] Ireceived your dear letter of the 10th. I cannot understand at all whyyou have received no letters from me, seeing that I always wrote twicea week, regularly. .. . 

I observe with horror that I have not formally invited your father;though that is a matter of course. My last letter will have set thatright. I ought not to have written to you on picture notepaper, seeingthat we are in deep mourning for my poor Aunt, the Landgravine, [4] butit was quite impossible for me to write to you on mourning paper. .. . 

_But this will not interfere with our marriage in the least; themourning will be taken off for that day, and for two or three daysafter, and then put on again. _

Everything went off exceedingly well yesterday. There was an immensemultitude of people, and perhaps never, certainly not for a longtime, have I been received so well; and what is remarkable, I _wasnot nervous_, and read the speech really well. The Tories beganimmediately afterwards to conduct themselves very _badly_ and toplague us. But everyone praised you very much. Melbourne made a veryfine speech about you and your ancestors. To-day I receive theAddress of the House of Lords, and, perhaps, also that of the House ofCommons. 

 [Footnote 3: The Queen had opened Parliament in person, and announced her intended marriage. ]

 [Footnote 4: The Princess Elizabeth (born 1770), third daughter of George III. And widow of the Landgrave Frederick Joseph Louis of Hesse-Homburg. _See_ p. 195. (Ch. VIII, Footnote 65)]

[Pageheading: TORIES, WHIGS, AND RADICALS]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _21st January 1840. _

I am awaiting with immense impatience a letter from you. Here hardlyanything to relate to-day, because we are living in great retirement, until informed that my poor Aunt has been buried. With the exceptionof Melbourne and my own people, no one has dined for the last week. 

We are all of us very much preoccupied with politics. The Toriesreally are very astonishing; _as they cannot and dare not attack us inParliament, they do everything that they can to be personally rude tome. .. . The Whigs are the only safe and loyal people, and the Radicalswill also rally round their Queen to protect her from the Tories;but it is a curious sight to see those, who as Tories, used to piquethemselves upon their excessive loyalty, doing everything to degradetheir young Sovereign in the eyes of the people. Of course there areexceptions. _

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _31st January 1840. _

. .. You have written to me in one of your letters about our stay atWindsor, but, dear Albert, you have not at all understood the matter. _You forget, my dearest Love, that I am the Sovereign, and thatbusiness can stop and wait for nothing. Parliament is sitting, andsomething occurs almost every day, for which I may be required, and itis quite impossible for me to be absent from London; therefore twoor three days is already a long time to be absent. I am never easy amoment, if I am not on the spot, and see and hear what is going on, and everybody, including all my Aunts (who are very knowing in allthese things), says I must come out after the second day, for, as Imust be surrounded by my Court, I cannot keep alone. This is also myown wish in every way. _

Now as to the Arms: _as an English Prince you have no right, and UncleLeopold had no right to quarter the English Arms, but the Sovereignhas the power to allow it by Royal Command: this was done for UncleLeopold by the Prince Regent, and I will do it again for you. But itcan only be done by Royal Command. _

I will, therefore, without delay, have a seal engraved for you. 

You will certainly feel very happy too, at the news of the comingunion of my much-beloved Vecto[5] with Nemours. It gives me quiteinfinite pleasure, because then I can see the dear child morefrequently. 

I read in the newspaper that you, dear Albert, have received manyOrders; also that the Queen of Spain will send you the GoldenFleece. .. . 

Farewell, dearest Albert, and think often of thy faithful

VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 5: The Princess Victoire of Saxe-Coburg, cousin of Queen Victoria. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S GRANT]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _31st January 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I am most grateful for your long letter of the27th and 28th inst. I send a messenger to be able to answer quiteconfidentially. I must confess that I never saw anything _sodisgraceful_ than the discussion and vote in the Commons. [6] The wholemode and way in which those who opposed the grant treated thequestion was so extremely _vulgar_ and _disrespectful_, that I cannotcomprehend the Tories. The men who uphold the dignity of the Crown totreat their Sovereign in such a manner, on such an occasion! Even inprivate life the most sour and saturnine people relax and grow gayand mildly disposed on occasions like this. Clearly, as you are QueenRegnant, Albert's position is to all intents and purposes that of amale Queen Consort, and the same privileges and charges ought to beattached to it which were attached to Queen Adelaide's position. Thegiving up the income which the Queen-Dowager came into, and which Ihope and trust Albert would never have, or have had, any chance ofhaving had himself, was in reality giving up a thing which _custom_had sanctioned. That Prince George of Denmark[7] was considered tobe in the same position as a Queen Consort there can be, I think, no doubt about, and when one considers the immense difference in thevalue of money then and now, it renders matters still more striking. I must say such conduct in Parliament I did _not expect_, and theless when I consider that your Civil List was rather curtailed thanotherwise, perhaps not quite fairly. I rejoice to think that I inducedLord Melbourne to propose to you not to accede to the giving up ofthe Duchy of Lancaster. Parliament did not deserve it, and by goodmanagement I think something may be made of it. 

Another thing which made me think that Parliament would have actedwith more decency, is that I return to the country now near £40, 000a year, _not because_ I thought my income _too large_, as worthy SirRobert Peel said, but from motives of political delicacy, which atleast might be acknowledged on such occasions. I was placed by mymarriage treaty in the position of a Princess of Wales, which inreality it was, though not yet by law, there existing a possibility ofa Prince of Wales as long as George IV. Lived. I can only conclude bycrying _shame, shame_!. .. 

I hope and trust you will not be too much worried with all theseunpleasant things, and that Albert will prove a comforter and supportto you. And so good-bye for to-day. Ever, my dearest Victoria, yourdevoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 6: The Ministers proposed an income of £50, 000 a year for the Prince--the Conservatives and Radicals united on an amendment reducing it to £30, 000, which was carried by a majority of 104. ]

 [Footnote 7: The Consort of Queen Anne. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE AT BRUSSELS]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _1st February 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I hope you will be pleased with me, as I send amessenger on purpose to inform you of Albert's arrival. He will writehimself this night, though rather inclined to surrender himself toMorpheus. 

He looks well and handsome, but a little interesting, being very muchirritated by what happened in the House of Commons. He does notcare about the money, but he is much shocked and exasperated by thedisrespect of the thing, as he well may. 

I do not yet know the exact day of their departure, but I suppose itwill be on the 5th, to be able to cross on the 6th. I have alreadyhad some conversation with him, and mean to talk _à fond_ to himto-morrow. My wish is to see you both happy and thoroughly unitedand of one mind, and I trust that both of you will ever find in me afaithful, honest, and attached friend. 

As it is eleven o'clock at night, I offer you my respects, and remain, ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

Your poor Aunt fainted this morning; she is much given to this, but itwas rather too long to-day. 

[Pageheading: AMIABILITY OF THE PRINCE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _4th February 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I have now treated all the questions you wishedme to touch upon with Albert, and I was much pleased with his amiabledisposition. At a certain distance explanations by letter are next toimpossible, and each party in the end thinks the other unreasonable. When he arrived he was rather exasperated about various things, andpretty full of grievances. But our conversations have dissipated theseclouds, and now there will only remain the new parliamentaryevents and consequences, which change a good deal of what one couldreasonably have foreseen or arranged. You will best treat thesequestions now verbally. Albert is quick, not obstinate, inconversation, and open to conviction if good arguments are broughtforward. When he thinks himself right he only wishes to have it_proved_ that he _misunderstands_ the case, to give it up withoutill-humour. He is not inclined to be sulky, but I think that he may berendered a little melancholy if he thinks himself unfairly or unjustlytreated, but being together and remaining together, there _never_can arise, I hope, any occasion for any disagreement even on triflingsubjects. .. . Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _8th February 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --This letter will arrive when I trust you willbe most happily occupied; I don't mean therefore to trespass on yourtime. 

May Heaven render you as happy as I always wished you to be, and as Ialways tried hard to see you. There is every prospect of it, and Iam sure you will be mistress in that respect of your own _avenir_. _Perfect confidence_ will best ensure and consolidate this happiness. Our rule in poor Charlotte's time was never to permit _one single day_to pass over _ein Missverständniss_, however trifling it might be. [8]I must do Charlotte the justice to say that she kept this compact mostreligiously, and at times even more so than myself, as in my youngerdays I was sometimes inclined to be sulky and silently displeased. With this rule no misunderstandings can take root and be increased orcomplicated by new ones being added to the old. Albert is gentle andopen to reason; all will therefore always be easily explained, and heis determined never to be occupied but by what is important or usefulto you. .. . 

Now I conclude, with my renewed warmest and sincerest good wishes foryou, ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD. 

 [Footnote 8: _(From an unpublished Contemporary Memoir by Admiral Sir William Hotham, G. C. B. )_

 "Her Royal Highness was now and then apt to give way to a high flow of animal spirits, natural at her time of life, and from carelessness more than unkindness to ridicule others. In one of these sallies of inconsiderate mirth, she perceived the Prince, sombre and cold, taking no apparent notice of what was going on, or if he did, evidently displeased. She at length spoke to him about it, and he at once manifested reluctance to join in the conversation, saying that though he had been a tolerably apt scholar in many things, he had yet to learn in England what pleasure was derived from the exercise of that faculty he understood to be called "quizzing"; that he could by no means reconcile it to himself according to any rule either of good breeding or benevolence. The tears instantly started in her eye, and feeling at once the severity and justice of the reproof, assured him most affectionately that, as it was the first time she had ever merited His Royal Highness's reproof on this subject, she assured him most solemnly it should be the last. "]

[Pageheading: THE WEDDING-DAY]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert. _[9]

_10th February 1840. _

DEAREST, --. .. How are you to-day, and have you slept well? I haverested very well, and feel very comfortable to-day. What weather! Ibelieve, however, the rain will cease. 

Send one word when you, my most dearly loved bridegroom, will beready. Thy ever-faithful, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 9: A note folded in _billet_ form, to be taken by hand. Addressed:

 "HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE. "THE QUEEN. "

 This was the day of their marriage at the Chapel Royal. After the wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace they drove to Windsor, and on the 14th they returned to London. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th February 1840. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I write to you from here, the happiest, happiestBeing that ever existed. Really, I do not think it _possible_ for anyone in the world to be _happier_, or AS happy as I am. He is an Angel, and his kindness and affection for me is really touching. To look inthose dear eyes, and that dear sunny face, is enough to make me adorehim. What I can do to make him happy will be my greatest delight. Independent of my great personal happiness, the reception we bothmet with yesterday was the most gratifying and enthusiastic I everexperienced; there was no end of the crowds in London, and all alongthe road. I was a good deal tired last night, but am quite well againto-day, and happy. .. . 

My love to dear Louise. Ever your affectionate, VICTORIA R. 

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _21st February 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I am more grateful than I can express that, notwithstanding your many _empêchements_ and occupations, you stillfound a little moment to write to me. News from you are alwaysmost precious to me, and now almost more than ever. This is suchan important moment in your life, it will so much decide how theremainder is to be, that I am deeply interested in all I can hear onthe subject. Hitherto, with the exception of your own dear andRoyal self, I have not been spoiled, _et j'ai puisé beaucoup de mesnouvelles_ in the _Times_ and such like sources. 

God be praised that the dear _ménage_ is so happy! I can only say mayit be so for ever and ever. I always thought that with your warm andfeeling heart and susceptibility for strong and lasting affection, youwould prefer this _genre_ of happiness, if you once possessed it, toevery other. It must be confessed that it is less frequent than couldbe wished for the good of mankind, but when it does exist, there issomething delightful to a generous heart like yours in this sacredtie, in this attachment for better for worse, and I think the EnglishChurch service expresses it in a simple and touching manner. 

I was happy to see that the Addresses of both Houses of Parliamentwere voted in a decent and becoming way. How mean people are! Ifthey had not seen the public at large take a great interest in yourmarriage and show you great affection, perhaps some would again havetried to bring on unpleasant subjects. .. . 

My letter is grown long; I will therefore conclude it with theexpression of my great affection for your dear self. Ever, my mostbeloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: POPULAR ENTHUSIASM]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_6th March 1840. _

. .. As your Majesty has by your Lord Chamberlain permitted plays tobe acted on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent, it would be condemningyourself if you did not go to see them if you like to do so. .. . 

. .. Lord Melbourne is much pleased to hear that your Majesty andthe Prince liked _The School for Scandal_. It is upon the whole thecleverest comedy in the English language, the fullest of wit and atthe same time the most free from grossness. 

[Pageheading: THE CORN LAWS]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_4th April 1840. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to state that the House of Commons having resumed theconsideration of the Corn Laws, the debate was closed by Sir RobertPeel, in a speech much inferior to those which he usually makes. MrWarburton moved an adjournment, which caused many members to leave theHouse. The motion being opposed, there were on a division 240 againstadjournment, and only 125 in favour of it. 

Mr Warburton then by some blunder moved that the House adjourn, whichputs an end to the debate. This was eagerly caught at by the oppositeparty, and agreed to. So that the question is lost by this ridiculoustermination, and it is to be feared that it will produce muchdiscontent in the manufacturing class. [10]

 [Footnote 10: The opposition to the Corn Laws was now increasing in the North. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_5th April 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is quitewell but much tired. He has so much to do this morning that he willnot be able to speak to Albemarle, [11] but if Albemarle dines at thePalace, he certainly will then. 

Lord Melbourne always feared anything like a mixture of the Stableestablishments. It would have been much better that what horses thePrince had should have been kept quite separate, and that the horsesof your Majesty's which he should have to use should have beensettled, and some plan arranged by which they could have been obtainedwhen wanted. Horses to be used by one set of people and kept and fedby another will never do. Servants and subordinate agents in Englandare quite unmanageable in these respects. If they get [matters] intotheir hands neither the Deity nor the Devil, nor both together, canmake them agree. Lord Melbourne writes this in ignorance of the actualfacts of the case, and therefore it may be inapplicable. 

 [Footnote 11: Master of the Horse. ]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_8th April 1840. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to state that Sir James Graham yesterday brought forwardhis motion on China in a speech of nearly three hours. [12] He wasanswered by Mr Macaulay in a manner most satisfactory to his audience, and with great eloquence. Sir William Follett spoke with muchingenuity, but in the confined spirit of a lawyer. 

 [Footnote 12: The motion was to censure Ministers for their want of foresight in their dealings with China in connection with the extension of commerce, and with the opium trade. The motion was rejected by 271 to 262. ]

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND CHINA]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_9th April 1840. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that the debate went on yesterday, when Mr Hawesspoke against the motion. In the course of the debate Mr Gladstone[13]said the Chinese had a right to poison the wells, to keep away theEnglish! The debate was adjourned. 

 [Footnote 13: Mr Gladstone had been member for Newark since 1832. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_2nd May 1840. _

Mr Cowper has just come in and tells me that they have determined tobegin the disturbance to-night at the Opera, at the very commencementof the performance. [14] This may be awkward, as your Majesty willarrive in the middle of the tumult. It is the intention not to permitthe opera to proceed until Laporte gives way. 

Lord Melbourne is afraid that if the row has already begun, yourMajesty's presence will not put an end to it; and it might be aswell not to go until your Majesty hears that it is over and that theperformance is proceeding quietly. Some one might be sent to attendand send word. 

 [Footnote 14: A _fracas_ took place at the Opera on 29th April. The Manager, Laporte, not having engaged Tamburini to sing, the audience made a hostile demonstration at the conclusion of the performance of _I Puritani_. An explanation made by Laporte only made matters worse, and eventually the Tamburinists took possession of the stage. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_6th May 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has justreceived this from Lord John Russell--a most shocking event, [15] whichyour Majesty has probably by this time heard of. The persons who didit came for the purpose of robbing the house; they entered by the backof the house and went out at the front door. [16] The servants in thehouse, only a man and a maid, never heard anything, and the maid, whenshe came down to her master's door in the morning, found the horriddeed perpetrated. .. . 

 [Footnote 15: The murder of Lord William Russell by his valet, Courvoisier, in Norfolk Street, Park Lane. ]

 [Footnote 16: This was the original theory. ]

[Pageheading: MURDER OF LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_6th May 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Since hewrote to your Majesty, he has seen Mr Fox Maule, [17] who had beenat the house in Norfolk Street. He says that it is a most mysteriousaffair. Lord William Russell was found in his bed, quite dead, coldand stiff, showing that the act had been perpetrated some time. Thebed was of course deluged with blood, but there were no marks of bloodin any other part of the room; so that he had been killed in his bedand by one blow, upon the throat, which had nearly divided his headfrom his body. The back door of the house was broken open, but therewere no traces of persons having approached the door from without. His writing-desk was also broken open and the money taken out, butotherwise little or nothing had been taken away. The police upon dutyin the streets had neither heard nor seen anything during the night. In these circumstances strong suspicion lights upon the persons inthe house, two maids and a man, the latter a foreigner[18] and who hadonly been with Lord William about five weeks. These persons are nowseparately confined, and the Commissioners of Police are activelyemployed in enquiring into the affair. An inquest will of course beheld upon the body without delay. 

Lord Melbourne has just received your Majesty's letter, and willimmediately convey to Lord John your Majesty's kind expressions ofsympathy. 

 [Footnote 17: Under-Secretary for Home Affairs; afterwards, as Lord Panmure, Secretary for War. ]

 [Footnote 18: Courvoisier. ]

[Pageheading: MRS NORTON]

[Pageheading: PRINCESS CHARLOTTE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _22nd May 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I received yesterday a most kind and dear letterfrom your august hands. Charles, [19] who wanted to cross yesterday, will have had very bad weather. He _is_ prepared not to make too longa stay in England. He dined here on the 19th. Louise was preparedto come to dinner, but was not quite equal to it; she therefore cameafter it. He came also to see me on the 20th, before his departure forOstende. It is very gracious of you to have given him subsidies, butin fact poor Feo stands more in need of it. She really is too poor;when one thinks that they have but £600 a year, and that largecastles, etc. , are to be kept up with it, one cannot conceive how theymanage it. It was a very generous feeling which prompted you to seeMrs Norton, and I have been too much her friend to find fault with it. True it is that Norton was freely accepted by her, but she was verypoor, and could therefore hardly venture to refuse him. Many peoplewill flirt with a clever, handsome, but poor girl, though not marryher--besides, the idea of having old Shery[20] for a grandfather hadnothing very captivating. A very unpleasant husband Norton certainlywas, and one who had little tact. I can well believe that she was muchfrightened, having so many eyes on her, some of which, perhaps, notwith the most amiable expression. 

I was delighted to learn that you meant to visit poor Claremont, andto pass there part of your precious birthday. Claremont is the placewhere in younger days you were least plagued, and generally I saw youthere in good spirits. You will also _nolens volens_ be compelled tothink of me, and maybe of poor Charlotte. 

This gives me an opening for saying a few words on this subject. Ifound several times that some people had given you the impression thatpoor Charlotte had been hasty and violent even to imperiousness and_rudeness_. I can you assure that it was _not so_; she was quick, andeven violent, but I never have seen anybody so open to conviction, andso fair and candid when wrong. The proverb says, and not without sometruth, that ladies come always back to the first words, to avoid anysymptom of having been convinced. Generous minds, however, do not dothis; they fight courageously their battles, but when they clearly seethat they are wrong, and that the reasons and arguments submitted tothem are _true_, they frankly admit the truth. Charlotte had eminentlythis disposition; besides, she was so anxious to please me, that oftenshe would say: "Let it be as it may; provided you wish it, I willdo it. " I always answered: "I never want anything for myself; when Ipress something on you, it is from a conviction that it is for yourinterest and for your good. " I know that you have been told that sheordered everything in the house and liked to show that she was themistress. It was not so. On the contrary, her pride was to makeme appear to my best advantage, and even to display respect andobedience, when I least wanted it from her. She would almostexaggerate the feeling, to show very clearly that she considered me asher lord and master. 

And on the day of the marriage, as most people suspected her of a verydifferent disposition, everybody was struck with the manner in whichshe pronounced the promise of obedience. I must say that I was muchmore the master of the house than is generally the case in privatelife. Besides, there was something generous and royal in her mindwhich alone would have prevented her doing anything vulgar orill-bred. What rendered her sometimes a little violent was a slightdisposition to jealousy. Poor Lady Maryborough, [21] at all times sometwelve or fifteen years older than myself, but whom I had much knownin 1814, was once much the cause of a fit of that description. I toldher it was quite childish, but she said, "it is not, because she is avery coquettish, dissipated woman. " The most difficult task I had wasto change her manners; she had something brusque and too rash in hermovements, which made the Regent quite unhappy, and which sometimeswas occasioned by a struggle between shyness and the necessity ofexerting herself. I had--I may say so without seeming to boast--themanners of the best society of Europe, having early moved in it, andbeen rather what is called in French _de la fleur des pois_. A goodjudge I therefore was, but Charlotte found it rather hard to be soscrutinised, and grumbled occasionally how I could so often find faultwith her. 

Nothing perhaps speaks such volumes as the _positive fact_ of hermanners getting _quite changed_ within a year's time, and that tothe openly pronounced satisfaction of the very fastidious and notover-partial Regent. To explain how it came that manners were a littleodd in England, it is necessary to remember that England had been formore than ten years completely cut off from the rest of the world. .. . 

We have bitter cold weather which has given colds to both thechildren. Uncle Ferdinand [22] is now only arriving _si dice_ onSunday next. He has been robbed of 15, 000 francs in his own room _auPalais-Royal_, which is very unpleasant for all parties. 

My letter is so long that I must haste to conclude it, remaining ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

My love to Alberto. 

 [Footnote 19: Prince Charles of Leiningen. ]

 [Footnote 20: The three sisters, Mrs Norton, Lady Dufferin, and Lady Seymour (afterwards Duchess of Somerset), the latter of whom was "Queen of Beauty" at the Eglinton Tournament, were grand-daughters of R. B. Sheridan. Lord Melbourne was much in Mrs Norton's company, and Norton, for whom the Premier had found a legal appointment, sued him in the Court of Common Pleas for _crim. Con. _; the jury found for the defendant. ]

 [Footnote 21: Lord Maryborough (1763-1845) was William Wellesley Pole, brother of the Marquess Wellesley and the Duke of Wellington. He married Katherine Elizabeth Forbes, grand-daughter of the third Earl of Granard. ]

 [Footnote 22: Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, King Leopold's brother. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCE]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

_Minutes of Conversations with Lord Melbourne and Baron Stockmar. _

_28th May 1840. _

_Lord Melbourne. _--"I have spoken to the Queen, who says the Princecomplains of a want of confidence on trivial matters, and on allmatters connected with the politics of this country. She said itproceeded entirely from indolence; she knew it was wrong, but when shewas with the Prince she preferred talking upon other subjects. I toldHer Majesty that she should try and alter this, and that there wasno objection to her conversing with the Prince upon any subject shepleased. My impression is that the chief obstacle in Her Majesty'smind is the fear of difference of opinion, and she thinks thatdomestic harmony is more likely to follow from avoiding subjectslikely to create difference. My own experience leads me to think thatsubjects between man and wife, even where difference is sure to ensue, are much better discussed than avoided, for the latter course is sureto beget distrust. I do not think that the Baroness[23] is the causeof this want of openness, though her name to me is never mentioned bythe Queen. "

_Baron Stockmar. _--"I wish to have a talk with you. The Prince leansmore on you than any one else, and gives you his entire confidence;you are honest, moral, and religious, and will not belie that trust. The Queen has not started upon a right principle. She should bydegrees impart everything to him, but there is danger in his wishingit all at once. A case may be laid before him; he may give somecrude and unformed opinion; the opinion may be taken and the resultdisastrous, and a forcible argument is thus raised against advicebeing asked for the future. 

"The Queen is influenced more than she is aware of by the Baroness. Inconsequence of that influence, she is not so ingenuous as she was twoyears ago. I do not think that the withholding of her confidence doesproceed wholly from indolence, though it may partly arise, as thePrince suggests, from the entire confidence which she reposes in herpresent Ministers, making her inattentive to the plans and measuresproposed, and thinking it unnecessary entirely to comprehend them; sheis of necessity unable to impart their views and projects to him whoought to be her friend and counsellor. "

 [Footnote 23: Baroness Lehzen. ]

[Pageheading: OXFORD'S ATTEMPT]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

CARLTON TERRACE, _10th June 1840. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andthough your Majesty must be overwhelmed with congratulations atyour Majesty's escape from the aim of the assassin, [24] yet ViscountPalmerston trusts that he may be allowed to express the horror withwhich he heard of the diabolical attempt, and the deep thankfulnesswhich he feels at your Majesty's providential preservation. 

Viscount Palmerston humbly trusts that the failure of this atrociousattempt may be considered as an indication that your Majesty isreserved for a long and prosperous reign, and is destined to assure, for many years to come, the welfare and happiness of this nation. 

 [Footnote 24: Edward Oxford, a pot-boy, aged eighteen, fired twice at the Queen on Constitution Hill. The Queen, who was untouched either shot, immediately drove to the Duchess of Kent's house to announce her safety. On his trial, Oxford was found to be insane. ]

_The King of the French to Queen Victoria. _

_11 Juin 1840. _

MADAME MA S[OE]UR, --C'est avec une profonde indignation que je viensd'apprendre l'horrible attentat qui a menacé les précieux jours devotre Majesté. Je rends grâce du fond de mon c[oe]ur à la DivineProvidence qui les a miraculeusement conservés, et qui semble n'avoirpermis qu'ils fussent exposés à un si grand danger, que pour fairebriller aux yeux de tous, votre courage, votre sang-froid, et toutesles qualités qui vous distinguent. 

J'ose espérer que votre Majesté me permettra de recourir à sonentremise pour offrir à S. A. R. Le Prince Albert, l'expression de tousles sentiments dont je suis pénétré, et qu'elle voudra bien recevoirl'assurance de tous ceux que je lui porte, ainsi que celle de ma hauteestime, de mon inaltérable attachement et de mon inviolable amitié. Jesuis, Madame ma S[oe]ur, de votre Majesté, le bon Frère, LOUIS PHILIPPE R. 

[Pageheading: A PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_11th June 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and returnsyour Majesty many, many thanks for your letter. Lord Melbourne wasindeed most anxious to learn that your Majesty was well this morning. It was indeed a most awful and providential escape. It is impossiblenot to shudder at the thought of it. 

Lord Melbourne thinks that it will be necessary to have an examinationof this man before such of your Majesty's confidential servants as areof the Privy Council;[25] it should take place this morning. 

Addresses will be moved in both Houses immediately upon their meeting. 

 [Footnote 25: _I. E. _, the Cabinet. ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _13th June 1840. _

MY DEAREST AND MOST BELOVED VICTORIA, --I cannot find words _strongenough_ to express to you my horror at what happened on the 10th, andmy happiness and delight to see your escape from a danger which wasreally very great. In your good little heart I hope that it made youfeel grateful to God for a protection which was very signal. It doesgood and is a consolation to think that matters are not _quite_ leftto take care of _themselves_, but that an all-powerful Hand guidesthem. 

Louise I told the affair mildly, as it might have made too great animpression on her otherwise. She always feels so much for you andloves you so much, that she was rejoiced beyond measure that youescaped so well and took the thing with so much _courage_. That youhave shown _great fortitude_ is not to be doubted, and will make avery great and good impression. I see that the general feeling isexcellent, but what a melancholy thing to see a young man, withoutprovocation, capable of such a diabolical act! That attempts of thatsort took place against George III. , and even George IV. , one cancomprehend; but you have not only been extremely liberal, but in noinstance have you hitherto come into contact with any popular feelingor prejudice; besides, one should think that your being a lady wouldalone prevent such unmanly conduct. It shows what an effect badexample and the bad press have. I am sure that this act is _unesingerie_ of what passes in France, that it is a fancy of some ofthose societies _de Mort aux Rois et Souverains_, without knowingwherefore, merely as a sort of fashion. .. . 

[Pageheading: EGYPT AND THE POWERS]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

ST CLOUD, _26th July 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --Your dear letter of the 19th greatly delightedme. .. . 

Let me now add a few words on politics. The _secret_ way in which thearrangement about the arbitration of the Turco-Egyptian affairs hasbeen signed, the keeping out of France in an affair so _near_ itand touching its interests in various ways, has had here a very_disastrous_ effect. [26] I cannot disguise from you that theconsequences may be very serious, and the more so as the ThiersMinistry is supported by the movement party, and as _reckless ofconsequences_ as your own Minister for Foreign Affairs, even much moreso, as Thiers himself would not be sorry to see everything existingupset. He is strongly impregnated with all the notions of fame andglory which belonged to part of the Republican and the Imperial times;he would not even be much alarmed at the idea of a Convention rulingagain France, as he thinks that _he_ would be the _man to rule_ theAssembly, and has told me last year that he thinks it for Franceperhaps the _most powerful_ form of Government. [27]

The mode in this affair ought to have been, as soon as the Four Powershad agreed on a proposition, to communicate it officially to France, to join it. France had but two ways, either to join or to refuseits adhesion. If it had chosen the last, it would have been a freedecision on her part, and a secession which had nothing offensive inthe eyes of the nation. 

But there is a material difference between leaving a company frommotives of one's own, or being _kicked out_ of it. I must beg you tospeak seriously to Lord Melbourne, who is the head of your Government, on these important affairs; they may upset everything in Europe if themistake is not corrected and moderated. 

I shall write again to you next Friday from hence, and on Saturday, 1st August, we set off. Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 26: On the 15th of July a convention was signed in London by representatives of England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, offering an ultimatum to the Viceroy of Egypt. The exclusion of France was hotly resented in Paris. Guizot, then Ambassador in London, had been kept in ignorance of the project, but the Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston, denied that there had been any discourtesy intended, or want of consideration shown. ]

 [Footnote 27: Louis Adolphe Thiers (1797-1877), who through the Press had contributed to the downfall of the Bourbons, had held various Cabinet offices under Louis Philippe, and, from March to October 1840, was for the second time Premier. ]

[Pageheading: PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_7th August 1840. _ (10 P. M. )

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The House ofLords lasted until eight, and Lord Melbourne might by an exertion havegot to the Palace to dinner, but as he had the Speech, by no means aneasy one, to prepare for the consideration of the Cabinet to-morrow, he thought it better to take this evening for that purpose, and hehopes therefore that your Majesty will excuse his not coming, which isto him a great sacrifice to have made. 

Your Majesty will have probably seen by this time the report fromyour Majesty's Consul at Boulogne of the mad attempt of LouisBonaparte. [28] It is rather unfortunate that it should have takenplace at this moment, as the violent and excited temper of the Frenchnation will certainly lead them to attribute it to England. It willalso be highly embarrassing to the King of the French to have inhis possession a member of the family of Bonaparte and so manyBonapartists who have certainly deserved death but whom it may not beprudent or politic to execute. 

 [Footnote 28: The Prince, afterwards the Emperor Napoleon III. , descended on Boulogne with fifty-three persons, and a tame eagle which had been intended, with stage effect, to alight on the Colonne de Napoléon. He was captured, tried for high treason, and sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. He effected his escape, which was undoubtedly connived at by the authorities, in 1846. ]

[Pageheading: THE CONVENTION OF 1828]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

WIESBADEN, _22nd September 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I was most happy in receiving this morning permessenger your dear little letter of the 15th, though it is grown alittle elderly. The life one leads here is not favourable to writing, which, besides, is prohibited, and easily gives me palpitation enoughto sing "_di tanti palpiti!_" I get up at half after six and begin todrink this hot water; what with drinking and walking one comes to teno'clock or half after ten for breakfast. Then I read papers and suchlike things. At one o'clock I have been generally bored with somevisit or other till two o'clock. I try to finish some writing, andthen I walk and ride out till dinner-time, generally at seven. In theevening I have written sometimes, but it certainly does one harm. Yousee that there remains but little time for writing. 

I am most happy to find that you are well; the papers, which don'tknow what to invent to lower the Funds, said that you had been unwellon the 10th, which, God be praised! is not at all true. 

I pity poor Princess Augusta[29] from all my heart. I am sure that ifshe had in proper time taken care of herself she might have lived toa great age. I have not time to-day to write at any length on thepolitics of the day, but I am _far from thinking_ that the French_acted wisely_ in the Oriental affair. I must say that I thinkthe King _meant well_, but I should not have _abstained_ from theConference as he did, though, in France, interference with Mehemet Aliwas certainly not popular. In England much of the _fond_ is logical, but the form towards France was, and is still, harsh and insulting. Idon't think France, which these ten years behaved well, and the poorKing, who was nearly murdered I don't remember how often, deservedto be treated so unkindly, and all that seemingly to please the greatAutocrat. We must not forget what were the fruits of the _first_Convention of July 1828--I think the 16th or 26th of that month; Iought to remember it, as I took its name in vain often enough in theGreek affair. 

This first Convention brought about the battle of Navarino and thesecond campaign of the Russians, which ended with, in fact, the demiseof the poor old Porte, the _Treaty of Adrianople_. [30] Your Majestywas then afflicted with the age of ten, in itself a good age, and maynot remember much about it except that in 1829 the affair about mygoing to Greece began, and that your affectionate heart took someinterest in that. Lord Melbourne, however, you _must encourage tospeak about this matter_. Canning's intention was this: he said wemust remain with Russia, and by this means _prevent_ mischief. TheDuke of Wellington, who came to me shooting at Claremont in 1828, really did cry, though he is not of a crying disposition, and said"_by this Convention the Russians will have the power of doing allthey never would have dared to do single-handed_, and shielded bythis infernal Convention, it will not be in our power _to stop them_. "Russia is again in this very snug and comfortable position, that_the special protection of the Porte_ is confided to its tendermercies--_la chèvre gardant le chou_, the wolf the sheep, as I supposeI must not compare the Turcs to lambs. The Power which ruined theOttoman Empire, which since a hundred and forty years nearly _pared_it all round nearly in every direction, is to be the protector andguardian of that same empire; and we are told that it is the mostscandalous calumny to suspect the Russians to have any other than themost humane and disinterested views! "_ainsi soit-il_, " as the Frenchsay at the end of their sermons. This part of the Convention of the15th of July 1840 strikes impartial people as strange, the more soas nothing lowers the Porte so much in the eyes of the few patrioticTurks who remain than the protection of the arch-enemy of the concern, Russia. I beg you to read this part of my letter to my good and dearfriend, Lord Melbourne, to whom I beg to be kindly remembered. 

 [Footnote 29: Princess Augusta, second daughter of George III. _See_ p. 230. (Ch. IX, 26th September 1840)]

 [Footnote 30: Under this treaty (14th September 1829) the Danubian principalities were made virtually independent States, the treaty rights of Russia in the navigation of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles were confirmed, and Greek affairs were arranged, by incorporating in the treaty the terms of the Protocol of 22nd March 1829. ]

[Pageheading: A THREATENED CRISIS]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _[31]

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th September 1840. _

This is certainly awkward; but the latter part about Peel is mostabsurd; to him I can never apply, we must do everything but that. Butfor God's sake do not bring on a crisis;[32] the Queen really couldnot go through that _now_, and it might make her _seriously ill_ ifshe were to be kept in a state of agitation and excitement if a crisiswere to come on; she has had already so much lately in the distressingillness of her poor Aunt to harass her. I beseech you, think of _all_this, and the consequences it might cause, not only to me, but to allEurope, as it would show our weakness in a way that would be seriouslyinjurious to this country. 

 [Footnote 31: The letter, to which this is a reply, seems not to have been preserved. The Queen's letter, having been shown to Lord John Russell and copied by him, has hitherto been supposed to be a letter from Lord Melbourne to Lord John Russell. _See_ Walpole's _Russell_, vol. I. , chap. Xiii. ]

 [Footnote 32: The Cabinet met on the 28th to consider the Oriental Question. The Government was on the verge of dissolution, as Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell were in conflict. The meeting was adjourned till 1st October. ]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND THE EAST]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th September 1840. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I have unfortunately very little time to-day, butI will try and answer your kind letters of the 13th and 19th briefly. You know now that the sufferings of good excellent Aunt Augustawere terminated on the 22nd of this month. I regret her _very, very_sincerely, though for herself we are all most thankful for the releaseof such unexampled sufferings, borne with such unexampled patience. Almost the last thing she said when she was still conscious, the daybefore she died, was to Mr More (the apothecary), who wrote me everymorning a Report: "Have you written to my darling?" Is this nottouching? The Queen-Dowager had her hand in hers when she died, andclosed her eyes when all was over; all the Family were present. 

I have seen your letters to Palmerston, and his answer to you, and Ialso send you a paper from Lord Melbourne. I assure you that I _do_give these affairs my _most serious_ attention: it would be indeed_most_ desirable if France could _come back to us_, and I think whatMetternich suggests very sagacious and well-judged. [33] You must allowme to state that _France_ has _put herself_ into this unfortunatestate. _I_ know (as I saw _all_ the _papers_) how she was engagedto join us--and I know how strangely she refused; I know also, thatFrance _agrees_ in the _principle_, but only doubts the _efficacy_ ofthe measures. Where then is "_La France outragée_"? wherefore arm whenthere is _no_ enemy? wherefore raise the war-cry? But this has been_done_, and has taken _more_ effect than I think the French Government_now_ like; and _now_ she has to undo all this and to calm the generalagitation and excitement, which is not so easy. Still, though Franceis in the wrong, and _quite_ in the wrong, still _I_ am most anxious, as I am sure my Government also are, that France should be pacifiedand should again take her place amongst the five Powers. I am sure shemight easily do this. .. . 

Albert, who sends his love, is much occupied with the Eastern affairs, and is quite of my opinion. .. . 

 [Footnote 33: Metternich's suggestion was that if other means of coercion failed, the allies should renew their deliberations in conjunction with France. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th September 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is quitewell, and will be ready at half-past one. 

The Prince's[34] observations are just, but still the making anadvance to France now, coupled with our constant inability to carryinto effect the terms of our Convention, will be an humiliating step. 

Lord Melbourne sends a letter which he has received this morning fromLord Normanby, whom he had desired to see Lord Palmerston and LordJohn Russell, and try what he could do. 

Lord Melbourne also sends a letter which he has received from LordLansdowne. 

Lord Melbourne would beg your Majesty to return them both. 

 [Footnote 34: Prince Metternich. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

DOWNING STREET, _1st October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We have hadthe Cabinet and it has passed over quietly. We have agreed to makea proposition to France founded upon the communication of PrinceMetternich to the King of the Belgians. [35] Palmerston will proposeto-morrow to Neumann, [36] the Prussian Minister, and Brunnow, [37] thathe should write to Granville, authorising him to acquaint Thiers thatif France will concur in respecting the principle of the treaty, we, without expecting her to adopt coercive measures, will concert withher the further course to be adopted for the purpose of carrying theprinciple into effect. This is so far so good. Lord Melbourne truststhat it will get over the present entanglement, but of course we mustexpect that in a matter so complicated and which we have not the powerof immediately terminating, further difficulties will arise. 

 [Footnote 35: _See_ p. 231. (Ch. IX, Footnote 33)]

 [Footnote 36: Austrian Minister. ]

 [Footnote 37: Russian Minister. ]

[Pageheading: MEHEMET ALI]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

DOWNING STREET, _2nd October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We have justhad another Cabinet, [38] which was rendered necessary by Brunnowand the Prussian Minister refusing to concur in what we determinedyesterday without reference to their Courts and authority fromthem. This makes it impossible for us to take the step in the waywe proposed, but we have now settled that Palmerston should directGranville to submit the proposition to Thiers, and ask him how hewould be disposed to receive it if it were formally made to him. This, so far as we are concerned, will have all the effect which could havebeen attained in the other way. 

Very important despatches of the 14th inst. Have come fromConstantinople. The Ministers of the Porte held the last propositionof Mehemet Ali as a positive refusal of the terms of the Convention, and proceeded by the advice of Lord Ponsonby[39] at once to divestMehemet Ali of the Pashalik of Egypt; to direct a blockade of thecoasts both of Syria and Egypt, and to recall the four Consuls fromAlexandria. These are serious measures, and there are despatches fromLord Beauvale[40] stating that Prince Metternich is much alarmed atthem, and thinks that measures should be immediately taken to diminishand guard against the effect which they may have in France. LordMelbourne humbly begs your Majesty's pardon for this hurried scrawlupon matters of such importance, but Lord Melbourne will havethe opportunity of speaking to your Majesty more fully upon themto-morrow. 

 [Footnote 38: The peace party in the Cabinet were defeated and Palmerston triumphant. ]

 [Footnote 39: British Ambassador at Constantinople. ]

 [Footnote 40: Frederick James Lamb, younger brother of Lord Melbourne, and his successor in the title (1782-1853). He was at this time Ambassador at Vienna, having previously been Ambassador at Lisbon. ]

[Pageheading: PALMERSTON AND FRANCE]

[Pageheading: VIEWS OF LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

WIESBADEN, _2nd October 1840. _

. .. There is an idea that Mehemet Ali suffers from what one calls _uncharbon_, a sort of dangerous ulcer which, with old people, is neverwithout some danger. If this is true, it only shows how little one cansay that the Pashalik of Aleppo is to decide who is to be the masterof the Ottoman Empire in Europe and Asia, the Sultan or Mehemet? It ishighly probable that if the old gentleman dies, his concern will go topieces; a division will be attempted by the children, but that in theEast hardly ever succeeds. There everything is personal, except thesort of Caliphate which the Sultan possesses, and when the man isgone, his empire _also goes_. Runjeet Singh[41] is a proof of this;his formidable power will certainly go to the dogs, though the Sikhshave a social link which does not exist in the Egyptian concern. If wenow were to set everything in Europe on a blaze, have a war which maychange totally all that now exists, and in the midst of it we shouldhear that Mehemet is no more, and his whole _boutique_ broken up, would it not be _really laughable_, if it was not _melancholy_? Andstill the war _once raging_, it would no longer put a stop to it, butgo on for _other reasons_. 

I cannot understand what has rendered Palmerston so _extremely hostileto the King_ and Government of France. A _little civility_ would havegone a great way with the French; if in your Speech on the 11th ofAugust some regret had been expressed, it would have greatly modifiedthe feelings of the French. But Palmerston _likes to put his foot ontheir necks_! _Now, no statesman must triumph over an enemy that isnot quite dead_, because people forget a real loss, a real misfortune, but they won't forget _an insult_. Napoleon made great mistakes thatway; he hated Prussia, insulted it on all occasions, but still _leftit alive_. The consequence was that in 1813 they rose to a man inPrussia, even children and women took arms, not only because they hadbeen injured, but because they had been treated with _contempt_ and_insulted_. I will here copy what the King wrote to me lately fromParis:

"Vous ne vous faites pas d'idée à quel point l'approbation publiquesoutient les armements, c'est universel. Je regrette que cela aillebien au-delà, car la fureur contre l'Angleterre s'accroît et undes points que je regrette le plus, c'est que tout notre peuple estpersuadé que l'Angleterre veut réduire la France _au rang de Puissancesecondaire_, et vous savez ce que c'est que l'orgueil national et lavanité de tous les peuples. Je crois donc bien urgent que la criseactuelle se termine bientôt pacifiquement. Plus je crois que l'unionde l'Angleterre et de la France est la base du repos du monde, plue jeregrette de voir susciter tant d'irritation entre nos deux Nations. La question est de savoir ce que veut véritablement le GouvernementAnglais. J'avoue que je ne suis pas sans crainte et sans inquiétude àcet égard quand je récapitule dans ma tête tout ce que Lord Ponsonbya fait pour l'allumer et tout ce qu'il fait encore. Je n'aurais aucuneinquiétude si je croyais que le Gouvernement suivrait la voix desa Nation, et les véritables intérêts de son pays qui repoussentl'alliance Russe et indiquent celle de la France, ce qui esttout-à-fait conforme à mes v[oe]ux personnels. Mais ma vieilleexpérience me rappelle ce que font les passions personnelles, quiprédominent bien plus de nos jours que les véritables intérêts, et ceque peut le Gouvernement Anglais pour entraîner son pays, et jecrains beaucoup l'art de la Russie ou plutôt de l'Empereur Nicolasde captiver, par les plus immenses flatteries, les Ministres Anglais, preuve Lord Durham. Or si ces deux Gouvernements veulent ou osententreprendre _l'abaissement_ de la France, la guerre s'allumera, etpour _mon compte alors je m'y_ jetterai _à outrance_, mais si commeje l'espère encore, malgré mes soupçons, ils ne veulent pas la guerre, alors l'affaire de l'Orient, s'arrangera à l'amiable, et le cri detoutes les Nations fera de nouveau justice de ces humeurs belliqueuseset consolidera la paix générale, comme cela est arrivé dans lespremières années de mon règne. "

I think it right to give you this extract, as it is written fromthe very bottom of the King's heart, and shows the way in which heconsiders the present position of affairs. Perhaps you will be sokind to read it or to let it be read by Lord Melbourne. It isthis _abaissement de la France_ which now sticks in their throats. Chartres[42] has quite the same feeling, and then the refrain is, _plutôt périr que de souffrir cette ignominie!_

Really my paper is abominable, but it is a great shame that in theresidence of such a rich Prince nothing can be had. My letter beinglong, I conclude it with my best blessings. Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 41: Runjeet Singh, known as the Lion of the Punjab, had died in 1839, having consolidated the Sikh power. As an outcome of the Sikh wars in 1846 and 1848, the Punjab was annexed by Great Britain in 1849. ]

 [Footnote 42: Ferdinand, Duke of Orléans, who died 13th July 1842, was generally called Chartres in the family circle; this title, which he had previously borne, was conferred on his younger son, born 9th November 1840. ]

[Pageheading: NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

CLAREMONT, _6th October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The King'sletter to Lord Melbourne is in many respects just and true. [43] Thepractical measure which it recommends, namely, that Lord Granvilleshould make to Thiers a general proposition for settling the wholematter, is very much the same as that which we agreed upon at theCabinet should be adopted. Lord Melbourne expects that this has beencarried into effect, and if it has not, Lord Melbourne has urged thatit should be done without delay. 

These affairs are very troublesome and vexatious, but they are, unfortunately, more than troublesome, they are pregnant with danger. 

 [Footnote 43: The King of the Belgians had written a letter to Lord Melbourne on 1st October, which he had sent to Queen Victoria, asking her to read it and forward it to Lord Melbourne. ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

WIESBADEN, _6th October 1840. _

. .. It is to-day the poor King of the French's birthday; he issixty-seven years old, and these last ten years he has had a pleasanttime of it. And now he has this serious and difficult complication todeal with, and still I find him always fair and amiable in his wayof looking at all these things, and bearing the almost unbearableannoyance and plagues of his arduous position with a degree offirmness and courage worthy of kinder treatment from the EuropeanPowers than he has received. .. . 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Lord JohnRussell has directed a Cabinet to be summoned for to-morrow at threeo'clock, at which he intends to propose that "Instructions should besent to Lord Granville to ascertain from the French Government whatterms France would consider satisfactory for the immediate arrangementof the affairs of the East. "

That if such terms shall appear satisfactory, Mr Henry Bulwer[44] orsome person of similar rank should be sent to Constantinople to urgetheir acceptance on the Sultan, and that our Allies should be invitedto co-operate in that negotiation. 

That the French Government should be informed that the only mode inwhich the pacification can be carried into effect is by Mehemet Ali'saccepting the terms of the treaty and then receiving from the Sultanthe terms which shall have been previously agreed upon by his Allies. 

Lord Melbourne feels certain that Lord Palmerston will not accedeto these proposals, and indeed Lord Melbourne himself much doubtswhether, after all that has passed, it would be right to submit thewhole matter, as it were, to the decision and arbitration of France. Lord John Russell seems very much determined to press this questionto a decision to-morrow, and Lord Melbourne much fears that such adecision may lead to serious consequences. 

Lord Melbourne is much grieved to have to send your Majestyintelligence which he knows will greatly disquiet your Majesty, butthere is no remedy for it. 

Lord Melbourne's lumbago is somewhat better to-day but not much. Hisbeing compelled to attend at the House of Lords yesterday preventedhim from recovering. He has remained in bed to-day, and hopes to bebetter to-morrow. 

 [Footnote 44: Henry Bulwer (1801-1872), afterwards Lord Dalling, then First Secretary of the Embassy in Paris, became Minister to Spain, 1843-1848; to the United States, 1849-1852; to Tuscany, 1852-1855; and Ambassador to Turkey, 1858-1865. ]

[Pageheading: PACIFIC INSTRUCTIONS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has justreceived your Majesty's box. He will do all he can to put everythingtogether, and it does not appear to him that there is any necessityon any side for a decisive step at present. A letter is arrived to-dayfrom Bulwer, which states that the instructions given to Guizot are, through the interposition of the King, of a very pacific character. Itwould surely be well to see what they are, and whether they will notafford the means of arranging the whole affair. 

Lord Melbourne thought with your Majesty that the letter to LordGranville upon Prince Metternich's proposition was a great deal tooshort and dry and slight, but the importance of this step is now agood deal superseded by what has taken place, and the positionof affairs has already become different from that in which it wasresolved upon. 

Lord Melbourne very much thanks the Prince for his letter, which maydo much service and have an effect upon the antagonists. 

Lord Melbourne has just seen Dr Holland. [45] Lord Melbourne is verymuch crippled and disabled. Lord Melbourne does not think that theshooting has had anything to do with it. His stomach has lately beenout of order, which is always the cause of these sort of attacks. LordMelbourne will come down on Sunday if he possibly can, and unless heshould be still disabled from moving. 

 [Footnote 45: Dr (afterwards Sir) Henry Holland, Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen, 1850-1873, father of Lord Knutsford. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _10th October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. . .. Allthe question at the Cabinet to-day as to whether we should writea communication to France was fortunately put an end to by Guizotdesiring to see Palmerston in the morning and making a communicationto him. This communication is very much in substance what Mr. Bulwer'snote had led us to expect. It is a strong condemnation of the actof the Porte depriving Mehemet Ali of the Government of Egypt, an expression of satisfaction at having already learned from LordPalmerston and Count Apponyi[46] that Austria and England are notprepared to consider this act as irrevocable, and a threat on thepart of France that he considers the power of Mehemet Ali in Egypt aconstituent part of the balance of Europe, and that he cannot permithim to be deprived of that province without interfering. It wasdetermined that this intimation should be met in an amicable spirit, and that Lord Palmerston should see the Ministers of the other Powersand agree with them to acquaint the French that they with Englandwould use their good offices to induce the Porte not to insist uponthe deprivation of Mehemet Ali as far as Egypt is concerned. LordMelbourne hopes that this transaction may lead to a general settlementof the whole question. 

Lord Melbourne feels himself much fatigued to-night. Though better, heis yet far from well, and he knows by experience that this malady whenonce it lays hold of him does not easily let go. It was so when he wasyounger. He fears, therefore, that it will not be prudent for him toleave town so early as Monday, but will do so as soon as he can withsafety. 

 [Footnote 46: Born 1782; at this time the Austrian Ambassador in France. ]

[Pageheading: MEHEMET ALI]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

PANSHANGER, _11th October 1840. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty. 

Viscount Palmerston submits to your Majesty some interesting letters, which he received some days ago from Paris, showing that there neverhas been any real foundation for the alarm of war with France whichwas felt by some persons in this country. 

Viscount Palmerston also submits a despatch from Mons. Thiers to Mons. Guizot which was communicated to him yesterday by Mons. Guizot, and which seems to open a prospect of an amicable and satisfactoryunderstanding between France and the Four Powers. 

Viscount Palmerston also submits a note from Mr Bulwer intimating thatthe French Government would be contented with an arrangement whichshould leave Mehemet Ali in possession of Egypt alone, without anypart of Syria, and Viscount Palmerston submits that such is thearrangement which it would on all accounts be desirable to accomplish. There seems reason to think that the bombardment of Beyrout[47] andthe deposal of Mehemet Ali by the Sultan have greatly contributed torender the French more reasonable on this question, by exciting intheir minds an apprehension that unless some arrangement be speedilyeffected, the operations now going on in the Levant will end in theentire overthrow of Mehemet Ali. 

 [Footnote 47: On 10th October Ibrahim was defeated by the Allies, and next day Beyrout was occupied by British, Austrian, and Turkish troops. ]

[Pageheading: GUIZOT AND THIERS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _11th October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has notwritten before to-day, because he had nothing new to lay before yourMajesty. Lord Melbourne anxiously hopes she feels some confidencethat the present state of the Eastern affairs is such as may lead toa speedy, amicable termination--at the same time, with a nation soirritable as the French, and with the Constitution which they have andwhich they are unused to exercise, it is impossible to feel securefor a moment. Guizot, when he gave the despatch of Thiers to LordPalmerston, said that he had nothing to do with the reasonings of thatdespatch, and would not enter into any argument upon them. 

He delivered them only in his official capacity as the Ambassador ofthe King of France. All he would say was that they were the result ofa great effort of that party in France which was for peace. This was asufficient intimation that he himself did not approve of them, but itwas not possible to collect from what he said upon what grounds hisdissent was founded. Lord Melbourne has since heard that he says, thathe considers that France has taken too low a tone and has made toomuch concession, and that he could not have been a party to this stepif he had been one of the King's Ministers. The step is also probablycontrary to the declared opinion of M. Thiers; whether it be contraryto his real opinion is another question. But if it was writtenprincipally by the influence of the King, it is a measure at once boldand friendly upon his part, and the success of which will much dependupon its being met in an amicable spirit here. 

Lord Melbourne returns the letter of the King of the Belgians. LordMelbourne kept it because he wished to show it to Lord John Russell, and some others, as containing an authentic statement of the feelingsof the King of the French, which it is well that they should know. .. . 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th October 1840. _

The Queen in returning these letters must express to Lord Palmerstonher very great satisfaction at the favourable turn affairs have taken, and the Queen earnestly trusts that this demonstration of returningamity on the part of France will be met in a very friendly spiritby Lord Palmerston and the rest of her Government. The Queen feelscertain that this change on the part of France is also greatly owingto the peaceable disposition of the King of the French, and she thinksthat in consideration of the difficulties the King has had to contendwith, and which he seems finally to have overcome, we should makesome return; and indeed, as Lord Palmerston states, the arrangementproposed is the best which can be desired. 

[Pageheading: FEELING IN FRANCE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _12th October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is muchbetter to-day, free from pain and difficulty of moving, but he thinksthat it would not be prudent, and that he should run the risk ofbringing back the complaint, if he should leave town to-morrow. 

He thinks it might also be imprudent in another point of view, asaffairs are still in a very unsettled state, and the rest of theCabinet watch with great impatience, and, to say the truth, notwithout suspicion, the manner in which Palmerston will carry intoeffect the decision of Saturday. They are particularly anxiousfor speed, and I have written both last night and this morning toPalmerston, to urge him not to delay. He will go down to Windsorto-morrow, and your Majesty will then have an opportunity of speakingto him, upon which Lord Melbourne will write again to your Majesty. 

Guizot has been with Lord Melbourne this morning for the purpose ofrepeating what he had before said to Palmerston, that the Note whichhe delivered on Saturday was the result of a great effort made by theparty who are for peace, that it had been conquered against a strongopposition, that if it were not taken advantage of here now, it wouldnot be renewed, that the conduct of affairs in France would probablyfall into the hands of the violent party, and that it would be nolonger possible to control the excited feelings of the people ofFrance. 

The worst is that Palmerston, and John Russell, with now thegreater part of the Cabinet, proceed upon principles, opinions, andexpectations which are entirely different from one another, and whichtherefore necessarily lead to a different course of action. We areanxious to finish the business speedily, because we fear that there isdanger of the Government of France being forced into violent measuresby popular outcry. Palmerston, on the contrary, thinks that there isno danger of war, that the French do not mean war, and that there isno feeling in France but what has been produced by the Ministry andtheir instruments the Press. 

We are anxious that the opportunity should be seized now whilst wehave the appearance of success in Syria, not being at all confident ofthe ultimate result. Palmerston, on the contrary, is so confident ofcomplete success, that he wishes to delay concluding the affair untilhe can have the benefit of the full advantages, which he anticipates, in the negotiation. 

We should be too glad to see the matter settled, leaving Mehemet Aliin possession of Egypt. 

Palmerston has both the wish and the hope of getting him out of Egypt, as well as Syria. 

These great differences of view, object, and expectation render itdifficult for those who hold them to pursue the same line of conduct. 

There is also, as your Majesty knows, much suspicion, distrust andirritation, and all these circumstances throw great obstacles in theway of the progress of affairs, but Lord Melbourne hopes that theywill all be overcome, and that we shall arrive at a safe conclusion. 

[Pageheading: RELATIONS WITH FRANCE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _13th October 1840. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. It isabsolutely necessary that we should have a Cabinet on Thursday. Thereis so much natural impatience, and so deep an interest taken in whatis now going on, that it cannot be avoided. .. . 

Your Majesty will naturally seize this opportunity of stating stronglyto Palmerston your wishes that this opportunity should be takenadvantage of, with a view to the speedy accommodation of the wholedifference. Your Majesty will see the necessity of at the sametime not appearing to take too much the part of France, which mightirritate and indispose. 

Your Majesty will find John Russell perfectly right and reasonable. He was before somewhat embarrassed by the position in which he wasplaced. Having agreed to the Convention, it was difficult for him totake steps which might appear to be in departure from its policy, andto be occasioned by the gravity of its consequences. But this stepupon the part of France will enable all the friends of peace to actcordially together. John Russell thinks that you have not been putfully in possession of his sentiments. Lord Melbourne thinks this isnot the case; but it would be well if your Majesty would try to effacethis impression from his mind as much as possible. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_13th October 1840. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, -- . .. I have three kind letters of yours unansweredbefore me, of the 1st, 2nd, and 6th, for which many thanks. My time isvery short indeed to-day, but Albert has, I know, written to you aboutthe favourable turn which the Oriental affairs have taken, and of theproposition of France, which is very amicably received here; Austriaand Prussia are quite ready to agree, but Brunnow has been makingalready difficulties (this is in confidence to you). I hope andtrust that this will at length settle the affair, and that peace, theblessings of which are innumerable, will be preserved. I feel weowe _much_ of the change of the conduct of France to the peaceabledisposition of the dear King, for which I feel grateful. [48] Pray, dear Uncle, when an opportunity offers, do offer the King my best, sincerest wishes for his health and happiness in _every_ way, on theoccasion of his birthday; may he live many years, for the benefit ofall Europe!. .. 

 [Footnote 48: The King of the French was alarmed at the warlike language of his Ministers. He checked the preparations for war which Thiers was making; he went further, and on the 24th of October he dismissed the Thiers Ministry, and entrusted the management of affairs to Soult and Guizot, who were pacifically inclined and anxious to preserve the Anglo-French _entente_. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S INFLUENCE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _16th October 1840. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I received your kind but anxious letter of the10th, the day before yesterday, and hasten to reply to it by thecourier who goes to-day. Indeed, dearest Uncle, I have worked hardthis last week to bring about something conciliatory, and I hope andtrust I have succeeded. Lord Melbourne, who left Claremont on thesame day as we did, was confined to the house till yesterday, when hearrived here, by a lumbago and bilious attack; but I had a constantcorrespondence with him on this unfortunate and alarming question, andhe is, I can assure you, fully aware of the danger, and as anxious aswe are to set matters right; and so is Lord John, and Palmerston, Ihope, is getting more reasonable. They have settled in consequence ofThiers' two despatches that Palmerston should write to Lord Ponsonbyto urge the Porte _not_ to dispossess Mehemet Ali finally of Egypt, and I believe the other foreign Ministers at Constantinople willreceive similar instructions; this despatch Palmerston will send toGranville (to-night, I believe) to be communicated to Thiers, and _I_have made Palmerston _promise_ to put into the despatch to Granville"that it would be a source of great satisfaction to England, if thiswould be the cause of bringing back France to that alliance (withthe other Four Powers) from which we had seen her depart with so muchregret. " I hope this will have a good effect. Now, in _my_ humbleopinion (but this I say of myself and without anybody's knowledge), if France, upon this, were to make some sort of advance, and were to_cease arming_, I think all would do; for you see, if France goes onarming, we shall hardly be justified in not doing the same, and thatwould be very bad. Couldn't you suggest this to the King and Thiers, as of yourself? My anxiety is great for the return of amity andconcord, I can assure you. I think our child ought to have besides itsother names those of _Turco Egypto_, as we think of nothing else!I had a long talk with Palmerston on Wednesday, and also with J. Russell. 

I hope I have done good. The Dutch don't like the abdication. I'm sosorry for poor little Paris![49]

Pray excuse this dreadful scrawl, but I am so hurried. Ever yourdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 49: The Comte de Paris, born 24th August 1838, eldest son of Ferdinand, Duke of Orleans, who was Louis Philippe's eldest son. ]

[Pageheading: ATTEMPT ON LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _17th October 1840. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --You will, I am sure, have been very much shockedon hearing that on the 15th there was a new attempt made to kill thepoor good King at Paris. [50] The place was cleverly chosen, as theKing generally puts his head out of the carriage window to bow tothe guard. I join the letter which he had the goodness to forward usthrough an _estafette_. [51] May this melancholy _attentat_ impresson your Ministers the necessity of aiding the King in his arduoustask. .. . You will have the goodness to show this letter to Albert. 

Louise was much alarmed when it arrived at such an unusual hour; itwas ten o'clock. At first we thought it might be something about poorlittle Paris, who is not yet so well as one could wish. 

We have gloomy miserable weather, and I feel much disgusted with thispart of the world. Ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 50: The King was fired at as he was leaving the Tuileries, by Darmes, a Marseillais. As Croker wrote to Lord Brougham on the 31st of October 1840:--"Poor Louis Philippe lives the life of a mad dog, and will soon, I fear, suffer the death of that general object of every man's shot. "]

 [Footnote 51: Express messenger. ]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND EGYPT]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _20th October 1840. _

MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA, --I must write to you a few lines by M. Drouet, who returns to-morrow morning to England. _God bless you_for the _great zeal_ you have _mis en action_ for our great work, the maintenance of peace; it is one of the greatest importance foreverything worth caring for in Europe. You know well that no personalinterest guides me in my exertions; I am in fact bored with beinghere, and shall ever regret to have remained in these regions, when Imight so easily have gone myself to the Orient, the great object of mypredilection. 

I never shall advise anything which would be against the interests andhonour of yourself, your Government, or your country, in which I haveso great a stake myself. The great thing now is _not to refuse tonegotiate_ with France, even if it should end in nothing. Still forthe King Louis Philippe there is an _immense strength_ and facility inthat word "_nous négocions_"; with this he may get over the opening ofthe session, and this once done, one may hope to come to a conclusion. Since I wrote to Lord Melbourne to-day, I have received a letterfrom the King, of the 19th, _i. E. _ yesterday, in which he tells me, "_Pourvu qu'il y ait, pour commencer, des négociations, cela me donneune grande force. _"

I have written yesterday to him most fully a letter he may show Thiersalso concerning the armaments. I think that my arguments will makesome impression on Thiers. The King writes me word that by dint ofgreat exertion he had brought Thiers to be more moderate. If it waspossible to bring France and Mehemet Ali to agree to the greatest partof the Treaty, it will be worth while for everybody to consent. Theway to bring France to join in some arrangement, and to take theengagement to compel Mehemet to accept it, would be the best practicalway to come to a conclusion. It is probable, though I know nothingabout it in any positive way, that the efforts of getting possessionof Syria will fail, if the country itself does not take up arms on alarge scale, which seems not to be believed. 

To conclude then my somewhat hurried argumentation, the greatestthing is to negotiate. The negotiation cannot now have the effect ofweakening the execution as that goes on, and it may have the advantageof covering the non-success if that should take place, which is atall events possible if not probable. May I beg you to read these fewconfused words to Lord Melbourne as a supplement of my letter to him. Darmes says that if Chartres had been with the King, he would nothave fired, but that his reason for wishing to kill the King was hisconviction that one could not hope for war till he was dead. 

It is really melancholy to see the poor King taking this _acharnement_very much to heart, and upon my word, the other Powers of Europe oweit to themselves and to him to do everything to ease and strengthenhis awful task. 

What do you say to poor Christina's departure?[52] I am sorry for it, and for the poor children. She is believed to be very rich. 

Now I must conclude, but not without thanking you once more for your_great and most laudable exertions_, and wishing you every happiness, which you so _much deserve_. Ever, my most beloved Victoria, yourdevoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 52: Queen Christina abdicated the Regency of Spain, and went to Paris. In the following May General Espartero, Duke of Vittoria, was appointed sole Regent. ]

[Pageheading: DEATH OF LORD HOLLAND]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd October 1840. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Many thanks for your two kind letters of the 17thand 20th. I have very little time to-day, and it being besides _not_my regular day, I must beg you to excuse this letter being very short. I return you the King's letters with _bien des remercîments_. It isa horrid business. We have had accounts of successes on the Syriancoast. Guizot is here since Wednesday, and goes this morning. Albert(who desires me to thank you for your kind letter) has been talkingto him, and so have I, and he promised in return for my expressions ofsincere anxiety to see matters _raccommodées_, to do all in his powerto do so. "_Je ne vais que pour cela_, " he said. 

We were much shocked yesterday at the sudden death of poor good, oldLord Holland. [53] I send you Dr Holland's letter to Lord Melbourneabout it. He is a great loss, and to _Society_ an irreparable one. I'msure you will be sorry for it. 

Mamma comes back sooner than the 31st. She is in great distress atpoor Polly's death. You will regret him. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Pray _do_ try and get the King's Speech to be _pacific_, elseParliament must meet here in November, which would be dreadful for me. 

 [Footnote 53: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who, by reason of his social influence, great wealth, and high intellectual endowments, was one of the most efficient supporters of the Whig party. ]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _26th October 1840. _

. .. The Duke of Cambridge arrived, as you know, before yesterdayevening, at Brussels. Your Uncle visited him yesterday, and at six hecame to Laeken to dine with us. I found him looking well, and hewas as usual very good-natured and kind. I need not tell you thatconversation did not flag between us, and that I thought of you almostthe whole time. In the course of the evening he took leave. He leftBrussels this morning early, on his way to Calais, and I suppose youwill hear of him before this letter reaches you. He took charge of allmy love and _hommages_ for you, dear Albert, and all the Royal Family. Before dinner the children were presented to him (that is Leopoldand Philippe), but I am sorry to say that poor Lippchen was so muchfrightened with his appearance, loud voice, and black gloves, that heburst out crying, and that we were obliged to send him away. TheDuke took his shyness very kindly; but I am still ashamed with hisbehaviour. 

[Pageheading: NEWS FROM SYRIA]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

CARLTON TERRACE, _8th November 1840. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and inaddition to the good news from Syria, which confirms the defeat anddispersion of the forces, both of Ibrahim and of Solyman Pasha, withthe loss of 8, 000 prisoners, 24 pieces of cannon, the whole oftheir camp, baggage, and stores, followed by the flight of those twoGenerals with a small escort, he has the satisfaction of informingyour Majesty that the new French Ministers had a majority of 68, uponthe vote for the election of the President of the Chamber. [54]

This majority, so far exceeding any previous calculation, seems toplace the stability of the Government beyond a doubt, though it must, of course, be expected that upon other questions their majority willnot be so overwhelming. 

 [Footnote 54: M. Sauzet was elected in preference to M. Odillon Barrot. Thiers resigned the Premiership on 14th October; in the new Ministry Soult was President of the Council, Guizot Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Duchatel Minister of the Interior. ]

[Pageheading: DISAFFECTION IN FRANCE]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th November 1840. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and withreference to your Majesty's memorandum of the 9th inst. , he entreatsyour Majesty not to believe that there exists at present in Francethat danger of internal revolution and of external war which theFrench Government, to serve its own diplomatic purposes, endeavours torepresent. 

There is no doubt a large Party among the leading politicians inFrance, who have long contemplated the establishment of a virtually, if not actually, independent State in Egypt and Syria, under thedirect protection and influence of France, and that Party feel greatdisappointment and resentment at finding their schemes in this respectbaffled. But that Party will not revenge themselves on the Four Powersby making a revolution in France, and they are enlightened enough tosee that France cannot revenge herself by making war against the FourPowers, who are much stronger than she is. 

. .. But your Majesty may be assured that there is in France an immensemass of persons, possessed of property, and engaged in pursuits ofindustry, who are decidedly adverse to unnecessary war, and determinedto oppose revolution. And although those persons have not hithertocome prominently forward, yet their voice would have made itselfheard, when the question of peace or unprovoked war came practicallyto be discussed. 

With regard to internal revolution, there is undoubtedly in France alarge floating mass of Republicans and Anarchists, ready at any momentto make a disturbance if there was no strong power to resist them; butthe persons who would lose by convulsion are infinitely more numerous, and the National Guard of Paris, consisting of nearly 60, 000 men, are chiefly persons of this description, and are understood to bedecidedly for internal order, and for external peace. 

It is very natural that the French Government, after having failed toextort concessions upon the Turkish Question, by menaces of foreignwar, should now endeavour to obtain those concessions, by appealingto fears of another kind, and should say that such concessions arenecessary in order to prevent revolution in France; but ViscountPalmerston would submit to your Majesty his deep conviction thatthis appeal is not better founded than the other, and that a firm andresolute perseverance on the part of the Four Powers, in the measureswhich they have taken in hand, will effect a settlement of the affairsof Turkey, which will afford great additional security for the futurepeace of Europe, without producing in the meantime either war _with_France, or revolution _in_ France. 

France and the rest of Europe are entirely different now from whatthey were in 1792. The French nation is as much interested now toavoid further revolution, as it was interested then in ridding itself, by any means, of the enormous and intolerable abuses which thenexisted. France then imagined she had much to gain by foreign war;France now knows she has everything to lose by foreign war. 

Europe then (at least the Continental States) had also a strong desireto get rid of innumerable abuses which pressed heavily upon the peopleof all countries. Those abuses have now in general been removed; thepeople in many parts of Germany have been admitted, more or less, toa share in the management of their own affairs. A German feeling anda spirit of nationality has sprung up among all the German people, andthe Germans, instead of receiving the French as Liberators, as manyof them did in 1792-1793, would now rise as one man to repel a hatefulinvasion. Upon all these grounds Viscount Palmerston deems it his dutyto your Majesty to express his strong conviction that the appeals madeto your Majesty's good feelings by the King of the French, upon thescore of the danger of revolution in France, unless concessions aremade to the French Government, have no foundation in truth, and areonly exertions of skilful diplomacy. 

Viscount Palmerston has to apologise to your Majesty for havinginadvertently written a part of this memorandum upon a half-sheet ofpaper. And he would be glad if, without inconvenience to your Majesty, he could be enabled to read to the Cabinet to-morrow the accompanyingdespatches from Lord Granville. 

[Pageheading: THE STATE OF FRANCE]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston. _[55]

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th November 1840. _

The Queen has to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Palmerston's letterof this morning, which she has read with great attention. The Queenwill just make a few observations upon various points in it, to whichshe would wish to draw Lord Palmerston's attention. The Queen does sowith strict impartiality, having had ample opportunities of hearingboth sides of this intricate and highly-important question. 

First of all, it strikes the Queen that, even if M. Thiers _did_ raisethe cry, which was so loud, for war in France (but which the Queencannot believe he _did_ to the extent Lord Palmerston does), that suchan excitement _once_ raised in a country like France, where the peopleare more excitable than almost any other nation, it cannot be soeasily controuled and stopped again, and the Queen thinks this will beseen in time. 

Secondly, the Queen cannot either quite agree in Lord Palmerston'sobservation, that the French Government state the danger of internalrevolution, if not supported, merely to extract further concessionsfor Mehemet Ali. The Queen does not pretend to say that this danger isnot exaggerated, but depend upon it, a _certain_ degree of dangerdoes exist, and that the situation of the King of the French andthe present French Government is not an easy one. The majority, too, cannot be depended upon, as many would vote against OdillonBarrot, [56] who would _not_ vote on other occasions with theSoult-Guizot Ministry. 

Thirdly, the danger of war is also doubtless greatly exaggerated, as also the numbers of the French troops. But Lord Palmerston mustrecollect how very warlike the French are, and that if once roused, they will not listen to the calm reasoning of those who wish forpeace, or think of the great risk they run of _losing_ by war, butonly of the glory and of revenging insult, as they call it. 

Fourthly, the Queen sees the difficulty there exists at the presentmoment of making any specific offer to France, but she must atthe same time repeat how _highly_ and _exceedingly_ important sheconsiders it that some sort of conciliatory agreement should be cometo with France, for she cannot believe that the appeals made to herby the King of the French are only exertions of skilful diplomacy. TheQueen's earnest and only wish is peace, and a maintenance of friendlyrelations with her allies, consistent with the honour and dignityof her country. She does not think, however, that the last would becompromised by attempts to soften the irritation still existing inFrance, or by attempts to bring France back to her former position inthe Oriental Question. 

She earnestly hopes that Lord Palmerston will consider this, willreflect upon the importance of not driving France to extremities, andof conciliatory measures, without showing fear (for our successes onthe coast of Syria show our power), or without yielding to threats. France has been humbled, and France is in the wrong, but, therefore, it is easier than if we had failed, to do something to bring mattersright again. The Queen has thus frankly stated her own opinion, whichshe thought it right Lord Palmerston should know, and she is sure hewill see it is only dictated by an earnest desire to see _all_ as muchunited as possible on this important subject. 

 [Footnote 55: A copy of this letter was sent at the same time to Lord Melbourne. ]

 [Footnote 56: The unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of the Chamber. ]

_Baron Stockmar to Viscount Melbourne. _

_21st November 1840. _

MY DEAR LORD, --I have just received Her Majesty's order to expressto you her great desire to have from this day the Prince's nameintroduced into the Church Prayer. Her own words were: "that I shouldpress it with Lord Melbourne as the wish she had most at heart at thismoment. " Ever yours most sincerely, STOCKMAR. 

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD ON FRENCH AFFAIRS]

_The King of the Belgians to the Prince Albert. _

[_Translated. _]

LAEKEN, _26th November 1840. _

. .. As to politics, I do not wish to say much to-day. Palmerston, _rex_ and autocrat, is, for a Minister finding himself in suchfortunate circumstances, far _too irritable and violent_. One does notunderstand the use of showing so much hatred and anger. What he saysabout the _appeal to the personal feeling of the Queen, on the partof the King of the French_, is childlike and malicious, for it has_never_ existed. 

The King was for many years the great friend of the Duke of Kent, after whose death he remained a friend of Victoria. His relations withthe latter have, up to 1837, passed through very varied phases; shewas for a long time an object of hatred in the family, who had nottreated the Duke of Kent over-amicably, and a proof of this is thefact that the Regent, from the year 1819, forbade the Duke his houseand presence--which was probably another nail in the Duke's coffin. Many of these things are quite unknown to Victoria, or forgottenby her. Still it is only fair not to forget the people who were herfriends before 1837; after that date there was a violent outbreak ofaffection among people who in the year 1836 would still not go nearVictoria. October 1836, when he sat next her at dinner, was thefirst time that Palmerston himself had ever seen Victoria except at adistance. As you have the best means of knowing, the King has not evendreamt of applying to Victoria. 

As to danger, it was very great in September, on the occasion of the_ouvrier_ riot--for a Paris mob fires at once, a thing which--Heavenbe thanked!--English mobs rarely do. Towards the end of October, whenThiers withdrew, there was a possibility of a revolution, and it wasonly the fear of people of wealth that kept them together, and drewthem towards Guizot. 

A revolution, at once democratic and bellicose, could not but becomemost dangerous. That was on the cards, and only a fairly fortunatecombination of circumstances saved matters. The King and my poormother-in-law were terribly _low_, _on both occasions_, and I confessthat I looked everyday with the greatest anxiety for the news. If thepoor King had been murdered, or even if he were now to be murdered, what danger, what confusion would follow! All these things were met byPalmerston with the excessively _nonchalante_ declaration, _it was notso, and it is not so_! Those are absolutely baseless assertions, andtotally valueless. At least I could estimate the danger as well as heand Bulwer--and, indeed, it was an anxious crisis. I should think theRevolution of 1790 _et ce qui s'en est suivi_ had done a brisk enoughbusiness in Europe, and to risk a new one of the same kind wouldreally be somewhat scandalous. 

What, however, may be the future fruit of the seed of Palmerston'ssowing, we do not in the least know as yet; it may, however, provesufficiently full of misfortune for the future of innocent people. The Eastern affairs will be put on an intelligible footing only when, after these differences with Mehemet Ali, something is done forthe poor Porte, which is now so much out of repair. Otherwise thereremains a little place which is called Sebastopol, and from which, asthe wind is almost constantly favourable, one can get very quicklyto Constantinople--and Constantinople is always the one place whichexercises the greatest influence, and all the more because the ducatscome from that quarter, with results which the marked economy ofEngland is hardly likely to effect. .. . 

Victoria has borne herself bravely and properly in the matter, and_deserves to be greatly praised_. .. . 

[Pageheading: BIRTH OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _30th November 1840. _

MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA, --I have been longing to write to you eversince we got the _joyful_ tidings, [57] but I would not do so beforethe nine days were at an end. Now that they are over, I hope as youare, thank God, so well, I may venture a few lines to express _a part_of my feelings, and to wish you joy on the happy birth of your dearlittle girl. I need not tell you the _deep, deep_ share I took in thismost _happy event_, and all I felt for you, for dear Albert, when Iheard of it, and since we last met. You know my affection for you, and I will not trouble you with the repetition of what you know. AllI will say is that I thanked God with all my heart, and as I havescarcely thanked Him for any other favour. .. . 

 [Footnote 57: The Princess Royal, afterwards the Empress Frederick of Germany, was born 21st November 1840. ]

[Pageheading: SETTLEMENT OF EASTERN QUESTION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_15th December 1840. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Many thanks for your kind little letter of the10th from Ardenne. I am very prosperous, walking about the house likemyself again, and we go to Windsor on the 22nd or 23rd, which willquite set me up. I am _very_ prudent and careful, you may _rely_ uponit. Your little grand-niece is most flourishing; she gains daily inhealth, strength and, I may add, beauty; I think she will be very likeher dearest father; she grows amazingly; I shall be proud to presenther to you. 

The _dénouement_ of the Oriental affair is most fortunate, is itnot?[58]

I see Stockmar often, who is very kind about me and the PrincessRoyal. .. . 

Albert sends his affectionate love, and pray believe me always, yourdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 58: On the 3rd of November St Jean d'Acre was captured by the allied fleet, Admiral Sir Robert Stopford commanding the British contingent; the battle is said to have been the first to test the advantages of steam. Admiral Napier proceeded to Alexandria, and threatened bombardment, unless the Pasha came to terms. On 25th November a Convention was signed, by which Mehemet Ali resigned his claims to Syria, and bound himself to restore the Ottoman Fleet, while the Powers undertook to procure for him undisturbed possession of the Pashalik of Egypt. ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _26th December 1840. _

. .. I can well understand that you feel quite astonished at findingyourself within a year of your marriage a very respectable mother ofa nice little girl, but let us thank Heaven that it is so. Any illnessto which, unfortunately, we poor human creatures are very subject, would almost have kept you longer in bed, and make you longer weak anduncomfortable, than an event which in your position as Sovereign is ofa very great importance. 

Because there is no doubt that a Sovereign without heirs direct, orbrothers and sisters, which by their attachment may stand in lieu ofthem, is much to be pitied, viz. , Queen Anne's later years. Moreover, children of our own, besides the affection which one feels for them, have also for their parents sentiments which one rarely obtains fromstrangers. I flatter myself therefore that you will be a delighted anddelightful _Maman au milieu d'une belle et nombreuse famille_. .. . 

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER X

At the beginning of the year the Ministry were confronted withmonetary difficulties and bad trade; their special weakness infinance, contrasted with Sir Robert Peel's great ability, in additionto their many reverses, indicated that a change was at hand; andconfidential communications were, with Lord Melbourne's full approval, opened up by the Prince with Sir Robert Peel, to avert the recurrenceof a Bedchamber dispute. The Ministry were defeated on their Budget, but did not resign. A vote of want of confidence was then carriedagainst them by a majority of one, and Parliament was dissolved; theMinisters appealing to the country on the cry of a fixed duty on corn. The Conservative and Protectionist victory was a decisive one, the most significant successes being in the city of London, Northumberland, and the West Riding. Somewhat improving their positionin Scotland and Ireland, and just holding their own in the Englishboroughs, the Whigs were absolutely overwhelmed in the counties, andin the result three hundred and sixty-eight Conservatives and only twohundred and ninety-two Liberals were returned. The modern practice ofresigning before meeting Parliament had not then been introduced, andthe Ministry was defeated in both Houses on Amendments to the Address, the Duke of Wellington taking the opportunity of eulogising LordMelbourne's great services to the Queen. A powerful ProtectionistMinistry was formed by Sir Robert Peel, including the Duke ofWellington, Lord Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, and Lord Lyndhurst. 

Great national rejoicings took place when, on the 9th of November, amale heir to the throne, now His Majesty King Edward VII. , was born. 

In France the bitter feeling against England, arising out of theSyrian expedition, still continued, but Thiers' supersession by themore pacific Guizot, and the satisfaction with which both the latterand his Sovereign regarded the displacement of Palmerston by Aberdeen, began to lead to a better _entente_. The scheme of fortifying Pariscontinued, however, to be debated, while the Orleanist family werestill the subjects of futile _attentats_. 

Spain was disturbed, the question of the guardianship of the youngQueen giving rise to dissension: insurrections in the interests of theQueen-mother took place at Pampeluna and Vittoria, and her pension wassuspended by Espartero, the Regent. 

In the east, Mehemet Ali surrendered the whole of the Turkish fleet, and he was subsequently guaranteed the hereditary Pashalik of Egyptby the four European Powers who had intervened in the affairs of theLevant. 

In Afghanistan, an insurrection broke out, and Sir Alexander Burneswas murdered; our envoy at Cabul, Sir William Macnaghten, in anunfortunate moment entered into negotiations with Akbar Khan, a sonof Dost Mahommed, who treacherously assassinated him. Somewhathumiliating terms were arranged, and the English force of 4, 000soldiers, with 12, 000 camp-followers, proceeded to withdraw fromCabul, harassed by the enemy; after endless casualties, GeneralElphinstone, who was in command, with the women and children, becamecaptives, and one man alone, of the 16, 000--Dr Brydon--reachedJellalabad to tell the tale. 

In China, operations were continued, Sir Henry Pottinger supersedingCaptain Elliot, and Canton soon lying at the mercy of the Britisharms; the new Superintendent co-operated with Sir Hugh Gough andAdmiral Sir William Parker, in the capture of Amoy, Chusan, Chintu, and Ningpo. 

In America, the union of the two Canadas was carried into effect, buta sharp dispute with the United States arose out of the Upper Canadadisturbances of 1837. Some Canadian loyalists had then resented theinterference of a few individual Americans in favour of the rebels, and an American named Durfee had been killed. One M'Leod, a Britishsubject, was now arrested in the State of New York, on a charge ofhaving been concerned in the affray. He was acquitted, reprisals weremade by Canadians, and international feeling was for a time highlyacute. 

Much interest naturally attaches to Lord Melbourne's continuedcorrespondence with the Queen, after the change of Government. BaronStockmar's remonstrance on the subject shows that he misunderstood thecharacter of the correspondence, and over-estimated its momentousness. 

These letters dealt chiefly with social and personal matters, andalthough full of interest from the light which they throw on LordMelbourne's relations with the Queen, they show him to have behavedwith scrupulous honour and delicacy, and to have tried to augment, rather than undermine, Peel's growing influence with the Queenand Prince. There are comparatively few of Peel's letters in thecollection. He wrote rarely at first, and only on strictly officialmatters. But before long his great natural reserve was broken through, and his intercourse with the Prince, to whom his character wasparticularly sympathetic, became very close and intimate. 

Of all the English Ministers with whom the Prince was brought incontact, it is known that he preferred the stately and uprightCommoner, who certainly, of all English Ministers, estimated andappreciated the Prince's character most truly and clearly. 

CHAPTER X

1841

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_5th January 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I have to thank you for two very kind letters, ofthe 26th December and 1st January, and for all your very kind and goodwishes. I am sorry to hear you have all been plagued with colds; wehave as yet escaped them, and I trust will continue to do so. I think, dearest Uncle, you cannot _really_ wish me to be the "Mamma d'une_nombreuse_ famille, " for I think you will see with me the greatinconvenience a _large_ family would be to us all, and particularly tothe country, independent of the hardship and inconvenience to myself;men never think, at least seldom think, what a hard task it is for uswomen to go through this _very often_. God's will be done, and if Hedecrees that we are to have a great number of children, why we musttry to bring them up as useful and exemplary members of society. Ouryoung lady flourishes exceedingly, and I hope the Van de Weyers (whohave been here for three days), who have seen her twice, will give youa favourable description of her. I think you would be amused to seeAlbert dancing her in his arms; he makes a capital nurse (which I donot, and she is much too heavy for me to carry), and she already seemsso happy to go to him. 

The christening will be at Buckingham Palace on the 10th of February, our dear marriage-day. 

Affairs are certainly still precarious, but I feel confident all willcome right. .. . 

Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _8th January 1841. _

. .. I trust also that affairs will come right; what is to be fearedis the _chapter of accidents_. Your name bears glorious fruits in allclimes; this globe will soon be too small for you, and something mustbe done to get at the other planets. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S EDUCATION]

_Memorandum--Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th January 1841. _

Lord Melbourne said, "The Prince is bored with the sameness of hischess every evening. He would like to bring literary and scientificpeople about the Court, vary the society, and infuse a more usefultendency into it. The Queen however has no fancy to encourage suchpeople. This arises from a feeling on her part that her education hasnot fitted her to take part in such conversation; she would not likeconversation to be going on in which she could not take her fairshare, and she is far too open and candid in her nature to pretend toone atom more knowledge than she really possesses on such subjects;and yet, as the world goes, she would, as any girl, have beenconsidered accomplished, for she speaks German well and writes it;understands Italian, speaks French fluently, and writes it with greatelegance. In addition to this old Davys instilled some Latin into herduring his tutorship. The rest of her education she owes to her ownnatural shrewdness and quickness, and this perhaps has not been theproper education for one who was to wear the Crown of England. 

"The Queen is very proud of the Prince's utter indifference to theattractions of all ladies. I told Her Majesty that these were earlydays to boast, which made her rather indignant. I think she is alittle jealous of his talking much even to men. "

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S SPEECH]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_19th January 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has justreceived your Majesty's letter. Lord Melbourne is very sorry notto come down to Windsor, but he really thinks that his absence fromLondon at this moment might be prejudicial. 

Lord Melbourne will do his utmost to have the Speech worded in themost calm manner, and so as in no respect to offend or irritate anyfeelings. Some mention of the good conduct and gallantry of the Navythere must be--to omit it would be injurious and disheartening--but asto any expressions complimentary to France or expressive of regretat our separation from it, it will be hardly possible to introduceanything of that nature. [1] It is quite unusual in our Speeches fromthe Throne to express either approbation or disapprobation of theconduct of foreign nations and foreign Governments. It is surprisinghow very seldom it has been done, and the wisdom and prudence ofabstaining from it is very manifest. It would be giving an opinionupon that which does not belong to us. Anything which would have theeffect of producing satisfaction in France must be of an apologeticcharacter, which there is no ground for, and for which neither theGovernment nor the country is prepared. 

The best course will be a total reserve upon this head, certainlyabstaining from anything that can be in the slightest degreeoffensive. 

 [Footnote 1: France was not mentioned, though the Convention with the other Powers, and the naval operations in conjunction with Austria, were referred to. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_22nd January 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. 

Lord Melbourne will be most happy to wait upon your Majesty onSaturday and Sunday. 

Lord Melbourne is very sorry that your Majesty is compelled to come toLondon contrary to your inclinations; but Lord Melbourne much rejoicesthat your Majesty expresses that reluctance, as there is no surersign of complete happiness and contentment in the married life than adesire to remain quietly in the country, and there is nothing on theearth Lord Melbourne desires more anxiously than the assurance of yourMajesty's happiness. 

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S INFANCY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

BRUSSELS, _22nd January 1841. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I thank you very sincerely for your kind letterof the 19th, which I hasten to answer. I should not have bored you bymy presence, but the act of the christening is, in my eyes, a sort ofclosing of the first cyclus of your dear life. I was shooting at thelate Lord Craven's in Berkshire, when I received the messenger whobrought me the horrifying news of your poor father's deadly illness. Ihastened in bitter cold weather to Sidmouth, about two days before hisdeath. His affairs were so much deranged that your Mother would havehad no means even of leaving Sidmouth if I had not taken all thisunder my care and management. That dreary journey, undertaken, Ithink, on the 26th of January, in bitter cold and damp weather, Ishall not easily forget. I looked very sharp after the poor littlebaby, then about eight months old. Arrived in London we were veryunkindly treated by George IV. , _whose great wish was to get you andyour Mamma out of the country_, and I must say without my assistanceyou could _not_ have remained. .. . I state these facts, because it isuseful to remember through what _difficulties_ and _hardships_ onehad to struggle. You will also remember that though there existedthe _possibility_ of your eventually succeeding to the Crown, thatpossibility was very doubtful, the then Duchess of Clarence havingbeen confined after your Mother, and there being every reason to thinkthat, though poor little Princess Elizabeth did not live more thansome months, other children might appear. [2]

It was a long time from 1820 to 1837! We got over it, however, and, asfar as you are concerned, God be praised! safely and happily. You aremarried, with every prospect of many happy years to come, and yourhappiness is _crowned_, and _consolidated_, as it were, by the birthof the dear little lady. Having from motives of discretion, perhaps_carried even too far_, not assisted at your coming to the throne, nor at your Coronation, nor afterwards at your marriage, I wished toassist at the christening of the little Princess, an event which is ofgreat importance. .. . 

 [Footnote 2: Two children were born to the Duke and Duchess of Clarence--Charlotte Augusta Louisa, born and died 29th March 1819, and Elizabeth Georgina Adelaide, born 10th December 1820, and died 4th March 1821. ]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

CARLTON TERRACE, _1st February 1841. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and insubmitting this letter from Earl Granville, which coupled with thedespatches from Sir Robert Stopford virtually show that the TurkishQuestion is brought to a close, begs most humbly to congratulate yourMajesty upon this rapid and peaceful settlement of a matter which atdifferent periods has assumed appearances so threatening to the peaceof Europe. [3]

 [Footnote 3: See _ante_, pp. 252, 254. (Ch. IX, Footnote 58; Intro. Note to Ch. X)]

[Pageheading: ILLNESS OF DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_2nd February 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. LordMelbourne will be happy to wait upon your Majesty on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, but he finds that there is to be a Cabinet dinnerto-morrow. 

Lord Melbourne will speak to Lord Palmerston about Lord John Russell. 

Lord Melbourne does not see the name of the Archbishop of Canterburyas a subscriber to this "Parker" Society, and if your Majesty willgive him leave, he will ask him about it before he gives your Majestyan answer. It is in some degree a party measure, and levelled againstthese new Oxford doctrines. The proposal is to republish the works ofthe older divines up to the time of the death of Queen Elizabeth. Upto that period the doctrines of the Church of England were decidedlyCalvinistic. During the reign of James II. , [4] and particularly afterthe Synod of Dort (1618-1619), the English clergy very generallyadopted _Arminian_ opinions. 

It is proposed to republish the works of the divines who wrote duringthe first period, and to stop short when they come to the second. There is meaning in this. But, after all, the object is not a bad one, and it may not be worth while to consider it so closely. 

 [Footnote 4: Lord Melbourne must have meant James I. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_5th February 1841 (6 o'clock). _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is verysorry to have to acquaint your Majesty that the Duke of Wellington wastaken ill in the House of Lords this evening with a seizure, probablyparalytic, and of the same nature with those which he has had before. Lord Brougham, who was standing opposite to the Duke and addressingthe House, observed the Duke's face to be drawn and distorted, andsoon afterwards the Duke rose from his seat and walked staggeringlytowards the door. He walked down the gallery, supported on each side, but never spoke. A medical man was procured to attend him; he wasplaced in his carriage and driven home. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE UNITED STATES]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_6th March 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to state that the remainder of the Navy Estimates, andnearly the whole of the Army Estimates, were voted last night withoutany serious opposition. Indeed the chief fault found with the ArmyEstimates was that they are not large enough. 

Sir Robert Peel made a remarkable speech. Adverting to the presentstate of our affairs with the United States, [5] he said that muchas he disliked war, yet if the honour or interests of the countryrequired it, he should sink all internal differences, and give hisbest support to the Government of his country. 

This declaration was received with loud cheers. It must be consideredas very creditable to Sir Robert Peel. 

 [Footnote 5: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 254. (Intro Note to Ch. X)]

[Pageheading: CHINA]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _10th April 1841. _

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andhas the honour to submit the accompanying letters, which he receivedyesterday, about the operations in China, and which have justbeen returned to him by Viscount Melbourne, whose letter he alsotransmits. [6]

Viscount Palmerston has felt greatly mortified and disappointed atthis result of the expedition to China, and he much fears that thesequel of the negotiation, which was to follow the conclusion of thesepreliminary conditions, will not tend to render the arrangement lessobjectionable. Captain Elliot seems to have wholly disregarded theinstructions which had been sent to him, and even when, by the entiresuccess of the operations of the Fleet, he was in a condition todictate his own terms, he seems to have agreed to very inadequateconditions. [7] The amount of compensation for the opium surrenderedfalls short of the value of that opium, and nothing has been obtainedfor the expenses of the expedition, nor for the debts of the bankruptHong[8] merchants. The securities which the plenipotentiaries wereexpressly ordered to obtain for British residents in China have beenabandoned; and the Island of Chusan which they were specificallyinformed was to be retained till the whole of the pecuniarycompensation should have been paid, has been hastily and discreditablyevacuated. Even the cession of Hong Kong has been coupled with acondition about the payment of duties, which would render that islandnot a possession of the British Crown, but, like Macao, a settlementheld by sufferance in the territory of the Crown of China. 

Viscount Palmerston deems it his duty in laying these papers beforeyour Majesty, to state some few of the objections which he feels tothe arrangement, but the Cabinet will have to consider, as soon asthey meet after the Recess, what advice they may wish humbly to tenderto your Majesty upon these important matters. There is no doubt, however, that much has been accomplished, but it is very mortifyingto find that other things which the plenipotentiaries were orderedto obtain, and which the force placed at their command was amplysufficient to enable them to accomplish, have not been attained. 

Viscount Palmerston has sent a small map of the Canton River, whichyour Majesty may like to keep for future reference. 

 [Footnote 6: Captain Elliot, after capturing the Chinese position at the mouth of Canton River, concluded a preliminary treaty with the Chinese Government, which did not satisfy the Chinese, and which was strongly disapproved of by the English Ministry, as containing no mention of the opium traffic, which had been the cause of all the difficulties; Elliot was accordingly recalled, and succeeded by Sir Henry Pottinger. ]

 [Footnote 7: They were the cession of Hong-Kong, and payment of an indemnity of 6, 000, 000 dollars to Great Britain, with provision for commercial facilities and collection of customs. ]

 [Footnote 8: The native Canton merchants, --Hong here probably meaning a "row of houses, " a "street. " Hong Kong (Hiang Kiang) means the "fragrant lagoon. "]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_13th April 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I thank you much for your kind letter of the 9th, received yesterday. I have just heard from Stockmar (who, I hope, reported favourably of us all) that your Ministry is at _last_settled, of which I wish you joy. I think, dear Uncle, that you wouldfind the East not only as "absurd" as the West, but very barbarous, cruel, and dangerous into the bargain. 

The Chinese business vexes us much, and Palmerston is deeply mortifiedat it. _All_ we wanted might have been got, if it had not been forthe unaccountably strange conduct of Charles Elliot (_not Admiral_Elliot, [9] for _he_ was obliged to come away from ill-health), whocompletely disobeyed his instructions and _tried_ to get the _lowest_terms he could. .. . The attack and storming of the Chorempee Forts onthe 7th of January was very gallantly done by the Marines, and immensedestruction of the Chinese took place. [10] The accounts of the crueltyof the Chinese to one another are horrible. Albert is so much amusedat my having got the Island of Hong Kong, and we think Victoria oughtto be called Princess of Hong Kong in addition to Princess Royal. 

She drives out every day in a close carriage with the window open, since she has been here, which does her worlds of good, and she is tohave a _walk_ to-day. 

Stockmar writes me word that Charlotte[11] is quite beautiful. _I_ amvery jealous. 

I think Vecto quite right not to travel without Nemours; for it wouldlook just as if she was unhappy, and ran to her parents for help. Iam sure _if_ Albert ever should be away (which, however, _will_ and_shall never_ happen, for I would go with him even if he was to goto the _North Pole_), I should never think of travelling; but I can'tmake mamma understand this. Now farewell. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 9: They were both cousins of Lord Minto, the First Lord of the Admiralty. ]

 [Footnote 10: Commodore Bremer very speedily reduced some of the forts, but his further operations were stopped. ]

 [Footnote 11: Daughter of King Leopold, who married in 1857 the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (afterwards Emperor Maximilian of Mexico). ]

[Pageheading: LORD CARDIGAN]

[Pageheading: ARMY DISCIPLINE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_24th April 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. MrLabouchere[12] has desired that the five-pound piece which is aboutto be issued from the Mint should be submitted for your Majesty'sinspection and approbation. 

We have had under our consideration at the Cabinet the unfortunatesubject of the conduct of Lord Cardigan. [13] The public feeling uponit is very strong, and it is almost certain that a Motion will be madein the House of Commons for an Address praying your Majesty to removehim from the command of his regiment. Such a Motion, if made, there isvery little chance of resisting with success, and nothing is more tobe apprehended and deprecated than such an interference of the Houseof Commons with the interior discipline and government of the Army. It was also felt that the general order issued by the Horse Guardswas not sufficient to meet the case, and in these circumstances it wasthought proper that Lord Melbourne should see Lord Hill, and shouldexpress to him the opinion of the Cabinet, that it was necessary thathe should advise your Majesty to take such measures as should have theeffect of removing Lord Cardigan from the command of the 11th Hussars. The repeated acts of imprudence of which Lord Cardigan has beenguilty, and the repeated censures which he has drawn down uponhimself, form a ground amply sufficient for such a proceeding, andindeed seem imperiously to demand it. [14]

Lord Melbourne has seen Lord Hill and made to him this communication, and has left it for his consideration. Lord Hill is deeply chagrinedand annoyed, but will consider the matter and confer again with LordMelbourne upon it to-morrow. 

 [Footnote 12: President of the Board of Trade, afterwards created Lord Taunton. ]

 [Footnote 13: "Within the space of a single twelvemonth, one of his [Lord Cardigan's] captains was cashiered for writing him a challenge; he sent a coarse and insulting verbal message to another, and then punished him with prolonged arrest, because he respectfully refused to shake hands with the officer who had been employed to convey the affront; he fought a duel with a lieutenant who had left the corps, and shot him through the body; and he flogged a soldier on Sunday, between the Services, on the very spot where, half an hour before, the man's comrades had been mustered for public worship. "--SIR G. TREVELYAN, _Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay_, chap. Viii. ]

 [Footnote 14: In February he had been acquitted on technical grounds by the House of Lords of shooting a Captain Harvey Garnett Phipps Tuckett. He had accused Tuckett of being the author of letters which had appeared in the papers reflecting on his character; a duel on Wimbledon Common followed, and Tuckett was wounded. The evidence, consisting in part of a visiting card, showed that a Captain Harvey Tuckett had been wounded, which was held to be insufficient evidence of identity. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_25th April 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is mostanxious upon all subjects to be put in possession of Your Majesty'sfull and entire opinions. It is true that this question may materiallyaffect the discipline of the Army, by subjecting the interiormanagement of regiments to be brought continually under the inspectionand control of the House of Commons upon complaints of officersagainst their superiors, or even of private men against the officers. 

The danger of the whole of Lord Cardigan's proceedings has been lesta precedent of this nature should arise out of them. The question iswhether it is not more prudent to prevent a question being broughtforward in the House of Commons, than to wait for it with thecertainty of being obliged to yield to it or of being overpowered byit. But of course this cannot be done unless it is consistent withjustice and with the usage and prestige of the Service. 

Lord Melbourne has desired the Cabinet Ministers to assemble hereto-day at four o'clock, in order to consider the subject. LordMelbourne has seen Lord Hill again this morning, and Lord Hill hasseen and consulted the Duke of Wellington, who has stated his opinionvery fully. 

The opinion of the Duke is that the Punishment on Sunday was a greatimpropriety and indiscretion upon the part of Lord Cardigan, but not aMilitary offence, nor a breach of the Mutiny Act or of the Articles ofWar; that it called for the censure of the Commander-in-Chief, whichcensure was pronounced by the General Order upon which the Duke wasconsulted before it was issued, and that according to the usage of theService no further step can be taken by the Military Authorities. Thisopinion Lord Melbourne will submit to-day to the Cabinet Ministers. 

Lord Melbourne perceives that he has unintentionally written upontwo sheets of paper, which he hopes will cause your Majesty noinconvenience. 

[Pageheading: THE NOTTINGHAM ELECTION]

_Lord Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _28th April 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He hashimself seen the result of the election at Nottingham[15] without theleast surprise, from his knowledge of the place and his observation ofthe circumstances of the contest. What John Russell reported to yourMajesty was the opinion of those who act for us in that place, but assoon as Lord Melbourne saw that there was a disposition upon the partof the violent party, Radicals, Chartists, and what not, to supportthe Tory candidate, he knew that the contest was formidable anddubious. The Tory party is very strong, naturally, at Nottingham, and if it received any accession of strength, was almost certain toprevail. This combination, or rather this accession of one party tothe Tories, which has taken place at Nottingham, is very likely, andin Lord Melbourne's opinion almost certain, to take place in manyother parts of the country in the case of a general election, andforms very serious matter for consideration as to the prudence oftaking such a step as a dissolution of the Parliament. 

Lord Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty after the Levée. Itsignifies not how late, as there is no House of Lords. 

 [Footnote 15: Where Mr Walter, a Tory, was elected with a majority of 238. ]

[Pageheading: THE BUDGET]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _1st May 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that Mr Baring yesterday brought forward theBudget in a remarkably clear and forcible speech. 

The changes in the duties on Sugar and Timber, [16] and theannouncement made by Lord John Russell of a proposal for a fixed dutyon Corn, seemed to surprise and irritate the Opposition. 

Sir Robert Peel refused to give any opinion on these propositions, andsatisfied himself with attacking the Government on the state of thefinances. 

The supporters of the Government were greatly pleased with Mr Baring'splan, and loud in their cheers. 

It is the general opinion that Lord Stanley will not proceed with hisBill, [17] and there seems little doubt of this fact. 

But the two parties are now evenly balanced, and the absence ordefection of some two or three of the Ministerial party may at anytime leave the Government in a minority. 

 [Footnote 16: The proposals were to increase the duty on colonial timber from 10_s. _ to 20_s. _ a load, reducing it on foreign timber from 55_s. _ to 50_s. _, to leave the duty on colonial sugar unloaded at 24_s. _ a cwt. , reducing that on foreign sugar from 63_s. _ to 36_s. _ a cwt. ]

 [Footnote 17: On Irish Registration. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_3rd May 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We decided atthe Cabinet on Friday that we could not sanction the agreement whichCaptain Elliot has probably by this time concluded with the Governmentof China, but that it would be necessary to demand a larger amount ofindemnity for the past injury, and also a more complete security forour trade in future. For this purpose it was determined to send outinstructions, in case the armament should not have left the Chinesecoasts and have been dispersed, to reoccupy the Island of Chusan, [18]a measure which appears to have had a great effect upon the mindsof the Chinese Government. It was also determined to recall CaptainElliot, and to send out as soon as possible another officer withfull instructions from hence as to the views and intentions of yourMajesty's Government. Sir Henry Pottinger, [19] an officer in the EastIndia Company's Service, much distinguished in the recent operationsin Afghanistan, is designated with your Majesty's approbation for thisservice, which he has signified his willingness to undertake. It wasalso thought that it would be proper to entrust Lord Auckland[20]with general discretionary powers as to the further conduct of theexpedition. These determinations Lord Melbourne hopes that yourMajesty will approve. 

Lord John Russell informed Lord Melbourne yesterday that he knew thatit was not the intention of the Opposition to press Lord Stanley'sBill; but it is not to be expected in the present position of affairsthat they will not determine upon taking some decisive and unitedmeasure in advance. 

In the present state of public measures and of public feeling, whendebate may arise at any moment, it would not be fitting for LordMelbourne to absent himself on any sitting day from the House ofLords. But unless there should be anything so urgent as to preventhim, he will come down after the House on Tuesday evening and stayuntil Thursday morning. 

Fanny is highly delighted and immeasurably grateful for your Majesty'soffer of the Lodge in Richmond Park, and most desirous to availherself of your Majesty's kindness, and so is Jocelyn. Lord Melbournehas little doubt that they will thankfully accept it. [21]

 [Footnote 18: The Island of Chusan, off the coast of China, had been occupied in July 1840 as a base of operations, but evacuated by Elliot in 1841. It was retaken in September 1841, after Elliot's recall, by Sir Henry Pottinger. ]

 [Footnote 19: He had served in the Mahratta War, and been political agent in Scinde. ]

 [Footnote 20: Governor-General of India. ]

 [Footnote 21: Lady Fanny Cowper, Lord Melbourne's niece, was married to Lord Jocelyn on 27th April. ]

[Pageheading: CHRISTENING OF COMTE DE PARIS]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

PARIS, _3rd May 1841. _

MY BELOVED VICTORIA, --As you know surely already, the day of yesterdaywent off very well. The christening[22] was very splendid, the weatherbeautiful, and everything extremely well managed. .. . The arrivalat Notre-Dame, and the _coup d'[oe]il_ of the old church, all hunginteriorly with crimson velvet draperies and trophies of flags, wasvery splendid. There was in the church three rows _de tribunes_ allfull of well-dressed people. _Les grands corps de l'État étaientrangés de chaque côté et dans le ch[oe]ur; l'Autel était placé aucentre de l'église. Les cardinaux et tout le clergé étaient alentour. _When my father arrived, the Archbishop of Paris received him at thedoor of the church, and we all walked in state. My father _ouvrait lamarche_ with the Queen. _Prie-dieu_ and chairs were disposed for us_en demi-cercle_ before the altar, or rather before the baptismalfont, which was placed in front of it, in the very middle of theChurch. My father and mother stood in the centre of the row near eachother. Your uncle, Chartres, and all the Princes followed on theside of my father, and the princesses on the side of my mother. Parisremained with Hélène till the moment of the christening. When theceremony began he advanced near the font with my father and mother(sponsors), and was taken up in the arms of his nurse. After thechristening a Mass and _Te Deum_ were read, and when we came back tothe Tuileries the _corps municipal_ brought the sword which the Cityof Paris has given to the Comte de Paris. .. . 

 [Footnote 22: Of the Comte de Paris, at this time nearly three years old, son of the Duc d'Orléans. ]

[Pageheading: THE SUGAR DUTIES]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _4th May 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that Lord Stanley yesterday postponed his Billfor a fortnight, which at this period of the year is equivalent to itsabandonment. 

On the other hand, Lord Sandon gave a notice for Friday for aResolution on Sugar Duties. 

If, as is probable, this Motion is made as a party movement, it isprobable that, with the addition of those on the Ministerial side whohave an interest in the West Indies, the Motion will be successful. 

The whole scheme of finance for the year will thus be overturned. 

The Tory party seem to expect a dissolution of Parliament, but yourMajesty's advisers will hardly be able to recommend to your Majestysuch a step. 

The cry against the Poor Law is sure to be taken up by the worstpoliticians of the Tory party, and, as at Nottingham, may besuccessful against that most useful law. 

The friends of Government who represent counties will be taunted withthe proposal to alter the Corn Law. 

Bribery is sure to be resorted to beyond anything yet seen. 

A defeat of the Ministry on a dissolution would be final andirreparable. 

On the other hand, their successors in the Government would have toprovide for the excess in the expenditure pledged against the bestmeasures that could be resorted to for the purpose. It would be adifficulty of their own seeking, and their want of candour and justiceto their opponents would be the cause of their own embarrassments. 

The moment is a very important one, and the consequences of the voteof Friday, or probably Monday, cannot fail to be serious. 

[Pageheading: A MINISTERIAL CRISIS]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

_"The Ministry in jeopardy. " (Heading in the Prince Albert's hand. )_

WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th May 1841. _

Lord Melbourne came down from town after the House of Lords. I wentwith him to his room for an hour after the Queen had retired. He saidthe main struggle would take place on the Sugar Duties on Friday. Hisimpression was that the Government would be beat, and he must thendecide whether to go out or dissolve. He leaned to the former. I said, "I trusted he would not dissolve unless he thought there was someprospect of increasing his strength, and begged him to remember whatwas done would not be considered the act of the Government but that ofhimself and the Queen, and that he individually would be held as theresponsible person. "

He said he had not written to the Queen to prepare H. M. For comingevents and the course that it would be incumbent upon her to take, forhe felt it extremely difficult and delicate, especially as to the useshe should make of the Prince, and of her mode of communication whenshe required it with Lord Melbourne. He thought she ought never to askhis advice direct, but if she required his opinion there would be noobjection to her obtaining it through the Prince. 

He said H. M. Had relied so implicitly upon him upon all affairs, thathe felt that she required in this emergency advice upon almost everysubject. That he would tell H. M. That she must carefully abstain fromplaying the same part she did, again, on Sir R. Peel's attempt to forma Ministry, for that nothing but the forbearance of the Tories hadenabled himself and his colleagues to support H. M. At that time. Hefeared Peel's doggedness and pertinacity might make him insist, as apoint of honour, on having all discretion granted to him in regardto the removal of Ladies. I told him of the Prince's suggestion thatbefore the Queen saw Sir R. Peel some negotiation might be enteredinto with Sir Robert, so that the subject might be avoided by mutualconsent, the terms of which might be that Sir Robert should give uphis demand to extort the principle. The Queen, on the other hand, should require the resignation of those Ladies objected to by SirRobert. Lord Melbourne said, however, that the Prince must not havepersonal communication with Sir Robert on this subject, but he thoughtthat I might through the medium of a common friend. 

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ADVICE]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _5th May 1841. _

Saw Lord Melbourne after his interview this morning with the Queen. Hesays Her Majesty was perfectly calm and reasonable, and seemed quiteprepared for the resignation of the Government. He said she wasprepared to give way upon the Ladies if required, but much wishedthat that point might be previously settled by negotiation with Sir R. Peel, to avoid any discussion or difference. Lord Melbourne thinks Imight do this. He would also like Peel to be cautioned not to pressHer Majesty to decide hastily, but to give Her Majesty time, and thathe should feel that if he acted fairly he would be met in the samespirit by the Queen. 

With regard to future communication with Lord Melbourne, the Queensaid she did not mean that a change should exclude her from LordMelbourne's society, and when Lord Melbourne said that in society HerMajesty could not procure Lord Melbourne's opinion upon any subject, and suggested that that should be obtained through the Prince, HerMajesty said that that could pass in writing under cover to me, butthat she must communicate direct. 

The Queen, he says, leans to sending for the Duke of Wellington. LordMelbourne advised that Her Majesty should make up her mind at once tosend for Sir Robert. He told me that it would not be without precedentto send for both at once; this it appears to me would obviate everyobjection. The Queen, he thinks, has a perfect right to exercise herjudgment upon the selection of all persons recommended to Her Majestyfor Household appointments, both as to liking, but chiefly as to theircharacter and as to the character of the husband or wife of the personselected. He would advise the Queen to adopt the course which KingWilliam did with Lord Melbourne in 1835, viz. Desiring Lord Melbourne, before His Majesty approved of any appointments, to send a list ofthose proposed even to the members of every Board, and the King havingthem all before him expressed his objections to certain persons, whichLord Melbourne yielded to. 

Told Lord Melbourne that the Prince wished him to impress upon theQueen's mind not to act upon the approaching crisis without thePrince, because she would not be able to go through difficulties byherself, and the Prince would not be able to help her when he wasignorant of the considerations which had influenced her actions. Hewould wish Lord Melbourne when with the Queen to call in the Prince, in order that they might both be set right upon Lord Melbourne'sopinions, that he might express in the presence of each other hisviews, in order that he should not convey different impressions byspeaking to them separately, so that _they_ might act in concert. 

The Prince says the Queen always sees what is right at a glance, butif her feelings run contrary she avoids the Prince's arguments, whichshe feels sure agree with her own, and seeks arguments to support herwishes against her convictions from other people. 

[Pageheading: DISSOLUTION OR RESIGNATION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _7th May 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and lamentsmuch the prospect that lies before us, more especially as it is sorepugnant to your Majesty's feelings. Your Majesty has often observedthat these events must come in the course of affairs at some moment oranother, but Lord Melbourne knows not whether it is much consolationto reflect that what is very disagreeable is also natural andunavoidable. Lord Melbourne feels certain that your Majesty willconsider the situation calmly and impartially, will do that whichshall appear the best for your own interests and those of the country, which are identical. 

Everything shall be done that can be; the questions which may ariseshall be considered well, and upon as full information as can beobtained. But Lord Melbourne has little to add to what he wrote toyour Majesty yesterday. So many interests are affected by this Sugarquestion, the West Indian, the East Indian, the opponents of Slaveryand others, that no small number of our supporters will be inducedeither to stay away or to vote against us, and this must place us ina minority upon the main points of our Budget. In this we can hardlyacquiesce, nor can we adopt a different policy and propose othertaxes, when in our opinion the necessary revenue can be raised withoutimposing them. This state of things imposes upon us the alternativeof dissolution or of resignation, and to try the former withoutsucceeding in it would be to place both your Majesty and ourselves ina worse situation than that in which we are at present. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _8th May 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We have beenconsidering this question of dissolution at the Cabinet, and we havehad before us a general statement of the public returns for Englandand Wales. It is not very favourable, but Lord Melbourne fears that itis more favourable than the reality would prove. The Chancellor, [23]Palmerston, and Hobhouse are strongly for dissolution, but the opinionof the majority is the other way, and in that opinion Lord Melbourneis strongly inclined to agree. 

Lord Melbourne will have the honour of waiting upon your Majestyto-morrow at three. 

 [Footnote 23: The Earl of Cottenham. ]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

NOTES UPON AN INTERVIEW WITH SIR ROBERT PEEL (NO. 1). [24]

_9th May 1841. _

Told Sir Robert that I had wished to have sought him through themedium of a common friend, which would have given him a greaterconfidence than I had now a right to expect at his hands, but Ifelt upon so delicate a mission it was safer, and would be more inaccordance with his wishes, to come direct. 

That the Prince had sent me to him, with the object of removingdifficulties upon his coming into office. 

That Her Majesty was anxious that the question of the removal of theLadies of the Bedchamber should not be revived, and would wish thatin any personal communication with Sir Robert this question might beavoided. 

That it might be arranged that if Sir Robert would not insist uponcarrying out his principle, Her Majesty might procure the resignationof any Ladies whom Sir Robert might object to; that I thought theremight be a disposition to yield to the removal of the Mistress of theRobes, Lady Normanby, and the Duchess of Bedford, as being connectedwith leading political persons in Government. 

Endeavoured to impress upon Sir Robert that if he acts fairly andkindly towards the Queen, he will be met in the same spirit. 

Sir Robert said he had considered the probable object of my interview, and thought, from my former position with Lord Melbourne, that LordMelbourne would be aware of my coming. He must be assured of thisbefore he could speak confidentially to me. 

Upon this I admitted that Lord Melbourne had knowledge of myintention, but that I was not authorised to say that he had. 

Sir Robert said, "I shall put aside all form, and treat you franklyand confidentially. You may depend upon every word you say being heldas sacred. No part, without further permission, shall be mentionedeven to the Duke, much less to any of my other colleagues. 

"_I would waive every pretension to office, I declare to God! soonerthan that my acceptance of it should be attended with any personalhumiliation to the Queen. _"

He thought that giving in the names of those Ladies whom he consideredobnoxious was an offensive course towards the Queen. 

For the sake of office, which he did not covet, he could not concedeany constitutional principle, but it was not necessary that thatprinciple should be mooted. 

"It would be repulsive to my feelings that Her Majesty should partwith any of her Ladies, as the _result of a forced stipulation on mypart_; in a party sense it would doubtless be advantageous to me tosay that I had demanded from the Queen, and the Queen had conceded tome the appointments of these three Ladies. "

The mode he would like, and which he considered as least objectionablefor Her Majesty, was for Her Majesty to say to him, "There is nooccasion to revive this constitutional question, as those ladiesimmediately connected with prominent members of the Administrationhave sent in their resignation. "

The vacancies existing before Sir Robert Peel sees Her Majesty, thereis no necessity for discussion. 

On the one hand, by this means, there was less appearance of insult tothe Queen, and on the other, there was no appearance of concession ofprinciple upon his. 

Sir Robert was ready to make any personal sacrifice for Her Majesty'scomfort, except that of his honour. "Can the Queen for an instantsuppose that I would permit my party to urge me on to insist uponanything incompatible with Her Majesty's dignity, which it would be mygreat aim and honour to defend?"

[This was his indignant reply to my remark upon the rumours that hisparty would press him to coerce and subdue Her Majesty. ]

Sir Robert thinks it better for the Queen to avoid anything in theshape of a stipulation. He would like what he would have done upona former occasion (and upon which, on the honour of a gentleman, hisviews had undergone no change) to be taken as a test of what he wouldbe ready to concede to. 

Nothing but misconception, he said, could in his opinion have ledto failure before. "_Had the Queen told me_" (after the questionwas mooted, which it never need have been) "_that those threeladies immediately connected with the Government had tendered theirresignation, I should have been perfectly satisfied_, and should haveconsulted the Queen's feelings in replacing them. "

Sir Robert said this conversation shall remain sacred, and to alleffect, as if it had never happened, until he saw me again to-morrowmorning. 

There is nothing said, he added, which in any way pledges orcompromises the Queen, the Prince, or Lord Melbourne. 

 [Footnote 24: See Parker's _Sir Robert Peel_, vol. Ii. P. 455, _et seq. _, where Peel's memorandum of the interview is set out. ]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]

[Pageheading: HOUSEHOLD APPOINTMENTS]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

INTERVIEW WITH SIR ROBERT PEEL (No. 2). 

_10th May 1841. _

Peel said: "It is essential to my position with the Queen that HerMajesty should understand that I have the feelings of a gentleman, andwhere my duty does not interfere, I cannot act against her wishes. Her Majesty doubtless knows how pressed I am as the head of a powerfulparty, but the impression I wish to create in Her Majesty's mind is, that I am bound to defend her against their encroachments. "

In regard to Household appointments the holders of which are not inParliament, he had not considered the question, but in the meantime hewould in no way commit himself to anyone, or to any understandingupon the subject, without previous communication. He had no personalobjects to serve, and the Queen's wishes would always be consulted. 

He again repeated, that if the Queen's personal feelings would sufferless by forming an Administration to his exclusion, he should not beoffended. Private life satisfied him, and he had no ambition beyondit. 

Lord Melbourne might rest assured that _he_ fully appreciated his aim, that his only object was to do that which was most for Her Majesty'sadvantage, and no human being should know that he was privy tothis overture. Lord Melbourne might depend upon his honour. If LordMelbourne was pressed to a dissolution he should still feel the sameimpression of Lord Melbourne's conduct, that it was honourable andstraightforward. 

He wished the Prince to send him a list of those Ladies whom it wouldbe agreeable to Her Majesty to have in her Household. Sir Robert mustpropose it to the Ladies, but will be entirely guided by Her Majesty'swishes. There should be no appearance that Her Majesty has anyunderstanding, as he was bound to his party to make it appear that theappointments emanated from himself. [25]

 [Footnote 25: There was a further interview on the following day at which various detailed points were arranged. ]

_Memorandum by the Queen. _

_11th May 1841. _

The Queen considers it her right (and is aware that her predecessorswere peculiarly tenacious of this right) to appoint her Household. She, however, gives up the great officers of State and those ofher Lords-in-Waiting, Equerries, and Grooms-in-Waiting, who are _inParliament_, to the appointment of the Prime Minister, subject to herapproval. 

The Queen has _always_ appointed her _Ladies of the Bedchamberherself_, but has generally mentioned their names to the PrimeMinister before appointing them, in order to leave him room forobjection in case he should deem their appointment injurious to hisGovernment, when the Queen would probably not appoint the Lady. 

The Maids of Honour and Women of the Bedchamber are of course notincluded amongst those who are mentioned to the Prime Minister beforetheir appointment, but are at once appointed by the Queen. 

[Pageheading: PRESSURE OF BUSINESS]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Wednesday, 12th May 1841. _

"At seven minutes to five Lord Melbourne came to me and stayed tillhalf-past five. He gave me the copies of Anson's conversations withPeel. Lord Melbourne then gave me a letter from the Chancellor toread, strongly advocating a dissolution, and wishing that there shouldbe a division also on Lord John Russell's amendment. [26]

"Lord Melbourne left the letter with me. The first part of the letter, relative to Lord John's amendment, we think good, but the otherpart we can't quite agree in. 'There is to be a Cabinet to-morrowto consider what is to be done, ' said Lord Melbourne, 'for theChancellor's opinion must be considered. There is a preferment amongstour people for dissolution, ' Lord M. Added. The feeling in the countrygood. I asked Lord M. , 'Must they resign directly, the next day, afterthe division (if they intended resigning)?' 'Why, ' he said, 'it wasawkward _not_ to do so if Parliament was sitting; if the division wereonly to take place on Friday, then they needn't announce it till Monday, 'which we hope will be the case, as we agreed it wouldn't do for me tohave a ball the day Lord M. Had resigned, and before I had sent foranybody else, and therefore I hoped that it could be managed that thedivision did not take place till Friday. Lord M. Said that in case theyresigned, he wished Vernon Smith[27] to be made a Privy Councillor; theonly addition to the Peers he mentioned the other day he wished to makeis Surrey;[28] we agreed that too many Peers was always a bad thing. "

 [Footnote 26: To Lord Sandon's resolution on the Sugar Duties. ]

 [Footnote 27: Robert Vernon Smith (1800-1873), Under-Secretary for War and the Colonies, afterwards Lord Lyveden. ]

 [Footnote 28: The Earl of Surrey (1791-1856) was now M. P. For West Sussex, and Treasurer of the Household, and was afterwards thirteenth Duke of Norfolk. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_11th May 1841. _

. .. I am sure you will forgive my writing a very short letter to-day, but I am so harassed and occupied with business that I cannot findtime to write letters. You will, I am sure, _feel_ for me; theprobability of parting from so kind and excellent a being as LordMelbourne as a _Minister_ (for a _friend_ he will _always_ remain) isvery, _very_ painful, even if one feels it will not probably be forlong; to take it philosophically is my great wish, and _quietly_I certainly shall, but one cannot help _feelings_ of affection andgratitude. Albert is the greatest possible comfort to me in every way, and my position is much more independent than it was before. 

I am glad you see the French feeling in the right light. I rejoicethat the christening, etc. , went off so well. Believe me, ever, yourdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: QUESTION OF DISSOLUTION]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Thursday, 13th May 1841. _

"Saw Lord Melbourne at a little past four. 

". .. 'We have had a Cabinet, ' Lord Melbourne said, 'and we have beenconsidering the question of dissolution and what is the best courseto be pursued; if we were to dissolve, John Russell, ' he said, 'wouldpursue quite a different course; he would then announce the SugarDuties at once. I (Lord Melbourne) said, that I had been consideringwell the whole question, and the Chancellor's letter, but thataltogether I did not think it advisable to have recourse to adissolution--and I think the greater part lean towards that opinion;but there _are_ a few who are very much for a dissolution--theChancellor and Hobhouse very much so, and Palmerston. They have, however, not quite finally decided the matter. I understand the debatewill certainly go over to-night, ' he said, 'and that they would havetime on Saturday and Sunday to consider about Lord John's amendment. '"

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Saturday, 15th May 1841. _

"Lord Melbourne came to me at twenty minutes past one, and we talkedabout this question of dissolution. 'We shall have a long debate uponit this morning at the Cabinet, ' Lord Melbourne said. 'The worst thingis, that if we carry the Sugar Duties, we must dissolve. If we were todissolve, ' he continued, 'and were to have the parties equal as theyare now, it would be very bad; if we _were_ to have a _majority_, itwould be a great thing; _but_ if we were to have a minority it wouldbe still worse. .. . We know that Charles I. And Charles II. , and evenCromwell, appealed to the country, and had a Parliament returnedinto their very teeth' (so strong an Opposition), 'and that produceddeposition, and convulsion, and bloodshed and death; but since thenthe Crown has always had a majority returned in favour of it. EvenQueen Anne, ' he continued, 'who removed Marlborough in the midst ofhis most glorious victories and dissolved Parliament, had an immensemajority, though her measures were miserable; William IV. , ' he said, 'even though he had a majority against him which prevented him fromkeeping his Ministers, had a much stronger feeling for him in thatParliament, than he ever had before. But I am afraid, ' he added, 'thatfor the first time the Crown would have an Opposition returned smackagainst it; and that would be an affront to which I am very unwillingto expose the Crown. ' This is very true. "

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD'S SYMPATHY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

TUILERIES, _14th May 1841. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I am deeply grateful for your kind letter, whichreached me this morning. Letters from hence ought not to be longeron their way than, at the longest, forty hours; forty-eight is themaximum. I fear that they are delayed at the Foreign Office; here itcannot be, as for instance these lines go this evening. 

I can easily understand that the present crisis must have somethingvery painful for you, and you will do well for your health and comfortto try to take it as philosophically as possible; it is a part ofthe Constitutional system which is for the Sovereign very hard to getover. 

_Nous savons tous des paroles sur cet air_, as the French say. I wasconvinced that Lord Melbourne's right and good feeling would make himpause before he proposed to you a dissolution. A general election inEngland, when great passions must be roused or created to renderit efficacious for one party or another, is a dangerous experiment, always calculated to shake the foundations on which have hithertoreposed the great elements of the political power of the country. Albert will be a great comfort to you, and to hear it from yourselfhas given me the sincerest delight. His judgment is good, and he ismild and safe in his opinions; they deserve your serious attention;young as he is, I have really often been quite surprised how quick andcorrect his judgment is. .. . 

[Pageheading: TORY DISSENSIONS]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _16th May 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to state that the general effect of last week's debate[29]has been greatly in favour of the measures of your Majesty'sMinisters. 

The speeches of Mr Labouchere, Sir George Grey, and Lord Howick, withthe powerful argument of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Fridaynight, have not been met by any corresponding ability on the otherside. 

In fact the Opposition seem to have concealed their own views ofpolicy, and to have imagined that the Anti-Slavery feeling would carrythem through successfully. But this expectation has been entirelydisappointed; debate has unmasked the hollow pretence of humanity, and the meetings at Exeter Hall and in the country have completelycounteracted the impressions which Dr Lushington's speech[30] hadproduced. 

Lancashire, Cheshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire have beenroused to strong excitement by the prospect of a reduction of theduty on corn. Several of the large towns have expressed their opinionswithout distinction of party. 

These symptoms are said to have created some dissensions among theopponents of your Majesty's present Government. 

Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, and nearly all the eminent leadersof the party, profess their adherence to the principles of MrHuskisson. [31] On the other hand, the Duke of Buckingham, [32] withmany Lords and Commoners, is opposed to any relaxation of thepresent Corn Laws. This difference must ultimately produce seriousconsequences, and it is possible they may break out before the presentdebate is ended. 

One consequence of the propositions of the Ministry is theweakening of the power of the Chartists, who have relied on themisrepresentation that neither Whigs nor Tories would ever do anythingfor the improvement of the condition of the working classes. 

All these circumstances have a bearing on the question of adissolution of Parliament, and are to be weighed against the risks andinconveniences of so bold a measure. 

 [Footnote 29: On Lord Sandon's resolution. ]

 [Footnote 30: Against the Budget, on the ground that it tended to encourage slavery. ]

 [Footnote 31: Which were opposed to Protection and the Navigation Laws. ]

 [Footnote 32: Richard Plantagenet (1797-1861), second Duke of the 1822 creation, M. P. For Bucks 1818-1839, and author of the "Chandos clause, " became Lord Privy Seal this year, but resigned shortly after. He dissipated his property, and had to sell the contents of Stowe. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Monday, 17th May 1841. _

"Lord Melbourne came to me at twenty minutes to three. There were no_new_ news. He gave me a letter from the Duke of Roxburgh, [33] sayinghe could not support Government on the Corn Laws, and writing anunnecessarily cold letter. Lord Melbourne fears this would loseRoxburgh in case of an election. A great many of the friends of theGovernment, however, are against any alteration in the Corn Laws. Talked of the excellent accounts from the country with which thepapers are full, and I said I couldn't help thinking the Governmentwould gain by a dissolution, and the feeling in the country so strong, and daily increasing. They would lose the counties, Lord Melbournethinks, and the question is whether their successes in themanufacturing towns would be sufficient to counterbalance that. Thedebate may last longer, Lord Melbourne says, as J. Russell says hewill continue it as long as their friends wish it. Many of theirfriends would be very angry if we did not dissolve, Lord Melbournesays. 'I say always, ' said Lord Melbourne, 'that your Majesty willbe in such a much worse position' (if a majority should be returnedagainst us), 'but they say not, for that the others would dissolve. 'I said that if that was so we _must dissolve_, for then that it wouldcome to just the same thing, and that that changed my opinion verymuch. 'You would like us then to make the attempt?' Lord Melbourneasked. I said 'Almost. ' I asked if he really thought they woulddissolve. 'I've great reason to believe they would, ' he replied. 'Hardinge[34] told Vivian[35] "we shall prevent _your_ dissolving, but_we shall_ dissolve. "' . .. I asked did Lord Melbourne think they (theConservatives) would remain in long, and Melbourne said: 'One can'ttell beforehand what may happen, but you would find their divisionsand dissensions amongst themselves sufficient to prevent their stayingin long. ' . .. 

"Saw Lord John Russell, who didn't feel certain if the debate wouldend to-night. Talked of the very good feeling in the country. He saidhe understood Sir Edward Knatchbull[36] was exceedingly displeased atwhat Peel had said concerning Free Trade, and said in that case Peelwould be as bad as the present Government. He thinks the Tories, if inpower, might try and collect the Sugar duties without Law, which woulddo them a great deal of harm and be exceedingly unpopular. He does_not_ think the Tories intend _certainly_ to dissolve. He thinks theywould not dissolve now, and that they would hereafter get so entangledby their own dissensions, as to render it unfavourable to them. "

 [Footnote 33: James, sixth Duke. The Duchess was afterwards a Lady of the Bedchamber. ]

 [Footnote 34: Sir Henry Hardinge (1785-1856) had been Secretary at War, and Chief Secretary for Ireland, under former Tory Governments. ]

 [Footnote 35: Master-General of the Ordnance. ]

 [Footnote 36: M. P. For East Kent. He became Paymaster-General in Peel's Cabinet. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_18th May 1841. _

. .. I was sure you would feel for me. Since last Monday, the 10th, wehave lived in the daily expectation of a final event taking place, andthe debate _still_ continues, and it is not certain whether it willeven finish to-night, this being the eighth night, it having begun onFriday the 7th, two Saturdays and two Sundays having intervened! Ourplans are so unsettled that I can tell you nothing, only that youmay depend upon it nothing will be done without having been duly, properly, and maturely weighed. Lord Melbourne's conduct is as usualperfect; fair, calm, and totally disinterested, and I am certain thatin whatever position he is _you_ will treat him _just_ as you havealways done. 

My dearest Angel is indeed a great comfort to me. He takes thegreatest interest in what goes on, feeling with and for me, and yetabstaining as he ought from biassing me either way, though we talkmuch on the subject, and his judgment is, as you say, good andmild. .. . 

_P. S. _--Pray let me hear soon _when_ you come. You, I know, like meto tell you what I hear, and for me to be frank with you. I thereforetell you that it is believed by some people here, and even by somein the Government, that _you_ wish my Government to be _out_. Now, I never for an instant can believe such an assertion, as I know yourliberal feelings, and your interest in my welfare and in that ofthe country too well to think you could wish for such a thing, and Iimmediately said I was sure this was not so; but I think you woulddo well to say to Seymour something which might imply interest in mypresent Government. 

I know you will understand my anxiety on your account, lest such amischievous report should be believed. It comes, you see, from theidea that your feelings are very French. 

[Pageheading: THE CORN LAWS]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal. _

_Tuesday, 18th May 1841. _

"Saw Lord Melbourne. [37] He said Lord John Russell had been tosee him, and, 'He now wishes us not to resign, but to give noticeimmediately of a Motion on the Corn Laws. This, he thinks, will makethe others propose a vote of confidence, or make them oppose the SugarDuties, which, he thinks, will be better for us to resign upon, and when it would be clear to our people that we couldn't dissolve. Everybody says it would be a very bad thing for us to resign now, uponsuch a question as this, and we must consider the party a little. ' Isaid, of course, this would be agreeable to me as it gave us anotherchance. I said it would be awkward if they resigned Thursday, onaccount of the Birthday. Lord Melbourne said I could wait a day andonly send for Peel on Saturday, that that wouldn't signify to Peel, as he could come down to Claremont. .. . I asked, in case they meant tobring on this Corn Law question, when would they do so. 'Perhaps aboutthe 30th, ' Lord Melbourne said. It would be a more dangerous question, but it would make them (the Tories) show their colours, which is agreat advantage. He said they prevented Sir Edward Knatchbull fromspeaking last night. "

 [Footnote 37: After eight days' discussions of Lord Sandon's Motion, the Ministers were defeated by 317 to 281. ]

[Pageheading: RESIGNATION POSTPONED]

_Wednesday, 19th May. _

"At twenty minutes to one came Lord Melbourne. .. . I returned him LordJohn Russell's letter, and talked of it, and of John Russell's sayingthe division and Peel's speech made it absolutely necessary to decide_to-day_ whether to _resign_ or _dissolve_. I asked what Peel hadsaid in his speech about the Corn Laws. 'I'll tell you, Ma'am, what hesaid, ' Lord Melbourne replied, 'that he was for a sliding duty andnot for a fixed duty; but he did not pledge himself as to what rate ofduty it should be. I must say, ' Lord Melbourne continued, 'I amstill against dissolution. I don't think our chances of success aresufficient. ' I replied that I couldn't quite believe that, but that Imight be wrong. Lord John is for dissolving. '_You_ wish it?' I said Ialways did. Talked of the feeling in the City and in the country beingso good. Lord Melbourne don't think so much of the feeling in thecountry. Talked of the majority of thirty-six having not been morethan they expected. .. . Lord Melbourne said people thought the debatewas lengthened to please me. I said not at all, but that it was moreconvenient for me. Anyhow I need do nothing till Saturday. The Houseof Commons was adjourned to the next day, and the House of Lords toMonday. 'Mr Baring says, ' he said, 'if there was only a majorityone way or another, it would be better than this state of completeequality. '

"At twenty minutes past four Lord Melbourne returned. 'Well, Ma'am, 'he said, 'we've considered this question, and both the sides ofit well, and at last we voted upon it; and there were--the LordChancellor for dissolution, Lord Minto[38] for it, Lord Normanbyagainst it, but greatly modified; Lord John for, Lord Palmerston for, Lord Clarendon for, Lord Morpeth for, Lord Lansdowne for, Laboucherefor, Hobhouse for, Duncannon[39] for, Baring for, Macaulay for; andunder those circumstances of course I felt I could not but go withthem. [40] Lord Melbourne was much affected in saying all this. 'So weshall go on, bring on the Sugar Duties, and then, if things are in apretty good state, dissolve. I hope you approve?' I said I did highly. .. And that I felt so happy to keep him longer. 'You are aware we mayhave a majority against us?' he said; he means in our election. TheSugar Duties would probably take a fortnight or three weeks to pass, and they would dissolve in June and meet again in October. He thoughtthey must. "

 [Footnote 38: Lord Minto was First Lord of the Admiralty. ]

 [Footnote 39: Then First Commissioner of Land Revenue. ]

 [Footnote 40: See Sir John Hobhouse's account of this Cabinet meeting, _Edinburgh Review_, vol. 133, p. 336. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND THE CHURCH]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_21st May 1841. _

Lord Melbourne thinks that what your Majesty proposes to say will dovery well, but it is thought best to say "Church as Reformed" at theReformation. 

If your Majesty could say this, it would be well:

"I am very grateful for your congratulations on the return of thisday. I am happy to take this opportunity of again expressing to you myfirm determination to maintain the Church of England as settled atthe Reformation, and my firm belief in her Articles and Creeds, ashitherto understood and interpreted by her soundest divines. "

Nothing could go off better than the dinner. Everybody was muchpleased 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 ofthe 18th, and without loss of time I begin my answer here, though themessenger can only go to-morrow. I cannot _sufficiently_ express toyou my _gratitude_ for the frankness with which you have writtento me--and let me entreat you, whenever you have anything _surle c[oe]ur_, to _do the same_. I shall begin with your postscriptconcerning 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-naturedmotive which it is not always easy to guess; perhaps in the presentinstance does it mean, let us say, _that?_ whatever opinion he maythen express we can easily counteract it, representing it as theresult of _strong partiality to France_. Let us therefore examinewhat France has to gain in a change of Administration. Certainly yourpresent Ministers are _not_ much loved _now_ in France, not so much inconsequence of the political events of last year themselves, than forthe _manner_ in which they came to pass. Nevertheless, when I was atParis, King and Council were decided to sign the treaty with the fourother Powers, which would put an end to the _isolement_, though manypeople are stoutly _for the isolement_. There end the relations whichwill exist for some time between the two countries--they will be on_decent_ terms; that is all I wish for the present, and it is matterof moonshine who your Ministers are. No doubt, formerly there existedsuch a predilection in favour of Lord Grey's[42] Administration andthose who continued it, that the coming in of the Tories would havebeen considered as a great public calamity; but even now, thoughthis affection is gone, the Tories will also be looked on with somesuspicion. Lord Melbourne's Administration has had the great merit ofbeing liberal, and at the same time prudent, conservative in the goodsense of the word, preserving what was good. Monarchy, by an adherenceto this system, was very safe, and the popular liberal cry needless. 

 [Footnote 42: 1830-1834. ]

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD'S ADVICE]

(_Continued at_) LAEKEN, _21st May. _

I regret that the Corn question was brought forward somewhatabruptly;[43] it is a dangerous one, as it roused the most numerousand poorest classes of society, and may easily degenerate intobloodshed. The dissolution under such circumstances would become stillmore a source of agitation, as it generally always is in England. LordMelbourne, I am sure, will think so too. 

I am delighted by what you say of Albert; it is just the proper linefor him to take, without biassing you either way, to show you honestlythe consequences which in his opinion the one or the other may have. As he has really a very clear and logical judgment, his opinion willbe valuable for you. I feel very much for you, and these Ministerialcomplications are of a most painful and perplexing nature, thoughless in England than on the Continent, as the thing is at least betterunderstood. To amuse you a little, and to prove to you how impartialI must be to be in this way accused by both parties, I must tell youthat it is said in France that, conjointly with Lord Melbourne, we _artfully_ ruined the Thiers Administration, [44] to the greatdetriment of the honour and welfare of France. But what is stillstranger is, that the younger branches of the family, seeing that myarrival at Paris was delayed from time to time, became convinced that_I would not come at all_, and that my intention was to _cut themcompletely_, not to _compromettre_ myself with England! Truly peopleare strange, and the unnecessary suspicions and stories which theylove to have, and to tell, a great bore. .. . 

Pray have the goodness of giving my _kindest_ regards to LordMelbourne. I will love him very _tenderly_ in and out of office, asI am really attached to him. Now last, though first, I offer mysincerest wishes on the happy return of your birthday; may everyblessing be always bestowed on your beloved head. You possess _much_, let your warm and honest heart _appreciate_ that. Let me also expressthe hope that you always will maintain your _dear character true_and _good_ as it is, and let us also humbly express the hope thatour warmth of feeling, a valuable gift, will not be permitted togrow occasionally a little violent, and particularly not against youruncle. You may pull Albertus by the ear, when so inclined, but benever irritated against your uncle. But I have _not to complain_ whenother people do not instigate such things; you have always been kindand affectionate, and when you look at my deeds for you, and onbehalf of you, these twenty-two years, I think you will not have manyhardships to recollect. I am happy to hear of my god-daughter's teeth, and that she is so well. May God keep the whole dear little familywell and happy for ever. My dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 43: The Ministerial proposal of a fixed duty instead of a sliding scale. ]

 [Footnote 44: The Thiers Government had resigned in the preceding October, owing to the King objecting to the warlike speech which they wished him to pronounce to the Chambers. The Soult-Guizot Cabinet was accordingly formed. ]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Memorandum of Mr Anson's last secret interview with Sir R. Peel. _(No. 4. )

_Sunday, 23rd May 1841. _

Called upon Sir Robert Peel this morning. I said I could not feelsatisfied without seeing him after the very unexpected course whichpolitical affairs had taken. I wished to know that he felt assured, though I trusted there could be no doubt upon his mind, that therehad been perfect honesty of purpose on my part towards him, and moreespecially upon the part of those with whose knowledge I had beenacting. I assured Sir Robert that H. M. Had acted in _the most perfectfairness towards him_, and I was most anxious that there should be noerroneous impression upon his mind as to the conduct of either H. M. Orthe Prince. 

I said (quoting the Prince's expression), "that the Queen has anatural modesty upon her constitutional views, and when she receivesan advice from men like the Lord Chancellor, Lord John Russell, MrBaring, Mr Labouchere, and Lord Clarendon, and knows that they havebeen weighing the question through so many days, she concludes thather judgment cannot be better than theirs, and that she would do wrongto reject their advice. "

The Prince, I said, however strongly impressed for or against aquestion, thinks it wrong and impolitic, considering his age andinexperience and his novelty to the country, to press upon the Queenviews of his own in opposition to those of experienced statesmen. SirRobert said he could relieve my mind entirely; that he was convincedthat all that had taken place had been with the most perfect honesty;that he had no feeling whatever of annoyance, or of having beenill-used; that, on the contrary, he had the feeling, and should alwaysretain it, of the deepest gratitude to the Queen for the condescensionwhich Her Majesty had been pleased to show him, and that it had onlyincreased his devotion to Her Majesty's person. He said that much ofthe reserve which he had shown in treating with me was not on _hisown_ account, but that he felt from his own experience that eventswere by no means certain, and he most cautiously abstained frompermitting her Majesty in any way to commit herself, or to bindherself by any engagement which unforeseen circumstances might renderinconvenient. Sir Robert said it was very natural to try and removeobstacles which had before created so much confusion, and he wasconvinced that they would have been practically removed by what hadpassed. He said that neither Lord Stanley nor Sir James Graham knewa word of what had passed. That Mr Greville had asked his friend MrArbuthnot whether some understanding had not been entered into betweenLord Melbourne and him. That Mr Arbuthnot had replied that he wascertain that nothing of the sort could have passed, [45] as, if it had, Sir Robert Peel would have informed him (Mr Arbuthnot) of the fact. Again, Lady de Grey, the night of the ball at the Palace, came up tohim and said the Duke of Bedford had been speaking to her about theresignation of the Duchess of Bedford, and asking her whether shethought it necessary. She volunteered to find out from Sir Robertwhether he thought it requisite. She asked the question, which SirRobert tried to evade, but not being able, he said it struck him thatif it was a question of doubt the best means of solving it, was forthe Duke of Bedford to ask Lord Melbourne for his opinion. 

I added that if the dissolution was a failure, which it was generallyapprehended would be the case, I felt convinced that Sir Robert wouldbe dealt with in the most perfect fairness by Her Majesty. 

 [Footnote 45: "After I had been told by the Duke of Bedford that Peel was going to insist on certain terms, which was repeated to me by Clarendon, I went to Arbuthnot, told him Melbourne's impression, and asked him what it all meant. He said it was all false, that he was certain Peel had no such intentions, but, on the contrary, as he had before assured me, was disposed to do everything that would be conciliatory and agreeable to the Queen. "--_Greville's Journal_, 19th May 1841. ]

[Pageheading: VOTE OF WANT OF CONFIDENCE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _24th May 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has toacquaint your Majesty that in the House of Commons this eveningSir Robert Peel gave notice that on Thursday next he would move aresolution to the following effect: "That Her Majesty's Ministers notpossessing power sufficient to carry into effect the measureswhich they considered necessary, their retention of office wasunconstitutional and contrary to usage. "[46] These are not the exactwords, but they convey the substance. This is a direct vote of want ofconfidence, and Lord Melbourne would be inclined to doubt whether itwill be carried, and if it is, it certainly will not be by so largea majority as the former vote. When the Chancellor of the Exchequermoved the resolution upon the Sugar Duties, Sir Robert Peel secondedthe motion, thereby intending to intimate that he did not mean tointerfere with the Supplies. This course was determined upon at ameeting held at Sir R. Peel's this morning. 

 [Footnote 46: The closing words of the resolution were as follows: ". .. That Her Majesty's Ministers do not sufficiently possess the confidence of the House of Commons to enable them to carry through the House measures which they deem of essential importance to the public welfare, and that their continuance in office under such circumstances is at variance with the spirit of the Constitution. "]

[Pageheading: PROSPECT OF DISSOLUTION]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _28th May 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to state that Sir Robert Peel yesterday brought forward hismotion in a remarkably calm and temperate speech. 

Sir John Hobhouse and Mr Macaulay completely exposed the fallacyof his resolution, and successfully vindicated the government. LordWorsley[47] declared he would oppose the resolution, which declarationexcited great anger, and produced much disappointment in the Toryparty. 

If the debate is carried on till next week, it is probable theMinisters may have a majority of one or two. 

The accounts from the country are encouraging. 

It does not appear that Sir Robert Peel, even if he carries thismotion, intends to obstruct the measures necessary for a dissolutionof Parliament. 

 [Footnote 47: M. P. For Lincolnshire, who had voted for Lord Sandon's motion. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_31st May 1841. _

. .. I beg you _not_ to be alarmed about what is to be done; it is_not_ for a Party triumph that Parliament (_the longest_ that hassat for _many_ years) is to be dissolved; it is the fairest and mostconstitutional mode of proceeding; and you may trust to the moderationand prudence of my whole Government that nothing will be done withoutdue consideration; if the present Government get a majority by theelections they will go on prosperously; if not, the Tories will comein for a short time. The country is quiet and the people very welldisposed. I am happy, dearest Uncle, to give you these quieting news, which I assure you are _not_ partial. .. . 

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD'S VIEWS]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN _31st May 1841. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --Your Mother[48] is safely arrived, though shewas received close to Ostende by a formidable thunderstorm. I hadgiven directions that everywhere great civilities should be shown her. She stood the fatigues better than I had expected, and is less sleepythan in England. She seems to be pleased with her _séjour_ here, andinclined in fact to remain rather than to go on; but I am sure, whenonce in Germany she will be both pleased and interested by it. It willamuse you to hear from herself her own impressions. 

I cannot help to add a few political lines. I regret much, I mustconfess, that the idea of a dissolution has gained ground, and I willtry to show in a very few words why I am against it. 

In politics, a great rule ought to be to rule with the things whichone _knows already_, and not to jump into something entirely new ofwhich no one can do more _than guess the consequences. _ The presentParliament has been elected at a moment most favourable to thepresent Administration after a most popular accession to the throne, everything new and fresh, and with the natural fondness of the greatmass of people, a change is always popular; it was known that you werekindly disposed towards your Ministers, everything was therefore_à souhait_ for the election of a new Parliament. In this respectMinisters have nothing like the favourable circumstances which smiledupon them at the last general election. Feeling this, they raise acry, which may become popular and embarrass their antagonists about_cheap_ bread! I do not think this is quite befitting theirdignity; such things do for revolutionaries like Thiers, or mylate Ministers. .. . If the thing rouses the people it may do seriousmischief; if not, it will look awkward for the Ministers themselves. If you do not grant a dissolution to your present Ministers you wouldhave, at the coming in of a new Administration, the right to tell themthat they must go on with the present Parliament; and I have no doubtthat they could do so. The statistics of the present House of Commonsare well known to all the men who sit in it, and to keep it a fewyears longer would be a real advantage. 

You know that I have been rather maltreated by the Tories, formerly toplease George IV. , and since I left the country, because I served, intheir opinion, on the revolutionary side of the question. I mustsay, however, that for your service as well as for the quiet of thecountry, it would be good to give them a trial. If they could notremain in office it will make them quieter for some time. If bya dissolution the Conservative interest in the House is too muchweakened the permanent interests of the country can but suffer fromthat. If, on the contrary, the Conservatives come in stronger, yourposition will not be very agreeable, and it may induce them to beperhaps less moderate than they ought to be. I should be very happy ifyou would discuss these, my _hasty_ views, with Lord Melbourne. Ido not give them for more than what they are, mere _practical_considerations; but, as far as I can judge of the question, if I wasmyself concerned I should have no dissolution; if even there was butthe very _banale_ consideration, _qu'on sait ce qu'on a, mais qu'on nesait nullement ce qu'on aura_. The moment is not without importance, and well worthy your earnest consideration, and I feel convinced thatLord Melbourne will agree with me, that, notwithstanding the greatpolitical good sense of the people in England, the machine is socomplicated that it should be handled with great care and tenderness. 

To conclude, I must add that perhaps a permanent duty on corn may be adesirable thing, but that it ought to be sufficiently high to serve asa real protection. It may besides produce this effect, that as itwill be necessary, at least at first, to buy a good deal of the to beimported corn with _money_, the currency will be seriously affectedby it. The countries which would have a chance of selling would bechiefly Poland in all its parts, Prussia, Austria, and Russia, theSouth of Russia on the Black Sea, and maybe Sicily. Germany does notgrow a sufficient quantity of wheat to profit by such an arrangement;it will besides not buy more from England for the present than it doesnow, owing to the Zollverein, [49] which must first be altered. But Iwill not bore you too long, and conclude with my best love to littleVictoria, of whom her Grandmama speaks with raptures. Ever, my dearestVictoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 48: The Duchess of Kent had left England for a tour on the Continent. ]

 [Footnote 49: After the fall of Napoleon, the hopes of many Germans for a united national Germany were frustrated by the Congress of Vienna, which perpetuated the practical independence of a number of German States, as well as the predominance within the Germanic confederation of Austria, a Power largely non-German. One of the chief factors in the subsequent unification of Germany was the Zollverein, or Customs Union, by which North Germany was gradually bound together by commercial interest, and thus opposed to Austria. The success of this method of imperial integration has not been without influence on the policies of other lands. ]

[Pageheading: THE OPPOSITION ELATED]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

_WILTON CRESCENT, 5th June 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to state that the House divided about three this morning. 

 For Sir Robert Peel 312 Against 311 --- Majority 1

The Opposition were greatly elated by this triumph. Lord Stanley, andSir Robert Peel who spoke last in the debate, did not deny that theCrown might exercise the prerogative of dissolution in the presentcase. But they insisted that no time should be lost in previousdebates, especially on such a subject as the Corn Laws. 

Lord John Russell spoke after Lord Stanley, and defended the wholepolicy of the Administration. 

After the division he stated that he would on Monday propose theremaining estimates, and announce the course which he meant to pursuerespecting the Corn Laws. 

[Pageheading: MARRIAGE OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_6th June 1841. _

. .. Now, many thanks for two letters of the 31st ult. And 4th June. The former I shall not answer at length, as Albert has done so, andI think has given a very _fair_ view of the state of affairs. Letme only repeat to you again that you need not be alarmed, and that Ithink you will be pleased and _beruhigt_ when you talk to our friendLord Melbourne on the subject. .. 

I fear you will again see nothing of the Season, as Parliament willprobably be dissolved by the 21st. .. . 

As to my letters, dear Uncle, I beg to _assure_ you (for LordPalmerston was _most indignant_ at the doubt when I once asked) that_none_ of our letters nor any of those _coming_ to us, are ever openedat the Foreign Office. My letters to Brussels and Paris are _quitesafe_, and all those to Germany, which are of any _real_ consequence, I always send through Rothschild, which is perfectly _safe_ and veryquick. 

We are, and so is _everybody here_, so charmed with Mme. Rachel;[50]she is perfect, _et puis_, such a nice modest girl; she is going todeclaim at Windsor Castle on Monday evening. 

Now adieu in haste. Believe me, always, your very devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Really Leopold _must_ come, or I shall _never_ forgive you. 

 [Footnote 50: The young French actress, who made her _début_ in England on 4th May as Hermione in Racine's _Andromaque. _ She was received with great enthusiasm. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th June 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is quitewell, and has nothing particular to relate to your Majesty, at leastnothing that presses; except that he is commissioned by Lord JohnRussell respectfully to acquaint your Majesty that his marriage issettled, and will take place shortly. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

Does Lord Melbourne _really_ mean J. Russell's _marriage_? and towhom?

[Pageheading: VISIT TO NUNEHAM]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

The Lady Fanny Eliot. [51] Lord Melbourne did not name her before, nordoes not now, because he did not remember her Christian name. 

 [Footnote 51: Daughter of Lord Minto. Lord Melbourne originally wrote _The Lady ---- Eliot_ at the head of his letter (spelling the surname wrong, which should be Elliot). The word "Fanny" is written in subsequently to the completion of the letter. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

NUNEHAM, [52] _15th June 1841. _

Affairs go on, and all will take some shape or other, but it keeps onein hot water all the time. In the meantime, however, the people arein the best possible humour, and I never was better received at Ascot, which is a great test, and also along the roads yesterday. This is amost lovely place; pleasure grounds in the style of Claremont, onlymuch larger, and with the river Thames winding along beneath them, andOxford in the distance; a beautiful flower and kitchen garden, and allkept up in perfect order. I followed Albert here, faithful to my word, and he is gone to Oxford[53] for the whole day, to my great grief. And here I am all alone in a strange house, with not even Lehzen asa companion, in Albert's absence, but I thought she and also LordGardner, [54] and some gentlemen should remain with little Victoria forthe first time. But it is rather a trial for me. 

I must take leave, and beg you to believe me always, your most devotedNiece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 52: The house of Edward Vernon Harcourt, Archbishop of York. ]

 [Footnote 53: To receive an address at Commemoration. ]

 [Footnote 54: Alan Legge, third and last Lord Gardner (1810-1883) was one of the Queen's first Lords-in-Waiting. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE VISITS OXFORD]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _16th June 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has justreceived your Majesty's letter, and will wait upon your Majesty athalf-past five. Lord Melbourne is sorry to hear that your Majesty hasbeen at all indisposed. It will suit him much better to wait uponyour Majesty at dinner to-morrow than to-day, as his hand shows somedisposition to gather, and it may be well to take care of it. 

Lord Melbourne is very glad to learn that everything went off well atOxford. Lord Melbourne expected that the Duke of Sutherland[55] wouldnot entirely escape a little public animadversion. Nothing can bemore violent or outrageous than the conduct of the students ofboth Universities upon such occasions; the worst and lowest mobsof Westminster and London are very superior to them in decency andforbearance. 

The Archbishop[56] is a very agreeable man; but he is not withoutcunning, and Lord Melbourne can easily understand his eagerness thatthe Queen should not prorogue Parliament in person. He knows that itwill greatly assist the Tories. It is not true that it is universalfor the Sovereign to go down upon such occasions. George III. Wenthimself in 1784; he did not go in 1807, because he had been preventedfrom doing so by his infirmities for three years before. William IV. Went down himself in 1830. [57]

Lord Melbourne sends a note which he has received from Lord Normanbyupon this and another subject. 

 [Footnote 55: Who was, of course, associated with the Whig Ministry. ]

 [Footnote 56: Archbishop Vernon Harcourt, of York, the Queen's host. ]

 [Footnote 57: The Queen prorogued Parliament in person on 22nd June. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th June 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --A few lines I must write to you to express to youmy _very great_ delight at the certainty, God willing, of seeing youall _three_ next week, and to express a hope, and a _great hope_, thatyou will try and arrive a little earlier on Wednesday. .. . I must againrepeat I am so sorry you should come when Society is dispersed and atsixes and sevens, and in such a state that naturally I cannot at themoment of the elections invite many Tories, as that _tells_ so at theelections. But we shall try and do our best to make it as little dullas we can, and you will kindly take the will for the deed. 

We came back from Nuneham yesterday afternoon. Albert came backat half-past five on Tuesday from Oxford, where he had beenenthusiastically received, but the students . .. Had the bad taste toshow their party feeling in groans and hisses when the name of aWhig was mentioned, which they ought not to have done in my husband'spresence. 

I must now conclude, begging you ever to believe me, your devotedNiece, VICTORIA R. 

My Coiffeur will be quite at Louise's disposal, and he can _coiffer_in any way she likes, if her dresser tells him how she wishes it. 

[Pageheading: LORD BROUGHAM]

[Pageheading: LETTER FROM LORD BROUGHAM]

_Lord Brougham to Queen Victoria. _[58]

GRAFTON STREET, _19th June 1841. _

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, --I crave leave humbly to approach yourMajesty and to state in writing what I should have submitted to yourRoyal consideration at an Audience, because I conceive that thiscourse will be attended with less inconvenience to your Majesty. 

In the counsel which I ventured with great humility, but with anentire conviction of its soundness, to tender, I cannot be biassed byany personal interest, for I am not a candidate for office; nor by anyParliamentary interest, for I have no concern with elections; nor byany factious interest, for I am unconnected with party. My onlymotive is to discharge the duty which I owe to both the Crown and thecountry. Nor am I under the influence of any prejudice against yourMajesty's servants or their measures; for I charge your Majesty'sservants with nothing beyond an error, a great error, in judgment, andI entirely approve of the measures which they have lately propounded(with a single exception partially applicable to one of them), while Ilament and disapprove of the time and manner of propounding them, bothon account of the Government and of the measures themselves. 

I feel myself, Madam, under the necessity of stating that thedissolution of the Parliament appears to me wholly withoutjustification, either from principle or from policy. They who adviseit must needs proceed upon the supposition that a majority will bereturned favourable to the continuance of the present Administrationand favourable to their lately announced policy. On no other ground isit possible that any such advice should be tendered to your Majesty. For no one could ever think of such a proceeding as advising theCrown to dissolve the Parliament in order to increase the force of theOpposition to its own future Ministers, thus perverting to the merepurposes of party the exercise of by far the most eminent of the Royalprerogatives; and I pass over as wholly unworthy of notice the onlyother supposition which can with any decency be made, when there isno conflict between the two Houses, namely, that of a dissolutionin entire ignorance of the national opinion and for the purpose ofascertaining to which side it inclines. Your Majesty's advisers must, therefore, have believed, and they must still believe, that a majoritywill be returned favourable both to themselves and their late policy. I, on the other hand, have the most entire conviction that there willbe a considerable majority against them, and against their policy amajority larger still, many of their supporters having already joinedto swell that majority. Whoever examines the details of the casemust be satisfied that the very best result which the Government canpossibly hope for is a narrow majority against them--an event whichmust occasion a second dissolution by whatever Ministry may succeedto the confidence of your Majesty. But those best acquainted withthe subject have no doubt at all that the majority will be much moreconsiderable. 

I beg leave, Madam, humbly to represent to your Majesty, in my ownvindication for not having laid my opinion before your Majesty assoon as I returned from the Continent, that when I first heard ofthe course taken by the Government early in May, I formed the opinionwhich I now entertain, but conceived that I must have mistaken thefacts upon which they were acting; and when I arrived twelve days agoI was confirmed in the belief (seeing the fixed resolution taken todissolve) that I must have been under an erroneous impression as tothe probable results of the elections. But I have since found amplereason for believing that my original conviction was perfectly wellfounded, and that no grounds whatever exist sufficient to make anyone who considers the subject calmly, and without the bias of eitherinterest or prejudice, really believe that this ill-fated proceedingcan have any other result than lasting injury to your Majesty'sservice, to the progress of sound and just views of policy, and tothe influence of those in whom the Crown and the country alike shouldrepose confidence. 

That a number of short-sighted persons whose judgments are warped byexclusive attention to a single subject, or by personal feelings, orby party views (and these narrow and erroneous), may have been loudlyclamorous for the course apparently about to be pursued, is extremelypossible, and affords no kind of excuse for it. Many of these will bethe slowest to defend what they have so unfortunately called for; somewill be among the first to condemn it when a manifest failure shallhave taken place, and general discomfiture shall throw a few localsuccesses into the shade. 

My advice is humbly offered to your Majesty, as removed far above suchconfined and factious views; as the parent of all your people; as bothbound and willing to watch over their true interests; and as chargedby virtue of your exalted office with the preservation of the publicpeace, the furtherance of the prosperity, and the maintenance of theliberties of your subjects. 

I am, with profound respect, Madam, your Majesty's faithful anddutiful Subject, BROUGHAM. [59]

 [Footnote 58: Mention has been made earlier of the resentment which Brougham cherished against his late colleagues, after his exclusion from the Whig Cabinet, and this letter, on the proposal to dissolve Parliament, was, no doubt, prompted by that feeling. ]

 [Footnote 59: Parliament, however, notwithstanding this rescript of Lord Brougham, was dissolved, and the Ministry went to the country with the cry of a fixed duty on corn, as against a sliding scale, and they attacked, as monopolists, at once the landowner, who enjoyed protection for his wheat, and the West Indian proprietor, who profited by the duty on foreign sugar. The Conservatives impugned the general policy of the Whig Administration. The result, a majority of seventy-six, was an even greater Conservative triumph than the most sanguine of the party anticipated. --_See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 253. (Intro Note to Ch. X)]

[Pageheading: VISIT TO WOBURN]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WOBURN ABBEY, _27th July 1841. _

Arrived here last night with the Prince and the Queen; this is nowthe second expedition (Nuneham being the first) which Her Majesty hastaken, and on neither occasion has the Baroness accompanied us. 

The Prince went yesterday through a review of the many steps he hadmade to his present position--all within eighteen months from themarriage. Those who intended to keep him from being useful tothe Queen, from the fear that he might ambitiously touch upon herprerogatives, have been completely foiled; they thought they hadprevented Her Majesty from yielding anything of importance to him bycreating distrust through imaginary alarm. The Queen's good sense, however, has seen that the Prince has no other object in all he seeksbut a means to Her Majesty's good. The Court from highest to lowest isbrought to a proper sense of the position of the Queen's husband. The country has marked its confidence in his character by passing theRegency Bill _nem. Con. _ The Queen finds the value of an active righthand and able head to support her and to resort to for advice in timeof need. Cabinet Ministers treat him with deference and respect. Artsand science look up to him as their especial patron, and they findthis encouragement supported by a full knowledge of the details ofevery subject. The good and the wise look up to him with pride andgratitude as giving an example, so rarely shown in such a station, ofleading a virtuous and religious life. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd August 1841. _

. .. Our little tour was most successful, and we enjoyed it of allthings; nothing could be more enthusiastic or affectionate than ourreception _everywhere_, and I am happy to hear that our presence hasleft a favourable impression, which I think will be of great use. The loyalty in this country is certainly _very striking_. We enjoyedPanshanger[60] still more than Woburn; the country is quite beautiful, and the house so pretty and _wohnlich_; the picture-gallery andpictures very splendid. The Cowpers are such good people too. Thevisit to Brocket naturally interested us very much for our excellentLord Melbourne's sake. The park and grounds are beautiful. 

I can't admit the Duke of Bedford[61] ever was radical; God knows! Iwish everybody now was a little so! What _is_ to come hangs over melike a baneful dream, as you will easily understand, and when I amoften happy and merry, comes and damps it all![62]

But God's will be done! and it is for our best, we _must_ feel, thoughwe can't feel it. I can't say _how_ much we think of our little visitto you, God willing, next year. You will kindly let our good oldGrandmother[63] come there to see her dear Albert _once again_ beforeshe dies, wouldn't you? And you would get the Nemours to come? Andyou would persuade the dear Queen[64] to come for a little while withClémentine?

Now farewell! Believe me, always, your most devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 60: The house of Earl Cowper. ]

 [Footnote 61: The Duke, who had formerly been M. P. For Bedfordshire, was inclined to go further in the direction of Reform than Lord John, yet he applauded the latter's attitude on the occasion of the speech which earned him the nickname of "Finality Jack. "]

 [Footnote 62: Alluding to the Ministerial defeat at the polls. ]

 [Footnote 63: The Dowager Duchess of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. ]

 [Footnote 64: Marie Amélie, Queen of the French. ]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE AND THE GARTER]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th August 1841. _

I went to Lord Melbourne this morning in his room as he had desiredme. He said: "The Prince has been urging me to accept the Blue Ribandbefore I quit office, and I wished to tell you that I am very anxiousthat this should not be pressed upon me by the Queen; it may be afoolish weakness on my part, but I wish to quit office without havingany honour conferred upon me; the Queen's confidence towards me issufficiently known without any public mark of this nature. I havealways disregarded these honours, and there would be an inconsistencyin my accepting this. I feel it to be much better for my reputationthat I should not have it forced upon me. Mr Pitt never acceptedan order, and only the Cinque Ports on being pressed to do so. LordGrenville accepted a peerage, but never any other honour or advantage, and I wish to be permitted to retire in like manner. If I was a poorman, I should have no hesitation in receiving money in the shape ofplace or pension; I _only don't wish_ for place, because I do not_want_ it. "

In the course of conversation Lord Melbourne said that he consideredit very improbable that he should ever again form a part of anyAdministration. 

He did not think that a violent course was at all to be apprehendedfrom Lord John Russell; he said Lord John had been far more of a"finality" man than he had, and in the Cabinet had always been averseto violent change. He added, "I think you are in error in forming theopinion which you have of him. "

Lord Melbourne thought the Queen very much disliked being talked _at_upon religion; she particularly disliked what Her Majesty termed a_Sunday face_, but yet that it was a subject far more thought of andreflected upon than was [thought to be?] the case. 

[Pageheading: A DREADED MOMENT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _15th August 1841. _

. .. Lord Melbourne well knows the feeling which your Majestydescribes. The expectation of an event which is dreaded anddeprecated, and yet felt to be certain and imminent, presents itselfcontinually to the mind and recurs at every moment, and particularlyin moments of satisfaction and enjoyment. It is perhaps no consolationto be told that events of this nature are necessary and incidental toyour Majesty's high situation, but Lord Melbourne anxiously hopes thatthe change, when it does take place, will not be found so grievousas your Majesty anticipates, and your Majesty may rely that LordMelbourne will do everything in his power to reconcile it to yourMajesty's feelings. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear of the Princess's tooth. 

Lord Melbourne is much obliged to your Majesty for informing him aboutthe mourning. 

He is quite well and will be ready when your Majesty sends. 

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd August 1841. _

Lord John Russell was staying at the Castle, and asked to-day for anaudience of Her Majesty, and was closeted for a long time. The Princeasked Her Majesty what Lord John came for. The Queen said he cameabout several things, but particularly he wished to impress upon theQueen that Her Majesty should not allow Sir Robert Peel to propose anynew Grants in Parliament, as they (the Whigs) could not well opposeit, and this being felt, the whole unpopularity would fall upon theQueen's person. An idea existed that the Tories were always jobbingwith money, and the grant for the building the new stables at Windsorhad shown how suspicious people were. 

Lord John did not speak clearly out, but on consultation with LordMelbourne the Queen thought Lord John must have alluded to Peel havingspoken equivocally at the end of his speech relative to the Prince'sannuity, and would now probably propose a further grant, and would saythe time was now come in order to stand well with the Queen. The Queenreplied that she would never allow such a thing to be proposed andthat it would be a disgrace to owe any favour to that Party. 

The only answer the Prince gave was that these views were _veryagreeable_ for him. 

[Pageheading: A CARRIAGE ACCIDENT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _24th August 1841. _

. .. Our accident[65] was not so very bad, and considering that it isthe _very first_ that had happened in the course of _five summers_, with _so many_ carriages and horses, one cannot be surprised. Ibeg leave also to say that I _can_ get out _very_ quick. I am verythankful that you agree to the couriers. I am a little sorry that youhave put poor Mamma off _so_ late, as she is _very_ much hurt at it, Ifear, by what I hear, and accuses me of it. But that will, I trust, be forgiven. You don't say that _you_ sympathise with me in my presentheavy trial, [66] the heaviest I have ever had to endure, and whichwill be a sad heartbreaking to me--but I know you do feel for me. I amquiet and prepared, but still I fell very _sad_, and God knows! verywretched at times, for myself and my country, that _such_ a changemust take place. But God in His mercy will support and guide methrough all. Yet I feel that my constant headaches are caused byannoyance and vexation!

Adieu, dearest Uncle! God bless you! Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 65: The Queen had driven to Virginia Water to see Prince Albert's beagles hunting, when owing to the hounds running between the horses' legs and frightening them, a pony phaeton and four containing Lord Erroll, Lady Ida Hay, and Miss Cavendish was upset. One of the postillions was (not dangerously) hurt. ]

 [Footnote 66: _I. E. _, Lord Melbourne being succeeded by Sir Robert Peel as Prime Minister. ]

[Pageheading: DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _24th August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We havejust delivered the Speech in the House of Lords, and the debate willcommence at five o'clock. We understand that the amendment is to be arepetition of the motion of want of confidence, which Sir Robert Peelmade in the House of Commons before the dissolution, and nearly in thesame terms. It is to be moved by Lord Ripon[67] in the House ofLords, and by Mr. Stuart Wortley[68] in the House of Commons. It isunderstood to be their intention to avoid, as much as possible, debateupon the Corn Laws, and upon the other topics in the Speech, and toplace the question entirely upon the result of the General Electionand the proof which that affords that the Ministry does not possessthe confidence of the country. Lord Melbourne thinks that it will notbe found easy to repress debate in the House of Commons, but would notbe surprised if the course which it is intended to pursue should muchshorten it in the House of Lords. Lord Melbourne will write again toyour Majesty after the debate, and will certainly come down to-morrow, unless anything unexpected should occur to prevent him. 

It will be necessary to receive the address of the Convocation in somemanner or another. Lord Melbourne will write confidentially to theArchbishop[69] to learn how it may be received in the quietest mannerand with the least trouble. Lord Melbourne has little doubt that theLords and Commons will send their addresses by the officers of theHousehold. 

Lord Melbourne entreats your Majesty to pick up your spirits. 

 [Footnote 67: The first Earl (1782-1859) who had, as Lord Goderich, been Premier in 1827-1828. ]

 [Footnote 68: J. Stuart Wortley (1801-1855), M. P. For the West Riding, afterwards the second Lord Wharncliffe. ]

 [Footnote 69: Dr Howley. ]

[Pageheading: COBDEN'S SPEECH]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _26th August 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that nothing remarkable occurred in the debateof yesterday, except a powerful speech from Mr Cobden, amanufacturer. [70]

The debate will probably close this evening. No one of the Toryleaders, except Sir Robert Peel, appears disposed to speak. 

Should the Address be voted to-night, and reported to-morrow, it may bepresented to your Majesty by Lord Marcus Hill[71] on Saturday. 

But should the debate be continued over this night, the report of theAddress can hardly take place till Monday. This, however, is not verylikely. 

 [Footnote 70: Cobden had just been elected for the first time for Stockport. ]

 [Footnote 71: Son of Lord Downshire, and M. P. For Evesham; afterwards (under a special remainder) the third Lord Sandys. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _27th August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Upon hisarrival he found that there was no precedent of the House meetingagain after an Address, without receiving an answer from the Crown. Lord Erroll therefore delivered the answer in the terms which had beensubmitted by Lord Melbourne to your Majesty, and it appeared to givesatisfaction. The debate will probably terminate in the House ofCommons to-night; at the same time it may not. If it does we mustplace our resignation in your Majesty's hands on Saturday, and it mustbe announced to the Houses of Parliament on Monday. Your Majestywill then do well not to delay sending for some other person beyondTuesday. Lord Melbourne will write to your Majesty more fully upon allthese subjects to-morrow, when he will know the result of the night'sdebate, and be able more surely to point out the course of events. 

Lord Melbourne received the Eau-de-Cologne, and returns your Majestymany thanks for it. 

Lord Melbourne understands that the Duke of Wellington is, in fact, very desirous of having the Foreign Seals, [72] and that if yourMajesty feels any preference for him in that department the slightestintimation of your Majesty's wish in that respect will fix him in hisdesire to have it. 

 [Footnote 72: The Duke had been Foreign Secretary in 1835. ]

[Pageheading: AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria. _

WILTON CRESCENT, _28th August 1841. _

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hasthe honour to report that the Amendment to the Address was carried by91, the numbers being--

 For the Address 269 For the Amendment 360 --- 91 ---

The Tory party proposed that the House should meet this day, and theSpeaker signified that he should take the Chair at twelve o'clock. TheAddress will be carried to Windsor by Lord Marcus Hill this evening ifthen ready. 

Lord John Russell takes this opportunity of closing his Reports again, to express to your Majesty his deep sense of your Majesty's goodnesstowards him. It is his fervent prayer that your Majesty may enjoy along and happy reign. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _28th August 1841. _

. .. Your Majesty must, of course, consider us as having tenderedour resignations immediately after the vote of last night, and yourMajesty will probably think it right to request us to continue to holdour offices and transact the current business until our successors areappointed. 

Lord Melbourne will have the honour of writing again to your Majestyin the course of the day. 

[Pageheading: THE RESIGNATION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _28th August 1841. _

. .. Albert will not stay for the dinner, and I expect him back atabout eleven to-night. He went at half-past eleven this morning. It isthe first time that we have ever been separated for so long since ourmarriage, and I am quite melancholy about it. 

You will forgive me if I mention it to you, but I understand that theQueen Dowager has been somewhat offended at your not taking leave ofher when she came here, and at your not answering her, when shewrote to you. Perhaps you would write to her and soften and smoothenmatters. She did not the least expect you to come to her. Believe mealways, your most devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _28th August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toacknowledge gratefully the communication which he has just receivedfrom your Majesty. Lord Melbourne feels certain that your Majesty'ssense and firmness will enable your Majesty to bear up under thiswhich your Majesty names a severe trial. The kindness of yourMajesty's expressions emboldens Lord Melbourne to say that he alsofeels deeply the pain of separation from a service, which has now forfour years and more been no less his pleasure than his pride. 

Lord Melbourne would have been anxious to have waited upon yourMajesty to-day, but he feels that his presence is in some degreematerial at a meeting, at which not only the present situation of yourMajesty's servants, but also their future conduct and prospects, willbe considered. 

Lord Melbourne is sure that your Majesty will at once perceive thatit would not have a good appearance if he were to return to Windsorimmediately after having announced his resignation to the House ofLords on Monday next. 

It is right that there should be no appearance of delay or ofunwillingness to carry into effect the wishes of both Houses ofParliament, and, therefore, your Majesty will forgive Lord Melbourneif he suggests that it would be well if your Majesty could make upyour mind to appoint Sir R. Peel on Monday next, so that there mightbe as little delay as possible in the formation of a new Government. On all accounts, and particularly on account of the lateness ofthe Season, it is desirable that this should be done as speedily aspossible. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_29th August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He knowswell what that feeling of working under the impression of trouble andannoyance is, but if the first gloom is brushed away, confidence andhope and spirits return, and things begin to appear more cheerful. Lord Melbourne is much obliged by your Majesty's enquiries. He sleptwell, but waked early, which he always does now, and which is a suresign of anxiety of mind. 

Lord Melbourne will be ready to attend your Majesty at any time. 

[Pageheading: DELAY UNDESIRABLE]

[Pageheading: PARTING WITH LORD MELBOURNE]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne is to take his farewell audience of the Queento-morrow, and Her Majesty has appointed Sir Robert Peel to come downhere at three o'clock to-morrow. 

I went with Lord Melbourne from luncheon to his room. He seemed intolerable spirits, though somewhat sad when he alluded to taking leaveof the Queen. He said he was anxious that Her Majesty should lose notime in writing to appoint Sir Robert Peel to be here to-morrow, forthough he was not afraid of Sir Robert taking affront, his Party wouldbe too ready to construe any delay on the Queen's part into a slight. He said the Prince had been with him just before, and amongst otherthings had urged him to continue to him and to the Queen his adviceand assistance, especially on measures affecting their privateconcerns and family concerns; he told Lord Melbourne it was on thesepoints that he felt Lord Melbourne's advice had been peculiarly sound, and there was no reason why this should not be continued, and anycommunication might be made through me. Lord Melbourne said thatthe Prince had also entered upon the subject of the Baroness, andexpressed the constant state of annoyance he was kept in by herinterference. Lord Melbourne said to me: "It will be far moredifficult to remove her after the change of Government than now, because if pressed to do it by a Tory Minister, the Queen's prejudicewould be immediately aroused. " I admitted this, but said that thoughthe Prince felt that if he pressed the point against the Baronessremaining, he should be able to carry it, still his good feeling andaffection for the Queen prevented him from pressing what he knew wouldbe painful, and what could not be carried without an exciting scene;he must remain on his guard, and patiently abide the result. Peoplewere beginning much better to understand that lady's character, andtime must surely work its own ends. 

On my being sent for by the Prince, Lord Melbourne said, "I shallsee you again before I take my leave. " I was much affected by theearnestness with which this was said, and said I would certainly bewith him before he saw the Queen to-morrow. 

The Prince said that Her Majesty was cheerful and in good spirits, and the only part of the approaching scene which he dreaded wasthe farewell with Lord Melbourne. The Queen had, however, been muchrelieved by the Prince arranging for her hearing from Lord Melbournewhenever she wished it. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_30th August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanksyour Majesty much for the very clever and interesting etchings whichyour Majesty most kindly sent him yesterday evening. Lord Melbournewill ever treasure them as remembrances of your Majesty's kindness andregard, which he prizes beyond measure. 

They will, as your Majesty says, certainly recall to recollection amelancholy day, but still Lord Melbourne hopes and trusts that withthe divine blessing it will hereafter be looked back upon with lessgrief and bitterness of feeling, than it must be regarded at present. 

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S POSITION]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th August 1841. _

Directly I got here this morning the Prince sent for me, and said hehad been made somewhat uneasy by a conversation he had just had withthe Queen. Her Majesty said that after the manner in which the Torieshad treated the Prince (relative to annuity) he ought now to keep themat a distance. She said they would try to flatter him, and would allcome to see him; this he should resist, and should refuse to see them, at all events for some time. 

The Prince wished me to mention this to Lord Melbourne when I went totake leave of him, and to urge Lord Melbourne to set this right withthe Queen by his advice before he parted with the Queen, reminding himthat his view had always been that from this moment the Prince wouldtake up a new position, and that the Queen, no longer having LordMelbourne to resort to in case of need, must from this moment consultand advise with the Prince. That Lord Melbourne should urge the Queento have no scruple in employing the Prince, and showing that unlessa proper understanding existed from the first, he in attempting to dogood would be easily misrepresented. 

I found Lord Melbourne alone in his dressing-room and put this casebefore him. He said he had always thought that when he left theservice of the Queen the Prince would of necessity be brought forward, and must render great assistance to the Queen; and the Queen'sconfidence in his judgment having so much increased, this consequencewas the more natural. The Prince must, however, be very cautious atfirst, and in a little time he would fall into it. He must bevery careful not to alarm the Queen, by Her Majesty for an instantsupposing that the Prince was carrying on business with Peel withouther cognisance. 

If it were possible for any one to advise Peel, he would recommendthat he should write fully to Her Majesty, and _elementarily_, as HerMajesty always liked to have full knowledge upon everything which wasgoing on. He would advise the Queen to be cautious in giving a verbaldecision, that she should not allow herself to be _driven into acorner_, and forced to decide where she felt her mind was not made upand required reflection. 

Peel should be very careful that intelligence came first from himdirect. King William was very particular upon this point, so was theQueen. 

I asked Lord Melbourne if he had considered the future position ofhimself with the Queen, and also of Peel with the Queen. He said heowned he had not and would avoid entering into any discussion--he feltsure that he should be regarded with extreme jealousy, not so much byPeel as by the party. He would be looked upon as Lord Bute had been inhis relation to George III. , --always suspected of secretintercourse and intrigue. He would make me the medium of any writtencommunication. 

With regard to Peel's position with the Queen, he thought thatcircumstances must make it. He thought the Queen must see him oftenerthan King William did him, as he thought the present state of thingswould require more frequent intercourse. The late King used to seehim once a week after the Levée, seldom oftener; all the rest of thebusiness was transacted by correspondence, but this mode, though ithad its merits in some respect, very much impeded the public business. 

The less personal objections the Queen took to any one the better, asany such expression is sure to come out and a personal enemy ismade. It was also to be recollected that Peel was in a very differentposition now, backed by a large majority, to when the other overturewas made. He had the power _now_ to extort what he pleased, and hefancied he saw the blank faces of the heads of the Party when Peeltold them that he had agreed to the dismissal or resignation of onlythree of the Queen's ladies. 

Lord Melbourne said the Queen was afraid she never could be at easewith Peel, because his manner was so embarrassed, and that conveyedembarrassment also to her, which it would be very difficult to getover. 

The Queen took leave of Lord Melbourne to-day. Her Majesty was muchaffected, but soon recovered her calmness. 

Peel had his first audience at half-past three o'clock. 

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S OPINION OF THE PRINCE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_30th August 1841_ (6 P. M. ). 

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Theannouncement has been made in both Houses of Parliament. A few wordswere said by Lord Stanley[73] in the House of Commons, and nothing inthe House of Lords. 

Lord Melbourne cannot satisfy himself without again stating to yourMajesty in writing what he had the honour of saying to your Majestyrespecting his Royal Highness the Prince. Lord Melbourne has formedthe highest opinion of His Royal Highness's judgment, temper, anddiscretion, and he cannot but feel a great consolation and securityin the reflection that he leaves your Majesty in a situation inwhich your Majesty has the inestimable advantage of such advice andassistance. Lord Melbourne feels certain that your Majesty cannot dobetter than have recourse to it, whenever it is needed, and rely uponit with confidence. 

Lord Melbourne will be anxious to hear from your Majesty as to whathas passed with Sir R. Peel. Your Majesty will, Lord Melbourne issure, feel that the same general secrecy which your Majesty has alwaysobserved respecting public affairs is more particularly necessary atthe present moment. 

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is well and composed, and with the most anxious wishes for your Majesty's welfare andhappiness, remains ever your Majesty's most devoted and attachedServant, and he trusts that he may add, without presumption, yourMajesty's faithful and affectionate Friend. 

 [Footnote 73: Who now became Colonial Secretary. ]

[Pageheading: THE HOUSEHOLD]

_Memorandum: Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

Your Majesty might say, if to your Majesty it seems good, that inconsequence of the Addresses voted by both Houses of Parliament, yourMajesty's servants had tendered their resignations, and that for thesame reason your Majesty had accepted those resignations. That yourMajesty's present servants possessed your Majesty's confidence, and that you only parted with them in deference to the opinion ofParliament. 

That your Majesty naturally had recourse to Sir Robert Peel aspossessing the confidence of the great Party which constitutes themajority of both Houses, and that you were prepared to empower him toform an Administration. 

That your Majesty did not conceive that the giving him this commissionof itself empowered him to advise the removal of the officers of yourMajesty's Household; that you conceive that all that the Constitutionrequired was that the Sovereign's Household should support theSovereign's Ministers; but that you were prepared to place at hisdisposal, and to take his advice upon all the offices of the Householdat present filled by members of either House of Parliament, withthe exception of those whom your Majesty might think proper toname, _i. E. _, Lord Byron[74]--and it should be understood that thisexception was not to extend further than to him. 

If Sir Robert Peel should wish that in case of Lord Byron's remainingit should be considered as a fresh appointment made by his advice, this wish might properly be acceded to. 

_The Ladies. _--If any difficulty should arise it may be asked to bestated in writing, and reserved for consideration. But it is of greatimportance that Sir Robert Peel should return to London with fullpower to form an Administration. Such must be the final result, andthe more readily and graciously it is acquiesced in the better. 

Your Majesty must take care not to be driven to the wall, and tobe put into a situation in which it is necessary to Aye or No. Nopositive objection should be taken either to men or measures. 

It must be recollected that at the time of the negotiation in 1839Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell were still at the head of amajority in the House of Commons. This is not the case now. 

 [Footnote 74: George Anson, seventh Lord Byron (1789-1868), cousin and successor of the poet. ]

[Pageheading: THE NEW CABINET]

THE CABINET OF LORD MELBOURNE, _As it stood in September 1841. _

 _First Lord of the Treasury_ VISCOUNT MELBOURNE. 

 _Lord Chancellor_ LORD (afterwards Earl of) COTTENHAM. _Chancellor of the Exchequer_ Mr FRANCIS BARING (afterwards Lord Northbrook). _Lord President of the Council_ MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE. _Lord Privy Seal_ EARL OF CLARENDON. _Home Secretary_ MARQUIS OF NORMANBY. _Foreign Secretary_ VISCOUNT PALMERSTON. _Colonial Secretary_ LORD JOHN (afterwards Earl) RUSSELL. _First Lord of the Admiralty_ EARL OF MINTO. _President of the Board of Control_ Sir JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE (afterwards Lord Broughton). _Secretary at War_ Mr T. B. (afterwards Lord) MACAULAY. _President of the Board of Trade_ Mr LABOUCHERE (afterwards Lord Taunton). _Chief Secretary for Ireland_ VISCOUNT MORPETH (afterwards Earl of Carlisle). _First Commissioner of Land Revenue_ VISCOUNT DUNCANNON (afterwards Earl of Bessborough). _Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster_ Sir GEORGE GREY. 

THE CABINET OF SIR ROBERT PEEL, [75]

_As formed in September 1841. _

 _First Lord of the Treasury_ Sir ROBERT PEEL. _Lord Chancellor_ LORD LYNDHURST. _Chancellor of the Exchequer_ Mr. H. GOULBURN. (_Without Office_) DUKE OF WELLINGTON. _Lord President of the Council_ LORD WHARNCLIFFE. _Lord Privy Seal_ DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. _Home Secretary_ Sir JAMES GRAHAM. _Foreign Secretary_ EARL OF ABERDEEN. _Colonial Secretary_ LORD STANLEY (afterwards Earl of Derby). _First Lord of the Admiralty_ EARL OF HADDINGTON. _President of the Board of Control_ LORD (afterwards Earl of) ELLENBOROUGH _Secretary at War_ Sir HENRY (afterwards Viscount) HARDINGE. _President of the Board of Trade_ EARL OF RIPON. _Paymaster-General_. Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL. 

 [Footnote 75: The Peel Ministry of 1841 was unique in containing three ex-Premiers: Sir Robert Peel himself, the Earl of Ripon, and the Duke of Wellington, who succeeded Lord Goderich as Premier in 1828. Ripon's career was a curious one; he was a singularly ineffective Prime Minister, and indeed did not, during the course of his Ministry (August 1827-January 1828), ever have to meet Parliament. He was disappointed at not being invited to join the Wellington Ministry, subsequently joined the Reform Ministry of Lord Grey, but followed Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, and the Duke of Richmond out of it. In August 1841 he moved the vote of want of confidence in the Melbourne Ministry, and became President of the Board of Trade in Peel's Government. In 1846 it fell to him, when President of the Board of Control, to move the Corn Law Repeal Bill in the Lords. 

 The only later instance of an ex-Premier accepting a subordinate office was in the case of Lord John Russell, who, in 1852, took the Foreign Office under Aberdeen, subsequently vacating the office and sitting in the Cabinet without office. In June 1854, he became Lord President of the Council, and left the Ministry when it was menaced by Roebuck's motion. When Lord Palmerston formed a Ministry in 1855, Lord John, after an interval, became Colonial Secretary, again resigning in five months. Finally, in 1859, he went back to the Foreign Office, where he remained until he succeeded Palmerston as Premier in 1865. 

 The Government also contained three future Premiers, Aberdeen, Stanley, and Gladstone. ]

[Pageheading: INTERVIEW WITH PEEL]

[Pageheading: HOUSEHOLD APPOINTMENTS]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S DISTRESS]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

WINDSOR CASTLE _30th August 1841. _

. .. The first interview with Sir Robert Peel has gone off well, andonly lasted twenty minutes; and he sends the Queen to-morrow, inwriting, the proposed arrangements, and will only come down onWednesday morning. He first wished to come to-morrow, but on theQueen's saying that he need not to do that, but might send it and onlycome down Wednesday, he thought the Queen might prefer having it toconsider a little, which she said she certainly should, though shemeant no want of confidence. The Queen, in the first instance, statedthat she concluded he was prepared for her sending for him, and thenstated exactly what Lord Melbourne wrote, viz. , the resignation havingtaken place in consequence of the Addresses--the Queen's great regretat parting with her present Ministers--the confidence she had in them, and her only acceding in consequence of the Addresses in Parliament, and then that consequently she looked to him (Sir Robert Peel) aspossessing the confidence of both Houses of Parliament to form anAdministration. He made many protestations of his sorrow, at what mustgive pain to the Queen (as she said to him it did), but of course saidhe accepted the task. The Duke of Wellington's health too uncertain, and himself too prone to sleep coming over him--as Peel expressedit--to admit of his taking an office in which he would have much todo, but to be in the Cabinet, which the Queen expressed her wish heshould. He named Lord De Grey[76] as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord Eliot[77] as Secretary for Ireland, who, he said, were bothmoderate people. The Queen said she gave up to him the officers ofState and those of her Household who were in Parliament, and he thenasked if Lord Liverpool would be agreeable as Lord Steward (the Queensaid he would), and if she would object to Lord Jersey as Master ofthe Horse (she said she would not), as she believed he understood itperfectly. He said he was so anxious to do everything which could beagreeable to the Queen, that he wished her to name whom she shouldlike as Lord Chamberlain; she said he might suggest some one, but ashe would not, and pressed the Queen to name whoever she pleased, she said she should like the Duke of Rutland, and he said he wouldcertainly name it to him. The Queen said that Lord Melbourne hadalways been very particular to name no one who might be disagreeableto her in the Household, and Sir R. Peel said he felt this, andshould be most anxious to do what could be agreeable to me and for mycomfort, and that he would even sacrifice any advantage to this. TheQueen mentioned the three Ladies' resignation, and her wish not tofill up the three Ladies' places immediately. She mentioned LadyByron, [78] to which he agreed immediately, and then said, as I hadalluded to those communications, he hoped that he had been understoodrespecting the _other_ appointments (meaning the Ladies), thatprovided I chose some who had a leaning towards the politics of theAdministration, I might take any I liked, and that he quite understoodthat I should notify it to them. The Queen said this was her rule, andthat she wished to choose moderate people who should not have scruplesto resign in case another Administration should come in, as changingwas disagreeable to her. Here it ended, and so far well. He wasvery anxious the Queen should understand _how_ anxious he was to doeverything which was agreeable to the Queen. The Queen wishes to knowif Lord Melbourne thinks she should name the Duchess of BuccleuchMistress of the Robes, on Wednesday, and if she shall ask Sir Robertto sound the Duchess, or some one else, and then write to appoint her?She thinks of proposing Lady de la Warr and Lady Abercorn by and by asthe two Ladies, but these she will sound herself through other people, or Lady Canning, or Lady Rosslyn, in case these others should not takeit. She should say she meant to sound those, and no more. What theQueen felt when she parted from her dear, kind friend, Lord Melbourne, is better imagined than described; she was dreadfully affected forsome time after, but is calm now. It is very, very sad; and she cannotquite believe it yet. The Prince felt it very, very much too, andreally the Queen cannot say how kind and affectionate he is to her, and how anxious to do everything to lighten this heavy trial; he wasquite affected at this sad parting. We do, and shall, miss you sodreadfully; Lord Melbourne will easily understand what a change itis, after these four years when she had the happiness of having LordMelbourne always about her. But it will not be so long till we meetagain. Happier and brighter times will come again. We anxiously hopeLord Melbourne is well, and got up well and safe. The Queen trusts hewill take care of his valuable health, now more than ever. 

 [Footnote 76: Thomas, Earl de Grey (1781-1859); he was the elder brother of Lord Ripon, who had been previously known as Mr Robinson and Viscount Goderich, and whose son, besides inheriting his father's and uncle's honours, was created Marquis of Ripon. ]

 [Footnote 77: Afterwards third Earl of St Germans. ]

 [Footnote 78: Lady Byron had been Miss Elizabeth Chandos-Pole. ]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _31st August 1841. _

I was sent up to Town to-day to see Lord Melbourne and Sir RobertPeel. I found Lord Melbourne as usual up in his bedroom. He hadreceived the account of Her Majesty's first interview with Peel, whichhe thought very satisfactory. Sir Robert very much regretted that heshould have been the instrument of obliging Her Majesty to change herGovernment. The Queen had said to Sir Robert that though she did notconceive the Minister could demand any of the Household appointments, still it was Her Majesty's intention to give up to him the greatoffices of State, and all other places in the Household filled bypeople in Parliament. He was to send his proposed list for offices thenext day and be at Windsor the morning after that. Lord Melbournehad written to the Queen the night before, stating his opinion of thePrince--that he had great discretion, temper, and judgment, and thathe considered him to be well worthy of Her Majesty's confidence, andthat now was the time for Her Majesty to feel comfort and assistancefrom giving him her fullest confidence. He had just received theQueen's answer to this, saying what "pleasure it had given the Queento receive his letter with this expression of his opinion of herbeloved husband, and that what he said could not fail to increasethe confidence which she already felt in him. He was indeed a greatcomfort to her in this trying moment; at times she was very low indeedthough she strove to bear up. It would always be a satisfaction toher to feel secure of Lord Melbourne's faithful and affectionatefriendship to her and the Prince. She hoped after a time to see himhere again, and it would always be a pleasure to her to hear from himfrequently. "

From South Steet I went to Sir Robert Peel's. I told him I came tospeak to him about Lord Exeter, whom the Prince proposed to makethe head of his Household, should it not interfere with any of SirRobert's arrangements for the Queen. Sir Robert said he was so good aman and one that he felt sure the Prince would like, and he thereforethought he had better propose the situation to him at once. 

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S OFFICIAL FAREWELL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _31st August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne had the pleasure of receiving last night both yourMajesty's letters, the one dated four o'clock, and written immediatelyafter your Majesty's interview with Sir R. Peel, the other datedhalf-past nine. Lord Melbourne thanks your Majesty much for them both, and for the expressions of kindness contained in them. Lord Melbournewill ever consider the time during which your Majesty is good enoughto think that he has been of service to your Majesty the proudest aswell as the happiest part of his life. 

Lord Melbourne has read with great care your Majesty's very clear andfull account of what passed. It appears to Lord Melbourne that nothingcould be better. Sir Robert Peel seems to have been anxious to actwith the utmost respect and consideration for your Majesty, and yourMajesty most properly and wisely met him half-way. In the spiritin which the negotiation has been commenced I see the prospect of atermination of it, which will be not so unsatisfactory to yourMajesty as your Majesty anticipated, and not, Lord Melbourne trusts, disadvantageous to the country. .. . 

Lord Melbourne concludes with the most anxious wishes for yourMajesty's happiness and with expressing a great admiration of thefirmness, prudence, and good sense with which your Majesty hasconducted yourself. 

Lord Melbourne begs to be remembered to His Royal Highness mostrespectfully, most affectionately. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

_31st August 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has justreceived your Majesty's letter. Lord Melbourne rejoices much to learnthat your Majesty feels more composed and that you are well. Recollecthow precious is your Majesty's health, and how much health dependsupon tranquillity of mind. .. . 

Lord Melbourne will either write to Sir Francis Chantrey[79] to-morrowmorning, or call upon him and settle without further delay about theBust. There is no end of subscriptions to Monuments, but perhaps yourMajesty will do well to subscribe to Sir David Wilkie's. [80]

Your Majesty is very good about the blue Ribband, but Lord Melbourneis certain that upon the whole, it is better for his own position andcharacter that he should not have it. 

 [Footnote 79: Sir Francis Chantrey, the sculptor, born in 1781, died on 25th November 1841. ]

 [Footnote 80: Sir David Wilkie, Painter-in-Ordinary to the Queen, had died on 1st June, aged fifty-six. ]

[Pageheading: PEEL'S RECEPTION]

_The Earl of Clarendon[81] to Viscount Melbourne. [82]_

GROSVENOR CRESCENT, _31st August 1841. _

MY DEAR MELBOURNE, --You may like to know that Peel was perfectlysatisfied with his reception yesterday, and does full justice to theQueen's declaration of her regret at parting with her Ministers, whichhe said it was quite natural she should feel, and quite right sheshould express. This I know from undoubted authority, and from aperson who came to enquire of me whether I could tell what impressionPeel had produced upon the Queen, which of course I could not. 

He assured the Queen that he had had no communication with hisfriends, and was not prepared to submit an Administration for herapproval, but he is to see her again to-morrow morning. 

The only appointment yet settled is De Grey to Ireland; he was veryunwilling, but Peel insisted. Yours sincerely, CLARENDON. 

 [Footnote 81: The retiring Lord Privy Seal. ]

 [Footnote 82: Letter forwarded by Lord Melbourne to the Queen. ]

[Pageheading: FAREWELL AUDIENCES]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. _

CARLTON TERRACE, _31st August 1841. _

. .. Viscount Palmerston begs to be allowed to tender to your Majestythe grateful thanks of himself and of Viscountess Palmerston for yourMajesty's gracious expressions towards them. Viscount Palmerston seeswith deep regret the termination of those duties in your Majesty'sservice, in the course of which he has had the honour of experiencingfrom your Majesty so much condescending personal kindness, andsuch flattering official confidence; and it affords him the highestgratification to have obtained your Majesty's approbation. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _2nd September 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He receivedyour Majesty's letter yesterday evening, and was very glad to learnfrom it that your Majesty was not ill satisfied with Sir Robert Peel, and that the arrangements were going on smoothly, which it is highlydesirable that they should. Your Majesty should desire Sir RobertPeel to give notice to all those who have insignia of office, suchas Seals, Wands, to give up, to attend at Claremont on Friday; but ofcourse he will do this of himself. Your Majesty will have much to gothrough upon that day and much that is painful. Your Majesty shouldspare yourself and be spared as much as possible. It will not benecessary for Lord Melbourne to go down. He may be considered ashaving resigned at the Audience which he had of your Majesty atWindsor, and Lord Melbourne has ventured to tell Lord Lansdowne thathe thinks he need not do so either, and that your Majesty will excusehis attendance. Lord Melbourne need say nothing about the Secretariesof State, with all of whom your Majesty is so well acquainted; butperhaps your Majesty will not omit to thank Mr Baring[83] cordiallyfor his services. He is a thoroughly honest man and an able publicservant. If your Majesty could say to the Lord Chancellor, [84] "thatyou part with him with much sorrow; that you are sensible that much ofthe strength of the late Administration was derived from the mannerin which he discharged the duties of his office, and that you considerhis retirement a great and serious loss to the country, " it wouldcertainly be no more than he deserves. 

It is thought by some who know him here that the Duke of Rutland willbe so extremely pleased with the offer being made, and that by yourMajesty yourself, that he will accept it; but he is a year older thanLord Melbourne, and therefore hardly fit for any very active duty. .. . 

The appointment of Colonel Arbuthnot will of course be very agreeableto the Duke of Wellington. The Arbuthnots are quiet, demure peoplebefore others; but they are not without depth of purpose, and they arevery bitter at bottom. 

Your Majesty will not forget the two Knights for Mr de la Beche[85]and Major Monro. 

Lord Melbourne begins to hope that this affair will be got throughmore satisfactorily and with less annoyance than your Majestyanticipated. As long as your Majesty is desirous of receiving hiscommunications, he will be always most careful to give your Majestyhis impartial opinion and the best advice which he has to offer. Hismost fervent prayer will always be for your Majesty's welfare andhappiness. 

 [Footnote 83: The retiring Chancellor of the Exchequer. ]

 [Footnote 84: Lord Cottenham. ]

 [Footnote 85: Sir Henry T. De la Beche, an eminent geologist. ]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S LAST OFFICIAL LETTER]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _2nd September 1841. _

. .. . Lord Melbourne hopes and trusts that when to-morrow is over yourMajesty will recover from that depression of spirits under which yourMajesty now labours. Lord Melbourne never doubted that it would beso, but is glad to learn from your Majesty the support and consolationwhich your Majesty finds in the advice and affection of the Prince. 

This is the last letter which Lord Melbourne will send in a box. Hewill to-morrow morning return his keys to the Foreign Office, andafter that your Majesty will be good enough to send the letters, withwhich you may honour Lord Melbourne, through Mr Anson. 

Lord Melbourne most anxiously wishes your Majesty every blessing. 

[Pageheading: COUNCIL AT CLAREMONT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _3rd September 1841. _

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is well after thistrying day. [86] Lord Melbourne has thought and felt for your Majestyall this morning. But now that the matter is settled it will benecessary that your Majesty should take a calm and composed view ofthe whole situation, which Lord Melbourne trusts that your Majestywill find by no means unsatisfactory. 

And first with respect to public affairs. In the concerns of agreat nation like this there will always be some difficulties andentanglements, but upon the whole the present state is good and theprospect is good for the future. There is no reason to expect thatSir Robert Peel will either be desirous or be able to take a verydifferent course from that which has been taken by your Majesty's lateservants, and some difficulties will certainly be removed, and someobstacles smoothed, by the change which has lately taken place. 

With respect to the effect which will be produced upon the comfort ofyour Majesty's private life, it would be idle in Lord Melbourne, after what your Majesty has said, to doubt of the manner in which yourMajesty will feel the change, which must take place in your Majesty, to long accustomed habits and relations. But your Majesty may restassured of Lord Melbourne's devoted and disinterested attachmentto your Majesty, and that he will devote himself to giving to yourMajesty such information and advice as may be serviceable to yourMajesty with the sole view of promoting your Majesty's publicinterests and private happiness. 

Lord Melbourne hopes, and indeed ventures to expect, that yourMajesty, upon reflection and consideration of the real state ofcircumstances, will recover your spirits, and Lord Melbourne hashimself great satisfaction in thinking upon the consideration ofthe advice which he has given, that it has not tended to impair yourMajesty's influence and authority, but, on the contrary, to secure toyour Majesty the affection, attachment, approbation, and support ofall parties. 

In the course of this correspondence Lord Melbourne has thought it hisduty to your Majesty to express himself with great freedom uponthe characters of many individuals, whose names have come underconsideration, but Lord Melbourne thinks it right to say that he mayhave spoken upon insufficient grounds, that he may have been mistaken, and that the persons in question may turn out to be far better than hehas been induced to represent them. 

 [Footnote 86: A Council had been held at Claremont for the outgoing Ministers to give up their Seals of Office, which were bestowed upon Sir Robert Peel and the incoming Cabinet. ]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE ON THE NEW MINISTRY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _4th September 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He was mosthappy to hear yesterday the best account of everything that had takenplace at Claremont. Everybody praised, in the highest manner, thedignity, propriety, and kindness of your Majesty's deportment, and ifit can be done without anything of deceit or dissimulation, it is wellto take advantage of the powers and qualities which have been given, and which are so well calculated to gain a fair and powerful influenceover the minds and feelings of others. Your Majesty may depend uponit, that the impression made upon the minds of all who were presentyesterday, is most favourable. Of course, with persons in new andrather awkward situations, some of whom had never been in high officebefore, all of whom had not been so now for some years, there was agood deal of embarrassment and mistakes. Forms which are only gonethrough at long intervals of time, and not every day, are necessarilyforgotten, and when they are required nobody knows them. But LordMelbourne cannot really think that they looked cross; most probablythey did look shy and embarrassed. Strange faces are apt to give theidea of ill humour. .. . 

Lord Melbourne anxiously hopes that your Majesty is well and happyto-day. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _5th September 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Your Majestymay depend upon it, that if Lord Melbourne hears anything respectingyour Majesty, which it appears to him to be important or advantageous, that your Majesty should know, Lord Melbourne will not fail to conveyit to your Majesty. 

Lord Melbourne encloses the exact names of the two gentlemen to whomKnighthood has been promised by your Majesty. .. . 

Your Majesty is very good, very good indeed, to think of doing whatyour Majesty mentions for Fanny; but Lord Melbourne fears that itwould hardly suit with their present situation, or with the comfort oftheir domestic life. But Lord Melbourne mentioned the matter yesterdayto his sister, and he encloses the letter which she has written to himthis morning, after reflecting upon the subject. By that letter yourMajesty will perceive that Jocelyn is not so much in debt, as LordMelbourne's letter had led your Majesty to suppose. .. . 

Lord B---- is a very old friend of Lord Melbourne's. They were at Etontogether, and intimate there. He is a gentlemanly man and a good man, but not very agreeable. Few of the P----s are, and very bitter inpolitics; but still Lord Melbourne is glad, for old acquaintance'sake, that your Majesty has taken him. Lord Melbourne must againrepeat that when he writes with so much freedom about individualcharacters, it is only to put your Majesty in possession of what heknows respecting them, and not with a view of inducing your Majesty toobject to their being appointed. .. . 

Might not Fanny have the Bedchamber Woman's place? It would be a helpto her, and would not take her away from home. This only strikes LordMelbourne as he is writing. 

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE ON PEEL]

_6th September 1841. _

Lord Melbourne wrote the above yesterday, but had no opportunity ofsending it, as there was no post. Lord Melbourne has since seen LadyPalmerston, and finds that his last suggestion about Fanny will notdo. 

Lord Melbourne encloses Lady Palmerston's two notes upon the subject, which will explain to your Majesty what she wishes. But if Jocelyn ishimself to get a place, this will be a better arrangement, and puts anend to all the others. 

What Lady Palmerston says about Sir R. Peel is very unjust. Thereis no shabbiness whatever in his not coming to a decision upon thefactory question. [87]

 [Footnote 87: Lady Palmerston (no doubt in sympathy with Lord Ashley) expected some factory legislation to be announced. ]

_Queen Victoria to the Countess of Gainsborough. _[88]

CLAREMONT, _6th September 1841. _

MY DEAREST LADY GAINSBOROUGH, --I had the pleasure of receiving yourtwo kind letters of the 24th and 25th ult. Yesterday, and thank youmuch for them. I am so happy that you are _really_ better. .. . 

I hoped that you would be pleased at what you thank me for; you seeI _did not_ forget what you told me once at Windsor when we wereout driving, and I assure you that Lord Melbourne was very anxiousto do it. Last week was a most painful, trying one to me, and thisseparation from my truly excellent and kind friend Lord Melbourne, _most_ distressing. You will understand _what_ a change it must be tome. I am, however, so happy in my home, and have such a perfect angelin the Prince, who has been such a comfort to me, that one must bethankful and grateful for these blessings, and take these hard trialsas lessons sent from above, for our best. 

Our little girl makes great progress, and suffers comparatively butvery little from her teething. We came here to be _quiet_ for a fewdays, as this place is so very private. 

The Baroness will write to Lord Gainsborough to say that I wish muchyou would take Lady Lyttelton's waiting, which begins on 23rd ofNovember. 

The Prince begs to be kindly named to you, and I to Fanny and yourbrother, and pray believe me always, dearest Lady Gainsborough, everyours most affectionately, VICTORIA R. 

Pray thank Fanny for her kind letter. 

 [Footnote 88: Formerly, as Lady Barham, a Lady of the Bedchamber. Lord Barham had been created Earl of Gainsborough in the course of the year (1841). ]

[Pageheading: LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S DEPARTMENT]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

_7th September 1841. _

The Queen wishes that Sir Robert Peel would mention to Lord De laWarr[89] that he should be very particular in always naming to theQueen any appointment he wishes to make in his department, and alwaysto take her pleasure upon an appointment before he settles on them;this is a point upon which the Queen has always laid great stress. This applies in great measure to the appointment of Physicians andChaplains, which used to be very badly managed formerly, and who wereappointed in a very careless manner; but since the Queen's accessionthe Physicians and Chaplains have been appointed only for merit andabilities, by the Queen herself, which the Queen is certain Sir RobertPeel will at once see is a far better way, and one which must be ofuse in every way. Sir Robert Peel may also tell Lord De la Warr thatit is unnecessary for him to appear in uniform, as the Queenalways dispenses with this in the country. This applies also to theMinisters, who the Queen does not expect or wish should appear inuniform at Councils which are held in the country. The Queen concludesthat it will be necessary to hold a Council some time next week toswear in some of the new Officers who are not Privy Councillors; butSir Robert Peel will be able to tell the Queen when he thinks thiswill be necessary. 

 [Footnote 89: See _ante_, p 156. (Ch. VIII, 7th May, 1839)]

[Pageheading: DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

_8th September 1841. _

There is a subject which the Queen wishes to mention to Sir RobertPeel, as she is at present so little acquainted with Lord Aberdeen;the Queen is very desirous that, if it were possible, Sir HamiltonSeymour should not be removed from Brussels. The Queen believes thathis political views are not violent either way, and she knows that heis peculiarly agreeable to her Uncle, which has, therefore, promptedher to write this to Sir Robert Peel. The Queen seizes the sameopportunity to say that she is also very anxious that a moderateand conciliatory person should be sent to Lisbon, as it is of greatimportance there. 

[Pageheading: THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CLAREMONT, _8th September 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I begin my letter to-day, for fear I should have notime to write to-morrow. Your kind letter gave me great pleasure, andI must own your silence on all that was going on distressed me verymuch! It has been indeed a sad time for me, and I am still bewildered, and can't believe that my excellent Lord Melbourne is no longermy Minister, but he will be, as you say, and has _already_ provedhimself, _very_ useful and _valuable_ as my friend out of office. He writes to me often, and I write to him, and he gives really thefairest and most impartial advice possible. But after seeing him forfour years, with very few exceptions--_daily_--you may imagine that I_must_ feel the change; and the longer the time gets since we parted, the _more_ I feel it. _Eleven days_ was the _longest_ I ever waswithout seeing him, and this time will be elapsed on Saturday, so youmay imagine what the change must be. I cannot say what a comfort andsupport my beloved Angel is to me, and how well and how kindlyand properly he behaves. I cannot resist copying for you what LordMelbourne wrote to me about Albert, the evening after we parted; hehas already praised him greatly to me, before he took leave of me. Itis as follows:

"Lord Melbourne cannot satisfy himself without again stating to yourMajesty in writing what he had the honour of saying to your Majestyrespecting H. R. H. The Prince. Lord Melbourne has formed the highestopinion of H. R. H. 's judgment, temper, and discretion, and he cannotbut feel a great consolation and security in the reflection thathe leaves your Majesty in a situation in which your Majesty has theinestimable advantage of such advice and assistance. Lord Melbournefeels certain that your Majesty cannot do better than have recourse toit, whenever it is needed, and rely upon it with confidence. "

This naturally gave me great pleasure, and made me very proud, as itcomes from a person who is no flatterer, and would not have said it ifhe did not think so, or feel so. The new Cabinet you have by this timeseen in the papers. 

The Household (of which I send you a list) is well constituted--_forTories_. 

Lord Aberdeen has written to me to say Bourqueney has announced SteAulaire[90] as Ambassador. This is very well, but let me beg you, fordecency's sake, to stop his coming immediately; if _even not meant_to, it would have the effect of their sending an ambassador the momentthe Government changed, which would be too marked, and most _offensivepersonally_ to _me_. Indeed Guizot behaved very badly about refusingto sign the Slave Trade Treaty[91] which they had so long ago settledto do; it is unwise and foolish to irritate the late Government whomay so easily come in again; for Palmerston will _not_ forgive nor_forget_ offences, and then France would be worse off than before, with England. I therefore _beg_ you to stop Ste Aulaire for a littlewhile, else _I_ shall feel it a great personal offence. 

_9th. _--I have had a letter from Lord Melbourne to-day, who is muchgratified by yours to him. .. . Now adieu! Believe me, always, yourdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 90: See _post_, p. 334. (Ch. X, 1st October, 1841)]

 [Footnote 91: A treaty on the subject was signed in London, on 20th December, between Great Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. ]

[Pageheading: QUEEN ADELAIDE]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

SUDBURY HALL, _8th September 1841. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --I have not ventured to disturb you with a lettersince we parted, knowing how fully your time was employed withbusiness of importance. I cannot any longer now refrain to enquireafter you, after all you have gone through lately, and I mustcongratulate you with all my heart on having so well completed yourdifficult task. 

There is but one voice of praise, I hear, of your perfect composureand beautiful conduct during the trying scenes of last week. It hasgratified me more than I can express, for I had fully expected it ofyou, and it has made me very happy to find that it has been generallyremarked and has given so much satisfaction. Everybody feels deeplyfor you, and the devotion and zeal in your service is redoubled bythe interest your trying position has evoked. May our Heavenly Fathersupport and guide you always as hitherto, is my constant prayer!

I hope that the selection of your Government is to your ownsatisfaction, and though the change must have been trying to you, Itrust that you will have perfect confidence in the able men who formyour Council. Our beloved late King's anxious wishes to see Wellingtonand Peel again at the head of the Administration is now fulfilled. Hisblessing rests upon you. 

Excuse my having touched upon this subject, but I could not keepsilent whilst the heart is so full of earnest good wishes for your andthe country's prosperity. 

I hope that an article of the newspapers, of the indisposition of yourdarling child, is not true, and that she is quite well. God bless andprotect her!. .. 

I am much amused with reading your Life by Miss Strickland, [92] which, though full of errors, is earnest on the whole, and very interestingto _me_. However, I wish she would correct the gross errors whichotherwise will go down to posterity. She ought to have taken firstbetter information before she published her work. .. . 

With my affectionate love to dear Prince Albert, believe me ever, mydearest Niece, your most devoted and affectionate Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

 [Footnote 92: Miss Agnes Strickland (1808-1874), who also edited _Letters of Mary Queen of Scots_, etc. ]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

CLAREMONT, _9th September 1841. _

The Ministerial arrangements are now nearly completed. Writs for newelections moved last night. 

Wrote to Sir Robert, telling him the Queen ought to have heard fromhim respecting the adjournment of the House of Commons, instead ofseeing it first in the public papers. Told him also of its being theQueen's wish that a short report of the debates in each House shouldalways be sent to Her Majesty, from him in the Commons and from theDuke of Wellington in the Lords. 

The Queen had a letter to-day from the Queen Dowager, which was kindlymeant, but which made Her Majesty rather angry, complimenting HerMajesty on the good grace with which she had changed her Government, and saying that the late King's blessing rested upon her for callingthe Duke of Wellington and Peel to her Councils, etc. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN CRITICISES APPOINTMENTS]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

_9th September 1841. _

The Queen takes this opportunity of writing to Sir Robert Peel_confidentially_ about another person: this is about Lord ----. TheQueen is strongly of opinion that Lord ---- should _not_ be employedin any post of importance, as his being so would, in her opinion, be detrimental to the interests of the country. The Queen wishes SirRobert to state this to Lord Aberdeen as her opinion. The Queen iscertain that Sir Robert will take care that it should not be knowngenerally that this is her opinion, for she is always most anxious toavoid anything that might appear personal towards anybody. The Queencannot refrain from saying that she cannot quite approve of SirCharles Bagot's appointment, [93] as from what she has heard of hisqualities she does not think that they are of a character quite tosuit in the arduous and difficult position in which he will be placed. At the same time the Queen does not mean to object to his appointment(for she has already formally approved of it), but she feels it herduty to state frankly and at all times her opinion, as she begs SirRobert also to do unreservedly to her. For the future, it appears tothe Queen that it would be best in all appointments of such importancethat before a direct communication was entered into with theindividual intended to be proposed, that the Queen should be informedof it, so that she might talk to her Ministers fully about it; notbecause it is likely that she would object to the appointment, butmerely that she might have time to be acquainted with the qualitiesand abilities of the person. The Queen has stated this thus freely toSir Robert as she feels certain that he will understand and appreciatethe motives which prompt her to do so. The Queen would wish theCouncil to be at two on Tuesday, and she begs Sir Robert would informher which of the Ministers besides him will attend. 

 [Footnote 93: As Governor-General of Canada. ]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

_9th September 1841. _

. .. Sir Robert Peel will have the honour of writing to your Majestyto-morrow on the subjects adverted to in the note which he has justreceived from your Majesty. 

He begs for the present to assure your Majesty that he shall considerevery communication which your Majesty may be pleased to addressto him in reference to the personal merits or disqualifications ofindividuals as of a most confidential character. 

[Pageheading: PEEL APOLOGISES]

_Sir Robert Peel to Mr Anson. _

WHITEHALL, _10th September 1841. _

MY DEAR SIR, --I am sorry if I have failed to make any communication toHer Majesty respecting public matters, which Her Majesty has been inthe habit of receiving, or which she would have wished to receive. 

Having been occupied in the execution of the important trust committedto me not less than sixteen or eighteen hours of the twenty-four forseveral days past, it may be that I have made some omissions in thisrespect, which under other circumstances I might have avoided. I didnot think Her Majesty would wish to be informed of the issue of writs, necessarily following the appointments to certain offices, of allwhich Her Majesty had approved. I certainly ought to have writtento Her Majesty previously to the adjournment of the House of Commonsuntil Thursday the _16th of September_. It was an inadvertent omissionon my part, amid the mass of business which I have had to transact, and I have little doubt that if I had been in Parliament I should haveavoided it. 

The circumstances of my having vacated my seat, and of havingthus been compelled to leave to others the duty of proposing theadjournment of the House, was one cause of my inadvertence. 

Both the Duke of Wellington and I fully intended to make a report toHer Majesty after the close of the Parliamentary business of each day, and will do so without fail on the reassembling of Parliament. 

I am, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours, ROBERT PEEL. 

[Pageheading: DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _10th September 1841. _

. .. Lord Melbourne has no doubt that Sir Robert Peel has the mostanxious wish to do everything that can be agreeable to your Majesty. 

Your Majesty should not omit to speak fully and seriously to him uponthe disposal of great appointments. Their Diplomatic Corps, from whichAmbassadors and Governors are generally taken, is the weakest part oftheir establishment. They have amongst them men of moderate abilitiesand of doubtful integrity, who yet have held high offices andhave strong claims upon them. The public service may suffer mostessentially by the employment of such men. Lord Melbourne would sayto Peel that "affairs depend more upon the hands to which they areentrusted than upon any other cause, and that you hope he will wellconsider those whose appointment to high and important situationshe sanctions, and that he will not suffer claims of connection or ofsupport to overbalance a due regard for your Majesty's service and thewelfare of the country. " Such an expression of your Majesty's opinionmay possibly be a support to Sir Robert Peel against pretensions whichhe would be otherwise unable to resist; but this is entirely submittedto your Majesty's judgment, seeing that your Majesty, from an exactknowledge of all that is passing, must be able to form a much morecorrect opinion of the propriety and discretion of any step than LordMelbourne can do. .. . 

Lord Melbourne has a letter from Lord John Russell, rather eager foractive opposition; but Lord Melbourne will write to your Majesty morefully upon these subjects from Woburn. 

[Pageheading: CANADA]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

WOBURN ABBEY, _12th September 1841. _

Lord Melbourne has this morning received your Majesty's letter ofyesterday. Lord Melbourne entirely agrees with your Majesty aboutappointments. He knows, as your Majesty does from experience, that with all the claims which there are to satisfy, with all theprejudices which are to be encountered, and with all the interestswhich require to be reconciled, it is impossible to select the bestmen, or even always those properly qualified. He is the last man whowould wish that a Minister who has the whole machine of the Governmentbefore him should be necessarily thwarted or interfered with in theselection of those whom he may be desirous to employ. Lord Melbournewould therefore by no means advise your Majesty to throw difficulty inthe way of the diplomatic arrangements which may be proposed, unlessthere should be in them anything manifestly and glaringly bad. Thenomination of Lord ---- would have been so, but otherwise it cannotvery greatly signify who is the Ambassador at Vienna, or even atPetersburg or Paris. Stuart de Rothesay[94] and Strangford[95] are notgood men, either of them, but it will be difficult for Lord Aberdeento neglect their claims altogether. Heytesbury[96] is an able man, thebest they have. Sir Robert Gordon[97] is an honest man, slow but notilliberal. It would be well if your Majesty showed Lord Aberdeen thatyou know these men, and have an opinion upon the subject of them. 

Canada is another matter. It is a most difficult and most hazardoustask. There has been recent rebellion in the country. A newConstitution has lately been imposed upon it by Parliament. The twoProvinces have been united, and the united Province is bordered by amost hostile and uncontrollable community, the United States of NorthAmerica. To govern such a country at such a moment requires a man ofgreat abilities, a man experienced and practical in the managementof popular assemblies. .. . It is possible that matters may go smoothlythere, and that if difficulties do arise Sir C. Bagot may prove moreequal to them than from his general knowledge of his character LordMelbourne would judge him to be. .. . 

Upon the subject of diplomatic appointments Lord Melbourne hasforgotten to make one general observation which he thinks ofimportance. Upon a change of Government a very great and sudden changeof all or many of the Ministers at Foreign Courts is an evil and to beavoided, inasmuch as it induces an idea of a general change of policy, and disturbs everything that has been settled. George III. Always sethis face against and discouraged such numerous removals as tending toshake confidence abroad in the Government of England generally and togive it a character of uncertainty and instability. It would be wellif your Majesty could make this remark to Lord Aberdeen. 

 [Footnote 94: The new Ambassador to St Petersburg. ]

 [Footnote 95: Percy, sixth Viscount Strangford (1780-1855), formerly Ambassador to Constantinople, whom Byron described as

 "Hibernian Strangford, with thine eyes of blue, And boasted locks of red or auburn hue. "]

 [Footnote 96: See _post_, p. 329. (Ch. X, 19th September, 1841)]

 [Footnote 97: The new Ambassador to Vienna. ]

[Pageheading: INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN]

[Pageheading: LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S REPORT]

[Pageheading: INDIAN FINANCES]

_Lord Ellenborough[98] to Queen Victoria. _

Lord Ellenborough presents his most humble duty to your Majesty, andhumbly acquaints your Majesty that having, on the morning after theCouncil held at Claremont on the third of this month, requested theclerks of the India Board to put him in possession of the latestinformation with respect to the Political, Military, and Financialaffairs of India, he ascertained that on the 4th of June instructionshad been addressed to the Governor-General of India in Council in thefollowing terms:--"We direct that unless circumstances now unknown tous should induce you to adopt a different course, an adequate forcebe advanced upon Herat, and that that city and its dependencies may beoccupied by our troops, and dispositions made for annexing them to thekingdom of Cabul. "[99]

The last letters from Calcutta, dated the 9th of July, did notintimate any intention on the part of the Governor-General inCouncil of directing any hostile movement against Herat, and theGovernor-General himself having always evinced much reluctance toextend the operations of the army to that city, it seemed almostprobable that the execution of the orders of the 4th of June wouldhave been suspended until further communication could be had with theHome Authorities. 

Nevertheless, in a matter of so much moment it did not appear to beprudent to leave anything to probability, and at Lord Ellenborough'sinstance your Majesty's confidential servants came to the conclusionthat no time should be lost in addressing to the Governor-General inCouncil a letter in the following terms--such letter being sent, asyour Majesty must be aware, not directly by the Commissioners for theAffairs of India, but, as the Act of Parliament prescribes in affairsrequiring secrecy, by their direction through and in the name of theSecret Committee of the Court of Directors:--

"From the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East IndiaCompany to the Governor-General of India in Council. 

"Her Majesty having been pleased to form a new Administration, wethink it expedient that no step should be taken with respect toHerat which would have the effect of compelling the prosecution of aspecific line of Policy in the countries beyond the Indus, untilthe new Ministers shall have had time to take the subject into theirdeliberate consideration, and to communicate to us their opinionsthereupon. 

"We therefore direct that, unless you should have already takenmeasures in pursuance of our Instructions of the 4th of June1841--which commit the honour of your Government to the prosecutionof the line of Policy which we thereby ordered you to adopt, or whichcould not be arrested without prejudice to the Public interests, ordanger to the troops employed--you will consider those Instructions tobe suspended. 

"We shall not fail to communicate to you at an early period our fixeddecision upon this subject. "

It was not possible to bring this subject before your Majesty'sconfidential servants before the afternoon of Saturday the 4th. Themail for India, which should have been despatched on the 1st, had beendetained till Monday the 6th by the direction of your Majesty's lateMinisters, in order to enable your Majesty's present servants totransmit to India and China any orders which it might seem to themto be expedient to issue forthwith. Further delay would have beenproductive of much mercantile inconvenience, and in India probably ofmuch alarm. In this emergency your Majesty's Ministers thoughtthat your Majesty would be graciously pleased to approve of theirexercising at once the power of directing the immediate transmissionto India of these Instructions. 

Your Majesty must have had frequently before you strong proofs ofthe deep interest taken by Russia in the affairs of Herat, and yourMajesty cannot but be sensible of the difficulty of maintaining inEurope that good understanding with Russia which has such an importantbearing upon the general peace, if serious differences should existbetween your Majesty and that Power with respect to the States ofCentral Asia. 

But even if the annexation of Herat to the kingdom of Cabul werenot to have the effect of endangering the continuance of the goodunderstanding between your Majesty and Russia, still your Majesty willnot have failed to observe that the further advance of your Majesty'sforces 360 miles into the interior of Central Asia for the purposeof effecting that annexation, could not but render more difficultof accomplishment the original intention of your Majesty, publiclyannounced to the world, of withdrawing your Majesty's troops fromAfghanistan as soon as Shah Sooja should be firmly established uponthe throne he owes to your Majesty's aid. 

These considerations alone would have led Lord Ellenborough to desirethat the execution of the orders given on the 4th of June should atleast be delayed until your Majesty's confidential servants had hadtime to consider maturely the Policy which it might be their duty toadvise your Majesty to sanction with respect to the countries on theright bank of the Indus; but financial considerations strengthenedthis desire, and seemed to render it an imperative duty to endeavourto obtain time for mature reflection before any step should be takenwhich might seriously affect the tranquillity of Europe, and mustnecessarily have disastrous effects upon the Administration of India. 

It appeared that the political and military charges now incurredbeyond the Indus amounted to £1, 250, 000 a year--that the estimate ofthe expense of the additions made to the Army in India, since April1838, was £1, 138, 750 a year, and that the deficit of Indian Revenuein 1839-40 having been £2, 425, 625, a further deficit of £1, 987, 000 wasexpected in 1840-41. 

Your Majesty must be too well informed of the many evils consequentupon financial embarrassment, and entertains too deep a naturalaffection for all your Majesty's subjects, not to desire that inwhatever advice your Majesty's confidential servants may tender toyour Majesty with respect to the Policy to be observed in Afghanistan, they should have especial regard to the effect which the protractedcontinuance of military operations in that country, still more anyextension of them to a new and distant field, would have upon theFinances of India, and thereby upon the welfare of eighty millions ofpeople who there acknowledge your Majesty's rule. 

 [Footnote 98: President of the Board of Control. ]

 [Footnote 99: For the progress of affairs in Afghanistan, _see_ Introductory Notes for 1839-1842. (to Ch. VIII; Ch. IX; Ch. X; Ch. XI)]

_Queen Victoria to Lord Ellenborough. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th September 1841. _

The Queen thanks Lord Ellenborough for this clear and interestingMemorandum he has sent. It seems to the Queen that the course intendedto be pursued--namely to take time to consider the affairs of Indiawithout making any precipitate change in the Policy hitherto pursued, and without involving the country hastily in expenses, is far the bestand safest. 

[Pageheading: DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th September 1841. _

In the conversation that the Queen had with Lord Aberdeen last week, she omitted mentioning two persons to him. The one is Lord Heytesbury;the Queen believes him to be a very able man, and would it nottherefore be a good thing to employ him in some important mission? Theother person is Mr Aston, who is at Madrid; the Queen hopes it may bepossible to leave him there, for she thinks that he acted with greatdiscretion, prudence, and moderation since he has been there, and thepost is one of considerable importance. He was, the Queen believes, long Secretary to the Legation at Paris. 

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _21st September 1841. _

Lord Aberdeen presents his most humble duty to your Majesty. .. . 

Lord Aberdeen has seen the favourable opinion which your Majesty hasbeen graciously pleased to express of Lord Heytesbury, and he humblypresumes to think that this honour is not unmerited. The situationof Governor-General of India has recently been proposed by Sir RobertPeel for Lord Heytesbury's acceptance, which has been declined by him, and it is understood that Lord Heytesbury is not at present desirousof public employment. [100]

Your Majesty's servants have not yet fully considered the proprietyof submitting to your Majesty any proposal of a change in the SpanishMission; but the opinion which your Majesty has been pleased tosignify respecting the conduct of Mr Aston at Madrid appears, inthe humble judgment of Lord Aberdeen, to be fully confirmed by thecorrespondence in this Office. 

Lord Aberdeen would, however, venture humbly to mention that theperson filling this Mission has usually been replaced on a change ofthe Administration at home. Should this be the case in the presentinstance, Lord Aberdeen begs to assure your Majesty that the greatestcare will be taken to select an individual for your Majesty'sapprobation who may be qualified to carry into effect the wise, just, and moderate policy which your Majesty has been graciously pleased torecognise in the conduct of Mr Aston. 

 [Footnote 100: He was made Governor and Captain of the Isle of Wight, and Governor of Carisbrooke Castle. ]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE AND PEEL]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

ROYAL LODGE, _21st September 1841. _

Saw Baron Stockmar this morning at the Castle, and had a good deal ofconversation with him on various matters. He is very apprehensive thatevil will spring out of the correspondence now carried on between theQueen and Lord Melbourne. He thinks it is productive of the greatestpossible danger, and especially to Lord Melbourne; he thought noGovernment could stand such undermining influence. I might tell thisto Lord Melbourne, and say that if he was totally disconnected fromhis Party, instead of being the acknowledged head, there would notbe the same objection. He said, Remind Lord Melbourne of the timeimmediately after the Queen's accession, when he had promised the Kingof the Belgians to write to him from time to time an account of allthat was going on in this country; and upon Lord Melbourne tellinghim of this promise, he replied, This will not do. It cannot be kept asecret that you keep up this correspondence, and jealousy and distrustwill be the fruit of a knowledge of it. "Leave it to me, " he said, "toarrange with the King; you cease to write, and I will put it straightwith the King. "

The Baron seemed to expect Lord Melbourne to draw the inference fromthis that a correspondence between Lord Melbourne and the Queen wasfraught with the same danger, and would, when known, be followedby distrust and jealousy on the part of Sir Robert Peel. I said Ireconciled it to myself because I felt that it had been productive ofmuch good and no harm--and that, feeling that it was conducted onsuch honourable terms, I should not, if it were necessary, scruple toacquaint Sir Robert Peel of its existence. The Baron said, "Ask LordMelbourne whether he would object to it. " He said Peel, when he heardit, would not, on the first impression, at all approve of it; butprudence and caution would be immediately summoned to his aid, and hewould see that it was his policy to play the generous part--and wouldsay he felt all was honourably intended, and he had no objection tooffer--"but, " said the Baron, "look to the result. Distrust, beingimplanted from the first, whenever the first misunderstanding arose, or things took a wrong turn, all would, in Peel's mind, be immediatelyattributed to this cause. "

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _24th September 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I have already thanked you for your two kindletters, but I did not wish to answer them but by a Messenger. I feelthankful for your praise of my conduct; all is going on well, but itwould be needless to attempt to deny that I _feel_ the _change_, andI own I am much happier when I need _not_ see the Ministers; luckilythey do not want to see me often. I feel much the King's kindnessabout Ste Aulaire;[101] I shall see him here on Tuesday next. 

I return you our excellent friend Melbourne's letter, which I hadalready seen, as he sent it me to read, and then seal and send. I misshim much, but I often hear from him, which is a great pleasure to me. It is a great satisfaction to us to have Stockmar here; he is a greatresource, and is now in excellent spirits. 

Mamma is, I suppose, with you now, and we may expect her here eithernext Thursday or Friday. How much she will have to tell us! I am verygrateful for what you say of Claremont, which could so easily bemade perfect; and I must say we enjoy ourselves there always_particulièrement_. .. . Albert begs me to make you his excuses for notwriting, but I can bear testimony that he really has not time to-day. And now _addio!_ dearest Uncle, and pray believe me, always, yourdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 101: See _post_, p. 334. (Ch. X, 1st October, 1841)]

[Pageheading: FINE ARTS COMMISSION]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

_26th September 1841. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs tobe permitted to submit for your Majesty's consideration a suggestionwhich has occurred to Sir Robert Peel, and which has reference tothe communication which he recently addressed to your Majesty onthe subject of the promotion of the Fine Arts in connection with thebuilding of the new Houses of Parliament. 

Sir Robert Peel would humbly enquire from your Majesty whether (inthe event of your Majesty's being graciously pleased to approve of theappointment of a Royal Commission for the further investigation andconsideration of a subject of such deep importance and interest tothe encouragement of art in this country) your Majesty would deemit desirable that the Prince should be invited in the name of yourMajesty to place himself at the head of this Commission, and to giveto it the authority and influence of his high name, and the advantageof his taste and knowledge. 

Sir Robert Peel will not of course mention this subject to anyone, until he has had the honour of receiving from your Majesty anintimation of your Majesty's opinions and wishes on this subject. 

[Pageheading: DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _28th September 1841. _

. .. The diplomatic appointments are as well as they could be made. At least Lord Melbourne thinks so--at least as much in consequenceof those whom they exclude, as of those whom they admit. The Duke ofBeaufort will do better for Petersburg than for Vienna. He is hardlyequal to the place, which requires a clever man, it being moredifficult to get information there, and to find out what is going on, than in any other country in Europe. .. . But Lord Melbourne does notmuch regard this, and the Duke of Beaufort possesses one advantage, which is of the greatest importance in that country. He is a soldier, was the Duke of Wellington's Aide-de-Camp, and served during much ofthe Peninsular War. He will therefore be able to accompany the Emperorto reviews, and to talk with him about troops and man[oe]uvres. SirRobert Gordon and Sir S. Canning will do very well. [102]

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear that your Majesty was pleased andimpressed with Archdeacon Wilberforce's[103] sermon and his manner ofdelivering it. Lord Melbourne has never seen nor heard him. His fatherhad as beautiful and touching a voice as ever was heard. It was veryfine in itself. He spoiled it a little by giving it a methodisticaland precatory intonation. 

Hayter has been to Lord Melbourne to-day to press him to sit to him, which he will do as soon as he has done with Chantrey. Chantrey saysthat all Lord Melbourne's face is very easy except the mouth. Themouth, he says, is always the most difficult feature, and he canrarely satisfy himself with the delineation of any mouth, but LordMelbourne's is so flexible and changeable that it is almost impossibleto catch it. 

 [Footnote 102: For Vienna and Constantinople. ]

 [Footnote 103: Samuel, son of William Wilberforce, at this date Archdeacon of Surrey, and chaplain to Prince Albert; afterwards, in 1844, appointed Bishop of Oxford, and eventually translated to the See of Winchester. ]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S ADVICE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _1st October 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He receivedyour Majesty's letter yesterday evening, and cannot express to yourMajesty how much obliged he feels by your Majesty's taking the troubleto give him so much information upon so many points. Ste Aulaire'shair-powder seems to make a very deep and general impression. [104]Everybody talks about it. "He appears to be very amiable andagreeable, " everybody says, but then adds, "I never saw a man wear somuch powder. " A head so whitened with flour is quite a novelty and aprodigy in these times. Lord Melbourne has not yet seen him, but meansto call upon him immediately. Lord Melbourne is upon the wholeglad that the Duke of Beaufort has declined St Petersburg. It is anappointment that might have been acquiesced in, but would not havebeen approved. Bulwer[105] will not be a bad choice to accompany SirCharles[106] to Canada. Your Majesty knows Bulwer well. He is clever, keen, active; somewhat bitter and caustic, and rather suspicious. Aman of a more straightforward character would have done better, butit would be easy to have found many who would have done worse. LordMelbourne is very glad that it has been offered to the Prince to be atthe head of this Commission, and that His Royal Highness has acceptedit. It is an easy, unexceptionable manner of seeing and becomingacquainted with a great many people, and of observing the mode oftransacting business in this country. The Commission itself will bea scene of very considerable difference of opinion. Lord Melbourneis for decorating the interior of the Houses of Parliament, if it beright to do so, but he is not for doing it, whether right or wrong, for the purpose of spending the public money in the encouragement ofthe Fine Arts. Whether it is to be painting or sculpture, or both; ifpainting, what sort of painting, what are to be the subjects chosen, and who are to be the artists employed? All these questions furnishample food for discussion, difference, and dispute. Chantrey saysfresco will never do; it stands ill in every climate, will never standlong in this, even in the interior of a building, and in a public worksuch as this is, durability is the first object to be aimed at. Hesays that there is in the Vatican a compartment of which the middleportion has been painted by Giulio Romano[107] in fresco, and at eachof the ends there is a figure painted by Raphael in oil. The frescopainting has been so often repaired in consequence of decay, that nota vestige of the original work remains; while the two figures paintedby Raphael in oil still stand out in all their original freshness, andeven improved from what they were when first executed. .. . 

Lord Melbourne dined and slept on Wednesday at Wimbledon. [108] Hemet there Lord and Lady Cottenham, Lord[109] and Lady Langdale, LordGlenelg and his brother, Mr Wm. Grant, who was his private secretary, and is an amusing man. Lord Melbourne is going there again to-morrowto stay until Monday. The place is beautiful; it is not likeClaremont, but it is quite of the same character, and always puts LordMelbourne in mind of it. The Duchess has many merits, but amongst themis the not small one of having one of the best cooks in England. 

 [Footnote 104: Madame de Lieven wrote to Aberdeen, 12th September 1841: "Ne jugez pas cet Ambassadeur par son exterieur; il personnifie un peu les Marquis de Molière. .. . Passez-lui ses cheveux poudrés, son air galant et papillon auprès des femmes. He cannot help it. "]

 [Footnote 105: Sir Henry Bulwer, afterwards Lord Dalling. ]

 [Footnote 106: Sir Charles Bagot. ]

 [Footnote 107: He was a pupil of Raphael, celebrated for (among other works) his "Fall of the Titans. "]

 [Footnote 108: The word is almost illegible. Wimbledon was at that time in the occupation of the Duke of Somerset. ]

 [Footnote 109: Master of the Rolls. ]

[Pageheading: PEERS AND AUDIENCES]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _2nd October 1841. _

Sir James Graham with humble duty begs to lay before your Majesty twoletters, which he has received from the Earl of Radnor, [110] togetherwith the copy of the answer which Sir James Graham returned to thefirst of the two letters. 

If the presentation of Petitions were the sole subject of theAudience, it might be needless to impose on your Majesty thetrouble incident to this mode of receiving them, since they might betransmitted through the accustomed channel of one of the Secretariesof State; but Sir James Graham infers from a conversation which, since the receipt of the letters he has had with Lord Radnor, thatthe Audience is asked in exercise of a right claimed by Peers of theRealm. 

The existence of this right is not recognised by Statute; but itrests in ancient usage, and is noticed by Judge Blackstone in hisCommentaries on the Laws of England in the following terms:--

"It is usually looked upon to be the right of each particular Peer ofthe Realm to demand an Audience of the King, and to lay before him, with decency and respect, such matters as he shall judge of importanceto the public weal. "

The general practice on the part of the Sovereign has been not torefuse these Audiences when Peers have asked them. .. . 

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's dutiful Subject andServant, J. R. G. GRAHAM. 

 [Footnote 110: William, third Earl, formerly M. P. For Salisbury. ]

_Queen Victoria to Sir James Graham. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd October 1841. _

The Queen has received Sir James Graham's communication with theenclosures. She thinks that it would be extremely inconvenient ifAudiences were to be granted to Peers for the purpose of presentingPetitions or Addresses. The Queen knows that it has always beenconsidered a sort of right of theirs to ask for and receive anAudience of the King or Queen. But the Queen knows that upon severaloccasions Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell wrote to the Peers whorequested Audiences, stating that it would be very inconvenient forthe Queen, particularly in the country, and that they had bettereither put off asking for it, till the Queen came to town, or sendwhat they had to say; communicate in writing--which was complied with. If, therefore, Sir James Graham would state this to Lord Radnor, hemay probably give up pressing for an Audience. Should he, however, urge his wish very strongly, the Queen will see him in the mannerproposed by Sir James. The Queen would wish to hear from Sir Jamesagain before she gives a final answer. 

[Pageheading: THE CHINESE CAMPAIGN]

_Lord Ellenborough to Queen Victoria. _

INDIA BOARD, _2nd October 1841. _

Lord Ellenborough, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, humblyacquaints your Majesty that your Majesty's Ministers, taking intoconsideration the smallness of the force with which the campaign inChina was commenced this year, and the advanced period of the seasonat which the reinforcements would arrive (which reinforcements wouldnot so raise the strength of the Army as to afford any reasonableexpectation that its operations will produce during the present yearany decisive results), have deemed it expedient that instructionswould be at once issued to the Indian Government with a view to themaking of timely preparations for the campaign of 1842. [111]

Your Majesty's Ministers are of opinion that the War with China shouldbe conducted on an enlarged scale, and the Indian Government willbe directed to have all their disposable military and naval forceat Singapore in April, so that the operations may commence at theearliest period which the season allows. 

Lord Ellenborough cannot but entertain a sanguine expectation thatthat force so commencing its operations, and directed upon a pointwhere it will intercept the principal internal communication of theChinese Empire, will finally compel the Chinese Government to accedeto terms of Peace honourable to your Majesty, and affording futuresecurity to the trade of your Majesty's subjects. 

 [Footnote 111: Ningpo was taken by Sir Hugh Gough on 13th October 1841, and no further operations took place till the spring of the following year. _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 254. (Intro Note to Ch. X)]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd October 1841. _

Sat by the Queen last night at dinner. Her Majesty alluded to SirRobert Peel's awkward manner, which she felt she could not get over. I asked if Her Majesty had yet made any effort, which I wasgood-humouredly assured Her Majesty "thought she really had done. "

Sir Robert's ignorance of character was most striking andunaccountable; feeling this, made it difficult for Her Majesty toplace reliance upon his judgment in recommendations. 

[Pageheading: ENGLISH AND FOREIGN ARTISTS]

[Pageheading: SIR FRANCIS CHANTREY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _4th October 1811. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He had thehonour of receiving your Majesty's letter of the 2nd inst. Yesterday, at Wimbledon. If Lord Melbourne should hear of anything of what yourMajesty asks respecting the impression made upon Sir Robert and LadyPeel, he will take care and inform your Majesty, but, of course, they will speak very favourably, and if they feel otherwise will notbreathe it except in the most secret and confidential manner. 

Lord Melbourne is very much rejoiced to hear that the Duchess of Kentarrived safe and well and in good spirits. 

Lord Melbourne sat to Sir F. Chantrey on Saturday last. He will, LordMelbourne believes, require only one more sitting, which he wishes tobe at the distance of a week from the last, in order that he maytake a fresh view of the bust, and not become reconciled to itsimperfections by continually looking at it. It may give the Princesome idea of the national feeling which prevails here, when he is toldthat Lord Melbourne upon asking Sir F. Chantrey what ought to be doneif foreign artists were employed to paint the Houses of Parliament, received from him the following answer: "Why, their heads ought to bebroke and they driven out of the country, and, old as I am, I shouldlike to lend a hand for that purpose. "

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _5th October 1841. _

. .. Lord Melbourne, by telling your Majesty what Sir Francis Chantreysaid respecting foreign artists, and by requesting your Majesty torepeat it to the Prince, by no means intended to imply that there wasany disposition on the part of His Royal Highness to recommend theemployment of foreigners. He only meant to convey the idea of thestrength of the prejudice which is felt by enlightened and able menupon the subject. Lord Melbourne has been sitting this morning toHayter for the picture of the marriage, and he (Hayter) held anentirely contrary language. His tone is: "If foreign artists are morecapable than English, let them be employed. All I require is that thework should be done as well as it can be. " The English are certainlyvery jealous of foreigners, and so, Lord Melbourne apprehends, arethe rest of mankind, but not knowing himself any nation except theEnglish, he cannot venture to make positively that assertion. LordMelbourne has been reading the evidence given before the committee ofthe House of Commons upon this subject. It is well worth attention, particularly Mr Eastlake's, [112] which appears to Lord Melbourne to bevery enlightened, dispassionate, and just. .. . 

 [Footnote 112: Afterwards Sir Charles Eastlake, Keeper of the National Gallery, 1843-1847, President of the Royal Academy, 1850-1865. ]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S GRANT]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th October 1841. _

Sat by Her Majesty last night at dinner. 

The Queen had written to Lord Melbourne about coming to the Castle, but in his answer he had made no allusion to it; she did not knowwhether this was accidental or intentional, for he very often gave noanswer to questions which were put. 

I told Her Majesty that I feared he had raised an obstacle to hisvisit by making a strong speech against the Government just at thetime he was thinking of coming. That this attack had identified him asthe leader of his Party, at a moment when I had been most anxiousthat he should abstain from taking an active part, and by withdrawinghimself from politics he would enable himself to become the moreuseful friend to Her Majesty. The Queen had not seen the speech, was sorry he had felt himself obliged to make it, but it wouldbe difficult for him to avoid it after having been so long PrimeMinister. 

Her Majesty told me that previous to the exit of the late Government, Lord John had earnestly cautioned Her Majesty not to propose anynew grant of money, as it would in the case of £70, 000 for the newstables, however unfairly, bring great unpopularity upon the Queen. Isaid in regard to any increase to the Prince's annuity, I thoughtit would be very imprudent in him to think of it, except under verypeculiar circumstances which might arise, but which could not yet beforeseen. The Queen said that _nothing_ should induce Her Majesty toaccept such a favour from these Ministers. Peel probably now regrettedhis opposition to the grant, but it was, and was intended to be, apersonal insult to herself, and it was followed up [by] oppositionto her private wishes in the precedency question, where the Duke ofWellington took the lead against her wishes, as Peel had done in theCommons against the Prince's grant. She never could forget it, and nofavour to her should come from such a quarter. I told Her Majesty Icould not rest the Prince's case on Her Majesty's objections if theywere the only ones which could be brought forward. If the case againrose I feared Her Majesty would find many who before, from Partyviews, voted according to Her Majesty's wishes, would now rank on theopposite side. 

Her Majesty asked Dr Hawtrey the evening before who was the cleverestboy at Eton. 

Dr Hawtrey made a profound bow to the Queen and said, "I trust yourMajesty will excuse my answering, for if I did I make 600 enemies atonce. "

_Memorandum by Baron Stockmar. _

_6th October 1841. _

The Queen had asked Lord Melbourne whether he would soon visit her atWindsor. He had not replied on that point, but had written to PrinceAlbert in order to learn first the Prince's opinion on the feasibilityof the matter. 

The Prince sent for me and consulted with me. I was of opinion thatthe Prince had better refrain from giving an answer, and that I shouldgive my opinion in the written form of a Memorandum, with which Ansonshould betake himself to town. He was to read it aloud to Melbourne, and orally to add what amplifications might be necessary. 

And so it was done. 

[Pageheading: RELATIONS WITH PEEL]

My Memorandum was as follows:--

 Sir Robert Peel has yet to make his position opposite[113] the Queen, which for him to obtain is important and desirable for obvious reasons. I have good cause to doubt that Sir Robert is sure within himself of the good-will and confidence of the Queen. As long as the secret communication exists between Her Majesty and Lord Melbourne, this ground, upon which alone Sir Robert could obtain the position necessary to him as Premier, must remain cut away from under his feet. I hold, therefore, this secret interchange an _essential injustice_ to Sir Robert's present situation. I think it equally wrong to call upon the Prince to give an opinion on the subject, as he has not the means to cause his opinion to be either regarded or complied with. In this particular matter nobody has paramount power to do right or wrong but the Queen, and more especially Lord Melbourne himself. To any danger which may come out of this to Her Majesty's character, the caution and objection must come from him, and from him alone; and if I was standing in his shoes I would show the Queen, of my own accord, and upon constitutional grounds _too_, that a continued correspondence of that sort must be fraught with imminent danger to the Queen, especially to Lord Melbourne, and to the State. 

 [Footnote 113: _I. E. _ with. ]

I then gave Anson the further arguments with which he was to accompanythe reading out of this Memo. 

[Pageheading: DISCRETION URGED ON MELBOURNE]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S INFLUENCE]

On the next day Anson went to Melbourne and told him that his note tohim had raised a great consultation, that the Prince felt much averseto giving any opinion in a case upon which he could exercise nocontrol, and in which, if it was known that he had given his sanction, he would be held responsible for any mischief which might arise. Hehad consulted Baron Stockmar, who had written the enclosed opinion, which the Prince had desired Anson to read to Lord Melbourne. Melbourne read it attentively twice through, with an occasional changeof countenance and compression of lips. He said on concludingit: "This is a most decided opinion indeed, quite an '_apple[114]opinion_. '" Anson told him that the Prince felt that if the Queen'sconfidence in Peel was in a way to be established, it would beextremely shaken by his (Lord Melbourne's) visit at such a moment. Hefelt that it would be better that Lord Melbourne's appearance shouldbe in London, where he would meet the Queen only on the terms ofgeneral society, but at the same time he (the Prince) was extremelyreluctant to give an opinion upon a case which Lord Melbourne's ownsense of right ought to decide. Anson added how he feared his speechof yesterday in the House of Lords[115] had added another impedimentto his coming at this moment, as it had identified him with andestablished as the head of the Opposition party, which he (Anson) hadhoped Melbourne would have been able to avoid. Melbourne, who was thensitting on the sofa, rushed up upon this, and went up and down theroom in a violent frenzy, exclaiming--"God eternally d--n it!"etc. , etc. "Flesh and blood cannot stand this. I only spoke uponthe defensive, which Ripon's speech at the beginning of the sessionrendered quite necessary. I cannot be expected to give up my positionin the country, neither do I think that it is to the Queen's interestthat I should. "

Anson continued that the Baron thought that no Ministry could standthe force of such an undercurrent influence, that all the good thatwas to be derived from pacifying the Queen's mind at the change hadbeen gained, and that the danger which we were liable to, and whichthreatened him in particular, could only be averted by his ownstraightforward decision with the Queen. Anson asked him if _he_ sawany danger likely to arise from this correspondence. After a longpause he said, "_I certainly cannot think it right_, " though hefelt sure that some medium of communication of this sort was no newprecedent. He took care never to say anything which could bring hisopinion in opposition _to Sir Robert's, and he should distinctlyadvise the Queen to adhere to her Ministers in everything, [116]unless he saw the time had arrived at which it might beresisted_. [117] The principal evil, replied Anson, to be dreaded fromthe continuance of Lord Melbourne's influence was, according to theBaron's opinion, that so long as the Queen felt she could resort toLord Melbourne for his advice, she never would be disposed (from notfeeling the necessity) to place any real confidence in the advice shereceived from Peel. 

 [Footnote 114: No doubt Lord Melbourne said an "apple-pie" opinion. ]

 [Footnote 115: At the opening of the Session Lord Ripon had reprobated the late Government for resorting to temporary expedients, and Lord Melbourne, on the second reading of the Exchequer-bills Funding Bill, caustically but good-humouredly replied to the attack. ]

 [Footnote 116: _Note by Baron Stockmar. _--If he wishes to carry this out consistently and quite honestly, what then is the value of his advice, if it be only the copy of that of Sir R. Peel?]

 [Footnote 117: _Note by Baron Stockmar. _--This means, in my way of reading it: "The Queen, by her correspondence with me, puts Peel into my hands, and there I mean to let him stay unhurt, until time and extraneous circumstances--but more especially the advantage that will accrue to me by my secret correspondence with the Queen--shall enable me to plunge, in all security, the dagger into his back. "]

_The Earl of Liverpool to Baron Stockmar. _[118]

FIFE HOUSE, _7th October 1841. _

MY DEAR BARON, --Peel sent for me this morning to speak to me aboutthe contents of his letter to me. After some general conversation onmatters respecting the Royal Household, he said that he had hadmuch satisfaction in his intercourse lately with Her Majesty, andspecifically yesterday, and he asked me whether I had seen Her Majestyor the Prince yesterday, and whether they were satisfied with him. Itold him that except in public I had not seen Her Majesty, and exceptfor a moment in your room I had not seen the Prince; but that as hespoke to me on this matter, I must take the opportunity of saying aword to him about _you_, from whom I had learnt yesterday that boththe Queen and Prince are extremely well pleased with him. That Ihad known you very long, but that our great intimacy began when KingLeopold sent you over just previous to the Queen's accession; that wehad acted together on that occasion, and that our mutual esteem andintimacy had increased; that your position was a very peculiar one, and that you might be truly said to be a species of second parent tothe Queen and the Prince; that your only object was their welfare, andyour only ambition to be of service to them; that in this sense youhad communicated with Melbourne, and that I wished that in this senseyou should communicate with him (Peel). He said that he saw the matterexactly as I did, that he wished to communicate with you, and felt thegreatest anxiety to do everything to meet the wishes of the Queen andPrince in all matters within his power, and as far as consistentwith his known and avowed political principles; that in all mattersrespecting the Household and their private feelings that the smallesthint sufficed to guide him, as he would not give way to any partyfeeling or job which should in any way militate against Her Majestyor His Royal Highness's comfort; that he wished particularly that itshould be known that he never had a thought of riding _roughshod_ overHer Majesty's wishes; that if you would come to him at any time, andbe candid and explicit with him, you might depend upon his franknessand discretion; that above all, if you had said anything to him, andexpressed a wish that it might not be communicated even to the Duke ofWellington, (that was his expression), that he wished me to assure youthat your wishes should be strictly attended to. Pray give me a lineto say that you do not disapprove of what I have done. We had a greatdeal more conversation, but with this I will not now load my letter, being ever sincerely yours, LIVERPOOL. 

Direct your answer to this house. 

 [Footnote 118: This letter was submitted to the Queen. ]

[Pageheading: AUDIENCES OF PEERS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _8th October 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has thismorning received your Majesty's letter of yesterday. There can be nodoubt that your Majesty is right about the Audiences which have beenrequested. .. . 

Sir Robert Peel is probably right in supposing that the claim of aPeer to an Audience of the Sovereign originated in early times, andbefore the present course of government by responsible advisers wasfully and decidedly established, which it hardly can be said to havebeen until after the accession of the House of Hanover, but the customof asking for such Audiences, and of their being in general granted, was well known, and has for the most part been observed and adheredto. Lord Melbourne remembers that during the part of the French War, when considerable alarm began to prevail respecting its duration, andthe serious aspect which it was assuming, George III. Gave Audiencesto the Duke of Norfolk and others which he certainly would not havebeen inclined to do if he had not thought himself bound by his dutyand by Constitutional precedent. At the time of the passing of theRoman Catholic Relief Act, George IV. Received very many Peers, muchno doubt against his will, who came to remonstrate with him upon thecourse which his Ministers were pursuing. William IV. Did the same atthe time of the Reform Bill, and certainly spoke upon the subject ina manner which Lord Melbourne always thought indiscreet and imprudent. Upon the whole, the practice has been so much acted upon andestablished, that Lord Melbourne will certainly not think it wise tomake any alteration now, especially as it has in itself beneficialeffects, especially as in a time of strong political feeling it is asatisfaction to the people to think that their wishes and opinions arelaid before the Sovereign fairly and impartially. It is not likely tobe a very heavy burthen, inasmuch as such Audiences are only asked atparticular moments, and they are not in themselves very burthensomenor difficult to deal with. It is only for the Sovereign to say thathe is convinced of the good motives which have actuated the step, andthat consideration will be given to the matter and arguments whichhave been stated. 

Lord Melbourne has one vague recollection of a correspondence uponthis subject between Lord Holland and some King, but does not rememberthe circumstances with any accuracy. 

Duncannon[119] persuaded Brougham to give up asking an Audience uponcondition of Lord Melbourne's promising to place his letters in yourMajesty's hands, which he did. [120] Lord Charlemont[121] also wasprevented in some manner or another, which Lord Melbourne forgets. 

Upon the whole, Lord Melbourne thinks that it is best to concede thisprivilege of the Peerage, whether it actually exists or not, but torestrain it within due and reasonable bounds, which in ordinary timesit is not difficult to do. Extraordinary times must be dealt with asthey can be. .. . 

Lady A---- is, as your Majesty says, good-natured. She talks three orfour times as much as she ought, and like many such women often saysexactly the things she ought not to say. Lady B---- has ten times thesense of her mother, and a little residue of her folly. 

 [Footnote 119: Ex-First Commissioner of Land Revenue. ]

 [Footnote 120: See _ante_, pp. 293 and 335-6. (Ch. X, 'Lord Brougham'; 'Peers and Audiences')]

 [Footnote 121: Francis William, fifth Viscount Charlemont (1775-1863), created a Peer of the United Kingdom in 1837. ]

[Pageheading: GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP OF INDIA]

[Pageheading: LORD ELLENBOROUGH]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

_9th October 1841. _

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leaveto inform your Majesty that in consequence of the opinion which yourMajesty was graciously pleased to express when Sir Robert Peel lasthad the honour of waiting upon your Majesty, with respect to thesuperior qualifications of Lord Ellenborough for the importanttrust of Governor-General of India, Sir Robert Peel saw his Lordshipyesterday, and enquired whether he would permit Sir Robert Peel topropose his appointment to your Majesty. 

Lord Ellenborough was very much gratified by the proposal, admitted atonce that it was very difficult to find an unexceptionable candidatefor an office of such pre-eminent importance, but made some difficultyon two points. 

First--Considerations of health, which though disregarded personally, might, he feared, interfere with the execution of such unremitting andlaborious duties as would devolve upon the Governor-General of India. 

Secondly--The consideration that on his acceptance of the office hewould be required by law to give up during his tenure of it no lessthan £7, 500 per annum, the amount of compensation now paid to him inconsequence of the abolition of a very valuable office[122] which heheld in the Courts of Law. 

During Lord Ellenborough's conversation with Sir Robert Peel, andwhile the mind of Lord Ellenborough was very much in doubt as to thepolicy of his acceptance of the office, the box which contained yourMajesty's note of yesterday was brought to Sir Robert Peel. 

Sir Robert Peel humbly acquaints your Majesty that he ventured to readto Lord Ellenborough on the instant the concluding paragraph of yourMajesty's note, namely--

"The more the Queen thinks of it, the more she thinks that LordEllenborough would be far the most fit person to send to India. "

Sir Robert Peel is perfectly convinced that this opinion of yourMajesty, so graciously expressed, removed every doubt and difficultyfrom Lord Ellenborough's mind, and decided him to forgo every personalconsideration rather than appear unmindful of such a favourableimpression of his qualifications for public service on the part of hisSovereign. 

Sir Robert Peel humbly hopes that your Majesty will not disapprove ofthe use which he made of a confidential note from your Majesty. 

As your Majesty kindly permitted Sir Robert Peel to send occasionallyletters to your Majesty of a private rather than a public character, he ventures to enclose one from the Duke of Wellington on the subjectof the appointment of Governor-General. 

Sir Robert Peel had observed to the Duke of Wellington that hehad great confidence in Lord Ellenborough's integrity, unremittingindustry, and intimate knowledge of Indian affairs; that his onlyfear was that Lord Ellenborough might err from _over-activity_ andeagerness--but that he hoped his tendency to hasty decisions would bechecked by the experience and mature judgment of Indian advisers onthe spot. 

The Duke of Wellington's comments have reference to these observationsof Sir Robert Peel. Your Majesty will nevertheless perceive that theDuke considers, upon the whole, "that Lord Ellenborough is betterqualified than any man in England for the office of Governor-General. "

 [Footnote 122: He was Joint Chief Clerk of the Pleas in the Queen's Bench, a sinecure conferred on him by his father, who was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, 1802-1818. ]

[Pageheading: AFFAIRS IN SPAIN]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th October 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --- . .. Respecting the Spanish affairs, [123] I cangive you perfectly satisfactory intelligence concerning the Infants'return. Espartero sees them return with the greatest regret, but saidhe felt he could not prevent them from doing so. If, however, theyshould be found to intrigue at all, they will not be allowed toremain. Respecting a marriage with the eldest son of Dona Carlotta, Iknow _positively_ that Espartero _never_ would _hear_ of it; but, onthe other hand, he is equally strongly opposed to poor little Isabelmarrying any French Prince, and I must add that _we_ could _neverallow that_. You will see that I have given you a frank and fairaccount. .. . 

 [Footnote 123: The Queen-mother, who was living in Paris, had been deprived by a vote of the Cortes of the guardianship of the young Queen, Isabella II. , and risings in her interest now took place at Pampeluna and Vittoria. On the 7th October, a bold attempt was made at Madrid to storm the Palace and get possession of the person of the young Queen. Queen Christina denied complicity, but the Regent, Espartero, suspended her pension on the ground that she had encouraged the conspirators. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _12th October 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and returnsmany thanks for the letter received yesterday informing Lord Melbourneof the time of your Majesty's coming to London. Lord Melbourneearnestly hopes that your Majesty continues well. 

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear of the appointment of LordEllenborough. The reasons which your Majesty gives are sound and just, and it is of great importance that a man not only of great ability butof high station, and perfectly in the confidence of the Government athome, should be named to this important post. Lord Ellenborough is aman of great abilities, of much knowledge of India, of great industryand of very accurate habits of business, and Lord Melbourne knows ofno objection to his appointment, except the loss of him here, where, whether in or out of office, he has always been of great service. He has hitherto been an unpopular man and his manners have beenconsidered contemptuous and overbearing, but he is evidently muchsoftened and amended in this respect, as most men are by time, experience, and observation. Lord Fitzgerald[124] is a very ablepublic man, Lord Melbourne would say one of the most able, if not themost able they have; but Lord Melbourne is told by others, who knowLord Fitzgerald better, that Lord Melbourne overrates him. He is avery good speaker, he has not naturally much industry, and hishealth is bad, which will probably disable him from a very close andassiduous attention to business. It is, however, upon the whole anadequate appointment, and he is perhaps more likely to go on smoothlywith the Court of Directors, which is a great matter, than LordEllenborough. 

 [Footnote 124: On Lord Ellenborough becoming Governor-General, Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci, an ex-M. P. , and former Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer, succeeded him at the Board of Control. ]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND SPAIN]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _16th October 1841. _

Lord Aberdeen, with his most humble duty, begs to lay beforeyour Majesty a private letter from M. Guizot, which has just beencommunicated to him by M. De Ste-Aulaire, on the recent attemptin favour of Queen Christina in Spain. Your Majesty will see thatalthough M. Guizot denies, with every appearance of sincerity, allparticipation of the French Government in this attempt, he does notconceal that it has their cordial good wishes for its success. Thesefeelings, on the part of such a Government as that of France, willprobably be connected with practical assistance of some kind, althoughM. Guizot's declarations may perhaps be literally true. 

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

The Queen must say that she fears the French are at the bottom of it, for their jealousy of our influence in Spain is such, that the Queenfears they would not be indisposed to see civil war to a certaindegree restored rather than that Spain should go on quietly supportedby us. [125] The Queen, however, hopes that, as far as it is possible, the English Government will support the present Regent, who isthoroughly attached to England, and who, from all that the Queenhears of him, is the fittest man they have in Spain for the post heoccupies; and indeed matters till now had gone on much more quietlythan they had for some time previous, since Espartero is at the headof the Government. The French intrigues should really be frustrated. The Queen certainly thinks that M. Guizot's veracity is generally notto be doubted, but the conduct of France regarding Spain has alwaysbeen very equivocal. 

 [Footnote 125: See _post_, p. 349. (Ch. X, 17th October, 1841)]

[Pageheading: MASTERSHIP OF TRINITY]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

_16th October 1841. _

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave toacquaint your Majesty that the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, has formally signified his wish to retire from the duties of thatimportant trust. 

Sir Robert Peel has reason to believe that it would be advantageousthat the selection of a successor to Dr. Wordsworth should be madefrom members of Trinity College who are or have been fellows of theCollege. Of these, the most eminent in respect to the qualificationsrequired in the office of Master, and to academical distinction, are:--

 Professor Whewell. [126] The Rev. Mr Martin, [127] Bursar of the College. The Rev. Dr Wordsworth, [128] Head Master of Harrow School, and son of the present Master of Trinity. 

The latter is a highly distinguished scholar, but his success as HeadMaster of Harrow has not been such as to overcome the objection whichapplies on general grounds to the succession of a father by a son inan office of this description. 

Professor Whewell is a member of Trinity College of the highestscientific attainments. His name is probably familiar to your Majestyas the author of one of the Bridgewater Treatises, [129] and of otherworks which have attracted considerable notice. 

He is a general favourite among all who have had intercourse with himfrom his good temper and easy and conciliatory manners. Though not_peculiarly_ eminent as a divine (less so at least than a writer onscientific and philosophical subjects), his works manifest a deepsense of the importance of religion and sound religious views. TheArchbishop of Canterbury[130] and the Bishop of London[131] (himselfof Trinity College) incline to think that the most satisfactoryappointment upon the whole would be that of Professor Whewell. 

Sir Robert Peel, after making every enquiry into the subject, and witha deep conviction of the importance of the appointment, has arrived atthe same conclusion, and humbly therefore recommends to your Majestythat Professor Whewell should succeed Dr Wordsworth as Master ofTrinity College, Cambridge. 

 [Footnote 126: Then Knightsbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy. ]

 [Footnote 127: Francis Martin, afterwards Vice-Master, died 1868. ]

 [Footnote 128: Christopher Wordsworth, afterwards Bishop of Lincoln. ]

 [Footnote 129: By the will (dated 1825) of the eighth Earl of Bridgewater--who must not be confounded with the third and last Duke, projector of inland navigation--£8, 000 was left for the best work on the "Goodness of God as manifested in the Creation. " The money was divided amongst eight persons, including Whewell, who wrote on Astronomy considered in reference to Natural Theology. ]

 [Footnote 130: William Howley. ]

 [Footnote 131: O. J. Blomfield. ]

[Pageheading: QUEEN ISABELLA]

[Pageheading: THE SPANISH MARRIAGE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

_17th October 1841. _

The Queen received Lord Aberdeen's letter yesterday evening, and quiteapproves of the draft to Mr Aston, and of Lord Aberdeen's having sentit off at once. Her earnest wish is that the English Government shouldbe firm, and uphold the Regent as far as it is in our power. The Queenhas perused M. Guizot's letter with great attention, but she cannothelp fearing that assistance and encouragement has been given insome shape or other to the revolts which have taken place. The QueenChristina's residence at Paris is very suspicious, and much to beregretted; every one who saw the Queen and knew her when Regent, knewher to be clever and _capable_ of governing, had she but attendedto her duties. This she did not, but wasted her time in frivolousamusements and neglected her children sadly, and finally left them. It was her _own_ doing, and therefore it is not the kindest conducttowards her children, but the very _worst_, to try and disturb thetranquillity of a country which was just beginning to recover from thebaneful effects of one of the most bloody civil wars imaginable. 

The Queen is certain that Lord Aberdeen will feel with her of whatimportance it is to England that Spain should not become subject toFrench interests, as it is evident _France wishes_ to make it. Themarriage of Queen Isabel is a most important question, and the Queenis likewise certain that Lord Aberdeen sees at once that we couldnever let her marry a French Prince. Ere long the Queen must speak toLord Aberdeen on this subject. In the meantime the Queen thoughtit might be of use to Lord Aberdeen to put him in possession of herfeelings on the state of Spain, in which the Queen has always taken avery warm interest. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

PANSHANGER, _21st October 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He receivedhere yesterday your Majesty's letter of the 19th inst. , and heearnestly hopes that your Majesty has arrived quite safe and well inLondon. Besides the family, we have had hardly anybody here exceptLady Clanricarde. [132] Yesterday Sir Edward L. Bulwer[133] came, beating his brother hollow in ridiculousness of attire, ridiculous asthe other is. He has, however, much in him, and is agreeable when youcome to converse with him. .. . 

Lord Melbourne is rather in doubt about his own movements. LordLeicester[134] presses him much to go to Holkham, where LordFortescue, [135] Mr Ellice[136] and others are to be, and consideringLord Leicester's age, Lord Melbourne thinks that it will gratify himto see Lord Melbourne again there. But at Holkham they shoot frommorning until night, and if you do not shoot you are like a fishupon dry land. Lord Melbourne hardly feels equal to the exertion, andtherefore thinks that he shall establish himself for the presentat Melbourne, where he will be within reach of Trentham, BeauDesert, [137] Wentworth, [138] and Castle Howard, [139] if he likes togo to them. The only annoyance is that it is close to Lord and LadyG----, whom he will be perpetually meeting. 

 [Footnote 132: A daughter of George Canning, the Prime Minister. ]

 [Footnote 133: Afterwards Lord Lytton, the novelist. ]

 [Footnote 134: The famous country gentleman, "Mr Coke of Norfolk. "]

 [Footnote 135: Hugh, second Earl, K. G. ]

 [Footnote 136: The Right Hon. Edward Ellice, M. P. ("Bear" Ellice). ]

 [Footnote 137: Near Lichfield, a seat of Lord Anglesey. ]

 [Footnote 138: Lord Fitzwilliam's house, near Rotherham. ]

 [Footnote 139: Lord Carlisle's house, near York, built by Vanbrugh. ]

[Pageheading: HOLLAND AND BELGIUM]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _22 October 1841. _

. .. In France there is a great outcry that a Bourbon must be thefuture husband of the Queen of Spain, etc. I must say that as theSpaniards and the late King changed themselves the Salic custom whichPhilip V. Had brought from France, [140] it is natural for the rest ofEurope to wish that no Bourbon should go there. Besides, it must beconfessed that the thing is not even easy, as there is great hatredamongst the various branches of that family. The King of the Frenchhimself has always been _opposed_ to the idea of one of his sons goingthere; in France, however, that opinion still exists, and Thiers hadit, strongly. 

I confess that I regret that Queen Christina was encouraged tosettle at Paris, as it gave the thing the appearance of somethingpreconcerted. I believe that a wish existed that Christina wouldretire peaceably and _par la force des circonstances_, but now thistook a turn which I am sure the King does not like; it places him, besides, into _une position ingrate_; the Radicals hate him, theModerates will cry out that he has left them in the lurch, and theCarlists are kept under key, and of course also not much pleased. Imeant to have remained in my wilds till yesterday, but my Ministerswere so anxious for my return, there being a good many things on the_tapis_, that I came back on Tuesday, the 19th. .. . 

Here one is exactly shut up as if one was in a menagerie, walkinground and round like a tame bear. One breathes here also a mixtureof all sorts of moist compounds, which one is told is fresh air, butwhich is not the least like it. I suppose, however, that my neighbourin Holland, where they have not even got a hill as high as yours inBuckingham Gardens, would consider Laeken as an Alpine country. Thetender meeting of the old King and the new King, [141] as one canhardly call him a young King, must be most amusing. I am told that ifthe old King had not made that love-match, he would be perfectlyable to dethrone his son; I heard that yesterday from a person ratherattached to the son and hating the father. In the meantime, thoughone can hardly say that he is well at home, some strange mixture ofcut-throats and ruined soldiers of fortune had a mind to play us sometricks here; we have got more and more insight into this. Is it byinstigation from him personally, or does he only know of it withoutbeing a party to it? That _is_ difficult to tell, the more so as hemakes immense demonstration of friendly dispositions towards us, and me in particular. I would I could make a _chassez croisez_ withOtho;[142] he would be the gainer in solids, and I should have sun andan interesting country; I will try to make him understand this, themore so as you do not any longer want me in the West. 

 [Footnote 140: The Pragmatic Sanction of Philip V. Was repealed in 1792 by the Cortes, but the repeal was not promulgated by the King. Under the Salic Law, Don Carlos would have been on the throne. See _ante_, p. 44. (Ch. V, Footnote 9)]

 [Footnote 141: William I. , who had abdicated in order to marry again, and William II. , his son, who was nearly fifty. ]

 [Footnote 142: The King of Greece, elected in 1833. ]

[Pageheading: AMBASSADORS' AUDIENCES]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

_25th October 1841. _

With respect to the appointment of Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, the Queen approves of Mr Pennefather[143] for that office. The Queenmay be mistaken, for she is not very well acquainted with the judicialofficers in Ireland, but it strikes her that Serjeant Jackson belongedto the very violent Orange party in Ireland, and if this should be thecase she suggests to Sir Robert Peel whether it would not be better_not_ to appoint him. If, on the other hand, the Queen should bemistaken as to his political opinions, she would not disapprove of hissucceeding Mr Pennefather. 

The Queen saw in the papers that Lord Stuart de Rothesay is alreadygone. The Queen can hardly believe this, as no Ambassador or Minister_ever_ left England without previously asking for an Audience andreceiving one, as the Queen wishes always to see them before theyrepair to their posts. Would Sir Robert be so very good as to ask LordAberdeen whether Lord Stuart de Rothesay is gone or not, and if heshould be, to tell Lord Aberdeen that in future she would wishhim always to inform her when they intend to go, and to ask for anAudience, which, if the Queen is well, she would always grant. It ispossible that as the Queen said the other day that she did not wishto give many Audiences after the Council, that Lord Aberdeen may havemisunderstood this and thought the Queen would give none, which was_not_ her intention. The Queen would be thankful to Sir Robert if hewould undertake to clear up this mistake, which she is certain (shouldLord Stuart be gone) arose entirely from misapprehension. 

The Queen also wishes Sir Robert to desire Lord Haddington to send hersome details of the intended reductions in the Fleet which she sees bya draft of Lord Aberdeen's to Mr Bulwer have taken place. [144]

 [Footnote 143: Recently appointed Solicitor-General; Sergeant J. D. Jackson now succeeded him. ]

 [Footnote 144: The statement of the Royal Navy in Commission at the beginning of 1841 sets out 160 vessels carrying 4, 277 guns. ]

[Pageheading: STOCKMAR AND MELBOURNE]

[Pageheading: STOCKMAR'S ADVICE]

_Memorandum by Baron Stockmar. _

_25th October 1841. _

. .. I told [Lord Melbourne] that, as I read the English Constitution, it meant to assign to _the Sovereign in his functions a deliberativepart_--that I was not sure the Queen had the means within herself toexecute this deliberative part properly, but I was sure that the onlyway for her to execute her functions at all was to be strictly honestto those men who at the time being were her Ministers. That it waschiefly on this account that I had been so very sorry to have foundnow, on my return from the Continent, that on the change of theMinistry a capital opportunity to read a great Constitutional maximto the Queen had not only been lost by Lord Melbourne, but that he hadhimself turned an instrument for working great good into an instrumentwhich must produce mischief and danger. That I was afraid that, fromwhat Lord Melbourne had been so weak as to have allowed himself to bedriven into, _against his own and better conviction_, the Queen musthave received a most pernicious bias, which on any future occasionwould make her inclined to act in a similar position similarly to thatwhat she does now, being convinced that what she does _now_ must beright on all future occasions, or else Lord Melbourne would not havesanctioned it. Upon this, Lord Melbourne endeavoured to palliate, torepresent the danger, which would arise from his secret correspondencewith the Queen as very little, to adduce precedents from history, and to screen his present conduct behind what he imagined Lord Bute'sconduct had been under George III. [145] I listened patiently, andreplied in the end: All this might be mighty fine and quite calculatedto lay a flattering unction on his own soul, or it might suffice totranquillize the minds of the Prince and Anson, but that I was too oldto find the slightest argument in what I had just now heard, nor couldit in any way allay my apprehension. I began then to dissect allthat he had produced for his excusation, and showed him--as I thoughtclearly, and as he admitted convincingly--that it would be impossibleto carry on this secret commerce with the Sovereign for any lengthof time without exposing the Queen's character and creating mightyembarrassments in the quiet and regular working of a Constitutionalmachine. 

My representations seemed to make a very deep impression, and LordMelbourne became visibly nervous, perplexed, and distressed. Afterhe had recovered a little I said, "I never was inclined to obtrudeadvice; but if you don't dislike to hear my opinion, I am prepared togive it to you. " He said, "What is it?" I said, "You allow the Queen'sconfinement to pass over quietly, and you wait till her perfectrecovery of it. As soon as this period has arrived, you state ofyour own accord to Her Majesty that this secret and confidentialcorrespondence with her must cease; that you gave in to it, muchagainst your feelings, and with a decided notion of its improprietyand danger, and merely out of a sincere solicitude to calm HerMajesty's mind in a critical time, and to prevent the ill effectswhich great and mental agitation might have produced on her health. That this part of your purpose now being most happily achieved, youthought yourself in duty bound to advise Her Majesty to _cease allher communications_ to you on political subjects, as you felt it wrongwithin yourself to receive them, and to return your political adviceand opinions on such matters; that painful as such a step must be toyour feelings, which to the last moment of your life will remain thoseof the most loyal attachment and devotion to the Queen's person, itis dictated to you by a deep sense of what you owe to the country, toyour Sovereign, and to yourself. "

 [Footnote 145: For some time after the accession of George III. , Bute, though neither in the Cabinet nor in Parliament, was virtually Prime Minister, but he became Secretary of State on 25th March 1761. George II. Had disliked him, but he was generally believed to have exercised an undue influence over the consort of Prince Frederic of Wales, mother of George III. ]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

_26th October 1841. _

With respect to Serjeant Jackson, the Queen will not oppose hisappointment, in consequence of the high character Sir Robert Peelgives him; but she cannot refrain from saying that she very much fearsthat the favourable effect which has hitherto been produced by theformation of so mild and conciliatory a Government in Ireland, maybe endangered by this appointment, which the Queen would sincerelyregret. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _26th October 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and returnsyour Majesty the letters of the King of the Belgians, with manythanks. It certainly is a very unfortunate thing that the QueenChristina was encouraged to fix her residence at Paris, and thesuspicion arising, therefore, cannot but be very injurious both to theKing of the French and to the French nation. 

Lord Melbourne returns his warmest thanks for your Majesty's kindexpressions. He felt the greatest pleasure at seeing your Majestyagain and looking so well, and he hopes that his high spirits didnot betray him into talking too much or too heedlessly, which he isconscious that they sometimes do. 

The King Leopold, Lord Melbourne perceives, still hankers afterGreece; but Crowns will not bear to be chopped and changed about inthis manner. These new Kingdoms are not too firmly fixed as it is, andit will not do to add to the uncertainty by alteration. .. . 

[Pageheading: DISPUTE WITH UNITED STATES]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _28th October 1841. _

. .. Sir Robert Peel humbly assures your Majesty that he fullyparticipates in the surprise which your Majesty so naturally expressesat the extraordinary intimation conveyed to Mr Fox[146] by thePresident of the United States. [147]

Immediately after reading Mr Fox's despatch upon that subject, SirRobert Peel sought an interview with Lord Aberdeen. The measurecontemplated by the President is a perfectly novel one, a measure of ahostile and unjustifiable character adopted with pacific intentions. 

Sir Robert Peel does not comprehend the object of the President, and giving him credit for the desire to prevent the interruption ofamicable relations with this country, Sir Robert Peel fears thatthe forcible detention of the British Minister, after the demand ofpassports, will produce a different impression on the public mind, both here and in the United States, from that which the President must(if he be sincere) have anticipated. It appears to Sir Robert Peelthat the object which the President professes to have in view would bebetter answered by the immediate compliance with Mr Fox's demand forpassports, and the simultaneous despatch of a special mission to thiscountry conveying whatever explanations or offers of reparation thePresident may have in contemplation. 

Sir Robert Peel humbly assures your Majesty that he has advisedsuch measures of preparation to be taken in respect to the amount ofdisposable naval force, and the position of it, as without bearingthe character of menace or causing needless disquietude and alarm, mayprovide for an unfavourable issue of our present differences with theUnited States. 

Sir Robert Peel fears that when the President ventured to make to MrFox the communication which he did make, he must have laboured underapprehension that M'Leod might be executed in spite of the efforts ofthe general Government of the United States to save his life. 

 [Footnote 146: British Minister at Washington. ]

 [Footnote 147: One Alexander M'Leod was tried at Utica on the charge of being implicated in the destruction of the _Caroline_ (an American vessel engaged in carrying arms to the Canadian rebels), in 1837, and in the death of Mr Durfee, an American. The vessel had been boarded by Canadian loyalists when lying in American waters, set on fire and sent over Niagara Falls, and in the affray Durfee was killed. M'Leod was apprehended on American territory, and hence arose the friction between the two countries. M'Leod was acquitted 12th October 1841. ]

[Pageheading: PORTUGAL]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _31st October 1841. _

The Queen received yesterday evening Lord Aberdeen's letter with theaccompanying despatches and draft. She certainly _is_ surprised at thestrange and improper tone in which Lord Howard's[148] despatches arewritten, and can only attribute them to an over-eager and, she fullybelieves, mistaken feeling of the danger to which he believes thethrone of the Queen to be exposed. 

The Queen has carefully perused Lord Aberdeen's draft, which shehighly approves, but wishes to suggest to Lord Aberdeen whether uponfurther consideration it might not perhaps be as well to _soften_ thewords under which she has drawn a pencil line, as she fears they mightirritate Lord Howard very much. 

The Queen is induced to copy the following sentences from a letter shereceived from her cousin, the King of Portugal, a few days ago, andwhich it may be satisfactory to Lord Aberdeen to see:--

"_Je dois encore vous dire que nous avons toutes les raisons de nouslouer de la manière dont le Portugal est traité par votre Ministre desAffaires Étrangères, et nous ferons de notre côté notre possible pourprouver notre bonne volonté. "_

 [Footnote 148: Lord Howard de Walden, Minister Plenipotentiary at Lisbon. ]

[Pageheading: SECRETARIES OF STATE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _1st November 1841. _

. .. Now for His Royal Highness's questions. .. . 

How the power of Prime Ministry grew up into its present form it isdifficult to trace precisely, as well as how it became attached, asit were, to the office of First Commissioner of the Treasury. ButLord Melbourne apprehends that Sir Robert Walpole was the first manin whose person this union of powers was decidedly established, andthat its being so arose from the very great confidence which bothGeorge I. And George II. Reposed in him, and from the difficulty whichthey had in transacting business, particularly George I. , from theirimperfect knowledge of the language of the country. 

With respect to the Secretary of State, Lord Melbourne is not preparedfrom memory to state the dates at which the different arrangements ofthat office have taken place. There was originally but one officer, and at the present the three are but the heads of the differentdepartments of one office. The first division was into two, and theywere called the Secretary for the Northern and the Secretary forthe Southern department. They drew a line across the world, and eachtransacted the business connected with the countries within hisown portion of the globe. Another division then took place, and theForeign affairs were confided to one Secretary of State, and the Homeand Colonial affairs to the other; but the present arrangement wasfinally settled in the year 1793, when the junction was formed betweenMr Pitt on the one hand, and those friends of Mr Fox who left himbecause they differed with him upon the French Revolution. The Homeaffairs were placed in the hands of one Secretary of State, theForeign of another, and the Colonial and Military affairs of a third, and this arrangement has continued ever since. [149] The persons thenappointed were the Duke of Portland, [150] Lord Grenville, [151] and MrDundas, [152] Home, Foreign, and Colonial Secretaries. 

Writing from recollection, it is very possible that Lord Melbourne maybe wrong in some of the dates which he has ventured to specify. [153]

 [Footnote 149: A fourth Secretary of State was added at the time of the Crimean War, so as to separate Colonial and Military affairs, and a fifth after the Indian Mutiny to supersede the President of the Board of Control. _See_ Lord Melbourne's letter of 31st December 1837, _ante_, p. 100. (Ch. VI, 'State Departments')]

 [Footnote 150: Third Duke (1738-1809). ]

 [Footnote 151: William Wyndham, Lord Grenville (1759-1834). ]

 [Footnote 152: Henry Dundas (1742-1811), afterwards Lord Melville. ]

 [Footnote 153: See _post_, pp. 358, 359. (Ch. X, 'The English Constitution', et seq. )]

[Pageheading: THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _4th November 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has thismorning had the honour and pleasure of receiving your Majesty's letterof yesterday. .. . 

Lord Melbourne sends a letter which he has received from his sister, which may not be unentertaining. Lady Palmerston is struck, aseverybody is who goes to Ireland, with the candid warmth and vehementdemonstration of feeling. England always appears cold, heartless, andsulky in comparison. .. . 

With respect to the questions put to me by your Majesty at the desireof His Royal Highness, Lord Melbourne begs leave to assure yourMajesty that he will be at all times most ready and anxious to giveany information in his power upon points of this sort, which are verycurious, very important, very worthy to be enquired into, andupon which accurate information is not easily to be found. All thepolitical part of the English Constitution is fully understood, and distinctly stated in Blackstone and many other books, but theMinisterial part, the work of conducting the executive government, hasrested so much on practice, on usage, on understanding, that there isno publication to which reference can be made for the explanationand description of it. It is to be sought in debates, in protests, inletters, in memoirs, and wherever it can be picked up. It seems tobe stupid not to be able to say at once when two Secretaries of Statewere established; but Lord Melbourne is not able. He apprehends thatthere was but one until the end of Queen Anne's reign, and that twowere instituted by George I. , probably because upon his frequentjourneys to Hanover he wanted the Secretary of State with him, and atthe same time it was necessary that there should be an officer of thesame authority left at home to transact the domestic affairs. 

_Prime Minister_ is a term belonging to the last century. LordMelbourne doubts its being to be found in English Parliamentarylanguage previously. Sir Robert Walpole was always accused of havingintroduced and arrogated to himself an office previously unknown tothe Law and Constitution, that of Prime or Sole Minister, and we learnfrom Lady Charlotte Lindsay's[154] accounts of her father, that in hisown family Lord North would never suffer himself to be called _prime_Minister, because it was an office unknown to the Constitution. Thiswas a notion derived from the combined Whig and Tory opposition to SirRobert Walpole, to which Lord North and his family had belonged. 

Lord Melbourne is very sorry to hear that the Princess Royal continuesto suffer from some degree of indisposition. From what your Majestyhad said more than once before, Lord Melbourne had felt anxiety uponthis subject, and he saw the Baron yesterday, who conversed with himmuch upon it, and informed him of what had taken place. Lord Melbournehopes that your Majesty will attribute it only to Lord Melbourne'sanxious desire for the security and increase of your Majesty'shappiness, if he ventures to say that the Baron appears to him to havemuch reason in what he urges, and in the view which he takes. It isabsolutely required that confidence should be reposed in those whoare to have the management and bear the responsibility, and that theyshould not be too much interrupted or interfered with. 

 [Footnote 154: Daughter of Lord North (afterwards Earl of Guilford) and wife of Lieut. -Colonel the Hon. John Lindsay. She lived till 1849--a link with the past. ]

[Pageheading: SECRETARIES OF STATE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _5th November 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Not feelingsatisfied of the correctness of the information which he had given toyour Majesty respecting the office of Secretary of State, he yesterdayevening requested Mr Allen[155] to look into the matter, and he hasjust received from him the enclosed short memorandum, which he has thehonour of transmitting to your Majesty. This shows that Lord Melbournewas quite wrong with respect to the period at which two Secretariesof State were first employed, and that it was much earlier than he hadimagined. 

The year 1782, when the third Secretary of State was abolished, wasthe period of the adoption of the great measure of Economical Reformwhich had been introduced by Mr. Burke in 1780. 

The present arrangement was settled in 1794, which is about the timewhich Lord Melbourne stated. 

 [Footnote 155: Secretary and Librarian at Holland House. ]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S POSITION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _7th November 1841. _

. .. Your Majesty asks whether Lord Melbourne thinks that PrinceMetternich holds the opinion of Sir Robert Gordon, which he expressesto Lord Beauvale. It is difficult to say what Prince Metternich'sreal sentiments are. Lord Melbourne takes him not to have a very highopinion of the abilities of others in general, and he is not unlikelyto depreciate Sir Robert Gordon to Lord Beauvale. Sir Robert Gordon isa man of integrity, but he is tiresome, long and pompous, which cannotbe agreeable to the Prince, who has about him much of the Frenchvivacity, and also much of their settled and regular style ofargument. .. . 

With respect to the latter part of your Majesty's letter, LordMelbourne returns for the expressions of your Majesty's kindness hiswarm and grateful thanks. Your Majesty may rest assured that he willalways speak to your Majesty without scruple or reserve, and that hewill never ask anything of your Majesty, or ever make a suggestion, which he does not consider to be for your Majesty's service andadvantage. Lord Melbourne is of opinion that his visits to the Palaceshould not only avoid exciting suspicion and uneasiness in yourMajesty's present advisers, a result of which he has very littleapprehension, but they should not be so frequent as to attract publicnotice, comment, and observation, of which he would be more fearful. A public rumour, however unfounded and absurd, has more force in thiscountry than objections which have in them more of truth and reality. Upon these grounds, and as your Majesty will probably not see muchcompany at present, and the parties therefore will be a good dealconfined to the actual Household, Lord Melbourne thinks it wouldperhaps be as well if he were not again to dine at the Palace atpresent. 

The course which it may be prudent to take hereafter will depend verymuch upon that which cannot now be foreseen, namely, upon the generalcourse which will be taken by politics and political parties. In thisLord Melbourne does not at present discern his way, and he willnot therefore hazard opinions which would not be founded upon anycertainty, and might be liable to immediate change and alteration. 

[Pageheading: STOCKMAR'S ADVICE]

[Pageheading: STOCKMAR'S EXPOSTULATIONS]

_Memorandum: Baron Stockmar to Viscount Melbourne. _

_23 November 1841. _

The apprehension which haunts me since my return to England is wellknown to you. It was my intention to have written to you upon it sometime hereafter, but the contents of a certain letter, sent by you justbefore your departure, accelerates the execution of my design. Fromyour own expressions used some time back, I was led to expect that youwould be glad to take advantage _of any fair opportunity_ which mightcontribute towards that devoutly to be wished for object, viz. , to leta certain correspondence die a natural death. You may easily conceivehow much I felt disappointed when I heard that you had writtenagain, without a challenge, and that, without apparent cause, you hadvolunteered the promise to write from time to time. This happens ata moment when _your_ harassing apprehension received new life andstrength from two incidents which I think it my duty to make known toyou, and of which the one came to pass _before_, the other after, yourdeparture from here. Some weeks back I was walking in the streets withDr Prætorius, [156] when, finding myself opposite the house of oneof my friends, it came across my mind to give him a call. Prætoriuswanted to leave me, on a conception that, as a stranger, he mightobstruct the freedom of our conversation. I insisted, however, on hisremaining with me, and we were shown into the drawing-room, wherein all there were five of us. For some minutes the conversation hadturned on insignificant things, when the person talking to me saidquite abruptly: "So I find the Queen is in daily correspondence withLord Melbourne. " I replied, "Who told you this?" The answer was, "MrsNorton; she told me the other evening. Don't you believe that LordMelbourne has lost his influence over the Queen's mind; he dailywrites to her, and receives as many answers, in which she communicateseverything to him. " Without betraying much emotion I said, "I don'tbelieve a word of it; the Queen may have written once or twice onprivate matters, but the daily correspondence on all matters iscertainly the amplification of a thoughtless and imprudent person, whois not aware of such exaggerated assertions. " My speech was followedby a general silence, after which we talked of other things, andsoon took our leave. When we were fairly in the open air, Prætoriusexpressed to me his amazement at what he had heard, and he remainedfor some time at a loss to comprehend the character of the person who, from mere giddiness, let out so momentous a secret. 

The other fact took place the day after you had left. From the lateevents at Brussels, it had become desirable that I should see SirRobert Peel. From Belgium we travelled over to Home politics. Iexpressed my delight at seeing the Queen so happy, and added a hopethat more and more she would seek and find her real happiness in herdomestic relations only. He evidently caught at this, and assured methat he should at all times be too happy to have a share in anythingwhich might be thought conducive to the welfare of Her Majesty. Thatno consideration of personal inconvenience would ever prevent him fromindulging the Queen in all her wishes relating to matters of a privatenature, and that the only return for his sincere endeavours to pleaseHer Majesty he looked to, was honesty in public affairs. Becoming thensuddenly emphatic, he continued, "But on this I must insist, and Ido assure you, that that moment I was to learn that the Queen takesadvice upon public matters in another place, I shall throw up; forsuch a thing I conceive the country could not stand, and I would notremain an hour, whatever the consequences of my resignation may be. "

Fully sensible that he was talking at me, I received the charge withthe calmness of a good conscience, and our time being exhausted Iprepared for retreat. But he did not allow me to do so, before he hadfound means to come a second time to the topic uppermost in his ownmind, and he repeated, it appeared to me with increased force of tone, his determination to throw up, fearless of all consequences, thatmoment he found himself and the country dishonestly dealt by. 

I think I have now reported to you correctly the two occurrences whichof late have added so much to my antecedent suspicions and fears. Permit me to join to this a few general considerations which, fromthe nature of the recited incidents alone, and without the slightestintervention of any other cause, must have presented themselves to mymind. The first is, that I derive from the events related quite groundenough for concluding that the danger I dread is great and imminent, and that, if ill luck is to have its will, no human power can preventan explosion for a day, or even for an hour. The second is thecontemplation--what state will the Queen be placed in by such acatastrophe? That in my position, portraying to myself all theconsequences of such a possibility, I look chiefly to the Queen, needshardly, I trust, an excuse. .. . Can you hope that the Queen's characterwill ever recover from a shock received by a collision with Peel, uponsuch a cause? Pray illustrate to yourself this particular question bytaking a purely political and general survey of the time and periodwe live in at this moment. In doing so must you not admit that allEngland is agreed that the Tories must have another trial, and thatthere is a decided desire in the nation that it should be a fairone? Would you have it said that Sir Robert Peel failed in histrial, merely because the Queen alone was not fair to him, and thatprincipally you had aided her in the game of dishonesty? And can youhope that this game can be played with security, even for a shorttime only, when a person has means of looking into your cards whomyou yourself have described to me some years ago as a most passionate, giddy, imprudent and dangerous woman? I am sure beforehand thatyour loyalty and devotion has nothing to oppose to the force of myexposition. There are, however, some other and minor reasons whichought likewise to be considered before you come to the determinationof trusting entirely to possibilities and chance. For the results ofyour deliberation you will have to come to will in their working andeffects go beyond yourself, and must affect two other persons. Thesewill have a right to expect that your decision will not be takenregardless of that position, which accidental circumstances haveassigned to them, in an affair the fate of which is placed entirelywithin your discretion. This is an additional argument why you shoulddeliberate very conscientiously. A mistake of yours in this respectmight by itself produce fresh difficulties and have a complicating andperplexing retro effect upon the existing ones; because both, seeingthat they must be sufferers in the end, may begin to look only totheir own safety, and become inclined to refuse that passive obediencewhich till now constitutes the vehicle of your hazardous enterprize. 

Approaching the conclusion of this letter, I beg to remind you of aconversation I had with you on the same subject in South Street, the25th of last month. [157] Though you did not avow it then in directwords, I could read from your countenance and manner that you assentedin your head and heart to all I had said, and in particular to theadvice I volunteered at the end of my speech. At that time I pointedout to you a period when I thought a decisive step ought to betaken on your part. This period seems to me to have arrived. Placingunreserved confidence into your candour and manliness, I remain, forever, very faithfully yours, STOCKMAR. 

 [Footnote 156: Librarian and German Secretary to Prince Albert. ]

 [Footnote 157: _Ante_, pp. 352-3. (Ch. X, 'Stockmar and Melbourne')]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE'S REPLY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Baron Stockmar. _

_24th November 1841. _

(_Half-past 10_ P. M. )

MY DEAR BARON, --I have just received your letter; I think itunnecessary to detain your messenger. I will write to you upon thesubject and send it through Anson. Yours faithfully, MELBOURNE. 

[Pageheading: THE HEIR APPARENT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _29th November 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I have to thank you for four most kind letters, ofthe 4th, 6th, 19th and 26th; the last I received yesterday. I wouldhave written sooner, had I not been a little bilious, which mademe very low, and not in spirits to write. The weather has been soexceedingly relaxing, that it made me at the end of the fortnightquite bilious, and this, you know, affects the spirits. I am muchbetter, but they think that I shall not get my appetite and spiritsback till I can get out of town; we are therefore going in a week atlatest. I am going for a drive this morning, and am certain it willdo me good. In all _essentials_, I am better, if possible, than lastyear. Our little boy[158] is a wonderfully strong and large child, with very large dark blue eyes, a finely formed but somewhat largenose, and a pretty little mouth; I _hope_ and _pray_ he may be likehis dearest Papa. He is to be called _Albert_, and Edward is to be hissecond name. Pussy, dear child, is still _the_ great pet amongst usall, and is getting so fat and strong again. 

I beg my most affectionate love to dearest Louise and the dearchildren. The Queen-Dowager is recovering wonderfully. 

I beg you to forgive this letter being so badly written, but my feetare being rubbed, and as I have got the box on which I am writing onmy knee, it is not easy to write quite straight--but you must _not_think my hand trembles. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Pussy is _not_ at all pleased with her brother. 

 [Footnote 158: His Majesty King Edward VII. , born 9th November. ]

[Pageheading: THE INFANT PRINCE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

TRENTHAM, _1st December 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has hadthe honour of receiving here your Majesty's letters of yesterday, by which he learns with sincere pleasure and satisfaction that yourMajesty is so much recovered as to go to Windsor on so early a day asyour Majesty names. Lord Melbourne hears with great concern that yourMajesty has been suffering under depression and lowness of spirits. .. . Lord Melbourne well knows how to feel for those who suffer under it, especially as he has lately had much of it himself. 

Lord Melbourne is much rejoiced to hear so good an account of the HeirApparent and of the Princess Royal, and feels himself greatly obligedby the information respecting the intended names and the sponsors. Lord Melbourne supposes that your Majesty has determined yourself uponthe relative position of the two names, but _Edward_ is a good Englishappellation, and has a certain degree of popularity attached toit from ancient recollections. Albert is also an old Anglo-Saxonname--the same, Lord Melbourne believes, as Ethelred--but it has notbeen so common nor so much in use since the Conquest. However, yourMajesty's feelings, which Lord Melbourne perfectly understands, mustdetermine this point. The notion of the King of Prussia[159] givesgreat satisfaction here, and will do so with all but Puseyites andNewmanites and those who lean to the Roman Catholic faith. His strongProtestant feelings, and his acting with us in the matter of theSyrian Bishop, have made the King of Prussia highly popular inthis country, and particularly with the more religious part of thecommunity. 

Your Majesty cannot offer up for the young Prince a more safe andjudicious prayer than that he may resemble his father. The character, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, depends much upon the race, and on bothsides he has a good chance. Be not over solicitous about education. Itmay be able to do much, but it does not do so much as is expected fromit. It may mould and direct the character, but it rarely alters it. George IV. And the Duke of York were educated quite like English boys, by English schoolmasters, and in the manner and upon the system ofEnglish schools. The consequence was that, whatever were their faults, they were quite Englishmen. The others, who were sent earlier abroad, and more to foreign universities, were not quite so much so. The lateking was educated as a sailor, and was a complete sailor. .. . 

Lord Melbourne will tell your Majesty exactly what he thinks of JohnRussell's reply to the Plymouth address. It is very angry and verybitter, and anger and bitterness are never very dignified. LordMelbourne certainly would not have put in those sarcasms upon the Dukeof Wellington and Sir Robert Peel, for their change of opinion andconduct upon the Roman Catholic question. But the tone of the restof the answer is, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, just and right. Wecertainly delivered the affairs of the country into their hands in agood state, both at home and abroad, and we should be acting unfairlyby ourselves if we did not maintain and assert this upon everyoccasion. Lord Melbourne's notion of the conduct which he has topursue is, that it should not be aggressive, but that it must bedefensive. He would oppose no right measures, but he cannot sufferthe course of policy which has been condemned in him to be adopted byothers without observation upon the inconsistency and injustice. .. . 

Lord Melbourne concludes with again wishing your Majesty health andhappiness, and much enjoyment of the country. 

 [Footnote 159: King Frederick William IV. , who was to be a sponsor. ]

[Pageheading: PRINCE OF WALES]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _6th December 1841. _

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to enclose for the Signatureof your Majesty the Letters Patent creating His Royal Highness, the Prince of the United Kingdom, Prince of Wales and Earl ofChester. [160]

Understanding that it is your Majesty's pleasure to have this Creationinserted in the _Gazette_ of to-morrow night, Sir James Graham hasgiven directions, which will ensure the publication, though theLetters Patent themselves may not be completed. The Warrant alreadysigned by your Majesty is a sufficient authority. 

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's dutiful Subject andServant, J. R. G. GRAHAM. 

 [Footnote 160: His present Majesty had been referred to in letters of the previous month as the Duke of Cornwall. "Know ye, " ran the present Letters Patent, "that we have made . .. Our most dear son, the Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (Duke of Saxony, Duke of Cornwall . .. ) Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester . .. And him our said most dear son, . .. As has been accustomed, we do ennoble and invest with the said Principality and Earldom, by girding him with a sword, by putting a coronet on his head, and a gold ring on his finger, and also by delivering a gold rod into his hand, that he may preside there, and may direct and defend those parts. .. . "]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th December 1841. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --We arrived here _sains et saufs_ with our awfullylarge Nursery Establishment yesterday morning. It was a nasty warmand very rainy day, but to-day is very bright, clear and dry, and wewalked out early and felt like prisoners freed from some dungeon. Manythanks for your kind letter of the 2nd, by which I grieve to seethat you are not quite well. But let me repeat again, you _must_ notdespond so; you must not be so out of spirits. I have likewise beensuffering so from _lowness_ that it made me quite miserable, and Iknow how difficult it is to fight against it. I am delighted to hearthat all the children are so well. I wonder very much who our littleboy will be like. You will understand _how_ fervent my prayers andI am [sure] _everybody's_ must be, to see him resemble his angelicdearest Father in _every, every_ respect, both in body and mind. Oh!my dearest Uncle, I am sure if you knew _how_ happy, how blessed Ifeel, and how _proud_ I feel in possessing _such_ a perfect being asmy husband, as he is, and if you think that you have been instrumentalin bringing about this union, it must gladden your heart! How happyshould I be to see our child grow up _just_ like him! Dear Pussytravelled with us and behaved like a grown-up person, so quiet andlooking about and coquetting with the Hussars on either side of thecarriage. Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: THE APPROACHING CHRISTENING]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

CASTLE HOWARD, _22nd December 1841. _

. .. Lord Melbourne will consider himself most highly honoured by beinginvited to the christening, and will hold himself in readiness toattend, whenever it may take place. He has written to Mr Anson inanswer to the letter which he received from him this morning. LordMelbourne has been obliged to consent to receive an address fromDerby, and has fixed Monday the 27th inst. For that purpose. He couldhave wished to have avoided this, but it was impossible, and he mustmake the best of it that he can, which he conceives will be effectedby conceiving his reply in very guarded terms, and in a tone defensiveof his own administration, but not offensive to those who havesucceeded him. .. . 

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear of the feelings of the King ofPrussia. For religious matters he is at present very popular with manyin this country, and popularity, though transient and uncertain, isa good thing while it lasts. The King of the Belgians should not besurprised or mortified at the conduct of the King of Holland. We mustexpect that people will act according to their nature and feelings. The Union of Belgium and Holland has been for a long time the firstwish and the daily dream of the House of Orange. It has been the greatobject of their lives, and by the separation, which took place in1830, they saw their fondest hopes disappointed and destroyed at once. It must be expected that under such a state of things, they will beunquiet, and will try to obtain what they so eagerly desire and haveonce possessed. 

Lord Melbourne is much rejoiced to hear that your Majesty is in theenjoyment of such good health. Your Majesty's observations upon yourown situation are in the highest degree just and prudent, and it isa sign of a right mind and of good feelings to prize the blessings weenjoy, and not to suffer them to be too much altered by circumstances, which may not turn out exactly according to our wishes. 

[Pageheading: THE UNITED STATES]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _24th December 1841. _

Lord Aberdeen presents his most humble duty to your Majesty. Heventures to request your Majesty's attention for a moment to thecharacter of your Majesty's present relations with the Government ofthe United States. Your Majesty is aware that several questions ofgreat difficulty and importance have been long pending between the twoGovernments. [161] Some of these have become more complicated thanthey were ten years ago; and any of them might, at any moment, lead toconsequences of the most disastrous nature. 

Instead of continuing negotiations, necessarily tedious and whichpromise to be interminable, your Majesty's servants are humbly ofopinion that an effort ought to be made, by a Special Mission atWashington, to bring all these differences promptly to an adjustment. The public feeling in the United States at this time does not appearto be unfavourable for such an attempt. Should it be undertaken by aperson whose rank, character, and abilities would ensure respect, andwhose knowledge of the subjects under discussion, and of the people ofthe country, together with his conciliatory manners, would render himgenerally acceptable, your Majesty might perhaps indulge the hope of asuccessful result. 

Lord Aberdeen humbly ventures to think that such a person may be foundin Lord Ashburton, [162] whom he submits for your Majesty's graciousapprobation. 

 [Footnote 161: The question of the North-West Boundary had long been one source of dispute; another was the right the British Government claimed of searching vessels suspected of being engaged in the slave trade. ]

 [Footnote 162: Alexander, first Lord Ashburton, who had held office in Peel's short Ministry, and married Miss Bingham of Philadelphia. See _post_, p. 461. (Ch. XII, Footnote 10)]

[Pageheading: CHRISTMAS]

_Memorandum by Mr Anson. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1841. _

Christmas has brought its usual routine of festivity and its agreeableaccompaniment of Christmas presents. The Queen was not at all wellagain yesterday, being again troubled with lowness. The Melbournecorrespondence still is carried on, but I think not in itspristine vigour by any means. He has taken no notice of the Baron'sremonstrance to him, and we are in the dark in what manner, if at all, he means to deal with it. 

I have sat by Her Majesty at dinner several times lately. I should saythat Her Majesty interests herself less and less about politics, andthat her dislike is less than it was to her present Ministers, thoughshe would not be prepared to acknowledge it. Her Majesty is a gooddeal occupied with the little Princess Royal, who begins to assumecompanionable qualities. In the evening, instead of her usualconversation with her old Prime Minister, some round game at cards issubstituted, which always terminates at eleven. The Prince, toamuse the Queen at this, has nearly left off his chess; hisamusements--shooting or hunting--always commence and terminate betweeneleven and two, not to interfere with Her Majesty's arrangements, inwhich he is included as her companion. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

MELBOURNE, _29th December 1841. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He receivedhere yesterday your Majesty's letter of the 25th inst. , upon a paperadorned with many quaint and humorous Christmas devices, and LordMelbourne begs to offer to your Majesty, most sincerely and mostfervently, the good wishes of the Season. Lord Melbourne will be intown on Friday evening next, and after that day will wait upon yourMajesty, whenever your Majesty is pleased to command. .. . 

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear that the King of the Belgians isreassured by his journey to Mons and his reception upon it. He neednot mind the King of Holland, if he can keep all right at Paris. 

The railway smash[163] is awful and tremendous, as all railway mishapsare, and Lord Melbourne fears must always be. These slips and fallsof earth from the banks are the greatest danger that now impends overthem, and if they take place suddenly and in the dark, Lord Melbournedoes not see how the fatal consequences of them are to be effectuallyguarded against. They are peculiarly likely to happen now, as thecuttings have been recently and hastily made, the banks are verysteep, and the season has been peculiarly wet, interrupted by severefrosts. 

Lord Melbourne received the deputation from Derby, a large andrespectable one, here on Monday last. The address was very guarded, temperate, and judicious, and Lord Melbourne strove to construct hisanswer in the same manner. 

 [Footnote 163: This accident took place on 24th December in the Sonning Hill cutting, two and a half miles from Reading. Eight persons were killed on the spot. ]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XI

THE session was mainly occupied by the great Ministerial measure offinance, direct taxation by means of income tax being imposed, and theimport duties on a large number of articles being removed or relaxed, Mr Gladstone, now at the Board of Trade, taking charge of the bills. Two more attempts on the Queen's life were made, the former again onConstitution Hill by one Francis, whose capital sentence was commuted;the latter by a hunchback, Bean, who was sentenced to eighteen months'imprisonment. An Act was promptly passed to deal with such outragesin future as misdemeanours, without giving them the importance of hightreason. Lord Ashley's Bill was passed, prohibiting woman and childlabour in mines and collieries. But the Anti-Corn Law League ofManchester was not satisfied with the policy of the Government andobjected to the income tax; while riots broke out in the manufacturingdistricts of the North. 

In Afghanistan, the disasters of the previous year were retrieved; SirRobert Sale, who was gallantly defending Jellalabad, made a _sortie_and defeated Akbar Khan; General Nott arrived at Ghuznee, but found itevacuated; he destroyed the citadel and removed the Gates of Somnauth. General Pollock swept the Khyber Pass and entered Cabul. The captivestaken on the retreat from Cabul were recovered--Lady Macnaghten andLady Sale among them. In retribution for the murder of Macnaghten, the great bazaar of Cabul, where his remains had been dishonoured, was destroyed by Pollock; the British force was then withdrawn. DostMahommed made himself again ruler of Cabul, and a proclamation ofLord Ellenborough announced that the British Government accepted anySovereign and Constitution approved by the Afghans themselves. 

In China, also, operations were successfully terminated, Chapoo beingtaken in May, and an attack by Admiral Parker upon Nanking beingonly averted by the conclusion of a favourable treaty, involvingan indemnity, the cession by China of Hong Kong, and the opening ofimportant ports to commerce. 

A dispute had arisen between this country and the United States asto the boundary line between the latter country and the BritishPossessions in North America. Lord Ashburton was accordingly sentout on a special mission to effect the adjustment of this and otherdisputes, and a treaty was concluded for the purpose of defining eachcountry's territorial rights, and imposing mutual obligations for thesuppression of the Slave Trade. 

CHAPTER XI

1842

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

SUDBURY HALL, _4th January 1842. _

MY DEAR NIECE, --Most grateful for your very amiable kind letter fullof good wishes for me, I hasten to answer it and to assure you that Ideeply feel all your affectionate kindness to me in wishing my life tobe prolonged. From ill-health I have become such a useless member ofyour family, that I must wonder you have not long been tired of me. Iwish I was more able to be of any use to you which you might liketo make of me. My services would be most faithful, I can assure you. Should my life be spared, there may perhaps yet be a time when I canprove to you, that what I say is not merely a _façon de parler_, butmy sincere wish. 

Your domestic happiness, dearest Victoria, gives me great satisfactionwhenever I think of it, and that is very often. God continue it so, uninterrupted, is my daily prayer. 

Your approbation of my little offering to my dear godchild gives memuch pleasure. It occupied me several days during my illness to makethe drawing, weak as I then was, and it was a _pleasant occupation_. 

We have frost again, with a clear blue sky, which is much better forme than the damp close weather of last week, which oppressed me somuch. I breathe again, and my spirits get their usual tone, which theyhad lost, but I still cough a great deal, which is very fatiguing. 

Will you kiss your darlings in my name and bless them, and praybelieve me ever, my dear Niece, your most affectionately devoted Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

[Pageheading: WINDSOR]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROADLANDS, [1] _5th January 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toreturn to your Majesty and to His Royal Highness his thanks for allthe kindness shown him at Windsor. He was very happy to find himselfthere again and in your Majesty's society. He has seen many fineplaces and much fine country, but after all there is nothing likeWindsor and the Park. Twenty very fine places might easily be made outof the latter. Lord Melbourne as he drove to Bagshot was very glad tosee the plantations at and about Cumberland Lodge and onwards so welland judiciously thinned. He had a very prosperous journey here. It isa lovely place, with the greatest beauty that a place can have, avery swift, clear, natural stream, running and winding in front of thehouse. The whole place is much improved since Lord Melbourne saw itlast; a great deal of new pleasure-ground has been made. The trees, cypresses, elders, planes, elms, white poplars and acacias are veryfine indeed. .. . 

Lord Melbourne thinks of staying here six or seven days, and thenreturning to London and going to Brocket Hall and Panshanger, buthe has not fixed his plans decidedly, which he is never very fond ofdoing. 

Lord Melbourne was delighted at thinking that he left your Majestyin good health, which he earnestly hopes and fervently prays may, together with every other blessing, long continue. 

 [Footnote 1: The house of Lord Palmerston in Hants. ]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _6th January 1842. _

. .. Sir Robert Peel has informed Lord Aberdeen that he had mentionedto your Majesty the suggestion of the King of Prussia to confer theOrder of the Black Eagle[2] upon the Prince of Wales, immediatelyafter the christening of his Royal Highness. Lord Aberdeen thereforeabstains from troubling your Majesty with any observations on thissubject. 

 [Footnote 2: Founded by Frederick I. In 1701. ]

[Pageheading: DISASTERS IN AFGHANISTAN]

_Lord Fitzgerald to Queen Victoria. _

_8th January 1842. _

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, begsleave humbly to inform your Majesty that despatches have been thisday received at the India House from the Earl of Auckland, Governor-General of India, which most officially confirm to too greatan extent the disastrous intelligence contained in the public journalsof yesterday, the particulars of which the editors of these journalshad received by express messengers from Marseilles. [3]

This intelligence is of a most painful character, and though thedetails which have arrived do high honour to the courage and thegallantry of your Majesty's forces, as well as of the East IndiaCompany's Army, yet the loss sustained has been very great, and manyvaluable officers have fallen the victims of a widespread conspiracywhich seems to have embraced within its confederation the most warliketribes of the Afghan nation. 

Lord Fitzgerald begs leave most humbly to lay before your Majesty aninteresting despatch from Lord Auckland, comprising the most importantdetails of the late events in Afghanistan. 

It is very satisfactory to Lord Fitzgerald to be enabled humbly toacquaint your Majesty that Lord Auckland has decided on waitingthe arrival of his successor, Lord Ellenborough, and states to LordFitzgerald that he will feel it to be his duty to remain in his[Government], in the present critical state of affairs, until he isrelieved by the new Governor-General. 

All of which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty, by yourMajesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant, FITZGERALD AND VESCI. 

 [Footnote 3: _See_ Introductory Note, 1841, _ante_, p. 254. The rebellion broke out at Cabul on 2nd November, and Sir Alexander Burnes was murdered. (Intro Note to Ch. X)]

[Pageheading: THE OXFORD MOVEMENT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROADLANDS, _12th January 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has thismorning received your Majesty's letter of the 10th inst. , and is gladto infer from it that your Majesty and the Prince are both well and ingood spirits. 

With respect to the Oxford affair, your Majesty is aware that for along time a serious difference has been fermenting and showing itselfin the Church of England, one party leaning back towards Popery, andthe other either wishing to keep doctrines as they are, or, perhaps, to approach somewhat nearer to the dissenting Churches. Thisdifference has particularly manifested itself in a publication, nowdiscontinued, but which has been long going on at Oxford, entitled_Tracts for the Times_, and generally called the Oxford Tracts. TheProfessorship of Poetry is now vacant at Oxford, and two candidateshave been put forward, the one Mr Williams, who is the author of oneor two of the most questionable of the Oxford Tracts, and the other MrGarbett, who is a representative of the opposite party. Of course theresult of this election, which is made by the Masters of Arts of theUniversity, is looked to with much interest and anxiety, as likelyto afford no unequivocal sign of which is the strongest party in theUniversity and amongst the clergy generally. It is expected that MrGarbett will be chosen by a large majority. .. . 

[Pageheading: THE MORNING CHRONICLE]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _17th January 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs toacknowledge your Majesty's letter of the 15th, which he has receivedhere this morning. 

Lord Melbourne does not think this Puseyite difference in the Churchso serious or dangerous as others do. If it is discreetly managed, it will calm down or blow over or sink into disputes of littlesignificance. All Lord Melbourne fears is lest the Bishops should beinduced to act hastily and should get into the wrong. The Puseyiteshave the most learning, or rather, have considered the points morerecently and more accurately than their opponents. 

Lord Melbourne hopes that the Spanish affair will be settled. Lord Melbourne cannot doubt that the French are wrong. Even if theprecedents are in their favour, the Spanish Court has a right tosettle its own etiquette and its own mode of transacting business, andto change them if it thinks proper. [4]

Lord Melbourne was at Broadlands when the Article to which yourMajesty alludes appeared in the _Morning Chronicle_, and he talkedit over with Palmerston. He does not think that Palmerston wrote it, because there were in it errors, and those errors to Palmerston'sdisadvantage; but it was written by Easthope under the impression thatit conveyed Palmerston's notions and opinions. Your Majesty knows verywell that Palmerston has long had much communication with the _MorningChronicle_ and much influence over it, and has made great use of itfor the purpose of maintaining and defending his own policy. In thissort of matter there is much to be said upon both sides. A Ministerhas a great advantage in stating his own views to the public, and ifPalmerston in the Syrian affair had not had as devoted an assistantas the _Morning Chronicle_, he would hardly have been able to maintainhis course or carry through his measures. It has always been LordMelbourne's policy to keep himself aloof from the public press and tohold it at arm's-length, and he considers it the best course, butit is subject to disadvantages. You are never in that case stronglysupported by them, nor are the motives and reasons of your conductgiven to the public with that force and distinctness which they mightbe. 

Lord Melbourne has no doubt that your Majesty's assurance is wellfounded, and that the present Government are anxious for the welfareand prosperity and tranquillity of Spain. It cannot be otherwise. 

Palmerston dislikes Aberdeen and has a low opinion of him. He thinkshim weak and timid, and likely to let down the character and influenceof the country. Your Majesty knows that Lord Melbourne does notpartake these opinions, certainly not at least to anything like theextent to which Palmerston carries them. 

Lord Melbourne is going down to Panshanger to-morrow, where heunderstands that he is to meet Lord and Lady Lansdowne and Lord andLady Leveson. [5] Lord Melbourne will take care and say nothing aboutBrighton, but is glad to hear that your Majesty is going thither. 

 [Footnote 4: An Ambassador, M. De Salvandy, had been sent from France to Madrid. Espartero, the Regent, required the credentials to be presented to him and not to the young Queen. The French Ambassador having refused to comply, an unseemly dispute arose, and M. De Salvandy left Madrid. ]

 [Footnote 5: The late Lord Granville and his first wife, only child of the Duc de Dalberg, and widow of Sir Ferdinand Acton. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _18th January 1842. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --Not to miss my day, I write a line to thank you foryour kind letters of the 10th and 13th, but shall write fully by themessenger. Our Claremont trip was very enjoyable, only we missed Pussyso much; another time we shall take her with us; the dear child wasso pleased to see us again, particularly dear Albert, whom she is _so_fond of. .. . We think of going to Brighton early in February, as thephysicians think it will do the children great good, and perhaps itmay _me_; for I am very strong as to fatigue and exertion, but notquite right otherwise; I am growing thinner, and there is a want oftone, which the sea may correct. 

Albert's great _fonction_[6] yesterday went off beautifully, and hewas so much admired in all ways; he always _fascinates_ the peoplewherever he goes, by his very modest and unostentatious yet dignifiedways. He only came back at twelve last night; it was very kind of himto come. The King of Prussia means, I believe, to cross on the 20th. Now _addio_. Ever your most affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 6: The Prince laid the foundation stone of the new Royal Exchange. ]

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

_The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria. _

LONDON, _21st January 1842. _

Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble duty to yourMajesty. He is much flattered by your Majesty's most graciousdesire that he should bear the Sword of State at the ceremony of thechristening of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. 

He had already received from Sir Robert Peel an intimation of yourMajesty's gracious pleasure on this subject. He is in such goodhealth, as to be able to perform any duty upon which your Majesty maythink proper to employ him; and he will attend your Majesty's graciousceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday morning, the 25th Jan. Inst. 

All of which is humbly submitted to your Majesty by your Majesty'smost dutiful and devoted Subject and Servant, WELLINGTON. 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _22nd January 1842. _

The Queen cannot say _how grieved_ she is, and the Prince also, athearing of Lord Melbourne's serious indisposition, by his letter thismorning. How _very_ provoking if he cannot come on Tuesday. It willbe the _only_ important ceremony during the Queen's reign which LordMelbourne has _not_ been present at, and it grieves her _deeply_. Itwas already a deep mortification not to see him in his old place, butnot to see him _at all_ is _too_ provoking. If Lord Melbourne shouldsoon get well we shall hope to see him later during the King's[7]stay. The Prince is gone to Greenwich to meet the King, and I expectthem about five o'clock. 

The Queen hopes to hear soon of Lord Melbourne's being better, andexpresses again her very sincere regret at his being prevented fromcoming. 

 [Footnote 7: Frederick Wilham IV. , King of Prussia. ]

[Pageheading: THE SLAVE TRADE]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

_28th January 1842. _

Lord Aberdeen presents his most humble duty to your Majesty. Some timeago, your Majesty was graciously pleased to express a desire to havea copy of the Treaty concluded by your Majesty with the Four GreatPowers of Europe, for the more effectual suppression of the SlaveTrade. [8] Lord Aberdeen has had one prepared for your Majesty's use, which he humbly begs to lay before your Majesty. 

In obeying your Majesty's commands Lord Aberdeen thinks it his duty, at the same time, to state to your Majesty that, with the exception ofsome alterations and additions of little importance, the Treaty inits present form had existed for a considerable time in the ForeignOffice. He found, also, that there had been a reluctance to sign it onthe part of the French Government; but as the objection was chiefly ofa personal nature, it was speedily removed. The only share, therefore, which Lord Aberdeen can properly be said to have had in thistransaction is that of having been enabled to afford your Majestythe great satisfaction of completing this blessed work at an earlierperiod than would otherwise have been the case. 

 [Footnote 8: The treaty conferred a mutual right of search. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _1st February 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has tothank your Majesty for the letters of the 28th and the 31st ult. , thelast of which he received this morning. 

Lord Melbourne is very glad that your Majesty opens the Parliamentin person. Your Majesty knows Lord Melbourne's opinion, that it oughtalways to be done, when it can be, without reference to Ministers, politics, or political questions. Lord Melbourne hopes to be able togo to the House in the evening, but he fears that it would be too muchfor him if he were to attempt to attend also in the morning. 

Lord Melbourne was in despair at hearing of poor Eos. [9] Favouritesoften get shot; Lord Melbourne has known it happen often in his time. That is the worst of dogs; they add another strong interest to a lifewhich has already of itself interest enough, and those, God knows!sufficiently subject both to accident and decay. 

Lord Melbourne is sorry to do anything that could trouble your Majestyin the slightest degree, but he doubts not that your Majesty isalready aware of the matter, and therefore he has less scruple insending to your Majesty a letter[10] which he has received from theDuke of Sussex. Upon the plea of not being well, Lord Melbourne hasput off seeing the Duke upon this subject until after Monday next, and when he does see him, he will try to keep him quiet, which yourMajesty knows when he has got a thing of this sort into his head, isno easy matter. 

 [Footnote 9: A favourite greyhound of the Prince, accidentally shot by Prince Ferdinand. _See_ King Leopold's letter, 4th February. ]

 [Footnote 10: This letter is not preserved among the Queen's papers. ]

[Pageheading: THE KING OF PRUSSIA]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st February 1842. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --I have to thank you for a kind, short note of the 27thinst. , which I received on Sunday. I gave your kind message to theKing of Prussia, who was much _touché_ by it. He is a most amiableman, so kind and well-meaning, and seems so much beloved. He is soamusing too. He is very anxious that Belgium should become _liée_ withGermany, and I think, dearest Uncle, that it would be for the _real_good of Belgium if it could be so. You will have heard how perfectlyand splendidly everything went off on the 25th. Nothing could havedone better, and _little_ Albert (_what_ a pleasure that he has that_dearest_ name!) behaved so well. The King left us yesterday morningto go to town, where we follow him to-morrow; he was quite sad toleave Windsor, which he admired so much. He dined with the Sutherlandsyesterday, and dines with the Duke of Wellington to-day, and theCambridges to-morrow. On Thursday he dines with us (he lodges inBuckingham Palace), and on Friday takes his departure. He is really amost agreeable visitor, though I must own that I am somewhat knockedup by our great exertions. 

Uncle Ferdinand is very well, and we are delighted with dearLeopold;[11] he is so much improved, and is such a modest, sensibleboy. 

I can't say much for poor Gusti, [12] though I love him, but he isreally too odd and inanimate. I hope Louise will see the King ofPrussia. You have heard our great misfortune about dear Eos; she isgoing on well, but slowly, and still makes us rather anxious. It mademe quite ill the first day, and keeps me fidgety still, till we knowthat she is quite safe. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

We were grieved to hear Papa had been so ill. 

 [Footnote 11: Son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, and brother of the King of Portugal, afterwards a candidate for the hand of Queen Isabella of Spain. See _post_, p. 487. (Ch. XII, Footnote 54)]

 [Footnote 12: Prince Augustus, afterwards married to the Princess Clémentine, daughter of King Louis Philippe. ]

[Pageheading: THE KING OF PRUSSIA]

[Pageheading: BETROTHAL OF PRINCE ERNEST]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _4th February 1842. _

MY DEAR VICTORIA, --Thousand thanks for your kind letter of the 1st, which I received yesterday. 

The King of Prussia is a very delightful person;[13] he is soclever and amiable, and, owing to his good-nature, not by any meansfatiguing. I fear you had cold weather yesterday for the opening ofParliament. To-day we have here a tremendous fog; Heaven grant thatit may not be so heavy on the Thames! else the King's journey will berendered difficult. 

We expect him to-morrow about eleven o'clock; he wishes to be atAntwerp at five, which would indicate his departure from hence atthree o'clock. There can be no doubt that nothing could be betterthan to link this country as much as possible to Germany. The publicfeeling was and is still favourable to this, but in Germany some yearsago they were childishly ultra, and kicked us off most unnecessarily, which renders everything of the sort now much less easy. In apolitical point of view the King's journey will prove useful, as ittakes him still more out of the clutches of Russia and gives him more_correct_ views of what is going on in the West of Europe. 

I wish the King may also talk to his helter-skelter cousin in Holland;if the man goes on in his wild intrigues, though he will get mostprobably nothing by it _himself_, he may do a great deal of harm, and may force us to incline more towards France for fear of _his_intrigues with France. 

I was extremely sorry to hear the accident which befell dear Eos, agreat friend of mine. I do not understand how your uncle managed it;he ought rather to have shot somebody else of the family. Ernesthas then been going on fast enough; all I hear of the lady is verysatisfactory. [14] I don't yet know when he means to come here. 

Now I must conclude. In haste, ever, my dear Victoria, youraffectionate Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 13: Lord Aberdeen wrote to Madame de Lieven: "I passed a great deal of time with the King of Prussia when he was in this country, and perfectly subscribe to the truth of the description you gave me of him before his arrival--intelligent, high-minded, and sincere. Like all Germans, he is sometimes a little in the clouds, but his projects are generous, and he wishes to do what is right. "]

 [Footnote 14: He married the Princess Alexandrina of Baden on 3rd May 1842. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th February 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I thank you _de tout mon c[oe]ur_ for your kindletter of the 4th, which I received the day before yesterday. Youhave now seen our good, kind, amiable King of Prussia, for whom I havereally the greatest affection and respect. We were quite sorry to losehim, and he was much affected at going. He is so open and natural, andseems really so anxious to do good whenever he can. His liberality andgenerosity here has been immense. He is very much displeased with his"helter-skelter cousin, "[15] and quite unhappy at the state of thingsin that country. .. . 

Ernest's marriage is a _great, great delight_ to us; thank God! I say, as I so ardently wished it, and Alexandrina is said to be really _so_perfect. I have begged Ernest beforehand to pass his honeymoon withus, and I beg you to urge him to do it; for he witnessed our firsthappiness, and we must therefore witness his. 

Leopold is a dear, sweet boy, really, so full of feeling, and so verygood-tempered and modest; the King was charmed with him and he withthe King. I am happy to say faithful Eos is quite convalescent; shewalks about wrapped up in flannel. 

We are off for Brighton the day after to-morrow; I can't say I _like_it at all. We were, and the boy too, all three, vaccinated from thesame child yesterday! Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Fanny Jocelyn is taking her first waiting, and makes a most excellentand sedate _Dame d'Honneur_. I am sorry she is so very thin still. 

 [Footnote 15: The King of Holland. _See_ King Leopold's letter of 4th February. ]

[Pageheading: CHRISTENING OF PRINCE OF WALES]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, _5th February 1842. _

MY DEAR NIECE, --I thank you a thousand times for your kind letter, just received, and am delighted with the hope of seeing you, if youhave time to spare, when you come to town next week. I hardly dare toexpect it, but it will make me very happy should you be able to fulfilyour kind intention. 

I was happy to hear how well the holy ceremony went off on Tuesday, and how splendid the whole was. The earnest attention of the Kingof Prussia to the ceremony, and the manner with which he read theresponses, was universally remarked and admired. May your dear child, our beloved Prince of Wales, follow his pious example in future, andbecome as truly estimable and amiable and good as his Godfather reallyis. He is indeed most charming, and so very agreeable and affable toevery one, that he must be loved and respected by all who have thegood fortune to approach him. I hope he does not over-fatigue himself, for he does a great deal in the short time of his stay in England. Heexpresses himself delighted with his reception. 

I regret to find that your dear little girl is still suffering so muchfrom her teeth. God bless and guard her and her brother!--who by alldescriptions must be a very fine babe. The King of Prussia admireslittle Victoria _very much_; he described her to me as the most lovelychild he ever saw. 

I enclose the impression of my seal, according to your wish. .. . 

With my best love to dear Albert, I beg you to believe me ever, dearest Victoria, your most attached and devoted Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

May I ask you to give my affectionate respects to the King of Prussia, and my love to your Mamma?

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _14th February, Monday Night. _ (_Half-past_ 1 A. M. )

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave toacquaint your Majesty that Lord John Russell proposed this evening inthe House of Commons a resolution condemnatory of the principle ofthe plan for the adjustment of the Corn Laws, brought forward by yourMajesty's servants. 

Lord John Russell was followed in the debate by Mr Gladstone, theVice-President of the Board of Trade, who vindicated the plan. .. . 

Sir Robert Peel had a meeting yesterday of the friends of theGovernment in the House of Commons, and he is convinced that althoughmany may have wished that the plan of the Government had given anincreased degree of protection to agriculture, the great body willsupport the measure, and that we shall have no difficulty in resistingany detached efforts that may be made to add to the duties on foreigncorn. 

[Pageheading: PEEL AND PRINCE ALBERT]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert. _

WHITEHALL, _15th February(?) 1842. _

SIR, --When I had the honour of last seeing your Royal Highness atWindsor Castle, I stated to your Royal Highness that it would giveme great satisfaction to have the opportunity from time to timeof apprising your Royal Highness of the legislative measures incontemplation of Her Majesty's servants, and of explaining in detailany matters in respect to which your Royal Highness might wish forinformation. 

In conformity with this feeling on my part, I take the liberty ofsending to your Royal Highness two confidential Memoranda prepared forthe information of Her Majesty's servants on the important subjectsrespectively of the state of Slavery in the East Indies, and of thePoor Laws in this country. 

They may probably be interesting to your Royal Highness, and if yourRoyal Highness should encourage me to do so, I will, as occasion mayarise, make similar communications to your Royal Highness. I have thehonour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal Highness's mostfaithful and humble servant, ROBERT PEEL. 

_P. S. _--I do not think that the measure which I have brought forwardfor the diminution of the duties on the import of foreign corn, willdeprive us of any portion of the support or goodwill of our friends. Many wish that the reduction had not been carried so far, but almostall are aware of the consequences of rejecting or obstructing themeasure. 

[Pageheading: AFGHANISTAN]

_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria. _

INDIA BOARD, _1st March 1842. _

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, requestspermission humbly to submit to your Majesty, that the communicationsreceived yesterday at the India House present a dark and alarmingpicture of the position and danger of the British troops inAfghanistan. [16]

Although the Governor-General's despatch announcing these melancholytidings also states that no strictly official intelligence had reachedhim from Cabul, yet the opinion of Lord Auckland evidently is, thatthe reports on which his despatch is founded are but too likely to betrue. 

From them it would appear that a numerous and excited nativepopulation had succeeded in intercepting all supplies, that the armyat Cabul laboured under severe privations, and that in consequence ofthe strict investment of the cantonments by the enemy, there remained, according to a letter from the late Sir William Macnaghten to anofficer with Sir Robert Sale's force, only three days' provision inthe camp. 

Under such circumstances it can perhaps be but faintly hoped that anydegree of gallantry and devotion on the part of your Majesty's forcescan have extricated them from the difficulties by which they wereencompassed on every side. 

Capitulation had been spoken of, and it may, unhappily, have becomeinevitable, as the relieving column, expected from Candahar, had beencompelled by the severity of an unusual season to retrace its march. 

The despatches from Calcutta being voluminous, and embracing minuteunofficial reports, Lord Fitzgerald has extracted and copied thoseparts which relate to the military operations in Afghanistan, and mosthumbly submits them to your Majesty. 

He at the same time solicits permission to annex a _précis_ of someof the most important of the private letters which have been forwardedfrom India; and, as your Majesty was graciously pleased to perusewith interest some passages from the first journal of Lady Sale, LordFitzgerald ventures to add the further extracts, transmitted by LordAuckland, in which Lady Sale describes successive actions with theenemy, and paints the state of the sufferings of the army, as late asthe 9th of December. 

Nothing contained in any of these communications encourages thehope of Sir Alexander Burnes's safety. In one letter the death ofan individual is mentioned, who is described as the assassin of thatlamented officer. 

All of which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty by yourMajesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant, FITZGERALD AND VESCI. 

 [Footnote 16: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, pp. 254, 370. (Intro Note to Ch. X; Intro Note to Ch. XI)]

[Pageheading: A MARINE EXCURSION]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

PAVILION, _4th March 1842. _

The Queen thanks Lord Melbourne for his kind letter, received the daybefore yesterday, by which she is glad to see he is well, and Fannygot safe to Dublin. 

Our excursion was most successful and gratifying. It rained very muchall Monday evening at Portsmouth, but, nevertheless, we visited the_St Vincent_ and the _Royal George_ yacht, and the Prince went allover the Dockyards. 

It stormed and rained all night, and rained when we set off on bordthe _Black Eagle_ (the _Firebrand_ that was) for Spithead on Tuesdaymorning; it, however, got quite fine when we got there, and we went onboard the _Queen_, and a glorious sight it was; she is a magnificentship, so wide and roomy, and though only just commissioned, in thebest order. With marines, etc. , her crew is near upon a thousand men!We saw the men at dinner, and tasted the grog and soup, which pleasedthem very much. Old Sir Edward Owen is very proud of her. 

It was a great pleasure for the Queen to be at sea again, and not acreature _thought_ even of being sick. The saluting of all thosegreat ships in the harbour at once, as we came out and returned, has asplendid effect. 

The Queen was also much pleased at seeing four of the crew of the_Emerald_ again whom she knew so well _nine years_ ago! The Prince wasdelighted with all he saw, as were also our Uncle and Cousins; theselast, we are sorry to say, leave us on Monday, --and we go up to Townon Tuesday, where the Queen hopes to see Lord Melbourne soon. 

The Queen sends Lord Melbourne a letter from the Queen of Portugal, all which tends to show how _wrong_ it is to _think_ that they conniveat the restoration of the Charter. .. . 

Lady Dunmore is in waiting, and makes an excellent Lady-in-Waiting. Lord Hardwicke the Queen likes very much, he seems so straightforward. He took the greatest care of the Queen when on board ship. 

Was not his father drowned at Spithead or Portsmouth?[17]

The Queen hopes to hear that Lord Melbourne is very well. 

 [Footnote 17: "His father, Sir Joseph Yorke, " Lord Melbourne replied, "was drowned in the Southampton River, off Netley Abbey, when sailing for pleasure. The boat was supposed to have been struck by lightning. His cousin, Lord Royston, was drowned in the year 1807 in the Baltic, at Cronstadt" [according to Burke in 1808, off Lubeck, _æt. _ twenty-three], "which event, together with the death of two younger sons of Lord Hardwicke, gave the earldom ultimately to the present Lord. "]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

PAVILION, _7th March 1842. _

MY DEAR UNCLE, --As I wrote you so long a letter yesterday, I shallonly write you a few lines to-day, to thank you for your kind letterof the 4th, received yesterday. Our dear Uncle and dear Cousins havejust left us, and we are very sorry to see them go; for the longer oneis together the more intimate one gets, and they were quite become asbelonging to us, and were so quiet and unassuming, that we shallmiss them much, particularly dear Leopold, whom poor Uncle Ferdinandrecommended to my especial care, and therefore am really very anxiousthat we should settle something for his _future_. Uncle Ferdinandlikes the idea of his passing some time at Brussels, and some timehere, very much, and I hope we may be able to settle that. Uncle andCousins were sorry to go. 

You will have heard how well our Portsmouth expedition went off; thesea was quite smooth on Tuesday, and we had a delightful visit tothe _Queen_, which is a splendid ship. I think it is in these immensewooden walls that our real greatness exists, and I am proud to thinkthat no _other_ nation _can_ equal us in _this_. .. . 

Now _addio!_ Ever your most affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: THE FALL OF CABUL]

_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria. _

_10th March 1842. _

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, begs leavemost humbly and with deep sorrow to lay before your Majesty reportswhich he has only within this hour received. 

They are to be found in a despatch from the Governor and Council ofBombay, and unhappily confirm, to an appalling degree, the disastrousintelligence from Afghanistan. The commercial expresses, which reachedLondon yesterday, gave to the public some of the details of the fallof Cabul; and Lord Fitzgerald laments that it is his painful duty mosthumbly to inform your Majesty that the despatches just arrived confirmto their full extent the particulars of Sir William Macnaghten's fate, and of the fate of that remnant of gallant men who, on the faith ofa capitulation, had evacuated that cantonment which they had defendedwith unavailing courage. 

In addition to the despatch from the Council of Bombay, LordFitzgerald humbly ventures to submit to your Majesty a letteraddressed to him by Mr Anderson, the Acting-Governor of thatPresidency, with further details of these melancholy events. 

The despatches from the Governor-General of India come down to thedate of the 22nd of January (three days previous to the tragical deathof Sir William Macnaghten). Lord Auckland was then uninformed of theactual state of the force in Cabul, though not unprepared for severereverses. 

[Pageheading: THE GARTER]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _20th March 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and willtake an opportunity to-morrow of ascertaining your Majesty's pleasurewith respect to the remaining Garter which still remains undisposedof, as your Majesty may probably think it advisable that theInvestiture of all the Knights selected for the vacant Garters shouldtake place at the same time. 

Sir Robert Peel humbly represents to your Majesty that those Peers whomay severally be considered from their rank and station candidatesfor this high distinction, have behaved very well in respect to it, as since Sir Robert Peel has had the honour of serving your Majesty hehas never received, excepting in the cases of the Duke of Buckinghamand recently of Lord Cardigan, a direct application on the subject ofthe Garter. 

Of those who from their position and rank in the Peerage, and fromthe Garter having been heretofore conferred on their ancestors orrelations, may be regarded as competitors, the principal appear to SirRobert Peel to be the following:--

 The Duke of Cleveland The Duke of Montrose The Marquis of Hertford The Marquis of Bute The Marquis of Abercorn The Marquis Camden The Marquis of Londonderry. 

Sir Robert Peel names all, without meaning to imply that thepretensions of all are very valid ones. He would humbly represent foryour Majesty's consideration, whether on account of rank, fortune andgeneral character and station in the country, the claims of the Dukeof Cleveland do not upon the whole predominate. [18]

His Grace is very much mortified and disappointed at Sir Robert Peel'shaving humbly advised your Majesty to apply the general rule againstthe son's succeeding the father immediately in the Lieutenancy of acounty to his case in reference to his county of Durham. 

Sir Robert Peel thinks it better to write to your Majesty uponthis subject, as your Majesty may wish to have an opportunity ofconsidering it. 

 [Footnote 18: The Garter was conferred on the Duke of Cleveland. ]

[Pageheading: THE EARL OF MUNSTER]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND THE INCOME TAX]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _21st March 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. A letter fromCharles Fox to Lady Holland, and which she has sent to me, informs meof the shocking end of Munster, [19] which your Majesty will have heardlong before you receive this. Charles Fox attributes it entirely tothe vexatious and uneasy life which he led with Lady Munster, but hewas always, as your Majesty knows, an unhappy and discontented man, and there is something in that unfortunate condition of illegitimacywhich seems to distort the mind and feelings and render them incapableof justice or contentment. 

It is not impossible that upon this event application may be made toyour Majesty for the continuance of the pension upon the Privy Purseto his son. As Lord Melbourne advised your Majesty to continue thesepensions upon the late King's death, perhaps it may not be improperthat he should now say that it is his strong opinion that they shouldnot be continued further. There is no reason for it. They are notvery rich, but neither are they poor, and they have very opulentconnections and relations. It appears to me that the first opportunityshould be taken to show that it is not your Majesty's intentionto charge the Crown with the maintenance and support of all thesefamilies, which will otherwise be the case. Lord Melbourne thinksit not improper to mention this matter thus early, as otherwise the[compassionate] feelings naturally raised by such an event might leadto a different determination. 

There is another matter mentioned in your Majesty's letter, relatingto money, which is of considerable importance, and that is thedetermination taken by your Majesty to subject your own provisionto the proposed duty on income. When it was put to your Majesty LordMelbourne is disposed to think that your Majesty's determination[20]was right, and it certainly will be very popular, which in the presentcircumstances of the country and state of public feelings is a greatadvantage. 

At the same time it is giving up a principle of the Constitution, which has hitherto exempted the Sovereign from all direct taxation, and there are very great doubts entertained whether the announcementto Parliament of the intention was not in a constitutional point ofview objectionable, inasmuch as it pronounced the opinion of theCrown upon a tax which was still under discussion. It is also a greatpecuniary sacrifice, and, as your Majesty says, together with the lossof the Duchy of Cornwall and other revenues, will make a great changein your Majesty's pecuniary circumstances. These defalcations can onlybe repaired by care and economy. Your Majesty has all the most rightfeelings and the best judgment about money, and Lord Melbourne hasno doubt that your Majesty will so act as to avoid pecuniaryembarrassment--the only difficulty which Lord Melbourne fears for yourMajesty, and the only contingency which could involve your Majesty inserious personal inconvenience. 

Lord Melbourne thanks your Majesty much for the kindness of yourletter. .. . 

Everybody says that the marriage between Miss Stuart and LordWaterford[21] is likely to take place. It is said that he would doalmost anything rather than go to St. Petersburg. Lord Melbourne hasnot seen Lord Waterford, but he is said to be very good-looking; weknow him to be rich and of high rank, and, after all, that sort ofcharacter is not disliked by all ladies. Perhaps also she countsupon the effect of her influence to soften, to tranquillise, and torestrain. 

Lord Melbourne hears a very bad account of Lord Anglesey's affairs. His case is a hard one, for these pecuniary difficulties are owing tothe extravagance of others, and by no means to his own. Lord Melbournesaw Uxbridge and Ellen at Lady Palmerston's on Saturday evening. Thelatter seemed in good spirits, and said that she did not mean to shutherself up too closely in Hertfordshire. 

Lord Melbourne thought that your Majesty would be pleased withLambeth. The view from the great window in the drawing-room over theriver, and to the Houses of Parliament and the Abbey, is very fineindeed, but like all London views can rarely be seen in consequence ofthe foggy atmosphere. .. . 

No doubt your Majesty and His Royal Highness must be anxious for alittle quiet and repose, which Lord Melbourne hopes that your Majestywill enjoy. Lord Melbourne had feared that your Majesty's health wasnot quite so good as it appeared. .. . Lord Melbourne concludes thisvery long letter with the most fervent expression of his most sincerewishes for your Majesty's health and happiness. 

Lord Melbourne in speaking of poor Lord Munster forgot to mention thatat the Levée on Wednesday last he followed Lord Melbourne down thelong gallery as he was going away, came up to him with great emotionof manner, pressed his hand warmly, and said that he wished to takethe earliest opportunity of thanking Lord Melbourne for all thekindness he had shown him whilst he had been in office. 

 [Footnote 19: The Earl of Munster, son of William IV. And Mrs. Jordan, shot himself, 20th March. His wife was a daughter of the Earl of Egremont. ]

 [Footnote 20: The Queen had decided that she would herself pay Income Tax. ]

 [Footnote 21: Henry, third Marquis, and Louisa, second daughter of Lord Stuart de Rothesay, were married on 8th June. ]

[Pageheading: STRAWBERRY HILL]

[Pageheading: THE ROYAL GOVERNESS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

PANSHANGER, _31st March 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is muchrejoiced to learn that your Majesty has had fine weather and hasenjoyed it. It rained here hard yesterday in the morning, but clearedup about half-past twelve and was very fine indeed. Lord Melbournewent over to Brocket Hall and enjoyed it much. He does not intendto return to London until Monday next, when the House of Lordsreassembles. It is to be hoped that we shall then soon have the CornBill up from the Commons and pass it. The Income Tax will give sometrouble, but that done, and the Poor Law Bill, the end of the Sessionmay begin to be looked forward to. 

The sale of Strawberry Hill[22] naturally excites interest, and thingsare not unlikely to be sold high. The collection has after allbeen kept together, and the place has remained in the family of hisniece, [23] the Duchess of Gloucester, to whom he bequeathed it, longerthan he himself expected. He says in one of his letters that he wouldsend a statue down to Linton, Sir Horace Mann's place in Kent, becausethere it had a better chance of remaining permanently, "for as to thispoor bauble of a place, " he adds, "it will be knocked to pieces in avery few years after my decease. " It has stood, however, and remainedfive-and-forty years, a longer period than he had anticipated. Someof the works, such as the bell by Benvenuto Cellini, and the antiqueEagle, are very fine; others are only curious. Lord Melbourne wouldnot give much money for a mere curiosity, unless there were also someintrinsic merits or beauty. 

What is the value of Cardinal Wolsey's cap, for instance? It was notdifferent from that of any other Cardinal, and a Cardinal's cap is nogreat wonder. 

Lord Melbourne returns Lord Munster's letter. It is without date, butwas evidently written in contemplation of the dreadful act which heafterwards perpetrated. It is very melancholy. Lord Melbournewas certain that your Majesty would send to Lord Adolphus[24] theassurance which you have done, and that you would be anxious to assisthis children, and promote their interests by every means in yourpower. But both their brothers and they must be made sensible thatthey must make some effort for themselves. 

Lord Melbourne is very glad to learn that your Majesty intends tooffer the Round Tower[25] to the Duke of Sussex. It is in everyrespect kind. It will be of essential service to him, and it willgratify him most exceedingly. 

Lord Melbourne thinks that your Majesty's decision respecting theGoverness[26] is right. It should be a lady of rank; but that sheshould be a woman of sense and discretion, and capable of fulfillingthe duties of the office, is of more importance than whether she is aDuchess, a Marchioness, or a Countess. The selection is difficult, butif your Majesty can find a person, it would not be well to considereither high or low rank as a disqualification. 

Lord Melbourne intends to take advantage of his freedom from therestraints of office in order to see a little of the bloom of springand summer, which he has missed for so many years. He has got one ortwo horses, which he likes well enough, and has begun to ride again alittle. Lord Melbourne wishes your Majesty much of the same enjoyment, together with all health, happiness, and prosperity. 

 [Footnote 22: Near Twickenham, formerly the residence of Horace Walpole, and filled with his collection of pictures and _objets de vertu_. ]

 [Footnote 23: The Duke of Gloucester, brother of George III. , married in 1766 Maria, Countess-Dowager Waldegrave, illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Walpole, and niece of Horace Walpole. This, and the Duke of Cumberland's marriage in 1771 to Lady Anne Horton, occasioned the passing of the Royal Marriages Act. ]

 [Footnote 24: Lord Adolphus FitzClarence (1802-1856), a Rear-Admiral, brother of the Earl of Munster. ]

 [Footnote 25: The Earl of Munster had held the office of Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle, with a salary of £1, 000 a year. ]

 [Footnote 26: To the Royal children. Lady Lyttelton was ultimately appointed. ]

[Pageheading: PARTY POLITICS]

[Pageheading: THE GARTER]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _6th April 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has thismorning received your Majesty's very kind and confidential letter, forwhich he greatly thanks your Majesty. Your Majesty may depend upon itthat Lord Melbourne will do everything in his power to discourage andrestrain factious and vexatious opposition, not only on account ofyour Majesty's wish, but because he disapproves it as much as yourMajesty can possibly do. But everything in his power he fears is butlittle. The leaders of a party, or those who are so called, have butlittle sway over their followers, particularly when not in Government, and when they have it not in their power to threaten them withany very serious consequences, such as the dissolution of theAdministration. Mr Pulteney, afterwards Earl of Bath, is reported tohave said that political parties were like snakes, guided not by theirheads, but by their tails. Lord Melbourne does not know whether thisis true of the snake, but it is certainly so of the party. The conductof the Opposition upon the resolution respecting the Income Tax isrendered peculiarly ridiculous by the result. They forcibly put it offuntil after the holidays, and then upon the first day of the meetingthey vote it without a division. What is this but admitting that theylooked to a movement in the country which they have not been able tocreate? Moreover, all Oppositions that Lord Melbourne has ever seenare more or less factious. The Opposition of Mr Fox to Mr Pitt was theleast so, but these were great men, greater than any that exist atthe present day, although Lord Melbourne is by no means inclined todepreciate his own times. The factiousness of one Opposition naturallyproduces the same in the next. They say, "They did so to us; whyshould we not do so to them?" Your Majesty may rest assured thatLord Melbourne will do everything he can to prevent delay, and toaccelerate the transaction of the public business. 

Lord Melbourne sends a letter which he has received this morning fromthe Duke of Sussex, and which expresses very right and proper feeling. Lord Melbourne has written in reply that, "Your Majesty was no doubtinfluenced principally by your natural affection for him, and by yoursense of the generosity of his conduct towards Lord Munster, but thatif any thought of Lord Melbourne intervened, your Majesty could nothave given a higher or a more acceptable proof of your approbation andregard. "

The Garters[27] seem to Lord Melbourne to be given well enough. YourMajesty's feelings upon the subject are most kind and amiable. Butthese things cannot be helped, and it is upon the whole advantageousthat each party should have their portion of patronage and honours. If there is very distinguished service, the Garter should be bestowedupon it. Otherwise, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, it is better givento noblemen of high rank and great property. The chapter inEcclesiasticus, read in St George's Chapel on Obiit Sunday, welldescribes those who ought to have it, with the exception of those "whofind out musical tunes. " Lord Melbourne does not think it well givento Ministers. It is always then subject to the imputation of theirgiving it to themselves, and pronouncing an approbation of their ownconduct. 

Lord Melbourne hopes that the Pope's standing sponsor for the youngPrince of Portugal is a sign of complete reconciliation with the Seeof Rome. It is a very awkward thing for a Roman Catholic Government tobe at variance with the Pope. He is still a very ugly customer. 

Lord Melbourne is very much concerned to hear of the Baron's[28]illness--very much indeed; he is an excellent and most valuable man, with one of the soundest and coolest judgments that Lord Melbourne hasever met with. Your Majesty knows that Lord Melbourne has never hada favourable opinion of his health. There seems to be about him asettled weakness of the stomach, which is in fact the seat of health, strength, thought and life. Lord Melbourne sees that a great physiciansays that Napoleon lost the battle of Leipsic in consequence of somevery greasy soup which he ate the day before, and which clouded hisjudgment and obscured his perceptions. 

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear that your Majesty has amusedyourself so well in the country, and is not surprised that you areunwilling to quit it. He means himself to see a little of the comingin of the spring, which he has not done for many years. 

 [Footnote 27: The recipients had been the King of Saxony, the Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of Buckingham, the Marquess of Salisbury, the Duke of Cleveland. ]

 [Footnote 28: Baron Stockmar. ]

[Pageheading: A BRILLIANT BALL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _19th April 1842. _

DEAREST UNCLE, --I am so sorry to see by your kind letter of the15th that you are all so _enrhumés_, but hear to-day from Vecto thatCharlotte is quite well again. I am quite bewildered with all thearrangements for our _bal costumé_, which I wish you could see; we areto be Edward III. And Queen Philippa, and a great number of our Courtto be dressed like the people in those times, and very correctly, soas to make a grand _Aufzug_; but there is such asking, and so manysilks and drawings and crowns, and God knows what, to look at, that I, who hate being troubled about dress, am quite _confuse_. 

To get a little rest we mean to run down to Claremont with thechildren from Friday to Monday. My last ball was very splendid, and Ihave a concert on Monday next. .. . 

I hope Ernest and dear Alexandrine will come in June, and stay sometime _quietly_ with us in the country. I saw another beautiful letterof hers, so well and sensibly and religiously written, it would havepleased you. Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _20th April 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanksyour Majesty much for your letter of the 17th inst. Lord Melbourne hasbeen so much occupied with the debates in the House of Lords duringthe last two days, that he has ventured to put off replying to yourMajesty's letters, which he trusts that your Majesty will excuse. 

Lord Melbourne did not leave the ball until ten minutes after one, andas there were so many persons there, which Lord Melbourne thinks quiteright and was very glad to see, Lord Melbourne had little hope ofseeing your Majesty again, and therefore ventured to take advantage ofhaving ordered his carriage at half-past twelve and of its havingcome at the time that it was ordered. It was a very brilliant and verybeautiful and a very gay ball. 

Lord Melbourne is very sorry to be obliged to express his fear thatyour Majesty will prove more in the right than he was about theduration of Parliament. There will be much debate in the Committeeupon the details of the Income Tax, and the discussions upon theTariff of duties, which affects so many interests, are likely to bevery long indeed. There is one good thing in the House of Lords, andthat is that it never much delays or obstructs public business. .. . 

As Lord Melbourne drove down the Park on Saturday evening last to dinewith his sister, he could see clearly into your Majesty's room, soas to be able to distinguish the pictures, tables, etc. , the candlesbeing lighted and the curtains not drawn. Your Majesty was justsetting off for the Opera. 

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT AND THE ARMY]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _20th April 1842. _

The Queen encloses the Prince's letter to Sir Robert Peel, containinghis acceptance of the Guards. At the same time, both the Prince andQueen feel much regret at the Prince's leaving the 11th, which is, if possible, enhanced by seeing the Regiment out to-day, which isin beautiful order. It was, besides, the Regiment which escorted thePrince from Dover to Canterbury on his arrival in England in February'40. The Queen fears, indeed knows, that Lord Cardigan will be deeplymortified at the Prince's leaving the Regiment, and that it will havethe effect of appearing like another slight to him; therefore, theQueen much wishes that at some fit opportunity[29] a mark of favourshould be bestowed upon him. .. . 

The Queen hopes Sir Robert will think of this. 

 [Footnote 29: Lord Cardigan was promoted Major-General in 1847. He became Inspector-General of Cavalry, and received the K. C. B. In 1855. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _26th April 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, andacknowledges with many thanks your Majesty's letter of the 24th inst. , which he received yesterday morning. Lord Melbourne learns with thegreatest satisfaction that Lady Lyttelton has undertaken the importantand interesting charge, for which she is so well fitted. LordMelbourne is most sincerely of opinion that no other person so wellqualified could have been selected. Lord Melbourne will keep thematter strictly secret; he has not yet mentioned it to any one, norhas he heard it mentioned by any other person, which, as it must beknown to some, rather surprises him. Unreserved approbation cannotbe expected for anything, but when it is known, Lord Melbourneanticipates that it will meet with as general an assent as could beanticipated for a choice in which all the community will take, andindeed have, so deep an interest. 

[Pageheading: GOETHE AND SCHILLER]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _15th May 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He isvery sorry indeed, and entreats your Majesty's pardon for his greatomission on Monday evening. He was never told that he was to passbefore your Majesty at the beginning; at the same time he admitsthat it was a blundering piece of stupidity not to find this out ofhimself. After this he never saw the glimmer of a chance of being ableto get near to your Majesty. 

Lord Melbourne wonders much who could have whispered to your Majestythat he felt or expressed anything but the most unqualified admirationof the ball, which was the most magnificent and beautiful spectaclethat he ever beheld. Lord Melbourne also believes it to be verypopular, for the reasons which your Majesty mentions. 

Your Majesty having generally chosen handsome and attractive girls forthe Maids of Honour, which is very right, must expect to lose them inthis way. Lord Melbourne is very glad of the marriage. Lord Emlyn[30]always seemed to him a very pleasing young man, and well calculated tomake a woman happy. 

Lord Melbourne felt quite sure that there had been a mistake about BenStanley, which was the reason that he mentioned his name. He is sorrythat he has made a fool of himself by writing. Having had so much todo with invitations during the two last years, he was not altogetherunnaturally mortified to find himself not invited there. [31] Stanleyis not a man to whom Lord Melbourne is very partial, but we must giveevery one his due. Lord Melbourne always discourages to the utmost ofhis power the notion of any one's having a right or claim to be asked, which notion, however, has a strong possession of the minds of peoplein general. 

Lord Melbourne is come down here again, being determined to see thisspring thoroughly and completely. His feelings are like those, sobeautifully described by Schiller, of Max Piccolomini, [32] when, aftera youth passed entirely in war, he for the first time sees a countrywhich has enjoyed the blessings of peace. The Germans seem to LordMelbourne generally to prefer Goethe to Schiller, a decision whichsurprises him, although he feels that he has no right to dictate toa people, of whose language he does not understand a word, theirjudgment upon their own authors. But the one, Schiller, seems to himto be all truth, clearness, nature and beauty; the other, principallymysticism, obscurity, and unintelligibility. 

Lord Melbourne intends to return on Wednesday, and will have thehonour and pleasure of waiting upon your Majesty on Thursday. 

 [Footnote 30: The second Earl Cawdor, who married Miss Sarah Mary Cavendish. ]

 [Footnote 31: Edward John, afterwards second Lord Stanley of Alderley, was nicknamed Ben, after "Sir Benjamin Backbite. " He had mentioned to Lord Melbourne that he was disappointed at not receiving an invitation to the Royal Ball. ]

 [Footnote 32: In the Wallenstein Trilogy. ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _20th May 1842. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I found here yesterday a very long and dearletter from your august hand, which made me very happy. Your _fête_I believe to have been most probably one of the most splendid _ever_given. There is hardly a country where so much magnificence exists;Austria has some of the means, but the Court is not elegant from itsnature. We regret sincerely not to have been able to witness it, andwill admire the exhibition of your splendid costume. 

[Pageheading: MR EDWIN LANDSEER]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _27th May 1842. _

. .. Sir Robert Peel humbly submits his opinion to your Majesty thatMr Landseer's eminence as an artist would fully justify his havingthe honour of Knighthood, and would not give any legitimate ground ofcomplaint to any other artist on account of a similar distinction notbeing conferred on him. 

Sir Robert Peel proposes therefore to write to Mr Landseer on thesubject, as your Majesty's opinion appears to be in favour of his nameappearing with the others, should he wish for the distinction. .. . 

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _28th May 1842. _

The Queen is quite vexed at having been quite unable to write to LordMelbourne sooner, but we have been so occupied that she could not. Shewas so vexed too to have not had her head turned the other way whenshe met him yesterday, but she was looking at the Prince, her Uncle, and Cousins riding, and only turned to see Lord Melbourne's groom whomshe instantly recognised, but too late, alas! The Queen spent avery merry, happy birthday at dear old Claremont, and we finished bydancing in the gallery. She was grieved Lord Melbourne could not bethere. 

We have got our dear Uncle Mensdorff[33] and his four sons here, whichis a great happiness to us. Dear Uncle (who Lord Melbourne is aware isa _most_ distinguished officer) is a delightful and amiable old man, and the sons are all so nice and amiable and kind and good; LordMelbourne remembers seeing Alexander here in 1839, and that theQueen was very partial to him. The two eldest and the youngest--Hugo, Alphonse, and Arthur--are all amiable, though none near sogood-looking, but so very well brought up and so unassuming. Thesecond is very clever. And it is quite beautiful to see the love thefather has for his sons, and _vice versâ_--and the affection the fourbrothers have for one another; this is so rarely seen that it doesone's heart good to witness it. The Queen has appointed the Duchess ofNorfolk in Lady Lyttelton's place, and intends appointing Lady Canningin Lady Dalhousie's, who has resigned from ill-health. 

Lady Lyttelton _is_ established here in her new office, and doeseverything admirably. 

The Queen must conclude here as she has got so much to do--hoping LordMelbourne is well. 

 [Footnote 33: _See_ p. 97. ]

[Pageheading: LANDSEER DECLINES KNIGHTHOOD]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _31st May 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave toacquaint your Majesty, that he has just seen Mr Landseer. 

Mr Landseer repeated his expressions of deep and sincere gratitude forthe favour and kindness with which your Majesty had contemplatedhis claims for professional distinction, but appeared to retain theimpression that he had yet scarcely done enough to entitle him to thehonour which it was contemplated to bestow upon him. 

In the course of conversation he observed that he was now occupiedupon works of a more important character than any that he had yetcompleted, and mentioned particularly an equestrian portrait of yourMajesty. He said that when these works were finished, and should theyprove successful and meet with your Majesty's approbation, he mightfeel himself better entitled to receive a mark of your Majesty'sfavour. 

As these were evidently his sincere impressions and wishes, Sir RobertPeel forbore from pressing upon him the immediate acceptance of thehonour of Knighthood. 

[Pageheading: ATTEMPT ON THE QUEEN]

[Pageheading: JOHN FRANCIS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _31st May 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE. --I wish to be the first to inform you of whathappened yesterday evening, and to tell you that we are _saines etsauves_. On returning from the chapel on Sunday, Albert was observinghow civil the people were, and then suddenly turned to me and said itappeared to him as though a man had held out a pistol to the carriage, and that it had hung fire; accordingly, when we came home he mentionedit to Colonel Arbuthnot, who was only to tell it to Sir J. Graham andSir Robert Peel, and have the police instructed, and _nobody else_. No one, however, who was with us, such as footmen, etc. , had seenanything at all. Albert began to doubt what he believed he had seen. Well, yesterday morning (Monday) a lad came to Murray[34] (who ofcourse knew nothing) and said that he saw a man in the crowd aswe came home from church, present a pistol to the carriage, which, however, did not go off, and heard the man say, "Fool that I was notto fire!" The man then vanished, and this boy followed another man(an old man) up St James's Street who repeated twice, "How veryextraordinary!" but instead of saying anything to the police, askedthe boy for his direction and disappeared. The boy accordingly wassent to Sir Robert Peel, and (doubtful as it all still was) everyprecaution was taken, still keeping the thing completely secret, nota soul in the house knowing a word, and accordingly after someconsultation, as _nothing_ could be done, we drove out--many policethen in plain clothes being distributed in and about the parks, andthe two Equerries riding so close on each side that they must havebeen hit, if anybody had; still the feeling of looking out for such aman was not _des plus agréables_; however, we drove through the parks, up to Hampstead, and back again. All was so quiet that we almostthought of nothing, --when, as we drove down Constitution Hill, veryfast, we heard the report of a pistol, but not at all loud, so thathad we not been on the alert we should hardly have taken notice ofit. We saw the man seized by a policeman _next to whom he was standingwhen he_ fired, but we did not stop. Colonel Arbuthnot and two otherssaw him take aim, but we only _heard_ the report (looking both theother way). We felt both very glad that our drive had had the effectof having the man seized. Whether it was loaded or not we cannot yettell, but we are again full of gratitude to Providence for invariably_protecting_ us! The feeling of horror is very great in the public, and great affection is shown us. The man was yesterday examined at theHome Office, is called John Francis, is a cabinet-maker, and son of amachine-maker of Covent Garden Theatre, is good-looking (they say). Ihave never seen him at all close, but Arbuthnot gave the descriptionof him from what he saw on Sunday, which exactly answered. Only twentyor twenty-one years old, and _not_ the _least_ mad--but very cunning. The boy identified him this morning, amongst many others. Everythingis to be kept secret _this_ time, which is very right, and altogetherI think it is being well done. Every further particular you shallhear. I was really not at all frightened, and feel _very_ proud atdear Uncle Mensdorff calling me "_sehr muthig_, " which I shall everremember with peculiar pride, coming from so distinguished an officeras he is! Thank God, my Angel is also well! but he says that hadthe man fired on Sunday, he must have been hit in the head! God ismerciful; that indeed we must feel daily more! Uncle and cousins werequite horrified. .. . Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

You will tell Louise _all_, of course. 

 [Footnote 34: The Hon. Charles Augustus Murray, Master of the Household, afterwards Consul-General of Egypt, and Minister in Persia and at Dresden. ]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

BUSHEY HOUSE (_Monday night_), _May 1842. _

MY DEAR NIECE, --I must write a line to express to you what I feltwhen I took up the newspapers which informed me of what had happenedyesterday. Is it possible?--can it be true? was my first question. However, the detailed accounts leave no doubt that a pistol waspointed at you again, though not fired. It is really shocking thatsuch wretches exist who dare tempt (_sic_) to alarm you--though inthis instance there was nothing alarming except the evil spirit whichinspired the boy. 

How grateful must we not feel to our merciful God, who protects you sovisibly, and gives you courage and confidence in Him, who is and everwill be your safest guard and support. Trust in Him and you will notfail to be well guided. 

I hope it is true that you were not aware of what had happened whenyou went to church, not to be disturbed in your devotions, and thatthe account did not agitate you. 

Edward[35] came yesterday from town, but he knew nothing but that apistol had been taken from a man in the Park. We hardly believedthe story till the papers informed us of the truth. Pray say to dearAlbert what I feel _for_ and _with you both_, and how I thank God andpray that His merciful protection may never fail you. 

We are going to Frogmore to-morrow, and from there shall drive in thePark and to St George's Chapel. I hope the weather will be as fineas it was to-day. God bless and guard you ever and ever! dearestVictoria, prays your most devotedly attached Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

 [Footnote 35: Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _1st June 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He was muchshocked at learning, which he did not do until six o'clock yesterdayevening, the event which took place on Monday. After what took placeon Sunday, it must have been a trial to your Majesty's nerves, andstill more to those of the Prince, to go out on Monday; but it appearsto Lord Melbourne that your Majesty judged quite correctly in doingso. Lord Melbourne hardly knows what to say of this repeated attempt. It is a depravity and a malice as unintelligible as it is atrocious. Lord Melbourne is at least as grateful as any one of your Majesty'ssubjects, and the gratitude is universal and fervent for yourMajesty's safety. 

Lord Melbourne had ridden over in the morning to visit Lord and LadyUxbridge in their rural retirement, and upon his return to BrocketHall, about six o'clock, found the morning newspaper with the accountsof what had happened. If they had sent him down a messenger on Mondaynight, which it would have been better to have done, he would havebeen yesterday in his place in the House of Lords. 

Lord Melbourne found Uxbridge enveloped in parcels and boxes, whichhe was busy unpacking, Lady Uxbridge reclining by the stream under theshade of a plane-tree, and the two young ladies somewhat pensive. Theplace looked beautiful, but Lord Melbourne fears that all its beautywill not be a compensation to them for London at this time of theyear. 

[Pageheading: THE ADDRESS]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _1st June 1842. _

Sir James Graham, with humble duty to your Majesty, submits a copyof the Answer to the Address; and an alteration has been made in theAnswer which Sir James Graham hopes may render it conformable to thetender and generous feelings which your Majesty has deigned to expresswith reference to the Prince. 

The two Houses of Parliament followed the exact precedent whichhas been established in Oxford's case; and although the life of thePrince, so dear to your Majesty, is highly valued by all your lovingsubjects, yet the crime of treason attaches only to an attack on thesacred person of your Majesty; and the expressions used by Parliamentwith reference to these atrocious crimes, when directed against theSovereign, are necessarily inapplicable to any other person, and couldnot be used with propriety. Hence the omission in the former caseof all allusion to the Prince; and the silence of Parliament on thepresent occasion is to be ascribed to the same cause--not to any coldindifference, which the general feeling of attachment to the Princeentirely forbids. 

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's dutiful Subject andServant, J. R. G. GRAHAM. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th June 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I was sure of the kind interest you would take inthe event of the 29th and 30th. I am most thankful for your very kind, long letter of the 3rd, which I received the day before yesterday. Ihave so little time--as we are just setting off for Ascot--that Ican hardly write anything to you. There seems no doubt whatever thatFrancis is totally without accomplices, and a _mauvais sujet_. Weshall be able probably to tell you more when we see you. I am grievedthat you have deferred your visit again. We are then to expect yourarrival either on the Tuesday or Wednesday? Very thankful we should besoon to hear whom you bring with you. 

Dear Uncle and the Cousins are delighted with Windsor, and the weatheris beautiful, only unfortunately _too_ hot to be pleasant. I rode onmy little Barb at a review of Cavalry at Wormwood Scrubbs on Saturday, _dont je suis bien fière_. Now adieu! dearest Uncle. In haste, yourdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN]

[Pageheading: SALE AND POLLOCK]

_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria. _

INDIA BOARD, _7th June 1842. _

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, humblyacquaints your Majesty that despatches have been this day receivedfrom the Governor-General and the several Presidencies of India. 

They announce a signal victory, achieved by Sir Robert Sale and hisadmirable garrison. [36]

The circumstances attending his glorious success, and the consequenceslikely to result from it, are amongst the most important of thishurtful war. 

They are described in Sir Robert Sale's Report, as published in the_Bombay Gazette_, a copy of which is most humbly submitted to yourMajesty. 

The despatches further bring the gratifying intelligence that GeneralPollock had forced the Khyber Pass, and, defeating the enemy onevery point, had surmounted the chief obstacles of that dangerousdefile. [37]

The relief of the brave men under Sir Robert Sale, to which their owngallantry and their late victory have so mainly contributed, may nowbe regarded as certain from the success of General Pollock's advance. 

It is with regret that Lord Fitzgerald has to add that the citadelof Ghuznee has surrendered on the faith of a capitulation, perhapsalready violated, and that General England, who had marched with aconvoy of treasure, and other supplies for the Army at Candahar, hadbeen forced to retrace his steps and had arrived at Quetta. 

At the same time, however, General Nott had dispersed considerableassemblages of rebel tribes, whom he had defeated with loss, whilean attack made during his absence on the city of Candahar had beeneffectually repulsed by that portion of his force which had been leftfor its defence. 

The Governor-General having proceeded in person to the North-WesternProvinces of Bengal, had issued at Benares General Orderscongratulating the Army on the return of victory to its ranks, and onthe fresh lustre thus added to your Majesty's Arms. 

FITZGERALD AND VESCI. 

 [Footnote 36: Sir R. Sale, who with his column had thrown himself into Jellalabad on 13th November 1841, and had heard Brydon's narrative, made a _sortie_ on 7th April, and secured a great victory over Akbar Khan, whose force outnumbered Sale's by five to one. ]

 [Footnote 37: General Pollock, whom Auckland had selected for the command, and who found everything in confusion on the frontier, swept the Khyber Pass of the enemy, and joined Sale. The insurrection had spread to Candahar, where General (afterwards Sir William) Nott was in command with a force of 10, 000 men. He heard of Macnaghten's murder on 31st January, and, like Sale, refused to follow the order received (under coercion, as he believed) from Elphinstone to return to India. On the contrary, he ordered all Afghans to leave Candahar, marched out himself and attacked and dispersed the enemy, 12, 000 strong; while a flank movement made by the enemy on the city was repulsed with great loss. General (afterwards Sir Richard) England started from Quetta with reinforcements, but met with a reverse at Haikalzai; meanwhile also Colonel Palmer had had to make terms at Ghuznee, and had to encounter treachery. Nott, who was badly in want of money and ammunition for the troops, sent imperative orders to General England to reinforce him, which he did early in May. ]

[Pageheading: DEBATE ON THE INCOME TAX]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _10th June 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He hasthought it better not to interrupt your Majesty with letters duringthe bustle of the last week, but he cannot omit to express to yourMajesty how much he was struck with the letter of the 2nd inst. Whichhe received, and how entirely he concurs in the justice and proprietyof your Majesty's feelings and observations. Let us hope that we shallhave no more of these horrid attempts, which are generated by thewild notions of the time, and by the expectation, extravagant andunfounded, so industriously inculcated into the public mind, ofadvantages to be derived from change and confusion; Lord Melbourneanxiously hopes that the painful impressions which such eventsare calculated to produce upon your Majesty's mind, and which theynecessarily must produce, will pass away and that nothing will happento renew and revive them. 

Lord Melbourne is happy to hear from Normanby that everything passedoff well and successfully at Windsor and at Ascot. The last is alwaysrather a doubtful and disagreeable ordeal to pass through. 

We should have got through the debate upon the Income Tax this eveningin the House of Lords, if Lansdowne had not unfortunately this morninghad an access of gout in the hand, which prevented him from attending, and obliged the debate to be deferred. Lord Melbourne hopes that theresolution which Lansdowne is to move[38] is put in such a shape as tovindicate our course, and at the same time not to condemn that whichhas been adopted overmuch, nor to pledge us for the future. .. . 

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is well and not toomuch affected by the heat of this weather, which does not suit LordMelbourne very well. In conjunction with a large dinner which we hadat the Reform Club in honour of the Duke of Sussex, it has given LordMelbourne a good deal of headache and indisposition. The Duke was invery good humour, and much pleased with the dinner, but he was by nomeans well or strong. 

 [Footnote 38: This Resolution was in favour of altering the Corn, Sugar, and Timber Duties, in preference to imposing an Income Tax. It was negatived by 112 to 52. ]

[Pageheading: QUEEN'S FIRST RAILWAY JOURNEY]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _14th June 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Though I shall have the inexpressible happinessof seeing you and dearest Louise so soon, I write these few linesto thank you for your very kind letter of the 9th. We arrived hereyesterday morning, having come by the railroad, from Windsor, in halfan hour, free from dust and crowd and heat, and I am quite charmedwith it. [39] We spent a delightful time at Windsor, which would havebeen still pleasanter had not the heat been such, ever since Saturdayweek, that one is quite overcome; the grass is quite brown, and theearth full of wide cracks; there has not been a drop of rain since the24th, my birthday! We rode and walked and danced, and I think I neverwas better than in all this fatigue and exercise. .. . 

I get every day fonder of dearest, excellent Uncle Mensdorff and thedear cousins, who are so amiable and good and unassuming; really, insociety they keep quite in the background. They are out and out thenicest cousins we have. I am sure what I can do for them I shall betoo happy to do. Alexander is the most distinguished and solid, but Alphonse and Arthur the most unassuming. There is something sopeculiarly _good_ in dear Arthur! and they are all five so fond ofPussy, and she so fond of them. .. . Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 39: This was the Queen's first journey on the Great Western Railway. The Prince had often used it, and had been known to say, on descending from the train, "Not quite so fast next time, Mr Conductor, if you please. "--Acworth, _The Railways of England_, p. 17. ]

[Pageheading: THE INCOME TAX BILL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _19th June 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and offersmany thanks for the letter, which he received yesterday evening. LordMelbourne is very glad to hear that your Majesty has enjoyed in thesociety of your near and dear relations so much happiness, which, likeall other things, must have its portion of alloy in their departure. Lord Melbourne was much pleased with the short conversation whichhe had with Count Mensdorff at Stafford House, and it is highlyinteresting to see at this distance of time a man who has been engagedin affairs so important and of so awful and melancholy a character. Your Majesty is surely right in terming your cousins young men; ifthe health and constitution be good, thirty-six is a young man, twenty-nine and thirty-two very young men, and twenty-five quite aboy. The weather has been very hot but very fine. The rain was so muchrequired that Lord Melbourne cannot lament its coming, but he alsoregrets the hot suns which it has banished. 

The course which had been taken upon the Income Tax in the House ofCommons, [40] contrary to Lord Melbourne's wish and opinion, renderedit impossible for Lord Melbourne directly to support the Bill in theHouse of Lords without offending and separating himself from the wholebody of those who supported the last Government. 

He therefore acquiesced in the resolution, which was moved by LordLansdowne, and which did not oppose the measure, but declared that itmight have been avoided if the course which we had proposed had beentaken. In the debate Lord Melbourne argued as strongly as he could infavour of the tax, and ended by declaring that if it was imposed, hecould not pledge himself for the future against maintaining and evenextending it. Lord Melbourne is anxious to make this explanation ofhis conduct to your Majesty, and hopes therefore that your Majestywill forgive his writing thus much upon this subject. Lord Melbournevery much lamented that the business did not terminate as amiably asit began, and that a contest should have been got into respecting thethird reading of the Bill; but considering that the measure had passedby accident through its first stages without any debate, and thatthere were Lords who were still desirous of speaking upon it, it wasimprudent of the Ministers not at once to give another day for thatpurpose, especially as they were sure to be compelled to do so byrepeated motions of adjournment. 

The feelings which your Majesty expresses upon the conviction of thisman[41] are natural, and such as must arise in your Majesty's bosom;but Lord Melbourne knows very well that your Majesty will at once seethe necessity of not yielding to your own feelings, and of leaving theissue entirely in the hands of your advisers. 

Without any reference to personal or particular circumstances, withoutadverting to your Majesty's age, sex, qualities mental or personal, without attending to any sentiments of attachment or affection whichmay be felt for your Majesty's person, it must be remembered that yourMajesty's life is, from the position which you occupy and the officewhich you fill, the most important life in these realms; it is alsotoo clear that it is the most exposed life in the country, the lifethe most obnoxious[42] to danger; and therefore it is a duty to throwaround it every protection which the law and the execution of the lawcan afford. 

Lord Melbourne was sure that your Majesty, being fond of speed, wouldbe delighted with the railway. Lord Melbourne hopes that your Majestywas not much affected by the heat, which he feared that you would be. 

Has your Majesty read the last volume of Madame D'Arblay's (MissBurney) Diary, which contains the account of her service in the familyof George III. ?[43] It is a curious [work], gives a curious account ofthe _intérieur_, and shows the King and Queen and the Princesses in avery amiable light. 

 [Footnote 40: Lord John Russell had strenuously opposed the Income Tax Bill, but had been defeated by large majorities. ]

 [Footnote 41: Frances was tried on 17th June, and convicted. The death sentence was commuted to one of transportation for life. ]

 [Footnote 42: Used in the classical sense of "exposed to"; _cf. _ "obnoxia fato. "]

 [Footnote 43: The first five volumes were published this year, Madame D'Arblay having died in 1840, at the age of eighty-seven. Croker somewhat rancorously attacked them in the _Quarterly_, to which Macaulay replied in the _Edinburgh_. ]

[Pageheading: A PRESENT FROM MUSCAT]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _28th June 1842. _

Lord Aberdeen, with his humble duty, begs to enclose for yourMajesty's information a list of the presents brought by the Envoy ofthe Imam of Muscat for your Majesty. 

Lord Aberdeen will attend to-morrow with the Envoy, at the hour yourMajesty has been pleased to command; and he will suggest that thepresents should be sent previously to the Palace, in order to be laidbefore your Majesty. 

[List of Articles sent for Her Most Gracious Majesty, The Mighty Queen, a trifling Gift scarce worth being mentioned. ]

 Two Pearl Necklaces, Two Emeralds, An Ornament made like a Crown, Ten Cashmere Shawls, One Box containing four Bottles Otto of Roses. Four Horses, before mentioned in a former letter, but forthe transmission of which no opportunity offered in Bombay, but now sent in my own ship. Through your kindness havethose things taken[44] from Ali bin Nassur, and make an excusefor me to Her Most Gracious Majesty, and peace be on you!

 [Footnote 44: _I. E. _ accept. ]

_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria. _

INDIA BOARD, _4th July 1842. _

. .. From the seat of war, the intelligence is most satisfactory. Theconduct of the army, its perseverance and its courage, have not beensurpassed in the military history of British India. 

Recent events have not, however, changed the views of LordEllenborough as to the general policy which he recommends to bepursued. 

He regards as the best result of that success which has attendedthe Arms of your Majesty, that it admits of withdrawing, withoutdishonour, the British force to positions of safety, having certainand uninterrupted communications with the British territory. 

From other quarters the reports are equally favourable. The successfuladvance of a division commanded by Brigadier-General England may beregarded as ensuring the safety of the force at Candahar. 

In the Indian Dominions and in the native Army the best spiritprevails. 

All of which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty, by yourMajesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant, FITZGERALD AND VESCI. 

[Pageheading: BEAN'S ATTEMPT ON THE QUEEN]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _4th July 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and isanxious to express his earnest hope that your Majesty is well andnot disturbed by the event[45] which took place yesterday, andwhich, although it appears not to have been dangerous in itself, isformidable as affording additional evidence of the ease with whichpersons of the lower orders can incite themselves, or be incited byothers, to the contemplation and commission of such acts. The onlyobservation that can be made upon these attempts is, that hithertothey appear to have been made by those who have not the means ofexecuting their own wicked designs, and that they are not marked bythe same determination and the same long and ferocious preparationwhich characterised in France the conduct of Fieschi and Alibaud. [46]Lord Melbourne is not of opinion that the extension of mercy toFrancis--which from what Lord Melbourne hears of the opinion of thejudges he apprehends to have been unavoidable--could have had anyeffect in encouraging this man to a similar act; at the same time itis impossible to say what may have had an effect upon the mind, andwe can only collect the intentions of men from the deeds which theyperform. 

Lord Melbourne thanks your Majesty much for your letter of the 26thult. Lord Melbourne again expresses his fervent wishes for yourMajesty's health, safety, and tranquillity of mind. 

 [Footnote 45: Bean, a deformed lad, presented a pistol at the Queen in the Mall. ]

 [Footnote 46: The perpetrators of attempts on King Louis Philippe. ]

[Pageheading: DEATH OF THE DUKE OF ORLEANS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CLAREMONT, _14th July 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --These two horrible news of poor dear Chartres'[47]fatal accident have quite overcome us. It is the most dreadfulmisfortune I ever remember, and will be felt everywhere. I can't say_how_ I feel it; I liked and admired him, and know how he was adoredby all of you, and by poor wretched Hélène, whom this will kill. Thosepoor helpless little children! it is _too_ melancholy. After escapingfrom so many dangers, to be cut off in this way is _too_ dreadful!God knows what is for our best, but this does seem difficult tounderstand. I pray and hope that you will all be mercifully supportedunder this heavy bereavement. I think it is so dreadful that poorHélène could not be with him in his last moments! God be with you all, and believe me, ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

I had begun a letter to poor _Chartres_ this morning. 

 [Footnote 47: On 13th July the Duke of Orleans (formerly Duc de Chartres), eldest son of Louis Philippe, was thrown from his phaeton near the Porte Maillot, Paris, and died shortly afterwards. He was the father of the Comte de Paris and the Duc de Chartres. ]

[Pageheading: ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _15th July 1842. _

MY BELOVED VICTORIA, --You have surely already heard of the heavyvisitation God has sent us. My beloved brother was unexpectedly takenaway from us before yesterday evening. Before yesterday morning hewent to Neuilly to take leave of my parents, previous to his departurefor St Omer. The horses ran away: he had the unfortunate idea to jumpout from his barouche--a thing I cannot understand, as he had onall occasions an uncommon presence of mind--fell upon his head, andexpired a few hours afterwards, in presence of my too unfortunateparents, without having recovered his consciousness. It is thegreatest misfortune that could happen to us. 

We are quite stunned by the sudden and horrid blow, and I cannotbelieve it yet, although I have before me the letter of my poorparents. They are full of courage and resignation to the willof Providence; but I do not understand what will become of them, particularly of my mother, who loved so fondly, and with so muchreason, my brother, and of the too unfortunate Hélène. May God helpthem and have mercy on them! Clémentine and Victoire are gone toPlombières to give to Hélène the fatal news, and bring her back:it will most probably be her death. My parents wished to see usimmediately, and we go to-morrow to Paris. 

I am sure, my beloved Victoria, of the share you will take in themisfortune, the greatest which could befall us, and I thank youbeforehand for it. God's will be done! May He at least alwaysbless you, and preserve those you love from all evil and danger! Inaffliction as in joy, I am, ever, my beloved Victoria, yours mostdevotedly, LOUISE. 

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

CLAREMONT, _16th July 1842. _

The Queen is anxious to draw Sir Robert Peel's attention to acircumstance which she has already some months ago mentioned to him:this is relative to Sir Edward Disbrowe. [48] The Queen knows that SirRobert Peel shares her opinion as to Sir Edward Disbrowe's abilitiesnot being of the first order, but this is not the only thing; what shechiefly complains of is his decided unfairness towards Belgium, whichshe thinks has always shown itself, and again most strongly in hislast despatches. The King of the Belgians has never dropped a word onthe subject, but the Queen really feels it her duty by her Uncle tostate this frankly to Sir Robert Peel, and to say that she thinks ithighly important that Sir Edward Disbrowe should be removed to someother Mission. Of course she wishes that this should be donequietly, but she thinks that with a man like the present King of theNetherlands, who is continually intriguing in Belgium and making herUncle's position very painful, it is of the utmost importance thatour Minister there should be totally _unbiassed_--which Sir EdwardDisbrowe most decidedly is not. Could not Sir T. Cartwright be sentthere, and Sir Edward Disbrowe go to Stockholm? The Queen merelysuggests this; but, of course, as long as the man sent to the Hague issensible and _fair_, it is indifferent to her who goes there. .. . 

 [Footnote 48: Then British Minister at the Hague. ]

[Pageheading: GRIEF OF THE QUEEN]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

CLAREMONT, _17th July 1842. _

The Queen had intended to have written to Lord Melbourne some timeago to have thanked him for his kind letter of the 5th, but she wasso occupied, first of all with the arrival of our brother and sister, with our removal here, and lastly by the dreadful misfortune at Paris, which has completely overpowered her, and made her quite ill--thatit prevented her from doing so. The Queen is sure that Lord Melbournewill have warmly shared the universal horror and regret at theuntimely and fearfully sudden end of so amiable and distinguished aPrince as poor Chartres (as we all called the Duke of Orleans) was!The loss to France, and indeed Europe, is very great; but to the RoyalFamily, dearest Louise (who all doted on him), and above all to poorunfortunate Hélène, who adored him (and he was a most devoted husbandto her), and to his two poor little boys of four and one years old--heis an irreparable loss. The Queen has heard from none yet, but hasseen a letter from Guizot, who was a witness of the _last scene_, which is quite truly reported in the papers; he says it wasfearful--the poor Duke lying and dying on a mattress on the floorsurrounded by his parents and sisters, kneeling and praying aroundtheir dearly beloved Child! Alas! poor Hélène had not even thatcomfort!

The Queen is very glad that the Bill for the better security of herperson has passed so quickly and in so gratifying a manner throughboth Houses. 

We are here since yesterday week, enjoying the fine weather, and greatquiet and peace; but the news from Paris have damped our spirits. 

The Queen is charmed with her new sister, [49] who is a most amiable, sensible, and gentle creature, and without being really handsome, verypretty and pleasing. 

We return to town to-morrow and the Queen hopes soon to see LordMelbourne. We intend going to Windsor to settle, on Saturday. 

The Queen trusts Lord Melbourne is quite well. 

 [Footnote 49: The Duchess Ernest of Saxe-Coburg. ]

[Pageheading: LETTER FROM KING LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_The King of the French to Queen Victoria. _

NEUILLY, _17 Juillet 1842. _

MADAME MA BIEN CHÈRE ET BIEN BONNE S[OE]UR, --J'ai bien reconnule c[oe]ur de votre Majesté dans l'empressement qu'elle a mis àm'exprimer la part qu'elle prend à mon malheur. Ma malheureuse Reineen est également bien touchée, et si elle ne le témoigne pas elle-mêmedès aujourd'hui à votre Majesté, c'est qu'elle est encore dansl'impossibilité d'écrire. Nous osons lui demander tous les deux, d'être notre interprète auprès du Prince Albert, et de lui direcombien nous sommes sensibles à son intérêt. S'il pouvait y avoir uneconsolation au coup affreux qui a frappé nos vieux jours, ce seraitces témoignages d'intérêt, et les regrets dont on entoure le tombeaude mon enfant chéri, et la perte immense que tous ont faite en lui!C'est à présent qu'on sent ce qu'il était, et ce qu'il devenait chaquejour de plus en plus. 

Je remercie de nouveau votre Majesté, du fond de mon c[oe]ur brisé, detous les sentiments dont elle veut bien me donner tant de preuves, etje la prie d'agréer l'expression de la haute estime et de l'inviolableamitié avec lesquelles, je suis, Madame, ma très chère S[oe]ur, devotre Majesté, le bien affectionné Frère, LOUIS PHILIPPE R. 

_The Queen of the French to Queen Victoria. _

NEUILLY, _19 Juillet 1842. _

MADAME MA TRÈS CHÈRE S[OE]UR, --Je comptais que votre Majesté et lePrince Albert s'associeraient à notre immense douleur; que Dieu vousbénisse pour les tendres expressions de votre lettre. Nous sommesanéantis par le coup dont Dieu nous a frappés, que sa Sainte Volontésoit faite! J'ai perdu l'objet de ma plus vive tendresse, celui quidepuis 32 ans avait été mon amour, mon bonheur, et ma gloire, plein devie, d'avenir, ma tête n'y est plus, mon c[oe]ur est flétri, je tâchede me résigner, je pleure et je prie pour cette Ame qui m'était sichère et pour que Dieu nous conserve l'infortuné et précieux Roi dontla douleur est incommensurable; nous tâchons de nous réunir touspour faire un faisceau autour de lui. Notre ange de Louise et votreexcellent oncle sont arrivés avant-hier; leur présence nous a faitdu bien. Hélène, anéantie par la douleur, a un courage admirable, sasanté se soutient. Nemours, dont l'affliction est inexprimable, tâchede prendre des forces pour nous consoler tous, et les bonnes Victoireet Clémentine après l'horrible et douleureuse scène à laquelle ellesavaient assisté, ont passé trois nuits pour aller chercher leurinfortunée Belle-S[oe]ur. Enfin, Dieu veut que nous vivions pour noussoutenir les uns les autres, que ce Dieu Tout Puissant vous bénisse, Madame, et vous préserve à jamais de pareilles douleurs, c'est lev[oe]u bien sincère de celle qui se dit de tout son c[oe]ur, Madame, De votre Majesté la toute dévouée S[oe]ur, MARIE AMÉLIE. 

[Pageheading: LEIGH HUNT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _22nd July 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty, and ventures to transmit thecopy of Mr Leigh Hunt's poem, which he mentioned to your Majesty inhis last letter. Lord Melbourne also sends the letter which Mr LeighHunt has taken the liberty of addressing to your Majesty, as well asthat which he has addressed to Lord Melbourne. Lord Melbourne willinform Mr Hunt that he has done this, and it is not at all requiredthat any further notice should be taken. [50]

It is a very gay and lively work, and has in it some wit and fun. 

Lord Melbourne had great pleasure yesterday in seeing your Majestywell and in good spirits. 

 [Footnote 50: The poem was no doubt _The Palfrey; a Love-Story of Old Times_. ]

_Mr Leigh Hunt to Viscount Melbourne. _

32 EDWARDES SQUARE, KENSINGTON, _15th July 1842. _

MY LORD, --I was once speaking to Mr Fonblanque[51] of my unwillingnessto trouble your Lordship, when Prime Minister, with a request to laymy tragedy of the _Legend of Florence_[52] before Her Majesty; and hesaid that he was sure your good-nature would not have been displeasedwith it. This is the reason why I now venture to ask whether a similarkindness might be shown the accompanying little poem, supposingno etiquette to stand in the way of it. I have no Tory channels ofcommunication with the Palace, nor wish to seek any; neither can Itrespass upon any friendships of Her Majesty's, unless they can findmy excuse in some previous knowledge of me. On the other hand, I haveno fear of being supposed by your Lordship to approach one who is nolonger Premier with less respect than when he was in power. I wouldeven venture to say, if the mode of testifying it were not so poor aone, that it is in a double spirit of respectfulness the applicationis made. Should it be of a nature calculated to give your Lordship anyperplexity, I can only blush for having been the occasion of it, andbeg it may be laid to the account of an ignorance which lives verymuch out of the world. The same reason will plead my excuse fornot knowing whether a letter to Her Majesty ought, or ought not, toaccompany the book; and for begging your Lordship, after its perusal, to suppress it or otherwise accordingly, in case you can oblige mein the other part of my request. Your Lordship will perceive that theAddress prefixed to the poem, not having ventured to ask Her Majesty'spermission, does not presume to call itself a dedication; neither doesit leave the public under any erroneous impression whatsoever as tothe nature of its intentions: and on this account I not only expect, of course, no acknowledgment of its receipt on the part of anyone about Her Majesty's person, but shall be more than content tounderstand by your Lordship's own silence that my book has reached itsdestination, and therefore not been considered altogether unworthy ofit. 

The bookseller tells me that it is no longer "the mode" for authors topresent their volumes _bound_; but in regard to books intended to goto Court, he is not quite so certain; and I find it so difficult todisassociate the idea of dress from any such proceeding, that I trustmy inexperience in this respect also will procure me whatever pardonit may require. 

I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's ever grateful andfaithful Servant, LEIGH HUNT. 

 [Footnote 51: Hunt had founded _The Examiner_ in 1808, and Albany Fonblanque (1793-1872) had succeeded him on it as leader writer. ]

 [Footnote 52: Leigh Hunt's play, _A Legend of Florence_, had had a great success at Covent Garden in 1840; in 1852 it was performed at Windsor by the Queen's command. ]

[Pageheading: THE AFFLICTED FAMILY]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

NEUILLY, _21st July 1842. _

MY BELOVED VICTORIA, --I was unable to thank you the other day for yourkind and feeling letter of the 14th, although I was greatly touchedby it, and I trust you will have excused me. I thank you to-day verysincerely for both your letters, and for the share and sympathy youand dear Albert take in our _great misfortune_. I know it is veryheart-felt, and we are all very grateful for it. Victoire and my poormother have already given you news from the unfortunate Hélène. She has sustained and outlived the first shock and shows wonderfulcourage. She is even well in health, and much better and strongerin all ways than I had expected. She takes very much upon herselfon account of the poor children, to prevent that any melancholy orpainful feeling should be connected for them with the remembrance oftheir beloved and unfortunate father. My parents show great fortitudeand resignation, but their hearts are for ever broke. They are onlysustained by their feeling of duty. My poor mother bears up for myfather, and my father bears up to fulfil his duties of father and ofking. Their health is, thank God! good, and my father retains all hisstrength of mind and quickness of judgment; but they are both grownold in looks, and their hairs are turned quite white. 

The first days, my poor father could do nothing but sob, and it wasreally heartbreaking to see him. He begins now to have more commandupon his grief, and the presence of your uncle, whom he dearly loves, seems to do him good. The poor children are well and _merry_ and seemunconscious of their dreadful loss. From time to time only they jumpround us as if looking for protection. The contrast of their gaietywith their horrid misfortune is very painful. Paris is lookingremarkably well and strong. Robert[53] is much grown, extremely quickand lively, and begins to speak. The remainder of the family is, as you may easily imagine, in the _deepest affliction_. Nemoursespecially is quite broken down with grief. Chartres was _more_ thana _brother_ to him, as he was _more_ than a _second father_ to us all. He was the _head_ and the _heart_ and _soul_ of the whole family. Weall looked up to him, and we found him on all occasions. A _better_, or even _such_ a brother was never seen; our loss is as great asirreparable; but God's will be done! He had surely His motives insending on my unfortunate parents the horrid affliction in theirold days, and in removing from us the being who seemed the _mostnecessary_ to the hope and happiness of all; we must submit to Hisdecrees, hard as they are; but it is impossible not to regret that mypoor brother has not at least found the death of a soldier, whichhe had always wished for, instead of such a useless, horrid, andmiserable one! It seems, for no one saw him fall, that he did notjump, as we had thought at first, but that he was thrown from thebarouche, while standing; and I like it in some measure better so, asGod's will is still more manifest in this way. It is equally manifestin _all_ the circumstances attending the catastrophe. My poor brotherwas not even to have come to Neuilly. He had taken leave of my parentsthe day before, and would not have gone again if my unfortunate motherhad not asked him, and if my parents, who were to go to Paris, had notdelayed their departure. .. . 

I thank you again and again, my beloved Victoria, for all yourinterest and sympathy. I was sure you would think of us and of me: youknow how much I loved my brother. I little expected to outlive him, asI had done my beloved Mary;[54] but once more, _God's will be done_. Iremain now and ever, yours most devotedly, LOUISE. 

I perceive I forgot mentioning Ernest. Pray thank him for his sympathyalso. He knows what a brother is, and may feel for us! We expect onSaturday poor Joinville. My father will have thus his four remainingsons round him for the opening of the Session, which takes place onthe 26th, and at which he must preside in person. It is a hard dutyfor him. 

 [Footnote 53: The young Duc de Chartres, born in 1840. ]

 [Footnote 54: See _ante_, p. 144. (Ch. VIII, Footnote 8)]

[Pageheading: THE CORN LAWS]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _23rd July 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave toacquaint your Majesty that last night was occupied in the House ofCommons with another debate on the Corn Laws, again impeding anyprogress with the Government business. The debate was entirelyconfined to those members who act in concert with the Anti-Corn LawLeague. [55] It continued until twelve, when Mr Cobden, the Member forStockport, moved an adjournment of the House, on the ground that noneof your Majesty's servants had taken a part in the debate. .. . 

Several members of the Opposition voted with the Government, anddeclared that they would not be parties to such vexatious proceedings. 

A division on the main question--a Committee to enquire into the stateof the country with a view to the Repeal of the Corn Laws--then tookplace. 

The motion was negatived by a majority of 156 to 64--92. The House didnot adjourn until three this morning. 

 [Footnote 55: The Anti-Corn Law League was rapidly gaining importance, and fiscal policy occupied a great part of the session of 1842. Peel was already reducing import duties on articles other than corn. Cobden had been elected at Stockport, for the first time, in 1841. ]

[Pageheading: FURTHER PARTICULARS OF ACCIDENT]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

NEUILLY, _22nd July 1842. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I was anxious to write to you on the 18th, butI was so overpowered with all that surrounded me that I could reallynot. Yesterday I received your dear letter of the 19th, and I willanswer it, so as to give you a clear view of the sad case. On the12th, Tuesday, Chartres had taken leave, as he meant to go to St Omer, the 13th; however, in the family the Queen and others said he ought tocome once more to see them. The King had ordered his carriage to go totown on the 13th, to a Council; Chartres meant to have called shortlyafter ten. 

It is necessary to tell you all this, as it shows how strangelycircumstances turned fatally. Chartres did not want to return oncemore to Neuilly, and the King, if exact, might see him once morein town. Chartres, however, instead of coming early, set off aftereleven; his Off. D'Ordonnance, M. Bertin de Veaux, his _valet dechambre_, a German, Holder, begged him not to go quite alone in thatsmall phaeton through Paris, as he was in uniform, but all this didnot avail; he insisted to go in the phaeton and to go _alone_. He setout later than he expected, and if the King had set out _exactly_ ashe had named, the parents and the son would probably have met on therising avenue of the Champs Elysees, towards the Barrière de l'Étoileand Arc de Triomphe. However, the King delayed his departure and theson set off. At the place where from the great avenue one turns offtowards Neuilly, the horses, which were not even young horses, as I amtold that he has had them some years, moved by that stupid longing toget to Neuilly, where they knew their stables, got rather abovethe postillion, and ran _quasi_ away. Chartres got up and asked thepostillion if he could hold his horses no longer; the boy called out"Non, Monseigneur"; he had looked back when he said this, and saw hismaster for the last time _standing_ in the phaeton. People at somedistance saw him come out of his carriage and describe a sort ofsemicircle falling down. Nobody knows exactly if he jumped out of thecarriage, or if he lost his position and fell out. I am inclined tothink that, trusting to his lightness and agility, he wanted to jumpout, forgetting the impulse which a quick-going carriage gives, asthere were marks on his knees as if he had first fallen that way. Theprincipal blow was, however, on the head, the skull being entirelyfractured. He was taken up senseless, that is to say confused, butnot fainting, and carried into a small inn. At first his appearance, sitting in a chair, was so little altered that people thought it wasnothing of any consequence. 

He _knew_ no one, and only spoke a few incoherent words in German. Theaccident happened about a quarter before twelve, and at four he was nomore. 

I refer for some other details to Albert. Poor Louise looks like ashadow, and only her great devotion for me supports her. It may serveas a lesson how fragile all human affairs are. Poor Chartres, itseems, with the prospect of these camps and altogether, was _neverin better spirits_. But I must end. Ever, my dearest Victoria, yourdevoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

[Pageheading: SIR EDWARD DISBROWE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _27th July 1842. _

The Queen thanks Lord Aberdeen for the letter she has this morningreceived. 

The Queen thinks that a reprimand would hardly do, as it is not somuch from any particular despatch that she has formed this opinion ofSir Edward Disbrowe, but more from the general tenor of his conductand despatches; therefore she thinks it would be difficult to censurehim, which would probably not have the desired effect. [56] For thisreason the Queen would prefer his being removed without his being toldthat it was for his conduct, and without his being able to find thisout, which, the Queen concludes from Lord Aberdeen's letter, couldeasily be done. 

 [Footnote 56: _See_ p. 409. Lord Aberdeen had suggested sending Sir Edward Disbrowe a private admonition. ] (Ch. XI, 16th July, 1842)

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _2nd August 1842. _

DEAREST UNCLE, --I had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter ofthe 29th, late on Sunday evening. You know _all_ we have felt, anddo _feel_, for the dear and exemplary French family. Really it is toodreadful, but God's will be done! Perhaps poor Chartres is saved greatsorrow and grief. _Him_ we must _not_ pity!

God grant all may go off well on these dreadful days, and may Hesupport the dear afflicted parents, widow, and brothers and sisters!My dearest Louise! I hope and trust that her dear children will occupyher and divert her attention; only don't let her swallow and suppressher grief and keep it to herself; that is dreadful, and very hurtful. Let her give way to her sorrow, and talk of it to her. 

Pray, dearest Uncle, will not and ought not Paris to be Duke ofOrleans now? Hélène is sole guardian, is she not?. .. 

Dear Louise will, I trust, excuse my not answering her kind letterto-day; pray give her my best love, and believe me, always, your mostdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: THE FATHERLESS CHILDREN]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _5th August 1842. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --. .. Little Paris, [57] who has gained much oflate, will keep the name of Paris, at least for the present. Hélènewill be, after the poor King's demise, sole guardian of her children;till then the King as head of the family will be supreme in allmatters relating to the children. .. . Your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

 [Footnote 57: The late Comte de Paris, who bore this title to the end of his life, father of the present Duc d'Orléans. ]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _5th August 1842. _

MY BELOVED VICTORIA, --. .. Poor little Paris is aware of his misfortunein the way he can be. Hélène told him that he saw everybody weepbecause he would see no more his beloved father. The poor child weptthen very much, and he has done several times since, when the samething was repeated to him. He wonders why he does not go any morein his unfortunate father's room, and why there is no more "_de cherPapa_, " as he says: else he makes no question or observation and isvery quiet and cheerful. He cannot yet feel what he has lost and hismelancholy fate: but Hélène does what she can to keep alive in him theremembrance of his father. .. . Yours most affectionately, LOUISE. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _8th August 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He thanksyour Majesty much for the letter of the 4th. It can hardly be expectedthat the grief of the French family will, as yet, much diminish, butLord Melbourne hopes that they are somewhat more composed. He hasheard this morning that Lord and Lady Beauvale were at Boulogne onSaturday; they would probably cross yesterday, and will be in Londonto-day. 

Lord Melbourne understands that Lord Beauvale had an interview ofthree hours with the King of the French. Charles Howard was marriedthis morning, and Lord Melbourne is going to meet Lord and LadyCarlisle and the rest of the family at Baron Parke's[58] at dinner. Lord Melbourne thinks that Lord Prudhoe's marriage[59] was to beexpected. [60] Upon looking at the Peerage, he is only fifty years old, and fifty is young enough to marry anybody. The only fault of fifty isthat it advances too rapidly on to sixty, which, on the other hand, istoo old to marry anybody. It is Lord Melbourne's opinion that if a mandoes marry either at fifty or sixty, he had much better take a younggirl than a woman of more age and experience. Youth is more malleable, more gentle, and has often more respect and compassion for infirmitythan middle-age. 

 [Footnote 58: Afterwards Lord Wensleydale. ]

 [Footnote 59: To Lady Eleanor Grosvenor. ]

 [Footnote 60: Admiral Lord Algernon Percy (1792-1865), President of the Royal Institution, was created in 1816 Baron Prudhoe: in 1847, on the death of his brother, he became fourth Duke of Northumberland. ]

[Pageheading: RESIGNATION OF LORD HILL]

_Lord Hill to Queen Victoria. _

HARDWICKE GRANGE, [61] _9th August 1842. _

Lord Hill presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and cravesyour Majesty's gracious permission to lay before your Majesty hisresignation of the Command of your Majesty's Army. 

Lord Hill deeply regrets the necessity of taking a step which willdeprive him of a charge that has been so long committed to his hands, and for his continuance in which he is indebted to your Majesty'sgrace and favour; but he has again suffered much from the illnessunder which he laboured in the early part of the year, and his healthhas in consequence become so indifferent as to render him unequal tothe adequate discharge of the various important duties of his command, which therefore he feels he could not retain with due regard to theinterests of your Majesty's Service. 

Lord Hill had flattered himself that he should have been able to havelaid his application for retirement before your Majesty himself, andpersonally to have expressed to your Majesty his deep and lastingsense of your Majesty's gracious kindness to him on all occasions. Having, however, left London by the advice of his medical attendants, and being too unwell to undertake a second journey, Lord Hill availshimself of this mode of assuring your Majesty of his unabated zeal forthe Service, of his dutiful devotion to your Majesty's person, andof the pain and sorrow with which he relinquishes an appointment thatafforded him the honour and advantage of executing your Majesty'scommands, and receiving many gracious proofs of your Majesty's supportand confidence. 

 [Footnote 61: Lord Hill's country house in Shropshire. ]

[Pageheading: APPOINTMENT OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _10th August 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to acquaint your Majesty that he received at a late hour lastnight the accompanying letter to your Majesty from Lord Hill. From theone which accompanied it, addressed to Sir Robert Peel, he has reasonto believe that it conveys to your Majesty the wish of Lord Hill to berelieved, on the ground of ill-health and increasing infirmities, fromthe Command of your Majesty's Forces. 

Sir Robert Peel would humbly submit for your Majesty's considerationwhether it might not be a deserved mark of your Majesty's approbationto confer upon Lord Hill the rank of Viscount, with remainder to hisnephew Sir Rowland Hill, [62] who will succeed Lord Hill in the Barony. Lord Beresford[63] and Lord Combermere[64] have the rank ofViscounts, and perhaps the long, faithful services of Lord Hill asCommander-in-Chief may appear to your Majesty to entitle him to equaldistinction in the Peerage. 

Sir Robert Peel has reason to believe that when Lord Hill's retirementshall be known there will be many competitors for the office ofCommander-in-Chief. 

Sir George Murray, [65] Sir Edward Paget, [66] Lord Londonderry, [67]Lord Combermere, and perhaps Lord Beresford, will severally urge theirpretensions. 

Sir Robert Peel humbly submits to your Majesty that should the Duke ofWellington be willing to undertake the duties of this important trust, no claims could stand in competition with his, and no selection fromthe candidates whom he has named would be satisfactory to the Army orpublic in general. 

Sir Robert Peel would therefore humbly recommend to your Majestythat the offer of this appointment should be made to the Duke ofWellington, with the signification of a wish on the part ofyour Majesty (should your Majesty be pleased to approve of thearrangement), that His Grace should continue a member of the Cabinet, and the organ of the Government, as at present, in the House of Lords. 

 [Footnote 62: Lord Hill died 10th December 1842, and was succeeded in his peerages by Sir Rowland Hill, who died in 1875. ]

 [Footnote 63: William Carr Beresford (1768-1854), created Viscount Beresford in 1823 for the victory of Albuera, 1811. ]

 [Footnote 64: Sir Stapleton Cotton (1773-1865), created Viscount Combermere for the capture of Bhurtpore. ]

 [Footnote 65: Sir George Murray (1772-1846), received a K. C. B. For his services in the Peninsula, M. P. For Perth, and afterwards Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. ]

 [Footnote 66: General Sir Edward Paget, G. C. B. (1775-1849), brother of the first Marquis of Anglesey. ]

 [Footnote 67: Prior to being Ambassador at Vienna, Lord Londonderry had distinguished himself in the Peninsula. ]

[Pageheading: THE DUKE ACCEPTS]

_The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria. _

LONDON, _12th August 1842. _

Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble duty to yourMajesty. He has been informed by Sir Robert Peel that your Majesty hadbeen graciously pleased to approve of the recommendation submittedby your Majesty's servants that he should be appointed theCommander-in-Chief of your Majesty's Forces. 

He is sensible of and grateful for this fresh proof of your Majesty'sconfidence in him and gracious favour towards him. 

He hopes that your Majesty will believe that your Majesty may relyupon his making every effort in his power to promote your Majesty'sviews for the honour and interest of the country in any situation inwhich he may be placed. 

Which is humbly submitted to your Majesty by your Majesty's mostdutiful and devoted Subject and Servant, WELLINGTON. 

_Queen Victoria to Lord Hill. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th August 1842. _

The Queen has received Lord Hill's letter of the 9th inst. , and ismuch concerned to learn that Lord Hill's health is so indifferent thathe thinks it is his duty to resign the important office which he hasso long and so honourably held. The Queen can only reluctantly giveher consent to this determination, as she regrets to lose Lord Hill'sservices at the head of her Army. She cannot, however, miss thisopportunity of expressing to Lord Hill her entire approbation of hisconduct throughout the time he served her. The Prince begs to have hiskind regards sent to Lord Hill. 

[Pageheading: RIOTS IN MANCHESTER]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

CABINET ROOM, DOWNING STREET, _13th August 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is sorryto be under the necessity of troubling your Majesty so suddenly, buthe is sure your Majesty will excuse him for making any proposal toyour Majesty which the public service may render requisite. [68]

The accounts received this morning from Manchester with regard to thestate of the country in that neighbourhood are very unsatisfactory, and they are confirmed by the personal testimony of magistrates whohave arrived in London for the purpose of making representations toyour Majesty's servants on the subject. 

A Cabinet has just been held, and it is proposed to send a battalionof Guards by the railway this evening. The 16th of August (Tuesdaynext) is the anniversary of a conflict which took place in Manchesterin the year 1819[69] between the Yeomanry Cavalry and the populace, and it is feared that there may be a great assemblage of personsriotously disposed on that day. 

Under these circumstances it appears desirable to your Majesty'sconfidential advisers that a proclamation should be immediatelyissued, warning all persons against attendance on tumultuous meetings, and against all acts calculated to disturb the public peace. Itis necessary that a Council should be held for the issue of thisproclamation, and important that it should arrive in Manchester onMonday. 

These considerations have prevented Sir Robert Peel from givingprevious notice to your Majesty, and having your Majesty's sanctionfor the holding of a Council. On account of the urgency of the case, he has requested a sufficient number of Privy Councillors to repair toWindsor this evening, in order that should your Majesty be graciouslypleased to hold a Council, the proclamation may be forthwith issued. The members of the Privy Council will be in attendance about half-pastsix o'clock, as Sir Robert Peel has considered that from that timeto half-past seven will probably be the least inconvenient to yourMajesty. 

He writes this immediately after the breaking up of the Cabinet. 

 [Footnote 68: The disturbances of this month, which originated in a strike for wages in Lancashire, were inflamed by agitators, and rapidly spread through Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire, eventually extending to the populous parts of Scotland and Wales. Several conflicts took place between the populace and the military, and there was much loss of life and property, as well as aggravated distress. ]

 [Footnote 69: On 16th August 1819, a great popular demonstration in favour of Parliamentary Reform, presided over by Henry Hunt, the Radical, had taken place in St Peter's Fields, Manchester. A riot ensued, and the Yeomanry charged the populace, with some loss of life. The affair was afterwards known as the Peterloo massacre. ]

[Pageheading: CHARTIST DISTURBANCES]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _15th August 1842. _

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to lay before your Majestythe enclosed letter from Major-General Sir William Warre[70] incommand of the Northern District. 

From this report it is evident that a strong and salutary moralimpression had been produced by the arrival of a reinforcementof 1, 400 men in the disturbed district in the short time ofsix-and-thirty hours after the first requisition for assistance hadbeen sent from Manchester; and the General has now at his disposal aforce quite adequate to cope with the vast assemblage of people whoare expected to meet to-morrow at Manchester. 

Some symptoms of this disposition forcibly to suspend labour haveappeared in the West Riding of Yorkshire; but on the whole theaccounts, both from Scotland and the disturbed district, which havebeen received this morning, may be considered favourable. The railroadcommunications as yet are uninterrupted; no collision has taken placebetween the troops and the multitude, except at Preston;[71] and SirJames Graham is willing to hope that this insurrectionary movement maybe suppressed without recourse to extreme measures. Every precaution, however, has been taken, and arrangements are made for augmentingthe force under the command of Sir William Warre, if it should becomenecessary. 

The character of these riots has assumed more decidedly a politicalaspect. It is no longer a strike for higher wages, but the Delegates, who direct the movement, avow that labour shall not be resumed untilthe people's Charter be granted. [72]

Sir James Graham will hasten to-morrow to inform your Majesty of theaccounts which he may receive. 

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's dutiful Subject andServant, J. R. G. GRAHAM. 

 [Footnote 70: Lieutenant-General Sir William Warre (1784-1853), a distinguished Peninsular officer. ]

 [Footnote 71: The mob attacked the military, who fired and killed three or four persons. ]

 [Footnote 72: A colossal petition in favour of the Charter had been presented during the Session by Mr T. Duncombe. ]

[Pageheading: SATISFACTORY RESULTS]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _18th August 1842. _ (_Thursday morning. _)

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to acquaint your Majesty that he returned to London last night. 

He has this morning gone through all the letters received from thecountry, with Sir James Graham, by whom the details of the informationwill be forwarded to your Majesty. 

It appears to Sir Robert Peel that the general tenor of the reports is_satisfactory_. From Manchester, from Wigan, from Preston, the reportsare very good. 

The movement is not one caused by distress. The demand for employmenthas increased, and the price of provisions--and particularly ofpotatoes, bread, and bacon--has rapidly fallen within the lastfortnight or three weeks. 

People of property and the Magistrates (notwithstanding theirpolitical dissensions) are now acting in harmony, and with moreenergy. 

Orders have been sent to apprehend the Delegates assembled inManchester, _the very moment_ that the law will warrant theirapprehension, and Sir Robert Peel should not be surprised to hear oftheir committal to Lancaster Castle in the course of to-day. 

Every vigilance will be exerted with reference to _Cooper_[73] (whomyour Majesty names) and all other itinerant agitators. 

As might be naturally expected, the movements and disorderly spiritspreading from the centre (Manchester) are appearing in remote points;but when peace and confidence are thoroughly restored at Manchester, the example will quickly tell in the circumjacent districts. 

Birmingham is tranquil and well-disposed. The accounts from Scotlandare favourable. 

 [Footnote 73: A Leicester Chartist, who was afterwards tried for sedition. ]

[Pageheading: PARLIAMENT PROROGUED]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _17th August 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is goingdown to-day to Brocket Hall with Lord and Lady Beauvale. Lord and LadyPalmerston are coming down to-morrow, and Lord and Lady Cowper willprobably come over from Panshanger. 

Your Majesty read extremely well in the House of Lords on Fridaylast. [74] Lord Melbourne can judge better of this from the body of theHouse than he could when he stood close to your Majesty. Nothing canbe more clear and distinct, and at the same time more natural and freefrom effort. Perhaps if your Majesty could read a tone louder it wouldbe as well. Charles Buller, who was amongst the House of Commons, toldLord Melbourne that, where he stood, the voice, although well heard, sounded somewhat weak. But this should not be attempted unless itcan be done with perfect ease. Nothing injures reading so much as theattempt to push the organ beyond its natural powers. 

Lord Melbourne hopes that these tumults in the manufacturing districtsare subsiding, but he cannot conceal from your Majesty that he viewsthem with great alarm--much greater than he generally thinks itprudent to express. He fears that they may last in the form of strike, and turn out much longer than is looked for, as they did in 1832 and1833. 

There is a great mass of discontented feeling in the country arisingfrom the actual state of society. It arises from the distress anddestitution which will fall at times upon a great manufacturingpopulation, and from the wild and extravagant opinions which arenaturally generated in an advanced and speculative state of society. 

This discontent has been aggravated and fermented by the language ofevery party in the state. Lord Melbourne can exempt no party fromthis blame, nor hardly any individual except himself. The Tories andConservatives (not the Leaders, but the larger portion of the party)have done what they could to inflame the public mind upon that mostinflammable topic of the Poor Laws. The _Times_ newspaper has been themost forward in this. The Whigs and Radicals have done what they couldin the same direction upon the Corn Laws. Mr Attwood[75] and anotherset have worked the question of the Currency, and the whole career ofMr O'Connell in Ireland has been too manifest to be mistaken. It isno wonder if working in this manner altogether they have at lastsucceeded in driving the country into this which is certainly verynear, if not actually a rebellion. 

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty and the Prince, thePrince, and Princess are all well. 

 [Footnote 74: Parliament was prorogued by the Queen in person on 12th August. ]

 [Footnote 75: Who represented the Radical views of the Birmingham school. ]

[Pageheading: THE DISTURBED DISTRICTS]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _18th August 1842. _

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, is happily enabled to state toyour Majesty that the accounts from the disturbed districts receivedthis morning are more satisfactory. 

In Lancashire a disposition to resume work has been partially evinced;and at Preston, where the most vigorous measures were taken in thefirst instance, there has hardly been a cessation of employment. 

Sir James Graham encloses a letter from the Chief Constable of theCounty of Lancashire detailing a successful resistance to a freshattempt on the part of a mob to enter Preston; and he sends alsoa report from the Mayor of Manchester and from Mr Forster, theStipendiary Magistrate. Decisive measures will be adopted for theimmediate apprehension of the Delegates, not only at Manchester, butin every other quarter where legal evidence can be obtained which willjustify their arrest. The law, which clearly sanctions resistance tothe entry of these mobs into cities, is now understood by the localauthorities. A bolder and firmer spirit is rising among all classespossessing property in defence of their rights against these bandsof plunderers, who are the enemies both of law and of property. The prisoners taken in the commission of treasonable felonies arenumerous; warrants are issued against others whose persons are known:the supremacy of the law will be promptly vindicated, and Sir JamesGraham entertains the confident hope that order will be soon restored. 

In the Potteries a signal example was made by a handful of yourMajesty's troops opposed to a riotous multitude which had burnt housesand spread devastation, and Sir James Graham encloses a letter fromCaptain Powys giving a description of the occurrence. The effectof this example has been that yesterday throughout this district norioting took place. 

[Pageheading: DISTURBANCES IN LONDON]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _19th August 1842. _

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to announce to your Majestythat the accounts from the North, on the whole, may be consideredsatisfactory. .. . 

Five of the principal Delegates at Manchester have been apprehended. Warrants are out against four others. A very important seizure ofpapers has been made which discloses a conspiracy, extensive in itsramifications, going back as far as July 1841. It is hoped that thesepapers, which are still at Manchester, may lead to fresh discoveries. Sir James Graham will send to Manchester to-night an experienced lawofficer, for the purpose of pursuing the investigation on the spot. 

There was a meeting last night in the neighbourhood of London, of aviolent character. Sir James Graham had given positive orders to thepolice not to allow any mob, as night approached, to enter London. Notwithstanding these directions, a mob assembled in Lincoln's InnFields about eleven o'clock, and moved through the city to BethnalGreen. Sir James Graham had the troops on the alert, but the multitudedispersed without any serious disturbance. 

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

_20th August 1842. _

. .. An attempt to hold a meeting at dusk in the suburbs of London wasresisted by the police yesterday evening in pursuance of orders issuedby the Government in conjunction with the Lord Major, and the peace ofthe metropolis was preserved. 

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's dutiful Subject andServant, J. R. G. GRAHAM. 

[Pageheading: TROUBLE AT THE CAPE]

_Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria. _

DOWNING STREET, _26th August 1842. _

Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, submits for your Majesty's perusalcopies of three despatches, received yesterday from the Governor ofthe Cape of Good Hope, detailing the unfortunate result of an attackmade by a small party of your Majesty's troops upon the camp of theinsurgent Boers at Natal; and also the copy of a despatch which LordStanley has sent in consequence to Sir George Napier, [76] which, hetrusts, may meet your Majesty's approbation. Lord Stanley would havesubmitted the draft for your Majesty's approval previous to sendingit, had not an opportunity presented itself of sending it off by afast-sailing private ship which sailed this morning, the intelligencehaving only been received yesterday. The instructions sent to SirGeorge Napier, on the 10th of April, but not received when thisunfortunate affair took place, were in substance not to attempt thesubjugation of these people by direct force, but to warn them thattheir titles to the land which they occupy would not be recognised byyour Majesty, that they would have no title to claim protection fromthe aggression of the neighbouring tribes, to interdict communicationbetween them and the settled parts of the Colony, and to prevent anyintercourse by sea with foreign or British traders. The unfortunateevent which has now occurred will render it necessary to take steps, as Sir George Napier has already done, for vindicating the power ofyour Majesty's Arms; but when that shall have been effected, LordStanley would still hope that a considerable number of these misguidedmen may be induced to return to their allegiance, and to the settledparts of your Majesty's dominions, and he feels confident that in suchan event he will be fulfilling your Majesty's wishes in directing thatthey may be treated with all possible lenity. 

All which is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most dutiful Servantand Subject, STANLEY. 

 [Footnote 76: Sir George Napier (1784-1855) governed Cape Colony for seven years, and the Boers were extruded from Natal by him. ]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

BUSHEY HOUSE, _7th September 1842. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --. .. Your Mamma's visit gave me great pleasure, andit has been a great treat to me to hear her sing again, and _so well_, which put me in mind of former happy days. I regret _much_ that sheleaves me already this afternoon again, but the strong and powerful_magnet_ which you have left at the Castle draws her back, and I darenot keep her away from such treasures. 

I beg you, my dearest Victoria, to give my affectionate love to dearAlbert, and to believe me ever most devotedly, your very affectionateAunt, ADELAIDE. 

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN VISITS SCOTLAND]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

TAYMOUTH, [77] _8th September 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I make no excuses for not having written, as I knowthat you will understand that when one is travelling about and seeingso much that is _totally_ new, it is very difficult to find time towrite. .. . 

Albert has told you already how successfully everything had gone offhitherto, and how much pleased we were with Edinburgh, which is anunique town in its way. We left Dalkeith on Monday, and lunched atDupplin, Lord Kinnoul's, a pretty place with quite a new house, andwhich poor Lord Kinnoul displayed so well as to fall head over heelsdown a steep bank, and was proceeding down another, if Albert had notcaught him; I did not see it, but Albert and I have nearly died withlaughing at the _relation_ of it. From Dalkeith we went through Perth(which is _most_ beautifully situated on the Tay) to Scone Palace, [78]Lord Mansfield's, where we slept; fine but rather gloomy. Yesterdaymorning (Tuesday) we left Scone and lunched at Dunkeld, the beginningof the Highlands, in a tent; _all_ the Highlanders in their finedress, being encamped there, and with their old shields and swords, looked very romantic; they were chiefly Lord Glenlyon's[79] men. _He_, poor man! is suddenly become _totally_ blind, and it was verymelancholy to see him do the _honours_, _not_ seeing _anything_. Thesituation of Dunkeld, down in a valley surrounded by wooded hills, is very, very pretty. From thence we proceeded to this enchantingand princely place; the whole drive here was beautiful. All LordBreadalbane's[80] Highlanders, with himself at their head, and abattalion of the 92nd Highlanders, were drawn up in front of theHouse. In the evening the grounds were splendidly illuminated, andbonfires burning on the hills; and a number of Highlanders dancedreels by torchlight, to the bagpipes, which was very wild andpretty. .. . 

 [Footnote 77: Lord Breadalbane's house. The Queen left London on 29th August for Scotland by sea, reaching Edinburgh on 1st September. ]

 [Footnote 78: Scone Abbey was granted to Sir David Murray (afterwards Viscount Stormont) by James VI. Of Scotland, whose cup-bearer he was, and whose life he saved. ]

 [Footnote 79: Afterwards George, sixth Duke of Atholl (1814-1864). ]

 [Footnote 80: John, second Marquis of Breadalbane, K. T. (1796-1862). ]

[Pageheading: DRUMMOND CASTLE]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne. _

TAYMOUTH, _10th September 1842. _

It has been long the Queen's intention to write to Lord Melbourne, butwe have seen and done so much, it has been impossible. Everythinghas gone off so well at Edinburgh, Perth, and elsewhere. This is aprincely and most beautiful place, and we have been entertained byLord Breadalbane in a magnificent way. The Highland Volunteers, twohundred in number (without the officers), keeping guard, are encampedin the park; the whole place was twice splendidly illuminated, and thesport he gave the Prince out shooting was on the largest scale. 

The Highlands and the mountains are too beautiful, and we _must_ comeback for longer another time. The Queen will finish this letter atDrummond Castle, [81] as we leave this in half an hour. 

_Drummond Castle, 11th. _--We arrived here yesterday evening at seven, having had a most beautiful journey. We went with Lord Breadalbaneup the Loch Tay (by water) to Ochmore[82] (I don't know _how_ it iswritten), a cottage belonging to Lord Breadalbane, close to Killin. The morning was very fine, and the view indescribably beautiful; themountains so high, and so wooded close to Killin. It is impossible tosay how kind and attentive Lord Breadalbane and poor Lady Breadalbane(who is so wretchedly delicate) were to us. We were so sorry togo away, and might perhaps have managed to stay two days longer atTaymouth, were we not fearful of delaying our sea voyage back toomuch. However, we mean to visit him for longer another time; theHighlands are so beautiful, and so new to _me_, that we are mostanxious to return there again. 

The journey from Killin to Comrie was _most_ beautiful, and throughsuch wild scenery--Glen Ogle, which of course Lord Melbourneknows--and then along Loch Ern. This house is quite a cottage, butthe situation is fine, and the garden very beautiful. We leave thison Tuesday for Dalkeith[83] where we sleep, and re-embark the next dayfor _England_. We greatly admire the extreme beauty of Edinburgh; thesituation as well as the town is most striking; and the Prince, whohas seen so much, says it is the finest town he ever saw. SconePalace (where we slept on Tuesday night) is fine, but gloomy; Perth isbeautiful. 

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is very well. The Prince begs to beremembered to him. 

Dalkeith is a fine good house, and the park and grounds very pretty. 

 [Footnote 81: The seat of Lord Willoughby d'Eresby. ]

 [Footnote 82: It should be written Auchmore. ]

 [Footnote 83: The seat of the Duke of Buccleuch. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th September 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Pray accept my best thanks for your kind letter ofthe 15th, which I received on Saturday, the day of our arrival here. Dearest Louise will have told you what I wrote to her. We had a speedyand prosperous voyage home of forty-eight hours, on board a fine largeand very fast steamer, the _Trident_, belonging to the General SteamNavigation Company. We found our dear little Victoria so grown and soimproved, and speaking so plain, and become so independent; I thinkreally few children are as forward as she is. She is quite a dearlittle companion. The Baby is sadly backward, but also grown, and verystrong. I am so distressed about dearest Louise's still coughing, but she tells me it is decreasing. Only pray let her give way to hergrief; much crying, even if it makes her cough for the moment, cando her no real harm, but stifling and swallowing _grief_ (which she_cannot_ repress) gnaws at the very roots of life and undermineshealth. Ostend and sea-baths would, I should think, do her good. 

I am very glad that you went to see the King of Prussia, and saw somany old friends; Fritz of Mecklenburg[84] is, you know, Albert's verydear friend; he is just arrived here. 

Alexandrine's brother everybody praises; the whole family are handsomeand well brought up. 

The Archduke Frederic[85] comes here to-morrow for a week's visit. Everybody praises him, and Ferdinand liked him very much; all ArchdukeCharles's[86] sons are said to be very well brought up. How I wishArchduke John[87] had come over here!

Now, dearest Uncle, adieu! and pray believe me, always, your mostaffectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

It would be _very_ kind of you if you would tell me if there is achance of Augustus's marrying Clementine. [88] Don't believe I shouldsay a word _against_ it; but I have heard so much about it that Ishould be really and sincerely glad to know a _little_ of the _truth_from _you_. 

 [Footnote 84: Frederic William (1819-1904), afterwards Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. See _post_, p 434. (Ch. XI, Footnote 93)]

 [Footnote 85: Son of the Archduke Charles. ]

 [Footnote 86: (1771-1847), third son of the Emperor Leopold II. Distinguished in the Napoleonic wars. ]

 [Footnote 87: (1782-1859), younger son of the Emperor Leopold II. Commanded on the Rhine, 1815. Administrator of the Empire, 1848. ]

 [Footnote 88: Prince Augustus of Saxe-Coburg and Princess Clementine of Orleans were married in the following April. Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria is their son. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S STEAM YACHT]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _22nd September 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave, with reference to your Majesty's note of yesterday, to stateto your Majesty that the _first_ act of Sir Robert Peel on his returnfrom Scotland was to write to Lord Haddington[89] and strongly urgeupon the Admiralty the necessity of providing a steam yacht for yourMajesty's accommodation. 

Sir Robert Peel trusts that your Majesty may entirely depend uponbeing enabled to make any excursions your Majesty may resolve uponin the early part of next summer, in a steam vessel belonging toyour Majesty, and suitable in every respect for your Majesty'saccommodation. 

Sir Robert Peel has had a personal communication with Sir JohnBarrow, [90] one of the Secretaries to the Admiralty, this morning, upon the subject, and Sir Robert Peel has written by this post to SirGeorge Cockburn, [91] who is out of town. 

He finds that the Admiralty is now building a large vessel to beworked by steam power, applied by means of a revolving screw insteadof paddles. It may be doubtful whether the same degree of velocitycan be attained by means of the screw, particularly in a very largevessel. Of this a full trial will be made. 

Sir John Barrow assures Sir Robert Peel that he has been on board asteam-boat moved by the screw, and that the working of the engine isscarcely perceptible; that there is none of the tremulous motion whichaccompanies the beats of the paddles, and that it will be possible toapply an apparatus by means of which the smoke can be consumed, andthe disagreeable smell in great measure prevented. 

Sir Robert Peel will leave nothing undone to ensure your Majesty'scomfort and safety in any future naval excursions that your Majestymay be pleased to make. 

 [Footnote 89: First Lord of the Admiralty. ]

 [Footnote 90: Barrow had been made second Secretary in 1804 by Dundas; he was a self-made man, and a most indefatigable traveller, writer, and promoter of Arctic exploration. ]

 [Footnote 91: Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn (1772-1853), First Naval Lord. ]

[Pageheading: QUEEN ISABELLA]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

_27th September 1842. _

Lord Aberdeen, with his most humble duty, lays before your Majesty aletter which he has received from Mr Aston, respecting the marriageof the Queen of Spain, and which, after what has already passed, mayperhaps cause your Majesty some surprise. 

Lord Aberdeen is humbly of opinion that the language hitherto employedby your Majesty's Government upon this subject ought not to undergoany change, and that it ought to be treated entirely as a Spanishquestion. 

Great Britain would naturally regard a marriage with a son of the Kingof the French as injurious to Spain and menacing to Europe, but wouldprobably not feel it necessary to give such an opinion respecting anyother alliance. While this might be plainly stated, and the SpanishGovernment exhorted to act according to their own independent viewof the real interests of the country and of the Queen, Lord Aberdeenwould humbly propose that the Regent should be explicitly informed byMr Aston that he must not expect to receive any assistance from yourMajesty's Government in promoting a marriage with a Prince of theNetherlands. 

Lord Aberdeen believes that the difficulties in the way of such analliance will be found to be very great, and especially that thereligion of the Prince will present an obstacle which in Spain must benearly insurmountable. 

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE ON SCOTLAND]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _29th September 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has toacknowledge your Majesty's letter of the 25th inst. , which he had thehonour and pleasure of receiving here on the 27th. Lord Melbourne iswell aware how much your Majesty's time must have been occupied by thenumber of visitors at the Castle. We are much rejoiced here that yourMajesty saw the Prince and Princess Liechtenstein. [92] The latter is agreat favourite of Lady Beauvale's, to whom she was always very kind, and who describes her exactly as your Majesty does, as being very"amiable and unassuming, " and though one of the first, if not thefirst lady at Vienna, as not at all partaking of the insolence andhauteur which is by some ascribed to the society of that capital. Asa beauty, she is perhaps upon too large a scale, except for those whoadmire women of all shapes and sizes; but her eyes and brow are veryfine, and there is a very peculiarly soft and radiant expression aboutthem. Lord Melbourne had heard of his Sovereignty, but understandsthat his territory is extremely limited. His possessions as a subjectof Austria are worth a good deal more than his German principality. 

Lord Melbourne greatly congratulates your Majesty upon the happyprogress and termination of the expedition to Scotland. He is veryglad of three things--that your Majesty returned by sea, in thesteamer, and that the passage was a good one. .. . 

The country is indeed most interesting, full of real picturesquebeauty and of historical and poetical associations and recollections. There is nothing to detract from it, except the very high opinionthat the Scotch themselves entertain of it. Edinburgh ismagnificent--situation, buildings, and all--but the boasting of thearticles in the newspapers respecting it almost inclined one to denyits superiority. It is also, as your Majesty says, most striking tocontemplate in the Clans the remains of feudal times and institutions. It is quite as well, however, particularly for Monarchy, that they arebut remains, and that no more of them have been left. 

Lord Melbourne thanks your Majesty much for your kind enquiries afterhis health. He thinks that he is getting better and stronger than hehas been, and has a notion of trying a little shooting in October. 

Lord Melbourne begs to be respectfully remembered to the Prince. 

 [Footnote 92: Prince Aloysius Joseph of Liechtenstein (1796-1858) and his wife, Princess Françoise-de-Paule, Countess Kinsky. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _18th October 1842. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I only received your kind letter yesterday, forwhich my best thanks. I am delighted to hear that Louise's cough isdecidedly better, and that upon the whole the dear family are well, thank God! Certainly where He sees fit to afflict, He gives strengthto bear up!

Louise says Vecto is in great beauty, and the baby magnificent. I wishyou could see Pussy now; she is (_unberufen_) the picture of health, and has just cut her first eye-tooth, without the slightest suffering. We are going to Brighton on the 1st of November for a month; it is the_best_ month _there_ and the _worst here_. I think I _may_ announceAugusta Cambridge's[93] marriage as certain, as I have just received anote from the Duke, which is as follows:--

"Being very anxious to communicate to you as soon as possible an eventwhich concerns deeply my family, I take the liberty of requesting youto let me know on what day and at what hour I may wait upon you. "

I shall see him to-morrow, and report the result to Louise on Friday. 

I have just taken leave of poor Esterhazy, who has presented hisletters of recall. He looked wretched, and Lord Aberdeen told me he isonly ill at being obliged to go; he is quite miserable to do so, butthe great gentleman at Johannisberg has most ungraciously refused tolisten to his entreaties to remain, which is very foolish, as theydon't know who to send in his place. I am _very_ sorry to lose him, he is so amiable and agreeable, and I have known him ever since I canremember anybody; he is, besides, _equally liked_ and on _equallygood terms_ with _both_ parties _here_, which was of the greatestimportance. It was touching to see him so low and ill and unlikehimself. 

The accounts of poor dear Alexandrine's eyes continue _very bad_; shecannot write at all, or go out, or do anything. 

Say everything proper from us to the whole family, and pray believeme, always, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 93: The Princess Augusta of Cambridge, who was married to Frederic William, afterwards Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in the following June. ]

[Pageheading: HISTORICAL STUDIES]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _20th October 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave respectfully to acknowledge your Majesty's of the 15th inst. , which he received here the day before yesterday. 

Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear that your Majesty is reading withthe Prince. Hallam's work[94] certainly requires much considerationand much explanation, but it is a fair, solid, impartial work, formedupon much thought and much reading. St Simon's[95] is an excellentwork; he has some prejudices, but was a good honest man, and hisbook is full of useful information. If your Majesty wishes for a bookrelating to what passed from one hundred to two hundred years ago, Lord Melbourne would strongly recommend the Private Memoirs of theLord Chancellor Clarendon (Edward Hyde), not the great work, _TheHistory of the Rebellion_, though that is well worth reading, but the_Memoirs_, and Bishop Burnet's History of his own time. The reignsof Charles II. , James II. , and the Revolution are very curious inthe latter. During Queen Anne's reign the Bishop was not so muchconsulted, and his work is therefore not so interesting. If yourMajesty wishes to turn your attention to more recent events, ProfessorSmyth's[96] lectures upon Modern History, and particularly uponthe French Revolution, seem to Lord Melbourne sound, fair, andcomprehensive. Lord Mahon's[97] is also a good work, and gives a goodaccount of the reigns of George I. And George II. He has been thoughtby some in his last volume to have given too favourable a character ofthe Chevalier, Charles Edward Stuart. 

Lord Melbourne is much touched by what your Majesty says of thePrincess Royal, and the delight and comfort which your Majesty findsin her, as well as by the whole picture which your Majesty draws ofyour domestic happiness. When your Majesty refers to what passedthree years ago, your Majesty may be assured that it is with no smallpleasure that Lord Melbourne recalls any share which he may have hadin that transaction, and congratulates himself as well as your Majestyand the Prince upon results which have been so fortunate both foryourselves and for the country. Lord Melbourne ventures to hope thatyour Majesty will convey these feelings to the Prince, together withthe assurance of his respectful remembrance. 

 [Footnote 94: The _Constitutional History_, published in 1827. ]

 [Footnote 95: Louis Rouffroy, Duc de Saint-Simon, author of the celebrated _Mémoires_, published 1829-30. ]

 [Footnote 96: William Smyth (1765-1849), Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge. ]

 [Footnote 97: Afterwards fifth Earl Stanhope: the book referred to is his _History of England from the Peace of Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles_. ]

[Pageheading: WALMER CASTLE]

_The Duke of Wellington to Sir Robert Peel. _

WALMER CASTLE, _26th October 1842. _

MY DEAR PEEL, --Arbuthnot has shown me your letter to him respectingthis house. 

Nothing can be more convenient to me than to place it at Her Majesty'sdisposition at any time she pleases. .. . 

I am only apprehensive that the accommodation in the Castle wouldscarcely be sufficient for Her Majesty, the Prince, and the Royalchildren, and such suite as must attend. .. . 

It is the most delightful sea-residence to be found anywhere, particularly for children. They can be out all day, on the rampartsand platforms quite dry, and the beautiful gardens and wood areenclosed and sheltered from the severe gales of wind. There are goodlodgings at Walmer village and on Walmer beach at no great distancefrom the Castle, not above half a mile. Believe me, ever, yours mostsincerely, WELLINGTON. 

If the Queen should send anybody here, I beg that he will write me aline, that I may have an apartment prepared for him. 

[Pageheading: LETTER FROM QUEEN ADELAIDE]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

CANFORD HOUSE, _31st October 1842. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --A thousand thanks for your very kind dear letterof yesterday with its enclosures, which I have just received. Youropinion respecting George of Hanover's[98] marriage is quite my own, and I regret that the King does not seem to be inclined to settle itand fix a day for the celebration of it. I do not know his reasonsagainst it, for I have not heard from him for a long, long time. I amso sorry to find that the accounts of his health are so indifferent, and fear he is not careful enough. 

I am happy to hear that you thought the Cambridge visit went off well, and that the affianced[99] looked and seemed happy. I hope it willalways be the same, and that the marriage will not be delayed toolong. I always had imagined that the Duke of Cambridge was rich andwould give a fortune to his daughters, but I have lately heard that itis not the case. I do not know what is the usual marriage portion ofan English Princess given by the country. In Germany those portionsare called _die Prinzessin Teuer_. 

We received 25, 000 Fl. Each when we married, and 10, 000 Fl. For our_trousseaux_ each. 

If the young couple are to live in future with the Grand Duke theywill not want any Plate, but if they are to have a separate _ménage_, then they will want it. I shall find it out by and by. I wonder thatthe Duchess likes to part with her fine sapphires. I thought theturquoises had been intended for Augusta. 

I wish you could see the Convent to which I went the other day. Thenuns belong to the Order of the Cistercian _Trappists_. They are notallowed to speak amongst themselves--what a relief my visit musthave been to them!--and they neither eat meat, nor butter, noreggs--nothing but milk, vegetables and rice. They look healthy, andthere were several young rather pretty ones amongst them. One, thebest-looking of them all, Sister Marie Josepha, took me affectionatelyby the hand and said, "I hope the air agrees with you here and thatyou feel better?" and then she added, "Come again--will you, beforeyou leave this country again?" She told me that she was born inIreland and had a German grandfather. She seemed to be the favouriteamongst them all, for when I bought of their works and asked them tomake up my bill, they called Marie Josepha to summon it up, and shesaid to me, "Do not stay for that; we will send you your things withthe bill. " Two hours after my visit to them I received my things, witha wreath of flowers besides as their gift to me; on the paper attachedto it was written, "To the Queen-Dowager, from the Reverend Mother andher Community. "

This old Reverend Mother, the Abbess, was very infirm, and could notget up from her chair, but she spoke very politely and ladylike to mein French. She has been forty years in her present _situation_, and comes from Bretagne. The chaplain of the Convent is also an oldFrenchman, and there are several other French nuns amongst them--onewho had been condemned to be guillotined in the Revolution, and wasset at liberty just at the moment the execution was to have takenplace. I should like to know whether these good nuns resumed again atonce their silence when I left them, or whether they were permitted totalk over the events of that day. .. . Your most affectionately devotedAunt, ADELAIDE. 

 [Footnote 98: Afterwards King George V. Of Hanover. He married Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, 18th February 1843. ]

 [Footnote 99: Princess Augusta of Cambridge. _See_ p. 434. (Ch. XI, Footnote 93)]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ILLNESS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

_1st November 1842. _

. .. Many thanks for your most kind and amiable letter of the 28th, which I received yesterday. The prospect of the possibility of dearestLouise's spending some time with us _quite enchants_ us, and I hopeand trust that you will carry your plan into execution. Our plans, which we only settled last night, are as follows:--the scarlet feveris on the decrease at Brighton, but not sufficiently so to justify ourgoing there immediately; so we therefore intend going to Walmer withthe children, but a very reduced suite (as the house is considerablysmaller than Claremont), on the 10th, and to stay there till the 22ndinst. , when we shall go to Brighton and remain there till the 13th ofDecember. Now if dearest Louise would meet us there then, andperhaps come back with us here for a little while _then_? Windsor is_beautiful_ in December. 

The news of Lord Melbourne, I am thankful to say, are _excellent_, andhe improves rapidly under Dr Holland's care, but his first seizure wasvery alarming. [100] I shall not fail to convey your kind message tothis worthy friend of ours. 

I am so pleased at your account of Nemours and poor Hélène. Tatane[101] is not your favourite, is he?

Lord Douglas's[102] marriage with Princess M. Of Baden _is_ settled;_I_ shall of course treat her as a Princess of Baden--I can't dootherwise (it is like Aunt Sophie, [103] and Princess M. Of Würtembergwho married Count Neipperg[104])--and him as Lord Douglas, which won'tplease him. 

I wish Clem's marriage was no longer a secret, now that it _issettled_, as it is (forgive my saying it) really a fashion in ourfamily to have these _secrets de la comédie_, when one is almostforced to tell a lie about what is true. I _own_ I dislike thesesecrets; it was so with poor Marie and with Vecto. Now _adieu!_dearest, kindest Uncle, and believe me, always, your most affectionateNiece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 100: He had a paralytic seizure, and never regained his former health or spirits. ]

 [Footnote 101: Duc de Montpensier. ]

 [Footnote 102: Afterwards eleventh Duke of Hamilton: he was married to Princess Mary on 23rd February following. ]

 [Footnote 103: Sister of the Duchess of Kent and of the King of the Belgians, and the wife of Count Mensdorff. ]

 [Footnote 104: Alfred, Count Neipperg, who died in 1865. ]

[Pageheading: THE CROWN JEWELS]

[Pageheading: PROVISION FOR PRINCESS AUGUSTA]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _11th November 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to acquaint your Majesty that he brought under the considerationof your Majesty's servants the questions relating to certain ofthe Crown Jewels, and the claim upon them preferred by the King ofHanover. [105]

In the course of the discussion it appeared to Sir Robert Peel thatthere were still some points in respect to this very embarrassingquestion which required the grave consideration of legal authorities, and that it would not be prudent to take any step, even that ofsubmitting the case to arbitration, without the highest legalauthority. 

The submission to arbitration might avoid the evil (and a very greatone it would be) of public controversy in a Court of Justice, and ofpublic examination of members of the Royal Family on a matter partlyof a domestic nature; but on the other hand, great care must be takenthat by submitting the case to the award of arbitrators, even shouldthey be nominated altogether by your Majesty, we do not relinquish any_fair_ advantage for the Crown of England which would have accompaniedan appeal to the regularly constituted tribunals of the country. 

Your Majesty's Solicitor-General was employed as Counsel for the Kingof Hanover, and it has been thought therefore advisable to make thereference to the Attorney-General and to the Queen's Advocate. 

Sir Robert Peel has attempted to bring every questionable point in thecase submitted to them under the consideration of your Majesty's lawadvisers, and when their report shall be received he will not fail tolay it before your Majesty. 

Sir Robert Peel had a personal interview a few days since with HisRoyal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, on the subject of apublic provision for the Princess Augusta on the occasion of hermarriage. [106]

Sir Robert Peel thought it advisable to enquire from the Duke ofCambridge, as the impression of the public (of which His RoyalHighness is quite aware) is that he has a considerable fortune of hisown, independently of his annual allowance from Parliament. 

The Duke of Cambridge seemed entirely to share the impressions ofSir Robert Peel that in the present state of the country, and of thepublic revenue, great caution is requisite in respect to the proposalof a grant of public money as a marriage portion to the PrincessAugusta, and that it would be important that in any proposal to bemade there should be a general acquiescence on the part of the Houseof Commons. 

As the marriage is not to take place for some time it appears to SirRobert Peel that it might be advisable to postpone a decision, atleast in respect to the particular amount of any provision to be made, till a period nearer to the meeting of Parliament. 

A public intimation, or the public notoriety long beforehand of theintention to propose a grant of public money might, in the presenttemper of the times, interpose additional obstacles in the way of it. 

Sir Robert Peel proposes to return to Drayton Manor for a short time, and to leave London to-morrow morning. 

 [Footnote 105: The King claimed them on the ground that part belonged to the Crown of Hanover, and part had been bequeathed to him by Queen Charlotte. The matter was referred to a Commission consisting of Lords Lyndhurst and Langdale, and Chief Justice Tindal. The two former were divided in opinion, and the Chief Justice died before the award was made. It was not till 1857 that a final decision, substantially in favour of Hanover, was given. ]

 [Footnote 106: See _ante_, p. 437. (Ch XI, Footnote 99, 31st October, 1842)]

[Pageheading: SUCCESSES IN CHINA]

_Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria. _

DOWNING STREET, _23rd November 1842. _

Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, has the honour of submitting toyour Majesty an original despatch from Lieutenant-General Sir HughGough, received this morning, detailing the triumphant successes whichhad crowned the exertions of your Majesty's Naval and Military forcesin China, [107] and of the completely satisfactory result in theexecution of a Treaty of Peace with the Emperor of China, upon termshighly honourable to your Majesty and advantageous to this country. 

Lord Stanley learns from Lord Fitzgerald that he is also forwarding toyour Majesty, by this messenger, the details which the same mailhas brought of the complete and triumphant issue of the campaign inAfghanistan. 

Lord Stanley trusts that he may be permitted to offer to your Majestyhis humble congratulations upon intelligence so glorious to BritishArms, and so important to British interests. It is difficult toestimate the moral effect which these victories may produce, noton Asia merely, but throughout Europe also. At the same moment yourMajesty has brought to a triumphant issue two gigantic operations, one in the centre of Asia, the other in the heart of the hithertounapproachable Chinese Empire. In the former, past disasters havebeen retrieved; a signal victory has been achieved on the very spotmemorable for former failure and massacre; the honour of the BritishArms has been signally vindicated; the interests of humanity have beenconsulted by the rescue of the whole of the prisoners; and, after aseries of victories, the Governor-General of India is free, withoutdiscredit, to enter upon measures of internal improvement, and havingestablished the supremacy of British power, to carry on henceforth amore pacific policy. 

In China a termination has been put to the effusion of blood by thesignature of a treaty which has placed your Majesty's dominions on afooting never recognised in favour of any foreign Power--a footingof perfect equality with the Chinese Empire; which has obtained largeindemnity for the past, and ample security for the future, and whichhas opened to British enterprise the commerce of China to an extentwhich it is almost impossible to anticipate. It may interest yourMajesty to hear that already enquiries are made in the City forsuperintendents of ships to trade to _Ningpo direct_. 

Lord Stanley has taken upon himself to give orders in your Majesty'sname for firing the Park and Tower guns in honour of these glorioussuccesses. A _Gazette_ extraordinary will be published to-morrow, thevoluminous nature of the despatches rendering it necessary to takesome time lest an important despatch should be omitted. 

All which is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most dutiful Servantand Subject, STANLEY. 

 [Footnote 107: Chapoo was taken by Sir Hugh Gough in May: in June the squadron, under Admiral William Parker, entered the waters of the Yang-tze, captured Chin-kiang-fu, and were about to attack Nanking, when the treaty was concluded, embracing among other things a payment by the Chinese of 21, 000, 000 dollars, the cession of Hong Kong, and the opening of the ports of Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai. ]

[Pageheading: VICTORIES IN AFGHANISTAN]

_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria. _

INDIA BOARD, _23rd November 1842. _[108]

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, begs leavemost humbly to inform your Majesty that the despatches received fromthe Governor-General of India announce the results of a series of mostbrilliant exploits by the armies under Major-General Nott and GeneralPollock in Afghanistan. 

Each of those armies has achieved a glorious victory over superiornumbers of the enemy. 

The city of Ghuznee has been captured, and its formidable fortressutterly razed and destroyed. 

The survivors of the British garrison, which had capitulated in thespring of the year, and who had been reduced to slavery, have beenredeemed from bondage. 

The splendid victory of General Pollock has been obtained over thearmy commanded by Akbar Khan in person, on the very spot where thegreatest disaster had befallen the British Army on their retreat, andwhere the last gun had been lost. 

On the 16th of September, General Pollock entered Cabul with hisvictorious troops and planted the Colours of your Majesty in the BalaHissar, on the spot most conspicuous from the city. 

An extract from a letter from General Pollock to Lord Ellenborough, dated at Cabul the 21st of September, gives the most gratifyingintelligence that _all_ the British prisoners, with the exception ofCaptain Bygrave, have been rescued from Akbar Khan, and were expectedin the British camp on the 22nd of September. 

An extract from a letter from General Pollock announcing theredemption of the prisoners is also most humbly submitted to yourMajesty, by your Majesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant, FITZGERALD AND VESCI. 

 [Footnote 108: The mail, which informed Ministers of the Chinese success, also brought the news of the capture of Cabul. General Nott (see _ante_, p. 402 (Ch XI, 'Sale and Pollock')) had by the end of July completed his preparations, and marched upon Ghuznee, having arranged to meet Pollock at Cabul, and having transferred the Scinde command to General England. Nott was before Ghuznee on 5th September, but at daylight on the 6th found it evacuated; the citadel was destroyed by him and the Gates of Somnauth removed, as directed by Lord Ellenborough. Pollock, to whose discretion Ellenborough had entrusted the policy of advancing on Cabul, secured supplies at Gundamuck, and on his advance met the enemy in a strong position in the Jugdulluck Pass and dispersed them; then at Tezeen, on 12th September, he was attacked by Akbar Khan with 20, 000 men. The Pass was forced, and the Afghans retired to the Haft Kotal, where they were utterly defeated, close to the scene of Elphinstone's disaster. Nott arrived at Cabul on the day after Pollock. ]

[Pageheading: AFFAIRS OF PORTUGAL]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

ARDENNE, _24th November 1842. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --. .. I do not think, or I may say I am prettycertain, because I have often seen Donna Maria's letters, they hardlyever speak of politics, except just saying that they are surrounded bysuch very sad people without honour or honesty. I am sure they arenot French at Lisbon beyond the kindly feelings which result from therecollection of Donna Maria's stay at Paris. My constant advice hasbeen to look exclusively to the closest alliance with England, andFerdinand is now _well aware_ of it; but you know that the Liberalparty tried to even harm him by representing him as a _mere_ creatureof England. We live in odd times when really one very often thinkspeople mad; their _uncontrouled_ passions do not developamiable feelings, but on the contrary everything that is bad andunreasonable. .. . 

You are a very affectionate and kind Mamma, which is verypraiseworthy; may Heaven preserve your dear little children! Victoriais very clever, and it will give you great pleasure to see thedevelopment which takes place with children just at that time of life. What you say of Ernest is unfortunately but too true; that trick ofexaggeration is one of the worst I almost know, and particularly inpeople in high stations, as one finally knows not what to believe, and it generally ends with people disbelieving all such individuals dosay. .. . Your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

WALMER CASTLE, _25th November 1842. _

The Queen wishes Sir Robert to consider, and at an _early_ period tosubmit to her, his propositions as to how to recompense and howto mark her high approbation of the admirable conduct of all thosemeritorious persons who have by their strenuous endeavour, broughtabout the recent brilliant successes in China and Afghanistan. 

[Pageheading: MILITARY HONOURS]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

WALMER CASTLE, _29th November 1842. _

Approve of the G. C. B. Given to--

 Sir H. POTTINGER. Sir W. PARKER. GENERAL NOTT. GENERAL POLLOCK. 

Likewise of the proposed pension to Sir R. Sale, and the Baronetcy toSir Hugh Gough. 

Thinks the latter very fit to succeed Sir Jasper Nicols[109] asCommander-in-Chief in India. 

Grants with pleasure the permission _to her troops_ engagedin Afghanistan to accept and wear the four medals which theGovernor-General has had struck for the Indian Army, and hopes thatbesides gratifying the troops, it will have the beneficial effect ofstill further strengthening the good feeling existing between the twoarmies. Were it not for this impression, the Queen would have thoughtit more becoming that she herself should have rewarded her troops witha medal than leaving it to the Governor-General. 

 [Footnote 109: Lieut. -General Sir Jasper Nicols (1778-1849), created a K. C. B. For his services at Bhurtpore. ]

[Pageheading: THE GATES OF SOMNAUTH]

_Lord Ellenborough to Queen Victoria. _

SIMLA, _18th October 1842. _

Lord Ellenborough, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, humblyoffers to your Majesty his congratulation on the entire success whichhas attended the operations of the Fleet and Army under your Majesty'sdirection in the Yantze-Kiang, [110] and submits to your Majestythe general order which, on the receipt of the intelligence of thatsuccess and of the peace concluded with the Emperor of China upon theterms dictated by your Majesty, he issued to the Army of India. 

Your Majesty will have observed that in the letter of the 4th of Julyto Major-General Nott, that officer was instructed to bring away thegates of the Temple of Somnauth, from the tomb of Mahmood of Ghuznee, and the club of Mahmood also. 

The club was no longer upon the tomb, and it seems to be doubtfulwhether it was taken away by some person of Lord Keane's Army in 1839, or by Shah Sooja, or whether it was hidden in order to prevent itsbeing taken away at that time. 

The gates of the Temple of Somnauth have been brought away byMajor-General Nott. 

These gates were taken to Ghuznee by Sultan Mahmood in the year 1024. The tradition of the Invasion of India by Sultan Mahmood in that year, and of the carrying away of the gates after the destruction of theTemple, is still current in every part of India, and known to everyone. So earnest is the desire of the Hindoos and of all who are notMussulmans to recover the gates of the Temple, that when ten or twelveyears ago Runjeet Singh was making arrangements with Shah Sooja forassisting him in the endeavour to recover his throne, [111] he wishedto make a stipulation that when Shah Sooja recovered his power heshould restore the gates to India, and Shah Sooja refused. 

Lord Ellenborough transmits for your Majesty's information a copy ofthe Address he intends to publish on announcing that the gates of theTemple will be restored. [112]

The progress of the gates from Ferozepore to Somnauth will be onegreat national triumph, and their restoration to India will endear theGovernment to the whole people. [113]

 [Footnote 110: See _ante_, p. 441, note 107. (Ch. XI, 'Successes in China')]

 [Footnote 111: See _ante_, p. 142. (Intro Note to Ch. VIII)]

 [Footnote 112: "The insult of 800 years, " he wrote in this rather theatrical proclamation, "is at last avenged. The gates of the temple of Somnauth, so long the memorial of your humiliation, are become the proudest record of your national glory. .. . You will yourselves, with all honour, transmit the gates of sandal-wood, through your respective territories, to the restored Temple of Somnauth. "]

 [Footnote 113: See _post_, pp. 463, 468, and 477. (Ch. XII, Footnote 13; 10th March, 1843; 19th February, 1843)]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND SPAIN]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th December 1842. _

DEAREST UNCLE, --I have to thank you for two most kind letters of the5th and 8th. I can report very favourably of the healths of young andold; we are all very flourishing, and have since yesterday perfectly_May_ weather. Clear, dry frost would be wholesome. 

Victoire gave me yesterday a much better account of poor littleRobert. [114]

In Portugal affairs seem quieted down, but Ferdinand is imprudentenough to say to Mamma that he would be wretched to lose Dietz (verynaturally), and _would not be at all sorry to go away_. Now, this is_folly_, and a most dangerous language to hold, as if he entertainsthis, I fear the Portuguese will _some beau matin_ indulge him in hiswishes. 

The news from Spain are better, but I must own frankly to you, that_we are all disgusted_ at the _French intrigues_ which have _withouta doubt_ been at the bottom of it all, and can, I fear, be tracedvery close to the Tuileries. Why attempt to ruin a country (which theyluckily _cannot succeed_ in) merely out of personal dislike to a manwho certainly has proved himself capable of keeping the country quiet, and certainly is by far the _most honest_ Spaniard in existence, whatever crimes or faults the French may choose to bring against him. And what will be the effect of all this? A total dislike and mistrustof France, and a still closer alliance with England. I have spokenthus freely, as a repetition of last year's scenes is _too much_ toremain silent, and as I have ever been privileged to tell you, dearestUncle, my feelings, and the truth. 

Poor Lord Hill's death, though fully expected, will grieve you, as ithas grieved us. 

I am much amused at what you say about Charles, and shall tell it him, when I write to him. Believe me, always, your most affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 114: The infant Duc de Chartres. ]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th December 1842. _

The Queen is very desirous that something should be done for MajorMalcolm[115] (who was the bearer of "the news of Victory and Peace"), either by promotion in the Army or by any other distinction. He is avery intelligent and well-informed officer, and has been employedin China both in a Civil and Military capacity, and has made, and isgoing to make again, a long journey at a very bad time of the year, though suffering severely at this moment from ague. 

 [Footnote 115: In such cases it has been usual to confer some distinction. ]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1842. _

The Queen thanks Sir Robert for his letter of the 23rd. She thinksthat Major Malcolm's going back to China the bearer of verbalinstructions as well as written ones will greatly facilitate thematter and prevent misunderstandings, which at such a great distanceare mostly fatal. The Queen joins in Sir Robert's opinion, that beforecoming to a final arrangement it will be most valuable to have Sir H. Pottinger's opinion upon your present message, and thinks it muchthe best that Sir H. Should in the meantime be entrusted withthe _extraordinary_ full powers for concluding any provisionalarrangements, as she believes that very great confidence may be placedin him. Lord Stanley's suggestions strike the Queen as very judiciousand calculated to facilitate the future Government of Hong-Kong. 

The Queen hopes to hear more from Sir Robert when she sees him here, which she hopes to do from Monday the 2nd to Wednesday the 4th. 

[Pageheading: THE SCOTCH CHURCH]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

DRAYTON MANOR, _26th December 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and withreference to enquiries made by your Majesty when Sir Robert Peelwas last at Windsor, on the subject of the Scotch Church and theproceedings of the last General Assembly, begs leave to acquaint yourMajesty that the Moderator of the Assembly has recently addressed aletter to Sir Robert Peel, requiring an answer to the demands urged bythe General Assembly in a document entitled a Protest and Declarationof Right. [116]

The demands of the General Assembly amount to a reversal by Law of therecent decisions of the Court of Session and of the House of Lords, and to a repeal of the Act of Queen Anne, which establishes the Rightof Patronage in respect to Livings in the Church of Scotland. 

That Act by no means gives any such absolute right of appointmentto the Crown or other patrons of Livings, as exists in England. Itenables those legally entitled to the patronage to present a clergymanto the Living, but the Church Courts have the power, on validobjections being made and duly sustained by the parishioners, to setaside the presentation of the patron, and to require from him a newnomination. 

The Church, however, requires the absolute repeal of the Act of Anne. 

An answer to the demands of the Church will now become requisite. 

Sir James Graham has been in communication with the law advisers ofyour Majesty in Scotland upon the legal questions involved in thismatter, and will shortly send for your Majesty's consideration thedraft of a proposed answer to the General Assembly. [117]

 [Footnote 116: The famous Auchterarder case had decided that, notwithstanding the vetoing by the congregation of the nominee of the patron, the Presbytery must take him on trial if qualified by life, learning, and doctrine, --in other words, that the Act of Anne, subjecting the power of the Presbytery to the control of the law courts, was not superseded by the Veto Act, a declaration made by the General Assembly. In the Strathbogie case, a minister had been nominated to Marnock, and 261 out of 300 heads of families had objected to him. The General Assembly having directed the Presbytery to reject him, the civil court held that he must be taken on trial. Seven members of the Presbytery obeyed the civil power, and the General Assembly, on the motion of Dr Chalmers, deposed them and declared their parishes vacant. ]

 [Footnote 117: Sir James Graham's letter is printed in the Annual Register for 1843. A petition in answer was drawn by the Assembly and presented to Parliament by Mr Fox Maule. After the debate on it in the Commons, preparations were made throughout Scotland for the secession of the non-intrusionists, as they were called, which event took place on 18th May 1843, when about 500 Ministers, headed by Chalmers, seceded from the Old Kirk, and founded the Free Church. ]

[Pageheading: A SERIOUS CRISIS]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

DRAYTON MANOR, _30th December 1842. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and rejoicesto hear that your Majesty approved of the letter which, with yourMajesty's sanction, James Graham proposes to write to the Moderator ofthe General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. 

Sir Robert Peel fears that there is too much ground for theapprehensions expressed by your Majesty in respect to futureembarrassment arising out of the position of the Church Question inScotland. 

Sir Robert Peel saw yesterday a letter addressed by DrAbercrombie, [118] the eminent physician in Edinburgh, to Sir GeorgeSinclair, [119] declaring his conviction that the Secession ofMinisters from their Livings would take place to _a very greatextent_--would comprise very many of the Ministers most distinguishedfor learning and professional character, and would meet with verygeneral support among their congregations. 

Sir Robert Peel has little doubt that a serious crisis in the Historyof the Church of Scotland is at hand, and that the result of it willbe greatly to be lamented; but still he could not advise your Majestyto seek to avert it by the acquiescence in demands amounting to theabrogation of important civil rights and to the establishmentin Scotland of an ecclesiastical domination independent of allcontrol. .. . 

He is very confident that your Majesty will feel that in the presentstate of the controversy with the Church of Scotland, there ispeculiar reason for taking the greatest care that every ministerpresented to a Crown Living should be not only above exception, butshould, if possible, be pre-eminently distinguished for his fitnessfor a pastoral charge. 

 [Footnote 118: John Abercrombie (1780-1844), one of the chief consulting physicians in Scotland, and a great medical writer. He left the Established Church. ]

 [Footnote 119: Sir George Sinclair (1790-1868), M. P. For Caithness-shire, was a supporter of the Anti-Patronage Society, and joined the Free Church. ]

[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _30th December 1842. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has beenmuch delighted this morning by receiving your Majesty's letter ofthe 28th. He was the more gratified, as he had begun to be a littleannoyed at being such a very long time without hearing from yourMajesty. 

Lord Mahon has sent Lord Melbourne his book. [120] Lord Melbourne hasnot yet read it, but he has read the review of it in the _Quarterly_, which seems to be a sort of abstract or abridgment of the book. The effect of writing it in French has naturally been to direct allattention and criticism from the merits of the work to the faults ofthe French. People who have read the work speak of it as entertaining, and the times are curious and interesting. The characters engaged inthem, striking and remarkable. Lord Melbourne is very glad to hearthat Pottinger's conduct is so universally approved. He alwaysappeared to Lord Melbourne to be a man of great ability, resolutionand discretion, and Lord Melbourne much rejoices that he has turnedout so. 

Hallam's opinions Lord Melbourne believes to be in general sound, and such as have been held and approved by the most able andconstitutional statesmen in this country. 

Lord Melbourne is much rejoiced to hear of the Princess and the Princeof Wales, and also that your Majesty is pursuing your studies quietly, cheerfully, and happily. 

Lord Melbourne is very sensible of the interest which the Baron takesin his health and which he warmly reciprocates. There is no man whomhe esteems more, nor of whose head and heart he has a better opinion. 

We expect here to-morrow the Duchess of Sutherland[121] and LadyElizabeth Gower, [122] who have been kind enough to propose to pay LordMelbourne a visit. 

 [Footnote 120: _Essai sur la vie du grand Condé_, afterwards published in English. ]

 [Footnote 121: Formerly Mistress of the Robes. ]

 [Footnote 122: Afterwards Duchess of Argyll. ]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XII

Repeated debates took place during the year (1843) on the Corn Laws, the agitation against them steadily growing, Mr Cobden coming on oneoccasion into violent conflict with the Premier. The events ofthe previous year in Afghanistan were also the subject of constantdiscussion in Parliament. A movement of some importance took place inWales in opposition to the increasing number of toll-bars, bandsof rioters dressed in women's clothes and known as "Rebecca and herdaughters, " demolishing the gates and committing acts of greater orless violence. A verse in Genesis (xxiv. 60) fancifully applied gaverise to this name and disguise. 

In Scotland the system of private patronage in the Established Kirkhad become very unpopular, the Act of Anne in favour of the nominationby lay patrons, and the control given to the Law Courts over therevising action of the Presbytery being ultimately modified by adeclaration of the General Assembly known as the Veto Act. But itwas decided in what was called the Strathbogie case that the veto wasillusory, the disruption of the old Kirk followed, and on 18th May DrChalmers and five hundred other ministers seceded from it in order toform the Free Church. 

In Ireland the agitation for Repeal was at its height. O'Connell, supported by the _Nation_ newspaper, founded a Repeal Association inDublin, and monster meetings were held on Sundays on some conspicuousspot of free and historic associations to claim the re-establishmentof a Parliament on College Green. It was believed that a quarter ofa million people were present on one occasion, and the Government, alarmed at the absolute power wielded by O'Connell over these hugebodies of men, resolved to prohibit the meetings, and somewhat tardilyissued a Proclamation against that announced for Clontarf on 8thOctober. O'Connell accordingly disbanded the meeting, but his actiondid not please his more zealous supporters, and his ascendency cameto an end. The agitation collapsed and the principal actors werearrested. 

A military duel fought in the summer of this year, in which a colonelin the Army was shot by his brother-in-law, made the code of honourexisting on the subject a burning question, the criminal law ofhomicide being the same then as now. On Prince Albert's suggestion, the question was taken up by the heads of the Army and Navy, and theArticles of War were in the following year amended so as to admit ofan apology and a tender of redress. 

The better feeling existing between this country and France enabledthe Queen and Prince to visit Louis Philippe at the Château d'Eu. 

CHAPTER XII

1843

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th January 1843. _

DEAREST UNCLE, --. .. We have been _very_ gay; danced into the New Year, and again _last_ night, and were _very_ merry, though but a verysmall party; young and old danced. Good Lord Melbourne was here fromSaturday till this morning, looking very well, and I _almost_ fanciedhappy old times were returned; but alas! the dream is _past_! Heenquired much after you. 

Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: BETROTHAL OF PRINCE DE JOINVILLE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CLAREMONT, _10th January 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I am happy to write to you again from this so verydear and comfortable old place, where you will have heard from Louisethat we arrived with our dear Pussy on Thursday last. We are _all_so particularly well, including Pussy, that we intend, to my greatdelight, to prolong our stay till next Monday. This place has apeculiar charm for us both, and to me it brings back recollectionsof the _happiest_ days of my otherwise _dull_ childhood--where Iexperienced such kindness from you, dearest Uncle, which has eversince continued. It is true that my _last_ stay here _before_ I cameto the Throne, from November '36 to February '37, was a peculiarlypainful and disagreeable one, but somehow or other, I do _not_ thinkof those times, but only of all the former _so_ happy ones. Victoriaplays with my old bricks, etc. , and I think you would be pleased tosee this and to see her _running_ and jumping in the flower garden, as_old_--though I fear _still little_--_Victoria of former days_ usedto do. She is very well, and such an amusement to us, that I can'tbear to move without her; she is _so_ funny and speaks so well, and inFrench also, she knows almost everything; she would therefore get onfamously with Charlotte. .. . 

Might I ask you some questions about Joinville's match, [1] whichinterests me much? First of all, _have_ you heard of his arrival atRio? Secondly, if the Donna Francesca pleases, is he empowered _atonce to make the demand_, or must he write home first? How nice itwould be if the _two_ marriages could take place at _once_; but Isuppose, under any circumstances, that could _not_ be. .. . 

Alexandrine is nearly quite recovered; she writes such pretty, affectionate, kind letters, poor dear child, and is so fond of Ernest. I must say I think _he_ seems improved, as he likes to live _quietly_with her, and speaks of her too with the greatest affection. 

Now, my dearest Uncle, let me take my leave, begging you to believeme, always, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 1: He was married to the Princess Francesca of Brazil on 1st May. ]

[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _12th January 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanksyour Majesty much for your letter of the 9th inst. Which he receivedyesterday. Every letter that he receives from your Majesty brings backto his mind the recollection of times, which, though they were cloudedwith much care and anxiety, were still to Lord Melbourne a period ofmuch happiness and satisfaction. .. . 

Hallam has not written a History of the Church, but in all his booksthere is necessarily much about the Church, and much that is worthy ofmention. A short History of the Church is, Lord Melbourne fears, notto be found, the subject is so large and so difficult that it cannotbe treated shortly. Dr Short[2] has written and published a clever, brief, and distinct summary, but it relates principally to the Churchof England, and in order to be fully understood, requires to be readby one who has already some acquaintance with the subject. 

The book which your Majesty remembers Lord Melbourne reading isthe production of Dr Waddington, [3] whom your Majesty, under LordMelbourne's recommendation, made Dean of Durham, which dignity he nowholds. It is a very good book. 

Adolphus's[4] History is by no means a bad book, and will give yourMajesty the facts of the beginning of the reign of George III. Welland accurately enough. The Duke of Sussex once told Lord Melbournethat he had asked his father whether Adolphus's account of thebeginning of his reign was correct, and that the King had replied thatsubstantially it was so, but that there were some mistakes, and thatwhat had been done by one person was often attributed to another. Adolphus's History will receive some illustration from HoraceWalpole's letters of that period. .. . 

Lord Melbourne thinks that he is really getting rid of the gout, andgathering strength. He still has some doubt whether he shall be ableto go up for the meeting of Parliament. Lord Melbourne begs to renewto your Majesty the warm and respectful assurance of his gratitude andattachment. 

 [Footnote 2: Bishop, then of Sodor and Man, afterwards of St Asaph. His book, a _Sketch of the History of the Church of England_, was published in 1832. ]

 [Footnote 3: George Waddington (1793-1869), Dean of Durham, published in 1833 the _History of the Church from the Earliest Ages to the Reformation_. ]

 [Footnote 4: John Adolphus, barrister, wrote a history of England from 1760 to 1783. ]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

CANFORD HOUSE, _Friday, 13th January 1843. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --. .. As you take so kind an interest in ourdear Thesy, [5] I send you a letter which I have received from hermother-in-law, with an excellent account of her and her infant. Herhappiness is a great blessing, and I thank God that she is so wellthis time. Can you imagine her with _two boys_? It seems so odd, forit is but a short time since she was here with us. How time fliesrapidly. I own I was not a little surprised to find that you areprobably the godmother; or is the little boy only to be named afteryou? I remember well what you said to me when I was asked to be thegodmother of the first boy, "_that I could not accept it_, " as Imust not take the responsibilities attached to a sponsor with a RomanCatholic child. On that ground alone, and having learned your opinionwhich sanctioned my own, I refused it then at the risk of offendingthe dear parents. Now, after all that was said on the subject, if _youhave accepted_ the offer of becoming sponsor to this little _Victor_, YOU, as the Head of the English Church, give to understand that _I_was wrong in my notions of the duties which our Church imposes uponsponsors, having refused what you accepted. I tell you fairlyand openly that it has vexed me, but of course I say this only to_yourself_, dearest Victoria, and not to any one else, for it does notbecome me to find fault with what you please to do. But I could notentirely pass it over in silence, and regret that my former refusalmust now become doubly annoying to my relations. I beg your pardon forthus frankly stating my feelings to you on a subject which I shallnow despatch from my mind, and I trust you will not take it ill, and excuse me for having mentioned it to you _alone_. .. . Your mostattached and devoted Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

 [Footnote 5: Princess Thérèse, daughter of the Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst, and wife of Prince Frederick Charles of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg. ]

_Queen Victoria to Queen Adelaide. _

CLAREMONT, _15th January 1843. _

I am at a loss to comprehend, my dear Aunt, what you mean by sayingthat you refused being godmother to Thesy's first child, as _I_ hadsanctioned your doing so. I never remember even _talking_ to _you_ onthe subject, but only heard from Mamma that _you_ had refused doingso--which I was surprised at. I therefore felt no hesitation inaccepting the offer of Thesy, particularly as I am already godmotherto one of the children of Prince Esterhazy's daughter. I am grieved, dearest Aunt, that this occurrence should annoy you, but I can_assure_ you that I do not remember _ever_ having spoken to you on thesubject at all. 

[Pageheading: GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP OF CANADA]

_Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria. _

DOWNING STREET, _19th January 1843. _

Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, submits to your Majesty that inpursuance of the permission which your Majesty was pleased to givehim personally, he has this day offered to Sir Charles Metcalfe[6] theGovernor-Generalship of Canada; and Lord Stanley has much satisfactionin adding that the offer has been readily and thankfully accepted. This appointment, Lord Stanley is convinced, is, under thecircumstances, the best which could have been made, and he believesnot only that it will be generally approved, but that Sir CharlesMetcalfe's long experience and tried discretion will afford the bestprospect of conducting the affairs of Canada safely and successfullythrough the present crisis. As Sir Charles Metcalfe will naturally beanxious previous to his embarkation (which, however, will probablynot take place for at least six weeks) to have the honour of beingpresented to your Majesty on his appointment, Lord Stanley hopes hemay be honoured by your Majesty's commands as to the time when it maybe your Majesty's pleasure to admit him to an audience. Perhaps SirCharles's attendance after the Council at which your Majesty's Speechon the opening of the Session has to be settled, may give your Majestyas little trouble as any time that could be named. 

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most, dutiful Servantand Subject, STANLEY. 

 [Footnote 6: Metcalfe had had a long Indian career, and for a year had been Provisional Governor-General, when he removed the restrictions on the liberty of the Press. He was created a peer in 1845, but never took his seat. He resigned his post at the end of that year, and died soon after. ]

[Pageheading: ASSASSINATION OF MR DRUMMOND]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert. _

WHITEHALL, _20th January (1843). _

SIR, --I have the painful duty of acquainting your Royal Highness thatMr Drummond, my Private Secretary, was shot at this day about quarterpast three o'clock, in the neighbourhood of Charing Cross. [7]

Two pistols were discharged, the first close to Mr Drummond's back, the second after the assassin had been seized by a policeman. 

The ball entered in the back and has been extracted, after passinground the ribs. I have just left Mr Drummond's house. No vital partappears to have been injured, and there is no unfavourable symptomwhatever. 

The assassin gives his name _MacNaghten_, and appears to be a Glasgowman. 

Two five-pound notes were, I understand, found upon his person, anda receipt for £750 given to Daniel MacNaghten, confirming, therefore, the man's account of his name. 

We have not hitherto been able to discover that this man had anyalleged grievance or complaint against the Treasury or any publicoffice. 

He has been loitering about the public offices for the last fortnight, and being questioned, I understand, some days since, by the OfficeKeeper of the Council office, said he was a policeman. This, ofcourse, for the purpose of evading further enquiry. 

The policeman who apprehended the man, says that he heard the manexclaim after firing the shots: "He or she (the policeman is uncertainwhich) shall not disturb my peace of mind any more. "

These are all the particulars I have heard or learned. I am afraidI have given them to your Royal Highness in a hurried manner. I havethought it better to convey this information to Her Majesty, throughthe kind intervention of your Royal Highness, than by a directcommunication to the Queen. 

I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your RoyalHighness's most faithful and humble Servant, ROBERT PEEL. 

 [Footnote 7: Edward Drummond had been Private Secretary to Canning, Ripon, and Wellington, as well as to Peel, and was very popular; he was in his fifty-first year. He had just left his uncle's Bank at Charing Cross, when he was shot. ]

[Pageheading: MISTAKEN FOR SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _21st January 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel begs leave to mention to your Majesty a fact _whichhas not hitherto transpired_--and of which he was not aware until hehad an interview this morning with Sir James Graham. 

On the Inspector Tierney going into the cell of MacNaghten thismorning, he said to MacNaghten: "I suppose you are aware who is theperson whom you have shot?"

He (MacNaghten) said: "Yes--Sir Robert Peel. "

From this it would appear that he had mistaken Mr Drummond for SirRobert Peel. 

The Magistrate thought it better not to have this evidence at presentplaced on record. 

[Pageheading: DEATH OF MR DRUMMOND]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has thevery painful duty to report to your Majesty the fatal consequences ofthe attack on Mr Drummond. 

He breathed his last this morning about half-past ten o'clock. 

A very unfavourable change took place last night, and no hopes wereentertained after seven o'clock in the evening. 

This sad event has had such an effect on Lady Peel, and all thecircumstances attending it are so distressing to Sir Robert Peel, thatrelying upon your Majesty's great kindness, he ventures to express ahope that your Majesty will have the goodness to permit Sir Robert andLady Peel to remain for the present in London, or should your Majestydesire to see Sir Robert Peel before Wednesday next, to allow him towait upon your Majesty in the morning of any day which your Majestymay be pleased to name. 

He need scarcely assure your Majesty that nothing but such a sad eventas that which has occurred would induce him to prefer this request toyour Majesty. 

Sir Robert Peel encloses such further information as has reached himrespecting MacNaghten. 

He does not hesitate to send to your Majesty every word of informationof the least importance which he receives. .. . 

The evidence of his mental delusion is strong, but it must be borne inmind that he was exactly the instrument which others would employ. 

Sir Robert Peel has no reason for surmising this to be the case, butthe possibility of it ought not and shall not be overlooked. 

[Pageheading: DEMEANOUR OF MACNAGHTEN]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and makes noapology for frequently writing to your Majesty on the painful subjectin respect to which your Majesty has manifested so deep an interest. 

Sir Robert Peel humbly thinks that your Majesty's observations withrespect to the clear distinctions in the cases of insanity are mostjust. It will be most unfortunate indeed if the Law does not attachits severest penalty to a crime so premeditated and so deliberatelyand savagely perpetrated, as that of MacNaghten. 

The Jury are, however, the sole judges on this point, that is to say, it rests with them exclusively, either to find an absolute verdict ofguilty of murder, or to acquit on the ground of insanity. 

MacNaghten will be charged with the offence of murder, and everyeffort will be made to bring him to condign punishment. 

His counsel will probably endeavour to establish his insanity. 

Nothing can be more collected and intelligent in many respects thanhis conduct in prison. He was conversing with the gaoler, and seemednot disinclined to unburden his mind, when he suddenly stopped andenquired from the gaoler whether such conversations as that which hewas holding went beyond the prison walls. 

On being informed that no security could be given that they wouldremain secret, he said he should hold his tongue, but that all wouldcome out by and by. 

Sir Robert Peel takes the liberty of enclosing for your Majesty'sperusal a note which he has just received from Miss Emily Eden, sisterof Lord Auckland, and of Mrs Charles Drummond. 

If it should be in your Majesty's power to assign apartments at somefuture period to Miss Drummond, who lived with her brother Edward, andwas mainly dependent upon him, it would be a very great comfort to alady of the most unexceptionable conduct, and most deeply attached toher poor brother. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _25th January 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has beenmuch gratified this morning by receiving your Majesty's letter of the23rd; he has determined upon following your Majesty's advice, and uponnot hazarding the throwing himself back by coming up to London andattempting to attend the House of Lords at the commencement of theSession. The assassination of Mr Drummond, for Lord Melbourne fears itmust be called so, is indeed a dreadful thing. Lord Melbourne isnot surprised, for people are very apt to turn all their wrath andindignation upon the man from whom they actually receive an answerwhich they do not like, without in the least considering whether heis really responsible for it. Lord Melbourne used often to be himselfassailed with threats of personal violence. Sometimes he took noticeof them by swearing the peace against those who used them, and havingthem bound over in sureties. Sometimes he disregarded them, but hedoes not think it either prudent or justifiable entirely to neglectsuch intimations. Lord Melbourne does not wonder that this eventbrings to your Majesty's recollection what has taken place in your owncase. 

Hallam is, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, right about Ireland. Heradvocates are very loud in their outcry, but she has not really muchto complain of. 

Lord Melbourne was very glad to hear of the marriage of PrinceAugustus of Coburg with the Princess Clémentine, as he apprehends thatthe connection must be very agreeable to your Majesty. 

Lord Melbourne begs to be respectfully and affectionately rememberedto His Royal Highness. 

[Pageheading: COMMITTAL OF MACNAGHTEN]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _28th January 1843. _

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to inform your Majesty, thatthe prisoner Daniel MacNaghten was fully committed for trial thisafternoon. He was not defended before the Magistrates; but in hismanner he was quite cool, intelligent, and collected; he asked noquestions, but he expressed a wish to have copies of the Depositions. 

His trial will probably commence on Friday or Saturday next, and thereis reason to believe that, at the request of his relatives in Glasgow, counsel will be retained, and that the plea of insanity will be raisedin his defence. [8]

Every preparation is in progress to meet this vague and dangerousexcuse. It will turn out that the pistols were bought at Paisley byMacNaghten on the 6th of August last; and information has reachedSir James Graham, which, he thinks, will prove that MacNaghten is aChartist, that he has attended political meetings at Glasgow, andthat he has taken a violent part in politics. He yesterday saw aPresbyterian clergyman, who prayed with him; who pointed out theatrocity of his crime, the innocence of his victim, the pangsof sorrowing relatives, and who exhorted him to contrition andrepentance. Some impression was made at the moment; but his generaldemeanour is marked by cold reserve and hardness of heart. 

 [Footnote 8: He was defended by four counsel, including Mr Cockburn, afterwards Lord Chief Justice. ]

[Pageheading: THE ROYAL FAMILY AND POLITICS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _2nd February 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanksmuch for the letter of the 30th ult. , which he received here yesterdaymorning. He believes it is more prudent not to go to London, but hegreatly regrets that his not doing so will deprive him for so long atime of the honour and pleasure of seeing your Majesty. 

The Duke of Sussex acquainted Lord Melbourne and took his opinionbefore he issued his cards for the dinner. Lord Melbourne does notthink that he can have any idea of playing the part to which LordErroll alluded. It is better that a dinner should be given somewhere. He having nothing of the kind would look too much like giving upthe whole business and disbanding the party. Lord Melbourne entirelyagrees with your Majesty as to the political conduct which ought to bepursued by the members of the Royal Family, but he remembers no timein which they have been induced to act with so much prudence andpropriety. Your Majesty will see in Adolphus the very prominent sharewhich the Duke of Cumberland, [9] the General of Culloden, took in theParty contentions of those days. He was a strong partisan and in agreat measure the founder of the Whig party. Lord Melbourne has oftenheard George IV. Converse upon that subject, and he used to contendthat it was quite impossible for a Prince of Wales in this country toavoid taking an active part in politics and political contentions. Thefact is, that George III. Did not discourage this in his own familysufficiently, and the King of Hanover always said that his father hadencouraged him in the active part which he took, and which certainlywas sufficiently objectionable. 

The assassination of Drummond is indeed a horrible event. LordMelbourne does not see as yet any clear, distinct, and certainevidence of what were the real motives and object of the man. But weshall hear upon his trial what it is that he urges. Your Majesty will, of course, recollect that the Jury acquitted Oxford, and there thenwas nothing to do but to acquiesce in the verdict. If the Jury shouldtake a similar view of this man's crime, it will be impossible forthe Government to do anything to remedy the evil which Lord Melbournethinks will be caused by such a decision. Lord Melbourne knew MrDrummond pretty well. He used formerly to be much in Hertfordshire, both at Hatfield and at Gorhambury, and Lord Melbourne has often methim at both places, and thought him with all the rest of the world, avery quiet, gentlemanly, and agreeable man. Lord Melbourne very wellremembers the murder of Mr Perceval and Bellingham's trial. LordMelbourne was then in the House of Commons, but was not present at thetime the crime was perpetrated. There were differences of opinion asto the manner in which Sir James Mansfield conducted the trial. Manythought that he ought to have given more time, which was asked foron the part of the prisoner, in order to search for evidence atLiverpool. But the law which he laid down in his charge is certainlysound, correct, and reasonable. Lord Melbourne is very glad to thinkthat your Majesty has not to go to the House of Lords to-day. 

 [Footnote 9: This Duke died unmarried in 1765, and his nephew, the fourth son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, was created Duke of Cumberland in 1766. He in his turn died without issue, in 1790, and in 1799 the fifth son of George III. (afterwards King of Hanover) received the same title. ]

[Pageheading: THE AMERICAN TREATY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _3rd February 1843. _

. .. Lord Melbourne thinks that the Speech was very well andjudiciously drawn; the only paragraph which he does not like is thatabout the American treaty. [10] It betrays too great an anxiety forpeace, and too much fear of war. [11]

 [Footnote 10: See _ante_, pp. 368, 370 (Ch. X, 'The United States'). The treaty had been negotiated by Lord Ashburton. ]

 [Footnote 11: "By the treaty which Her Majesty has concluded with the United States of America, and by the adjustment of those differences which, from their long continuance, had endangered the preservation of peace, Her Majesty trusts that the amicable relations of the two countries have been confirmed. "]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _6th February 1843. _

MY BELOVED VICTORIA, --I am quite of your opinion about balls. _Nothing_ can change what _cannot change_, and I consider all thesethings, which have always been _a bore_ to me, as a matter _of duty_and not otherwise. The duties of station are to be fulfilled like theothers, and my _first_ and _most pleasant_ duty is to do _all_ thatyour Uncle may command or wish. Your Uncle was much _shocked_ byyour answer about _Miss Meyer_, [12] whom he considered of _uncommonbeauty_. He is quite in love with her picture, and is very anxiousto discover who she is. The other pictures of the _book of beauty_he abandons to you, and they are certainly worthy of a _book ofugliness_. .. . Yours most devotedly, LOUISE. 

 [Footnote 12: Eugénie Meyer, step-daughter of Colonel Gurwood, C. B. , married the first Viscount Esher, Master of the Rolls. The Queen had written that she did not admire that style of beauty. ]

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD AND PEEL]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _10th February 1843. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --. .. I am very much gratified by your havingshown my hasty scrawl to Sir Robert Peel, and that the sincereexpression of a conscientious opinion should have given him pleasure. 

It was natural at first that you should _not_ have liked to take himas your Premier; many circumstances united against him. But I mustsay for you and your family, as well as for England, it was a greatblessing that so firm and honourable a man as Peel should have becomethe head of your Administration. The State machine breaks often downin consequence of mistakes made forty and fifty years ago; so it wasin France where even Louis XIV. Had already laid the first foundationfor what happened nearly a hundred years afterwards. 

I believe, besides, Sir Robert sincerely and warmly attached to you, and as you say with great truth, _quite above_ mere party feeling. Poor Lady Peel must be much affected by what has happened. .. . Yourtruly devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _12th February 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He receivedhere on Friday last, the 10th, your Majesty's letter of the 8th, which gave him great pleasure, and for which he gratefully thanks yourMajesty. Lord Melbourne is getting better, and hopes soon to be nearlyas well as he was before this last attack, but he still finds hisleft hand and arm and his left leg very much affected, and he does notrecover his appetite, and worse still, he is very sleepless at night, an evil which he is very little used to, and of which he is veryimpatient. .. . 

Lord Melbourne adheres to all he said about Lord Ashburton and theTreaty, but he thinks more fire than otherwise would have taken placewas drawn upon Lord Ashburton by the confident declaration of Stanleythat his appointment was generally approved. The contrary is certainlythe case. There is much of popular objection to him from his Americanconnection and his supposed strong American interests. Lady Ashburton, with whom he received a large fortune, is a born American. But he issupposed to possess much funded property in that country, and tohave almost as strong an interest in its welfare as in that of GreatBritain. With all this behind, it is a bad thing to say that hisappointment was liable to no suspicion or objection. It seems to LordMelbourne that what with Ellenborough with the Gates of Ghuznee uponhis shoulders, [13] and Ashburton with the American Treaty round hisneck, the Ministry have nearly as heavy a load upon them as they canstand up under, and Lord Melbourne would not be surprised if they wereto lighten themselves of one or the other. 

 [Footnote 13: The Somnauth Proclamation created a good deal of ridicule. ]

[Pageheading: POSITION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _13th February 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has justrecollected that in the letter which he wrote yesterday, he omittedto advert to a part of your Majesty's last to which your Majesty mayexpect some answer. He means the part relating to the character andsituation of a Prince of Wales in this country. George IV. Was soconscious of having mixed himself most unrestrainedly in politics, and of having taken a very general part in opposition to his father'sGovernment and wishes, that he was naturally anxious to exoneratehimself from blame, and to blame it upon the necessity of his positionrather than upon his own restless and intermeddling disposition. ButLord Melbourne agrees with your Majesty that his excuse was neithervalid nor justifiable, and Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that yourMajesty and the Prince may be successful in training and instructingthe young Prince of Wales, and to make him understand correctly hisreal position and its duties, and to enable him to withstand thetemptations and seductions with which he will find himself beset, whenhe approaches the age of twenty-one. It is true that Sir John made theobservation, which Lord Melbourne mentioned to your Majesty, and whichyou now remember correctly. He made it to Sir James Graham, when hewent to talk to him about the offence which William IV. Had taken atthe Duchess of Kent's marine excursion; and at the receiving ofroyal salutes. Your Majesty was not very long in the situation ofan acknowledged, admitted, and certain Heir Apparent, but still longenough to be aware of the use which those around you were inclined tomake of that situation and of the petitions and applications which itnaturally produced from others, and therefore to have an idea of thedifficulties of it. 

Lord Melbourne heartily wishes your Majesty every success in theinteresting and important task in which you are engaged of forming thecharacter and disposition of the young Prince. 

[Pageheading: DOMESTIC HAPPINESS]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

CANFORD HOUSE, _14th February 1843. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --Your delightful letter of Tuesday gave me suchpleasure and satisfaction that I must thank you with all my heart forit. Your happiness, and your gratitude for that happiness, is mostgratifying to my feelings, having loved you from your infancy almostas much as if you had been my own child. It is therefore happiness tome to hear from yourself those expressions to which you gave vent. Ithank God that you have such an excellent husband, so well calculatedto make you happy and to assist you in your arduous duties by hisadvice, as well as his help in sharing your troubles. I pray that yourdomestic happiness may last uninterruptedly, and that you may enjoy itthrough a long, long period of _many, many years_. You cannot say toomuch of _yourself_ and dear Albert when you write to me, for it is amost interesting subject to my heart, I assure you. 

What a _shame_ to have put on darling little Victoria a _powderedwig_! Poor dear child must have looked very strange with it! Did herbrother appear in _einer Allonge-Perücke_?. .. 

I shall hope to follow you to town early next month, and look forwardwith great pleasure to seeing you so soon again. Forgive me myhorrible scrawl, and with my best love to dearest Albert, believeme, ever, my dearest Victoria, your most affectionate and faithfullydevoted Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

Pray tell your dear mother, with my affectionate love, that I willanswer her letter to-morrow. 

[Pageheading: INTERCHANGE OF VISITS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _14th February 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Many thanks for your kind letter of the 10th, whichI received on Sunday. I am only a little wee bit distressed at yourwriting _on the 10th_, and not taking any notice of the _dearest, happiest_ day in my life, to which I owe the present _great_ domestichappiness I now enjoy, and which is much greater than I deserve, though certainly my Kensington life for the last six or seven yearshad been one of great misery and oppression, and I may expect somelittle retribution, and, indeed, _after_ my accession, there was agreat deal of worry. Indeed I _am_ grateful for possessing (_reallywithout_ vanity or flattery or _blindness_) the _most perfect_ beingas a husband in existence, or who ever did exist; and I doubt whetheranybody _ever_ did love or respect another as I do my dear Angel! Andindeed Providence has ever mercifully protected us, through manifolddangers and trials, and I feel confident will continue to do so, andthen let outward storms and trials and sorrows be sent us, and we canbear all. .. . 

I could not help smiling at the exactitude about Monday the 19thof June; it is a great happiness to us to think with such certainty(_D. V. _) of your kind visit, which would suit perfectly. _À propos_ ofthis, I am anxious to tell you that we are full of hope of paying youin August a little visit, which last year was in so melancholy a wayinterrupted; but we think that for _many_ reasons it would be betterfor us to pay you our _first_ visit only at _Ostend_, and not atBrussels or Laeken; you could lodge us _anywhere_, and we need thenbring but very few people with us--it might also facilitate themeeting with Albert's good old grandmother, who fears to cross thesea, and whose great _wish_ is to behold Albert again--and wouldnot be so difficult (_pour la lère fois_) in many ways. I could, nevertheless, see Bruges and Ghent from thence by help of therailroad, and return the same day to Ostend. 

What you say about Peel is very just. Good Lord Melbourne is muchbetter. 

I hope soon to hear more about Joinville and Donna Francesca. Now, ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

We are all very well (_unberufen_) and move, _to our horror_, to townon Friday. 

[Pageheading: COBDEN'S ATTACK ON PEEL]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _18th February (1843). _

(_Saturday morning. _)

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to acquaint your Majesty that the debate was brought to aclose this morning about half-past three o'clock. The motion of LordHowick[14] was rejected by a large majority, the number being--

 For the Motion 191 Against it 305 --- Majority 114 ---

The chief speakers were Mr R. Cobden and Lord John Russell in favourof the motion, Mr Attwood, Lord Francis Egerton, and Sir Robert Peelagainst it. 

In the course of the evening there was much excitement and animateddiscussion, in consequence of the speech of Mr Cobden, who is thechief patron of the Anti-Corn Law League. 

Mr Cobden with great vehemence of manner observed more than once thatSir Robert Peel ought to be held _individually responsible_ for thedistress of the country. [15]

Coupling these expressions with the language frequently held at themeetings of the Anti-Corn Law League, and by the press in connectionwith it, Sir Robert Peel in replying to Mr Cobden charged him withholding language calculated to excite to personal violence. 

 [Footnote 14: To go into Committee on the depression of the manufacturing industry. The debate turned mainly on the Corn Laws. ]

 [Footnote 15: To this attack Peel replied with excessive warmth, amid the frantic cheering of his party, who almost refused to hear Cobden's explanation in reply. Peel, alarmed at the fate of Drummond, thought (or affected to think) that Cobden was singling him out as a fit object for assassination. For years Cobden resented this language of Peel most deeply. "Peel's atrocious conduct towards me ought not to be lost sight of, " he wrote in February 1846. A _rapprochement_ was effected by Miss Martineau--see her letter to Peel (Parker, vol. Iii. P. 330)--and a reference to the matter by Disraeli in the House of Commons led to satisfactory explanations on both sides. ]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Lincoln. _[16]

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _18th February 1843. _

The Queen, immediately on her arrival yesterday, went to look atthe new Chapel, with which she is much pleased, but was extremelydisappointed to find it still in such a backward state. As it is ofthe utmost importance to the Queen to be able to _use_ it _very soon_, she wishes Lord Lincoln would be so good as to hurry on the work asmuch as possible; perhaps Lord Lincoln could increase the number ofworkmen, as there seemed to her to be very few there yesterday. 

 [Footnote 16: Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests. ]

[Pageheading: FANNY BURNEY'S DIARY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _21st February 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He receivedsafely your Majesty's letter of the 18th inst. Lord Melbourne entreatsyour Majesty that you never will think for a moment that you cantire him by questions, or that it can be to him anything but a greatpleasure to answer them. He will be only too happy if any informationthat he possesses or can procure can be of the least use or pleasureto your Majesty. Lord Melbourne conceives that your Majesty must besurprised at his complaining of sleeplessness. He is much obliged bythe suggestion of the camphor. He mentioned it to the gentleman whoattends him, and he said that it was a very good thing, and certainlyhas a soothing and quieting effect, and that in fact there was somein the draught which Lord Melbourne now takes at night. But LordMelbourne has taken to going down to dinner with those who are in thehouse, and sitting up afterwards until near twelve o'clock, and sincehe has done this he has slept better. We expect the Duke and Duchessof Bedford for two nights on Wednesday next. Lord and Lady Uxbridgeand Ella and Constance often come over in the morning and eat theirluncheon here, which Lord Melbourne takes very kindly of them. GeorgeByng[17] came the other morning in a waistcoat of Peel's velveteen. Lord Strafford brought the whole piece off the manufacturer, and letGeorge Byng have enough for a waistcoat. It is a dull blue stuff, andthe device and inscription not very clear nor easy to make out. [18]

Adolphus is, as Aberdeen says, too rigidly Tory, but there are plentyof narratives of the same period, such as Belsham[19] and others, ofwhom it may be said with equal truth that they are too Whig. .. . 

Lord Melbourne read the _Edinburgh_ on Madame d'Arblay, which iscertainly Macaulay's, but thought it unnecessarily severe upon QueenCharlotte, and that it did not do her justice, and also that it rathercountenanced too much Miss Burney's dislike to her situation. Itappears to Lord Melbourne that Miss Burney was well enough contentedto live in the Palace and receive her salary, but that she wassurprised and disgusted as soon as she found that she was expected togive up some part of her time to conform to some rules, and to performsome duty. Lord Melbourne is sorry to say that he missed the articleon Children's Books, [20] a subject of much importance, and in which heis much interested. 

Lord Melbourne has received the engraving of the Princess, and ismuch pleased by it, and returns many thanks. It is very pretty, veryspirited, and as far as Lord Melbourne's recollection, serves him, very like. Lord Melbourne remains, ever, your Majesty's faithful, devoted, and attached Servant. 

 [Footnote 17: Brother-in-law of Lord Uxbridge, and afterwards Earl of Stratford. ]

 [Footnote 18: The allusion is to a hoax played on the Premier, by a presentation made to him of a piece of the then novel fabric, velveteen, stamped with a free-trade design. Peel afterwards wrote that he was unaware that the specimen bore "any allusion to any matters which are the subject of public controversy. "]

 [Footnote 19: William Belsham (1752-1827) wrote, in twelve volumes, _A History of Great Britain to the Conclusion of the Peace of Amiens in 1802_. ]

 [Footnote 20: In the _Quarterly Review_, by Lady Eastlake. ]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL (_4th March 1843_). (_Sunday morning. _)

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to acquaint your Majesty that the prisoner MacNaghten wasacquitted last night, after a trial which lasted two days, upon theground of insanity. 

The fuller account of the evidence which Sir Robert Peel has seen ison the accompanying newspaper. 

The only other information which has reached Sir Robert Peel iscontained in a note (enclosed) from Mr Maule, the solicitor to theTreasury, who conducted the prosecution. The three Judges[21] appearto have concurred in opinion, that the evidence of insanity was sostrong as to require a verdict of acquittal--and the Chief Justiceadvised the Jury to find that verdict without summing up the evidenceor delivering any detailed charge upon the facts of the case and thelaw bearing upon them. 

It is a lamentable reflection that a man may be at the same time soinsane as to be reckless of his own life and the lives of others, andto be pronounced free from moral responsibility, and yet capable ofpreparing for the commission of murder with the utmost caution anddeliberation, and of taking every step which shall enable him tocommit it with certainty. 

 [Footnote 21: Chief Justice Tindal, and Justices Williams and Coleridge. ]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _10th March 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leaveto acquaint your Majesty that the House of Commons was occupiedlast night with the attack upon Lord Ellenborough for the SomnauthProclamation. [22]

The motion was made by Mr Vernon Smith. [23] The resolutionproposed condemned the Proclamation as _unwise_, _indecorous_and _reprehensible_. Mr Vernon Smith was followed by Mr EmersonTennent, [24] one of the Secretaries to the Board of Controul. 

Mr Macaulay next spoke, and condemned the conduct of Lord Ellenboroughin a speech of great bitterness and great ability. 

The motion was negatived by a majority of 242 to 157. 

The minority included Lord Ashley, Sir Robert Inglis, and six othergentlemen, who generally support your Majesty's servants. 

The debate was a very animated one, with a strong infusion of Partyzeal. 

 [Footnote 22: See _ante_, p. 445. (Ch. XI, 'The Gates of Somnauth')]

 [Footnote 23: Robert Vernon Smith (1800-1873), afterwards President of the Board of Control, created Lord Lyveden in 1859. ]

 [Footnote 24: James Emerson (1804-1869), afterwards Sir James Emerson Tennent, M. P. For Belfast, author of _Letters from the Ægean_, etc. ]

[Pageheading: CRIMINAL INSANITY]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th March 1843. _

The Queen returns the paper of the Lord Chancellor's to Sir RobertPeel with her best thanks. 

The law may be perfect, but how is it that whenever a case for itsapplication arises, it proves to be of no avail? We have seen thetrials of Oxford and MacNaghten conducted by the ablest lawyers of theday--Lord Denman, Chief Justice Tindal, and Sir Wm. Follett, [25]--and_they allow_ and _advise_ the Jury to pronounce the verdict of _NotGuilty_ on account of _Insanity_, --whilst _everybody_ is morally_convinced_ that both malefactors were perfectly conscious and awareof what they did! It appears from this, that the force of the law isentirely put into the Judge's hands, and that it depends merely uponhis charge whether the law is to be applied or not. Could not theLegislature lay down that rule which the Lord Chancellor does inhis paper, and which Chief Justice Mansfield did in the case ofBellingham; and why could not the Judges be _bound_ to interpret thelaw in _this_ and _no other_ sense in their charges to the Juries?[26]

 [Footnote 25: Solicitor-General. His health gave way in middle life, and he died in 1845. ]

 [Footnote 26: In consequence of the manner in which the trial terminated, and the feeling excited in the country, the House of Lords put certain questions on the subject of criminal insanity to the Judges, whose answers have been since considered as establishing the law. ]

[Pageheading: PRINCESS MARY OF BADEN]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _13th March 1843. _

Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. In obedienceto your Majesty's commands he has endeavoured to consider the letterof the Grand Duke of Baden with reference to the position of thePrincess Mary[27] in this country. Lord Aberdeen does not find in theproceedings of the Conference of Great Powers at Vienna, at Aixla Chapelle, or at Paris, anything which can materially affect thequestion. The great difficulty with respect to the Princess appearsto arise from the fact that in this country the rank and precedenceof every person are regulated and fixed by law. Should your Majesty bedisposed to deviate from the strict observance of this, althoughLord Aberdeen cannot doubt that it would receive a very generalacquiescence, it is still possible that the Princess might be exposedto occasional disappointment and mortification. .. . 

There is a consideration, to which Lord Aberdeen would humbly advert, which may not altogether be unworthy of your Majesty's notice. YourMajesty does not wish to encourage alliances of this description;and although there may be no danger of their frequent occurrence, it cannot be denied that an additional inducement would exist ifPrincesses always retained their own rank in this country. 

On the whole, Lord Aberdeen would humbly submit to your Majesty thatthe Princess might be received by your Majesty, in the first instance, with such distinction as was due to her birth--either by a Royalcarriage being sent to bring her to your Majesty's presence, or in anymanner which your Majesty might command--with the understanding thatshe should permanently adopt the title and station of her husband. Your Majesty's favour and protection, afforded to her in thischaracter will probably realise all the expectations of the GrandDuke; and, without acknowledging any positive claim or right, yourMajesty would secure the gratitude of the Princess. 

 [Footnote 27: The Princess Mary of Baden had recently married the Marquis of Douglas, eldest son of the Duke of Hamilton. _See_ p. 439. (Ch. XI, 1st November, 1842)]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE TO HOLD LEVÉES]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th March 1843. _

The Queen has spoken again to the Prince about the Levées, who haskindly consented to do what can be of use and convenience to theQueen. There is one circumstance which must be considered and settled, and which the Queen omitted to mention to Sir Robert Peel when she sawhim. The chief, indeed the _only_, object of having these Levées, isto save the Queen the _extreme fatigue_ of the _Presentations_which would come in such a _mass_ together when the Queen _held themherself_; the Prince naturally holds the _Levées for_ the Queen, and_represents her_; could not therefore everybody who was presentedto him be made to understand that this would be tantamount to apresentation to the Queen herself? There might perhaps be an objectionon the part of people presented to kneel and kiss the Prince's hand. But this could be obviated by merely having the people named to thePrince. The inconvenience would be _so great_ if nobody at all couldbe presented till late in the season, that something must be devisedto get over this difficulty. 

[Pageheading: LEVÉES]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

DOWNING STREET, _18th March 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to submit to your Majesty that should your Majesty determinethat the Prince should hold Levées on behalf of your Majesty, the bestcourse will be to announce the intention from the Lord Chamberlain'sOffice in terms to the following purport:

 "His Royal Highness Prince Albert will, by Her Majesty's command, hold a Levée on behalf of Her Majesty on ----

 "It is Her Majesty's pleasure that presentations to the Prince at this Levée shall be considered equivalent to presentations to the Queen. 

 "Addresses to Her Majesty may be presented to Her Majesty through the Secretary of State, or may be reserved until Her Majesty can hold a Levée in person. "

Sir Robert Peel humbly submits to your Majesty that it would notbe advisable to _prohibit_ by notice in the _Gazette_ subsequentpresentations to your Majesty. It will probably answer every purposeto state that they shall be considered _equivalent_, and when yourMajesty shall hold a Levée it may be then notified at the time thatsecond presentations are not necessary. 

When the Prince shall hold the Levée, it may be made known at thetime, without any formal public notification, that kneeling and thekissing of hands will not be required. 

Sir Robert Peel hopes that the effect of holding these Levées may bematerially to relieve your Majesty, but it is of course difficult tospeak with certainty. He was under the impression that in the reign ofQueen Anne, Prince George had occasionally held Levées on the partof the Queen during the Queen's indisposition, but on searching the_Gazette_ of the time he cannot find any record of this. 

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

CLAREMONT, _19th March 1843. _

The Queen has received Sir Robert's letter, and quite approves of hissuggestions concerning the Levées. The Prince is quite ready to dowhatever may be thought right, and the Queen wishes Sir Robert toact upon the plan he has laid before her in his letter of yesterday. Perhaps it would be right before making anything public to considerthe question of Drawing-Rooms likewise, which are of such importanceto the trades-people of London. It would be painful for the Queen tothink that she should be the cause of disappointment and loss tothis class of her subjects, particularly at this moment of commercialstagnation. The Queen conceives that it would be the right thing thatthe same principle laid down for the Levées should be followed withregard to Drawing-Rooms, the Prince holding them for her. The Queen isanxious to have soon Sir Robert's opinion upon this subject. The Queenon looking at the almanac finds that _only_ the _two_ next weeks areavailable for these purposes _before_ Easter. 

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _27th March 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hastensto reply to your Majesty's note of this date. 

Sir Robert Peel assures your Majesty that he does not think that thereis the slightest ground for apprehension on the occasion of the Levée, but Sir Robert Peel will, without the slightest allusion to yourMajesty's communication to him, make personal enquiries into thepolice arrangements, and see that every precaution possible shall betaken. 

He begs, however, humbly to assure your Majesty that there never hasreached him any indication of a hostile feeling towards the Prince. It could only proceed from some person of deranged intellect, and hethinks it would be almost impossible for such a person to act upon iton the occasion of a Levée. 

It may tend to remove or diminish your Majesty's anxiety to knowthat Sir Robert Peel has _walked_ home every night from the Houseof Commons, and, notwithstanding frequent menaces and intimations ofdanger, he has not met with any obstruction. 

He earnestly hopes that your Majesty will dismiss from your mind anyapprehension, and sincerely believes that your Majesty may do so withentire confidence. But nothing shall be neglected. 

[Pageheading: THE COMET]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _28th March 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter ofthe 24th, on Sunday. How lucky you are to have seen the comet![28] Itis distinctly _to be seen_ here, and _has been seen_ by many people, but we have till now looked out in vain for it. We shall, however, persevere. 

We left dear Claremont with great regret, and since our return havebeen regaled with regular March winds, which, however, have not keptme from my daily walks. To-day it is finer again. 

It is most kind and good of dearest Albert to hold these Levées forme, which will be a great relief for hereafter for me. Besides _celale met dans sa position_; _he_ and _I_ must be _one_, so that I can_only be represented_ by _him_. I think this, therefore, a good thingfor that reason also; and God knows, he, dear angel, _deserves_ to bethe _highest_ in _everything_. 

Our Consecration went off extremely well, and the Chapel isdelightful, and so convenient. I am sure you will like it. 

You will be glad to hear that dear old Eos (who is still at Claremont)is going on most favourably; they attribute this sudden attack to herover-eating (she steals whenever she can get anything), living in toowarm rooms, and getting too little exercise since she was in London. Certainly her wind was _not_ in the _slightest_ degree affected byher accident, for in the autumn she coursed better than all the otheryoung dogs, and ran and fetched pheasants, etc. , from any distance, and ran about the very evening she was taken so ill, as if nothing wasthe matter. Evidently part of her lungs must be _very_ sound still;and they say _no one's_ lungs are _quite sound_. She must be wellstarved, poor thing, and not allowed to sleep in beds, as shegenerally does. 

 [Footnote 28: Its appearance gave rise to much discussion among astronomers. On the 17th Sir John Herschel saw its nucleus from Collingwood in Kent, and on the following night a dim nebula only; so it was probably receding with great velocity. ]

[Pageheading: MELBOURNE ON DIET]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

BROCKET HALL, _2nd April 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He receivedyesterday morning your Majesty's letter of the 30th ult. , for whichhe sincerely thanks your Majesty. Lord Melbourne is delighted tofind that your Majesty was pleased with the bouquet. The daphnes areneither so numerous nor so fine as they were, but there are stillenough left to make another bouquet, which Lord Melbourne will takecare is sent up by his cart to-morrow, and left at Buckingham Palace. Lord Melbourne is very much touched and obliged by your Majesty's verykind advice, which he will try his utmost to follow, as he himselfbelieves that his health entirely depends upon his keeping up hisstomach in good order and free from derangement. He owns that he isvery incredulous about the unwholesomeness of dry champagne, andhe does not think that the united opinion of the whole College ofPhysicians and of Surgeons would persuade him upon these points--hecannot think that a "Hohenlohe" glass of dry champagne, _i. E. _ half a_schoppen_, [29] can be prejudicial. Lord and Lady Erroll[30] and LordAuckland and Miss Eden are coming in the course of the week, and theywould be much surprised not to get a glass of champagne with theirdinner. Lord Melbourne is very glad to learn that the Prince's Levéedid well, and feels that His Royal Highness undertaking this duty mustbe a great relief and assistance to your Majesty. Lord Melbourne hopesto see the Baron here when he comes. The spring still delays and hangsback, but it rains to-day, which Lord Melbourne hopes will bring iton. 

 [Footnote 29: A _schoppen_ is about a pint; it is the same word etymologically as "scoop. "]

 [Footnote 30: William George, seventeenth Earl of Erroll, married a sister of the first Earl of Munster. ]

[Pageheading: THE ROYAL CHILDREN]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th April 1843. _

DEAREST UNCLE, --Many thanks for your very kind letter of the 31st, which I received on Sunday, just as our excellent friend Stockmar madehis appearance. He made us very happy by his excellent accounts ofyou _all_, including dearest Louise, and the children he says are _so_grown; Leo being nearly as tall as Louise! _En revanche_ he will, Ihope, tell you how prosperous he found us all; and how surprisedand pleased he was with the children; he also is struck with Albertjunior's likeness to his dearest papa, which everybody is struck with. Indeed, dearest Uncle, I will venture to say that not only _no RoyalMénage_ is to be found equal to _ours_, but _no other ménage_ is tobe compared to ours, nor is _any one_ to be compared, take himaltogether, to _my dearest_ Angel!. .. 

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _6th April 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has thismoment received your Majesty's note. 

Sir Robert Peel will immediately make enquiry in the first instance inrespect to the correctness of the report of the dinner. The omissionof the health of the Prince is certainly very strange--it would bevery unusual at any public dinner--but seems quite unaccountable ata dinner given in connection with the interests of one of the RoyalTheatres. 

The toasts are generally prepared not by the chairman of the meeting, but by a committee; but still the omission of the name of the Princeought to have occurred at once to the Duke of Cambridge, and therecannot be a doubt that he might have rectified, and ought to haverectified, the omission. 

Sir Robert Peel is sure your Majesty will approve of his ascertainingin the first instance the real facts of the case--whether the reportbe a correct one, and if a correct one, who are the parties by whomthe arrangements in respect to the toasts were made. 

This being done, Sir Robert Peel will then apply himself to theexecution of your Majesty's wishes, in the manner pointed out by yourMajesty. 

He begs humbly to assure your Majesty that he enters most fully intoyour Majesty's very natural feelings, and that he shall always havethe greatest pleasure in giving effect to your Majesty's wishesin matters of this nature, and in proving himself worthy of theconfidence your Majesty is kindly pleased to repose in him. 

[Pageheading: THE TOAST OF THE PRINCE]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _6th April 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, hastens tomake a communication to your Majesty, on the subject of your Majesty'sletter of this morning, which he hopes will remove from your Majesty'smind any unfavourable impression with regard to the _toasts_ at thetheatrical dinner, or to the conduct of the Duke of Cambridge inreference to them. 

Sir Robert Peel, since he addressed your Majesty, has made enquiryfrom Colonel Wood, the member for Brecon, who was present at themeeting. 

In order to have the real statement of the case, Sir Robert Peeldid not mention the object of the enquiry. The following were thequestions and the answers:--

_Q. _ What were the toasts at the theatrical dinner last night?

COLONEL WOOD. The first was _The Queen and the Prince_. The Duke saidhe thought he could not give the health of the Queen in a manner moresatisfactory than by coupling with the name of Her Majesty that of herillustrious Consort. 

Colonel Wood said that his impression was that the Duke meant to dothat which would be most respectful to the Prince, and that he hadin his mind when he united the name of the Prince with that of yourMajesty, the circumstances of the Prince having recently held theLevée on behalf of your Majesty. 

It might perhaps have been better had His Royal Highness adhered tothe usual custom, and proposed the health of the Prince distinctly andseparately, but he humbly submits to your Majesty that the _intention_of His Royal Highness must have been to show respect to the Prince. 

The reports of public dinners are frequently incorrect, the reportersbeing sometimes placed at a great distance from the chairman. 

[Pageheading: THE KING OF HANOVER]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _12th April 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and willnot fail to forward by the first opportunity the letter to LordEllenborough which accompanied your Majesty's note. 

In consequence of his conversation yesterday morning with BaronStockmar, Sir Robert Peel begs to mention to your Majesty that he sawto-day a private letter from Berlin, which mentioned that the Kingof Hanover had apparently abandoned the intention of visiting Englandthis year, but that on the receipt of some letters from England, whichhe suspected to be written for the purpose of discouraging his visit, the King suddenly changed his intention and wrote a letter to yourMajesty, stating that he had thoughts of such a visit. 

It was not stated from whence the letters advising the King to remainon the Continent had proceeded. 

This letter also stated that the King of Hanover proposed to waivehis rank of Sovereign as far as he possibly could on his arrival inEngland, and to take his seat in the House of Lords without taking anypart in the proceedings. 

It added that the King could not, in any event, be in England beforethe latter end of May or beginning of June, and rather hinted thatas his proposed visit was more out of a spirit of contradiction andimpatience of obstacles being thrown in the way of it, than from anystrong wish on his part to come here, he might probably change hisintention and defer his visit, particularly if he should find thatthere was no particular impediment in the way of it. 

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _13th April 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to acquaint your Majesty that the Duke of Cambridge havingcalled on Sir Robert Peel this morning, he took an opportunity ofasking His Royal Highness whether he thought the King of Hanover hadmade up his mind to visit England this year. 

The Duke's reply was, as nearly as possible, as follows:--

"Oh yes, the King will certainly come, but I can tell you privately hemeans to have nothing to do with the House of Lords. He will notmake his appearance there. The King has taken his servants for sixweeks--that is, engaged their attendance upon him for that time. I know the porter is engaged and the stable servants. The King haswritten to Her Majesty. His real object in coming is to arrange hisprivate papers, which were left in confusion, and to consult Sir HenryHalford. "[31]

This was all that was material that His Royal Highness said. 

 [Footnote 31: The eminent physician. ]

[Pageheading: THE GATES OF SOMNAUTH]

_Lord Ellenborough to Queen Victoria. _

CAMP, DELHI, _19th February 1843. _

. .. The gates of the Temple of Somnauth, which have been escorted toDelhi by five hundred cavalry of the protected Sikh States, will beescorted from Delhi to Muttra, and thence to Agra by the same force ofcavalry, furnished by the Rajahs of Bhurtpore and Alwar. [32]

While there has been universally evinced a feeling of gratitude tothe British Government for the consideration shown to the people ofHindustan in the restoration of these trophies, there has not occurreda single instance of apparent mortification amongst the Mussulmans. All consider the restoration of the gates to be a national, not areligious, triumph. At no place has more satisfaction been expressedthan at Paniput, a town almost exclusively Mussulman, where thereexist the remains of the first mosque built by Sultan Mahmood after hehad destroyed the city and temples of the Hindoos. .. . 

 [Footnote 32: See _ante_, p. 445. (Ch. XI, 'The Gates of Somnauth')]

[Pageheading: DEATH OF THE DUKE OF SUSSEX]

_Extract from the Will of his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, dated the 11th August 1840[33] (sent at the Queen's request by Sir Robert Peel to the Duke of Wellington for his advice. )_

"I desire that on my death my body may be opened, and should theexamination present anything useful or interesting to science, Iempower my executors to make it public. And I desire to be buried inthe public cemetery at Kensal Green in the Parish of Harrow, in theCounty of Middlesex, and not at Windsor. "

 [Footnote 33: The Duke of Sussex died on 21st April of erysipelas. His first marriage in 1793 to Lady Augusta Murray, daughter of the fourth Earl of Dunmore, was declared void under the Royal Marriage Act. Lady Augusta died in 1830; her daughter married Sir Thomas Wilde, afterwards Lord Truro. The Duke contracted a second marriage with Lady Cecilia Underwood, daughter of the Earl of Arran and widow of Sir George Buggin: she was created Duchess of Inverness in 1840, with remainder to her heirs-male. ]

_The Duke of Wellington to Sir Robert Peel. _

STRATHFIELDSAYE, _21st April 1843. _

MY DEAR PEEL, --I have just now received your letter of this day, and Ireturn the enclosure in the box. It appears to me that the whole casemust be considered as hanging together; that is, the desire to beburied at Kensal Green, that of Freemasons to pay Masonic Honours, [34]that the body of the Duchess of Inverness should be interred near tohis when she dies. 

Parties still alive have an interest in the attainment of the two lastobjects, which are quite incompatible with the interment of a Princeof the Blood, a Knight of the Garter, in St George's Chapel atWindsor. 

The Queen's Royal Command might overrule the Duke's desire to beburied at Kensal Green. [35] Nobody would complain of or contendagainst it. 

But there will be no end of the complaints of interference byauthority on the part of Freemasons, and of those who will take partwith the Duchess of Inverness: and it is a curious fact that thereare persons in Society who are interested in making out that she wasreally married to the Duke. [36] Against this we must observe that itwill be urged that the omission to insist that the interment shouldtake place in the Collegiate Chapel of St George's, Windsor, and thusto set aside the will, lowers the Royal Family in the opinion of thepublic, and is a concession to Radicalism. But it is my opinion thatthe reasons will justify that which will be done in conformity withthe will. 

I confess that I don't like to decide upon cases in such haste; andI cannot consider it necessary that a decision should be made on thecourse to be taken in respect to the Duke's funeral, on the morrow ofthe day on which he died. 

It would be desirable to know the opinion of the Lord Chancellor, theArchbishop, and others. 

I can't think of anything likely to occur, which might alter me: andI'll abide by that which I have above given. 

It will be absolutely necessary to take effective measures for thepreservation of the peace at this funeral at Kensal Green: andeven that the magistrates should superintend the procession of theFreemasons. Believe me, ever yours most sincerely, WELLINGTON. 

 [Footnote 34: The Duke of Sussex being Grand Master of England, and Master of the Lodge of Antiquity. ]

 [Footnote 35: The body lay in state at Kensington, and was eventually buried, as the Duke had desired, in the Kensal Green Cemetery. ]

 [Footnote 36: See _ante_, p. 478, note 33 (this Ch. , above). The marriage took place, by special licence, at Lady Cecilia's house in Great Cumberland Place. ]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria. _

_22nd April 1843. _

MY DEAREST NIECE, --I am just come back and feel very anxious toknow how you are, and beg at the same time to offer to you my mostaffectionate condolence on the melancholy event which has taken againanother member of our family from us. Pray do not trouble _yourself_with answering this note, but let me hear how you feel, and whetheryou will like to see me to-morrow or at any time most convenient toyou. 

I feel deeply our new loss, which recalls all the previous sad losseswhich we have had so forcibly, and I pray that it may not affect youtoo much, dearest Victoria, and that you will not suffer from theshock it must have been to you. I was not in the least aware of thedanger and near approach of the fatal end, and only yesterday began tofeel alarmed by the accounts which I had received. 

I have been with the poor Duchess of Inverness on my way to town, andfound her as composed as possible under the sad circumstances, andfull of gratitude to you and all the family for all the kindness whichshe had received. I pity her very much. It must be her comfort to havemade the last years of the Duke's life happy, and to have been hiscomfort to the last moment. 

I wish you good-night, dearest Niece, and beg you to give my bestlove to dear Albert, and to believe me most devotedly your mostaffectionate Aunt, ADELAIDE. 

[Pageheading: BIRTH OF PRINCESS ALICE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _16th May 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Your kind and dear letter of the 12th has givenme great pleasure. I am happy to give you still better accounts ofmyself. [37] I have been out every day since Saturday, and have resumedall my usual habits almost (of course resting often on the sofa, andnot having appeared in Society yet), and feel so strong and well; muchbetter (independent of the nerves) than I have been either time. Weare most thankful for it. The King of Hanover has never said _when_ hewill come, even _now_, but always threatens that he will. .. . 

Our little baby, who I really am proud of, for she is so very forwardfor her age, is to be called _Alice_, an old English name, and theother names are to be _Maud_ (another old English name and the sameas Matilda) and _Mary_, as she was born on Aunt Gloucester's birthday. The Sponsors are to be: The King of Hanover, --Ernestus the Pious; poorPrincess Sophia Matilda, [38] and Feodore, and the christening to be onthe 2nd of June. It will be delightful to see you and dearest Louiseon the 19th of June, God willing. 

Are there any news of Joinville's proceedings at Rio?[39] Ever yourdevoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 37: Princess Alice was born on 25th April. ]

 [Footnote 38: Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester. ]

 [Footnote 39: He married Princess Francesca, sister of the Emperor of the Brazils and of Queen Donna Maria. ]

[Pageheading: CHRISTENING OF PRINCESS ALICE]

_The Earl of Ripon to Queen Victoria. _

INDIA BOARD, _5th June 1843. _

Lord Ripon, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs to inform yourMajesty that despatches have been this day received at the India Housefrom the Governor-General of India and from the Governor of Bombay, announcing the successful issue of a battle, on the 24th of March, between Sir Charles Napier and Meer Shere Mahommed. [40] The forces ofthe latter were completely routed, with the loss of all the guns andseveral standards. 

RIPON. 

 [Footnote 40: Sir Charles Napier, who was in command in Scinde, defeated the army of the Ameers of Upper and Lower Scinde at Meeanee on 17th February, and on the 20th took Hyderabad. On the 24th March he attacked the enemy, who were posted in a strong position on the banks of a tributary of the Indus, and obtained a decisive victory. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CLAREMONT, _6th June 1843. _

DEAREST UNCLE, --I received your kind letter on Sunday, and thankyou much for it. I am sorry that you could not take the children toArdenne, as nothing is so good for children as _very_ frequent changeof air, and think you do not let the children do so often enough. Ours do so continually, and are so movable that it gives us no troublewhatever. 

Our christening went off very brilliantly, and I wish you could havewitnessed it; nothing could be more _anständig_, and little _Alice_behaved extremely well. The _déjeuner_ was served in the Gallery, asat dear Pussy's christening, and there being a profusion of flowers onthe table, etc. , had a beautiful effect. 

The King of Hanover arrived _just in time_ to be _too late_. He isgrown very old and excessively thin, and bends a good deal. He is verygracious, for _him_. Pussy and _Bertie_ (as we call the boy) werenot at all afraid of him, _fortunately_; they appeared after the_déjeuner_ on Friday, and I wish you could have seen them; theybehaved so beautifully before that great number of people, and I mustsay looked _very dear_, all in white, and _very distingués_; they weremuch admired. 

We came here on Saturday. The news from Ireland continue to be veryalarming. Hoping to hear soon, for _certain_, when you come, believeme, ever, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

I hope you will _kindly answer_ my letter of _last Tuesday_. 

[Pageheading: IRISH AFFAIRS]

_Sir Thomas Fremantle_[41] _to Sir Robert Peel. _[42]

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _9th June (1843). _

MY DEAR SIR ROBERT, --The King of Hanover took his seat at twentyminutes past four. He is now on the Woolsack with the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Wellington, and Lord Strangford; no other Peers are in theHouse, the time of meeting being five o'clock. 

It was not necessary that any other Peers should introduce HisMajesty. He merely produced his writ of summons, and went to the tableto be sworn. I remain, yours sincerely, THOMAS FREMANTLE. 

 [Footnote 41: One of the Secretaries of the Treasury: afterwards Lord Cottesloe. ]

 [Footnote 42: Forwarded to the Queen by Sir Robert Peel. ]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert. _

WHITEHALL, _11th June 1843. _

(_Sunday. _)

SIR, --In consequence of the conversation which I had with your RoyalHighness on Thursday last on the subject of Ireland, I beg to mentionto your Royal Highness that the Cabinet met again to-day at LordAberdeen's house. 

We had a very long discussion. 

The prevailing opinion was that if legislation were proposed, [43] thatlegislation should be as effectual as possible; that there would beno advantage in seeking for new powers unless these powers werecommensurate with the full extent of the mischief to be apprehended. 

Foreseeing, however, all the difficulties of procuring such powers, and the increased excitement which must follow the demand for them, we were unwilling to come to an immediate decision in favour ofrecommending new legislation, and resolved therefore to watch thecourse of events for some time longer, continuing precautionarymeasures against disturbances of the public peace. 

I have not received any material information from Ireland by the postof this day, nor has Sir James Graham. 

I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your RoyalHighness's most faithful and humble Servant, ROBERT PEEL. 

 [Footnote 43: In consequence of the Repeal agitation, the Ministers had already introduced an Irish Arms Bill, which was carried. ]

[Pageheading: THE REBECCA RIOTS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _22nd June 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He wasinfinitely obliged to your Majesty for coming into the room the otherevening when he was with the Prince, and very much delighted to havean opportunity of seeing your Majesty, especially in such good healthand spirits. 

Lord Melbourne is very glad that your Majesty has seen _As you LikeIt_. It is indeed a most gay, lively, and beautiful play. To see or toread it is quite like passing an hour or two in a forest of fairyland. It is so lively, and at the same time so romantic. All depends uponRosalind, which was an excellent part of Mrs. Jordan. Jaques is also avery particular character and difficult to play. 

Lord Melbourne feels himself better, but still weak. He does not liketo say much about politics, but he cannot refrain from observing thatthey seem to him to have permitted these lawless riotings in SouthWales[44] to go on with success and impunity a great deal too long. When such things begin nobody can say how far they will go or howmuch they will spread. There are many who expect and predict a generalrising against property, and this is invariably the way in which suchthings begin. 

 [Footnote 44: The agitation against the turnpike system which had broken out in South Wales. _See_ Introductory Note, p. 450. (to Ch. XII)]

_Queen Victoria to Sir James Graham. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _23rd June 1843. _

The Queen returns these communications to Sir James Graham, which areof a very unpleasant nature. The Queen trusts that measures of thegreatest severity will be taken, as well to suppress the revolutionaryspirit as to bring the culprits[45] to immediate trial and punishment. The Queen thinks this of the greatest importance with respect to theeffect it may have in Ireland, likewise as proving that the Governmentis willing to show great forbearance, and to trust to the good senseof the people; but that if outrages are committed and it is calledupon to act, it is not to be trifled with, but will visit wrong-doerswith the utmost severity. 

 [Footnote 45: _I. E. _, the Rebecca rioters. ]

[Pageheading: MILITARY MEDALS]

_Queen Victoria to Lord Stanley. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _24th June 1843. _

The Queen follows Lord Stanley's recommendation to confer the G. C. B. On Sir Charles Napier with great pleasure, from her high opinion ofhis late achievements, and she thinks it might be advisable that someof the officers who most contributed to the victories of Meeanee andHyderabad[46] should receive lower grades of the Bath. The Queen ismuch _impressed with the propriety_ of a medal being given to thetroops who fought under Sir Charles Napier, as the armies under Nott, Pollock, and Sale received such distinctions for actions hardly equalto those in Scinde. 

 [Footnote 46: See _ante_, p. 481. (Ch. XII, 5th June, 1843)]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria. _

WHITEHALL, _24th June 1843. _

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to lay before your Majestythe report received from Carmarthen this morning. The Earl of Cawdorwent to Carmarthen this morning. [47]

Every effort will be made to trace this lawless outbreak to itssource, and to bring the principal offenders to justice. 

Sir James Graham encloses two Police Reports, which have been receivedthis morning from Dublin. They would seem to indicate some foreigninterference, and some hope of foreign assistance mingled with thisdomestic strife. Several Frenchmen have lately made their appearancein different parts of Ireland. 

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's dutiful Subject andServant, J. R. G. GRAHAM. 

 [Footnote 47: Lord Cawdor was Lord-Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire. ]

_Queen Victoria to the Duchess of Norfolk. _

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _24th June 1843. _

MY DEAR DUCHESS, --The same right which you feel, and which you hadto overcome before you took the final step of tendering yourresignation, [48] has kept me from sooner acknowledging the receiptof your letter. Under the circumstances which you allude to, it isincumbent upon me to accept of your resignation, but as you throw outyourself a hint that it would be agreeable to you sometimes to performthe duties (which you have hitherto fulfilled), it would give me thegreatest gratification if you would let me continue your name on thelist of my Ladies of the Bedchamber, and sometimes at your conveniencehave the pleasure of your society. 

I agree with you that for the present your step should not be known, till I shall have had time to find a successor, and I am pleased tothink that you will take your waitings, which are at present settled. 

With the Prince's kind regards to yourself, and mine to the Duke, believe me, always, yours very affectionately, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 48: Of her position as Bedchamber Woman. ]

[Pageheading: DUELLING IN THE ARMY]

_Queen Victoria to the Duke of Wellington_. 

(_July 1843. _)

The Queen having attentively perused the proposed General Order forthe more efficient repression of the practice of duelling in theArmy, approves of the same, but recommends that the Duke of Wellingtonshould submit to the Cabinet the propriety of considering of ageneral measure applicable to _all branches_ of the Naval and MilitaryService. [49]

 [Footnote 49: An influential anti-duelling association had been formed this year, and subsequently public attention was drawn to the question by a duel on 1st July, at Camden Town, in which Colonel Fawcett was shot by his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Munro, who had reluctantly gone out, after enduring much provocation. Mainly owing to Prince Albert's efforts, the Articles of War were so amended as to put a stop to the practice. ]

[Pageheading: THE SPANISH MARRIAGE]

_The Prince Albert to Lord Aberdeen. _

_20th July 1843. _

MY DEAR LORD ABERDEEN, --The Queen and myself have been taken muchby surprise by Lord Howard de Walden's despatch marked "mostconfidential. " The opinions of the Portuguese Court must have entirelychanged. Although we have not heard anything on the subject, we arefully convinced of the correctness of Lord Howard's statements and ofhis conjectures. We are both pleased to see the view which he takes, and the good opinion he has of our little cousin. The Queen thinksit right that you should inform Lord Howard that the possibility of amarriage between Prince Leopold[50] and the Queen of Spain has beenfor some time a favourite thought of hers and mine, and that youthought that this combination had some advantages which hardly anyother could offer. But that the matter had been and was treated hereas one purely and solely Spanish, in which we carefully abstained frominterfering with, and that we leave it to work itself out or not by itsown merit. 

That you wished him to take the same view, but not to lose sightof it, and to report to you whatever he might hear bearing upon thesubject. Believe me, etc. , ALBERT. 

 [Footnote 50: Son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, and brother of the King of Portugal. See _ante_, p. 378, and _post_, p. 486. (Ch. XI, Footnote 11; Ch. XII, 'The Spanish Marriage')]

_Queen Victoria to the Duchess of Norfolk. _

DEAR DUCHESS, --I write to inform you that I have named yoursuccessor, [51] who is to be Lady Douro. [52] The great regretI experience at your leaving me is certainly diminished by thearrangement which we have agreed upon together, and which will stillafford me the pleasure of having you occasionally about me. I trustthat the Duke's health will admit of your taking your waiting inSeptember, but think it right to tell you that we shall probably atthat time be making some aquatic excursions in our new yacht, andconsequently be from home the greater part of your waiting. 

With the Prince's best regards to yourself, and mine to the Duke, believe me, always, yours very affectionately, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 51: As Bedchamber Woman. ]

 [Footnote 52: Elizabeth, daughter of the eighth Marquis of Tweeddale, afterwards Duchess of Wellington. She died in 1904. ]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd August 1843. _

The Queen returns the enclosed papers, and gives her sanction to thebringing in of the Bill for Enrolling and Arming the Out-Pensionersof Chelsea Hospital with great pleasure, as she thinks it a very goodmeasure at the present crisis, calculated to relieve the troops whichare rather overworked, and to secure a valuable force to the serviceof the Government. The Queen hopes that in bringing in the Bill SirRobert Peel will make as little of it as possible, in order not tomake it appear a larger measure than it is. 

The Regulations strike the Queen as very judicious, and she has littledoubt that they will raise the military spirit in the Pensioners, andwill make the measure popular with them, which cannot fail to attachthem more to the Crown. 

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th August 1843. _

The Queen is desirous that whatever is right should be done, but isstrongly of opinion that the King of Hanover's threat (for as suchit must be regarded) not to leave this country till the affair[53] isdecided upon, should in _no way_ influence the transaction, as it isquite immaterial whether the King stays longer here or not. 

 [Footnote 53: Of the Crown jewels; _ante_, p. 439. (Ch. XI, 'Crown Jewels')]

[Pageheading: THE SPANISH MARRIAGE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th August 1843. _

The Queen sees with great regret, in Sir Robert Gordon's despatch of4th August, that Prince Metternich has resumed his favourite schemeof a marriage between the Queen of Spain and a son of Don Carlos, andthat King Louis Philippe has almost come to a secret understandingwith him upon that point. [54] The Queen is as much as ever convincedthat instead of tending to pacify Spain _this_ combination cannot failto call _new_ principles of discord into action, to excite the hopesof a lost and vanquished party for revenge and reacquisition of power, and to carry the civil war into the very interior of the family. TheQueen is anxious (should Lord Aberdeen coincide in this view ofthe subject, as she believes he does) that it should be _clearly_understood by Sir Robert Gordon, and Prince Metternich. 

 [Footnote 54: Since the Quadruple Alliance (of England, France, Spain, and Portugal) in 1834 to expel Don Carlos and Dom Miguel from the Peninsula, the question of the marriage of Queen Isabella (then aged four) had been a subject of incessant consideration by England and France. The Queen-Mother had suggested to Louis Philippe the marriages of the Queen to the Duc d'Aumale and of the Infanta (her sister) to the Duc de Montpensier: such a proposal, however gratifying to the French King's ambition, would naturally not have been favourably viewed in England; but Guizot promoted warmly the alternative project of a marriage of the Queen to her cousin Don Francisco de Asis, Duke of Cadiz, son of Don Francisco de Paula, the Infanta being still to marry Montpensier. It was believed that, if this marriage of the Queen took place, there would be no issue of it, and Louis Philippe's ambition would be ultimately gratified. To Palmerston's protest against this scheme (before the Melbourne Ministry fell), Guizot replied, "_La Reine aura des enfants et ne mourra pas. _" The other possible candidates for the Queen's hand from the French point of view were Count Montemolin, the son of Don Carlos, the Count de Trapani, son of Francis I. , King of the Two Sicilies, and thus brother of Queen Christina, and the Duke of Seville, a brother of the Duke of Cadiz. Other candidates also favoured by the Queen-Mother were (while he was unmarried) Prince Albert's brother, and his cousin Leopold, brother of the King of Portugal; but the French King was bent upon a marriage of the Queen with some descendant of Philip V. , and equally determined to prevent the Infanta's marriage either with Leopold or any other Prince not a descendant of Philip V. The view of Prince Albert and of Lord Aberdeen was that it was a matter for the young Queen herself and the Spanish people. See _ante_, p. 485. (Ch. XII, 20th July, 1843)]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _13th August 1843. _

Lord Aberdeen, with his most humble duty, begs to assure your Majestythat he will not fail to give his best attention to your Majesty'scommunication respecting the marriage of the Queen of Spain. 

In a recent despatch to Sir Robert Gordon, Lord Aberdeen has repeatedthe opinion entertained by your Majesty's Government, that themarriage of the Queen with the son of Don Carlos, instead of leadingto the conciliation and unison of parties, would be more likely toproduce collision and strife, and to increase the existing animositybetween the different political factions by which Spain is distracted. 

This marriage, however, has always been a favourite project withAustria and the Northern Courts; and it has also been apparentlysupported by the French Government. It cannot be denied that atfirst sight there are many considerations by which it may seem to berecommended; but the weight of these can only be duly estimated by theauthorities and people of Spain. 

The same may be said respecting the marriage of the Queen with anyother Spanish Prince, a descendant of Philip V. Which, in the opinionof many, would be most agreeable to the feelings and prejudices ofthe nation. To this project also it appears that the French Governmenthave recently assented. 

Lord Aberdeen humbly thinks that the interests of this country and ofall Europe are deeply concerned in the exclusion of a French Princefrom the possibility of receiving the hand of the Queen; and that itwould not be a wise policy to oppose any marriage by which this shouldbe effected, consistently with the free choice of the Queen, andthe sanction of the Spanish Government and people. The avowedpredilections of Queen Christina, and her increased means of influencerecently acquired, render this a matter of considerable anxiety andimportance at the present moment. 

[Pageheading: PARLIAMENTARY OBSTRUCTION]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _16th August 1843. _

The Queen cannot refrain from writing a line to express herindignation at the very unjustifiable manner in which the minorityof thirteen members obstructs the progress of business. [55] Shehopes that every attempt will be made to put an end to what is reallyindecent conduct. Indeed, how is business to go on at all if suchvexatious opposition prevails? At all events, the Queen hopes thatSir Robert will make _no kind_ of concession to these gentlemen, which[could] encourage them to go on in the same way. 

The Queen forgot to say this morning that she thinks it would bebetter that the Investiture of the Thistle should be put off for thepresent. 

 [Footnote 55: By opposition to the Bill removing doubts as to the admission of Ministers in Scotland. ]

_Queen Victoria to Sir James Graham. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _22nd August 1843. _

The Queen returns these papers to Sir J. Graham, and thinks that thisimportant Memorial[56] should _not_ be decided on without the opinionof the House of Lords; the Queen trusts that everything will be doneto secure inviolate the maintenance of the Marriage Act. 

 [Footnote 56: The memorial was that of Sir Augustus d'Este (1794-1848), the son of the union of the Duke of Sussex and Lady Augusta Murray. On 4th April 1793 they were married at Rome by an English clergyman, the ceremony being repeated in the same year at St George's, Hanover Square. The Court of Arches annulled the marriage in 1794, but Sir Augustus now preferred a claim to the peerage. Ultimately the Lords, after consulting the judges, disallowed it. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

SOUTH STREET, _23rd August 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanksyour Majesty much for the last note which he had the honour ofreceiving. Lord Melbourne is much pleased that your Majesty is gladof Wilhelmina Stanhope's marriage, [57] and was very glad to hear thatyour Majesty had congratulated her and Lady Stanhope upon it, which was very kind, and gave much satisfaction. Lord Dalmeny is anexcellent young man, and altogether it is an event much to be rejoicedat, especially as it has been so long delayed, and fears began tobe entertained that it would never happen. The Duke and Duchess ofSutherland seem also much pleased with Evelyn's[58] marriage. She is abeautiful girl, and a very nice person in every respect, and everybodymust wish her happy. Lord Melbourne has been at Panshanger for twoor three days with Uxbridge and Lady Uxbridge, Ella, and Constance. Uxbridge is having continual cricket matches as he used to have, whichis a very good thing, making the country gay, and pleasing the people. 

Matrimonial affairs, Lord Melbourne is afraid, remain _in statu quo_. 

Lord Melbourne was very glad to hear from Anson yesterday and to learnthat he thinks himself getting better. Lord Liverpool had given LordMelbourne a very poor account of him. Lord Melbourne hopes that yourMajesty may have a pleasant tour, but he cannot refrain from earnestlyrecommending your Majesty to take care about landing and embarking, and not to do it in dangerous places and on awkward coasts. LordMelbourne is going the day after to-morrow with Lord and Lady Beauvaleto Brocket Hall, and from thence on the 29th to Melbourne, to stayabout three weeks or a month. 

Lord Melbourne congratulates your Majesty upon the near approachingtermination of the Session of Parliament, which is always a reliefto all parties. Some great measures have been passed. Lord Melbournewishes your Majesty health and happiness, and begs to be respectfullyremembered to the Prince. 

 [Footnote 57: To Lord Dalmeny. _En secondes noces_, she married the fourth Duke of Cleveland. ]

 [Footnote 58: Lady Evelyn Leveson Gower, married, on 4th October, to Charles, Lord Blantyre. ]

[Pageheading: VISIT TO THE CHÂTEAU D'EU]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

CHÂTEAU D'EU, _4th September 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I write to you from this dear place, where we arein the midst of this admirable and truly amiable family, and where wefeel quite at home, and as if we were one of them. Our reception bythe dear King and Queen has been most kind, and by the people reallygratifying. [59] Everything is very different to England, particularlythe population. Louise has told you all about our doings, andtherefore tell you nothing but that I am highly interested and amused. Little Chica (Mdme. Hadjy)[60] is a charming, sprightly, livelycreature, with immense brown eyes. We leave this the day afterto-morrow for Brighton, where the children are, who are extremelywell, I hear. Many thanks, dearest Uncle, for your kind letter of the29th, by which I see that poor Prince Löwenstein[61] came to see you;he is Mamma's old friend. As I am in a great hurry, and as I hope, Godwilling, to see you very soon, I must conclude in haste, and leave allmy remarks for another day. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Pray forgive this confused and horrid scrawl. 

 [Footnote 59: The Queen was enthusiastically received at Tréport. On the 2nd there was a great entertainment in the banqueting-room of the Château, and on the 4th a _fête champêtre_ on the Mont d'Orléans in the forest. On the 5th there was a review, and on the 7th the Queen returned to England. ]

 [Footnote 60: The Princess of Joinville. See _ante_, p. 451. (Ch. XII, 10th January, 1843). Hadjy is the Prince of Joinville. ]

 [Footnote 61: Prince William of Löwenstein (1783-1847). ]

[Pageheading: THE FRENCH VISIT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

MELBOURNE, _6th September 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanksyour Majesty much for your letter of the 27th ult. , which he receivedhere some days ago. We have been quite dismayed and overwhelmed withthe melancholy intelligence of death after death which has followedus. I was much concerned for poor Charles Howard's loss, but we werequite struck down by the melancholy event of poor Mrs W. Cowper. [62]She promised to suit us all well, my sister particularly, and to be agreat source of happiness and comfort. 

Your Majesty is quite right in supposing that Lord Melbourne would atonce attribute your Majesty's visit to the Château d'Eu to its rightcause--your Majesty's friendship and affection for the French RoyalFamily, and not to any political object. The principal motive nowis to take care that it does not get mixed either in reality or inappearance with politics, and Lord Melbourne cannot conceal fromyour Majesty that he should lament it much if the result of the visitshould turn out to be a treaty upon any European matter, unfavourableto England and favourable to France. Do not let them make any treatyor agreement there. It can be done elsewhere just as well, and withoutany of the suspicion which is sure to attach to any transaction whichtakes place there. 

 [Footnote 62: Mr and Mrs William Cowper had only been married on 24th June. ]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _8th September 1843. _

MY DEAREST AND MOST BELOVED VICTORIA, --I have been highly gratifiedthat you found a moment to write me such a dear letter. I am sure thatthe personal contact with the family at Eu would interest you, andat the same time remove some impressions on the subject of the King, which are really untrue. Particularly the attempt of representinghim like the most astute of men, calculating constantly everything todeceive people. 

His vivacity alone would render such a system extremely difficult, and if he appears occasionally to speak too much and to seem to hold adifferent language to different people, it is a good deal owing to hisvivacity and his anxiety to carry conviction to people's mind. 

The impression of your visit will besides do wonders in removing thesilly irritation which had been got up since 1840, and which mighthave in the end occasioned serious mischief, and that without being_in the least_ called for, the passions of nations become veryinconvenient sometimes for their Governors. .. . Your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

My best love to dearest Albert; he seems to have had the greatestsuccess, and I am very glad of it, as it had some time ago been thefashion to invent all sorts of nonsense. 

I left Stockmar extremely hypochondriacal, but I trust not so unwellas he fancied. His son accompanies him to Coburg. 

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S RETURN]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

ON BOARD THE _Victoria and Albert_, IN THE RIVER, [63]

_21st September 1843. _

MY DEARLY BELOVED UNCLE, --I seize the first opportunity of informingyou of our excellent passage; we shall be in half-an-hour orthree-quarters at Woolwich; it is now half-past ten A. M. The day andnight were beautiful, and it is again, very fine to-day. We anchoredin Margate Roads at eleven last night, and set off again about five. 

Let me thank you and my beloved Louise in both our names again foryour _great kindness_ to us, which, believe me, we feel _deeply_. Wewere _so happy_ with you, and the stay was _so delightful_, but sopainfully short! It was such a joy for me to be once again under theroof of one who has ever been a father to me! I was _very_ sad afteryou left us; it seems so strange that all should be over--but the_delightful_ souvenir will _ever_ remain. To leave my dearest Louisetoo was so painful--and also poor Aunt Julia, [64] so immediately aftermaking her acquaintance; pray tell her that, for me. I shall write toLouise to-morrow. You must forgive my hand being so trembling, but weare _lighter_ than usual, which causes the tremulous motion to be somuch more felt. 

That God may bless and protect you _all always_ is our fervent prayer. Believe me, always, your devoted and grateful Niece and Child, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 63: On the 12th the Queen and Prince Albert sailed from Brighton on a visit to King Leopold. They visited Ostend, Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp. ]

 [Footnote 64: Sister of the Duchess of Kent, married to the Grand Duke Constantine. ]

_Queen Victoria to Sir James Graham. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _22nd September 1843. _

The Queen has received Sir James Graham's letter of the 22nd. [65] Shehas long seen with deep concern the lamentable state of turbulence inSouth Wales, and has repeatedly urged the necessity of its being putan end to, by _vigorous_ efforts on the part of the Government. TheQueen, therefore, willingly gives her sanction to the issuing of aspecial Commission for the trial of the offenders and to the issuingof a proclamation. Monday, the 2nd, being the earliest day at which, Sir James says, the necessary Council could be held, will suit theQueen very well; she begs, therefore, that Sir James will cause theCouncil to meet here on that day at three o'clock. 

 [Footnote 65: The insurrection of the Rebeccaites was assuming a more dangerous form, and at Hendy Gate they committed a cold-blooded act of murder. ]

[Pageheading: MATRIMONIAL PROJECTS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th September 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I cannot sufficiently thank you for your two _mostkind_ and affectionate letters of the 22nd and 23rd, which gave me thegreatest pleasure. _How often_ we think of our _dear_ and _delightful_visit it is impossible for me to say; indeed, I fear these _two_never-to-be-forgotten _voyages_ and _visits_ have made me thinkWindsor and its daily occurrences very dull. But this is veryungrateful for what I have had, which is so much more than I everdared to hope for. The weather is become colder, and yesterday and theday before were horrid, foggy, raw days; to-day it is finer again. .. . 

Feodore and Ernest came to us yesterday, and I find them both _very_well; Feodore is, I think, grown more serious than she was. .. . 

You remember that when we were together we talked of who Aumale couldmarry; he will only marry a Catholic, and no Spaniard, no Neapolitan, no Austrian, and also no Brazilian, as Louise tells me. Why should notPrincess Alexandrine of Bavaria do? It would be a good connection, andyou say (though not as pretty as Princess Hildegarde) that she is notill-looking. _Qu'en pensez-vous?_ Then for _Tatane_[66]--a Princess ofSaxony would be extremely _passlich_. 

How long does Aunt Julia stay with you?

Albert, I suppose, writes to you, and I, dearest Uncle, remain everand ever, your _most truly_ devoted and _warmly attached_ Niece, VICTORIA R. 

We find Pussy amazingly advanced in intellect, but alas! also innaughtiness. I hold up Charlotte as an example of every virtue, whichhas its effect; for when she is going to be naughty she says: "DearMa, what does cousin Charlotte do?"

 [Footnote 66: Antoine, Duc de Montpensier. ]

[Pageheading: ROYAL VISITORS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd October 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Many, many thanks for your kind letter of the 28th, received on Sunday, which was written from the Camp of Beverloo, whichAlbert recollects with _great pleasure_ and interest, having amusedhimself so much there. 

I can give you excellent accounts of ourselves. The boy returned fromBrighton yesterday, looking really the picture of health, andmuch _embelli_; Pussy is in great force, but not to be compared toCharlotte in beauty; and Fatima (_alias_ Alice) is as enormous andflourishing as ever. Dearest Louise seems much pleased with AuntJulia, which I am glad of, and I rejoice that poor Aunt has had thehappiness of making my beloved Louise's acquaintance, for it will be ahappy recollection for her in her solitude. 

We expect the Grand Duke Michael here this afternoon; he is to staytill Friday. The Michael Woronzows, [67] with a son and daughter, arealso coming, and we shall be a large party, and are going to dine inthe Waterloo Gallery, which makes a very handsome dining-room, and sitafter dinner in that beautiful grand Reception Room. _How_ I envyyour going to that dear French family! I hope that you will like myfavourite Chica. I trust, however, that you will _not_ stay too longaway for your good people's sake. 

Not being quite sure of your going, I shall direct this to Brusselsstill. 

We went this morning to Kew, visited the old Palace--which is not atall a bad house--the Botanical Gardens, and then my Aunt's. [68]

The Revolution at Athens[69] looks like _le commencement de la fin_;it was _very_ unanimous. 

Now, dearest Uncle, adieu! Ever, your most affectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 67: Prince Michael Woronzow (1782-1856) was a plenipotentiary at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818), and was in command at the siege of Varna in 1828. ]

 [Footnote 68: The Duchess of Cambridge. ]

 [Footnote 69: A bloodless revolution had taken place on the 14th of September, partly in consequence of King Otho exercising his patronage in favour of Bavarians rather than Greeks. He now acceded to the popular demands. ]

[Pageheading: THE DUC DE BORDEAUX]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th October 1843. _

The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's two letters. She has beenreflecting upon his proposition that Mr Lytton Bulwer[70] should beappointed Minister at Madrid, and quite approves it. The Queen truststhat he will try and keep on the best terms with the French Ministerthere, and that without in any way weakening our interests, therepresentatives of these two powerful countries will act _together_. The Queen feels _certain_ that if it is known by _our_ respectiveMinisters that _both_ Governments _wish_ to act _together_, and not_against_ one another, that much irritation will be avoided; and thatour agents, particularly in distant countries, will understandthat they are _not_ fulfilling the wishes of their Sovereign byrepresenting every little incident in the most unfavourable light. .. . 

The Queen hopes that Lord Aberdeen will take some early opportunity ofemploying Mr Aston. Who will replace Mr Bulwer at Paris? his successorought to be an efficient man, as Lord Cowley[71] is rather infirm. TheQueen regrets to say that the Duc de Bordeaux[72] is coming here; hereally must not be received by the Queen, as she fears his receptionat Berlin has done _no_ good; and altogether, from what she sees inthe papers, she fears there is no good purpose in his coming here. 

 [Footnote 70: Afterwards Lord Dalling. ]

 [Footnote 71: Lord Cowley, brother of the Duke of Wellington, and one of four brothers all either raised in or promoted to the peerage, was now seventy years of age. In after-years his son was also Ambassador at Paris. ]

 [Footnote 72: Afterwards known as Comte de Chambord, and claiming the French throne as Henri V. : he was grandson of Charles X. , and at this time about twenty-three years of age. ]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th October 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --It is not my day, but my object in writing is tospeak to you about the _dear_ Nemours' visit, which we are so anxiousto see accomplished. Louise writes to me about the Duke of Bordeauxcoming to England making some difficulty, and I wish therefore tostate what we know of the affair. We _understand_ (for of coursewe have had no direct communication) that the Duc de Bordeaux hasembarked at Hamburg for _Hull_, and intends travelling in Scotland_before_ he visits England, and _that_ incognito and under the name ofComte _tel et tel_; his being in Scotland when Nemours is inEngland, and particularly _on a visit to us here_, _could_ make_no_ difficulty, and even if he were travelling about _incognito_ inEngland, it could not signify, I think. Moreover, I feel certain thatif he knew that _I_ had invited the Nemours and that they were comingover shortly, he would go away, as the Legitimists would not bepleased at Nemours being _fêted_ by me--_while their Henry V. _ was_not_ even noticed or received. I could easily, and indeed have almostdone so, make it known generally that _I_ expect the Nemours, and Iwould say _immediately_, and he would be sure to get out of the way. I cannot tell you _how very_ anxious we are to see the Nemours; I havebeen thinking of nothing else, and to lose this great pleasure wouldbe too mortifying. Moreover, as I really and truly do not think itneed be, it would be _best_ if the Nemours could come _before_ the10th of November; which is the _latest_ term when they could come? Nowpray, dearest Uncle, do settle this for me; you have no notion _how_we wish it. I will be sure to let you know what I hear, and if thereis anything you could suggest about this, I need not say but that weshall attend to it with pleasure. The Grand Duke Michael will be goneby the end of this month. _Ainsi je mets cette chère visite dans vosmains. _ Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

Pray, dearest Uncle, let me have an answer by the next post aboutthis, as I am all in a _fidget_ about it. 

[Pageheading: ARREST OF O'CONNELL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th October 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Your kind letter of the 13th I received yesterday, and return you my warmest thanks for it. .. . 

By your letter, and by one I received from Victoire yesterday morning, I see every reason to hope that we shall see the dear Nemours, for there will be no difficulty to prevent that poor stupid Duc deBordeaux from being _in London_ at the time. He is to be informedindirectly that the Nemours are coming at the beginning of next monthon a visit to us, in consequence of a pressing invitation of ours;this alone will keep him off, as the contrast would be disagreeable tothe Legitimists. Independent of this, his disembarkation at Hull, andproceeding at once to Scotland, seems to indicate his wish to be inprivate. 

The great event of the day is O'Connell's arrest;[73] they have foundbail, but the trial will shortly commence. The case against him is_very_ strong, the lawyers say. 

Everything is perfectly quiet at Dublin. You will have seen howO'Connell has abused the King; it is all because our visit to Euhas put an end to _any_ hopes of assistance from France, whichhe pretended there would be, and he now declares for the Duc deBordeaux!. .. 

You must encourage the dear King and Queen to send over some of thedear family often to us; _ils seront reçus a bras ouverts_. .. . 

We intend to take advantage of Feodore and Ernest's going to the QueenDowager's to pay a visit to Cambridge, where we have never been; wemean to set off to-morrow week, to sleep at Trinity Lodge that night, and the two following nights at Lord Hardwicke's, [74] which is closeto Cambridge. These journeys are very popular, and please and interestAlbert very much. .. . Believe me, always, my dearest Uncle, your veryaffectionate Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 73: After the official prohibition on 7th October of the intended Clontarf meeting, O'Connell and others were arrested in Dublin for conspiracy. After giving bail, O'Connell issued an address to the Irish people. The trial was postponed till the following year. ]

 [Footnote 74: Wimpole, near Royston, nine miles from Cambridge. ]

[Pageheading: THE DUC DE BORDEAUX]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert. _

DRAYTON MANOR, _20th October 1843. _

SIR, --The enclosed letter[75] from Sir James Graham to me (whichas your Royal Highness will perceive is _entirely of a privatecharacter_) contains details of a conversation with Baron Neumannwhich will, I think, be interesting to Her Majesty and to yourRoyal Highness; and knowing your Royal Highness will consider thecommunication a confidential one, I prefer sending the letter _inextenso_ to the making of any extracts from it. 

I am afraid there is more in the Duc de Bordeaux's visit than the meregratification of a desire on his part to see again places with whichhe was familiar in his youth. 

If, however, he should be so ill-advised as to make any politicaldemonstration, or to ally himself with any particular party in thiscountry, he would, in my opinion, derive little from it, and therewould be the opportunity of giving to the King of the French a newproof of our fidelity to our engagements, and of the steadiness of ourfriendship towards him and his dynasty. 

The great body of the French people would comprehend the object of anysuch demonstrations on the part of the Duc de Bordeaux, and would, itis to be hoped, see in them an additional motive for union in supportof the King, and confidence in the honour and integrity of thiscountry. 

I will not fail to inform the Grand Duke of Her Majesty's intendedvisit to Cambridge, and to suggest to him that it will not beconvenient to the Queen to receive him at Windsor before Saturday atthe earliest, and probably Monday. 

On the day after I spoke to your Royal Highness I gave instructionsfor enquiries to be made respecting the two properties in the Isle ofWight. [76] It is necessary to make such enquiries through some veryconfidential channel, as a suspicion of the object of them wouldprobably greatly enhance the price. 

The party on whom I could entirely rely was out of town, but willreturn to-morrow, and will immediately find out what he can respectingthe properties. 

The result shall be made known to the Queen and your Royal Highnesswithout delay. 

Will your Royal Highness have the goodness to mention this to HerMajesty?. .. 

I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your RoyalHighness's most faithful and humble Servant, ROBERT PEEL. 

 [Footnote 75: Referring to the visit of the Duc de Bordeaux. ]

 [Footnote 76: The Queen and the Prince were at this time making enquiries about a suitable residence in the Isle of Wight. The purchase of Osborne resulted. ]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S DECISION]

_The Prince Albert to Sir Robert Peel. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _21st October 1843. _

MY DEAR SIR ROBERT, --I return you Sir James Graham's letter. Thereis a pretty general impression of the Duc de Bordeaux's visit beinga got-up thing for various political intrigues. I confess I do notunderstand the link with Ireland, or at least the importance of hisbeing well received by the Roman Catholics, but am strongly impressedthat his presence whether in Scotland, England, or Ireland is forno good, and therefore think it our duty that we should render itdifficult for him to protract it. The Queen and myself think that theuncertainty of his being received at Court or not is doing harm, andwould _much_ wish, therefore, that it was _decidedly_ stated _thatthe Queen will not receive him_. His coming here without ever asking(indeed knowing that it was disliked), as well as the part whichAustria and Prussia seem to have taken in the matter, do notstrengthen his claim for such a favour. No good can come from thereception, and the King of the French must prefer its not takingplace. Let us, therefore, settle that point, and show that we areneither afraid of him nor prepared to be made dupes of. 

The Queen is desirous that no official person should treat the Dukewith a distinction which is likely to attract unnecessary attention. Believe me, always yours truly, ALBERT. 

[Pageheading: THE DUC DE NEMOURS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _24th October 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I had the happiness of receiving your most kindletter of the 20th yesterday, for which I thank you very much. Thegood news of the dear Nemours coming is a great happiness to us, andI fervently hope and trust that the Duc de Bordeaux will be kept off, which I _fully_ expect he will. Suppose, however, he could _not_ be, and the Nemours could not come _then_, would the King not kindly allowthem to come later? Even if the Chambers were to be sitting--sucha little _Ausflug_ of ten days only could really not be a greatinconvenience? Surely if you were to mention this to the dear King, with my affectionate respects, he would grant it. It is besides onlyin _case_ Bordeaux should come to London, which I _really_ think hewill _not_, if he once knows that the Nemours are coming. And I mustadd that I think Nemours not coming at _all_ this year, after it hadbeen announced, would have a bad effect, particularly as peoplehere think that some great Powers have instigated Bordeaux's cominghere, --and even think that the Roman Catholics and Repealers inIreland mean to make use of him. Consequently Nemours _not_ coming _atall_, should he be prevented from coming at the beginning of November, would not be a good thing _politically_, independent of the _extremedisappointment_ it would cause us. .. . 

The accounts both you and Louise gave me of good Hadjy and Chica giveme great pleasure, as I take a lively interest in both, and am veryfond of them. We found amongst some very curious old miniaturesseveral of Catherine of Braganza when young (Charles II. 's wife), which are so like Chica;[77] it is curious how sometimes you can tracelikenesses many generations back. .. . 

Pray offer our respects to _all_. How long do you stay? Ever yourdevoted niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 77: The Princess de Joinville was a sister of Queen Maria II. Of Portugal, and Queen Catherine of Braganza was daughter of King John IV. ]

[Pageheading: THE DUC DE BORDEAUX]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

DRUMLANRIG, _27th October 1843. _

Lord Aberdeen, with his humble duty, begs to lay before your Majestyanother letter received last night from Lord Morton, [78] which givesan account of the visit of the Duc de Bordeaux, and of his furthercommunication with the Duc de Lévis on the projects and views of HisRoyal Highness. 

Lord Aberdeen has ventured to submit this letter to your Majesty, although not intended for your Majesty's perusal, as it gives apleasing and satisfactory description of the conduct and sentiments ofthis unfortunate Prince. 

In order to explain to your Majesty how Lord Morton, who lives ina very retired manner, should have received a visit from the Ducde Bordeaux, Lord Aberdeen begs to mention that when the family ofCharles X. Resided at Edinburgh, after the Revolution of July 1830, they received information more than once, from the present RoyalFamily of France, that certain desperate characters had left Paris forEdinburgh, with the intention of assassinating the Duc de Bordeaux, inorder to prevent all possibility of a Restoration. In consequence ofthis information, it was thought to be dangerous for the Prince towalk or to expose himself in the neighbourhood of Holyrood House. Hewas frequently driven in a carriage to Lord Morton's, [79] where heremained for a few hours, taking exercise in the park, and playingwith Lord Morton's children. It is the recollection of this which hasled the Prince to make his acknowledgments on the present occasion. 

Lord Aberdeen also begs humbly to mention to your Majesty that on hisarrival here he found the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch in expectationof a visit from the Duc de Bordeaux, on his way from Glasgowto Carlisle. Lord Aberdeen informed the Duke and Duchess of theobjections which might exist to this visit; but he believes thatcommunications on the subject had already gone too far to renderit possible to break it off with any degree of propriety. The greatattentions paid by the Duke and his predecessors to the French RoyalFamily, both during the former and last emigration, sufficient accountfor this desire on the part of the Prince. 

 [Footnote 78: George Sholto, nineteenth Earl of Morton (1789-1858). ]

 [Footnote 79: Dalmahoy, Midlothian. ]

[Pageheading: VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE]

[Pageheading: BETROTHAL OF THE DUC D'AUMALE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _31st October 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I had the pleasure of receiving your dear and kindletter of the 27th yesterday, by which I learn that you are all welland going on the 4th. Forgive me, dearest Uncle, if I say that I amglad that you are _at length_ going back to Belgium, as (though Ifully understand from _personal_ experience how delightful it must beto be in the midst of that dear and perfect family) I think these longabsences distress your faithful Belgians a little. 

We returned on Saturday, highly pleased and interested with ourtour, [80] though a little _done up_. I seldom remember more enthusiasmthan was shown at Cambridge, and in particular by the Undergraduates. They received my dear Angel, too, with the greatest enthusiasm. Thisis useful, as these young people _will all, in time_, have a certainpart to play; they are the rising generation, and an event of thiskind makes a lasting impression on their minds. 

You will have heard from Louise that there is no longer any impedimentto the dear Nemours coming, which you may easily conceive gives me thegreatest satisfaction. Since then, I have heard that Bordeaux does notintend visiting London till he sees by the papers that the Nemours aregone. I saw a letter from a gentleman, with whom he had been staying, and who says that he is very pleasing and unaffected, and very easilyamused, and quite pleased "with missing a few pheasants, and dancingquadrilles in the evening to a pianoforte. " Poor fellow! his fatecertainly is a melancholy one. He should renounce, buy some propertyin Germany, and marry, and settle there. 

I am glad to hear of Montpensier's arrival, and that my favouriteChica is in your good graces; she is a dear natural child. I am soimpatient to see my dear Victoire and good Nemours--who was always agreat ally of mine--again!

The Grand Duke came here last night, and goes away after luncheon, andleaves England on Thursday. He is charmed with all he has seen, and Imust say is very amiable and civil. He has got a most charming largedog, called Dragon, like a Newfoundland, only brown and white, withthe most expressive eyes imaginable and _si bien dressé_. PrinceAlexander of the Netherlands is also coming down to take leave thisweek. We never had so many visitors. 

I am beyond everything interested with that beautiful novel byRellstab, [81] _1812_, which I know you admire so much. The descriptionof the Russian Campaign is incomparable, and so beautifully written. You quite _see_ everything before you. Have you read his other, _Parisund Algier_? By the by, have you read Custine's[82] book on Russia?They say it is very severe on Russia, and full of hatred to theEnglish. 

We found the children very well, and Bertie quite recovered, but poorfat Alice (who, I _must_ say, is becoming _very_ pretty) has had theearache. 

Mamma with Feo and Ernest are with the Queen Dowager at Witley Courtsince Thursday last, and only return next Thursday (the day afterto-morrow). Clem seems very happy, and writes that she is happiestwhen she is _tête-à-tête_ with poor Gusti, which _I_ should _not_fancy. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

I open my letter, dearest Uncle, to say that I have _just_ seen in aconfidential despatch from Lord Cowley that Aumale is authorisedto ask for the hand of the daughter of the Prince de Salerno[83] (asingular coincidence after what I wrote to you in _utter ignorance_of this report), and that he was also to find out what the opinions ofthe Neapolitan Royal Family were respecting an alliance with the Queenof Spain. But tell me, dearest Uncle, if these reports are true? Youmay _rely_ on my discretion, and I shall not breathe a word of whatyou may answer me, if you wish the secret to be kept. 

 [Footnote 80: The Royal party went by road from Paddington to Cambridge, and stayed at the Lodge at Trinity; on the following day Prince Albert was made LL. D. The party then went to Wimpole, and visited Bourn (Lord Delawarr's). At the ball which was given at Wimpole, there was a sofa, covered with a piece of drapery given by Louis XIV. To the poet Prior and by him to Lord Oxford, the owner of Wimpole, before its purchase by Lord Chancellor Hardwicke. _See_ Lord Melbourne's letter of 7th November, _post_, p. 503. (Ch. XII, 7th November, 1843)]

 [Footnote 81: Louis Rellstab (1799-1860), a prolific German writer of novels, whose thinly-veiled attacks on public men earned him at one time a sentence of imprisonment. ]

 [Footnote 82: The Marquis Astolphe de Custine (1790-1857), author of _La Russie en 1839_, at this time recently published. ]

 [Footnote 83: The Due d'Aumale married in November 1844, Caroline, daughter of the Prince and Princess of Salerno. ]

[Pageheading: INDIAN AFFAIRS]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria. _

DRAYTON MANOR, _31st October 1843. _

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begsleave to return to your Majesty the accompanying communication fromLord Ellenborough, and a letter which your Majesty proposes to send toLord Ellenborough. 

In compliance with your Majesty's desire that Sir Robert Peel shouldinform your Majesty whether he sees anything objectionable in thatletter, Sir Robert Peel humbly represents to your Majesty that he doesnot think it would be advisable for your Majesty personally to expressto the Governor-General of India your Majesty's opinion with regardeither to the policy of retaining Scinde, [84] as being of thegreatest importance to the security of the Indian Empire, or as to thecompleteness of the defence of Sir Charles Napier from the accusationsbrought against him. 

He humbly and most respectfully takes the liberty of submitting toyour Majesty, that these being matters of important public concern, the regular and constitutional channel for conveying the opinion ofyour Majesty with respect to them would be through your Majesty'sservants. 

In the particular case, indeed, of India, instructions do not proceedfrom your Majesty's servants, directly signifying your Majesty'spleasure, but are conveyed in despatches to the Governor-General, signed by the three members of the Secret Committee of the Court ofDirectors. 

The Secret Court of Directors--that is, the whole Court acting insecret--have come to a Resolution (in Sir Robert Peel's opinion veryunwisely and precipitately) expressing the gravest doubt, on theirpart, as to the policy and justice of the recent transactions inScinde. [85]

The Court is aware that your Majesty's servants disapprove of thisproceeding on their part, and that they have declined to transmitofficially to Lord Ellenborough, through the Secret Committee, thecondemnatory Resolution of the Court. One of the grounds on which theydeprecated the Resolution was the passing of it in the absence of fulland complete information from India, in respect to the policy and tothe events which led to the occupation of Scinde. 

Under these circumstances, as well on the general Constitutionalground, as with reference to the present state of the publiccorrespondence in regard to Scinde, and the particular relation ofthe Governor-General to the East India Company, and the Court ofDirectors, Sir Robert Peel humbly advises your Majesty to forbearfrom expressing an opinion, in a private communication to theGovernor-General, with regard to events in Scinde or to the policyhereafter to be pursued in respect to that country. Sir Robert Peelbegs to add that in a private letter by the last mail to Lord Ripon, Lord Ellenborough observes that he is going on very harmoniously withthe Members of Council at Calcutta. 

 [Footnote 84: Earlier in the year Lord Ellenborough had appointed Sir Charles Napier Governor of Scinde, and had by Proclamation applied the Slave Trade and Slavery Abolition Acts to Scinde. ]

 [Footnote 85: See Parker's _Sir Robert Peel_, vol. Iii. Chap. 1. ]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria. _

MELBOURNE, _7th November 1843. _

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanksyour Majesty much for the letter of the 4th inst. , which he hasreceived this morning with great satisfaction. Lord Melbourne hearswith great pleasure of the gratification which your Majesty and thePrince received in your visit to Cambridge. Lord Melbourne collectsfrom all the accounts that the proceedings in the Senate Housewere not only full of loyalty, enthusiasm, and gratitude, but alsoperfectly decorous, respectful, academic, and free from all thosepolitical cries which have recently prevailed so much in the theatreat Oxford on similar occasions. [86] Lord Melbourne hopes he is within[the mark]; if he is it forms a remarkable and advantageous contrast. Lord Melbourne does not know anywhere a better account of Cambridge, its foundations, and the historical recollections of its founders, than is given in Mr. Gray's ode on the installation of the Dukeof Grafton, which it would not be amiss to read with the largeexplanatory notes that are given in the editions of Mason andMathias. [87]

Lord Melbourne is very partial to Lord Hardwicke, who always is andhas been very civil and good-natured to Lord Melbourne, and these arequalities to which Lord Melbourne is not at all indifferent. Wimpoleis a curious place. Lord Melbourne is not exactly aware how the Yorkesgot hold of it. [88] There is much history and more poetry connectedwith it. Prior[89] mentions it repeatedly, and always calls the firstLady Harley, the daughter of the Duke of Newcastle, Belphebe. [90] IfHardwicke should have a daughter, he should christen her Belphebe. TheLady Belphebe Yorke would not sound ill. .. . 

 [Footnote 86: See _ante_, p. 292. (Ch. X, 17th June, 1841)]

 [Footnote 87: Gray, the poet, who had been appointed by the Duke Professor of Modern History, composed an ode (set to music by Randall) for the latter's installation as Chancellor, on 1st July 1769. ]

 [Footnote 88: The cultured but indolent Edward, Lord Harley, afterwards Earl of Oxford (son of the great minister), sold Wimpole to Lord Chancellor Hardwicke in 1740 to pay off a debt of £100, 000. He had married Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles, daughter and heiress of John, Duke of Newcastle, who brought him £500, 000, most of which he dissipated. Their only child, Margaret, the "noble lovely little Peggy" of Prior, married William Bentinck, second Duke of Portland. Lady Oxford sold to the nation the "Harleian Collection" of manuscripts, now in the British Museum. ]

 [Footnote 89: Who died there in 1721. ]

 [Footnote 90: Alluding to the rarely printed poem "Colin's Mistakes, " where "Bright Ca'ndish Holles Harley" is seen in the glades of Wimpole by the dreamy youth, and mistaken for Gloriana, Belphebe, etc. ]

[Pageheading: PROPOSED VISIT TO PEEL]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert. _

WHITEHALL, _9th November 1843. _

SIR, --I was greatly gratified by learning on my return to London lastnight from Witley Court that it is not improbable that Her Majesty andyour Royal Highness may confer the high honour of a visit to DraytonManor towards the conclusion of the present month. 

I venture to think, from what I saw of Witley Court, that thearrangement proposed by your Royal Highness will be more convenient toHer Majesty than the staying at Witley Court. 

I can assure your Royal Highness that nothing shall be left undone byLady Peel and me to contribute to the comfort of Her Majesty and yourRoyal Highness during your occupation of Drayton Manor, and to markour sense of the kind condescension of Her Majesty and your RoyalHighness in making it your abode. 

I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your RoyalHighness's most faithful and humble Servant, ROBERT PEEL. 

[Pageheading: TRAVELLING ARRANGEMENTS]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert. _

WHITEHALL, _Sunday, 12th November 1843. _

SIR, --I send to your Royal Highness a little book which is publishedevery month, giving very useful information as to distances, or atleast times, on all the railways. Possibly your Royal Highness hasthis book regularly sent to you. 

I think, before Her Majesty promises a visit to Witley Court, thereare one or two points worthy of consideration which are in favourof proposing to the Queen Dowager to meet the Queen at Drayton Manorfirst. The Queen would have to go and to return in the same day. TheQueen Dowager might remain either one night or two nights at Drayton. Secondly, the Birmingham and Derby line is not on the same level withthe line which goes to Droitwich (eleven miles from Witley Court), andthere is a little delay in posting a carriage, or in passing from thelower line of railway to the upper. 

Thirdly, there is the passage for Her Majesty, though not throughBirmingham as in an ordinary travelling carriage, yet in the immediateoutskirts of the town, and this twice in the same day. 

The Corporation (which is a completely Radical one) might solicitpermission to present an Address to Her Majesty at the station. 

There would, I am sure, be nothing but demonstrations of the greatestloyalty and attachment to Her Majesty, but there would probably bea great concourse of people, and some delay, if the Address werereceived. 

Perhaps your Royal Highness will think of these suggestions, which Iam induced to offer by the desire to foresee everything which may havea bearing upon the personal comfort of the Queen. 

I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your RoyalHighness's most faithful and humble Servant, ROBERT PEEL. 

[Pageheading: THE DUCHESSE DE NEMOURS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _14th November 1843. _

MY DEAREST, KINDEST UNCLE, --A long and most _interesting_ letterreached me on Sunday, dated 9th and 10th, and I beg to return mywarmest thanks for it. The confidence you show me I feel deeply andgratefully, and you may rely on my discretion. Before I touch upon anyof the subjects in your letter I will give you news of our visitors. The dear Nemours arrived safely after a good passage on Saturday, wellbut very tired. They are now quite recovered, and we are too happy tohave them here. Nemours looks well, and is very kind and amiable, butI think there is a seriousness since poor Chartres' death which usednot to be formerly, though he always was _reserved_, and that, Ithink, he is _not_ now. Dearest Victoire is _amazingly_ improved and_développée_--really quite wonderfully so. We are all so struck by it, by her good sense and by her conversation; and with that she haskept that innocence and gentleness which she always had--and is _solovely_, dear sweet child. I must always look at her, and she, dearchild, seems so pleased to see me again. I find her _grown_, but grownvery thin, and she has not those bright colours she used to have. Allthat you say of Bordeaux is just what Nemours says, and what Guizotwrites, and what _I_ and also Sir Robert Peel _always_ felt andthought. Aberdeen, with the greatest wish to do _all_ that is kind andright, _really thought_ that B. Was only come to amuse himself, and had no idea till _now_ that the feeling in France in _all_ thedifferent parties was so strong. You will have heard by this time thatwe have decided _not_ to receive B. In _any way_ whatever. It is apleasure to hear how mildly and sensibly Nemours speaks upon all thesesubjects, and indeed every subject. .. . 

I think you did _uncommonly right_ in what you answered the poor Kingabout the _arrêté_ in favour of the _Prussians_, and I am very gladyou _have_ done so. It will have a good effect here. 

Louise will tell you how we celebrated good Bertie's birthday. Thechildren are in great favour with the Nemours. 

Pray, dearest Uncle, do not forget to send me the list of Rellstab'sworks. We think of making another little tour after the dear Nemours'departure, to Drayton (Sir Robert Peel's), Chatsworth, and Belvoir. 

We are very sorry to lose dear Feo and Ernest. They are so good andexcellent, and she is so _brav_. Ever, your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

[Pageheading: BIRMINGHAM]

[_Memorandum enclosed from Sir Robert Peel to Prince Albert, about the political condition of Birmingham, which the Prince was intending to visit. _]

The Mayor is a hosier--of _extreme_ political opinions--_in fact, aChartist_. 

The contest for the office of Mayor was between him and a man ofRadical opinions, but Chartism prevailed. 

The Mayor has taken a violent part, before his Mayoralty, againstChurch Rates, and in reference to the state of Ireland. 

The Conservative party took no part whatever in the MunicipalElections, and would not vote. 

They would, if invited or permitted by the Mayor and Town Council, cordially co-operate with men of opposite opinions in any mark ofrespect to the Prince. 

No probability of any tumult or of any demonstration but one ofrespect personally towards the Prince, if his visit be clearly andmanifestly unconnected with politics. 

An immense concourse of people must be expected, not only fromBirmingham, but Wolverhampton, Walsall, and all the neighbouringtowns, and previous police arrangements must be very carefully made. 

There may be a proposal of a collation and of an Address, to bereceived in the Town Hall. 

Should not the Lord Lieutenant (Lord Warwick) have notice?

Is the Mayor to accompany the Prince in the same carriage?[91]

The Mayor has no carriage. 

No communication should be made to any party in Birmingham, except tothe municipal authorities, notwithstanding their political bias and_extreme_ opinions. 

The late Mayor, Mr James, though a Radical, would have summoned theleading men of different parties. 

Doubts as to whether the present Mayor would, or whether he would not, place the whole arrangement in the hands of the party with which he isconnected. 

This risk must be incurred, as communications to other parties wouldnot be advisable. 

 [Footnote 91: This was the course adopted. ]

[Pageheading: THE DUC DE BORDEAUX]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria. _

FOREIGN OFFICE, _1st December 1843. _

Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has not yetreceived any communication from the Duc de Lévis, notwithstanding hehad been led to expect it, from a notice repeatedly conveyed to him tothat effect. It seems probable that in consequence of what the Ducde Lévis may have heard, as well as from the course pursued by thefriends of the Duc de Bordeaux, Lord Aberdeen may not now see himat all. Should this be the case, Lord Aberdeen is rather inclinedto regret it; as although he would formerly have seen him with somereluctance, he would now be glad to have an opportunity of expressinghis sentiments very plainly respecting the proceedings of the Princeand his adherents in this country. 

Lord Aberdeen understands from Sir Robert Peel that your Majesty wouldlike to be informed of any particulars connected with the Levée latelyheld by the Duc de Bordeaux. Lord Aberdeen would willingly communicatethese particulars, but in reality there is very little to be addedto the official accounts contained in the _Morning Post_, which itis obvious are inserted by authority. He saw M. De Ste Aulaire thismorning, who was a good deal excited by what has taken place, and haswritten very fully to Paris; but he knew nothing more than he had seenin the newspapers. 

It may perhaps be worth mentioning to your Majesty that at thepresentation of the Address by M. Chateaubriand[92] on Friday, thecries of "Vive le Roi!" and "Vive Henri V. !" were so loud as to bedistinctly audible in the Square. Lord Aberdeen understands that thisenthusiasm has been the cause of serious differences amongst many ofthose who had come to pay their respects to the Duc de Bordeaux, alarge portion of whom are by no means disposed to recognise him asKing during the life of the Duc d'Angoulême. [93]

Lord Aberdeen cannot learn that any other member of the DiplomaticBody has been presented to the Duc de Bordeaux, and does not believethat any such presentation has taken place. Indeed, there appears tobe a general disinclination that such should be the case; althoughsome of them feel considerable difficulty in consequence of therelationship existing between their Sovereigns and the Prince. 

 [Footnote 92: François, Vicomte de Chateaubriand (1768-1848), a great supporter of the Bourbons, and made a Peer in 1815. He was Ambassador in London in 1822. ]

 [Footnote 93: Eldest son of Charles X. ]

_Queen Victoria to Lord Stanley. _

CHATSWORTH, _3rd December 1843. _

The Queen approves of Lord Stanley's proposed Draft to Sir CharlesMetcalfe. [94] This question can in no way be settled without givingoffence to one part of the country; the Queen, however, hopes thatthe fixing upon Montreal as the seat of Government will hereafter beconsidered as fair by impartial minds. Sir Charles continues to showgreat discretion and firmness in his most arduous and unsatisfactorysituation, and deserves much praise and encouragement. 

 [Footnote 94: Governor-General of Canada. ]

[Pageheading: VISIT TO CHATSWORTH]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

BELVOIR CASTLE, _4th December 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Being much hurried, I can only write you a fewlines to thank you for your kind letter of the 29th, received thismorning. You will have heard from Louise the account of our stayat Drayton (which is a very nice house), and of Albert's brilliantreception at Birmingham. We arrived at Chatsworth on Friday, and leftit at nine this morning, quite charmed and delighted with everythingthere. Splendour and comfort are so admirably combined, and the Dukedoes everything so well. I found many improvements since I was thereeleven years ago. The conservatory is out and out the finest thingimaginable of its kind. It is one mass of glass, 64 feet high, 300long, and 134 wide. [95] The grounds, with all the woods and cascadesand fountains, are so beautiful too. The first evening there was aball, and the next the cascades and fountains were illuminated, whichhad a beautiful effect. There was a large party there, includingmany of the Duke's family, the Bedfords, Buccleuchs, the Duke ofWellington, the Normanbys, Lord Melbourne (who is much better), and the Beauvales. We arrived here at half-past two, we perform ourjourney so delightfully on the railroad, so quickly and easily. Itputs me in mind of our dear stay in Belgium, when we stop at thevarious stations. 

Albert is going out hunting to-morrow, which I wish was _over_, but Iam assured that the country is much better than the Windsor country. 

The Duc de Bordeaux's proceedings in London are most highly improper. 

The Queen Dowager is also here. 

We leave this place on Thursday for home, which, I own, I shall beglad of at last. Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 95: It was built by Mr Joseph Paxton, then Superintendent of the Gardens, whose intelligence had attracted the Duke of Devonshire's attention. In 1850 he was the successful competitor for the Great Exhibition building, and was knighted on its completion. He superintended its re-erection at Sydenham, and afterwards became M. P. For Coventry. ]

_The Princess Hohenhohe to Queen Victoria. _

LANGENBURG, _10th December 1843. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --. .. You ask in your letter about the manner inwhich my children say their prayers? They say it when in their beds, but not kneeling; how absurd to find _that_ necessary, as if it couldhave anything to do with making our prayers more acceptable to theAlmighty or more holy. How really clever people can have those notionsI don't understand. I am sorry it is the case there, where there isso much good and, I am certain, real piety. Dear Pussy learning herletters I should like to see and hear; I am sure she will learn themvery quick. Has Bertie not learned some more words and sentencesduring your absence?. .. 

Your attached and devoted sister, FEODORA. 

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT WITH THE HOUNDS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th December 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --I thank you much for your kind letter of the 7th, which I received as usual on Sunday. Louise will be able to tellyou _how_ well the remainder of our journey went off, and how wellAlbert's hunting answered. [96] One can hardly credit the absurdity ofpeople here, but Albert's riding so boldly and hard has made such asensation that it has been written all over the country, and they makemuch more of it than if he had done some great act!

It rather disgusts one, but still it had done, and does, good, forit has put an end to all impertinent sneering for the future aboutAlbert's riding. This journey has done great good, and my belovedAngel in particular has had _the greatest success_; for instance, atBirmingham the good his visit has done has been immense, for Albertspoke to all these manufacturers _in their own language_, which theydid not expect, and these poor people have only been accustomed tohear demagogues and Chartists. 

We cannot understand how you can think the country about Chatsworth_not_ pretty, for it is (with the exception of the moors) beautiful, wooded hills and valleys and rapid streams. The country round BelvoirI do not admire, but the view from the castle is very fine andextensive, and Albert says puts him so in mind of the Kalenberg. .. . 

Pray have you heard anything about Aumale's plans? Dear little Gastonseems much better. 

The Duc de Bordeaux has been informed of my and the Government'sextreme displeasure at their conduct; they say there shall be no moresuch displays. He was to leave London yesterday, only to return againfor a day, and then to leave England altogether. 

With Albert's love, ever, dearest Uncle, your most devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 96: The Prince hunted with the Belvoir hounds on the 5th. ]

[Pageheading: AN AMERICAN VIEW OF MONARCHY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria. _

LAEKEN, _15th December 1843. _

MY DEAREST VICTORIA, --I am most happy to see that your journey passedso well, and trust you are not sorry to be again in your very dearand comfortable home, and with your dear children. People arevery strange, and their great delight is to find fault with theirfellow-creatures; what harm could it have done them if Albert had_not_ hunted at all? and still I have no doubt that his having huntedwell and boldly has given more satisfaction than if he had done Heavenknows what praiseworthy deed; _ainsi est et sera le monde_. 

I am glad also that the Birmingham course succeeded so well; the themehad been for some years, particularly amongst manufacturers, thatRoyalty was useless and ignorant, and that the greatest blessing wouldbe, to manufacture beyond measure, and to have an American form ofGovernment, with an elective head of State. 

Fortunately, there has always hitherto been in England a veryaristocratic feeling freely accepted by the people, who like it, andshow that they like it. .. . I was much amused, some time ago, by avery rich and influential American from New York assuring me that theystood in great need of a Government which was able to grant protectionto property, and that the feeling of many was for Monarchy insteadof the misrule of mobs, as they had it, and that he wished very much_some branch of the Coburg family might be disposable_ for such aplace. _Qu'en dites-vous_, is not this flattering?. .. 

There is nothing very remarkable going on, besides I mean to writeagain on some subjects. Give my best love to Albert, and Pussy, whomay remember me perhaps, and I remain, ever, my beloved Victoria, yourdevoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R. 

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th December 1843. _

MY DEAREST UNCLE, --Your kind and dear letter of the 15th, writtenin your true wit and humour, reached me on Sunday and gave me greatpleasure. We have had also most wonderfully mild weather, but _I_think very disagreeable and unseasonable; it always makes me sobilious. The young folks are very flourishing and prosperous--Pussetteknowing all her letters, and even beginning to read a little. When Imentioned your birthday to her, she said, "I cried when I saw UncleLeopold, " which _was_ the case, I am sorry to say, the first time shesaw you this year. .. . 

I don't believe that the _white_ flag on the house at BelgraveSquare[97] is true. Lord Melbourne and the Beauvales were here forthree nights; and it was a pleasure to see Lord Melbourne so muchhimself again; the first evening he was a good deal excited and talkedand laughed as of old; the two other evenings he was in the quitesilent mood which he often used to be in formerly, and really _quite_himself, and there was hardly any strangeness at all. Lady Beauvale isreally a _very, very_, charming person, and so attentive and kind toboth her husband and Lord Melbourne. Our little chapel here (which isextremely pretty) is to be consecrated this morning, and Lady Dourocomes into Waiting for the first time. To-morrow Mamma gives us adinner. Poor Lord Lynedoch[98] is, I fear, dying, and Lord Grey is sobad he cannot last long. [99]

Ever your devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. 

 [Footnote 97: The house occupied by the Duc de Bordeaux. ]

 [Footnote 98: Thomas, Lord Lynedoch, had died the previous day, aged ninety-five. He highly distinguished himself in the Peninsula and in Holland, and received the thanks of Parliament, and a Peerage in 1814. ]

 [Footnote 99: He died in July 1845. ]

[Pageheading: THE SPANISH MARRIAGE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen. _

WINDSOR CASTLE, _28th December 1843. _

The Queen has been much amused to see by Sir Robert Gordon's despatchof the 15th, the extreme fright of Prince Metternich at the proposedmarriage of Queen Isabel with Count Trapani, [100] but she regretsthat Sir Robert tried to make excuses for the conduct we have pursued, which the Queen thinks requires no apology. 

 [Footnote 100: See _ante_, p. 487, note 54. (this Ch. , above)]

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_Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld. , London and Aylesbury. Paper supplied by John Dickinson & Co. , Ld. , London_. 

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Transcriber's Note:

This is the first Volume of three. The index is in Volume 3. It is suggested that all three Volumes be downloaded to the same folder. 

[ae] and [oe] are used for the diphthongs/ligatures in (mostly) Frenchwords. (e. G. C[oe]ur, heart; s[oe]ur, sister; ch[oe]ur, choir, chorus;v[oe]ux, wishes. )

Some hyphenation is inconsistent and has been retained. 

There are a number of 'period' spellings, which I have retained(e. G. Bord, controuled, uncontrouled, Controul, woud, etc. ). 

The original pageheadings have been retained, moving them to appropriatepositions, to the beginning of letters and text to which they refer, so as not to interrupt the flow of the text. Thus, a long letter maybe prefaced by two, or even three pageheadings. 

Likewise, footnotes have been moved to the end of the appropriate letter, or the appropriate paragraph, in the case of longer pieces of text. 

Initial letters are spaced as in the original, i. E. , personal initials:spaced; academic initials: unspaced. 

There are many footnotes which refer to earlier or later pages. E. G. : [Footnote 53: Of the Crown jewels; _ante_, p. 439. (Ch. XI, 'Crown Jewels')]For clarification, I have added (Ch. And 'Pageheading') or (Ch. And date). 

Errata and [sic]:

Page 12: '. .. Were desired to take me a drive to amuse me. ' [sic]

Page 14: removed extraneous opening quote. 

Page 83: replaced 'It' with 'If' (It you could get my kind. .. . )

Page 145: 'mariage' [sic]: King Leopold may have used the French spelling 'mariage' for the English 'marriage'. 

Page 146: changed 'anxety' to 'anxiety' - old typo?

Page 157: removed duplicated word (Lord Lord Melbourne)

Page 162: corrected 'Houeshold' to 'Household'. 

Page 191: corrected 'beng' to 'being'. 

Page 193: corrected 'affecionate' to 'affectionate'. 

Page 261: replaced missing period. 

Page 298: replaced missing period . .. '_I. E. _, Lord Melbourne being succeeded

Page 376: corrected 'Every our' to 'Ever your'. 

Page 384: '. .. On bord the _Black Eagle_ . .. ' [sic]

Page 392: 'I . .. Am quite _confuse_. [sic] Queen Victoria used the feminine form of the French adjective, "confus, e, confused, overpowered; obscure, dim. "

Page 417: corrected page no. In footnote from 408 to 409. 

Page 443: _uncontrouled_ [sic]

Page 445, Footnote 112: 'a' corrected to 'at'. 

Page 448: 'woud' [sic] (though followed by 'would' in same paragraph). 

Page 466: corrected 'as' to 'at' . .. 'look at'. .. 

Page 469: '. .. One of the Secretaries to the Board of Controul. ' [sic]

Page 512: Replaced missing period . .. 'Viney, Ld. , '