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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Letters of Queen Victoria, Vol 2 (of 3), 1844-1853 + A Selection from her Majesty's correspondence between the + years 1837 and 1861 + +Author: Queen Victoria + +Editor: Arthur Christopher Benson + (Viscount) Esher + +Release Date: March 8, 2008 [EBook #24780] +Most recently updated: May 3, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS--QUEEN VICTORIA, 1844-1853 *** + + + + +Produced by Paul Murray, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<table align="center" summary="note" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em;"> +<tr><td class="note1"> +<p>The index of this three-volume work is in Volume III, with links to +all three volumes; and some footnotes are linked between volumes. +These links are designed to work when the book is read on line. For +information on the downloading of all three interlinked volumes so +that the links work on your own computer, see the +<a name="tn" id="tn"></a><a href="#tntag">Transcriber's Note</a> +at the end of this book. +</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<h3>Links to</h3> +<h3><a href="../../20023/20023-h/20023-h.htm">Volume I</a></h3> +<h3><a href="../../28649/28649-h/28649-h.htm">Volume III</a></h3> + +<p> </p> + + <a name="frontisii" id="frontisii"></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><a href="images/0001-1200.png"><img src="images/0001-370.png" width="370" height="460" alt="H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA, 1843" border="0" /></a> +<p class="center">H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA, 1843 </p> +<p class="center">From the picture by F. Winterhalter at Windsor Castle</p> +<p class="author" style="margin-bottom: 5em;"><i>Frontispiece, Vol. II.</i></p></div> + + + + + + + +<h1 style="font-size: 3.5em;">THE LETTERS OF<br /> +QUEEN VICTORIA</h1> + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 2em;"><span style="letter-spacing: 2px;">A SELECTION FROM HER MAJESTY'S</span><br /> +CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE YEARS<br /> +1837 <span class="sc">and</span> 1861</h2> + + + +<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0;">PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF</h3> +<h2 style="margin-top: 0;">HIS MAJESTY THE KING</h2> + + +<h3>EDITED BY ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, M.A.<br /> +AND VISCOUNT ESHER, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.</h3> + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 3em;">IN THREE VOLUMES</h3> + + +<h3>VOL. II.—1844-1853</h3> + + +<h4 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 0;">LONDON</h4> +<h3 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.</h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: 0;">1908</h4> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 5em;"><i>Copyright in Great Britain and Dependencies, 1907, by</i> +<span class="sc">H.M. The King</span>.</h5> + +<h5><i>In the United States by</i> Messrs <span class="sc">Longmans, Green & Co.</span></h5> + +<h6><i>All rights reserved.</i></h6> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.iii" id="pageii.iii"></a>[page iii]</span> + + + + +<h1 style="margin-top: 5em;">TABLE OF CONTENTS </h1> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> + <td><h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.1">CHAPTER XIII</a></h3> + <h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1844</h4> + </td><td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%">PAGES</td> + </tr> + +<tr> +<td><span class="outdent">Duc de Bordeaux</span>—Hanoverian Orders—Domestic happiness—Death +of the Duke of Coburg—Lord Melbourne +on old age—Recall of Lord Ellenborough—Uncle and +niece—Lord Ellenborough's honours—Prince de Joinville's +<i>brochure</i>—The Emperor Nicholas—A great review—At +the Opera—The Emperor's character—The +Emperor and Belgium—Crisis in Parliament—The +King of Saxony—Lord Ellenborough and India—England, +France, and Russia—France and Tahiti—King +Louis Philippe expected—Arrangements for the +visit—Queen Louise's solicitude—Arrival of King +Louis Philippe—A successful visit—The King's departure—Opening +of the Royal Exchange—Gift to the +Prince of Wales—Education in India</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.1">1-29</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.30">CHAPTER XIV</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1845</h4> +<span class="outdent">The Spanish marriages</span>—Position of the Prince—Title of +King Consort—Purchase of Osborne—Maynooth +grant—Religious bigotry—Public executions—Birthday +letter—Princess Charlotte—Vacant Deanery—Wine +from Australia—King of Holland—Projected +visit to Germany—Question of Lords Justices—Visit +to the Château d'Eu—Spanish marriages—The Prince +criticised—Governor-Generalship of Canada—Corn +Laws—Cabinet dissensions—Interview with Sir +Robert Peel—Lord John Russell suggested—Attitude +of Lord Melbourne—The Queen's embarrassment—Attitude +of Sir Robert Peel—Lord Stanley resigns—The +Commandership-in-Chief—Duke of Wellington—<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.iv" id="pageii.iv"></a>[page iv]</span>King Louis +Philippe—Anxiety for the future—Insuperable +difficulties—Lord Grey and Lord Palmerston—Lord +John Russell fails—Chivalry of Sir Robert Peel—He +resumes office—Cordial support—The Queen's +estimate of Sir Robert Peel—Lord Stanley—The +Prince's Memorandum—Comprehensive scheme—The +unemployed—Lord Palmerston's justification—France +and the Syrian War—Letter to King Louis Philippe—Ministry +reinstated</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.30">30-70</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.71">CHAPTER XV</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1846</h4> +<span class="outdent">Sir Robert Peel's speech</span>—Extension of Indian Empire—Bravery +of English troops—Death of Sir Robert Sale—Memorandum +by the Prince—Celebration of victory—Letter +from King Louis Philippe—Irish Crimes Bill—Attack +on Sir Robert Peel—His resignation—Intrigues—End +of Oregon dispute—Sir Robert Peel's +tribute to Cobden—New Government—Cobden and the +Whigs—Parting with the Ministers—Whig jealousies—A +weak Ministry—Anxieties—French Royal Family—Spanish +marriages—Portugal—Prerogative of dissolution—Views +of Lord Melbourne—The Prince and +Sir Robert Peel—Proposed visit to Ireland—Government +of Canada—Wellington statue—Lord Palmerston +and Spain—Instructions to Mr Bulwer—Don Enrique—Sudden +decision—Double engagement—The Queen's +indignation—Letter to the Queen of the French—View +of English Government—Letter to King Leopold—Baron +Stockmar's opinion—Letter to Queen Louise—Lord +Palmerston and the French—Princess of +Prussia—England and the Three Powers—Interruption +of <i>entente cordiale</i>—Spanish marriages—Peninsular +medal—Duke of Wellington's view—England and +Portugal—The Queen's decision on Peninsular medal—Cracow</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.71">71-114</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.115">CHAPTER XVI</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1847</h4> +<span class="outdent">England and Portugal</span>—Peaceable policy advised—Spain +and Portugal—Sir Hamilton Seymour—Septennial Act +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.v" id="pageii.v"></a>[page v]</span> +—Church preferments—Jenny Lind—Wellington +statue—Prosperity in India—General election—Earldom +of Strafford—Mission to the Vatican—Portugal—Crisis +in the City—Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland—Mr +Cobden—Foreign policy—Queen of Spain—Queen of +Portugal—Hampden controversy—Lord Palmerston's +despatches—Civil war in Switzerland—Letter from +King of Prussia—The Queen's reply—The Bishops and +Dr Hampden</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.115">115-140</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + <table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.141">CHAPTER XVII</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1848</h4> +<span class="outdent">Death of Madame Adélaïde</span>—Grief of Queen Louise—The +Queen's sympathy—England and the Porte—Improvements +at Claremont—Revolution in France—Flight +of the Royal Family—Letter from King of +Prussia—Anarchy in Paris—Queen Louise's anxiety—Revolution +foreseen—England's hospitality—New +French Government—British Consul's plan—Escape +of the King and Queen—Graphic narrative—Plan successful—Arrival +in England—Reception at Claremont—Letter +of gratitude—Flight of Guizot—Royal +fugitives—Orleanist blunders—Letter to Lord Melbourne—The +Czar on the situation—State of Germany—Chartist +demonstration—Prince Albert and the unemployed—Chartist +fiasco—Alarming state of Ireland—Conduct +of the Belgians—Events in France—Anxiety +in Germany—Italy—Spain—The French +Royal Family—Affairs in Lombardy—Sir Henry +Bulwer—Lord Palmerston's justification—Instructions +to Sir H. Seymour—Lord Palmerston's drafts—England +and Italy—Lord Minto's mission—Duchesse +de Nemours—Commissions in the Army—Northern +Italy—Irish rebellion—Minor German states—An +ambassador to France—The Queen's displeasure—Opening +the Queen's letters—Lord Palmerston and +Italy—Austria declines mediation—Austria and Italy—In +the Highlands—The Queen and Lord Palmerston—Affairs +in the Punjab—Hostility of the Sikhs—Greece—State +of Germany—Letter of the Prince of +Leiningen—Sir Harry Smith at the Cape—Governorship +of Gibraltar—Mediation in Italy—Death of Lord +Melbourne—The Orleans family—Letter from the +Pope—The French President—Relations with France—England +slighted</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.141">141-207</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.vi" id="pageii.vi"></a>[page vi]</span> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.208">CHAPTER XVIII</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1849</h4> +<span class="outdent">Letter to the Pope</span>—Letter from President of French Republic—Lord +Palmerston and Naples—The army in +India—State of the Continent—France and the President—Gaelic +and Welsh—Lord Gough superseded—End +of the Sikh War—Courage of Mrs G. Lawrence—Letter +from King of Sardinia—Novara—The Queen +fired at by Hamilton—Annexation of the Punjab—Drafts +and despatches—Schleswig-Holstein Question—Proposed +visit to Ireland—Irish title for the young +Prince—Cork and Waterford—The Irish visit—Enthusiasm +in Ireland—Brevet promotions—New Coal +Exchange—Critical position of Germany—Death of +Queen Adelaide</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.208">208-230</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.231">CHAPTER XIX</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1850</h4> +<span class="outdent">Grand Duchess Stéphanie</span>—The Draft to Greece—Lord +Palmerston's explanation—Lord John Russell's plan—Suggested +rearrangement—<i>Status quo</i> maintained—Baron +Stockmar's Memorandum—State of France—The +Prince's speech—Lord Palmerston and Spain—Lord +Howden—The Koh-i-noor diamond—A change +imminent—Lord John Russell's report—Sunday +delivery of letters—Prince George of Cambridge—The +Earldom of Tipperary—Mr Roebuck's motion—Lord +Stanley's motion—Holstein and Germany—Lord +Palmerston's explanation—The Protocol—Christening +of Prince Arthur—Don Pacifico Debate—Sir Robert +Peel's accident—Letter from King of Denmark—Death +of Sir Robert Peel—The Queen assaulted by +Pate—Death of Duke of Cambridge—Prince of Prussia—The +Foreign Office—Denmark and Schleswig—Sir +Charles Napier's resignation—Lord Palmerston—Lord +Clarendon's opinion—Duke of Bedford's opinion—Lord +John Russell's report—Press attacks on Lord +Palmerston—Duties of Foreign Secretary—Death of +King Louis Philippe—Visit to Scotland—Illness of +Queen Louise—Attack on General Haynau—Note to +Baron Koller—The Draft gone—Lord Palmerston rebuked—Holstein—A +great grief—Mr Tennyson +made Poet Laureate—Ritualists and Roman Catholics—Unrest +in Europe—England and Germany—Constitutionalism +in Germany—Austria and Prussia—Religious +strife—England and Rome—Lady Peel—The +Papal aggression—Ecclesiastical Titles Bill</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.231">231-282</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.vii" id="pageii.vii"></a>[page vii]</span> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.283">CHAPTER XX</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1851</h4> +<span class="outdent">Life Peerages</span>—Diplomatic arrangements—Peril of the +Ministry—Negotiations with Sir J. Graham—Defeat +of the Government—Ministerial crisis—The Premier's +statement—Lord Lansdowne consulted—Lord Stanley +sent for—Complications—Fiscal policy—Sir James +Graham—Duke of Wellington—Difficulties—Lord +Aberdeen consulted—Lord Stanley to be sent for—His +letter—Lord Stanley's difficulties—Mr Disraeli—Question +of dissolution—Explanations—Lord Stanley +resigns—His reasons—The Papal Bill—Duke of +Wellington—Appeal to Lord Lansdowne—Still without +a Government—Lord Lansdowne's views—Further +difficulties—Coalition impossible—Income Tax—Free +Trade—Ecclesiastical Titles Bill—Confusion of +Parties—New National Gallery—The great Exhibition—Imposing +ceremony—The Prince's triumph—Enthusiasm +in the City—Danish succession—The Orleans +Princes—Regret at leaving Scotland—Extension of the +Franchise—Louis Kossuth—Lord Palmerston's intentions—A +dispute—Lord Palmerston defiant—He +gives way—The Queen's anxiety—Lord Palmerston's +conduct—The Queen's comment—Death of King of +Hanover—The Suffrage—The <i>Coup d'État</i>—Louis +Bonaparte—Excitement in France—Lord Palmerston +and Lord Normanby—State of Paris—Lord Palmerston's +approval—Birthday wishes—The crisis—Dismissal +of Lord Palmerston—Inconsistency of Lord +Palmerston—The Prince's Memorandum—Lord Clarendon—Discussion +on new arrangements—Count +Walewski informed—Lord Granville's appointment—The +Queen's view of foreign affairs—Our policy reviewed—Difficulty +of fixed principles—Prince Nicholas +of Nassau—<i>Te Deum</i> at Paris +</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.283">283-355</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.356">CHAPTER XXI</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1852</h4> +<span class="outdent">Denmark</span>—Possible fusion of parties—Orleans family—Draft +of the Speech—Women and politics—New +Houses of Parliament—Lord Palmerston's discomfiture—M. +Thiers—The Prince and the Army—Pressure of +business—Defeat on Militia Bill—Interview with Lord +John Russell—Resignation of the Ministry—The +Queen sends for Lord Derby—Lord Derby and Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.viii" id="pageii.viii"></a>[page viii]</span> +Palmerston—New appointments—New Foreign Secretary—Interview +with Lord Derby—Louis Napoleon—Audiences—Ladies +of the Household—Lord Derby +and the Church—Adherence to treaties—The Sovereign +"People"—New Militia Bill—England and Austria—Letter +from Mr Disraeli—"Necessary" measures—Question +of dissolution—Lord Derby hopeful—Progress +of democracy—England and Italy—Militia Bill +carried—France and the Bourbons—Louis Napoleon's +position—Excitement at Stockport—The Queen inherits +a fortune—Death of Duke of Wellington—Military +appointments—Nation in mourning—Funeral +arrangements—Anecdote of Napoleon III.—England +and the Emperor—National defences—Financial +arrangements—Lord Dalhousie's tribute—Funeral +ceremony—Confusion of parties—Lord Palmerston's +position—Mr Disraeli and Mr Gladstone—Recognition +of the Empire—Budget speech—Letter to the French +Emperor—Secret protocol—Difficult situation—The +Queen's unwillingness to decide—Injunctions to Lord +Derby—Defeat of the Government—Lord Derby's +resignation—Lord Aberdeen sent for—His interview +with the Queen—Lord Aberdeen in office—Lord John +Russell's hesitation—Letter from Mr. Disraeli—The +Queen's anxiety—Christmas presents—Lord Derby's +intentions—New Government—Mr Gladstone at the +Exchequer—The Emperor's annoyance—Appointments—Protracted +crisis—The Cabinet—Lord Derby +takes leave—Letter from Lady Derby—Change of +seals—Peace restored—A strong Cabinet </td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.356">356-430</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<table summary="contents" align="center" width="90%"> + <tr> +<td> +<h3 style="margin-top: 2em;"><a class="contents" href="#pageii.431">CHAPTER XXII</a></h3> +<h4 style="margin-top: -1em;">1853</h4> +<span class="outdent">The Emperor's annoyance</span>—Headmastership of Eton—Marriage +of Emperor of the French—Mademoiselle Eugénie +de Montijo—Baron Beyens on the situation—Emperor +of Russia and the Turkish Empire—Lord John Russell +and leadership of House of Commons—Count Buol and +refugees—Kossuth and Mazzini proclamations—Want +of arms for the Militia—Russian fleet at Constantinople—French +irritation—Russia's demands—Russia and +England—Liberation of the Madiai—Letter from +Emperor of Russia—Birth of Prince Leopold—Mr +Gladstone's budget speech—Congratulations from the +Prince—India Bill—Emperor of Austria—Church of +England in the Colonies—Oriental Question—Death of +Lady Dalhousie—Lord Palmerston and Lord Aberdeen<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.ix" id="pageii.ix"></a>[page ix]</span>—Russia, +Austria, and Turkey—England's policy—The +Queen's views on the Eastern despatches—Proposed +terms of settlement—Lord John Russell's retirement—Letter +from the Emperor of Russia—Lord +Stratford's desire for war—Letter to the Emperor of +Russia—France and the Eastern Question—Letter +from the Emperor of Russia—Reform Bill—Lord +Palmerston's position—Lord Lansdowne's influence—Resignation +of Lord Palmerston—Lord Stratford's +despatch—Draft to Vienna—Return of Lord Palmerston +to office</td> +<td class="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><a href="#pageii.431">431-472</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.xi" id="pageii.xi"></a>[page xi]</span> + +<h3 style="margin-top: 3em;">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + + +<table summary="illustrations" align="center" width="80%"> +<tr> +<td width="75%" class="illus"><span class="outdent1"><a class="contents" href="#frontisii"><span class="sc">H.M. Queen Victoria, 1843.</span></a></span><br /> +<i>From the picture by F. Winterhalter at Windsor Castle</i> +</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#frontisii"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="illus"><span class="outdent1"><a class="contents" href="#illusii.1"><span class="sc">H.M. Marie Amélie, Queen of the French, 1828.</span></a></span><br /> +<i>From the miniature by Millet at Windsor Castle</i> +</td> +<td class="right"><i>Facing p.</i> <a href="#illusii.1">104</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="illus"><span class="outdent1"><a class="contents" href="#illusii.2"><span class="sc">"The Cousins."</span></a> H.M. Queen Victoria and the +Duchess of Nemours, who was a Princess of +Saxe-Coburg and first cousin to the Queen and +the Prince Consort.</span><br /> + <i>From the picture by F. +Winterhalter at Buckingham Palace</i> +</td> +<td class="right"><i>Facing p.</i> <a href="#illusii.2">168</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="illus"><span class="outdent1"><a class="contents" href="#illusii.3"><span class="sc">Baron Stockmar.</span></a></span><br /> +<i>From the portrait by John Partridge at Buckingham Palace</i> +</td> +<td class="right"><i>Facing p.</i> <a href="#illusii.3">240</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="illus"><span class="outdent1"><a class="contents" href="#illusii.4">Field-Marshal <span class="sc">The Duke of Wellington, K.G.</span></a></span><br /> +Believed to be by Count d'Orsay. <i>From a miniature at Apsley House</i> +</td> +<td class="right"><i>Facing p.</i> <a href="#illusii.4">392</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="full" style="margin-top: 2em;" /> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.1" id="pageii.1"></a>[page 1]</span> + + + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XIII</h3> + + + +<p>The new year (1844) opened with signs of improved trade, and a +feeling of confidence, partly due to the friendly <i>entente</i> with France. +In Ireland, soon after the collapse of the Clontarf meeting, O'Connell +and some of his associates were indicted for seditious conspiracy, and +convicted. The conviction was subsequently quashed on technical +grounds, but O'Connell's political influence was at an end. In +Parliament, owing chiefly to the exertions of Lord Ashley (afterwards +Earl of Shaftesbury), an important Bill was passed restricting +factory labour, and limiting its hours. The Bank Charter Act, +separating the issue and banking departments, as well as regulating +the note issue of the Bank of England in proportion to its stock of +gold, also became law. Meanwhile the dissensions in the Conservative +party were increasing, and the Ministry were defeated on a +motion made by their own supporters to extend the preferential +treatment of colonial produce. With great difficulty the vote was +rescinded and a crisis averted; but the Young England section of +the Tory party were becoming more and more an embarrassment to +the Premier. Towards the end of the year the new Royal Exchange +was opened amid much ceremony by the Queen.</p> + +<p>The services rendered by Sir Charles Napier in India were the subject +of votes of thanks in both Houses, but shortly afterwards Lord +Ellenborough, the Governor-General, was recalled by the Directors +of the East India Company: their action was no doubt due to his +overbearing methods and love of display, but it was disapproved by +the Ministry, and Lord Ellenborough was accorded an Earldom.</p> + +<p>During the year there was a recrudescence of the friction between +this country and France, due partly to questions as to the right of +search of foreign ships, partly to a <i>brochure</i> issued by the Prince de +Joinville, a son of Louis Philippe, partly to the assumption of French +sovereignty over Tahiti and the seizure of the English consul there +by the French authorities. Reparation however was made, and the +ill-feeling subsided sufficiently to enable the King of the French to +visit Queen Victoria,—the first friendly visit ever paid by a French +king to the Sovereign of England. Louis Philippe was cordially +received in this country.</p> + +<p>Another historic royal visit also took place in 1844, that of the +Emperor Nicholas, who no doubt was so much impressed with his +friendly reception, both by the Court and by Aberdeen, the Foreign +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.2" id="pageii.2"></a>[page 2]</span> +Secretary, that nine years later he thought he could calculate on the +support of England under Aberdeen (then Premier) in a scheme for +the partition of Turkey. Lord Malmesbury, who a few years later +became Foreign Secretary, states in his memoirs that during this +visit, the Czar, Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Wellington, and Lord +Aberdeen "drew up and signed a Memorandum, the spirit and scope +of which was to support Russia in her legitimate protectorship of the +Greek religion and the Holy Shrines, and to do so without consulting +France," but the Memorandum was in reality only one made by +Nicholas of his recollection of the interview, and communicated +subsequently to Lord Aberdeen.</p> + +<p>No events of special interest took place in other parts of Europe; +the condition of affairs in the Peninsula improved, though the +announcement of the unfortunate marriage of the Queen Mother +with the Duke of Rianzares was not of hopeful augury for the young +Queen Isabella's future; as a matter of fact, the marriage had taken +place some time previously.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.3" id="pageii.3"></a>[page 3]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h5>1844</h5> + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>9th January 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I had the pleasure of receiving your +kind letter of the 4th, which is written from Ardenne, where +I grieve to see you are again gone without my beloved Louise.</p> + +<p class="ind">Charlotte is the admiration of every one, and I wish much +I could have seen the three dear children <i>en représentation</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our fat Vic or Pussette learns a verse of <i>Lamartine</i> by heart, +which ends with "le tableau se déroule à mes pieds"; to +show how well she had understood this difficult line which +Mdlle. Charier had explained to her, I must tell you the following +<i>bon mot</i>. When she was riding on her pony, and looking +at the cows and sheep, she turned to Mdlle. Charier and said: +"<i>Voilà</i> le tableau qui se déroule à mes pieds." Is not this +extraordinary for a little child of three years old? It is more +like what a person of twenty would say. You have no notion +<i>what</i> a knowing, and I am sorry to say <i>sly</i>, little rogue she is, +and so <i>obstinate</i>. She and <i>le petit Frère</i> accompany us to dear +old Claremont to-day; Alice remains here under Lady Lyttelton's +care. How sorry I am that you should have hurt your +leg, and in such a provoking way; Albert says he remembers +well your playing often with a pen-knife when you talked, +and I remember it also, but it is really dangerous.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am happy that the news from Paris are good; the really +good understanding between our two Governments provokes +the Carlists and Anarchists. Bordeaux<sup>1</sup> is not yet gone; +I saw in a letter that it was <i>debated</i> in his presence whether he +was on any favourable occasion <i>de se présenter en France!</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.4" id="pageii.4"></a>[page 4]</span> +Do you think that possible? Then again the papers say that +there are fortifications being made on the coast of Normandy +for fear of an invasion; is this so? These are many questions, +but I hope you will kindly answer them, as they interest +me. With Albert's love. Believe me, ever, your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: The Duc de Bordeaux, only son of the Duc de Berri, had by the death of Charles X. +and the renunciation of all claims to the French Throne on the part of the Duc d'Angoulême, +become the representative of the elder branch of the Bourbons. He had +intended his visit to England to have a private character only.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen</i>.</h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SPANISH MARRIAGE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Claremont</span>, <i>10th January 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen understands that there is a negotiation with +Sweden and Denmark pending about the cessation of their +tribute to Morocco, likewise that Prince Metternich has sent +a despatch condemning as unfair the understanding come to +between us and France about the Spanish marriage;<sup>2</sup> that +there is a notion of exchanging Hong Kong for a more healthy +colony.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen, taking a deep interest in all these matters, and +feeling it her duty to do so, begs Lord Aberdeen to keep her +always well informed of what is on the <i>tapis</i> in his Department.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 2: <i>See ante</i>, <a href="../../20023/20023-h/20023-h.htm#pagei.487" style="font-weight: normal;">vol. i. p. 487</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Claremont</span>, <i>13th January 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of the +10th, and returns him the papers which he sent her, with +her best thanks. She does not remember to have seen them +before.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen takes this opportunity to beg Lord Aberdeen +to cause the despatches to be sent a little sooner from the +Foreign Office, as drafts in particular have often come to the +Queen a week or a fortnight after they had actually been sent +across the sea.</p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to the Hanoverian Orders, Lord Aberdeen has +not quite understood what the Queen meant. It was Sir C. +Thornton and others to whom the Queen had refused permission +to accept the favour, on a former occasion, by which the King +of Hanover was much affronted. The Queen would not like +to have herself additionally fettered by any new regulation, +but Lord Aberdeen will certainly concur with the Queen that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.5" id="pageii.5"></a>[page 5]</span> +it would not be expedient to give to the King of Hanover a +power which the Queen herself does not possess, viz. that of +granting orders as favours, or for personal services; as the +number of the different classes of the Guelphic Order bestowed +on Englishmen is innumerable, it would actually +invest the King with such a power, which, considering how +much such things are sought after, might be extremely +inconvenient.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen will not give a final decision upon this case until +she returns to Windsor, where she has papers explanatory of +the reasons which caused her to decline the King of Hanover's +application in 1838.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A CARRIAGE ACCIDENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Claremont</span>, <i>16th January 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your kind letter of +the 11th. Louise can give you the details of the little upset +I and Lady Douro had, and which I did not think worth while +to mention.<sup>3</sup> It was the strangest thing possible to happen, +and the most <i>unlikely</i>, for we were going quite quietly, not at +all in a narrow lane, with very quiet ponies and my usual +postillion; the fact was that the boy looked the <i>wrong</i> way, +and therefore did not perceive the ditch which he so cleverly +got us into.</p> + +<p class="ind">We leave dear Claremont, as usual, with the greatest regret; +we are so peaceable here; Windsor is beautiful and comfortable, +but it is a <i>palace</i>, and God knows <i>how willingly</i> I would +<i>always</i> live with my beloved Albert and our children in the +quiet and retirement of private life, and not be the constant +object of observation, and of newspaper articles. The children +(Pussette and Bertie) have been most remarkably well, and so +have we, in spite of the very bad weather we had most days. +I am truly and really grieved that good excellent Nemours is +again <i>not</i> to get his <i>dotation</i>.<sup>4</sup> Really we constitutional +countries are <i>too shabby</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now, dearest Uncle, I must bid you adieu, begging you to +believe me, ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: On the 5th of January the Queen's phaeton was overturned at Horton, near Dachet, +while driving to the meet of Prince Albert's Harriers.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 4: On the occasion of the marriage of the Duc and Duchesse de Nemours (1840), the +proposal made by the Soult Government for a Parliamentary grant of 500,000 francs had +been rejected.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.6" id="pageii.6"></a>[page 6]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FRANCE AND ENGLAND</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>30th January 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I must begin by thanking you for +your kind letter of the 26th, and by wishing you joy that the +fête went off <i>so</i> well. I am glad Leo will appear at the next +ball; he is nearly nine years old, and it is good to accustom +children of his rank early to these things.</p> + +<p class="ind">Guizot's speech is exceedingly admired, with the exception +of his having said more than he was justified to do about the +right of search.<sup>5</sup> Our speech has been very difficult to frame; +we should like to have mentioned our visits to France and +Belgium, but it has been found impossible to do so; <i>France is</i> +mentioned, and it is the first time since 1834!</p> + +<p class="ind">To-morrow we go up to Town "pour ce bore," as the good +King always said to me; whenever there were tiresome people +to present he always said: "Je vous demande pardon de ce +<i>bore</i>."</p> + +<p class="ind">I have had a tiresome though not at all violent cold which +<i>I was</i> alarmed might spoil the <i>sonorousness</i> of my voice for the +speech on Thursday, but it promises well now.</p> + +<p class="ind">I own I always look with horror to the beginning of a +Parliamentary campaign.</p> + +<p class="ind">With Albert's love. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 5: He insisted that French trade must be kept under the exclusive surveillance of the +French flag.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF THE DUKE OF COBURG</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>6th February 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearly beloved Uncle</span>,—<i>You</i> must now be the father +to us poor bereaved, heartbroken children.<sup>6</sup> To describe to +you <i>all</i> that we <i>have</i> suffered, all that we <i>do</i> suffer, would +be +difficult; God has heavily afflicted us; we feel crushed, overwhelmed, +bowed down by the loss of one who was so deservedly +loved, I may say adored, by his children and family; I loved +him and looked on him as my own father; his like we shall <i>not +see again</i>; that youth, <i>that amiability</i>, and kindness in his own +house which was the centre and rendezvous for the whole +family, will never be seen again, and my poor Angel's fondest +thought of beholding that <i>dearly beloved Vaterhaus</i>—where his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.7" id="pageii.7"></a>[page 7]</span> +thoughts continually were—<i>again</i> is for ever gone and his poor +heart bleeds to feel <i>this</i> is for ever gone. Our promised visit, +our dearest Papa's, and our fondest wish, all is put an end to. +The violence of our grief may be over, but the desolate feeling +which succeeds it is worse, and tears are a relief. I have never +known real <i>grief</i> till now, and it has made a lasting impression +on me. A father is <i>such</i> a <i>near</i> relation, you are a <i>piece</i> of +him +in fact,—and all (as my poor <i>deeply afflicted</i> Angel says) the +earliest pleasures of your life were given you by a dear father; +that can <i>never he replaced</i> though time may soften the pang. +And indeed one loves to <i>cling</i> to one's grief; I can understand +Louise's feeling in her overwhelming sorrows.</p> + +<p class="ind">Let me now join my humble entreaties to Albert's, relative +to the request about dearest Louise, which he has made. It +is a sacrifice I ask, but if you <i>knew</i> the sacrifice I make in letting +and urging Albert <i>to go</i>, I am sure, if you <i>can</i> you <i>will</i> +grant it. +I have <i>never</i> been separated from him even for <i>one night</i>, and +the <i>thought of such</i> a separation is quite dreadful; still, I feel +I <i>could</i> bear it,—I have made up my mind to it, as the very +<i>thought</i> of going has been a comfort to my poor Angel, and will +be of such use at Coburg. Still, if I were to remain <i>quite</i> alone +I do not think I <i>could</i> bear it quietly. Therefore <i>pray</i> do send +me my dearly beloved Louise; she would be <i>such</i> a comfort +to me; if you could come too—or afterwards (as you promised +us a longer visit), that would be still more delightful. I may +be indiscreet, but you must think of <i>what</i> the separation from +my <i>all and all</i>, even only for a <i>fortnight</i>, will be to me!</p> + +<p class="ind">We feel some <i>years</i> older since these days of mourning. +Mamma is calm, but poor Aunt Julia<sup>7</sup> is indeed much to be +pitied. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted and unhappy +Niece and Child,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 6: The Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha died on 29th January.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 7: The Grand Duchess Constantine of Russia, sister of the Duchess of Kent and of the +deceased Duke of Saxe-Coburg.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">BEREAVEMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>13th February 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I received your dear, kind but sad +letter of the 8th on Sunday, and thank you much for it. God +knows, poor dear Uncle, you have suffered <i>enough</i> in your life, +but you should think, dearest Uncle, of <i>that blessed</i> assurance +of <i>eternity</i> where we shall <i>all meet again never</i> to part; you +should think (as we constantly do now) that those whom we +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.8" id="pageii.8"></a>[page 8]</span> +have lost are far happier than we are, and <i>love us</i> still, and in +a far more perfect way than <i>we can</i> do in this world! When +the first moments and days of overwhelming grief are over +these reflections are the greatest balm, the greatest consolation +to the bleeding heart.</p> + +<p class="ind">I hope you will kindly let me have a few lines of <i>hope</i> by the +Tuesday's messenger. Ever your truly devoted Niece and +Child,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria</span> R.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>P.S.</i>—O'Connell's being pronounced guilty is a great +triumph.<sup>8</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 8: He had been indicted with Charles Gavan Duffy and others for seditious conspiracy.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">South Street</span>, <i>3rd April 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +with many thanks for your Majesty's note of the 28th ult. +Lord Melbourne believes that your Majesty is quite right in +saying that Lord Melbourne has still some health left, if he will +but take care of it. Lord Melbourne told Dr Holland, without +mentioning your Majesty's name, that this had been said +to him by a friend, and Dr Holland immediately said that it +was very just and true, and very well expressed, and quite what +he should have said himself. At the same time, the change +from strength to weakness and the evident progress of decadence +is a very hard and disagreeable trial. Lord Melbourne +has been reading Cicero on old age, a very pretty treatise, but +he does not find much consolation after it; the principal +practical resources and alleviations which he recommends are +agriculture and gardening, to both of which, but more particularly +to the latter, Lord Melbourne has already had recourse. +It is certainly, as your Majesty says, wrong to be impatient +and to repine at everything, but still it is difficult not to be so. +Lady Uxbridge's death<sup>9</sup> is a shocking event, a dreadful loss to +him and to all. Lord Melbourne always liked her. Lord +Melbourne is going down to Brocket Hall to-morrow, and will +try to get Uxbridge and the girls to come over and dine.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne has felt very much for the grief which your +Majesty must feel at a separation, even short and temporary, +from the Prince, and it is extremely amiable to feel comforted +by the recollection of the extreme pleasure which his visit will +give to his and your Majesty's relations. It is, of course, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.9" id="pageii.9"></a>[page 9]</span> +impossible that your Majesty should in travelling divest yourself +of your character and dignity.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne has just driven round the Regent's Park, +where there are many almond trees in bloom, and looking +beautiful.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 9: Henrietta Maria, daughter of Sir Charles Bagot, G.C.B.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">RECALL OF LORD ELLENBOROUGH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>23rd April 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs +leave to acquaint your Majesty that he has every reason to +believe that the Court of Directors will <i>to-morrow</i>, by an +unanimous vote, resolve on the actual recall of Lord Ellenborough.<sup>10</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 10: This anomalous privilege was exercised by the Directors in consequence chiefly of +what they considered Lord Ellenborough's overbearing demeanour in communication +with them, his too aggressive policy, and his theatrical love of display.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd April 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has heard with the greatest regret from Sir R. +Peel that the Court of Directors, after all, mean to recall Lord +Ellenborough. She cannot but consider this <i>very</i> unwise at +this critical moment, and a very ungrateful return for the +eminent services Lord Ellenborough has rendered to the Company +in India. They ought not to forget so soon in what state +Lord Ellenborough found affairs in 1842. The Queen would +not be sorry if these gentlemen knew that this is her opinion.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>3rd May 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Victoria</span>,—Whenever you wish to make me +<i>truly happy</i>, you will have the power of doing so by repeating +expressions as kind and affectionate as those contained in +your dear little letter of the 30th. I have ever had the care +and affection of a <i>real father</i> for you, and it has perhaps even +been freer from many drawbacks which occasionally will exist +betwixt parents and children, be they ever so well and affectionately +together. With me, even from the moment in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.10" id="pageii.10"></a>[page 10]</span> +January 1820, when I was called by a messenger to Sidmouth, +my care for you has been unremitting, and never has there +been a cloud between us.... A thing which often strikes me, +in a very satisfactory manner, is that we never had any bitter +words, a thing which happens even with people who are very +lovingly together; and the little row which we had in 1838 +you remember well, and do not now think that <i>I</i> was wrong.<sup>11</sup> +<i>De pareilles relations sont rares; may they ever continue!</i></p> + +<p class="ind">I cannot leave this more serious topic without adding that +though you were always warm-hearted and right-minded, it +must strike yourself how matured every kind and good feeling +is in your generous heart. <i>The heart, and not the head, is the +safest guide in positions like yours</i>, and this not only for this +earthly and very short life, but for that which we must hope +for hereafter. When a life draws nearer its close, how many +earthly concerns are there that appear <i>still in the same light</i>? +and how clearly the mind is struck that nothing has been and is +still of <i>real</i> value, than the nobler and better feelings of the +heart; the only good we can hope to keep as a precious store +for the future. What do we keep of youth, beauty, richness, +power, and even the greatest extent of earthly possessions? +<span class="sc">Nothing!</span>... Your truly devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: <i>See</i> Letters of Queen Victoria and the King of the Belgians, <i>ante</i>, <a href="../../20023/20023-h/20023-h.htm#pagei.116" style="font-weight: normal;">vol. i. pp. 116-120</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">HONOURS FOR LORD ELLENBOROUGH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>5th May 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, and +believing that he is acting in accordance with your Majesty's +own opinion, begs leave to submit to your Majesty that it may +be advisable that he should by the present mail inform Lord +Ellenborough that it is your Majesty's intention to confer on +him, at a very early period, as a mark of your Majesty's +approval of Lord Ellenborough's conduct and services +in India, the rank of an Earl and the Grand Cross of the +Bath.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Ellenborough may be at liberty (should your Majesty +approve) to notify this publicly in India—and thus make it +known that the general line of policy recently pursued has had +the full sanction of your Majesty, and will not be departed +from.</p> + +<p class="ind">These were the honours conferred upon Lord Auckland.</p> + +<p class="ind">If they were conferred <i>on the instant</i>, it might rather seem a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.11" id="pageii.11"></a>[page 11]</span> +rebuke to the East India Company than a deliberate approval +of the conduct of Lord Ellenborough, but these honours might +shortly follow the conclusion of the affair respecting the +selection of Lord Ellenborough's successor, and any discussion +that may arise in Parliament.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE'S <i>BROCHURE</i></span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Claremont</span>, <i>24th May 1844.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Uncle</span>,—Though <i>not</i> my day I must write you a +line to say <i>how vexed</i> we are at this <i>most unfortunate</i> and <i>most +imprudent brochure</i> of Joinville's;<sup>12</sup> it has made a <i>very bad</i> +effect here, and will rouse all the envy and hatred between the +<i>two Navies</i> again, which it was our great effort to subdue—and +this <i>all</i> for <i>nothing!</i> I can't tell you how angry people are, +and how poor Hadjy will get abused. And this <i>all</i> after our +having been on such intimate terms with him and having +<i>sailed</i> with him! If he comes here, <i>what</i> shall we do? Receive +with open arms one who has talked of ravaging our coasts +and burning our towns? Indeed it is most lamentable; you +know how we like him, and that therefore it must be very +annoying to us to see him get himself into such a scrape. <i>We</i> +shall overlook it, but the people <i>here</i> won't! It <i>will</i> blow over, +but it will do immense harm. We who wish to become more +and more closely united with the French family are, of course, +much put out by this return. We shall forgive and forget, and +feel it was <i>not</i> intended to be published—but the public <i>here</i> +will <i>not</i> so easily, and will put the worst construction on +it all.</p> + +<p class="ind">Pray, dearest Uncle, tell me what <i>could</i> possess Joinville to +write it, and still more to have it printed? Won't it annoy +the King and Nemours very much? <i>Enfin c'est malheureux, +c'est indiscret au plus haut degré</i>—and it provokes and vexes +us sadly. Tell me <i>all</i> you <i>know</i> and think about it; for you +<i>can</i> do so with perfect safety by our courier.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have written dearest Louise an account of my <i>old</i> birthday, +which will please you, I think. The weather is very fine. +Ever your <i>truly</i> devoted Niece and Child,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R</span>.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 12: The <i>brochure</i> was entitled, <i>Notes sur les forces navales +de la France</i>. The Prince de +Joinville wrote as follows to the Queen: "Le malheureux éclat de ma brochure, le tracas +que cela donne au Père et à la Reine, me font regretter vivement de l'avoir faite. Comme +je l'écris à ton Roi, je ne renvoie que mépris à toutes les interprétations qu'on y donne; +ce que peuvent dire ministre et journaux ne me touche en rien, mais il n'y a pas de sacrifices +que je ne suis disposé à faire pour l'intérieur de la Famille."</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.12" id="pageii.12"></a>[page 12]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>29th May 1844.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">If Lord Aberdeen should not have read the Prince de +Joinville's pamphlet, the Queen recommends him to do so, as +one cannot judge fairly by the extracts in the newspapers. +Though it does not lessen the extreme imprudence of the +Prince's publishing what must do harm to the various French +Governments, it certainly is <i>not</i> intentionally written to offend +England, and on the contrary frankly proves <i>us</i> to be immensely +superior to the French Navy in every way.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CZAR NICHOLAS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>4th June 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My beloved Uncle</span>,—I gave Louise a long and detailed +description of the Emperor,<sup>13</sup> etc. The papers are full of the +details. A great event and a great compliment <i>his</i> visit certainly +is, and the people <i>here</i> are extremely flattered at it. +He is certainly a <i>very striking</i> man; still very handsome; his +profile is <i>beautiful</i>, and his manners <i>most</i> dignified and graceful; +extremely civil—quite alarmingly so, as he is so full of +attentions and <i>politesses</i>. But the expression of the <i>eyes</i> is +<i>formidable</i>, and unlike anything I ever saw before. He gives +me and Albert the impression of a man who is <i>not</i> happy, and +on whom the weight of his immense power and position weighs +heavily and painfully; he seldom smiles, and when he does the +expression is <i>not</i> a happy one. He is very easy to get on with. +Really, it seems like a dream when I think that we breakfast +and walk out with <i>this</i> greatest of all earthly Potentates as +quietly as if we walked, etc., with Charles or any one. We +took him, with the dear good King of Saxony,<sup>14</sup> who is a great +contrast to the <i>Czar</i> (and with whom I am <i>quite</i> at my ease), +to Adelaide Cottage after breakfast. The grass here is just as +if it had been burned with fire. <i>How</i> many different Princes +have we not gone the same round with!! The children are +much admired by the <i>Sovereigns</i>—(how <i>grand</i> this sounds!) +—and Alice allowed the Emperor to take her in his arms, and +kissed him <i>de son propre accord</i>. We are always so thankful +that they are <i>not</i> shy. Both the Emperor and the King are +<i>quite</i> enchanted with Windsor. The Emperor said very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.13" id="pageii.13"></a>[page 13]</span> +<i>poliment</i>: "C'est digne de vous, Madame." I must say the +Waterloo Room lit up with that entire service of gold looks +splendid; and the Reception Room, beautiful to sit in afterwards. +The Emperor praised <i>my</i> Angel very much, saying: +"C'est impossible de voir un plus joli garçon; il a l'air si noble +et si bon"; which I must say <i>is very</i> true. The Emperor +amused the King and me by saying he was so <i>embarrassé</i> when +people were presented to him, and that he felt so "<i>gauche</i>" +<i>en frac</i>, which certainly he is quite <i>unaccustomed</i> to wear. If +we can do anything to get him to do what is right by you, we +shall be most happy, and Peel and Aberdeen are very anxious +for it. I believe he leaves on Sunday again. To-morrow +there is to be a great review, and on Thursday <i>I</i> shall probably +go with them to the races; <i>they</i> are gone there with Albert +to-day, but I have remained at home.</p> + +<p class="ind">I think it is time to conclude my long letter.</p> + +<p class="ind">If the French are angry at this visit, let their dear King +and their Princes come; <i>they</i> will be sure of a <i>truly affectionate</i> +reception on our part. The one which Emperor +Nicholas has received is cordial and civil, <i>mais ne vient pas +du cœur</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I humbly beg that any remarks which may <i>not</i> be favourable +to our great visitor may <i>not</i> go <i>beyond</i> you and Louise, and +<i>not</i> +to <i>Paris</i>. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 13: The Emperor Nicholas of Russia had just arrived on a visit to England.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 14: Frederick Augustus II.</p> + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>11th June 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Uncle</span>,—I received your very kind and long +letter of the 7th on Sunday, and thank you very much for it. +I am delighted that my accounts interested you, and I shall try +and give you some more to-day, which you will see come from +an unbiassed and impartial mind, and which I trust therefore +<i>will</i> be relied upon. The excitement has ceased as suddenly +as it had begun, and I am still confused about it. I will go +back to where I last left you. <span class="rightnote">THE REVIEW</span>The <i>Revue</i><a id="footnotetagXIII15" name="footnotetagXIII15"></a><a href="#footnoteXIII15"><sup>15</sup></a> on the 5th was +really very interesting, and our reception as well as that of the +Emperor <i>most</i> enthusiastic. Louise tells me you had a review +the same day, and that it also was so hot. Our children were +there, and charmed. On the 6th we went with the Emperor +and King to the races,<a id="footnotetagXIII16" name="footnotetagXIII16"></a><a href="#footnoteXIII16"><sup>16</sup></a> and I never saw such a crowd; again +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.14" id="pageii.14"></a>[page 14]</span> +<i>here</i> the reception was <i>most brilliant</i>. Every evening a large +dinner in the Waterloo Room, and the two last evenings in +uniforms, as the Emperor disliked so being <i>en frac</i>, and was +quite embarrassed in it. On the 7th we took him and the +King back here, and in the evening had a party of 260 about. +On Saturday (8th) my Angel took the Emperor and King to +a very elegant breakfast<a id="footnotetagXIII17" name="footnotetagXIII17"></a><a href="#footnoteXIII17"><sup>17</sup></a> at Chiswick, which I for prudence' +sake did <i>not</i> go to, but was very sorry for it. In the evening +we went to the Opera (<i>not</i> in State), but they recognised us, +and we were most brilliantly received. I had to force the +Emperor forward, as he never would come forward when I was +there, and I was obliged to take him by the hand and make +him appear; it was impossible to be better bred or more +respectful than he was towards me. Well, on Sunday afternoon +at five, he left us (my Angel accompanied him to Woolwich), +and he was much affected at going, and really unaffectedly +touched at his reception and stay, the simplicity and +quietness of which told upon his love of domestic life, which is +very great. <span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S IMPRESSIONS</span>I will now (having told <i>all</i> that has passed) give +you <i>my</i> opinion and feelings on the subject, which I may say +are Albert's also. I was extremely against the visit, fearing +the <i>gêne</i>, and bustle, and even at first, I did not feel at <i>all</i> to +like it, but by living in the same house together quietly and +unrestrainedly (and this Albert, and with great truth, says is +the great advantage of these visits, that I not only <i>see</i> these +great people but <i>know</i> them), I got to know the Emperor and +he to know me. <span class="rightnote">THE CZAR NICHOLAS</span>There is much about him which I cannot help +liking, and I think his character is <i>one</i> which should be understood, +and looked upon for <i>once</i> as it is. He is stern and severe—with +fixed principles of <i>duty</i> which <i>nothing</i> on earth will +make him change; very <i>clever</i> I do <i>not</i> think him, and his +mind is an uncivilised one; his education has been neglected; +politics and military concerns are the only things he takes +great interest in; the arts and all softer occupations he is insensible +to, but he is sincere, I am certain, <i>sincere</i> even in his +most despotic acts, from a sense that that <i>is</i> the <i>only</i> way to +govern; he is not, I am sure, aware of the dreadful cases of +individual misery which he so often causes, for I can see by +various instances that he is kept in utter ignorance of <i>many</i> +things, which his people carry out in most corrupt ways, while +he thinks that he is extremely just. He thinks of general +measures, but does not look into detail. And I am sure <i>much</i> +never reaches his ears, and (as you observed), how can it? +He asked for <i>nothing</i> whatever, has merely expressed his great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.15" id="pageii.15"></a>[page 15]</span> +anxiety to be upon the best terms with us, but <i>not</i> to the +<i>exclusion of others</i>, only let things remain as they are.... He +is I should say, too frank, for he talks so openly before people, +which he should not do, and with difficulty restrains himself. +His anxiety <i>to be believed</i> is <i>very</i> great, and I must say his +personal +promises I <i>am inclined</i> to believe; then his feelings are +very strong; he <i>feels</i> kindness deeply—and his love for his +wife and children, and for all children, is <i>very</i> great. He has +a strong feeling for domestic life, saying to me, when our +children were in the room: "Voilà les doux moments de notre +vie." He was not only civil, but extremely kind <i>to us both</i>, +and spoke in the highest praise of dearest Albert to Sir Robert +Peel, saying he wished any Prince in Germany had that ability +and sense; he showed Albert great confidence, and I <i>think</i> it +will do great good, as if <i>he</i> praises him abroad it will have great +weight. He is <i>not</i> happy, and that melancholy which is visible +in the countenance made me sad at times; the sternness of the +eyes goes very much off when you know him, and changes +according to his being put out (and he <i>can</i> be much embarrassed) +or not, and also from his being heated, as he suffers +with congestions to the head. My Angel thinks that he is a +man inclined too much to give way to impulse and feeling, +which makes him act wrongly often. His admiration for +beauty is very great, and put me much in mind of you, when he +drove out with us, looking out for pretty people. But he remains +very faithful to those he admired <i>twenty-eight</i> years ago; +for instance, Lady Peel, who has hardly any remains left. +Respecting Belgium he did not speak to <i>me</i>, but to Albert and +the Ministers. As for unkindly feeling towards <i>you</i>, he disclaims +positively any, saying he knew you well, and that you +had served in the Russian Army, etc., but he says those <i>unfortunate</i> +Poles are the <i>only</i> obstacle, and that he positively +cannot enter into direct communication <i>with Belgium</i> as long +as they are <i>employed</i>. If you could only somehow or other get +rid of them, I am sure the thing would be done at once. We +all think he <i>need</i> not mind this, but I fear he has pledged himself. +He admired Charlotte's picture. <i>Pour finir</i>, I must say +one more word or two about his personal appearance. He +puts us much in mind of his and our cousins the Würtembergs, +and has altogether much of the Würtemberg family about +him. He is bald now, but in his Chevalier Garde Uniform he +is <i>magnificent</i> still, and very <i>striking</i>. I cannot deny that we +were in great anxiety when we took him out lest some Pole +might make an attempt, and I always felt thankful when we +got him safe home again. His poor daughter is very ill, I +fear. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.16" id="pageii.16"></a>[page 16]</span> +The good King of Saxony<sup>18</sup> remains another week with us, +and we like him much. He is so unassuming. He is out +sight-seeing <i>all</i> day, and enchanted with everything. I hope +that you will persuade the King to come all the same in +September. Our <i>motives</i> and politics are <i>not</i> to be exclusive, +but to be on good terms with <i>all</i>, and why should we not? +We make no secret of it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now I must end this very long letter. Ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">You will kindly not <i>speak</i> of these details, but only in +<i>allgemein</i> say the visit went off very satisfactorily on <i>both +sides</i>, +and that it was <i>highly pacific</i>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;"><a id="footnoteXIII15" name="footnoteXIII15"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXIII15">Footnote 15:</a> In honour of the Emperor a Review was held in Windsor Great Park.</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXIII16" name="footnoteXIII16"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXIII16">Footnote 16:</a> At Ascot.</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXIII17" name="footnoteXIII17"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXIII17">Footnote 17:</a> Given by the Duke of Devonshire.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 18: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.12" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 12</a>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>18th June 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Uncle</span>,—I had the happiness of receiving your +dear and kind letter of the 13th on Sunday; your <i>parties</i> at +Ardenne must have been truly delightful; perhaps some day +<i>we</i> may enjoy them too: that would be delightful! I can +write to you with a light heart, thank goodness, to-day, for the +Government obtained a majority, which <i>up</i> to the <i>last</i> moment +last night we feared they would not have, and we have been in +sad trouble for the last four or five days about it.<sup>19</sup> It is the +more marvellous, as, if the Government asked for a <i>Vote</i> of +Confidence, they would have a <i>Majority</i> of 100; but this very +strength makes the supporters of the Government act in a +<i>most</i> unjustifiable manner by continually acting and voting +against them, <i>not</i> listening to the debates, but coming down +and voting against the Government. So that we were really +in the greatest <i>possible</i> danger of having a resignation of the +Government <i>without knowing to whom to turn</i>, and this from +the recklessness of a handful of foolish <i>half</i> "Puseyite" half +"Young England"<sup>20</sup> people! I am sure you will agree with +me that Peel's resignation would not only be for us (for <i>we +cannot</i> have a better and a <i>safer</i> Minister), but for the whole +country, and for the peace of Europe—a <i>great calamity</i>. Our +present people are all <i>safe</i>, and not led away by impulses and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.17" id="pageii.17"></a>[page 17]</span> +reckless passions. We must, however, take care and not get +into another crisis; for I assure you we have been quite +miserable and <i>quite</i> alarmed ever since Saturday.</p> + +<p class="ind">Since I last wrote to you, I spoke to Aberdeen (whom I +should be equally sorry to lose, as he is so <i>very fair</i>, and has +served <i>us personally</i>, so kindly and truly), and he told me that +the Emperor has <i>positively pledged</i> himself to send a Minister +to Brussels the moment those Poles are no longer employed;<sup>21</sup> +that he is quite aware of the importance of the measure, and +would be disposed to make the arrangement easy, and that he +spoke very kindly of <i>you</i> personally. Aberdeen says it is not +necessary to disgrace them in any way, but only for the present +<i>de les éloigner</i>. The Emperor has evidently some time ago +made some strong declaration on the subject which he feels +he cannot get over, and, as I said before, he will not give up +what he has once pledged his word to. <i>Then, no one</i> on earth +<i>can</i> move him. <i>Au fond</i>, it is a fine <i>trait</i>, but he carries +it too +far. He wrote me a <i>very</i> kind and affectionate letter from the +Hague. The Emperor has given Bertie the Grand Cross of +St Andrew, which the boy was quite proud of.</p> +<span class="rightnote">THE KING OF SAXONY</span> +<p class="ind">Our kind and good King of Saxony leaves us to-morrow, +after having seen more than anybody has done almost, and +having enjoyed it of all things. He is quite at home with us +and the children, whom he plays with much. Alice walks +quite alone, and looks too funny, as she is so <i>very</i> fat. Now, +ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 19: The Ministry had been defeated on Mr P. Miles's motion in favour of giving an increased +preference to colonial sugar, but on the 17th this vote was rescinded by a majority of +twenty-two, Mr Disraeli taunting the Premier with expecting that "upon every division +and at every crisis, his gang should appear, and the whip should sound."</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 20: The name given to the group comprising Disraeli, George Smythe, Lord John Manners, +etc. See <i>Coningsby</i>, which was published about this time.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 21: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.15" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 15</a>.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">South Street</span>, <i>19th June 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and thanks your Majesty much for the letter of the 14th inst. +Lord Melbourne was very glad to have the opportunity of +seeing the Emperor of Russia at Chiswick. Lord Melbourne +humbly believes that the opinion, which your Majesty has +formed and expresses of the Emperor's character is just, and +he considers it extremely fortunate that a sovereign of such +weight and influence in Europe, and with whom it is probable +that Great Britain will have such near and intimate relations, +should also be a man upon whose honour and veracity strong +reliance may be safely and securely placed.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne is very glad to believe that the late political +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.18" id="pageii.18"></a>[page 18]</span> +movements, with which the public mind has been agitated, +have subsided, and are entirely terminated by the last vote of +the House of Commons, and by the determination evinced to +support the Administration.<sup>22</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">This finishes for the present a business which at one moment +seemed likely to be troublesome, and out of which there did +not appear to present itself any hope or practicable escape.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne will not make any observation upon what is +known and understood to have passed, further than to say +that, as far as he is acquainted with the history of public affairs +in this country, it is an entire novelty, quite new and unprecedented.<sup>23</sup> +Many a Minister has said to the Crown, "My +advice must be taken, and my measures must be adopted," +but no Minister has ever yet held this language or advanced +this pretension to either House of Parliament. However, it +seems to be successful at present, and success will justify much. +Whether it will tend to permanent strength or a steady conduct +of public affairs, remains to be seen.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne begs to be respectfully remembered to His +Royal Highness.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.16" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 16</a>.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 23: Lord Melbourne refers to the House rescinding its own vote.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Ellenborough to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD ELLENBOROUGH</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>22nd June 1844.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Ellenborough, with his most humble duty to your +Majesty, humbly acquaints your Majesty that on the 15th of +June he received the announcement of his having been removed +from the office of Governor-General of India by the +Court of Directors. By Lord Ellenborough's advice, letters +were immediately despatched by express to every important +native Court to assure the native Princes that this change in +the person at the head of the Government would effect no +change in its policy, and Lord Ellenborough himself wrote in +similar terms to the British Representatives at the several +Courts.... Lord Ellenborough has written a letter to the +Earl of Ripon with reference to the reasons alleged by the +Court of Directors for his removal from office, to which letter +he most humbly solicits your Majesty's favourable and attentive +consideration. It treats of matters deeply affecting the +good government of India.</p> + +<p class="ind">Amidst all the difficulties with which he has had to contend +in India, aggravated as they have been by the constant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.19" id="pageii.19"></a>[page 19]</span> +hostility of the Court of Directors, Lord Ellenborough has ever +been sustained by the knowledge that he was serving a most +gracious Mistress, who would place the most favourable construction +upon his conduct, and he now humbly tenders to +your Majesty the expression of his gratitude, not only for those +marks of Royal favour with which it has been intimated to +him that it is your Majesty's intention to reward his services, +but yet more for that constant support which has animated +all his exertions, and has mainly enabled him to place India +in the hands of his successor in a state of universal peace, the +result of two years of victories, and in a condition of prosperity +heretofore unknown.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND RUSSIA</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>28th June 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My beloved Victoria</span>,—I have again to offer my warmest +and best thanks for a very long and kind letter. I am truly +and sincerely happy that a Ministerial crisis has been spared +you; it is in all constitutional concerns an <i>awful</i> business; +but in such a colossal machinery as the British Empire, it +shakes the whole globe. For your sake, for the good of England, +and for the quiet of the whole earth, we must most devoutly +pray that <i>Sir Robert may remain for many, many years +your trusty and faithful Minister.</i> Parliaments and Chambers +are extremely fond of governing, particularly as long as it does +not bore themselves. We have had an instance of it recently. +I was anxious to keep the Chamber longer, as there are still +many important things which it ought to have finished; but +they were hot, they got tired, voted twelve <i>projets de loi</i> in one +day, and disappeared afterwards, leaving one the trouble of +managing the affairs of the State as best one may....</p> + +<p class="ind">As a general political event, the Emperor's visit in England +can only be useful; it is probable that he would <i>not</i> have made +the visit if another had not been talked of. His policy is naturally +to <i>separate</i> as much as possible the two great Western +Powers; he is too weak to resist single-handed their dictates +in the Oriental question; <i>but if they act not in concert</i>, it is +evident that <i>he is the master</i>; in all this he acts wisely and in +conformity with the great interests of his Empire. England +has greater interests at stake at the mercy of Russia than at +that of France. With France the questions are sometimes +questions of jealousy, but, on the other hand, a tolerable understanding +keeps France quiet and secures the peace of Europe, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.20" id="pageii.20"></a>[page 20]</span> +much more in the sense of the European policy of England +than of that of France. The only consolation the French can +find in it is that they are aware that <i>together</i> with England they +have a great position, but they always lament that they can +<i>get nothing by it</i>. A bad understanding with France opens +not only the door to a European war, but also to revolution; +and that is perhaps the most serious and most awfully dangerous +part of the business. England wants nothing from the +Emperor than that he should leave the <i>status quo</i> of Europe +and great part of Asia alone. At Paris they are not so much +moved at the Emperor's visit as perhaps they ought to be, but +they have put the flattering notion into their heads that he had +made <i>fiasco</i>, which is <i>not true</i>; as, in fact, he has so far been +rather <i>successful</i>, and has convinced people in England that he +is a mild and good-natured man, himself and his Empire, +without any ambition. Now it is high time I should finish +my immense scrawl, for which I claim your forgiveness, remaining +ever your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">TAHITI</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>27th August 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your kind long +letter, which I received yesterday, dated 23rd. I can report +very well of ourselves. We are all well. The dear day of +yesterday<sup>24</sup> we spent very quietly and happily and full of +gratitude to Providence for so many blessings. I can only +pray for the continuance of our present happiness.</p> + +<p class="ind">The impending political cloud, I hope and trust, looks less +black and lowering. But I think it very unwise in Guizot not +to have at once disavowed D'Aubigny for what you yourself +call an "outrage,"<sup>25</sup> instead of letting it drag on for <i>four weeks</i> +and letting our people get excited. The Tangiers Affair<sup>26</sup> is +unfortunate, and I hope that in future poor Joinville will not +be exposed to such disagreeable affairs. What <i>can</i> be done +will be, to get him justified in the eyes of the public here, but +I fear that at first they will not be very charitable. Those +letters in the <i>Times</i> are outrageous, and all that abuse very +bad taste.<sup>27</sup> There is to be an investigation about the three +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.21" id="pageii.21"></a>[page 21]</span> +officers, whose conduct is unworthy of Englishmen. Now, +dearest Uncle, believe me always, your most affectionate +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 24: The Prince Albert's birthday. Prince Alfred was born on 6th August of this year.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 25: The assumption of French sovereignty over Tahiti.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 26: Hostilities had commenced between France and Morocco, and Tangiers was bombarded.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 27: A series of letters had appeared in the <i>Times</i>, written by British naval officers who +had witnessed the bombardment of Tangiers, and accused the French Admiral and Navy +of being deficient in courage. The <i>Times</i> was much criticised for its publication of these +letters.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Blair Athol</span>, <i>15th September 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Uncle</span>,—I received your kind letter of the 6th +the day we arrived here, and thank you very much for it. As +I have written an account of our journey to Louise, I will <i>not</i> +repeat it here.</p> + +<p class="ind">The good ending of our difficulties with France is an immense +blessing, but it is really and truly necessary that you +and those at Paris should know that the danger was <i>imminent</i>, +and that poor Aberdeen stood <i>almost alone</i> in trying to keep +matters peaceable. We must try and prevent these difficulties +for the future. I must, however, clear <i>Jarnac</i><sup>28</sup> of all blame, +for Aberdeen does nothing but praise him....</p> + +<p class="ind">In Greece affairs look very black, and God knows how it +all will end.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 28: <i>Chargé d'Affaires</i> in the absence of the French Ambassador.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">VISIT OF KING LOUIS PHILIPPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>5th October 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearly Beloved Victoria</span>,—... I have not much to +say about my father's <i>lodging habits</i> and <i>likings</i>.<sup>29</sup> My father +is one of the beings <i>most easy</i> to <i>please</i>, <i>satisfy</i>, and to +<i>accommodate</i>. +His eventful life has used him to everything, and +makes any kind of arrangements acceptable to him; there is +only <i>one thing</i> which he <i>cannot easily do</i>, it is to be <i>ready +very +early</i>. He means notwithstanding to try to come to your +breakfast, but you <i>must insist upon his not doing it</i>. It would +disturb him in all his habits, and be bad for him, as he would +certainly eat, a thing he is not used to do in the morning. He +generally takes hardly what may be called a <i>breakfast</i>, and eats +<i>only twice</i> in the day. It would be also <i>much better</i> for him if +he only appeared to luncheon and dinner, and if you kindly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.22" id="pageii.22"></a>[page 22]</span> +dispensed him altogether of the breakfast. You must not tell +him that I wrote you <i>this</i>, but you must manage it with Montpensier, +and kindly order for him a bowl of <i>chicken broth</i>. It +is the only thing he takes generally in the morning, and between +his meals. I have also no observation to make, but I have +told Montpensier to speak openly to Albert whenever he +thought something ought to be done for my father, or might +hurt and inconvenience him, and you may consult him when +you are in doubt. He is entrusted with all the recommendations +of my mother, for my father is naturally <i>so imprudent</i> and +<i>so little accustomed</i> to <i>caution and care</i>, that he must in some +measure be <i>watched</i> to prevent his catching cold or doing what +may be injurious to him. About his <i>rooms</i>, a hard bed and a +large table for his papers are the only things he requires. He +generally sleeps on a horse-hair mattress with a plank of wood +under it: but <i>any kind</i> of bed will do, if it is not <i>too soft</i>. His +liking will be to be entirely at <i>your commands</i> and to do <i>all you +like</i>. You know he can take a great deal of exercise, and +<i>everything</i> will <i>interest</i> and <i>delight</i> him, to see, as to do: +this +is not a compliment, but a <i>mere fact</i>. His only wish is, that you +should not go out of your way for him, and change your habits +on his account. Lord Aberdeen will be, of course, at Windsor, +and I suppose you will ask, as you told me, the Royal Family. +My father hopes to see also Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, and +your other Ministers. You will probably ask most of them +during his stay. He wishes very much to see again those he +already knows, and to make the acquaintance of those he does +not know yet. In writing all this I think I <i>dream</i>, I <i>cannot +believe</i> yet that in a few days my dear father will have, God +willing, the <i>unspeakable happiness</i> to see you again and at +<i>Windsor</i>, a thing he had <i>so much wished</i> for and which for a +<i>long time</i> seemed so <i>improbable</i>. You have <i>no notion</i> of the +<i>satisfaction</i> it gives him, and <i>how delighted</i> he will be to see you +again, and to be once more in England. God grant he may +have a good passage, and arrive to you <i>safely</i> and <i>well</i>. +<i>Unberufen</i>, +as you will soon, I trust, be able to see, he is, notwithstanding +the usual talk of the papers, <i>perfectly well</i>.... +Yours most devotedly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louise</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 29: The difficulty with France as to Tahiti having been satisfactorily disposed of, King +Louis Philippe was enabled to visit England, the first French King to come on a visit to +the Sovereign of England. The King was enthusiastically received in England, visited +Claremont (which he was destined to occupy in exile), was installed as a Knight of the +Garter at Windsor with great magnificence, and visited Eton College and Woolwich +Arsenal.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SOLICITUDE OF QUEEN LOUISE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>7th October 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearly beloved Victoria</span>,—... I wrote to my +mother, to quiet her, all you kindly tell me about my dear +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.23" id="pageii.23"></a>[page 23]</span> +father. We are <i>quite sure</i>, I assure you, that you and Albert +will <i>take care of him</i>, and that he is with you <i>in safe hand</i>. And +what makes my mother <i>uneasy</i> is the fear that, being at liberty +without control, he will make <i>too much</i>, as she says, <i>le +jeune homme</i>, ride, go about, and do everything as if he was +still twenty years old. If I must tell you <i>all the truth</i>, she is +afraid also he will <i>eat too much</i>. I am sure he will tell it to you +himself, as he was so much amused with <i>this fear</i>; but to do +her pleasure, being well assured by me that you would allow it, +and that it was even <i>customary</i>, he has given up, of himself, +all thought of attending your early breakfast: but I perceive +I write as if <i>he was not already</i> under <i>your</i> roof. I will also only +say, that though he has sent over his horses in case they should +be wanted, my mother begs you to <i>prevent, if possible, his +riding at all</i>. I wrote to her already that I supposed there +would be <i>no occasion</i> for riding, and that your <i>promenades</i> +would be either on foot or in carriage. I entrusted Montpensier +with all my messages for you, my beloved Victoria and +your dear children. He hopes you will permit him, during his +stay at Windsor, to make <i>two</i> excursions—one to London, and +one to Woolwich—he is very curious to see, as an artillery +officer. I mention it as he would be, perhaps, <i>too shy</i> or <i>too +discreet</i> to mention it himself. He might very well do those +two trips by the railroad and be back for dinner-time, and I +am sure you will have no objection to them.... Yours most +devotedly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louise</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am very glad that Lord Charles Wellesley is one of those +who will attend my father. Montpensier and him will have +surely capital fun together, and he was, you know, a great +favourite with every one at Eu. If by chance Lord Hardwicke +was in waiting during my father's stay, you must kindly +put my father in mind to thank him for the <i>famous cheese</i>, +which arrived safely, and was found very good....</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KING'S ARRIVAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>8th October 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Uncle</span>,—You will, I am sure, forgive my writing +but a few lines as I am all alone in the agitation of the dear +King's arrival, and I will leave my letter open to announce it +to you. My <i>dearest</i> master is gone to Portsmouth to receive +him. The excitement and curiosity to see the dear King, and +the desire to give him a most hearty reception, is <i>very great +indeed</i>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.24" id="pageii.24"></a>[page 24]</span> + +<p class="ind">Many thanks for your kind letters of the 28th and 4th. I +can't think who could have said that Peel, etc., would <i>not</i> have +been here; for he, Aberdeen, and the old Duke are to be here +the whole time, and all the other Ministers will come <i>during</i> +his stay.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am very glad Joinville is arrived, and avoided his <i>entrées +triomphales</i>. I hope he will take great care of himself.</p> + +<p class="ind">You will have heard from dear Louise of our voyage, etc. +I cannot reconcile myself to be <i>here</i> again, and pine for my <i>dear</i> +Highlands, the hills, the pure air, the quiet, the retirement, +the liberty—<i>all</i>—more than is right. The children are well. +I am sorry to hear that you are not quite so yet.</p> + +<p class="ind">3.30.—The King and Montpensier arrived quite safely at +two, and are both looking extremely well. We have just +lunched with them. It seems like a dream to me, and a very +pleasant one.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert sends his affectionate love. Ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">Bertie has immediately taken a passion for Montpensier.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brocket Hall</span>, <i>9th October 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and thanks your Majesty much for the letter of the 7th inst., +which he has just received, and with very great satisfaction, +as he had begun to think your Majesty's silence rather long. +But he perfectly understands the reasons which prevented +your Majesty from writing during your stay in the Highlands. +Lord Melbourne is very glad to find that your Majesty enjoyed +that country so much, and is so enthusiastically fond of it. +Lord Melbourne believes that he was at the places which your +Majesty mentions. In the year 1802 he stayed some months +in Perthshire with the late Lord Kinnaird, and enjoyed it +much. It annoys him sometimes to think how altered he is +in strength since that time. Lord Melbourne has never yet +thanked your Majesty for the pretty etchings of poor Islay +and Eos, which your Majesty sent to Lord Melbourne when +he was last at Windsor. Lord Melbourne has ordered them +both to be framed, and will hang them up in his room here. +They will afford Lord Melbourne most agreeable and pleasing +souvenirs of the happiest period of his life, for he cannot say +otherwise than that he continually misses and regrets the +time when he had daily confidential communication with your +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.25" id="pageii.25"></a>[page 25]</span> +Majesty. Lord Glenlyon<sup>30</sup> has one merit in Lord Melbourne's +eyes, which is that he was a steady and firm supporter to +the last of Lord Melbourne's Government. Lord Melbourne +hopes and trusts that he feels no animosity against those +who opposed him. But he does and always shall entertain a +kindly and grateful recollection of those who supported him.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne begs to be remembered to His Royal +Highness.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 30: <i>See</i> <a href="../../20023/20023-h/20023-h.htm#pagei.429" style="font-weight: normal;">vol. i. p. 429</a>.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>12th October 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearly beloved Victoria</span>,—... I thank you very +much for attending to all my recommendations about <i>my</i> +father: I only fear that they will lead you to believe that we +consider him as a <i>great child</i> and treat him like one: but he +is so <i>precious</i> and <i>dear</i> to <i>us all</i> that I am sure you will +<i>understand</i> +and <i>excuse</i> our being <i>over anxious</i>.... Yours most +devotedly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louise</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A SUCCESSFUL VISIT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne House</span>, <i>17th October 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Uncle</span>,—I had intended to have written to you +on Monday, but you will since have heard of the great <i>confusion</i> +of that day which prevented me from doing so. The +dear King's visit went off to perfection, and I much and deeply +regret its being passed. He was <i>delighted</i>, and was <i>most</i> +enthusiastically and affectionately received wherever he +showed himself. Our proceedings I wrote to good, dear Louise +(whom you should not leave so long alone), who will no doubt +have given you the details. What an extraordinary man the +King is! What a wonderful memory, and how lively, <i>how +sagacious!</i> He spoke very openly to us all, and is determined +that our affairs should go on well. He wishes Tahiti <i>au fond +de la mer</i>. He spoke also very openly about poor Hadjy's +<i>brochure</i> which seems to have distressed him more than anything. +The King praised my dearest Albert most highly, and +fully appreciates his great qualities and talents—and what +gratifies me <i>so much</i>, treats him completely as his equal, calling +him "Mon Frère," and saying to me that <i>my husband</i> was the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.26" id="pageii.26"></a>[page 26]</span> +same as me, which it is—and "Le Prince Albert, c'est pour +moi le Roi." The King is <i>very</i> sad to go, but he is determined, +he says, <i>to see me every year</i>. Another <i>very</i> great thing is, that +the officers of the two Navies staying at Portsmouth were on +the best terms together and paying one another every sort of +compliment. As Admiral La Susse (a very gentlemanlike +man) and his squadron were sadly disappointed on Monday,<sup>31</sup> +we thought it would please them if we went on board the +<i>Gomer</i>, which we did, on Tuesday morning, and breakfasted +there, and I drank the King's health. I am certain that the +visit and everything connected with it can but do the <i>greatest +good</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">We stay here till Monday. It is a very comfortable little +house, and the grounds and place are delightful, so private—and +the view so fine.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude, begging you to believe me, ever your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">I forgot to say how much we liked good Montpensier, who +got on extremely well.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 31: It had been intended that the King should return to France, as he had come, by way +of Portsmouth, crossing in the frigate <i>Gomer</i>, but, in consequence of the wet and stormy +weather, he returned by Dover and Calais.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the French.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEPARTURE OF THE KING</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne House</span>, <i>le 17 Octobre 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire, et mon très cher Frère</span>,—Votre Majesté m'a écrit +deux bien bonnes lettres de Douvres pour lesquelles je vous +remercie de tout mon cœur. Les expressions de bonté et +d'amitié que vous me vouez ainsi qu'à mon cher Albert nous +touchent sensiblement; je n'ai pas besoin de vous dire encore, +combien nous vous sommes attachés et combien nous désirons +voir se raffermir de plus en plus cette <i>entente cordiale</i> entre +nos deux pays qui existe si heureusement entre nous personnellement. +C'était avec un vif regret que nous nous sommes +séparés de votre Majesté, et de Montpensier, et ce sera une +grande fête que de voir renouveler une visite dont le souvenir +nous est si cher.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert se met à vos pieds, Sire, bien sensible ainsi que moi-même +de l'amitié et la confiance que vous lui avez témoignées.</p> + +<p class="ind">J'ose prier votre Majesté d'offrir mes plus tendres hommages +à la Reine et à Madame votre Sœur et de me rappeler au +souvenir de Montpensier. Je suis pour la vie, Sire et mon +cher Frère, de votre Majesté la bien affectionnée Sœur et +fidèle Amie,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.27" id="pageii.27"></a>[page 27]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">OPENING OF ROYAL EXCHANGE </span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>29th October 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I had the happiness of receiving your +kind letter of the 26th while I was dressing to go to the City +for the opening of the Royal Exchange.<sup>32</sup> Nothing ever went +off better, and the procession there, as well as all the proceedings +<i>at</i> the Royal Exchange, were splendid and royal in +the extreme. It was a fine and gratifying sight to see the +myriads of people assembled—more than at the Coronation +even, and all in such good humour, and so loyal; the articles +in the papers, too, are most kind and gratifying; they say <i>no</i> +Sovereign <i>was more</i> loved than I am (I am bold enough to say), +and <i>that</i>, from our <i>happy domestic home</i>—which gives such a +good example. The <i>Times</i> you have, and I venture to add a +<i>Chronicle</i>, as I think it very pretty; you should read the +accounts. <i>I</i> seldom remember being so gratified and pleased +with any public show, and my beloved Albert was so enthusiastically +received by the people. He is <i>so</i> beloved by all the +really influential people, and by <i>all</i> right-thinking ones. We +came back here yesterday evening. The accounts from Paris +are excellent too. How long are the good Joinvilles to remain +in the south, and where? By-the-by, dearest Uncle, have you +read the continuation of Consuelo,<sup>33</sup> called the "Comtesse de +Rudolstadt"? It is <i>dreadfully</i> interesting.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Knights of the Garter did <i>not</i> wear the whole costume, +but only the mantle. Being on this topic, shall tell you that +I intend giving the Garter to Ernest, but pray do not mention +it to E. or <i>any one</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">With Albert's affectionate love. Ever your devoted Niece +and Child,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 32: On the preceding day.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 33: The novel by George Sand (1804-1876), published in 1842.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the French to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Saint Cloud</span>, <i>le 15 Novembre 1844</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame ma bien chère Sœur</span>,—Mes souvenirs de Windsor +sont de ceux dont aucun ne s'efface. Je n'oublie donc pas +une petite question qui m'a été si joliment adressée, <i>Where +is my gun?</i> et à présent j'en ai trouvé un qui serait indigne de +la destinée que je prie votre Majesté de me permettre de lui +donner, si le regret que la disparition du premier fusil avait +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.28" id="pageii.28"></a>[page 28]</span> +causé, ne m'avait pas appris que le second devait être d'un +genre à supporter tous les accidents que l'enfance aime à infliger +à ses joujoux. C'est donc tout simplement un très modeste +fusil de munition adapté a sa taille que j'adresse à votre +Majesté pour son auguste et charmant enfant le Prince de +Galles, comme ma réponse à sa question.</p> + +<p class="ind">J'ai encore une autre dette dont je vous prie de me permettre +de m'acquitter. Quelque vif que soit mon désir de +revoir Windsor, ce serait un trop long retard que d'attendre +cet heureux moment, pour offrir à la Princesse Royale cette +petite boîte à ouvrage, de Paris, qu'elle m'a fait espérer lui +serait agréable, et tout ce que je désire c'est que vos enfants se +ressouviennent un jour d'avoir vu celui qui a été le fidèle ami +de leur grand-père, comme il l'est et le sera toujours de leurs +bien aimés parents.</p> + +<p class="ind">Que votre Majesté me permette encore d'offrir ici au Prince +Albert l'expression de la vive et sincère amitié que je lui porte +et que je lui garderai toujours, et d'accepter celle de l'inaltérable +attachement avec lequel je suis pour la vie, Madame ma bien +chère Sœur, de votre Majesté, le bon Frère bien affectionné et +fidèle Ami,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louis Philippe R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Henry Hardinge to Queen Victoria.</i></h5><span class="rightnote">EDUCATION IN INDIA</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>23rd November 1844.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Henry Hardinge<sup>34</sup> with his most humble duty to your +Majesty, humbly submits for your Majesty's consideration +the following observations on the state of affairs in this large +portion of your Majesty's dominions.</p> + +<p class="ind">The return of peace has also increased the desire of the +native population to receive the advantages of English education. +The literature of the West is the most favourite +study amongst the Hindoos in their schools and colleges. +They will discuss with accuracy the most important events +in British History. Boys of fifteen years of age, black in +colour, will recite the most favourite passages from Shakespeare, +ably quoting the notes of the English and German commentators. +They excel in mathematics, and in legal subtleties +their acuteness is most extraordinary.</p> + +<p class="ind">In order to reward native talent and render it practically +useful to the State, Sir Henry Hardinge, after due deliberation, +has issued a resolution, by which the most meritorious students +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.29" id="pageii.29"></a>[page 29]</span> +will be appointed to fill the public offices which fall vacant +throughout Bengal.</p> + +<p class="ind">This encouragement has been received by the Hindoo population +with the greatest gratitude. The studies in the Mohammedan +schools and colleges have hitherto been confined to +Arabic, the Koran, and abstruse studies relating to their +religion, having always shown a marked aversion to English +literature. Since the publication of the Resolution they have +at once determined to change their system in order to participate +in the benefits held out to native merit of every sect.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is impossible throughout your Majesty's immense Empire +to employ the number of highly paid European civil servants +which the public service requires. This deficiency is the great +evil of British Administration. By dispersing annually a proportion +of well-educated natives throughout the provinces, +under British superintendence, well-founded hopes are entertained +that prejudices may gradually disappear, the public +service be improved, and attachment to British institutions +increased....</p> +<span class="rightnote">SIR HENRY HARDINGE</span> +<p class="ind">Sir Henry Hardinge, in closing these observations, most +humbly ventures to assure your Majesty that he anticipates +no occurrence as probable, by which the tranquillity of this +portion of your Majesty's dominions is likely to be disturbed.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">H. Hardinge</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 34: Governor-General of India, in succession to Lord Ellenborough.</p> + + + + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.30" id="pageii.30"></a>[page 30]</span> + + + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XIV</h3> + + +<p>The new year (1845) opened auspiciously, trade improving owing +to the great impetus given to it by the many lines of railway then in +course of promotion. Over two hundred schemes were prepared at +the commencement of the session to seek legislative sanction, and +speculation outran all reasonable limits. The Income Tax (which in +the ordinary course would have expired) was renewed, and the Anti-Corn +Law Leaguers were more persistent than ever in their assaults +on Protection, while the attacks on the Ministry from a section of +their own party were redoubled. The most remarkable measure of the +year was the Government Bill for increasing the grant to the Roman +Catholic College of Maynooth, which was strongly opposed from +the Conservative and the Protestant points of view; Mr Gladstone, +though he approved of the measure, retired from the Ministry, as he +had a few years before written in the opposite sense. Towards the +close of the year the condition of Ireland, owing to the failure of the +potato crop, became very alarming, and the Ministry greatly embarrassed. +Lord John Russell wrote from Edinburgh to the electors +of the City of London, announcing his conversion to the Repeal of +the Corn Laws, and the <i>Times</i> announced that such a Bill would be +brought in by the Ministry. Peel, reluctant to accept the task, +resigned office in December, and a Whig Ministry was attempted. +Owing to dissensions, the attempt had to be abandoned, and Peel +returned to office, without Lord Stanley, but with Mr Gladstone, +who however did not seek re-election for the seat vacated by his +acceptance of office.</p> + +<p>A dispute of great importance arose during the year with the United +States, relating to the boundary line between English and American +territory west of the Rocky Mountains. Twenty-five years earlier +the same question had arisen, and had been settled on the footing of +joint occupancy. The increased importance of the Pacific slope +made the matter more vital, involving as it did the ownership of +Vancouver Island and the mouth of the Columbia River; President +Polk unequivocally claimed the whole, and said he would not shrink +from upholding America's interests; the British Government was +equally firm, and the matter was not adjusted till 1846.</p> + +<p>In India, which during nearly the whole year enjoyed peace, the +Sikhs in December assumed the aggressive, and crossed the Sutlej, +invading British India. They were signally defeated by Sir Hugh +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.31" id="pageii.31"></a>[page 31]</span> +Gough at Moodkee and Ferozeshah. In Scinde Sir Charles Napier +prosecuted operations against the mountain desert tribes.</p> + +<p>In New Zealand some disastrous collisions took place between the +natives and the settlers; the former on two occasions either defeating +or repulsing the British arms.</p> + +<p>In France the most important events were the Bill for fortifying +Paris, the campaign waged against Abd-el-Kader in Algeria, and a +horrible act of cruelty perpetrated there. In Spain Don Carlos +abdicated his claims to the throne in favour of his son; the +Queen's engagement to Count Trapani was rumoured. In other parts +of Europe little that was eventful occurred.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.32" id="pageii.32"></a>[page 32]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h5>1845</h5> + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>14th January 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—What you say about Aquila<sup>1</sup> and +Montpensier interests me. What madness is it then to force +Trapani on Spain! Pray explain to me the cause of the +King's obstinacy about that Spanish marriage, for <i>no</i> country +has a right to dictate in that way to another. If Tatane<sup>2</sup> was +<i>to think</i> of the Infanta, England would be extremely indignant, +and would (and with right) consider it tantamount to a marriage +with the Queen herself. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: Louis Charles, Comte d'Aquila, a son of Francis I., King of the Two Sicilies, and brother +of the Comte de Trapani and of Queen Christina; he and his brother were therefore +uncles of Queen Isabella.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 2: The Duc de Montpensier.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>18th January 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—... The Spanish marriage +question is really very curious; in fact, all the other Bourbon +branches are hostile to the Orleans family, but the idea that +makes the King so constant in his views about it, is that he +imagines it would create in France a bad impression if <i>now</i> any +other than a Bourbon was to marry the Queen of Spain. That +feeling they have <i>themselves created</i>, as in France they did not +at all care about it; having, however, declared <i>quasi</i> officially +in the French Chambers that they <i>will not have any but a +Bourbon</i>, if circumstances should after all decide it otherwise +it would now be a defeat, but certainly one of their own making.... Your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.33" id="pageii.33"></a>[page 33]</span> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>28th January 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">...The feeling of loyalty in this country is happily <i>very</i> +strong, and wherever we show ourselves we are most heartily +and warmly received, and the civilities and respect shown to +us by those we visit is <i>most</i> satisfactory. I mention merely a +trifling instance to show <i>how</i> respectful they are—the Duke of +Buckingham, who is immensely proud, bringing the cup of +coffee after dinner on a waiter to Albert himself. And everywhere +my dearest Angel receives the respect and honours I +receive.</p> + +<p class="ind">Many thanks for returning the list;<sup>3</sup> it was not Albert but +<i>Tatane</i> who made the black crosses. Are not "Les 3 Mousquetaires," +by Dumas, and "Arthur," by Eugène Sue, <i>readable</i> +for <i>me</i>?</p> + +<p class="ind">Now adieu, dearest, best Uncle. Ever your truly devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: A list of French books which the Queen was proposing to read.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">STATE OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pavilion</span>, <i>10th February 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Though the Queen knows that Sir Robert Peel has already +turned his attention to the urgent necessity of doing something +to Buckingham Palace, the Queen thinks it right to recommend +this subject herself to his serious consideration. Sir Robert is +acquainted with the state of the Palace and the total want of +accommodation for our little family, which is fast growing up. +Any building must necessarily take some years before it can +be safely inhabited. If it were to be begun this autumn, it +could hardly be occupied before the spring of 1848, when the +Prince of Wales would be nearly seven, and the Princess Royal +nearly eight years old, and they cannot possibly be kept in +the nursery any longer. A provision for this purpose ought, +therefore, to be made this year. Independent of this, most +parts of the Palace are in a sad state, and will ere long require +a further outlay to render them <i>decent</i> for the occupation of +the Royal Family or any visitors the Queen may have to +receive. A room, capable of containing a larger number of +those persons whom the Queen has to invite in the course of +the season to balls, concerts, etc., than any of the present +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.34" id="pageii.34"></a>[page 34]</span> +apartments can at once hold, is much wanted. Equally so, +improved offices and servants' rooms, the want of which puts +the departments of the household to great expense yearly. +It will be for Sir Robert to consider whether it would not be +best to remedy all these deficiencies at once, and to make use +of this opportunity to render the exterior of the Palace such +as no longer to be a <i>disgrace</i> to the country, which it certainly +now is. The Queen thinks the country would be better pleased +to have the question of the Sovereign's residence in London so +finally disposed of, than to have it so repeatedly brought +before it.<sup>4</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 4: Peel replied that, as a renewal of the Income Tax was about to be proposed, it would +be better to postpone the application to Parliament till the public feeling as to the tax +had been ascertained.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">TITLE OF KING CONSORT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pavilion</span>, <i>18th February 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Sir Robert Peel's letter, and is glad +that the progress in the House of Commons was so satisfactory.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen was much hurt at Mr Borthwick's most impertinent +manner of putting the question with respect to the +title of King Consort, and much satisfied with Sir Robert's +answer.<sup>5</sup> The title of King is open assuredly to many difficulties, +and would perhaps be no <i>real</i> advantage to the Prince, +but the Queen is positive that something must at once be +done to place the Prince's position on a constitutionally +recognised footing, and to give him a title adequate to that +position.<sup>6</sup> <i>How</i> and <i>when</i>, are difficult questions....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 5: A paragraph had appeared in the <i>Morning Chronicle</i>, giving credence to a rumour that +this title was about to be conferred on the Prince, but, in answer to Mr Peter Borthwick, +Sir Robert Peel positively contradicted it.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 6:</p> + + +<h6 style="font-style: italic; margin-top: -2.5em;">Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert.</h6> + +<p class="indrightnote"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>15th February 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,--I received yesterday the accompanying note from Mr Borthwick, and in conformity +with the notice therein given, he put the question to me in the House of Commons +last evening respecting the paragraph which appeared in the <i>Morning Chronicle</i> respecting +the intention of proposing to Parliament that your Royal Highness should assume +the title of King Consort.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">I very much regret that the <i>Morning Chronicle</i> inserted that paragraph.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">The prominent place assigned to it in the newspaper, and a vague intimation that there +was some authority for it, have caused a certain degree of credit to be attached to it. It +has been copied into all the country newspapers and has given rise to a good deal of conjecture +and speculation, which it is far from desirable to excite without necessity.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">It appears to me that the editor of the <i>Morning Chronicle</i> acted most unwarrantably +in inserting such a paragraph with a pretence of some sort of authority for it.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">It has produced an impression which strongly confirms the observations which I took +the liberty of making to your Royal Highness on Sunday evening.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">I trust, however, that my decided contradiction of the paragraph will put a stop to +further surmise and discussion on the subject.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">To Mr Borthwick's note I add one of several letters addressed to me, which shows the +proneness to speculate upon constitutional novelties.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal Highness's most faithful +and obedient Servant,</p> + +<p class="note1author"><span class="sc">Robert Peel.</span></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.35" id="pageii.35"></a>[page 35]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>24th March 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Sir Robert Peel's box containing his +recommendation relative to the filling up of the vacant Bishopric +of Ely. The Queen quite approves of the present Dean of +Westminster<sup>7</sup> as the new Bishop. As Sir Robert has asked +the Queen whether she would like to see Archdeacon Wilberforce +succeed to the Deanery of Westminster in case the Dean +should accept the Bishopric, she must say that such an +arrangement would be <i>very satisfactory</i> to us, and the Queen +believes would highly please the Archdeacon. This would +again vacate, the Queen believes, a stall at Winchester, which +she would like to see filled by a person decidedly adverse to +Puseyism.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen approves of the Bishop of Lichfield<sup>8</sup> being +transferred to the See of Ely in case Doctor Turton should +decline it.</p> + +<p class="ind">It would give the Queen much pleasure to stand sponsor +to Sir Robert Peel's little grandson, and perhaps Sir Robert +would communicate this to Lady Villiers.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: Dr Thomas Turton (1780-1864), formerly Dean of Peterborough.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 8: John Lonsdale (1788-1867) was Bishop of Lichfield from 1843 till his death.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PURCHASE OF OSBORNE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>25th March 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">... I copied what you wrote me about Peel<sup>9</sup> in a letter +I wrote him, which I am sure will please him much, and a +Minister in these days <i>does</i> require a little encouragement, +for the abuse and difficulties they have to contend with are +dreadful. Peel works so hard and has so much to do, that +sometimes he says he does not know <i>how</i> he is to get through +it all!</p> + +<p class="ind">You will, I am sure, be pleased to hear that we have succeeded +in purchasing <i>Osborne</i> in the Isle of Wight,<sup>10</sup> and if +we can manage it, we shall probably run down there before +we return to Town, for three nights. It sounds so snug and +nice to have a place of <i>one's own</i>, quiet and retired, and free +from all Woods and Forests, and other charming Departments +who really are the plague of one's life.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now, dearest Uncle, adieu. Ever your truly devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 9: See Peel's reply, <i>Life of the Prince Consort</i>, chap. xiii.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 10: The purchase was suggested by Sir Robert Peel.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.36" id="pageii.36"></a>[page 36]</span> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>3rd April 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen had intended to have written to Lord Melbourne +from Osborne to thank him for his last note of the 19th, but +we were so occupied, and so delighted with <i>our new</i> and really +delightful <i>home</i>, that she hardly had time for anything; +besides which the weather was so beautiful, that we were +out almost all day. The Queen refers Lord Melbourne to +Mr Anson for particulars of the new property, which is very +extensive, as she is not at all competent to explain about +acres, etc. But she thinks it is impossible to imagine a prettier +spot—valleys and woods which would be beautiful anywhere; +but all this near the sea (the woods grow into the sea) is quite +perfection; we have a charming beach quite to ourselves. +The sea was so blue and calm that the Prince said it was like +Naples. And then we can walk about anywhere by ourselves +without being followed and mobbed, which Lord Melbourne +will easily understand is delightful. And last, not least, we +have Portsmouth and Spithead so close at hand, that we shall +be able to watch what is going on, which will please the Navy, +and be hereafter very useful for our boys.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Children are all well. The Queen has just had a lithograph +made after a little drawing which she did herself of the +three eldest, and which she will send Lord Melbourne with +some Eau de Cologne.</p> + +<p class="ind">Fanny and Lord Jocelyn dined here last night; she is +looking very well, and he seems much pleased at being in +office, and being employed.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is enjoying this fine +weather, and here concludes with the Prince's kind remembrance.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE MAYNOOTH GRANT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>15th April 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My beloved Uncle</span>,—Here we are in a great state of +agitation about one of the greatest measures ever proposed;<sup>11</sup> +I am sure poor Peel ought to be <i>blessed by</i> all Catholics for the +manly and noble way in which he stands forth to protect and +do good to poor Ireland. <span class="rightnote">RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY</span>But the bigotry, the wicked and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.37" id="pageii.37"></a>[page 37]</span> +blind passions it brings forth is quite dreadful, and I blush +for Protestantism!<sup>12</sup> A Presbyterian clergyman said very +truly, "<i>Bigotry</i> is more <i>common than shame</i>...."</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: The Bill to increase the grant to the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth was carried +by Peel in the teeth of opposition from half his party: another measure was passed to +establish colleges for purely secular teaching ("godless colleges" they were nicknamed) +in Cork, Belfast, and Galway, and affiliate them to a new Irish university.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 12: As Macaulay had said during the previous night's debate: "The Orangeman raises +his war whoop, Exeter Hall sets up its bray, Mr Macneile shudders to see more costly +cheer than ever provided for the priests of Baal at the table of the Queen, and the Protestant +operatives of Dublin call for impeachments in exceedingly bad English."</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd April 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Our Maynooth Bill is through the +second reading. I think, if you read Sir Robert's admirable +speeches, you will see how good his plan is. The <i>Catholics</i> are +quite delighted at it—full of gratitude, and behave extremely +well; but the Protestants behave shockingly, and display a +narrow-mindedness and want of sense on the subject of religion +which is quite a disgrace to the nation. The case of Austria, +France, etc., cannot be compared to this, as <i>this</i> is a <i>Protestant</i> +country, while the others are Catholic; and I think it would +never do to support a Roman Catholic Church with money +belonging to the Protestant Church. The Protestant Establishment +in Ireland must remain untouched, but let the Roman +Catholic Clergy be well and handsomely educated.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duc de Broglie<sup>13</sup> dined with us last night; his <i>travaux</i> +are going on satisfactorily; he asked when you were coming, +and said you were "<i>beaucoup Anglais et un peu Français</i>," +which is true, I think.</p> + +<p class="ind">With Albert's affectionate respects, believe me always, your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 13: Achille Charles, Duc de Broglie, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Goulburn<sup>14</sup> to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>30th April 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Goulburn submits with his humble duty to your Majesty +that several representations have been made to the Treasury +as to the convenience which the public would derive from the +circulation of silver threepenny-pieces. Such pieces are lawfully +current under your Majesty's Proclamation of the 5th +July 1838. But as such pieces have been hitherto reserved +as your Majesty's Maundy money, and as such especially +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.38" id="pageii.38"></a>[page 38]</span> +belong to your Majesty's service, Mr Goulburn considers that +a coinage of them for general use could not take place without +a particular signification of your Majesty's pleasure.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Goulburn therefore humbly submits for your Majesty's +gracious consideration the signification of your Majesty's +pleasure as to the issue of such a coinage.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 14: Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PUBLIC EXECUTIONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>13th May 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to lay before +your Majesty the enclosed Memorial.</p> + +<p class="ind">The proceedings in Newgate on the occasion of the last +condemned sermon and on the morning of the execution have +been fully investigated;<sup>15</sup> and the report established the +necessity of legislative interference to prevent the recurrence +of scenes so disgraceful and demoralising. The policy of +depriving capital executions of their present publicity is well +worthy of careful revision; and Sir James Graham, in obedience +to your Majesty's desire, will bring the subject under +the notice of his colleagues. He is disposed to think that the +sentence might be carried into execution in the presence of a +Jury to be summoned by the Sheriff with good effect; and +that the great body of idle spectators might be excluded, without +diminishing the salutary terror and awful warning which +this extreme punishment is intended to produce on the public +mind. In dealing, however, with a matter in which the community +has so deep an interest, it is prudent not to violate +public opinion, and caution is necessary before a change of +the long-established usage is proposed.<sup>16</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir James Graham deeply regrets the part taken by the +newspapers in seeking to indulge the general curiosity with +respect to all details of the conduct, habits, and demeanour +of these wretched criminals in their last moments; but he +fears that the license of the Press cannot be checked by any +act of authority; if the public be excluded from witnessing +the executions, they will probably become still more anxious +to obtain a printed report of all that has taken place; and +Sir James Graham is so thoroughly convinced that the punishment +of death in certain cases must be maintained, that he +would consider any course inexpedient which was likely to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.39" id="pageii.39"></a>[page 39]</span> +lead the public to desire the remission of capital executions in +all cases without exception....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">J. R. G. Graham</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 15: The attraction these executions had for the general public was at this time a great +scandal.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 16: Public executions were abolished in 1868.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A BIRTHDAY LETTER</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>21st May 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest and most beloved Victoria</span>,—Receive my +sincerest and most heartfelt good wishes on the happy reappearance +of your birthday. I need not dwell on my sentiments +of devotion to you; they began with <i>your life, and +will only end with mine</i>. The only claim I make is to be +remembered with some little affection. Thank heaven, I have +little to wish you, than that your present happiness may not +be disturbed, and that those who are dear to you may be +preserved for your happiness.</p> + +<p class="ind">My gift is Charlotte's portrait. <span class="rightnote">THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE</span>The face is extremely like, +and the likest that exists; the hair is a little too fair, it had +become also darker. I take this opportunity to repeat that +Charlotte was a noble-minded and highly gifted creature. +She was nervous, as all the family have been; she could be +violent, but then she was full of repentance for it, and her +disposition <i>highly generous</i> and <i>susceptible</i> of <i>great +devotion</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am the more bound to say this, as I understood that you +had some notion that she had been <i>very imperious</i>, and not +mistress of her temper. Before her marriage some people by +dint of flattery had tried to give her masculine tastes; and in +short had pushed her to become one day a sort of Queen +Elizabeth. These sentiments were already a little modified +before her marriage. But she was particularly determined to +be a <i>good</i> and <i>obedient</i> wife; some of her friends were anxious +she should <i>not</i>; amongst these Madame de Flahaut must be +mentioned <i>en première ligne</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">This became even a subject which severed the intimacy between +them. Madame de Flahaut, much older than Charlotte, +and of a sour and determined character, had gained an influence +which partook on Charlotte's part a little of fear. She was +afraid of her, but when once supported took courage.</p> + +<p class="ind">People were much struck on the 2nd of May 1816 at Carlton +House with the clearness and firmness with which she pronounced +"<i>and obey</i>," etc., as there had been a <i>general belief</i> +that it would be <i>for the husband</i> to give <i>these promises</i>. The +Regent put me particularly on my guard, and said, "If you +don't resist she will govern you with a high hand." Your +own experience has convinced you that real affection changes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.40" id="pageii.40"></a>[page 40]</span> +many sentiments that may have been implanted into the +mind of a young girl. With Charlotte it was the more meritorious, +as from a very early period of her life she was considered +as the heiress of the Crown; the Whigs flattered her +extremely, and later, when she got by my intervention reconciled +to the Tories, they also made great efforts to please her.</p> + +<p class="ind">Her understanding was extremely good; she knew everybody, +and I even afterwards found her judgment generally +extremely correct. <i>She had read a great deal and knew well +what she had read.</i> Generous she was almost <i>too much</i>, and her +<i>devotion</i> was quite affecting, from a character so much pushed +to be selfish and imperious.</p> + +<p class="ind">I will here end my souvenir of poor dear Charlotte, but I +thought that the subject could not but be interesting to you. +Her constancy in wishing to marry me, which she maintained +under difficulties of every description, has been the foundation +of all that touched the family afterwards. You know, I +believe, that your poor father was the chief promoter, though +also the Yorks were; but our correspondence from 1814 till +1816 was entirely carried on through his kind intervention; +it would otherwise have been impossible, as she was really +treated as a sort of prisoner. Grant always to that good and +generous Charlotte, who sleeps already with her beautiful +little boy so long, where all will go to, an affectionate remembrance, +and believe me she deserves it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Forgive my long letter, and see in it, what it really is, a +token of the great affection I have for you. Ever, my dearest +Victoria, your devoted Uncle.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>12th June 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen understands that the Deanery of Worcester has +become vacant by some new arrangement. Believing that +Sir Robert's brother, Mr John Peel, has a fair claim to such +preferment, but being afraid that Sir Robert would perhaps +hesitate to recommend him on account of his near relationship +to him, the Queen wishes to offer herself this Deanery through +Sir Robert to his brother.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>12th June 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, +hastens to acknowledge your Majesty's most kind and considerate +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.41" id="pageii.41"></a>[page 41]</span> +communication, and to express his grateful acknowledgments +for it.</p> + +<p class="ind">He must, in justice to his brother, assure your Majesty that +he never has expressed, and probably never would express, a +wish to Sir Robert Peel on the subject of preferment in the +Church.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel might have hesitated to bring the name of +one so nearly connected with him under the notice of your +Majesty, but as his brother was highly distinguished in his +academical career at Oxford, and is greatly respected for the +discharge of every professional duty, Sir Robert Peel could not +feel himself justified in offering an impediment to the fulfilment +of your Majesty's gracious intentions in his favour, if, +when the vacancy shall have actually occurred in the Deanery +of Worcester, no superior claim should be preferred.<sup>17</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 17: Dean Peel lived till 1875.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AUSTRALIAN WINE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>10th July 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, submits to your +Majesty a despatch just received from the Governor of South +Australia, enclosing the letter of a settler in the province, +Mr Walter Duffield, who is anxious to be allowed the honour of +offering for your Majesty's acceptance a case of the first wine +which has been made in the colony.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley will not venture to answer for the quality of +the vintage; but as the wine has been sent over with a loyal +and dutiful feeling, and the importer, as well as the colonists +in general, might feel hurt by a refusal of his humble offering, +he ventures to hope that he may be permitted to signify, +through the Governor, your Majesty's gracious acceptance of +the first sample of a manufacture which, if successful, may add +greatly to the resources of this young but now thriving colony.</p> + +<p class="ind">The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most +dutiful Servant and Subject,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Stanley</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KING OF HOLLAND</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>29th July 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Accept my best thanks for your very +kind little note of the 26th. As Albert writes to you about the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.42" id="pageii.42"></a>[page 42]</span> +King of Holland's visit<sup>18</sup> I will say but little, except that it +really went off wonderfully well in our little house. We took +him a sail in the <i>Victoria and Albert</i> on Saturday, which he +admired amazingly, and after luncheon he went away, Albert +taking him over to Gosport. He intends, I believe, to come +here one morning for luncheon to take leave. He is grown old, +and has lost all his front teeth, but he is as talkative and lively +as he used to be, and seems very happy to be in England again. +He was very anxious that we should pay him a visit this year, +but was quite satisfied when we told him that this year it was +impossible, but that we hoped some other time to do so. He +was much struck at seeing me now independent and unembarrassed, +and talking; as when he was here in 1836<sup>19</sup> I +was extremely crushed and kept under and hardly dared say +a word, so that he was quite astonished. He thought me +grown. Believe me, always, dearest Uncle, your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: This visit lasted ten days, and included a visit to Goodwood races and a review of the +Household troops in Hyde Park. His Majesty was also appointed a Field-Marshal.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 19: <i>Ante</i>, <a href="../../20023/20023-h/20023-h.htm#pagei.47" style="font-weight: normal;">vol. i. p. 47</a>. He was then Prince of Orange, and succeeded his father, who +abdicated in his favour in 1840.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>31st July 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen thanks Lord Melbourne very much for his last +kind letter of the 11th, by which she was truly rejoiced to see +he was better. We are comfortably and peacefully established +here since the 19th, and derive the greatest benefit, pleasure, +and satisfaction from our little possession here. The dear +Prince is constantly occupied in directing the many necessary +improvements which are to be made, and in watching our new +house, which is a constant interest and amusement. We are +most anxiously waiting for the conclusion of the Session that +we may set off on our much-wished-for journey to Germany. +The Queen is extremely sorry to leave England without seeing +Lord Melbourne, and without having seen him all this season; +but something or other always prevented us from seeing Lord +Melbourne each time we hoped to do so. We only return the +night before the Prorogation and embark that same day. We +have the children here. We went to the Undercliff—Ventnor, +Bonchurch, etc.—on Monday, and were much delighted with +all we saw. We had a visit from the King of Holland last +week, who is grown old, but otherwise just the same as he used +to be.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.43" id="pageii.43"></a>[page 43]</span> + +<p class="ind">The Queen joins with Lord Melbourne in unfeigned satisfaction +at the success of the Irish measures, after so much +factious opposition. Lord Grey's death<sup>20</sup> will have shocked +Lord Melbourne, as it has us. Poor Lord Dunmore's death is +a very shocking event. The Prince wishes to be most kindly +remembered to Lord Melbourne.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 20: Charles, second Earl Grey, had been Prime Minister, 1830-1834.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SOVEREIGN'S ABSENCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>6th August 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and begs leave to acquaint your Majesty that in the course of +a long speech made by Lord John Russell last night, reviewing +the policy of the Government and the proceedings of the +Session, Lord John expressed himself strongly on the subject +of your Majesty's absence from the country, without provision +made for the exercise of the Royal authority by the appointment +of Lords Justices.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel thinks it very probable that a motion will be +made upon the subject in the course of the next Session—particularly +in the event of any occurrence during your +Majesty's absence, which might cause public inconvenience +from the want of immediate access to the Royal authority, or +compel any assumption of power on the part of your Majesty's +servants of a questionable character.</p> + +<p class="ind">The present Law Officers of the Crown were rather startled +at the intention of departing from the precedent of George IV.'s +reign, on seeing the legal opinions of their predecessors; they +did not differ from the <i>legal</i> doctrines laid down by them, but +were not very well satisfied on the point of discretion and +policy.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel feels it to be his duty to state to your +Majesty what has passed on this subject, and to apprize your +Majesty of the possibility of a question being hereafter raised +in Parliament upon it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel thinks that in the case of a short absence, +and a distance not precluding easy and rapid communication +with your Majesty, the appointment of Lords Justices may be +dispensed with; but he is humbly of opinion that were the +distance greater or the period of absence longer than that +contemplated by your Majesty, the reasons for the nomination +of Lords Justices would preponderate.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.44" id="pageii.44"></a>[page 44]</span> + +<p class="ind">Should the subject be again mentioned in Parliament and +a direct question be put upon it, Sir Robert Peel will, of +course, assume the entire responsibility for the non-appointment +of Lords Justices; vindicating the departure from the +precedent of George IV. on the ground of the shorter period +of absence and the more easy means of communication.<sup>21</sup>...</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 21: The Queen was accompanied by a Secretary of State (Lord Aberdeen), so that an act +of State could be performed as well abroad as at home; see <i>Life of the Prince Consort</i>, +vol. i. p. 272.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">VISIT TO THE CHÂTEAU D'EU</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Château d'Eu</span>, <i>8th September 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Peel</span>,—We left Antwerp very early yesterday +morning, and anchored for a few hours off Flushing.<sup>22</sup> We +passing down the Channel during the night, and as the weather +was perfectly bright and fine, found ourselves off Tréport +before nine o'clock this morning. The King came off to the +yacht, and took the Queen in his barge to land. I need not say +how joyfully she was received by all the Royal Family.</p> + +<p class="ind">Although I shall have opportunities, both this evening and +to-morrow morning, of speaking again with the King and +Guizot, I have already discussed several subjects with each of +them; and as the Queen particularly desires to send a messenger +this evening, I will give you some notion of what has +passed between us.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="rightnote">THE SPANISH MARRIAGES</span>I think the marriage of the Queen of Spain is the subject on +which the greatest interest is felt at this moment. It was the +first introduced, both by the King and Guizot, and treated by +both in the same manner. They said, that having promised +to support the King of Naples, they were bound not to abandon +the Count de Trapani, so long as there was a chance of his being +successful in his suit. I said in answer to their desire, that we +would assist this arrangement, that we had no objection to +Count Trapani, and that we would take no part against him; +but unless it should be the decided wish of the Spanish Government +and people, we could give no support to the marriage, +as we were honestly of opinion that it was not desired in Spain, +and that we saw nothing in the proposal to call for our support +under these circumstances. Both the King and Guizot said +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.45" id="pageii.45"></a>[page 45]</span> +they had no objection to the Duke of Saville<sup>23</sup> (Don Enrique), +and that if it should be found that Count Trapani was impossible, +they would willingly support him.</p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to the Infanta, they both declared in the most +positive and explicit manner, that <i>until the Queen was married +and had children</i>, they should consider the Infanta precisely +as her sister, and that any marriage with a French Prince +would be entirely out of the question. The King said he did +not wish that his son should have the prospect of being on the +throne of Spain; but that if the Queen had children, by whom +the succession would be secured, he did not engage to preclude +himself from the possibility of profiting by the great inheritance +which the Infanta would bring his son. All this, +however, was uncertain, and would require time at all events +to accomplish; for I distinctly understood, that it was not only +a marriage and a child, but <i>children, that were necessary to +secure the succession</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I thought this was as much as we could desire at present, and +that the policy of a marriage with a French Prince might safely +be left to be considered whenever the contingency contemplated +should arrive. Many things may happen, both in +France and Spain, in the course of a few years to affect this +question in a manner not now apparent.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Aberdeen</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: Parliament was prorogued on the 9th of August, and the Queen and Prince sailed +in the evening for Antwerp in the Royal yacht. Sir Theodore Martin gives a very full +description of the visit to Coburg. The Queen was especially delighted with the Rosenau +and Reinhardtsbrunn. On the morning of the 8th of September the yacht, which had left +the Scheldt on the previous evening, arrived at Tréport, and a second visit was paid to +the King and Queen of the French at the Château d'Eu.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 23: Younger son of Don Francisco de Paula, and first cousin to Queen Isabella, both +through his father and his mother.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CHURCH APPOINTMENTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>15th September 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs +leave to acquaint your Majesty that there remains the sum of +£700 to be applied in the current year to the grant of Civil +List Pensions.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel humbly recommends to your Majesty that +another sum of £200 should be offered to Mr Tennyson, a poet +of whose powers of imagination and expression many competent +judges think most highly.</p> + +<p class="ind">He was brought under the notice of Sir Robert Peel by +Mr Hallam. His pecuniary circumstances are far from being +prosperous.</p> + +<p class="ind">There is a vacancy in the Deanery of Lincoln, but the preferment +is less eligible from there being no residence, and the +necessity for building one at the immediate expense of the new +Dean.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.46" id="pageii.46"></a>[page 46]</span> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel is inclined to recommend to your Majesty +that an offer of this preferment should be made to Mr Ward, +the Rector of St James's.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should Mr Ward decline, there is a clergyman of the name +of Maurice,<sup>24</sup> of whom the Archbishop says: "Of unbeneficed +London clergy there is no one, I believe, who is so much distinguished +by his learning and literary talent as the Rev. +Frederick Maurice, Chaplain of St Guy's Hospital. His +private character is equally estimable."</p> + +<p class="ind">Should Mr Ward decline<sup>25</sup> the Deanery it might, should your +Majesty approve of it, be offered to Mr Maurice. The Archbishop +says that the appointment of Mr Maurice would be +very gratifying to the <i>King of Prussia</i>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 24: Frederick Denison Maurice (1805-1872), the friend of Kingsley, afterwards Chaplain +of St. Peter's, Vere Street.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 25: Mr Ward accepted the Deanery.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St Cloud</span>, <i>10th October 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—... All you say about our dear +Albert, whom I love like my own child, is perfectly true. The +attacks, however unjust, have but one advantage, that of +showing the points the enemy thinks <i>weakest</i> and best calculated +to hurt. This, being the case, Anson, without boring A. +with <i>daily</i> accounts which in the end become very irksome, +should pay attention to these very points, and contribute to +avoid what may be turned to account by the enemy. To hope +to <i>escape</i> censure and calumny is next to impossible, but whatever +is considered by the enemy as a fit subject for attack is +better modified or avoided. The dealings with artists, for instance, +require great prudence; they are acquainted with all +classes of society, and for that very reason dangerous; they are +hardly <i>ever satisfied</i>, and when you have too much to do with +them, you are sure to have <i>des ennuis</i>.... Your devoted +Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Stanley.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD METCALFE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>2nd November 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has read with great concern Lord Stanley's letter +of the 1st November. From private information she had been +led to expect that Lord Metcalfe would not be able to continue +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.47" id="pageii.47"></a>[page 47]</span> +at his irksome post.<sup>26</sup> He will be an immense loss, and the +selection of a successor will be most difficult. The Queen hopes +that there will not be too great a delay in making the new +appointment, as experience has shown that nothing was more +detrimental to the good government of Canada than the last +interregnum after Sir Charles Bagot's death; it would certainly +likewise be desirable that Lord Metcalfe should be able +personally to make over his Government to his successor, +whom he could verbally better put in possession of the peculiarities +of his position than any instructions could do. It +strikes the Queen to be of the <i>greatest importance</i>, that the +judicious system pursued by Lord Metcalfe (and which, after +a long continuation of toil and adversities, only now just +begins to show its effect) should be followed up by his successor.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen knows nobody who would be as fit for the +appointment as Lord Elgin, who seems to have given great +satisfaction in Jamaica, where he has already succeeded Lord +Metcalfe, whose original appointment there had <i>likewise</i> taken +place under circumstances of great difficulty, which his prudence +and firmness finally overcame.<sup>27</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 26: He retired from the Governor-Generalship of Canada through ill-health.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 27: Lord Stanley, in reply, submitted a private letter from Lord Elgin, expressing a wish +to return home; Earl Cathcart was provisionally appointed Governor-General.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>28th November 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is very sorry to hear that Sir Robert Peel apprehends +further differences of opinion in the Cabinet, at a +moment of impending calamity; it is more than ever necessary +that the Government should be strong and united.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen thinks the time is come when a removal of the +restrictions upon the importation of food cannot be successfully +resisted. Should this be Sir Robert's own opinion, the +Queen very much hopes that none of his colleagues will prevent +him from doing what it is <i>right</i> to do.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CORN LAWS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>4th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs +leave to acquaint your Majesty that a leading paragraph in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.48" id="pageii.48"></a>[page 48]</span> +<i>Times</i> of to-day, asserting that your Majesty's servants had +unanimously agreed to an immediate and total repeal of the +Corn Laws, is quite without foundation.<sup>28</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 28: See <i>Memoirs of the Life of Henry Reeve</i>, vol. i. p. 175, for Lord Dufferin's refutation +of the story that Sidney Herbert confided the secret to Mrs Norton, and that she sold it to +the <i>Times</i>. The story has obtained a wide currency through Mr Meredith's <i>Diana of the +Crossways</i>. Lord Stanmore, in his <i>Life of Sidney Herbert</i>, substantially attributes the +communication to Lord Aberdeen, but does not give the details.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i><sup>29</sup></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>5th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Friday evening.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and will wait upon your Majesty to-morrow evening, leaving +London by the half-past twelve train.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel will avail himself of your Majesty's kind +proposal to remain at Osborne until Monday morning.</p> + +<p class="ind">He will come to Osborne with a heart full of gratitude and +devotion to your Majesty, but with a strong conviction (all +the grounds for which he will, with your Majesty's permission, +explain to your Majesty) that in the present state of affairs, he +can render more service to your Majesty and to the country in +a private than in a public station.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 29: Peel reported to the Queen the Cabinet discussions on the Corn Law question. The +Queen wrote that the news caused her much uneasiness, and that she felt certain that +her Minister would not leave her at a moment of such difficulty, and when a crisis was +impending.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CABINET DISSENSIONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>7th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">On receiving the preceding letter<sup>30</sup> ... we were, of course, +in great consternation. Yesterday Sir Robert Peel arrived +here and explained the condition of affairs.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 30: From Sir Robert Peel, 5th December, <i>ante.</i></p> + + +<p class="ind"><span class="rightnote">INTERVIEW WITH PEEL</span> On 1st November he had called his Cabinet, and placed +before its members the reports of the Irish Commissioners, Dr +Buckland, Dr Playfair and Dr Lindley, on the condition of the +potato crop, which was to the effect that the half of the potatoes +were ruined by the rot, and that no one could guarantee +the remainder. Belgium, Holland, Sweden, and Denmark, in +which states the potato disease had likewise deprived the +poorer class of its usual food, have immediately taken energetic +means, and have opened the harbours, bought corn, and provided +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.49" id="pageii.49"></a>[page 49]</span> +for the case of a rise of prices. Sir Robert proposed the +same thing for England, and, by opening the ports, a preparation +for the abolition of the Corn Laws. His colleagues +refused, and of the whole Cabinet only Lord Aberdeen, Sir +James Graham, and Mr Sidney Herbert voted with him. Sir +Robert hoped that in time the opinions of the others would +change, and therefore postponed a final decision. In the +meanwhile the agitation of the Anti-Corn Law League began; +in every town addresses were voted, meetings were held, +the <i>Times</i>—barometer of public feeling—became suddenly +<i>violently</i> Anti-Corn Law, the meetings of the Cabinet roused +attention, a general panic seized on the mass of the public. +Sir Robert called anew his Cabinet. In the midst of their +deliberation Lord John Russell issues from Edinburgh an +address to the City of London.<sup>31</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 31: Declaring for the Repeal of the Corn Laws.</p> + + +<p class="ind">The whole country cries out: the Corn Laws are doomed.</p> + +<p class="ind">Thereon Sir Robert declared to his Cabinet that nothing but +unanimity could save the cause, and pressed for a decision.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Buccleuch and Lord Stanley declared they +could not take a part in a measure abolishing the Corn Laws, +and would therefore have to resign. The other members, including +the Duke of Wellington, showed themselves ready to +support Sir Robert, yet, as the latter says, "apparently not +willingly and against their feelings." Thereupon Sir Robert +resolved to lay down his office as Minister.</p> + +<p class="ind">When he arrived here he was visibly much moved, and said +to me, that it was one of the most painful moments of his life +to separate himself from us, "but it is necessary, and if I have +erred it was from loyalty and too great an anxiety not to leave +Her Majesty in a moment of such great difficulty. I ought to +have gone when I was first left by my colleagues in a minority +in my own Cabinet. I was anxious, however, to try my +utmost, but it is impossible to retrieve lost time. As soon as I +saw Lord John's letter I felt that the ground was slipping away +from under me, and that whatever I might now propose would +appear as dictated by the Opposition, as taking Lord John's +measure. On the 1st of November the whole country was +prepared for the thing; there had been no agitation, everybody +looking to the Government, as soon as they saw this +wavering and hesitating, the country decided for itself, and +Lord John has the merit, owing to his most dexterous move +and our want of unanimity."</p> + +<p class="ind">On my observing that Sir Robert has a majority of one +hundred in the House of Commons, and asking whether it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.50" id="pageii.50"></a>[page 50]</span> +was not possible for him to continue the Government, he +said:—</p> + +<p class="ind">"The Duke of Buccleuch will carry half Scotland with him, +and Lord Stanley, leading the Protectionists in the House of +Lords, would lead to great and immediate defections even in +Her Majesty's household. The Duchess of Buccleuch, Lord +Hardwicke, Lord Exeter, Lord Rivers, Lord Beverley, etc., +would resign, and we should not be able to find successors; +in the House of Commons I am sure I should be beat, the +Tories, agriculturists, etc., in rage would turn round upon me +and be joined by the Whigs and Radicals, who would say, +'This is <i>our</i> measure and we will not allow you to carry it.' +It is better that I should go now, when <i>nobody has committed +himself</i> in the heat of party contest, when no factions have been +formed, no imprudent declarations been made; it is better for +Her Majesty and for the country that it should be so."</p> + +<p class="ind">After we had examined what possibilities were open for the +Crown, the conclusion was come to that Lord John was the +only man who could be charged with forming a Cabinet. Lord +Stanley, with the aristocracy as his base, would bring about an +insurrection [or riots], and the ground on which one would +have to fight would be this: to want to force the mass of +the people, amidst their great poverty, to pay for their bread +a high price, in favour of the landlords.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is a matter of the utmost importance not to place the +House of Lords into direct antagonism with the Commons +and with the masses of the people. Sir Robert says very +correctly:—</p> + +<p class="ind">"I am afraid of other interests getting damaged in the +struggle about the Corn Laws; already the system of promotion +in the Army, the Game Laws, the Church, are getting +attacked with the aid of the league."</p> + +<p class="ind">After Victoria had in consequence [of the foregoing] decided +in favour of Lord John, and asked Sir Robert: "But +how is it possible for him to govern with so exceedingly small a +minority?" Sir Robert said: "He will have difficulties and +perhaps did not consider what he was doing when he wrote that +letter; but <i>I will support him</i>. I feel it my duty to your +Majesty not to leave you without a Government. Even if +Lord John goes to the full extent of his declaration in that +letter (which I think goes too far), I will support him in Parliament +and use all my influence with the House of Lords to prevent +their impeding his progress. I will do more, if he likes +it. I will say that the increase of the estimates which will +become necessary are my work, and I alone am responsible +for it."</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.51" id="pageii.51"></a>[page 51]</span> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert intends to give me a memorandum in which he +is to make this promise in writing.</p> + +<p class="ind">He was greatly moved, and said it was not "the loss of +power (for I hate power) nor of office," which was nothing but +a plague for him, but "the breaking up of those relations in +which he stood to the Queen and me, and the loss of our +society," which was for him a loss, for which there was no +equivalent; we might, however, rely on his being always ready +to serve us, in what manner and in what place it might be. +Lord Aberdeen is said to feel the same, and very deeply so; +and on our side the loss of two so estimable men, who possess +our whole and perfect confidence in public as well as in private +affairs, and have always proved themselves true friends, leaves +<i>a great gap</i>.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Victoria to Viscount Melbourne.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD MELBOURNE INFORMED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>7th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel has informed the Queen that in consequence +of differences prevailing in the Cabinet, he is very reluctantly +compelled to solicit from the Queen the acceptance of his +resignation, which she has as reluctantly accepted.</p> + +<p class="ind">From the Queen's unabated confidence in Lord Melbourne, +her first impulse was to request his immediate attendance here +that she might have the benefit of his assistance and advice, +but on reflection the Queen does not think herself justified, in +the present state of Lord Melbourne's health, to ask him to +make the sacrifice which the return to his former position of +Prime Minister would, she fears, impose upon him.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is this consideration, and this <i>alone</i>, that has induced the +Queen to address to Lord John Russell the letter of which +she sends a copy. The Queen hopes, however, that Lord +Melbourne will not withhold from her new Government his +advice, which would be so valuable to her.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is of the <i>utmost importance</i> that the whole of this communication +should be kept a <i>most profound secret</i> until the +Queen has seen Lord John Russell.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD MELBOURNE'S ATTITUDE</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>8th December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert helped us in the composition of the letters to +Lord John and to Lord Melbourne. We considered it necessary +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.52" id="pageii.52"></a>[page 52]</span> +to write to the latter, in consideration of the confidential +position which he formerly enjoyed.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel has not <i>resigned</i>, thinking it a matter of +great strength for the Sovereign to keep his ministry until a +new one can be got.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brocket Hall</span>, <i>9th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty; +he has just received your Majesty's letter of the 7th inst., +which, of course, has astonished him by the magnitude of the +event which it announces, although something of this sort has +been long pending and to be expected. Lord Melbourne returns +your Majesty many thanks for this communication, and +more for your Majesty's great kindness and consideration for +him personally at the present moment. He is better, but so +long a journey would still not have been convenient to him, +and he has such a horror of the sea, that a voyage from Southampton +to Cowes or from Portsmouth to Ryde seems to him in +prospect as formidable as a voyage across the Atlantic.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne will strictly observe your Majesty's injunction +of secrecy.</p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to the kind wishes about office which your +Majesty is pleased to express, Lord Melbourne will of course +give to your Majesty's new Government, if formed under Lord +John Russell, all the support in his power, but as to taking +office, he fears that he would find some difficulty. He would +be very unwilling to come in pledged to a total and immediate +reform of the Corn Law, and he also strongly feels the difficulty +which has in fact compelled Sir Robert Peel to retire, viz. +the difficulty of carrying on the Government upon the principle +of upholding and maintaining the present law with respect +to corn.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne again thanks your Majesty for your great +and considerate kindness.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PEEL'S ATTITUDE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>10th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and influenced by no other motive than the desire to contribute +if possible to the relief of your Majesty from embarrassment, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.53" id="pageii.53"></a>[page 53]</span> +and the protection of the public interests from injury, is induced +to make this confidential communication to your Majesty +explanatory of his position and intentions with regard to the +great question which is now agitating the public mind.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty can, if you think fit, make this communication +known to the Minister who, as successor to Sir Robert Peel, +may be honoured by your Majesty's confidence.</p> + +<p class="ind">On the first day of November last Sir Robert Peel advised +his colleagues, on account of the alarming accounts from Ireland +and many districts of Great Britain as to the failure of the +potato crop from disease, and for the purpose of guarding +against contingencies which in his opinion were not improbable, +humbly to recommend to your Majesty that the duties on the +import of foreign grain should be suspended for a limited period +either by Order in Council, or by Legislative Enactment, +Parliament in either case being summoned without delay.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel foresaw that this suspension, fully justified +by the tenor of the reports to which he has referred, would +compel, during the interval of suspension, the reconsideration +of the Corn Laws.</p> + +<p class="ind">If the opinions of his colleagues had been in concurrence +with his own, he was fully prepared to take the responsibility +of suspension, and of the necessary consequence of suspension, +a comprehensive review of the laws imposing restrictions on +the import of foreign grain and other articles of food, with a +view to their gradual diminution and ultimate removal. He +was disposed to recommend that any new laws to be enacted +should contain within themselves the principle of gradual +and ultimate removal.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel is prepared to support in a private capacity +measures which may be in general conformity with those which +he advised as a Minister.</p> + +<p class="ind">It would be unbecoming in Sir Robert Peel to make any +reference to the details of such measures.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty has been good enough to inform him that it +is your intention to propose to Lord John Russell to undertake +the formation of a Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">The principle on which Sir Robert Peel was prepared to recommend +the reconsideration of the laws affecting the import +of the main articles of food, was in general accordance with that +referred to in the concluding paragraph of Lord John Russell's +letter to the electors of the City of London.<sup>32</sup></p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.54" id="pageii.54"></a>[page 54]</span> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel wished to accompany the removal of restrictions +on the admission of such articles, with relief to the +land from such charges as are unduly onerous, and with such +other provisions as in the terms of Lord John Russell's letter +"caution and even scrupulous forbearance may suggest."</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel will support measures founded on that +general principle, and will exercise any influence he may possess +to promote their success.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel feels it to be his duty to add, that should +your Majesty's servants, after consideration of the heavy demands +upon the Army of this country for colonial service, of +our relations with the United States, and of the bearing which +steam navigation may have upon maritime warfare, and the +defence of the country, deem it advisable to propose an addition +to the Army, and increased naval and military estimates, +Sir Robert Peel will support the proposal, will do all that he +can to prevent it from being considered as indicative of hostile +or altered feeling towards France, and will assume for the +increase in question any degree of responsibility present or +retrospective which can fairly attach to him.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Robert Peel</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 32: That paragraph urged that, with a revision of taxation to make the arrangement more +equitable, and the safeguards suggested by caution and scrupulous forbearance, restrictions +on the admission of the main articles of food and clothing used by the mass of the +people should be removed.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD STANLEY RESIGNS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>11th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">... Lord Stanley humbly hopes that he may be permitted +to avail himself of this opportunity to express to your Majesty +the deep regret and pain with which he has felt himself compelled +to dissent from the advice intended to have been +tendered to your Majesty on the subject of the Corn Laws. He +begs to assure your Majesty that he would have shrunk from +making no personal sacrifice, short of that of principle, for the +purpose of avoiding the inconvenience to your Majesty and to +the country inseparable from any change of Administration; +but being unconvinced of the necessity of a change of policy +involving an abandonment of opinions formerly maintained, +and expectations held out to political supporters, he felt that +the real interests of your Majesty's service could not be promoted +by the loss of personal character which the sacrifice of +his own convictions would necessarily have involved; and +that he might far more usefully serve your Majesty and the +country out of office, than as the official advocate of a policy +which he could not sincerely approve. Lord Stanley begs to +assure your Majesty that it will be his earnest endeavour to +allay, as far as may lie in his power, the excitement which he +cannot but foresee as the consequence of the contemplated +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.55" id="pageii.55"></a>[page 55]</span> +change of policy; and he ventures to indulge the hope that +this long trespass upon your Majesty's much occupied time may +find a sufficient apology in the deep anxiety which he feels +that his regret at being compelled not only to retire from your +Majesty's service, but also to take a step which he is aware +may have had some influence on the course finally adopted by +Sir Robert Peel, may not be still farther increased by the +apprehension of having, in the performance of a most painful +duty, incurred your Majesty's displeasure. All which is +humbly submitted by your Majesty's most dutiful Servant +and Subject,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Stanley</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Stanley.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>12th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen, of course, <i>much regrets</i> that Lord Stanley could +not agree in the opinions of Sir Robert Peel upon a subject of +such importance to the country. However, Lord Stanley may +rest assured that the Queen gives full credit to the disinterested +motives which guided Lord Stanley's conduct.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duke of Wellington.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>12th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to inform the Duke of Wellington that, in +consequence of Sir Robert Peel's having declared to her his +inability to carry on any longer the Government, she has sent +for Lord John Russell, who is not able at present to state +whether he can form an Administration, and is gone to Town in +order to consult his friends. Whatever the result of his enquiries +may be, the Queen has a <i>strong</i> desire to see the Duke +of Wellington remain at the head of her Army. The Queen +appeals to the Duke's so often proved loyalty and attachment +to her person, in asking him to give her this assurance. The +Duke will thereby render the greatest service to the country +and to her own person.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DUKE'S ADVICE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Strathfieldsaye</span>, <i>12th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="rindent1">(<i>11 at night.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble +duty to your Majesty; he has just now received your Majesty's +commands from Osborne of this day's date.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.56" id="pageii.56"></a>[page 56]</span> + +<p class="ind">He humbly submits to your Majesty that the duties of the +Commander-in-Chief of your Majesty's Land Forces places +him in constant confidential relations with all your Majesty's +Ministers, and particularly with the one filling the office of +First Lord of the Treasury.</p> + +<p class="ind">Under these circumstances he submits to your Majesty the +counsel, that your Majesty would be graciously pleased to +consult the nobleman or gentleman who should be your +Majesty's first Minister, before any other step should be taken +upon the subject. He might think that he had reason to +complain if he should find that it was arranged that the Duke +of Wellington should continue to fill the office of Commander-in-Chief, +and such impression might have an influence upon +his future relations with that office.</p> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington believes that Lord +John Russell and all your Majesty's former Ministers were +aware, that during the whole period of the time during which +Lord Hill was the General Commanding-in-Chief your Majesty's +Forces, the professional opinion and services of Field-Marshal +the Duke of Wellington were at all times at the command and +disposition of your Majesty's servants, and were given whenever +required.</p> + +<p class="ind">He happened to be at that time in political opposition to the +Government in the House of Parliament, of which he was a +member; but that circumstance made no difference.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is impossible for the Duke of Wellington to form a political +connection with Lord John Russell, or to have any relation +with the political course of the Government over which he +should preside.</p> + +<p class="ind">Such arrangement would not conciliate public confidence, be +considered creditable to either party, or be useful to the service +of your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">Nor, indeed, would the performance of the duties of the +Commander-in-Chief of the Army require that such should +exist; on the other hand, the performance of these duties +would require that the person filling the office should avoid +to belong to, or to act in concert with, a political party opposed +to the Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington has considered it his +duty to submit these considerations, in order that your Majesty +may be perfectly aware of the position in which he is about +to place himself, in case Lord John Russell should counsel your +Majesty to command Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington to +continue to hold the office of Commander-in-Chief of your +Majesty's Land Forces.</p> + +<p class="ind">He at once submits to your Majesty the assurance that he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.57" id="pageii.57"></a>[page 57]</span> +will cheerfully devote his service to your Majesty's command +upon receiving the official intimation thereof, and that he will +as usual make every effort in his power to promote your +Majesty's service.</p> + +<p class="ind">All of which is humbly submitted to your Majesty by your +Majesty's most dutiful Subject and devoted Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Wellington</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the French to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">KING LOUIS PHILIPPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St Cloud</span>, <i>le 16 Décembre 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame ma très Chère Sœur</span>,—J'ai à remercier votre +Majesté de l'excellente lettre que ma bonne Clém m'a remise +de sa part. Elle m'a été droit au cœur, et je ne saurais exprimer +à quel point j'ai été touché de vos bons voeux pour +ma famille, et de tout ce que vous me témoignez sur l'accroissement +qu'il a plû à la Providence de lui donner dans mes +<i>onze petits fils</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je me disposais à dire à votre Majesté que, quoiqu'avec un +bien vif regret, je comprenais parfaitement les motifs qui vous +portaient à remettre à une autre année, cette visite si vivement +désirée, et que j'espérais toujours trouver une compensation à +cette privation, en allant de nouveau Lui offrir en Angleterre, +l'hommage de tous les sentiments que je Lui porte, et qui +m'attachent si profondément à Elle, ainsi qu'au Prince son +Epoux, lorsque j'ai reçu la nouvelle de la démission de Sir +Robert Peel, de Lord Aberdeen et de tous leurs Collégues. +Je me flattais que ces Ministres qui s'étaient toujours si bien +entendus avec les miens pour établir entre nos deux Gouvernements, +cette heureuse <i>entente cordiale</i> qui est la base du repos +du monde et de la prospérité de nos pays, continueraient encore +longtemps à l'entretenir, et à la consolider de plus en plus. +Cet espoir est déçu!!<sup>33</sup> Il faut s'y résigner; mais je suis +empressé d'assurer votre Majesté, que quelque soit son nouveau +Ministère, celui qui m'entoure aujourd'hui, et que je désire, +et que j'espère conserver longtemps, n'omettra aucun effort +pour cultiver et maintenir cet heureux accord qu'il est si +évidemment dans notre intérêt commun de conserver intact.</p> + +<p class="ind">Dans de telles circonstances, il me devient doublement +précieux d'être uni à votre Majesté et au Prince Albert par +tant de liens, et qu'il se soit formé entre nous cet attachement +mutuel, cette affection et cette confiance, qui sont au dessus +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.58" id="pageii.58"></a>[page 58]</span> +et indépendants de toute considération politique; mais qui +pourront toujours plus ou moins exercer une influence salutaire +sur l'action et la marche de nos deux Gouvernements. Aussi, +je le dis à votre Majesté et à son Epoux avec un entier abandon, +j'ai besoin de compter sur cette assistance occasionnelle, et j'y +compte entièrement en vous demandant d'avoir la même +confiance de mon côté, et en vous répétant que cette confiance +ne sera pas plus déçue dans l'avenir, qu'elle ne l'a été dans le +passé.</p> + +<p class="ind">Votre Majesté me permettra d'offrir ici au Prince Albert +l'expression de ma vive et sincère amitié. Je la prie aussi de +recevoir celle de l'inviolable attachement avec lequel je suis, +Madame ma très chère Sœur, de votre Majesté, le bon Frère +et bien fidèle Ami,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louis Philippe R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 33: The return of Palmerston to the Foreign Office was of course dreaded by the King and +Guizot.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S ACCEPTANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>16th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord John Russell's letter of +this day's date,<sup>34</sup> and considering that it is of great importance +that no time should be lost, has immediately forwarded it to +Sir Robert Peel.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen fully understands the motives which guide Lord +John in using every effort to ensure the success of the great +measure which is impending before he undertakes to form a +Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sees from Lord John's second letter that he has +taken a copy of Sir R. Peel's letter of the 15th to her. As she +does not feel to have been authorised to allow this, the Queen +hopes that in case Sir Robert should have an objection to it +Lord John will not retain the copy.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 34: It is printed in the <i>Annual Register</i>, 1846, p. 17. Lord John considered the temporary +suspension or repeal of duties, with the prospect of their re-imposition, open to grave +objections.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">INSUPERABLE DIFFICULTIES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>18th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell returned at five this evening, and informed +the Queen that after considerable discussion, and after +a full consideration of his position, <i>he will undertake to form a +Government</i>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.59" id="pageii.59"></a>[page 59]</span> + +<p class="ind">As at present arranged, the Council is to be on Monday; +the Queen much wishing to have a parting interview with +Sir R. Peel, however painful it will be to her, wishes Sir Robert +Peel to inform her when he thinks it best to come down here.<sup>35</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 35: Lord John Russell, however, found insuperable difficulties in forming the Cabinet; +and, to quote Disraeli, "handed back with courtesy the poisoned chalice to Sir Robert."</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">GREY AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>20th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="rindent1">(<i>12 o'clock.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">We just saw Lord John Russell, who came in order to explain +why he had to give up the task of forming a Government. +He had written to all his former colleagues to join him in his +attempt, amongst others to Lord Grey, who answered, "that +he could only belong to a Government which pledged itself to +the principle of absolute free trade and abolition of all protection; +that he had his own views upon the sugar question +(as to which he advocated the admission of slave labour) and +upon the Irish question (as to which his principle was to establish +entire religious equality); that he hoped that in the +formation of a new Government no personal considerations +should stand in the way of a full attention to public Duty."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John replied that he advocated free trade, but as the +immediate question before them was the <i>Corn Laws</i>, he thought +it wiser not to complicate this by other declarations which +would produce a good deal of animosity; that the sugar +question and Ireland might be discussed in Cabinet when +circumstances required it; that he agreed entirely in the last +sentence.</p> + +<p class="ind">After this Lord Grey declared himself quite satisfied. Lord +John considered now with his colleagues the peculiar measure +to be proposed, and Mr Baring thought he could arrange a +financial scheme which would satisfy Lord Lansdowne's demands +for relief to the landed interest. They all felt it their +duty to answer the Queen's call upon them, though they very +much disliked taking office under such peculiar difficulties. +Now Lord John undertook to apportion the different offices. +He saw Lord Palmerston, and told him that the Queen had +some apprehension that his return to the Foreign Office might +cause great alarm in other countries, and particularly in France, +and that this feeling was still more strongly manifested in the +city; whether under these circumstances he would prefer +some other office—for instance, the Colonies? Lord Palmerston +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.60" id="pageii.60"></a>[page 60]</span> +declared that he was not at all anxious for office, and +should much regret that his accession should in any way +embarrass Lord John; that he was quite prepared to support +him out of office, but that his taking another department than +his former one would be a public recognition of the most unjust +accusations that had been brought against him; that he +had evinced throughout a long official life his disposition for +peace, and only in one instance broke with France;<sup>36</sup> that +that matter was gone by, and that nobody had stronger conviction +of the necessity to keep in amity with that Power than +himself. Upon this Lord John said that he could not form a +Government without him, and showed himself quite satisfied +with Lord Palmerston's declaration.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 36: In reference to affairs in Syria in 1840.</p> + + +<p class="ind">Suddenly Lord Grey, who had heard of this, cried out: +"This was an infringement of their compact"; that no <i>personal</i> +consideration should interfere with the discharge of +public duty, and that he must decline entering the Government, +as he considered Lord Palmerston's return to the Foreign Office +as fraught with danger to the peace of Europe. Lord John +could not, under these circumstances, form a Government. +He read to us a long letter from Lord Grey, written with the +intention that it should be seen by the Queen, in which Lord +Grey enters more fully into his motives, and finishes by saying +that therefore <i>he</i> was not answerable for the failure to form an +Administration.<sup>37</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 37: Lord Grey's attitude was condemned by Macaulay in a letter to a Mr Macfarlan, who +unwisely communicated it to the Press.</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord John gave the Queen a written statement<sup>38</sup> of the +causes which induced him to relinquish the Government, and +of the position he means to assume in Parliament. (He is most +anxious that Sir R. Peel should re-enter and successfully carry +his measures.)</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 38: Printed in <i>Annual Register</i>, 1846, p. 20.</p> + + +<p class="ind">The arrangements Lord John had contemplated have been—</p> + + +<table summary="Lord John Russel's proposed Cabinet" align="center" width="60%"> + <tr><td width="50%">Lord <span class="sc">Palmerston</span>,</td> <td width="50%"><i>Foreign Secretary</i>.</td></tr> + <tr><td>Lord <span class="sc">Grey</span>,</td> <td><i>Colonial Secretary</i>.</td></tr> + <tr><td>Sir <span class="sc">George Grey</span>,</td> <td><i>Home Secretary</i>.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="ind" style="margin-top: 2em;">(Sir George was anxious later to retire from Parliament, and +willing to go as Governor-General to Canada.)</p> + +<table summary="Lord John Russel's proposed Cabinet, cont." align="center" width="60%"> + <tr><td width="50%">Mr <span class="sc">Baring</span>,</td> <td width="50%"><i>Chancellor of the Exchequer</i>.</td></tr> + <tr><td>Lord <span class="sc">Clarendon</span>,</td> <td><i>President of the Board of Trade</i>.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="ind" style="margin-top: 2em;">(The Vice-Presidency was to have been offered to his brother, +Mr Villiers, but finally, by his advice, to Mr Cobden!! (Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.61" id="pageii.61"></a>[page 61]</span> +Grey wanted Mr Cobden to be in the Cabinet!!!) This Lord +John thought quite out of the question.)</p> + +<table summary="Lord John Russel's proposed Cabinet, cont." align="center" width="60%"> + <tr><td width="50%">Lord <span class="sc">Lansdowne</span>,</td> <td width="50%"><i>President of the Council</i>.</td></tr> +</table> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CHIVALROUS ATTITUDE OF PEEL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>20th December 1845</i>.</p> + +<p class="rindent1">(<i>4 o'clock</i> <span class="sc">p.m.</span>)</p> + +<p class="ind">We saw Sir Robert Peel, who had been apprised by Sir +James Graham (to whom Lord John Russell had written) of +what had passed. He was much affected, and expressed his +concern at the failure of Lord John to form a Government, +seemed hurt at Lord John's not having shown more confidence +in the integrity of his (Sir Robert Peel's) motives. He would +have supported Lord John in <i>any</i> measure which he should +have thought fit to introduce, and many would have followed +his example. He blamed the want of deference shown to the +Queen, by not answering her call with more readiness; he said +it was quite new and unconstitutional for a man to take a week +before he undertook to form a Government, and to pass that +time in discussion with other people, to whom the Sovereign +had not yet committed the task; and he had been certain it +would end so, when so many people were consulted. He in +1834 had been called from Italy, had travelled with all haste +and had gone straight to the King, had told him that he had +seen nobody, consulted nobody, but immediately kissed the +King's hand as his Minister.</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="rightnote">PEEL RESUMES OFFICE</span>He was now prepared to stand by the Queen, all other considerations +he had thrown aside, he would undertake to deal +with the difficulties, and should have to go down alone to the +House of Commons. He had written to his colleagues that he +would serve the Queen if she called upon him to do so, that he +expected them to meet him at nine o'clock that evening, and +that he would tell them what he meant to do. Those who +would not go with him, he would dismiss at once. He did not +wish to avail himself of any undue advantage, and therefore +would not advise an Order in Council, but go at once to Parliament, +laying his measure before it: "Reject it, if you please; +there it is!"</p> + +<p class="ind">He called the crisis an alarming one, which determination +alone could overcome.</p> + +<p class="ind">We showed him Lord John Russell's statement, with which +he declared himself very much satisfied. He advised the +Queen to write a letter to Lord John, announcing to him Sir +Robert's consent to go on with the Government, and wrote a +draft of it, which follows here.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.62" id="pageii.62"></a>[page 62]</span> + +<p class="ind">He had heard strange instances of disagreement amongst +the men whom Lord John had assembled in town.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert seemed throughout much moved, and said with +much warmth: "There is no sacrifice that I will not make for +your Majesty, except that of my honour."</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>20th December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel has just been here. He expressed great +regret that Lord John Russell had felt it necessary to decline +the formation of a Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">He said he should have acted towards Lord John Russell +with the most scrupulous good faith, and that he should have +done everything in his power to give Lord John support.</p> + +<p class="ind">He thinks many would have been induced to follow his +example.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel did not hesitate a moment in withdrawing +his offer of resignation. He said he felt it his duty at once to +resume his office, though he is deeply sensible of the difficulties +with which he has to contend.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PEEL CORDIALLY SUPPORTED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>21st December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and proceeds to give your Majesty an account of what has +passed since he left your Majesty at four o'clock yesterday.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Cabinet met at Sir Robert Peel's house in Downing +Street at half-past nine.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel informed them that he had not summoned +them for the purpose of deliberating on what was to be done, +but for the purpose of announcing to them that he was your +Majesty's Minister, and whether supported or not, was firmly +resolved to meet Parliament as your Majesty's Minister, and to +propose such measures as the public exigencies required.</p> + +<p class="ind">Failure or success must depend upon their decision, but +nothing could shake Sir Robert Peel's determination to meet +Parliament and to advise the Speech from the Throne.</p> + +<p class="ind">There was a dead silence, at length interrupted by Lord +Stanley's declaring that he must persevere in resigning, that +he thought the Corn Law ought to be adhered to, and might +have been maintained.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.63" id="pageii.63"></a>[page 63]</span> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Wellington said he thought the Corn Law was +a subordinate consideration. He was <i>delighted</i> when he +received Sir Robert Peel's letter that day, announcing to the +Duke that his mind was made up to place his services at your +Majesty's disposal.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Buccleuch behaved admirably—was much +agitated—thought new circumstances had arisen—would not +then decide on resigning.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel has received this morning the enclosed note +from the Duke.<sup>39</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">He has written a reply very strongly to the Duke, stating +that the present question is not one of Corn Law, but whether +your Majesty's former servants or Lord Grey and Mr Cobden +shall constitute your Majesty's Government. Sir Robert Peel +defied the wit of man to suggest now another alternative to +your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen will see the Duke to-day.</p> + +<p class="ind">All the other members of the Government cordially approved +of Sir Robert Peel's determination not to abandon your +Majesty's service.</p> + +<p class="ind">There was no question about details, but if there is any, it +shall not alter Sir Robert Peel's course.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 39: <i>See</i> next letter.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Buccleuch to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Montagu House</span>, <i>20th December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Sir Robert</span>,—That which has occurred this evening, +and that which you have communicated to us, the very +critical state in which the country now is, and above all the +duty which I owe to her Majesty under the present circumstances, +has made a most strong impression upon my mind. +At the risk, therefore, of imputation of vacillation or of any +other motive by others, may I ask of you to give me a few +hours' time for further reflection, before finally deciding upon +the course which I may feel it to be my duty to pursue? +Believe me, my dear Sir Robert, yours most sincerely,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Buccleuch</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>22nd December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the utmost satisfaction in informing your Majesty that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.64" id="pageii.64"></a>[page 64]</span> +Mr Gladstone is willing to accept the Seals of the Colonial +Office should your Majesty be pleased to confide them to him.<sup>40</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel thinks this of great importance, and that +immediate decision in filling up so eminent a post will have a +good effect.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 40: Mr Gladstone, by accepting office, vacated the seat at Newark which he had held +through the influence of the Protectionist Duke of Newcastle. He did not seek re-election, +and though a Secretary of State, remained without a seat in Parliament.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S ESTIMATE OF PEEL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your two kind letters +of the 17th and 19th, which gave me much pleasure. I have +little to add to Albert's letter of yesterday, except my <i>extreme</i> +admiration of our worthy Peel, who shows himself a man of +unbounded <i>loyalty</i>, <i>courage</i>, patriotism, and +<i>high-mindedness</i>, +and his conduct towards me has been <i>chivalrous</i> almost, I +might say. I never have seen him so excited or so determined, +and <i>such</i> a good cause must succeed. We have indeed +had an escape, for though Lord John's <i>own notions</i> were <i>very</i> +good and moderate, he let himself be entirely twisted and +twirled about by his <i>violent</i> friends, and <i>all</i> the moderate ones +were crushed....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>23rd December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I think Her Majesty and your Royal Highness will +have been pleased with the progress I have made in execution +of the great trust again committed to me by Her Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">It will be of great importance to conciliate Lord Stanley's +support out of office, to induce him to <i>discourage</i> hostile +combinations.</p> + +<p class="ind">I would humbly recommend Her Majesty, when Her Majesty +sees Lord Stanley to-day, to receive him with her usual kindness, +to say that I had done full justice in my reports to Her +Majesty to the motives by which he had been actuated, and +to the openness and frankness of his conduct, to regret greatly +the loss of his services, but to hope that he might be still +enabled not to oppose and even to promote the accomplishment +of what cannot now be safely resisted. I have the honour +to be, etc., etc., etc.,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Robert Peel</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.65" id="pageii.65"></a>[page 65]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>25th December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">We had a Council yesterday, at which Parliament was prorogued +to the 22nd of January, then to meet for the despatch +of business. Lord Stanley had an audience of the Queen +before, and delivered up the Seals of his office. He was much +agitated, and had told Sir Robert that he dreaded this interview +very much. The Queen thanked him for his services, +and begged he would do his best out of office to smooth down +the difficulties her Government would have to contend with. +At the Council Lord Dalhousie took his seat, and Mr Gladstone +received the Colonial Seals. The Queen saw the Duke of +Buccleuch and thanked him for the devotion he had shown her +during these trying circumstances; the same to the Duke of +Wellington, who is in excellent spirits. On my saying, "You +have such an influence over the House of Lords, that you will +be able to keep them straight," he answered: "I'll do anything; +I am now beginning to write to them and to convince +them singly of what their duty is."</p> + +<p class="ind">We saw afterwards Sir Robert Peel, who stayed more than +three hours. He is in the highest spirits at having got Mr +Gladstone and kept the Duke of Buccleuch; he proposed that +the Duke should be made President, and Lord Haddington +Privy Seal in his stead. (Lord Haddington had behaved very +well, had given up his place to Sir Robert, and told him he +should do with him just as he liked—leave him out of the +Cabinet, shift him to another place, or leave him at the +Admiralty, as would suit him best.)</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert hinted to Lord Ripon that Lord Haddington had +behaved so well, but got no more out of him, but "that he +would <i>almost</i> have done the same." Sir Robert proposes to +see Lord Ellenborough in order to offer him the Admiralty, +received the Queen's sanction likewise to Lord St Germans +(the Postmaster-General) being put into the Cabinet. I said: +"With your Government that has no inconvenience, and even +if you had a hundred members in the Cabinet, as you don't +tell them but what is absolutely necessary, and follow your +own course." He said in reply, that he should be very sorry if +he had to have told his Cabinet that he meant to send for Lord +Ellenborough. We could not help contrasting this conduct +with the subjection Lord John has shown to his people. It is +to his <i>own</i> talent and firmness that Sir Robert will owe his +success, which cannot fail. He said he had been determined +not to go to a general election with the fetters the last election +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.66" id="pageii.66"></a>[page 66]</span> +had imposed upon him, and he had meant at the end of the +next Session to call the whole Conservative Party together +and to declare this to them, that he would not meet another +Parliament pledged to the maintenance of the Corn Laws,<span class="rightnote">THE CORN LAWS</span> +which could be maintained no longer, and that he would make +a public declaration to this effect before another general +election came on. This had been defeated by events coming +too suddenly upon him, and he had no alternative but to deal +with the Corn Laws before a national calamity would <i>force</i> it +on. The league had made immense progress, and had enormous +means at their disposal. If he had resigned in November, +Lord Stanley and the Protectionists would have been prepared +to form a Government, and a Revolution might have been the +consequence of it. Now they felt that it was too late.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert has <i>an immense scheme in view</i>; he thinks he +shall be able to remove the contest entirely from the dangerous +ground upon which it has got—that of a war between the manufacturers, +the hungry and the poor against the landed proprietors, +the aristocracy, which can only end in the ruin of the +latter; he will not bring forward a measure upon the Corn +Laws, but a much more comprehensive one. He will deal with +the whole commercial system of the country. He will adopt +the principle of the League, <i>that of removing all protection and +abolishing all monopoly</i>, but not in favour of one class and as +a triumph over another, but to the benefit of the nation, +farmers as well as manufacturers. He would begin with +cotton, and take in all the necessaries of life and corn amongst +them. The experiments he had made in 1842 and 1845 with +boldness but with caution had borne out the correctness of +the principle: the wool duty was taken off, and wool sold +higher than ever before; foreign cattle were let in, and the +cattle of England stood better in the market than ever. He +would not ask for compensation to the land, but wherever he +could give it, and at the same time promote the social development, +there he would do it, but on that ground. For +instance, one of the greatest benefits to the country would be +the establishment of a rural police on the same principle as the +metropolitan police. By taking this on the Consolidated +Fund, the landowners would be immensely relieved in all those +counties which kept a police. One of the heaviest charges on +the land was the present administration of law and the carrying +on of prosecutions. Sir Robert could fancy this to be very +much improved by the appointment of a <i>public</i> prosecutor by +the State, which would give the State a power to prevent +vexatious, illegal, and immoral prosecutions, and reduce the +expenses in an extraordinary degree. Part of the maintenance +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.67" id="pageii.67"></a>[page 67]</span> +of the poor, according to the Poor Law, might be undertaken +by the State. A great calamity must be foreseen, when the +innumerable railroads now in progress shall have been terminated, +which will be the case in a few years. This will +throw an enormous labouring population suddenly out of +employment. <span class="rightnote">THE UNEMPLOYED</span>There might be a law passed which would +provide employment for them, and improve the agriculture +and production of the country, by enabling the State to advance +money to the great proprietors for the improvements of +their estates, which they could not obtain otherwise without +charging their estates beyond what they already have to bear.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert means to go with Mr Gladstone into all these +details.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Viscount Melbourne.</i><sup>41</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S JUSTIFICATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Bowood</span>, <i>26th December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Melbourne</span>,—I return you with many thanks +George Anson's letter, which was enclosed in yours of the 23rd, +which I received just as we were setting off for this place. +Pray, when next you write to George Anson, say how gratefully +I appreciate the kind consideration on the part of H.R.H. +Prince Albert, which suggested George Anson's communication. +But I can assure you that although John Russell, in his +Audience of the Queen, may inadvertently have overstated +the terms in which he had mentioned to me what Her Majesty +had said to him about my return to the Foreign Office, yet in +his conversations with me upon that subject he never said anything +more than is contained in George Anson's letter to you; +and I am sure you will think that under all the circumstances +of the case he could hardly have avoided telling me thus much, +and making me aware of the impression which seemed to exist +upon the Queen's mind as to the way in which other persons +might view my return to the Foreign Office.</p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to Her Majesty's own sentiments, I have always +been convinced that Her Majesty knows me too well to believe +for an instant that I do not attach the greatest importance to +the maintenance, not merely of peace with all foreign countries, +but of the most friendly relations with those leading Powers +and States of the world with which serious differences would +be attended with the most inconvenience. <span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S POLICY</span>As to Peace, I +succeeded, as the organ of Lord Grey's Government and of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.68" id="pageii.68"></a>[page 68]</span> +yours, in preserving it unbroken during ten years<sup>42</sup> of great +and extraordinary difficulty; and, if now and then it unavoidably +happened during that period of time, that in pursuing +the course of policy which seemed the best for British +interests, we thwarted the views of this or that Foreign Power, +and rendered them for the moment less friendly, I think I +could prove that in every case the object which we were pursuing +was of sufficient importance to make it worth our while +to submit to such temporary inconvenience. There never was +indeed, during those ten years, any real danger of war except +on three occasions; and on each of those occasions the course +pursued by the British Government prevented war. The first +occasion was just after the accession of the King of the French, +when Austria, Russia, and Prussia were disposed and preparing +to attack France, and when the attitude assumed by the +British Government prevented a rupture. The second was +when England and France united by a Convention to wrest the +Citadel of Antwerp from the Dutch, and to deliver it over to +the King of the Belgians.<sup>43</sup> If England had not then joined +with France, Antwerp would have remained with the Dutch, +or the attempt to take it would have led to a war in Europe. +The third occasion was when Mehemet Ali's army occupied +Syria, and when he was constantly threatening to declare himself +independent and to march on Constantinople; while +Russia, on the one hand, asserted that if he did so she would +occupy Constantinople, and on the other hand, France announced +that if Russia did so, she, France, would force the +Dardanelles. The Treaty of July 1840, proposed and brought +about by the British Government, and the operations in execution +of that Treaty, put an end to that danger; and, notwithstanding +what has often been said to the contrary, the real +danger of war arising out of the affairs of Syria was put an end +to, and not created by the Treaty of 1840.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am well aware, however, that some persons both at home +and abroad have imbibed the notion that I am more indifferent +than I ought to be as to running the risk of war. That impression +abroad is founded upon an entire mistake, but is by +some sincerely felt, and being sincere, would soon yield to the +evidence of contradictory facts. At home that impression has +been industriously propagated to a limited extent, partly by +the legitimate attacks of political opponents, and partly by a +little cabal within our own ranks. These parties wanted to +attack me, and were obliged to accuse me of something. They +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.69" id="pageii.69"></a>[page 69]</span> +could not charge me with failure, because we had succeeded in +all our undertakings, whether in Portugal, Spain, Belgium, +Syria, China, or elsewhere; they could not charge me with +having involved the country in war, because, in fact, we had +maintained peace; and the only thing that was left for them +to say was that my policy had a <i>tendency</i> to produce war, and +I suppose they would argue that it was quite wrong and against +all rule that it did not do so.</p> + +<p class="ind">But notwithstanding what may have been said on this +matter, the transaction which has by some been the most +criticised in this respect, namely, the Treaty of 1840, and the +operations connected with it, were entirely approved by the +leaders of the then Opposition, who, so far from feeling any +disposition to favour me, had always made a determined run +at the Foreign Policy of the Whig Government. The Duke of +Wellington, at the opening of the Session of 1841, said in the +House of Lords that he entirely approved our policy in that +transaction, and could not find that any fault had been committed +by us in working it out; and I happen to know that Sir +Robert Peel expressed to the representative of one of the German +Powers, parties to the Alliance, his entire approval of our +course, while Lord Aberdeen said to one of them, that the course +I had taken in that affair made him forgive me many things of +former years, which he had thought he never should have +forgiven.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am quite ashamed of the length to which this letter has +grown, and shall only add, with reference to our relations with +France, that I had some very friendly interviews with Thiers, +who was my chief antagonist in 1840, and that although we did +not enter into any conspiracy against Guizot and Peel, as the +newspapers pretended, we parted on very good terms, and +he promised to introduce me to all his friends whenever I +should go to Paris, saying that of course Guizot would do me +the same good office with his supporters. My dear Melbourne, +yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Palmerston</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 41: Submitted to the Queen by Lord Melbourne.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 42: 1830-1834, and 1835-1841.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 43: The English and French came in 1832 to the assistance of the Belgians, who some +time before had entered Antwerp, but failed to take the Citadel.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the French.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE MINISTRY REINSTATED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Ch. de W.</span>, <i>le 30 Décembre 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire et mon très cher Frère</span>,—Votre Majesté me pardonnera +si je viens seulement maintenant vous remercier de +tout mon cœur de votre lettre si bonne et si aimable du 16, +mais vous savez combien j'étais occupée pendant ces dernières +3 semaines. La Crise est passée et j'ai tout lieu de croire que +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.70" id="pageii.70"></a>[page 70]</span> +le Gouvernement de Sir R. Peel va s'affermir de plus en plus, +ce que je ne puis que désirer pour le bien-être du pays. Je +dois cependant dire à votre Majesté que si le Ministère eût +changé, j'ai la certitude que le nouveau se serait empressé de +maintenir, comme nous le désirons si vivement, cette entente +cordiale si heureusement établie entre nos deux Gouvernements.</p> + +<p class="ind">Permettez-moi, Sire, de vous offrir au nom d'Albert et au +mien nos félicitations les plus sincères à l'occasion de la nouvelle +Année, dans lequel vous nous donnez le doux espoir de vous +revoir. Nous avons lu avec beaucoup d'intérêt le Speech de +V.M., dans lequel vous parlez si aimablement du "friendly +call" à Eu et des coopérations des 2 pays dans différentes +parties du monde, et particulièrement pour l'Abolition de la +Traite des noirs.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ayez la grâce, Sire, de déposer nos hommages et nos félicitations +aux pieds de la Reine et de votre Sœur. Agréez +encore une fois, les expressions d'amitié et d'attachement +sincère avec lesquelles je suis, Sire et mon bien cher Frère, de +votre Majesté, la bien bonne Sœur et fidèle Amie,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>30th December 1845.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your kind letter +of the 27th, by which I see how glad you are at our good Peel +being again—and I sincerely and confidently hope for many +years—my Minister. I have heard many instances of the +confidence the country and <i>all</i> parties have in Peel; for +instance, he was immensely cheered at Birmingham—a most +Radical place; and <i>Joseph Hume</i> expressed great distress +when Peel resigned, and the greatest contempt for Lord John +Russell. The Members of the Government have behaved extremely +well and with much disinterestedness. The Government +has secured the services of Mr Gladstone and Lord +Ellenborough,<sup>44</sup> who will be of great use. Lord E. is become +very quiet, and is a very good speaker.</p> + +<p class="ind">We had a very happy Christmas. This weather is extremely +unwholesome. Now, ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 44: Lord Ellenborough was one of the few Conservative statesmen of the day who, after +remaining faithful to Sir Robert Peel till the middle of 1846, subsequently threw in his +fortunes with Lord Derby and Mr Disraeli. He was President of the Board of Control +with those Ministers in 1858 for the fourth time.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.71" id="pageii.71"></a>[page 71]</span> + + + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XV</h3> + + +<p>The closing days of the year 1845 had been marked by startling +political events, and Lord John Russell's failure to form a Government, +and Sir Robert Peel's resumption of office, with Mr Gladstone +substituted for Lord Stanley, were now followed by the Ministerial +measure for the Repeal of the Corn Laws. Embarrassed as he now +was by the attacks of his old supporters, led by Bentinck and Disraeli, +Peel was supported whole-heartedly but in a strictly constitutional +manner by the Queen and the Prince. Amid bitter taunts, the +Premier piloted the measure through Parliament, but on the night +that it finally passed the Lords he was defeated on an Irish Coercion +Bill by a factious combination in the Commons between the Whigs +and Protectionists, and resigned. Lord John Russell on this occasion +was able to form an administration, though he failed in his +attempt to include in it some important members of the outgoing +Government.</p> + +<p>Thus, owing to the Irish famine, the Tory party which had come +into power in 1841 with a majority of ninety to support the Corn +Laws, was shattered; after Peel's defeat it became clear that no +common action could take place between his supporters in the +struggle of 1846 and men like Bentinck and Disraeli, who now +became leaders of the Protectionist party. For the remainder of the +year Peel was on the whole friendly to the Russell Government, his +chief care being to maintain them in office as against the Protectionists.</p> + +<p>In India the British army was successful in its operations against +the Sikhs, Sir Harry Smith defeating them at Aliwal, and Sir Hugh +Gough at Sobraon. Our troops crossed the Sutlej, and terms of +peace were agreed on between Sir Henry Hardinge (who became a +Viscount) and the Sirdars from Lahore, peace being signed on +8th March.</p> + +<p>On the continent of Europe the most important events took place +in the Peninsula. The selection of husbands for the Queen of Spain +and her sister, which had so long been considered an international +question, came at last to a crisis; the policy of Great Britain had +been to leave the matter to the Spanish people, except in so far as +might be necessary to check the undue ambition of Louis Philippe; +and neither the Queen, Prince Albert, Peel, nor Aberdeen had in any +way supported the candidature of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.72" id="pageii.72"></a>[page 72]</span> + +<p>It was common ground that no son of Louis Philippe should marry +the Queen, but both that monarch and Guizot had further solemnly +engaged at the Château d'Eu that no son should marry even the +Infanta until the Queen was married and had children. The return +of Palmerston to the Foreign Office, and his mention of Prince Leopold +in a Foreign Office despatch as one of the candidates, gave the King +and his Minister the pretext they required for repudiating their +solemn undertaking. In defiance of good faith the engagements +were simultaneously announced of the Queen to her cousin, Don +Francisco de Asis, and of the Infanta to the Duc de Montpensier, +Don Francisco being a man of unattractive, even disagreeable +qualities, and feeble in <i>physique</i>. By this unscrupulous proceeding +Queen Victoria and the English nation were profoundly shocked.</p> + +<p>At the same time Queen Maria found some difficulty in maintaining +her position in Portugal. She dismissed in a somewhat high-handed +manner her Minister the Duc de Palmella, and had to bear +the brunt of an insurrection for several months: at the close of the +year her arms were victorious at the lines of Torres Vedras, but the +Civil War was not entirely brought to an end.</p> + +<p>In February a Polish insurrection broke out in Silesia, and the +Austrian troops were driven from Cracow; the rising was suppressed +by Austria, Russia, and Prussia, who had been constituted the +"Protecting Powers" of Cracow by the Treaty of Vienna. This +unsuccessful attempt was seized upon as a pretext for destroying the +separate nationality of Cracow, which was forthwith annexed to +Austria. This unjustifiable act only became possible in consequence +of the <i>entente</i> between England and France (equally parties to the +Treaty of Vienna) having been terminated by the affair of the +Spanish marriages; their formal but separate protests were disregarded.</p> + +<p>There remains to be mentioned the dispute between Great Britain +and the United States as to the Oregon boundary, which had assumed +so ominous a phase in 1845. Lord Aberdeen's last official act +was to announce in the Lords that a Convention, proposed by himself +for adjusting the question, had been accepted by the American +President.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.73" id="pageii.73"></a>[page 73]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h5>1846</h5> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd January 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must compliment Sir Robert Peel on his beautiful +and indeed <i>unanswerable</i> speech of last night, which we have +been reading with the greatest attention.<sup>1</sup> The concluding +part we also greatly admire. Sir R. Peel has made a very +strong case. Surely the impression which it has made must +have been a good one. Lord John's explanation is a fair one;<sup>2</sup> +the Queen has <i>not</i> a doubt that he will support Sir Robert Peel.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has indeed pledged himself to it. He does not give a +very satisfactory explanation of the causes of his failure, but +perhaps he could not do so without exposing Lord Palmerston.</p> + +<p class="ind">What does Sir Robert think of the temper of the House of +Commons, and of the debate in the House of Lords? The +debates not being adjourned is a good thing. The crowd was +immense out-of-doors yesterday, and we were never better +received.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: The Queen had opened Parliament in person; the Prime Minister took the unusual +course of speaking immediately after the seconder of the Address, and in his peroration, +after laying stress on the responsibilities he was incurring, proceeded: "I do not desire +to be Minister of England; but while I am Minister of England I will hold office by no +servile tenure; I will hold office unshackled by any other obligation than that of consulting +the public interests and providing for the public safety."</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 2: He explained that the attitude of Lord Grey made the difficulties attending the formation +of a Whig Ministry insuperable.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Henry Hardinge to Queen Victoria.</i><sup>3</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">EXTENSION OF INDIAN FRONTIER</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Camp, Lullianee</span>, 24 miles from <span class="sc">Lahore</span>,</p> +<p class="rindent1">18<i>th February</i> 1846.</p> + +<p class="ind">The territory which it is proposed should be ceded in perpetuity +to your Majesty is a fine district between the Rivers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.74" id="pageii.74"></a>[page 74]</span> +Sutlej and Beas, throwing our frontier forward, within 30 +miles of Amritsar, so as to have 50 miles of British territory +in front of Loodiana, which, relatively with Ferozepore, is so +weak, that it appeared desirable to the Governor-General to +improve our frontier on its weakest side, to curb the Sikhs by an +easy approach towards Amritsar across the Beas River instead +of the Sutlej—to round off our hill possessions near Simla—to +weaken the Sikh State which has proved itself to be too +strong—and to show to all Asia that although the British +Government has not deemed it expedient to annex this +immense country of the Punjab, making the Indus the British +boundary, it has punished the treachery and violence of the +Sikh nation, and exhibited its powers in a manner which +cannot be misunderstood. For the same political and military +reason, the Governor-General hopes to be able before the +negotiations are closed to make arrangements by which Cashmere +may be added to the possessions of Gholab Singh, declaring +the Rajpoot Hill States with Cashmere independent +of the Sikhs of the Plains. The Sikhs declare their inability +to pay the indemnity of one million and a half, and will +probably offer Cashmere as an equivalent. In this case, if +Gholab Singh pays the money demanded for the expenses +of the war, the district of Cashmere will be ceded by the +British to him, and the Rajah become one of the Princes of +Hindostan.</p> + +<p class="ind">There are difficulties in the way of this arrangement, but +considering the military power which the Sikh nation has +exhibited of bringing into the field 80,000 men and 300 pieces +of field artillery, it appears to the Governor-General most +politic to diminish the means of this warlike people to repeat +a similar aggression. The nation is in fact a dangerous military +Republic on our weakest frontier. If the British Army had +been defeated, the Sikhs, through the Protected States, which +would have risen in their favour in case of a reverse, would +have captured Delhi, and a people having 50,000 regular troops +and 300 pieces of field artillery in a standing permanent camp +within 50 miles of Ferozepore, is a state of things that cannot +be tolerated for the future....</p> + +<p class="ind">The energy and intrepidity displayed by your Majesty's +Commander-in-Chief, Sir Hugh Gough, his readiness to carry +on the service in cordial co-operation with the Governor-General, +and the marked bravery and invincibility of your +Majesty's English troops, have overcome many serious +obstacles, and the precautions taken have been such that no +disaster or failure, however trifling, has attended the arduous +efforts of your Majesty's Arms.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: The Sikhs were defeated at Sobraon on 10th February by the British troops under +Sir Hugh Gough, reinforced by Sir Harry Smith, fresh from his victory at Aliwal. <i>See</i> <a href="#pageii.71" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 71</a>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.75" id="pageii.75"></a>[page 75]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>3rd March 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I hasten to thank you for a most dear +and kind letter of the 28th, which I received this morning. +You know how I love and esteem my dearest Louise; she is +the dearest friend, after my beloved Albert, I have.</p> + +<p class="ind">I wish you could be here, and hope you will come here for +a few days during your stay, to see the innumerable alterations +and improvements which have taken place. My dearest +Albert is so happy here, out all day planting, directing, etc., +and it is so good for him. It is a relief to be away from all +the bitterness which people create for themselves in London. +<span class="rightnote">PEEL'S ANXIETIES</span> +Peel has a very anxious and a very peculiar position, and it +is the force of circumstances and the great energy he <i>alone +possesses</i> which will carry him through the Session. He certainly +acts a most disinterested part, for did he not feel (as +<i>every one</i> who is fully acquainted with the <i>real state</i> of the +country must feel) that the line he pursues is the <i>only right</i> and +sound one for the welfare of this country, he never would have +exposed himself to all the annoyance and pain of being attacked +by his friends. He was, however, determined to have done +this before the next general election, but the alarming state of +distress in Ireland forced him to do it now. I must, however, +leave him to explain to you fully himself the peculiar circumstances +of the present very irregular state of affairs. His +majority was <i>not</i> a <i>certain</i> one <i>last year</i>, for on Maynooth, +upwards of a <i>hundred</i> of his followers voted against him.</p> + +<p class="ind">The state of affairs in India is very serious. I am glad you +do justice to the bravery of our good people.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Henry Hardinge.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>4th March 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is anxious to seize the first opportunity of expressing +to Sir Henry Hardinge, her admiration of his conduct +on the last most trying occasion, and of the courage and +gallantry of the officers and men who had so severe a contest +to endure.<sup>4</sup> Their conduct has been in every way worthy of +the British name, and both the Prince and Queen are deeply +impressed with it. The severe loss we have sustained in so +many brave officers and men is very painful, and must alloy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.76" id="pageii.76"></a>[page 76]</span> +the satisfaction every one feels at the brilliant successes of our +Arms. Most deeply do we lament the death of Sir Robert Sale,<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF SIR ROBERT SALE</span> +Sir John M'Caskill,<sup>5</sup> and Major Broadfoot,<sup>6</sup> and most +deeply do we sympathise with that high-minded woman, Lady +Sale, who has had the misfortune to lose her husband less than +three years after she was released from captivity and restored +to him.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are truly rejoiced to hear that Sir H. Hardinge's health +has not suffered, and that he and his brave son have been so +mercifully preserved. The Queen will look forward with great +anxiety to the next news from India.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 4: At Moodkee on 18th December, and Ferozeshah on 21st and 22nd December.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 5: Who had commanded a brigade under Pollock in the second Afghan campaign.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 6: Major George Broadfoot, C.B., Political Agent on the north-western frontier.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PRINCE'S MEMORANDUM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>1st April 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">I saw this day Sir R. Peel, and showed him a memorandum, +which I had drawn up respecting our conversation of the 30th.</p> + +<p class="ind">It filled six sheets, and contained, as minutely as I could +render it, the whole of the arguments we had gone through. +Sir Robert read it through and over again, and, after a long +pause, said: "I was not aware when I spoke to your Royal +Highness that my words would be taken down, and don't +acknowledge that this is a fair representation of my opinion." +He was visibly uneasy, and added, if he knew that what he +said should be committed to paper, he would speak differently, +and give his opinion with all the circumspection and reserve +which a Minister ought to employ when he gave responsible +advice; but he had in this instance spoken quite unreservedly, +like an advocate defending a point in debate, and then he had +taken another and tried to carry this as far as it would go, in +order to give me an opportunity of judging of the different +bearings of the question. He did so often in the Cabinet, when +they discussed important questions, and was often asked: +"Well, then, you are quite against this measure?" "Not at all, +but I want that the counter argument should be gone into to the +fullest extent, in order that the Cabinet should not take a one-sided +view."</p> + +<p class="ind">He viewed the existence of such a paper with much uneasiness, +as it might appear as if he had left this before going +out of office in order to prepossess the Queen against the +measures, which her future Minister might propose to her, and +so lay secretly the foundation of his fall. The existence of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.77" id="pageii.77"></a>[page 77]</span> +such a paper might cause great embarrassment to the Queen; +if she followed the advice of a Minister who proposed measures +hostile to the Irish Church, it might be said, she knew what she +undertook, for Sir R. Peel had warned her and left on record +the serious objections that attached to the measure.</p> + +<p class="ind">I said that I felt it to be of the greatest importance to possess +his views on the question, but that I thought I would not have +been justified in keeping a record of our conversation without +showing it to him, and asking him whether I had rightly understood +him; but if he felt a moment's uneasiness about this +memorandum, I would at once destroy it, as I was anxious that +nothing should prevent his speaking without the slightest +reserve to me in future as he had done heretofore. I felt that +these open discussions were of the greatest use to me in my +endeavour to investigate the different political questions of +the day and to form a conclusive opinion upon them. As Sir +Robert did not say a word to dissuade me, I took it as an +affirmative, and threw the memorandum into the fire, which, +I could see, relieved Sir Robert.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Gladstone to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">13 Carlton House Terrace</span>, <i>1st April 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Mr William Gladstone presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and prays that he may be honoured with your +Majesty's permission to direct that the Park and Tower Guns +may be fired forthwith in celebration of the victory which was +achieved by your Majesty's forces over the Sikh army in +Sobraon on the 10th of February.<sup>7</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: In September 1882 Mr Gladstone quoted this as a precedent for firing the Park Guns +after the victory of Tel-el-Kebir. See <i>Life of Right Hon. Hugh C. E. Childers</i>, by Colonel +Childers, C.B., R.E., vol. ii p. 127.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Henry Hardinge.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>6th April 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must write a line to Sir Henry Hardinge in order +to express her extreme satisfaction at the brilliant and happy +termination of our severe contest with the Sikhs, which he +communicated to her in his long and interesting letter of the +18th and 19th February. The Queen much admires the skill +and valour with which their difficult operations have been +conducted, and knows how much she owes to Sir Henry +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.78" id="pageii.78"></a>[page 78]</span> +Hardinge's exertions. The Queen hopes that he will see +an acknowledgment of this in the communication she has +ordered to be made to him relative to his elevation to the +Peerage.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Prince, who fully knows all the Queen's feelings on this +glorious occasion, wishes to be named to Sir Henry Hardinge.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the French to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">KING LOUIS PHILIPPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Paris</span>, <i>5 Mai 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame ma très chère Sœur</span>,—Quand le 1<sup>er</sup> de Mai, au +moment où j'allais commencer les nombreuses et longues +réceptions de mon jour de fête, on m'a remis la lettre si gracieuse +que votre Majesté a eu l'aimable attention de m'écrire de +manière à ce que je la reçoive ce jour là, j'en ai été pénétré, et +j'ai pensé tout de suite aux paroles du Menuet d'Iphigénie +comme exprimant le remercîment qu'à mon grand regret, je +ne pouvais que sentir, et non exprimer par écrit dans un pareil +moment. J'ai donc fait chercher tout de suite la partition de +ce menuet, et celles du Chœur du même Opéra de Glück +"<i>Chantons, célébrons notre Reine!</i>" mais on n'a pu, ou pas su +se les procurer, et j'ai dû me contenter de les avoir arrangés +pour le piano dans un livre (pas même relié) qui a au moins +pour excuse de contenir toute la musique de cet Opéra. Je +l'ai mis dans une grande enveloppe adressée à votre Majesté +et j'ai fait prier Lord Cowley de l'expédier par le premier +Courier qui pourrait s'en charger, comme Dépêche, afin +d'éviter ces postages dont Lord Liverpool m'a révélé l'étonnant +usage.</p> + +<p class="ind">Que vous dirai-je, Madame, sur tous les sentiments dont m'a +pénétré cette nouvelle marque d'amitié de votre part? Vous +connaissez celle que je vous porte, et combien elle est vive et +sincère. J'espère bien que l'année ne s'écoulera pas sans que +j'aie été présenter mes hommages à votre Majesté....</p> + +<p class="ind">Tout ce que j'entends, tout ce que je recueille, me donne de +plus en plus l'espérance que la crise Parlementaire dans laquelle +le Ministère de votre Majesté se trouve engagé, se terminera, +comme Elle sait que je le désire vivement, c'est-à-dire que Sir +Robert Peel, Lord Aberdeen, etc., will hold fast, et qu'ils seront +encore ses Ministres quand j'aurai le bonheur de Lui faire ma +Cour. Je vois avec plaisir que ce vœu est à peu près général en +France, et qu'il se manifeste de plus en plus....</p> + +<p class="ind">Que votre Majesté me permette d'offrir ici au Prince Albert +l'expression de ma plus tendre amitié, et qu'elle veuille bien +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.79" id="pageii.79"></a>[page 79]</span> +me croire pour la vie, Madame ma très chère Sœur, de votre +Majesté, le bon Frère et bien fidèle Ami,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louis Philippe, R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">J'ai volé ces feuilles de papier à ma bonne Reine pour +échapper aux reproches trop bien fondés que Lord Aberdeen a +faits à la dernière fourniture dont je me suis servi.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">IRISH CRIMES BILL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>12th June 1846.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Friday Night.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs +leave to acquaint your Majesty that no progress has been made +to-night with the Irish Bill.<sup>8</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">On reading the order of the day Sir Robert Peel took that +opportunity of defending himself from the accusations<sup>9</sup> +brought forward by Lord George Bentinck and Mr Disraeli +against Sir Robert Peel for transactions that took place twenty +years since. The debate on this preliminary question lasted +until nearly half-past eleven.</p> + +<p class="ind">Like every unjust and malignant attack, this, according to +Sir Robert Peel's impressions, recoiled upon its authors.</p> + +<p class="ind">He thinks the House was completely satisfied. Lord John +Russell and Lord Morpeth behaved very well.</p> + +<p class="ind">The vindictive motive of the attack was apparent to all +but a few Protectionists.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 8: In consequence of a serious increase of crime in Ireland, a Coercion Bill had been +introduced.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 9: This refers to the Catholic Emancipation discussions of 1827, when Bentinck and +Disraeli accused Peel of having hounded Canning to death.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Whitehall</span>, <i>22nd June 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and assures your Majesty that he is penetrated with a deep +sense of your Majesty's great kindness and your Majesty's +generous sympathy with himself and Lady Peel.</p> +<span class="rightnote">ATTACK ON PEEL</span> +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel firmly believes that the recent attack made +upon him was the result of a foul conspiracy concocted by +Mr Disraeli and Lord George Bentinck, in the hope and belief +that from the lapse of time or want of leisure in Sir Robert +Peel to collect materials for his defence, or the destruction of +documents and papers, the means of complete refutation +might be wanting....</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.80" id="pageii.80"></a>[page 80]</span> + +<p class="ind">He hopes, however, he had sufficient proof to demonstrate +the falseness of the accusation, and the malignant motives of +the accusers.</p> + +<p class="ind">He is deeply grateful to your Majesty and to the Prince for +the kind interest you have manifested during the progress of +this arduous struggle, which now he trusts is approaching to a +successful termination.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>26th June 1846.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Two o'clock.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs +leave to acquaint your Majesty that the members of the +Government met in Cabinet to-day at one.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel is just returned from this meeting.</p> + +<p class="ind">He stated to the Cabinet that after the event of yesterday +(the rejection of the Irish Bill by so large a majority as 73) he +felt it to be his duty as head of the Government humbly to +tender his resignation of office to your Majesty. He added +that, feeling no assurance that the result of a Dissolution would +be to give a majority agreeing with the Government in general +principles of policy, and sufficient in amount to enable the +Government to conduct the business of the country with +credit to themselves and satisfaction to your Majesty and the +public at large, he could not advise your Majesty to dissolve +the Parliament.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel said that, in his opinion, the Government +generally ought to resign, but his mind was made up as to +his own course.</p> + +<p class="ind">There was not a dissenting voice that it was the duty of the +Government to tender their resignation to your Majesty, and +for the reasons stated by Sir Robert Peel, not to advise dissolution. +If Sir Robert Peel does not receive your Majesty's +commands to wait upon your Majesty in the course of to-day, +Sir Robert Peel will be at Osborne about half-past three +to-morrow.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PEEL'S RESIGNATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne House</span>, <i>28th June 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel arrived yesterday evening and tendered his +resignation. He is evidently much relieved in quitting a post, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.81" id="pageii.81"></a>[page 81]</span> +the labours and anxieties of which seem almost too much for +anybody to bear, and which in these last six months were +particularly onerous. In fact, he said that he would not have +been able to stand it much longer. Nothing, however, would +have induced him to give way before he had passed the Corn +Bill and the Tariff.<sup>10</sup> The majority upon the Irish Bill was +much larger than any one had expected; Sir Robert was glad +of this, however, as it convinced his colleagues of the necessity +of resigning. He told them at the Cabinet that, as for himself +personally, he had made up his mind to resign, and on being +asked what he advised his Cabinet to do, he recommended +them to do the same, which received general concurrence. +The last weeks had not been without some intrigue. There +was a party headed by Lord Ellenborough and Lord Brougham, +who wished Sir Robert and Sir James Graham to retire, and for +the rest of the Cabinet to reunite with the Protection section of +the Conservatives, and to carry on the Government. Lord +Ellenborough and Lord Brougham had in December last +settled to head the Protectionists, but this combination had +been broken up by Lord Ellenborough's acceptance of the +post of First Lord of the Admiralty; Lord Brougham then +declared for free trade, perhaps in order to follow Lord Ellenborough +into office. The Duke of Wellington had been for +dissolution till he saw the complete disorganisation of his +party in the House of Lords. The Whigs, having been beat +twice the evening before by large majorities on the Roman +Catholic Bill, had made every exertion on the Coercion Bill, +and the majority was still increased by Sir Robert's advising +the Free Traders and Radicals, who had intended to stay away +in order not to endanger Sir Robert's Government, not to do so +as they would not be able to save him. Seventy Protectionists +voted with the majority.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 10: By a remarkable coincidence the Corn Bill passed through the Lords on the same night +that the Ministry were defeated in the Commons.</p> + +<p class="ind">Before leaving Town Sir R. Peel addressed a letter to Lord +John Russell, informing him that he was going to the Isle of +Wight in order to tender his and his colleagues' resignation to +the Queen, that he did not the least know what Her Majesty's +intentions were, but that in case she should send for Lord John, +he (Sir Robert) was ready to see Lord John (should he wish it), +and give him any explanation as to the state of public affairs +and Parliamentary business which he could desire. Sir Robert +thought thereby, without in the least committing the Queen, +to indicate to Lord John that he had nothing to fear on his +part, and that, on the contrary, he could reckon upon his +assistance in starting the Queen's new Government. He hoped +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.82" id="pageii.82"></a>[page 82]</span> +likewise that this would tend to dispel a clamour for dissolution +which the Whigs have raised, alarmed by their defeats upon +the Catholic Bill.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">END OF THE OREGON DISPUTE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>29th June 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs +leave to acquaint your Majesty that he has just concluded his +speech notifying to the House the resignation of the Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">He thinks it was very well received.<sup>11</sup> Lord Palmerston +spoke after Sir Robert Peel, but not very effectively, but no +other person spoke. Sir Robert Peel is to see Lord John +Russell at ten to-morrow morning.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Robert Peel humbly congratulates your Majesty on the +intelligence received <i>this day</i> from America. The defeat of the +Government on the day on which they carried the Corn Bill, +and the receipt of the intelligence from America<sup>12</sup> on the day +on which they resign, are singular coincidences.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: He expressed his hope to be remembered with goodwill "in the abodes of those whose +lot it is to labour, and to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brows, when they shall +recruit their exhausted strength with abundant and untaxed food, the sweeter because +no longer leavened with a sense of injustice."</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 12: The Convention for adjusting the dispute as to the Oregon boundary had been +accepted by the United States Government.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Bishop of Oxford<sup>13</sup> to Mr Anson.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">61 Eaton Place</span>, <i>29th June 1846.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Midnight.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Anson</span>,—Your kind letter reached me half an +hour ago whilst Sir T. Acland was sitting with me; and I must +say a few words in reply by the early post. I went down to +hear Peel in the House of Commons, and very fine it was. The +House crowded, Peers and Ambassadors filling every seat and +overflowing into the House. Soon after six all private business +was over; Peel not come in, all waiting, no one rose for anything; +for ten minutes this lasted: then Peel came in, walked +up the House: colder, dryer, more introverted than ever, +yet to a close gaze showing the fullest working of a smothered +volcano of emotions. He was out of breath with walking and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.83" id="pageii.83"></a>[page 83]</span> +sat down on the Treasury Bench (placing a small despatch box +with the Oregon despatches on the table) as he would be fully +himself before he rose. By-and-by he rose, amidst a breathless +silence, and made the speech you will have read long ere +this. It was very fine: very effective: really almost solemn: +to fall at such a moment. He spoke as if it was his last +political scene: as if he felt that between alienated friends and +unwon foes he could have no party again; and could only as a +shrewd bystander observe and advise others. There was but +one point in the Speech which I thought doubtful: the apostrophe<span class="rightnote">PEEL'S TRIBUTE TO COBDEN</span> +to "Richard Cobden."<sup>14</sup> I think it was wrong, though +there is very much to be said for it. The opening of the +American peace was noble; but for the future, what have we +to look to? Already there are whispers of Palmerston and +War; the Whig budget and deficiency. The first great question +all men ask is: does Lord John come in, leaning on +Radical or Conservative aid? Is Hawes to be in the Cabinet? +the first Dissenter? the first tradesman? the Irish Church? +I wish you were near enough to talk to, though even then you +would know too much that must not be known for a comfortable +talk. But I shall hope soon to see you; and am always, +my dear Anson, very sincerely and affectionately yours,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">S. Oxon</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 13: Dr S. Wilberforce.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 14: "Sir, the name which ought to be, and which will be, associated with the success +of these measures, is the name of a man who, acting, I believe, from pure and disinterested +motives, has advocated their cause with untiring energy, and by appeals to reason, enforced +by an eloquence the more to be admired because it was unaffected and unadorned—the +name which ought to be and which will be associated with the success of these measures +is the name of Richard Cobden."</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW GOVERNMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne House</span>, <i>30th June 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell arrived here this afternoon; he has seen +Sir Robert Peel this morning, and is prepared to undertake the +formation of a Government which he thinks will stand; at +least, for the present session he anticipates no difficulty, as +Sir R. Peel has professed himself ready not to obstruct its +progress, and as the Protectionists have held a meeting on +Saturday at which Lord Stanley has declared that he would +let this Government go on smoothly unless the word "Irish +Church" was pronounced. About men and offices, Lord John +has consulted with Lord Lansdowne, Palmerston, Clarendon, +and Cottenham, who were of opinion that the Liberal members +of Sir Robert's Cabinet ought to be induced to retain office +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.84" id="pageii.84"></a>[page 84]</span> +under Lord John, viz. Lord Dalhousie, Lord Lincoln, and Mr +Sidney Herbert. Sir Robert Peel at the interview of this +morning had stated to Lord John that he would not consider +it as an attempt to draw his supporters away from him (it not +being his intention to form a party), and that he would not +dissuade them from accepting the offer, but that he feared +that they would not accept. We concurred in this opinion, +but Lord John was authorised by Victoria to make the offer. +Mr F. Baring, the Chancellor of the Exchequer under the late +Whig Government, has intimated to Lord John that he would +prefer if no offer of office was made to him; Lord John would +therefore recommend Mr Charles Wood for this office. Lord +Grey was still a difficulty; in or out of office he seemed to be +made a difficulty. It would be desirable to have him in the +Cabinet if he could waive his opinions upon the Irish Church. +His speech in the House of Lords<sup>15</sup> at the beginning of the +session had done much harm, had been very extreme, and Lord +John was decidedly against him in that. Lord Grey knew +that everybody blamed it, but said everybody would be of +those (his) opinions ten years hence, and therefore he might +just as well hold them now. Mr Wood having great influence +with him might keep him quiet, and so would the +Colonial seals, as he would get work enough. About Lord +Palmerston, he is satisfied, and would no more make any +difficulty.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 15: On the 23rd of March, in the course of a long speech on the state of Ireland, Earl Grey +had contrasted the poverty of the Roman Catholic Church in that country with the +affluence of the Establishment, diverted, as he said, by the superior power of England from +its original objects; adding that the Protestant Church was regarded by the great mass +of the Irish people as an active cause of oppression and misery.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell told me in the evening that he had forgotten +to mention one subject to the Queen: it was that Sir +Robert Peel by his speech and his special mention of Mr +Cobden as the person who had carried the great measure, had +made it very difficult for Lord John not to offer office to Mr +Cobden. The Whigs were already accused of being exclusive, +and reaping the harvest of other people's work. The only +thing he could offer would be a <i>Cabinet</i> office. Now this would +affront a great many people whom he (Lord J.) had to conciliate, +and create even possibly dissension in his Cabinet. +As Mr Cobden was going on the Continent for a year, Lord John +was advised by Lord Clarendon to write to Mr C., and tell him +that he had heard he was going abroad, that he would not +make any offer to him therefore, but that he considered him as +entitled once to be recommended for office to the Queen. +This he would do, with the Queen's permission....</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.85" id="pageii.85"></a>[page 85]</span> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW MINISTRY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>1st July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns these letters, with her best thanks. +The settlement of the Oregon question has given us the greatest +satisfaction. It does seem strange that at the moment of +triumph the Government should have to resign. The Queen +read Sir Robert Peel's speech with great admiration. The +Queen seizes this opportunity (though she will see Sir Robert +again) of expressing her <i>deep</i> concern at losing his services, +which she regrets as much for the Country as for herself and +the Prince. In whatever position Sir Robert Peel may be, we +shall ever look on him as a kind and true friend, and ever have +the greatest esteem and regard for him as a Minister and as a +private individual.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen will not say anything about what passed at Lord +John Russell's interview, as the Prince has already written to +Sir Robert. She does not think, however, that he mentioned +the wish Lord John expressed that Lord Liverpool should +retain his office, which however (much as we should personally +like it) we think he would not do.</p> + +<p class="ind">What does Sir Robert hear of the Protectionists, and what +do his own followers say to the state of affairs?</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">WHIG JEALOUSIES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>6th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Yesterday the new Ministry were installed at a Privy Council, +and the Seals of Office transferred to them. We had a long +conversation with Sir Robert Peel, who took leave. I mentioned +to him that his word of "Richard Cobden" had +created an immense sensation, but he was not inclined to enter +upon the subject. When we begged him to do nothing which +could widen the breach between him and his party, he said, +"I don't think that we can ever get together again." He +repeated that he was anxious not to undertake a Government +again, that his health would not stand it, that it was better +likewise for the Queen's service that other, younger men should +be brought forward. Sir Robert, Lord Aberdeen, and Sir +James Graham parted with great emotion, and had tears in +their eyes when they thanked the Queen for her confidence and +support. Lord Aberdeen means to have an interview with +Lord Palmerston, and says that when he (Lord A.) came into +office, Lord Palmerston and the <i>Chronicle</i> assailed him most +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.86" id="pageii.86"></a>[page 86]</span> +bitterly as an imbecile Minister, a traitor to his country, etc., +etc. He means now to show Lord P. the contrast by declaring +his readiness to assist him in every way he can by his advice, +that he would at all times speak to him as if he was his colleague +if he wished it.</p> + +<p class="ind">The new Court is nearly completed, and we have succeeded +in obtaining a very respectable and proper one, notwithstanding +the run which the Party made upon it which had been +formerly used to settle these matters, to <i>their</i> liking only. +The Government is not a united one, however, by any means. +Mr Wood and Lord Clarendon take the greatest credit in having +induced Lord Grey to join the Government,<sup>16</sup> and are responsible +to Lord John to keep him quiet, which they think they will +be able to do, as he had been convinced of the folly of his +former line of conduct. Still, they say Lord Lansdowne will +have the lead only nominally, that Lord Grey is to take it +really in the House of Lords. There is the <i>Grey Party</i>, consisting +of Lord Grey, Lord Clarendon, Sir George Grey, and +Mr Wood; they are against Lord Lansdowne, Lord Minto, +Lord Auckland, and Sir John Hobhouse, stigmatising them as +old women. Lord John leans entirely to the last-named +gentlemen. There is no cordiality between Lord John and +Lord Palmerston, who, if he had to make a choice, would even +forget what passed in December last, and join the Grey Party +in preference to Lord John personally. The curious part of +all this is that they cannot keep a secret, and speak of all their +differences. They got the <i>Times</i> over by giving it exclusive +information, and the leading articles are sent in and praise +the new Cabinet, but the wicked paper added immediately a +furious attack upon Sir John Hobhouse, which alarmed them +so much that they sent to Sir John, sounding him, whether he +would be hereafter prepared to relinquish the Board of Control. +(This, however, is a mere personal matter of Mr Walter, who +stood against Sir John at Nottingham in 1841 and was unseated.) +Sir John Easthope, the proprietor of the <i>Morning +Chronicle</i>, complains bitterly of the subserviency to the <i>Times</i> +and treason to him. He says he knows that the information +was sent from Lord John's house, and threatens revenge. +"If you will be ruled by the <i>Times</i>," he said to one of the +Cabinet, "the <i>Times</i> has shown you already by a specimen +that you will be ruled by a rod of iron."</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 16: In spite of the opposition of the latter to Palmerston's re-appointment to the Foreign +Office. See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.60" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 60</a>.</p> + +<p class="ind">A Brevet for the Army and Navy is proposed, in order to +satisfy Lord Anglesey with the dignity of Field-Marshal.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.87" id="pageii.87"></a>[page 87]</span> + +<p class="ind">The Protectionists, 150 strong, including Peers and M.P.'s, +are to give a dinner to Lord Stanley at Greenwich, at which he +is to announce his opinions upon the line they are to take. +Lord George Bentinck is there to lay down the lead which the +Party insisted upon. Who is to follow him as their leader in +the Commons nobody knows.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>7th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have to thank you for your kind +letter of the 3rd. It arrived yesterday, which was a very hard +day for me. I had to part with Sir R. Peel and Lord Aberdeen, +who are irreparable losses to us and the Country; they were +both so much overcome that it quite overset me, and we have +in them two devoted friends. We felt so safe with them. +Never, during the five years that they were with me, did they +<i>ever</i> recommend a <i>person</i> or a thing which was not for my or +the Country's best, and never for the Party's advantage only; +and the contrast <i>now</i> is very striking; there is much less respect +and much less high and pure feeling. Then the discretion of +Peel, I believe, is unexampled.</p> +<span class="rightnote">A WEAK GOVERNMENT</span> +<p class="ind">Stockmar has, I know, explained to you the state of affairs, +which is unexampled, and I think the present Government +<i>very</i> weak and extremely disunited. What may appear to you +as a mistake in November was an inevitable evil. Aberdeen +very truly explained it yesterday. "We had ill luck," he said; +"if it had not been for this famine in Ireland, which rendered +immediate measures necessary, Sir Robert would have prepared +them gradually for the change." Then, besides, the +Corn Law Agitation was such that if Peel had not wisely made +this change (for which the <i>whole</i> Country blesses him), a convulsion +would shortly have taken place, and we should have +been <i>forced</i> to yield what has been granted as a boon. No +doubt the breaking up of the Party (which <i>will</i> come together +again, whether under Peel or some one else) is a very distressing +thing. The only thing to be regretted, and I do not know +exactly <i>why</i> he did it (though we <i>can</i> guess), was his praise of +<i>Cobden</i>, which has shocked people a good deal.</p> + +<p class="ind">But I can't tell you how sad I am to lose Aberdeen; you +can't think what a delightful companion he was; the breaking +up of all this intercourse during our journeys, etc., is deplorable.</p> + +<p class="ind">We have contrived to get a <i>very</i> respectable Court.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert's use to me, and I may say to the <i>Country</i>, by his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.88" id="pageii.88"></a>[page 88]</span> +firmness and sagacity, is beyond all belief in these moments +of trial.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are all well, but I am, of course, a good deal overset by +all these tribulations.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">I was much touched to see Graham so very much overcome +at taking leave of us.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Hardinge.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S ANXIETY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>8th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen thanks Lord Hardinge for his interesting communications. +Lord Hardinge will have learnt all that has +taken place in the Country; one of the most brilliant Governments +this Country ever had has fallen at the moment of +victory! The Queen has now, besides mourning over this +event, the anxiety of having to see the Government carried on +as efficiently as possible, for the welfare of the Country. The +Queen would find a guarantee for the accomplishment of this +object in Lord Hardinge's consenting to continue at the head +of the Government of India, where great experiments have +been made which require unity of purpose and system to be +carried out successfully.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>10th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... The Queen approves of the pensions proposed by Lord +J. Russell, though she cannot conceal from him that she +thinks the one to Father Mathew a doubtful proceeding. It is +quite true that he has done much good by preaching temperance, +but by the aid of superstition, which can hardly be +patronised by the Crown.<sup>17</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is sure that Lord John will like her at all times +to speak out her mind, and has, therefore, done so without +reserve.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 17: The pension was, however, granted.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE FRENCH ROYAL FAMILY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>14th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—We are very happily established here +since Thursday, and have beautiful weather for this truly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.89" id="pageii.89"></a>[page 89]</span> +enjoyable place; we drive, walk, and sit out—and the nights +are so fine. I long for you to be here. It has quite restored +my spirits, which were much shaken by the sad leave-takings +in London—of Sir R. Peel, Lord Aberdeen, Lord Liverpool, etc. +Lord L. could <i>not well</i> have stayed. Lord Aberdeen was very +much overset.</p> + +<p class="ind">The present Government is weak, and I think Lord J. does +not possess the talent of keeping his people together. Most +people think, however, that they will get through this Session; +the only question of difficulty is the <i>sugar</i> question.</p> + +<p class="ind">I think that the King of the French's visit is more than ever +desirable—now; for if he were to be shy of coming, it would +prove to the world that this <i>new</i> Government was hostile, and +the <i>entente cordiale</i> no longer sure. Pray impress this on the +King—and I <i>hope</i> and <i>beg</i> he will let the dear Nemours pay +us a little visit in November. It would have the best effect, and +be so pleasant, as we are so dull in the winter all by ourselves. +I hope that in future, when the King and the Family are at <i>Eu</i>, +some of them will frequently come over to see us <i>here</i>. It +would be so nice and <i>so near</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now adieu, dearest Uncle. I hope I shall <i>not</i> have to <i>write</i> +to you again, but have the happiness of <i>saying de vive voix</i>, +that I am ever, your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SPANISH MARRIAGES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>16th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... With regard to the marriage of the Queen of Spain, +Viscount Palmerston has received a good deal of general information +from persons who have conversed with him on the +subject, but he has learnt nothing thereupon which was not +already known to your Majesty. The state of that matter +seems, in a few words, to be that the Count of Trapani is now +quite out of the question, that the Count of Montemolin, +though wished for by Austria, and in some degree supported +by the Court of the Tuileries, would be an impossible choice, +and that the alternative now lies between Don Enrique +and the Prince Leopold of Coburg, the two Queens being +equally set against the Duke of Cadiz, Don Enrique's elder +brother. In favour of Prince Leopold seem to be the two +Queens, and a party (of what extent and influence does not +appear) in Spain. Against that Prince are arrayed, ostensibly +at least, the Court of the Tuileries and the Liberal Party in +Spain; and probably to a certain degree the Government of +Austria.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.90" id="pageii.90"></a>[page 90]</span> + +<p class="ind">In favour of Don Enrique are a very large portion of the +Spanish nation, who would prefer a Spanish prince for their +Sovereign's husband; and the preference, expressed only as +an opinion and without any acts in furtherance of it, by your +Majesty's late Administration. Against Don Enrique are the +aversion of the Queen Mother, founded on her family differences +with her late sister, and the apprehensions of the present +Ministers in Spain, who would think their power endangered +by the political connection between Don Enrique and the more +Liberal Party. The sentiments of the King of the French in +regard to Don Enrique seem not very decided; but it appears +likely that the King of the French would prefer Count Montemolin +or the Duke of Cadiz to Don Enrique; but that he +would prefer Don Enrique to the Prince Leopold of Coburg, +because the former would fall within the category of Bourbon +princes, descended from Philip the Fifth of Spain, proposed +by the King of the French as the limited circle within which +the Queen of Spain should find a husband.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>16th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's interesting letter, +and is very much satisfied with his parting conversation with +Ibrahim Pasha, which she conceives will not be lost upon him. +The view Lord Palmerston takes about the present position of +the Spanish marriage question appears to the Queen quite +correct. She finds only one omission, which is Queen Isabella's +personal objection to Don Enrique, and the danger which +attaches to marriage with a Prince taken up by a Political +Party in Spain, which makes him the political enemy of the +opposite Party.<sup>18</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen thanks Lord Palmerston for his zeal about +Portugal, which is really in an alarming state.<sup>19</sup> She sends +herewith the last letter which she received from the King of +Portugal. The Queen is sorry to have lost the opportunity of +seeing Marshal Saldanha.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: On the 18th of July Lord Palmerston wrote his celebrated despatch to Mr Bulwer, and +unfortunately showed a copy of it to Jarnac, the French Ambassador in London. The +mention of Prince Leopold in it, as a possible candidate for the Queen of Spain's hand, +gave the French King and Minister the opportunity they wanted, and brought matters +to a crisis. See <i>Life of the Prince Consort</i>, vol. i. chap. xvii.; Dalling's <i>Life of Lord Palmerston,</i> +vol. iii. chaps. vii. and viii.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 19: Owing to the insurrection, a run took place on the Bank of Lisbon. The Ministry +(in which Saldanha was War Minister) had some difficulty in raising a loan.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.91" id="pageii.91"></a>[page 91]</span> + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PREROGATIVE OF DISSOLUTION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne House</span>, <i>16th July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's communication +of yesterday, and sincerely hopes that Lord John's sugar +measure<sup>20</sup> may be such that the Committee of the Cabinet, as +well as the whole Cabinet and <i>Parliament</i>, may concur in it, +which would save the country another struggle this year. The +Queen trusts, moreover, that late experience and good sense +may induce the West Indians to be moderate and accommodating. +As Lord John touches in his letter on the possibility +of a Dissolution, the Queen thinks it right to put Lord John +in possession of her views upon this subject <i>generally</i>. She +considers the power of dissolving Parliament a most valuable +and powerful instrument in the hands of the Crown, but which +ought not to be used except in extreme cases and with a +certainty of success. To use this instrument and be defeated +is a thing most lowering to the Crown and hurtful to the +country. The Queen strongly feels that she made a mistake +in allowing the Dissolution in 1841; the result has been a +majority returned against her of nearly one hundred votes; +but suppose the result to have been nearly an equality of +votes between the two contending parties, the Queen would +have thrown away her last remedy, and it would have been +impossible for her to get any Government which could have +carried on public business with a chance of success.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen was glad therefore to see that Sir Robert Peel did +not ask for a Dissolution, and she <i>entirely concurs</i> in the opinion +expressed by him in his last speech in the House of Commons, +when he said:</p> + +<p class="ind">"I feel strongly this, that no Administration is justified in +advising the exercise of that prerogative, unless there be a fair, +reasonable presumption, even a strong moral conviction, that +after a Dissolution they will be enabled to administer the +affairs of this country through the support of a party sufficiently +powerful to carry their measures. I do not think a +Dissolution justifiable to strengthen a party. I think the +power of Dissolution is a great instrument in the hands of the +Crown, and that there is a tendency to blunt that instrument +if it be resorted to without necessity.</p> + +<p class="ind">"The only ground for Dissolution would have been a strong +presumption that after a Dissolution we should have had a +party powerful enough in this House to give effect practically +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.92" id="pageii.92"></a>[page 92]</span> +to the measures which we might propose. I do not mean a +support founded on a concurrence on <i>one great question of +domestic policy</i>, however important that may be, not of those +who differ from us on almost all questions of public policy, +agreeing with us in one; but that we should have the support +of a powerful party united by a general concurrence of political +opinions."</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is confident that these views will be in accordance +with Lord John Russell's own sentiments and opinions upon +this subject.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 20: In pursuance of the policy of free trade, the Ministry introduced and passed a Bill +reducing the duties on foreign slave-grown sugar, with the ultimate intention of equalising +them with those on Colonial produce.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD MELBOURNE'S VIEWS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">South Street</span>, <i>21st July 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +He has just received your Majesty's letter of yesterday, and is +much delighted at again hearing from your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">What your Majesty says of the state of public affairs and +of parties in Parliament is true. But in November last Sir +Robert Peel had a party which might have enabled him to +have long carried on the Government if he had not most +unaccountably chosen himself to scatter it to the winds.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne is much gratified by the intimation that +your Majesty would not have been displeased or unwilling to +see him again amongst your confidential servants, but your +Majesty acted most kindly and most judiciously in not calling +upon him in November last, and John Russell has done the +same in forbearing to make to Lord Melbourne any offer at +present. When Lord Melbourne was at Brocket Hall during +the Whitsuntide holidays he clearly foresaw that Sir Robert +Peel's Government must be very speedily dissolved; and +upon considering the state of his own health and feelings, he +came to the determination, which he communicated to Mr +Ellice, who was with him, that he could take no active part in +the then speedily approaching crisis. He felt himself quite +unequal to the work, and also to that of either of the Secretaries +of State, or even of the more subordinate and less heavy +and responsible offices. He is very subject to have accesses +of weakness, which render him incapable for exertion, and +deprive his life of much of its enjoyment. They do not appear +at present to hasten its termination, but how soon they may +do so it is impossible to foretell or foresee.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne hopes that he shall be able to wait upon +your Majesty on Saturday next, but he fears the weight of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.93" id="pageii.93"></a>[page 93]</span> +the full dress uniform. He begs to be remembered to His +Royal Highness.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PRINCE AND PEEL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Drayton Manor, Fazeley</span>, <i>August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I shall be very happy to avail myself of your Royal +Highness's kind permission occasionally to write to your +Royal Highness. However much I am enjoying the contrast +between repose and official life, I may say—I hope without +presumption, I am sure with perfect sincerity—that the total +interruption of every sort of communication with your Royal +Highness would be a very severe penalty.</p> + +<p class="ind">It was only yesterday that I was separating from the rest of +my correspondence all the letters which I had received from +the Queen and your Royal Highness during the long period of +five years, in order that I might ensure their exemption from +the fate to which in these days all letters seem to be destined, +and I could not review them without a mixed feeling of gratitude +for the considerate indulgence and kindness of which +they contained such decisive proofs, and of regret that such +a source of constantly recurring interest and pleasure was +dried up.</p> + +<p class="ind">I can act in conformity with your Royal Highness's gracious +wishes, and occasionally write to you, without saying a word +of which the most jealous or sensitive successor in the confidence +of the Queen could complain.... Your faithful and +humble Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Robert Peel</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>3rd August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just seen Lord Bessborough, who presses +very much for her going to Ireland; she thinks it right to put +Lord John Russell in possession of her views on this subject.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is a journey which must one day or other be undertaken, +and which the Queen would be glad to have accomplished, +because it must be disagreeable to her that people should +speculate whether she <i>dare</i> visit one part of her dominions. +Much will depend on the proper moment, for, after those speculations, +it ought to succeed if undertaken.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is anxious that when undertaken it should be a +National thing, and the good which it is to do must be a permanent +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.94" id="pageii.94"></a>[page 94]</span> +and not a transitory advantage to a particular Government, +having the appearance of a party move.</p> + +<p class="ind">As this is not a journey of pleasure like the Queen's former +ones, but a State act, it will have to be done with a certain +degree of State, and ought to be done handsomely. It cannot +be expected that the main expense of it should fall upon the +Civil List, nor would this be able to bear it.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to Earl Grey.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CANADIAN AFFAIRS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>3rd August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord Grey</span>,—The Queen wishes me to return you +the enclosed letter. The subject of the Government of Canada +is one which the Queen has much at heart. Canada has been +for a long time, and may probably <i>still</i> be for the future, a +source of great weakness to this Empire, and a number of experiments +have been tried. It was in a very bad state before +the Union, continually embarrassing the Home Government, +and the Union has by no means acted as a remedy, but it may +be said almost to have increased the difficulties. The only +thing that has hitherto proved beneficial was the prudent, +consistent, and impartial administration of Lord Metcalfe. +Upon the continuance and consistent application of the +system which he has laid down and acted upon, will depend, in +the Queen's estimation, the future welfare of that province, +and the maintenance of proper relations with the mother +country. The Queen therefore is most anxious that in the +appointment of a new Governor-General (for which post she +thinks Lord Elgin very well qualified), regard should be had +to securing an uninterrupted development of Lord Metcalfe's +views. The Queen thought it the more her duty to make you +acquainted with her sentiments upon this subject, because she +thinks that additional danger arises from the impressions +which the different agents of the different political parties in +Canada try to produce upon the Home Government and the +imperial Parliament, and from their desire to mix up Canadian +<i>party</i> politics with general English <i>party</i> politics.<sup>21</sup> Ever +yours, +etc.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 21: In the event, Lord Elgin was appointed.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>4th August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and is greatly obliged to your Majesty for your Majesty's communication +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.95" id="pageii.95"></a>[page 95]</span> +respecting a Royal visit to Ireland. He concurs +in your Majesty's observations on that subject. He is of +opinion that if the visit partook in any way of a party character, +its effects would be mischievous, and not beneficial.</p> + +<p class="ind">He is also doubtful of the propriety of either incurring very +large expense on the part of the public, or of encouraging Irish +proprietors to lay out money in show and ceremony at a time +when the accounts of the potato crop exhibit the misery and +distress of the people in an aggravated shape.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE WELLINGTON STATUE</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>7th August</i> [<i>1846</i>].</p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to the Statue<sup>22</sup> on the arch on Constitution +Hill, the Queen is of opinion that if she is considered individually +she is bound by her word, and must allow the Statue to go +up, however bad the appearance of it will be. If the constitutional +fiction is applied to the case, the Queen acts by the +advice of her <i>responsible</i> advisers. One Government advised +her to give her assent, another advises the withdrawal of that +assent. This latter position has been taken in Lord Morpeth's +former letter to the Committee, and in the debate in the House +of Commons; it must therefore now be adhered to, and whatever +is decided must be the act of the Government. It would +accordingly be better to keep the word "Government" at the +conclusion of Lord Morpeth's proposed letter, and that the +Prince should not go to Town to give an opinion upon the +appearance of the figure, when up.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington at Hyde Park Corner was much +criticised at the time of its erection: it is now at Aldershot.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright">[<i>9th August 1846.</i>]</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord Palmerston</span>,—The Queen is much obliged +for Lord Howard de Walden's private letter to you, and begs +you will never hesitate to send her such private communications, +however unreserved they may be in their language, as +our chief wish and aim is, by hearing all parties, to arrive at a +just, dispassionate, and correct opinion upon the various +political questions. This, however, entails a strict scrutiny of +what is brought before us....</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.96" id="pageii.96"></a>[page 96]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND SPAIN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>17th August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received a draft to Mr Bulwer from Lord +Palmerston. The perusal of it has raised some apprehensions +in the Queen's mind, which she stated to Lord Palmerston she +would communicate to Lord John Russell.</p> + +<p class="ind">The draft lays down a general policy, which the Queen is +afraid may ultimately turn out very dangerous. It is this:</p> + +<p class="ind">England undertakes to interfere in the internal affairs of +Spain, and to promote the development of the present constitutional +Government of Spain in a more democratic direction, +and this for the avowed purpose of counteracting the influence +of France. England becomes therefore <i>responsible</i> for a particular +direction given to the <i>internal</i> Government of Spain, +which to control she has no sufficient means. All England can +do, and will have to do, is: to keep up a particular party in +Spain to support her views.</p> + +<p class="ind">France, knowing that this is directed against her, must take +up the opposite party and follow the opposite policy in Spanish +affairs.</p> + +<p class="ind">This must bring England and France to quarrels, of which +we can hardly foresee the consequences, and it dooms Spain +to eternal convulsions and reactions.</p> + +<p class="ind">This has been the state of things before; theory and experience +therefore warn against the renewal of a similar policy.</p> + +<p class="ind">The natural consequence of this is that Don Enrique would +appear as the desirable candidate for the Queen of Spain's +hand, and Lord Palmerston accordingly for the first time +deviates from the line hitherto followed by us, and <i>urges</i> Don +Enrique, which in the eyes of the world must stamp him as +"<i>an English Candidate</i>." Lord Palmerston, from his wish to +see him succeed, does, in the Queen's opinion, not sufficiently +acknowledge the obstacles which stand in the way of this combination, +and which all those who are on the spot and in the +confidence of the Court represent as almost insurmountable.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen desires Lord John Russell to weigh all this most +maturely, and to let her know the result.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>19th August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that he has maturely considered, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.97" id="pageii.97"></a>[page 97]</span> +together with Lord Palmerston, Lord Lansdowne, and Lord +Clarendon, your Majesty's observations on the draft sent by +Lord Palmerston for your Majesty's approbation.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell entirely concurs in your Majesty's wish +that England and France should not appear at Madrid as +countenancing conflicting parties. Lord John Russell did not +attach this meaning to Lord Palmerston's proposed despatch, +but he has now re-written the draft in such a manner as he +trusts will obtain your Majesty's approval.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell will pay the utmost attention to this +difficult and delicate subject.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SPANISH MARRIAGES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>19th August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and has endeavoured to modify and rearrange his +proposed instruction to Mr Bulwer in deference to your +Majesty's wishes and feelings as expressed to Lord John +Russell; and with this view also Viscount Palmerston has +divided the instruction into two separate despatches—the one +treating of the proposed marriage of the Queen, the other of +the possible marriage of the Infanta. But with regard to these +new drafts, as well as with regard to the former one, Viscount +Palmerston would beg to submit that they are not notes to be +presented to any Foreign Government, nor despatches to be in +any way made public; but that they are confidential instructions +given to one of your Majesty's Ministers abroad, upon +matters upon which your Majesty's Government have been +urgently pressed, to enable that Minister to give advice; and +Viscount Palmerston would beg also to submit that in a case +of this kind it would not be enough to communicate drily the +opinion of the British Government, without stating and explaining +some of the reasons upon which those opinions are +founded.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is quite evident from Mr Bulwer's communication, and +especially from the postscript to his despatch of the 4th of this +month, that Queen Christina, the Duke of Rianzares, and +Señor Isturitz, are earnestly and intently bent upon marrying +the Queen Isabella to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, and it +is very difficult to find conclusive grounds for saying that such +a match would not perhaps, on the whole, be the best for +Queen Isabella and the Spanish nation. But still, all things +considered, your Majesty's Government incline to the opinion +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.98" id="pageii.98"></a>[page 98]</span> +that a Spanish Prince would be a preferable choice, and they +are prepared to give that opinion to the Spanish Court.</p> +<span class="rightnote">DON ENRIQUE</span> +<p class="ind">There is however but one Spanish Prince whom it would be +creditable to the British Government to recommend as husband +to the Queen, and to that Prince Queen Christina is known to +feel objections, principally founded upon apprehensions bearing +upon her own personal interests. Viscount Palmerston has +endeavoured to furnish Mr Bulwer with such arguments in +favour of Don Enrique as appeared likely to meet Queen +Christina's fears, and he has occasion to believe, from a conversation +which he had a few days ago with Count Jarnac, that +the French Government, impelled by the apprehension that +your Majesty's Government intend to support Prince Leopold +of Coburg, would be willing, in order to draw the British +Government off from such a course, to give at least an ostensible +though perhaps not a very earnest support to Don Henry. +But your Majesty will no doubt at once perceive that although +the British Government may come to an understanding with +that of France as to which of the candidates shall be the one +in whose favour an opinion is to be expressed, it would be impossible +for the British Government to associate itself with that +of France in any joint step to be taken upon this matter, and +that each Government must act separately through its own +agent at Madrid. For the two Governments have not only +different objects in view in these matters, England wishing +Spain to be independent, and France desiring to establish a +predominant influence in Spain; but moreover, in regard to +this marriage question, Great Britain has disclaimed any right +to interfere except by opinion and advice, while France has +assumed an authority of dictation, and it is essential that your +Majesty's Government should so shape the mode of co-operating +with France as not to appear to sanction pretensions +which are founded in no right and are inconsistent with +justice.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston is by no means confident that the +joint advice of the British and French Governments in favour +of Don Enrique will be successful, and especially because he +fears that M. Bresson has taken so active a part in favour of +other arrangements, that he will not be very eager in support +of Don Enrique, and will perhaps think that if this arrangement +can be rendered impossible the chances may become +greater in favour of some other arrangement which he and his +Government may prefer. But such future embarrassments +must be dealt with when they arise, and Viscount Palmerston +submits that for the moment, unless the British Government +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.99" id="pageii.99"></a>[page 99]</span> +had been prepared to close with the offers of the Duke of +Rianzares, and to follow at once the course recommended by +Mr Bulwer, the steps suggested in the accompanying drafts +are the safest and the best.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston has great pleasure in submitting the +accompanying private letter from Mr Bulwer announcing the +withdrawal of the Spanish troops from the frontier of Portugal.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Bulwer to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DOUBLE BETROTHAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Madrid</span>, <i>29th August 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Lord</span>,—I have troubled your Lordship of late with +many communications....</p> + +<p class="ind">I have now to announce to your Lordship that the Queen +declared last night at twelve o'clock that she had made up her +mind in favour of His Royal Highness Don Francisco de Asis.... +Your Lordship is aware under what circumstances Don +Francisco was summoned here, the Court having been, when +I wrote on the 4th, most anxious to conclude a marriage with +Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, and only induced to abandon +this idea from the repeated intimations it received that it could +not be carried out....</p> + +<p class="ind">The same night a Council was held of the Queen Mother's +friends, who determined to bring matters forthwith to a conclusion. +Queen Christina, I understand, spoke to her daughter +and told her she must choose one of two things, either marrying +now, or deferring the marriage for three or four years. That +the Prince of Saxe-Coburg was evidently impossible; that +Count Trapani would be dangerous; that Don Henry had +placed himself in a position which rendered the alliance with +him out of the question, and that Her Majesty must either +make up her mind to marry her cousin Don Francisco de Asis, +or to abandon for some time the idea of marrying.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen, I am told, took some little time to consider, and +then decided in favour of her cousin. The Ministers were +called in, and the drama was concluded....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">H. L. Bulwer</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>P.S.</i>—I learn that directly the Queen had signified her intention +of marrying her cousin, Count Bresson formally asked +the hand of the Infanta for the Duke of Montpensier, stating +that he had powers to enter upon and conclude that affair, +and the terms of the marriage were then definitively settled +between M. Isturitz and him.</p> + + +<p class="author">H.L.B.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.100" id="pageii.100"></a>[page 100]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S INDIGNATION</span> + +<p class="indright">On Board the <i>Victoria and Albert</i>, <br /> +<span class="sc">Falmouth Harbour</span>, <i>7th September 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Though I have not heard from you +for ages, you will perhaps be glad to hear from us, and to hear +that our trip has been most successful. We left Osborne on +the 2nd, at eight in the morning, and reached Jersey at seven +that evening. We landed at St Heliers the next morning, and +met with a most brilliant and enthusiastic reception from the +good people. The island is beautiful, and like an orchard.</p> + +<p class="ind">The settlement of the Queen of Spain's marriage, <i>coupled +with Montpensier's</i>, is <i>infamous</i>, and we <i>must</i> remonstrate. +Guizot has had the barefacedness to say to Lord Normanby +that though <i>originally</i> they said that Montpensier should <i>only</i> +marry the Infanta <i>when</i> the Queen <i>was married</i> and <i>had +children</i>, +that Leopold's being named one of the candidates had +changed all, and that they must settle it now! This is <i>too</i> +bad, for <i>we</i> were so honest as <i>almost to prevent</i> Leo's marriage +(which <i>might</i> have been, and which Lord Palmerston, as matters +now stand, regrets much did not take place), and the return +is this unfair <i>coupling</i> of the <i>two</i> marriages which have nothing, +and ought to have nothing, to do with one another. The King +should know that <i>we</i> are extremely indignant, and that this +conduct is <i>not</i> the way to keep up the <i>entente</i> which <i>he</i> +wishes. +It is done, moreover, in such a <i>dishonest</i> way. I must do +Palmerston the credit to say that he takes it very quietly, and +will act very temperately about it.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">Vicky and Bertie enjoy their tour very much, and the people +here are delighted to see "the Duke of Cornwall."</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the French to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN OF THE FRENCH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Neuilly</span>, <i>8 Septembre 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame</span>,—Confiante dans cette précieuse amitié dont votre +Majesté nous a donné tant de preuves et dans l'aimable intérêt +que vous avez toujours témoigné à tous nos Enfants, +je m'empresse de vous annoncer la conclusion du mariage de +notre fils Montpensier avec l'Infante Louise Fernanda. Cet +événement de famille nous comble de joie, parce que nous +espérons qu'il assurera le bonheur de notre fils chéri, et que +nous retrouverons dans l'Infante une fille de plus, aussi bonne +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.101" id="pageii.101"></a>[page 101]</span> +et aussi aimable que ses Aînées, et qui ajoutera à notre bonheur +intérieur, le seul vrai dans ce monde, et que vous, Madame, +savez si bien apprécier. Je vous demande d'avance votre +amitié pour notre nouvel Enfant, sûre qu'elle partagera tous +les sentiments de dévouement et d'affection de nous tous pour +vous, pour le Prince Albert, et pour toute votre chère Famille. +Madame, de votre Majesté, la toute dévouée Sœur et Amie,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Marie Amélie</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Queen of the French.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>10 Septembre 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame</span>,—Je viens de recevoir la lettre de votre Majesté +du 8 de ce mois, et je m'empresse de vous en remercier. Vous +vous souviendrez peut-être de ce qui s'est passé à Eu entre le +Roi et moi, vous connaissez, Madame, l'importance que j'ai +toujours attachée au maintien de Notre Entente Cordiale et le +zèle avec lequel j'y ai travaillé, vous avez appris sans doute +que nous nous sommes refusés d'arranger le mariage entre la +Reine d'Espagne et notre Cousin Léopold (que les deux Reines +avaient vivement désiré) dans le seul but de ne pas nous +éloigner d'une marche qui serait plus agréable à votre Roi, +quoique nous ne pouvions considérer cette marche comme la +meilleure. Vous pourrez donc aisément comprendre que +l'annonce soudaine de ce <i>double mariage</i> ne pouvait nous causer +que de la surprise et un bien vif regret.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je vous demande bien pardon de vous parler de politique +dans ce moment, mais j'aime pouvoir me dire que j'ai toujours +été <i>sincère</i> envers vous.</p> + +<p class="ind">En vous priant de présenter mes hommages au Roi, je suis, +Madame, de votre Majesté, la toute dévouée Sœur et Amie,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">VIEWS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Terrace</span>, <i>12th September 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and returns with many acknowledgments the accompanying +letters which your Majesty has been pleased to send +him, and which he has thought your Majesty would wish him +also to communicate to Lord John Russell.</p> + +<p class="ind">The letter of the Queen of the French seems to Viscount +Palmerston to look like a contrivance to draw your Majesty on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.102" id="pageii.102"></a>[page 102]</span> +to express, in regard to the Montpensier marriage in its character +as a domestic arrangement, some sentiments or wishes +which might be at variance with the opinions which your +Majesty might entertain regarding that marriage in its political +character and bearing. But your Majesty's most judicious +answer has defeated that intention, if any such existed, and +has stated in a firm, but at the same time in the friendliest +manner, the grounds of complaint against the conduct of the +French Government in this affair.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston had yesterday afternoon a very long +conversation with the Count de Jarnac upon these matters.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston said that with regard to the marriage +of the Queen of Spain, that was a matter as to which the British +Government have no political objection to make. They +deeply regret that a young Queen should have been compelled +by moral force, and to serve the personal and political interests +of other persons, to accept for husband a person whom she can +neither like nor respect, and with whom her future life will +certainly be unhappy at home, even if it should not be characterised +by circumstances which would tend to lower her in the +estimation of her people. But these are matters which concern +the Queen and people of Spain more than the Government +and people of England. But that the projected marriage of the +Duke of Montpensier is a very different matter, and must +have a political bearing that must exercise a most unfortunate +effect upon the relations between England and France.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SPANISH MARRIAGES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>14th September 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have to thank you for a most kind +letter of the 31st from Basle, by which I was sorry to see that +your journey had been delayed, and that you were still not +well.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are, alas! sadly engrossed with this Spanish marriage, +which, though it does not threaten <i>war</i> (for the English care +very little about the Spanish marriages) threatens complications. +Albert has told you all that passed between the dear +Queen and me, and the very absurd ground on which the +French make their stand. The details of the story are very +bad—and I grieve to say that the good King, etc., have behaved +<i>very dishonestly</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">We have protested, and mean to protest very strongly, +against Montpensier's marriage with the Infanta, <i>as long as</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.103" id="pageii.103"></a>[page 103]</span> +<i>she is presumptive heiress to the Throne of Spain</i>. The King +departs from his principle, for <i>he insisted</i> on a <i>Bourbon, because</i> +he declared he would <i>not</i> marry one of his sons to the Queen; +and now he effects the Queen's marriage with the worst Bourbon +she could have, and marries his son to the Infanta, who in all +probability will become Queen! It is very bad. Certainly +at Madrid [Palmerston] mismanaged it—as Stockmar says—by +forcing Don Enrique, in spite of all Bulwer could say. If +our dear Aberdeen was still at his post, the whole thing would +not have happened; for he would <i>not</i> have forced Enriquito +(which enraged Christine), and secondly, Guizot would not +have <i>escamoté</i> Aberdeen with the wish of triumphing over him +as he has done over Palmerston, who has behaved most openly +and fairly towards France, I must say, in this affair. But +say what one will, it is <i>he again</i> who <i>indirectly</i> gets us into a +squabble with France! And it is such a personal sort of a +quarrel, which pains and grieves me so; and I pity the poor +good Piat,<sup>23</sup> whom we are very fond of. One thing, however, +I feel, that in opposing this marriage, we are not really affecting +his happiness, for he has never seen the Infanta—and she is a +child of fourteen, and not pretty. The little Queen I pity so +much, for the poor child dislikes her cousin, and she is said to +have consented <i>against her will</i>. We shall see if she really +does marry him. Altogether, it is most annoying, and must +ruffle our happy intercourse with the French family for a time +at least.</p> + +<p class="ind">I was obliged to write very strongly and openly to poor dear +Louise too. You may rely upon nothing being done rashly +or intemperately on our part. Lord Palmerston is quite ready +to be guided by us. In haste, ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">We go into our new house to-day.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-bottom: 8em;">Footnote 23: A name by which the Duc de Montpensier was sometimes called in the family circle.</p> + + +<a name="illusii.1" id="illusii.1"></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><a href="images/0118-1200.png"><img src="images/0118-370.png" width="370" height="474" alt="H.M. Marie Amelie, Queen of the French, 1828." border="0" /></a> +<p class="center">H.M. MARIE AMÉLIE, QUEEN OF THE FRENCH, 1828.</p> +<p class="center">From the miniature by Millet at Windsor Castle</p> +<p class="author" style="margin-bottom: 5em;"><i>To face p.</i> 104, Vol. II.</p></div> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Baron Stockmar to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>18th September 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Baron Stockmar has been honoured with your Majesty's +kind note of the 17th instant. The very day the Baron heard +of the Spanish news, he wrote to a man at Paris, whom the +King sees as often as he presents himself at the palace. In this +letter the Baron stated <i>fairly and moderately but without palliation</i> +in what light M. Bresson's conduct must necessarily appear +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.104" id="pageii.104"></a>[page 104]</span> +<i>in London</i>, and what very naturally and most probably <i>must be +the political consequences of such conduct</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Baron's statement was read to the King, word for word, +the very evening it reached Paris.</p> + +<p class="ind">His Majesty listened to it most attentively, and said after +some pause: "Notwithstanding all this, the marriage will +take place. I don't consider Montpensier's marriage an affair +between nations, and the English people, in particular, care +very little about it; it is much more a private affair between +myself and the English Secretary, Lord Palmerston, <i>and as +such</i> it will not bring on important political consequences."</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Queen of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LETTER TO QUEEN LOUISE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>18 Septembre 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Ma bien chère Louise</span>,—Je te remercie pour ton retour de +franchise; je ne désire pas que cette controverse entre de plus +dans notre correspondance privée, comme elle est le sujet et +le sera je crains encore davantage de discussion politique. +Je veux seulement dire qu'il est <i>impossible</i> de donner à cette +affaire le cachet d'une simple affaire de famille; l'attitude +prise à Paris sur cette affaire de mariage dès le commencement +était une fort étrange; il fallait toute la discrétion de Lord +Aberdeen pour qu'elle n'amenât un éclat plutôt; mais ce +dénouement, si contraire à la parole du Roi, qu'il m'a donnée +lors de cette dernière visite à Eu <i>spontanément</i>, en ajoutant à +la complication, pour la <i>première fois</i>, celle du projet de mariage +de Montpensier, aura mauvaise mine devant toute l'Europe.</p> + +<p class="ind">Rien de plus pénible n'aurait pu arriver que toute cette +dispute qui prend un caractère si personnel....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S INDIGNATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>21st September 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Uncle</span>,—I have to thank you very much for +your very kind letter of the 5th from Zurich. It is very unfortunate +that you should be so far off at this moment. Since +I wrote to you we have decided to remonstrate both at Madrid +(this went a week ago), and at Paris, but this last not in a +formal note but in a despatch to Lord Normanby, against this +very unjustifiable breach of faith on the part of France. We +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.105" id="pageii.105"></a>[page 105]</span> +have seen these despatches, which are very firm, but written +in a very proper and kind tone, exposing at the same time the +fallacy of what has been done; for the King himself declared +that he would <i>never</i> let <i>one of his sons marry</i> the Queen, he +<i>insisted</i> on her marrying a descendant of Philip V. This has +been done, and at the same moment he says his <i>son</i> is to marry +the <i>Infanta</i>, who may <i>become Queen to-morrow!</i> And to all +this he says, "C'est seulement une affaire de famille"! The +King is very fond of England, and still more of peace, and he +never <i>can</i> sacrifice this (for though it would not be immediate +war it would cause coolness with us and with other Powers, +and would probably lead to war in a short time), for a breach +of faith and <i>for one of his sons'</i> marriages. No quarrel or +misunderstanding +in the world <i>could be more disagreeable</i> and to me +<i>more cruelly painful</i>, for it is <i>so personal</i>, and has come into the +midst of all our communications and correspondence, and is +too annoying. It is so sad, too, for dear Louise, to whom one +cannot say that her father has behaved dishonestly. I hope, +however, another ten days will show us some <i>daylight</i>. I will +not mention anything about Leopold's<sup>24</sup> answer, as Albert will, +I doubt not, write to you all about it. It is very satisfactory, +however.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are since this day week in our charming new house, +which is delightful, and to-morrow we go, alas! to Windsor, +where we expect the Queen-Dowager and the Princess of Prussia, +who will remain a week with us. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">I received this afternoon your kind letter from Gais of the +12th. One word more I must just add. No doubt if Lord +Aberdeen had been at his post what has happened would <i>not</i> +have taken place, and suspicion of Lord Palmerston <i>has</i> been +the cause of the <i>unjustifiable</i> conduct of the French Government. +But just as they <i>did</i> suspect him, they should have +been more cautious to do anything which could bring on a +quarrel, which is surely not what the King can wish.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 24: Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>29th September 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I received last week your very kind +and <i>satisfactory</i> letter of the 16th. Your opinion on this +truly unfortunate and, on the part of the French, disgraceful +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.106" id="pageii.106"></a>[page 106]</span> +affair is a great support to us. Stockmar has, I know, communicated +to you what has passed, and he will send you copies +of the King's letter and my answer. Our conduct has been +throughout <i>honest</i>, and the King's and Guizot's the contrary. +<i>How</i> the King <i>can</i> wantonly throw away the friendship of one +who has stood by him with such sincere affection, for a <i>doubtful</i> +object of personal and family aggrandizement, is to me and to +the whole country inexplicable. Have <i>confidence</i> in <i>him</i> I fear +I never can again, and Peel, who is here on a visit, says a <i>war +may</i> arise any moment, <i>once</i> that the good understanding is +disturbed; think, then, that the King has done this in his 74th +year, and leaves this inheritance to his successor; and to whom—to +a <i>Grandchild</i>, and a <i>Minor!</i> And for Nemours and Paris, +<i>our</i> friendship is of the greatest importance, and yet he prefers +the troubles of governing Spain, which will be a source of constant +worry and anxiety, to the happy understanding so happily +existing between our two countries! I cannot comprehend +him. Guizot behaves shamefully, and so totally without good +faith. Our protests have been presented. I feel more than +ever the loss of our valuable Peel.</p> + +<p class="ind">I wish, dearest Uncle, you would not go to Paris at all at +present.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen-Dowager and the Princess of Prussia<sup>25</sup> have left +us this morning after a week's stay, and I have been delighted +with the Princess. I find her so clever, so amiable, so well +informed, and so good; she seems to have some enemies, for +there are whispers of her being <i>false</i>; but from all that I have +seen of her—from her discretion, her friendship through thick +and thin, and to her own detriment, for Hélène, and for the +Queen-Dowager who has known her from her birth, I <i>cannot</i> +and will not believe it. Her position is a very difficult one; +she is too enlightened and liberal for the Prussian Court not to +have enemies; but <i>I believe</i> that she is a friend to us and our +family, and I do believe that <i>I</i> have a friend in her, who may +be most useful to us. I must conclude, envying your being +in Tyrol. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 25: Marie Louise Augusta, daughter of the Grand Duke Charles of Saxe-Weimar, subsequently +Empress of Germany, mother of Prince Frederick William, afterwards the +Emperor Frederick, who in 1858 married the Princess Royal.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND THE THREE POWERS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>1st October 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes to express her approval of the step taken +by Lord Palmerston in urging the Three Northern Powers to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.107" id="pageii.107"></a>[page 107]</span> +join in the protest against the Montpensier marriage on the +ground of the Treaty of Utrecht and the Declaration of Philip V. +She thinks, however, that it is necessary to do more, and +wishes Lord Palmerston should send a note to the Cabinets +of the three Powers, explanatory of the whole of the proceedings +relative to the Spanish marriages, showing the attitude +taken by us from the first, and disclosing the facts which led +to this unfortunate termination. The three Powers ought to +be enabled to see the whole of the transaction if we wish them +to sympathise with us.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>1st October 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell saw Count Jarnac to-day, and told him +that your Majesty's displeasure had not been removed. He +had in his hands a memorandum, which is apparently word +for word the letter of the King of the French to the Queen of +the Belgians.<sup>26</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell observed that it was admitted that the +Duke of Montpensier was not to marry the Infanta till the +Queen of Spain had children, and that voluntary engagement +had been departed from. We might expect the same departure +from the professions now made not to interfere in the affairs +of Spain.</p> + +<p class="ind">Count Jarnac protested against this inference, and repeated +that the promise with regard to the Infanta was only conditional.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell expects that in consequence of the remonstrances +of England, and the attention of Europe to the +question, France will be cautious in her interference with the +internal government of Spain, and may probably not be able +to direct her external policy.</p> + +<p class="ind">M. Bresson has written a long letter to Lord Minto, defending +his own conduct.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 26: See Louis Philippe's long letter of the 14th of September, printed in the <i>Life of the +Prince Consort</i>, vol. i. Appendix B. Queen Victoria's complete and unanswerable reply +will be found there also.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SPANISH MARRIAGES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>6th October 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I thank you very much for your last +kind letter from Gais of the 23rd. This unfortunate Spanish +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.108" id="pageii.108"></a>[page 108]</span> +affair has gone on, heedlessly—and our <i>entente wantonly</i> thrown +away! I mourn over it, and feel deeply the ingratitude +shown; for—without boasting—I must say they never had a +<i>truer</i> friend than we; and one who <i>always</i> stood by them. +When Hadjy wrote that foolish <i>brochure</i>, who stood by him +through thick and thin, but we? and our friendship for the +children will ever continue, but how can we <i>ever</i> feel at our +ease with L. P. again? Guizot's conduct is beyond <i>all</i> belief +shameful, and so <i>shabbily</i> dishonest. Molé and Thiers both +say he cannot stand. It is the King's birthday to-day, but I +thought it better <i>not</i> to write to him, for to say <i>fine words</i> at +<i>this</i> +moment would be mockery. For my beloved Louise my +heart bleeds; it is <i>so</i> sad....</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. Begging you to believe me, ever +your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>17th November 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Uncle</span>,—I yesterday received your long and +interesting letter of the 14th. I would much rather not say +anything more about this truly unfortunate and painful +Spanish business; but in justice to myself I must make a few +observations. You say that the King thinks me <i>resentful</i>; +this is extraordinary, for I have no such feeling; my feelings +were and are <i>deeply</i> wounded at the unhandsome and secret +manner (so totally, in <i>letter</i> and <i>in meaning</i>, contrary to an +<i>entente cordiale</i>) in which this affair was settled, and in which +the two marriages were incorporated.</p> + +<p class="ind">What can I do?</p> + +<p class="ind">The King and French Government never <i>expressed regret</i> at +the sudden and <i>unhandsome</i> manner, to say the <i>least</i>, in which +they behaved to their <i>best ally</i> and <i>friend</i>, and <i>we</i> really +<i>cannot +admit</i> that <i>they have to forgive us for duping us!</i> Why have they +not tried to make <i>some</i> sort of apology? What do I do, but +remain silent <i>for the present</i>?</p> + +<p class="ind">It is a sad affair, but <i>resentment</i> I have none whatever, and +this accusation is a new version of the affair.</p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to Portugal, I refute most positively the unfounded +accusations against us; we <i>cannot</i> interfere in internal +dissensions beyond ensuring the personal safety of the King, +Queen, and Royal Family. The Constitution may be, +and I believe is, an unfortunate thing in those Southern countries; +but once it is established, the Queen must abide by it; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.109" id="pageii.109"></a>[page 109]</span> +but, unfortunately, the <i>coup de main</i> in sending away Palmella's +Government (which would inevitably have crumbled to pieces +of itself), was both unconstitutional and unsafe, and I fear +they are in a much worse position <i>vis-à-vis</i> of the country than +they ever were.<sup>27</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">We are all going to-morrow to Osborne for four weeks. +Ever your truly devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 27: The Duke de Palmella's Ministry was abruptly dismissed by the Queen of Portugal +on the 10th of October, in consequence of their inability to raise money on loan. Civil +war broke out, Das Antas, Loulé, Fornos, and Sà da Bandeira being the chief rebel leaders. +The British Fleet was ordered to the Tagus to support the Queen against her subjects, +with the ulterior object of restoring Constitutional Government.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ETON MONTEM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>19th November 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... Lord John Russell breakfasted with Dr Hawtrey yesterday, +and had much conversation with him. He finds Dr Hawtrey +strongly impressed with the evils of Montem, and he declared +himself as decidedly against its continuance. He thinks your +Majesty would please the Etonians equally by going to the +boats once a year, which he said the late King was in the habit +of doing. The Chancellor of the Exchequer,<sup>28</sup> who was at Eton, +wishes to see Montem abolished. Lord Morpeth would prefer +seeing it regulated. Upon the whole, Lord John Russell +thinks it would not be advisable for your Majesty to interpose +your authority against the decided opinion of Dr Hawtrey, +the Provost, and the assistants.<sup>29</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 28: Mr (who a few weeks later became Sir) Charles Wood.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 29: Montem, the triennial Eton ceremony, the chief part of which took place at Salt Hill +(<i>ad montem</i>), near Slough, was abolished in 1847.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duke of Wellington.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A PENINSULAR MEDAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>25th November 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has learned from various quarters that there still +exists a great anxiety amongst the officers and men who served +under the Duke of Wellington's orders in the Peninsula to +receive and wear a medal as a testimony that they assisted the +Duke in his great undertaking. The Queen not only thinks +this wish very reasonable, considering that for recent exploits +of infinitely inferior importance such distinctions have been +granted by her, but she would feel personally a great satisfaction +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.110" id="pageii.110"></a>[page 110]</span> +in being enabled publicly to mark in this way her sense of +the great services the Duke of Wellington has rendered to his +country and to empower many a brave soldier to wear this +token in remembrance of the Duke.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DUKE'S VIEW</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Strathfieldsaye</span>, <i>27th November 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble +duty to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has just now received your Majesty's most gracious +commands from Osborne, dated the 26th instant.</p> + +<p class="ind">He does not doubt that many of the brave officers and +soldiers who served in the armies in the Peninsula under the +command of the Duke are anxious to receive and wear a +medal, struck by command of the Sovereign, to commemorate +the services performed in that seat of the late war.</p> + +<p class="ind">Many of them have, upon more than one occasion, expressed +such desire, in their letters addressed to the Duke, in their +petitions to Parliament, and, as the Duke has reason to +believe, in petitions presented to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">Although the Duke has never omitted to avail himself of +every occasion which offered to express his deep sense of the +meritorious services of the officers and soldiers of the Army +which served in the Peninsula, he did not consider it his duty +to suggest to the Sovereign, under whose auspices, or the +Minister under whose direction the services in question were +performed, any particular mode in which those services of the +Army should be recognised by the State.</p> + +<p class="ind">Neither has he considered it his duty to submit such suggestion +since the period at which the services were performed, +bearing in mind the various important considerations which +must have an influence upon the decision on such a question, +which it was and is the duty of your Majesty's confidential +servants alone to take into consideration, and to decide.</p> + +<p class="ind">Neither can the Duke of Wellington now venture to submit +to your Majesty his sense of a comparison of the services of +the Army which served in the Peninsula, with those of other +armies in other parts of the world, whose recent services your +Majesty has been most graciously pleased to recognise by ordering +that medals should be struck, to commemorate each of +such services, one of which to be delivered to each officer and +soldier present, which your Majesty was graciously pleased to +permit him to wear.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.111" id="pageii.111"></a>[page 111]</span> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington humbly solicits your +Majesty, in grateful submission to your Majesty upon the +subject of the last paragraph of your Majesty's most gracious +letter, that, considering the favour with which his services +were received and rewarded by the gracious Sovereign, under +whose auspices they were performed; the professional rank +and the dignity in the State to which he was raised, and the +favour with which his services were then and have been ever +since received, that your Majesty would be graciously pleased +to consider upon this occasion only the well-founded claims +upon your Majesty's attention of the officers and soldiers who +served in the Army in the Peninsula; and to consider him, as +he considers himself, amply rewarded for any service which +he might have been instrumental in rendering; and desirous +only of opportunities of manifesting his gratitude for the +favour and honour with which he has been treated by his +Sovereign.</p> + +<p class="ind">All of which is humbly submitted to your Majesty by your +Majesty's most dutiful and devoted Servant and Subject,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Wellington</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>28th November 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord Palmerston's draft to +Mr Southern,<sup>30</sup> and must observe that she does not quite approve +the tone of it, as it will be likely only to irritate without +producing any effect. If our advice is to be taken, it must +be given in a spirit of impartiality and fairness. Lord Palmerston's +despatch must give the impression that we entirely +espouse the cause of the rebels, whose conduct is, to say the +least, illegal and very reprehensible. Lord Palmerston likewise +takes the nation and the Opposition to be one and the +same thing. What we must insist upon is a return to Constitutional +Government. And what we may advise is a compromise +with the Opposition. What Ministry is to be formed +ought to be left to the Portuguese themselves. It being the +28th to-day, the Queen is afraid the despatch went already +yesterday. The Queen hopes in future that Lord Palmerston +will not put it out of her power to state her opinion in good +time.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 30: Secretary of Legation at Lisbon, and Chargé d'Affaires in the +absence of Lord Howard +de Walden.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.112" id="pageii.112"></a>[page 112]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duke of Wellington.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PENINSULAR MEDAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Arundel Castle</span>, <i>1st December 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has not yet acknowledged the Duke of Wellington's +last letter.</p> + +<p class="ind">She fully appreciates the delicacy of the Duke in not wishing +to propose himself a step having reference to his own achievements, +but the Queen will not on that account forgo the satisfaction +of granting this medal as an acknowledgment on her +part of those brilliant achievements.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has been assured by Lord John Russell that her +confidential servants will be ready to assume the responsibility +of advising such a measure.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Arundel castle</span>, <i>2nd December 1846.</i> +(<i>Morning.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble +duty to your Majesty. He did not receive your Majesty's +commands, dated the 1st instant, in this Castle, till seven +o'clock in the afternoon; and being under the necessity of +attending at [? Dover] in the evening, he has not had it in his +power till this time to express his acknowledgment of the +receipt of them.</p> + +<p class="ind">He submits to your Majesty that he has always been aware +that it would be impolitic to confer upon the officers and +soldiers who served in the Peninsula the wished-for distinction +without the concurrence of your Majesty's confidential +servants.</p> + +<p class="ind">They alone can give the orders to carry into execution the +measure, and can adopt means to remedy any inconvenience +which may result from it; and it is satisfactory to him to +learn, from the perusal of your Majesty's note, that Lord +John Russell is disposed to adopt it, notwithstanding that the +Duke has no personal wish or feeling in the adoption of the +measure, excepting to see gratified the wishes of so many gallant +officers and brave soldiers, who have so well served.</p> + +<p class="ind">The few words which he addressed to your Majesty in his +last letter of the 27th of November in relation to himself, referred +to the expressions in that of your Majesty of the 26th +November, to the Duke; from which it appeared to be your +Majesty's intention "to empower many a brave soldier to wear +this token, in remembrance of the Duke."</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.113" id="pageii.113"></a>[page 113]</span> + +<p class="ind">Having stated to your Majesty that he would serve your +Majesty, and would promote the objects of your Majesty's +Government, to the utmost of his power, he has faithfully performed +his engagement, as he believes, to the satisfaction of +your Majesty's servants.</p> + +<p class="ind">His whole life being devoted to your Majesty's service, he is +most anxious to deserve and receive your Majesty's approbation.</p> + +<p class="ind">But he wishes that it should be conveyed only when it may +be convenient to your Majesty's Government. Your Majesty +and your Majesty's servants must be the best judges upon this +point, as well as whether the medal in question shall be struck +and granted at all or not.</p> + +<p class="ind">If granted, or whatever may be the mode in which granted, +or whether the Duke's name is recalled to recollection or not, +the Duke will be equally satisfied, and grateful for your +Majesty's gracious favour, and desirous to merit a continuance +of it, by his devotion to your Majesty's service.</p> + +<p class="ind">All of which is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most +dutiful Subject and most devoted Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Wellington</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S DECISION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>14th December 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has still to acknowledge Lord John Russell's +letter of the 11th. She has carefully read the Duke of Wellington's +letter to Lord John, which evinces all the Duke's honourable +feelings. He should certainly be relieved from the appearance +of having refused honours to others, but agreed to +the granting of them the moment it was intended to couple +the measure with an honour conferred upon himself. On the +other hand, the Queen still wishes the step to be taken as a +means of doing honour to the Duke. His name should, therefore, +certainly be connected with it. The introduction of the +names of other commanders, even of that of Sir John Moore, +the Queen does not think advisable. She does not quite understand +from Lord John's letter whether he proposes to adopt +the Duke's recommendation to <i>re</i>-issue all the medals formerly +granted, or to adhere to the original idea of striking a new one. +In the latter case, which appears the most natural, the word +"Peninsula" would cover all the campaigns, and in these the +Duke of Wellington had by far so much the greatest share that +his name being introduced on <i>all</i> the medals cannot be considered +as anomalous.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.114" id="pageii.114"></a>[page 114]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CRACOW</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>14th December 1846.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the enclosed private letters.<sup>31</sup> The view +Lord Palmerston takes of the affair of Cracow appears to the +Queen a very sound one, and she would much wish to see the +plan of a conference realised against which Lord Ponsonby +does not bring any very relevant reasons. Prince Metternich's +plan of a declaration "that the case is to be considered +an exceptional one and not to afford a precedent to other +powers" is too absurd. The Prince very justly compared +it to the case of a person giving another a box on the ear and +declaring at the same time that he is to consider it as exceptional, +and that it is in no way to afford him a precedent +for returning it. The Queen hopes the Cabinet will well consider +the question, and contrive to find means to prevent the +evil consequences of the unjustifiable step against Cracow by +speaking out in time, before Russia or France may have decided +on acts of further infraction of the Treaty of Vienna. +It seems quite clear that Russia was at the bottom of the +measure relative to Cracow, and it is therefore but reasonable +to expect that she has an ulterior object in view.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 31: The first ill fruits of the disruption of the <i>entente</i> between England and France were +seen in the active co-operation of Russia, Prussia, and Austria to destroy Polish independence. +See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.72" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 72</a>.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.115" id="pageii.115"></a>[page 115]</span> + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XVI</h3> + +<p>During the year 1847 the Parliament which had been elected in +1841 with a great Tory majority was dissolved, and, as a result, the +position of the Whig Ministry was slightly improved; but they were +still dependent on the support of Sir Robert Peel. A Factory Act +limiting the labour of women and children to ten hours a day +was passed. An autumn session was rendered necessary by an acute +financial crisis, the Ministry having authorised the Bank of England +to infringe the provisions of the recent Bank Charter Act, and as a +consequence being compelled to ask Parliament for an indemnity. +The knowledge of the Bank's authority to issue notes beyond the +prescribed limits was of itself sufficient to allay the panic. The +Church of England was convulsed by the promotion of Dr Hampden, +whom Lord Melbourne had made Regius Professor of Divinity at +Oxford, to the See of Hereford; his orthodoxy was impugned in a +memorial presented by thirteen bishops to the Prime Minister, and +an unsuccessful application was made to the Queen's Bench (the +Court being divided in opinion) to compel the Primate to hear +objections to Dr Hampden's consecration. The new House of +Lords was used for the first time this year.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the most important event in France was the cold-blooded +murder of the Duchesse de Praslin (daughter of Count Sebastiani, +formerly French Ambassador in England) by her husband, an incident +which, like the Spanish intrigue of 1846, contributed subsequently +to the downfall of the Orleanist dynasty.</p> + +<p>Switzerland was torn by internecine strife, partly owing to the +existence, side by side, of Catholic and Protestant cantons; the proposed +expulsion of Jesuits and the formation of the "Sonderbund" +were the questions of the day. The latter was an offensive and defensive +confederation of seven cantons, and civil war raged round +the question of its legality.</p> + +<p>In Italy the death of Pope Gregory XVI. and the election of a more +liberal successor induced Lord John Russell to send his father-in-law, +Lord Minto, the Lord Privy Seal, on a special mission to the new +Pope Pius IX., to encourage him in the path of Reform. But more +violent measures were in progress, and it was soon clear that Lombardy +and Venetia were rising against Austria, and the way being +paved for the Unity of Italy.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.116" id="pageii.116"></a>[page 116]</span> + +<p>Spain was in a ferment, frequent changes of Ministry taking place, +and the miserable marriage of the Queen having all the evil results +anticipated in England. Portugal continued in a state of civil war, +the British attempting to mediate, but the revolutionary Junta +refused to abide by their terms, and ultimately armed intervention +became necessary.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.117" id="pageii.117"></a>[page 117]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h5>1847</h5> + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>7th January 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The turn which the Portuguese affairs are now likely to take +is really very satisfactory. The Queen is sure that the Court +will not allow violent measures of revenge to be taken against +the vanquished party nor the overthrow of a Constitutional +Government; but the Queen of Portugal will have to punish +those who have broken their oath of allegiance, and will have +to remove from the country those who would infallibly ere long +plunge the country afresh into those <i>horrors</i> from which it is +just emerging. The further infusion of democracy into the +Charter would at this moment be quite misplaced, but this +opportunity should be taken by the Queen of Portugal to +<i>establish</i> a <i>state</i> of <i>legality</i> and <i>security</i>, by +compelling any new +Ministry to lay the accounts every year before the Cortes +(which has not been done for the last ten years, either by +Progressistas, Septembristas, or others), by establishing irremovable +judges, and appointing thereto incorruptible persons, +by <i>honestly and fairly</i> distributing the patronage in the +Army—apart from the party—which will now be possible as +the King has the command himself, and by adopting such +measures of <i>internal</i> improvement as will promote the <i>material</i> +welfare of the people.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>These</i> are the principles which the Queen would wish to +see <i>her</i> representative urge upon the Portuguese Court and +Government, and she has no doubt that they are in perfect +conformity with Lord John Russell's own views. The Queen +cannot help repeating that the tone and bearing of Mr Southern +are more those of a Portuguese Demagogue than of an English +Representative.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A CONCILIATORY POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Tuileries</span>, <i>15th January 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Victoria</span>,—I am truly happy to learn what +you say about your feelings on those troublesome politics; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.118" id="pageii.118"></a>[page 118]</span> +I can assure you that many people who are, in fact, quite indifferent +to politics, <i>renchérissent</i> in expressions of dislike and +contempt <i>seulement</i>, because they believe that you have those +opinions. Many wise people repeat sayings which they assume +to come from your own mouth, such, for instance, "that Louis +Philippe could never be trusted, being, after all, an old fox," +etc.</p> + +<p class="ind">The King's Speech was as unobjectionable as possible. I +trust that there will be no <i>bitterness</i> in yours. It is as much, if +not more, in the interest of Great Britain to keep France quiet +and continuing a peaceable policy than in that of France. +France, as the old Duke once said with great truth, has been +already <i>under water several times, what could be spoiled has been +spoiled</i>, what remains <i>is pretty solid</i>. To attack France in +France would lead to the most dangerous consequences. In +general, if we get once a great war again you will be sure to +have everywhere revolutions, and to imagine that you will +escape in England all reactions would be a grievous mistake. +When one looks to the changes, brought about in England in +consequence of the Revolution of July, one is quite astounded. +Here they changed nothing but the dynasty, in England <i>the +very spirit of the old Monarchy has been abolished</i>, and what +will be, in the course of time, the consequences, it is not easy +to tell. A bad Constitution acts strongly on the people. +Look to America, even to Belgium. Ever, my dearest Victoria, +your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>14th February 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell's memorandum contains two different +questions. The one is this: how far the interests of England +require an interference in the affairs of Portugal for the restoration +of peace in that country and the preservation of its Throne, +and how far England is bound by existing treaties to interfere.</p> + +<p class="ind">As to this question, it appears from Lord John's memorandum +that the ancient treaties having reference to <i>foreign</i> +invasion only are inapplicable to the present case, that the +Quadruple Treaty would revive on the appearance of Dom +Miguel in Portugal, that an understanding with Spain ought to +be come to for its execution, but Lord John does not make any +specific proposal.</p> + +<p class="ind">The other question is, what wrongs the Queen, the Ministers, +and the rebels may have done to bring about the present state +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.119" id="pageii.119"></a>[page 119]</span> +of affairs. This the Queen conceives can only be decided by +a <i>most minute, impartial, and anxious scrutiny</i>. She indignantly +rejects the notion to leave this decision to Mr Southern.... +Lord John's statement contains, however, nothing but +the echo of his reports.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John will upon reflection admit that to say "that +recent events exhibit a spirit of tyranny and cruelty in the +Portuguese Government <i>without a parallel</i> in any part of +Europe," there, where not <i>one</i> execution has taken place, is +rather a strong expression.</p> + +<p class="ind">That the cruelties and miseries inseparable from a Civil War +are to be deplored, there can be no doubt of, and it is in order +to stop a further continuance and perhaps aggravation of these +horrors, that the Queen is so anxious to see the struggle +brought to an early termination.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen hopes to see Lord John to-morrow at three +o'clock, when she hopes that he will be able to submit a definitive +step.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>14th March 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes again to call Lord John Russell's serious +attention to the state of Spain and Portugal, and to the policy +which has been pursued with regard to them, and the result of +this policy. In Spain we have taken up the cause of the +Progressistas, and what has been the consequence? They +desert us.</p> + +<p class="ind">We have no longer the slightest influence in that country; +France has it all her own way, and we shall see the Cortes +confirm the succession of the Infanta and her children without +being able to prevent it. Of the Progressistas, on whom Lord +Palmerston, Lord Clarendon, and others always placed their +hopes, Mr Bulwer says <i>now</i>: "The fact is, that though they +are the party least servile to France, they are the most impracticable +party, and belonging to a lower class of society, +who have not the same feelings of honourable and gentlemanlike +conduct which sometimes guide a portion, though a very +small one, of their opponents."</p> + +<p class="ind">In Spain therefore it is, the Queen fears, <i>too late</i>; but let us +not throw away this lesson, and, if it is still possible, not also +lose Portugal. Our influence there is fast going, and Sir H. +Seymour<sup>1</sup> confirms what <i>every one</i> but Mr Southern has stated +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.120" id="pageii.120"></a>[page 120]</span> +for the last two months, viz. that we are believed to be favourable +to the rebels; consequently, that no advice of ours will be +listened to. Sir H. Seymour further says: "I should have +been glad to have gained a little time, and not at the outset of +my mission to be obliged to call the Government to account +upon various scores. Your orders, however, leave me no +option, and I shall be obliged to administer a series of reproofs +which will, I fear, confirm the notion as to our unfriendly +feelings." This is the course the Queen thinks so very unfortunate; +trifles about two horses, the beating of a gardener +of Lord Howard's by some soldiers on a march in times of Civil +War, etc., are made topics of serious complaint. Most peremptory +notes are written, threatening the Government with our +men-of-war, whilst it is held to be unwise to threaten the +insurgents.</p> + +<p class="ind">Then, the Court is told to believe <i>our feelings of attachment</i> +for them!</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir H. Seymour says that his position is rendered very +difficult in consequence. We have now the results before us. +Let us, therefore, before Portugal, our ancient ally, turns also +away from us, and leans to France or Spain in preference, as +she <i>must</i>, if we give her such doubtful support, try to pursue +a more conciliatory course; these peremptory and dictatory +notes, these constant complaints, produce the worst and most +unfortunate effect.</p> + +<p class="ind">These very Septembristas have been always the greatest +enemies of England, and would be the first to turn against us +should they succeed.</p> + +<p class="ind">There should more latitude be given to the resident Minister +not to press things at moments when they produce embarrassment +to a Government already <i>tottering</i>, but to give him the +option of waiting for a fit opportunity, and for the manner in +which it is to be done, which a person on the spot can be a +better judge of than we can in England.</p> + +<p class="ind">Once more the Queen earnestly warns Lord John of the +imminent danger of England losing <i>all</i> legitimate influence in +Portugal, which ought now, more than ever, to be of the +greatest <i>importance</i> to us.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has in all this <i>spoken</i> solely of English influence, +but this influence becomes of still greater importance to her +when the Sovereigns of that country are her near and dear +relations.<sup>2</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: Envoy Extraordinary at Lisbon.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 2: This letter at once bore fruit, a conference being held in London between the representatives +of Great Britain, Spain, France, and Portugal, and armed co-operation to +enforce the acceptance of certain terms by the Revolutionary Junta being decided +upon.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.121" id="pageii.121"></a>[page 121]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SEPTENNIAL ACT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>19th March 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your +Majesty. Lord John Russell thinks it right to state to your +Majesty that the prevailing opinion in the Cabinet is that when +the necessary business in the House of Commons has been +finished, a Dissolution of Parliament should take place.</p> + +<p class="ind">This course would be conformable to the usage from the +passing of the Septennial Act till 1830. From 1830 to the present +year no House of Commons has been allowed to continue +six years. The Dissolutions of Lord Grey in 1831 and 1832, +of Sir Robert Peel in 1834, the death of William the Fourth in +1837, Lord Melbourne's Dissolution in 1841, have all interrupted +the natural life of Parliaments. But all Governments +since the accession of the House of Hanover have been of +opinion (with one or two exceptions) that it is hazardous to +allow a Parliament to continue seven years, as circumstances +may arise making a Dissolution very detrimental to the public +welfare.</p> + +<p class="ind">These being general considerations, Lord John Russell would +reserve any decision on the subject till the moment shall arrive +when a Dissolution may appear to your Majesty's advisers to +be the course most likely to secure moderate and fair elections.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>25th March 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen with pleasure approves the appointment of Lord +Clarendon's brother to the vacant stall at St Paul's. The +Queen would, however, draw Lord John's attention generally +to the mode of filling up those Church sinecures. She is quite +aware how necessary it is for a Minister to be able to recommend +to such places persons of political connections, but she +thinks that where it can be done, it would be of great use both +to the Church and the country to give these places of emolument +to Churchmen distinguished for their <i>scientific attainments</i>, +who have neither the means nor the time to prosecute +their researches, whilst their labours might be of the greatest +importance to the country. Such person of this kind, for +instance, the Prince thinks, is a Mr Cureton, who has just +published the <i>real</i> epistles of St Ignatius, which he translated +from the Syriac, and is about to produce a Gospel of St Matthew +which is considered the undoubted original in the Coptic +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.122" id="pageii.122"></a>[page 122]</span> +dialect, and other most important documents lately acquired +for the British Museum.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FOREIGN OFFICE DRAFTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>17th April 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has several times asked Lord Palmerston, through +Lord John Russell and personally, to see that the drafts to our +Foreign Ministers are not despatched <i>previous</i> to their being +submitted to the Queen. Notwithstanding, this is still done, +as for instance to-day with regard to the drafts for Lisbon. +The Queen, therefore, once more repeats her desire that Lord +Palmerston should prevent the recurrence of this practice.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>18th May 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has the painful duty of announcing to +your Majesty the death of the Earl of Bessborough.<sup>3</sup> The +firmness and kindness of his temper, together with his intimate +knowledge of Ireland and his sound judgment, make this event +a public misfortune.</p> + +<p class="ind">It appears to Lord John Russell very desirable that his +successor should be named without loss of time, and as the +Cabinet agreed yesterday that the Earl of Clarendon was the +fittest person for the office, Lord John Russell would suggest +that a Council should be held on Thursday next, at the hour +your Majesty may appoint, for a Council for the purpose of the +declaration of your Majesty's pleasure.</p> + +<p class="ind">It was the opinion of the Cabinet that although it is advisable +finally to abolish the office of Lord-Lieutenant, it is not advisable +to propose any measure, or make any announcement +for the present.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: John William, formerly Lord Duncannon, 4th Earl, born 1781; Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">JENNY LIND</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>12th June 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—We are here in terrible hot water, +though <i>I</i> think we shall get out of it.<sup>4</sup> But only think that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.123" id="pageii.123"></a>[page 123]</span> +Radicals <i>and</i> Protectionists join to attack Government for our +interference in Portugal! A change of Government on such +a subject would be <i>full</i> of mischief for the future, independent +of the great momentary inconvenience; but it would cripple +all future Governments in their future conduct respecting +Foreign Affairs, would create distrust abroad in our promises, +and is totally contrary to England's ancient policy of upholding +Portugal.</p> + +<p class="ind">In short, it would be <i>very</i> bad. The old Duke will do <i>every</i> +thing to set matters right.</p> + +<p class="ind">To-night we are going to the Opera in state, and will hear and +see Jenny Lind<sup>5</sup> (who is perfection) in <i>Norma</i>, which is considered +one of her best parts. Poor Grisi is quite going off, and +after the pure angelic voice and extremely quiet, perfect acting +of J. Lind, she seems quite <i>passée</i>. Poor thing! she is <i>quite</i> +furious about it, and was excessively impertinent to J. Lind.</p> + +<p class="ind">To-morrow we go to a ball at Stafford House, and on Thursday +to one at Gloucester House. Ever your truly devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 4: The Government were severely attacked by a coalition of Radicals and Protectionists +for their intervention in Portugal. A hostile motion of Lord Stanley's in the House of +Lords was opposed by the Duke of Wellington and defeated, while one of Mr Hume's +in the House of Commons was talked out, Sir Robert Peel supporting the Ministry.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 5: She made her <i>début</i> in London on the 4th of May in <i>Roberto il Diavolo</i>. The Queen +had heard her sing previously at Stolzenfels. In May 1849, after singing for two years +to enthusiastic audiences, she retired from the stage, and made extended concert tours in +Europe and America. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE WELLINGTON STATUE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>12th July 1847.</i><br /> +(<i>Five in the afternoon</i>.) </p> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble +duty to your Majesty. He submits to your Majesty the expression +of his sorrow and shame that your Majesty should be +troubled for a moment by anything so insignificant as a statue +of himself.</p> + +<p class="ind">When he first heard of the intention to remove the statue +from the pedestal on which it had been placed, he was apprehensive +that the measure might be misconstrued and misrepresented +in this country as well as abroad.</p> + +<p class="ind">That feeling was increased when the probable existence of +such misconstruction was adverted to in one of the printed +papers circulated by the Committee for the erection of the +statue; and still farther when the removal became the subject +of repeated discussions in Parliament. His daily experience +of your Majesty's gracious reception of his endeavours to serve +your Majesty; and the events of every day, and the repeated +marks which he received of your Majesty's consideration and +favour proved clearly, as the Duke stated in his letter to Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.124" id="pageii.124"></a>[page 124]</span> +John Russell, that there was no foundation for the misconstruction +of the intended act—which undoubtedly existed. +The apprehension of such misconstruction had from the first +moment created an anxious wish in the mind of the Duke that +the removal should be so regulated and should be attended by +such circumstances as would tend to relieve the transaction +from the erroneous but inconvenient impression which had +been created.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke apprehended that he might find it impossible to +perform the duties with which he had been entrusted, and +therefore, when Lord John Russell wrote to him, he deprecated +the measure in contemplation; and he rejoices sincerely that +your Majesty has been most graciously pleased to countermand +the order for the removal of the statue.</p> + +<p class="ind">All of which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty by +your Majesty's most dutiful Subject and most devoted Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Wellington</span>.<sup>6</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 6: The Duke of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Wellingon'">Wellington</ins> wrote to Croker, 19th of December 1846:—"I should desire +never to move from my principles of indifference and non-interference on the subject of +a statue of myself to commemorate my own actions."</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">And again, on the 14th of June 1847, the Duke wrote to Croker:—"It has always been +my practice, and is my invariable habit, to say nothing about myself and my own actions.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"More than forty years ago Mr Pitt observed that I talked as little of myself or my own +acts as if I had been an assistant-surgeon of the army....</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"I follow the habit of avoiding to talk of myself and of what I have done; with the +exception only of occasions when I am urging upon modern contemporaries measures +which they don't like, and when I tell them I have some experience, and have had some +success in these affairs, and feel they would experience the benefit of attending to my +advice, I never talk of myself.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"These are the reasons for which they think that I don't care what they do with the +statue.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"But they must be idiots to suppose it possible that a man who is working day and +night, without any object in view excepting the public benefit, will not be sensible of a +disgrace inflicted upon him by the Sovereign and Government whom he is serving. The +ridicule will be felt, if nothing else is!"... +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>12th July 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has been informed by Lord John Russell that the +Duke of Wellington is apprehensive that the removal of his +statue from the Arch to another pedestal might be construed +as a mark of displeasure on her part. Although the Queen had +hoped that her esteem and friendship for the Duke was so well +known to the public in general as not to render such a construction +possible, and although she had thought that another +pedestal would have been more suitable for <i>this</i> statue, and +that the Arch might have been more becomingly ornamented +in honour of the Duke than by the statue <i>now</i> upon it, she has +given immediate direction that the Statue should remain in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.125" id="pageii.125"></a>[page 125]</span> +its present situation, and only regrets that this monument +should be so unworthy of the great personage to whose honour +it has been erected.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Hardinge to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">INDIAN AFFAIRS</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>27th July 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Hardinge, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, +humbly acknowledges the letter in which your Majesty has +been graciously pleased to approve of his conduct in the +Government of your Majesty's Eastern Empire, and to sanction +his return to Europe the end of this year.</p> + +<p class="ind">It will always be a source of happiness to Lord Hardinge to +have contributed his efforts towards maintaining the stability +of your Majesty's Indian possessions committed to his charge, +and he feels, in the performance of these duties, that the +approbation of his Sovereign is the most grateful distinction +to which honourable ambition can aspire.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Governor-General entertains the most sanguine expectations +that peace has been securely established beyond the +north-west frontiers, as well as throughout India, and in this +confidence he has ordered nearly 50,000 men of the native +force to be reduced, which reductions have caused no discontent, +being for the most part voluntary on the part of the men and +accompanied by gratuities in proportion to the service performed.</p> + +<p class="ind">As regards internal dangers, there is no native power remaining +able to face a British army in the field. The people +are very generally engaged in trade and agriculture, and to a +great extent in the British Provinces no longer carry arms. +Confidence in the protection of the Government has superseded +the necessity. Formerly trade and wealth were concentrated +in a few large cities—and Indian manufactures have +been ruined by cheaper goods sent from England; but wealth +and comfort have, under British rule, been more extensively +diffused through the agricultural districts, and all classes, +including the warlike tribes, are becoming more devoted to +the happier and safer pursuits of peace.</p> + +<p class="ind">In this state of things Lord Hardinge entertains a very confident +expectation that the Government of India, by judicious +attention to the native army in time of peace—which may +have its peculiar dangers—will maintain due subordination in +its ranks; and by abstaining from all interference in the religious +prejudices of the people, will secure their loyal attachment +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.126" id="pageii.126"></a>[page 126]</span> +to your Majesty, and their willing obedience to the +Governor acting in your Majesty's behalf.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Hardinge has the honour to subscribe himself your +Majesty's most humble and dutiful Subject and Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Hardinge</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A GENERAL ELECTION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>5th August 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that he considers the elections +which have taken place since he last addressed your Majesty +as satisfactory.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Liberal gains, upon the whole, have been upwards of +thirty, and when the elections are concluded will probably be +upwards of forty.</p> + +<p class="ind">The rejection of so distinguished a man as Mr Macaulay<sup>7</sup> +is the most disgraceful act in the whole election. It has only +a parallel in the rejection of Mr Burke by the city of Bristol.</p> + +<p class="ind">The result of the whole elections will be, even if Sir George +Grey is defeated in Northumberland, that neither Lord John +Russell or any other Minister will have the command of a +regular party majority.</p> + +<p class="ind">But it is probable that Government will be sufficiently strong +to resist both a reaction against free trade, and any democratic +movement against the Church or the aristocracy.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: In consequence of his vote on Maynooth. The poem he wrote on the present occasion +will be remembered. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE IRISH ELECTIONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>21st August 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that Lord Fitzwilliam writes that +he shall feel hurt if the Earldom of Strafford should be given to +Lord Strafford.</p> + +<p class="ind">To save his feelings on this subject (Lord Fitzwilliam having +the first Wentworth Earl of Strafford's property), Lord John +Russell would humbly propose that Lord Strafford should be +created Earl of Middlesex.</p> + +<p class="ind">But as the relations of the late Duke of Dorset might also +object, Lord John Russell will adhere to his original proposal +if your Majesty should deem it best.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.127" id="pageii.127"></a>[page 127]</span> + +<p class="ind">In fact, many titles have been given in succession to different +families. Leinster, Orford, Westmorland, are familiar instances.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has drawn up a paper respecting the Irish +elections, on which the Prince wished to have his remarks. +The subject is a dark and a dreary one....</p> + +<p class="ind">Changes of Ministry may occur, but it is to be hoped that +your Majesty may be enabled to keep the present Parliament +for five or six years. For nothing tends so much to favour +such reformations, to impede sober improvements, and to +make members stand in servile awe of their constituents, as +frequent General Elections.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell is happy to see in the newspapers the +successful progress of your Majesty's journey. It has occurred +to Lord John Russell that as the harvest is very promising, +and the election heats will have subsided, it may be desirable +that your Majesty should go for three days to Ireland on your +Majesty's return. The want of notice might in some respects +be favourable, and would be an excuse to many Irish peers, +who might otherwise complete their ruin in preparations.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Earl Fitzwilliam.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>3rd September 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Fitzwilliam's letter of the 31st.<sup>8</sup> +As she sees Lord Strafford's elevation to an Earldom already +announced in the <i>Gazette</i> of the same day, it will be impossible +for the Queen to have the question of Lord Fitzwilliam's adverse +claim reconsidered. She thinks it right, however, to say, +that, knowing that the Wentworth property came to Lord +Fitzwilliam, it was only after the Heralds College had proved +that Lord Strafford was the representative of the Earl of +Strafford of the Second Creation, whilst Lord Fitzwilliam was +not properly considered the representative of the first, that the +Queen approved the selection of the title of Earl of Strafford +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.128" id="pageii.128"></a>[page 128]</span> +for the present Lord. The Queen is very sorry to find that +this step should have been annoying to Lord Fitzwilliam, for +whom she has ever entertained a sincere regard. She has sent +his letter on to Lord John Russell.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 8: On John, Baron Strafford, who as Sir John Byng had been distinguished in the +Peninsula and at Waterloo, receiving the Earldom of Strafford, Lord Fitzwilliam had +written: "Your Majesty has, undoubtedly, the power of conferring this, or any other +titular dignity, according to your good pleasure, but I venture to hope that, if it be your +Majesty's pleasure to revive the Earldom of Strafford, it will not be bestowed upon any +other person than the individual who has now the honour of addressing your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"The name and history of the first Earl of Strafford is, of course, familiar to your +Majesty, and I venture to conclude that your Majesty is not unaware of my being his +descendant, his heir, and his successor. I own his lands, I dwell in his house, I possess +his papers, and, if neither my father nor myself have ever applied to the Crown for a +renewal of his titles, it has not been because either of us was indifferent to those honours +or to the favour of the Sovereign, but because we were well aware of the embarrassment +which such applications frequently occasion to the Crown and its advisers." +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MISSION TO THE VATICAN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Ardverikie</span>, <i>3rd September 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's two letters of +the 31st and 1st inst., and is glad to find that the views +expressed in the Prince's Memorandum coincide with those +entertained by Lord John and Lord Palmerston, and also by +Lord Minto, as she infers. As it seems difficult to find a person +of inferior rank and position than Lord Minto, and of equal +weight, the Queen sanctions his undertaking the mission on +the understanding that the object of it will be communicated +beforehand to the Courts of Vienna and Paris, and that both +these Governments will be made fully acquainted with the +position England thinks herself bound to take with regard to +the Italian controversy.<sup>9</sup> After this shall have been done, the +sending of Sir William Parker with his fleet to the West Coast +of Italy strikes the Queen as a very proper measure to give +countenance to the Sovereigns engaged in Liberal Reform, +and exposed alike to the inroads of their absolutist neighbour, +and to the outbreaks of popular movements directed by a +republican party, and perhaps fostered by the Austrian +Government.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 9: Lord John Russell proposed that Lord Minto should be sent on a special mission to +the Vatican. <i>See</i> Introductory Note for the Year, <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.115" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 115</a>. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Ardverikie</span>, <i>7th September 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I thank you much for your kind letter +of the 28th. Mamma writes me <i>such</i> a good report of you +both, which gives us the greatest pleasure. I hope you like +young Ernest? This horrid Praslin tragedy <sup>10</sup> is a subject one +cannot get out of one's head. The Government can in no way +be accused of these murders, but there is <i>no</i> doubt that the +<i>standard of morality</i> is <i>very low</i> indeed, in France, and that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.129" id="pageii.129"></a>[page 129]</span> +higher classes are extremely unprincipled. This must shake +the security and prosperity of a nation. In my opinion, +nothing has gone on so well since the <i>unfortunate</i> false move +of the Spanish marriages, and I think you will admit <i>que cela +n'a pas porté bonheur au Roi</i>. I am very anxious to explain +that I was out of spirits, and, I fear, humour, when I wrote to +you last, for I <i>love</i> this place dearly, and the quiet, simple and +wild life we lead here, particularly, in spite of the <i>abominable</i> +weather we have had; and I <i>am not</i> the enemy of <i>La Chasse</i>, +as I expressed myself—on the contrary, I am very keen about +it, and am only annoyed at being unable to see it all. Really, +when one thinks of the <i>very dull life</i>, and particularly the life +of constant <i>self-denial</i>, which my poor, dear Albert leads, he +deserves <i>every</i> amusement in the world, and even about his +amusements he is so accommodating that I am deeply touched +by it. He is very fond of shooting, but it is all with the +greatest moderation. Do you know that you never wished +Albert joy of his birthday?</p> + +<p class="ind">The state of politics in Europe is very critical, and one feels +<i>very</i> anxious for the future.</p> + +<p class="ind">With my dearest Albert's love, and mine, to my beloved +Louise. Believe me, ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 10: The sensational murder in Paris of the Duchesse de Praslin, daughter of the diplomatist, +Sebastiani, by her husband, who committed suicide. This event, as well as the affair +of the Spanish marriages, largely contributed to the Orleanist catastrophe of 1848, for it +was suspected that the Court and the police had not merely connived at, but had actually +furnished the means for, the Duke's suicide, in order to prevent certain exposures which +would have resulted from his trial. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PORTUGAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>9th October 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received these drafts, which she has read +attentively, and thinks very proper; she only perceives <i>one</i> +omission which should be rectified, viz. the one in which Lord +Palmerston directs Sir H. Seymour and the Admiral to remain +perfectly neutral in case of a conflict, and that is that our Fleet +should naturally give protection to the persons of the King and +Queen and Royal Family in case of danger, for we cannot +allow them to be <i>murdered</i>, even if we should not be able to +prevent their losing their Crown (which God forbid).</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must <i>again</i> observe that the drafts have since +some weeks past been sent to her <i>after</i> they were gone, so that +she can make no remark upon them. The Queen wishes to +have copies of these drafts.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CRISIS IN THE CITY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>14th October 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +He has seen the Governor (Mr Morris) and Deputy-Governor +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.130" id="pageii.130"></a>[page 130]</span> +(Mr Prescott) of the Bank, Mr Jones Loyd<a id="footnotetagXVI11" name="footnotetagXVI11"></a><a href="#footnoteXVI11"><sup>11</sup></a> and Mr Newman. +Sir Charles Wood has seen many others connected with the +City, and they have both made statements to the Cabinet.</p> + +<p class="ind">The general result is: That an unsound state of trade has +prevailed for some time.</p> + +<p class="ind">More failures may be expected.<a id="footnotetagXVI12" name="footnotetagXVI12"></a><a href="#footnoteXVI12"><sup>12</sup></a></p> + +<p class="ind">The funds may fall still lower.</p> + +<p class="ind">Any interference by Government in the way of issuing more +notes might postpone but would aggravate the distress.</p> + +<p class="ind">The railway calls add much to the present difficulty.</p> + +<p class="ind">No forcible interference with railways would be justifiable, +but a voluntary postponement of the execution of their Acts +might be proposed to Parliament.</p> + +<p class="ind">It will be seen by this short summary that the persons who +by official position, practical experience, and much reflection +are most capable of giving an opinion think that little or +nothing can be done by Parliament or by Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is one of those revulsions in trade which take place +periodically, increased in extent by the expansion of commerce, +but controlled in its operation by the sound principles +of currency which have lately prevailed.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Act of 1844 is generally blamed, but without the least +reason. The accommodation afforded by the Bank has been +large, liberal, and continuous. The circulation of notes approaches +nineteen millions.</p> +<span class="rightnote">MR COBDEN</span> +<p class="ind">Upon fully considering the difficulty of finding a person of +ability and experience to place at the head of the Poor Law +Commission, Lord John Russell has come to the conclusion +that the best course he can take is to propose to Mr Cobden +to accept the Presidency with a seat in the Cabinet, and to +propose to the Duke of Bedford at the same time a seat in the +Cabinet without office.</p> + +<p class="ind">Various reasons for making this offer to Mr Cobden will +occur to your Majesty. His ability, his popularity with the +working classes, and his knowledge of sound principles of +political economy are undoubted. Sir Robert Peel's tribute to +him has raised him both on the Continent and in this country, +so that his presence in the Cabinet would give satisfaction to +many.</p> + +<p class="ind">On the other hand, the landed nobility and gentry would +be glad to see the Duke of Bedford take part in the deliberations +of the Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">With your Majesty's permission Lord John Russell will +propose these arrangements to the Cabinet to-morrow.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.131" id="pageii.131"></a>[page 131]</span> + +<p class="ind">He has sent for Mr Lee<sup>13</sup> to offer him the Bishopric of +Manchester. It is with great regret he states that Mr Stephen<sup>14</sup> +is obliged from ill health to retire from the Colonial Office. +He has asked Lord Grey to be made a Privy Councillor, having +received an assurance from Lord Stanley that Sir Robert Peel +would propose it to your Majesty on his retirement. Lord +John Russell submits the proposal to your Majesty as an honour +due to Mr Stephen's long, able, and calumniated<sup>15</sup> public +services.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has the honour to submit a letter of Lord +Clarendon's in reference to a Memorandum of His Royal +Highness Prince Albert.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell thinks that in the present state of affairs, +the abolition of the Lord-Lieutenancy must not be thought of, +and that with the exception noticed by Lord Clarendon, the +suggestions made by the Prince would be the best measures +for adoption, when that event takes place.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is possible the Prince may not have a copy of the +Memorandum.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;"><a id="footnoteXVI11" name="footnoteXVI11"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXVI11">Footnote 11:</a> Afterwards Lord Overstone.</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXVI12" name="footnoteXVI12"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXVI12">Footnote 12:</a> There had been many failures in London, Liverpool, and elsewhere.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 13: James Prince Lee, then Headmaster of King Edward's School, Birmingham, +Bishop of Manchester, 1847-1869.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 14: James Stephen, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, 1836-1847, afterwards Professor +of Modern History at Cambridge.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 15: He had made enemies by supporting the abolition of slavery. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>14th October 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter, bringing +several very important subjects before her. She regrets that +the state of the Money Market should still be so uncomfortable, +but is sure that the Government cannot by any interference +do much to mend matters, though it might easily render them +still more complicated, and make itself responsible for a crisis, +which it has in no way either brought on or been able to +avert.<sup>16</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">As to Mr Cobden's appointment to the Poor Law Board, the +Queen thinks that he will be well qualified for the place in +many respects, and that it will be advantageous to the Government +and the Country that his talents should be secured to the +service of the State, but the elevation to the Cabinet directly +from Covent Garden<sup>17</sup> strikes her as a very sudden step, calculated +to cause much dissatisfaction in many quarters, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.132" id="pageii.132"></a>[page 132]</span> +setting a dangerous example to agitators in general (for his +main reputation Mr Cobden gained as a successful agitator). +The Queen therefore thinks it best that Mr Cobden should +first enter the service of the Crown, serve as a public functionary +in Parliament, and be promoted subsequently to +the Cabinet, which step will then become a very natural +one.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Bedford's entrance into the Cabinet the Queen +would see with great pleasure.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the Prince's Memorandum to Lord John, +whilst she has retained Lord Clarendon's letter upon it, which +the Prince is anxious to keep if Lord John will allow him. +The Queen must agree with Lord John and Lord Clarendon +that the present moment is not a favourable one for the experiment +of abolishing the Lord-Lieutenancy.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Stephen's elevation to the Privy Council will be a very +proper reward for his long and faithful services. Would he not +be a proper person for one of the new Civil degrees of the +Bath?<sup>18</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 16: Matters, however, became worse, and Lord John Russell and Sir Charles Wood wrote +recommending that the Bank should enlarge their discounts and advances, for which they +would propose a bill of indemnity. By degrees the panic subsided.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 17: Free Trade meetings had taken place in Covent Garden Theatre.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 18: He was made a K.C.B. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND'S FOREIGN POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>18th October 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen cannot resist drawing Lord John Russell's attention +to the enclosed paragraph taken from the <i>Revue des Deux +Mondes</i>, which gives an account of the late events in Spain. +How little honourable our line of policy appears according to +this version, which the Queen is afraid is so very plausible that +it will be received as the truth by the whole French public and +a great part of the European public at large! It is, no doubt, +perverted, but still the Queen must admit that our policy, and +especially Mr Bulwer's conduct at Madrid, lays itself open to +similar construction. After the gross duplicity and immorality +which characterised the conduct of France with respect to the +Spanish marriages, though she had all the profit and we all the +loss, still we had a very strong position on the side of integrity, +morality, and honour. The Queen is afraid that the diplomatic +intrigues and counter intrigues at Madrid have made us +lose daily more of that advantageous position without <i>any</i> +compensation on the other side. The Queen entreats Lord +John Russell not to underrate the importance of keeping our +foreign policy beyond reproach. Public opinion is recognised +as a ruling power in our domestic affairs; it is not of less +importance in the society of Europe with reference to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.133" id="pageii.133"></a>[page 133]</span> +conduct of an individual state. To possess the <i>confidence</i> of +Europe is of the utmost importance to this country. That is +the reason why the Queen is uneasy about our dealings in +Greece, and anxious that we should not be misunderstood with +respect to Italy. The Queen is sorry to perceive that the +French complain of unfair dealing on our part with reference +to the negotiations in the River Plate.<sup>19</sup> Have they any right +to do so? Have Lord Howden's private instructions been at +variance in any way with the public instructions which had +been agreed upon with the French Government? The Queen +would consider any advantage gained at the expense of an ally +as a loss.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 19: Sir John Hobart Caradoc, second Lord Howden, British Minister at Rio Janeiro, was, +together with Count Walewski, the French Minister there, engaged in a special mission to +the River Plate and Uruguay; Buenos Ayres was blockaded by the British Fleet. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN OF SPAIN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>24th October 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has perused with eagerness Mr Bulwer's accounts +of the late extraordinary events in Spain, but must confess +that she has in vain looked for an explanation of the real +motives and causes of the crisis. Has Lord Palmerston received +any private letters throwing more light upon the +matter? There seems to prevail the greatest mystery about +the affair. Is the Queen reconciled with her husband? Has +she sent for him? Have all the accounts of her hatred for Don +Francisco and the Queen-Mother been false? All these +questions are unanswered.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN OF PORTUGAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>30th October 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and has many apologies to make for not having +attended your Majesty's Council to-day, and the more so as +his absence arose from an inadvertence which he is almost +ashamed to mention. But having got on horseback to ride to +the station, with his thoughts occupied with some matters +which he was thinking of, he rode mechanically and in a fit of +absence to the Nine Elms Station,<sup>20</sup> and did not recollect his +mistake till he had got there; and although he made the best +of his way afterwards to the Paddington Station, he could not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.134" id="pageii.134"></a>[page 134]</span> +get there in time for any train that would have taken him +early enough to Windsor.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston received this morning your Majesty's +remarks upon his proposed drafts to Sir Hamilton Seymour, +and has modified some of the expressions in those drafts; but +those drafts are only private and confidential answers in his +own name to private and confidential communications from +Sir Hamilton Seymour, and they express only his own personal +opinions, and not those of the Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston is sorry to say that the circumstances +lately mentioned by Sir Hamilton Seymour, coupled with the +course pursued at Lisbon almost ever since the successful interference +of the Allied Powers, have brought Viscount Palmerston +to the painful convictions expressed in the above-mentioned +drafts, and he feels desirous, for his own sake, to place +those convictions at least upon record in this Office. He will +be most happy to find that he is mistaken, and will most truly +and heartily rejoice if events should prove that the confidence +which your Majesty reposes in the sincerity and good faith of +the Queen of Portugal is well founded; but in a matter of +this importance Viscount Palmerston feels that it is his bounden +duty to your Majesty not to conceal his opinions, even though +they should, as in the present case, unfortunately differ from +those which your Majesty entertains.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 20: The former terminus of the London and South-Western Railway. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>21st October 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen acknowledges Lord Palmerston's letter of yesterday. +She can have no objections to Lord Palmerston's putting +on record his opinion that the Queen of Portugal is leaning +to the Chartist Party, and exposing herself, her Throne and +country, to great danger by so doing; but she would <i>much</i> +deprecate the putting on record the grave accusation "that +the Queen of Portugal is in a secret and perfect understanding +with the Cabrals,"<sup>21</sup> which is really not warranted by the facts +of the case, and is likely to mislead both our Government and +the Minister at Lisbon. Since the Queen wrote yesterday the +Prince received a letter from the King of Portugal (which he +sent to Lord Palmerston), and which quite explains the position +and views of the Court: we must not forget either that Sir +Hamilton Seymour acknowledges that a change of Ministry at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.135" id="pageii.135"></a>[page 135]</span> +this moment would provoke a fresh Revolution at Lisbon. +Although this would come from the Cabralists, the Queen of +Portugal very naturally may not feel inclined to run that risk +to avoid a danger the existence of which she does not see or +comprehend.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 21: The Ministry in which Castro Cabral had been Premier, and his brother, José, Minister +of Justice, had resigned in May 1846. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE HAMPDEN CONTROVERSY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>10th November 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and after reflecting on the various reasons in favour of, and +objections against, different Bishops for promotion to the +Archbishopric of York, he humbly submits to your Majesty +the name of Dr Musgrave, Bishop of Hereford, to be appointed +Archbishop of York. The Bishop of Hereford is a man of +sound information, good judgment, and business habits. It +is of such consequence to have an Archbishop of York, who +will, like the late Archbishop, avoid quarrels and crotchets, +and live peaceably with all men.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should your Majesty approve, he would then submit the +name of Dr Hampden to be the new Bishop, and that of the +Bishop of Oxford<sup>22</sup> as Queen's Almoner.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: Samuel Wilberforce. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Bishop of Oxford to Mr Anson.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>16th November 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Anson</span>,—I enclose you a letter from Lord John +Russell, offering me the Lord Almonership. I have ventured +to write direct to Her Majesty, to express to her my grateful +feelings at this notice of me. But I have been so afraid of +offending by anything like freedom of expression that I much +fear I have instead said coldly and formally what, if I had +said it naturally, would have expressed the deepest and most +exuberant feelings of what I trust I may venture to say is not +an ungrateful heart. Ungrateful it would be most certainly +if it did not feel to its deepest core the uniform and great kindness +I have received now for so many years from Her Majesty +and from the Prince. I wish I could better show them my +feelings....</p> + +<p class="ind">You have read no doubt the <i>Times</i> article on Dr Hampden. +I am afraid it is too true. I cannot conceive <i>what</i> was Dr +Hampden's recommendation. He was not a persecuted man, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.136" id="pageii.136"></a>[page 136]</span> +for he had got a station far higher than he ever dreamed of +already; he is not an able, or an active man, or one popular +with any party, and unless Lord John Russell wished for an +opportunity of shocking the young confidence of the Church +in him, I cannot conceive why he should have made it. I +deeply lament it. Pray let me hear of your health, if it be +only a single line (to Cuddesdon), and believe me to be, ever +your truly affectionate,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">S. Oxon</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S DESPATCHES</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>17th November 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has been struck by the concluding passage of the +accompanying draft to Mr Bulwer. It gives an official declaration +of the views of England with respect to a point of the +greatest gravity and importance, and upon which the Queen +apprehends that the mind of the Cabinet is not yet made up. +The Queen herself has come to no determination upon it, and +it may involve the question of peace or war. Surely our line +of policy under future and uncertain contingencies ought not +to be pledged beforehand and in such an indirect way. The +Queen wishes Lord Palmerston to speak to Lord John Russell +upon the subject, and to show him the draft and these remarks +of the Queen upon it.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>17th November 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and in compliance with your Majesty's wishes he has +omitted the whole of the latter part of the proposed despatch +to Mr Bulwer.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright">(<i>Undated.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has seen with surprise in the <i>Gazette</i> the appointment +of Mr Corigan,<sup>23</sup> about which she must complain to Lord +John Russell. Not only had her pleasure not been taken upon +it, but she had actually mentioned to Lord Spencer that she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.137" id="pageii.137"></a>[page 137]</span> +had her doubts about the true propriety of the appointment. +Lord John will always have found the Queen desirous to meet +his views with regard to all appointments and ready to listen +to any reasons which he might adduce in favour of his recommendations, +but she must insist upon appointments in her +Household not being made <i>without</i> her previous sanction, and +least of all such as that of a <i>Physician to her person</i>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 23: Dominic John Corigan, M.D., Physician-in-Ordinary to Her Majesty in Ireland. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of Prussia to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SWITZERLAND</span> + +<h5>[<i>Translation.</i>]</h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>25th November 1847.</i></p> + +<span class="rightnote">LETTER FROM THE KING OF PRUSSIA</span> + +<p class="ind">... I hear with delight and thankfulness that it has pleased +your Majesty to agree to a Conference for regulating the dreadful +Swiss quarrels.<sup>24</sup> I took the liberty to propose my beloved +and truly amiable town of Neuchâtel as the place for the +Conference, not only because its position in neutral territory +and in Switzerland herself qualifies it above every other place +for that purpose, but <i>particularly</i> because this meeting of the +representatives of the great Powers there would protect it and +the courageous and faithful country of Neuchâtel from indignities, +spoliation, and all the <i>horrors</i> which oppress at this +moment the unfortunate and far from courageous Fribourg. +I am afraid that your Majesty has not a full appreciation of the +people and the partisans who fill Switzerland with murders +and the miseries of the most abominable Civil War. Your +Majesty's happy realms have centuries ago passed through the +"phase" of such horrors, and with you the state of parties has +been (as one says here) grown in bottles,<sup>25</sup> under the glorious +Constitution given by God and History, but <i>not</i> "made"; +but there, in Switzerland, a party is becoming victorious!!! +which, notwithstanding the exercise of Christian charity, can +only be called "<i>Gottlos und Rechtlos</i>" (without God and +without right). For Germany, the saving of Switzerland from +the hands of the Radicals is <i>simply</i> a <i>vital question</i>. If they +are victorious there, in Germany likewise torrents of blood will +flow; I will answer for that. The murder of Kings, Priests, +and Aristocrats is no empty sound with them, and Civil War +in song, writing, word, and deed, is their watchword. "Toute +charité bien entendue commence par soi-même." So they +begin with their own country, true to this "Christian" (!) +motto. If they are allowed to proceed, surely they <i>won't</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.138" id="pageii.138"></a>[page 138]</span> +<i>stop there</i>. Thousands of emigrated malefactors wait only for +a sign (which their comrades and allies in Germany will not be +backward in giving) to pour forth beyond the German frontier. +In Germany the <span class="sc">PEOPLE</span> are just as little fond of them as they +were in Switzerland, but the experience of Switzerland teaches +us that that alone cannot stem their victorious march, if +circumstances are favourable to them. The German people +rely upon their Governments, and do nothing, but Governments +are weakened by the modern Liberalism (the precursor +of Radicalism, as the dying of chickens precedes the Cholera) +and will have to take the consequences of their own negligence. +Notwithstanding people and princes, that godless band will +march through Germany, because, though small, it is strong +through being united and determined. All this I have pondered +in my head and heart (led, so to say, by the hand of +History), and that has prompted me now to propose that the +German Confederation (which <i>en parenthèse</i> includes a population +of more than forty millions) should appear as one of the +great Powers of Europe at the settlement of the Swiss dispute, +and should be admitted as such by the other great Powers. +<i>Would your Majesty do justice, and give</i> <span class="sc">PROTECTION</span> <i>to this +idea</i>?...</p> + +<p class="author">F. W.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 24: <i>See</i> Introductory Note for the year, <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.115" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 115</a>.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 25: As old wine improves by being kept in bottles. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of Prussia.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S REPLY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>5th December 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Since your letter was written events have followed each +other so rapidly that at this moment the war in Switzerland +may be considered as terminated; by the capitulations of the +Cantons formerly constituting the Sonderbund, <i>two</i> parties, +between which a mediation of the great Powers could have +taken place, have ceased to exist, and consequently mediation +and the Conference resulting from it are in fact no longer +necessary or possible. I had proposed London as the place of +conference, but should with pleasure have waived this proposition +to adopt the place which you have expressed a wish +of seeing fixed for that purpose, viz. Neuchâtel, and I should +have felt truly happy if by so doing I could have met your +wishes, and given further protection to the principality against +possible aggressions on the part of the Federal Government of +Switzerland. As matters now stand, the only complication +which might arise is that between Neuchâtel and the Diet. +I have, in anticipation of any such event, instructed Sir Stratford +Canning to exert himself to his utmost to dissuade the +Diet from any plan of aggression on your territory, and he has +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.139" id="pageii.139"></a>[page 139]</span> +been furnished with an able and elaborate state paper for his +guidance, which Chevalier Bunsen had drawn up, discussing +the legal merits of the case. Should events prove that Sir S. +Canning did not arrive in time, or had not the power of averting +a hostile step against Neuchâtel, you may rely upon my +readiness at all times to put my good offices at your disposal. +Should a conference upon Swiss affairs still become necessary, +I conceive that the only plea upon which the great Powers +could meet in conference would be their having guaranteed +the independence and neutrality of Switzerland, and by +implication the Federal Compact amongst the Cantons. This +has not been the case with regard to the German Confederation, +and I do not readily see in consequence how the Confederation +could be admitted into this Conference, however much I confess +I would like to see Germany take her place amongst the +Powers of Europe, to which her strength and population fairly +entitle her. I may say that my Government are equally impressed +with me with the importance of German unity and +strength and of this strength weighing in the balance of power +of Europe; I am sure that the English public generally share +this feeling, but I must not conceal from your Majesty that +much would depend upon the manner in which this power was +represented. Much as the English would like to see this power +represented by the enlightened councils of your Majesty, they +would be animated with very different feelings in seeing it in +the hands of Prince Metternich....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>19th December 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge the receipt of several letters +from Lord John Russell. She was pleased to see that the +Debates have been brought to such a satisfactory conclusion, +all the propositions of the Government having passed with +such good majorities. The Queen must mention to Lord John +that she was a little shocked at Sir Charles Wood in his speech +upon the Commission of Inquiry, designating the <i>future +Government</i>, and selecting Lord George Bentinck, Mr Disraeli(!), +and Mr Herries as the persons destined to hold <i>high offices</i> in +the next Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Bishops behave extremely ill about Dr Hampden, and +the Bishop of Exeter<sup>26</sup> is gone so far, in the Queen's opinion, +that he might be prosecuted for it, in calling the Act settling +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.140" id="pageii.140"></a>[page 140]</span> +the supremacy on the Crown a <i>foul act</i> and <i>the Magna Charta +of Tyranny</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is glad to hear that Lord John is quite recovered. +We are going to Windsor the day after to-morrow.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 26: Henry Phillpotts, Bishop of Exeter, 1830-1869. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD MELBOURNE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brocket Hall</span>, <i>30th December 1847.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +He has received with great pleasure your Majesty's letter of +this morning, and reciprocates with the most cordial heartiness +your Majesty's good wishes of the season, both for your Majesty +and His Royal Highness. Lord Melbourne is pretty well in +health, perhaps rather better than he has been, but low and +depressed in spirits for a cause which has long pressed upon +his mind, but which he has never before communicated to your +Majesty. Lord Melbourne has for a long time found himself +much straitened in his pecuniary circumstances, and these +embarrassments are growing now every day more and more +urgent, so that he dreads before long that he shall be obliged +to add another to the list of failures and bankruptcies of which +there have lately been so many. This is the true reason why Lord +Melbourne has always avoided the honour of the Garter, when +pressed upon him by his late Majesty and also by your Majesty. +Lord Melbourne knows that the expense of accepting the blue +ribbon amounts to £1000, and there has been of late years no +period at which it would not have been seriously inconvenient +to Lord Melbourne to lay down such a sum.<sup>27</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 27: The Queen, through the agency of Mr Anson, advanced Lord Melbourne a considerable +sum of money, which seems to have been repaid at his death. Apparently Lord Melbourne's +declining health caused him to magnify his difficulties. The report which Mr +Anson made shows that he was in no sense seriously embarrassed. +</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.141" id="pageii.141"></a>[page 141]</span> + + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XVII</h3> + + +<p>At the outset of the year 1848 great alarm was felt throughout +England at the supposed inadequacy of her defences, a panic being +caused by the indiscreet publication of a confidential letter from the +Duke of Wellington to Sir John Burgoyne, to the effect that in his +judgment the whole South Coast was open to invasion, and that +there were no means of opposing a hostile force. The Government +turned its attention to reconstructing the Militia, and raising the +Income Tax for the purpose. But the outlook was completely +changed by the French Revolution; Louis Philippe, who had just +lost his sister and counsellor, Madame Adélaïde, impulsively abdicated, +on a rising taking place, and escaped with his family to this +country. England and Belgium were unaffected by the outburst of +revolution which convulsed Europe: the Emperor of Austria was +forced to abdicate, and Metternich, like Guizot, became a fugitive; +Prussia was shaken to her foundation, and throughout Germany the +movement in favour of representative institutions made rapid headway; +a National Assembly for Germany was constituted, and +Schleswig was claimed as an integral part of the German dominions. +In Italy also the Revolution, though premature, was serious. The +Pope, not yet reactionary, declared war against Austria; the +Milanese rose against Radetzky, the Austrian Governor, and King +Charles Albert of Sardinia marched to their assistance. A republic +was proclaimed in Venice, but these successes were afterwards +nullified, and a Sicilian rising against Ferdinand II. of Naples was +suppressed. In France the revolutionary movement held steadily on +its course, a National Assembly was elected, and national workshops +established; Louis Bonaparte, who had been a fugitive in England, +was allowed to return, and was elected President of the Republic by +an immense majority of the popular vote.</p> + +<p>The friends of Revolution had no success in England; a very +serious riot at Glasgow was dispersed, and the meeting convened by +Feargus O'Connor for the 10th of April on Kennington Common, +which was to carry a huge petition in favour of the People's Charter +to the House of Commons, proved a ridiculous <i>fiasco</i>. Ireland was +much disturbed during the year by what was known as the Young +Ireland agitation, a movement organised by youthful, and for the +most part cultivated, leaders, and utterly different from the sturdy +Repeal movement of O'Connell. Smith O'Brien, brother of Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.142" id="pageii.142"></a>[page 142]</span> +Inchiquin, was the ringleader, and was backed by Mitchel, Duffy, +Meagher, and others, as well as by the <i>Nation</i> and <i>United Irishman</i> +newspapers. Like Chartism, the movement ignominiously collapsed +and its leaders were convicted of treason. An Act was at the same +time passed reducing some offences (till then legally defined as +treason) to felonies, and improving the law as to offences against the +person of the Sovereign.</p> + +<p>The treacherous murder of two Englishmen in the Punjab led to +operations against the Sikhs, Lord Dalhousie—who had recently +become Viceroy—after some hesitation, reinforcing Lord Gough, +the Commander-in-Chief, and proceeding in person to the frontier; +a British force sustained a reverse at Ramnuggur on 22nd November, +and a decisive result was not arrived at till 1849.</p> + +<p>In South Africa, a proclamation by Sir Harry Smith, the Governor +of the Cape of Good Hope, extending British sovereignty over the +country between the Orange and Vaal rivers, led to a collision with +the Boers, and ultimately to the founding of the Transvaal State. +Sir Harry Smith defeated the Boers on the 29th of August at Boom +Platz.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.143" id="pageii.143"></a>[page 143]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h5>1848</h5> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>1st January 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—This is a most melancholy beginning +of the year. Our poor Aunt Adélaïde,<sup>1</sup> so kind to us, has +departed this life yesterday morning. Poor Louise feels it +dreadfully, as nothing could be more affectionate and more +motherly than she was for Louise. She was always very kind +and friendly to me, and I must confess I feel the blow much. +I am very much alarmed about the poor King; he must feel +the loss of a sister and friend so entirely devoted to him +deeply; it is the thing most likely to hurt and shake his health. +You will forgive if I cut short here, as I am much disturbed by +this melancholy event. I think you would act kindly in +writing to the King. We are too nearly connected not to do +it, and it will soothe him, who has been enough persecuted +since last year. I trust you begin better than we do this most +melancholy January. My best love to Albert, and believe me +ever, my dearest Victoria, your truly and devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: Sister of King Louis Philippe.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i><sup>2</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF MADAME ADÉLAÏDE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>3rd January 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends Lord John Russell a letter from her Uncle, +the King of the Belgians, which will show how dreadful a blow +Mme. Adélaïde's death will be to the King of the French and +Royal Family. The Queen's first thought was to write to the +King, which she would not have done without first mentioning +it to Lord John; but upon reflection she thought it quickest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.144" id="pageii.144"></a>[page 144]</span> +and best to write <i>at once</i> to her cousin Clémentine (Princess +Augustus of Saxe-Coburg), to convey in her name to the King +her sincere sympathy at this melancholy event. The King of +the Belgians' letter has, however, brought back to the Queen +her first thought of writing to the King, and she wishes to know +what Lord John thinks of it. The Queen thinks it as undignified +as unfeeling to carry on political coolness at moments +like these, when her own feelings of sympathy are so strong +and so sincere. The Queen would certainly under other +circumstances have instantly written to the King. On the +other hand, her first letter to her cousin (the King's daughter) +may be sufficient, as it conveys a direct message; and there +may be people who will construe this into a political act, but +the Queen thinks that this risk should rather be run than that +she should appear unfeeling and forgetful of former kindness +and intimacy.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would be glad to have Lord John's opinion on +this subject as soon as possible.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 2: This letter is headed "Reproduction—Substance of a letter to Lord John Russell, +written from recollection."</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>3rd January 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearly beloved Victoria</span>,—I thank you <i>most sincerely</i> +for your kind last letter, and all your good wishes for the New +Year. Alas! the year <i>ended</i> and <i>began</i> in a <i>most painful</i> and +<i>heartrending way for us</i>. The loss of my good, excellent, beloved +Aunt is an <i>immense misfortune</i> for <i>us all</i>, and the most +<i>dreadful blow</i> for my poor Father. We are all broken-hearted +by this, at last <i>unexpected</i> event. Some years we were uneasy +about my poor Aunt's health, and of late I had been particularly +alarmed by what I heard of her increasing weakness; but +I was very far from believing that her end was <i>so near</i>. I was +only anxious for the winter. At least her end was peaceful. +She went to sleep and did not wake more. She died without +a struggle; the horror of death, and the still greater pang of +the last farewell, of the last leave-taking of her beloved brother, +was spared her. I thank God for <i>this</i> proof of His mercy, and +hope He will keep up my Father under <i>such a heavy affliction</i>. +To him the loss is <i>irretrievable</i>. My Aunt lived <i>but</i> for him; +one may almost say that her affection alone had kept her alive +these last years, and a devotion like hers—that devotion of +all instants—so complete, so full of self-denial—cannot, will +never, be replaced. A heart <i>like hers</i>, so true, so noble, so +warm, so loving, so devoted, is <i>rarely</i> seen. To us also, independently +of my Father, the loss is a <i>dreadful</i> one. My Aunt +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.145" id="pageii.145"></a>[page 145]</span> +was a second mother for us; we loved her and looked up to +her in this way, and certainly few mothers do for their children +what she did for us, or loved them better. We are overwhelmed +with grief by the sudden disappearance of a being <i>so dear</i> and <i>so +necessary</i> to us all, and we go to-morrow to Paris, to mourn +with the remainder of the family, and offer my poor Father +the only consolation he can feel at this cruel moment, that of +being surrounded by all those he loves. I have still so much +to do previous to our melancholy journey that I cannot say +more to-day. I am sure you will excuse me. I shall, God willing, +write in a more proper way the next time. In the meanwhile +I thank God that you are <i>unberufen</i> all well, and, in sorrow +or in joy, I am equally, my beloved Victoria, from the bottom +of my heart, yours most devotedly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louise</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LETTER TO KING LOUIS PHILIPPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Woburn Abbey</span>, <i>4th January 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has no hesitation in saying that he thinks your Majesty +will do well to follow your own kind impulse to write a letter +to the King of the French. There will be some persons, and +M. Guizot perhaps among the number, who will construe this +into a political act; but it is better to be subject to such misconstructions +than to leave undone any act of sympathy to +the King of the French in his sore affliction.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should the King attempt to found upon your Majesty's +letter any political intercourse, Lord John Russell has no +doubt that your Majesty will explain to him that your present +proceeding is entirely founded upon private regard, and past +recollections of intimacy, and is not intended as an opening +for political correspondence.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the French.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Ch. de Windsor</span>, <i>5 Janvier 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire et mon bon Frère</span>,—Je ne voulais pas suivre l'impulse +de mon cœur, dans les premiers instants de la vive douleur +de votre Majesté, en vous écrivant—mais maintenant où la +violence de cette rude secousse peut-être sera un peu adoucie, +je viens moi-même exprimer à votre Majesté la part sincère que +nous prenons, le Prince et moi, à la cruelle perte que vous venez +d'éprouver, et qui doit vous laisser un vide irréparable. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.146" id="pageii.146"></a>[page 146]</span> +Ayez la bonté, Sire, d'offrir nos expressions de condoléance +à la Reine, et faisant des vœux pour le bonheur de V.M., je me +dis, Sire et mon bon Frère, de V.M., la bonne Sœur,</p> + +<p class="author">V. R.</p> + +<p class="ind">A S.M. le Roi des Français.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the French to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Paris</span>, <i>8 Janvier 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame ma bonne Sœur</span>,—Dans la profonde douleur où +m'a plongé le coup cruel qui vient de me frapper, une des plus +douces consolations que je pusse recevoir, est la lettre que votre +Majesté a eu la bonté de m'adresser, tant en son nom qu'en +celui du Prince son Epoux. L'expression de la part que vous +prenez tous deux à mon malheur, et de l'intérêt que vous +continuez à me porter, m'a vivement ému, et quelque douloureuse +qu'en soit l'occasion, qu'il me soit permis, Madame, de +vous en remercier, et de dire à votre Majesté que mon cœur +et mes sentimens pour elle, sont et seront toujours les mêmes +que ceux que j'étais si heureux de Lui manifester à Windsor +et au Château d'Eu.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je prie votre Majesté de vouloir bien être, auprès du Prince +son Epoux, l'interprète de toute ma sensibilité. La Reine est +bien touchée de ce que votre Majesté m'a chargé de Lui témoigner, +et je la prie de croire que je suis toujours, Madame, +ma bonne Sœur, de votre Majesté, le bon Frère,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louis Philippe R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND THE PORTE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Claremont</span>, <i>11th January</i> <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads '1843'"><i>1848</i>.</ins></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has this morning seen a draft addressed to Lord +Cowley, in which he is desired to advise the Sultan to give +Abd-el-Kader a command in his Army—a step which the +Queen cannot approve, not because it is not good advice to the +Porte, but because it is uncalled for on our part, and might be +considered by France as a hostile step towards her. What +would we say if the French were to advise M. Ali to give Akbar +Khan the command of his army? <sup>3</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="../../20023/20023-h/20023-h.htm#pagei.254" style="font-weight: normal;">vol. i. p. 254</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CLAREMONT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Claremont</span>, <i>11th January 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I always write with pleasure to you +from this <i>so</i> very dear old place, where we are safely and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.147" id="pageii.147"></a>[page 147]</span> +happily housed with our <i>whole</i> little family since yesterday. +The weather is very cold, and it is the third night of a black +frost which is likely to continue for some days. Many thanks +for your kind letter of the 7th, which, according to the new +arrangement, I received already on the 8th. Your visit will, I +fear, have been a very melancholy one. Poor Mme. Adélaïde's +death was so extremely sudden, it must be a dreadful blow to +the poor King. I <i>have</i> written to him. Louise will have told +you that poor Aunt Sophia<sup>4</sup> is decidedly sinking.</p> + +<p class="ind">I wish, dearest Uncle, if even Louise feels unequal to coming +to us now (which would be a <i>sad disappointment</i>), <i>you</i> would +come to see us. Why not come while she is at Paris? It +would be such a pleasure to us. You will of course have no +balls, and you might come even sooner than you originally +intended. Pray do see if you could manage this. I am sure +you could. If Louise could come, of course that would be +still better.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert desires me to ask you the following favour, viz. if +you would give us the picture that is here of Grand Uncle +Frederic (the Field-Marshal), that we might hang it up in +London, where we have made a fine collection of his contemporaries, +and we would replace it by a faithful copy, which +could be hung up in the frame here. Will you grant this?</p> + +<p class="ind">We are very desirous of getting the Woods and Forests +to build a small <i>glass dome</i> to the greenhouse here where the +palm-trees are, and (if you approved) there could be no +difficulty in getting this done; the palm-trees are beautiful, +and will be quite stunted and spoilt if not allowed to grow. +We shall stay here till Monday next. With Albert's love, ever +your truly devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 4: Fifth daughter of George III., born 1777. She died in May 1848.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE FRENCH ROYAL FAMILY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>12th January 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—A messenger of my own going to +England, I take advantage of it to write you a few words. +Your kind letter to the poor King was an act for which I thank +you from the bottom of my soul, because it made him so +happy. I was still in his rooms—where the family has been +breakfasting and dining till now—when your letter arrived; +he was so delighted with it that he <i>kissed it most tenderly</i>. I +left him tolerably well on Monday, but with rather a severe +cold. He had certainly at the end of December the Grippe, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.148" id="pageii.148"></a>[page 148]</span> +which perhaps was the immediate cause of poor Aunt's death, +as from over-anxiety for her beloved brother, she got up in the +night to find out how he was. His cold had been better when +he went to Dreux, then he met the procession, and walked with +it bareheaded to the church; this seems to have given him +a new cold. His nerves are also a good deal shaken, and this +renders him very irritable. He is much occupied about some +of the arrangements connected with poor Aunt's fortune; she +left her landed property to Nemours, Joinville, and Montpensier, +charged with the various sums she left to nearly all +the branches of her family. The King is to have, however, the +enjoyment of the whole of this fortune for his life. His great +wish would be to employ the revenues, from the whole of the +succession legacies as well as landed property, to free the +landed property of the mortgage of the various legacies. This +will require a good many years, and I told him that it would +force him to live till it would be arranged, which will easily +require ten years. In France a good feeling has been shown on +this occasion. I heard from trustworthy quarters that even +people who were known to be personally not very kind to the +King, expressed themselves most anxious for his preservation. +Whenever that sad event will take place, the reaction in +Europe will be great, as all the bad passions which are kept +down by him will then of course try to get the over hand. The +Queen is much affected by all this, and thinks much of her own +end. The children, including good Hélène, have all behaved +with the utmost affection to their parents, and nothing can +equal particularly good Nemours' devotion and attention. +My beloved Child, your truly devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">REVOLUTION IN FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>12th February 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—... From Paris the news are alarming;<sup>5</sup> +the struggle of the Liberal Party leaning towards +radicalism, or in fact merely their own promotion; principles +are <i>out</i> of the question. This state of affairs reacts in a very +lamentable way upon the well-being of the great European +community. Great complaints are made that the working +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.149" id="pageii.149"></a>[page 149]</span> +classes are deprived of work and at the same time political +agitation is kept up, which must have the effect of stopping +transactions of every description. The human race is a <i>sad</i> +creation, and I trust the other planets are better organised and +that we may get there hereafter.... Your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 5: The Republican movement had been making rapid headway in Paris, and the leader +of the Opposition, M. Odilon Barrot, proposed Guizot's impeachment on the 22nd of +February. Louis Philippe, when it was unfortunately too late, consented to a change of +Ministry, but the formation of a new Government proved impossible. The Revolution +could have been quelled, had it not been for the King's reluctance to shed blood in defence +of the Throne to which he had been elected; even to the agitators themselves the completeness +of the Revolution was a surprise.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>23rd February 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and will have the honour of waiting upon your Majesty at three +o'clock to-morrow.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Normanby's letters from Paris give a little information.<sup>6</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">There has been some fighting in the streets, and some apprehension +for the night. But it does not appear probable that +any serious danger will be incurred, with the troops in such +force in Paris.</p> + +<p class="ind">Hereafter there may be a serious struggle between the +Government of the King, and the Republicans. But in that +case such men as M. Odilon Barrot will shrink from the contest.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 6: A letter from Lord Normanby on the 13th of March to Lord Palmerston (published +in Ashley's <i>Life of Palmerston</i>, vol. i. chap. iii.) gives an account of the situation on the +eve of the 22nd of February. On the 25th of February he wrote:—</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"The National Guards, mixed with the people, were in full march upon the Tuileries, +and the latter threatening the life of the King, when Emile Girardin, the editor of the +<i>Presse</i> newspaper, who was in advance as an officer of the National Guard, hastily drew +up an Act of Abdication, and placed it before the King as the only means of safety. The +King at first refused, saying that he would rather die; but the Duc de Montpensier urged +him, not only for his own sake, but to save his country from confusion. The King at last +signed it, and threw it impatiently at the Duc de Montpensier, who, I believe, has been in +favour of conciliatory counsel throughout. The Royal Family then retired through the +garden, the King saying to every one as he passed, 'J'abdique, j'abdique.'"</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>26th February 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—I am very unwell in consequence +of the <i>awful</i> events at Paris. How will this end? Poor Louise +is in a state of despair which is pitiful to behold. What will +soon become of us God alone knows; great efforts will be made +to revolutionise this country; as there are poor and wicked +people in all countries it may succeed.</p> + +<p class="ind">Against France we, of course, have a right to claim protection +from England and the other Powers. I can write no more. +God bless you. Ever your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.150" id="pageii.150"></a>[page 150]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FLIGHT OF FRENCH ROYAL FAMILY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brussels</span>, <i>27th February 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearly beloved Victoria</span>,—I understand by an account +arrived this morning, and which seems to be correct, that +my unfortunate parents arrived in England before yesterday +evening: but I don't know <i>where</i> they are. (I don't know +anything of them since the 23rd, evening!!!) But you will +surely know, and kindly forward the letter to my poor mother. +I have just received your kind letter of the 25th, but I am +unable to say more to-day. You will easily conceive my agony +and anguish. What an <i>unbelievable</i> clap of thunder! I know +still nothing of what Nemours and Montpensier are become. I +rely on your interest and sympathy, and remain as ever, yours +most devotedly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louise</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I hear this moment with an <i>extreme relief</i> that my parents +were to arrive yesterday at London, and thank God from the +bottom of my heart for their safety! In my agony I did not +wish for anything else.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of Prussia to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<h5>[<i>Translation.</i>]</h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KING OF PRUSSIA</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>27th February 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Most gracious Queen and Sister</span>,—Even at this midnight +hour of the day, on the evening of which the awful news from +Paris has arrived, I venture to address these lines to your +Majesty. God has permitted events which decisively threaten +the peace of Europe.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is an attempt to "spread the principles of the Revolution +by <i>every</i> means throughout the whole of Europe." This +programme binds together both these individuals and their +parties. The consequences for the peace of the world are <i>clear</i> +and <i>certain</i>. If the revolutionary party carries out its programme, +"The sovereignty of the people," my minor crown +will be broken, no less certainly than the mighty crowns of +your Majesty, and a fearful scourge will be laid upon the nations; +a century [will follow] of rebellion, of lawlessness, and +of godlessness. The late King did not dare to write "by the +Grace of God." <i>We</i>, however, call ourselves King "by the +Grace of God," because it is true. Well, then, most gracious +Queen, let us now show to men, to the peoples threatened with +disruption and nameless misery, both <i>that</i> we understand our +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.151" id="pageii.151"></a>[page 151]</span> +sacred office and <i>how</i> we understand it. God has placed in +your Majesty's hands, in the hands of the two Emperors, in +those of the German Federation, and in mine, a power, which, +if it now acts in union and harmony, with reliance on Heaven, +is able humanly speaking, to enforce, with certainty, the +maintenance of the peace of the world. This power is <i>not that +of arms</i>, for these, more than ever, must only afford the <i>ultima +ratio</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The power I mean is "the power of united speech." In the year +1830 the use of this immeasurable power was criminally +neglected. But now I think the danger is much more pressing +than it was then. This power is divided among <i>us</i> in equal +portions. I possess the smallest portion of it, and your Majesty +has by far the greatest share. That share is so great that your +Majesty, by your powerful word, might alone carry out the +task. But the certainty of victory lies, subject to the Divine +blessing, solely in our utterance being united. This must be +our message to France; "that all of us are cordial well-wishers +to France; we do not grudge her all possible welfare and glory; +we mean never to encroach on it, and we will stand by the +new Government as by the old, <i>foi de gentils-hommes</i>. But +the first breach of the peace, be it with reference to Italy, +Belgium, or Germany would be, undoubtedly and at the +same time, a breach with 'all of us,' and we should, with +all the power that God has given us, let France feel by <i>sea</i> +and by <i>land</i>, as in the years '13, '14, and '15, what our union +may mean."</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>Now</i> I bless Providence for having placed Lord Palmerston +at the head of your Foreign Office, and keeping him there at this +very moment. During the last quarter of the past year I could +not always cordially agree with him. His genuine British +disposition will honour this open confession. All the more +frankly may I now express the hopes which rise in me, from the +very fact of <i>his</i> holding that office at the present moment; for +a more active, more vivid, more energetic Minister of foreign +affairs, a man that would more indefatigably pursue great aims, +your Majesty could probably never have. If at this grave hour +he sets himself to proclaim that our forces are united; if he +himself utters his message as befits St George, he will earn the +blessing of millions, and the blessing of God and of the world +will rest on your Majesty's sacred head. That I am your +Majesty's and <i>Old England's</i> most faithful and most devoted +brother and companion, you are aware, and I mean to prove +it. On both, knees I adjure you, use, for the welfare of Europe, +"<i>Engellands England</i>."</p> + +<p class="ind">With these words I fall at your Majesty's feet, most gracious +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.152" id="pageii.152"></a>[page 152]</span> +Queen, and remain your Majesty's most faithfully devoted, most +attached Servant and good Brother,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Frederic William</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>P. S.</i>—The Prince I embrace. He surely feels with me, and +justly appraises my endeavours.</p> +<span class="rightnote">ANARCHY IN PARIS</span> +<p class="indright"><i>Post scriptum, 28th, in the evening.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">I venture to open my letter again, for this day has brought +us news from France, which one can only call <i>horrible</i>. According +to what we hear, there is no longer left a King in +France. A regency, a government, and the most complete +anarchy has ensued, under the name of the Republic—a condition +of things in which, at first, there will be no possibility of +communicating with the people, infuriated with crime. In case +a Government should evolve itself out of this chaos, I conscientiously +hold that the "united word" of the great Powers, such +as I have indicated in the preceding pages, should be made +known, <i>without any modification, to the new holders of power</i>. +Your Majesty's gracious friendship will certainly not take amiss +this addition to my letter, though it be not conformable to strict +etiquette.</p> + +<p class="ind">The fate of the poor old King, of the Duchess of Orleans, of +the whole honourable and amiable family, cuts me to the heart, +for up to this time we do not know what has become of any of +them. We owe Louis Philippe eighteen happy years of peace. +No noble heart must forget that. And yet—who would not +recognise the avenging hand of the King of kings in all this?</p> + +<p class="ind">I kiss your Majesty's hands.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LETTER FROM QUEEN LOUISE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brussels</span>, <i>28th February 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearly beloved Victoria</span>,—<i>What a misfortune! What</i> +an <i>awful, overwhelming, unexpected</i> and <i>inexplicable catastrophe</i>. +<i>Is it possible</i> that we should witness <i>such events</i>, and that +<i>this</i> +should be the end of nearly eighteen years of courageous and +successful efforts to maintain order, peace, and make France +happy, what <i>she was</i>? I have heard, I read hourly, <i>what has +happened: I cannot believe it yet</i>; but if <i>my beloved parents</i> and +the remainder of the family are at least <i>safe</i> I won't mind the +rest. In the hours of agony we have gone through I asked God +<i>only</i> to spare <i>the lives</i>, and I ask still <i>nothing else</i>: but +we don't +know them yet <i>all</i> saved, and till I have heard of my unfortunate +parents, of my unhappy brothers far away, of all those for +whom I would lay my life at any moment and whose danger I +could not even share or alleviate, I cannot exist.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.153" id="pageii.153"></a>[page 153]</span> + +<p class="ind">I was <i>sure</i>, my beloved Victoria, of all <i>you</i> would <i>feel for +us</i> +when you would hear of these awful events. I received yesterday +your two kind, warm, sympathising letters of the 25th and +26th, and thank you with <i>all my heart</i> for them, and for yours +and Albert's share and sympathy.</p> +<span class="rightnote">ANXIETY OF QUEEN LOUISE</span> +<p class="ind"><i>Our anguish</i> has been <i>undescribable</i>. We have been <i>thirty-six +hours without any news</i>, not knowing even if my parents and the +family were still alive or not, and what had been their fate. +Death is not worse than what we endured during these horrible +hours. We don't know yet what to think, what to believe, I +would almost say, what to wish; we are <i>stunned</i> and <i>crushed</i> +by the awful blow. What has happened is <i>unaccountable, +incomprehensible</i>; it appears to us like a <i>fearful</i> dream. Alas! +I fear my dear beloved father was led away by his <i>extreme +courage</i>; by that same courage which had made his success and +a part of his strength; for it is strange to say that even those +that deplored most his resolution never to yield on certain +things gave him credit for it. The exaggeration of the system +of peace and resistance, or rather <i>immobility</i>, lost him, as that +of war lost Napoleon. Had he shunned less war <i>on all occasions</i>, +and granted in time some trifling reforms, he would have +satisfied public opinion, and would probably be still where he +was <i>only eight days ago</i>, strong, beloved, and respected! +Guizot's accession has been <i>as fatal</i> as his fall, and is perhaps the +<i>first cause</i> of our ruin, though my father cannot be blamed +for having kept him in office, as he had the majority in the +Chamber, and an overwhelming one. <i>Constitutionally</i>, he +could not have been turned out, and it was <i>impossible to foresee</i> +that when all was quiet, the country prosperous and happy, the +laws and liberty respected, the Government strong, a <i>Revolution</i>—and +<i>such a Revolution</i>—would be brought on by a few imprudent +words, and the resistance (lamentable as it was) to a +manifestation which, in fact, the Government had a right to +prevent. <i>It was the Almighty's will: we must submit.</i> He had +decreed our loss the day He removed my beloved brother<sup>7</sup> from +this world. Had he lived still, all this would have turned +otherwise. It has been also an immense misfortune that +Joinville and Aumale were both away. They were both +popular (which poor dear <i>never-to-be-sufficiently-respected</i> +Nemours was <i>not</i>), energetic, courageous, and capable of turning +chance in our favour. Oh! <i>how I long</i> to know what is +become of them! I cannot live till then, and the thought of +my unfortunate parents <i>annihilates</i> me! Poor dear Joinville +had foreseen and foretold almost all that has happened, and it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.154" id="pageii.154"></a>[page 154]</span> +was the idea of the crisis he apprehended which made him so +unhappy to go. He repeated it to me several times six weeks +ago. Alas! <i>nobody</i> would believe him, and who <i>could believe</i> +that in <i>a day</i>, almost without struggle, <i>all would be over</i>, and the +past, the present, the future carried away on an unaccountable +storm! <i>God's will be done!</i> He was at least <i>merciful</i> to my +dear Aunt, and I hope He will preserve all those dear to me!</p> + +<p class="ind">Here everything is quiet: the horror general, and the best +feeling and spirit prevailing. There is still now nothing to +fear: but if <i>a republic really established</i> itself in France, it is +impossible to tell what may happen. For this reason your +Uncle thinks it right that we should remove to some place of +safety what we have of precious. If you permit I will avail +myself of the various messengers that are going now to send +<i>under your care</i> several boxes, which you will kindly send to +Claremont to Moor, to keep with those your Uncle already sent. +They contain your Uncle's letters and those of my parents—the +treasure I most value in the world.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>29th.</i>—<span class="sc">My dearly beloved Victoria</span>,—This was written +yesterday, in a moment of comparative quiet, when I thought +my parents at least safe and in security in England. Albert's +letter to your Uncle of the 27th, which arrived yesterday evening, +says they were <i>not arrived yet</i>, and I am again in the most +horrible agony. I had also yesterday evening details of their +flight (<i>my father flying!!!</i>) by Madame de Murat, Victoire's +lady, who has gone to England, which quite distracted me. +Thank God that Nemours and Clém at least <i>are safe!</i> I am +quite unable to say more, and I hope the Duchess and Alexandrine +will excuse me if I don't write to them. Truly, I <i>can't</i>. +I thank you only once more, my beloved Victoria, <i>for all your +kindness</i> and <i>interest</i> for my unfortunate family, and trust all +the anxiety you feel for us won't hurt you. God bless you ever, +with all those dear to you. Believe me always, my beloved +Victoria, yours most devotedly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louise</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I send you no letter for my mother in the present uncertainty.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: The Duc d'Orléans, who was killed on 13th July 1842.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>29th February 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to transmit a short note from Lord +Normanby, which is very satisfactory.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell declared last night that your Majesty +would not interfere in the internal affairs of France. But in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.155" id="pageii.155"></a>[page 155]</span> +repeating this declaration, in answer to Mr Cobden, he added +that the sacred duties of hospitality would be, as in all times, +performed towards persons of all opinions. Both declarations +were generally cheered. In extending this hospitality to +members of the Royal Family of France, it is only to be observed +that no encouragement should be given by your Majesty +to any notion that your Majesty would assist them to recover +the Crown. In this light it is desirable that no <i>Prince</i> of the +House of Orleans should inhabit one of your Majesty's palaces +in or near London.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW FRENCH GOVERNMENT</span> + +<p class="indright">(<i>Undated.</i>)<sup>8</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has perused the enclosed despatches and the +proposed Minutes of a draft to Lord Normanby with Lord John +Russell's remarks. She approves generally of the Minutes, but +would like that amongst the laudable intentions of the new +French Government, <i>that</i> of keeping <i>inviolate</i> the European +Treaties should be brought in in some way. In the paper No. +2, the expression "<i>most cordial friendship</i>" strikes the Queen +as rather too strong. We have just had sad experience of +<i>cordial</i> understandings. "Friendly relations" might do better +or the whole sentence might run thus: "that not peace only +but cordial friendship with France <i>had been at all times</i> [instead +of "is one of the," etc.] one of the first wishes of the British +Government, and that this <i>will</i> remain," etc., etc., etc.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 8: Apparently written at the end of February.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ESCAPE OF KING LOUIS PHILIPPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>1st March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Every hour seems to bring fresh news +and events. Victoire and her children and Montpensier are at +Jersey, and are expected to arrive to-morrow. About the King +and Queen, we still know nothing, but we have some clue, and +think <i>he may be</i> somewhere on the coast, or even <i>in</i> England. +We do everything we can for the poor dear Family, who are +indeed most dreadfully to be pitied; but you will naturally +understand that we cannot <i>make cause commune</i> with them and +cannot take a hostile position opposite to the new state of things +in France; we leave them alone, but if a Government which +has the approbation of the country be formed, we shall feel it +necessary to recognise it, in order to pin them down to maintain +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.156" id="pageii.156"></a>[page 156]</span> +peace and the existing Treaties, which is of great importance. +It will not be pleasant for us to do this, but the public good and +the peace of Europe go before one's feelings. God knows what +<i>one feels</i> towards the French. I trust, dear Uncle, that you will +maintain the fine and independent position you are now in, +which is so gratifying to us, and I am sure you will feel that +much as we all must sympathise with our poor French relations, +you should not for that quarrel with the existing state +of things, which however is very uncertain. There were fresh +reports of great confusion at Paris, which is sure to happen. +All our poor relations have gone through is worthy only of a +<i>dreadful</i> romance, and poor Clém behaves beautifully, courageously, +and calmly, and is full of resignation; but she can get no +sleep, poor thing—and hears the horrid cries and sees those +<i>fiend-like faces</i> before her! The children are very happy with +ours, but very unmanageable. I saw the Duchesse de Montpensier +to-day.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now, with every wish for <i>all</i> going on well, believe me ever, +your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Featherstonhaugh<a id="footnotetagXVII9" name="footnotetagXVII9"></a><a href="#footnoteXVII9"><sup>9</sup></a> to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MR FEATHERSTONHAUGH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Havre</span>, <i>3rd March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord Palmerston</span>,—It was a hair-trigger affair +altogether, but thanks be to God everything has gone off +admirably. I was obliged to abandon the plan of trusting the +King in a fishing-boat from Trouville. The weather was very +stormy; had he attempted to find the steamer, he might have +failed, for the sea was in a furious state and the wind ahead. +There was also the danger of the fishing-boat being lost, a +contingency the very idea of which made me miserable.</p> + +<p class="ind">I therefore abandoned the plan altogether, and after much +and careful reflection determined to execute one more within +my control, and the boldness of which, though trying to the +nerves, was its very essence for success. It was to bring the +King and Queen into Havre itself before anybody could suspect +such a dangerous intention, and have everything ready for +their embarkation to a minute. To carry out the plan, I +wanted vigilant, intelligent, and firm agents, and I found them +as it turned out. It was known to me that the lower classes +suspected it was M. Guizot concealed at Trouville, and as some +sinister occurrence might reasonably be expected there, I sent +a faithful person into Calvados. It was high time. The mob +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.157" id="pageii.157"></a>[page 157]</span> +had assembled at the place where the King was, who had to +slip out at the back door and walk two leagues on foot. At +length he reached a small cottage belonging to a gardener at +Honfleur, where the Queen was. This was half-past six o'clock +<span class="sc">A.M.</span> yesterday. My agent saw the King and Queen, who, after +some conversation, sent him back with this message, that they +"would wait where they were until they again heard from me, +and would carry out my final arrangements with exactitude, +as far as it depended upon them." I now instructed Captain +Paul to be ready at half-past seven <span class="sc">P.M.</span>, when it would be dark, +to have his water hot, ready to get up steam; to have only a +rope moored to the quay with an anchor astern; to expect +me with a party a little before eight <span class="sc">P.M.</span>, and as soon as I had +got on board with my party and told him to push off, he was +to let me go on shore, cut his rope and cable, get into the middle +of the Basin, up with his steam and jib and push for England. +Not a word was to be spoken on board.</p> +<span class="rightnote">A GRAPHIC NARRATIVE</span> +<p class="ind">To get the King here from Honfleur the following method +was adopted: M. Bresson, a loyal and intelligent officer in the +French Navy and well known to the King, and Mr Jones, my +Vice-Consul and principal Clerk, went in the steam ferry-boat +a quarter before five <span class="sc">P.M.</span> to Honfleur. From the landing-place +it is three-quarters of a mile to the place where the King and +Queen were concealed. The ferry-boat was to leave Honfleur +for Havre a quarter before seven o'clock. I had given M. +Bresson a passport for Mr and Mrs Smith, and with this passport +the King was to walk to the landing-place, where he was +to be met by my Vice-Consul and be governed by him.</p> + +<p class="ind">If the <i>gens d'armes</i> disputed his passport Mr Jones was to +vouch for its regularity, and say that he was sent by me to +conduct Mr Smith to Havre, who was my Uncle. M. Bresson +was to follow with the Queen, and the rest of the suite were to +come to the ferry-boat one after another, but none of the party +were to know each other. The ferry-boat was to arrive in +Havre about half-past seven, and I was to do the rest. A white +pocket-handkerchief was to be twice exhibited as a signal that +all was right so far. The difficulty of the <i>gens d'armes</i> being +infinitely more to be provided against and apprehended here, +I first confidentially communicated to the greatest gossips in +the town that I had seen a written statement from an official +person that the King had reached England in a fishing-boat +from the neighbourhood of Tréport, and then got some persons +whom I could rely upon, sons of my tradesmen here who are in +the National Guard, to be near the steamer that was to receive +the King, to give me their assistance if it should be necessary, +on account of the turbulence of the crowd, to embark some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.158" id="pageii.158"></a>[page 158]</span> +friends of mine who were going to England. And if an extraordinary +number of <i>gens d'armes</i> were stationed at the steamer, +and they hesitated about letting my Uncle go on board, then +about one hundred yards off I had two persons who were to +pretend a quarrel and a fight, to which I knew the <i>gens d'armes</i> +would all go as well as the crowd. In the meantime I hoped +that as Captain Paul made no noise with his steam that the +crowd would not assemble, and that we might find no <i>gens +d'armes</i>. The anxiously expected moment at length arrived. +The ferry-boat steamer came to the quay; it was almost dark, +but I saw the white pocket-handkerchief. There was a great +number of passengers, which favoured the debarkation. When +half of them were out, the trembling Queen came up the ladder. +I took her hand, told her it was me, and M. Bresson walked +with her towards our steamer. At last came the King, disguised, +his whiskers shaved off, a sort of casquette on his head, +and a coarse overcoat, and immense goggles over his eyes. Not +being able to see well, he stumbled, when I advanced, took his +hand and said, "Ah, dear Uncle, I am delighted to see you." +Upon which he answered, "My dear George, I am glad you are +here." The English about me now opened the crowd for their +Consul, and I moved off to a quiet and shaded part of the quay. +But my dear Uncle talked so loud and so much that I had the +greatest difficulty to make him keep silence. At length we +reached the steamer; it was like a clock-work movement. The +crowd was again opened for me. I conducted the King to a +state-room below, gave him some information, and having +personally ascertained that the Queen was in her cabin, and +being very much touched with her tears and her grateful acknowledgments, +I respectfully took my leave, gave the Captain +the word to cut loose, and scrambled ashore. In twenty +minutes the steamer was outside, steaming away for England. +I drove down to the jetty, and had that last satisfaction of seeing +her beyond all possibility of recall, and then drove home. +Much has been said this morning about the mysterious departure +of Captain Paul, and I have been obliged to confess that +the gentleman I was seen conducting on board was a brother +of the King of Naples, who was immensely frightened without +cause, and that I had engaged the steamer for him and his +family. Many think, however, that it was the King, but then +again that could not be if he crossed over from Tréport in a +fishing-boat. We have got everybody completely mystified, +and there are only four persons in the secret, who will all remain +in the same story.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have scribbled, amidst the most hurried engagements, this +little narrative, believing that it would interest your Lordship. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.159" id="pageii.159"></a>[page 159]</span> +It has the interest of romance and the support of truth. I +have the honour to be, etc.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">G. W. Featherstonhaugh</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Information has just reached me that one hour after the +King and Queen left their hiding-place last night, and just +when I was embarking them, an officer and three <i>gens d'armes</i> +came to the place to arrest him. They were sent by the new +Republican <i>Préfet</i>. It appears that the man who gave him +refuge had confessed who he was as soon as the King had left +Trouville, and had betrayed the King's hiding-place at Honfleur. +What an escape! Your Lordship will see a paragraph +in the enclosed newspaper not altogether false. We in the +secret know nothing about Louis Philippe; we know something +about the Count of Syracuse and something about Mr William +Smith. If it leaks out, it must come from England. Here no +one has any proof. In the meantime almost everybody here +is delighted to think that he may have escaped.</p> + + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXVII9" name="footnoteXVII9"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXVII9">Footnote 9:</a> British Consul at Havre. This letter was submitted to the Queen by Lord Palmerston.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>3rd March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="rindent1">(<i>3 <span class="sc">P.M.</span></i>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and begs to state that General Dumas has just been +with him to announce that the King and Queen of the French +landed this morning at Newhaven, having been brought over +in the Steam Packet Express, in which they embarked at Havre +yesterday evening about eight o'clock.</p> + +<p class="ind">General Dumas says that till the morning of their arrival at +Dreux the King and the Queen imagined that the Comte de +Paris had succeeded to the Throne, and that the Duchess of +Orleans had been declared Regent; that when they heard that +a Republic and a Provisional Government had been declared +they thought it unsafe to remain at Dreux; and that they then +separated in order to go by different roads to Honfleur, where +they were to meet at a small house belonging to a friend of +General Dumas. At that house they remained for some days, +until Mr Featherstonhaugh opened a communication with +them. The King then removed to Trouville in order to embark +from thence in a manner which Mr Featherstonhaugh had +arranged, and he remained there two or three days for that +purpose; but the weather was too stormy, and prevented his +departure. In the meanwhile the people of Trouville found out +who he was, and their demonstrations of attachment became +inconvenient. He therefore returned to Honfleur, and the +arrangements were altered. Yesterday evening at seven +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.160" id="pageii.160"></a>[page 160]</span> +o'clock the King, the Queen, and General Dumas came to the +ferry-boat which plies between Honfleur and Havre, and were +met by the Vice-Consul, who treated the King as uncle of the +Consul. On landing at Havre the King walked straight down +to the Express Packet, which was lying ready; the Queen went +separately, and after making a slight round through the streets +of Havre embarked also; the Packet then immediately started, +and went into Newhaven in preference to any other port, +because no Packets start from thence for the French coast. +General Dumas says that the whole party were unprovided with +anything but the clothes they wore, and he was going to the +King's banker to provide funds to enable him to come to town, +and said that the King begged him to apologise for his not having +at once written to your Majesty to thank your Majesty for the +great interest which your Majesty has taken in his safety, and +for the assistance, which he has received for his escape, but that +he would do so this evening.</p> + +<p class="ind">General Dumas said that the King's present intention is to +remain in England in the strictest <i>incognito</i>, and that he and the +Queen will assume the title of Count and Countess of Neuilly.</p> +<span class="rightnote">RECEPTION AT CLAREMONT</span> +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston explained to General Dumas that your +Majesty has made arrangements for the King's reception at +Claremont, and that your Majesty intended to send down an +officer of your Majesty's Household to communicate with the +King.</p> + +<p class="ind">General Dumas said that the King would most gratefully +avail himself of the arrangement as to Claremont, but that +under all circumstances, and as the King wished to remain in +entire privacy, he thought it would be better that no person +from your Majesty's Household should go down to the King at +Newhaven, and that he was sure the King would rather find his +own way from the railway station at London Bridge to Claremont +than attract attention by being met at the station by +any of your Majesty's carriages.</p> + +<p class="ind">The King would remain to-night at Newhaven, and would +come up to-morrow morning. General Dumas said that the +King and the Queen had gone through much personal fatigue +and mental anxiety, but are both well in health. The General +was going to Count Jarnac before he returned to Newhaven.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the French to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KING'S GRATITUDE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Newhaven, Sussex</span>, <i>3ème Mars 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame</span>,—Après avoir rendu grâces à Dieu, mon premier +devoir est d'offrir à votre Majesté l'hommage de ma reconnaissance +pour la généreuse assistance qu'elle nous a donnée, à moi +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.161" id="pageii.161"></a>[page 161]</span> +et à tous les miens et que la Providence vient de couvrir d'un +succès complet, puisque j'apprends qu'ils sont tous à présent +sur la terre hospitalière de l'Angleterre.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ce n'est plus, Madame, que <i>le Comte de Neuilly</i> qui, se rappelant +vos anciennes bontés, vient chercher sous ses auspices, un +asyle et une retraite paisible et aussi éloignée de tout rapport +politique que celle dont il y a joui dans d'autres temps, et dont +il a toujours précieusement conservé le souvenir.</p> + +<p class="ind">On me presse tellement pour ne pas manquer le train qui +emportera ma lettre que j'ai à peine le temps de prier votre +Majesté d'être mon interprète auprès du Prince votre auguste +Époux.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ma femme, accablée de fatigue par la vie que nous venons de +mener depuis dix jours! écrira un peu plus tard à votre Majesté. +Tout ce qu'elle a pu faire, est de tracer quelques mots pour +notre bien aimée Louise que je recommande à votre bonté. +On me presse encore, Madame, je ne puis que me souscrire avec +mon vieil attachement pour vous, de votre Majesté, très +affectionné,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louis Philippe.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Queen of the French to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Newhaven</span>, <i>3ème Mars 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame</span>,—A peine arrivée dans cette contrée hospitalière +après 9 jours d'une cruelle agonie, mon premier sentiment, +après avoir béni la Divine Providence, c'est de remercier, du +fond de mon cœur, votre Majesté, pour les facilités qu'elle a +bien voulu nous donner pour venir dans ce pays terminer nos +vieux jours dans la tranquillité et l'oubli. Une vive inquiétude +me tourmente, c'est d'apprendre le sort de mes enfants chéris +desquels nous avons dû nous séparer; j'ai la confiance qu'ils +auront trouvé aussi un appui dans le cœur généreux de votre +Majesté, et qu'ils auront été également sauvés comme leur +admirable Père, mon premier trésor. Que Dieu vous bénisse, +Madame, ainsi que le Prince Albert et vos enfants, et vous +préserve de malheurs pareils aux nôtres, c'est le vœu le plus +sincère de celle qui se dit, Madame, de votre Majesté, la toute +dévouée,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Marie Amélie</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ARRIVAL OF GUIZOT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>3rd March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty: +he has read with deep interest the affecting letter of the fallen +King.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.162" id="pageii.162"></a>[page 162]</span> + +<p class="ind">After the vicissitudes of a long life, it may be no irremediable +calamity if a Prince of great powers of mind and warm domestic +affections is permitted by Providence to end his days in peace +and tranquillity.</p> + +<p class="ind">Of course all enmity to his projects as a King ceases with his +deposition.</p> + +<p class="ind">M. Guizot came to London from Dover at half-past six.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the French.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Palais de Buckingham</span>, <i>3ème Mars 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire et mon cher Frère</span>,—C'était une consolation bien +vive pour moi de recevoir la bonne lettre de votre Majesté qui +m'a bien touchée. Nous avons tous été dans de vives inquiétudes +pour vous, pour la Reine et toute la famille, et nous remercions +la Providence pour que vous soyez arrivés en sûreté +sur le sol d'Angleterre, et nous sommes bien heureux de savoir +que vous êtes ici loin de tous ces dangers qui vous ont récemment +menacés. Votre Majesté croira combien ces derniers +affreux événements si inattendus nous ont péniblement agités. +Il nous tarde de savoir que vos santés n'ont pas été altérées +par ces derniers jours d'inquiétude et de fatigue. Albert me +charge d'offrir les hommages à votre Majesté, et je vous prie +de déposer les nôtres aux pieds de la Reine, à qui je compte +répondre demain. Je me dis, Sire et mon bon Frère, de votre +Majesté, la bien affectionnée Sœur,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Queen of the French.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Palais de Buckingham</span>, <i>4ème Mars 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame</span>,—Votre Majesté aura excusé que je ne vous ai pas +de suite remercié de votre bonne et aimable lettre de hier. C'est +des fonds de mon cœur que je me réjouis de vous savoir en +sûreté à Claremont avec le Roi. Mes pensées étaient auprès +de votre Majesté pendant tous ces affreux jours, et je frémis +en pensant à tout ce que vous avez souffert de corps et +d'âme.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert sera le Porteur de ces lignes; j'aurais été si heureuse +de l'accompagner pour vous voir, mais je n'ose plus quitter +Londres.</p> + +<p class="ind">Avec l'expression de l'affection et de l'estime, je me dis +toujours, Madame, de votre Majesté, la bien affectionnée +Sœur,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.163" id="pageii.163"></a>[page 163]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE ROYAL FUGITIVES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>5th March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and cannot see that there could be any objection to the +King and Queen of the French coming to town to visit your +Majesty, and indeed, on the contrary, it would seem under +all the circumstances of the case natural that they should be +anxious to see your Majesty, and that your Majesty should +be desirous of receiving them.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston was sure that your Majesty would read +with interest Mr Featherstonhaugh's account of the manner in +which he managed the escape of the King and Queen of the +French. It is like one of Walter Scott's best tales, and the +arrangements and the execution of them do great credit to +Mr Featherstonhaugh, who will be highly gratified to learn, +as Viscount Palmerston proposes to inform him, that your +Majesty has approved his conduct. Mr Featherstonhaugh +has also probably rendered a good service to the Provisional +Government, who would have been much embarrassed if their +Commissioner had arrested the King and Queen.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>7th March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Albert has written to you so constantly +that I have little to add; he just tells me this is not +quite true. However, there is nothing very new except that +we have seen the King and Queen; Albert went down to +Claremont to see them on Saturday, and yesterday they came +here with Montpensier. They both look very <i>abattus</i>, and the +poor Queen cried much in thinking of what she had gone +through—and what dangers the King had incurred; in short, +humbled poor people they looked. Dearest Vic I saw on +Sunday; <i>she</i> has also gone through much, and is so dear and +good and gentle. She looked wonderfully well <i>considering</i>. +They are still <i>very</i> much in want of means, and live on a very +reduced scale.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S VIEW OF THE CRISIS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>11th March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I profit by the departure of Andrews +to write to you a few lines, and to wish you joy of the continued +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.164" id="pageii.164"></a>[page 164]</span> +satisfactory behaviour of my friends, the good Belgians; +fervently do I hope and really trust all will go on well; but +what an extraordinary state of things everywhere! <i>"Je ne +sais plus où je suis,"</i> and I fancy really that we have gone back +into the <i>old</i> century. But I also feel one must not be nervous +or alarmed at these moments, but be of good cheer, and muster +up courage to meet all the difficulties.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our little riots are mere nothing, and the feeling here is +good.... <i>What</i> is <i>your</i> opinion as to the late events at Paris? +Do you not think the King ought to have retired to Vincenness +or somewhere else a day or two before, and put himself at the +head of the army? Ought not Montpensier at least to have +gone to Vincennes? I know Clém even thinks this—as also +that <i>one</i> ought to have foreseen, and ought to have managed +things better. Certainly at the <i>very last</i>, if they had not gone, +they would all have been massacred; and <i>I</i> think they were +quite right, and in short could not avoid going as quickly as +they could; but there is an impression they <i>fled</i> too quickly. +Still the recollection of Louis XVI.... is enough to justify +all, and everybody will admit that; but the Princes, they +think, ought to have remained. <i>What</i> do <i>you</i> think of all +this? I think the blunders were <i>all</i> on the last three or four days—and +on the last day, but were no longer to be avoided +at last; there seemed a <i>fatality</i>, and <i>all</i> was lost. Poor +Nemours did his best till he could <i>no longer</i> get to the troops. +People here also abuse him for letting Victoire go alone—but +he <i>remained</i> to do his <i>duty</i>; a little more <i>empressement</i> on +her +arrival here I would have wished. Albert told you all about +the Montpensiers' journey. It would do the King irreparable +mischief if they went now to Spain; the feeling of anger would +all return. Poor people! they are all in a sad state of <i>want</i> +at present.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must conclude. Hoping to hear from you, and to have +your opinion.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S SYMPATHY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>15th March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen cannot let this day pass without offering Lord +Melbourne hers and the Prince's best wishes for many happy +returns of it in health and strength.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Melbourne will agree with the Queen that the last three +weeks have brought back the times of the last century, and we +are in the midst of troubles abroad. The Revolution in France +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.165" id="pageii.165"></a>[page 165]</span> +is a sad and alarming thing.... The poor King and his +Government made many mistakes within the last two years, +and were obstinate and totally blind at the last till flight was +inevitable. But for <i>sixteen</i> years he did a great deal to maintain +peace, and made France prosperous, which should <i>not</i> be +forgotten.... Lord Melbourne's kind heart will grieve to +think of the <i>real want</i> the poor King and Queen are in, their +dinner-table containing barely enough to eat. And the poor +Nemours hardly know which way to turn. If the private +property be not restored God only knows what is to become +of these distinguished young Princes and their little children. +What will be their <i>avenir</i>? It breaks one's heart to think of +it, and the Queen, being so nearly related to them and knowing +them all, feels it very much. Surely the poor old King is +sufficiently punished for his faults. Lord Beauvale will surely +be shocked at the complete ruin of the family. Has he seen +or heard from his old friend Madame de Montjoye, who is here +with the Queen of the French? The poor dear Queen of the +Belgians is quite broken-hearted, but, thank God, Belgium +goes on admirably. In Germany also there are everywhere +disturbances, but the good Germans are at bottom very +loyal....</p> + +<p class="ind">The state of Paris is very gloomy; the rabble armed—keeping +the Government in awe—failures in all directions, and +nothing but ruin and misery. This is too gloomy a letter for +a birthday, and the Queen must apologise for it. The Prince +wishes to be kindly remembered to Lord Melbourne.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Emperor of Russia to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CZAR'S VIEW</span> + + +<table summary="date" align="right" border="0" style="margin-right: 10%;"> +<tr> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle"><span class="sc">St. Petersburg</span>, <i>le</i></td> + <td class="left1b">22 <i>Mars</i><br /> + <span style="line-height: 20%">———–</span><br /> + <span style="font-size: 0.9em;"> </span>3 <i>Avril</i></td> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle">1848.</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="clear" style="margin-bottom: -1.5em;"> </p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame ma Sœur</span>,—Veuillez me permettre, Madame, +d'offrir à votre Majesté mes sincères félicitations de son +heureuse délivrance.<sup>10</sup> Puisse le bon Dieu conserver votre +Majesté et toute son auguste famille, c'est mon vœu de tous +les jours. Plus que jamais, Madame, au milieu des désastres +qui renversent l'ordre social, l'on éprouve le besoin de relier les +liens d'amitié que l'on a été heureux de former dans de meilleurs +temps; ceux-là au moins nous restent, car ils sont hors de la +portée des hommes, et je suis fier et heureux de ce que votre +noble cœur me comprendra. En jettant les yeux sur ce qui se +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.166" id="pageii.166"></a>[page 166]</span> +passe, peut-être votre Majesté accordera-t-elle un souvenir à +ce que j'eus l'honneur de lui prédire, assis à table près d'elle: +depuis, 4 années à peine se sont écoulées, et que reste-t-il +encore debout en Europe? La Grande-Bretagne et la Russie!</p> + +<p class="ind">Ne serait-il pas naturel d'en conclure que notre union intime +est appelée peut-être à sauver le monde? Excusez, Madame, +cet épanchement d'un cœur qui vous est dévoué et qui a pris +l'habitude de souvenir à vous.</p> + +<p class="ind">J'ose avec une entière confiance compter sur l'amitié de +votre Majesté, et la prie de recevoir l'assurance de l'inviolable +attachement avec lequel je suis, Madame, de votre Majesté, le +tout dévoué et fidèle bon Frère et Ami,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Nicolas</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Veuillez, Madame, me rappeler au souvenir de son Altesse +Royale Monsieur le Prince Albert.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 10: The Princess Louise was born on 18th March.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brussels</span>, <i>25th March 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—... England seems quiet, and +even the attempt in Ireland seems to have passed over. But +Germany is in an awful state, beyond what I ever should have +thought possible in that country, and with such a good nation. +For years, however, all sorts of people had been stirring them +up, and half measures, seeming dishonest, of the Sovereigns +have done harm. Curious enough that I, who in fact was +desirous of retiring from politics, should be on the Continent +the only Sovereign who stood the storm, though I am at ten +hours' distance from Paris. I trust we shall be able to go on +with our money matters to enable us to keep up; our working +classes are at this moment what occupies us most, and much +has been done, and our Banks, which were much threatened, +are now safe.</p> + +<p class="ind">We work hard, and with these few days I suffered a little, +but I am better to-day. Louise is tolerably well; the poor +children are attentive and amiable. Poor things! <i>their +existence</i> is a good deal on the cards, and fortunes, private +and public, are in equal danger.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now I will leave you that you should not be tired. Ever, +my beloved child, your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CHARTIST DEMONSTRATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>4th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have to thank you for three most +kind letters, of the 18th and 25th March, and of the 1st. Thank +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.167" id="pageii.167"></a>[page 167]</span> +God, I am <i>particularly strong</i> and <i>well</i> in <i>every possible +respect</i>, +which is a blessing in these <i>awful, sad, heart-breaking</i> times. +From the first I heard all that passed, and my only thoughts +and talk were—Politics; but I never was calmer and +quieter or less nervous. <i>Great</i> events make me quiet and +calm, and little trifles fidget me and irritate my nerves. +But <i>I feel</i> grown old and serious, and the future is very +dark. God, however, will come to help and protect us, +and we must keep up our spirits. <i>Germany</i> makes me +so sad; on the other hand, Belgium is a real pride and +happiness.</p> + +<p class="ind">We saw your poor father and mother-in-law with the +Nemours, Joinville, and Aumale yesterday. Still a dream +to see them <i>thus, here!</i> They are well in health, and +the young people's conduct most praiseworthy; really the +three Princesses are astonishing, and a beautiful lesson +to every one. They are so much admired and respected +for it. My beloved Vic, with her lovely face, is perfection, +and so cheerful. She often comes to see me, and this is +a great pleasure to me, if only it was not caused by such +misfortunes!</p> + +<p class="ind">Now good-bye. With fervent prayers for the continuation +of your present most flourishing position, ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>9th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—The Cabinet have had the assistance of the Duke of +Wellington in framing their plans for to-morrow.</p> + +<p class="ind">Colonel Rowan<sup>11</sup> advised that the procession should be +formed, and allowed to come as far as the bridge they may +choose to pass, and should there be stopped. He thinks this +is the only way to avoid a fight. If, however, the Chartists +fire and draw their swords and use their daggers, the Military +are to be called out.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have no doubt of their easy triumph over a London +mob.</p> + +<p class="ind">But any loss of life will cause a deep and rankling resentment. +I trust, for this and every reason, that all may pass off quietly. +I have the honour to be, your Royal Highness's most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">J. Russell</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 8em;">Footnote 11: Chief Commissioner of Police, afterwards Sir C. Rowan, K.C.B. The Chartist +meeting had been fixed for the 10th.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.168" id="pageii.168"></a>[page 168]</span> + +<a name="illusii.2" id="illusii.2"></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><a href="images/0182-1200.png"><img src="images/0182-340.png" width="340" height="470" alt="The Cousins. H.M. Queen Victoria and the Duchess of Nemours" border="0" /></a> +<p class="center">"THE COUSINS." </p> +<p style="margin-top: -0.7em;">H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE DUCHESS OF NEMOURS </p> +<p class="center">From the picture by F. +Winterhalter at Buckingham Palace</p> +<p class="author" style="margin-bottom: 5em;"><i>To face p.</i> 168, Vol II.</p></div> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE UNEMPLOYED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>10th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord John</span>,—To-day the strength of the Chartists +and all evil-disposed people in the country will be brought to +the test against the force of the law, the Government, and the +good sense of the country. I don't feel doubtful for a moment +who will be found the stronger, but should be exceedingly +mortified if anything like a commotion was to take place, as it +would shake <i>that</i> confidence which the whole of Europe reposes +in our stability at this moment, and upon which will depend +the prosperity of the country. I have enquired a good deal +into the state of employment about London, and I find, to my +great regret, that the number of workmen of all trades out of +employment is <i>very</i> large, and that it has been increased by the +reduction of all the works under Government, owing to the +clamour for economy in the House of Commons. Several +hundred workmen have been discharged at Westminster +Palace; at Buckingham Palace much fewer hands are employed +than are really wanted; the formation of Battersea +Park has been suspended, etc., etc. Surely this is not the +moment for the tax-payers to economise upon the working +classes! And though I don't wish our Government to follow +Louis Blanc in his system of <i>organisation du travail</i>,<sup>12</sup> I think +the Government is bound to do what it can to help the working +classes over the present moment of distress. It may do this +consistently with real economy in its own works, whilst the +reductions on the part of the Government are followed by all +private individuals as a sign of the times. I have before this +spoken to Lord Morpeth<sup>13</sup> upon this subject, but I wish to bring +it specially under your consideration at the present moment. +Ever yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 12: Alluding to the <i>Ateliers Nationaux</i>, to be established under the guidance of a Council +of Administration.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 13: Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FEARGUS O'CONNOR</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>10th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="rindent1">(<i>2 <span class="sc">p.m</span>.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that the Kennington Common +Meeting has proved a complete failure.</p> + +<p class="ind">About 12,000 or 15,000 persons met in good order. Feargus +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.169" id="pageii.169"></a>[page 169]</span> +O'Connor, upon arriving upon the ground in a car, was ordered +by Mr Mayne<sup>14</sup> to come and speak to him. He immediately +left the car and came, looking pale and frightened, to Mr +Mayne. Upon being told that the meeting would not be +prevented, but that no procession would be allowed to pass the +bridges, he expressed the utmost thanks, and begged to shake +Mr Mayne by the hand. He then addressed the crowd, advising +them to disperse, and after rebuking them for their folly +he went off in a cab to the Home Office, where he repeated to +Sir George Grey his thanks, his fears, and his assurances that +the crowd should disperse quietly. Sir George Grey said he +had done very rightly, but that the force at the bridges should +not be diminished.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr F. O'Connor—"Not a man should be taken away. The +Government have been quite right. I told the Convention +that if they had been the Government they never would have +allowed such a meeting."</p> + +<p class="ind">The last account gave the numbers as about 5,000 rapidly +dispersing.</p> + +<p class="ind">The mob was in good humour, and any mischief that now +takes place will be the act of individuals; but it is to be hoped +the preparations made will daunt those wicked but not brave +men.</p> + +<p class="ind">The accounts from the country are good. Scotland is quiet. +At Manchester, however, the Chartists are armed, and have +bad designs.</p> + +<p class="ind">A quiet termination of the present ferment will greatly raise +us in foreign countries.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell trusts your Majesty has profited by the +sea air.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 14: Mr Richard Mayne, Commissioner of Police, created a K.C.B. in 1851.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>15th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has a letter from Lord Clarendon to-day +in better spirits, but somewhat fearing an outbreak in Dublin +to-night. He speaks confidently of the disposition of the +troops.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell cannot wonder that your Majesty has felt +deeply the events of the last six weeks. The King of the +French has brought upon his own family, upon France, and +upon Europe a great calamity. A moderate and constitutional +Government at home, coupled with an abstinence from ambitious +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.170" id="pageii.170"></a>[page 170]</span> +projects for his family abroad, might have laid the +foundation of permanent peace, order, and freedom in Europe. +Selfishness and cunning have destroyed that which honesty +and wisdom might have maintained. It is impossible not to +pity the innocent victims of the misconduct of Louis Philippe. +Still less can one refrain from regarding with dread the fearful +state of Germany, of her princes, her nobles, and her tempest-tossed +people.</p> + +<p class="ind">The example of Great Britain, may, however, secure an +interval of reflection for Europe. The next six months will be +very trying, but they may end with better prospects than we +can now behold. It was impossible that the exclusion of free +speaking and writing which formed the essence of Prince +Metternich's system could continue. It might have been +reformed quietly; it has fallen with a crash which spreads ruin +and death around.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lady John is deeply grateful for the congratulations of your +Majesty and the Prince.<sup>15</sup> She is going on well to-day.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 15: On the birth of a second son.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ALARMING STATE OF IRELAND</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>16th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter. The +state of Ireland is most alarming and most anxious; altogether, +there is so much inflammable matter all around us that it +makes one tremble. Still, the events of Monday must have a +calming and salutary effect. Lord John Russell's remarks +about Europe, and the unfortunate and calamitous policy +of the Government of the poor King of the French are most +true. But is he not even most to be pitied for being the cause +of such misery? (Though perhaps he does not attribute it to +himself), for, to see all his hopes thus destroyed, his pride +humbled, his children—whom he loves dearly—ruined—is not +this enough to make a man wretched? and indeed much to be +pitied; for <i>he</i> cannot feel <i>he</i> could <i>not</i> have prevented all +this. +Still Guizot is more to blame; <i>he</i> was the responsible adviser +of all this policy: he is <i>no</i> Bourbon, and he ought to have +behaved differently. Had the poor King died in 1844 after +he came here, and before that most unfortunate Spanish +marriages question was started, he would have deservedly +gone down to posterity as a great monarch. <i>Now</i>, what will +be his name in history? His fate is a great <i>moral!</i></p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to Germany, Prince Metternich is the cause of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.171" id="pageii.171"></a>[page 171]</span> +half the misfortune. His advice was taken by almost all the +sovereigns of that country, and it has kept them from doing +in time what has now been torn from them with the loss of +many rights which they need not have sacrificed. We heard +yesterday that the Archduke John<sup>16</sup> had arrived at Frankfort. +This is a wise measure, and may do much good and prevent +much evil, as he is a popular and most distinguished +prince....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 16: Uncle of the Emperor (Ferdinand I.) of Austria, born 1782.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON AND THE QUEEN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>17th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen not having heard anything from Lord Palmerston +respecting foreign affairs for so long a time, and as he must be +in constant communication with the Foreign Ministers in these +most eventful and anxious times, writes to urge Lord Palmerston +to keep her informed of what he hears, and of the views of +the Government on the important questions before us.</p> + +<p class="ind">She now only gets the Drafts when they are gone.</p> + +<p class="ind">The acceptance of the mediation between Denmark and +Holstein is too important an event not to have been first +submitted to the Queen.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>18th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and regrets much that he has not lately had an +opportunity of giving your Majesty verbally such explanations +as your Majesty might wish to receive with respect to the +progress of foreign affairs, but Viscount Palmerston hopes to +be able to get down to Broadlands for a few days on Saturday +next, and he could easily from thence wait upon your Majesty +on any morning and at any hour your Majesty might be +pleased to appoint.</p> + +<p class="ind">Although events of the greatest importance have been +passing in rapid succession in almost every part of Europe, the +position of your Majesty's Government has been one rather of +observation than of action, it being desirable that England +should keep herself as free as possible from unnecessary +engagements and entanglements, in order that your Majesty +may be at liberty to take such decisions as the state of things +may from time to time appear to render most advisable.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.172" id="pageii.172"></a>[page 172]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LOYALTY OF BELGIUM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Barton</span>, <i>18th April 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Uncle</span>,—Detained here by a heavy shower of +rain, I begin my letter to you and thank you warmly for +your dear and kind letter of the 15th, which I received +yesterday.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>Truly</i> proud and delighted are we at the conduct of the +Belgians,<sup>17</sup> and at their loyalty and affection for you and yours, +which I am sure must be a reward for all that you have done +these seventeen years. I must beg to say that you are wrong +in supposing that no mention is made of what took place on +the 9th in our papers; on the contrary, it has been <i>most +gratifyingly</i> mentioned in the <i>Times</i>, <i>Chronicle</i>, <i>John +Bull</i>, <i>etc.</i> +<i>You</i> are held up as a pattern to the German Sovereigns, and the +Belgians as a pattern to the German people.</p> + +<p class="ind">In France, really things go on <i>dreadfully</i>.... One does not +like to attack those who are fallen, but the poor King, Louis +Philippe, <i>has</i> brought much of this on by that ill-fated return +to a <i>Bourbon Policy</i>. I always think he <i>ought not</i> to have +abdicated; every one seems to think he <i>might</i> have stemmed +the torrent <i>then</i> still. On the other hand, Joinville says it was +sure to happen, for that the French want constant change, +and were quite tired of the present Government. <i>Qu'en dites-vous?</i> +How is poor, dear Louise? I hope her spirits are +better.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our weather is terribly rainy, though very fine between. +We have got nightingales in the pleasure ground, and in the +wood down near the sea. We are all extremely well, and +expect the Prince of Prussia here to-day for two nights. Ever +your devoted and attached Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 17: A party of French Republicans entered Belgium with the intention of exciting an +insurrection; the attempt signally failed.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>1st May 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has this morning received Lord Palmerston's +letter.<sup>18</sup> She cannot see any reason for deviating from the +established rules, and inviting to Court Frenchmen who are +not recognised in their official capacity, and have no natural +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.173" id="pageii.173"></a>[page 173]</span> +representatives to present them as private individuals. As an +invitation cannot be claimed by them, the omission of it ought +not to lead to any misrepresentation; whilst the contrary, +under the fiction of their being private individuals, might lead +to misconstruction and to most inconvenient precedents.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: M. de Tallenay had arrived in London with a letter from M. Lamartine, accrediting +him as provisional <i>chargé d'affaires</i> of the French Government, and Lord Palmerston had +suggested to the Queen that etiquette would not be violated by inviting him to a Court +Ball.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AFFAIRS IN FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>9th May 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your very kind letter +of the 6th. How delightful it is to hear such good accounts of +Belgium! If only dear Germany gets right and if all our +interests (those of the smaller Sovereigns) are not <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'sacrified'">sacrificed</ins>! I +cannot say <i>how</i> it distresses and vexes me, and <i>comme je l'ai à +cœur</i>. My good and dear Albert is much worried and works +<i>very</i> hard....</p> + +<p class="ind">I had a curious account of the opening of the <i>Assemblée</i> from +Lady Normanby.<sup>19</sup> No <i>real</i> enthusiasm, dreadful confusion, +and the Blouses taking part in everything, and stopping the +Speakers if they did not please them. The opinion is that it +cannot last.</p> + +<p class="ind">I enclose another letter from Lady Normanby, with an +account of the poor Tuileries, which is very curious and sad; +but the respect shown for poor Chartres is very touching, and +might interest poor dear Louise, if you think fit to show it her. +But why show such hatred to poor Nemours and to the Queen? +Montpensier's marriage may cause <i>his</i> unpopularity, possibly. +I shall beg to have the letter back.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must conclude, as we are going to pay a visit at Claremont +this afternoon. Ever your truly devoted Child and Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 19: The National Assembly commenced its sittings on 4th May, when the Oath of Allegiance +was abolished, and the Republic proclaimed in the presence of 200,000 citizens.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>16th May 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have just heard the news of the +extraordinary confusion at Paris, which must end in a <i>Blutbad</i>. +Lamartine has quite lost all influence by yielding to and supporting +Ledru Rollin!<sup>20</sup> It seems inexplicable! In Germany, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.174" id="pageii.174"></a>[page 174]</span> +too, everything looks most anxious, and I <i>tremble</i> for the result +of the Parliament at Frankfort.<sup>21</sup> I am <i>so</i> anxious for the fate +of the poor smaller Sovereigns, which it would be infamous to +sacrifice. I feel it <i>much</i> more than Albert, as it would break +my heart to see Coburg <i>reduced</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Many thanks for your kind and dear letter of the 13th. +Thank God! that with you everything goes on so well. I will +take care and let Lord Normanby know your kind expressions. +The visit to old Claremont was a touching one, and it seemed +an incomprehensible dream to see them all there. They bear +up wonderfully. Nothing can be kinder than the Queen-Dowager's +behaviour towards them all. The poor Duchess of +Gloster is again in one of her nervous states, and gave us a +dreadful fright at the Christening by quite forgetting where +she was, and coming and kneeling at my feet in the midst of +the service. Imagine our horror!</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. The weather is beautiful, but too hot +for me. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 20: Lamartine and Ledru Rollin were members of the Provisional Government, and subsequently +of the Executive Committee. The mob, holding that the promises of general +employment had been broken, invaded the Assembly <i>en masse</i>, and attempted a counter-revolution.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 21: Out of the revolutionary movement in Germany had grown their National Assembly, +which after a preliminary session as a <i>Vor-Parlament</i>, was to reassemble on 18th May.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AUSTRIA AND ITALY</span> + +<p class="indright">(<i>No date.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has carefully perused the enclosed papers, and +wishes to have a copy of Baron Hummelauer's<sup>22</sup> note sent to +her to keep.</p> + +<p class="ind">The basis laid down in it is quite inadmissible, and the Queen +was struck by the light way in which the claims of the Dukes +of Parma and Modena are spoken of (as disposed of by the +events), whilst their position and that of Austria are in every +respect identical.<sup>23</sup> The Queen thinks Lord Palmerston's +proposition the one which is the most equitable, still likely +to be attained, but it does not go far enough; the position +which Austria means to take <i>in Italy</i> with her Italian province +ought to be explained, and a declaration be made that Austria +will, with this province, join any Italian league which the other +states of Italy may wish to establish. This will be useful to +Italy, and much facilitate the acceptance of the Austrian +proposal, as the Queen feels convinced that as soon as the +war shall be terminated, the question of the political constitution +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.175" id="pageii.175"></a>[page 175]</span> +of Italy (as a whole) will have to be decided. +Why Charles Albert ought to get any additional territory +the Queen cannot in the least see. She thinks it will +be better to proceed at once upon the revised Austrian +proposal, than to wait for Italian propositions, which are +sure to be ridiculously extravagant.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: The Austrian Government, in its efforts to maintain its ascendency in Lombardy, had +sent Baron Hummelauer to negotiate with Lord Palmerston.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 23: The Dukes had both been driven from their dominions, while the King (Charles +Albert) of Sardinia threw in his lot with the cause of United Italy as against Austria, +which then ruled Lombardy.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND SPAIN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>23rd May 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter respecting +Spain and Italy this morning. The sending away of Sir H. +Bulwer<sup>24</sup> is a serious affair, which will add to our many embarrassments; +the Queen is, however, not surprised at it, +from the tenor of the last accounts from Madrid, and from the +fact that Sir H. Bulwer has for the last three years almost been +sporting with political intrigues. He invariably boasted of at +least being in the confidence of every conspiracy, "though he +was taking care not to be personally mixed up in them," and, +after their various failures, generally harboured the chief actors +in his house under the plea of humanity. At every crisis he +gave us to understand that he had to choose between a "revolution +and a palace intrigue," and not long ago only he wrote +to Lord Palmerston, that if the Monarchy with the Montpensier +succession was inconvenient to us, he could get up a Republic. +Such principles are sure to be known in Spain, the more so +when one considers the extreme vanity of Sir H. Bulwer, and +his probable imprudence in the not very creditable company +which he is said to keep. Lord Palmerston will remember +that the Queen has often addressed herself to him and Lord +John, in fear of Sir H. getting us into some scrape; and if our +diplomatists are not kept in better order, the Queen may +at any moment be exposed to similar insults as she has +received now in the person of Sir H. Bulwer; for in whatever +way one may wish to look at it, Sir Henry still is <i>her</i> +Minister.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes Lord Palmerston to show this letter +to Lord John Russell, and to let her know what the Government +mean to propose with respect to this unfortunate +affair.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 24: Lord Palmerston had written a letter to Bulwer (which the latter showed to the +Spanish Premier), lecturing the Spanish Queen on her choice of Minister. This "assumption +of superiority," as Sir R. Peel called it, led to a peremptory order to Bulwer to leave +Spain in twenty-four hours. His own account of the affair appears in his <i>Life of Palmerston</i>, +vol. iii. chap. vii.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.176" id="pageii.176"></a>[page 176]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince of Prussia to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA</span> + +<h5>[<i>Translation.</i>]</h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brussels</span> <i>30th May 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Most gracious Cousin</span>,—I obey the impulse of my heart +in seizing my pen, without any delay, in order to express to +you my warmest and most heartfelt thanks for the infinitely +gracious and affectionate way with which you and the Prince +have treated me during my stay in London.<sup>25</sup> It was a melancholy +time, that of my arrival. By the sympathetic view +which you took of my situation, most gracious Cousin, it +became not only bearable, but even transformed into one +that became proportionately honourable and dignified. This +graciousness of yours has undoubtedly contributed towards +the change of opinion which has resulted in my favour, and so +I owe to you, to the Prince, and to your Government, a fortunate +issue out of my calamities. So it is with a heavy heart +that I have now left England, not knowing what future lies +before me to meet—and only knowing that I shall need the +strengthening rest and tranquillity which my stay in England +and an insight into her institutions have afforded me in full +measure.</p> + +<p class="ind">Offering my most cordial remembrances to the Prince, to +whom I shall write as soon as possible, I remain, most gracious +Cousin, your faithful and most gratefully devoted Cousin,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Prince of Prussia</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 25: The Prince of Prussia, afterwards the Emperor William I., having become intensely +unpopular at Berlin, had been obliged in March to fly for his life, in disguise, <i>viâ</i> Hamburg, +to England.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE ROYAL EXILES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>1st June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen had not time the other day to talk to Lord John +Russell on the subject of the French Royal Family, and therefore +writes to him now. As it seems now most probable that +they, or at least some of them, will take up their residence for +a lengthened period in this country, and as their position is +now a defined one, viz. that of <i>exiles</i>, their treatment should +be defined and established.</p> + +<p class="ind">At first everything seemed temporary, and the public were +much occupied with them, inclined to criticise all that was done +or was omitted by the Court; all their movements were recorded +in the papers, etc. The lapse of three months has a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.177" id="pageii.177"></a>[page 177]</span> +good deal altered this. They have lived in complete retirement, +and are comparatively forgotten; and their poverty and +their resignation to their misfortunes have met with much +sympathy! The Queen is consequently anxious to take the +right line; particularly desirous to do nothing which could +hurt the interests of the country, and equally so to do everything +kind towards a distinguished Royal Family in severe +affliction, with whom she has long been on terms of intimacy, +and to whom she is very nearly related. She accordingly +wishes to know if Lord John sees any objection to the following: +She has asked her Cousin, the Duchess of Nemours, to +come for two or three nights to see her at Osborne when she +goes there, <i>quite</i> privately; the Duchess of Kent would bring +her with her. The Duke will not come with the Duchess, as he +says he feels (very properly) it would be unbecoming in him +till their fate (as to <i>fortune</i>, for <i>banished</i> they already are) is +decided, to be even for a day at Osborne. The Duchess herself +wishes not to appear in the evening, but to remain alone with +the Queen and the Prince.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen considers that when she is <i>staying</i> in the country +during the summer and autumn, and any of the branches of +the French Royal Family should wish to visit her and the +Prince, as they occasionally do here, she might lodge them for +one or two nights, as the distance might be too great for their +returning the same day. They are exiles, and <i>not Pretenders</i>, +as the Duc de Bordeaux and Count de Montemolin are (and +who are <i>for that reason only not received at Court</i>). In all +countries where illustrious exiles related to the Sovereign have +been they have always been received at Court, as the Duc de +Bordeaux, the Duchesse d'Angoulême, etc., etc., invariably +have been at Vienna (even on public occasions), there being a +French Ambassador there, and the best understanding existing +between France and Austria. The Duke of Orleans (King +Louis Philippe) in former times was constantly received by the +Royal Family, and was the intimate friend of the Duke of +Kent. Probably, if their fortunes are restored to them, the +French Royal Family will go out into society in the course of +time, and if the state of France becomes consolidated there +may no longer exist that wish and that necessity for <i>extreme</i> +privacy, which is so obvious now. What the Queen has just +mentioned, Lord John must well understand, is not what is +<i>likely</i> to take place (except in the case of her cousin, the +Duchess of Nemours) immediately, but only what might +occasionally occur when we are permanently settled in the +country. Of course events <i>might</i> arise which would change +this, and which would render it inadvisable, and then the Queen +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.178" id="pageii.178"></a>[page 178]</span> +would communicate with Lord John, and ask his advice again +upon the subject. All she has suggested refers to the present +state of affairs, and, of course, merely to <i>strictly</i> private visits, +and on <i>no state occasion</i>. This is a long letter about such a +subject, but the Queen wishes to be quite safe in what she does, +and therefore could not have stated the case and her opinion +in a smaller space.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AFFAIRS IN LOMBARDY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>4th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the enclosed draft. She has written +upon it, in pencil, a passage which she thinks ought to be added, +if the draft—though civil—is not to be a mere refusal to do +anything for Austria, and a recommendation that whatever +the Italians ask for ought to be given, for which a mediation +is hardly necessary.<sup>26</sup> The Queen thinks it most important +that we should try to mediate and put a stop to the war, and +equally important that the boundary which is to be settled +should be such a one as to make a recurrence of hostilities +unlikely. The Queen has only further to remark that Lord +Palmerston speaks in the beginning of the letter only of the +Cabinet, and adverts nowhere to the proposition having been +submitted to her.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 26: War was now raging in Lombardy between the Austrians under Marshal Radetzky +and the Piedmontese under the King of Sardinia.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<h5><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>14th June 1848.</i></h5> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty, and thanks +your Majesty for the perusal of this interesting letter.</p> + +<p class="ind">An Emperor with a rational Constitution might be a fair +termination of the French follies; but Louis Napoleon, with +the Communists, will probably destroy the last chance of +order and tranquillity. A despotism must be the end.</p> + +<p class="ind">May Heaven preserve us in peace!</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SIR HENRY BULWER</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>15th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter explaining +his views as to the reparation we may be entitled to receive +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.179" id="pageii.179"></a>[page 179]</span> +from the Spanish Government. She considers them as quite +fair, but does not wish to have Sir H. Bulwer again as her +Minister at Madrid, even if it should be necessary that he +should repair there in order to be received by the Queen of Spain. +It would not be consulting the permanent interests of this +country to entrust that mission again to Sir H. Bulwer, after +all that has passed. When the Queen considers the position +we had in Spain, and what it ought to have been after the +constitution of the French Republic when we had no rival to +fight and ought to have enjoyed the entire confidence and +friendship of Spain, and compares this to the state into which +our relations with that country have been brought, she cannot +help being struck how much matters must have been mismanaged.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>16th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends the enclosed draft,<sup>27</sup> and asks whether this +note is what Lord John directed Lord Palmerston to send to +Lisbon as a caution to Sir H. Seymour not to mix himself up +with party intrigues to upset a particular Ministry?<sup>28</sup> ...</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 27: The draft ran:—"As it is evident that the Queen and the Government of Portugal +will listen to no advice except such that agrees with their own wishes, I have to instruct +you to abstain in future from giving any longer any advice to them on political matters, +taking care to explain both to the Queen and the Government your reasons for doing so. +You will, however, at the same time positively declare to the Portuguese Government +that if by the course of policy they are pursuing they should run into any difficulty, they +must clearly understand that they will not have to expect any assistance from England."</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 28: Lord John Russell replied that he would write immediately to Lord Palmerston respecting +Portuguese affairs. He added that he did not approve of the proposed draft.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>17th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear John Russell</span>,—The draft to Seymour was written +in consequence of what you said to me, and what the Queen +wrote to you; but my own opinion certainly is that it would +be best to leave the things with him as they are. It must, +however, be remembered that the Portuguese Government +have not in reality fulfilled the engagements taken by the +Queen in the Protocol of last year....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Palmerston</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>17th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns Lord Palmerston's letter. The country +is at this moment suffering, particularly with regard to Spain, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.180" id="pageii.180"></a>[page 180]</span> +under the evil consequence of that system of diplomacy, which +makes the taking up of party politics in foreign countries its +principal object. This system is condemned alike by the +Queen, Lord John, the Cabinet, and, the Queen fully believes, +public opinion in and out of Parliament. Lord Palmerston's +objection to caution our Minister in Portugal against falling +into this fault brings it to an issue, whether that <i>erroneous</i> +policy is to be maintained to the detriment of the real interests +of the country, or a wiser course to be followed in future. +Does Lord John consider this so light a matter as to be surrendered +merely because Lord Palmerston is not to add to such +a caution a gratuitous attack upon the Queen and Government +of Portugal? The Queen thinks it of the utmost importance +that in these perilous times this question with regard to the +basis of our foreign policy should be <i>settled</i>, and has no objection +to Lord John showing this letter to Lord Palmerston.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>18th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; +he begs to assure your Majesty that if he was disposed to rest +on the known discretion and temper of Sir Hamilton Seymour +without specific instruction, it was not from regarding the +matter lightly, but from a sense of the inconvenience which +might arise to your Majesty's service from raising a question +with Lord Palmerston in the present critical state of Europe +which might induce a belief that he had not conducted foreign +affairs to the satisfaction of his colleagues or of his Sovereign.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell feeling, however, that on the particular +point at issue your Majesty has just reason to expect that +precautions should be taken against the chance of intrigue +with foreign parties against a foreign government, with which +this country is on terms of friendship, is ready to insist on an +instruction to Sir Hamilton Seymour similar to that which +was given to Sir Henry Bulwer to take no part in the struggle +of parties, and to refrain from any interference with respect +to which he has not specific directions from your Majesty's +Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">But in this case he must take upon himself the whole +responsibility of requiring such a note from Lord Palmerston. +It would not be conducive to your Majesty's service, nor +agreeable to the wholesome maxims of the Constitution to +mix your Majesty's name with a proceeding which may lead +to the most serious consequences.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.181" id="pageii.181"></a>[page 181]</span> + +<p class="ind">It is just to Lord Palmerston to say that his general course +of policy has met with the warm approval of the Cabinet, and +that the cases of difference of judgment have been rare exceptions.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell submits to your Majesty the letter he +proposes to write before sending it to Lord Palmerston. He +would wish to have it returned as soon as your Majesty can +do so.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>18th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns to Lord John Russell his letter to Lord +Palmerston,<sup>29</sup> which is excellent, and shows that the Queen's +and Lord John's views upon the important question of our +foreign policy <i>entirely coincide</i>. The Queen is sorry that the +trouble of such an altercation should be added to the many +anxieties which already press upon Lord John, but she feels +sure that his insisting upon a <i>sound</i> line of policy will save him +and the country from <i>far greater</i> troubles....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 29: The letter was to the effect that Sir H. Seymour was to take no part in the struggle +of parties in Portugal, and to refrain from confidential communications with members of +the Opposition.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>26th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and is sorry he is not able to submit to your Majesty +the proposed draft to Sir Hamilton Seymour to go by to-night's +mail, as he has not succeeded in settling the wording +of it with Lord John Russell, and is therefore obliged to defer +it till the next mail.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>26th June 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends this letter, which she has just received +from Lord Palmerston. No remonstrance has any effect with +Lord Palmerston. Lord John Russell should ask the Duke of +Bedford to tell him of the conversation the Queen had with +the Duke the other night about Lord Palmerston.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.182" id="pageii.182"></a>[page 182]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND ITALY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>1st July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has not yet answered Lord Palmerston's letter +of the 29th. She cannot conceal from him that she is ashamed +of the policy which we are pursuing in this Italian controversy +in abetting wrong, and this for the object of gaining <i>influence</i> +in Italy.<sup>30</sup> The Queen does not consider influence so gained as +an advantage, and though this influence is to be acquired in +order to do good, she is afraid that the fear of losing it again +will always stand in the way of this. At least in the countries +where the greatest stress has been laid on that influence, and +the greatest exertions made for it, the <i>least good</i> has been done—the +Queen means in Spain, Portugal, and Greece. Neither +is there any kind of consistency in the line we take about Italy +and that we follow with regard to Schleswig; both cases are +perfectly alike (with the difference perhaps that there is a +question of right mixed up in that of Schleswig); whilst we +upbraid Prussia, caution her, etc., etc., we say nothing to +Charles Albert except that if he did not wish to take <i>all</i> the +Emperor of Austria's Italian Dominions, we would not lay +any <i>obstacles</i> in the way of his moderation. The Queen finds +in Lord Palmerston's last despatch to Chevalier Bunsen the +following passage: "And it is manifest and indisputable that +no territory or state, which is not now according to the Treaty +of 1815 included in the German Confederation, can be added +to that territory without the consent of the Sovereign of that +territory or state." How does this agree with our position +relative to the incorporation of Lombardy into the states of +the King of Sardinia?</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 30: Lord Palmerston's sympathy had been with the anti-Austrian movement in Northern +Italy. For some time after Radetzky's evacuation of Milan, the operations of the King +of Sardinia in support of the Lombards were successful, and he had assistance from +Tuscany, Naples, and Rome. The Austrians suffered reverses at Peschiera and Goito, +and the independence of Northern Italy seemed to be accomplished. But the tide had +begun to turn.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD MINTO'S MISSION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>6th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge Lord Palmerston's long +Memorandum respecting our relations with Italy, the length +of which, however, was fully justified by the importance of +the subject.</p> + +<p class="ind">The mission of Lord Minto has had the Queen's approval at +the time, and the policy pursued by him has never been called +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.183" id="pageii.183"></a>[page 183]</span> +in question; but it certainly was prejudicial to the Austrians, +and imposes upon us additional care not to appear now as the +abettors of the anti-Austrian movement, and nothing in Lord +Minto's mission can prevent our endeavouring to facilitate and +forward a speedy settlement of the present Italian difference.<sup>31</sup> +If, therefore, the Italians should be inclined to be moderate, +there can be no dereliction of principle in encouraging them to +be so. The danger of French interference increases with the +delay and is equally great, whether the Austrians maintain +themselves in the Venetian Territory or whether Charles Albert +unite it to his proposed kingdom of Northern Italy; indeed, the +French seem to be anxious for a cause of interference from the +line they pursue even with regard to Naples.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston seeks to establish a difference between the +case of Schleswig and of Lombardy, on the fact that Schleswig +is to be incorporated into a confederation of States; but this +makes the case of Lombardy only the stronger, as this is to be +incorporated into the dominions of another Sovereign. With +regard to the "Revue Retrospective," the perusal of it has +left a different impression upon the Queen from that which +it seems to have made upon Lord Palmerston. It proved to +her, that while the retiring attitude which the late Government +took with regard to the Spanish marriages, left the +French Government to try their different schemes and intrigues +and to fail with every one of them, the attempt of Lord +Palmerston to re-organise the Progressista Party and regain +the so-called <i>English influence</i>, brought Queen Christina and +King Louis Philippe (who had before seriously quarrelled) +immediately together, and induced them to rush into this +unfortunate combination, which cannot but be considered as +the origin of all the present convulsions in Europe.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 31: Lord Minto, the Lord Privy Seal, and father-in-law of the Prime Minister, had been +sent to encourage in the path of reform Pope Pius IX., who was halting between progress +and reaction: on the sanguinary risings taking place in Lombardy and Venetia, his mission +naturally appeared hostile to Austria.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AN ANXIOUS PERIOD</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>11th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—For another kind and dear letter of +the 8th, I have much to thank you. The prosperity of dear +little Belgium is a bright star in the stormy night all around. +May God bless and prosper you all, for ever and ever!</p> + +<p class="ind">Since the 24th February I feel an uncertainty in everything +existing, which (uncertain as all human affairs must be) one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.184" id="pageii.184"></a>[page 184]</span> +never felt before. When one thinks of one's children, their +education, their future—and prays for them—I always think +and say to myself, "Let them grow up fit for <i>whatever station</i> +they may be placed in—<i>high or low</i>." This one never thought +of before, but I <i>do</i> always now. Altogether one's whole disposition +is so changed—<i>bores</i> and trifles which one would have +complained of bitterly a few months ago, one looks upon as +good things and quite a blessing—provided one can <i>keep one's +position in quiet!</i></p> + +<p class="ind">I own I have not much confidence in Cavaignac,<sup>32</sup> as they fear +his mother's and brother's influence, the former being a widow +of a regicide, and as <i>stern</i> and severe as can be imagined.</p> + +<p class="ind">I saw the King and Queen on Saturday; he is wonderfully +merry still and quite himself, but <i>she</i> feels it deeply—and for +<i>her</i> there is here the greatest sympathy and admiration.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert is going to York to-morrow till Friday; <i>how</i> I wish +you and Louise could be with me, as in '44 and '46! I have, +however, got dear Victoire to come and spend a night with +me; it does her always good, and we are just like sisters, and +feel as we did in 1839, when you know how very fond we +were of each other. She is a dear, noble, and still <i>beautiful</i> +child.</p> + +<p class="ind">I venture to send you a snuff-box with poor Aunt Charlotte's +picture as a child, which also belonged to poor Aunt Sophia. +Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 32: General Cavaignac, Minister for War, had been given <i>quasi</i>-dictatorial powers during +the insurrection. These powers, on the suppression of the revolt, he resigned, and was +thereupon almost unanimously made President of the Council.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>13th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen was glad to hear of the majorities the other night. +She concludes Lord John Russell cannot at all say <i>when</i> the +Session is likely to end? Is it not much to be regretted that +the measure relative to the Navigation Laws is given up, and +was it unavoidable? The Queen sends Lord John Col. Phipps's +report of the Prince's reception at York, which she thinks will +interest him. Does Lord J. Russell think, if we should not +go to Ireland, that we could go to Balmoral for ten days or a +fortnight, without shocking the Irish very much? It strikes +the Queen that to go to see <i>our own place</i> makes a difference, +and is in fact a natural thing; it is, however, impossible to +say if we <i>can</i> get away even for so short a time.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen concludes that there can be no possible objection +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.185" id="pageii.185"></a>[page 185]</span> +to the Duc de Nemours bringing or fetching the Duchess to and +from Osborne? He is the Queen's Cousin, and consequently +in a different position to any of the others; moreover, he does +<i>not</i> wish <i>at present</i> to spend one <i>night</i> there even, but +merely to +pay a morning visit.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lastly, the Queen wishes to know if the King and Queen and +the other Princes and Princesses <i>should themselves</i> ask to come +and pay the Queen a morning visit at Osborne, and return +again the same day (as they do here), there would be any +objection to it? The Queen merely wishes to know, in <i>case +they</i> should ask leave to do so, what she can answer.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir George Grey.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">COMMISSIONS IN THE ARMY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>14th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Sir George Grey's letter of yesterday, +and has considered the proposed alteration in the mode of +preparing Commissions for Officers in the Army. The Queen +does not at all object to the amount of trouble which the +signature of so many Commissions has hitherto entailed upon +her, as she feels amply compensated by the advantage of keeping +up a personal connection between the Sovereign and the +Army, and she very much doubts whether the Officers generally +would not feel it as a slight if, instead of their Commissions +bearing the Queen's sign-manual, they were in future only to +receive a certificate from the Secretary at War that they have +been commissioned.</p> + +<p class="ind">She therefore prefers matters to remain on their old footing.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Secretary at War speaks in his Memorandum of his +responsibility to Parliament with respect to allowing Appointments +to go on; the Queen apprehends that his responsibility +does not extend beyond the appropriation of the money voted +by Parliament for the use of her Army.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Princess Charlotte of Belgium to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>18th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Cousin</span>,—I have received the beautiful dolls' +house you have been so kind as to send me, and I thank you +very much for it. I am delighted with it; every morning I +dress my doll and give her a good breakfast; and the day +after her arrival she gave a great rout at which all my dolls +were invited. Sometimes she plays at drafts on her pretty +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.186" id="pageii.186"></a>[page 186]</span> +little draft-board, and every evening I undress her and put +her to bed.</p> + +<p class="ind">Be so good, my dearest Cousin, as to give my love to my +dear little Cousins, and believe me always, your most affectionate +Cousin,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Charlotte</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ITALY AND FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>24th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter<sup>33</sup> reporting +his conversation with M. de Tallenay. She can only repeat her +opinion that a negotiation with France in order to agree with +her upon a common line of policy to be followed with regard +to the Italian question can lead to no good; it will make us +the ally of a Government which is not even legally constituted, +and which can accordingly not guarantee the fulfilment of any +engagement it may enter into, and it will call upon the very +power to judge the Italian dispute which it is the interest of +Europe to keep out of it. M. de Tallenay seems to have admitted +that the French Republic, if called upon to act, will +neither allow Austria to keep the Venetian territory nor +Sardinia to acquire it, but that she will strive to set up a +Venetian Republic. It can really not be an object for us to +assist in such a scheme, or even to treat upon it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Cowley the Queen means to invite to dinner to-day, +and she wishes Lord Palmerston to let her know the day on +which he is to leave for Frankfort in order that she may prepare +her letter for the Archduke accordingly.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 33: Lord Palmerston had reported an interview with <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'De Tallenay'">de Tallenay</ins>, who sought the co-operation +of England with France in Northern Italy; the Austrian force in Italy to be +withdrawn or reduced, the union of Lombardy and Piedmont to be accepted as a <i>fait +accompli</i>, and Venetian territory erected into a separate republic.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">NORTHERN ITALY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>25th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends Lord John Russell the enclosed Despatch +from Lord Normanby, with a draft in answer to it which was +sent for her approval, but which she really cannot approve. +The Queen must tell Lord John what she has repeatedly told +Lord Palmerston, but without apparent effect, that the establishment +of an <i>entente cordiale with the French Republic</i>, for the +purpose of driving the Austrians out of <i>their dominions</i> in Italy, +would be a <i>disgrace</i> to this country. That the French would +attach the greatest importance to it and gain the greatest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.187" id="pageii.187"></a>[page 187]</span> +advantage by it there can be no doubt of; but how will +England appear before the world <i>at the moment</i> when she is +struggling to maintain her supremacy in Ireland, and boasts +to stand by treaties with regard to her European relations, +having declined all this time to interfere in Italy or to address +one word of caution to the Sardinian Government on account +of its attack on Austria, and having refused to mediate when +called upon to do so by Austria, because the terms were not +good enough for Sardinia, if she should now ally herself with +the arch-enemy of Austria to interfere <i>against her</i> at the +moment when she has recovered in some degree her position in +the Venetian territory?</p> + +<p class="ind">The notion of establishing a Venetian State under French +guarantee is too absurd. Lord Palmerston in his draft says +that we believe that the French plan would be agreed to by +Austria. Now this is completely at variance with every +account, report, or despatch we have received from Verona, +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: sic: alternative spelling for 'Innsbruck'">Innspruck</ins>, or Vienna; however, Lord Palmerston hints that +the King of Sardinia might expect still better terms. The +French Republic seems <i>not</i> to be anxious for war, not able to +conduct it, and the country appears to be decidedly against it; +all M. Bastide says is: "There were two extremes which it +would be very difficult for them to admit without opposition, +viz. the restoration of Lombardy to the Dominion of Austria +on the one side, and the union under one powerful state under +Charles Albert of all the principalities into which the north of +Italy has hitherto been divided." With this explicit declaration, +it would surely be best for the interests of Europe that +we should name <i>this</i> to Charles Albert, and call upon him to +rest satisfied with his conquest, and to conclude a peace with +Austria, leaving her what he cannot take from her, and thus +avoid calling in France as an arbiter. Why this has not been +done long ago, or should not be done now, the Queen cannot +comprehend.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>27th July 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge Lord John Russell's two +letters with respect to Italy. The alterations in the draft meet +many of the Queen's objections, giving to the whole step +another appearance. The Queen ... must acknowledge the +advantage of our trying to bind [the French] to good conduct; +only this must be done in a way not to appear as a league with +them against a friendly Power, struggling to preserve to herself +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.188" id="pageii.188"></a>[page 188]</span> +a territory granted to her by a Treaty to which we were a +party.</p> + +<p class="ind">As the amended draft secures us against these appearances, +and leaves us free for the future, the Queen approves it.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MINOR GERMAN STATES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>1st August 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I had yesterday the happiness of receiving +your kind letter of the 29th, for which I return my best +thanks.</p> + +<p class="ind">There are ample means of crushing the Rebellion in Ireland,<sup>34</sup> +and I think it now is very likely to go off without any contest. +...Lord Hardinge is going over there to serve on the Staff, +which is very praiseworthy of him.</p> + +<p class="ind">I do not think the fate of the Minor Princes in Germany is so +completely decided as Charles<sup>35</sup> ... is <i>so</i> anxious to make one +believe. There is only a question of taking certain powers and +rights away, and not at all of getting rid of them; and I think +you will see that the <i>Ausführung</i> of the Unity will be an impossibility, +at least in the sense they propose at Frankfort. The +Archduke John has spoken very reassuringly both to Ernest +and the Duke of Meiningen, and the attachment in many of +those smaller principalities is still extremely great, and I am +sure they will never consent to being <i>ausgewischt</i>. Coburg, for +instance, on the occasion of the suppression of a very small riot, +showed the greatest attachment and devotion to Ernest; at +Gotha the feeling of independence is <i>very</i> great, and at Strelitz, +on the occasion of Augusta's confinement with a <i>son</i>, the enthusiasm +and rejoicing was universal. All this cannot be +entirely despised.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are as happy as possible here, and would be perfectly so, +if it was not for the sorrow and misfortunes of so many dear +to us, and for the state of the world in general.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have always forgotten to tell you that we bought a fine +marble bust of you quite by accident in London the other day. +It is in armour and with moustaches, but quite different to the +one the Gardners have at Melbourne; Albert saw it at the +window of a shop, and heard it had been bought in a sale of a +General Somebody. Now, with Albert's best love, ever your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">We have just heard that there has been an <i>action</i> in Ireland +in which some of the insurgents have been killed; <i>fifty</i> Police +dispersed <i>four thousand</i> people. Smith O'Brien is, however, +not yet taken.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 34: <i>See</i> Introductory Note for the year, <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.141" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 141</a>.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 35: The Frankfort Assembly, in pursuance of the policy of German consolidation, had +placed the central executive power in the hands of a Reichsverweser, or Vicar of the +Empire. The Archduke John, uncle of the Emperor of Austria, was elected to this position, +and the Queen's half-brother Charles, Prince of Leiningen, was entrusted with the +Department of Foreign Affairs.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.189" id="pageii.189"></a>[page 189]</span> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AN AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>8th August 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... The Queen has attentively perused the statement of +Lord Palmerston in favour of accrediting an Ambassador at +Paris. As the proposed arrangement for the present is to be +only a <i>provisional</i> one, the Queen thinks that the appointment +of a <i>Minister</i> now will leave it quite open to have an Ambassador +hereafter, if it should be found necessary or advantageous, +whilst it would set that matter at rest for the moment. +Withdrawing an Ambassador and substituting a Minister hereafter, +would be much more difficult. The French Republic +would no doubt like to have an Ambassador here, and perhaps +take immediate steps to secure that object if Lord Normanby +were accredited Ambassador at Paris, against which we would +be secured in having only a Minister there.... Lord Normanby's +acquaintance with the public men at Paris is as much +an inconvenience as it may be a convenience in some respects; +his having been the great admirer and friend of M. Lamartine, +for instance, etc., etc. The possibility of mixing freely with +persons of various kinds, which Lord Palmerston adduces as an +important consideration will, in the Queen's opinion, be more +easy for a Minister than for a person of the high rank of Ambassador. +All things considered therefore, the Queen will +prefer to have temporarily a Minister accredited at Paris.</p> + +<p class="ind">M. de Tallenay the Queen would receive in London on +Tuesday next at six o'clock, when the Queen will be in Town.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>11th August 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge Lord Palmerston's letter of +yesterday. The Queen was quite surprised to hear from Lord +Palmerston in his last communication that he had written to +Lord Normanby to offer him to stay as Minister at Paris, after +his having before stated to the Queen that this would never do +and could not be expected from Lord Normanby; Lord Normanby's +answer declining this offer therefore does in no way +alter the matter, and must have been foreseen by Lord Palmerston. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.190" id="pageii.190"></a>[page 190]</span> +By the delay and Lord Normanby's various conversations +with M. Bastide<sup>36</sup> and General Cavaignac it has now +become difficult to depart from the precedent of the Belgian +and Sardinian Missions without giving offence at Paris. The +Queen must, however, insist upon this precedent being fully +adhered to. She accordingly sanctions Lord Normanby's +appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary, on the <i>distinct +understanding</i> that there is to be no Ambassador sent in return +to London now, and that a Minister is to be appointed to Paris +when the diplomatic intercourse is permanently to be settled. +The Queen wishes Lord Palmerston to bear this in mind, and +to submit to her the arrangement which he thinks will be best +calculated to carry this into effect.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 36: Minister of Foreign Affairs.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD NORMANBY'S APPOINTMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>11th August 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge Lord John Russell's letter of +to-day. The Queen is highly indignant at Lord Palmerston's +behaviour now again with respect to Lord Normanby's appointment; +he knew perfectly well that Lord Normanby could +not accept the post of Minister, and had written to the Queen +before that such an offer could not be made, and has now made +it after all, knowing that, by wasting time and getting the +matter entangled at Paris, he would carry his point. If the +French are so anxious to keep Lord Normanby as to make any +sacrifice for that object, it ought to make us cautious, as it can +only be on account of the ease with which they can make him +serve their purposes. They, of course, like an <i>entente cordiale</i> +with us at the expense of Austria;... but this can be no +consideration for us....</p> + +<p class="ind">Threatening the Austrians with war, or making war upon +them in case they should not be inclined to surrender their +provinces at his bidding [Lord Palmerston] knows to be impossible; +therefore the <i>entente</i> with the Republic is of the +greatest value to him, enabling him to threaten the Austrians +at any time with the French intervention which he can have +at command if he agrees to it.<sup>37</sup> The Queen has read the leading +articles of the <i>Times</i> of yesterday and to-day on this subject +with the greatest satisfaction as they express almost entirely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.191" id="pageii.191"></a>[page 191]</span> +the same views and feelings which she entertains. The Queen +hopes that Lord John Russell will read them; indeed, the +whole of the Press seem to be unanimous on this subject, and +she can hardly understand how there can be two opinions +upon it....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 37: The success of the Piedmontese in Northern Italy had not continued through the +summer, and the States whose assistance they had hitherto received began to fall away +from them. The King of Naples, successful within his own dominions, had withdrawn +his troops; the Pope hesitated to attack Austria; even undivided support from Venetia +could no longer be counted upon. After several reverses, Charles Albert, now left virtually +alone in the contest, was decisively defeated by Radetzky, at Custozza, and retreated +across the Mincio. With what was left of his troops he entered Milan, which he was +eventually forced to surrender, being unable to maintain himself there. Italy now turned +to France for assistance, but Cavaignac, virtually Dictator in Paris, would not go further +than combining with England to effect a peaceful mediation. Austria was not in a frame +of mind to relinquish any part of the provinces she had had so severe a struggle to retain.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>20th August 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received an <i>autograph</i> letter from the Archduke +John (in answer to the private letter she had written to +him through Lord Cowley), which has been cut open at the +Foreign Office. The Queen wishes Lord Palmerston to take +care that this does not happen again. The opening of official +letters even, addressed to the Queen, which she has <i>of late</i> +observed, is really not becoming, and ought to be discontinued, +as it used never to be the case formerly.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>21st August 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter of yesterday, +but cannot say that she has been satisfied by the reasons +given by Lord Palmerston. The union of Lombardy and +Piedmont cannot be considered as a concession to France for +the maintenance of peace, because we know that it is the very +thing the French object to. The Queen quite agrees that the +principal consideration always to be kept in sight is the preservation +of the peace of Europe; but it is precisely on that +account that she regrets that the terms proposed by Lord +Palmerston (whilst they are not in accordance with the views +of France) are almost the only ones which must be most +offensive to Austria. Lord Palmerston <i>will</i> have his kingdom +of Upper Italy under Charles Albert, to which every other consideration +is to be sacrificed, and Lord Normanby's alteration +of the terms certainly serve <i>that</i> purpose well; but it is quite +independent of the question of mediation, and the only thing in +the whole proceeding which is indefensible in principle.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.192" id="pageii.192"></a>[page 192]</span> + + +<p class="ind">It will be a calamity for ages to come if this principle is to +become part of the international law, viz. "that a people can +at any time transfer their allegiance from the Sovereign of one +State to that of another by universal suffrage (under momentary +excitement)," and this is what Lord Normanby—no doubt +according to Lord Palmerston's wishes—has taken as the basis +of the mediation. For even the <i>faits accomplis</i>, which are a +convenient basis to justify any act of injustice, are here against +Charles Albert.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston's argument respecting Schleswig,<sup>38</sup> which +the Queen quoted in her last letter, had no reference to the +Treaty of 1720.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 38: The first act of the <i>Vor-Parlament</i>, a body which had existed temporarily at Frankfort, +to pave the way for the National Assembly of a Consolidated Germany, had been to treat +Schleswig, theretofore part of the Danish dominions, as absorbed in the German Confederation, +and Lord Palmerston's objections to this proceeding had been treated by the +Queen in a letter of 19th August as inconsistent with his attitude towards Austria.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PRUSSIA AND GERMANY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>29th August 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Most warmly do I thank you for your +very kind and dear letter of the 26th, with so many good wishes +for that <i>dearest</i> of days. It is indeed to me one of eternal +thankfulness, for a purer, more perfect being than my beloved +Albert the Creator could <i>not</i> have sent into this troubled +world. I feel that I could <i>not</i> exist without him, and that I +should sink under the troubles and annoyances and <i>dégoûts</i> of +my <i>very</i> difficult position, were it not for <i>his</i> assistance, +protection, +guidance, and comfort. Truly do I thank you for +your <i>great</i> share in bringing about our marriage.</p> + +<p class="ind">Stockmar I do not quite understand, and I cannot believe +that he <i>really wishes to ruin</i> all the smaller States, though +his principal object is that unity which I fear he will <i>not</i> +obtain.</p> + +<p class="ind">I do not either at all agree in his wish that Prussia should +take the lead; his love for Prussia is to me incomprehensible, +for it is the country of all others which the <i>rest</i> of Germany +dislikes. Stockmar cannot be my good old friend if he has +such notions of injustice as I hear attributed to him. But +whatever they may be, I do <i>not</i> believe the <i>Ausführung</i> to be +possible.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have great hopes of soon hearing of something decided +about the fortunes of the poor French family. You will have +seen how nobly and courageously good Joinville and Aumale +behaved on the occasion of the burning of that emigrant ship +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.193" id="pageii.193"></a>[page 193]</span> +off Liverpool.<sup>39</sup> It will do them great good. I must now conclude. +Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 39: One hundred and seventy-eight persons perished in the burning of the <i>Ocean Monarch</i>; +the French Princes were on board a Brazilian steam frigate, which saved one hundred +and fifty-six lives.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AUSTRIA DECLINES MEDIATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>2nd September 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has read in the papers the news that Austria and +Sardinia have nearly settled their differences, and also "that +it was confidently stated that a French and <i>British</i> squadron, +with troops on board, <i>are to make a demonstration in the +Adriatic</i>."</p> + +<p class="ind">Though the Queen cannot believe this, she thinks it right to +inform Lord Palmerston without delay that, should such a +thing be thought of, it is a step which the Queen could <i>not</i> give +her consent to.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>4th September 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen since her arrival in Town has heard that the +answer from Austria declining our mediation has some days ago +been communicated to Lord Palmerston. The Queen is surprised +that Lord Palmerston should have left her uninformed +of so important an event. The Queen has received Lord +Palmerston's letter respecting the proposal to mediate on the +part of the central power of Germany,<sup>40</sup> and does not see why +that power, which has a responsible Government, is to be +precluded from taking part in a negotiation because the Archduke +John might be friendly towards Austria—whereas the +French republic, which had in public documents espoused the +Italian Cause, is to be a party to it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Neither France nor England are neighbours to or directly +interested in Lombardy, whereas Germany is both.<sup>41</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 40: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.188" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 188</a>, note 35.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 41: Lord Palmerston's object, in which he ultimately succeeded, was, by obtaining the +French Government's co-operation in mediating between Austria and Piedmont, to +prevent the aggressive party in France from maturing any designs on Italy.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AUSTRIA AND ITALY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">On board the</span> <i>Victoria and Albert,</i></p> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Aberdeen</span>, <i>7th September 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must send the enclosed draft to Lord John +Russell, with a copy of her letter to Lord Palmerston upon it. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.194" id="pageii.194"></a>[page 194]</span> +Lord Palmerston has as usual pretended not to have had time +to submit the draft to the Queen before he had sent it off. +What the Queen has long suspected and often warned against +is on the point of happening, viz. Lord Palmerston's using the +new <i>entente cordiale</i> for the purpose of wresting from Austria +her Italian provinces by French arms. This would be a most +iniquitous proceeding. It is another question whether it is +good policy for Austria to try to retain Lombardy, but that is +for her and not for us to decide. Many people might think +that we would be happier without Ireland or Canada. Lord +John will not fail to observe how very intemperate the whole +tone of Lord Palmerston's language is.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral Castle</span>, <i>13th September 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I yesterday received your dear and +kind letter of the 9th (it having arrived in London only the +day before), which is very quick, and I thank you much for it. +The Schleswig affair at Frankfort is <i>very</i> unfortunate, and +there seems a lamentable want of <i>all</i> practical sense, foresight, +or even <i>common</i> prudence.<sup>42</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The poor Austrians seem now to accept the (to me <i>very</i> +doubtful) mediation. It reminds me of the wolf in the lamb's +skin. <i>Nous verrons</i>, how matters will be arranged....</p> + +<p class="ind">My letter to Louise will have informed you of our voyage +and our arrival here. This house is small but pretty, and +though the hills seen from the windows are not <i>so</i> fine, the +scenery all around is the finest almost I have seen anywhere. +It is very wild and solitary, and yet cheerful and <i>beautifully +wooded</i>, with the river Dee running between the two sides of +the hills. Loch Nagar is the highest hill in the immediate +vicinity, and belongs to us.</p> + +<p class="ind">Then the soil is the driest and best known almost anywhere, +and all the hills are as sound and hard as the road. The +climate is also dry, and in general not very cold, though we +had one or two very cold days. There is a deer forest—many +roe deer, and on the opposite hill (which does not belong to us) +grouse. There is also black cock and ptarmigan. Albert has, +however, no luck this year, and has in vain been after the deer, +though they are continually seen, and often quite close by the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.195" id="pageii.195"></a>[page 195]</span> +house. The children are very well, and enjoying themselves +much. The boys always wear their Highland dress.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now wish you good-bye, and repeat how much delighted +we are that everything goes on so well in Belgium. +Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 42: The incorporation of Schleswig had been forcibly resisted, and Sweden determined +on armed intervention; but a temporary armistice was arranged in August. This the +National Assembly attempted to disavow, but a few days after this letter was written it +was ratified.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>19th September 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">I said to Lord John Russell, that I must mention to him a +subject, which was a serious one, one which I had delayed +mentioning for some time, but which I felt I must speak quite +openly to him upon now, namely about Lord Palmerston; +that I felt really I could hardly go on with him, that I had no +confidence in him, and that it made me seriously anxious and +uneasy for the welfare of the country and for the peace of +Europe in general, and that I felt very uneasy from one day +to another as to what might happen. Lord John replied that +he was aware of it; that he had considered the matter already, +having heard from his brother (the Duke of Bedford) how +strongly I felt about it; that he felt the truth of all that I had +said, but that, on the other hand, Lord Palmerston was a very +able man, entirely master of his office and affairs, and a very +good colleague, never making any difficulties about other +questions, but (certainly <i>unreasonably</i>) complaining of other +people mixing with and interfering in the affairs of his office. +I said that ... I fully believed that that Spanish marriage +question, which had been the original cause of so many present +misfortunes, would never have become so <i>embrouillé</i> had it not +been for Lord Palmerston. This led Lord John to say, that +though he disapproved the length of Lord Palmerston's correspondence, +still that we could not have done otherwise than +object to the marriage. This is true enough. I repeated that +all that had been done in Italy last winter had also done harm, +as it was done by <i>Lord Palmerston</i>, who was distrusted everywhere +abroad, which Lord John regretted. I said that I +thought that he often endangered the honour of England by +taking a very prejudiced and one-sided view of a question;... +that his writings were always as bitter as gall and did great +harm, which Lord John entirely assented to, and that I often +felt quite ill from anxiety; that I wished Lord Clarendon +(who, I had heard, was tired of Ireland) could come over and +be Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Lord Palmerston +go to Ireland as Lord-Lieutenant. Lord John said nothing +would be better, for that he was sure that Lord Palmerston +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.196" id="pageii.196"></a>[page 196]</span> +would make an admirable Lord-Lieutenant, but that another +thing to be considered was the danger of making Lord Palmerston +an enemy by displacing him, that Lord Minto (who was +formerly a great friend and admirer of Lord Palmerston's) had +told Lady John when she spoke to him on the subject of +placing Lord Palmerston in another office, that <i>he</i> (Lord Palmerston) +would certainly turn against the Government if +displaced. I said that might be, but that sometimes there +were great interests at stake which exceeded the danger of +offending one man, and that this was here the case; Lord John +said it was very true, but that at moments like these one of +course was anxious not to do anything which could cause +internal trouble. I admitted this, but repeated my anxiety, +which Lord John quite understood, though he thought I a +little overrated it, and said I was afraid that some day I should +have to tell Lord John that I could not put up with Lord +Palmerston any longer, which might be very disagreeable and +awkward.</p> + +<p class="ind">It ended by Lord John's promising to bear the subject in +mind, and I must say that he took it all just as I could wish.</p> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Minute by the Governor-General of India.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AFFAIRS IN THE PUNJAB</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>30th September 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... The course of events, as they have developed themselves,<span class="rightnote">HOSTILITY OF THE SIKHS</span> +and long and anxious considerations of this important +subject, have finally and immovably confirmed in my mind +the conviction which the earlier events of the insurrection at +Mooltan long since had founded, that there will be no peace +for India, nor any stability of Government in the Punjab, nor +any release from anxiety and costly defensive preparations on +our frontier, unless the British Government, justly indignant +at the unprovoked and treacherous aggression once again committed +against them by the Sikhs, shall now effectually provide +against future dangers by subverting for ever the Dynasty of +the Sings, by converting the Punjab into a British province, +and by adopting the only measure which will secure the observance +of peace by the Sikhs, namely, depriving them utterly +of all the means of making war. I continue as fully convinced +as ever that the establishment of a strong, friendly, Hindoo +Government in the Punjab would be the best settlement that +could be made for the interests of British India, if it could be +formed. But I am convinced that such a Government cannot +be formed.<sup>43</sup></p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.197" id="pageii.197"></a>[page 197]</span> + +<p class="ind">The Chiefs of the Punjab are utterly powerless and worthless. +The great body of the nation is adverse to all control, +and in no degree submissive to the authority of those who are +professedly their rulers.</p> + +<p class="ind">Even admitting, which I am by no means prepared to do, +that the Sirdars are not treacherously or hostilely disposed to +the British Government, of what advantage, what defence to +us is the fidelity of the Chiefs, if they are confessedly unable +to control the army which is as avowedly hostile to us? That +which we desire to secure is a peaceful and well-governed +neighbour, and a frontier free from alarms, nor demanding a +permanent garrison of 50,000 men. If their army are able to +disturb and eager to disturb on every occasion the peace we +seek to render permanent, of what profit to us is the assumed +fidelity of the Chiefs, who cannot repress their soldiers' turbulence, +or command their obedience?</p> + +<p class="ind">I discredit altogether the assurances of the fidelity of the +Chiefs on the evidence of the facts before us....</p> + +<p class="ind">To all these recommendations my colleagues in the Council +have yielded their ready assent.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have to the last sought to avert, or to avoid, the necessity, +if it could prudently or fitly be avoided.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Sikh nation have forced the necessity upon us. Having +resolved at once, and fully, to meet it, I shall proceed with all +speed to the frontier, and shall endeavour by every exertion, +and by all the means in my power, to carry into effect vigorously +the measures on which the Government of India has +resolved, and which, in my conscience I believe, are imperatively +called for by regard to the peace of India, to the security +of our Empire there, and to the happiness of the people over +whom we rule.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Dalhousie</span>.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 43: <i>See</i> Introductory Note for 1849, <i>post</i>, <a href="#pageii.208" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 208</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S ITALIAN POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>7th October 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends Lord Palmerston's answer to her last letter, +of which the Queen has sent a copy to Lord John Russell, and +encloses likewise a copy of her present answer. The partiality +of Lord Palmerston in this Italian question really <i>surpasses all +conception</i>, and makes the Queen <i>very uneasy</i> on account of +the character and honour of England, and on account of the +danger to which the peace of Europe will be exposed. It is +now clearly proved by Baron Wessenberg that upon the conclusion +of the Armistice with Sardinia, negotiations for peace +would have speedily been entered into, had our <i>mediation</i> not +been offered to the King, to whom the offer of Lombardy was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.198" id="pageii.198"></a>[page 198]</span> +too tempting not to accept, and now that promise is by fair or +unfair means to be made good. The Queen cannot see any +principle in this, as the principle upon which Lord Palmerston +goes is <i>Italian Nationality and Independence from a foreign +Yoke and Tyranny</i>. How can the Venetian territory then be +secured to Austria? and if this is done, on what ground can +Lombardy be wrung from her? It is really not safe to settle +such important matters without principle and by personal +<i>passion</i> alone. When the <i>French</i> Government say they cannot +control public feeling, Lord Palmerston takes this as an unalterable +fact, and as a sufficient reason to make the Austrians +give up Lombardy; when, however, the <i>Austrian</i> Government +say they cannot give up Lombardy on account of the feeling of +the Army which had just reconquered it with their blood and +under severe privations and sufferings, Lord Palmerston flippantly +tells the Austrian Government, "if that were so, the +Emperor had better abdicate and make General Radetzky +Emperor." When Charles Albert burned the whole of the +suburbs of Milan to keep up the delusion that he meant to +defend the town, Lord Palmerston said nothing; and now +that the Austrian Governor has prohibited revolutionary +placards on the walls, and prolonged the period at which arms +are to be surrendered, at the end of which persons concealing +arms are to be tried by court-martial, he writes to Vienna: +"that this savage proclamation, which savours more of the +barbarous usages of centuries long gone by than of the spirit +of the present times, must strike everybody as a proof of +the fear by which the Austrian Commander is inspired," etc., +etc., etc.</p> + +<p class="ind">Venice was to have been made over to Austria by the Armistice, +and now that this has not been done, Austria is not even +to retake it, in order (as Lord Normanby says) to keep something +in hand against which Austria is to make further concessions. +Is all this fair? In the meantime, from the account +of our Consul at Venice, the French agents are actively employed +in intrigues against Austria in that town, and have +asked him to assist, which he refused. Lord Palmerston +merely approved his conduct, and did not write a line to Paris +about it. Now the question at issue is not even to be submitted +to a Conference of European powers, but to be settled +by the French Republic and Lord Palmerston alone, Lord +Normanby being the instrument who has pledged himself over +and over again for Italian <i>independence</i> (so called). If Austria +makes peace with Sardinia, and gives her Italian provinces +separate National Institutions with a liberal constitutional +Government, <i>who can force</i> upon her another arrangement?</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.199" id="pageii.199"></a>[page 199]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">GREECE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>8th October 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen cannot refrain from telling Lord Palmerston +what a painful impression the perusal of a draft of his to Lord +Normanby referring to the affairs of Greece has made upon her, +being so little in accordance with the calm dignity which she +likes to see in all the proceedings of the British Government; +she was particularly struck by the language in which Lord +Palmerston speaks of King Otho, a Sovereign with whom she +stands in friendly relations, and the asperity against the +Government of the King of the French, who is really sufficiently +lowered and suffering for the mistakes he may have committed, +and that of all this a copy is to be placed in the hands of the +Foreign Minister of the French <i>Republic</i>, the Queen can only +see with much regret.<sup>44</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 44: Lord Palmerston replied that his observations on the two Kings lay at the very root +of his argument, and were necessary to conciliate the present Government of France.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>10th October 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Our voyage yesterday was much +saddened by a terrible accident at Spithead, which delayed us +half an hour, and which still fills us with horror. The sea was +running very high, and we were just outside what is called The +Spit, when we saw a man in the water, sitting on the keel of a +boat, and we stopped, and at that moment Albert discerned +<i>many heads</i> above the sea, including a poor woman. The tide +was running so strong that we could only stop an instant and +let a boat down, but you may imagine our horror. We waited +at Gosport to hear if the people had been saved, and we learnt +that three had, two of whom by our <i>Fairy's</i> boat, and that +four were drowned. Very horrid indeed.</p> + +<p class="ind">The state of Germany is dreadful, and one does feel quite +ashamed about that once really so peaceful and happy people. +That there are still good people there I am sure, but they allow +themselves to be worked upon in a frightful and shameful +way.... In France a crisis seems at hand. <i>What</i> a very bad +figure we cut in this mediation! Really it is quite immoral, +with Ireland quivering in our grasp, and ready to throw off +her allegiance at any moment, for us to force Austria to give +up her lawful possessions. What shall we say if Canada, Malta, +etc., begin to trouble us? It hurts me terribly. This ought +to be the principle in <i>all actions</i>, private as well as public: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.200" id="pageii.200"></a>[page 200]</span> +"Was du nicht willst, dass dir geschieht, das thu' auch einem +andern nicht." ...</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. With every good wish, ever your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Earl Grey to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE BOERS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Colonial Office</span>, <i>25th October 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Earl Grey presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and +begs to inform your Majesty that no official accounts have been +received of the engagement on the Cape Frontier between your +Majesty's forces under Sir H. Smith and the insurgent Dutch +farmers, of which an account is published in the newspapers.<sup>45</sup> +Lord Grey has, however, seen a private letter, which mentions, +in addition to what is stated in the Government notice in the +Cape newspapers, that Sir Harry Smith exposed himself very +much, and was slightly wounded; most fortunately, he was +merely grazed in the leg; his horse was also struck by a bullet +in the nose. A very large proportion of those who were hit by +the fire of the rebels were officers, who appear to have been +particularly aimed at.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 45: In July, Pretorius, the Boer leader, had in consequence of the British annexation of +territory, expelled the British Resident from Bloemfontein. <i>See</i> Introductory Note, +<i>ante</i>, p. 142. Sir Harry Smith decisively defeated the Boers on the 29th of August.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Earl Grey.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>26th October 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Grey's letter, and is glad to +hear that Sir H. Smith's wound was not of a serious nature. +The loss of so many officers, the Queen is certain, proceeds from +their wearing a blue coat whilst the men are in scarlet; the +Austrians lost a great proportion of officers in Italy from a +similar difference of dress.</p> + +<p class="ind">As to the Medal for Major Edwardes, the Queen did not +approve but disapprove the step, and wished the Bath to be +given instead, which has been done. The medals for troops +in general (given by the East India Company) are a new and +doubtful thing, and now it is proposed to reward even a special +case of personal distinction by the <i>Company's</i> conferring a +mark of honour. Lord Grey will agree with the Queen that it +will be better not to establish two fountains of honour in the +Realm. If the East India Company wish to mark their +approbation, perhaps they might send Major Edwardes a fine +sword or something of that kind.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.201" id="pageii.201"></a>[page 201]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Earl Grey to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">GOVERNORSHIP OF GIBRALTAR</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Colonial Office</span>, <i>26th October 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Earl Grey presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and +has just had the honour of receiving your Majesty's letter. +Lord Fitzroy Somerset happened to be here when it arrived, +and Lord Grey read to him that part of it which relates to the +danger occasioned to officers in action from wearing a dress of +a different colour from that of the men. Lord Fitzroy observed +that although there can be no doubt of the objection to the +blue coats worn by officers, in this instance their having +suffered so much cannot be attributed to that cause, as it +appears that all the officers who were wounded but one, belonged +to regiments (the Rifle Battalion or the Cape Mounted +Rifles) in which the officers are dressed in the same colour as +the men....</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Grey begs to submit to your Majesty that the usual +time for relieving the present Governor of Gibraltar is now +come, and that he thinks it very desirable to appoint a successor +to Sir Robert Wilson, who now fills that situation. It appears +to Lord Grey that, considering the nature of the appointment +and also the great advantage which would result from affording +greater encouragement to the officers serving under the +Ordnance, it would be very proper to confer this government +upon a General Officer belonging to the Royal Artillery or +Engineers. There is some difficulty in making a selection from +the officers of these Corps, because, from their retiring only by +seniority, they seldom attain the rank of General Officer while +they are still in possession of sufficient strength and activity +for employment. Lord Grey, however, believes from the information +he has been able to obtain, that Sir Robert Gardiner +might, with advantage, be appointed to this command, which +he therefore begs leave to recommend to your Majesty to confer +upon him. Lord Grey has had no communication with Sir R. +Gardiner, and is entirely ignorant whether he would accept +this employment.<sup>46</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 46: Sir Robert Gardiner, K.C.B.. was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of +Gibraltar on the 21st of November, and held that post till 1855.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ITALY AND AUSTRIA</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>27th October 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has not yet acknowledged the receipt of Lord +John Russell's communication of the views of the Cabinet on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.202" id="pageii.202"></a>[page 202]</span> +the Italian affairs.<sup>47</sup> She is very glad that the Cabinet should +have considered this important question, and that she should +have received an assurance "that she will not be advised to +have recourse to forcible intervention." The Queen understands +this principle to apply to Lombardy as well as to Sicily, +and that, of course, "forcible intervention" will not only be +avoided as to British means, but likewise as to French means, +with British consent and concurrence. Though Lord John +Russell does not enter so much into particulars with regard to +the opinions of the Members of the Cabinet as the Queen might +have wished, she infers from the proposition that Lombardy +should be constituted separately under an Archduke, that +the idea of making it over to the King of Sardinia is finally +abandoned.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 47: Lord John had written to the effect that, while no definite decision had been arrived +at with regard to Italy, it was thought by the Cabinet that every means should be used +to induce Austria to give up Lombardy to an Austrian Prince, as most conformable to the +interests of Austria herself. The question of Sicily (he added) was more difficult, but if +no agreement could be arrived at by amicable negotiation, the Cabinet would not be +disposed to advise the Queen to have recourse to forcible intervention.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>19th November 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">It will probably be necessary to send troops to India, who +will then be no longer chargeable to this country. But Lord +John Russell thinks it his duty to state that however unwilling +he may be to diminish the Military and Naval force, it is still +more essential to keep our income within our expenditure.</p> + +<p class="ind">The whole matter will be under the consideration of the +Cabinet next week.</p> + +<p class="ind">The approaching election of a President in France must +decide the question of the future Government of France. Louis +Bonaparte may probably play the part of Richard Cromwell.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>21st November 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I write to thank you for your kind +letter of the 18th on your god-daughter's <i>eighth</i> birthday! +It does seem like an incredible dream that Vicky should already +be so old! She is very happy with all her gifts.</p> + +<p class="ind">In Vienna things are much better. Louis Napoleon's election +seems certain, and I own I wish for it as I think it will +lead to something else.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.203" id="pageii.203"></a>[page 203]</span> + +<p class="ind">You will grieve to hear that our good, dear, old friend +Melbourne is dying; there is <i>no</i> hope, and I enclose a pretty +letter of Lady Beauvale's,<sup>48</sup> which I think will interest you, and +which I beg you to return. One cannot forget how good and +kind and amiable he was, and it brings back so many recollections +to my mind, though, God knows! I never wish that +time back again.</p> + +<p class="ind">We go to-morrow for four weeks to our dear, peaceful +Osborne.</p> + +<p class="ind">I will now take my leave. Begging you to believe me ever +your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 48: See Greville's appreciative description of Lady Beauvale in his Journal for the 30th +of January 1853.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brocket Hall</span>, <i>23rd November 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston is here engaged in the melancholy +occupation of watching the gradual extinction of the lamp of +life of one who was not more distinguished by his brilliant +talents, his warm affections, and his first-rate understanding, +than by those sentiments of attachment to your Majesty +which rendered him the most devoted subject who ever had +the honour to serve a Sovereign.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF LORD MELBOURNE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Brocket Hall</span>, <i>25th November 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and has to state that Viscount Melbourne was released +from further suffering at about six o'clock yesterday +afternoon. His bodily strength had been rapidly declining +during the last few days, and it was only at intervals that +he retained any degree of apparent consciousness. The last +transition took place quietly and with almost imperceptible +gradation.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>26th November 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty: +he sees no political objection to a visit to Osborne on the part +of the Duke and Duchess of Nemours. The election of a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.204" id="pageii.204"></a>[page 204]</span> +President in France is so completely absorbing attention that +any mark of regard to the Duke of Nemours may well pass +unnoticed.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell had the honour of seeing Louis Philippe +in this house on Friday. He was in much better spirits, +owing to the convalescence of the Queen; but the illness has +been a very serious one.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell had understood that the affairs of property +belonging to the Orleans family were arranged, and that +Louis Philippe would ultimately be possessed of more than a +million sterling.</p> + +<p class="ind">Louis Philippe expressed his opinion in favour of Louis +Bonaparte as a candidate for the Presidency. He feels confident +that France cannot go to war on account of the state of +her finances.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>21th November 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Thank God! that the news from +Berlin are better. It is to be hoped that this may have a good +effect elsewhere.</p> + +<p class="ind">In France there ought really to be a Monarchy before long, +<i>qui que ce soit</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our poor old friend Melbourne died on the 24th. I sincerely +regret him, for he was truly attached to me, and though not a +firm Minister he was a noble, kind-hearted, generous being. +Poor Lord Beauvale and Lady Palmerston feel it very much. +I wish it might soften the <i>caro sposo</i> of the latter-named +person.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Pope Pius IX. to Queen Victoria.</i><sup>49</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LETTER FROM THE POPE</span> + +<p class="ind">To the Most Serene and Potent Sovereign Victoria, the Illustrious +Queen of England, Pius Papa Nonus.</p> + +<p class="ind">Most Serene and Most Potent Queen, Greeting! Your +Royal Majesty has already learned what a subversion of +public affairs has taken place at Rome, and what utterly unheard-of +violence was, on the 16th of the late month of November, +offered to us in our very Palace of the Quirinal, in consequence +of a nefarious conspiracy of abandoned and most +turbulent men. Hence, in order to avoid more violent commotions +and more serious dangers, as likewise for the purpose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.205" id="pageii.205"></a>[page 205]</span> +of freely performing the functions of our apostolic Ministry, +we, not without the deepest and most heartfelt sorrow, have +been constrained to depart for a time from our Holy City, and +from the whole state of our pontifical dominions; and in the +meanwhile we come as far as Gaëta, where, as soon as we had +arrived, our first care was to declare to our subjects the sentiments +of our mind and will, by a public edict, a copy of which +we transmit to your Royal Majesty, together with these our +letters. Without doubt, through your own wisdom, you will +perfectly understand, Most Serene and Potent Sovereign, that +amongst the other most cruel difficulties by which we are +pressed, we must be chiefly solicitous concerning those subject +to our temporal rule and the rights and possessions of the +Roman Church, which, moreover, your august Uncle and the +other Princes of Europe protected with so much zeal. But we +do not in the least doubt that, in conformity with your exalted +magnanimity, your justice, and your known desire to maintain +order in public affairs, you will by no means suffer this same to +be wanting to us at this most lamentable time. Trusting indeed +in this hope, we do not cease, in the humility and affliction +of our heart, from earnestly beseeching God, the All Good +and All Great, that He may heap upon your Royal Majesty +and your whole House all true and solid prosperity, and that +He may unite you with us in perfect charity.</p> + +<p class="ind">Given at Gaëta, the 4th day of December 1848, in the third +year of our Pontificate.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Pius PP. IX.</span><sup>50</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 49: Official translation.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 50: This letter was suitably acknowledged in general terms. <i>See</i> <a href="#pageii.210" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 210</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LOUIS NAPOLEON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>13th December 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My beloved Uncle</span>,—Pray accept my warmest and <i>best</i> +wishes for <i>many, many happy</i> returns of your birthday—a day +so <i>dear</i> to so many, and which will be hailed with such joy in +Belgium. You have indeed reason to look with satisfaction +on all around you, though it is a painful thing to think how +many have been ruined and made miserable since this day +twelvemonths. Let us hope that another year may bring +many things round again.</p> + +<p class="ind">The weather is beautiful, and I wish much we could fly over +to pay our respects to you on your dear birthday.</p> + +<p class="ind">The papers are just come, and I see there is no doubt of +Louis Napoleon's election, which I am very glad of, as it is a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.206" id="pageii.206"></a>[page 206]</span> +sign of better times. But that one <i>should have to wish for him</i> +is really wonderful.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now good-bye, dearest Uncle. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>19th December 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest, kindest Uncle</span>,—Your dear letter, full of +interesting topics, which I received yesterday, gave me great +pleasure, and I thank you much for it. The success of Louis +Napoleon<sup>51</sup> is an extraordinary event, but valuable as a universal +condemnation of the Republic since February.</p> + +<p class="ind">It will, however, perhaps be more difficult to get rid of him +again than one at <i>first</i> may imagine. Nemours thinks it better +that none of themselves should be <i>called</i> into action for some +time to come. I fear that <i>he feels</i> now that they <i>ought</i> to have +<i>foreseen</i> the dangers in February, and <i>ought not</i> to have yielded; +when I said to him that the Pope had declared that he would +<i>never</i> quit Rome, and <i>did so do</i> the <i>very next day</i>, he said: +"Ah! mon Dieu, on se laisse entraîner dans ces moments." +Louise said to me that <i>her Father</i> had so <i>often declared he would +never quit Paris alive</i>, so that when she heard of his flight she +always believed it was untrue and he must be dead....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 51: He was elected President on the 10th of December, by an immense majority.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>22nd December 1848.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has been waiting to receive an answer from Lord +John Russell upon her last letter, and has therefore delayed +sending the enclosed letter from Lord Palmerston.<sup>52</sup> But lest +any further delay might cause future inconvenience, she sends +it now without having received Lord John's answer. The +Queen is sure Lord John will feel that neither Lord Palmerston +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.207" id="pageii.207"></a>[page 207]</span> +nor Lord Normanby have shown a proper regard for the +Queen's wishes and opinion in this matter. Lord Normanby's +Despatch shows that the step to be taken with reference to an +Ambassador to be sent here is avowedly for the purpose of +controlling the future action of the Queen's Government, and +to <i>oblige her</i> to keep a <i>permanent</i> Ambassador at Paris in the +person of Lord Normanby. It is not very delicate in Lord +Normanby to convey such a message, nor in Lord Palmerston +to urge it so eagerly. M. de Beaumont's departure from this +country without taking leave of the Queen was neither very +becoming.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has already, on Lord Palmerston's account, +received two public affronts: the one by her Minister in Spain +having been sent out of that country,<sup>53</sup> the other now, by the +new Emperor of Austria not announcing to her by special +mission his accession to the Throne, which he did to all other +Sovereigns, avowedly, as it appears, to mark the indignation +of Austria at the inimical proceedings of the British Foreign +Secretary. The Queen does not think that, in the face of such +slurs, the dignity of England will be vindicated by a race between +her representative and that of Spain, who is to present +his credentials first to the new President of the French Republic, +which Lord Palmerston considers of such importance +as to render an <i>immediate</i> decision indispensable.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should Lord John think that we cannot do less now for +Louis Napoleon than has been done in the case of General +Cavaignac, the Queen will not object to renewing Lord Normanby's +credentials as Ambassador-Extraordinary on a special +mission.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 52: Lord Palmerston had written to say that Lord Normanby's credentials were provisional, +and regular credentials would become necessary. The new French Government +were sending Ambassadors to Vienna, Rome, and other capitals, which in return would +send Ambassadors to Paris, so that it would be injurious for this country's representative +to be of inferior diplomatic rank. "It would," he wrote subsequently, "be derogatory +to the dignity of your Majesty, and to the character of your Majesty's Government if, +in the present state of things between the British and Spanish Governments the Spanish +Ambassador should, by a dilatoriness on the part of your Majesty's Government, be allowed +to raise a question about precedence with your Majesty's representative at Paris; it +would be very inconvenient if that question were decided unfavourably to your Majesty's +representative, and very undesirable that he should appear to be under obligation to the +French Government for a decision in his favour."</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 53: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.175" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 175</a>.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.208" id="pageii.208"></a>[page 208]</span> + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XVIII</h3> + + +<p>The opening of Parliament (1849) was noteworthy for the +appearance of Mr Disraeli as leader of the Opposition in the House of +Commons, in place of Lord George Bentinck, who had died suddenly +in the recess; the Peelites, though influential, were numerically few, +and they continued by their support to maintain the Whigs in office, +the principal measure of the session being the Act for the repeal of +the Navigation Laws, a natural corollary to Peel's free trade policy. +A Royal visit was paid to Ireland in August, and at Cork, Waterford, +Dublin, and Belfast, the Queen and Prince were received with great +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Abroad, the cause of United Italy suffered a severe check. The +Sicilian revolt came to an end, and Austrian ascendency was re-established +in Northern Italy. King Charles Albert was defeated at +Novara, and abdicated in favour of his son, Victor Emmanuel. +The Pope, who had fled from Rome in disguise, in November 1848, +and was living at Gaëta, was now under the protection of Austria +and France, and General Oudinot occupied the Papal city on his +behalf in June. Austrian influence restored Tuscany, Parma, and +Modena to their rulers, and in Central Europe operated to prevent the +acceptance by the King of Prussia of the Imperial Crown of Germany. +Hungary, in consequence of the help rendered to the +Viennese insurrectionists in 1848, was reduced to submission, but +only with Russian co-operation. Heavy retribution was inflicted on +the Hungarians; Kossuth and other revolutionaries fled to Turkey, +the Russian and Austrian Governments unsuccessfully demanding +their extradition.</p> + +<p>The British operations against the Sikhs were brought to a successful +termination; the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Gough, with +inferior numbers, had engaged the enemy at Chillianwalla, with +indecisive and virtually unfavourable results, and Sir Charles Napier +was sent out to supersede him. Mooltan, where the outrage of the +previous year had taken place, had been besieged, and fell on the +22nd of January. Dalhousie had established himself at Ferozepore. +A week or two later the Sikhs and Afghans were overwhelmingly +defeated at Gujerat, and on the 29th of March the Punjab was incorporated +in the British Empire; the "Koh-i-noor" was, in token +of submission, presented by the Maharajah to the Queen. Lord +Dalhousie received a Marquisate, and the thanks of both Houses of +Parliament were voted to all concerned.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.209" id="pageii.209"></a>[page 209]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h5>1849</h5> + + +<h5 class="ind" style="margin-top: 3.5em;"><i>Memorandum on Matters connected with the Form of addressing +the Pope in Answer to his Letter to Her Majesty of 4th +December 1848.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>5th January 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The accompanying draft of answer to the letter which the +Pope addressed to Her Majesty from Gaëta on the 4th of +December is in the same form as letters which were written to +Pope Pius VII. by George the Fourth while Prince Regent, and +after he came to the Throne. They address the Pope as +"Most Eminent Sir," style him "Your Holiness," and finish +with the mere signature after the date of the conclusion of the +letter. Copies of those letters are annexed.</p> + +<p class="ind">Other forms of writing Royal letters are:—</p> + +<p class="ind">1st. Commencing "Sir my Brother" (or "Sir my Cousin," +etc., as the case may be), and ending thus:</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"Sir my <i>Brother</i>,</p> +<p class="i6">Your <i>Majesty's</i></p> +<p class="i12">Good <i>Sister</i>."</p> + </div> </div> + +<p class="ind">This is the form used between Sovereign and Sovereign.</p> + +<p class="ind">2nd. Commencing with the Queen's titles. In these letters +the plural "we" and "our" are employed instead of "I" and +"my," and the letters terminate thus:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> +<p>"Your Good Friend,</p> +<p class="i6"><b>.</b> <b>.</b> <b>.</b> <b>.</b>"</p> + </div> </div> + +<p class="ind">This form is now used almost exclusively for Royal letters to +Republics.</p> + +<p class="ind">In the State Paper Office there is, with only one exception, +no record of any letter from a Sovereign of England to the Pope +from the time of Henry VIII., when the State Paper Office +records commence. The single exception is an original letter +from Queen Mary in 1555 to Pope Paul IV. It seems that +when the time of her expected confinement drew nigh, she +caused letters to be prepared announcing the birth of a son, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.210" id="pageii.210"></a>[page 210]</span> +and signed them in anticipation of the event. When no birth +took place, the letters were of course not sent off; but they +have been preserved to the present day, and among them is +the letter to the Pope. The accompanying paper contains a +copy of the beginning and conclusion of it.</p> + +<p class="ind">There is no trace in the State Paper Office of any letter of +credence having been given by James II. to Lord Castlemaine +in 1685. The correspondence of the reign of James II. is, +however, very defective, and much of it must either have been +suppressed or have got into private hands.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><span style="float: left; font-size: 95%; margin-left: 10%;"><i>Draft</i>]</span><span style="margin-left: -10%;"><i>Queen Victoria to Pope Pius IX.</i></span><sup>1</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">REPLY TO THE POPE</span> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Most Eminent Sir</span>,—I have received the letter which your +Holiness addressed to me from Gaëta on the 4th of December +last, and in which you acquaint me that in consequence of the +violent proceedings of certain of your subjects, you had felt +yourself obliged to depart from Rome, and for a time to quit +your dominions. I assure your Holiness that I have been +deeply pained at the intelligence of the events to which your +letter refers, and that I do the fullest justice to the motives +which induced your Holiness to withdraw for a time from your +capital. Your Holiness has given so many proofs of being +animated by a sincere desire to improve the condition of the +people whom, under Divine Providence, you have been chosen +to govern, and the clemency of your heart and the rectitude of +your intentions are so well known and so truly appreciated, that +I cannot but hope that the trials which you have experienced +in consequence of popular commotion will speedily come to an +end, and will be succeeded by a cordial, good understanding +between your Holiness and the Roman people. I request your +Holiness to believe that it would afford me real pleasure to be +able in any degree to contribute to a result so much to be +desired; and I am happy in having this opportunity of assuring +you of my sincere friendship, and of the unfeigned respect +and esteem which I entertain for your person and character.</p> + + +<p class="ind">Given at Windsor Castle the [ ] day of January 1849.</p> + + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: <i>See</i> <a href="#pageii.204" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 204</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The President of the French Republic to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LETTER FROM PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Elysée National</span>, <i>le 22 Janvier 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Très chère et grande Amie</span>,—Une de mes premières +pensées lorsque le vœu de la nation Française m'appela au +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.211" id="pageii.211"></a>[page 211]</span> +pouvoir fut de faire part à votre Majesté de mon avènement et +des sentiments que j'apportais dans ma nouvelle position.</p> + +<p class="ind">Des circonstances particulières ont retardé le départ de +l'ambassadeur qui devait porter ma lettre; mais aujourd'hui +que l'Amiral Cécile se rend à Londres je désire exprimer à +votre Majesté la respectueuse sympathie que j'ai toujours +éprouvée pour sa personne; je désire surtout lui dire combien +je suis reconnaissant de la généreuse hospitalité qu'elle m'a +donnée dans ses états lorsque j'étais fugitif ou proscrit et +combien je serais heureux si ce souvenir pouvait servir à resserrer +les liens qui unissent les gouvernements et les peuples +de nos deux pays.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je prie votre Majesté de croire à mes sentiments. Votre +ami,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louis Napoléon Bonaparte.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>22nd January 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and would now wish to consult Lord Lansdowne on the propriety +of offering to Lord Palmerston to exchange the Foreign +Office for the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland.<sup>2</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">As Lord John Russell has always approved in the main of +the foreign policy of Lord Palmerston, he could only make this +offering in a mode honourable to Lord Palmerston—that is to +say, for instance, by offering him at the same time an English +Earldom, or an English Barony with the Garter. Nor could +he proceed in the matter without Lord Lansdowne's concurrence.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 2: Hostilities were in progress between the Sicilian insurgents and their Sovereign. An +agent for the former came to England to purchase arms, but was informed by the contractor +to whom he applied that the whole of his stock had been pledged to the Ordnance +Office. Lord Palmerston, without consulting the Cabinet, allowed this stock to be transferred +to the insurgents. The matter became public property, and the Premier brought +it before the Cabinet on the 23rd of January, when, somewhat unexpectedly, the Foreign +Secretary consented to make an apology to the Neapolitan Government; so that the +crisis terminated for the time.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>22nd January 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord John Russell's letter and +enclosures, the contents of which have deeply grieved her, as +the honour of her Government has always been nearest to her +heart. She feels deeply the humiliation to have to make an +apology to the Government of Naples, which stands so very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.212" id="pageii.212"></a>[page 212]</span> +low in public estimation, and she naturally dreads the effect +this disclosure about the guns will have in the world, when she +considers how many accusations have been brought against +the good faith of this country latterly by many different +Governments. Of course they will all consider their suspicions +and accusations, however absurd they may have been, +as justified and proved.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen supposes that the proposition Lord John makes +to her about moving Lord Palmerston to Ireland is the result +of his conviction that after this disclosure it will be no longer +to the advantage of the public service to leave the direction +of the Foreign Affairs in these critical times in Lord Palmerston's +hands. The Queen will be anxious to see Lord John +upon this subject. All she wishes for is, that matters may be +so managed as to reflect the least possible discredit upon the +Government and Lord Palmerston himself.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>6th February 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—We are well. All went off extremely +well on Thursday, but the Government must expect difficulties +upon their (very doubtful) Foreign Policy. I own I do <i>not</i> +feel reassured about peace. <i>Italy</i> and the Pope, etc., are very +ticklish subjects.</p> + +<p class="ind">Everybody says Louis Napoleon has behaved extremely +well in the last crisis—full of courage and energy, and they +say that he is decidedly straightforward, which is not to be +despised. I will not admit that the <i>Gemüthlichkeit ist für immer +begraben</i> in Germany; it will surely return when this madness +is over, but how soon no one can tell. Ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Dalhousie.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>6th February 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has not yet thanked Lord Dalhousie for his long +and interesting letter which she received in the summer. +Since that period many important events have taken place in +India, and the last news have naturally made the Queen feel +very anxious. She deeply laments the loss of General Cureton +and Colonel Havelock, officers who will not be easily replaced. +The Queen thinks that Lord Dalhousie has throughout acted +most judiciously and has thwarted more mischief being done. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.213" id="pageii.213"></a>[page 213]</span> +She will abstain from remarking upon the conduct of the Commander-in-Chief, +as she knows that the Duke of Wellington has +written fully to Lord Dalhousie on this painful subject.<sup>3</sup> The +Queen concludes with expressing her hopes that Lord and +Lady Dalhousie are in good health, and with the Prince's +kindest remembrances to Lord Dalhousie.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: <i>See</i> Introductory Note for the year, <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.208" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 208</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">STATE OF EUROPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>10th February 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—I have to offer my most affectionate +thanks for your dear letter of the 6th. The state of the +Queen seems better, though I fear not so solidly as to be beyond +mischief; but the improvement is real, and will act as a moral +support. They have been severely tried, those poor exiles, +and Heaven knows what is still in store for them. I don't +think that in Italy there will be war. The French cannot +think of it for some months, probably not before June or +July, and the Italians cannot make it alone without being +licked; the better informed know that. The Pope ought to be +replaced on his seat for the sake of every one; and his ultra-Liberal +policy entitles him to be supported by all Governments +and by all right-minded people.</p> + +<p class="ind">Louis Bonaparte has not ill-behaved, it seems; negatively +he might have done much harm. The position continues to be +abominable. There is for every one an <i>absence d'avenir</i> which +ruins everything and everybody—that is the real difficulty.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>Die Gemüthlichkeit</i> in Germany was the consequence of its +political existence these last thousand years; that is now all +going to ruin, and the <i>Gemüthlichkeit</i> will be as little found +again <i>que l'urbanité Française</i> so much talked of formerly and +now unknown.</p> + +<p class="ind">This part of February puts me always in mind of my dear +little <i>séjour</i> with you in 1841. How far that period is now, +though but eight years from us; the very features of everything +changed, I fear for ever, and <i>not</i> for the better.... +Now I must conclude, and remain ever, my dearest Victoria, +your truly devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LOUIS NAPOLEON.</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace,</span> <i>19th February 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Admiral Cécile, who dined here for the first time after the +presentation of his credentials as Ambassador from the French +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.214" id="pageii.214"></a>[page 214]</span> +Republic, with whom I spoke for some time after dinner, said: +"Nous en avons fait de tristes expériences en France," but +that he hoped "que les choses s'amélioraient"; that the +Government was very firm and decided, and determined not +to allow order to be disturbed; "Paris a maintenant fait +quatre Révolutions que la France a subies; votre Majesté +sait qui a proclamé la République au mois de Février? Une +centaine de coquins! Personne s'en doutait, et cependant la +France s'y est soumise!" That the Government was however +determined, and so were all the Departments, that this +should never happen again; no doubt the danger from the +Socialists was great, all over the world; that <i>that</i> was the <i>real +danger</i>, and that they would readily make another attempt +like the fearful one in June (the result of which for three days +was uncertain), but that they had not the power; that he was +continually impressing upon all his friends in France the +necessity of supporting <i>whatever</i> form of Government there was +<i>whose object</i> was the <i>maintenance of order</i>, and to unite "contre +cet ennemi commun." The President, he continued, had risen +amazingly in the opinion of every one by his firmness, courage, +and determination—which he had shown in those critical days +a fortnight or three weeks ago—and that in these two months +he had acquired "une grande aptitude pour les affaires; tout +le monde est étonné, parce que personne ne s'y attendait." He +spoke with great delight of Belgium—and how it had stood the +shock of the events in France—and also of England. Italy, +he considered, was by far the greatest object of danger.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Marquis of Lansdowne.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">GAELIC AND WELSH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>3rd March 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends Lord Lansdowne the book<sup>4</sup> she mentioned +to him. It is an extraordinary production for people of the +working classes, and there are a great many sound and good +observations in it on education; the observations on the +deficiency in the religious instruction and in the <i>preaching</i> +the Queen thinks are particularly true. It likewise shows +a lofty and enlarged <i>view</i> of education which is often +overlooked.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen takes this occasion of repeating her hope that +<i>Gaelic</i> will be taught in future in the Highland schools, as well +as English, as it is really a great mistake that the people should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.215" id="pageii.215"></a>[page 215]</span> +be constantly <i>talking</i> a language which they often cannot read +and generally not write. Being very partial to her loyal and +good Highlanders, the Queen takes much interest in what +she thinks will tend more than anything to keep up their +simplicity of character, which she considers a great merit in +these days.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen thinks equally that Welsh should be taught in +Wales as well as English.<sup>5</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 4: This book was probably <i>Popular Education, as regards Juvenile Delinquency</i>, by Thos. +Bullock, 1849.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 5: Lord Lansdowne, in his reply, undertook "to combine instruction in the Gaelic with +the English language in the Highland as well as the Welsh schools, and to have a view +to it in the choice of Inspectors."</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>6th March 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Your dear letter reached me yesterday, +and I thank you warmly for it. I wish you could be here, +for I never remember finer weather than we have had since we +came here; perfect summer, and so sweet, so enjoyable, and +then with all the pleasures and beauties of Spring you have +that beautiful sea—so blue and smooth as it has been these +three days. If we have no mountains to boast of, we have +the <i>sea</i>, which is ever enjoyable. We have camelias which +have stood out two winters covered with <i>red</i> flowers, and +scarlet rhododendrons in brilliant bloom. Does this not +sound tempting? It seems almost wrong to be at home, and +Albert really hardly is.</p> + +<p class="ind">I wish you joy of your <i>twenty-four</i> foxes. If there was a +black one amongst them I should beg for one, as the skin you +sent me last year was <i>not</i> a black one.</p> + +<p class="ind">The news from India are very distressing, and make one very +anxious, but Sir Charles Napier is instantly to be sent out to +supersede Lord Gough, and he is so well versed in Indian +tactics that we may look with safety to the future <i>after</i> his +arrival.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Italian Question remains very complicated, and the +German one a very perplexing, sad one. Prussia must protect +the poor Princes and put herself at the head, else there is no +hope. Austria should behave better, and not oppose the consolidation +of a central Power, else I know not what is to become +of poor Germany.</p> + +<p class="ind">Pray use your influence to prevent more fatal mischief.</p> + +<p class="ind">Now adieu, dearest Uncle. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.216" id="pageii.216"></a>[page 216]</span> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>16th March 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that the debate last night was +brought to a close.<sup>6</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Cobden and Mr Disraeli made very able speeches at the +end of the debate.</p> + +<p class="ind">The debate has been a remarkable one, and the division +shows tolerably well the strength of parties. The Protectionists, +animated by the cry of agricultural distress, are disposed +to use their power to the utmost. Mr Disraeli shows himself +a much abler and less passionate leader than Lord George +Bentinck.</p> + +<p class="ind">On the other hand, the friends of Sir Robert Peel and the +party of Mr Cobden unite with the Government in resisting +the Protectionist party. The House of Commons thus gives +a majority, which, though not compact, is decided at once +against the extreme Tory and the extreme Radical party. +With such a House of Commons the great interests of the +Throne and the Constitution are safe. An abrupt dissolution +would put everything to hazard.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 6: On Mr Disraeli's motion for payment of the half of local rates by the Treasury, which +was defeated by 280 to 189.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Dalhousie to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">END OF THE SIKH WAR</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Camp, Ferozepore</span>, <i>24th March 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Governor-General presents his most humble duty to +your Majesty, and has the honour of acknowledging the receipt +of the letter which your Majesty most graciously addressed +to him on the 5th of February.</p> + +<p class="ind">He is deeply sensible of your Majesty's goodness, and most +grateful for the expression of approbation which it has conveyed.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Governor-General is not without fear that he may have +intruded too often of late upon your Majesty's time. But he +is so satisfied of the extreme pleasure which your Majesty +would experience on learning that the prisoners who were in +the hands of the Sikhs, and especially the ladies and children, +were once again safe in the British camp, that he would have +ventured to convey to your Majesty that intelligence, even +though he had not been able to add to it—as happily he can—the +announcement of the surrender of the whole Khalsa army, +and the end of the war with the Sikhs.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.217" id="pageii.217"></a>[page 217]</span> + +<p class="ind">Major-General Gilbert pushed on rapidly in pursuit of the +Sikhs, who were a few marches in front of him, carrying off our +prisoners with them.</p> + +<p class="ind">At Rawul Pindee, half-way between the Jhelum and Attock, +the Sikh troops, as we have since heard, would go no further. +They received no pay, they were starving, they had been beaten +and were disheartened; and so they surrendered.</p> + +<p class="ind">All the prisoners were brought safe into our camp. Forty-one +pieces of artillery were given up. Chuttur Singh and +Shere Singh, with all the Sirdars, delivered their swords to +General Gilbert in the presence of his officers; and the remains +of the Sikh army, 16,000 strong, were marched into camp, by +1000 at a time, and laid down their arms as they passed +between the lines of the British troops.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty may well imagine the pride with which British +Officers looked on such a scene, and witnessed this absolute +subjection and humiliation of so powerful an enemy.</p> + +<p class="ind">How deeply the humiliation was felt by the Sikhs themselves +may be judged by the report which the officers who were +present have made, that many of them, and especially the grim +old Khalsas of Runjeet's time, exclaimed as they threw their +arms down upon the heap: "This day Runjeet Singh has +died!"</p> + +<p class="ind">Upwards of 20,000 stands of arms were taken in the hills. +Vast quantities were gathered after the flight of the Sikhs from +Gujerat. As a further precaution, the Governor-General has +ordered a disarming of the Sikhs throughout the Eastern +Doabs, while they are yet cast down and afraid of punishment. +He trusts that these measures may all tend to ensure the +continuance of peace.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">MRS GEORGE LAWRENCE</span> + +<p class="ind">The Sirdars will arrive at Lahore to-day, where they will +await the determination of their future places of residence. +The officers who were prisoners have also reached Lahore, +together with Mrs George Lawrence and her children.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is impossible to speak too highly of the admirable spirit +which this lady has displayed during many months of very +arduous trial.</p> + +<p class="ind">By the kindness of others, the Governor-General has had +the opportunity of seeing constantly the little notes which +were secretly despatched by her from her prison. The gallant +heart she kept up under it all, the cheerful face she put upon +it, and the unrepining patience with which she bore the privations +of captivity and the dangers which it threatened to her +children, her husband, and herself, must command the highest +respect and make one proud of one's countrywomen.</p> + +<p class="ind">General Gilbert, by the latest intelligence, had seized the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.218" id="pageii.218"></a>[page 218]</span> +fort of Attock, had crossed the Indus, and was advancing on +Peshawur, whither the Afghans had retired.</p> + +<p class="ind">By next mail the Governor-General trusts that he will be +able to announce that every enemy has been swept away by +your Majesty's Armies, and that the Afghans have either been +crushed like the Sikhs or have fled to Cabul again.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has the honour to subscribe himself, your Majesty's most +obedient, most humble and very faithful Subject and Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Dalhousie</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of Sardinia</i> (<i>Victor Emanuel</i>) <i>to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KING OF SARDINIA</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Turin</span>, <i>le 30 Mars 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Ma très chère Sœur</span>,—La participation officielle que je +m'empresse de vous donner de mon avènement au trône m'offre +une occasion que je suis heureux de saisir pour vous exprimer +dans une lettre de ma main les sentiments de ma vive gratitude +pour l'affection dont ma maison a reçu des preuves marquantes +et réitérées de votre part, comme pour le bienveillant intérêt +que votre Gouvernement a témoigné à ce pays particulièrement +dans les graves événements qui ont eu lieu pendant cette +dernière année.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je vous prie d'être persuadée que rien n'est plus sincère que +la reconnaissance que j'en conserve, et de me laisser nourrir +la confiance que je puis compter sur la continuation de ces +dispositions si aimables.</p> + +<p class="ind">En vous renouvelant les sentiments d'amitié la plus parfaite, +je suis, votre très cher Frère,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victor Emanuel.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>10th April 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—You will, I am sure, share our joy at +Ernest's <i>wonderful</i> success at Eckerforde.<sup>7</sup> It is a marvellous +piece of good fortune <i>pour son baptême de feu</i>, but it alarmed +and agitated us all to think that he might have been wounded, +<i>to say the least</i>, for he had his horse killed under him. At all +events, he has done honour to the poor race to which he +belongs, and it makes us both very happy. I think it will tend +decidedly to shorten the war. Poor dear Alexandrine! in +what anxiety she will have been.</p> + +<p class="ind">The victory of Novara<sup>8</sup> seems to have been one of the hardest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.219" id="pageii.219"></a>[page 219]</span> +fought and most brilliant battles known for years and years, +and old Radetzky says that he must name every individual +if he was to do justice to officers and men. But the loss +was very severe. The regiment of Kinsky lost <i>twenty-four</i> +officers! The Archduke Albert distinguished himself exceedingly, +which is worthy of his noble father. I could work +myself up to a great excitement about these exploits, for +there is nothing I admire more than great military exploits +and daring.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: In this engagement with the Danes, arising out of the Schleswig-Holstein dispute, +Prince Ernest greatly distinguished himself.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 8: In which Marshal Radetzky defeated the Piedmontese.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duke of Wellington.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>1st May 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen cannot let this day pass without offering to the +Duke of Wellington her warmest and sincerest wishes for +many happy returns of this day. She hopes the Duke will +place the accompanying trifle on his table, and that it will +recall to his mind <i>one</i> who ever reflects with gratitude on +the services he has rendered and always does render to his +Sovereign and his country.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>8th May 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Alas! poor Germany, I am wretched +about her; those news from Dresden are very distressing.<sup>9</sup> +Really with such an excellent man as the poor King, it is too +wicked to do what they have done. If only <i>some sort</i> of +arrangement could be made; then afterwards there might be +modifications, both in the Constitution, etc., for that Constitution +never will work well.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our Navigation Laws debate in the House of Lords began +last night, and is to be concluded to-night. There seems to be +almost a certainty that there will be a majority, though a very +small one, and the danger of course exists that any accident +may turn it the other way.</p> + +<p class="ind">Knowing your esteem for our worthy friend, Sir Robert Peel, +you will, I am sure, be glad to hear that his second son, Frederick,<sup>10</sup> +made such a beautiful speech—his maiden speech—in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.220" id="pageii.220"></a>[page 220]</span> +House of Commons last night; he was complimented by every +one, and Sir Robert was delighted. I am so glad for him, and +also rejoice to see that there is a young man who promises to +be of use hereafter to his country.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert is again gone to lay a first stone. It is a delight to +hear people speak of the good he does by always saying and +doing the right thing....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 9: The King of Prussia, finding Saxony, Bavaria, Würtemberg, and Hanover opposed +to the ascendency of Prussia in the Confederation, declined the Imperial Crown of Germany; +fresh disturbances thereupon ensued, and at Dresden, the King of Saxony had to +take refuge in a fortress.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 10: Afterwards the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Peel, who died in 1906.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>22nd May 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I could not write to you yesterday, +my time having been so entirely taken up by kind visitors, etc., +and I trust you will forgive these hurried lines written just +before our departure for Osborne.<sup>11</sup> I hope that you will not +have been alarmed by the account of the occurrence which +took place on Saturday, and which I can assure you did <i>not</i> +alarm <i>me</i> at all. <i>This</i> time it is quite clear that it was a +wanton and wicked wish merely to <i>frighten</i>, which is very +wrong, and will be tried and punished as a <i>misdemeanour</i>. The +account in the <i>Times</i> is quite correct. The indignation, +loyalty, and affection this act has called forth is very gratifying +and touching.</p> + +<p class="ind">Alice gives a very good account of it, and Lenchen<sup>12</sup> even +says, "Man shot, tried to shoot dear Mamma, must be punished." +They, Affie, and Miss Macdonald were with me. +Albert was riding, and had just returned before me. Augustus +and Clém had left us just two hours before....</p> + +<p class="ind">Many thanks for your kind letter of the 19th. <i>What</i> a state +Germany is in!—I mean <i>Baden</i>, but I hope that this violent +crisis may lead to good.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must conclude. Ever your truly devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: The Queen, while driving down Constitution Hill, was fired at by one William Hamilton, +the pistol being charged only with powder. He was tried under the Act of 1842, +and sentenced to seven years' transportation.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 12: Princess Helena (now Princess Christian), born 25th May 1846.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ANNEXATION OF THE PUNJAB</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>26th May 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to say, in answer to Lord John Russell's +communication respecting India, that she quite approves the +annexation of the Punjab, and is pleased to find that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.221" id="pageii.221"></a>[page 221]</span> +Government concur in this view. The elevation of Lord Dalhousie +to a Marquisate is well deserved, and almost the only +thing that can be offered him as a reward for his services; but +considering his want of fortune, the Queen thinks that it +should be ascertained in the first instance whether the increase +of rank will be convenient to him. Lord Gough's elevation to +the dignity of Viscount has the Queen's sanction.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FOREIGN OFFICE BUSINESS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>19th June 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I have spoken to Lord Palmerston respecting the draft +to Mr Buchanan.<sup>13</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">It appears that he converted it into a private letter, as I +suggested, but he thought fit to place it on record, as it contained +information derived from authentic sources, and of +importance.</p> + +<p class="ind">It appears the drafts are still sent to the Queen at the same +time as to me, so that my remarks or corrections, or even the +cancelling of a despatch, as not infrequently happens, may +take effect after the Queen's pleasure has been taken.</p> + +<p class="ind">This appears to me an inconvenient course.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston alleges that as 28,000 despatches were +received and sent last year, much expedition is required; but +he professes himself ready to send the despatches to me in the +first instance, if the Queen should desire it.</p> + +<p class="ind">It appears to me that all our despatches ought to be thoroughly +considered, but that Her Majesty should give every +facility to the transaction of business by attending to the +drafts as soon as possible after their arrival.</p> + +<p class="ind">I would suggest therefore that the drafts should have my +concurrence before they are submitted to the Queen, and in +case of any material change, that I should write to apprise +Her Majesty of my views, and, if necessary, submit my reasons, +I have the honour to be, your Royal Highness's most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">J. Russell.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 13: Mr (afterwards Sir) Andrew Buchanan (1807-1882), Secretary of Legation at St. +Petersburg.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="ind"><i>20th June 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord John</span>,—Your proposal with respect to the +mode of taking the Queen's pleasure about the drafts is perfectly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.222" id="pageii.222"></a>[page 222]</span> +agreeable to the Queen. She would only require that +she would not be pressed for an answer within a few minutes, +as is now done sometimes.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston could always manage so that there are +twelve or twenty-four hours left for reference to you, and +consideration, and there are few instances in which business +would suffer from so short a delay. As Lord Palmerston +knows when the Mails go, he has only to write in time for +them, and he must recollect that the 28,000 despatches in the +year come to you and to the Queen as well as to himself.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should the Queen in future have to make any remark, she +will make it to you, if that will suit you. Ever yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="ind"><i>21st June 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Palmerston</span>,—I wrote the substance of what you +wrote to me to the Prince, and proposed that the drafts should, +in the first instance, be sent to me. You will see by the enclosed +letter from the Prince that the Queen approves of this +proposal.</p> + +<p class="ind">It may somewhat abridge the circuit if, when I have no +remark to make, I forward the drafts with the Foreign Office +direction to the Queen at once.</p> + +<p class="ind">I cannot pretend to say that I paid the same attention to +the 28,000 despatches of 1848 that you are obliged to do. +Still I agree in the Prince's remark that directions to Foreign +Ministers ought to be very maturely weighed, for the Queen +and the Government speak to foreign nations in this and no +other manner. Yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">J. Russell.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>21st June 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the enclosed drafts, which she will not +further object to, but she feels it necessary to say a few words +in answer to Lord Palmerston's letter. The union of Schleswig +and Holstein<sup>14</sup> is not an ideal one, but <i>complete</i> as to Constitution, +Finance, Customs, Jurisdiction, Church, Universities, +Poor Law, Settlement, Debts, etc., etc., etc. It is <i>not established</i> +by the Kings-Dukes, but has existed for centuries. To +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.223" id="pageii.223"></a>[page 223]</span> +defend Holstein against the attack made by Denmark upon +this union, Germany joined the war. It is true that it is now +proposed in the new Constitution for Germany to consent to +the separation of Schleswig and Holstein, although last year +the Frankfort Parliament had desired the incorporation of +Schleswig into Germany with Holstein; but the question for +Germany is now not to begin a war, but to close one by a +lasting peace. In this she has, in the Queen's opinion, a right +and a duty to see that the independence of Schleswig is secured +before she abandons that country. The comparison with +Saxony does not hold good for a moment, for the Schleswig +Revolution was not directed against the Duke, but against +the King of Denmark, who invaded the rights of the Duke of +Schleswig-Holstein; the assistance of Prussia could therefore +not be given to Denmark, but to Schleswig-Holstein. The +case of Hungary has neither any similitude. Hungary is not +to be torn from its connection with the German States by the +Austrian Government, but just the reverse.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston cannot be more anxious for a speedy +termination of the Danish war than the Queen is, but she +thinks that the mediation will not effect this as long as the +mediating power merely watches which of the two parties is +in the greatest difficulties for the moment, and urges it to give +way; but by a careful and anxious discovery of the rights of +the question and a steady adherence to the recommendation +that what is right and fair ought to be done. The cause of the +war having been the unlawful attempt to incorporate Schleswig +into Denmark, the peace cannot be lasting unless it contains +sufficient guarantees against the resumption of that scheme.<sup>15</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 14: Schleswig had been claimed by Germany as an integral part of her territory, and a war +between Germany and Denmark was in progress.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 15: In reply, Lord Palmerston expressed entire concurrence in the justice of the principles +which the Queen indicated as being those which ought to guide a mediating Power.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Earl of Clarendon.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PROPOSED VISIT TO IRELAND</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>23rd June 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">I have the satisfaction to inform your Excellency that I +have received the Queen's commands to acquaint you that Her +Majesty hopes to be able in the course of the present summer +to fulfil the intention, which you are aware she has long entertained, +of a visit to Ireland. The general distress unfortunately +still prevalent in Ireland precludes the Queen from visiting +Dublin in state, and thereby causing ill-timed expenditure and +inconvenience to her subjects; yet Her Majesty does not wish +to let another year pass without visiting a part of her dominions +which she has for so long a time been anxious personally +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.224" id="pageii.224"></a>[page 224]</span> +to become acquainted with. She accordingly will, at some +sacrifice of personal convenience, take a longer sea voyage, +for the purpose of visiting in the first instance the Cove of +Cork, and from thence proceed along the Irish coast to Dublin. +After remaining there a few days, during which time Her +Majesty will be the guest of your Excellency, she would +continue her cruise along the Irish coast northward and visit +Belfast, and from thence cross to Scotland. Although the +precise time of Her Majesty's visit cannot yet be fixed, it will +probably take place as early in August as the termination of +the session of Parliament will permit, and I feel assured that +this early announcement of her intentions will be received +with great satisfaction by Her Majesty's loyal and faithful +subjects in Ireland.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>19th July 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letters. She +returns Lord Clarendon's, and the very kind one of the Primate.<sup>16</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to Lord Clarendon's suggestion that the Prince +of Wales should be created Duke, or rather, as Lord John <i>says</i>, +<i>Earl</i> of Dublin—the Queen thinks it is a matter for consideration +whether such an act should <i>follow</i> the Queen's visit as a +compliment to Ireland, but she is decidedly of opinion that it +should <i>not precede</i> it.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are sorry that Lord John does not intend going to Ireland, +but fully comprehend his wishes to remain quiet for +three weeks. We shall be very glad to see him at Balmoral on +the 20th or 22nd of August.</p> + +<p class="ind">We hope Lady John and the baby continue to go on well.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 16: Lord John George de la Poer Beresford (1773-1862) was Archbishop of Armagh from +1822 until his death.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ARRIVAL IN DUBLIN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Lodge, Phœnix Park</span>, <i>6th August 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Though this letter will only go to-morrow, +I will begin it to-day and tell you that everything has +gone off beautifully since we arrived in Ireland, and that our +entrance into Dublin was really a magnificent thing. By my +letter to Louise you will have heard of our arrival in the Cove +of Cork. Our visit to Cork was very successful; the Mayor +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.225" id="pageii.225"></a>[page 225]</span> +was knighted <i>on deck</i> (on board the <i>Fairy</i>), like in times of old. +Cork is about seventeen miles up the River Lee, which is beautifully +wooded and reminds us of Devonshire scenery. We had +previously stepped on shore at <i>Cove</i>, a small place, to enable +them to call it <i>Queen's Town</i>; the enthusiasm is immense, +and at Cork there was more firing than I remember since the +Rhine.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">THE IRISH VISIT</span> + +<p class="ind">We left Cork with fair weather, but a head sea and contrary +wind which made it rough and me very sick.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>7th.</i>—I was unable to continue till now, and have since received +your kind letter, for which I return my warmest thanks. +We went into Waterford Harbour on Saturday afternoon, +which is likewise a fine, large, safe harbour. Albert went up +to Waterford in the <i>Fairy</i>, but I did not. The next morning +we received much the same report of the weather which we had +done at Cork, viz. that the weather was fair but the wind contrary. +However we went out, as it could not be helped, and +we might have remained there some days for no use. The first +three hours were very nasty, but afterwards it cleared and the +evening was beautiful. The entrance at seven o'clock into +Kingston Harbour was splendid; we came in with ten steamers, +and the whole harbour, wharf, and every surrounding place +was <i>covered</i> with <i>thousands</i> and thousands of people, who +received us with the greatest enthusiasm. We disembarked +yesterday morning at ten o'clock, and took two hours to come +here. The most perfect order was maintained in spite of the +immense mass of people assembled, and a more good-humoured +crowd I never saw, but noisy and excitable beyond belief, +talking, jumping, and shrieking instead of cheering. There +were numbers of troops out, and it really was a wonderful +scene. This is a very pretty place, and the house reminds me +of dear Claremont. The view of the Wicklow Mountains from +the windows is very beautiful, and the whole park is very +extensive and full of very fine trees.</p> + +<p class="ind">We drove out yesterday afternoon and were followed by +jaunting-cars and riders and people running and screaming, +which would have amused you. In the evening we had a +dinner party, and so we have to-night. This morning we +visited the Bank, the Model School (where the Protestant and +Catholic Archbishops received us), and the College, and this +afternoon we went to the Military Hospital. To-morrow we +have a Levée, where 1,700 are to be presented, and the next +day a Review, and in the evening the Drawing-Room, when +900 ladies are to be presented.</p> + +<p class="ind">George<sup>17</sup> is here, and has a command here. He rode on one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.226" id="pageii.226"></a>[page 226]</span> +side of our carriage yesterday. You see more ragged and +wretched people here than I ever saw anywhere else. <i>En +revanche</i>, the women are really very handsome—quite in the +lowest class—as well at Cork as here; such beautiful black +eyes and hair and such fine colours and teeth.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now take my leave. Ever your most affectionate +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 17: The late Duke of Cambridge.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Clarendon to Sir George Grey.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Vice-Regal Lodge</span>, <i>14th August 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Grey</span>,—If I had known where to direct I should +have thanked you sooner for your two welcome letters from +Belfast, where everything seems to have gone off to our hearts' +desire, and the Queen's presence, as the Stipendiary Magistrate +writes word, has united all classes and parties in a manner +incredible to those who know the distance at which they have +hitherto been kept asunder.</p> + +<p class="ind">The enthusiasm here has not abated, and there is not an +individual in Dublin that does not take as a personal compliment +to himself the Queen's having gone upon the paddle-box +and having ordered the Royal Standard to be lowered +three times.</p> + +<p class="ind">Even the ex-Clubbists,<sup>18</sup> who threatened broken heads and +windows before the Queen came, are now among the most +loyal of her subjects, and are ready, according to the police +reports, to fight any one who dare say a disrespectful word of +Her Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">In short, the people are not only enchanted with the Queen +and the gracious kindness of her manner and the confidence +she has shown in them, but they are pleased with themselves +for their own good feelings and behaviour, which they consider +have removed the barrier that hitherto existed between +the Sovereign and themselves, and that they now occupy a +higher position in the eyes of the world. Friend Bright was +with me to-day, and said he would not for the world have +missed seeing the embarkation at Kingston, for he had felt +just the same enthusiasm as the rest of the crowd. "Indeed," +he added, "I'll defy any man to have felt otherwise when he +saw the Queen come upon the platform and bow to the people +in a manner that showed her heart was with them." He +didn't disguise either that the Monarchical principle had made +great way with him since Friday. Ever yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Clarendon</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: Seditious clubs had been an important factor in the Irish disturbances of 1848.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.227" id="pageii.227"></a>[page 227]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">BREVET PROMOTIONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne,</span> <i>3rd October 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's explanation +respecting the brevet promotions on the occasion of her visit +to Ireland, but cannot say that his objections have convinced +her of the impropriety of such a promotion (to a limited extent). +To Lord John's fears of the dangerous consequences of the +precedent, the Queen has only to answer, that there can be +only <i>one first visit</i> to Ireland, and that the <i>first</i> visit to +Scotland +in 1842 was followed by a few promotions, without this entailing +promotions on her subsequent visits to that part of the country; +that even the first visit to the Channel Islands was followed by +a few promotions, and this under Lord John's Government. +All the precedents being in accordance with the proposition +made by the Duke, an opposition on the part of the Government +would imply a declaration against all brevets except in the +field, which would deprive the Crown of a most valuable prerogative. +If such a brevet as the one proposed were to lead to +great additional expense, the Queen could understand the objection +on the ground of economy; but the giving brevet rank +to a few subaltern officers is too trifling a matter to alarm the +Government. Perhaps the number might be reduced even, +but to deviate from the established precedents for the first time +altogether in this case, and that after the excellent behaviour +of the Army in Ireland under very trying circumstances, would +be felt as a great injustice.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen therefore wishes Lord John to ask the Duke to +send him the former precedents and to consider with his +colleagues whether a modified recommendation cannot be laid +before her.<sup>19</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 19: The Duke of Wellington had submitted a list of Officers for brevet promotion, which +received the Queen's sanction; but the list was afterwards reduced.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Woburn Abbey,</span> <i>4th October 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and will consider, in communication with the Duke of Wellington, +whether any modified list can be proposed by him to your +Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">The economy, as your Majesty truly observes, is not a matter +of much consideration. But to reward Officers on the Staff, +who are already favoured by being placed on the Staff in Ireland, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.228" id="pageii.228"></a>[page 228]</span> +is a practice which tends but too much to encourage the +opinion that promotions in the Army and Navy are given not +to merit, but to aristocratical connection and official favour.</p> + +<p class="ind">In the midst of the degradation of Thrones which the last +two years have seen in Europe, it will be well if the English +Crown preserves all its just prerogatives, and has only to relinquish +some customary abuses, which are not useful to the +Sovereign, and are only an equivocal advantage to the Ministers +of the day.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A PUBLIC THANKSGIVING</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>31st October 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord John Russell's letter, and +was much rejoiced at everything having gone off so well yesterday;<sup>20</sup> +she was very much annoyed at being unable to go +herself, and that the untoward chicken-pox should have come +at this moment; she is, however, quite recovered, though still +much marked.</p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to the proposition about the Thanksgiving, the +Queen quite approves of it, and (<i>if it is generally preferred</i>) that +it should be on a week-day. As to the Bishop of London's +proposal,<sup>21</sup> the Queen thinks that Lord John may have misunderstood +him; she supposes that he meant that she should +attend <i>some</i> place of <i>public worship</i>, and not in her domestic +chapel, in order to join in the public demonstration. The +Queen is quite ready to go with her Court to St George's Chapel +here; but she would like it to take place on an earlier day than +the 27th of November, when she would probably be already in +the Isle of Wight, where we think of going as usual on the 22nd +or 23rd.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 20: The ceremony of opening the new Coal Exchange, at which, besides Prince Albert, +the Prince of Wales and Princess Royal were present.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 21: There had been a severe epidemic of cholera in the country. In twelve months 14,000 +deaths, in London alone, were due to this malady. The 15th of November was appointed +for a general Day of Thanksgiving for its cessation, and the Bishop of London had suggested +that the Queen should attend a public service at St Paul's. Lord John Russell +was in favour of Westminster Abbey.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">POSITION OF GERMANY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Eaton Square,</span> <i>29th November 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +In answer to your Majesty's enquiry, he has to state that a very +short conversation took place in the Cabinet on the affairs of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.229" id="pageii.229"></a>[page 229]</span> +Germany upon an enquiry of Lord John Russell whether the +Diet of Erfurt<sup>22</sup> might not be considered a violation of the +Treaties of 1815. Lord Palmerston thought not, but had not +examined the question.</p> + +<p class="ind">The affairs of Germany are in a critical position; Austria +will oppose anything which tends to aggrandise Prussia; Prussia +will oppose anything which tends to free Government; and +France will oppose anything which tends to strengthen Germany. +Still, all these powers might be disregarded were +Germany united, but it is obvious that Bavaria and Würtemberg +look to Austria and France for support, while Hanover and +Saxony will give a very faint assistance to a Prussian League.</p> + +<p class="ind">The matter is very critical, but probably will not lead to war.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: In order to effect the consolidation of Germany, the King of Prussia had summoned +a Federal Parliament to meet at Erfurt.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>30th November 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and in reply to your Majesty's enquiry as to what the +measures would be which Sir William Parker<sup>23</sup> would have +to take in order to support Mr Wyse's<sup>24</sup> demands for redress +for certain wrongs sustained by British and Ionian subjects, +begs to say that the ordinary and accustomed method of +enforcing such demands is by reprisals—that is to say, by +seizing some vessels and property of the party which refuses +redress,<sup>25</sup> and retaining possession thereof until redress is +granted.</p> + +<p class="ind">Another method is the blockading of the ports of the party +by whom redress is refused, and by interrupting commercial +intercourse to cause inconvenience and loss. Viscount Palmerston, +however, does not apprehend that any active measures of +this kind will be required, but rather expects that when the +Greek Government finds that the demand is made in earnest, +and that means are at hand to enforce it, satisfaction will at +last be given. The refusal of the Greek Government to satisfy +these claims, and the offensive neglect with which they have +treated the applications of your Majesty's representative at +Athens have, as Viscount Palmerston is convinced, been the +result of a belief that the British Government never would take +any real steps in order to press these matters to a settlement.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 23: Commanding the Mediterranean Fleet.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 24: British Envoy at Athens.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 25: <i>See</i> Introductory Note for 1850, <i>post</i>, <a href="#pageii.231" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 231</a>.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.230" id="pageii.230"></a>[page 230]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF QUEEN ADELAIDE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne,</span> <i>11th December 1849.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle,</span>—Thank you much for your kind letter +of the 6th; you will have received mine of the 4th shortly after +you wrote. I know <i>how</i> you would mourn with us over the +death of our beloved Queen Adelaide. <i>We</i> have lost the kindest +and dearest of friends, and the <i>universal</i> feeling of sorrow, +of regret, and of <i>real</i> appreciation of her character is very touching +and gratifying. <i>All</i> parties, <i>all</i> classes, join in doing her +justice. Much was done to set Mamma against her, but the +dear Queen ever forgave this, ever showed love and affection, +and for the last eight years their friendship was as great as +ever. Ever yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.231" id="pageii.231"></a>[page 231]</span> + + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XIX</h3> + + +<p>The Ministry were still (1850) able, relying on the support of Sir +Robert Peel, to resist the attacks of the Protectionists in the House +of Commons, though their majority on a critical occasion fell to +twenty-one; but they were rehabilitated by the discussions on +foreign policy. One Don Pacifico, a Portuguese Jew, a native of +Gibraltar and a British subject, had had his house in Athens pillaged +by a mob; he, with Mr Finlay, the historian, who had a money claim +against the Greek Government, instead of establishing their claims +in the local courts, sought the intervention of the home Government; +Lord Palmerston, whose relations with the Court were even more +strained than usual, resolved to make a hostile demonstration against +Greece, and a fleet was sent to the Piræus with a peremptory demand +for settlement. The House of Lords condemned this high-handed +action, but a friendly motion of confidence was made in the Commons, +and Lord Palmerston had an extraordinary triumph, by a +majority of forty-six, notwithstanding that the ablest men outside +the Ministry spoke against him, and that his unsatisfactory relations +with the Queen were about to culminate in a severe reprimand.</p> + +<p>Sir Robert Peel's speech in this debate proved to be his last public +utterance, his premature death, resulting from a fall from his horse, +taking place a few days later; Louis Philippe, who had been living +in retirement at Claremont, passed away about the same time. +Another attack on the Queen, this time a blow with a cane, was made +by one Robert Pate, an ex-officer and well-connected; the plea of +insanity was not established, and Pate was transported.</p> + +<p>Public attention was being drawn to the projected Exhibition in +Hyde Park, Prince Albert making a memorable speech at the Mansion +House in support of the scheme; the popular voice had not been +unanimous in approval, and subscriptions had hung fire, but henceforward +matters improved, and Mr Paxton's design for a glass and +iron structure was accepted and proceeded with.</p> + +<p>The friction with Lord Palmerston was again increased by his +action in respect to General Haynau, an Austrian whose cruelty had +been notorious, and who was assaulted by some of the <i>employés</i> at a +London brewery. The Foreign Office note to the Austrian Government +nearly brought about Palmerston's resignation, which was +much desired by the Queen.</p> + +<p>At the close of the year the whole country was in a ferment at the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.232" id="pageii.232"></a>[page 232]</span> +issue of a Papal Brief, re-establishing the hierarchy of Bishops in +England with local titles derived from their sees; and Cardinal +Wiseman, thenceforward Archbishop of Westminster, by issuing a +pastoral letter on the subject, made matters worse. The Protestant +spirit was aroused, the two Universities presented petitions, and the +Prime Minister, in a letter to the Bishop of Durham, helped to fan the +"No Popery" flame. Just at a time when a coalition of Whigs and +Peelites was beginning to be possible, an Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, +almost fatal to mutual confidence, became necessary.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.233" id="pageii.233"></a>[page 233]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h5>1850</h5> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>5th February 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Uncle,</span>—We had the house full for three days +last week on account of our theatrical performances on Friday, +which went off extremely well. The Grand Duchess Stephanie +was here, <i>très aimable</i>, and not altered. She spoke much of +Germany and of politics, and of <i>you</i> in the highest terms—"Comme +le Roi Léopold s'est bien tenu"—and that she had +mentioned this at Claremont, and then felt shocked at it, but +that the poor King had answered: "Il avait mon exemple +devant lui, et il en a profité!" She thought the whole family +<i>très digne</i> in their <i>malheur</i>, but was struck with the melancholy +effect of the whole thing.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our affairs have gone off extremely well in Parliament, and +the Protectionists have received an effective check; the question +of the Corn Laws seems <i>indeed settled</i>. This is of great +importance, as it puts a stop to the excitement and expectations +of the farmers, which have been falsely kept up by the +aristocracy....</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens,</span> <i>15th February 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear John Russell,</span>—I have altered this draft so as I +think to meet the views of the Queen and of yourself in regard +to the continuance of the suspension.<sup>1</sup> I should not like to +put into a despatch an instruction to accept less than we have +demanded, because that would imply what I don't think to be +the fact, viz. that we have demanded more than is due. If the +demands were for the British Government, we might forego +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.234" id="pageii.234"></a>[page 234]</span> +what portions we might like to give up, but we have no right +to be easy and generous with the rights and claims of other +people. Besides, if we get anything, we shall get all. The +whole amount is quite within the power of the Greek Government +to pay. Yours sincerely,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Palmerston</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: <i>I.e.</i> of hostilities against the Greek Government, designed to extract compensation +for the injuries inflicted on British subjects. See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.231" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 231</a>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DRAFT TO GREECE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace,</span> <i>17th February 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sent the day before yesterday the proposed draft +to Mr Wyse back to Lord Palmerston, enclosing a Memorandum +from Lord John Russell, and telling Lord Palmerston "that +she entirely concurred with Lord John, and wished the draft +to be altered accordingly." She has not yet received an answer +from Lord Palmerston, but just hears from Lord John, in answer +to her enquiry about it, that Lord Palmerston has <i>sent</i> the +draft off <i>unaltered</i>.<sup>2</sup> The Queen must remark upon this sort of +proceeding, of which this is not the first instance, and plainly +tell Lord Palmerston that this must not happen again. Lord +Palmerston has a perfect right to state to the Queen his reasons +for disagreeing with her views, and will always have found her +ready to listen to his reasons; but she cannot allow a servant +of the Crown and her Minister to act contrary to her orders, and +this without her knowledge.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 2: <i>See</i> Ashley's <i>Palmerston</i>, vol. i. chap. v.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S EXPLANATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens.</span> <i>17th February 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and in reply to your Majesty's communication of this +day, he begs to state that upon receiving, the day before yesterday, +your Majesty's Memorandum on the proposed draft to +Mr Wyse, together with the accompanying Memorandum<sup>3</sup> +from Lord John Russell, he altered the draft, and sent it +to Lord John Russell, and received it back from Lord +John Russell with the accompanying note in answer to that +which he wrote to Lord John Russell. It was important +that the messenger should go off that evening, and the time +occupied in these communications rendered it just, but barely, +possible to despatch the messenger by the mail train of that +evening. The despatch thus altered coincided with the views +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.235" id="pageii.235"></a>[page 235]</span> +of your Majesty and Lord John Russell as to the question in +regard to the length of time during which reprisals should be +suspended to give scope for the French negotiation. The other +question as to giving Mr Wyse a latitude of discretion to entertain +any proposition which might be made to him by the Greek +Government was considered by the Cabinet at its meeting +yesterday afternoon, and Viscount Palmerston gave Mr Wyse +a latitude of that kind in regard to the claim of Mr Pacifico, +the only one to which that question could apply, in a despatch +which he sent by the overland Mediterranean mail which went +off yesterday afternoon. That despatch also contained some +instructions as to the manner in which Mr Wyse is to communicate +with Baron Gros,<sup>4</sup> and those instructions were the +result of a conversation which Viscount Palmerston had with +the French Ambassador after the meeting of the Cabinet. +Viscount Palmerston was only waiting for a copy of the despatch +of yesterday evening, which, owing to this day being +Sunday, he has not yet received, in order to send to your +Majesty the altered draft of yesterday evening, with an +explanation of the circumstances which rendered it impossible +to submit them to your Majesty before they were sent off.<sup>5</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: Lord John Russell's opinion was that three weeks should be allowed to Mr Wyse and +Sir W. Parker to accept terms as satisfactory as they could obtain, and that Sir W. Parker +should not be obliged to resume coercive measures, if the concessions of the Greek Government +should appear to afford a prospect of a speedy settlement of the affair.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 4: Baron Gros was the Commissioner despatched by the French Government to Athens +to assist in arranging the dispute.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 5: See subsequent correspondence between Lord John and Lord Palmerston, Walpole's +<i>Russell</i>, vol. ii. chap. xix.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">RE-ARRANGEMENT SUGGESTED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>3rd March 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Before leaving Town yesterday we saw Lord John Russell, +who came to state what had passed with reference to Lord +Palmerston. He premised that Lord Palmerston had at all +times been a most agreeable and accommodating colleague; +that he had acted with Lord John ever since 1831, and had not +only never made any difficulty, but acted most boldly and in +the most spirited manner on all political questions; besides, +he was very popular with the Radical part of the House of +Commons as well as with the Protectionist, so that both would +be ready to receive him as their Leader; he (Lord John) was +therefore most anxious to do nothing which could hurt Lord +Palmerston's feelings, nor to bring about a disruption of the +Whig Party, which at this moment of Party confusion was the +only one which still held together. On the other hand, the +fact that the Queen distrusted Lord Palmerston was a serious +impediment to the carrying on of the Government. Lord John +was therefore anxious to adopt a plan by which Lord Palmerston's +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.236" id="pageii.236"></a>[page 236]</span> +services could be retained with his own goodwill, and +the Foreign Affairs entrusted to other hands. The only plan +he could think of was to give Lord Palmerston the lead in the +House of Commons—the highest position a statesman could +aspire to—and to go himself to the House of Lords. He had +communicated his views to Lord Lansdowne, who agreed in +them, and thought he could do nothing better than speak +to Lord Palmerston at once. Lord Palmerston said that he +could not have helped to have become aware that he had +forfeited the Queen's confidence, but he thought this had not +been on <i>personal</i> grounds, but merely on account of his line +of policy, with which the Queen disagreed. (The Queen +interrupted Lord John by remarking that she distrusted +him on <i>personal</i> grounds also, but I remarked that Lord +Palmerston had so far at least seen rightly; that he had +become disagreeable to the Queen, not on account of his person, +but of his political doings, to which the Queen assented.) +Lord Palmerston appeared to Lord John willing to enter into +this agreement.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S PLAN</span> + +<p class="ind">On the question how the Foreign Office should be filled, +Lord John said that he thought his father-in-law, Lord Minto, +ought to take the Foreign Office.... As the Queen was somewhat +startled by this announcement, I said I thought that +would not go down with the public. After Lord Palmerston's +removal (who was considered one of the ablest men in the +country) he ought not to be replaced but by an equally able +statesman; the Office was of <i>enormous</i> importance, and ought +not to be entrusted to any one but Lord John himself or Lord +Clarendon. On the Queen's enquiry why Lord Clarendon had +not been proposed for it, Lord John said he was most anxious +that the change of the Minister should not produce a change +in the general line of policy which he considered to have been +quite right, and that Lord Clarendon did not approve of it; +somehow or other he never could agree with Lord Clarendon +on Foreign Affairs; he thought Lord Clarendon very anti-French +and for an alliance with Austria and Russia. The +Queen replied she knew Lord Clarendon's bad opinion of the +mode in which the Foreign Affairs had been conducted, and +thought that a merit in him, but did not think him Austrian +or Russian, but merely disapproving of Lord Palmerston's +behaviour. I urged Lord John to take the Foreign Affairs +himself, which he said would have to be done if the Queen did +not wish Lord Minto to take them; he himself would be able +to do the business when in the House of Lords, although he +would undertake it unwillingly; with the business in the +House of Commons it would have been impossible for him.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.237" id="pageii.237"></a>[page 237]</span> + +<p class="ind">The Queen insisted on his trying it with a seat in the House of +Lords, adding that, if he found it too much for him, he could +at a later period perhaps make the Department over to Lord +Clarendon.</p> + +<p class="ind">I could not help remarking that it was a serious risk to +entrust Lord Palmerston with the lead in the House of +Commons, that it might be that the Government were defeated +and, if once in opposition, Lord Palmerston might take +a different line as leader of the Opposition from that which +Lord John would like, and might so easily force himself back +into office as Prime Minister. Lord John, however, although +admitting that danger, thought Lord Palmerston too old to +do much in the future (having passed his sixty-fifth year); he +admitted that Sir George Grey was the natural leader of the +Commons, but expected that a little later the lead would still +fall into his hands.</p> + +<p class="ind">The arrangements of the Offices as proposed would be that +Lord Palmerston would take the Home Office, and Sir George +Grey the Colonial Office, and Lord Grey vacate this office for +the Privy Seal. If Lord Minto, however, was not to have +the Foreign Office, the arrangement must be recast. Lord +Clarendon would become Secretary of State for Ireland, after +the abolition of the Lord-Lieutenancy. Possibly also Sir +George Grey might take the office, and Lord Clarendon take +the Colonies, which Lord Grey would be glad to be rid of. On +my observing that I had thought the Colonies would have done +best for Lord Palmerston, leaving Sir George Grey at the Home +Office, Lord John acknowledged that he would likewise prefer +this arrangement, but considered it rendered impossible from +its having been the very thing Lord Grey had proposed in +1845, and upon which the attempt to form a Whig Government +at that time had broken down, Lord Palmerston having refused +to enter the Cabinet on those terms. Lord John ended by +saying that Lord Palmerston having agreed to the change, it +was intended that nothing should be done about it till after +the close of the Session, in order to avoid debates and questions +on the subject; moreover, Lord Lansdowne had agreed to +continue still this Session his labours as Leader in the House +of Lords, and begged for the <i>utmost secrecy</i> at present.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell already last year had spoken to me of +his wish to go to the House of Lords, finding the work in the +House of Commons, together with his other business, too much +for him, and Lord Lansdowne being desirous to be relieved +from the lead in the Upper House.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.238" id="pageii.238"></a>[page 238]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Baron Stockmar.</i><sup>6</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S ULTIMATUM</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>12th March 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The least the Queen has a right to require of her Minister +is:—</p> + +<p class="ind">1. That he will distinctly state what he proposes in a given +case, in order that the Queen may know as distinctly to what +she has to give her royal sanction.</p> + +<p class="ind">2. Having given once her sanction to a measure, the Minister +who, in the execution of such measure alters or modifies it +arbitrarily, commits an act of dishonesty towards the Crown, +which the Queen has an undoubted constitutional right to +visit with the dismissal of that Minister.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Stockmar.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 6: Compare this with the Memorandum ultimately drawn up on the 12th of August.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Marquis of Lansdowne.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace,</span> <i>16th March 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes to remark to Lord Lansdowne, that his +answer to Lord Stanley in the House of Lords last night might +possibly lead to the misapprehension that Lord Palmerston's +delay in sending the despatch to Mr Wyse had been caused by +the time it took to get the Queen's approval of it. She must +protest against such an inference being drawn, as being +contrary to the fact, Lord Palmerston indeed having sent out +in the first instance a different despatch from that which she +had approved.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S ULTIMATUM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken,</span> <i>25th March 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,— ... King Louis Philippe seems +better, but still he is evidently breaking; there is no wonder +when one considers all he has gone through, and is still to suffer! +No one can tell a day [ahead] what may happen in France, and +if all the family have, which is but<sup>7</sup> in France, may not be +confiscated. The thirst for spoliation is great; the people +who lead have no other view, they are not fanatics, their aim +is to rise and to enrich themselves; the remainder is mere +humbug, exactly as you have it very near home. Never was +there a nation in a worse and a more helpless state, and the +numerous parties who will <i>not</i> unite render all solutions impossible, +and the republic will be maintained for that very +reason. It is but a name and no substance, but that <i>name of</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.239" id="pageii.239"></a>[page 239]</span> +<i>republic</i> encourages every extravagant or desperate proceeding, +and turns people's heads in the old monarchies; every doctor +or magistrate sees himself president of some republic, and the +ambitions of so many people who see all the impediments which +existed formerly removed, and who, according to their <i>own +opinion</i>, are wonderful people, will be insatiable and much +more dangerous than you imagine in England. On the Continent +every man thinks himself fit to be at the head of the +Government; there is no political measure or scale, and the +success of some bookseller or doctor or advocate, etc., turns +the heads of all those in similar positions—<i>on ne doute de rien</i>. +When you consider that a <i>banqueroutier</i> like Ledru Rollin<sup>8</sup> +ruled over France <i>for six months</i> almost with <i>absolute power,</i> +merely because he took it, you may imagine how many thousands, +even of workmen, cooks, stage people, etc., look to be +taken to rule over their fellow-citizens; <i>toujours convaincu +de leur propre mérite</i>. I am happy to see that you escaped a +ministerial crisis; the peril was great, and it would have been +dreadful for you at such a moment.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert made a fine long speech, I see.<sup>9</sup> Did he read it? <i>ex +tempore</i>, it would have been very trying. I trust we may come +to that unity of mankind of which he speaks, and of universal +peace which our friend Richard Cobden considers as very near +at hand; if, however, the red benefactors of mankind at Paris +get the upper hand, <i>universal war</i> will be the order of the day. +We are so strongly convinced of this that we are very seriously +occupied with the means of defence which this country can +afford, and we imagine that if we are not abandoned by our +friends, it will be impossible to force our positions on the +Schelde.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now quickly conclude. Remaining ever, my beloved +Victoria, your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: <i>I.e.</i> "only."</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 8: He was President in 1848.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-bottom: 8em;">Footnote 9: At the Mansion House banquet to the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851. +See quotation from it in Sir T. Martin's <i>Life</i>, vol. ii, p. 247.</p> + + +<a name="illusii.3" id="illusii.3"></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><a href="images/0254-1200.png"><img src="images/0254-470.png" width="355" height="470" alt="Baron Stockmar." border="0" /></a> +<p class="center">BARON STOCKMAR.</p> +<p class="center">From the portrait by John Partridge at Buckingham Palace</p> +<p class="author" style="margin-bottom: 5em;"><i>To face p.</i> 240, Vol. II.</p></div> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace,</span> <i>25th March 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen approves these drafts, but thinks that in the +part alluding to M. Pacifico, should be added a direction to +Mr Wyse to satisfy himself of the <i>truth</i> of M. Pacifico's statements +of losses before he grounds his demands upon them.<sup>10</sup> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.240" id="pageii.240"></a>[page 240]</span> +The draft merely allows a sub-division of the claims, but takes +their validity for granted.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 10: Don Pacifico claimed £31,500—£4,900 being for effects destroyed, and £26,600 in +respect of certain claims against the Portuguese Government, the vouchers for which he +stated had been destroyed by the mob which pillaged his house. His valuation of the +various items was of the most extravagant description.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SPEECH BY PRINCE ALBERT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>26th March 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Albert made a really beautiful speech +the other day, and it has given the greatest satisfaction and +done great good. He is indeed <i>looked up to and beloved</i>, as <i>I</i> +could <i>wish</i> he should be; and the <i>more</i> his <i>rare qualities</i> of +mind and heart are <i>known</i>, the <i>more</i> he will be understood and +appreciated. People are much struck at his great powers and +energy; his great self-denial, and constant wish to work for +others, is so striking in his character; but it is the <i>happiest</i> +life; pining for what one cannot have, and trying to run after +what is pleasantest, <i>invariably</i> ends in disappointment.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>29th March 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I write only a few lines to-day, +begging you to give the accompanying drawing of her little +<i>namesake</i> to dearest Louise <i>on</i> her birthday.</p> + +<p class="ind">I shall duly answer your dear letter of the 25th on Tuesday, +but am anxious to correct the impression that Albert read his +fine speech. He <i>never</i> has done so with any of his fine speeches, +but speaks them, having first prepared them and written them +down,—and does so <i>so well</i>, that no one believes that he is ever +nervous, which <i>he is</i>. This last he is said to have spoken in +so particularly English a way.</p> + +<p class="ind">We have still sadly cold winds. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>14th April 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter with the +drafts, which he mentioned last night to her, and she has sent +his letter with them to Lord Palmerston.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston's conduct in this Spanish question<sup>11</sup> in not +communicating her letter to Lord John, as she had directed, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.241" id="pageii.241"></a>[page 241]</span> +is really too bad, and most disrespectful to the Queen; she +can really hardly communicate with him any more; indeed it +would be better she should not.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: The question was the selection of a Minister for Madrid.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD HOWDEN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>27th April 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">In order to save the Government embarrassments, the Queen +has sanctioned the appointment of Lord Howden<sup>12</sup> to Madrid, +although she does not consider him to be quite the stamp of +person in whom she could feel entire confidence that he will +be proof against all spirit of intrigue, which at all times and +now particularly is so much required in Spain. But she must +once more ask Lord John to watch that the Queen may be +quite openly and considerately dealt by. She knows that +Lord Howden has long been made acquainted with his appointment, +and has been corresponding upon it with General +Narvaez; the correspondent of the <i>Times</i> has announced his +appointment from Madrid already three weeks ago, and all +that time Lord Palmerston remained silent upon the matter +to the Queen, not even answering her upon her letter expressing +her wish to see Lord Westmorland<sup>13</sup> appointed. Lord John +must see the impropriety of this course, and if it were not for +the Queen's anxiety to smooth all difficulties, the Government +might be exposed to most awkward embarrassments. She +expects, however, and has the right to claim, equal consideration +on the part of her Ministers. She addresses herself in +this matter to Lord John as the head of the Government.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 12: Lord Howden had been recently Minister at Rio Janeiro.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 13: Minister at Berlin, 1841-51.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>28th April 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... Lord John Russell cannot but assent to your Majesty's +right to claim every consideration on the part of your Majesty's +Ministers. He will take care to attend to this subject, and is +much concerned to find that your Majesty has so frequently +occasion to complain of Lord Palmerston's want of attention.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Marquis of Dalhousie to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KOH-I-NOOR</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Simla</span>, <i>15th May 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... When the Governor-General had the honour of addressing +your Majesty from Bombay, the arrangements for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.242" id="pageii.242"></a>[page 242]</span> +the transmission of the Koh-i-noor were incomplete. He +therefore did not then report to your Majesty, as he now +humbly begs leave to do, that he conveyed the jewel himself +from Lahore in his own charge, and deposited it in the Treasury +at Bombay. One of your Majesty's ships had been ordered +to Bombay to receive it, but had not then arrived, and did not +arrive till two months afterwards, thus causing delay. The +<i>Medea</i>, however, sailed on 6th April, and will, it is hoped, have +a safe and speedy passage to England.</p> + +<p class="ind">By this mail the Governor-General transmits officially a +record of all that he has been able to trace of the vicissitudes +through which the Koh-i-noor has passed. The papers are +accurate and curious.</p> + +<p class="ind">In one of them it is narrated, on the authority of Fugueer-ood-deen, +who is now at Lahore, and who was himself the +messenger, that Runjeet Singh sent a message to Wufa Begum, +the wife of Shah Sooja, from whom he had taken the gem, to +ask her its value. She replied, "If a strong man were to throw +four stones, one north, one south, one east, one west, and a +fifth stone up into the air, and if the space between them were +to be filled with gold, all would not equal the value of the +Koh-i-noor." The Fugueer, thinking probably that this +appraisement was somewhat imaginative, subsequently asked +Shah Sooja the same question. The Shah replied that its +value was "good fortune; for whoever possessed it had +conquered their enemies."</p> + +<p class="ind">The Governor-General very respectfully and earnestly trusts +that your Majesty, in your possession of the Koh-i-noor, may +ever continue to realise its value as estimated by Shah Sooja.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has the honour to subscribe himself, with deep respect, +your Majesty's most obedient, most humble, and most faithful +Subject and Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Dalhousie.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>18th May 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord John</span>,—I return you the enclosed letters +which forbode a new storm, this time coming from Russia.<sup>14</sup> I +confess I do not understand that part of the quarrel, but one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.243" id="pageii.243"></a>[page 243]</span> +conviction grows stronger and stronger with the Queen and +myself (if it is possible), viz. that Lord Palmerston is bringing +the whole of the hatred which is borne to him—I don't mean +here to investigate whether justly or unjustly—by all the +Governments of Europe upon England, and that the country +runs serious danger of having to pay for the consequences. +We cannot reproach ourselves with having neglected warning +and entreaties, but the Queen may feel that her duty demands +her not to be content with mere warning without any effect, +and that for the sake of one man the welfare of the country +must not be exposed....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 14: Russia as well as France had been appealed to by Greece against the pressure brought +to bear upon her. On the 18th of April a Convention was signed in London disposing of +the whole dispute, and referring Don Pacifico's claims against Portugal to arbitration. +Lord Palmerston was remiss in communicating the progress of those negotiations to +Mr Wyse, who persisted in his coercive measures, disregarding the intelligence on the +subject he received from Baron Gros, and Greece accordingly submitted to his terms. +France and Russia were incensed, the French Ambassador was recalled, and on the 18th +of May Baron Brunnow intimated the imminence of similar action by the Czar.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>18th May 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I feel very strongly that the Queen ought not to be +exposed to the enmity of Austria, France, and Russia on account +of her Minister. I was therefore prepared to state on +Monday that it is for Her Majesty to consider what course it +will be best for her and for the country to pursue.</p> + +<p class="ind">1. I am quite ready to resign my office, but I could not +make Lord Palmerston the scapegoat for the sins which will +be imputed to the Government in the late negotiations.</p> + +<p class="ind">2. I am ready, if it is thought best, to remain in office till +questions pending in the two Houses are decided. If unfavourably, +a solution is obtained; if favourably, Lord John +Russell will no longer remain in office with Lord Palmerston +as Foreign Secretary.</p> + +<p class="ind">These are hasty and crude thoughts, but may be matured +by Monday.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>20th May 1850.</i></p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S REPORT</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell came to-day to make his report to the +Queen on his final determination with respect to the Greek +question and Lord Palmerston. He said it was quite impossible +to abandon Lord Palmerston upon this question, that the +Cabinet was as much to blame (if there were cause for it) as +Lord Palmerston, and particularly he himself, who had given +his consent to the measures taken, and was justly held responsible +by the country for the Foreign Policy of the Government. +Admitting, however, that Lord Palmerston's personal +quarrels with all Governments of foreign countries and the +hostility with which they were looking upon him was doing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.244" id="pageii.244"></a>[page 244]</span> +serious injury to the country, and exposing the Crown to +blows aimed at the Minister, he had consulted Lord Lansdowne.... +Lord Lansdowne fully felt the strength of what +I said respecting the power of the Leader of the House of +Commons, and the right on the part of the Queen to object to +its being conferred upon a person who had not her entire confidence. +I said I hoped Lord Lansdowne would consider the +communication of the letter as quite confidential, as, although +I had no objection to telling Lord Palmerston anything that +was said in it myself, I should not like that it should come +to his ears by third persons or be otherwise talked of. Lord +John assured me that Lord Lansdowne could be entirely +relied upon, and that he himself had locked up the letter +under key the moment he had received it, and would carefully +guard it.</p> + +<p class="ind">The result of our conference was, that we agreed that Lord +Clarendon was the only member of the Government to whom +the Foreign Affairs could be entrusted unless Lord John were +to take them himself, which was much the best. Lord John +objected to Lord Clarendon's intimate connection with the +<i>Times</i>, and the violent Austrian line of that paper; moreover, +Lord Clarendon would be wanted to organise the new department +of Secretary of State for Ireland. The Colonial Office +was much the best for Lord Palmerston, and should Lord John +go to the House of Lords, Sir George Grey was to lead in the +Commons. Lord John would take an opportunity of communicating +with Lord Palmerston, but wished nothing should +be said or done about the changes till after the close of the +Session.<sup>15</sup></p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 15: The question of the relations of Lord Palmerston with the Crown had to be postponed +owing to the debates in both Houses on Foreign Policy. In the Lords, Lord Stanley +moved a vote of censure on the Government for enforcing by coercive measures various +doubtful or exaggerated claims against the Greek Government.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SUNDAY POSTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>9th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's two letters. +If the Cabinet <i>think</i> it impossible to do otherwise, of course the +Queen consents—though <i>most reluctantly</i>—to a compliance +with the vote respecting the Post Office.<sup>16</sup> The Queen thinks +it a very <i>false</i> notion of obeying God's will, to do what will be +the cause of much annoyance and possibly of great distress to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.245" id="pageii.245"></a>[page 245]</span> +private families. At any rate, she thinks decidedly that great +caution should be used with respect to any alteration in the +transmission of the mails, so that at least <i>some means</i> of communication +may still be possible.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 16: Lord Ashley carried a resolution forbidding the Sunday delivery of letters; a Committee +of Inquiry was appointed, and reported against the proposed change, which was +abandoned.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duke of Cambridge.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>10th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Uncle</span>,—I have enquired into the precedents, and +find that though there are none exactly similar to the case of +George, there will be no difficulty to call him up to the House +of Lords; and I should propose that he should be called up +by the name of Earl of Tipperary, which is one of your titles. +Culloden, which is your other title, would be from recollections +of former times obviously objectionable. There are several +precedents of Princes being made Peers without having an +establishment, consequently there can be no difficulty on this +point.</p> + +<p class="ind">I feel confident that George will be very moderate in his +politics, and support the Government whenever he can. +Princes of the Royal Family should keep as much as possible +aloof from <i>Party Politics</i>, as I think they else invariably become +mixed up with Party violence, and frequently are made +the tools of people who are utterly regardless of the mischief +they cause to the Throne and Royal Family. Believe me, +always, your affectionate Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Cambridge to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PRINCE GEORGE OF CAMBRIDGE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Cambridge House</span>, <i>10th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—I seize the earliest opportunity of +thanking you for your very kind letter, which I have this +moment received, and to assure you at the same time that I do +most fully agree with you in your observations concerning the +line in politics which the members of the Royal Family ought +to take. This has always been my principle since I entered +the House of Lords, and I am fully convinced that George will +follow my example.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must also add that I have felt the great advantage of supporting +the Government, and I have by that always been well +with all Parties, and have avoided many difficulties which +other members of my family have had to encounter.</p> + +<p class="ind">I shall not fail to communicate your letter to George, who +will, I trust, never prove himself unworthy of the kindness you +have shown him.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.246" id="pageii.246"></a>[page 246]</span> + +<p class="ind">With the request that you will remember me most kindly to +Albert, I remain, my dearest Victoria, your most affectionate +Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Adolphus.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Prince George of Cambridge to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Palace</span>, <i>15th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Cousin</span>,—I have not as yet ventured to address +you on a subject of much interest personally to myself, and +upon which I am aware that you have been in correspondence +with my father; but as I believe that the question which was +brought to your notice has been settled, I cannot any longer +deprive myself of the pleasure of expressing to you my most +sincere and grateful thanks for the kind manner in which you +have at once acceded to the anxious request of my father +and myself, by arranging with the Government that I should +be called up to the House of Lords. This has been a point +upon which I have long been most anxious, and I am truly and +sincerely grateful that you have so considerately entered into +my feelings and wishes. I understand that it is your intention +that I should be called up by my father's second title +as Earl of Tipperary; at the same time I hope that though I +take a seat in the House as Earl of Tipperary, I may be permitted +to retain and be called by my present name on all +occasions not connected with the House of Lords. As regards +the wish expressed by yourself, that I should not allow myself +to be made a political partisan, I need not, I trust, assure you +that it will be ever my endeavour to obey your desires upon +this as on all other occasions; but I trust I may be permitted +to add, that even before this desire expressed by you, it had +been my intention to follow this line of conduct. I conceive +that whenever they conscientiously can do so, the members of +the Royal Family should support the Queen's Government; +and if at times it should happen that they have a difficulty in +so doing, it is at all events not desirable that they should place +themselves prominently in opposition to it. This I believe to +be your feelings on the subject, and if you will permit me to +say so, they are also my own.</p> + +<p class="ind">Hoping to have the pleasure soon of expressing to you my +gratitude in person, I remain, my dear Cousin, your most +dutiful Cousin,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">George.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Prince George of Cambridge.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>17th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear George</span>,—Many thanks for your kind letter received +yesterday. I am glad to hear that you are so entirely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.247" id="pageii.247"></a>[page 247]</span> +of my opinion with respect to the political conduct of the +Princes of the Royal Family who are peers, and I feel sure that +your conduct will be quite in accordance with this view. With +respect to your wish to be called as you have hitherto been, I +do not think that this will be possible. It has never been +done, besides which I think the Irish (who will be much +flattered at your being called up by the title of Tipperary) +would feel it as a slight if you did not wish to be called by the +title you bear. All the Royal Peers have always been called +by their titles in this and in other countries, and I do not think +it would be possible to avoid it. Ever, etc.,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span><sup>17</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 17: The patent was made out, but not signed, a memorandum of Prince Albert +recording:—</p> + +<p class="note1right"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>. <i>8th July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">I kept this warrant back from the Queen's signature on account of the Duke of Cambridge's +illness. The Duke died yesterday evening, without a struggle, after an attack of +fever which had lasted four weeks. So the summons of Prince George has never been +carried out.</p> + +<p class="note1author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MR ROEBUCK'S MOTION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>21st June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to report that Mr Roebuck asked him yesterday +what course the Government intends to pursue after the +late vote of the House of Lords.<sup>18</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The newspapers contain the report of Lord John Russell's +answer.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Roebuck has proposed to move on Monday a general +approbation of the Foreign Policy of the Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">What may be the result of such a Motion it is not easy to +say, but as Lord Stanley has prevailed on a majority in the +House of Lords to censure the Foreign Policy of the Government, +it is impossible to avoid a decision by the House of Commons +on this subject.</p> + +<p class="ind">The misfortune is that on the one side every detail of negotiation +is confounded with the general principles of our Foreign +Policy, and on the other a censure upon a Foreign Policy, the +tendency of which has been to leave despotism and democracy +to fight out their own battles, will imply in the eyes of Europe +a preference for the cause of despotism, and a willingness to +interfere with Russia and Austria on behalf of absolute government. +The jealousy of the House of Commons would not long +bear such a policy.</p> + +<p class="ind">Be that as it may, Lord Stanley has opened a beginning of +strife, which may last for many years to come.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: Lord Stanley's Motion of Censure was carried by a majority of 37 in a House of 301.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.248" id="pageii.248"></a>[page 248]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD STANLEY'S MOTION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>21st June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter and read +his speech in the House of Commons. She regrets exceedingly +the position in which the Government has been placed by the +Motion of Lord Stanley in the House of Lords. Whichever way +the Debate in the House of Commons may terminate, the Queen +foresees great troubles. A defeat of the Government would be +<i>most inconvenient</i>. The Queen has always approved the <i>general</i> +tendency of the policy of the Government to let despotism and +democracy fight out their battles abroad, but must remind Lord +John that in the execution of this policy Lord Palmerston has +<i>gone a long way</i> in taking up the side of democracy in the fight, +and this is the "detail of negotiations" which Lord John is +afraid may be confounded with the general principle of our +Foreign Policy. Indeed it is already confounded by the whole +of the foreign and the great majority of the British public, and +it is to be feared that the discussion will place despotic and +democratic principles in array against each other in this +country, whilst the original question turns only upon the +justice of Don Pacifico's claims.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>22nd June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell deeply regrets that your Majesty should +be exposed to inconvenience in consequence of Lord Stanley's +Motion. He has copied Mr Roebuck's Motion as it now stands +on the votes. The word "principles" includes the general +policy, and excludes the particular measures which from time +to time have been adopted as the objects of approbation.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is impossible to say at this moment what will be the result. +Lord Stanley, Lord Aberdeen, Mr Gladstone, and Mr Disraeli +appear to be in close concert.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley can hardly now abandon Protection. Mr +Gladstone, one should imagine, can hardly abandon Free Trade. +The anger of the honest Protectionists and the honest Free-Traders +will be very great at so unprincipled a coalition.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Roebuck's Motion: That the principles on which the +Foreign Policy of Her Majesty's Government has been regulated +have been such as were calculated to maintain the honour +and dignity of this country, and in times of unexampled +difficulty to preserve peace between England and the various +nations of the world.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.249" id="pageii.249"></a>[page 249]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">HOLSTEIN AND GERMANY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>22nd June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter of yesterday, +but cannot say that his arguments in support of his +former opinion, that the Germanic Confederation should be +omitted from amongst the Powers who are to be invited to +sign a protocol, the object of which is to decide upon the fate +of Holstein, have proved successful in convincing her of the +propriety of this course. As Holstein belongs to the Germanic +Confederation and is only accidentally connected with Denmark +through its Sovereign, a Protocol to ensure the integrity +of the Danish Monarchy is a direct attack upon Germany, if +carried out without her knowledge and consent; and it is an +act repugnant to all feelings of justice and morality for third +parties to dispose of other people's property, which no diplomatic +etiquette about the difficulty of finding a proper representative +for Germany could justify. The mode of representation +might safely be left to the Confederation itself. It is not +surprising to the Queen that Austria and Prussia should complain +of Lord Palmerston's agreeing with Sweden, Russia, +Denmark, and France upon the Protocol before giving Prussia +and Austria any notice of it.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PROTOCOL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>23rd June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear John Russell</span>,—The Queen has entirely misconceived +the object and effect of the proposed Protocol. It +does not "decide upon the fate of Holstein," nor is it "an +attack upon Germany." In fact, the Protocol is to <i>decide</i> +nothing; it is to be merely a record of the wishes and opinions +of the Power whose representatives are to sign it....<sup>19</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">How does any part of this decide the fate of Holstein or +attack Germany?</p> + +<p class="ind">Is not the Queen requiring that I should be Minister, not +indeed for Austria, Russia, or France, but for the Germanic Confederation? +Why should we take up the cudgels for Germany, +when we are inviting Austria and Prussia, the two leading powers +of Germany, and who would of course put in a claim for the +Confederation if they thought it necessary, which, however, +for the reasons above stated, they surely would not?...</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.250" id="pageii.250"></a>[page 250]</span> + +<p class="ind">As to my having <i>agreed</i> with Sweden, Russia, Denmark, and +France before communicating with Prussia and Austria, that +is not the course which things have taken. Brunnow proposed +the Protocol to me, and I have been in discussion with him +about it. It is <i>he</i> who has communicated it to the French +Ambassador, to Reventlow, and to Rehausen; I sent it +privately several weeks ago to Westmorland, that he might +show it confidentially to Schleinitz, but telling Westmorland +that it was not a thing settled, but only a proposal by Russia, +and that, at all events, some part of the wording would be +altered. I have no doubt that Brunnow has also shown it to +Koller; but I could not send it officially to Berlin or Vienna +till Brunnow had agreed to such a wording as I could recommend +the Government to adopt, nor until I received the Queen's +sanction to do so.</p> + +<p class="ind">The only thing that occurs to me as practicable would be to +say to Austria and Prussia that if, in signing the Protocol, +they could add that they signed also in the name of the Confederation, +we should be glad to have the additional weight of +that authority, but that could not be made a <i>sine quâ non</i>, any +more than the signature of Austria and Prussia themselves, +for I think that the Protocol ought to be signed by as many of +the proposed Powers as may choose to agree to it, bearing +always in mind that it is only a record of opinions and wishes, +and does not decide or pretend to decide anything practically. +Yours sincerely,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Palmerston</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 19: The Protocol was to record the desirability of the following points:—(1) that the +several states which constituted the Danish Monarchy should remain united, and that +the Danish Crown should be settled in such manner that it should go with the Duchy of +Holstein; (2) that the signatory Powers, when the peace should have been concluded, +should concert measures for the purpose of giving to the results an additional pledge of +stability, by a general European acknowledgment.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S OPINION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>25th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter enclosing +those of Lord Palmerston and Lord Lansdowne. The <i>misconception</i> +on the Queen's part, which Lord Palmerston alleges +to exist, consists in her taking the essence of the arrangement +for the mere words. Lord Palmerston pretends that the +Protocol "does not decide upon the fate of Holstein nor +attack Germany." However, the only object of the Protocol +is the fate of Holstein, which is decided upon—</p> + +<p class="ind">(1.) By a declaration of the importance to the interests +of Europe to uphold the integrity of the Danish +Monarchy (which has no meaning, if it does not +mean that Holstein is to remain with it).</p> + +<p class="ind">(2.) By an approval of the efforts of the King of Denmark +to keep it with Denmark, by adapting the law of +succession to that of Holstein.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.251" id="pageii.251"></a>[page 251]</span> + +<p class="ind">(3.) By an engagement on the part of the Powers to use +their "<i>soins</i>" to get the constitutional position of +Holstein settled in a peace according to the Malmoe +preliminaries, of which it was one of the conditions +that the question of the succession was to be left +untouched.</p> + +<p class="ind">(4.) To seal the whole arrangement by an act of European +acknowledgment.</p> + +<p class="ind">If the declarations of importance, the approval, the "<i>soins</i>" +and the acknowledgments of <i>all</i> the great Powers of Europe +are to decide nothing, then Lord Palmerston is quite right; if +they decide anything, it is the fate of Holstein.</p> + +<p class="ind">Whether this will be an attack upon Germany or not will be +easily deduced from the fact that the attempt on the part of +Denmark to incorporate into her polity the Duchy of Schleswig +was declared by the Diet in 1846 to be a declaration of war +against Germany merely on account of its intimate connection +with the Duchy of Holstein.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen does not wish her Minister to be Minister for +Germany, but merely to treat that country with the same consideration +which is due to every country on whose interests we +mean to decide.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would wish her correspondence upon this subject +to be brought before the Cabinet, and will abide by their +deliberate opinion.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>25th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Charles will have told you how kindly +and amiably the Prince of Prussia has come here, travelling +night and day from St Petersburg, in order to be in time for +the christening of our little <i>Arthur</i>.<sup>20</sup> I wish you could (and +you will, for he intends stopping at Brussels) hear him speak, +for he is so straightforward, conciliatory, and yet firm of purpose; +I have a great esteem and respect for him. The poor +King of Prussia is recovered,<sup>21</sup> and has been received with great +enthusiasm on the first occasion of his first reappearance in +public.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are in a <i>crisis</i>, no one knowing how this debate upon this +most unfortunate Greek business will end. It is most unfortunate, +for whatever way it ends, it must do great harm.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude, for I am quite overpowered by the +heat. Ever your truly devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 20: The present Duke of Connaught, born on the 1st of May, the birthday of the Duke of +Wellington, who was one of the sponsors, and after whom he was named.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 21: From an attempt to assassinate him.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.252" id="pageii.252"></a>[page 252]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DON PACIFICO DEBATE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>26th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to report that in the debate of last night +Viscount Palmerston defended the whole Foreign Policy of the +Government in a speech of four hours and three quarters.<sup>22</sup> +This speech was one of the most masterly ever delivered, going +through the details of transactions in the various parts of the +world, and appealing from time to time to great principles of +justice and of freedom.</p> + +<p class="ind">The cheering was frequent and enthusiastic. The debate +was adjourned till Thursday, when it will probably close.</p> + +<p class="ind">The expectation is that Ministers will have a majority, but +on the amount of that majority must depend their future +course.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: It lasted from dusk till dawn, and the Minister asked for a verdict on the question +whether, "as the Roman in days of old held himself free from indignity when he could say, +<i>Civis Romanus sum</i>, so also a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel +confident that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England will protect him against +injustice and wrong." Peel, who made his last appearance in the House, voted against +Palmerston.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="ind"><i>Chesham Place</i>, <i>27th June 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that the prospects of the division +are rather more favourable for Ministers than they were.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ministers ought to have a majority of forty to justify their +remaining in office.<sup>23</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Gladstone makes no secret of his wish to join Lord +Stanley in forming an Administration.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell would desire to have the honour of an +audience of your Majesty on Saturday at twelve or one o'clock.</p> + +<p class="ind">The division will not take place till to-morrow night.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 23: In the result, Ministers succeeded by 310 to 264, although opposed to them in the +debate were Mr Gladstone, Mr Cobden, Sir Robert Peel, Mr Disraeli, Sir James Graham, +and Sir William Molesworth. Next to the speeches of Lord Palmerston and Lord John +Russell, the most effective speech on the Government side was that of Mr Alexander +Cockburn, afterwards Lord Chief Justice of England.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PEEL'S ACCIDENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>2nd July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—For two most kind and affectionate +letters I offer my warmest and best thanks. The good report +of my beloved Louise's improvement is a great happiness. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.253" id="pageii.253"></a>[page 253]</span> +By my letter to Louise you will have learnt all the details of +this certainly very disgraceful and very inconceivable attack.<sup>24</sup> +I have not suffered except from my head, which is still very +tender, the blow having been extremely violent, and the brass +<i>end</i> of the stick fell on my head so as to make a considerable +noise. I own it makes me nervous out driving, and I start at +any person coming near the carriage, which I am afraid is +natural. We have, alas! now another cause of much greater +anxiety in the person of our excellent Sir Robert Peel,<sup>25</sup> who, as +you will see, has had a most serious fall, and though going on +well at first, was very ill last night; thank God! he is better +again this morning, but I fear still in great danger. I cannot +bear even to think of losing him; it would be the greatest loss +for the whole country, and irreparable for us, for he is so trustworthy, +and so entirely to be depended on. <i>All</i> parties are in +great anxiety about him. I will leave my letter open to give +you the latest news.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our good and amiable guest<sup>26</sup> likes being with us, and will +remain with us till Saturday. We had a concert last night, +and go to the opera very regularly. The <i>Prophète</i> is quite +beautiful, and I am sure would delight you. The music in the +<i>Scène du Couronnement</i> is, I think, finer than anything in either +<i>Robert</i> or the <i>Huguenots</i>; it is highly dramatic, and really +very touching. Mario sings and acts in it quite in perfection. +His <i>Raoul</i> in the Huguenots is also most beautiful. He +improves every year, and I really think his voice is the finest +tenor I ever heard, and he sings and acts with such <i>intense</i> +feeling.</p> + +<p class="ind">What do you say to the conclusion of our debate? It leaves +things just as they were. The House of Commons is becoming +very unmanageable and troublesome....</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. With Albert's love, ever your most +affectionate Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">I am happy to say that Sir Robert, though still very ill, is +freer from pain, his pulse is less high, and he feels himself +better; the Doctors think there is <i>no</i> vital injury, and nothing +from which he cannot recover, but that he must be for some +days in a precarious state.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 24: The Queen, as she was leaving Cambridge House, where she had called to inquire after +the Duke of Cambridge's health, was struck with a cane by one Robert Pate, an ex-officer, +and a severe bruise was inflicted on her forehead. The outrage was apparently committed +without motive, but an attempt to prove Pate insane failed, and he was sentenced to seven +years' transportation.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 25: On the day following the Don Pacifico debate, Sir Robert Peel, after attending a +meeting of the Exhibition Commissioners, had gone out riding. On his return, while +passing up Constitution Hill, he was thrown from his horse, and, after lingering three days +in intense pain, died on the 5th of July.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 26: The Prince of Prussia.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.254" id="pageii.254"></a>[page 254]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of Denmark to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KING OF DENMARK</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Copenhague</span>, <i>4 Juillet 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame ma Sœur</span>,—Je remplis un devoir des plus agréables, +en m'empressant d'annoncer à votre Majesté que la paix vient +d'être signée le 2 de ce mois à Berlin entre moi et Sa Majesté le +Roi de Prusse, en Son nom et en celui de la Confédération +Germanique.<sup>27</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Je sais et je reconnais de grand cœur combien je suis redevable +à votre Majesté et à Son Gouvernement de ce résultat +important, qui justifie mon espérance de pouvoir bientôt +rendre à tous mes sujets les bienfaits d'une sincère réconciliation +et d'une véritable concorde.</p> + +<p class="ind">Votre Majesté a par la sollicitude avec laquelle Elle a constamment +accompli le mandat de la médiation dans l'intérêt +du Danemark et de l'Europe, ajouté aux témoignages inappréciables +de sincère amitié qu'elle n'a cessé de m'accorder durant +la longue et pénible épreuve que le Danemark vient de nouveau +de traverser, mais qui paraît, à l'aide du Tout-Puissant, devoir +maintenant faire place à un meilleur avenir, offrant, sous les +auspices de votre Majesté, de nouvelles garanties pour l'indépendance +de mon antique Couronne et pour le maintien de +l'intégrité de ma Monarchie, à la défense desquelles je me suis +voué entièrement.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je suis persuadé que votre Majesté me fera la justice de +croire que je suis on ne peut plus reconnaissant, et que mon +peuple fidèle et loyal s'associe à moi et aux miens, pénétré de +ces mêmes sentiments de gratitude envers votre Majesté.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je m'estimerais infiniment heureux si Elle daignait ajouter +à toutes Ses bontés, celle que de me fournir l'occasion de Lui +donner des preuves de mon dévouement inaltérable et de la +haute considération avec lesquels je prie Dieu qu'il vous ait, +Madame ma Sœur, vous, votre auguste Époux et tous les vôtres, +dans sa sainte et digne garde, et avec lesquels je suis, Madame +ma Sœur, de votre Majesté, le bon Frère,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Frederick</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 27: Denmark and the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies were still at war. Germany was bent +on absorbing the Duchies, but Prussia now concluded a peace with Denmark: the enlistment +of individual Germans in the insurgent army continued.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF PEEL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>5th July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—It gave me the greatest pain to +learn of the death of our true and kind friend, Sir Robert Peel. +That he should have met with his end—he so valuable to the +whole earth—from an accident so easily to be avoided with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.255" id="pageii.255"></a>[page 255]</span> +some care, is the more to be lamented. You and Albert lose +in him a friend whose moderation, correct judgment, great +knowledge of everything connected with the country, can never +be found again. Europe had in him a benevolent and a truly +wise statesman....</p> + +<p class="ind">Give my best thanks to Albert for his kind letter. I mean +to send a messenger probably on Sunday or Monday to write +to him. I pity him about the great Exhibition. I fear he +will be much plagued, and I was glad to see that the matter +is to be treated in Parliament. Alas! in all human affairs one +is sure to meet with violent passions, and Peel knew that so +well; great care even for the most useful objects is necessary.</p> + +<p class="ind">I will write to you a word to-morrow. God grant that it +may be satisfactory.<sup>28</sup> Ever, my beloved, dear Victoria, your +devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 28: The Princess Charlotte of Belgium was seriously ill.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of Prussia.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>6th July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire, my most honoured Brother</span>,—I have to express to +you my thanks for the pleasure which the visit of your dear +brother has given us, who, as I hope, will remit these lines to +you in perfect health. That things go so well with you, and +that the healing of your wound has made undisturbed progress, +has been to us a true removal of anxiety. You will no doubt +have learnt that I too have been again the object of an attempt, +if possible still more cowardly. The criminal is, <i>as usual</i>, this +time too, insane, or will pretend to be so; still the deed remains.</p> + +<p class="ind">All our feelings are, in the meanwhile, preoccupied by the +sorrow, in which your Majesty and all Europe will share, at the +death of Sir Robert Peel. That is one of the hardest blows of +Fate which could have fallen on us and on the country. You +knew the great man, and understood how to appreciate his +merit. His value is now becoming clear even to his opponents; +all Parties are united in mourning.</p> + +<p class="ind">The only satisfactory event of recent times is the news of +your conclusion of peace with Denmark. Accept my most +cordial congratulations on that account.</p> + +<p class="ind">Requesting you to remember me cordially to the dear +Queen, and referring you for detailed news to the dear Prince, +also recommending to your gracious remembrance Albert, who +does not wish to trouble you, on his part, with a letter, I +remain, in unchangeable friendship, dear Brother, your +Majesty's faithful Sister,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.256" id="pageii.256"></a>[page 256]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>9th July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Uncle</span>,—We live in the midst of sorrow and +death! My poor good Uncle Cambridge breathed his last, +without a struggle, at a few minutes before ten last night. I +still saw him yesterday morning at one, but he <i>did not see me</i>, +and to-day I saw him lifeless and cold. The poor Duchess and +the poor children are very touching in their grief, and poor +Augusta,<sup>29</sup> who arrived just <i>five hours too late</i>, is quite heartbroken. +The end was most peaceful; there was no disease; +only a gastric fever, which came on four weeks ago, from over-exertion, +and cold, and which he neglected for the first week, +carried him off.</p> + +<p class="ind">The good Prince of Prussia you will have been pleased to talk +to and see. Having lived with him for a fortnight on a very +intimate footing, we have been able to appreciate his <i>real</i> worth +fully; he is so honest and frank, and so steady of purpose and +courageous.</p> + +<p class="ind">Poor dear Peel is to be buried to-day. The sorrow and grief +at his death are most touching, and the country mourns over +him as over a father. Every one seems to have lost a personal +friend.</p> + +<p class="ind">As I have much to write, you will forgive me ending here. +You will be glad to hear that poor Aunt Gloucester is wonderfully +calm and resigned. My poor dear Albert, who had been +so fresh and well when we came back, looks so pale and fagged +again. He has felt, and feels, Sir Robert's loss <i>dreadfully</i>. He +feels he has lost a second father.</p> + +<p class="ind">May God bless and protect you all, you dear ones! Ever +your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 29: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="../../20023/20023-h/20023-h.htm#pagei.437" style="font-weight: normal;">vol. i. p. 437</a>.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>19th July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Before this draft to Lord Bloomfield about Greece is sent, it +would be well to consider whether Lord Palmerston is justified +in calling the Minister of the Interior of Greece "a notorious +defaulter to the amount of 200,000 drachms,"<sup>30</sup> and should he +be so, whether it is a proper thing for the Queen's Foreign +Secretary to say in a public despatch!</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 30: The Convention of the 18th of April (see <i>ante</i>, p. 242, note 1) had decided that £8500 +should be distributed among the claimants, and that Don Pacifico's special claim against +Portugal should be referred to arbitration. Ultimately he was awarded only an insignificant +sum.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.257" id="pageii.257"></a>[page 257]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE FOREIGN OFFICE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>28th July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen will have much pleasure in seeing the Duke and +Duchess of Bedford here next Saturday, and we have invited +them. She will be quite ready to hear the Duke's opinions on +the Foreign Office. Lord John may be sure that she fully +admits the great difficulties in the way of the projected alteration, +but she, on the other hand, feels the duty she owes to the +country and to herself, not to allow a man in whom she can +have no confidence, who has conducted himself in <i>anything but</i> +a straightforward and proper manner to herself, to remain in +the Foreign Office, and thereby to expose herself to insults +from other nations, and the country to the constant risk of +serious and alarming complications. The Queen considers +these reasons as much graver than the other difficulties. Each +time that we were in a difficulty, the Government seemed to be +determined to move Lord Palmerston, and as soon as these +difficulties were got over, those which present themselves in +the carrying out of this removal appeared of so great a magnitude +as to cause its relinquishment. There is no chance of +Lord Palmerston reforming himself in his sixty-seventh year, +and after having considered his last escape as a triumph.... +The Queen is personally convinced that Lord Palmerston at +this moment is secretly planning an armed Russian intervention +in Schleswig, which may produce a renewal of revolutions +in Germany, and possibly a general war.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen only adduces this as an instance that there is no question +of delicacy and danger in which Lord Palmerston +will not arbitrarily and without reference to his colleagues or +Sovereign engage this country.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of Denmark.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>29 Juillet 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire et mon bon Frère</span>,—La lettre dont votre Majesté a +bien voulu m'honorer m'a causé un bien vif plaisir comme +témoignage que votre Majesté a su apprécier les sentiments +d'amitié pour vous et le désir d'agir avec impartialité qui m'ont +animée ainsi que mon Gouvernement pendant tout le cours des +longues négociations qui out précédé la signature de la Paix +avec l'Allemagne. Votre Majesté peut aisément comprendre +aussi combien je dois regretter le renouvellement de la guerre +avec le Schleswig qui ne pourra avoir d'autre résultat que +l'accroissement de l'animosité et l'affaiblissement des deux +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.258" id="pageii.258"></a>[page 258]</span> +nobles peuples sur lesquels vous régnez. Dieu veuille que cette +dernière lutte se termine pourtant dans une réconciliation solide, +basée sur la reconnaissance des droits et des obligations des +deux côtés. Je me trouve poussée à vous soumettre ici, Sire, +une prière pour un Prince qui s'est malheureusement trouvé +en conflit avec votre Majesté, mais pour lequel les liens de +parenté me portent à plaider, le Duc de Holstein-Augustenburg. +Je suis persuadée que la magnanimité de votre Majesté +lui rendra ses biens particuliers, qu'elle a jugé nécessaire de lui +ôter pendant la guerre de 1848, ce que je reconnaîtrais bien +comme une preuve d'amitié de la part de votre Majesté envers +moi.</p> + +<p class="ind">En faisant des vœux, pour son bonbeur et en exprimant le +désir du Prince, mon Epoux, d'être mis aux pieds de votre +Majesté, je suis, Sire et mon bon Frère, de votre Majesté la +bonne Sœur,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DENMARK AND SCHLESWIG</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>31st July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must draw Lord John Russell's attention to the +accompanying draft<sup>31</sup> with regard to Schleswig, which is evidently +intended to lay the ground for future foreign armed +intervention. This is to be justified by considering the assistance +which the Stadthalterschaft of Holstein may be tempted +to give to their Schleswig brethren "as an invasion of Schleswig +by a German force."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John seems himself to have placed a "?" against that +passage. This is, after two years' negotiation and mediation, +<i>begging the question</i> at issue. The whole war—Revolution, +mediation, etc., etc.—rested upon the question whether +Schleswig was part of Holstein (though not of the German +Confederation), or part of Denmark and not of Holstein.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 31: In this draft, Lord Palmerston was remonstrating with the Prussian Government +against the orders given by the Holstein Statthalters to their army to invade Schleswig, +after the signature of the peace between Prussia and Denmark.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>31st July 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has considered Lord Seymour's memorandum +upon the Rangership of the Parks in London, but cannot say +that it has convinced her of the expediency of its abolition. +There is nothing in the management of these parks by the Woods +and Forests which does not equally apply to all the others, as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.259" id="pageii.259"></a>[page 259]</span> +Greenwich, Hampton Court, Richmond, etc. There is certainly +a degree of inconvenience in the divided authority, but +this is amply compensated by the advantage to the Crown, in +appearance at least, to keep up an authority emanating personally +from the Sovereign, and unconnected with a Government +Department which is directly answerable to the House of +Commons. The last debate upon Hyde Park has, moreover, +shown that it will not be safe not to remind the public of the +fact that the parks are Royal property. As the Ranger has +no power over money, the management will always remain +with the Office of Woods.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SIR CHARLES NAPIER RESIGNS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>3rd August 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble +duty to your Majesty. He regrets to be under the necessity of +submitting to your Majesty the enclosed letter from General +Sir Charles Napier, G.C.B., in which he tenders his resignation +of the office of Commander-in-Chief of your Majesty's Forces +in the East Indies.<sup>32</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Upon the receipt of this paper Field-Marshal the Duke of +Wellington considered it to be his duty to peruse all the papers +submitted by Sir Charles Napier; to survey the transaction +which had occasioned the censure of the Governor-General in +Council complained of by Sir Charles Napier; to require from +the India House all the information which could throw light +upon the conduct complained of, as well as upon the motives +alleged for it; the reasons given on account of which it was +stated to be necessary.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has stated in a minute, a memorandum of which he submits +the copy to your Majesty, his views and opinions upon the +whole subject, and the result which he submits to your Majesty +is that he considers it his duty humbly to submit to your +Majesty that your Majesty should be graciously pleased to +accept the resignation of General Sir Charles Napier thus +tendered.</p> + +<p class="ind">Before he should submit this recommendation to your Majesty +in relation to an office of such high reputation in so high +and important a station, Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington +considered it his duty to submit his views to your Majesty's +servants, who have expressed their concurrence in his opinion.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is probable that the President of the Board of Control will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.260" id="pageii.260"></a>[page 260]</span> +lay before your Majesty the papers transmitted to the Secret +Committee of the Court of Directors, by the Governor-General +in Council, which are adverted to in the paper drawn up by the +Duke, and of which the substance alone is stated.</p> + +<p class="ind">All of which is humbly submitted to your Majesty by your +Majesty's most dutiful Subject and most devoted Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Wellington</span>.</p> + + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 32: This was in consequence of Sir Charles Napier's action in exercising powers belonging +to the Supreme Council, on the occasion of a mutiny of a regiment of the Native Army.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S CONDUCT OF AFFAIRS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>5th August 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell having lately stated that Lord Clarendon, +who had always been most eager to see Lord Palmerston +moved, had lately expressed to him his opinion that it would +be most dangerous and impolitic to do so under present circumstances, +we thought it right to see Lord Clarendon here.... +In conversation with me, Lord Clarendon spoke in his old +strain of Lord Palmerston, but very strongly also of the danger +of turning him out and making him the leader of the Radicals, +who were anxiously waiting for that, were much dissatisfied +with Lord John Russell, and free from control by the death of +Sir Robert Peel. I said that if everything was done with Lord +Palmerston's consent there would be no danger, to which Lord +Clarendon assented, but doubted that he would consent to +giving up what was his hobby. He added, nobody but Lord +John could carry on the Foreign Affairs, but he ought not to +leave the House of Commons under present circumstances, +where he was now the only authority left.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">A POSSIBLE RE-ARRANGEMENT</span> + +<p class="ind">We saw the Duke of Bedford yesterday, whom Lord John +had wished us to invite. He is very unhappy about the present +state of affairs, frightened about things going on as at present, +when Lord John can exercise no control over Lord Palmerston, +and the Queen is exposed year after year to the same annoyances +and dangers arising from Lord Palmerston's mode of conducting +the affairs; but on the other hand, equally frightened at turning +him loose. The Duke was aware of all that had passed +between us and Lord John, and ready to do anything <i>he</i> could +to bring matters to a satisfactory solution, but thought his +brother would not like to leave the House of Commons now. +He had very much changed his opinion on that head latterly, +and the more so as he thought something ought to be done next +year with the franchise, which he alone could carry through. +On my questioning whether it was impossible to persuade him +to take the Foreign Office and stay in the Lower House, with +a first-rate under-secretary, at least for a time, the Duke +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.261" id="pageii.261"></a>[page 261]</span> +thought he might perhaps temporarily, as he felt he owed to +the Queen the solution of the difficulty, but expressed again his +fears of Lord Palmerston's opposition. I replied that if Lord +John would make up his mind to take the Foreign Office, and +to stay in the House of Commons, I saw no danger, as Lord +John would be able to maintain himself successfully, and Lord +Palmerston would not like to be in opposition to him, whilst +he would become most formidable to anybody who was to <i>gain</i> +only the leadership in the House; moreover, Lord John, +having done so much for Lord Palmerston, could expect and +demand a return of sacrifice, and a variety of posts might be +offered to him—the Presidency of the Council, the office of +Home Secretary, or Secretary for the Colonies, Chancellor of +the Exchequer, etc., etc., which places I was sure any member +of the Cabinet would vacate for him. The Duke of Bedford +added the Lieutenancy of Ireland, as Lord Clarendon had told +him he was ready to give it up for the purpose, but only under +<i>one</i> condition, viz. that of not having to succeed to Lord Palmerston +at the Foreign Office. Observing our surprise at this +declaration, the Duke added that Lord Clarendon acted most +considerately, that he was ready to have no office at all, and +would support the Government independently in the House of +Lords if this were to facilitate arrangements. The Queen +rejoined that a peerage was of course also at Lord John's +disposal for Lord Palmerston. We then agreed that Lord +Granville would be the best person to become Lord John's +Under-Secretary of State, a man highly popular, pleasing, conciliatory, +well versed in Foreign Affairs, and most industrious; +trained under Lord John, he could at any time leave him the +office altogether, if Lord John should find it too much for himself. +Lord Granville had a higher office now, that of Vice-President +of the Board of Trade and Paymaster-General, but +would be sure to feel the importance of taking a lower office +under such circumstances and with such contingencies likely +to depend upon it. I have seen a great deal of him latterly, +as he is the only working man on the Commission for the +Exhibition of 1851, and have found him most able, good-natured, +and laborious. The Duke liked the proposal very +much, and is going to communicate all that passed between us +to Lord John on Tuesday.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S POSITION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>8th August 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell came down here yesterday in order to +report to the Queen what had passed between him and Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.262" id="pageii.262"></a>[page 262]</span> +Palmerston the day before, on whom he had called in order to +have an explanation on the Foreign Affairs.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John reminded him of former communications, but +admitted that circumstances were much changed by the recent +debates in both Houses of Parliament; still, it was necessary +to come to an understanding of the position. The <i>policy</i> +pursued with regard to the Foreign Affairs had been right and +such as had the approval of Lord John himself, the Cabinet +generally, and he believed the greater part of the country. +But the manner in which it had been executed had been unfortunate, +led to irritation and hostility; although peace had +actually been preserved, and England stood in a position +requiring no territorial aggrandisement or advantage of any +kind, yet all Governments and Powers, not only Russia and +Austria, but also France and the liberal states, had become +decidedly hostile to us, and our intercourse was not such as +was desirable. Lord John could instance many cases in which +they had been unnecessarily slighted and provoked by Lord +Palmerston, like M. Drouyn de Lhuys in the Greek affair. +Lord Palmerston's conduct towards the Queen had been disrespectful +and wanting in due attention and deference to her, +and had been much complained of.</p> + +<p class="ind">In consequence of all this Lord John had before proposed +to Her Majesty that the Foreign Affairs should be entrusted +to Lord Minto, he himself should go to the House of Lords, +and Lord Palmerston should have the lead in the House of +Commons. The Queen had, however, objected to this arrangement, +[thinking] the lead in the Lower House to be more properly +given to Sir George Grey, who had as Home Secretary +conducted all internal business in the House. Now had come +Sir R. Peel's death, which made it impossible for Lord John to +leave the House of Commons without endangering the position +of Government and of the parties in the House.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S JUSTIFICATION</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston was much pleased to hear of Lord John's +intention to stay in the House of Commons, said all was changed +now; there had been a great conspiracy against him, he had +been accused in Parliament, put on his trial and acquitted. +The acquittal had produced the greatest enthusiasm for him +in the country, and he was now supported by a strong party; +he owned, however, that his success had been chiefly owing to +the handsome manner in which Lord John and his colleagues +had supported him in the debate. That he should incur the +momentary enmity of those states whose interests and plans +he might have to cross was quite natural; he had never intended +any disrespect to the Queen, and if he had been guilty of +any he was quite unconscious of it and sorry for it.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.263" id="pageii.263"></a>[page 263]</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John reminded him that although the Government had +got a majority in the House of Commons in the Foreign debate, +it was not to be forgotten that the fate of the Government had +been staked upon it, and that many people voted on that +account who would not have supported the Foreign policy; +that it was remarkable that all those who had the strongest +reason to be anxious for the continuance of the Government, +but who could not avoid <i>speaking</i>, were obliged to speak and +vote against the Government. Sir R. Peel's speech was a most +remarkable instance of this.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston saw in Sir Robert's speech nothing but a +reluctant effort to defend Lord Aberdeen, whom he was bound +to defend. If he (Lord Palmerston) were to leave the Foreign +Office, there must be a ground for it, such as his having to take +the lead in the House of Commons, which was evidently impossible +with the conduct of Foreign Department at the same +time. (It had killed Mr Canning, and after that failure nobody +ought to attempt it.) But without such a ground it would be +loss of character to him, which he could not be expected to +submit to. There was not even the excuse of wishing to avoid +a difficulty with a foreign country, as all was smooth now. +Those who had wished to injure him had been beat, and now +it would be giving them a triumph after all. If the Queen or +the Cabinet were dissatisfied with his management of the +Foreign Affairs, they had a right to demand his resignation, and +he would give it, but they could not ask him to lower himself +in public estimation. Lord John answered that his resignation +would lead to a further split of parties: there were parties +already enough in the House, and it was essential that at least +the Whig party should be kept together, to which Lord Palmerston +assented. He (Lord Palmerston) then repeated his complaints +against that plot which had been got up in this country +against him, and urged on by foreigners, complained particularly +of Lord Clarendon, Mr Greville of the Privy Council, Mr +Reeve, ditto, and their attacks upon him in the <i>Times</i>, and of +Mr Delane, the Editor of the <i>Times</i>, of Guizot, Princess Lieven, +etc., etc., etc. However, they had been convinced that they +could not upset him, and Mr Reeve had declared to him that +he had been making open and honourable (?!!) war upon +him; now he would make a lasting peace. With Russia +and France he (Lord Palmerston) had just been signing the +Danish Protocol, showing that they were on the best terms +together.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John felt he could not press the matter further under +these circumstances, but he seemed much provoked at the result +of his conversation. We expressed our surprise that he had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.264" id="pageii.264"></a>[page 264]</span> +not made Lord Palmerston any offer of any kind. Lord John +replied he had not been sure what he could have offered him....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i><sup>33</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DUTIES OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>12th August 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">With reference to the conversation about Lord Palmerston +which the Queen had with Lord John Russell the other day, +and Lord Palmerston's disavowal that he ever intended any +disrespect to her by the various neglects of which she has had +so long and so often to complain, she thinks it right, in order +<i>to prevent any mistake</i> for the <i>future</i>, shortly to explain <i>what +it is she expects from her Foreign Secretary</i>. She requires: (1) +That he will distinctly state what he proposes in a given case, +in order that the Queen may know as distinctly to <i>what</i> she +has given her Royal sanction; (2) Having <i>once given</i> her +sanction to a measure, that it be not arbitrarily altered or +modified by the Minister; such an act she must consider as +failing in sincerity towards the Crown, and justly to be visited +by the exercise of her Constitutional right of dismissing that +Minister. She expects to be kept informed of what passes +between him and the Foreign Ministers before important decisions +are taken, based upon that intercourse; to receive the +Foreign Despatches in good time, and to have the drafts for +her approval sent to her in sufficient time to make herself +acquainted with their contents before they must be sent off. +The Queen thinks it best that Lord John Russell should show +this letter to Lord Palmerston.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 33: Compare the memorandum suggested by Baron Stockmar, <i>ante</i>, p. 238. This letter +was, after much forbearance, written in the hope of bringing Lord Palmerston to a proper +understanding of his relation to the Sovereign. Even when the catastrophe came, and +its tenor had to be communicated by the Premier to Parliament, the Preamble was generously +omitted; but in consequence of its description by Lord Palmerston, in a letter +published by Mr Ashley, as an <i>angry</i> memorandum, it was printed in full in <i>The Life of +the Prince Consort</i>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>13th August 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear John Russell</span>,—I have taken a copy of this +memorandum of the Queen and will not fail to attend to the +directions which it contains. With regard to the sending of +despatches to the Queen, they have sometimes been delayed +longer than should have been the case, in consequence of +my having been prevented by great pressure of business, and +by the many interruptions of interviews, etc., to which I am +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.265" id="pageii.265"></a>[page 265]</span> +liable, from reading and sending them back into the Office so +soon as I could have wished. But I will give orders that the +old practice shall be reverted to, of making copies of all important +despatches as soon as they reach the Office, so that +there may be no delay in sending the despatches to the Queen; +this practice was gradually left off as the business of the Office +increased, and if it shall require an additional clerk or two +you must be liberal and allow me that assistance.—Yours +sincerely,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Palmerston</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duc de Nemours to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF LOUIS PHILIPPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Claremont</span>, <i>26 Août 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame ma chère Cousine</span>,—La main de Dieu vient de +s'appesantir sur nous. Le Roi notre Père n'est plus.<sup>34</sup> Après +avoir reçu hier avec calme et résignation les secours de la +religion, il s'est éteint ce matin à huit heures au milieu de nous +tous. Vous le connaissiez ma chère Cousine, vous savez tout +ce que nous perdons, vous comprendrez donc l'inexprimable +douleur dans laquelle nous sommes plongés; vous la partagerez +même je le sais!</p> + +<p class="ind">La Reine brisée, malgré son courage, ne trouve de soulagement +que dans une retraite absolue où ne voyant personne +elle puisse laisser cours à sa douleur.</p> + +<p class="ind">Veuillez faire part à Albert de notre malheur et recevoir ici, +ma chère Cousine, l'hommage des sentiments de respect et +d'attachement, de votre bien affectionné Cousin,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Louis d'Orléans</span>.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 34: King Louis Philippe was in his seventy-seventh year when he died: his widow, Queen +Marie Amélie, lived till 1866, when she died at the age of eighty-four.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>26th August 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes Lord Palmerston to give directions for a +Court mourning according to those which are usual for an +abdicated King. She likewise wishes that every assistance +should be given, and every attention shown to the afflicted +Royal Family, who have been so severely tried during the last +two years, on the melancholy occasion of the poor King of the +French's death.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen starts for Scotland to-morrow.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.266" id="pageii.266"></a>[page 266]</span> + + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>30 August 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... I have offered to the poor Queen of the French to +remain at Claremont and <i>d'en disposer</i> as long as Heaven does +not dispose of myself. She, of course, dislikes the place, but +will keep the family with her at least for some time.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Taymouth Castle</span>, <i>5th September 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and was happy to receive your Majesty's gracious letter, which +reached him the night before last.</p> + +<p class="ind">The proofs of attachment to your Majesty, which are everywhere +exhibited, are the more gratifying as they are entirely +spontaneous.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is fit and becoming that your Majesty should inhabit the +royal Palace of Holyrood, and this circumstance gives great +satisfaction throughout Scotland.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell is glad to learn that the family of the +late King of the French will continue to reside in England.</p> + +<p class="ind">The reflection naturally occurs, if Napoleon and Louis +Philippe were unable to consolidate a dynasty in France, who +will ever be able to do it? The prospect is a succession of +fruitless attempts at civil Government till a General assumes +the command, and governs by military force.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE POET LAUREATE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Dunkeld</span>, <i>7th September 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... Lord John Russell has had the honour of receiving +at Taymouth a letter from the Prince. He agrees that the +office of Poet Laureate ought to be filled up. There are three +or four authors of nearly equal merit, such as Henry Taylor, +Sheridan Knowles, Professor Wilson, and Mr Tennyson, who +are qualified for the office.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Ostend</span>, <i>7th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—I write a few words only to tell you +how our dear patient is.<sup>35</sup> Yesterday was a most perilous, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.267" id="pageii.267"></a>[page 267]</span> +truly dreadful day; our dear angelic Louise was so fainting +that Madame d'Hulst, who was with her, felt the greatest +alarm. She afterwards was better, and her mother, Clém, +Joinville, and Aumale having arrived, she saw them with +more composure than could have been expected. Still, she +would in fact wish to be left quiet and alone with me, and we +try to manage things as much as possible so that their visit +does not tire her too much.</p> + +<p class="ind">Her courage and strength of mind are most heart-breaking +when one thinks of the danger in which she is, and her dear +and angelic soul seems even to shine more brightly at this +moment of such great and imminent danger. I am in a +dreadful state when I am with her. She is so contented, so +cheerful, that the possibilities of danger appear to me impossible; +but the physicians are very much alarmed, without +thinking the state absolutely hopeless. That one should write +such things about a life so precious, and one in fact still so +young, and whose angelic soul is so strong! You will feel +with me as you love her so dearly. God bless you and preserve +you from heart-breaking sufferings like mine. Ever, +my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 35: The Queen of the Belgians died on the 11th of October, at the age of thirty-eight.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">GENERAL HAYNAU</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Broadlands</span>, <i>8th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and has had the honour to receive your Majesty's +communication of the 4th instant, expressing your Majesty's +wish that an alteration should be made in his answer to Baron +Koller's<a id="footnotetagXIX36" name="footnotetagXIX36"></a><a href="#footnoteXIX36"><sup>36</sup></a> note of the 5th of September, on the subject of the +attack made upon General Haynau;<a id="footnotetagXIX37" name="footnotetagXIX37"></a><a href="#footnoteXIX37"><sup>37</sup></a> but Viscount Palmerston +begs to state that when Baron Koller was at this place about ten +days ago, he expressed so much annoyance at the delay which +had already taken place in regard to the answer to his note of +the 5th September, and he requested so earnestly that he might +immediately have the reply, that Viscount Palmerston could +do no otherwise than send him the answer at once, and Baron +Koller despatched it the next day to Vienna.</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston had put the last paragraph into the +answer, because he could scarcely have reconciled it to his own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.268" id="pageii.268"></a>[page 268]</span> +feelings and to his sense of public responsibility to have put +his name to a note which might be liable to be called for by +Parliament, without expressing in it, at least as his own +personal opinion, a sense of the want of propriety evinced by +General Haynau in coming to England at the present moment.<a id="footnotetagXIX38" name="footnotetagXIX38"></a><a href="#footnoteXIX38"><sup>38</sup></a></p> + +<p class="ind">The state of public feeling in this country about General +Haynau and his proceedings in Italy and Hungary was perfectly +well known; and his coming here so soon after those +events, without necessity or obligation to do so, was liable to be +looked upon as a bravado, and as a challenge to an expression +of public opinion.</p> + +<p class="ind">Baron Koller indeed told Viscount Palmerston that Prince +Metternich and Baron Neumann had at Brussels strongly +dissuaded General Haynau from coming on to England; and +that he (Baron Koller) had after his arrival earnestly entreated +him to cut off those long moustachios which rendered him so +liable to be identified.</p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to the transaction itself, there is no justifying +a breach of the law, nor an attack by a large number of people +upon one or two individuals who cannot resist such superior +force; and though in the present case, according to Baron +Koller's account, the chief injury sustained by General Haynau +consisted in the tearing of his coat, the loss of a cane, and some +severe bruises on his left arm, and though four or five policemen +proved to be sufficient protection, yet a mob who begin +by insult lead each other on to outrage; and there is no saying +to what extremes they might have proceeded if they had not +been checked.</p> + +<p class="ind">Such occurrences, however, have taken place before; and +to go no further back than the last summer, the attacks on +Lord Talbot at the Stafford meeting, and on Mr Bankes, Mr +Sturt, and others at the Dorchester meeting, when a man was +killed, were still more violent outrages, and originated simply +in differences of political opinion; whereas in this case the +brewers' men were expressing their feeling at what they considered +inhuman conduct on the part of General Haynau.</p> + +<p class="ind">The people of this country are remarkable for their hospitable +reception of foreigners, and for their forgetfulness of past +animosities. Napoleon Bonaparte, the greatest enemy that +England ever had, was treated while at Plymouth with respect, +and with commiseration while at St Helena. Marshal Soult, +who had fought in many battles against the English, was +received with generous acclamation when he came here as +Special Ambassador. The King of the French, Mons. Guizot, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.269" id="pageii.269"></a>[page 269]</span> +and Prince Metternich, though all of them great antagonists of +English policy and English interests, were treated in this +country with courtesy and kindness. But General Haynau +was looked upon as a great moral criminal; and the feeling in +regard to him was of the same nature as that which was manifested +towards Tawell<sup>39</sup> and the Mannings,<sup>40</sup> with this only +difference, that General Haynau's bad deeds were committed +upon a far larger scale, and upon a far larger number of victims. +But Viscount Palmerston can assure your Majesty that those +feelings of just and honourable indignation have not been +confined to England, for he had good reason to know that +General Haynau's ferocious and unmanly treatment of the +unfortunate inhabitants of Brescia and of other towns and places +in Italy, his savage proclamations to the people of Pesth, and +his barbarous acts in Hungary excited almost as much disgust +in Austria as in England, and that the nickname of "General +Hyæna" was given to him at Vienna long before it was applied +to him in London.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;"><a id="footnoteXIX36" name="footnoteXIX36"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXIX36">Footnote 36:</a> The Austrian Ambassador.</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXIX37" name="footnoteXIX37"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXIX37">Footnote 37:</a> General Haynau had earned in the Hungarian War an odious reputation as a flogger +of women. When visiting the brewery of Barclay & Perkins, the draymen mobbed and +assaulted him; he had to fly from them, and take refuge in a neighbouring house. Lord +Palmerston had to send an official letter of apology to the Austrian Government, which, +as originally despatched, without waiting for the Queen's approval, contained a paragraph +offensive to Austria.</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXIX38" name="footnoteXIX38"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXIX38">Footnote 38:</a> See Lord Palmerston's letter to Sir G. Grey, Ashley's <i>Life of Lord Palmerston</i>, vol. i. +chap. vi.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 39: Executed for the Salt Hill murder.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 40: Marie Manning (an ex-lady's maid, whose career is said to have suggested Hortense +in <i>Bleak House</i> to Dickens) was executed with her husband, in 1849, for the murder of +a guest. She wore black satin on the scaffold, a material which consequently became +unpopular for some time.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DRAFT DESPATCHED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>11th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen having written to Lord Palmerston in conformity +with Lord John Russell's suggestion respecting the draft to +Baron Koller, now encloses Lord Palmerston's answer, which +she received at Edinburgh yesterday evening. Lord John +will see that Lord Palmerston has not only <i>sent</i> the draft, but +passes over in silence her injunction to have a corrected copy +given to Baron Koller, and adds a vituperation against +General Haynau, which clearly shows that he is not sorry +for what has happened, and makes a merit of sympathising +with the draymen at the brewery and the Chartist Demonstrations....</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen encloses likewise a copy of her letter to Lord +Palmerston, and hopes Lord John will write to him.<sup>41</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 41: Lord John insisted on the note being withdrawn, and another substituted with the +offensive passage omitted. After threatening resignation, Lord Palmerston somewhat +tamely consented.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">Lord John Russell wrote to the Prince Albert that he would be "somewhat amused, +if not surprised, at the sudden and amicable termination of the dispute regarding the +letter to Baron Koller. The same course may be adopted with advantage if a despatch +is ever again sent which has been objected to, and to which the Queen's sanction has not +been given." See the Queen's letter of the 19th of October.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.270" id="pageii.270"></a>[page 270]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON CENSURED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>12th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter respecting +the draft to Baron Koller. She cannot suppose that Baron +Koller addressed his note to Lord Palmerston in order to receive +in answer an expression of his <i>own personal opinion</i>; and +if Lord Palmerston could not reconcile it to his own feelings +to express the regret of the Queen's Government at the brutal +attack and wanton outrage committed by a ferocious mob on +a distinguished foreigner of past seventy years of age, who was +quietly visiting a private establishment in this metropolis, +without adding <i>his censure of the want of propriety</i> evinced by +General Haynau in coming to England—he might have done +so in a private letter, where his personal feelings could not be +mistaken for the opinion of the Queen and her Government. +She must repeat her request that Lord Palmerston will rectify +this.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen can as little approve of the introduction of Lynch +Law in this country as of the <i>violent</i> vituperations with which +Lord Palmerston accuses and condemns public men in other +countries, acting in most difficult circumstances and under +heavy responsibility, without having the means of obtaining +correct information or of sifting evidence.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>16th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is glad to hear from Lord Palmerston that he +has given no countenance to the French and Russian proposal +at the suggestion of Denmark, that England, France, and +Russia should, after having signed the Protocol in favour of +Denmark, now go further and send their armies to aid her in +her contest with Holstein.<sup>42</sup> The Queen does not expect any +good result from Lord Palmerston's counter proposal to urge +Prussia and Austria to compel the Holsteiners to lay down +their arms. The mediating power ought rather to make +Denmark feel that it requires more than a cessation of hostilities, +a plan of reconciliation, and a solution of the questions in dispute, +before she can hope permanently to establish peace. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.271" id="pageii.271"></a>[page 271]</span> +The mediating power itself, however, should strive to arrive +at some opinion on the matter in dispute, based, not on <i>its +own</i> supposed interests, as the Protocol is, but on an anxious, +careful, and impartial investigation of the rights and pretensions +of the disputing parties; and if it finds it impossible to +arrive at such an opinion, to fix upon some impartial tribunal +capable of doing so, to which the dispute could be submitted +for decision. Common principles of morality would point out +such a course, and what is morally right only can be politically +wise.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 42: A strenuous attempt was being made by the Danish Government to bring pressure +to bear on Austria and Prussia, to put down the nationalist movement in the Duchies, +either by active intervention, or by reassembling the Conference which had negotiated +the Treaty of Berlin. Lord Palmerston discountenanced both alternatives, but wrote +to the Queen that he and the representatives of France, Russia, and Denmark thought +that Austria and Prussia should be urged to take all feasible steps to put an end to the +hostilities.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF QUEEN LOUISE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>18th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—<i>This</i> was the day I <i>always</i> and for +so <i>many years</i> wrote to <i>her</i>, to <i>our adored Louise</i>, and I +<i>now</i> +write to <i>you</i>, to thank you for that <i>heart-breaking</i>, touching +letter of the 16th, which you so <i>very kindly</i> wrote to me. It is +<i>so</i> kind of you to write to us. <i>What</i> a day Tuesday must have +been! <i>Welch einen Gang!</i> and <i>yesterday!</i> My <i>grief</i> was <i>so +great</i> again yesterday. To <i>talk</i> of her is my <i>greatest +consolation!</i> +Let us <i>all try</i> to imitate <i>her!</i> My poor dear Uncle, we wish so +to be with you, to be of <i>any use</i> to you. You will allow us, in +three or four weeks, to go to you for two or three days, <i>quite +quietly</i> and alone, to Laeken without <i>any</i> one, without <i>any</i> +reception anywhere, to cry with you and to talk with you of +<i>Her</i>. It will be a great comfort to us—a <i>silent tribute</i> of +<i>respect +and love to her</i>—to be able to mingle our tears with yours over +<i>her</i> tomb! And the affection of your two devoted children +will perhaps be <i>some slight balm</i>. My <i>first</i> impulse was to <i>fly +at once</i> to you, but perhaps a few weeks' delay will be better. +It will be a <i>great</i> and melancholy satisfaction to us. <i>Daily</i> +will you feel more, my poor dear Uncle, the <i>poignancy</i> of +<i>your dreadful</i> loss; my <i>heart breaks</i> in thinking of <i>you</i> and +the poor dear children. <i>How</i> beautiful it must be to see +that <i>your whole country</i> weeps and mourns <i>with</i> you! For +this country and for your children you must <i>try</i> to bear +up, and feel that in <i>so doing</i> you are doing <i>all</i> <span class="sc">she</span> +wished. +If only <i>we</i> could be of use to you! if <i>I</i> could do <i>anything</i> +for dear little Charlotte, whom our blessed Louise talked of +<i>so</i> often to me.</p> + +<p class="ind">May I <i>write</i> to <i>you</i> on <i>Fridays</i> when I used to write to her, +as +well as on Tuesdays? You need <i>not</i> answer me, and whenever +it bores you to write to me, or you have no time, let one of the +dear children write to me.</p> + +<p class="ind">May God bless and protect you ever, my beloved Uncle, is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.272" id="pageii.272"></a>[page 272]</span> +our anxious prayer. Embrace the dear children in the name +of one who has almost the feelings of a mother for them. Ever +your devoted Niece and loving Child,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>19th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is very glad of the result of the conflict with Lord +Palmerston, of which Lord John Russell apprised her by his +letter of yesterday's date. The correspondence, which the +Queen now returns, shows clearly that Lord Palmerston in +this transaction, as in every other, remained true to his principles +of action.... But it shows also that Lord John has +the power of exercising that control over Lord Palmerston, the +careful exercise of which he owes to the Queen, his colleagues, +and the country, if he will take the necessary pains to remain +firm. The Queen does not believe in <i>resignation</i> under almost +any circumstances.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is very anxious about the Holstein question, and +sends a copy of her last letter to Lord Palmerston on the +subject.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>21st October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I have just received this note from Lord Palmerston.<sup>43</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The French Ambassador, who has been here, confirms the +news. We must consider the whole affair on Wednesday, and +I shall be glad to learn what the Queen thinks can be done.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Tennyson is a fit person to be Poet Laureate.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have the honour to be, your Royal Highness's most +obedient Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">J. Russell</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 43: The note was in reference to the affairs of Hesse-Cassel, and to the rumours of a Conference +to be held in Austria for the settlement of German affairs.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE TRACTARIAN MOVEMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Bishopthorpe</span>, <i>25th October 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; +he has read with attention the letter of the Duchess of Norfolk.<sup>44</sup> +He has also read the Pope's Bull. It strikes him that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.273" id="pageii.273"></a>[page 273]</span> +the division into twelve territorial dioceses of eight ecclesiastical +vicariats is not a matter to be alarmed at. The persons +to be affected by this change must be already Roman Catholics +before it can touch them.</p> + +<p class="ind">The matter to create rational alarm is, as your Majesty says, +the growth of Roman Catholic doctrines and practices within +the bosom of the Church. Dr Arnold said very truly, "I look +upon a Roman Catholic as an enemy in his uniform; I look +upon a Tractarian as an enemy disguised as a spy."</p> + +<p class="ind">It would be very wrong to do as the Bishop of Oxford proposed, +and confer the patronage of the Crown on any of these +Tractarians. But, on the other hand, to treat them with +severity would give the whole party vigour and union.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Dean of Bristol is of opinion that the Tractarians are +falling to pieces by dissension. It appears clear that Mr +Denison and Mr Palmer have broken off from Dr Pusey.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir George Grey will ask the Law Officers whether there is +anything illegal in Dr Wiseman's assuming the title of Archbishop +of Westminster. An English Cardinal is not a novelty.<sup>45</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 44: Two important events in the history of the English Church had just occurred. The +Bishop of Exeter had refused to institute Mr Gorham to a Crown living in his diocese, on +the ground that his teaching on baptism was at variance with the formularies of the +Church. This decision, though upheld in the Court of Arches, was reversed (though +not unanimously) by the Privy Council. High Church feeling was much aroused by the +judgment.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">In September, Pius IX. (now re-established in the Vatican) promulgated a papal brief, +restoring the Roman Catholic hierarchy in England, and dividing it territorially into +twelve sees, and in October Cardinal Wiseman, as Archbishop of Westminster, issued his +Pastoral, claiming that Catholic England had been restored to its orbit in the ecclesiastical +firmament. The Duchess of Norfolk, writing from Arundel, had criticised the proselytising +action of certain Roman Catholic clergy. <i>See</i> the Queen's reply, <i>post</i>, <a href="#pageii.277" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 277</a>.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 45: Lord John wrote on the 4th of November to Dr Maltby, Bishop of Durham, denouncing +the assumption of spiritual superiority over England, in the documents issued from +Rome. But what alarmed him more (he said) was the action of clergymen within the +Church leading their flocks dangerously near the brink, and recommending for adoption +the honour paid to saints, the claim of infallibility for the Church, the superstitious use of +the sign of the cross, the muttering of the liturgy so as to disguise the language in which it +was said, with the recommendation of auricular confession and the administration of +Penance and absolution.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">Lord John was pictorially satirised in <i>Punch</i> as the boy who chalked up "No popery" +on the door and ran away.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">UNREST IN EUROPE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Ardenne</span>, <i>10th November 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—I write already to-day that it may +not miss to-morrow's messenger. I came here yesterday by +a mild sunshine, and the valley of the Meuse was very pretty. +I love my solitude here, and though the house is small and not +what it ought to have been, still I always liked it. There seems +in most countries danger of agitation and convulsions arising. +I don't know how it will end in Germany. In France it is +difficult that things should not break up some way or other. +I trust you may be spared religious agitation. These sorts of +things begin with one pretext, and sometimes continue with +others. I don't think Europe was ever in more danger, <i>il y a</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.274" id="pageii.274"></a>[page 274]</span> +<i>tant d'anarchie dans les esprits</i>. I don't think that can be cured <i>à +l'eau de rose</i>; the human race is not naturally good, very much +the contrary; it requires a strong hand, and is, in fact, even +pleased to be led in that way; the memory of all the sort of +Césars and Napoléons, from whom they chiefly got blows, is +much dearer to them than the benefactors of mankind, whom +they crucify when they can have their own way. Give my +best love to Albert; and I also am very anxious to be recalled +to the recollection of the children, who were so very friendly +at Ostende. How far we were then to guess what has since +happened.... My dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Countess of Gainsborough.</i><sup>46</sup></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>Thursday morning</i> [<i>November ...</i>] <i>1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Fanny</span>,—This is a case of positive necessity, and +as <i>none</i> of the ladies are forthcoming I fear I must call upon +you to attend me <i>to-night</i>. You did so once <i>in state</i> before, +and as it is not a <i>matter of pleasure</i>, but of duty, I am sure you +will at once feel that you can have no scruple.</p> + +<p class="ind">Whenever the Mistress of the Robes does not attend, I +<i>always</i> have three ladies, as they must take turns in standing +behind me. Ever yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 46: Frances, Countess of Gainsborough, daughter of the third Earl of Roden, a Lady of +the Bedchamber, and known till 1841 as Lady Barham.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND GERMANY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>18th November 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is exceedingly sorry to hear that Lord Westmorland<sup>47</sup> +is gone, as she was particularly anxious to have seen +him before his return to Berlin, and to have talked to him on +the present critical events in Germany; but she quite forgot +the day of his departure. What is the object of his seeing +the President at Paris? and what are his instructions with +regard to Germany?<sup>48</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Having <i>invariably encouraged Constitutional</i> development in +other countries,... and having at the beginning of the great +movement in 1847, which led to all the catastrophes of the +following years, <i>sent</i> a Cabinet Minister to Italy to <i>declare</i> to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.275" id="pageii.275"></a>[page 275]</span> +all Italian states that <i>England</i> would <i>protect</i> them from Austria +if she should attempt by threats and violence to debar them +from the <i>attainment</i> of their <i>Constitutional</i> development, +<i>consistency</i> +would require that we should <i>now</i>, when that great +struggle is at its end and <i>despotism</i> is to be <i>re-imposed</i> by +Austrian arms upon Germany, throw <i>our weight</i> into the scale +of <i>Constitutional</i> Prussia and Germany.... The Queen is +afraid, however, that all our Ministers abroad,—at Berlin, +Dresden, Munich, Stuttgart, Hanover, etc. (with the exception +of Lord Cowley at Frankfort)—are warm partisans of the +<i>despotic</i> league against Prussia and a German Constitution and +<i>for</i> the maintenance of the old Diet under Austrian and Russian +influence. Ought not Lord Palmerston to make his agents +understand that their sentiments are at variance with those +of the English Government? and that they are doing <i>serious +mischief</i> if they express them at Courts which have <i>already</i> +every inclination to follow their desperate course?</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston is of course aware that the old Diet once +reconstituted and recognised, one of the main laws of it is that +"<i>no organic change can be made</i> without <i>unanimity</i> of voices," +which was the cause of the nullity of that body from 1820 to +1848, and will now enable Austria, should Prussia and her +confederates recognise the Diet, to condemn Germany to a +further life of stagnation or new revolution.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 47: Minister at Berlin.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 48: Lord Palmerston may have had this letter of the Queen's in mind when he wrote on +the 22nd of November to Lord Cowley: "Her (<i>i.e.</i> Prussia's) partisans try to make out +that the contest between her and Austria is a struggle between constitutional and +arbitrary Government, but it is no such thing." Ashley's <i>Life of Lord Palmerston</i>, vol. 1. +chap. vi.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CONSTITUTIONALISM IN GERMANY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>18th November 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty. With respect to the maintenance of Constitutional +Government in Germany, Viscount Palmerston entirely subscribes +to your Majesty's opinion, that a regard for consistency, +as well as a sense of right and justice, ought to lead your +Majesty's Government to give to the Constitutional principle +in Germany the same moral support which they endeavoured +to afford it in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and elsewhere; but +though he is conscious that he may be deceived and may think +better of the Austrian Government in this respect than it deserves, +yet he cannot persuade himself that rational and sound +Constitutional Government is at present in danger in Germany, +or that the Austrian Government, whatever may be their inclination +and wishes, can think it possible in the present day +to re-establish despotic government in a nation so enlightened, +and so attached to free institutions as the German people now +is. The danger for Germany seems to lie rather in the opposite +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.276" id="pageii.276"></a>[page 276]</span> +direction, arising from the rash and weak precipitation with +which in 1848 and 1849 those Governments which before had +refused everything resolved in a moment of alarm to grant +everything, and, passing from one extreme to the other, threw +universal suffrage among people who had been, some wholly +and others very much, unaccustomed to the working of representative +Government. The French have found universal +suffrage incompatible with good order even in a Republic; +what must it be for a Monarchy?</p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston would, moreover, beg to submit that +the conflict between Austria and Prussia can scarcely be said +to have turned upon principles of Government so much as +upon a struggle for political ascendency in Germany. At +Berlin, at Dresden, and in Baden the Prussian Government +has very properly no doubt employed military force to reestablish +order; and in regard to the affairs of Hesse, the ground +taken by Prussia was not so much a constitutional as a military +one, and the objection which she made to the entrance of the +troops of the Diet was that those troops might become hostile, +and that they ought not, therefore, to occupy a central position +in the line of military defence of Prussia.</p> + +<p class="ind">The remark which your Majesty makes as to unanimity +being required for certain purposes by the Diet regulations is +no doubt very just, and that circumstance certainly shows that +the free Conference which is about to be held is a better constructed +body for planning a new arrangement of a central +organ.<sup>49</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 49: War was staved off by the Conference; but the relative predominance of Prussia +and Austria in Germany was left undecided for some years to come.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">STATE OF THE CONTINENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>22nd November 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Accept my best thanks for your kind +letter of the 17th, and the dear little English one from dear +little Charlotte, which is so nicely written, and shows such an +amiable disposition. I send her to-day a little heart for the +hair of our blessed Angel, which I hope she will often wear. +Our girls have all got one. I have written to the dear child. +You should have the dear children as much with you as possible; +I am <i>sure</i> it would be so <i>good and useful</i> for <i>you</i> and +<i>them</i>. +Children ought to have great confidence in their parents, in +order for them to have any influence over them.</p> + +<p class="ind">Yesterday Vicky was ten years old. It seems a dream. If +she lives, in eight years more she may be married! She is a +very clever child, and I must say very much improved.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.277" id="pageii.277"></a>[page 277]</span> + +<p class="ind">The state of the Continent is deplorable; the folly of +Austria and the giving way of Prussia are lamentable. <i>Our</i> +influence on the Continent is <i>null</i>.... Add to this, we are +between two fires in <i>this</i> country: a furious Protestant feeling +and an enraged Catholic feeling in Ireland. I believe that +Austria fans the flame at Rome, and that the <i>whole movement</i> +on the Continent is <i>anti-Constitutional</i>, <i>anti-Protestant</i>, <i>and +anti-English</i>; and this is so complicated, and we have (thanks +to Lord Palmerston) contrived to quarrel <i>so happily</i>, separately +with each, that I do not know <i>how</i> we are to stand against +it all!</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. Trusting soon to hear from you again. +Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">My longing for dearest Louise seems only to increase as time +goes on.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duchess of Norfolk.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright">Windsor Castle, <i>22nd November 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Duchess</span>,—It is very remiss in me not to have +sooner answered your letter with the enclosure, but I received +it at a moment of great grief, and since then I have been much +occupied.</p> + +<p class="ind">I fully understand your anxiety relative to the proceedings +of the Roman Catholic Clergy, but I trust that there is no <i>real</i> +danger to be apprehended from that quarter, the more so as +I believe they see that they have been misled and misinformed +as to the feeling of this country by some of the new converts to +their religion. The real danger to be apprehended, and what +I am certain has led to these proceedings on the part of the +Pope, lies in <i>our own</i> divisions, and in the extraordinary conduct +of the Puseyites. I trust that the eyes of many may now +be opened. One would, however, much regret to see any acts +of intolerance towards the many innocent people who I +believe entirely disapprove the injudicious conduct of their +Clergy.</p> + +<p class="ind">Hoping that you are all well, believe me, always, yours, +affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>29th November 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have no dear letter to answer, but +write to keep to the dear day, rendered so peculiarly dear to +me by the recollection of our dearly beloved Louise.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.278" id="pageii.278"></a>[page 278]</span> + +<p class="ind">We are well, but much troubled with numberless things. +Our religious troubles are great, and I must just say that +Cardinal Wiseman <i>himself</i> admits that Austria not only approves +the conduct of the Pope but is urging <i>on</i> the <i>Propaganda</i>. +I <i>know this</i> to be so. Our great difficulty must be, +and will be, to steer clear of both parties—the violent Protestants +and the Roman Catholics. We wish in no way to +infringe the rights of the Roman Catholics, while we must +protect and uphold our own religion.</p> + +<p class="ind">We have seen General Radowitz,<sup>50</sup> with whom we have been +much interested; his accounts are very clear and very able, +and I must say, very fair and strictly constitutional. You +know him, I suppose? Might I again ask, dearest Uncle, if +you would like to have a copy of Ross's picture of our angel +Louise or of Winterhalter's?</p> + +<p class="ind">Lady Lyttelton, who is returned, is very anxious in her +enquiries after you.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude, my dearest Uncle. Ever your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 50: General Radowitz, who had been Minister for Foreign Affairs in Prussia, had just +arrived in England on a special mission from the King of Prussia.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">STATE OF GERMANY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>3rd December 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My beloved Uncle</span>,—Two of your dear letters are before +me, of the 29th November and of yesterday. In the former +you <i>give me a promise</i>, which I consider <i>most</i> valuable, and +which I shall <i>remind</i> you of if you get desponding, viz. "I will +to please you <i>labour on, and do all the good I can</i>." It is so +pleasing to feel that one <i>does</i> good and does one's duty. It +sweetens so many bitter trials.</p> + +<p class="ind">The state of Germany is indeed a very anxious one. It is a +mistake to think the <i>supremacy of Prussia</i> is <i>what is wished for</i>. +General Radowitz himself says that what is necessary for Germany +[is] that she should take the lead, and should redeem the +pledges given in '48. Unless this be <i>done</i> in a moderate and +determined way, a <i>fearful reaction</i> will take place, which will +<i>overturn Thrones</i>; to use Radowitz's own words: "<i>und nicht +vor dem Thron stehen bleiben</i>." Prussia is the <i>only large</i> and +powerful <i>really German</i> Power there is, and therefore she must +take the lead; but her constant vacillation—one day doing +one thing and another day another—has caused her to be +entirely distrusted. You are quite right in saying things +should be done <i>d'un commun accord</i>, and I think that the other +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.279" id="pageii.279"></a>[page 279]</span> +great Powers ought to be consulted. Unfortunately, <i>Lord +Palmerston</i> has contrived to make us <i>so hated</i> by all parties +abroad, that we have lost our position and our influence, +which, considering the flourishing and satisfactory state of this +country during all the European convulsions, <i>ought</i> to have +been <i>immense</i>. This it is which pains and grieves me so deeply, +and which I have so plainly been speaking to Lord John +Russell about. What a noble position we <i>might</i> have had, and +how wantonly has it been thrown away!</p> + +<p class="ind">Good Stockmar is well, and always of the <i>greatest</i> comfort +and use to us. His judgment is so sound, so unbiassed, and so +dispassionate. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND ROME</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>8th December 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen received Lord John Russell's letter and the draft +yesterday. He must be a better judge of what the effect of +Mr Sheil's<sup>51</sup> presence in Rome may be than she can; but for +her own part, she thinks it entirely against her notions of what +is <i>becoming</i> to <i>ask</i> the <i>Pope</i> for a <i>favour</i> (for it is +tantamount +to that) at a moment when his name is being vilified and abused +in every possible manner in this country. It strikes the Queen +as an <i>undignified</i> course for this Government to pursue.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is glad to hear of what passed between the Archbishop +and Lord John.<sup>52</sup> She trusts that something may be +done, as the desire for it seems to be so great. On the other +hand, the Queen deeply regrets the great abuse of the Roman +Catholic religion which takes place at all these meetings, etc. +She thinks it unchristian and unwise, and trusts that it will soon +cease....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 51: Minister at the Court of Tuscany.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 52: The Government were preparing for the introduction of their Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LADY PEEL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>10th December 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My beloved Uncle</span>,—My letter must, I fear, be a somewhat +hurried and short one, for my morning has been taken up in +receiving in state Addresses from the City and Universities +about this <i>unfortunate</i> "Papal Aggression" business, which is +still keeping people in a feverish state of wild excitement.<sup>53</sup> <i>One</i> +good effect it has had, viz. that of directing people's serious +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.280" id="pageii.280"></a>[page 280]</span> +attention to the very alarming tendency of the <i>Tractarians</i>, +which was doing <i>immense</i> harm....</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>Many, many thanks</i> for your two dear and kind letters of the +6th and of yesterday. All you <i>say</i> about <i>Louise</i>, and about +the disappearance <i>for ever</i> of <i>all</i> that <i>she loved</i> and was +<i>proud +of</i>, is so true, so <i>dreadful</i>. One fancies (foolishly and wrongly, +but still one <i>does</i>) that the lost one has been hardly used in no +longer enjoying these earthly blessings, and one's grief seems to +break out afresh in bitter agony upon <i>small and comparatively +trifling</i> occasions. Poor Lady Peel (whom I saw for the first +time yesterday at Buckingham Palace, whither I had gone for +an hour) expressed <i>this</i> strongly. <i>Hers</i> is indeed a <i>broken +heart</i>; she is so <i>truly</i> crushed by the <i>agony</i> of <i>her</i> +grief; it was +<i>very</i> touching to see and to hear her. Poor thing! she <i>never</i> +can be happy again!</p> + +<p class="ind">What you say about <i>me</i> is far too kind. I am very <i>often</i> +sadly dissatisfied with myself and with the little self-control I +have.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your long letter interested us much. I fear the German +affairs are very bad.... That everlasting "backwards and +forwards," as you say, of my poor friend the King of Prussia is +<i>calamitous</i>; it causes <i>all</i> parties to distrust him, and gives +<i>real</i> +strength only to the Republicans. Since '48 that has been his +conduct, and the <i>misfortune</i> for Germany. A <i>steady</i> course, +<i>whatever</i> it may be, is <i>always</i> the best.</p> + +<p class="ind">What you say about poor Hélène<sup>54</sup> and France is true and sad. +I really wish you would caution Hélène as to her language; +she is much attached to you. I <i>pity</i> her very much; her +position is very trying, and her religion renders it more difficult +even.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now end my letter. I grieve to hear of your going +<i>alone</i> to Ardenne; it is <span class="sc">BAD</span> for you to be alone, and your poor +children also ought not to be alone. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 53: These Addresses were presented at Windsor, Prince Albert and the Duke of Wellington +representing the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 54: The Duchess of Orleans.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>11th December 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that the Cabinet to-day considered +at great length the question of the steps to be taken in respect +to the Papal Aggression.</p> + +<p class="ind">The inclination of the majority was not to prosecute, but to +bring a Bill into Parliament to make the assumption of any +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.281" id="pageii.281"></a>[page 281]</span> +titles of archbishop, etc., of any place in the United Kingdom +illegal, and to make any gift of property conveyed under such +title null and void.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duchess of Gloucester.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">RITUALISM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>12th December 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Aunt</span>,—Many thanks for your kind letter; you +are quite right not to distress the Duchess of Cambridge by +mentioning to her what I wrote to you about the Bishop of +London.<sup>55</sup> I am glad that you are pleased with my answers to +the Addresses; I thought them very proper.<sup>56</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">I would never have consented to say anything which breathed +a spirit of intolerance. Sincerely Protestant as I always have +been and always shall be, and indignant as I am at those who +<i>call themselves Protestants</i>, while they in fact <i>are</i> quite the +<i>contrary</i>, I much regret the unchristian and intolerant spirit +exhibited by many people at the public meetings. I cannot +bear to hear the violent abuse of the Catholic religion, which +is so painful and cruel towards the many good and innocent +Roman Catholics. However, we must hope and trust this +excitement will soon cease, and that the wholesome effect of +it on our own <i>Church</i> will be the lasting result of it. Ever +yours ...</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 55: The Bishop of London had taken the same view as Lord John Russell of the Papal +action, though they had disagreed over the Gorham controversy.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 56: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.279" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 279</a>.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>14th December 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter of yesterday. +She sanctions the introduction into Parliament of a Bill +framed on the principles agreed upon at yesterday's Cabinet, +presuming that it will extend to the whole United Kingdom. +What is to be done, however, with respect to the Colonies where +the Roman Catholic bishoprics are recognised by the Government +under territorial titles? and what is to be done with +Dr Cullen, who has assumed the title of Archbishop of Armagh, +Primate of all Ireland, which is punishable under the Emancipation +Act? If this is left unnoticed, the Government will +be left with the "<i>lame</i>" argument in Parliament of which we +conversed here. Could the Government not be helped out of +this difficulty by the Primate himself prosecuting the obtruder? +The Queen hopes that the meeting of the archdeacons with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.282" id="pageii.282"></a>[page 282]</span> +Dr Lushington may do some good; she cannot say that she +is pleased with the Archbishop's answer to the laity published +in to-day's <i>Times</i>, which leaves them without a remedy if the +clergymen persist in Puseyite Rituals! The Queen will return +Lord Minto's letter with the next messenger.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>22nd December 1850.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen now returns Lord Seymour's letter respecting +the New Forest, and sanctions the proposed arrangement. +Considering, however, that she gives up the deer, and all +patronage and authority over the Forest, she wishes the shooting, +as the only remaining Royalty, not to be withdrawn from +her authority also. It will be quite right to give Deputations<sup>57</sup> +to shoot over the various divisions and walks of the Forest to +gentlemen of the neighbourhood or others; but in order that +this may establish no right on their part, and may leave the +Sovereign a voice in the matter, she wishes that a list be prepared +every year of the persons recommended by the Office +of Woods to receive Deputations and submitted for her +approval.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 57: A deputation, <i>i.e.</i>, a deputed right to take game.</p> + + + + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.283" id="pageii.283"></a>[page 283]</span> + + + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XX</h3> + + +<p>The Ministry were in difficulties at the very beginning of the +session (1851), being nearly defeated on a motion made in the interest +of the agricultural party; and though the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill +was allowed to be brought in, they were beaten in a thin House +chiefly by their own friends, on the question of the County Franchise. +A crisis ensued, and a coalition of Whigs and Peelites was attempted, +but proved impracticable. Lord Stanley having then failed to form +a Protectionist Ministry, the Whigs, much weakened, had to resume +office.</p> + +<p>The Exhibition, which was opened in Hyde Park on the 1st of May, +was a complete success, a brilliant triumph indeed, for the Prince, +over six million people visiting it; it remained open till the Autumn, +and the building, some time after its removal, was re-erected at +Sydenham, at the Crystal Palace.</p> + +<p>The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, much modified, was proceeded with, +and, though opposed by the ablest Peelites and Radicals, became law, +though its effect, while in operation, was virtually <i>nil</i>. It was in +after-years repealed.</p> + +<p>Kossuth, the champion of Hungarian independence, visited England +in October, and Lord Palmerston had to be peremptorily +restrained from receiving him publicly at the Foreign Office. A +little later, Kossuth's ultra-liberal sympathisers in London addressed +the Foreign Secretary in language violently denunciatory of the +Emperors of Austria and Russia, for which Lord Palmerston failed +to rebuke them. The cup was filled to the brim by his recognition +of the President's <i>coup d'état</i> in France. Louis Napoleon, after +arresting M. Thiers and many others, proclaimed the dissolution of +the Council of State and the National Assembly, decreed a state of +siege, and re-established universal suffrage, with a Chief Magistrate +elected for ten years, and a Ministry depending on the executive +alone. Palmerston thereupon, though professing an intention of +non-interference, conveyed to the French Ambassador in London +his full approbation of the proceeding, and his conviction that the +President could not have acted otherwise. Even after this indiscreet +action, the Premier found some difficulty in bringing him to +book; but before the end of the year he was dismissed from office, +with the offer, which he declined, of the Irish Lord-Lieutenancy and +a British Peerage. Greatly to the Queen's satisfaction, Lord +Granville became Foreign Secretary.</p> + +<p>At the Cape, Sir Harry Smith was engaged in operations against +the Kaffirs, which were not brought to a successful termination till +the following year, when General Cathcart had superseded him.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.284" id="pageii.284"></a>[page 284]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h5>1851</h5> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>25th January 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen approves of the elevation of Mr. Pemberton +Leigh<sup>1</sup> to the Peerage, which she considers a very useful +measure, and not likely to lead to any permanent increase of +the Peerage, as he is not likely to marry at his present age, and +considering that he has only a life interest in his large property.</p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to the creation of Dr Lushington<sup>2</sup> as a Peer, +without remainder, the Queen has again thoroughly considered +the question, and is of opinion that the establishment of the +principle of creation for life—in cases where public advantage +may be derived from the grant of a Peerage, but where there +may be no fortune to support the dignity in the family—is +most desirable. The mode in which the public will take the +introduction of it will however chiefly depend upon the merits +of the first case brought forward. Dr Lushington appears to +the Queen so unobjectionable in this respect that she cannot but +approve of the experiment being tried with him.</p> + +<p class="ind">It would be well, however, that it should be done quietly; +that it should not be talked about beforehand or get into the +papers, which so frequently happens on occasions of this kind, +and generally does harm.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: Member of Parliament for Rye 1881-1832, and Ripon 1835-1843, afterwards a member +of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council: he became a Peer (Lord Kingsdown) +in 1858, having declined a peerage on the present and other occasions.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 2: Dr Lushington was judge of the Admiralty Court: he had been counsel for, and an +executor of, Queen Caroline. He declined the offer now suggested, and the subsequent +debates on the Wensleydale Peerage show that the proposed grant would have been ineffectual +for its purpose. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">DIPLOMATIC ARRANGEMENTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>31st January 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter of the 29th, +in which he proposes a change in those diplomatic arrangements +which she had already sanctioned on his recommendation, and +must remark that the reasons which Lord Palmerston adduces +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.285" id="pageii.285"></a>[page 285]</span> +in support of his present proposition are in direct contradiction +to those by which he supported his former recommendation.<sup>3</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The principle which the Queen would wish to see acted upon +in her diplomatic appointments in general, is, that the <i>good of +the service</i> should precede every other consideration, and that +the selection of an agent should depend more on his personal +qualifications for the particular post for which he is to be selected +than on the mere pleasure and convenience of the person to be +employed, or of the Minister recommending him.</p> + +<p class="ind">According to Lord Palmerston's first proposal, Sir H. Seymour +was to have gone to St Petersburg, Lord Bloomfield to +Berlin, and Sir Richard Pakenham to Lisbon; now Lord +Palmerston wishes to send Lord Cowley to St Petersburg.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has the highest opinion of Lord Cowley's abilities, +and agrees with Lord Palmerston in thinking that Russia will, +for some time at least, exercise a predominating influence over +all European affairs. She would accordingly not object to see +that Agent accredited there in whom she herself places the +greatest confidence. But according to the same principle, she +must insist that the posts of Berlin and Frankfort, which in her +opinion are of nearly equal importance, should be filled by men +capable of dealing with the complicated and dangerous political +questions now in agitation there, and the just appreciation and +judicious treatment of which are of the highest importance to +the peace of Europe, and therefore to the welfare of England.</p> + +<p class="ind">Before the Queen therefore decides upon Lord Palmerston's +new proposals, she wishes to know <i>whom</i> he could recommend +for the post of Frankfort in the event of Lord Cowley leaving it, +and thinks it but right to premise that in giving her sanction to +the proposals Lord Palmerston may have to submit, she will +be guided entirely by the principle set forth above.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: Lord Palmerston had altered his mind as to certain proposed diplomatic changes, and +suggested the appointment of Sir Hamilton Seymour to Berlin, Lord Bloomfield to Lisbon, +Lord Cowley to Petersburg, Mr Jerningham, Sir Henry Ellis, or Sir Richard Pakenham +to Frankfort. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">DIPLOMATIC ARRANGEMENTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place,</span> <i>12th January 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that Mr Disraeli brought forward +his Motion yesterday.<sup>4</sup> His speech was long and elaborate, but +not that of a man who was persuaded he was undertaking a +good cause.</p> + +<p class="ind">He proposed nothing specific, but said nothing offensive.</p> + +<p class="ind">The doubts about the division increase. Mr Hayter reckoned +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.286" id="pageii.286"></a>[page 286]</span> +yesterday on a majority of three! Sir James Graham is of +opinion Lord Stanley will not undertake anything desperate. +He will speak in favour of Government to-morrow, when the +division will probably take place.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 4: On agricultural distress; the Motion was lost by fourteen only in a large House. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace,</span> <i>15th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter of yesterday, +and has to state in answer her decision in favour of the original +plan of appointments, viz. of Sir H. Seymour to Petersburg, +Lord Bloomfield to Berlin, and Sir R. Pakenham to Lisbon. +The Queen quite agrees with Lord Palmerston in the opinion +that the post at Petersburg is more important than that of +Frankfort, and had Lord Palmerston been able to propose a +good successor to Lord Cowley she would have approved his +going to Petersburg; Sir R. Pakenham, however, would not +take Frankfort if offered to him, as it appears, and the two other +persons proposed would not do for it, in the Queen's opinion. +It must not be forgotten that at a place for action like Petersburg, +the Minister will chiefly have to look to his instructions +from home, while at a place of observation, as Lord Palmerston +justly calls Frankfort, everything depends upon the acuteness +and impartiality of the observer, and upon the confidence with +which he may be able to inspire those from whom alone accurate +information can be obtained. Lord Cowley possesses eminently +these qualities, and Sir H. Seymour has at all times shown himself +equal to acting under most difficult circumstances. The +desire of the Emperor to see Lord Cowley at Petersburg may +possibly resolve itself in the desire of Baron Brunnow to see him +removed from Germany.... The Queen had always understood +that Sir H. Seymour would be very acceptable to the Emperor, +and that Count Nesselrode called him a diplomatist "de la +bonne vieille roche."</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">SIR JAMES GRAHAM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace.</span> <i>17th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell came at half-past three. He had had a +long conversation with Sir James Graham, had stated to him +that from the tone of his speech (which Lord John explained +to us yesterday was of so very friendly a character and pointed +directly to supporting the Government)—its friendliness, and +the manner in which he advocated the union of those who +opposed a return to Protection, that he proposed to him to +join the Government; that Sir G. Grey had offered to resign +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.287" id="pageii.287"></a>[page 287]</span> +his office in order that Sir J. Graham might have it. Before +I go farther I ought to say that Lord John yesterday explained +the importance of obtaining support like Sir J. Graham's in the +Cabinet, and that he thought of proposing the Board of Control +to him, which Sir J. Hobhouse was ready to give up—receiving +a Peerage, and retaining a seat in the Cabinet or the Admiralty, +which Sir F. Baring was equally ready to give up.</p> + +<p class="ind">Well, Sir J. Graham said that before he answered he wished +to show Lord John a correspondence which had passed between +him and Lord Londonderry. In the course of conversation in +the country, Sir James had said to Lord Londonderry that +parties never could go on as they were, and that they must +ultimately lapse into <i>two</i>; this, Lord Londonderry reported to +Mr Disraeli, who told it to Lord Stanley; and Mr Disraeli +wrote to Lord Londonderry, stating that if certain advantages +and reliefs were given to the landed interests, he should not +cling to Protection; in short, much what he said in his speech—and +that he was quite prepared to give up the lead in the +House of Commons to Sir J. Graham. Sir James answered +that he never meant anything by what he had said, and that +he had no wish whatever to join Lord Stanley; that if he had, +he was so intimate with Lord Stanley that he would have +communicated direct with him.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir James said that as soon as he heard from Lord John, he +thought <i>what</i> he wished to see him for, and that he had been +thinking over it, and had been talking to Lord Hardinge and +Mr Cardwell. That he did wish to support the Government, +but that he thought he could be of more use if he did not join +the Government, and was able to give them an independent +support; that he had not attempted to lead Sir Robert Peel's +followers; that many who had followed Sir Robert would <i>not</i> +follow <i>him</i>; that he thought the Government in great danger; +that the Protectionists, Radicals, and Irish Members would try +to take an opportunity to overset them (the Government); +that should the Government be turned out, he would find no +difficulty in joining them; or should they go on, that by-and-by +it might be easier to do so; but that at this moment he +should be injuring himself without doing the Government any +real service; besides which, there were so many measures +decided on which he was ignorant of, and should have to +support. Lord John told him that were he in the Cabinet, he +would have the means of stating and enforcing his opinions, +and that at whatever time he joined them, there would always +be the same difficulty about measures which had already been +decided on. He (Sir James) is not quite satisfied with the +Papal Aggression Bill, which he thinks will exasperate the Irish; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.288" id="pageii.288"></a>[page 288]</span> +he also adverted to the report of our having protested against +Austria bringing her Italian Provinces, etc., into the German +Confederation. Lord John told him that this had not been +done, but that we meant to ask for explanations.</p> + +<p class="ind">In short, Lord John said it was evident that Sir James +thought the Government in great danger, and "did not wish +to embark in a boat which was going to sink." Still, he was +friendly, and repeated that it would be very easy when in +opposition to unite, and then to come in together.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>21st February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to report that on a motion of Mr Locke +King's<sup>5</sup> yesterday the Government was defeated by a hundred +to fifty-two.</p> + +<p class="ind">This is another circumstance which makes it probable the +Ministry cannot endure long. The Tories purposely stayed +away.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 5: For equalising the County and the Borough franchise.</p> + + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>21st February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have only time just to write a few +hasty lines to you from Stockmar's room, where I came up to +speak to Albert and him, to tell you that we have got a +Ministerial crisis; the Ministers were in a great minority last +night, and though it was not a question <i>vital</i> to the Government, +Lord John feels the support he has received so meagre, +and the opposition of so many parties so great, that he must +<i>resign!</i> This is very bad, because there is no chance of any +other good Government, poor Peel being no longer alive, and +not one man of talent except Lord Stanley in the Party;... +but Lord John is <i>right</i> not to go on when he is so ill supported, +and it will raise him as a political man, and will strengthen his +position for the future.</p> + +<p class="ind">Whether Lord Stanley (to whom I must send to-morrow +<i>after</i> the Government have resigned) will be able to form a +Government or not, I cannot tell. Altogether, it is very +vexatious, and will give us trouble. It is the more provoking, +as this country is so very prosperous.</p> + +<p class="ind">On Tuesday I hope to be able to say more....</p> + +<p class="ind">With Albert's love, ever your truly devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.289" id="pageii.289"></a>[page 289]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">MINISTERIAL CRISIS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>22nd February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell having been for a few minutes with the +Queen, in order to prepare her for the possibility of the +Government's resignation (yesterday, at two o'clock), went to +Downing Street to meet the Cabinet, and promised to return +at four in order to communicate the decision the Cabinet might +have arrived at. On his return he explained that after the +vote at the beginning of the Session on the Orders of the Day, +which went directly against the Government, after the small +majority (only fourteen) which they had on the motion of +Mr Disraeli on the landed interest, and now the defeat on +the Franchise, it was clear that the Government did not +possess the confidence of the House of Commons. He complained +of the Protectionists staying away in a body on Mr +King's motion, and he (Lord John) himself being left without +a supporter even amongst his colleagues in the debate, but +most of all of the conduct of the Radicals; for when Mr King, +hearing Lord John's promise to bring in a measure next +Session, wanted to withdraw his Motion, as he ought to have +done on such a declaration by the head of the Government, +Mr Hume insisted upon his going on, "else Lord John would +withdraw his promise again in a fortnight"; and when the +result of the vote was made known the shouting and triumph +of the hundred was immense.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD LANSDOWNE CONSULTED</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John had declared to the Cabinet that he could not go +on, that the Income Tax would have to be voted the next day, +and a defeat was probable; it were much better therefore +not to hesitate, and to resign at once. The Cabinet agreed, +although some Members thought with Lord Palmerston that +the occasion was hardly sufficient. Lord John begged to be +allowed till to-day, in order to see Lord Lansdowne, whom he +had sent for from the country, and to be able to tender then +his resignation; he would go down to the House to adjourn it, +promising explanations on Monday.</p> + +<p class="ind">We agreed with Lord John that he owed to his station personally, +and as the Queen's Minister, not to put up with ignominious +treatment, praised his speech on the Suffrage, which is +admirable, and regretted that his colleagues had prevented him +from bringing in a measure this year. We talked of the difficulty +of forming any Government, but agreed that Lord +Stanley and the Protection Party ought to be appealed to; +they longed for office, and would not rest quiet till they had +had it if for ever so short a time only.</p> + +<p class="ind">We further went over the ground of a possible demand for a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.290" id="pageii.290"></a>[page 290]</span> +Dissolution, which might bring on a general commotion in the +country. Lord John agreed in this, but thought the responsibility +to be very great for the Crown to refuse an appeal to the +country to the new Government; he thought a decision on that +point ought to depend on the peculiar circumstances of the case.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Lansdowne, who had come from Bowood by the express +train, arrived at twelve o'clock, and came at once to meet +Lord John Russell here at the Palace.</p> + +<p class="ind">In the audience which the Queen gave him he expressed his +entire concurrence with the decision the Cabinet had come to, +as the resignation could at any rate only have been delayed. +It was clear that the Cabinet had lost the confidence of the +House of Commons; what had happened the other night was +only the last drop which made the cup flow over, and that it +was much more dignified not to let the Government die a +lingering and ignominious death; he [thought] that Lord +Stanley would have great difficulties, but would be able to +form a Government; at least the Protectionist Party gave +out that they had a Cabinet prepared.</p> + +<p class="ind">We then saw Lord John Russell, who formally tendered his +resignation, and was very much moved on taking leave; he +said that, considering Lord Stanley's principles, it would not +be possible for him to hold out any hope of support to that +Government, except on the estimates for which he felt responsible, +but he would at all times be ready vigorously to defend +the Crown, which was in need of every support in these days.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD STANLEY SUMMONED</span> + +<p class="ind">At three o'clock came Lord Stanley, whom the Queen had +summoned.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen informed him of the resignation of the Government, +in consequence of the late vote, which had been the +result of the Protectionists staying away, of the small majority +which the Government had had upon Mr Disraeli's Motion, +and of the many symptoms of want of confidence exhibited +towards the Government in the House of Commons. The +Queen had accepted their resignation, and had sent for him as +the head of that Party, which was now the most numerous in +Opposition, in order to ask him whether he could undertake +to form a Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley expressed great surprise. The impression had +been that the Government had not been in earnest in their +opposition to Mr L. King's Motion; in the minority had voted +only twenty-seven members of the Government side, the rest +had been of his Party. He asked if the whole Cabinet had +resigned, or whether there had been dissension in the Cabinet +upon it? The Queen replied that the resignation had been +unanimously agreed upon in the Cabinet, and that Lord Lansdowne, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.291" id="pageii.291"></a>[page 291]</span> +who had only come up from Bowood this morning, had +given his entire approval to it. Lord Stanley then asked +whether anybody else had been consulted or applied to, to +which the Queen replied that she had written to him a few +minutes after Lord John's resignation, and had communicated +with no one else. Lord Stanley then said that he hoped the +Queen's acceptance had only been a conditional one; that he +felt very much honoured by the Queen's confidence; that he +hoped he might be able to tender advice which might contribute +to the Queen's comfort, and might relieve the present +embarrassment.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">FISCAL POLICY OUTLINED</span> + +<p class="ind">In order to be able to do so he must enter most freely and +openly into his own position and that of his Party. It was +quite true that they formed the most numerous in Parliament +after the supporters of what he hoped he might still call the +<i>present</i> Government, but that there were no men contained in +it who combined great ability with experience in public business. +There was one certainly of great ability and talent—Mr +Disraeli—but who had never held office before, and perhaps +Mr Herries, who possessed great experience, but who did not +command great authority in the House of Commons; that he +should have great difficulties in presenting to the Queen a +Government fit to be accepted, unless he could join with some +of the late Sir R. Peel's followers; that he considered, for +instance, the appointment of a good person for Foreign Affairs +indispensable, and there was scarcely any one fit for it except +Lord Palmerston and Lord Aberdeen. Lord Aberdeen had +told him that he had no peculiar views upon Free Trade, and +that he did not pretend to understand the question, but that +he had felt it his duty to stand by Sir R. Peel; this might now +be different, but it ought first to be ascertained whether a +combination of those who agreed in principle, and had only +been kept asunder hitherto by <i>personal</i> considerations, could +not be formed; that Sir James Graham had in his last speech +declared it as his opinion that the ranks of those who agreed +ought to be closed; when such a combination had taken place, +those of Sir R. Peel's followers who could not agree to it might +not be unwilling to join him (Lord Stanley). As to his principles, +he would frankly state that he thought that the landed +interest was much depressed by the low state of prices; that +an import duty on corn would be absolutely necessary, which, +however, would be low, and only a revenue duty; such a duty, +he thought, the country would be prepared for; and if they +were allowed to state their honest opinion, he felt sure the +greatest part of the present Government would be heartily +glad of. He would require Duties upon sugar for revenue, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.292" id="pageii.292"></a>[page 292]</span> +but he could not conceal that if the revenue after a diminution +in the direct taxation, which he would propose, should considerably +fall off, he might be driven to raise the Import duties +on other articles. He thought the present House of Commons +could hardly be expected to reverse its decision upon the +financial and commercial policy of the country, and that +accordingly a Dissolution of Parliament would become necessary. +Such a Dissolution, however, could not be undertaken +at this moment for the sake of public business. The Mutiny +Bill had not been voted nor the Supplies, and it would require +more than eight weeks before the new Parliament could be +assembled, and consequently the Crown would be left without +Army or money. A Dissolution could accordingly not take +place before Easter. He felt, however, that if he were to take +office now, he would between this and Easter be exposed to +such harassing attacks that he should not be able to withstand +them; moreover, it would subject the members of his Government +to two elections in two months. He hoped therefore +that the Queen would try to obtain a Government by a coalition +of the Whigs and Peelites, but that this failing, if the Queen +should send again for him, and it was clear no other Government +could be formed, he would feel it his duty as a loyal +subject to risk everything, except his principles and his honour, +to carry on the Government; and he hoped that in such a case +the Queen would look leniently on the composition of the +Cabinet which he could offer, and that the country would, +from the consideration of the circumstances, give it a fair trial. +He begged, however, that he might not be called upon to take office +except as a <i>dernier ressort</i>, a <i>necessity</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I interrupted him when he spoke of his financial measures, +and begged him further to explain, when it appeared that a +duty of about six shillings on corn was the least he could impose +to bring up the price to forty-five shillings, which Sir R. +Peel had stated to the House of Commons was in his opinion +the lowest price wheat would fall to after the abolition of the +Corn Laws.</p> + +<p class="ind">We expressed our doubts as to the country agreeing to such +a measure, and our apprehension of the violent spirit which +would be roused in the working classes by a Dissolution for +that purpose, which Lord Stanley, however, did not seem to +apprehend; on the contrary, he thought the distress of the +farmers would lead to the destruction of the landed interest, +which was the only support to the Throne.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">PROTECTION</span> + +<p class="ind">I told him that the Queen and certainly myself had been +under a delusion, and that I was sure the country was equally +so, as to his intention to return to Protection. Sometimes it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.293" id="pageii.293"></a>[page 293]</span> +was stated that Protection would be adhered to, sometimes +that it was given up, and that it was <i>compensation</i> to the landed +interest which the Protectionists looked to. His last speeches +and the Motion of Mr Disraeli led to that belief, but that it was +of the highest importance that the country should know exactly +what was intended; the Queen would then have an opportunity +of judging how the nation looked upon the proposal. +I hoped therefore that the declaration of his opinions which +Lord Stanley had now laid before the Queen would be clearly +enunciated by him in Parliament when the Ministerial explanations +should take place, which would naturally follow this crisis.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley merely answered that he hoped that no explanations +would take place before a Government was formed. +He said he should wish the word "Protection" to be merged, +to which I rejoined that though he might wish this, I doubted +whether the country would let him.</p> + +<p class="ind">Before taking leave, he repeated over and over again his +advice that the Coalition Ministry should be tried.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Stanley.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>22nd February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">In order to be able to be perfectly accurate in stating Lord +Stanley's opinions, which the Queen feels some delicacy in +doing, she would be very thankful if he would write down for +her what he just stated to her—as his advice in the present +difficulty. Of course she would not let such a paper go out +of her hands.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">SIR JAMES GRAHAM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir James Graham, who had been out of Town, came at six +o'clock, having received my letter on his return. Lord John +Russell had been here before that time.</p> + +<p class="ind">After having stated to him (Lord John) what had passed with +Lord Stanley, we told him that Sir James Graham was here; +Lord John seemed much surprised at Lord Stanley's refusal to +form an Administration, declared himself ready to do what +he could towards the formation of a new Government on an +extended basis, but thought that Sir James Graham and Lord +Aberdeen should have the first offer.</p> + +<p class="ind">I went accordingly over to my room, where Sir James was +waiting. He was entirely taken by surprise by the announcement +of the resignation of the Government, and begged to be +able to state to me how he was situated before he saw the +Queen and Lord John.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.294" id="pageii.294"></a>[page 294]</span> + +<p class="ind">I then communicated to him what had passed with Lord +Stanley, upon which we had a conversation of more than an +hour, of which the chief features were:</p> + +<p class="ind">1. Apprehension on the part of Sir James Graham lest the +attempt on the part of Lord Stanley to re-impose Protective +duties should produce universal commotion in the country, +which would be increased by the Dissolution, without which +Lord Stanley would not be able to proceed.</p> + +<p class="ind">2. His disbelief that Lord Aberdeen would be able to join +in any Government abandoning Sir R. Peel's principles, as he +had been consulted before and after Sir James's late speech +in which he expressed his entire concurrence.</p> + +<p class="ind">3. His own utter weakness, calling himself the weakest man +in England, who had lost his only friend in Sir R. Peel, and +had for the last fifteen years not exercised an independent +judgment, but rested entirely on his friend.</p> + +<p class="ind">4. His disagreement with some of his late colleagues—the +Duke of Newcastle, Mr Gladstone, and Mr Sidney Herbert—in +religious opinions.</p> + +<p class="ind">5. His disagreement with Lord John's Government upon +some most important points.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">FOREIGN POLICY</span> + +<p class="ind">He could not take office with Lord Palmerston as Foreign +Secretary, whose policy and mode of conducting business he +disapproved, who was now protesting against the admission of +Austria into the German Confederation; he disapproved the +Papal Aggression Bill, finding it militating against the line +which he had taken as Secretary of State with regard to the +Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland, and particularly the +Bequest Act, and considering that after Lord John's letter +the Bill would fall short of the high expectations formed in +the minds of the English public.</p> + +<p class="ind">He disapproved of the abolition of the Irish Lord-Lieutenancy, +and the making a fourth Secretary of State had been +considered by Sir Robert Peel and himself as introducing into +England all the Irish malpractices, while Ireland was still kept +wholly separate from England.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John had raised a new difficulty by his declaration +upon Reform. He had been thunderstruck when he read the +announcement on the part of the chief author of the Reform +Bill, who had stood with him (Sir J. Graham) hitherto upon +<i>finality</i>, condemning his own work, and promising at a year's +distance important alterations, in which interval great agitation +would be got up, great expectations raised, and the +measure when brought forward would cause disappointment. +Sir Robert Peel had always been of opinion that it was most +dangerous to touch these questions, but if opened with the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.295" id="pageii.295"></a>[page 295]</span> +consent of the Crown, a measure should at once be brought +forward and passed.</p> + +<p class="ind">After my having replied to these different objections, that +the Queen felt herself the importance of Lord Palmerston's +removal, and would make it herself a condition with Lord +John that he should not be again Foreign Secretary; that the +protest to Austria had not gone, and that upon studying +the question Sir James would find that the entrance of the +whole Austrian Monarchy, while giving France a pretext for +war and infringing the Treaties of 1815, would not tend to the +strength and unity of Germany, which held to be the true +English interest, but quite the reverse; that I did not think +the Papal Aggression Bill touched the Bequest Act or militated +against toleration; that the Lieutenancy would perhaps be +given up, and a measure on the Franchise be considered by the +<i>new</i> Government and brought forward at once. I thought +it would be better to discuss the matters with Lord John +Russell in the Queen's presence, who accordingly joined us.</p> + +<p class="ind">The discussion which now arose went pretty much over the +same ground, Lord John agreeing that Lord Palmerston ought +to form no difficulty, that the Papal Aggression Bill would +be further modified, that the Lieutenancy Bill might be given +up, that he agreed to Sir James's objection to the declaration +about reform, but that he had intended to bring forward a +measure, if he had been able to get his colleagues to agree to it, +that he would be ready to propose a measure at once. This +Sir J. Graham thought important as a means of gaining at a +General Election, which he foresaw could not be long delayed, +whoever formed a Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">In order to obtain some result from this long debate I summed +up what might be considered as agreed upon, viz. That there +was <i>tabula rasa</i>, and for the new Coalition a free choice of +men and measures, to which they assented, Lord John merely +stating that he could not take office without part of his friends, +and could not sacrifice his <i>personal</i> declarations. Dinnertime +having approached, and Lord Aberdeen having written +that he would be with us after nine o'clock, we adjourned the +further discussion till then, when they would return.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON</span> + +<p class="ind" style="margin-top: 2.5em;">Whilst the Queen dressed I had an interview with the Duke +of Wellington, who had come to dine here, in which I informed +him of the nature of our crisis. He expressed his regret +and his dread of a Protectionist Government with a Dissolution, +which might lead to civil commotion. He could not +forgive, he said, the high Tory Party for their having stayed +away the other night on Mr Locke King's Motion, and thus +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.296" id="pageii.296"></a>[page 296]</span> +abandoned their own principles; he had no feeling for Lord +John Russell's Cabinet, measures, or principles, but he felt +that the Crown and the country were only safe in these days by +having the Liberals in office, else they would be driven to join +the Radical agitation against the institutions of the country.</p> + +<p class="ind">After dinner we resumed our adjourned debate in my room, +at a quarter to ten, with Lord Aberdeen, and were soon joined +by Lord John and Sir James Graham. We went over the same +ground with him. Lord Stanley's letter was read and discussed. +Lord Aberdeen declared his inability to join in a +Protectionist Ministry; he did not pretend to understand the +question of Free Trade, but it was a point of honour with him +not to abandon it, and now, since Sir R. Peel's death, a matter +of piety. He thought the danger of a Dissolution on a question +of food by the Crown, for the purpose of imposing a tax upon +bread, of the utmost danger for the safety of the country. He +disapproved the Papal Bill, the abolition of the Lieutenancy, +he had no difficulty upon the Franchise, for though he was called +a <i>despot</i>, he felt a good deal of the Radical in him sometimes.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John put it to Lord Aberdeen, whether <i>he</i> would not +undertake to form a Government, to which Lord Aberdeen +gave no distinct reply.</p> + +<p class="ind">As Sir James Graham raised nothing but difficulties, though +professing the greatest readiness to be of use, and as it was +getting on towards midnight, we broke up, with the Queen's +injunction that <i>one</i> of the three gentlemen <i>must</i> form a Government, +to which Lord Aberdeen laughingly replied: "I see +your Majesty has come into<sup>6</sup> the Président de la République." +Lord John was to see Lord Lansdowne <i>to-day</i> at three o'clock, +and would report progress to the Queen at five o'clock. On one +point we were agreed, viz. that the Government to be formed +must not be for the moment, but with a view to strength and +stability.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 6: <i>Sic.</i></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">COMPLICATIONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>23d February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has seen Lord Aberdeen and Sir J. Graham, +but is sorry to say that her doing so was premature, as they +had no opportunity of seeing each other after they left Lord +John Russell, and therefore had not considered the Memorandum<sup>7</sup> +which Lord John had handed to them. Lord Aberdeen +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.297" id="pageii.297"></a>[page 297]</span> +has in the interval seen Lord Stanley, and declared to him +that he must undeceive him as to the possibility of his ever +joining a Protection Government. What further resulted +from the conversation the Queen would prefer to state to Lord +John verbally to-morrow. Perhaps Lord John would come +in the forenoon to-morrow, or before he goes to the House; +he will be so good as to let her know.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: With a view of uniting with the Peelites, Lord John drew up a Memorandum, +printed in Walpole's <i>Lord John Russell</i>, vol. ii. chap, xxii., with the following points:</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">A Cabinet of not more than eleven Members.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">The present commercial policy to be maintained.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">The financial measures of the year to be open to revision.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill to be persevered in so far as the Preamble and the first +clause, but the remaining clauses to be abandoned.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">A Reform Bill for the extension of the Franchise.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">A Commission of Enquiry into corrupt practices at elections in cities and boroughs. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd February 1851.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Sunday.</i>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell came at half-past five, much fatigued and +depressed. On the Queen's asking whether he could report +any progress, he said he thought he could; he had met Lord +Aberdeen and Sir James Graham, together with Sir George +Grey (Lord Lansdowne being ill). That he had informed them +that he had received the Queen's commands to form a Government +(?) and handed to them a Memorandum which follows +here and which they had promised to take into consideration.</p> + +<p class="ind">We asked him whether he had chalked out a Government. +He said he had not thought of it yet; he added, however, +that <i>he</i> could not undertake the Foreign Affairs with the lead +in the House of Commons and Government (which the Queen +had pressed upon him); Lord Palmerston might be leader in +the House of Lords; he would not like Lord Aberdeen at the +Foreign Office; Lord Clarendon and Lord Granville were +equally acceptable to him.</p> + +<p class="ind">I suggested that it might be well if the Queen were to see +Sir James and Lord Aberdeen again, which he approved, but +thought it better he should not be present himself, and that +the Queen might tell Sir James that he might have any Office +he liked; perhaps <i>he</i> would take the Foreign Affairs.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John's relations and private friends evidently are +distressed at his resuming office; the Radicals were very much +pleased with the idea of Sir James Graham being in office.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD ABERDEEN SUMMONED</span> + + +<p class="indright"><i>24th February 1851.</i><br /> +(<i>Monday evening.</i>) </p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord John came at three o'clock before making his statement +to the House of Commons. We communicated to him what +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.298" id="pageii.298"></a>[page 298]</span> +had passed with Sir James Graham and Lord Aberdeen yesterday +evening. He thought his Memorandum had been misunderstood: +the nature of the Reform Bill was left open to +discussion, and what he had said about filling the Offices only +meant that the Offices should not be divided according to +number, and each party left to fill up its share, as had been +done in former Coalition Ministries. He had seen Lord +Palmerston, who was not willing to give up the Foreign Office—spoke +of retiring from business at his age, of his success in +conducting Foreign Affairs, and of its being a self-condemnation +if he accepted another Office. Lord John told him that +he did not agree in this view, that the Lord-Lieutenancy of +Ireland was to be maintained, and thought it best to leave it +there. He thought Lord Palmerston had given up the idea of +leading the House of Commons. We ascertained from him +in conversation that he could not agree to Lord Aberdeen taking +the Foreign Office nor that he could serve under Lord Aberdeen +or Sir James Graham in case any one of these were to form a +Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">At half-past six Lord John returned from the House of +Commons, and reported that two very important events had +taken place: the one that upon his making his statement to the +House that the Government had resigned, that Lord Stanley +had been sent for, had declared <i>his inability then to form a +Government</i> (words agreed upon between Lord Lansdowne, +Lord John, and Sir George Grey), and that he was now charged +with the formation of a Government, Mr. Disraeli got up, and +denied that Lord Stanley had declined forming a Government, +which was received with cheers from the Protectionists. Lord +John had merely answered that when Lord Stanley would +make his explanations, what he had stated would be found to +be correct, relying entirely, not upon what the Queen had communicated, +but on Lord Stanley's own letter. The second +event was a letter from Lord Aberdeen and Sir James Graham,<sup>8</sup> +which put <i>an end</i> to all <i>thoughts</i> of a Coalition. It stated that +they could agree to no legislation whatever on the Papal +Aggressions, and ended with a hint that Sir James Graham was +prepared to go farther in reductions than Lord John was likely +to consent to.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John had at once answered that although he did +not understand the latter objection, the difference on the +Papal Bill must put an end to their negotiation. We much +lamented the result, and after some discussion agreed that +the only thing to be done now was to send for Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.299" id="pageii.299"></a>[page 299]</span> +Aberdeen. Lord Stanley could not pretend to be consulted +before every other means of forming a Government had been +exhausted.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 8: Published in Walpole's <i>Lord John Russell</i>, vol. ii. chap. xxii.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD ABERDEEN DECLINES</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>24th February 1851.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Half-past ten</i> <span class="sc">p.m.)</span></p> + + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns these papers, as Lord John Russell +wished. She has just seen Lord Aberdeen and Sir James +Graham, who, though ready to do anything which could be of +any use to the Queen and the country, have stated it as their +decided opinion that Lord Stanley should be asked to form +a Government. Under these circumstances the Queen intends +to send to Lord Stanley to-morrow. The Queen did ask Lord +Aberdeen if he could undertake to form a Government, but he +said that he thought it would not be successful, and that the +Papal Aggression would be an insurmountable difficulty for +him and Sir James Graham.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen rejoices to hear from them, and from Lord John +and Lord Lansdowne, the expression of cordiality of feeling, +which it is so essential for the Crown and the country that +there should be.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">ABERDEEN AND GRAHAM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>25 February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Through Van der Weyer, you will +have heard what was the state of the <i>long</i> and anxious crisis +yesterday evening.</p> + +<p class="ind">Alas! the hope of forming a strong Coalition Government +has failed—<i>for the present</i>. I say for the present, as they are +all so entirely agreed on the Commercial Policy that another +time they hope there will be no difficulty, when they have <i>fought +together</i>. The <i>Papal Aggression</i> has in fact been the only +insurmountable difficulty. We sent to Lord Aberdeen last +night (both he and Sir James Graham have been most kind +to us), and asked if <i>he</i> could not try to form a Government; +but with the greatest readiness to serve me, he said he could +not, on account of this self-same Papal Aggression. He equally +declares that he cannot join Lord Stanley. Accordingly this +morning I have seen Lord Stanley, and he means to try if he +can form any fit sort of Government, but he has <i>no</i> men of +talent, and his difficulties are gigantic. I shall only know to-morrow +<i>definitely</i> if he <i>can</i> form an Administration. I am calm +and courageous, having such support and advice as my dearest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.300" id="pageii.300"></a>[page 300]</span> +Albert's; but it is an anxious time, and the uncertainty and +suspense very trying. More details you will have later on. +Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD STANLEY TO BE SUMMONED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>26th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen and Sir James Graham came yesterday +evening at nine o'clock; the Queen put it to them whether +<i>they</i> could form a Government, to which they replied that they +had turned it in their heads a hundred times, that there was +nothing they would not do to show their readiness to serve the +Queen, but that they did not see a possibility of forming an +Administration which could stand a day. They were most +likely at that moment the two most unpopular men in England, +having declared that nothing should be done in Parliament +against the Papal Aggression, which the whole country +clamoured for; the Whigs would be very angry with them +for their having broken up the new combination; they might +find favour with the Radicals, but that was a support upon +which no reliance could be placed. There was a growing +opinion that Lord Stanley ought to have a chance of bringing +forward his measures; that it was perilous, but that it was +an evil which must be gone through; that this opinion had +been strongly expressed by Lord Lansdowne, whose moderation +nobody could doubt; that it was shared by the Duke of +Newcastle, Mr Sidney Herbert, and others of Sir James's +friends whom he had had time to consult.</p> + +<p class="ind">Upon the Queen's expression of her great apprehension as to +the consequence of such a step on the country, they said there +would no doubt spring up a most violent opposition, that there +would be attempts to stop the supplies and dissolve the Army, +but that Lord John Russell and Sir James Graham together +would do their utmost to preach moderation, and would refer +the House of Commons to the Queen's example, who had taken +strictly the Constitutional course throughout the crisis, whose +opinions on Free Trade were well known (as far as subjects +could allow themselves to pretend to know their Sovereign's +<i>private</i> opinions) from the hearty support she had given to Sir +Robert Peel's and Lord John's Governments. That upon the +first proposition of a Stanley Government the junction of +Parties would be completed, and there would be only <i>one</i> strong +opposition. After having fought together, there would be no +longer any difficulty about forming a strong Government out of +their joint ranks, whilst now it was impossible not to see that +every Minister displaced would feel personally aggrieved, that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.301" id="pageii.301"></a>[page 301]</span> +then they stood on a footing of perfect equality. Sir James +had seen Lord John since he had tendered his second resignation, +and found him quite altered; whilst he was embarrassed +and <i>boutonné</i> before, he was open and unreserved now, and they +could speak on terms of private friendship. Lord Aberdeen +would save his influence in the House of Lords, which he would +probably have lost if he had joined the Whigs in office; in +future all this would be different.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell's letter with the Memoranda came and +interrupted us. From these papers, and what Sir James and +Lord Aberdeen said, it is clear that all parties are relieved by +the failure of their attempt to form a Coalition Government, +but determined to form a positive junction, which will be most +salutary to the country. The Queen will therefore send for +Lord Stanley.</p> + +<p class="ind">We discussed further the means Lord Stanley would have +to form an Administration, for which the material was certainly +sad. Disraeli's last scene in the House of Commons would +render the publication of Lord Stanley's letter necessary. Mr +Gladstone might possibly join him; at least no pains would be +spared to bring him in. Lord Palmerston had often so much +secret understanding with Disraeli that he might be tempted +with the bait of keeping the Foreign Office, particularly if +personally offended.</p> + +<p class="ind">Whether the Queen should allow or refuse a Dissolution was +debated; the latter declared a most heavy responsibility for +the Sovereign to undertake, but a subject upon which the +decision should only be taken at the time, and on a due consideration +of the circumstances.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>25th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to state that having seen the letter which +Lord Stanley addressed to your Majesty, and feeling himself +precluded from entering into any details, he announced to the +House of Commons that Lord Stanley had in reply to your +Majesty's offer declared "he was not <i>then</i> prepared to form +a Government."</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Disraeli disputed the accuracy of this statement.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty's word cannot be called in question, but Lord +John Russell now feels it due to his own honour humbly to ask +your Majesty for a copy of Lord Stanley's letter. He does not +propose to read the letter to the House of Commons, but to +refer to it in the statement he is compelled to make.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.302" id="pageii.302"></a>[page 302]</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell humbly requests that this representation +may be shown to Lord Stanley. He will feel what is due to the +honour of a public man.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD STANLEY ARRIVES</span> + + +<p class="indright"><i>25th February 1851.</i><br /> +(<i>Tuesday.</i>) </p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley obeyed the Queen's summons at eleven o'clock, +and seemed very much concerned when she informed him that +Lord John Russell had given up his task, as differences of +opinion, particularly on the Papal Bill, had prevented a junction +between him, Lord Aberdeen, and Sir James Graham; +that an appeal to Lord Aberdeen had been equally unsuccessful +from the same cause, viz. their difficulty in dealing with the +Papal Question; that consequently the contingency had arisen +under which Lord Stanley had promised to undertake the +formation of a Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley said his difficulties were immense, and he could +not venture to approach them unless he was sure of every support +on the part of the Crown; that he would have arrayed against +him a formidable opposition of all the talent in the country.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen assured him that he should have every Constitutional +support on her part, of which Lord Stanley repeated he +had felt sure, although the total change must be very trying to +the Queen.</p> + +<p class="ind">On his question, whether there was any hope of Lord Aberdeen +joining him and taking the Foreign Office, we had to tell +him that he must quite discard that idea. He replied, with a +sigh, that he would still try and see him; he had thought of +the Duke of Wellington taking the Foreign Office <i>ad interim</i>, +but felt that he could hardly propose that, considering the +Duke's age and infirmity; he would make an attempt to see +Lord Canning with the Queen's permission, and that failing, +could only think of Sir Stratford Canning, now at Constantinople, +which the Queen approved.</p> + +<p class="ind">He still hoped he might get Mr Gladstone to take the lead +in the House of Commons, without which assistance he must +not conceal that it was almost impossible for him to go on. Mr +Gladstone was on his way home from Paris, and he had written +to him to see him as soon as he arrived; till then he could not +promise that he would succeed to form an Administration, and +he only undertook it for the good of his country, but was afraid +of ruining his reputation.</p> + +<p class="ind">To this I rejoined that who tried to do the best by his +country need never be afraid for his reputation.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">MR DISRAELI</span> + +<p class="ind">The Queen showed Lord Stanley Lord John Russell's letter +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.303" id="pageii.303"></a>[page 303]</span> +respecting Mr Disraeli's denial of the truth of Lord John's +statement in the House of Commons yesterday.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley said it had been a very unfortunate misunderstanding, +that he had been sorry Lord John and Lord Lansdowne +should have felt it necessary to say that "he had not +<i>then</i> been prepared to form a Government," as the knowledge +of this fact, as long as there was a chance of his being called +back, could not but act injuriously to him and dispirit those +with whom he acted. He would explain all this on Friday +in the House of Lords, and had no objection to sending Lord +John a copy of his letter.</p> + +<p class="ind">We now came to <i>Measures</i>. Lord Stanley hopes to obviate +the Papal Question by a Parliamentary declaration and the +appointment in both Houses of a Committee to enquire into the +position of the Roman Catholic Church in this country; he +would diminish the Income Tax by a million, and exempt +temporary incomes; he would allow compounding for the +Window Tax and levy a moderate duty on corn, which he called +a Countervailing Duty, and tried to defend as good political +economy, on the authority of Mr M'Culloch's last edition of +"Ricardo." (I had some discussion with him, however, on +that point.)</p> + +<p class="ind">Returning to the offices to be filled, Lord Stanley said he +should have to propose Mr Disraeli as one of the Secretaries of +State. The Queen interrupted him by saying that she had not +a very good opinion of Mr Disraeli on account of his conduct +to poor Sir R. Peel, and what had just happened did not tend +to diminish that feeling; but that she felt so much Lord +Stanley's difficulties, that she would not aggravate them by +passing a sentence of exclusion on him. She must, however, +make Lord Stanley responsible for his conduct, and should she +have cause to be displeased with him when in office, she would +remind Lord Stanley of what now passed. Lord Stanley +promised to be responsible, and excused his friend for his former +bitterness by his desire to establish his reputation for cleverness +and sharpness; nobody had gained so much by Parliamentary +schooling, and he had of late quite changed his tone.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Herries would make a good Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p> + +<p class="ind">As to Ireland, he had thought of having a more ostensible +Lord-Lieutenant, whilst the business should be done by the +Secretary for Ireland. He asked the Queen whether the Duke +of Cambridge might be offered that post, which she took <i>ad +referendum</i>. The Duke of Northumberland, though not of his +Party, he should like to offer the Admiralty to.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">DISSOLUTION</span> + +<p class="ind">At the conclusion of the interview he broached the important +question of Dissolution, and said that a Dissolution would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.304" id="pageii.304"></a>[page 304]</span> +anyhow become necessary; that, if it was thought that the +Queen would withhold from him the privilege of dissolving, he +would not have the slightest chance in the House of Commons; +he would be opposed and beat, and then his adversaries would +come in and dissolve. He avowed that it could not be said +that the Queen had refused him the power of dissolving, but +he required some assurance.</p> + +<p class="ind">On the Queen's objecting to giving him a contingent positive +promise, but declaring her readiness fairly to discuss the question +when the emergency arose, he contented himself with the +permission to deny, if necessary, that she would <i>not</i> consent +to it, putting entire confidence in the Queen's intention to +deal fairly by him.</p> + +<p class="ind">I tried to convince Lord Stanley, and I hope not without +effect, of the advantage, both to the Queen and Lord Stanley +himself, that they should not be hampered by a positive engagement +on that point, which might become very inconvenient +if circumstances arose which made a Dissolution dangerous to +the country.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>25th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has seen Lord Stanley, who will let Lord John +Russell have a copy of the letter. He wishes it not to be +known or considered that he has formally undertaken to form +a Government till to-morrow, on account of the House of Lords +meeting to-day. He feels the difficulty of his position, and is +not sure yet that he will be able to complete a Ministry. To-morrow +he will give the Queen a positive answer.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Stanley.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>25th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord Stanley's letter. She had +forgotten the Levée, and was just going to write to him to +inform him that she wished to see him at eleven o'clock to-morrow.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen cannot but regret that Lord Stanley should think +Lord John Russell's explanation led to a wrong inference; for +Lord Stanley will himself recollect that he stated his objections +to her much more strongly in his first interview than he did in +writing, and as Lord Stanley so strongly advised the Queen +to try if no other arrangement could first be come to, she hardly +knows how this could otherwise have been expressed than by +the words used by Lord Lansdowne and Lord John Russell.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.305" id="pageii.305"></a>[page 305]</span> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><i>26th February 1851.</i><br /> +(<i>Wednesday.</i>) </p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley came again at eleven. The first part of the +audience, which was not long, was occupied by Lord Stanley's +trying to explain away Mr Disraeli's contradiction of Lord +John Russell, though he termed it "very unfortunate," by +saying that he wished Lord John had <i>not mentioned</i> that <i>he</i> +(Lord Stanley) "was not <i>then</i> prepared" to form a Government, +for that, though true in fact, he had <i>not</i> absolutely <i>refused</i>, +but had only advised me to <i>try</i> and make other arrangements +first. I said I thought the distinction "a very nice one," +which he admitted. What passed between us on the subject +the correspondence between Albert and Lord John will best +explain.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley then told us that he had seen the Duke of +Northumberland, who wished for time to consider; that he was +to see Lord Canning again to-day, but had no hopes of his +accepting; and that he found so many people out of Town that +he must ask for <i>forty-eight</i> hours more before he could give me +a positive answer, viz. till Friday. He added he "must not +conceal" from me that he was "not very sanguine" of success; +almost all depended on Mr Gladstone, who was expected to +arrive to-day; but that it might <i>now</i> be said (in answer to a +question of Albert's "whether in these days of nice distinctions +one <i>might</i> say that he had <i>undertaken</i> to form a Government"), +that he had <i>attempted</i> to <i>undertake</i> to <i>form a Government</i>.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD STANLEY RESIGNS</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>27th February 1851.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Four o'clock</i> <span class="sc">p.m.</span>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, awaits your Majesty's +commands at what hour he may be honoured with an audience, +to explain the grounds on which, with the deepest regret, he +feels himself under the necessity of resigning the important +trust with which your Majesty has honoured him.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir James Graham.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>27th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sanctions Sir James Graham's making any statement +to the House of Commons which he thinks necessary, to +explain the part which he and Lord Aberdeen took in the late +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.306" id="pageii.306"></a>[page 306]</span> +Ministerial negotiations, and indeed hopes that these explanations +will be as full as possible on all parts, in order that the +country may fully appreciate the difficulties of the crisis.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD STANLEY'S REASONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>27th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley arrived at half-past five o'clock. We were +struck by the change of his countenance, which had lost all the +expression of care and anxiety which had marked it at the +previous interviews.</p> + +<p class="ind">He assured the Queen that he had been labouring incessantly +since he had seen her last, but that he was sorry to say without +any success.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PAPAL BILL</span> + +<p class="ind">He had seen Mr Gladstone, who declined joining his Government +on account of his previous pledges in Parliament respecting +the Commercial Policy of Sir R. Peel, but evidently also on +account of his peculiar views with respect to the Papal Aggression, +which he did not seem disposed to look upon as in any way +objectionable.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Canning had given him some hope at one time, but +finally declined in order not to risk his credit for political consistency.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr H. Corry, whose opinions on Free Trade were by no means +decided, and who had only filled a very subordinate situation +in Sir R. Peel's Government, he had offered high office, but +was refused, Mr Corry expressing his fears that the Government +had no chance of standing against the opposition it would have +to meet in the House of Commons.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Northumberland was the only person not properly +belonging to the Protection Party who had accepted +office (First Lord of the Admiralty). At one time Lord Ellenborough +had accepted, but having been sent on a mission to +Mr Goulburn in order to see whether he could convert him, he +came home himself converted, and withdrew his acceptance +again.</p> + +<p class="ind">In this situation Lord Stanley called his friends together, +and after some discussion concurred in their opinion that it +was not possible for them to form such an Administration as +ought to be offered to the Queen. Lord Stanley then qualified +this expression again, and said that though he could have +offered a very respectable Government if he had had a majority +in the House of Commons, or the means of strengthening himself +by an immediate Dissolution, he could not form such a one +which could have withstood an adverse majority and such a +formidable array of talent in the Opposition. He therefore +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.307" id="pageii.307"></a>[page 307]</span> +returned the trust which had been committed to him into the +Queen's hands, expressing at the same time his deep sense of +gratitude for the kindness with which she had treated him, the +support and confidence she had given him, sorry only that it +should have led to no result. He thought, however, that the +prolongation of the crisis had not inconvenienced the public +service, as Her Majesty's <i>present</i> Government were constitutionally +enabled to carry on all necessary business.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen rejoined that she was very sorry that this attempt +had also failed, that she had tried every possible combination, +and still was without a Government. Lord Stanley answered +as if he considered it natural that Lord John Russell's Government +should now quietly proceed; but on the Queen's observation, +that it was now necessary that all Parties should join in +the support of some measures at least, and particularly the +Papal Bill, he stated what he was prepared to support, and +would have been prepared to propose had he taken office, viz. +a fuller recital in the preamble of the Bill and no penal clause +in the body of it. (The present Bill looked pettish and undignified, +as if framed in anger as a return for the insult, and +not a correction of the state of the law.) He thought the Law +very complex and obscure, and never found it acted upon. He +would have proposed therefore that Committees of both Houses +should enquire into the whole subject; the state of the Convents; +whether subjects were detained against their will; +whether people were forced to bequeath their property to the +Church on the deathbed, etc., etc.; he knew that the Roman +Catholic laity felt severely the oppression which the Priests +exercised over them, and would be willing to give evidence.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Stanley asked whether it could be of use if he were to +state all this in his explanation to-day, which the Queen +strongly affirmed. I added that I hoped he would explain +what he was prepared to do on all the subjects in dispute—the +Commercial and Financial Policy as well. He promised to do +so, and entered into his views on the Income Tax, which he +called a War Tax, which had been imposed for temporary +purposes only in 1842, and ought to be taken off again when +practicable in order to keep faith with the public; but if, as +often as there was a surplus, this was immediately absorbed +by remission of other burdens, this object could never be fulfilled. +He would propose that by degrees, as surpluses arose, the +Income Tax should be decreased, and so on to its final repeal.</p> + +<p class="ind">I disputed with him for some time on the advantages of an +Income Tax, but without coming to any result.</p> + +<p class="ind">On his enquiry whether there was anything else the Queen +might wish him to state—perhaps the rumour that he had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.308" id="pageii.308"></a>[page 308]</span> +been refused the power of dissolving—we agreed that he should +say the question had never been seriously entertained, but that +the Queen had been ready to give him the same support and +advantages which any other Government might have enjoyed.<sup>9</sup></p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 9: The Prince thereupon, at the Queen's request, communicated with Lord John Russell, +and after recounting to him the various successive failures to form a Government, wrote +that the Queen must "pause before she again entrusts the commission of forming an +Administration to anybody, till she has been able to see the result of to-morrow evening's +Debate." He added, "Do you see any Constitutional objection to this course?" +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to the Duke of Wellington.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>28th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Duke</span>,—Lord Stanley has likewise resigned his +task, not being able to gain over any of Sir R. Peel's friends, +and being incapable of forming a Government out of his Party +alone.</p> + +<p class="ind">So Lord John Russell has declared his inability to carry on +the Government. Lord Stanley has then declared his inability +to form one until every other combination should have +failed. We have tried all possible combinations between +Whigs and Peelites, and have not succeeded, and now Lord +Stanley throws up the game a second time! The Queen +would be happy to consult you and hear your advice in this +dilemma. Possibly to-night's Debate may define the position +of Parties more clearly, and give a clue to what may be best to +be done under the circumstances. Ever yours, etc.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>28th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—The former Cabinet meet at eleven, at Lansdowne +House.</p> + +<p class="ind">It appears to me that the Queen might with advantage see +Lord Lansdowne. He was in office with Mr Fox and Lord +Grenville in 1806; he has been distinguished and respected in +political life ever since; he is now desirous of retiring, and has +therefore no personal object to gain. If the Queen approves, +Lord Lansdowne might wait on Her Majesty soon after +twelve o'clock. I have the honour to be, Sir, your Royal +Highness's very dutiful Servant,</p> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">J. Russell</span>.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Lansdowne.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD LANSDOWNE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>28th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">It would be a great satisfaction to the Queen to hear Lord +Lansdowne's advice in the present critical state of affairs, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.309" id="pageii.309"></a>[page 309]</span> +and she would be glad if he could come to her at twelve this +morning. The Queen has sent to the Duke of Wellington in +order to hear his opinion also; but he cannot be here before +to-night, being at Strathfieldsaye.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Friday</span>, <i>28th February 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Lansdowne, who arrived at twelve o'clock, was asked +by the Queen what advice he could offer her in the present complication. +His answer was: "I wish indeed I had any good +advice to offer to your Majesty." He expressed his delight +at the Queen having sent for the Duke of Wellington. We +talked generally of the state of affairs; he agreed in a remark +of mine, that I thought the Queen should be entirely guided in +her choice of the person to construct a Government, by the +consideration which Party would now appear to be the strongest +in the House of Commons. On my asking, however, +whether he knew if, on the failure of Lord Stanley to form a +Government, part of his followers would now give up Protection +as past hope, and be prepared in future to support the +Peelite section of the Conservative Party, Lord Lansdowne +said he had heard nothing on the subject, nor could he give us +more information on the chance of the Radicals and Irish +members now being more willing to support Lord John Russell +in future. He liked Lord Stanley's plan of dealing with the +Papal Question, of which the Queen communicated to him the +outlines, was afraid of Sir J. Graham's excessive leaning towards +economy, shook his head at Lord John Russell's letter +to the Bishop of Durham<sup>10</sup> which had been instrumental in +bringing on the present crisis, and confessed that he had been +amongst those in the Cabinet who had prevented the bringing +forward of a measure of reform in the present Session. He +offered to do whatever might be most conducive to the Queen's +comfort—stay out of office, or come into office—as might be +thought the most useful.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 10: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.273" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 273</a> note 45.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">FURTHER DIFFICULTIES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>1st March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I did not write to you yesterday, +thinking I could perhaps give you some more positive news to-day, +but I <i>cannot</i>. I am still without a Government, and I am +still trying to hear and pause before I actually call to Lord +John to undertake to form, or rather more to continue, the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.310" id="pageii.310"></a>[page 310]</span> +Government. We have passed an anxious, exciting week, and +the difficulties are very peculiar; there are so many conflicting +circumstances which render coalition between those +who agree in almost everything, and in particular on <i>Free +Trade</i>, impossible, but the "Papal Question" is the real and +almost insuperable difficulty.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Lansdowne is waiting to see me, and I must go, and +with many thanks for your two kind letters, ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN RUSSELL</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>2nd March 1851.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Sunday.</i>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Lansdowne, who arrived after church, had seen Lord +John Russell and discussed with him the Memorandum which +we left with him yesterday. He had since drawn up a Memorandum +himself which embodied his views, and which he had +not yet communicated to any one. He was very apprehensive +lest to begin a new Government with an open question would +produce the greatest prejudice against it in the public; he +was still inclined therefore to recommend the continuance of +the present Government avowedly for the purpose of passing +the Papal Bill, after which the Coalition might take place, +which, however, should be agreed upon and settled at this +time. As the Duke of Wellington has not yet sent his promised +Memorandum, and Lord Lansdowne was anxious to +hear his opinion, the Queen commissioned him to appoint Lord +John Russell to come at three o'clock, and to go himself to the +Duke of Wellington.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell, who arrived at the appointed time, and +had not seen Lord Lansdowne's Memorandum yet, read it +over, and expressed great misgivings about the execution of +the proposal. He said he saw in fact, like Sir J. Graham, +nothing but difficulties. He had ascertained that his Party +by no means liked the idea of a fusion, and had been much +relieved when the attempt to form a Coalition Ministry had +failed. He was afraid that in the interval between their resuming +office and giving it up again every possible surmise +would be current who were the Ministers to be displaced, and +every possible intrigue would spring up for and against particular +members of the Cabinet. He would prefer not to make +any arrangements for the Coalition now, but merely to engage +to resign again after having carried the Papal Bill, when the +Queen could try the Coalition, and that failing, could entrust +Lord Aberdeen and Sir J. Graham with the carrying on of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.311" id="pageii.311"></a>[page 311]</span> +Government, whose chief difficulty would then be removed. +I objected to this—that his Party might feel justly aggrieved +if after their having carried him through the difficulty of the +Papal Measure, he were to throw them over and resign, and +asked him whether his Cabinet would not repent in the meantime +and wish to stay in.</p> + +<p class="ind">He answered that it would be entirely in his and Lord +Lansdowne's hands to carry out the proposed arrangements.</p> + +<p class="ind">We asked him whether it would strengthen his hands if, +instead of his only <i>accepting</i> the task of continuing the Government +till the Papal Measure had been passed, the Queen were +to make it a <i>condition</i> in <i>giving</i> him the Commission, that it +should terminate then. He replied, "Certainly." He begged, +however, to be understood not to have given a decided opinion +that the plan of "the open Question" proposed in our Memorandum +was not preferable, although he saw great objections +to that also, particularly as Sir J. Graham had reserved the +statement of his principal objections to the Papal Bill for the +second reading. He promised to draw up a Memorandum, +which he would bring to-morrow at twelve o'clock, after having +consulted some of his colleagues, and begged that it might not +be considered that he had accepted the Government till then.</p> + +<p class="ind">One of the difficulties which we likewise discussed was the +position of the financial measures which required almost immediate +attention, and still ought to be left open for the +consideration of the future Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">We agreed that the pressing on the Papal Measure was the +chief point, and that it ought to be altered to meet the objections +(as far as they are reasonable) of its opponents, strengthening +the declaratory part, however, to please Lord Stanley; +and the Queen promised to call upon Lord Stanley to give this +so modified Bill the support of himself and his Party, which +we thought she could in fairness claim after all that had +happened.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen reiterated her objections to Lord Palmerston, +and received the renewed promise that her wishes should be +attended to.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">A COALITION IMPOSSIBLE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>3rd March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell arrived at the hour appointed (twelve +o'clock), and was sorry to inform the Queen that all hope of a +Coalition must be given up. He had found that his Party was +very much averse to it. On proposing to his former colleagues +the plan of keeping Office now, and vacating it after the Aggression +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.312" id="pageii.312"></a>[page 312]</span> +Bill had passed, many of them, amongst which were Lord +Grey, Sir Charles Wood, Sir Francis Baring, declared they +would not be <i>warming-pans</i> (an expression used at the time of +the Grey-Grenville Coalition), and would resign at once. The +Duke of Wellington, whose opinion the Queen had asked, had +recommended the return of the old Cabinet to power. He +(Lord John) could therefore only advise that course, although +he was conscious that it would be a very weak Government, +and one not likely to last any length of time.</p> + +<p class="ind">He then read the Memorandum which he had drawn up and +which follows here.<sup>11</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen now asked whether Lord John proposed a +modification of his own Cabinet, to which Lord John replied, +None, except perhaps an exchange of Office between Sir C. +Wood and Sir F. Baring, if Sir Charles were to refuse bringing +in a different budget from the one he had already propounded; +he was for maintaining the Income Tax, whilst Sir Francis was +for repealing it by degrees. The Queen then reminded Lord +John of her objections to Lord Palmerston, and his promise +that Lord Palmerston should not again be thrust upon her as +Foreign Secretary. Lord John admitted to the promise, but +said he could not think for a moment of resuming office and +either expel Lord Palmerston or quarrel with him. He (Lord +John) was in fact the weakness and Lord Palmerston the +strength of the Government from his popularity with the +Radicals.... He said he was very anxious that he and Lord +Lansdowne should bear the responsibility of removing Lord +Palmerston from the Foreign Office and not the Queen; her +refusal now could only go to the country as a personal objection +on her part, and the country would be left without a Government +in consequence. On the Queen's reiterating that she +wanted to keep Lord John and get rid of Lord Palmerston, and +that it was too painful to her to be put into the situation of +having actually to <i>wish</i> the fall of her own Government, Lord +John promised to move Lord Palmerston in the Easter recess, +or to resign then himself if he should meet with difficulties; +in the meantime he must apprise Lord Palmerston of this +intention, which he could explain to him as a wish to make a +general modification of his Government. He would offer him +the Lieutenancy of Ireland or the Presidency or lead in the +House of Lords, which Lord Lansdowne would be ready to +resign. He might at that period perhaps get some of the +Radicals into office or some Peelites. The Queen finally entrusted +Lord John with the Government on these conditions.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: <i>See</i> next page.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.313" id="pageii.313"></a>[page 313]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S ADVICE</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>3rd March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Her Majesty having tried in vain the formation of a Government—first, +by Lord Stanley; second, by Lord John Russell, +Lord Aberdeen, and Sir James Graham; third, by Lord +Aberdeen; fourth, by Lord Stanley a second time—had recourse +to the advice and opinion of the Duke of Wellington. +The Duke, admitting the great qualifications for office of the +adherents of the late Sir Robert Peel, yet advises the Queen to +restore her former Ministers to office.</p> + +<p class="ind">But supposing Her Majesty to follow that advice, a further +question naturally arises: the late Government having fallen +from want of Parliamentary support, can they upon their +return be in any way strengthened, and be enabled to carry +on the public business with more power and efficiency?</p> + +<p class="ind">This might be done in three ways: first, by a Coalition +sooner or later with the Peel Party; secondly, by admitting to +office some of their own Radical supporters; thirdly, by seeking +aid from the Party which has followed Lord Stanley.</p> + +<p class="ind">The first of these courses appears the most natural. The +present Ministers are agreed with the adherents of Sir Robert +Peel on Free Trade, and on the policy which has regulated our +finances of late years. The difference between them is of a +temporary nature. But it may be doubted whether any strength +would be gained by an immediate junction with that Party.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL</span> + +<p class="ind">If such junction took place now, the Ministers coming in +must oppose their colleagues on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill—an +unseemly spectacle, a source of weakness, and probably the +beginning of strife, which would not end with the Bill in +question.</p> + +<p class="ind">If, on the other hand, the junction were delayed till the +Ecclesiastical Titles Bill is disposed of, the existing Ministry +would be divided into two portions, one of which would have +only a temporary tenure of office. Rumours, cabals, and intrigues +would have ample room to spread their mischief in such +a state of things.</p> + +<p class="ind">But finally the Whig Party in the House of Commons would +not be cordial supporters of the junction; jealousy and discontent +would soon break up the Ministry.</p> + +<p class="ind">Secondly, by admitting to office some of their Radical supporters. +This course must lead to concessions on measures +as well as men, and those concessions would provoke hostility +in other quarters. The great question of the defence of the +country is besides one of too great importance to be made a +matter of compromise.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.314" id="pageii.314"></a>[page 314]</span> + +<p class="ind">Third, by seeking aid from the Party which has followed +Lord Stanley. This cannot be done by means of official connection; +but something might be effected by adopting measures +calculated to convince the Landed Interest that their +sufferings were not disregarded.</p> + +<p class="ind">Upon the whole, if the late Ministers are invited by your +Majesty to resume office, the easiest course would be to proceed +at once with the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. That question disposed +of, it would be seen whether the Ministry had sufficient +strength to go on; if they had, they might, as occasion arose, +seek assistance from other quarters, looking to those with +whom there is the greatest agreement of opinion.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should the Ministry, on the other hand, not receive Parliamentary +support sufficient to enable them to carry on the +Government, the Queen would be in a position to form a new +Government free from the obstacles which have lately been +fatal.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>4th March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... The Queen was in hopes to have heard from Lord John +Russell this morning relative to what passed in the House of +Commons last night. She wishes likewise to hear what takes +place at the meeting of Lord John's supporters to-day. The +Queen must ask Lord John to keep her constantly informed of +what is going on, and of the temper of parties in and out of +Parliament; for no one <i>can</i> deny that the present state of +affairs is most critical; and after all that has happened it is +absolutely necessary that the Queen should not be in a state of +uncertainty, not to say of ignorance, as to what is passing. +She can else not form a just opinion of the position of affairs.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>4th March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Pray receive my warmest thanks for +two kind letters of the 28th, and my excuses for the terribly +incoherent scrawl of last Saturday. The <i>dénouement</i> of ten +days of the greatest anxiety and excitement I cannot call satisfactory, +for it holds out only the prospect of another crisis in +a very short time, and the so much wished-for union of Parties +has been again frustrated. I have been speaking <i>very strongly</i> +about Lord Palmerston to Lord John, and he has <i>promised</i> that +if the Government should still be in at Easter, then to make a +change.... Lord Stanley can never succeed <i>until</i> he gives +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.315" id="pageii.315"></a>[page 315]</span> +up Protection, which he would do, if the country decides +against him;<sup>12</sup> he has failed solely from the <i>impossibility</i> of +finding <i>one</i> single man capable to take the important Offices. +He said last night to Lord John Russell, "I am <i>l'homme impossible</i>; +they cannot come to me again." Still it would be +very desirable that there should be a strong Conservative +Party; nothing but the abandonment of Protection can bring +this to pass, and Lord Stanley cannot abandon it with honour +till <i>after</i> the <i>next Election</i>. This is the state of Parties, which +is greatly <i>erschwert</i> by the Papal Question, which divides the +Liberals and Conservatives. In short, there <i>never</i> was <i>such</i> a +<i>complicated</i> and difficult state of affairs. Ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">Stockmar has been an immense comfort to us in our trials, +and I hope you will tell him so.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 12: The Queen's judgment was amply confirmed by the events of 1852. See <i>post</i>, <a href="#pageii.404" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 404</a> +note 50. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Queen.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE NATIONAL GALLERY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>5th March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would give every facility to the selection of a +good site for a new National Gallery, and would therefore not +object to its being built on to Kensington Palace or anywhere +in Kensington Gardens; but does not see why it should exactly +be placed upon the site of the present Palace, if not for the +purpose of taking from the Crown the last available set of +apartments. She is not disposed to trust in the disposition of +Parliament or the public to give her an equivalent for these +apartments from time to time when emergencies arise. The +surrender of Kensington Palace will most likely not be thanked +for at the moment, and any new demand in consequence of +such surrender would be met with lavish abuse. As to economy +in the construction, it will most likely be best consulted +by building on a spot perfectly free and unencumbered.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>14th March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I cannot undertake to make any change in the Foreign +Office. Our Party is hardly reunited, and any break into +sections, following one man or the other, would be fatal to us. +I need not say that the Queen would suffer if it were attributed +to her desire, and that as I have no difference of opinion on +Foreign Policy, that could not fail to be the case.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.316" id="pageii.316"></a>[page 316]</span> + +<p class="ind">Upon the whole, the situation of affairs is most perplexing. +A Dissolution I fear would not improve it.</p> + +<p class="ind">I can only say that my Office is at all times at the Queen's +disposal.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have the honour to be, Sir, your Royal Highness's most +dutiful Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">J. Russell</span>.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir George Grey.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>30th March 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen approves of the draft of a letter to the Archbishop +of Canterbury. With respect to the Archbishop's letter and +the address, the Queen will receive it in the Closet. It seems +strange to propose as a remedy for the present evils in the +Church, and for its evident great disunion, <i>600</i> more churches +to be built! There ought clearly to be some security given +to those who are to encourage such a scheme against the +extension of those evils.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE GREAT EXHIBITION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>19th April 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—Lord Granville came here yesterday to speak to me +upon the order for opening the Exhibition at one o'clock on +the 1st of May. He is anxious to have the order changed, and +the season-ticket bearers admitted at eleven o'clock.</p> + +<p class="ind">I did not give him any positive opinion on the subject. But +the account he gave me of the route which the Queen will +follow in going to the Exhibition takes away the main objection +which I felt to the admission of visitors before one o'clock. +It appears there cannot well be any interruption to Her +Majesty's progress to and from the Crystal Palace on the 1st +of May.</p> + +<p class="ind">I conclude that Her Majesty will not go in the State Coach, +but in the same manner that Her Majesty goes in state to +the theatres....</p> + +<p class="ind">I feel assured there will be no undue and inconvenient +pressure of the crowd in the part of the building in which Her +Majesty may be. Colonel Wemyss and Colonel Bouverie +might easily be in attendance to request the visitors not to +crowd where the Queen is. At the same time, I am ready to +abide by the existing order, if Her Majesty wishes it to be +enforced.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have the honour to submit two private letters sent by +Lord Palmerston. I have the honour to be, Sir, your Royal +Highness's most dutiful Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">J. Russell</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.317" id="pageii.317"></a>[page 317]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duchess of Gloucester to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE OPENING CEREMONY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Gloucester House</span>, <i>2nd May 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—It is impossible to tell you how +warmly I do participate in all you must have felt yesterday, +as well as dear Albert, at everything having gone off so beautifully. +After so much anxiety and the trouble he has had, +the joy <i>must</i> be the greater.<sup>13</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The sight from my window was the gayest and the most +gratifying to witness, and to me who loves you so dearly as <i>I +do</i>, made it the more delightful. The good humour of all +around, the fineness of the day, the manner you were received +in both going and coming from the Exhibition, was quite +perfect. Therefore what must it have been in the inside of +the building!</p> + +<p class="ind">Mary and George came away in perfect <i>enchantment</i>, and +every soul I have seen describes it as the fairest sight that +ever was seen and the best-conducted <i>fête!</i> Why, G. Bathurst +told me it far surpassed the <i>Coronation</i> as to magnificence, +and we all agreed in rejoicing that the <i>Foreigners should</i> have +witnessed the affection of the <i>People</i> to <i>you</i> and <i>your +Family</i>, +and how the <i>English people</i> do <i>love</i> and respect the <i>Crown</i>. +As to Mary, she was in <i>perfect enchantment</i>, and full of how +pretty your dear little Victoria looked, and how nicely she was +dressed, and so grateful to your Mother for all her kindness +to her. I should have written to you last night, but I thought +I would not plague you with a letter until to-day, as I think +you must have been tired last night with the <i>excitement</i> of the +day. I shall ever lament the having missed such a sight, but +I comfort myself in feeling sure I could not have followed you +(as I ought) when you walked round. Therefore I was <i>better</i> +out of the way. We drank your health at dinner and <i>congratulation</i> +on the <i>complete success</i> of <i>Albert's plans</i> and <i>arrangements</i>, +and also dear little Arthur's health. Many thanks +for kind note received last night. Love to Albert. Yours,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Mary</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 13: The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park was opened with brilliant ceremony on the 1st +of May. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE GREAT EXHIBITION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>3rd May 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—... I wish you <i>could</i> have witnessed +the <i>1st May 1851</i>, the <i>greatest</i> day in our history, the <i>most +beautiful</i> and <i>imposing</i> and <i>touching</i> spectacle ever seen, and +the triumph of my beloved Albert. Truly it was astonishing, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.318" id="pageii.318"></a>[page 318]</span> +a fairy scene. Many cried, and all felt touched and impressed +with devotional feelings. It was the <i>happiest</i>, <i>proudest</i> day +in my life, and I can think of nothing else. Albert's dearest +name is immortalised with this <i>great</i> conception, <i>his</i> own, and +my <i>own</i> dear country <i>showed</i> she was <i>worthy</i> of it. The +triumph is <i>immense</i>, for up to the <i>last hour</i> the difficulties, the +opposition, and the ill-natured attempts to annoy and frighten, +of a certain set of fashionables and Protectionists, were immense; +but Albert's temper, patience, firmness, and energy +surmounted all, and the feeling is universal. <i>You</i> will be +astounded at this great work when you see it!—the beauty +of the building and the vastness of it all. I can never thank +God enough. I feel <i>so</i> happy, so proud. Our dear guests +were much pleased and impressed. You are right to like the +dear Princess, for she is a noble-minded, warm-hearted, distinguished +person, much attached to you, and who revered +dearest Louise. Oh! <i>how</i> I thought of <i>her</i> on that great day, +how kindly she would have rejoiced in our success! Now +good-bye, dearest Uncle. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Emperor of Austria.</i><sup>14</sup></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Palais de Buckingham</span>, <i>5 Mai 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire et mon bon Frère</span>,—C'est avec un vif empressement +que je viens remercier votre Majesté Impériale des superbes +objets de l'industrie et des arts de votre Empire, que vous +avez eu l'extrême bonté de m'envoyer et qui me seront bien +précieux à plus d'un titre d'abord comme venant de votre +Majesté, et puis à cause de leur grande beauté et comme un +souvenir à une époque où il a plu au Tout-Puissant de permettre +une réunion pacifique de tous les peuples du monde et +de leurs produits.</p> + +<p class="ind">La cérémonie de l'inauguration de l'Exposition a fait une +profonde impression sur mon cœur et je regrette d'avoir été +le seul Souverain qui ait pu jouir de cette scène à la fois imposante +et parlant au cœur. Nous avons déjà fait plusieurs +visites au département Autrichien et le Prince et moi avons +eu occasion d'admirer beaucoup les produits qui nous sont +venus de vos États. Puisse leur exposition contribuer à la +prospérité du commerce de l'Empire Autrichien.</p> + +<p class="ind">Agréez l'expression de ma sincère amitié, qui j'espère pourra +un jour être cimentée par la connaissance personnelle de votre +Majesté, et croyez-moi toujours, Sire, de votre Majesté Impériale, +la bonne Sœur,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 14: Francis Joseph, who became Emperor in December 1848.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.319" id="pageii.319"></a>[page 319]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">DEATH OF MR SHEIL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>2nd June 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen will see the Judge Advocate on Saturday at +three.</p> + +<p class="ind">The place of the late Mr Mill is already filled up.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Sheil's death is very sudden, and must be a great shock +to his family....</p> + +<p class="ind">We go to Windsor this afternoon to stay till Friday. We +hope that Lord John Russell's little girl is going on quite well.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has had good accounts from the dear Princess +of Prussia from Coblentz. Her letter is full of England, her +great happiness here, and her great sorrow at having left it. +The Princes have expressed the same, so this dangerous +journey has gone off without <i>one</i> single unpleasant circumstance, +which is very gratifying.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Prince and Prince Frederic are gone to Berlin, where +the statue of Frederic the Great was to be inaugurated yesterday.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>18th June 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the papers signed. We are both much +pleased at what Lord John Russell says about the Prince's +speech yesterday.<sup>15</sup> It was on so ticklish a subject that one +could not feel sure beforehand how it might be taken; at the +same time the Queen felt sure that the Prince would say the +right thing, from her entire confidence in his great tact and +judgment.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen, at the risk of not appearing sufficiently modest +(and yet, why should a wife ever be modest about her husband's +merits?), must say that she thinks Lord John Russell +will admit now that the Prince is possessed of very extraordinary +powers of mind and heart. She feels so proud at +being his wife that she cannot refrain from herself paying a +tribute to his noble character.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 15: The Prince presided at the meeting commemorative of the one hundred and fifty +years' existence of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. His speech was warmly +praised by the Premier. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>10th July 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen hastens to tell Lord John Russell how amiably +everything went off last [night], and how enthusiastically we +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.320" id="pageii.320"></a>[page 320]</span> +were received by an almost <i>fearful</i> mass of people in the +streets;<sup>16</sup> the greatest order prevailed, and the greatest and +most gratifying enthusiasm.</p> + +<p class="ind">Not being aware whether Sir George Grey is equal to any +business, the Queen writes to Lord John to direct that a +proper letter be written without delay to the Lord Mayor, +expressing not only the Queen's and Prince's thanks for the +splendid entertainment at the Guildhall, but also our high +gratification at the hearty, kind, and enthusiastic reception +we met with during our progress through the City, both +going and returning. Our only anxiety is lest any accident +should have occurred from the great pressure of the dense +crowds.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would likewise wish to know what distinction +should be conferred in honour of the occasion on the Lord +Mayor.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 16: A ball in commemoration of the Exhibition took place at the Guildhall on the 9th of +July. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>15th July 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter. She +has no objection on this particular occasion to knight the two +Sheriffs, this year being so memorable a one.</p> + +<p class="ind">But the Queen would wish it clearly to be <i>understood</i> that +they have no right or claim to be knighted whenever the +Queen goes into the City.</p> + +<p class="ind">On the occasion of the opening of the Royal Exchange the +Sheriffs were not knighted....</p> + +<p class="ind">We regret to hear of Lord John's continued indisposition.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE DANISH SUCCESSION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>25th August 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes to draw Lord John Russell's attention +to the enclosed draft, which she does not think can go in its +present shape. We argued in innumerable despatches that +the <i>choice of the successor</i> to the Danish Crown was entirely +an internal question for Denmark, in which foreign Powers +could not interfere. Here, however, it is laid down that the +German Diet has no right to treat the succession in Holstein +(a German State) as an <i>internal</i> question, as it ought to be +decided on—not according to the <i>German law of succession</i>, +but according to the interests of Europe. Nor is it true, as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.321" id="pageii.321"></a>[page 321]</span> +stated in the despatch, that the Duke of Augustenburg has +<i>no</i> claim to the Danish Crown. His mother was the daughter +of Christian VII. and of Queen Matilda.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral Castle</span>, <i>16th September 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Accept my best thanks for your kind +and dear letter of the 8th. It is a good thing for Leo to begin +to follow in your footsteps, but (if I may speak out plainly), I +think that anything like <i>fonctions</i> and <i>représentation</i> is agreeable +and <i>not</i> difficult to Leo. It is the common contact with +his fellow-creatures, the being put on a par with him, the +being brought to feel that he is as much <i>one</i> of them as any +other, in spite of his birth, which I think of such great importance +for him, and I therefore hope you will send him to <i>Bonn</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">My letter is terribly <i>décousu</i>, for it has been twice interrupted. +I was out the whole day with Albert, in the forest in a perfectly +tropical heat. Since we went to Allt-na-Giuthasach, our little +bothy near Loch Muich on the 12th, the heat of the sun has +been daily increasing, and has reached a pitch which makes +it almost sickening to be out in it, though it is beautiful to +behold. The sky these last two evenings has been like an +Italian one, and for the last few days—at least the last four—without +the slightest particle of cloud, and the sun blazing. +With this, not a breath of air. The mountains look quite +crimson and lilac, and everything glows with the setting sun. +The evenings are quite a <i>relief</i>. Really one cannot undertake +expeditions, the heat is so great. We thought of you, and +wished you could be here; you would fancy yourself in Italy.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert got a splendid stag to-day. I must hastily conclude, +hoping to hear from you that you <i>will come</i>. Our moonlights +have been magnificent also. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral Castle</span>, <i>22nd September 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I write to you on purpose on this +large paper in order that you may see and admire it. Landseer +did it also on purpose, and I think it is even finer than the +other. It is so truly the character of the noble animal.</p> + +<p class="ind">That abuse of the poor Orleans family in our papers is +abominable, and Lord John is equally shocked at it, but +won't interfere. Don't you think Joinville should not have +left it open for him to accept it, for it is <i>impossible</i> for <i>him</i> to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.322" id="pageii.322"></a>[page 322]</span> +be <i>President</i> of the French Republic? Still, I feel convinced +that he and they <i>all</i> do what they think best for <i>France</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Shiel of Allt-na-Giuthasach</span>, <i>30th September 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I write to you from our little bothy +in the hills, which is quite a wilderness—where we arrived +yesterday evening after a long hill expedition to the Lake of +Loch Nagar, which is one of the wildest spots imaginable. It +was very cold. To-day it pours so that I hardly know if we +shall be able to get out, or home even. We are not <i>snowed</i>, +but <i>rained up</i>. Our little Shiel is very snug and comfortable, +and we have got a little piano in it. Lady Douro is with us.</p> + +<p class="ind">Many thanks for your kind letter of the 22nd. Our warm, +fine weather left us on the 25th, and we have had storm and +snow in the mountains ever since then.</p> + +<p class="ind">The position of Princes is no doubt difficult in these times, +but it would be much less so if they would behave honourably +and straightforwardly, giving the people gradually those +privileges which would satisfy all the reasonable and well-intentioned, +and would weaken the power of the Red Republicans; +instead of that, <i>reaction</i> and a return to all the tyranny +and oppression is the cry and the principle—and all papers +and books are being seized and prohibited, as in the days of +Metternich!...</p> + +<p class="ind">Vicky was kicked off her pony—a quiet beast—but not the +least hurt; this is more than three weeks ago. Alfred (whom +you will recollect I told you was so terribly heedless and +entirely indifferent to all punishment, etc.) tumbled downstairs +last week. He was not seriously hurt at all, and quite +well the next morning, only with a terribly black, green, and +yellow face and very much swelled. He might have been +killed; he is always bent upon self-destruction, and one hardly +knows what to do, for he don't mind being hurt or scolded or +punished; and the very next morning he tried to go down the +stairs leaning over the banisters just as he had done when he +fell.</p> + +<p class="ind">Alas! this will be my last letter but one from the dear +Highlands. We start on the 7th, visiting Liverpool and Manchester +on our way back, and expect to be at Windsor on the +11th.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.323" id="pageii.323"></a>[page 323]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE HIGHLANDS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral Castle</span>, <i>6th October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Only two words can I write to you, +as we are to start to-morrow morning. My heart is <i>bien gros</i> +at going from here.</p> + +<p class="ind">I love my peaceful, wild Highlands, the glorious scenery, +the dear good people who are much attached to us, and who +feel their <i>Einsamkeit</i> sadly, very much. One of our Gillies, a +young Highlander who generally went out with me, said, +in answer to my observation that they must be very dull here +when we left: "It's just like death come all at once." In +addition to my sorrow at leaving this dear place, I am in great +sorrow at the loss of a dear and faithful, excellent friend, whom +you will sincerely lament—our good Lord Liverpool. He was +well and in the highest spirits with us only six weeks ago, and +in three days he was carried away. I cannot tell you <i>how</i> it +has upset me; I have known him so long, and he was such an +intimate friend of ours. We received the news yesterday.</p> + +<p class="ind">Many thanks for your kind letter of the 29th. I am glad all +went off so well, but it must have been dreadful to miss dearest +Louise. This time reminds me so much of all our sorrow last +year on her dear account.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>13th October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns Lord Howden's letter, and thinks that +the best answer to the Queen of Spain's request will be that +the Statutes do not allow the Garter to be bestowed upon a +lady; that the Queen herself possesses no order of knighthood +from any country.<sup>17</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">With reference to the claim for the King arising out of the +Prince having received the Fleece, it may be well to say that +the offer of the Fleece had in the first instance been declined +for fear of establishing a ground for the necessity of giving the +Garter in return, and was at its second offer accepted by the +Prince, together with the first orders of almost every country, +on the understanding that no return would be expected. It would +have been impossible to give the Garter to every +Sovereign, and very difficult to make a selection. The Queen +of Spain ought to be made aware of the fact that among the +reigning Sovereigns, the Emperors of Austria and Brazil, and +the Kings of Sweden, Denmark, Bavaria, Holland, Sardinia, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.324" id="pageii.324"></a>[page 324]</span> +Naples, Greece, etc., etc., have not got the Garter, although +many of them have expressed a wish for it, and that amongst +the Kings Consort, the King of Portugal, the Queen's first +cousin, has not received it yet, although the Queen has long +been anxious to give it to him.</p> + +<p class="ind">Anything short of these explanations might offend, or leave +the claim open to be repeated from time to time.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 17: The Queen of Spain had expressed a desire through Lord Howden to receive the +Order of the Garter. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">EXTENSION OF THE FRANCHISE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>14th October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Carlisle, Lord Minto, and Sir Charles Wood are appointed +a Committee to consider of the extension of the +Suffrage. They meet to-morrow. Lord John Russell expects +to see Mr Peel to-morrow. It is proposed that Parliament +should meet on the 3rd or 5th of February....</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>14th October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen does not consider the Committee appointed to +consider the extension of the Franchise a very strong one. +Will Lord Carlisle be up to the peculiar business?</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i><sup>18</sup></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">KOSSUTH IN ENGLAND</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>29th October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen concludes Lord John Russell has read the accounts +of Kossuth's arrival in to-day's papers.</p> + +<p class="ind">She wishes Lord John could still try to prevent Lord Palmerston +from receiving him. The effect it will have abroad will +do us immense harm. At all events, Lord John should take +care to have it understood that the Government have not +sanctioned it, and that it is a private act of Lord Palmerston's.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen will else have again to submit to insults and +affronts, which are the result of Lord Palmerston's conduct.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: Substance of the note to Lord John Russell, written down from recollection.</p> + + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>24th October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and is sorry to say he can interfere no further with respect to +Lord Palmerston's reception of Kossuth.</p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to the manner of the reception, however, he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.325" id="pageii.325"></a>[page 325]</span> +will write to Lord Palmerston to desire him to take care that +nothing is said which goes beyond the strict expression of +thanks for the efforts made by the British Government to +procure first the safety, and next the liberty, of Kossuth.</p> + +<p class="ind">As for the reception, it is to be considered that Kossuth is +considered the representative of English institutions against +despotism.</p> + +<p class="ind">If this were so the public feeling would be laudable.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge,</span> <i>31st October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; +he has the honour to submit to your Majesty a correspondence<sup>19</sup> +which has taken place between Lord Palmerston and himself.</p> + +<p class="ind">After Lord Palmerston's answer, Lord John Russell can +have but little hope that Lord Palmerston will not see M. +Kossuth. Lord John Russell cannot separate the private from +the public man in this instance; the reception of Kossuth, if it +takes place, will be a reception by your Majesty's Secretary of +State for Foreign Affairs. Whether that reception is to take +place in Downing Street or Carlton Terrace does not appear +to him material.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell would, as a last resource, humbly advise +your Majesty to command Lord Palmerston not to receive +M. Kossuth.</p> + +<p class="ind">It appears to him that your Majesty owes this mark of +respect to your Majesty's ally, and generally to all States at +peace with this country.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has no other copy of this letter to Lord +Palmerston.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 19: Lord Palmerston wished to receive Kossuth at the Foreign Office. In the correspondence +here referred to, which will be found in Russell's <i>Life</i>, the Premier "positively +requested" Lord Palmerston to decline to receive Kossuth. The rejoinder, written while +the messenger waited, was: "There are limits to all things. I do not choose to be dictated +to as to who I may or may not receive in my own house.... I shall use my own discretion.... +You will, of course, use yours as to the composition of your Government." +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">KOSSUTH AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>31st October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter, and +returns the enclosures. She likewise sends him her letter +to Lord Palmerston, which she begs him to send on, merely +changing the label. She must tell Lord John, however, that +although <i>he</i> may go on with a <i>colleague</i>, even after having +received an answer like the one Lord Palmerston has returned +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.326" id="pageii.326"></a>[page 326]</span> +to the many entreaties not to compromise the Government +by his personal act, the Queen cannot expose herself to having +her positive commands disobeyed by one of her public servants, +and that should Lord Palmerston persist in his intention he +cannot continue as her Minister. She refrains from any expression +upon Lord Palmerston's conduct in this matter, as +Lord John is well aware of her feelings.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i><sup>20</sup></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>31st October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen mentioned to Lord Palmerston when he was last +here at Windsor Castle that she thought it would not be +advisable that he should receive M. Kossuth upon his arrival +in England, as being wholly unnecessary, and likely to be +misconstrued abroad. Since M. Kossuth's arrival in this +country, and his violent denunciations of two Sovereigns with +whom we are at peace, the Queen thinks that she owes it as a +mark of respect to her Allies, and generally to all States at +peace with this country, not to allow that a person endeavouring +to excite a political agitation in this country against her +Allies should be received by her Secretary of State for Foreign +Affairs. Whether such a reception should take place at his +official or private residence can make no difference as to the +public nature of the act. The Queen must therefore demand +that the reception of M. Kossuth by Lord Palmerston should +not take place.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 20: Draft sent to Lord John Russell.</p> + + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>31st October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +Since writing to your Majesty this morning it has occurred to +him that it will be best that your Majesty should not give any +commands to Lord Palmerston on his sole advice.</p> + +<p class="ind">With this view he has summoned the Cabinet for Monday, +and he humbly proposes that your Majesty should await their +advice.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON AND THE QUEEN</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>31st October 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord John Russell's letter. +She thinks it natural that Lord John should wish to bring a +matter which may cause a rupture in the Government before +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.327" id="pageii.327"></a>[page 327]</span> +the Cabinet, but thinks his having summoned the Cabinet only +for Monday will leave Lord Palmerston at liberty in the intermediate +time to have his reception of Kossuth, and then rest +on his <i>fait accompli</i>. Unless, therefore, Lord John Russell can +bind him over to good conduct, all the mischief which is apprehended +from this step of his will result; and he will have, +moreover, the triumph of having carried his point, and having +set the Prime Minister at defiance....</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge,</span> <i>1st November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; +he is deeply sensible of your Majesty's kindness and indulgence. +He feels that he is at times overwhelmed by the importance +and variety of the questions of which the principal weight lies +upon him.</p> + +<p class="ind">He now lays before your Majesty a copy of the letter he has +written to Lord Palmerston.<sup>21</sup> With a grateful sense of your +Majesty's confidence, he is now of opinion that the Cabinet +should decide, and that no part of the burden should be placed +upon your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">He therefore returns the letter to Lord Palmerston.</p> + +<p class="ind">He summoned the Cabinet for Monday, as so many members +of it are at a distance. He does not think Lord Palmerston +will come to town before Monday.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 21: The letter is printed in Lord Palmerston's <i>Life</i>. The Premier stated that the question, +being one of grave public importance, must be decided by argument, not passion, and would +be considered by the Cabinet on the following Monday. <i>See</i> Walpole's <i>Russell</i>, chap. xxii. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>1st November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge Lord John Russell's letter +of this day, and returns the copy of his to Lord Palmerston. +She feels that she has the right and the duty to demand that +one of her Ministers should not by his private acts, compromise +her and the country, and therefore omitted in her letter to Lord +Palmerston all reference to Lord John Russell's opinion; but +she of course much prefers that she should be protected from +the wilful indiscretions of Lord Palmerston by the attention +of the Cabinet being drawn to his proceedings without her +personal intervention.<sup>22</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: The Cabinet met, and having listened to the statement of the Premier, which is +printed in his <i>Life</i>, unanimously supported him. Lord Palmerston accordingly gave +way for the time being. Lord John informed the Queen of the result. +</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.328" id="pageii.328"></a>[page 328]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>3rd November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord John Russell's letter. +She is very glad to hear that this matter has been amicably +arranged, and she trusts that Lord Palmerston will act according +to his promises.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>11th November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends this draft to Lord John Russell, as she +thinks the tone in which it is written so very ironical, and not +altogether becoming for a public despatch from the English +Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to be given to the Minister of +another State. The substance is quite right, and a dignified +explanation of the absurdity of the conduct of the Parma +officials would very likely produce its effect, but some expressions +in this draft could only tend to irritate, and therefore +prevent that readiness to comply with our demand, which is +to be produced.<sup>23</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 23: Before ten days had elapsed, Lord Palmerston had resumed his high-handed methods.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>20th November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must write to-day to Lord John Russell on a +subject which causes her much anxiety. Her feelings have +again been deeply wounded by the official conduct of her +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs since the arrival of M. +Kossuth in this country. The Queen feels the best interests +of her people, the honour and dignity of her Crown, her public +and personal obligations towards those Sovereigns with whom +she <i>professes</i> to be on terms of peace and amity, most unjustifiably +exposed. The Queen has unfortunately very often +had to call upon Lord John to check his colleague in the +dangerous and unbecoming course which at various times he +has so wilfully persevered in pursuing. But Lord John Russell, +although agreeing on most of these occasions with the view +taken by the Queen, has invariably met her remonstrances +with the plea that to push his interference with Lord Palmerston +beyond what he had done would lead to a rupture with +him, and thus necessarily to a breaking up of the Cabinet. +The Queen, considering a change of her Government under +present political circumstances dangerous to the true interests +of the nation, had only to choose between two evils, without +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.329" id="pageii.329"></a>[page 329]</span> +possessing sufficient confidence in her own judgment to decide +which in its political consequences would turn out the least. +But if in such a contingency the Queen chooses rather not to +insist upon what is due to her, she thinks it indispensable at the +same time to express to her Cabinet that she does so on their +account, leaving it to them to reconcile the injuries done to her +with that sound policy and conduct which the maintenance of +peace and the welfare of the country require. These remarks +seem to be especially called for after the report of the official +interview between Lord Palmerston and the deputation from +Finsbury,<sup>24</sup> and the Queen requests Lord John Russell to bring +them under the notice of the Cabinet.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 24: After Kossuth's departure, addresses of thanks to Lord Palmerston, for his courteous +attentions to Kossuth, were voted by ultra-Radical meetings in Finsbury and Islington, +and he allowed a deputation to present the addresses to him at the Foreign Office, the +Emperors of Austria and Russia being stigmatised therein as "odious and detestable +assassins" and "merciless tyrants and despots." Palmerston, who expressed himself as +"extremely flattered and highly gratified" by the references to himself, did not in terms +reprehend the language used of the two Sovereigns, and added, in a phrase immortalised +by Leech's cartoon, that "a good deal of judicious bottle-holding was obliged to be brought +into play." +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge,</span> <i>21st November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +He had the honour of receiving last night your Majesty's communication +respecting Lord Palmerston.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presumes that it is the substance of this +communication which your Majesty wishes to be laid before the +Cabinet.</p> + +<p class="ind">But before doing so he cannot refrain from mentioning some +circumstances which appear to him to weigh materially in the +consideration of Lord Palmerston's conduct.</p> + +<p class="ind">In many instances Lord Palmerston has yielded to the +remonstrances of Lord John Russell, supported as they have +been by your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">He did so on the question of furnishing guns to the Sicilians.</p> + +<p class="ind">He did so in respect to the letter to Baron Koller on the +affair of Count Haynau.</p> + +<p class="ind">He gave way likewise in this last instance, when, after assuring +Lord Dudley Stuart that he would see Kossuth whenever +he chose to call upon him, he consented to intimate privately +to Lord Dudley that he requested him not to call.</p> + +<p class="ind">This last concession must have been mortifying to Lord +Palmerston, and he has consoled himself in a manner not very +dignified by giving importance to the inflated addresses from +some meetings in the suburbs of London.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.330" id="pageii.330"></a>[page 330]</span> + +<p class="ind">But it appears to Lord John Russell that every Minister +must have a certain latitude allowed him which he may use, +perhaps with indiscretion, perhaps with bad taste, but with no +consequence of sufficient importance to deserve notice.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell must, however, call your Majesty's attention +to an article in the <i>Morning Post</i>, which denies the accuracy +of the report of Lord Palmerston's answer to what is there +called "the froth and folly of an address to Downing Street."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell, in admitting that he has more than once +represented to your Majesty that the expulsion of Lord Palmerston +would break up the Government, begs to explain that he +has always done so upon one of two grounds:</p> + +<p class="ind">First, if Lord Palmerston should be called upon by your +Majesty to resign on account of a line of Foreign Policy of +which his colleagues had approved, and for which they were, +with him, responsible.</p> + +<p class="ind">Second, in case no difference of opinion had arisen, and the +transaction should bear the character of an intrigue, to get rid +of an inconvenient colleague.</p> + +<p class="ind">It must be remembered that Lord Palmerston was recommended +to the late King by Lord Grey as Foreign Secretary, +and remained in that Office from 1830 to 1834; that he was +afterwards replaced in the same Office by Lord Melbourne, and +remained from 1835 to 1841.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has thus represented the Foreign Policy of the Whig +Party fifteen years, and has been approved not only by them +but by a large portion of the country. In the advice which +Lord John Russell has humbly tendered to your Majesty, he +has always had in view the importance of maintaining the +popular confidence which your Majesty's name everywhere +inspires. Somewhat of the good opinion of the Emperor of +Russia and other foreign Sovereigns may be lost, but the good +will and affection of the people of England are retained, a great +security in these times.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has made out a note of his address to the +Cabinet for your Majesty's information. He prays to have it +returned.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle,</span> <i>21st November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter and +returns the note on his former communication to the Cabinet. +If Lord John felt on the 3rd of November that "above all, it +behoves us to be particularly cautious and not to afford just +ground of complaint to any Party, and that we cannot be too +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.331" id="pageii.331"></a>[page 331]</span> +vigilant or weigh our proceedings too scrupulously"—the +Queen cannot suppose that Lord John considers the official +reception by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of +addresses, in which allied Sovereigns are called Despots and +Assassins, as within that "latitude" which he claims for every +minister, "which he may use perhaps with indiscretion, perhaps +with bad taste, but with no consequence of sufficient +importance to deserve notice."</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen leaves it to Lord John Russell whether he will +lay her letter, or only the substance of it, before the Cabinet;<sup>25</sup> +but she hopes that they will make that careful enquiry into the +justice of her complaint which she was sorry to miss altogether +in Lord John Russell's answer. It is no question with the +Queen whether she pleases the Emperor of Austria or not, but +whether she gives him a just ground of complaint or not. And +if she does so, she can never believe that this will add to her +popularity with her own people. Lord John's letter must +accordingly have disappointed her as containing a mere attempt +at a defence of Lord Palmerston. Lord John sees one cause of +excuse in Lord Palmerston's natural desire to console himself +for the mortification of having had to decline seeing M. Kossuth; +the Queen has <i>every reason to believe</i> that he has seen him +after all.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 25: On the 4th of December the matter came before the Cabinet. No formal resolution +was adopted, but regret was expressed at Palmerston's want of caution in not ascertaining +in advance the tenor of the addresses, and in admitting unreliable reporters. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">DEATH OF KING OF HANOVER</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>21st November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord Palmerston's letter with +the Memorandum relative to the mourning of her Uncle, the late +King of Hanover,<sup>26</sup> and she has to say in reply that she thinks +the mourning ought not to be for a Foreign Sovereign but for a +Prince of the Blood Royal, which was the nearest relation in +which he stood to the Throne.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 26: King Ernest died on the 18th of November, aged eighty, and was succeeded by his +son, King George V., who reigned till 1866, and died in 1878. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of Hanover.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>21st November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear George</span>,—Your kind letter of the 18th, announcing +to me the melancholy news of the death of your Father, +was given to me yesterday by Mr Somerset, and I hasten to +express to you in both our names our sincere and heartfelt +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.332" id="pageii.332"></a>[page 332]</span> +condolence, and beg you to do so in our names to our dear +Cousin Mary.<sup>27</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">It must be a consolation to you that the end of the King was +peaceful and so free from pain and suffering. Most truly do I +enter into your feelings as to the responsible position into +which you are now placed, and my best wishes for your welfare +and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'happness'">happiness</ins> as well as that of Hanover will ever accompany +you. I am happy to hear from Mr Somerset that you were +well, as well as your dear Mary and dear children.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert desires me to say everything kind from him to you as +well as to our cousins, and with every possible good wish for +your health and prosperity, believe me always, my dear George, +your very affectionate Cousin,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 27: Princess Mary of Saxe-Altenburg (1818-1907), wife of King George V. of Hanover. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>22nd November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your +Majesty and has taken the proper steps according to your +Majesty's commands, about the mourning for the late King of +Hanover; and he would wish to know whether it is your +Majesty's desire that he should have letters prepared for your +Majesty's signature, announcing to Foreign Sovereigns the +decease of the late King.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>22nd November 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord Palmerston's letter.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen does not think it necessary for her to announce +the King of Hanover's death to other Sovereigns, as there is a +head of that branch of her Family who would have to do so. +She declared the present King's marriage in Council, but she +does not think that she announced it. This Lord Palmerston +would perhaps be able to ascertain at the Office.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE REFORM QUESTION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>3rd December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter of the +30th ult., and has carefully considered his Memorandum on the +report of the Committee of the Cabinet; she now returns Sir +Charles Wood's Memorandum.</p> + +<p class="ind">Considering the question of Reform under its two bearings—on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.333" id="pageii.333"></a>[page 333]</span> +the Franchise and on the Suffrage—the Queen thinks the +proposal of merely adding neighbouring towns to the small +boroughs an improvement on the original plan, which contemplated +the taking away of members from some boroughs, and +giving them to others. Thus the animosity may be hoped to be +avoided which an attack upon vested interests could not have +failed to have produced. Much will depend, however, upon the +completeness, fairness, and impartiality with which the selection +of the towns will be made which are to be admitted into +the electoral district of others. Sir Charles Wood's Memorandum +being only a sketch, the Queen hopes to see a more complete +list, stating the principle also upon which the selection is +made.</p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to the Suffrage, the proposals of the Committee +appear to the Queen to be framed with a due regard to the +importance of not giving an undue proportion of weight to +the Democracy. In the Queen's opinion, the chief question +to consider will be whether the strengthening of the Democratic +principle will upset the balance of Constitution, and further +weaken the Executive, which is by no means too strong at +present. The Queen is well aware of the difficulty of forming a +correct estimate beforehand of the moral effect which such +extensive changes may produce, but thinks that they cannot +even be guessed at before the numerical results are accurately +ascertained; she hopes therefore that the statistics will be +soon in a state to be laid before her.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen regrets that the idea of reviving the Guilds had +to be abandoned, but can quite understand the difficulty which +would have been added to the measure by its being clogged +with such an additional innovation.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>2nd December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Accept my best thanks for your kind +letter of the 28th. I am truly grieved to hear that you have +got so bad a cold; nothing is more trying and annoying than +those heavy colds, which render <i>all</i> occupation irksome and +trying in the highest degree. I hope that it will soon be past.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is a great pity that you do not venture to come to us, as I +am sure you might do it easily. I do not think that there will +be any outburst yet awhile in France....</p> + +<p class="ind">I am rather unhappy about dear Uncle Mensdorff, who, I +hear, has arrived at Vienna with gout in his head. I hope, +however, soon to hear of his being much better....</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.334" id="pageii.334"></a>[page 334]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE COUP D'ÉTAT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>4th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Uncle</span>,—I must write a line to ask what you say +to the <i>wonderful</i> proceedings at Paris, which really seem like +a <i>story</i> in a book or a play! What is to be the result of it all?<sup>28</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">I feel ashamed to have written <i>so positively</i> a few hours before +that nothing would happen.</p> + +<p class="ind">We are anxiously waiting for to-day's news—though I should +hope that the Troops were to be depended upon, and <i>order</i> for +the present would prevail. I hope that none of the Orleans +Family will move a limb or say a word, but remain perfectly +passive.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 28: On the 2nd of December, Louis Napoleon seized the Government of France, arrested +his chief opponents, put an end to the National Assembly and Council of State, and +declared Paris in a state of siege. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>4th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has learnt with surprise and concern the events +which have taken place at Paris.<sup>29</sup> She thinks it is of great +importance that Lord Normanby should be instructed to remain +entirely passive, and to take no part whatever in what is +passing. Any word from him might be misconstrued at such +a moment.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 29: On the 3rd the tidings of the <i>coup d'état</i> reached London. Count Walewski announced +it to Lord Palmerston, who expressed his approval of it, and wrote to Lord Normanby +the letter printed in his <i>Life</i>, disavowing surprise that the President had struck the blow +when he did, "for it is now well known here that the Duchess of Orleans was preparing +to be called to Paris this week with her younger son to commence a new period of Orleans +dynasty." +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>4th December 1851.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(6 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your +Majesty. Your Majesty's directions respecting the state +of affairs in Paris shall be followed. Lord Normanby<sup>30</sup> has +asked whether he should suspend his diplomatic functions; +but the Cabinet were unanimously of opinion that he should +not do so.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.335" id="pageii.335"></a>[page 335]</span> + +<p class="ind">The result is very uncertain; at present the power is likely +to rest in the Army, to whose memory of victories and defeats +the President has so strongly appealed.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 30: Lord Normanby, having applied for instructions as to his future conduct, was desired +to make no change in his relations with the French Government, and to abstain from even +the appearance of interference in her internal affairs. Having made a communication +to this effect to M. Turgot, the latter replied that M. Walewski had notified to him that +Lord Palmerston had already expressed to him his "entire approbation of the act +of the President," and his "conviction that he could not have acted otherwise." +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LOUIS NAPOLEON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>5th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—Receive my best thanks for +your dear gracious letter of the 2nd, the date of the battle +of Austerlitz, and the <i>coup d'état</i> at Paris. What do you say +to it?</p> + +<p class="ind">As yet one cannot form an opinion, but I am inclined to +think that Louis Bonaparte will succeed. The country is +tired and wish quiet, and if they get it by this <i>coup d'état</i> they +will have no objection, and let <i>le Gouvernement Parlementaire +et Constitutionnel</i> go to sleep for a while.</p> + +<p class="ind">I suspect that the great Continental powers will see a military +Government at Paris with pleasure; they go rather far in their +hatred of everything Parliamentary. The President takes a +little of Napoleon already. I understand that he expressed +himself displeased, as if I had too much supported the +Orleans Family. I render perfect justice to the President, +that hitherto he has not plagued us; but we have also +abstained from all interference. I think that Hélène has +been imprudent; besides, it is difficult for the poor Family +to avoid to speak on these subjects or to express themselves +with mildness.</p> + +<p class="ind">If something like an Empire establishes itself, perhaps we +shall for a time have much to suffer, as the <i>gloire française</i> invariably +looks to the old frontiers. My hope is that they will +necessarily have much to do at home, for a time, as parties will +run high.... Your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>6th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge Lord John Russell's letter of +yesterday. She is glad to hear that the Cabinet occupy themselves +assiduously with the Reform Question, but hopes that +they will not come to a final decision without having first +ascertained how the proposed plan will operate when practically +applied to the present state of the Franchise and Suffrage. The +Queen is very anxious to arrive at a definite opinion on this +subject herself.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sees from the Manchester Speeches that the <i>Ballot</i> +is to be made the stalking-horse of the Radicals.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.336" id="pageii.336"></a>[page 336]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Marchioness of Normanby to Colonel Phipps.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S LETTERS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Paris</span>, <i>7th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Charles</span>,—I have an opportunity of writing to you +<i>not</i> through the Foreign Office, which I shall take advantage of, +as at present the Post is not to be trusted, and I am afraid I do +not think the Office is either.</p> + +<p class="ind">Palmerston has taken lately to writing in the most extraordinary +manner to Normanby.<a id="footnotetagXX31" name="footnotetagXX31"></a><a href="#footnoteXX31"><sup>31</sup></a> I think he wants to fix +a quarrel with him, which you may be sure Normanby will +avoid at present, as it would have the worst possible effect; +but I do not understand it at all, and I wish you could in any +way explain what it means. Palmerston seems very angry +because Normanby does not unqualifyingly approve of this +step here, and the results; the whole thing is so completely +a <i>coup d'état</i>, and all the proceedings are so contrary to and +devoid of law and justice and security, that even the most +violent Tory would be staggered by them. (For instance, +to-day <i>all</i> the English papers, even Normanby's, are stopped +and prohibited; they will of course allow Normanby's to come, +but it is to be under an envelope), and yet Palmerston, who +quarrels with all Europe about a political adventurer like +Kossuth, because he was defending the liberties and constitution +of his country, now tries to quarrel with Normanby, and +really writes in the most impertinent manner, because Normanby's +despatches are not sufficiently in praise of Louis +Napoleon and his <i>coup d'état</i>. There must be some <i>dessous +des cartes</i> that we are not aware of. Normanby has always +said, having been undertaken, the only thing now is to hope +and pray it may be successful; but that is another thing to +approving the way it was begun, or the way it has been carried +out. The bloodshed has been dreadful and indiscriminate, no +quarter was shown, and when an insurgent took refuge in a +house, the soldiers killed every one in the house, whether engaged +in the <i>émeute</i> or not.... It is very doubtful whether +Normanby will be able to go on with [Palmerston] if this sort +of thing continues, for he talks of "I hear this" and "I am +told that," with reference to Normanby's conduct here, which +no man in his position can stand, as, if Palmerston takes the +<i>on-dits</i> of others, and not Normanby's own accounts, there is +an end of confidence; but I must say his last letter appears +to me a sort of exuberance of anger, which spends itself on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.337" id="pageii.337"></a>[page 337]</span> +many subjects rather than the one which first caused it, and +therefore I suspect he has received some rap on the knuckles +at home, which he resents here, or on the first person who is +not of the same opinion as himself; but it is a curious anomaly +that he should quarrel with Normanby in support of arbitrary +and absolute Government. All is quiet here now, and will, I +hope, continue so till the Elections, when I suppose we may +have some more <i>émeutes</i>....</p> + +<p class="ind">They have been told at the Clubs that they may meet, but +they are not to talk politics. In short, I do not suppose that +despotism ever reached such a pitch.... You may suppose +what the French feel; it serves them all quite right, but that +does not prevent one's feeling indignant at it. And this is +what Palmerston is now supporting without restriction. We +are entirely without any other news from England from any +one. Would you not send me or Normanby a letter through +Rothschild? I am rather anxious to know whether this is a +general feeling in England; it could not be, if they know all +that had happened here. Mind, I can quite understand the +policy of keeping well with Louis Napoleon, and Normanby is +so, and has never expressed to any one a hostile opinion except +in his despatches and private letters to Palmerston.... I +shall send this by a private hand, not to run the risk of its +being read. Ever yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">M. Normanby</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;"><a id="footnoteXX31" name="footnoteXX31"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXX31">Footnote 31:</a> On the 6th, Lord Palmerston wrote to Lord Normanby the strange letter printed by +Mr Evelyn Ashley in the <i>Life</i>, censuring Lord Normanby's supposed hostility to the French +President; Lord Normanby in reply defended his attitude, and asked for an explicit +statement as to the Foreign Secretary's approval or otherwise of the conduct and policy +of the President. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">AFFAIRS IN FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>9th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Uncle</span>,—Your kind letter of the 5th reached me on +Sunday morning. Much blood has been shed since you wrote....</p> + +<p class="ind">What you say about arbitrary and military Government in +France is very true, and I daresay will do for a time; but I do +not know <i>how</i> Louis Napoleon is to proceed, or how he will get +over the anger and enmity of those he imprisoned. Still, I see +that the Legitimists have all given in their adhesion. Every +one in France and elsewhere <i>must wish</i> order, and many therefore +rally round the President.</p> + +<p class="ind">A most extraordinary report was mentioned to me yesterday, +which, however, I never could believe, and which is +besides <i>physically impossible</i>, from the illness of the one and +the absence of the other, viz. that Joinville and Aumale had +gone or were going to Lille to put themselves at the head of the +troops,<sup>32</sup> which would be a terrible and a very unwise thing. +It would be very awkward for <i>you</i> too.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.338" id="pageii.338"></a>[page 338]</span> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude, hoping soon to hear from you. You +should urge the poor Orleans family to be very prudent in what +they say about passing events, as I believe Louis Napoleon is +very <i>sore</i> on the subject, and matters might get still worse. +Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 32: Mr Borthwick, of the <i>Morning Post</i>, had so stated to Lord Palmerston on the authority +of General de Rumigny; seven years later Palmerston wrote the Memorandum on the +subject printed in his <i>Life</i>. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Marchioness of Normanby to Colonel Phipps.<a id="footnotetagXX33" name="footnotetagXX33"></a><a href="#footnoteXX33"><sup>33</sup></a></i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON AND NORMANBY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Paris</span>, <i>9th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Charles</span>,—I had written a long letter to the +Queen, and upon second thoughts I have burnt it, because +events have now become so serious between Normanby and +Palmerston that I do not think that I should be the person to inform +Her Majesty of it, in case anything was to be said upon the +subject in Parliament. And yet as the affront has been given +in Palmerston's private letters, I feel sure she does not know it. +You have all probably seen Normanby's public despatches, +in which, though as an Englishman he deprecates and +deplores the means employed and the pledges broken—in +short, the unconstitutional illegality of the whole <i>coup d'état</i>—yet +he always says, seeing now no other refuge from Rouge +ascendency, he hopes it may succeed. One would have supposed, +from the whole tenor of his policy, from his Radical +tendencies, and all that he has been doing lately, that Palmerston +would have been the last person to approve of this <i>coup +d'état</i>. Not a bit! He turns upon Normanby in the most +flippant manner; almost accuses him of a concealed knowledge +of an Orleanist plot—never whispered here, nor I believe, +even imagined by the Government of Paris, who would +have been too glad to seize upon it as an excuse; says he compromises +the relations of the country by his evident disapproval +of Louis Napoleon—in short, it is a letter that Morny might +have written, and that it is quite impossible for Normanby to +bear. The curious thing is that it is a letter or rather letters +that would completely ruin Palmerston with <i>his</i> Party. He +treats all the acts of the wholesale cruelties of the troops as a +joke—in short, it is the letter of a man half mad, I think, for to +quarrel with Normanby on this subject is cutting his own +throat.... He has written also to Lord John. Louis +Napoleon knows perfectly well that Normanby cannot approve +the means he has taken; he talks to him confidentially, and +treats him as an honest, upright man, and he never showed him +more attention, or friendship even than last night when we +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.339" id="pageii.339"></a>[page 339]</span> +were at the Elysée, though Normanby said not one word in +approval....</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S INSTRUCTIONS</span> + +<p class="ind">There is another question upon which Normanby has a right +to complain, which is, that two days before Palmerston sent +his instructions here, he expressed to Walewski his complete +approval of the step taken by Louis Napoleon, which was +transmitted by Walewski in a despatch to Turgot, and read by +him to many members of the Corps Diplomatique a day before +Normanby heard a word from Palmerston. You will perhaps +think that there is not enough in all this to authorise the grave +step Normanby has taken, but the whole tone of his letters +shows such a want of confidence, is so impertinent—talk of +"we hear this," and "we are told that,"—bringing a sort of +anonymous gossip against a man of Normanby's character and +standing, that respect for himself obliges Normanby to take it +up seriously.... In the meantime our Press in England is, +as usual, <i>too</i> violent against Louis Napoleon. <i>We</i> have no +friends or true allies left, thanks to the policy of Lord Palmerston; +as soon as the peace of the country is restored the Army +<i>must</i> be employed; it is the course of a Military Government; +as much as an absolute Government is destroyed by the +people, and the democracy again, when fallen into anarchy, is +followed by Military Government. Louis Napoleon must +maintain his position by acts: they will find out that Belgium +should belong to France, or Alsace, or Antwerp, or something +or other that England will not be able to allow, and then how +are we prepared for the consequences?...</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S APPROVAL</span> + +<p class="ind">The more I think of Palmerston's letters, the less I can understand +them; every sentence is in direct contradiction to +his acts and words. He ridicules the idea of the Constitution; +turns to scorn the idea of anything being due to the Members +of the Assembly; laughs and jokes at the Club being fired into, +though the English people in it were within an ace of being +murdered by the soldiers; says that Normanby is pathetic over +a broken looking-glass,<sup>34</sup> forgetting that the same bullet grazed +the hand of an Englishman, "<i>a Roman citizen!</i>" who was between +the window and the glass—in short, as I said before, he +is quite incomprehensible, except, as I cannot help thinking, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.340" id="pageii.340"></a>[page 340]</span> +he read the private letter Normanby wrote to the Duke of +Bedford upon the Kossuth business, wishing to take his advice +a little upon a grave question, but which did not actually +interfere with his position here. This would account for his +extreme irritation....</p> + +<p class="ind">All at present is quiet in Paris. There are Socialist risings +in many parts of the country, but all these will do the President +good, and strengthen his hands, for even the people who have +been treated with indignity will pardon him if their châteaux +are saved from an infuriated and brutal peasantry. The +President told Normanby last night that the accounts of the +cruelties and attacks in parts of the country were very serious, +but he hoped they would soon be put down....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">M. Normanby</span>.<sup>35</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;"><a id="footnoteXX33" name="footnoteXX33"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXX33">Footnote 33:</a> Submitted to the Queen by Colonel Phipps.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 34: The tone of Lord Palmerston's private letters to Lord Normanby at this time is best +illustrated by the following extract:—</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"Your despatches since the event of Tuesday have been all hostile to Louis Napoleon, +with very little information as to events. One of them consisted of a dissertation about +Kossuth, which would have made a good article in the <i>Times</i> a fortnight ago: and another +dwells chiefly on a looking-glass broken in a Club-house; and you are pathetic about a piece +of broken plaster brought down from a ceiling by musket-shots during the street fights. +Now we know that the Diplomatic Agents of Austria and Russia called on the President +immediately after his measure on Tuesday morning, and have been profuse in their +expressions of approval of his conduct."</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 35: Lady Normanby wrote later:—</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"I told you yesterday the President had no faith in him (Palmerston). The Treaty +signed with Buenos Ayres, the Greek business, and the reception of Kossuth had long +destroyed his confidence in Palmerston, and I believe he hates him and sees through his +present adulations...." +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>13th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends the enclosed despatch from Lord Normanby +to Lord John Russell, from which it appears that the French +Government <i>pretend to have received</i> the entire approval of the +late <i>coup d'état</i> by the British Government, as conveyed by +Lord Palmerston to Count Walewski. The Queen cannot believe +in the truth of the assertion, as such an approval given by +Lord Palmerston would have been in complete <i>contradiction</i> to +the line of strict neutrality and passiveness which the Queen +had expressed her desire to see followed with regard to the late +convulsion at Paris, and which was approved by the Cabinet, +as stated in Lord John Russell's letter of the 6th inst. Does +Lord John know anything about the alleged approval, which, +if true, would <i>again</i> expose the honesty and dignity of the +Queen's Government in the eyes of the world?<sup>36</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 36: On the 15th, Lord Normanby wrote to Lord Palmerston that he must now assume +M. Walewski's report to be correct, and observed that if the Foreign Secretary held one +language in Downing Street and prescribed another course to the British Ambassador, +the latter must be awkwardly circumstanced. Lord Palmerston (in a letter not shown +to the Queen or the Cabinet) replied that he had said nothing inconsistent with his instructions +to Lord Normanby, that the President's action was for the French nation to judge +of, but that in his view that action made for the maintenance of social order in France. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>13th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My beloved Uncle</span>,—These lines are to express my <i>very +warmest</i> wishes for <i>many, many happy</i> returns of your dear +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.341" id="pageii.341"></a>[page 341]</span> +birthday, and for <i>every</i> earthly blessing you <i>can</i> desire. How I +wish you could spend it <i>here</i>, or we with you! I venture to +send you some trifles which will recall the Exhibition in which +you took so much interest. The continuation of the work I +send you, I shall forward as it comes out.</p> + +<p class="ind">As I wrote so lately, and shall do so on Tuesday, I will not +touch on politics—with one exception—that I think it of high +importance that the Orleans should clear themselves of <i>all</i> +suspicion of a <i>plot</i>, which <i>some people</i>, I am sure, wish to make +it <i>appear</i> they <i>are</i> involved in; and that public contradiction +should be given to the foolish report, <i>much</i> credited <i>here</i>, that +Joinville has gone to Lille, or to some part of France, to head +the Troops. Ever <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'you'">your</ins> devoted Niece and Child,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">How you will <i>again</i> miss your departed Angel!</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S EXPLANATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Woburn Abbey</span>, <i>18th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +He received from Lord Palmerston yesterday an explanation +of his declaration of opinion to Mr Walewski, which Lord John +Russell regrets to state was quite unsatisfactory.</p> + +<p class="ind">He thought himself compelled to write to Lord Palmerston +in the most decisive terms.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston requested that his letter might be returned +to be copied.</p> + +<p class="ind">The whole correspondence shall be submitted to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty will find in the box a despatch of Lord Normanby +of the 15th, and an answer of Lord Palmerston of the +16th,<sup>37</sup> which has been sent without your Majesty's sanction, +or the knowledge of Lord John Russell.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 37: The letters are given in full in Ashley's <i>Life of Lord Palmerston</i>, vol. i. chap. vii., +were Lord Palmerston's explanation of the 16th, in answer to the Premier's letter of the +14th, will also be found. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>19th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—Receive my warmest and best +thanks for your truly kind and gracious recollection of my old +birthday, and your amiable presents.</p> + +<p class="ind">Our angelic Louise had quite <i>un culte</i> for that day, and two +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.342" id="pageii.342"></a>[page 342]</span> +have already passed since the best and noblest of hearts beats +no longer amongst us. When one sees the haste and ardour +of earthly pursuits, and how all this is often disposed of, and +when one sees that even the greatest success always ends with +the grave, one is tempted to wonder that the human race should +follow so restlessly bubbles often disappearing just when +reached, and always being a source of never-ending anxiety. +France gives, these sixty years, the proof of the truth of what +I say, always believing itself at the highest point of perfection +and changing it a few weeks afterwards.</p> + +<p class="ind">A military Government in France, if it really gets established, +must become dangerous for Europe. I hope that at +least at its beginning it will have enough to do in France, and +that we may get time to prepare. England will do well not +to fall asleep, but to keep up its old energy and courage....<br /> +Your truly devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">DISMISSAL OF LORD PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>19th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received several communications from Lord +John Russell, but has not answered them, as she expected daily +to hear of Lord Palmerston's answer. As Lord John Russell +in his letter of yesterday's date promises to send her his correspondence +with Lord Palmerston, she refrains from expressing +a decided opinion until she has had an opportunity of perusing +it; but Lord John will readily conceive what must be +her feelings in seeing matters go from bad to worse with respect +to Lord Palmerston's conduct!</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD GRANVILLE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Woburn Abbey</span>, <i>19th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to submit to your Majesty a correspondence +with Viscount Palmerston, which terminates with a letter of +this day's date.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has now to advise your Majesty that +Lord Palmerston should be informed that your Majesty is ready +to accept the Seals of Office, and to place them in other hands.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has summoned a Cabinet for Monday.</p> + +<p class="ind">They may be of opinion that they cannot continue a Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">But that is not Lord John Russell's opinion; and should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.343" id="pageii.343"></a>[page 343]</span> +they agree with him, he will proceed without delay to recommend +a successor to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Earl Granville appears to him the person best calculated +for that post, but the Cabinet may be of opinion that +more experience is required.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>20th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen found on her arrival here Lord John Russell's +letter, enclosing his correspondence with Lord Palmerston, +which she has perused with that care and attention which the +importance and gravity of the subject of it demanded. The +Queen has now to express to Lord John Russell her readiness +to follow his advice, and her acceptance of the resignation of +Lord Palmerston. She will be prepared to see Lord John after +the Cabinet on Monday, as he proposes.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>20th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to a successor to Lord Palmerston, the Queen +must state, that after the sad experience which she has just had +of the difficulties, annoyances, and dangers to which the +Sovereign may be exposed by the personal character and +qualities of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, she must reserve +to herself the unfettered right to approve or disapprove the +choice of a Minister for this Office.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Granville, whom Lord John Russell designates as the +person best calculated for that post, would meet with her +entire approval. The possible opinion of the Cabinet that +more experience was required does not weigh much with the +Queen. From her knowledge of Lord Granville's character, she +is inclined to see no such disadvantage in the circumstance that +he has not yet had practice in managing Foreign Affairs, as +he will be the more ready to lean upon the advice and judgment +of the Prime Minister where he may have diffidence in +his own, and thereby will add strength to the Cabinet by +maintaining unity in thought and action. The Queen hopes +Lord John Russell will not omit to let her have copies of his +correspondence with Lord Palmerston, as he has promised +her.<sup>38</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 38: On the same day the Prince wrote to the Premier that the Queen was much relieved. +She had contemplated dismissing Lord Palmerston herself, but naturally shrank from +using the power of the Crown, as her action would have been criticised without the possibility +of making a public defence; in his view the Cabinet was rather strengthened than +otherwise by Palmerston's departure, and public sympathy would not be with him. The +rest of the letter is published in <i>The Life of the Prince Consort</i>. +</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.344" id="pageii.344"></a>[page 344]</span> + + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>21st December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter of to-day. +She is not the least afraid of Lord Granville's not possessing +sufficient public confidence for him to undertake the Foreign +Affairs. He is very popular with the House of Lords, with +the Free Traders, and the Peace party, and all that the Continent +knows of him is in his favour; he had great success at +Paris last summer, and his never having had an opportunity +of damaging his character by having been mixed up in diplomatic +intrigues is an immense advantage to him in obtaining +the confidence of those with whom he is to negotiate.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND PALMERSTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have the greatest pleasure in announcing +to you a piece of news which I know will give you as +much satisfaction and relief as it does to us, and will do to the +<i>whole</i> of the world. <i>Lord Palmerston</i> is <i>no longer Foreign +Secretary</i>—and Lord Granville is already named his successor!! +He had become of late really quite reckless, and in spite of the +serious admonition and caution he received only on the 29th +of November, and again at the beginning of December, he <i>tells</i> +Walewski that <i>he entirely</i> approves Louis Napoleon's <i>coup +d'état</i>, when he had written to Lord Normanby by my and the +Cabinet's desire that he (Lord Normanby) was to continue his +diplomatic intercourse with the French Government, but to +<i>remain</i> perfectly passive and give <i>no</i> opinion. Walewski +wrote Palmerston's opinion (entirely contrary to what the +Government had ordered) to M. Turgot, and when Normanby +came with his instructions, Turgot told him what Palmerston +had said. Upon this Lord John asked Palmerston to give an +explanation—which, after the delay of a week, he answered +in such an unsatisfactory way that Lord John wrote to him +that <i>he could no longer remain Foreign Secretary</i>, for that +perpetual misunderstanding and breaches of decorum were +taking place which endangered the country. Lord Palmerston +answered instantly that he would give up the Seals the moment +his successor was named! Certain as we all felt that he could +not have continued long in his place, we were quite taken by +surprise when we learnt of the <i>dénouement</i>.... Lord Granville +will, I think, do extremely well, and his extreme honesty +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.345" id="pageii.345"></a>[page 345]</span> +and trustworthiness will make him <i>invaluable</i> to us, and to the +Government and to Europe.</p> + +<p class="ind">I send some prints, etc., for the children for Christmas. +Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">MEETING OF THE CABINET</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell arrived here at six o'clock yesterday +evening immediately from the Cabinet, and reported that the +Cabinet had, without a dissenting voice, condemned Lord +Palmerston's conduct, and approved of the steps taken by +Lord John Russell, which was a great relief to him. Lord +Lansdowne, to whom he had first written on the subject, had +frightened him by answering that it was not possible to avoid +the rupture with Lord Palmerston, but that he thought the +Government would after this not be able to go on. When, +however, this question was discussed in Cabinet, and Lord John +had stated that he thought the Office could be well filled, they +all agreed in the propriety of going on. The Members of the +Cabinet were so unable to understand Lord Palmerston's +motives for his conduct during these last months, that Mr. +Fox Maule started an idea which once occurred to Lord John +himself (as he said), viz. that he must have had the design +to bring on a rupture! Lord Minto, who was absent from the +Cabinet, expressed himself in a letter to Lord John very strongly +about Lord Palmerston's <i>reckless conduct</i>, which would yet +undo the country.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD CLARENDON</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John, after having received the concurrence of the +Cabinet on the question of Lord Palmerston's dismissal, stated +that Lord Granville was the person whom he would like best +to see fill his office, and he knew this to be the feeling of the +Queen also. The Cabinet quite agreed in Lord Granville's +fitness, but Sir George Grey stated it as his opinion that it +ought first to be offered to Lord Clarendon, who has always +been pointed out by the public as the proper person to succeed +Lord Palmerston, and that, if he were passed over, the whole +matter would have the appearance of a Cabinet intrigue in +favour of one colleague against another. The whole of the +Cabinet sided with this opinion, and Lord John Russell now +proposed to the Queen that an offer should in the first instance +be made to Lord Clarendon.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen protested against the Cabinet's taking upon itself +the appointment of its own Members, which rested entirely +with the Prime Minister and the Sovereign, under whose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.346" id="pageii.346"></a>[page 346]</span> +approval the former constructed his Government.... Lord +John replied that he thought Lord Clarendon would not accept +the offer, and therefore there would be little danger in satisfying +the desires of the Cabinet. He had written to Lord Clarendon +a cautioning letter from Woburn, apprising him of some serious +crisis, of which he would soon hear, and speaking of his former +wish to exchange the Lord-Lieutenancy for some other Office. +Lord Clarendon at once perceived the drift of the hint, and +wrote to the Duke of Bedford what he said he did not wish to +write to his brother John, that, if it was that Palmerston was +going, and <i>he</i> were thought of as a successor, nothing would be +so disagreeable to him, as the whole change would be put down +as an intrigue of his, whom Lord Palmerston had always +accused of wishing to supplant him; that if, however, the +service of the country required it, he had the courage to face all +personal obloquy....</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John owned that Sir George Grey's chief desire was to +see Lord Clarendon removed from Ireland, having been there +so long; the Cabinet would wish to see the Duke of Newcastle +join the Government as Lord-Lieutenant, which he might be +induced to do. The Queen having mentioned Lord Clarendon +as most fit to succeed Lord Lansdowne one day as President +of the Council and leader in the House of Lords, Lord John +said that Lord Clarendon had particularly begged not to have +the position offered him, for which he did not feel fit. Lord +John would like him as Ambassador at Paris, and thought Lord +Clarendon would like this himself; but it was difficult to know +what to do with Lord Normanby.</p> + +<p class="ind">In the course of the conversation, Lord John congratulated +the Queen upon the change having been accomplished without +her personal intervention, which might have exposed her to the +animosity of Lord Palmerston's admirers, whilst she would +have been precluded from making any public defence. I +reminded Lord John that, as such was the disadvantage of the +regal position, it behoved the Queen doubly to watch, lest she +be put into the same dilemma with a new Minister, whose +conduct she could not approve of. Lord Clarendon's appointment +would be doubly galling to Lord Palmerston, whom +Lord John might not wish to irritate further, a consideration +which Lord John said he had also pressed upon the Cabinet. +Upon a remark from Lord John as to Lord Granville's +youth, the Queen replied: "Lord Canning, whom Lord +Stanley had intended to make his Foreign Secretary, was not +older...."</p> + +<p class="ind">The conference ended by Lord John's promise to write to +Lord Clarendon as the Queen had desired ... but that he did +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.347" id="pageii.347"></a>[page 347]</span> +not wish to make the offer to Lord Granville till he had Lord +Clarendon's answer. Lord Granville had been told not to +attend the last Cabinet; Lord Palmerston had naturally +stayed away.</p> + +<p class="ind">I went up to Town at half-past seven to the Westminster +Play, and took Lord John in my train to Richmond. We had +some further conversation in the carriage, in which I asked +Lord John whether it was true that Lord Palmerston had got +us likewise into a quarrel with America by our ships firing at +Panama upon an American merchantman; he said neither he +nor Sir Francis Baring had received any news, but Sir Francis +had been quite relieved by Lord Palmerston's quitting, as he +could not be sure a moment that his Fleets were not brought +into some scrape!</p> + +<p class="ind">On my expressing my conviction that Lord Palmerston +could not be very formidable to the Government, Lord John +said: "I hope it will not come true what Lord Derby (then +Lord Stanley) said after the last Ministerial crisis, when Lord +John quizzed him at not having been able to get a Foreign +Secretary—'Next time I shall have Lord Palmerston.'!"</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">COUNT WALEWSKI</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>23rd December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your +Majesty. He has just seen Count Walewski; he told him +that he had an important piece of intelligence to give him; +that your Majesty had been pleased to make a change in +the Foreign Office, and to direct Lord Palmerston to give +up the Seals.</p> + +<p class="ind">He wished to give this intelligence that he might accompany +it with an intimation that the policy towards France would +continue to be of the most friendly character, and that there +was nothing the Government more desired than to see a stable +and settled Government in France; that they had every wish +for the stability of the present French Government. Count +Walewski said he had received various assurances of opinion +from Lord Palmerston, which he supposed were adopted by +Lord John Russell, and subsisted in force.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell said: "Not exactly; it is a principle +of the English Government not to interfere in any way with +the internal affairs of other countries; whether France chooses +to be a Republic or a Monarchy, provided it be not a Social +Republic, we wish to express no opinion; we are what we call +in England a sheet of white paper in this respect; all we desire +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.348" id="pageii.348"></a>[page 348]</span> +is the happiness and welfare of France." Count Walewski +said it was of importance to the stability of the President that +he should have a large majority; he would then give a Constitution.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell said each nation must suit itself in this +respect; we have perhaps been in error in thinking our Constitution +could be generally adopted; some nations it may suit, +others may find it unfitted for them.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD GRANVILLE APPOINTED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Lord John Russell's letters, and +is much rejoiced that this important affair has been finally so +satisfactorily settled.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns Lord Clarendon's letter, which she thinks +a very good one.<sup>39</sup> The Queen hopes Count Walewski will have +been satisfied, which she thinks he ought to be. The Queen +will receive Lord Palmerston to deliver up the Seals, and +Lord Granville to receive them, on Friday at half-past two.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 39: Lord Clarendon, in answer to Lord John Russell, expressed great reluctance to undertake +the charge of the Foreign Office, on the ground that Palmerston, always suspicions +of him, would insist that he had deliberately undermined his position: while Lord Granville +would be popular with the Court and country. +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>24th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell submits a private note of Lord Palmerston,<sup>40</sup> +which only shows how unconscious he was of all that +the rest of the world perceived.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 40: In this letter, Lord Palmerston denied the "charge of violations of prudence and +decorum," adding, "I have to observe that that charge is refuted by the offer which you +made of the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, because I apprehend that to be an office for +the due performance of the duties of which prudence and decorum cannot well be dispensed +with." +</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>25th December 1861.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letters, and she +returns the enclosures.</p> + +<p class="ind">The articles in the <i>Times</i> are very good; the other papers +seem quite puzzled, and unable to comprehend what has +caused Lord Palmerston's removal from office. Lord Palmerston's +letter is very characteristic; he certainly has the best +of the argument, and great care ought to be taken in bestowing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.349" id="pageii.349"></a>[page 349]</span> +any praise on him, as he always takes advantage of it to turn +against those who meant it merely to soothe him. The Queen +thought that there must be a Council for the swearing in of the +new Secretary of State.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">LORD GRANVILLE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>27th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Yesterday the Council was held, at which the change of +Seals was to take place. We waited for one hour and a half, +but Lord Palmerston did not appear; his Seals had been sent +from the Foreign Office to Lord John Russell!</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John told us he had written to Lord Palmerston, +announcing him the appointment of Lord Granville, and added +that in his long political life he had not passed a week which +had been so painful to him. Lord Palmerston's answer was +couched in these terms: "Of course you will believe that I +feel that just indignation at the whole proceeding which it must +produce."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Lansdowne seemed anxious particularly on account +of the clear symptoms appearing from the papers that +both Radicals and Protectionists are bidding for Lord +Palmerston.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Granville was very much overcome when he had his +audience to thank for his appointment, but seemed full of +courage and good-will. He said it would be as easy to him +to avoid Lord Palmerston's faults as difficult to imitate his +good qualities, promised to endeavour to establish a more +decent usage between the Governments in their mutual communications, +by setting the good example himself, and insisting +upon the same on the part of the others; promised not to have +anything to do with the newspapers; to give evening parties, +just as Lord Palmerston had done, to which a good deal of his +influence was to be attributed. He said a Member of Parliament +just returned from the Continent had told him that an +Englishman could hardly show himself without becoming +aware of the hatred they were held in; the only chance one +had to avoid being insulted was to say <i>Civis Romanus non +sum</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Granville had been Under-Secretary for Foreign +Affairs under Lord Palmerston for three years from 1837-40, +but, as he expressed himself, rather the sandwich between his +principal and the clerks. Lord Palmerston had in these three +years hardly once spoken to him upon any of the subjects he +had to treat.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.350" id="pageii.350"></a>[page 350]</span> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S ABSENCE EXPLAINED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>27th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen forgot to remind Lord John Russell yesterday +of his correspondence with Lord Palmerston, which he promised +to let her have.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen concludes from what Lord John said yesterday +that he intended sounding the Duke of Newcastle relative to +the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland.</p> + +<p class="ind">Has Lord John ascertained the cause of Lord Palmerston's +absence yesterday? If it was not accidental, she must say she +thinks it most disrespectful conduct towards his Sovereign.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>27th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and submits a letter of Lord Palmerston, which explains his +not going to Windsor. It appears to have arisen from a +mistake in the message sent through Lord Stanley, and not +from any want of respect to your Majesty.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>27th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear John Russell</span>,—I am distressed beyond measure +by the note from you which I have this moment received on +my arrival here from Hampshire. I understood from Stanley +that you had desired him to tell me that if it was inconvenient +for me to come up yesterday, I might send the Seals to you +at Windsor, and that my presence would be dispensed with.<sup>41</sup> +Thereupon I sent the Seals up by an early train yesterday +morning to Stanley, that he might send them down to you as +suggested by you, and I desired that they might be taken by a +messenger by the special train.</p> + +<p class="ind">I shall be very much obliged to you if you will have the +goodness to explain this matter to the Queen, and I beg you +to assure Her Majesty how deeply grieved I am that what +appears to have been a mistake on my part should have led me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.351" id="pageii.351"></a>[page 351]</span> +to be apparently wanting in due respect to Her Majesty, than +which nothing could possibly be further from my intention or +thoughts. Yours sincerely,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Palmerston</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 41: There is a fuller account given of Lord Palmerston's version of the whole affair in a +letter to his brother, printed in Ashley's <i>Life of Lord Palmerston</i>, vol. i. p. 315. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN ON FOREIGN POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>28th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen thinks the moment of the change in the person of +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to afford a fit opportunity +to have the principles upon which our Foreign Affairs have been +conducted since the beginning of 1848 reconsidered by Lord +John Russell and his Cabinet.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen was fully aware that the storm raging at the +time on the Continent rendered it impossible for any statesman +to foresee with clearness and precision what development and +direction its elements would take, and she consequently quite +agreed that the line of policy to be followed, as the most conducive +to the interests of England, could then only be generally +conceived and vaguely expressed.</p> + +<p class="ind">But although the Queen is still convinced that the general +principles laid down by Lord John at that time for the conduct +of our Foreign Policy were in themselves right, she has in the +progress of the last three years become painfully convinced that +the manner in which they have been <i>practically applied</i> has +worked out very different results from those which the correctness +of the principles themselves had led her to expect. For +when the revolutionary movements on the Continent had laid +prostrate almost all its Governments, and England alone displayed +that order, vigour, and prosperity which it owes to a +stable, free, and good Government, the Queen, instead of +earning the natural good results of such a glorious position, +viz. consideration, goodwill, confidence, and influence abroad, +obtained the very reverse, and had the grief to see her Government +and herself treated on many occasions with neglect, +aversion, distrust, and even contumely.</p> + +<p class="ind">Frequently, when our Foreign Policy was called in question, +it has been said by Lord John and his colleagues that the +principles on which it was conducted were the right ones, and +having been approved of by them, received their support, and +that it was only the <i>personal manner</i> of Lord Palmerston in conducting +the affairs which could be blamed in tracing the causes +which led to the disastrous results the Queen complains of.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is certainly not disposed to defend the personal +manner in which Lord Palmerston has conducted Foreign +Affairs, but she cannot admit that the errors he committed were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.352" id="pageii.352"></a>[page 352]</span> +merely <i>faults in form and method</i>, that they were no more than +acts of "inconsideration, indiscretion, or bad taste." The +Queen considers that she has also to complain of what appeared +to her deviations from the principles laid down by the Cabinet +for his conduct, nay, she sees distinctly in their practical application +a <i>personal and arbitrary perversion</i> of the very nature and +essence of those principles. She has only to refer here to Italy, +Spain, Greece, Holstein, France, etc., etc., which afford ample +illustrations of this charge.</p> + +<p class="ind">It was one thing for Lord Palmerston to have attempted +such substantial deviations; it will be another for the Cabinet +to consider whether they had not the power to check him in +these attempts.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen, however, considering times to have now changed, +thinks that there is no reason why we should any longer confine +ourselves to the mere assertion of abstract principles, such as +"non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries," +"moral support to liberal institutions," "protection to British +subjects," etc., etc. The moving powers which were put in +operation by the French Revolution of 1848, and the events +consequent on it, are no longer so obscure; they have assumed +distinct and tangible forms in almost all the countries affected +by them (in France, in Italy, Germany, etc.), and upon the +state of things now existing, and the experience gained, the +Queen would hope that our Foreign Policy may be <i>more specifically +defined</i>, and that it may be considered how the general +principles are to be practically adapted to our peculiar relations +with each Continental State.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes therefore that a regular programme +embracing these different relations should be submitted +to her, and would suggest whether it would not be the +best mode if Lord John were to ask Lord Granville to +prepare such a paper and to lay it before her after having +revised it.</p> + +<p class="ind">This would then serve as a safe guide for Lord Granville, +and enable the Queen as well as the Cabinet to see that the +Policy, as in future to be conducted, will be in conformity with +the principles laid down and approved.</p> + + + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Pembroke Lodge</span>, <i>29th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; +he has received your Majesty's communication of yesterday, +and will transmit it to Lord Granville.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.353" id="pageii.353"></a>[page 353]</span> + +<p class="ind">It is to be observed, however, that the traditionary policy of +this country is not to bind the Crown and country by engagements, +unless upon special cause shown, arising out of the +circumstances of the day.</p> + +<p class="ind">For instance, the Treaty of Quadruple Alliance between +England, France, Spain, and Portugal was contrary to the +general principle of non-intervention; so was the interference +in Portugal in 1847, but were both justified by circumstances.</p> + +<p class="ind">Thus it is very difficult to lay down any principles from +which deviations may not frequently be made.</p> + +<p class="ind">The grand rule of doing to others as we wish that they should +do unto us is more applicable than any system of political +science. The honour of England does not consist in defending +every English officer or English subject, right or wrong, but in +taking care that she does not infringe the rules of justice, and +that they are not infringed against her.<sup>42</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 42: A summary of Lord Granville's Memorandum in reply (which was couched in very +general terms) will be found in Lord Fitzmaurice's <i>Life of Earl Granville</i>, vol. ii. p. 49. +</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">AFFAIRS IN FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>30th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Most warmly do I thank you for your +kind and affectionate and interesting letter of the 26th, which +I received on Sunday. All that you say about Lord Palmerston +is but too true.... He <i>brouilléd</i> us and the country with every +one; and his very first act precipitated the unfortunate Spanish +marriages which was <i>le commencement de la fin</i>. It is too grievous +to think how much misery and mischief might have been +avoided. However, now he has done with the Foreign Office +for ever, and "the veteran statesman," as the newspapers, to +our great amusement and I am sure to <i>his</i> infinite annoyance, +call him, must rest upon his laurels.... I fear much lest they +should be imprudent at Claremont; the poor Queen hinted to +Mamma that she hoped you would not become a friend to the +President; no doubt you can have no sympathies for him, but +<i>just because</i> you are related to the poor Orleanses, you feel that +you must be doubly cautious to do nothing which could provoke +the enmity of Louis Napoleon. I fear that poor Joinville <i>had</i> +some <i>mad</i> idea of going to France, which, fortunately, his illness +prevented. It would have been the height of folly. Their +only safe policy is to remain entirely passive <i>et de se faire oublier</i>, +which was Nemours' expression to me two years ago; nothing +could be wiser or more prudent than he was then—but I don't +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.354" id="pageii.354"></a>[page 354]</span> +think they were wise since. <i>La Candidature</i> of Joinville was in +every way unwise, and led Louis Napoleon to take so desperate +a course. Nemours told me also <i>last</i> year that they were not +at all against a <i>fusion</i>, but that they could not <i>disposer de la +France</i>, unless called upon to do so by the nation. I wish you +would caution them to be very circumspect and silent—for all +the mistakes made by others is in <i>their</i> favour; in fact, no good +for them could come till Paris is old enough to be his own +master—unless indeed they all returned under Henri V., but a +Regency for Paris would be an impossibility....</p> + +<p class="ind">We spent a very happy Christmas, and now wish you a very +happy New Year—for many succeeding years. Also to the +children, who I hope were pleased with the prints, etc.</p> + +<p class="ind">We have got young Prince Nicholas of Nassau here, a pretty, +clever boy of nineteen, with a good deal of knowledge, and a +great wish to learn and hear, which is a rare thing for the young +Princes, of our day in particular. I must stop now, as I fear +I have already let my pen run on for too long, and must beg +to be excused for this voluminous letter.</p> + +<p class="ind">With Albert's love ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>30th December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letters of +yesterday. She quite agrees with him and his colleagues in +thinking it of importance to strengthen the Government, and +she is pleased with his proposal to communicate with the Duke +of Newcastle as to what assistance he and his friends can give +to the Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen expects better results from such a negotiation, +with an ostensible head of a Party, than from attempts to +detach single individuals from it, which from a sense of honour +they always felt scruples in agreeing to.</p> + + + <h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + + <span class="rightnote">THE <i>TE DEUM</i> IN PARIS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>31st December 1851.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sees in the papers that there is to be a <i>Te Deum</i> +at Paris on the 2nd for the success of the <i>coup d'état</i>, and that +the Corps Diplomatique is to be present. She hopes that Lord +Normanby will be told not to attend. Besides the impropriety +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.355" id="pageii.355"></a>[page 355]</span> +of his taking part in such a ceremony, his doing so would entirely +destroy the position of Lord John Russell opposite Lord +Palmerston, who might with justice say that he merely expressed +his personal approval of the <i>coup d'état</i> before, but since, +the Queen's Ambassador had been ordered publicly to thank +God for its success.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.356" id="pageii.356"></a>[page 356]</span> + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XXI</h3> + + +<p>Early in 1852, the Whig Government, impaired in public credit +by the removal of Lord Palmerston, attempted once more a coalition +with the Peelites, office being offered to Sir James Graham; the +overtures failed, and soon, after the meeting of Parliament, the ex-Foreign +Secretary, whose version of the cause of his dismissal failed +to satisfy the House of Commons, succeeded in defeating the Government +on their Militia Bill, affairs in France having caused anxiety as +to the national defences. The Government Bill was for the creation +of a local Militia, Lord Palmerston preferring the consolidation of the +regular Militia. A Ministry was formed by Lord Derby (formerly +Lord Stanley) from the Protectionist Party, but no definite statement +could be elicited as to their intention, or the reverse, to re-impose a +duty on foreign corn. Mr Disraeli, who became Chancellor of the +Exchequer, and was the mainspring of the Government policy, +showed great dexterity in his management of the House of Commons +without a majority, and carried a Militia Bill in the teeth of Lord +John Russell; but a plan of partial redistribution failed. The +elections held in the summer did not materially improve the Ministerial +position, and, on the meeting of Parliament in the autumn, the +Fiscal Question had to be squarely faced. After much wrangling, +Protection was finally abandoned, and the Government saved for +the moment, but on their House-tax proposals they were defeated, +after an impassioned debate, by a coalition of Whigs, Peelites, and +Radicals, from whom Lord Lansdowne and Lord Aberdeen (and +finally the latter alone) were called upon to construct a strong representative +Government. The Duke of Wellington had died in +September, and his funeral was the signal for an outburst of national +feeling. During the year the Houses of Parliament designed by Sir +Charles Barry, though not absolutely completed, were formally +opened by the Queen; the new House of Lords had already been +in use.</p> + +<p>In France, the first result of the <i>coup d'état</i> was Louis Bonaparte's +election as President for ten years by an immense majority; late in +the year he assumed the Imperial title as Napoleon III., and the +Empire was formally recognised by the majority of the Powers; +the Emperor designed to add to his prestige by contracting a matrimonial +alliance with Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe. In the East +of Europe a dispute had commenced between France and Russia +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.357" id="pageii.357"></a>[page 357]</span> +about the Holy Places in Palestine. Simultaneously with the death +of the Duke of Wellington, the era of European peace was destined +to come to an end, and Nicholas, encouraged by the advent to power +of Aberdeen (whom he had met in 1844, and with whom he had +frankly discussed European politics), was hoping for the consummation +of his scheme for the partition of Turkey.</p> + +<p>To Great Britain the year was a memorable one, in consequence of +the granting of a Constitution to New Zealand.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.358" id="pageii.358"></a>[page 358]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h5>1852</h5> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of Denmark.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND DENMARK</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>4th January 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir, my Brother</span>,—I received the letter which your Majesty +addressed to me on the 24th of August last, and in which, after +referring to the necessity for establishing some definite arrangement +with regard to the eventual succession to the Crown of +Denmark, your Majesty is pleased to acquaint me that, in your +opinion, such an arrangement might advantageously be made +in favour of your Majesty's cousin, His Highness the Prince +Christian of Glücksburg,<sup>1</sup> and the issue of his marriage with the +Princess Louisa of Hesse, in favour of whom the nearer claimants +have renounced their rights and titles.</p> + +<p class="ind">I trust I need not assure your Majesty of the sincere friendship +which I entertain for you, and of the deep interest which +I feel in the welfare of the Danish Monarchy. It was in accordance +with those sentiments that I accepted the office of mediator +between your Majesty and the States of the German Confederation, +and it afforded me the sincerest pleasure to have been thus +instrumental in re-establishing the relations of peace between +your Majesty and those States.</p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to the question of the eventual succession to +both the Danish and Ducal Crowns, I have to state to your +Majesty that although I declined to take any part in the settlement +of that combination, it will be a source of great satisfaction +to me to learn that an arrangement has been definitely +determined upon equally satisfactory to your Majesty and to +the Germanic Confederation; and whenever it shall have been +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.359" id="pageii.359"></a>[page 359]</span> +notified to me that such an arrangement has been arrived at, +I shall then be ready, in accordance with what was stated in the +Protocol of the 2nd of August 1850, to consider, in concert with +my Allies, the expediency of giving the sanction of an European +acknowledgment to the arrangement which may thus have been +made.</p> + +<p class="ind">I avail myself with great pleasure of this opportunity to +renew to your Majesty the expression of the invariable attachment +and high esteem with which I am, Sir, my Brother, your +Majesty's good Sister,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg was named successor +to Frederick VII., King of Denmark by a Treaty signed in London on the 8th of May +1852; and by the Danish law of succession (of the 31st of July 1853), he ascended the +throne under the style of Christian IX., on the 15th of November, 1863. He was the +father of His Majesty Frederick VIII., the present King of Denmark, and of Her Majesty +Queen Alexandra of England; King Christian died in 1906, Queen Louise having predeceased +him in 1898. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>15th January 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter last night, +and wishes now shortly to repeat what she desired through the +Prince, Sir Charles Wood to explain to Lord John.<sup>2</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen hopes that the Cabinet will fully consider what +their object is before the proposed negotiation with Sir James +Graham be opened.</p> + +<p class="ind">Is it to strengthen their <i>case</i> in Parliament by proving that +no means have been left untried to strengthen the Government? +or really to effect a junction with the Peelites?</p> + +<p class="ind">If the first is aimed at, the Cabinet will hardly reap any of the +desired advantages from the negotiation, for, shrewd as Sir +James Graham is, he will immediately see that the negotiation +has been begun without a desire that it should succeed, and +this will soon become generally known.</p> + +<p class="ind">If the latter, the Queen must observe that there are two +kinds of junctions—one, <i>a fusion</i> of Parties; the other, <i>the +absorption</i> of one Party by the other. For a <i>fusion</i>, the Queen +thinks the Peelites to be quite ready; then, however, they +must be treated as a political Party, and no <i>exclusion</i> should be +pronounced against particular members of it, nor should it be +insisted upon that the new Government and Party is still +emphatically the <i>Whig</i> party.</p> + +<p class="ind">An <i>absorption</i> of the most liberal talents amongst the Peelites +into the Whig Government, the Queen considers unlikely to +succeed, and she can fully understand that reasons of honour +and public and private engagement must make it difficult to +members of a political Party to go over to another in order to +receive office.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.360" id="pageii.360"></a>[page 360]</span> + +<p class="ind">Having stated thus much, the Queen gives Lord John full +permission to negotiate with Sir James Graham.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 2: Lord John Russell having vainly attempted to secure the co-operation of the Duke of +Newcastle, announced the wish of the Cabinet to make overtures to Sir J. Graham. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LOUIS NAPOLEON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>20th January 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Your kind letter of the 16th I received +on the 17th, with the newspaper, for which I return my best +thanks. The papers which Stockmar communicated to us are +most interesting, and do the writer the greatest credit. Watchful +we certainly shall and must be. We shall try and keep on +the best of terms with the President, who is extremely sensitive +and susceptible, but for whom, I must say, I have never had +any <i>personal</i> hostility; on the contrary, I thought that during +1849 and 1850 we owed him all a good deal, as he certainly raised +the French Government <i>de la boue</i>. But I grieve over the +tyranny and oppression practised since the <i>coup d'état</i>, and it +makes everything very uncertain, for though I believe it in +every way his wish and his policy not to go to war, still, <i>il peut +y être entraîné</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your position is a peculiarly delicate one, but still, as I again +repeat, I think there is no reason to be alarmed; particularly, +I would <i>never</i> show it.</p> + +<p class="ind">The poor Nemours were here from Saturday till yesterday +evening with their dear nice boys, and I think it always does +them good. They feel again as if they were in their own +position, and they are diverted from the melancholy reality +and the great sameness of their existence at Claremont. I +found him very quiet and really <i>not</i> bitter, and disposed to be +very prudent,—but seriously alarmed at the possibility of +losing their property, which would be <i>too</i> dreadful and monstrous. +I fear that the candidature and poor Hélène's imprudence +in talking are the cause of this cruel persecution. +The poor Orleans have really (and you should write them +that) no <i>truer</i> and more faithful friends than we are—and it +is for this reason that I urge and entreat them to be entirely +passive; for <i>their day</i> will come, I feel convinced!</p> + +<p class="ind">Now good-bye, my dearest, kindest Uncle. Ever your +truly devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>27th January 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter of +yesterday with the draft of Bills, and likewise that of to-day +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.361" id="pageii.361"></a>[page 361]</span> +enclosing a Memorandum on the probable effects of the proposed +Measure.<sup>3</sup> She has perused these papers with great +attention, but feels that any opinion upon the future results +of the Measure must rest on surmises; she has that confidence, +however, in Lord John's experience and judgment in these +matters, and so strong a conviction that he will have spared +no pains in forming as correct an opinion as may be formed +on so problematical a matter, that she is prepared to come to +the decision of approving the Measure on the strength of +Lord John's opinion. She only hopes that the future may +bear it out, and that the character of the House of Commons +may not be impaired. Should this prove the case, the extension +of the privilege of voting for Members will strengthen +our Institutions. The Queen is glad that the clause abolishing +the necessity for every Member of the Government to vacate +his seat upon his appointment<sup>4</sup> should have been maintained. +She hopes that the schedules showing which towns are to be +added to existing boroughs will be drawn up with the greatest +care and impartiality, and will soon be submitted to her. +The Queen would be glad if the plan once proposed of giving +to the Queen's University in Ireland the vacant seat for +Sudbury were still carried out, as she feels sure that not only +would it be a great thing for the University and the Colleges, +but a most useful and influential Irish Member would be +gained for the House.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen takes it for granted that the Bill as approved +by her will be stood by in Parliament, and that Lord John will +not allow himself to be drawn on to further concessions to +Democracy in the course of the debate, and that the introduction +of the ballot will be vigorously opposed by the +Government.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 3: The Ministerial Reform Bill.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 4: The Act of Settlement excluded (as from the accession of the House of Hanover) the +Ministers of State from the House of Commons; but the 6 Anne, c. 7, modified this, and +made them re-eligible on appointment. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DRAFT OF THE SPEECH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>1st February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received the draft of the Speech. The +passage referring to the proposed Reform Measure varies so +materially from the one which was first submitted to her that +she feels that she ought not to sanction it without having +received some explanation of the grounds which have led the +Cabinet to recommend it in its altered shape. The Queen +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.362" id="pageii.362"></a>[page 362]</span> +will not object to the mode of filling the Offices still vacant +which Lord John Russell proposes.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">WOMEN AND POLITICS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>3rd February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—My warmest thanks for your kind +little letter of the 30th. Matters are very critical and all Van +de Weyer has told us <i>n'est pas rassurant</i>. With such an extraordinary +man as Louis Napoleon, one can never be for one +instant safe. It makes me very melancholy; I love peace +and quiet—in fact, I <i>hate</i> politics and turmoil, and I grieve to +think that a spark may plunge us into the midst of war. Still +I think <i>that</i> may be avoided. Any attempt on Belgium would +be <i>casus belli for us</i>; <i>that</i> you may rely upon. Invasion I am +not afraid of, but the spirit of the people here is very great—they +are full of defending themselves—and the spirit of the +olden times is in no way quenched.</p> + +<p class="ind">In two hours' time Parliament will be opened, and to-night +the explanations between Lord John and Lord Palmerston +will take place. I am <i>very</i> curious <i>how</i> they will go off. The +curiosity and anxiety to hear it is very great.</p> + +<p class="ind">I never saw Stockmar better, or more active and more +sagacious, or more kind. To me he is really like a father—only +too partial, I always think.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert grows daily fonder and fonder of politics and business, +and is so wonderfully <i>fit</i> for both—such perspicacity and such +<i>courage</i>—and I grow daily to dislike them both more and more. +We women are not <i>made</i> for governing—and if we are good +women, we must <i>dislike</i> these masculine occupations; but +there are times which force one to take <i>interest</i> in them <i>mal gré +bon gré</i>, and <i>I</i> do, of course, <i>intensely</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind"> +I must now conclude, to dress for the opening of Parliament.... Ever your devoted Niece, +</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>4th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to report that the Address was agreed to +last night without a division.</p> + +<p class="ind">The explanations between Lord Palmerston and himself +were made. Lord Palmerston made no case, and was not +supported by any considerable party in the House. His +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.363" id="pageii.363"></a>[page 363]</span> +approbation of the President's conduct seemed to confound +the Liberal Party, and he did not attempt to excuse his delay +in answering Lord John Russell's letter of the 14th.<sup>5</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The rest of the debate was desultory and heavy. Mr +Disraeli made a long speech for the sake of making a speech. +Mr Roebuck was bitter without much effect.</p> + +<p class="ind">Generally speaking, the appearance of the House was favourable. +Sir James Graham says the next fortnight will clear +up matters very much.</p> + +<p class="ind">The tone of the House was decidedly pacific.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 5: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.341" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 341</a>. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>4th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">We have learned with much satisfaction that everything went +off so well in the House of Commons last night. Lord John +Russell's speech is a most useful one, and he has given a most +lucid definition of the constitutional position of the Prime +Minister and Foreign Secretary opposite to the Crown. Lord +Palmerston's speech is a very weak one, and he in no way +makes out a case for himself. This seems to [be] the general +impression.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Houses of Lords and Commons being now almost completed, +and the Queen having entered the House of Lords by +the Grand Entrance (which is magnificent), the Queen thinks +this will be the right moment for bestowing on Mr Barry the +knighthood, as a mark of the Queen's approbation of his great +work.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Marquis of Normanby to Colonel Phipps.</i><a id="footnotetagXXI6" name="footnotetagXXI6"></a><a href="#footnoteXXI6"><sup>6</sup></a></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S DISCOMFITURE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St George's Hotel</span>, <i>5th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Charles</span>,—Yesterday morning I got a note from +John Russell, saying that all had gone off so well the night +before, and Palmerston had been so flat that he thought it +better I should not revive the subject in the other House, as +he had said nothing about me which in the least required that +I should do so. I yielded, of course, to such an appeal, though +there are several points in his speech on which I could have +exposed inaccuracies. The fact is, John has never shown any +consideration for me in the whole of these affairs; but I do +not mean in any way to complain, and am very grateful to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.364" id="pageii.364"></a>[page 364]</span> +him for the very successful way in which he executed his task +on Tuesday. Nothing can be more universal than the feeling +of the utter discomfiture of Palmerston.<a id="footnotetagXXI7" name="footnotetagXXI7"></a><a href="#footnoteXXI7"><sup>7</sup></a> I am convinced +that what floored him at starting was that letter of the +Queen's,<a id="footnotetagXXI8" name="footnotetagXXI8"></a><a href="#footnoteXXI8"><sup>8</sup></a> because every one felt that such a letter would never +have been written unless every point in it could have been +proved like a bill of indictment; and then came the question, +how could any man, even feeling he deserved it, go on under +such a marked want of confidence?...<a id="footnotetagXXI9" name="footnotetagXXI9"></a><a href="#footnoteXXI9"><sup>9</sup></a></p> + +<p class="ind">Aberdeen, whom I saw at Granville's last night, told me +that Cardwell had said to him, that often as he had felt indignant +at the arrogance of "that man," he really pitied him, so +complete was his overthrow. Disraeli said that he had watched +him during Johnny's speech, and doubted whether the hanging +of the head, etc., was merely acting; but before he had +spoken two sentences he saw he was a beaten fox. Many said +that the extreme flippancy and insolence of his manner was +more remarkable than ever, from their being evidently assumed +with difficulty. I have always thought Palmerston +very much overrated as a speaker; his great power arose +from his not only knowing his subject better than any one +else, but being the only man who knew anything about it, +and using that exclusive knowledge unscrupulously for the +purposes of misrepresentation.</p> + +<p class="ind">Thiers was at Lady Granville's last night, and was enchanted +with the spectacle of the Opening. He said that he had been +endeavouring for thirty years to support the cause of Constitutional +Monarchy, as the best Government in the world, +and there he saw it in perfection, not only in its intrinsic +attributes, but in the universal respect and adhesion with +which it was received. He said, though he did not understand +a word of English, he could have cried at the Queen's +voice in reading the Speech. He is very "impressionable," +and I am convinced at the time he was quite sincere in his +appreciation.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am vexed at not having been able to say anything publicly +about all this, as I believe I could have dispelled many misrepresentations; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.365" id="pageii.365"></a>[page 365]</span> +but it cannot be helped. I have endeavoured +throughout not to be selfish, and I may as well keep up that +feeling to the last. Ever, etc.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Normanby</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">I told John Russell last night I regretted that he had +vouched for the intentions of Louis Napoleon. He said he +had not done that, but owned that he had said more than he +ought. "The fact is, I did not know what to say next. I +stopped as one sometimes does, so I said that; I had better +have said something else!" Candid and characteristic!</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;"><a id="footnoteXXI6" name="footnoteXXI6"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXXI6">Footnote 6:</a> Submitted to the Queen by Colonel Phipps.</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXXI7" name="footnoteXXI7"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXXI7">Footnote 7:</a> It appears from a Memorandum made about this time by Prince Albert that when +Lord Palmerston's retirement became known, the Radical constituency of Marylebone +wished to present him with an Address of sympathy, and to invite him to stand at the +next Election, promising him to bring him in. Sir Benjamin Hall (one of the Members) +told them that they had better wait till the explanation in Parliament had taken place, +for at present they knew nothing about the merits of the case. This the Committee which +had been organised consented to do. After the Debate on the 4th of February, Sir +Benjamin called upon the Chairman of the Committee to ask him whether they would +still carry out their intention. "No," said the Chairman; "we have considered the +matter: a man who does not answer the Queen's letters can receive no Address from us."</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXXI8" name="footnoteXXI8"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXXI8">Footnote 8:</a> See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.264" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 264</a>.</p> + +<p class="note1"><a id="footnoteXXI9" name="footnoteXXI9"></a><a class="footnote" href="#footnotetagXXI9">Footnote 9:</a> <i>Cf.</i> Greville's account in his Journal, 5th February 1852. <i>See</i> also <a href="#pageii.368" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 368</a>. +</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Earl Granville.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>10th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the enclosed papers. She will not +object to the proposed step<sup>10</sup> should Lord Granville and Lord +John Russell have reason to expect that the Pope will receive +Sir H. Bulwer; should he refuse, it will be doubly awkward. +The Queen finds it difficult to give a decided opinion on the +subject, as, first, she does not know how far the reception of +Sir Henry at Rome will overcome the objections raised to his +reception as Resident at Florence. Secondly, as she has never +been able to understand what is to be obtained by a mission +to Rome, a step liable to much misrepresentation here....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 10: The Tuscan Government declined to receive Sir H. Bulwer, and it was then proposed +to send him to Rome instead. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE PRINCE AND THE ARMY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>16th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I have seen the Duke of Wellington this morning, +and have given him the Depôt plan.</p> + +<p class="ind">It may be useful if your Royal Highness will see him from +time to time in relation to the Army. On the one hand, your +Royal Highness's authority may overcome the indisposition +to change which he naturally entertains; and on the other, +his vast experience may be of great use to your Royal Highness +in regard to the future. I have the honour to be, Sir, your +Royal Highness's most dutiful Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">John Russell</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Sir Francis Baring to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SLAVE TRADE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Admiralty</span>, <i>15th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Francis Baring presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and begs to state to your Majesty that despatches have this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.366" id="pageii.366"></a>[page 366]</span> +evening arrived from Commander Bruce in command of the +African Squadron. Commander Bruce gives an account of +an attack on Lagos<sup>11</sup> which was completely successful. The +town of Lagos was captured and in great part burnt. The +resistance appears to have been obstinate and directed with +much skill. Your Majesty's naval Service behaved with their +accustomed gallantry and coolness, but the loss amounted to +fourteen killed and sixty-four wounded. Sir Francis Baring +will forward to your Majesty copies of the despatches to-morrow, +with his humble duty.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">F. Baring</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: Notorious as a centre of the Slave Trade. The native king was deposed. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Sir Francis Baring.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>16th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received both Sir Francis Baring's letters +of the 15th. The news of the capture and destruction of the +town of Lagos has given us the <i>greatest</i> satisfaction, as it will +give a most serious blow to the iniquitous traffic in slaves. +The Rev. Mr Crowther, whom the Queen saw about two months +ago (and whom she believes Sir Francis Baring has also seen), +told us that the slave trade on that part of the African coast +would be at an end if Lagos, the stronghold of its greatest +supporters, was destroyed. The Queen must express to Sir +Francis Baring her sense of the services rendered by Commodore +Bruce and the Officers under him.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>17th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Your dear letter of the 13th reached +me on Saturday here, where we are since Friday afternoon. +I am glad that you are satisfied with Lord Granville's answer. +The question shall certainly be borne in mind, and you may +rely on our doing whatever can be effected to bring about +the desired end. I think Louis Napoleon will find his decrees +very difficult to carry out. I am very glad to hear that you +quietly are preparing to strengthen yourself against the possibility +of any attack from France. This will, I think, put +Louis Napoleon on his good behaviour....</p> + +<p class="ind">The extension of the Suffrage<sup>12</sup> was almost unavoidable, +and it was better to do it quietly, and not to wait till there +was a cry for it—to which one would have to yield. The deal +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.367" id="pageii.367"></a>[page 367]</span> +there is to do, and the importance of everything going on at +home and abroad, is unexampled in <i>my</i> recollection and <i>very</i> +trying; Albert becomes really a <i>terrible</i> man of business; I +think it takes a little off from the gentleness of his character, +and makes him so preoccupied. I grieve over all this, as I +<i>cannot</i> enjoy these things, <i>much</i> as I interest myself in +<i>general</i> +European politics; but I am every day more convinced that +<i>we women</i>, <i>if</i> we <i>are</i> to be <i>good</i> women, +<i>feminine</i> and <i>amiable</i> +and <i>domestic</i>, are <i>not fitted to reign</i>; at least it is <i>contre +gré</i> +that they drive themselves to the <i>work</i> which it entails.</p> + +<p class="ind">However, this cannot now be helped, and it is the duty of +every one to fulfil all that they are called upon to do, in whatever +situation they may be!</p> + +<p class="ind">Mme. van de Weyer thinks your children so grown and +improved, and Charlotte as lovely as ever. With Albert's +love, ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 12: See <i>ante</i>, pp. <a href="#pageii.294" style="font-weight: normal;">294</a>, <a href="#pageii.324" style="font-weight: normal;">324</a>. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE MILITIA BILL</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>20th February 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(9.15 <span class="sc">p.m.</span>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and has the honour to report that Lord Palmerston has just +carried his Motion for leaving out the word "Local" in the +title of the Bill for the Militia.<sup>13</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell then declared that he could no longer +take charge of the Bill. Lord Palmerston said he was astonished +at the Government for giving up the Bill for so slight +a cause.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell then said that he considered the vote +as tantamount to a resolution of want of confidence, which +remark was loudly cheered on the other side.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Benjamin Hall said he wondered the Government did +not resign, on which Lord John again explained that when +confidence was withdrawn, the consequence was obvious.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 13: Events in France had revived anxiety as to the national defences, and the Government +brought in a Bill for raising a local Militia. To this scheme the Duke of Wellington had +been unfavourable, and Lord Palmerston, by a majority of eleven, carried an Amendment +in favour of re-organising the "regular" instead of raising a "local" Militia. +</p> + + + + + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE MINISTRY DEFEATED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>21st February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell came this morning at twelve o'clock to +explain that after the vote of yesterday<sup>14</sup> it was impossible for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.368" id="pageii.368"></a>[page 368]</span> +him to go on any longer with the Government. He considered +it a vote of censure, and an entirely unprecedented case not to +allow a Minister of the Crown even to lay his measure on the +Table of the House; that he had expected to the last that the +respectable part of the House would see all this, but there +seemed to have been a pre-arranged determination between +Lord Palmerston and the Protectionists to defeat the Government; +that the Peelites also had agreed to vote against them. +Sir James Graham and Mr Cardwell had stayed away, but Mr +Gladstone and Mr S. Herbert had voted against them, the latter +even misrepresenting what Lord John had said. No Government +could stand against incessant motions of censure upon +every imaginable department of the Executive Government. +The Prime Minister would either have to take the management +of all the departments into his own hands, and to be prepared to +defend every item, for which he (Lord John) did not feel the +moral and physical power, or he must succumb on those different +points which the Opposition with divided labour could +single out. Lord Palmerston's conduct was the more reprehensible +as he had asked him the day before about his objections +to the Bill, and had (he thought) satisfied him that the four +points upon which he had insisted were provided for in the +Bill.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 14: On the Militia Bill. +</p> + +<p class="ind">He thought he could not (in answer to the Queen's enquiry) +dissolve Parliament, and that Lord Palmerston had no Party. +But he supposed Lord Derby was prepared to form a Protection +Government. This Government would pass the estimates and +the Mutiny Bill, and would then have to proceed to a Dissolution. +Lord John had merely seen Lord Lansdowne, who had +approved of the course he meant to pursue, though afraid of +the imputation that the Government had run away from the +Caffre debate. He had summoned the Cabinet, and would +report their resolution. Speaking of Lord Palmerston, Lord +John said he had heard that Lord Palmerston had said that +there was one thing between them which he could not forgive, +and that was his reading the Queen's Minute to the House of +Commons.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY</span> + +<p class="ind">At a quarter past four Lord John came back from the Cabinet, +and formally tendered the resignations of himself and +colleagues. The Cabinet had been unanimous that there was +no other course to pursue, and that it would not be advisable +to make use of the Queen's permission to advise a Dissolution. +Lord Granville had ascertained through Dr Quin from Lord +Lyndhurst that Lord Derby was prepared with an Administration, +having obtained Mr Thomas Baring's consent to act as +Leader of the House of Commons.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.369" id="pageii.369"></a>[page 369]</span> + +<p class="ind">Sir Stratford Canning at Constantinople was supposed to be +intended for the Foreign Office. Lord Lyndhurst said, though +the materials were there, they were very bad ones, and it was +a question whether they would stand long. He himself would +keep out of place.</p> + +<p class="ind">We advised Lord John to keep his Party well under discipline +in Opposition, so that whilst there it did not commit errors +which would become new difficulties for the future Government. +He seemed disinclined for great exertions after the +fatigues he had undergone these last years. He said he +thought he would not go on with the Reform Bill out of office, +as that was a measure which ought to be carried by a Government. +If he had again to propose it, he would very likely alter +it a little, reverting to his original plan of taking away one +Member of the two returned by small boroughs, and giving +their seats to some large towns, counties, and corporations like +the Universities, etc.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John defers taking his formal leave till a new Administration +is formed.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD DERBY SUMMONED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>21st February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would wish to see Lord Derby at half-past two +to-morrow should he be in Town; if not, on Monday at twelve +o'clock.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>22nd February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... Lord Derby said that he could not command a majority +in the House of Lords, that he was in a decided minority in the +House of Commons, and thought that in the critical circumstances +in which the country was placed both at home and +abroad, he ought not to ask for a Dissolution. He must then +try to strengthen himself particularly in the House of Commons +by any means he could. There was one person whom he could +not venture to propose for the Foreign Office on account of +what had lately passed, and what he might be allowed to call +the "well-known personal feelings of the Queen"; but Lord +Palmerston was one of the ablest debaters, and might well be +offered the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen ... would not, by refusing her consent, throw +additional difficulties in Lord Derby's way; she warned him, +however, of the dangerous qualities of [Lord Palmerston].</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.370" id="pageii.370"></a>[page 370]</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby rejoined that he knew them, and thought them +pernicious for the conduct of the Foreign Affairs, but at the +Exchequer they would have less play; he himself would undertake +to control him. His greatest indiscretion—that in the +Kossuth affair—must have been with a view to form a Party; +that if left excluded from office, he would become more dangerous, +and might in fact force himself back at the head of a Party +with a claim to the Foreign Office, whilst if he had ever accepted +another Office, his pretensions might be considered as waived; +he (Lord Derby) did not know in the least whether Lord Palmerston +would accept, but in case he did not, the offer would +propitiate him, and render the Government in the House of +Commons more possible, as it would have anyhow all the +talent of the late Government, Peelites and Radicals, to +withstand.</p> + +<p class="ind">To my question whether Lord Derby fancied he would +remain Prime Minister any length of time, when once Lord +Palmerston had got the lead of the House of Commons, he +replied he was not afraid of him; he felt sure he could control +him, although he would not have been able to admit him to the +Foreign Office on account of the very strong strictures he had +passed upon his Foreign Policy at different times—even if the +Queen had allowed it.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>22nd February 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Half-past eight.</i>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby, with his humble duty, deems it incumbent upon +him to submit to your Majesty without delay that having had +an interview this evening with Lord Palmerston, the latter has, +although in the most friendly terms, declined accepting the +Office, upon the ground of difference of opinion, not on the +principle, but on the expediency of the imposition of any duty, +under any circumstances, upon foreign corn. This was a point +which Lord Derby was willing to have left undecided until the +result of a General Election should be known.</p> + +<p class="ind">Although this refusal may add materially to Lord Derby's +difficulties, he cannot regret that the offer has been made, as +the proposal must have tended to diminish any feelings of +hostility which might have been productive of future embarrassment +to your Majesty's service, to whatever hands it +may be entrusted....</p> + +<p class="ind">The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most +dutiful Servant and Subject,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Derby</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.371" id="pageii.371"></a>[page 371]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD DERBY'S CABINET</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby reported progress at half-past two, and submitted +a list of the principal Officers of the Government which +follows, and which the Queen approved.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen allowed Lord Lyndhurst (who has declined office—has +been Lord Chancellor three times, and now entered upon +his eightieth year) to be offered an Earldom—which he very +much desired for the position of his daughters, having no son.</p> + +<p class="ind">After he had kissed hands upon his entering upon his office, +Lord Derby had a further conversation with me on Household +appointments. I told him he must now, as Prime Minister, +consider himself to a certain degree in the position of the Confessor; +that formerly the Lord Chancellor was Keeper of the +King's Conscience, the office might be considered to have +descended on the Prime Minister. The Queen must then be +able to confer with him on personal matters, or I, on her behalf, +with the most entire confidence, and that she must be sure that +nothing was divulged which passed between them on these +matters, and he might repose the same confidence in us. As +to the formation of the Household, the Queen made two conditions, +viz. that the persons to compose her Court should not +be on the verge of bankruptcy, and that their moral character +should bear investigation. On the Queen's accession Lord +Melbourne had been very careless in his appointments, and +great harm had resulted to the Court therefrom. Since her +marriage I had insisted upon a closer line being drawn, and +though Lord Melbourne had declared "that that damned +morality would undo us all," we had found great advantage in +it and were determined to adhere to it....</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Duchess of Sutherland.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Duchess</span>,—I cannot say <i>how deeply</i> grieved I +am to think that the event which has just occurred, and which +Lord Derby's acceptance of office has to-day confirmed, will +entail your leaving, for a time, my service. It has been <i>ever</i> +a real pleasure to me to have you with me; my affection and +esteem for you, my dearest Duchess, are great, and we <i>both</i> +know what a kind and true friend we have in you.</p> + +<p class="ind">I think that I may rely on your returning to me on a future +occasion whenever that may be, and that I shall frequently +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.372" id="pageii.372"></a>[page 372]</span> +have the pleasure of seeing you, even when you are no longer +attached to my person.</p> + +<p class="ind">I shall hope to see you soon. The Levée remains fixed for +Thursday, and the transfer of the Officers of the new Government +does not take place till Friday.</p> + +<p class="ind">With the Prince's kindest remembrance, and ours to the Duke +and Constance. Believe me always, yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>24th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Uncle</span>,—Great and not <i>very</i> pleasant events have +happened since I wrote last to you. I know that Van de Weyer +has informed you of everything, of the really (till the last day) +unexpected defeat, and of Lord Derby's assumption of office, +with a very sorry Cabinet. I believe, however, that it is quite +necessary they should have a trial, and then have done with it. +Provided the country remains quiet, and they are prudent in +their Foreign Policy, I shall take the trial as patiently as I +can....</p> + +<p class="ind">Alas! your confidence in our excellent Lord Granville is no +longer of any avail, though I hope ere long he will be at the +Foreign Office again,<sup>15</sup> and I cannot say that his successor,<sup>16</sup> +who has never been in office (as indeed is the case with +almost all the new Ministers), inspires me with confidence. +I see that Louis Napoleon has again seized one of the +adherents, or rathermore one of the men of business, of the +poor Orleans....</p> + +<p class="ind">There are some terrible stories from Madrid of people having +told the poor Queen that the King had arranged this attack on +her person, and that she was anxious to abdicate.<sup>17</sup> If you +should hear anything of this kind, be kind enough to tell +me of it. With Albert's love (he is well fagged with business), +ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 15: Lord Granville held the Foreign Secretaryship in 1870-1874, and again in 1880-1885.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 16: Lord Malmesbury.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 17: The Queen was stabbed by a priest when returning from church. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD MALMESBURY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>24th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen thinks that it would be of the highest importance +that not only Lord Malmesbury (as is always usual) should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.373" id="pageii.373"></a>[page 373]</span> +receive the necessary information from Lord Granville, but that +Lord Derby should see him and hear from him the state of all +the critical questions now pending on Foreign Affairs. Lord +Granville has made himself master in a very short time of all +the very intricate subjects with which his Office has to deal, +and she must here bear testimony to the extreme discretion, +good sense, and calmness with which he has conducted the very +responsible and difficult post of Foreign Secretary.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Derby to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">NEW APPOINTMENTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>25th February 1852.</i> +(<i>5</i> <span class="sc">p.m.</span>)</p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I have delayed longer than I could have wished acknowledging +the letter which I had the honour to receive from +your Royal Highness last night, in hopes that by this time I +should have been enabled to solve the difficulties connected +with the Household Appointments; but I regret to say they +are rather increased than otherwise. I will not trouble your +Royal Highness now with any details; but if I might be +honoured with an audience at any hour after the Levée to-morrow, +I shall perhaps be able to make a more satisfactory +report, and at all events to explain the state of affairs more +fully.</p> + +<p class="ind">In the meantime, it may save Her Majesty some trouble if +I request that your Royal Highness will have the goodness +to lay before Her Majesty the enclosed list of Appointments +which, subject to Her Majesty's approval, I have arranged in +the course of this day. The Admiralty List found its way +most improperly into some of the morning papers before +I was even aware that the Duke of Northumberland had +finally obtained the assent of the Officers whom he had +selected.</p> + +<p class="ind">As it is possible that the Queen may not be acquainted +with the name of Colonel Dunne, I have the honour of enclosing +a letter respecting him which I have received from Lord Fitzroy +Somerset, since I had intimated to him my intention of submitting +his name to Her Majesty, and which is highly satisfactory.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must beg your Royal Highness to offer to the Queen my +most humble and grateful acknowledgment of the kindness +which Her Majesty has evinced in endeavouring to facilitate +the progress of the Household arrangements.</p> + +<p class="ind">I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Royal Highness's most +obedient Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Derby</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.374" id="pageii.374"></a>[page 374]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Queen Victoria.</i><sup>18</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LOUIS NAPOLEON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Thursday</span>, <i>26th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby came to Albert at half-past three, and Albert +called me in at a little after four....</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby told us he meant to proceed as speedily as possible +with the defences of the country, and that his plan for the +Militia entirely coincided with Albert's plan (viz. he (Albert) +wrote on the subject to the Duke of Wellington, who <i>did not</i> +like it),<sup>19</sup> and meant to try and avoid all the objections. On his +observing that no one had entirely understood the Government +Bill, I said that the Government had not even been allowed +to bring it in, which was a most unfair proceeding; upon which +Lord Derby reiterated his professions of this being no preconcerted +plan of his Party's, but that it was "symptomatic"; +he, however, was obliged to own that it was rather hard and +not quite fair on the late Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">I then explained to him the arrangement respecting the +drafts from the Foreign Office going first to him before they +came to me, and wished this should be continued, which he +promised should be done, as well as that all important Colonial +despatches should be sent to me. Touched upon the various +critical questions on the Continent.... Lord Derby said that all +Louis Napoleon's views were contained in his book <i>Idées +Napoléoniennes</i> written in '39, for that he was more a man of +"<i>Idées fixes</i>" than any one; and in this book he spoke of +gaining territory by <i>diplomacy</i> and not by war. Lord Derby +gave us a note from Louis Napoleon to Lord Malmesbury, +congratulating him on his appointment, professing the most +friendly and pacific intentions, and hoping the Cowleys would +(as they do) remain at Paris.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: Extract from Her Majesty's <i>Journal</i>.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 19: This Memorandum is given in chap. xlv. of the <i>Life of the Prince Consort</i>. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FAREWELL AUDIENCES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>27th February 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">To-day the formal change of Government took place. The +old Ministers who had Seals to give up assembled at half-past +eleven, and had their Audiences in the following order:</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>Sir George Grey</i> was very much overcome; promised at our +request to do what he could to keep his friends moderate and +united. Spoke well of his successor, Mr Walpole, and assured +the Queen that he left the country in a most quiet and contented +state.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.375" id="pageii.375"></a>[page 375]</span> + +<p class="ind"><i>Lord Grey</i> was sorry that the resignation had taken place +before the Caffre Debate, in which he had hoped to make a +triumphant defence; he was sure it must have come to this +from the way in which Lord John had managed matters. He +had never had his measures thoroughly considered when he +brought them forward. He (Lord Grey) had had to remonstrate +very strongly about this Militia Bill, which had not even +been laid, printed, before the Cabinet, and had not been discussed +at all; he himself had objected to the greater part of it, +and had always expected to have an opportunity of making +his opinion heard; instead of spending Christmas at Woburn +he ought to have digested his measures; this was not fair to +his colleagues, and he could never have the same confidence in +Lord John as before. We urged him to forget what had +passed and to do the best for the future; that it was important +the Party should be kept together and should unite if possible +with the Peelites, so that the Queen might hope to get a strong +Government. Lord Grey thought there was little chance of +this. The next Government could never be as moderate +again as this had been; this he had always dreaded, and was +the reason why he lamented that Lord John had failed in his +negotiation with the Peelites this winter, upon Lord Palmerston's +dismissal; but the fact was Lord John had never wished +it to succeed, and it had been unfair that he had not stated to +them (the Peelites) that all his colleagues were ready to give +up their places.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>Lord Granville</i> had seen Lord Malmesbury several times, +who appeared to him to take pains about informing himself +on the state of Foreign Affairs, but seemed inclined to +be ambitious of acquiring the merit of being exclusively +<i>English</i> in his policy; this was quite right, but might be +carried too far; however, Lord Malmesbury was cautious and +moderate.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>The Chancellor of the Exchequer</i> (<i>Sir Charles Wood</i>) was not +surprised at the fate of the Government, although they had not +expected to be defeated on the Militia Bill; in fact, a division +had hardly been looked for, as Lord John had talked the day +before with Lord Palmerston, and satisfied him that all his +objections should be provided against in the Bill. He thought +it was better, however, that the Caffre Debate had not been +waited for, which must have been a personal and very acrimonious +one. He thought Lord Grey had not been very discreet +in his language to the Queen on Lord John. Sir J. +Graham had been in a difficulty with his own Party, and therefore +had not wished to encourage Lord John's negotiation with +the Peelites. He promised that, for his part, he would do all he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.376" id="pageii.376"></a>[page 376]</span> +could to keep his Party from doing anything violent, but that +he was afraid many others would be so, and that he and +Lord Grey had in vain tried to persuade Mr Cobden to remain +quiet.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby had then an Audience to explain what should be +done at the Council. He regretted the Duchess of Northumberland's +declining to be Mistress of the Robes, on account of ill-health, +which had been communicated to the Queen by her +father, Lord Westminster. He proposed the Duchess of +Argyll, whom the Queen allowed to be sounded (though feeling +certain, that, considering the Liberal views of her husband, she +will not accept it), and sanctioned his sounding also the +Duchess of Athole, whom the Queen wished to make the offer +to, in case the Duchess of Argyll declined. Lord Derby +stated the difficulty he was in with Sir A. B., whose wife +had never been received at Court or in society, although +she had run away with him when he was still at school, +and was nearly seventy years old. The Queen said it would +not do to receive her now at Court, although society might +do in that respect what it pleased; it was a principle +at Court not to receive ladies whose characters are under a +stigma.</p> + +<p class="ind">We now proceeded to the Council, which was attended only +by three Councillors, the other seventeen having all had to be +sworn in as Privy Councillors first.<sup>20</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 20: <i>See</i> Disraeli's <i>Endymion</i> (chap. c.) +for a graphic description of this remarkable scene. +</p> + +<p class="ind">After the Council Lord Hardinge was called to the Queen, +and explained that he accepted the Ordnance only on the condition +that he was not to be expected to give a vote which +would reverse the policy of Sir R. Peel, to which he had hitherto +adhered. He had thought it his duty, however, not to +refuse his services to the Crown after the many marks of +favour he had received from the Queen.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD DERBY'S PROGRAMME</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby then had an Audience to explain what he intended +to state in Parliament this evening as the programme +of his Ministerial Policy. It was very fluent and very able, +but so completely the same as the Speech which he has since +delivered, that I must refer to its account in the reports. +When he came to the passage regarding the Church, the Queen +expressed to him her sense of the importance not to have +<i>Puseyites</i> or <i>Romanisers</i> recommended for appointments in the +Church as bishops or clergymen. Lord Derby declared himself<span class="rightnote">LORD DERBY AND THE CHURCH</span> +as decidedly hostile to the Puseyite tendency, and ready to +watch over the Protestant character of the Church. He said he +did not pretend to give a decided opinion on so difficult and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.377" id="pageii.377"></a>[page 377]</span> +delicate a point, but it had struck him that although nobody +could think in earnest of reviving the old Convocation, yet the +disputes in the Church perhaps could be most readily settled by +some Assembly representing the laity as well as the clergy. I +expressed it as my opinion that some such plan would succeed, +provided the Church Constitution was built up from the +bottom, giving the Vestries a legislative character in the +parishes leading up to Diocesan Assemblies, and finally to a +general one.</p> + +<p class="ind">On Education he spoke very liberally, but seemed inclined +to support the views of the bishops against the so-called +"management clauses" of the Privy Council, viz. not to allow +grants to schools even if the parish should prefer the bishops' +inspection to the Privy Council inspection.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>27th February 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Half-past seven</i> <span class="sc">p.m.</span>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby, with his humble duty, hastens to acquaint your +Majesty, having just returned from the House of Lords, that +his statement, going over the topics the substance of which he +had the honour of submitting to your Majesty was, as far as he +could judge, favourably received. Earl Grey attempted to +provoke a Corn Law discussion, but the feeling of the House +was against the premature introduction of so complicated and +exciting a topic. Lord Aberdeen, dissenting from any alteration +of commercial policy, entirely concurred in Lord Derby's +views of Foreign Affairs, and of the course to be adopted in +dealing with Foreign Nations. Lord Derby did not omit to +lay stress upon "the strict adherence, in letter and in spirit, +to the obligations of Treaties," which was well received.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>5th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—I have to offer my affectionate +thanks for a most gracious and long letter of the 2nd.</p> + +<p class="ind">Within these days we have not had anything very important, +but, generally speaking, there has been, at least in appearance, +a quieter disposition in the ruling power at Paris. We are +here in the awkward position of persons in hot climates, who +find themselves in company, for instance in their beds, with a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.378" id="pageii.378"></a>[page 378]</span> +snake; they must <i>not move, because that irritates</i> the creature, +but they can hardly remain as they are, without a fair chance +of being bitten.... Your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FOREIGN AFFAIRS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>9th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Your dear letter of the 5th reached me +just after we arrived here, at our sweet, peaceful little abode.</p> + +<p class="ind">It seems that Louis Napoleon's mind is chiefly engrossed +with measures for the interior of France, and that the serious +question of Switzerland is becoming less menacing. On the +other hand, Austria behaves with a hostility, and I must say +folly, which prevents all attempts at reconciliation. All the +admirers of Austria consider Prince Schwartzenberg<sup>21</sup> a madman, +and the Emperor Nicholas said that he was "Lord +Palmerston in a white uniform." What a calamity this is at +the present moment!</p> + +<p class="ind">We have a most talented, capable, and courageous Prime +Minister, but all his people have no experience—have never +been in <i>any sort</i> of office before!</p> + +<p class="ind">On Friday the House of Commons meets again, and I doubt +not great violence will be displayed.</p> + +<p class="ind">With every kind love to my dear Cousins, ever your very +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 21: Prime Minister of Austria. He died in the April following. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Colonel Phipps to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>10th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Colonel Phipps' humble duty to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has this day visited the Marionette Theatre, and feels +quite certain not only that it would not be a suitable theatre +for your Majesty to visit, but that your Majesty would derive +no amusement from it.</p> + +<p class="ind">The mechanism of the puppets is only passable, and the +matter of the entertainment stupid and tiresome, consisting +in a great part of worn-out old English songs, such as "The +death of Nelson"! Colonel Phipps considers "Punch" a +much more amusing performance. Lady Mount Edgecumbe, +who was in a box there, would probably give your Majesty an +account of it....</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>The report in London is</i>, that Lord John Russell is to recommend +moderation at the meeting at his house to-morrow. He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.379" id="pageii.379"></a>[page 379]</span> +has, very foolishly, subjected himself to another rebuff from +Lord Palmerston by inviting him to attend that meeting, +which Lord Palmerston has peremptorily refused. Since that, +however, Lady Palmerston has called upon Lady John with +a view to a <i>personal</i>—not political—reconciliation. Lady +Palmerston, as Colonel Phipps hears, still persists in the unfounded +accusation against Lord John of having quoted your +Majesty's Minute in the House of Commons without giving +Lord Palmerston notice of his intention.<sup>22</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: Palmerston, however, admitted the contrary (<i>Life of +the Prince Consort</i>, vol. ii. chap. xliv.). +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEMOCRACY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>12th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—I have to thank you for a most +kind letter from peaceful Osborne, which must doubly appear +so to you now, after all the troubles of the recent Ministerial +arrangements. I am glad that you are struck with the good +qualities of your new Premier. I am sure his great wish will +be to make the best possible Minister of the Crown. His +task will be very difficult. "Bread, cheap bread," "the poor +oppressed by the <i>aristocratie</i>," etc.—a whole vocabulary of +exciting words of that kind will be put forward to inflame the +popular mind; and of all the Sovereigns, the Sovereign +"People" is certainly one of the most fanciful and fickle. Our +neighbour in France shows this more than any other on the +whole globe; the Nation there is <i>still</i> the <i>Sovereign</i>, and this +renders the President absolute, because he is the representative +of the supreme will of the <i>supreme Nation</i>, sending us constantly +some new exiles here, which is very unpleasant. We +are going on very gently, merely putting those means of defence +a little in order, which ought by rights always to be so, if it was +not for the ultra-unwise economy of Parliaments and Chambers. +Without, at least, comparative security by means of well-regulated +measures of defence, no country, be it great or small, +can be considered as possessing National Independence. I +must say that in Austria, at least Schwartzenberg, they are +very much intoxicated. I hope they will grow sober again +soon. It was very kind of you to have visited the poor Orleans +Family. Rarely one has seen a family so struck in their +affections, fortunes, happiness; and it is a sad case. Those +unfortunate Spanish marriages have much contributed to it; +even angelic Louise had been caught by <i>l'honneur de la maison +de Bourbon</i>.... Your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.380" id="pageii.380"></a>[page 380]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW MILITIA BILL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>12th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must now answer Lord Derby on the questions +which form the subjects of his three last communications.</p> + +<p class="ind">With regard to the Militia Bill, she must admit that her +suggestions are liable to the objections pointed out by Lord +Derby, although they would offer advantages in other respects. +The Queen will therefore sanction the measure as proposed, +and now further explained by Lord Derby.</p> + +<p class="ind">The despatches transmitted from the Foreign Office referring +to the Swiss question<sup>23</sup> could not fail to give the Queen as much +satisfaction as they did to Lord Derby, as they show indications +of a more conciliatory intention, <i>for the present</i> at least. +As Switzerland has yielded, France and Austria ought to be +satisfied, and the Queen only hopes we may not see them +pushing their demands further after a short interval!</p> + +<p class="ind">The probability of a war with the Burmese is a sad prospect. +The Queen thinks, however, that the view taken by Lord +Dalhousie of the proceedings at Rangoon, and of the steps now +to be taken to preserve peace, is very judicious, and fully concurs +with the letter sent out by the Secret Committee. She +now returns it, together with the despatch.</p> + +<p class="ind">The despatches from Prince Schwartzenberg to Count Buol +are satisfactory in one sense, as showing a readiness to return +to the English Alliance, but unfortunately only under the +supposition that we would make war upon liberty together; +they exhibit a profound ignorance of this country.<sup>24</sup> The +Queen is quite sure that Lord Derby will know how to accept +all that is favourable in the Austrian overtures without letting +it be supposed that we could for a moment think of joining in +the policy pursued at this moment by the great Continental +Powers. As Lord Derby's speech has been referred to by +Prince Schwartzenberg, it would furnish the best text for the +answer. The President seems really to have been seriously ill.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 23: The French had been pressing the Swiss Government to expel refugees, and Austria +supported the French President.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 24: Lord Derby had urged that a more conciliatory message should accompany Lord +Granville's last despatch, which, because of its unfriendly tone, Count Buol had delayed +sending on to Vienna. The precise language (he said) must depend on what information +Count Buol could supply. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>14th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received this morning Lord Derby's letter +respecting the St Albans' Disfranchisement Bill, and is glad to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.381" id="pageii.381"></a>[page 381]</span> +hear that Lord Derby means to take up this Bill as dropped +by the late Government. Whether the mode of transferring +these seats proposed by Lord Derby will meet with as little +opposition in Parliament as he anticipates, the Queen is not +able to form a correct judgment of. It may be liable to the +imputation of being intended to add to the power of the landed +interest. This might not be at all objectionable in itself, but +it may be doubtful how far the House of Commons may be +disposed to concur in it at the present moment. This will be +for Lord Derby to consider, but the Queen will not withhold +her sanction from the measure.</p> + +<p class="ind">She knows that Lord John Russell meant to give the vacant +seats to Birkenhead. Are not there two seats still vacant from +the Disfranchisement of Sudbury? and would it not be better +(if so) to dispose of all four at the same time? There is an impression +also gaining ground that, with a view to prevent the +Franchise being given exclusively to <i>Numbers</i>, to the detriment +of <i>Interests</i>, it might be desirable to give new seats to +certain corporate bodies, such as the Scotch Universities, the +Temple and Lincoln's Inn, the East India Company, etc., etc.<sup>25</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 25: The Government eventually proposed that the four seats taken from St Albans and +Sudbury should be assigned to South Lancashire and the West Riding; but, on the +ground that a Ministry on sufferance should confine itself to necessary legislation, Mr +Gladstone induced the House by a great majority to shelve the proposal. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MR DISRAELI</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>15th March 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Monday night.</i>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, informs your Majesty of what occurred in the +House of Commons this evening.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Villiers opened the proceedings, terse and elaborate, but +not in his happiest style. He called upon the House to contrast +the state of the country at the beginning of the year and +at the present moment. But he could not induce the House +to believe that "all now was distrust and alarm."</p> + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply, declined to bring +forward in the present Parliament any proposition to change +our commercial system, and would not pledge himself to propose +in a future Parliament any duty on corn. He said a duty +on corn was a measure, not a principle, and that if preferable +measures for the redress of agricultural grievances than a +five-shilling duty on corn (mentioned by Mr Villiers) could be +devised, he should adopt them—a declaration received with +universal favour on the Government side.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.382" id="pageii.382"></a>[page 382]</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell replied to the Chancellor of the Exchequer +in consequence of some notice by the former of the +strange construction of a new Opposition to force a Dissolution +of Parliament by a Minister who, three weeks ago, had declared +such Dissolution inexpedient. It was not a successful +speech.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">THE OPPOSITION</span> + +<p class="ind">The great speech on the Opposition side was that of Sir +James Graham: elaborate, malignant, mischievous. His +position was this: that Lord Derby, as a man of honour, was +bound to propose taxes on food, and that if he did so, revolution +was inevitable.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Gladstone and Lord Palmerston both spoke in the same +vein, the necessity of immediate Dissolution after the passing +of the "necessary" measures; but the question soon arose, +What is "necessary"?</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston thought the Militia Bill "necessary," +upon which the League<sup>26</sup> immediately rose and denied that +conclusion.</p> + +<p class="ind">There seemed in the House a great reluctance to avoid a +violent course, but a very general wish, on the Opposition side, +for as speedy a Dissolution as public necessity would permit.</p> + +<p class="ind">The evening, however, was not disadvantageous to the +Government. All which is most humbly submitted to your +Majesty, by your Majesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">B. Disraeli</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 26: The members belonging to the Manchester School of Politics. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUESTION OF DISSOLUTION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>17th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I delayed writing till to-day as I +wished to see the papers first, and be able to give you an +account of the first Debate in the two Houses. They are not +satisfactory, because both Lord Derby and Mr Disraeli refuse +to give a straightforward answer as to their policy, the uncertainty +as to which will do serious harm.<sup>27</sup> The Opposition +are very determined, and <i>with</i> right, to insist on this being +given, and on as early a Dissolution as possible. The Government +will be forced to do this, but it is very unwise, after all +<i>this</i> agitation for the last five years and a half, <i>not</i> [to] come +forward manfully and to state what they intend to do. We +tried to impress Lord Derby with the necessity of this course, +and I hoped we had succeeded, but his speech has not been +what it ought to have been in this respect.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.383" id="pageii.383"></a>[page 383]</span> + +<p class="ind">The President seems more occupied at home than abroad, +which I trust he may remain.</p> + +<p class="ind">Stockmar is well.... <i>One</i> thing is pretty <i>certain</i>—that +<i>out</i> of the <i>present state</i> of confusion and discordance, a <i>sound +state</i> of <i>Parties</i> will be obtained, and <i>two Parties</i>, as of old, +will +again exist, without which it is <i>impossible</i> to have a <i>strong</i> +Government. <i>How</i> these Parties will be formed it is impossible +to say at present. Now, with Albert's love, ever your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 27: This uncertainty led to the Anti-Corn-Law League, which had been +dissolved in 1846, being revived. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>19th March 1852.</i><br /> +(<i>Friday night, twelve o'clock.</i>) </p> + + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, lays before your Majesty what has taken place +in the House of Commons to-night.</p> + +<p class="ind">At the commencement of public business, Lord John +Russell, in a very full House, after some hostile comments, +enquired of Her Majesty's Ministers whether they were prepared +to declare that Her Majesty will be advised to dissolve the +present Parliament, and call a new one, with the least possible +delay consistent with a due regard to the public interest, in +reference to measures of <i>urgent</i> and <i>immediate</i> necessity.</p> + +<p class="ind">The question was recommended by Lord John Russell as +one similar to that put to him in 1841 by Sir Robert Peel.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply observed that +there was a distinction between the position of the present +Ministry and that of Lord John Russell in 1841, as in that and +in the other precedents quoted in 1841 by Sir Robert Peel, the +Ministry had been condemned by a vote of the House of +Commons.</p> + +<p class="ind">He said it was not constitutional and most impolitic for any +Ministers to pledge themselves to recommend their Sovereign +to dissolve Parliament at any stated and specific time, as +circumstances might occur which would render the fulfilment +of the pledge injurious or impracticable; that it was the +intention of the Ministers to recommend your Majesty to +dissolve the present Parliament the moment that such measures +were carried which were necessary for your Majesty's service, +and for the security <i>and good government</i> of your Majesty's +realm; and that it was their wish and intention that the new +Parliament should meet to decide upon the question of confidence +in the Administration, and on the measures, which they +could then bring forward in the course of the present year.</p> + +<p class="ind">This announcement was very favourably received.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.384" id="pageii.384"></a>[page 384]</span> + +<p class="ind">The discomfiture of the Opposition is complete, and no +further mention of stopping or limiting supplies will be +heard of.</p> + +<p class="ind">All which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty by +your Majesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">B. Disraeli</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">INTERVIEW WITH LORD DERBY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>22nd March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">We came to Town from Osborne the day before yesterday, +and saw Lord Derby yesterday afternoon, who is in very good +spirits about the prospect of affairs. He told the Queen that +he thought he might state that the Government had gained a +good deal of ground during the last week, and that there was +now a general disposition to let the necessary measures pass +Parliament, and to have the dissolution the end of June or +beginning of July. He hoped the Queen did not think he had +gone too far in pledging the Crown to a Dissolution about that +time; but it was impossible to avoid saying as much as that +a new Parliament would meet in the autumn again, and have +settled the commercial policy before Christmas.</p> + +<p class="ind">To the Queen's questions, whether there would not be great +excitement in the country produced by the General Election, +and whether Parliament ought not to meet immediately after +it, he replied that he was not the least afraid of much excitement, +and that there was great advantage in not meeting +Parliament immediately again, as the Government would +require a few months to prepare its measures, and to take a +sound view of the new position of affairs. He anticipated that +there would be returned a large proportion of Conservatives, +some Free Traders, some Protectionists; but not a majority +for the re-imposition of a duty on corn, <i>certainly</i> not a majority +large enough to justify him in proposing such a Measure. +Now he was sure he could not with honour or credit abandon +that Measure unless the country had given its decision against +it; but then he would have most carefully to consider how +to revise the general state of taxation, so as to give that relief +to the agricultural interest which it had a right to demand.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">PROTECTION</span> + +<p class="ind">He had received the most encouraging and flattering letters +from the agriculturists of different parts of the country, all +reposing the most explicit confidence in him, and asking him +not to sacrifice the Government for the sake of an immediate +return to Protection. They felt what Lord Derby must say +he felt himself, that, after the fall of this Government, there +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.385" id="pageii.385"></a>[page 385]</span> +would necessarily come one of a more democratic tendency than +any the country had yet had to submit to. He thought most +politicians saw this, and would rally round a Conservative standard; +he knew that even many of the leading Whigs were very +much dissatisfied with the company they find themselves +thrown into and alarmed at the progress of Democracy.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>23rd March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... Here matters have improved rather for the Government, +and it seems now that they will be able to get through +the Session, to dissolve Parliament at the end of June or beginning +of July, and to meet again in November. And then +Protection will be done away with. If only they had not done +so much harm, and played with it for six long years! What +you say of the advantage of having had Governments from +all parties we have often felt and do feel; it renders changes +much less disagreeable. In the present case our acquaintance +is confined almost entirely to Lord Derby, but then <i>he is</i> the +Government. They do <i>nothing</i> without him. He has all the +Departments to look after, and on being asked by somebody +if he was not much tired, he said: "I am quite well with my +babies!..."</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>29th March 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Monday night.</i>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, informs your Majesty of what has occurred in +the House of Commons to-night.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Secretary Walpole introduced the Militia Bill in a statement +equally perspicuous and persuasive.</p> + +<p class="ind">Opposed by Mr Hume and Mr Gibson, the Government +Measure was cordially supported by Lord Palmerston.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell, while he expressed an opinion favourable +to increased defence, intimated a preference for regular troops.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Cobden made one of his cleverest speeches, of the cosmopolitan +school, and was supported with vigour by Mr Bright. +A division is threatened by the ultra-Movement party, but the +Chancellor of the Exchequer hopes to ward it off, and is somewhat +sanguine of ultimate success in carrying the Measure.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.386" id="pageii.386"></a>[page 386]</span> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>30th March 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your dear letter of +the 26th, which I received on Saturday. Here we shall have +some trouble with our Militia Bill, which all of a sudden seems +to have caused dissatisfaction and alarm. Lord Derby is +quite prepared to drop Protection, as he knows that the Elections +will bring a Free Trade, though a Conservative majority. +Mr Disraeli (<i>alias</i> Dizzy) writes very curious reports to me of +the House of Commons proceedings—much in the style of his +books....</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">ENGLAND AND ITALY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>10th April 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen hopes that both Lord Derby and Lord Malmesbury +will give their earnest attention to the change in the +politics of Italy, which is evidently on the point of taking place, +according to the enclosed despatch from Mr Hudson.<sup>28</sup> What +Count Azeglio<sup>29</sup> says in his Memorandum with respect to +Austria is perfectly just. But France, as the champion of +Italian liberty and independence, would become most formidable +to the rest of Europe, and Louis Napoleon, in assuming +for her this position, would be only following the example +of his uncle, which we know to be his constant aim.<sup>30</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 28: British Envoy at Turin.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 29: Premier of Sardinia.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 30: Lord Derby in reply, after reviewing the whole matter, counselled non-interference, +the keeping of a vigilant watch on French and Austrian actions, encouragement of Sardinia +in her constitutional action, and the making use of any opportunity to secure both +the independence of Piedmont and the reform of the Papal Administration. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FRANCE AND ITALY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>13th April 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Derby's letter of the 11th inst., +in which he states very clearly the difficulties which stand in +the way of an active interference of this country in the affairs +of Italy. The Queen did not mean to recommend in her letter +of the 10th on this subject any active interference, as she is of +opinion that our present want of due influence in Italy is chiefly +owing to our former ill-judged over-activity. The Queen +agrees therefore entirely with Lord Derby in thinking that "all +that can be done now is carefully to watch the proceedings of +France and Austria in this matter, so as to profit by every +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.387" id="pageii.387"></a>[page 387]</span> +good opportunity to protect the independence of Piedmont, +and, if possible, produce some improvement in the internal +Government of Rome," and she would accordingly like to +see her respective Foreign Ministers instructed in this sense.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen continues, however, to look with apprehension +to the possible turn which the affairs of Italy may take, proceeding +from the political views of the President. It is not +improbable that he may act now that he is omnipotent upon +the views contained in his celebrated letter to Edgar Ney in +1849, which were at the time disapproved by the Assembly.<sup>31</sup> +He will feel the necessity of doing something to compensate the +French for what they have lost by him at home, to turn their +attention from home affairs to those abroad, and to the +acquisition of power and influence in Europe; and certainly, +were he to head Italian liberty and independence, his power of +doing mischief would be immense. After all, such an attempt +would not be more inconsistent for him than it was for General +Cavaignac, as President of the <i>République Démocratique</i>, to get +rid of the Roman Republic, and to reinstate the Pope by force +of arms.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes Lord Derby to communicate this letter +to Lord Malmesbury, from whom she has also just heard upon +this subject.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 31: In this letter the President of the Republic had expressed his admiration at the conduct +of the French troops in the Roman expedition under General Oudinot, and his warm +approval of the policy that led to the campaign. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>19th April 1852.</i><br /> +(<i>Monday night, half-past twelve.</i>) </p> + + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, reports to your Majesty that, after a dull debate, +significant only by two of the subordinate Members of the late +Administration declaring their hostility to the Militia Bill, +Lord John Russell rose at eleven o'clock and announced his +determination to oppose the second reading of it.<sup>32</sup> His speech +was one of his ablest—statesmanlike, argumentative, terse, +and playful; and the effect he produced was considerable.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty's Government, about to attempt to reply to it, +gave way to Lord Palmerston, who changed the feeling of the +House, and indeed entirely carried it away in a speech of +extraordinary vigour and high-spirited tone.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Ministers were willing to have taken the division on his +Lordship sitting down, but as the late Government wished to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.388" id="pageii.388"></a>[page 388]</span> +reply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not oppose the +adjournment of the debate.</p> + +<p class="ind">The elements of calculation as to the division are very complicated, +but the Chancellor of the Exchequer is still inclined +to believe that the second reading of the Bill will be carried.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 32: This tactical blunder, much condemned at the time, estranged many of the Whigs +from Lord John. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE BUDGET</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>25th April 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes to remind Lord Derby that the time for +the presentation of the Budget to the House of Commons being +very close at hand, none of the Measures referring to the +finances of the country which the Government may have to +propose have as yet been laid before her.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>26th April 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Derby's explanation of his +views with regard to the Budget,<sup>33</sup> and will be glad to see him on +Wednesday at three o'clock. She had been alarmed by vague +rumours that it was the intention of the Government to propose +great changes in the present financial system, which, with an +adverse majority in the House of Commons and at the eve of +a Dissolution, must have led to much confusion. She thinks +the course suggested by Lord Derby to consider the Budget +merely as a provisional one for the current year, by far the +wisest, the more so as it will leave us a surplus of £2,000,000, +which is of the utmost importance in case of unforeseen +difficulties with Foreign Powers.<sup>34</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 33: Its chief feature was a renewal of the expiring Income Tax.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 34: Accordingly, no financial changes were proposed until after the General Election. +See <i>post</i>, <a href="#pageii.406" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 406</a>. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>26th April.</i><br /> +(<i>Monday night, twelve o'clock.</i>) </p> + + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Excehquer'">Exchequer</ins>, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, reports to your Majesty that the Militia Bill has +been carried (second reading) by an immense majority.</p> + +<table summary="vote" align="center" border="0" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"> + <tr><td>For</td> + <td> </td> + <td>315</td></tr> + <tr><td>Against</td> + <td> </td> + <td>165</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="ind">The concluding portion of the debate was distinguished by +the speeches of Mr Sidney Herbert and Mr Walpole, who made +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.389" id="pageii.389"></a>[page 389]</span> +their greatest efforts; the first singularly happy in his treatment +of a subject of which he was master, and the last +addressing the House with a spirit unusual with him.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FRANCE AND THE BOURBONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>27th April 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I thank you much for your kind and +affectionate letter of the 23rd. I have somehow or other contrived +to lose my day, for which reason I can only write a very +short letter. It seems to be generally believed that Louis +Napoleon's assumption of the title of Emperor is very near at +hand, but they still think war is not likely, as it would be such +bad policy.</p> + +<p class="ind">What you say about the ill-fated Spanish marriages, and +the result of the poor King's wishing to have no one but a +Bourbon as Queen Isabel's husband being that the <i>French +won't</i> have <i>any</i> Bourbon, is indeed strange. It is a melancholy +result.</p> + +<p class="ind">I shall certainly try and read Thiers' <i>Révolution, Consulat, et +Empire</i>, but I can hardly read <i>any</i> books, my whole <i>lecture</i> +almost being taken up by the immense quantity of despatches +we have to read, and then I have a good deal to write, and +must then have a little leisure time to rest, and <i>de me délasser</i> +and to get out. It is a great deprivation, as I delight in +reading. Still, I will not forget your recommendation.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am sorry to say <i>nothing</i> is definitely settled about our dear +Crystal Palace. With Albert's love, ever <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'you'">your</ins> truly devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Mr Disraeli.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>1st May 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has read with great interest the clear and able +financial statement which the Chancellor of the Exchequer +made in the House of Commons last night, and was glad to +hear from him that it was well received.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>13th May 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to this despatch from Lord Howden,<sup>35</sup> the +Queen wishes to observe that hitherto we have on all similar +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.390" id="pageii.390"></a>[page 390]</span> +occasions declined accepting any Foreign Order for the Prince +of Wales, on account of his being too young and not even +having any of the English Orders. Might this not therefore +be communicated to Lord Howden?</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 35: British Minister at Madrid. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">AFFAIRS IN FRANCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>27th May 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the enclosed most interesting letters. +It is evident that the President is meeting with the first +symptoms of a reviving public feeling in France; whether +this will drive him to hurry on the Empire remains to be seen. +All the Foreign Powers have to be careful about is to receive +an assurance that the <i>Empire</i> does <i>not</i> mean a <i>return to the +policy of the Empire</i>, but that the existing Treaties will be +acknowledged and adhered to.</p> + +<p class="ind">The session seems to advance very rapidly. The Queen +hails Lord Derby's declaration of his conviction that a majority +for a duty on corn will not be returned to the new Parliament, +as the first step towards the abandonment of hostility to +the Free Trade on which our commercial policy is now established, +and which has produced so flourishing a condition of +the finances of the country.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Disraeli's speech about Spain was very good, though he +had certainly better not have alluded to Portugal.</p> + +<p class="ind">We return to Town to-morrow.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>21st June 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Nine o'clock.</i>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, reports to your Majesty that Lord John Russell +introduced to the notice of the House of Commons to-night the +recent Minute of the Committee of Council on Education.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell made a languid statement to a rather +full House. His speech was not very effective as it proceeded, +and there was silence when he sat down.</p> + +<p class="ind">Then Mr Walpole rose and vindicated the Minute. He +spoke with animation, and was cheered when he concluded.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sir Harry Verney followed, and the House very much dispersed; +indeed the discussion would probably have terminated +when Sir Harry finished, had not Mr Gladstone then risen. +Mr Gladstone gave only a very guarded approval to the +Minute, which he treated as insignificant.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.391" id="pageii.391"></a>[page 391]</span> + +<p class="ind">It was not a happy effort, and the debate, for a while +revived by his interposition, continued to languish until this +hour (nine o'clock), with successive relays of mediocrity, until +it yielded its last gasp in the arms of Mr Slaney.</p> + +<p class="ind">The feeling of the House of Commons, probably in this +representing faithfully that of the country, is against both the +violent parties in the Church, and in favour of a firm, though +temperate, course on the part of the Crown, which may conciliate +a vast majority, and tend to terminate dissension.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Mr Walpole.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DISTURBANCES AT STOCKPORT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>1st July 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is much distressed at the account she has read +in the papers of the dreadful riot at Stockport,<sup>36</sup> alas! caused +by that most baneful of all Party feelings, <i>religious</i> hatred,<sup>37</sup> +and she is very anxious to know what Mr Walpole has heard.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 36: The Church question was brought into the political arena in the General Election, +which was now in progress; much violence was manifested during the contest.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 37: "It is additional proof, if more were wanting," wrote Mr Walpole in reply, "that all +Parties should forbear as much as possible from the ostentatious parade of anything that +can provoke either the one or the other." +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>23rd July 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—... We are very much plagued +by our Treaty with France. Victor Hugo has written a book +against Louis Napoleon, which will exasperate him much, and +which he publishes <i>here</i>; we can hardly keep Victor Hugo +here after that.<sup>38</sup> The great plague of all these affairs is their +constant return without the least advantage to any one from +the difficulties they created.... Your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 38: Victor Hugo (1802-1885) had founded the journal, <i>L'Evénement</i>, in 1848: he was +exiled in 1851, and published <i>Napoléon le Petit</i> in Belgium. After the fall of the Empire +he returned to France, and in 1877 published his <i>Histoire d'un Crime</i>. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>26th August 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has been considering the subject of the vacant +Garter, and the names which Lord Derby proposed to her. +She is of opinion that it would not be advisable on the whole +to give the Garter to Lord Londonderry; that the Duke of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.392" id="pageii.392"></a>[page 392]</span> +Northumberland has by far the strongest claim to this distinction. +At the same time, the Queen would have no objection +to bestow it on Lord Lonsdale, if this is desirable, in order +to facilitate any Ministerial arrangements which Lord Derby +may have in contemplation.</p> + +<a name="illusii.4" id="illusii.4"></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><a href="images/0406-1200.png"><img src="images/0406-370.png" width="370" height="473" alt="The Duke of Wellington, K.G." border="0" /></a> +<p class="center">F.M. The Duke of Wellington, K.G.</p> +<p class="center">From a miniature at Apsley House</p> +<p class="author" style="margin-bottom: 5em;"><i>To face p.</i> 392, Vol. II.</p></div> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN INHERITS A FORTUNE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>10th September 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—... That Mr Neild<sup>39</sup> should have +left that great fortune to you delighted me; it gives the +possibility of forming a private fortune for the Royal Family, +the necessity of which nobody can deny. Such things only +still happen in England, where there exists loyalty and strong +affection for Royalty, a feeling unfortunately much diminished +on the Continent of Europe, though it did exist there +also....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 39: John Camden Neild, an eccentric and miserly bachelor, nominally a barrister, died on +the 30th of August, bequeathing substantially the whole of his fortune (amounting to half +a million) to the Queen. As there were no known relatives, the Queen felt able to accept +this legacy; but she first increased the legacies to the executors from £100 to £1000 each, +made provision for Mr Neild's servants and others who had claims on him, restored the +chancel of North Marston Church, Bucks, where he was buried, and inserted a window +there to his memory. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF DUKE OF WELLINGTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>17th September 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The death of the Duke of Wellington<sup>40</sup> has deprived the +Country of her greatest man, the Crown of its most valuable +servant and adviser, the Army of its main strength and support. +We received the sad news on an expedition from +Allt-na-Giuthasach to the Dhu Loch (one of the wildest and +loneliest spots of the Highlands) at four o'clock yesterday +afternoon. We hurried home to Allt-na-Giuthasach, and to-day +here, where it became important to settle with Lord Derby +the mode of providing for the command of the Army, and the +filling up of the many posts and places which the Duke had +held.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 40: The Duke passed away at Walmer on the 14th of September, in his eighty-fourth year. +</p> + +<p class="ind">I had privately prepared a list of the mode in which this +should be done, and discussed it with Victoria, and found, to +both Lord Derby's and our astonishment, that it tallied in +<i>every</i> point with the recommendations which he had thought +of making.</p> + +<p class="ind">I explained to Lord Derby the grounds upon which I thought +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.393" id="pageii.393"></a>[page 393]</span> +it better not to assume the Command myself, and told him of +the old Duke's proposal, two years ago, to prepare the way to +my assuming the Command by the appointment of a Chief of +the Staff, on Sir Willoughby Gordon's death, and the reasons +on which I then declined the offer. Lord Derby entirely +concurred in my views, and seemed relieved by my explanation; +we then agreed that for the loss of <i>authority</i> which we +had lost with the Duke, we could only make up by increase in +<i>efficiency</i> in the appointments to the different offices. That +Lord Hardinge was the only man fit to command the Army.</p> + +<p class="ind">He should then receive the Command-in-Chief. The +Ordnance which he would vacate should be given to Lord +Fitzroy Somerset, hitherto Military Secretary (with the offer +of a peerage).<sup>41</sup> The Constableship of the Tower to Lord +Combermere; the Garter to Lord Londonderry; the Grenadier +Guards and the Rifle Brigade to me; the Fusiliers vacated +by me to the Duke of Cambridge (or the Coldstream, Lord +Strafford exchanging to the Fusiliers); the 60th Rifles vacated +by me to Lord Beresford; the Rangership of the Parks in +London to George (Duke of Cambridge); the Wardenship of +the Cinque Ports to Lord Dalhousie; the Lieutenancy of +Hampshire to Lord Winchester. I reserved to me the right of +considering whether I should not assume the command of +the Brigade of Guards which the Duke of York held in George +IV.'s time, to which William IV. appointed himself, and which +has been vacant ever since Victoria's accession, although +inherent to the Constitution of the Guards.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 41: He became Lord Raglan. +</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby had thought of George for the Command-in-Chief, +as an alternative for Lord Hardinge, but perceived that +his rank as a Major-General and youth would hardly entitle +him to such an advancement. He would have carried no +weight with the public, and we must not conceal from ourselves +that many attacks on the Army which have been sleeping on +account of the Duke will now be forthcoming.</p> + +<p class="ind">Victoria wishes the Army to mourn for the Duke as long as +for a member of the Royal Family.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby proposes a public funeral, which cannot take +place, however, before the meeting of Parliament in November. +He is to find out how this is to be accomplished on account of +the long interval.</p> + +<p class="ind">The correspondence here following<sup>42</sup> shows what doubts +exist as to the person in whom the Command of the Army is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.394" id="pageii.394"></a>[page 394]</span> +vested in case of a vacancy. I consider Lord Palmerston's +letter as a mere attempt to arrogate supreme power for his +Office,<sup>43</sup> which rests on no foundation. The Secretary at War +has no authority whatever except over money, whilst the +Commander-in-Chief has no authority to spend a penny +without the Secretary at War.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 42: These letters, which are of no special importance, contained a statement from Lord +Palmerston to the effect that the appointment to the Commandership-in-Chief was vested +in the Secretary at War.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 43: Lord Palmerston had held the office of Secretary at War from 1809 to 1828. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>17th September 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I am sure you will mourn <i>with us</i> +over the loss we and this whole nation have experienced in +the death of the <i>dear</i> and great old Duke of Wellington. The +sad news will have reached you, I doubt not, on Wednesday +or yesterday. We had gone on Wednesday, as I had mentioned, +to our little Shiel of Allt-na-Giuthasach to spend two +days there, and were enjoying ourselves very much on a beautiful +expedition yesterday, and were sitting by the side of the +Dhu Loch, one of the severest, wildest spots imaginable, when +one of our Highlanders arrived bringing a letter from Lord +Derby (who is here), confirming the report which we had +already heard of—but entirely disbelieved—and sending me a +letter from Lord Charles Wellesley, saying that his dear father +had only been ill a few hours, and had hardly suffered at all. +It was a stroke, which was succeeded rapidly by others, and +carried him off without any return of consciousness. For <i>him</i> +it is a blessing that he should have been taken away in the +possession of his great and powerful mind and without a lingering +illness. But for this country, and for us, his loss—though +it could not have been long delayed—is irreparable! +He was the pride and the <i>bon génie</i>, as it were, of this country! +He was the <span class="sc">GREATEST</span> man this country ever produced, and +the most <i>devoted</i> and <i>loyal</i> subject, and the staunchest supporter +the Crown ever had. He was to us a true, kind friend +and most valuable adviser. To think that all this is gone; +that this great and immortal man belongs now to History and +no longer to the present, is a truth which we cannot realise. +We shall soon stand sadly alone; Aberdeen is almost the only +personal friend of that kind we have left. Melbourne, Peel, +Liverpool—and now the Duke—<i>all</i> gone!</p> + +<p class="ind">You will kindly feel for and with us, dearest Uncle.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Hardinge is to be Commander-in-Chief, and he is +quite the <i>only</i> man <i>fit</i> for it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Albert is much grieved. The dear Duke showed him great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.395" id="pageii.395"></a>[page 395]</span> +confidence and kindness. He was so fond of his little godson +Arthur—who will now be a remaining link of the dear old +Duke's, and a pleasant recollection of him. Ever your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>17th September 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—You will be much grieved at the +loss of the Duke. It must give you satisfaction to think that +you were always kind to him, and that he was very sincerely +devoted to you and appreciated Albert. Since 1814 I had +known much of the Duke; his <i>kindness</i> to me had been very +<i>marked</i>, and I early discovered that he was very favourable +to my marriage with Charlotte, then already in agitation. +Since, he was <i>always kind</i> and <i>confidential</i>, even in those days +of persecution against me, the result of the jealousy of George +IV.; he never was influenced by it, or had the meanness of +many who, in the days of misfortune, quickly leave one. The +only case in which we were at variance was about the boundaries +of Greece. He had some of the old absolute notions, +which in that case were not in conformity with the real interests +of England and of Europe. Even last year he spoke so very +kindly to me on the subject of our Continental affairs. Rarely +fickle Fortune permits a poor mortal to reach the conclusion +of a long career, however glorious, with such complete success, +so undisturbed by physical or moral causes. The Duke is the +noblest example of what an Englishman may be, and to what +greatness he may rise in following that honourable and straight +line.</p> + +<p class="ind">When one looks at the Manchester school, compared to the +greatness to which men like the Duke raised their country, +one cannot help to be alarmed for the future. You are enjoying +the Highlands, but the weather seems also not very +favourable; here it is uncertain, and at times very cold.... +Your truly devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>22nd September 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord Derby</span>,—The Queen wishes me to answer +your kind letter of yesterday.</p> + +<p class="ind">Her letter to you and to Mr Walpole of this morning will +have apprised you that she sanctions the Guard of Honour +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.396" id="pageii.396"></a>[page 396]</span> +having been placed at Walmer, and the Duke's body having +been taken possession of formally on the part of the Crown.</p> + +<p class="ind">It would be a great pity if Lord Fitzroy were to be obliged +to decline the Peerage on account of poverty; at the same +time it may be difficult to relieve him from the payment of +fees by a public grant. Under these circumstances, rather +than leave Lord Fitzroy unrewarded, and a chance of his +feeling mortified at a moment when his cheerful co-operation +with Lord Hardinge is so important to the public service—the +Queen would <i>herself</i> bear the expense of the fees. If this were +to hurt Lord Fitzroy's feelings, you could easily manage it so +that he need never know from what source the £500 came. +The Queen leaves this matter in your hands. Ever yours +truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Mr Walpole.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral Castle</span>, <i>22nd September 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has just received Mr Walpole's letter of the 20th, +informing her of the difficulty of having the Funeral Service, +<i>according</i> to the <i>Liturgy</i>, performed <i>twice</i>; she trusts, +however, +that means may be found to enable the Queen's intentions to +be carried out, as communicated to Mr Walpole in Lord Derby's +official letter. Whether this is to be done by leaving the body +for two months without the Funeral Service being read over +it, or by reading the Funeral Service now in the presence of +the family, and treating the <i>Public Funeral</i> more as a translation +of the remains to their final place of rest, the Queen must +leave to be decided by those who have the means of personally +sounding the feelings of the Duke's family, the dignitaries of +the Church, and the public generally.</p> + +<p class="ind">An impressive religious ceremony might certainly be made +of it at St. Paul's, even if the actual Funeral Service should +not be read on the occasion....</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd October 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Shortly after the formation of Lord Derby's Government, +the Queen communicated to him a Memorandum respecting +the necessity of attending to our national defences on a systematic +plan. The Queen would now wish to hear how far +we have advanced in this important object since that time. +Lord Derby would perhaps call on the General Commanding-in-Chief, +the Master-General of the Ordnance, and the First +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.397" id="pageii.397"></a>[page 397]</span> +Lord of the Admiralty, as well as the Home Secretary, to make +a report upon this. It will soon be necessary to consider what +will have to be done for the future to complete the various plans. +The Queen is no alarmist, but thinks that the necessity of our +attending to our defences once having been proved and admitted +by Parliament and two successive Governments, we +should not relax in our efforts until the plans then devised are +thoroughly carried out.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LOUIS NAPOLEON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>26th October 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—... I must tell you an anecdote relating +to Louis Napoleon's entry into Paris, which Lord Cowley +wrote over, as going the round of Paris. It is: that under one +of the Triumphal Arches a Crown was suspended to a string +(which is very often the case) over which was written, "<i>Il l'a +bien mérité</i>." Something damaged this crown, and they removed +it—<i>leaving</i>, however, the <i>rope</i> and <i>superscription</i>, the +effect of which must have been somewhat edifying!</p> + +<p class="ind">It is not at all true that foreign Officers are not to attend at +the funeral of the dear old Duke; on the contrary, we expect +them from Prussia, Austria, and Russia, and the Duke of +Terceira (whom we shall see to-night) is already come from +Portugal to attend the ceremony.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must now conclude. With Albert's love, ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>8th November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">As we seem to be so near the declaration of the Empire in +France, and as so many opinions are expressed on the subject +of the title to be assumed by Louis Napoleon, the Queen is +anxious to impress Lord Malmesbury with the importance of +our not committing ourselves on this point, and not giving our +allies to understand that we shall join them in not acknowledging +Napoleon III.<sup>44</sup> Objectionable as this appellation no doubt +is, it may hardly be worth offending France and her Ruler by +refusing to recognise it, when it is of <i>such</i> importance to prevent +their considering themselves the aggrieved party; any attempt +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.398" id="pageii.398"></a>[page 398]</span> +to dictate to France the style of her Ruler would strengthen +Louis Napoleon's position; our object should be to leave +France alone, as long as she is not aggressive.</p> + +<p class="ind">All of this should be well weighed.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 44: Louis Napoleon himself claimed no hereditary right to the Imperial dignity, but +only that conferred by election: he acknowledged as national all the acts which had +taken place since 1815, such as the reigns of the later Bourbons and of Louis Philippe. +(See <i>Memoirs of an ex-Minister</i>.) +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to Viscount Hardinge.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">NATIONAL DEFENCES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>8th November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord Hardinge</span>,—In reference to our conversation +of yesterday, and the Queen's request to Lord Derby that he +should call upon the different departments of the Admiralty, +Army, Ordnance, and Home Office to furnish a report as to +how far the measures begun last spring to put our defences in a +state of efficiency have been carried out, and what remains to +be done in that direction—I beg now to address you in writing. +The object the Queen wishes to obtain is, to receive an account +which will show what means we have <i>really</i> at our disposal for +purposes of defence, <i>ready for action</i> at the shortest possible +notice, and what remains to be done to put us into a state of +security, what the supply of the wants may cost (approximately), +and what time it would require.</p> + +<p class="ind">As it will be not only convenient but necessary that the +Horse Guards and Ordnance should consult together and combine +their deliberations, I beg this letter to be understood to +apply as well to Lord Raglan as to yourself, and that you would +meet and give the answer to the Queen's questions conjointly.</p> + +<p class="ind">(<i>A detailed list follows.</i>)</p> + +<p class="ind">These questions would all present themselves at the moment +when we received the intelligence of a threatened <i>coup de main</i> +on the part of Louis Napoleon, when it would be too late to +remedy any deficiency. The public would be quite ready to +give the necessary money for our armament, but they feel with +justice that it is unfair to ask them for large sums and then +always to hear, <i>We are quite unprepared</i>. They don't understand +and cannot understand details, but it is upon matters of +detail that our security will have to depend, and we cannot be +sure of efficiency unless a comprehensive statement be made +showing the whole.</p> + +<p class="ind">I beg this to be as short as possible, and if possible in a +tabular shape. Ever yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>13th November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen was very sorry to hear from Lord Derby and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.399" id="pageii.399"></a>[page 399]</span> +Mr Disraeli that Mr Villiers' Motion<sup>45</sup> will create Parliamentary +difficulties.</p> + +<p class="ind">With respect to the financial statement, she must most +strongly impress Lord Derby with the necessity of referring to +our defenceless state, and the necessity of a <i>large</i> outlay, to +protect us from foreign attack, which would almost ensure us +against war. The country is fully alive to its danger, and +Parliament has perhaps never been in a more likely state to +grant what is necessary, provided a comprehensive and efficient +plan is laid before it. Such a plan ought, in the Queen's +opinion, to be distinctly promised by the Government, although +it may be laid before Parliament at a later period.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 45: This Motion, intended to extort a declaration from the House in favour of Free Trade, +and describing the Corn Law Repeal as "a just, wise, and beneficial measure," was naturally +distasteful to the Ministers. Their <i>amour-propre</i> was saved by Lord Palmerston's +Amendment omitting the "<i>odious</i> epithets" and affirming the principle of unrestricted +competition. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">FINANCIAL POLICY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>14th November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, begs permission to enclose an answer to the +Address for your Majesty's approbation, and which should be +delivered, if your Majesty pleases, to the House of Commons +to-morrow.</p> + +<p class="ind">Referring to a letter from your Majesty, shown to him yesterday +by Lord Derby, the Chancellor of the Exchequer also begs +permission to state that, in making the financial arrangements, +he has left a very large margin for the impending +year (April 1853-4), which will permit the fulfilment of all +your Majesty's wishes with respect to the increased defence +of the country, as he gathered them from your Majesty's +gracious expressions, and also from the suggestion which afterwards, +in greater detail, His Royal Highness the Prince +deigned to make to him.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deeply consider the +intimation graciously made in your Majesty's letter to Lord +Derby as to the tone on this subject to be adopted in the House +of Commons, and he will endeavour in this, and in all respects, +to fulfil your Majesty's pleasure.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer fears that he sent to your +Majesty a somewhat crude note from the House of Commons +on Thursday night, but he humbly begs your Majesty will deign +to remember that these bulletins are often written in tumult, +and sometimes in perplexity; and that he is under the impression +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.400" id="pageii.400"></a>[page 400]</span> +that your Majesty would prefer a genuine report of the +feeling of the moment, however miniature, to a more artificial +and prepared statement.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Mr Disraeli.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>14th November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received with much satisfaction Mr Disraeli's +letter of this day's date, in which he informs her of his readiness +to provide efficiently for the defence of the country, the call +for which is <i>very</i> urgent. Lord Malmesbury, with whom the +Prince has talked very fully over this subject, will communicate +further with Mr Disraeli and Lord Derby on his return to +Town to-morrow.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Marquis of Dalhousie to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD DALHOUSIE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Government House</span>, <i>23rd November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Governor-General still retains some hope of seeing +general peace restored in India before he quits it finally, as +your Majesty's Ministers and the Court of Directors have some +time since requested him not to retire from its administration +in January next, as he had intended to do.</p> + +<p class="ind">Many private considerations combined to draw him homewards, +even though the honour and the advantages of retaining +this Office were willingly recognised. But the gracious approbation +with which his services here have been viewed was a +sufficient motive for continuing them for some time longer, if +they were thought profitable to the State.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty has very recently been pleased to bestow upon +him a still further distinction, which calls not merely for the +expression of his deep and humble gratitude to your Majesty, +but for a further devotion to your Majesty's service of whatever +power he may possess for promoting its interests.</p> + +<p class="ind">That your Majesty should prefer him at all to an Office of +such traditional distinction as the Wardenship was an honour +to which the Governor-General would never at any time have +dreamt of aspiring. But by conferring it upon him thus—during +his absence—and above all, by conferring it upon him +in immediate succession to one whom he must all his life regard +with reverence, affection, and gratitude—your Majesty has +surrounded this honour with so much of honourable circumstance +that the Governor-General is wholly unable to give full +expression to the feelings with which he has received your +Majesty's goodness.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.401" id="pageii.401"></a>[page 401]</span> + +<p class="ind">The Governor-General is very sensible that in him, as Lord +Warden, your Majesty will have but a sorry successor to the +Duke of Wellington in every respect, save one. But in that +one respect—namely in deep devotion to your Majesty's Crown, +and to the true interests of your Empire—the Governor-General +does not yield even to the Master he was long so proud to +follow.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">INDIA AND THE DUKE</span> + +<p class="ind">In every part of India the highest honours have been paid +to the memory of the Duke of Wellington, which your Majesty's +Empire in the East and its armies could bestow.</p> + +<p class="ind">Even the Native Powers have joined in the homage to his +fame. In the mountains of Nepaul the same sad tribute was +rendered by the Maharajah as by ourselves, while in Mysore +the Rajah not only fired minute guns in his honour, but even +caused the Dusserah, the great Hindoo festival, to be stopped +throughout the city, in token of his grief.</p> + +<p class="ind">Excepting the usual disturbance from time to time among +the still untamed mountain tribes upon our north-western +border, there is entire tranquillity in India. The season has +been good, and the revenue is improving.</p> + +<p class="ind">Respectfully acknowledging the letter which he had lately +the honour of receiving from your Majesty, and the gracious +message it contained to Lady Dalhousie, who, though much +improved in health, will be compelled to return to England in +January, the Governor-General has the honour to subscribe +himself with the utmost respect and gratitude, your Majesty's +most obedient, most humble, and devoted Subject and Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Dalhousie</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE FUNERAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—What you say about Joinville has +interested us very much, and we have confidentially communicated +it to Lord Derby, who is never alarmed enough. There +is, however, a belief that the Orleans family have been very +imprudent, and that Louis Napoleon has heard things and +expressions used which did a great deal of harm, and Lord +Derby begged me to warn them very strongly and earnestly +on this point; <i>I</i> cannot do much, but I think <i>you</i> might, for +in fact they might <i>unintentionally compromise us seriously</i>. The +Government are rather shaky; Disraeli has been imprudent +and blundering, and has done himself harm by a Speech he +made about the Duke of Wellington, which was borrowed from +an <i>éloge</i> by Thiers on a French Marshal!!!<sup>46</sup></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.402" id="pageii.402"></a>[page 402]</span> + +<p class="ind">You will have heard from your children and from Charles +how very touching the ceremony both in and out of doors was +on the 18th. The behaviour of the millions assembled has been +the topic of general admiration, and the foreigners have all +assured me that they never could have believed <i>such</i> a number +of people could have shown such feeling, such respect, for <i>not</i> +a sound was heard! I cannot say <i>what</i> a deep and <i>wehmtühige</i> +impression it made on me! It was a beautiful sight. In the +Cathedral it was much more touching still! The dear old +Duke! he is an irreparable loss!</p> + +<p class="ind">We had a great dinner yesterday to all the Officers. There +is but one feeling of indignation and surprise at the conduct of +Austria <sup>47</sup> in taking <i>this</i> opportunity to slight England in return +for what happened to <i>Haynau</i><sup>48</sup> for <i>his own</i> character. Ernest +Hohenlohe was extremely anxious you should know the reason +why he may <i>possibly</i> appear one evening at the Elysée (they +are gone for three or four days to Paris).</p> + +<p class="ind">Louis Napoleon being excessively susceptible, and believing +us to be inimical towards him, we and the Government thought +it would not be wise or prudent for <i>my</i> brother-in-law, just +coming <i>from here</i>, purposely to avoid him and go out of his +way, which Louis Napoleon would immediately say was <i>my +doing</i>; and unnecessary offence we do not wish to give; the +more so as Stockmar was presented to him at Strasburg, and +received the <i>Légion d'honneur</i>. I promised to explain this to +you, as Ernest was distressed lest he should appear to be <i>timeserving</i>, +and I said I was sure you would understand it.</p> + +<p class="ind">I must end in a hurry, hoping to write again on Thursday +or Friday. Dear Stockmar is very well and most kind. He is +much pleased at your children spending some time with him +every day. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 46: Marshal Gouvion de St Cyr.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 47: In sending no representative to the funeral of the Duke of Wellington.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 48: See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.267" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 267</a>. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">CONFUSION OF PARTIES</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>25th November 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Thursday, four</i> <span class="sc">p.m.</span>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby, with his humble duty, in obedience to your +Majesty's gracious commands of this morning, proceeds to +report to your Majesty what he finds to have taken place and +to be in contemplation; but the accounts of the latter are +so conflicting and contradictory, that his report must be as +unsatisfactory to your Majesty as the state of the case is +unintelligible to himself.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.403" id="pageii.403"></a>[page 403]</span> + +<p class="ind">On arriving in London, Lord Derby called on Mr Disraeli, +and found that late last night he had had, by his own desire, +a private interview with Lord Palmerston, who had come to his +house with that object; that Lord Palmerston's language was +perfectly friendly towards the Government; that he assured +Mr Disraeli that his only object in offering his Amendment was +to defeat Mr Villiers; that if that could be done, it was a matter +of indifference to him which Amendment was adopted; and +he concluded by declaring that though he sat by Mr Sidney +Herbert in the House of Commons, and was an old personal +friend, he did not act in concert with him or with Mr Gladstone; +and that he did not see, on their part, any disposition +to approach the Government! After this declaration Mr +Disraeli felt that it would be useless and unwise to sound him +farther as to his own ulterior views, and the conversation led to +nothing.</p> + +<p class="ind">As Lord Derby was walking home, he was overtaken by Lord +Jocelyn, who stated, in direct opposition to what had been said +by Lord Palmerston, that he, and the other two gentlemen +named, were consulted upon, and had concocted the proposed +Amendment; and that they were <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'decidedy'">decidedly</ins> acting together. +He was present at a dinner of the Peelite Party yesterday at +Mr Wortley's, when Speeches were made, and language held +about the reunion of the Conservative Party, resulting, however, +in a declaration that if your Majesty's servants did not +accept Lord Palmerston's Amendment, they, as a body, would +vote in favour of Mr Villiers. Lord Derby has been farther +informed that they are willing to join the Government, but +that one of their conditions would be that Lord Palmerston +should lead the House of Commons, Mr Gladstone refusing to +serve under Mr Disraeli. This, if true, does not look like an +absence of all concert.</p> + +<p class="ind">To complete the general confusion of Parties, the Duke of +Bedford, who called on Lady Derby this morning, assures her +that Lord John Russell does not desire the fall of your Majesty's +present Government, and that in no case will he enter into any +combination with the Radical Party, a declaration quite at +variance with the course he has pursued since Parliament met.</p> + +<p class="ind">Of course Lord Derby, in these circumstances, has not taken +any step whatever towards exercising the discretion with +which your Majesty was graciously pleased to entrust him this +morning.<sup>49</sup> He much regrets having to send your Majesty so +unsatisfactory a statement, and has desired to have the latest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.404" id="pageii.404"></a>[page 404]</span> +intelligence sent up to him of what may pass in the House of +Commons, and he will endeavour to keep your Majesty informed +of any new occurrence which any hour may produce.</p> + +<p class="indright"><i>Half-past six.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby has just heard from the House of Commons +that Sir James Graham has given the history of the framing of +the Amendment, and has expressed his intention, if Lord +Palmerston's Amendment be accepted, to advise Mr Villiers +to withdraw. Mr Gladstone has held the same language; +there appears to be much difference of opinion, but Lord +Derby would think that the probable result will be the adoption +of Lord Palmerston's proposition. He fears this will lead +to a good deal of discontent among the supporters of the +Government; but a different course would run imminent risk +of defeat.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 49: The Queen had allowed him to enter into negotiations with the Peelites and Lord +Palmerston on the distinct understanding that the latter could not receive the lead of the +House of Commons. +</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">House of Commons</span>, <i>26th November 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(<i>Half-past one o'clock</i> <span class="sc">a.m.</span>)</p> + + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to +your Majesty, reports to your Majesty that the House of +Commons has this moment divided on Mr Villiers' resolution, +and in a House of nearly 600 members they have been rejected +by a majority of 80.<sup>50</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The debate was very animated and amusing, from the rival +narratives of the principal projectors of the demonstration, +who, having quarrelled among themselves, entered into secret +and—in a Party sense—somewhat scandalous revelations, to +the diversion and sometimes astonishment of the House.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Chancellor of the Exchequer deeply regrets that, having +been obliged to quit the House early yesterday, he was unable +to forward a bulletin to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has fixed next Friday for the Budget.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 50: Lord Palmerston's Amendment (See <i>ante</i>, <a href="#pageii.399" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 399</a>.) +was carried instead, and Protection was thenceforward abandoned by +Mr Disraeli and his followers. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MR DISRAELI AND MR GLADSTONE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>28th November 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Before the Council held yesterday we saw Lord Derby, who +seemed much pleased with the result of the Division, though +a good deal galled by the tone of the Debate.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby had heard it said that Mr Sidney Herbert, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.405" id="pageii.405"></a>[page 405]</span> +although very bitter in his language, had not meant to be +hostile to the Government, but felt that he owed the duty to +speak out to the memory of Sir Robert Peel; that he was glad +to have thrown the load off his mind. Lord Derby then read +us a letter from Lord Claud Hamilton, who had seen Mr Corry +(one of the Peelites), who had given him to understand that +they would <i>not</i> serve under the leadership of Mr Disraeli; that +they were ready, on the other hand, to serve under Lord +Palmerston. This put all further negotiation out of the +question, for, independently of the Queen objecting to such +an arrangement, he himself could not admit of it. On my +question why Mr Gladstone could not lead, he replied that +Mr Gladstone was, in his opinion, quite unfit for it; he had +none of that decision, boldness, readiness, and clearness which +was necessary to lead a Party, to inspire it with confidence, +and, still [more], to take at times a decision on the spur of the +moment, which a leader had often to do. Then he said that +he could not in honour sacrifice Mr Disraeli, who had acted +very straightforwardly to him as long as they had had anything +to do with each other, and who possessed the confidence of his +followers. Mr Disraeli had no idea of giving up the lead.</p> + +<p class="ind">We could quite understand, on the other hand, that the +colleagues of Sir Robert Peel could not feel inclined to serve +under Mr Disraeli.</p> + +<p class="ind">Under these circumstances we agreed that nothing should be +done at present, and that it must be left to time to operate +changes, that much must depend upon the success which Mr +Disraeli may have with his Budget, and that the knowledge +that Lord Palmerston could not obtain the lead would oblige +those who wished to join to think of a different combination.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby owned (upon my blunt question) that he did not +think Mr Disraeli had ever had a strong feeling, one way or +the other, about Protection or Free Trade, and that he would +make a very good Free Trade Minister.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen was anxious to know what Lord Derby thought +Lord George Bentinck (if now alive) would do in this conjunction. +Lord Derby's expression was "he would have made +confusion worse confounded" from his excessive violence.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">RECOGNITION OF THE EMPIRE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>2nd December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Malmesbury's letter, and returns +the enclosure from Lord Cowley. Under these circumstances +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.406" id="pageii.406"></a>[page 406]</span> +the course recommended to be pursued by Lord +Malmesbury<sup>51</sup> appears also to the Queen as the best. It is +evident that we have no means of making Louis Napoleon say +what he will not, nor would any diplomatic form of obtaining +an assurance from him give us any guarantee of his not doing +after all exactly what he pleases. Our honour appears therefore +to be best in our own keeping. Whatever he may say, +it is in our <i>note of recognition</i> that we must state <i>what</i> we +recognise +and what we do <i>not</i> recognise.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 51: Lord Malmesbury advised that a formal repetition of the interpretation and assurances +as to the use of the numeral "III" in the Imperial title, already verbally made by the +President and the French Ambassador, should be demanded. This was duly obtained. +On the 2nd of December, the anniversary of the <i>coup d'état</i>, the Imperial title was assumed; +on the 4th, the Empire was officially recognised. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>3rd December 1852.</i><br /> +(<i>Friday night, twelve o'clock</i> <span class="sc">p.m</span>.) </p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby, with his humble duty, ventures to hope that +your Majesty may feel some interest in hearing, so far as he +is able to give it, his impression of the effect of Mr Disraeli's +announcement of the Budget<sup>52</sup> this evening. Lord Derby was +not able to hear quite the commencement of the Speech, having +been obliged to attend the House of Lords, which, however, +was up at a quarter past five, Mr Disraeli having then been +speaking about half an hour. From that time till ten, when +he sat down, Lord Derby was in the House of Commons, and +anxiously watching the effect produced, which he ventures to +assure your Majesty was most favourable, according to his +own judgment after some considerable experience in Parliament, +and also from what he heard from others. Mr Disraeli +spoke for about five hours, with no apparent effort, with +perfect self-possession, and with hardly an exception to the +fixed attention with which the House listened to the exposition +of the views of your Majesty's servants. It was altogether a +most masterly performance, and he kept alive the attention of +the House with the greatest ability, introducing the most +important statements, and the broadest principles of legislature, +just at the moments when he had excited the greatest +anxiety to learn the precise measures which the Government +intended to introduce. The Irish part of the question was +dealt with with remarkable dexterity, though probably a great +part of the point will be lost in the newspaper reports. It is +difficult to foresee the ultimate result, but Lord Derby has no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.407" id="pageii.407"></a>[page 407]</span> +hesitation in saying that the general first impression was very +favourable, and that, as a whole, the Budget seemed to meet +with the approval of the House.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 52: Increase of the House Tax, reduction of the Malt and Tea duties, and relaxation of +Income Tax in the case of farmers, were the salient features of the Budget. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Emperor of the French.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN TO THE EMPEROR</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne House</span>, <i>4th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir, my Brother</span>,—Being desirous to maintain uninterrupted +the union and good understanding which happily +subsist between Great Britain and France, I have made choice +of Lord Cowley, a peer of my United Kingdom, a member of +my Privy Council, and Knight Commander of the Most Honourable +Order of the Bath, to reside at your Imperial Majesty's +Court in the character of my Ambassador Extraordinary and +Plenipotentiary. The long experience which I have had of his +talents and zeal for my service assures me that the choice +which I have made of Lord Cowley will be perfectly agreeable +to your Imperial Majesty, and that he will prove himself worthy +of this new mark of my confidence. I request that your +Imperial Majesty will give entire credence to all that Lord +Cowley shall communicate to you on my part, more especially +when he shall assure your Imperial Majesty of my invariable +attachment and esteem, and shall express to you those sentiments +of sincere friendship and regard with which I am, Sir, +my Brother, your Imperial Majesty's good Sister,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">To my good Brother,<sup>53</sup> the Emperor of the French.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 53: The Czar persisted in addressing him as <i>Mon cher Ami</i>. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>6th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has this morning received Lord Malmesbury's +letter of yesterday, relative to Count Walewski's audience. +The manner in which Lord Malmesbury proposes this should +be done the Queen approves, and only wishes Lord Malmesbury +to communicate with the proper authorities in order that +the <i>Fairy</i> may be at Southampton at the right hour, and the +Frigate, as suggested, in attendance off Osborne or Cowes, +according to what the weather may be. The landing at +Osborne Pier, in wet or stormy weather, is very bad, particularly +for a lady.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes that the Count and Countess Walewski +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.408" id="pageii.408"></a>[page 408]</span> +should come down here with Lord Malmesbury on <i>Thursday +next</i>, and we should receive them at half-past one. We wish +then that they should <i>all three dine and sleep here that day</i>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">A SECRET PROTOCOL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>8th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen was very much surprised to receive this morning +in a box from Lord Malmesbury, without any further explanation, +a secret Protocol<sup>54</sup> signed by the representatives of the +four great Powers at the Foreign Office on the 3rd instant.</p> + +<p class="ind">A step of such importance should not have been taken without +even the intention of it having been previously mentioned +to the Queen, and her leave having been obtained. She must +therefore ask for an explanation from Lord Malmesbury. +Though the purport of the Protocol appears to the Queen quite +right, she ought not to allow the honour of England to be +pledged by her Minister without her sanction.</p> + +<p class="ind">The exact wording of a document of that nature is a matter +of such serious importance that it requires the greatest +consideration, and it is a question with the Queen whether +it be always quite safe to adopt entirely what is proposed +by Baron Brunnow, who is generally the <i>rédacteur</i> of such +documents.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 54: By this Protocol Louis Napoleon was to be recognised as Emperor by Great Britain, +Austria, Prussia, and Russia. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Malmesbury to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>13th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Malmesbury presents his humble duty to the Queen. +He thought it advisable to acquaint your Majesty as soon as +possible with a conversation which Count Walewski had held +of his own accord in reference to Her Serene Highness the +Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe,<sup>55</sup> and he requested Lord Derby +to repeat it to your Majesty.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Malmesbury was not mistaken in believing that the +Count had not alluded idly to the subject, as he this day called +on Lord Malmesbury, and stated to him that the Emperor of +the French had not decided to negotiate a marriage with the +Princess of Wasa;<sup>56</sup> but, on the contrary, was rather averse to +such an alliance; that he was anxious, on the contrary, to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.409" id="pageii.409"></a>[page 409]</span> +make one which indirectly "<i>resserrerait les liens d'amitié entre +l'Angleterre et la France</i>," and that with this view he wished +Lord Malmesbury to ascertain from your Majesty whether +any objections would be raised on the part of your Majesty, or of +the Princess Adelaide's family, to his contracting a marriage +with Her Serene Highness. Your Majesty may suppose that +he received this intimation by a simple assurance that he would +submit the French Emperor's sentiments to your Majesty, +and he added that he foresaw a serious difficulty to the +project in the fact that the Princess was a Protestant. +Count Walewski was evidently sincere in the earnestness with +which he spoke of the subject, and the impatience with which +he pressed Lord Malmesbury to inform your Majesty of his +proposal.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 55: The Queen's niece, daughter of Princess Hohenlohe.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 56: The Princess Caroline Stéphanie, daughter of Prince Gustavus de Wasa, who was son +of the last King of Sweden of the earlier dynasty. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE EMPEROR'S PROPOSED MARRIAGE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>14th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sends to Lord Derby a communication which +she has received from Lord Malmesbury.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen is sorry to have been put in a situation which +requires on her part a direct answer, which to have been spared +would have been in every respect more prudent and safe. As +it is, however, the Queen is fully aware that the answer she +is forced to give may really have, or may hereafter be made +appear to have, political consequences disadvantageous to our +political relations with France, and injurious to the Queen's +personal character.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen therefore encloses for Lord Derby a draft of the +answer she intends to give to Lord Malmesbury,<sup>57</sup> asking that +Lord Derby will not only give these matters his fullest consideration, +but that he will return to the Queen the draft as +soon as possible, with such of his suggestions or alterations as +he may think advisable to propose to her.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must also express her decided wish that Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.410" id="pageii.410"></a>[page 410]</span> +Derby will not allow Lord Malmesbury to move a single step +in this affair without it has been previously concerted with +Lord Derby.<sup>58</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 57: </p> + + + + <h6 style="margin-top: -2.5em; font-style: italic;">Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury.</h6> + <p class="note1" style="margin-top: -1em;">[<i>Draft.</i>]</p> + <p class="indrightnote" style="margin-top: -1em;"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>14th December 1852.</i></p> + + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">The Queen has received Lord Malmesbury's letter of yesterday, reporting his conversation +with Count Walewski, who had asked him to ascertain from the Queen "whether +any objections would be raised on her part or on that of the Princess Adelaide's family to +his (the Emperor's) contracting a marriage with Her Serene Highness."</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">In a question which affects the entire prospects and happiness of a third person, and that +person being a near and dear relation of hers, the Queen feels herself conscientiously precluded +from forming an opinion of her own, and consequently from taking the slightest +part in it either directly or indirectly. The only proper persons to refer to for the consideration +of and decision on so serious a proposal are the parents of the Princess and the +Princess herself.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 58: In his reply Lord Derby observed that it did not appear to him that the matter +was at present in so critical a position. Lord Malmesbury would have little difficulty in +showing Count Walewski, without any interruption of a friendly <i>entente</i>, that the intended +overtures were not likely to be favourably received. He suggested that Lord Malmesbury +should be instructed to treat the proposition as emanating, not from the Emperor, but +unofficially, from Count Walewski; and that he should, also unofficially, dissuade him from +pressing the subject further; such course could have no injurious effect upon the political +aspect of Europe. Lord Derby could not understand how the affair, however it might +turn out, could affect the Queen's "personal character."</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">He suggested that the following words should be substituted for the last paragraph: +"And while she fully appreciates the desire expressed by Count Walewski on the part +of his Government, '<i>de resserrer les liens de l'amitié entre l'Angleterre et la France</i>,' she feels +bound to leave the consideration and decision of so serious a proposal to the unbiassed +judgment of the parents of the Princess and the Princess herself, the only persons to whom +such a question can properly be referred. The Queen thinks it right to add that being +fully persuaded of the strong religious persuasion of the Princess, of the extreme improbability +of any change of opinion on her part, and of the evils inseparable from a difference +of opinion on such a subject between the Emperor and his intended Consort, she wishes +Lord Malmesbury to place this consideration prominently before Count Walewski, before +he takes any other step in the matter, which he appears to have brought unofficially under +the consideration of Lord Malmesbury." +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN AND LORD MALMESBURY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>16th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Derby's letter of the 14th inst. +She did not intend to complain personally of Lord Malmesbury, +who, the Queen is sure, was most anxious to do the best he +could under the circumstances; but she still thinks that a +question of such importance should not have been brought +immediately before her for her decision; and although Lord +Derby states his opinion that Lord Malmesbury had no alternative +but to promise to Count Walewski that he would bring +"<i>the Emperor's sentiments before the Queen</i>," the very suggestion +Lord Derby now makes, viz. "that Lord Malmesbury +should be instructed to treat the proposition as emanating, not +from the Emperor, but <i>unofficially</i> from Count Walewski, +and that he should also <i>unofficially</i> dissuade him from pressing +the matter further"—shows that there was an alternative.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby and Lord Malmesbury alone can know, whether, +after what may have passed in conversation between Lord Malmesbury +and Count Walewski, this course still remains open.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S OPINION</span> + +<p class="ind">There can be no doubt that the best thing would be to +terminate this affair without the Queen being called upon to +give any opinion at all.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby seems to treat the matter as of much less importance +than the Queen, but he will admit that, if the alliance +is sought by the Emperor, "<i>pour resserrer les liens d'amitié +entre la France et l'Angleterre</i>," the refusal of it on the part of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.411" id="pageii.411"></a>[page 411]</span> +the Queen must also have the opposite effect. The responsibility +of having produced this effect would rest personally with +the Queen, who might be accused of having brought it about, +influenced by personal feelings of animosity against the Emperor, +or by mistaken friendship for the Orleans family, or misplaced +family pride, etc., etc., etc. The acceptance of the +proposal, on the other hand, or even the consummation of the +project without her <i>direct</i> intervention, cannot fail to expose the +Queen to a share in the just opprobrium attaching in the eyes +of all right-thinking men to the political acts perpetrated in +France ever since 2nd December 1851. And, while it would +appear as if her Family did not care for any such considerations, +so long as by an alliance they could secure momentary +advantages, it would give the other Powers of Europe, whom +the Emperor seems to be disposed to treat very unceremoniously +(as shown by Lord Cowley's last reports) the impression that +England suddenly had separated herself from them, and bound +herself to France for a family interest pursued by the Queen.</p> + +<p class="ind">These are the dangers to "the Queen's personal character," +which presented themselves to her mind when she wrote +her last letter, and which Lord Derby says remained unintelligible +to him.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen wishes Lord Derby to show this letter to Lord +Malmesbury, whom, under the circumstances, she thinks it +best not to address separately. They will be now both in the +fullest possession of the Queen's sentiments, and she hopes +will be able to terminate this matter without the expression +of an opinion on the part of the Queen becoming necessary.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY</span> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>17th December 1852.</i></p> +<p class="rindent1">(4 <span class="sc">a.m</span>.)</p> + + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby, with his humble duty, regrets to have to submit +to your Majesty that the House of Commons, from which he +has this moment returned, has rejected the resolution for the +increase of the House Tax, by a majority of either nineteen or +twenty-one.<sup>59</sup> This majority is so decisive, especially having +been taken on a question which was understood to involve the +fate of the Government, as to leave Lord Derby no alternative +as to the course which it will be his duty to pursue; and +although, as a matter of form, it is necessary that he should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.412" id="pageii.412"></a>[page 412]</span> +consult his Colleagues, for which purpose he has desired that +a Cabinet should be summoned for twelve o'clock, he can +entertain no doubt but that their opinion will unanimously +concur with his own; that he must humbly ask leave to resign +into your Majesty's hands the high trust which your Majesty +has been pleased to repose in him. Lord Derby, with your +Majesty's permission, will endeavour to do himself the honour +of attending your Majesty's pleasure this evening; but it is +possible that he may not be able to find the means of crossing,<sup>60</sup> +in which case he trusts that your Majesty will honour him +with an audience to-morrow (Saturday) morning. Lord Derby +trusts he need not assure your Majesty how deeply he feels the +inconvenience and annoyance which this event will occasion +to your Majesty, nor how anxious will be his desire that your +Majesty should be enabled with the least possible delay to +form an Administration possessing more of the public confidence. +He will never cease to retain the deepest and most +grateful sense of the gracious favour and support which he has +on all occasions received at your Majesty's hands, and which +he deeply regrets that he has been unable to repay by longer +and more efficient service.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 59: This memorable debate and its sensational ending, with the notable speeches from +Disraeli and Gladstone, has been repeatedly described. See, <i>e.g.</i>, Morley's <i>Gladstone</i> +and McCarthy's <i>History of our own Times</i>. The <i>Times</i> leader (quoted by Mr Morley) +was cut out and preserved by the Queen.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 60: To Osborne. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD DERBY'S RESIGNATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>18th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Yesterday evening Lord Derby arrived from Town formally +to tender his resignation. We retired to the Queen's room +after dinner with him to hear what he had to say on the crisis. +He complained of the factiousness of the Opposition, which he +and his Party hoped, however, not to imitate; was ready to +support, as far as he could, any Administration which was +sincerely anxious to check the growth of democracy. He said +his calculations at the close of the Elections had been found +almost to a man verified in the late vote: 286 members voting +with the Government, and these were their regular supporters; +the other half of the House was composed of 150 Radicals, 50 +of the so-called Irish Brigade, 120 Whigs, and 30 Peelites. It +was clear that, if all these combined, he would be outvoted, +though none of these Parties alone numbered as much as half +of his. However, he had heard lately from good authority +that the Whigs and Peelites had come to an agreement, and +were ready to form an Administration on Conservative principles, +to the exclusion of the Radicals, under the lead of +Lord Aberdeen. Although only 150 strong, they thought, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.413" id="pageii.413"></a>[page 413]</span> +that with all the talent they had at their command, they would +be able to obtain the confidence of the country, and hold the +balance between the two extreme Parties in the House. He +felt that after having failed to obtain the confidence of Parliament +himself, he could do nothing else than retire at once, +and he advised the Queen to send for Lord Lansdowne, who +knew better than anybody the state of Parties, and would give +the best advice. He did not advise the Queen to send for +Lord Aberdeen at once, because, if it were reported that he +had given this advice, many of his Party—who had already +been distressed at his declaration to them that if he was defeated +he would withdraw from public life—would think it +necessary to join Lord Aberdeen as their new appointed leader; +and then the other half, which felt the deepest indignation +at the treatment they had received from the Peelites, would +throw themselves into a reckless alliance with the Radicals, +to revenge themselves upon the new Government, so the great +Conservative Party would be broken up, which it was so +essential for the country to keep together and moderate.</p> + +<p class="ind">I interrupted Lord Derby, saying that, constitutionally +speaking, it did not rest with him to give advice and become +responsible for it, and that nobody therefore could properly +throw the responsibility of the Queen's choice of a new Minister +upon him; the Queen had thought of sending for Lord Lansdowne +and Lord Aberdeen together. This, Lord Derby said, +would do very well; he knew that, strictly speaking, the +Sovereign acted upon her own responsibility, but it was always +said on such occasions, for instance, "Lord John advised the +Queen to send for Lord Derby," etc., etc.</p> + +<p class="ind">He then gave it rather jokingly as his opinion that he thought +less than 32 could hardly be the number of the new Cabinet, +so many former Ministers would expect to be taken in; the +Whigs said 36. Lord John Russell was designated for the +Home Office, Lord Canning for the Foreign, Mr Gladstone for +the Colonial Department, Lord Clanricarde for the Post Office, +Lord Granville for Ireland. These were the reports.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Marquis of Lansdowne.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>18th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Lansdowne's letter, from +which she was very sorry to learn that he is suffering from +the gout. Although the Queen was very anxious to have +consulted with him before taking a definite step for the formation +of a new Government consequent on the resignation of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.414" id="pageii.414"></a>[page 414]</span> +Lord Derby, she would have been very unhappy if Lord +Lansdowne had exposed his health to any risk in order to +gratify her wishes. Time pressing, she has now sent a telegraphic +message to Lord Aberdeen to come down here alone, +which, from the terms of the Queen's first summons, he had +thought himself precluded from doing. Should Lord Lansdowne +not be able to move soon, Lord Aberdeen will confer +with him by the Queen's desire immediately on his return to +Town.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD ABERDEEN SUMMONED</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>19th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen arrived here at three o'clock and reported +that he had seen Lord Lansdowne, and had come to a perfect +understanding with him; he had also consulted with his +friends, and with Lord John Russell. It would now depend +upon the decision of the Queen whom she would charge with +the formation of a Government. The Queen answered that +she thought Lord Lansdowne was too old and infirm to undertake +such arduous duties, and that she commissioned Lord +Aberdeen. He replied he was fully aware of his own unworthiness +for the task, and had expressed his disinclination to Lord +Lansdowne, while Lord Lansdowne, on the other hand, had +pressed him to take the responsibility himself; but since the +Queen had commissioned him, he wished to say that it was +of the greatest importance that only one person should be +charged with the task and be responsible for it, and that the +new Government should not be a revival of the old Whig +Cabinet with an addition of some Peelites, but should be a +liberal Conservative Government in the sense of that of Sir +Robert Peel; he thought this would meet with the confidence +of the country, even if excluding the Radicals. Lord Aberdeen +said he meant to propose to the Queen Lord John Russell as +Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for +Foreign Affairs, which <i>he</i> thinks he would accept. (The Queen +sanctioned this.) He would then consult Lord John upon his +appointments, but he (Lord Aberdeen) would be responsible, +taking care that Lord John should be satisfied. There was +no doubt that Lord John had full claims to be Prime Minister +again, but that he could give him no greater proof of confidence, +having been his opponent all his life, than to give him the lead +of the House of Commons, which made him virtually as much +Prime Minister as he pleased, and the Foreign Office combined +with it would satisfy Lord John as following the precedent of +Mr Fox. The Peelites would not have served under Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.415" id="pageii.415"></a>[page 415]</span> +Lansdowne, much less under Lord John; but a great many +Whigs even objected to Lord John. This was a temporary +and undeserved unpopularity, and still Lord John remained +the first man in the country, and might be Prime Minister +again. The Peelites would know and learn to respect him +when meeting him in office. Lord Aberdeen hoped even many +Conservatives now going with Lord Derby would support such +a Government, but to preserve to it a Conservative character, +two Secretaries of State at least must be <i>Peelites</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">We next talked of Lord Palmerston, whom we agreed it +would be imprudent to leave to combine in opposition with +Mr Disraeli. Lord Aberdeen had thought of Ireland for him; +we felt sure he would not accept that. I gave Lord Aberdeen +a list of the possible distribution of offices, which I had drawn +up, and which he took with him as containing "valuable +suggestions." He hoped the Queen would allow him to +strengthen himself in the House of Lords, where there was +nobody to cope with Lord Derby, by the translation of Sir +James Graham or Mr S. Herbert, if he should find this necessary. +Sir James might gain in moving from the House of +Commons, as he lately fettered himself with inconvenient +Radical pledges. He felt he would have great difficulty in +the formation of his Government, for although everybody +promised to forget his personal wishes and interests, yet when +brought to the test such professions were often belied. The +difficulty of measures lies chiefly in the Budget, as the Income +Tax would have to be settled, and he was anxious to keep a +good surplus. As to Reform, he felt that, considering the +Queen to have recommended it by a Speech from the Throne, +and Lord John to have actually introduced a Measure as +Prime Minister, the door could not be closed against it; but +it might be postponed for the present, and there was no real +wish for it in the country.</p> + +<p class="ind">He was very sorry that the Government had been upset, +and if the Budget had been such that it could have been +accepted he should much have preferred it. Lord Derby +seemed very much offended with him personally for his speech +in the House of Lords. Lord Aberdeen kissed hands, and +started again at four o'clock.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD ABERDEEN</span> + +<p class="indright">(<i>Undated.</i>)<sup>61</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen, with his humble duty, begs to inform your +Majesty, that on his return from Osborne last night, he saw +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.416" id="pageii.416"></a>[page 416]</span> +Lord Lansdowne and Lord John Russell, and found them in<span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN RUSSELL</span> +the same disposition with respect to the formation of the new +Administration. This morning, however, Lord John Russell, +partly from an apprehension of the fatigue of the Foreign +Office, and partly from the effect likely to be produced on his +political friends by his acceptance of office, has expressed his +unwillingness to form part of the Administration, although +anxious to give it his best support. Lord Aberdeen has discussed +this matter very fully with Lord John, and has requested +him not to decide finally until to-morrow morning, +which he had promised accordingly. In the meantime, Lord +Aberdeen humbly submits to your Majesty that his position +is materially affected by this irresolution on the part of Lord +John. Had he not felt warranted in relying upon Lord John's +co-operation, he would not have ventured to speak to your +Majesty with the confidence he yesterday evinced. With the +most earnest desire to devote himself to your Majesty's service, +it becomes doubtful whether he could honestly venture to +attempt the execution of your Majesty's commands should +Lord John persevere in his present intention. At all events, +nothing further can be done until this matter shall be decided; +and Lord Aberdeen will have the honour of reporting the result +to your Majesty.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 61: Apparently written on the 20th of December 1852. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>20th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and is grateful for your Majesty's condescension in informing +him that your Majesty has charged the Earl of Aberdeen with +the duty of constructing a Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell is desirous of seeing a durable Government, +and he will consider with the utmost care how far he +can, consistently with his own honour and his health and +strength, contribute to this end.<sup>62</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 62: He consulted Lord Lansdowne, and Macaulay, happening to call, threw his influence +into the scale in favour of his serving under Aberdeen (Walpole's <i>Russell</i>, chap, xxiii.). +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Disraeli to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MR DISRAELI AND PRINCE ALBERT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>20th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sir</span>,—I have the honour to return to your Royal Highness +the State paper<sup>63</sup> which your Royal Highness entrusted to me. +I have not presumed to keep a copy of it, but my memory is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.417" id="pageii.417"></a>[page 417]</span> +familiar with its contents, and in case hereafter there may be +any opportunity formed to forward the views of your Royal +Highness in this respect, I may perhaps be permitted, if necessary, +again to refer to the document.</p> + +<p class="ind">I hope I am not presumptuous if, on this occasion, I offer +to your Royal Highness my grateful acknowledgments of the +condescending kindness which I have received from your Royal +Highness.</p> + +<p class="ind">I may, perhaps, be permitted to say that the views which +your Royal Highness had developed to me in confidential +conversation have not fallen on an ungrateful soil. I shall +ever remember with interest and admiration the princely mind +in the princely person, and shall at all times be prepared to +prove to your Royal Highness my devotion. I have the +honour to remain, Sir, your Royal Highness's most obedient +Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">B. Disraeli</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 63: It is impossible to ascertain what this was; it was probably one of the Prince's political +Memoranda. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>20th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen, with his humble duty, begs to inform your +Majesty that Lord John Russell has finally decided not to +undertake the Foreign Office, being influenced, Lord Aberdeen +fully believes, by domestic considerations, and contrary to the +advice of all the most important of his political friends. Lord +Lansdowne has done his utmost to shake the resolution, but +in vain. Lord John proposes to be in the Cabinet, without +office, but to lead the Government business in the House of +Commons. Lord Aberdeen thinks this arrangement objectionable, +and a novelty, although the Duke of Wellington +was Leader in the House of Lords for two years without office +when Lord Hill was Commander-in-Chief. If the arrangement +should be found untenable in a Parliamentary view, Lord John +would consent to accept a nominal office, such as Chancellor +of the Duchy. It is with great regret that Lord Aberdeen +makes this announcement to your Majesty, as his own position +is greatly weakened by this change; but he does not think it +a sufficient reason for abandoning the attempt to serve your +Majesty, which he feared might have been the case if Lord +John had persevered in his intention of not forming part of +the Administration.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN'S ANXIETY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>21st December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Derby's +letter. She has since read his Speech in the House of Lords +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.418" id="pageii.418"></a>[page 418]</span> +announcing his resignation most attentively, and must express +her doubts, whether that Speech was calculated to render +easier the difficult task which has been thrown upon the Queen +by the resignation of her late Government.<sup>64</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 64: Lord Derby severely attacked Lord Aberdeen, in his absence, and declared himself +the victim of a factious combination. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>21st December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen received Lord Aberdeen's letter early this morning, +the contents of which have filled her with no little anxiety.</p> + +<p class="ind">Still, she relies on the spirit of patriotism which she knows +animates all the parties concerned, and which she feels sure +will ultimately prevail over all difficulties, and enable a strong +Government to be formed, which the country so earnestly +demands and requires. The Queen is not surprised at Lord +John Russell's fearing the fatigue of the Foreign Office, together +with the lead in the House of Commons, which Lord +Aberdeen's wish to show him entire confidence had prompted +him to offer to Lord John; but <i>this</i> difficulty, she trusts +might easily be obviated. We intend leaving this place for +Windsor to-morrow morning, and being there by two o'clock.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would wish to see Lord Aberdeen there in the +course of the afternoon—either at three, four, or five—whichever +time is most convenient to him, and requests him to let +her find a line from him on her arrival, informing her of the +hour at which he will come. Any letter, however, sent by the +bag to-night or by a messenger will reach the Queen <i>here</i> to-morrow +morning, as we do not go before a quarter to ten, and +the Queen trusts therefore that Lord Aberdeen will let her +hear as soon as possible how matters stand.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>21st December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your dear and kind +letter of the 17th, which was as ever full of love and affection; +but you know <i>very</i> well that your affectionate child will never +allow any mention of <i>your</i> "leaving the premises." You +know—too well—how sacred duties of any kind are, and above +all, those of a King, and in these days; and how impossible it is +for <i>us to shirk</i> or abandon any of those duties which God has +imposed on us.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.419" id="pageii.419"></a>[page 419]</span> + +<p class="ind">You will have heard of our crisis, and of the resignation of +the Government; its overthrow was inevitable; but we must +now get a strong and durable Government, one combined of +the best Conservatives and Liberals, which is what the country +expects, demands, and requires. Lord Aberdeen has undertaken +the task, but I cannot yet announce, as I wish I could, +the formation of the new Government. Ever your devoted +Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">You will receive a small parcel for my dear Charlotte for +Christmas Eve, and I have directed some prize Christmas beef +to be forwarded to Leo, which I hope he will approve of.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD DERBY'S JUSTIFICATION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>22nd December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby, with his humble duty, learns with the deepest +regret, by the note which he has just had the honour of receiving, +that the statement which he felt it his duty to make in the +House of Lords has appeared to your Majesty not calculated +to render easier the difficult task which has been thrown upon +your Majesty by the resignation of himself and his colleagues. +Lord Derby begs humbly, but most sincerely, to assure your +Majesty that nothing could have been farther from his intention +than to let fall a single word which could increase the difficulties +of the present position. He feels the full extent of those difficulties, +and he may perhaps be forgiven if he entertains a strong +opinion that a due appreciation of their magnitude might have +been expected to have some weight with those Conservative +statesmen, whose opposition thrown into the adverse scale +turned the balance against your Majesty's servants, and rendered +their retirement from office inevitable. Lord Derby +does not affect to deny that he thinks he has some reason, +personally and politically, to find fault with the course which +they have pursued: but to suffer any such consideration to +influence his public conduct, with regard to the Government +now in process of formation, would be entirely at variance with +his sense of public duty, and inconsistent with the deep gratitude +which he must ever feel for the confidence with which your +Majesty has honoured him. Lord Derby confesses himself at +a loss to understand in what manner Lord Aberdeen can be +enabled to reconcile the many and serious discrepancies, in +matters both of Church and State, which would appear to exist +among his presumed future colleagues; but it will give him +unfeigned satisfaction to see these difficulties surmounted in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.420" id="pageii.420"></a>[page 420]</span> +such a sense as to enable him to give to the Government his +independent support; and in the meantime it is his determination +honestly to undertake the task, difficult as it must be, of +keeping together a powerful Party, without the excitement of +opposition to a Government by which their own leaders have +been superseded, and of some members of which they think +they have reason to complain; and even to induce that Party +to give it their support, whenever they can do so consistently, +with their own conscientious convictions.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW GOVERNMENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>22nd December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">We arrived here from Osborne at half-past one, and saw Lord +Aberdeen at half-past five, who reported the progress he had +made in the formation of his Government.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>The Chancellorship.</i>—He had hoped to be able to offer to Lord +St Leonards to remain, but Lord John Russell insisted, on the +part of his Party (which he personally regretted to have to do), +that the Chancellor should be a Liberal; Lord Aberdeen in +consequence recommended Lord Cranworth.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>The Presidency of the Council.</i>—The Duke of Newcastle, who +might have done for Ireland, but whose presence in the House +of Lords would be a great support to Lord Aberdeen.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>The Privy Seal.</i>—The Duke of Argyll, to whom he had, +however, not yet applied.</p> + +<p class="ind"><i>The Secretaries of State.</i>—It appeared that Lord Palmerston +had repented of his decision, for he had addressed Lord Lansdowne, +and told him that he gave him his proxy—putting himself +entirely into his hands, feeling sure that he would take care +of his honour. Lord Lansdowne, who had been throughout +very kind in his exertions to bring about the junction of Parties, +was now engaged to prevail upon him to take the Home Office. +We congratulated Lord Aberdeen upon this symptom, which +augured confidence in his success. Lord Aberdeen said that +when he saw Lord Palmerston, who then declined office, +nothing could have exceeded the expressions of his cordiality; +he had even reminded him that in fact they were great friends +(!!!) of sixty years' standing, having been at school together. +We could not help laughing heartily at the <i>Harrow Boys</i> and +their friendship. The Foreign Office Lord John had again +positively refused, contrary to the advice of all his friends, and +to please Lady John. This arrangement failing, Lord Clarendon +was to undertake it, but Lord Clarendon was now gone +himself to try to persuade Lord, or rather Lady, John to accept—at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.421" id="pageii.421"></a>[page 421]</span> +least temporarily—declaring his readiness to take it off his +hands at any time if he should find the work too heavy. Lord +Aberdeen had no hope, however, of Lord Clarendon's success. +Then there would come the grave Constitutional Question of +establishing the novelty of a Leader in the House of Commons +who held no office. Lord John had seen the danger of being +exposed to the reproach that he had slipped into office without +having gone through the popular ordeal of a re-election, and had +proposed to obviate this by accepting the Stewardship of the +Chiltern Hundreds, and then having himself re-elected for the +City of London. But this would not meet all the objections, +for it would still be considered unconstitutional that he should +lead the business of the Government in the House of Commons +without the responsibility of office. The Leader of the House +of Commons was an irresponsible person, and Lord John's +saying: "I shall represent you (Lord Aberdeen) in the House +of Commons," would be equally unconstitutional. Lord John +must therefore be prevailed upon to take the Chancellorship of +the Duchy of Lancaster, though he felt no inclination to become +the successor of Mr Christopher. Lord Aberdeen read a +Memorandum of Lord John's, containing his political views on +the crisis and the principles of the new Government, of which +he is to send the Queen a copy.</p> + +<p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>For the Colonial Office.</i>—Lord Aberdeen wavered between +Sir J. Graham and Mr Gladstone; either could be this, or +Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord John wished Sir James as +Chancellor of the Exchequer. We argued the greater capabilities +of Sir James for the Administration of the Colonies, +and Mr Gladstone for the Finances.</p> + + + <p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>Chancellor of the Exchequer</i>—therefore, Mr Gladstone.</p> + <p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>Admiralty</i>—Mr Sidney Herbert.</p> + <p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>Board of Control</i>—Sir C. Wood.</p> + <p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>Board of Trade</i>—Lord Granville.</p> + <p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>Board of Works</i>—Sir F. Baring.</p> + + +<p class="ind">(Baring and Wood being the two men whom Lord John had +insisted on having on the Treasury Bench sitting by his side.)</p> + + + + <p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>Postmaster</i>—Lord Canning.</p> + <p class="ind" style="text-indent: 4%"><i>Secretary-at-War</i>—Mr Cardwell.</p> + + +<p class="ind">These would form the Cabinet. Upon Ireland no decision +had been come to, though Lord Granville was generally pointed +out as the best Lord-Lieutenant.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen was very much pleased with the entire confidence +existing between him and Lord John. The Budget +would be a formidable difficulty, as in fact the Government +would be an Income Tax Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby's intemperate and unconstitutional behaviour +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.422" id="pageii.422"></a>[page 422]</span> +would do no good to the Government; many of his friends were +disgusted. Lord Clanwilliam had called his speech in the +House of Lords "a great outrage." The Radicals might be +conciliated in some of the lower Offices by the appointment of +Mr Charles Villiers, Sir William Molesworth, and others.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Malmesbury to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Foreign Office</span>, <i>23rd December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Malmesbury presents his humble duty to the Queen, +and considers it right to inform your Majesty that Count +Walewski again asked him yesterday where the Prince of +Hohenlohe was now residing, adding that it was the intention +of the Emperor to send a person to see him, and ascertain his +feelings with respect to a marriage between him and the Princess +Adelaide. Lord Malmesbury confined himself to replying that +he did not know. Lord Malmesbury might perhaps in his +private capacity endeavour to discourage these advances, but +as long as he has the honour of being one of your Majesty's +Ministers, it appears to him that your Majesty will be <i>personally</i> +the least committed by his interfering as little as possible in the +matter.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Emperor is becoming extremely irritable at the delay of +the three great Powers in recognising the Empire, and he has +said to M. Hübner that, as they had plenty of time to agree +among themselves what course they should pursue when it +was proclaimed, he cannot understand how Austria and Prussia +can in the face of Europe humiliate themselves by waiting for +the orders of Russia—"<i>les ordres de la Russie</i>."</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Malmesbury's letter. She +thinks he is acting very judiciously in giving Count Walewski +no advice whatever as long as he holds the Seals of Office.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">NEW APPOINTMENTS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's communication of +this morning, and was pleased to hear that Lord John has +finally accepted the Foreign Office. She has also received the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.423" id="pageii.423"></a>[page 423]</span> +second communication, with the List of the distribution of +Offices. The Queen thinks it of such importance that the +Cabinet should be now announced to the world as complete, +that she is unwilling to throw any difficulties in the way. At +the same time, she must observe that in some instances the +changes are, in her opinion, not for the better. Sir J. Graham +will be very unpopular in the Navy; his achievements at the +Admiralty in former times<sup>65</sup> were all <i>retrenchments</i>, and have +since proved in many instances injurious to the Service. The +Secretary-at-War ought properly to be left out of the Cabinet +for the well working of the Army;<sup>66</sup> the President of the Board +of Trade has always been in the Cabinet, and in Lord Granville's +case, even the Vice-President. Lord Granville will have a +difficulty as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, being one +of the chief lessees of the Duchy, and, the Queen believes, even +engaged in a law-suit against it. The Queen has no objection +to Sir William Molesworth<sup>67</sup> at the Office of Works. She hopes +that the Presidency of the Council will be filled at once, for +which Lord Clarendon would be best.</p> + +<p class="ind">Amongst the Under-Secretaries of State, the Queen wishes +merely to express her objection at seeing Mr B. Osborne<sup>68</sup> at +the <i>Foreign</i> Office. The Queen sees Lord Chandos's<sup>69</sup> name +as Secretary to the Treasury; she would be very much pleased +to see his services secured. All the other proposals she +approves.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must repeat in conclusion that she considers the +rapid completion of the Government of the first importance, +even if none of the points the Queen has alluded to should be +amended.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 65: From 1830 to 1834.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 66: The Secretary-at-War was not a Secretary of State.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 67: M.P. for Southwark; well known as a philosophical writer, the first member of the +Radical Party included in any Ministry.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 68: Mr Bernal Osborne, a well-known speaker at the time, became Secretary of the +Admiralty.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 69: Afterwards, as Duke of Buckingham, Secretary for the Colonies and Governor of +Madras. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW CABINET</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>24th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has this moment received Lord Aberdeen's letter, +reporting that new difficulties have arisen in the completion of +the Government by new proposals made by Lord John Russell, +since the Queen's sanction had been given to the arrangements +submitted to her by Lord Aberdeen, which had then been agreed +to by Lord John Russell. The Queen begins to fear serious +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.424" id="pageii.424"></a>[page 424]</span> +mischief from the long duration of the crisis. It must weaken +the prestige of the new Government, and, instead of smoothing +difficulties, is, from the nature of things, rather calculated to +invite new ones. The Queen has, in her letter of yesterday, +stated some objections <i>she</i> felt, but added that she would waive +them all for the satisfaction of the immediate want of the +country (a strong Government), and she must express her hope +that political parties will not fall short in patriotic spirit of the +example she has thus herself set.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i><br /> +[<i>Draft—from recollection.</i>]</h5> + + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>24th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of this afternoon, +and is very glad to hear that he has overcome the difficulties +which he mentioned this morning, and that he has +secured the services of Lord Lansdowne in the Cabinet. She +hopes, however, that Lord Aberdeen will remain firm on the +other points, as difficulties are never overcome by yielding +to more than can be fairly demanded.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>25th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen came this afternoon to announce the completion +of his Cabinet.</p> + +<p class="ind">From many of them answers have not yet been received.</p> + +<p class="ind">The day before it looked very bad. Lord John Russell had +sent in such a list of persons whom he required in the Cabinet +(Sir Francis Baring, Sir George Grey, etc., etc.), that, having +been very yielding hitherto, Lord Aberdeen was obliged to be +peremptory in his refusal. Now that the Cabinet was formed +on a due proportion, he was inclined to let Lord John have his +own way pretty much with regard to the minor Offices, considering +that he brought 250 followers, and he (Lord Aberdeen) +only 50.</p> + +<p class="ind">It was to Lord Clarendon that the persuasion of Lady John +was finally due, but Lord Aberdeen had to add his own promise +to that of Lord Clarendon, that the latter would take the Foreign +Office whenever she thought Lord John ought to be relieved +from it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lady Palmerston had been most anxious to bring her +husband into office again; Lord Aberdeen had seen the first +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.425" id="pageii.425"></a>[page 425]</span> +symptom of their joint wish in the earnestness with which +Lord Palmerston's friends declared in all places that, had he +been well enough, he would certainly have voted against the +Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Lansdowne's exertions and Lord Clarendon's disinterestedness +were beyond all praise.</p> + +<p class="ind">Of the Derbyites, he heard that most of them would be very +quiet, and many would be very friendly.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Breadalbane is to be Lord Chamberlain. We recommend +a trial to get Lord Jersey to remain as Master of the +Horse.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>26th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord Aberdeen</span>,—I have heard rumours of some +appointments in the Household, for which the writs are to be +moved to-morrow. As you have not yet placed before the Queen +your recommendations, I merely write this to you, fearing +that the "Whig Party" may deal out places before you have +had an opportunity of taking the Queen's pleasure. Ever +yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD DERBY'S FAREWELL AUDIENCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>27th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby had his audience of leave yesterday afternoon. +He repeated his thanks to the Queen for the support and countenance +she had given him throughout the period he had been +allowed to serve her, adding his regrets that his services could +not have been more efficient or longer. One thing only distressed +him in taking leave, and that was the idea that the +Queen might think he had unnecessarily raised difficulties to +the formation of a new Government by his Speech in the House +of Lords. Now, it had been incumbent upon him to show to +his Party that he had not quitted office on light grounds, after +the sacrifices of opinion they had brought in order to support +him; he had to prove that the vote in the House of Commons +was not an accidental vote, but the preconcerted Union of all +Parties (in opposition) against him, which gave them a real +majority. We replied that it was not his opinion on the late +division, to the expression of which the Queen had objected, but +to that of an opinion on the character of the new Government +which the Queen had not yet formed. It was of the greatest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.426" id="pageii.426"></a>[page 426]</span> +importance to keep that in suspense, and the declaration that +Lord Derby knew Lord Aberdeen to profess Conservative +opinions of his own (Lord Derby's) shade, had at once given the +alarm to the Radicals, and made them insist upon a greater +proportion of Liberals in the Cabinet. Lord Derby rejoined +he had expressed his doubts as to how these differences could +be reconciled; and he did not see now how this was to be done. +How could Lord Aberdeen and Lord John Russell agree upon +the Foreign Policy, for instance? The Queen replied that +Lord John's views were very sound and moderate, and that the +line of Foreign Policy he had formerly had to pursue had been +forced upon him by Lord Palmerston, who had never left a +question for the decision of the Cabinet to which he had not +already given a decided bias.</p> + +<p class="ind">Did Lord Derby know that Lord Palmerston gave it out +everywhere that, had he been well enough, he should certainly +have voted <i>against</i> the Government? Lord Derby could only +say that he had allowed his son-in-law, Lord Jocelyn, to go to +Italy under the firm conviction that Lord Palmerston would +refuse to join Lord Aberdeen or Lord John Russell!</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Derby took leave after five o'clock.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Countess of Derby to the Marchioness of Ely.</i><sup>70</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LADY DERBY'S LETTER</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">St James's Square</span>, <i>27th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Lady Ely</span>,—Lord Derby told me that he saw +you yesterday, but only for a moment. I think he was nervous +about his audience of leave, but he returned deeply touched +by the kindness of manner of the Queen and the Prince. I +cannot resist saying to you that, during the last year, he has +been more and more impressed with the admirable qualities +of the Queen, and her noble straightforwardness on all occasions, +and her unvarying kindness have inspired him with the +strongest attachment (if I may venture so to express his feelings +for Her Majesty). During that week of terrible suspense he +continually said to me that his chief anxiety and regret were +caused by the fear of leaving the Queen, particularly before he +had had time and power to do more in her service. I am +writing in haste, having much to do this last day in Town, but +I have very often wished that the Queen knew how warmly +and sincerely Lord Derby is devoted to her service. He is also +very grateful to the Prince, for whose abilities he has the highest +admiration, often speaking of his wonderful cleverness. I am +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.427" id="pageii.427"></a>[page 427]</span> +delighted to hear that the Queen is so well; he said she was +looking remarkably well yesterday. He told me that Her +Majesty used some kind expression about myself. If you should +have an opportunity of saying to Her Majesty how grateful I +am for all her former kindness, I should be very much obliged +to you. Ever yours very affectionately,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Emma Derby</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 70: Submitted to the Queen by Lady Ely.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE NEW MINISTRY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>28th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The delivery of the Seals of Office of the outgoing Ministers +into the Queen's hands, and her bestowal of them upon the +new Ministers, took place to-day.</p> + +<p class="ind">Of the former, Mr Disraeli seemed to feel most the loss of +office.</p> + +<p class="ind">We saw Lord Aberdeen for some time, who submitted the +names of all the persons he recommended for the subordinate +Offices, of whom he will send a list. We asked him what might +have passed between the last Session and this to chill his feelings +for Lord Derby, who maintained that up to the Dissolution he +had sent him messages to say that he perfectly agreed with +him, except on the Commercial Policy, and that he never would +join the Whigs. Lord Aberdeen disclaimed all knowledge of +such messages, though he acknowledged to have been very +friendly to Lord Derby. At the General Election, however, it +appeared to him that there was such a total want of principle +in him and his Party, pledging themselves for Protection in one +place and Free Trade in another, and appearing consistent only +on one point, viz. their hatred to Sir Robert Peel's memory +and his friends, that he became determined to have nothing to +do with them.</p> + +<p class="ind">The formation of the Government appeared to give satisfaction +to the country, though of course the number of the disappointed +must be even larger than usual on such occasions. +Lord Canning seemed very much hurt at not being taken into +the Cabinet, and felt inclined to refuse the Post Office. We +agreed upon the impolicy of such a step, and encouraged Lord +Aberdeen to press him. Lord Clanricarde, and particularly +Lord Carlisle, were very much grieved at being left out altogether, +but there was no help for it; for each man taken in +from one side, two would be proposed from the other, and the +Cabinet was just large enough to work.</p> + +<p class="ind">We saw Lord Lansdowne after the Council, who seemed well +satisfied with the Government, a combination he had so much +and so long wished. Lord Carlisle's annoyance was the only +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.428" id="pageii.428"></a>[page 428]</span> +thing which personally grieved him. He said that from the +moment he had read Mr Disraeli's Budget he had felt sure that +the Government would fall immediately; the country would +never submit to a new tax with a surplus in the Exchequer.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">MR DISRAELI</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell, whom we saw afterwards, seemed in very +good health and spirits. He told us that the peaceful parting +scene in the House of Commons had been his doing; he had +told Mr Walpole that he thought Mr Disraeli ought to make an +apology to the House for the language he had used, and which +had given pain to a great many persons; and on Mr Walpole's +saying that that was a very delicate thing to tell Mr Disraeli, +he had allowed it to be told him as a message from him (Lord +John). Mr Disraeli declared his readiness, provided others +would do the same, and declared they had meant no offence.<sup>71</sup> +We owned that we had been astonished to find them of a sudden +all so <i>well bred</i>. We asked what Lord Palmerston had been +about during the crisis? Lord John told us in reply that Lord +Palmerston had certainly been disposed to join Lord Derby's +Government, but always said he could not do so alone; that +if eight of them were to join, then they would have the majority +in the Cabinet. He also said that he believed Lord Palmerston +would have voted <i>for</i> some parts of the Budget and against +others. Lord John does not think that that large Party of +Lord Derby's will long keep together, that some would vote +for the Government, others might try to raise a Protestant cry.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston looked excessively ill, and had to walk +with two sticks from the gout.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 71: "Mr Disraeli ... with infinite polish and grace asked pardon for the flying words of +debate, and drew easy forgiveness from the member (Mr Goulburn), whom a few hours +before he had mocked as 'a weird sibyl'; the other member (Sir James Graham), whom +he could not say he greatly respected, but whom he greatly regarded; and the third +member (Sir C. Wood), whom he bade learn that petulance is not sarcasm, and insolence +is not invective. Lord John Russell congratulated him on the ability and the gallantry +with which he had conducted the struggle, and so the curtain fell." Morley's <i>Gladstone</i>, +Book III. chap. viii. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>28th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Your dear letter of the 24th reached +me on Monday, and I thank you warmly for it. The success +of our excellent Aberdeen's arduous task and the formation of so +brilliant and strong a Cabinet would, I was sure, please you. +It is the realisation of the country's and our <i>most</i> ardent wishes, +and it deserves success, and will, I think, command great +support.... It has been an anxious week, and just on our +happy Christmas Eve we were still very uneasy.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.429" id="pageii.429"></a>[page 429]</span> + +<p class="ind">As I mean to write again before this year runs out, and I have +a long Council with outgoing and incoming Ministers this +afternoon, you will excuse my taking leave here. Ever your +truly devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Princess Hohenlohe to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE SUGGESTED MARRIAGE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Langenburg</span>, <i>30th December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—According to your wish and our +promise, we send this servant with the most unwelcome news +that yesterday morning M. de Jaux arrived here and told +Ernest (as you will see by his letter to Albert) that the Count +Walewski wishes to have an interview with him to confer on +the subject we know of. A quarter of an hour before I received +this letter from Uncle Leopold, which I sent in Ernest's letter +to Ada, and in which he speaks his opinion that we ought not +to say "<i>No</i>" <i>at once</i>, before telling Ada of it. This is very +much against my wish and Ernest's, for we both would like to +make an end of the affair as soon as possible, but cannot, as +we see the truth of what Uncle Leopold says. I send a letter +to Mamma to you, and one for Ada. Mamma knows of it, as +she wrote to me the other day, and I leave it to you, dearest +Victoria, if you or Mamma will tell the poor child of the transaction. +She will be in great distress. I wish she may at once +say "<i>No</i>," but am not sure of it; and in our letters we have +not said anything for the thing, but nothing against also but +what naturally is to be said against it. She will not know what +to do, and I am sure you and Mamma will not put it to her in +<i>too</i> favourable a light, as we are of the same opinion on the +subject; but yet there may be some things in its favour too. +I wish you would make Charles come to us—<i>if you think it wise +to do so</i>—and he not only will try to engage us to it. But there +may be so many reasons for or against which in a letter it is not +possible to explain all, and which we could not answer in time; +besides by him we might learn more accurately what Ada feels: +but I leave it quite to your and Albert's judgment, if this would +be a good plan. I am in great distress, you well may think, +my dearest Victoria. Oh! if we could but say "<i>No</i>" at +once!...</p> + +<p class="ind">Many thanks, my dearest Victoria, for your kind letter of +the 22nd. In the papers I have been following with the greatest +interest what has been said on the formation of the new +Ministry; there is one name though which frightens me—Lord +Palmerston. Let me wish you joy of the New Year; may it +<i>bring peace</i> not only to the nations, but also to us. Every +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.430" id="pageii.430"></a>[page 430]</span> +blessing and happiness to you, dear Albert, and your children, +and for me your love and affection, which is a blessing to your +devoted Sister,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Feodora</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ernest also wishes you all possible happiness. If Ada has +the wish to see the Emperor before she decides, what is to be +done?</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">NEW YEAR WISHES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>31st December 1852.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—On <i>this</i>, the last day of the old year, +allow me to offer my most ardent wishes for <i>many</i> and happy +returns of the New Year to you and yours. May it be one of +peace and prosperity to us <i>all</i>, and may we have the happiness +of seeing <i>you</i> again. May we still hope to see you this <i>winter</i> +or not?</p> + +<p class="ind">Our Government is very satisfactorily settled. To have my +faithful friend Aberdeen as Prime Minister is a great happiness +and comfort for me personally. Lord Palmerston is terribly +altered, and all his friends think him breaking. He walks +with two sticks, and seemed in great suffering at the Council, +I thought. I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.431" id="pageii.431"></a>[page 431]</span> + + + + +<h3 style="margin-top: 5em;">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: -0.5em;">TO CHAPTER XXII</h3> + + +<p>The opening of the year 1853 saw a strong Coalition Ministry in +power; the necessity of a cordial understanding with France was +obvious, but bitter and indiscreet attacks on the Emperor of the +French were made by certain members of the Government, for which +Mr Disraeli took them severely to task. Lord John Russell, who +had been appointed Foreign Secretary, resigned that office in +February, in favour of Lord Clarendon, being unable to bear the twofold +burden of the Leadership of the House and the Foreign Office. +Though the arrangement was questioned, he continued during the +year to lead the House without office. A Canadian Clergy Reserves +Bill, an India Bill, introducing competitive examination into the +Civil Service, and various measures of Metropolitan improvement +were passed. A more important feature of the Session was Mr +Gladstone's first Budget, dealing comprehensively with the Income +Tax, and imposing a duty on successions to real property.</p> + +<p>The Eastern Question, however, overshadowed all other interests. +For some time a dispute had existed between the Latin and Greek +Churches as to the guardianship of the Holy Places (including the +Church of the Holy Sepulchre) in Palestine. After long negotiations +between the French and Russian Governments, as representing these +Churches, an indecisive judgment was pronounced by the Porte, +which, however, so incensed Russia that she began to make warlike +demonstrations, and sent Prince Menschikoff to Constantinople to +make peremptory requisitions as to the Holy Places.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, the Czar had made confidential overtures to Sir +Hamilton Seymour, the British Ambassador at St Petersburg, representing +the Sultan as a very "sick man," and suggesting that, on the +dissolution of his Empire, a concerted disposal of the Turkish +dominions should be made by England and Russia; these conversations +were reported at once to the British Government. Lord Stratford +de Redcliffe, who had been sent to represent British interests at +Constantinople, arrived there after Prince Menschikoff, and a settlement +of the disputes as to the Holy Places was then easily effected, +Lord Stratford insisting on this question being kept independent of +any other issue. But Prince Menschikoff had come to the conference +with instructions to keep an ulterior object in view, namely, to +advance a claim, by means of a strained interpretation of the Treaty +of Kainardji of 1774, of a Russian protectorate over the Christian +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.432" id="pageii.432"></a>[page 432]</span> +subjects of the Sultan. Influenced by Lord Stratford, the Porte rejected +the claim, and, in retaliation, the Czar occupied the Danubian +Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, characterising the step not +as an act of war, but a material guarantee of Russia's just rights. +The French Emperor, anxious to divert the attention of his subjects +from domestic politics, was making preparations for war; and similar +preparations were also being made in England.</p> + +<p>Negotiations took place between the Powers with a view of averting +war, and a document known as the Vienna Note, to which Great +Britain and France were parties, and which Russia accepted, was +proffered to the Sultan: again Lord Stratford interposed to prevent +its acceptance, and, when the Russian Government subsequently +announced its own interpretation of the Note, it was apparent that +the Western Powers had been mistaken as to its purport.</p> + +<p>An Ultimatum, requiring the evacuation of the Principalities, was +sent by the Porte to Russia and rejected: war broke out, and the +first encounter at Oltenitza, on the 4th of November, resulted +in favour of Turkey. Meanwhile both the British and French fleets +had been sent to the East, and, on the declaration of war, the British +Admiral was instructed to take any action he thought fit to prevent +Russian aggression on Turkish territory. On the 30th of November +the Turkish Fleet in Sinope Harbour was destroyed by the Russian +squadron, this occurrence provoking profound indignation in England, +though it had been urged both within the Cabinet and outside +that the despatch of the combined Western Fleets through the +Dardanelles was more likely to appear as a defiance to Russia than +a support to Turkey.</p> + +<p>Earlier in the year Lord Aberdeen had desired to retire, but +enquiry soon disclosed that Lord John Russell no longer had +the influence necessary to form a Ministry, and in the face of +danger Lord Aberdeen remained at his post. But there were sharp +dissensions in the Cabinet, especially between Lord Palmerston, representing +the anti-Russian party, on the one hand, and on the other +Lord Aberdeen, who distrusted the Turks, and Mr Gladstone, who +disavowed any obligation to uphold the integrity of the Ottoman +Empire. In December, Lord Palmerston resigned office, the +ostensible reason being his opposition to the contemplated Reform +Bill of the Government. The real cause was his opinion that apathy +was being shown by his colleagues in reference to the Eastern +Question; however, after arrangements had been made for replacing +him, he was, at his own desire, re-admitted to the Cabinet.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.433" id="pageii.433"></a>[page 433]</span> + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h5>1853</h5> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>4th January 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—... Our new Government will really, +I think, command a large support, and, I trust, be of duration, +which is a great object. Their only difficulty will be the +Budget.</p> + +<p class="ind">The coldness and tardiness of the Northern Powers in recognising +<i>our</i> new <i>bon Frère</i> annoys him very much, and produces +a bad effect in France. I don't think it is wise. Unnecessary +irritation may produce <i>real</i> mischief. To squabble about <i>how</i> +to call him, after having praised and supported him after +the <i>Coup d'État</i>, seems to me very <i>kleinlich</i> and inconsistent, +and I think our conduct throughout has been much more +dignified....</p> + +<p class="ind">I have read with pleasure the loyal addresses of the Chambers, +and with peculiar satisfaction the allusion to Leopold's +visit to England. Let him and Philippe come here often and +regularly, and let them study this country and her laws <i>à fond</i>—it +will do them more good than all the studying and reading in +the world. They all three express most warmly to us their +hopes of returning to us soon. Do let us have the hope of +seeing you in February. It would be delightful!... I must +now wish you good-bye. Ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">HEADMASTERSHIP OF ETON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>9th January 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... Lord Aberdeen also begs to mention to your Majesty +that he saw Dr Hawtrey yesterday and in signifying your +Majesty's gracious intentions<sup>1</sup> towards him, took an opportunity +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.434" id="pageii.434"></a>[page 434]</span> +of expressing in very strong terms the great importance +of the choice of his successor as Headmaster of Eton, and +described the requisite qualifications for such a situation, as +well as the objections to which some appointments might be +liable. Lord Aberdeen was perfectly understood by Dr Hawtrey, +although no name was mentioned; and the subject was +regarded as being of the utmost importance, not only to the +school itself, but to the nation at large.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 1: Dr E. C. Hawtrey was advanced to the Provostship of Eton upon the death of the +Rev. Francis Hodgson. Dr C. O. Goodford succeeded to the Headmastership.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lady Augusta Bruce to the Duchess of Kent.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MARRIAGE OF EMPEROR NAPOLEON</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Rue de Varennes 65</span>, <i>31st January 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Dearest Madame</span>,—I fear that I shall not be able to add +much to the newspaper account of yesterday's ceremony,<sup>2</sup> for +it was one the impression of which is best conveyed by a simple +and accurate description of the scene, and of those arrangements +and details which combined to render its effect gorgeous +and dazzling. Apart, however, from the historical interest +attached to it as one of the very curious acts of the extraordinary +Drama now enacting in France, the impression produced +was one that would be called forth by a magnificent +theatrical representation, and little more. This seemed to +be the public feeling, for though multitudes thronged the streets, +the day being dry, they appeared to be animated by curiosity +chiefly, and that <i>sober</i> curiosity which now characterises the +people of Paris, wearied as they are of <i>novelty</i> and excitement. +As far as one can judge, it does not seem that the lower orders +take much interest in this marriage; the ambition and vanity +of <i>his</i> partisans have been wounded by it, and, of course, his +enemies do not scruple to calumniate and slander the unfortunate +object of his choice disgracefully.</p> + +<p class="ind">It is very difficult to ascertain anything like truth as regards +her, but her beauty and engaging manners will, it is thought by +many, gain for her, for a time at least, a greater amount of +popularity than his friends who now blame the marriage +expect. That he is passionately in love with her no one doubts, +and his countenance on late occasions, as well as yesterday, +wore a radiant and joyous expression very unusual. She, on +the contrary, showed a considerable amount of nervousness +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.435" id="pageii.435"></a>[page 435]</span> +at the Civil Marriage, and was as pale as death yesterday—however, +even with the high and determined spirit she is supposed +to have, this might be expected. Lady Cowley had been +kind enough to send us an invitation, of which we were tempted +to avail ourselves.<sup>3</sup> Nothing could be more splendid than +the decorations of the Cathedral—velvet and ermine—gold +and silver—flags and hangings of all colours were combined and +harmonised with the splendid costumes of the Clergy, the +uniforms, civil and military, and the magnificent dresses of +the ladies. The greatest mistake was the <i>conflict</i> of lights—the +windows not having been darkened, though countless +thousands of wax candles were lighted. The music was very +fine.... The object of our neighbours seemed to be to scan +and criticise the dress of the Bride, and the wonderful penetration +and accuracy of their eagle glances was to us something +incredible! Certainly, though unable ourselves at such a +distance to appreciate the details of her dress or the expression +of her countenance, we saw her distinctly enough to be able to +say that a more lovely <i>coup d'œil</i> could not be conceived. Her +beautifully chiselled features and marble complexion, her +nobly <i>set-on head</i>, her exquisitely proportioned figure and +graceful carriage were most striking, and the whole was like a +Poet's Vision! I believe she is equally beautiful when seen +close, but at a distance at which we saw her the effect was +something more than that of a lovely picture, it was aerial, +ideal. On the classically shaped head she wore a diamond +crown or diadem, round her waist a row of magnificent diamonds +to correspond, and the same as trimming round the +"basques" of her gown. Then a sort of cloud or mist of +transparent lace enveloped her, which had the effect of that +for which, when speaking of the hills in Scotland, Princess +Hohenlohe could find no English word, "<i>Duft</i>." I hope your +Royal Highness will not think me very much carried by what +pleases the eye. I felt all the while that one could view the +matter but as an outside show; as such, in as far as she was +concerned, it was exquisitely beautiful—and I suppose that a +sort of national prejudice made me attribute the grace and +dignity of the scene, for what there was of either came from +her, to the blood of <i>Kirkpatrick!!!</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The carriages were ugly and the Procession by no means +fine, and those in which the Bridal party afterwards travelled +to St Cloud, were driven by individuals in the famous theatrical +costume of the well-known "Postillon de Longjumeau!"<sup>4</sup> +</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 2: The Emperor of the French was married to Mademoiselle Eugénie de Montijo on the +29th of January. William Kirkpatrick, her maternal grandfather, had been a merchant +and American Consul at Malaga, and had there married Françoise de Grivegnéc. Their +third daughter, Maria Manuela, married, in 1817, the Count de Téba, a member of an +illustrious Spanish family, who in 1834 succeeded his brother as Count de Montijo, and +died in 1839. His widow held an influential social position at Madrid, and her elder +daughter married the Duke of Alba in 1844, while she herself, with Eugénie, her younger +daughter, settled in Paris in 1851.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 3: Lord Cowley had been specifically instructed by the Government to attend the +marriage and be presented to the Empress.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 4: A comic opera, written by Adolphe Adam, and performed at Paris in 1836.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.436" id="pageii.436"></a>[page 436]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE EMPRESS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>4th February 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Victoria</span>,—Receive my best thanks for your +gracious letter of the 1st. Since I wrote to you <i>le grand +événement a eu lieu!</i> We truly live in times where at least +variety is not wanting; the only mischief is that like drunkards +people want more and more excitement, and it therefore will +probably end by what remains the most exciting of all—War. +Amusing and interesting war is, it must be confessed, more +than anything in the world, and that makes me think that it +must be the bouquet when people will be <i>blasé</i> of everything +else. I enclose a letter from our Secretary of Legation at +Madrid, Baron Beyens, who married a great friend of the Queen, +Mademoiselle de Santa Cruz, and is much <i>au fait</i> of all things +that interest the public just now. It seems by what I learned +from Paris that the Empress communicated to a friend a communication +of <i>son cher époux</i> when she expressed her sense of +her elevation to such eminence; as it may interest you and +Albert, I will make an extract of it here: "Vous ne me parlez, +ma chère enfant, que des avantages de la position que je vous +offre, mais mon devoir est de vous signaler aussi ses dangers; +ils sont grands, je serai sans doute à vos côtés l'objet de plus +d'une tentative d'assassinat; indépendamment de cela, je dois +vous confier que des complots sérieux se fomentent dans +l'armée. J'ai l'œil ouvert de ce côté et je compte bien d'une +manière ou d'autre prévenir toute explosion; le moyen sera +<i>peut-être la guerre</i>. Là encore il y a de grandes chances de +ruine pour moi. Vous voyez donc bien que vous ne devez pas +avoir de scrupules pour partager mon sort, les mauvaises +chances étant peut-être égales aux bonnes!"</p> + +<p class="ind">I was sorry to hear of Lord Melbourne's, <i>i.e.</i>, Beauvale's, +death. I knew him since 1814, and found him always very kind. +For poor Lady Melbourne, who devoted herself so much, it is +a sad blow. We are longing for a little cold, but it does not +come though we have some east wind. I am held back in +some of the <i>most essential</i> measures for the defence of the +country by the tricks of the Chamber. I see that the Manchester +party shines in unusual Bright-ness and Cobden-ness +by a degress of absurdity never as yet heard of. In the +American War the Quakers refused to fight; they did not +besides like the extremities the States had gone to against the +mother country; but not to defend its own country against +probable invasion is truly too much.</p> + +<p class="ind">Pray have the goodness to give my best love to Albert, and +believe me, ever my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R</span>.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.437" id="pageii.437"></a>[page 437]</span> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>8th February 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have to thank you for two most +kind letters of the 4th and 7th (which I have just received) +with very interesting enclosures, which shall be duly returned. +The little report of what the Emperor said to the Empress is +very curious, and tallies with what I have also heard of his +thinking much more of the insecurity of his position than he +used to do. The description of the young Empress's character +is an interesting one, and also agrees with what I had heard +from those who know her well. It may be in her power to do +much good—and I hope she may. Her character is made to +captivate a man, I should say—particularly one like the +Emperor.</p> + +<p class="ind">I am sorry that you have had trouble with your Parliament. +Ours begins its work on Thursday. The accounts of the +support which our Government will receive are most satisfactory, +and the Cabinet is most harmonious.... Ever your +devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CZAR AND TURKEY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>8th February 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... Lord John Russell read at the Cabinet a despatch +received from your Majesty's Minister at St Petersburg, giving +an account of an interview with the Emperor, at which His +Majesty appeared to expect an early dissolution of the Turkish +Empire, and proposed in such a case to act in perfect concert +with the British Government. Lord John also read the +rough draft of a proposed answer to this despatch, which, with +slight alterations, was fully approved.<sup>5</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen does not think there is anything very new +in this demonstration by the Emperor. It is essentially the +same language he has held for some years, although, perhaps, +the present difficulties of Turkey may have rendered him more +anxious on the subject....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 5: <i>See</i> Introductory Note, <a href="#pageii.431" style="font-weight: normal;">p. 431</a>. The Emperor had, no doubt, misunderstood the +attitude of the British Ministry in 1844 on this subject, and regarded Lord Aberdeen as +in full sympathy with himself. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE LEADERSHIP</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>12th February 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; +he has waited till to-day in order to be able to give some +account of the appearance of the House of Commons.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.438" id="pageii.438"></a>[page 438]</span> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell's statement of measures to be proposed +was well received, but as it did not contain reform was a disappointment +to a part of the House. Mr Walpole spoke +privately to Lord John Russell as to his future position in +leading the Government in the House of Commons without +office. Mr Walpole said it was neither illegal nor unconstitutional, +but might prove inconvenient as a precedent.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Speaker said in conversation there was clearly no <i>constitutional</i> +objection, but that the leadership of the House was +so laborious that an office without other duties ought to be +assigned to it....</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S DEFENCE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>13th February 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter of +yesterday, and was very glad to hear that he considers the +aspect of the House of Commons as favourable to the Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John alludes for the first time in his letter to a question +on which the Queen has not hitherto expressed her opinion to +him personally, viz., how far the proposed new arrangement of +Lord John's holding the leadership of the House of Commons +without office was constitutional or not?<sup>6</sup> Her opinion +perfectly agrees with that expressed by Mr Walpole to Lord +John. If the intended arrangement were <i>undoubtedly illegal</i> +it would clearly never have been contemplated at all; but it +may prove a <i>dangerous precedent</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would have been quite prepared to give the proposition +of the Speaker "that the leadership of the House of +Commons was so laborious, that an Office without other duties +ought to be assigned to it," her fullest and fairest consideration, +upon its merits and its constitutional bearings, which ought +to have been distinctly set forth before her by her constitutional +advisers for her final and unfettered decision.</p> + +<p class="ind">What the Queen complains of, and, as she believes with +justice, is, that so important an innovation in the construction +of the executive Government should have been practically +decided upon by an arrangement intended to meet personal +wants under peculiar and accidental circumstances, leaving +the Queen the embarrassing alternative only, either to forego +the exercise of her own prerogative, or to damage by her own +act the <i>formation</i> or <i>stability</i> of the new Government, both of +paramount importance to the welfare of the Country.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 6: See <i>ante</i>, pp. <a href="#pageii.417" style="font-weight: normal;">417</a>, <a href="#pageii.421" style="font-weight: normal;">421</a>.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.439" id="pageii.439"></a>[page 439]</span> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>13th February 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +He cannot forbear from vindicating himself from the charge +of forming or being party to an arrangement "intended to +meet personal wants under peculiar and accidental circumstances, +leaving the Queen the embarrassing alternative only, +either to forego the exercise of her own prerogative, or to +damage by her own act the <i>formation</i> or <i>stability</i> of the new +Government—both of paramount importance to the welfare of +the Country."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell has done all in his power to contribute +to the formation of a Ministry in which he himself holds a +subordinate situation, from which nearly all his dearest political +friends are excluded, and which is held by some to extinguish +the party which for eighteen years he has led.</p> + +<p class="ind">He has done all this in order that your Majesty and the +Country might not be exposed to the evil of a weak Ministry +liable to be overthrown at any moment, formed whether by +Lord Derby, or by himself at the head of one party only.</p> + +<p class="ind">But in consenting to this arrangement he was desirous to +maintain his honour intact, and for this purpose he asked +before the Ministry was formed for the honour of an Audience of +your Majesty, that he might explain all the circumstances of +his position.</p> + +<p class="ind">This Audience was not granted, and Lord John Russell +has never been in a situation to explain to your Majesty why +he believes that his leading the House of Commons without +office is not liable to any constitutional objection.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Speaker and Mr Walpole both concur that no constitutional +objection to this arrangement exists, but should your +Majesty wish to see the arguments briefly stated by which +Lord John Russell has been convinced, he should be happy to +be allowed to lay them before your Majesty.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE REFUGEE QUESTION</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>25th February 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and humbly begs to state that Count Colloredo<sup>7</sup> called upon +him this afternoon.... Count Colloredo then said that he +had another and more disagreeable subject to discuss with +Lord Clarendon. He commenced by reading a note from +Count Buol<sup>8</sup> complaining bitterly of the refugees, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.440" id="pageii.440"></a>[page 440]</span> +manner in which they abused the hospitality afforded them in +this country, and attributing in great measure to the proclamations +of Kossuth and Mazzini the late insurrection at +Milan, and the attempt on the Emperor's life.<sup>9</sup> This note +expressed a hope and belief that some measure would at once be +adopted by your Majesty's Government to remove the just +complaints of Allied Governments, and intimated that should +this hope not be <i>spontaneously</i> realised some measures on the +part of those Governments would become necessary for their +own protection as well as to mark their sense of the wrong done +to them by England.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Clarendon said that your Majesty's Government were +as indignant as that of Austria could be at the disgraceful abuse +of the protection afforded to these refugees; but he could hold +out no hope of any legislation for the purpose of sending them +out of the country.</p> + +<p class="ind">Count Colloredo did not disguise his annoyance and disappointment +at this, and seemed to attribute it to want of goodwill +on the part of your Majesty's Government, which he felt +sure would have the support of public opinion in proposing such +a measure as his Government desired.</p> + +<p class="ind">The discussion became rather warm, and Lord Clarendon +thought it right to remark that too much importance might +be given to these proclamations and too little to the causes +which at home might lead the subjects of Austria to manifest +their discontent by revolutionary outbreaks, nor could we +conceal from ourselves that the complaints about the refugees +were occasionally directed against the free institutions which +gave them protection, and that we were not always viewed with +favour as presenting the single but prosperous exception to that +system of government which otherwise would now almost be +uniform in Europe.<sup>10</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 7: Austrian Ambassador.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 8: Austrian Prime Minister.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 9: Kossuth and Mazzini were in England, prosecuting their schemes against Austria; the +Austrian Government attributed to them the Milanese rising, and the recent attempt to +assassinate the Emperor Francis Joseph at Vienna.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 10: The Refugee Question was debated in the House of Lords on the 4th of March.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>9th March 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter, and the +reports on the Militia which she returns, having marked several +parts in them which show an absence of the most important +requisites. Already in October the Queen observed upon the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.441" id="pageii.441"></a>[page 441]</span> +want of arms for the Militia, and was invariably answered that +they would be immediately provided. But by these reports +this seems still not to be the case.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PRINCE MENSCHIKOFF</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>18th March 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My Dearest Victoria</span>,—Receive my best thanks for your +gracious letter of the 15th. I trust that the bitter cold weather +we have now again will not displease you. I fear Albert's heavy +cold will not be the better by the east wind which makes +one shiver. I am thunderstruck by a telegraph despatch from +Marseilles of the 17th, which declares that Prince Menschikoff +has not succeeded, and has therefore given orders for the +Russian fleet to come to Constantinople.<sup>11</sup> Heaven grant that +these news may not be true, though bad news generally turn +out correct. I am so sorry to see the Emperor Nicholas, who +had been so wise and dignified since 1848, become so very +unreasonable. In Austria they are still a good deal excited. +One can hardly feel astonished considering circumstances; I +trust that reflection may induce them to modify their measures. +The Italian Nobles have shown themselves great fools by acting +as they have done, and thereby giving an opening to social +revolution. By some accident we have been within these +few days well informed of some of the movements of the good +people that enjoy an asylum in England. Kossuth is now +the great director and favourite, and Republics are everywhere +to spring up, till he (Kossuth) is to be again Dictator or +Emperor somewhere.... Europe will never recover that +shock of 1848.</p> + +<p class="ind">My dearest Victoria, your truly devoted Uncle,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 11: <i>See</i> Introductory Note, <i>ante</i>, pp. <a href="#pageii.431" style="font-weight: normal;">431</a>-2.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE "HOLY PLACES"</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>22nd March 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +He encloses a letter from Lord Cowley, which shows a considerable +degree of irritation on the part of the French Government, +and of embarrassment in consequence of the rash step +they have taken in ordering the departure of their fleet from +Toulon to the Greek Waters.<sup>12</sup> If no catastrophe should take +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.442" id="pageii.442"></a>[page 442]</span> +place at Constantinople, as Lord Aberdeen hopes and believes, +this irritation will probably subside, and they may find us +useful in assisting them to escape from their difficulty with +respect to the "Holy Places."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen has seen the Instructions of Prince Menschikoff, +which relate exclusively to the claims of the Greek Church +at Jerusalem; and although these conditions may humiliate +Turkey, and wound the vanity of France, there is nothing +whatever to justify the reproach of territorial aggression, or +hostile ambition. If the Turkish Government, relying upon +the assistance of England and France, should remain obstinate, +the affair might become serious; but even then, Lord Aberdeen +is convinced that no final step will be taken by the Emperor, +without previous communication to England.</p> + +<p class="ind">Much depends upon the personal character of Prince +Menschikoff. If he can command himself sufficiently to +wait for the arrival of Lord Stratford, Lord Aberdeen does +not doubt that the matter will be settled, without coming +to extremities....</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 12: Even before the Conference met, Menschikoff's overbearing conduct and demeanour +had induced Napoleon to despatch the French Fleet from Toulon to Salamis, to watch +events.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CZAR CONCILIATORY</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>23rd March 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of yesterday, +and returns Lord Cowley's. Everything appears to her to +depend upon the real nature of the demands made by Russia, +and the Queen was therefore glad to hear from Lord Aberdeen +that he found nothing in Prince Menschikoff's instructions to +justify the reproach of territorial aggression or hostile ambition. +Still the mode of proceeding at Constantinople is not such as +would be resorted to towards a "sick friend for whose life +there exists much solicitude." This ought clearly to be stated +to Baron Brunnow, in the Queen's opinion.</p> + +<p class="ind">The two Drafts to Sir H. Seymour and Lord Cowley struck +the Queen as very temperate, conciliatory, and dignified.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>29th March 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and humbly begs to state that he had this afternoon a satisfactory +interview with the French Ambassador, who told him +that the Emperor had to a certain extent been deceived upon +the Eastern Question, and that he had given his decision without +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.443" id="pageii.443"></a>[page 443]</span> +fully considering the matter in all its bearings. But that +he had since viewed it in a different light, and had so far recognised +the propriety of the course adopted by your Majesty's +Government, that if the sailing order had not been improperly +published in the <i>Moniteur</i> the French Fleet should not have +quitted Toulon.</p> + +<p class="ind">Count Walewski further stated that <i>the Persons</i> who had thus +advised the Emperor, finding that their views were not supported +by facts as they hoped, had endeavoured to throw the +blame upon England and to show that France had been +abandoned and Russia preferred by your Majesty's Government, +and that hence had arisen the want of cordiality and +good feeling with respect to which Lord Clarendon some days +ago spoke to Count Walewski. He, however, assured Lord +Clarendon that all this had now passed away, and that the +Emperor was as anxious as ever for a good understanding with +England, and particularly upon all matters connected with +the East. Lord Clarendon expressed great satisfaction that +this momentary difference between the two Governments +should be <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'an at'">at an</ins> end.</p> + +<p class="ind">Count Walewski in confidence requested Lord Clarendon to +impress upon Lord Cowley the necessity of often seeing the +Emperor, and not trusting to the Minister, when any question +of difficulty arose.</p> + +<p class="ind">Count Walewski said the Emperor was particularly anxious +that your Majesty should know that the liberation of the +Madiai<sup>13</sup> was owing to the interference which the French +Legation had been instructed by the Emperor to use in their +behalf.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 13: Two persons, husband and wife, domiciled in Florence, who had embraced the English +reformed religion. In 1852 they were seized, imprisoned in separate dungeons, and subjected +to great hardships. Lords Shaftesbury and Roden went to Florence and appealed +to the Grand Duke on their behalf, but were unsuccessful. In March 1853, however, after +the British Government had interposed, the two were released, a pension being provided +for them by public subscription. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>29th March 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—I have to thank you very much for +your kind letter of the 25th....</p> + +<p class="ind">I hope that the Oriental Question will be satisfactorily +settled. From all the confidential reports we have received +from the Emperor of Russia, I think I may safely say that +though he has treated the Sultan rather overbearingly and +roughly, there is <i>no</i> alteration in his views—and <i>no wish whatever</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.444" id="pageii.444"></a>[page 444]</span> +on his part to appropriate Constantinople or any of those +parts to himself—though he does not wish us, or France or +Austria <i>or Greece</i>, to have it either. But he thinks the dissolution +of the Ottoman Empire very imminent, which I +really think is not the case. The Russians accuse us (as we +have preached moderation) of being too French—and the +French of being too Russian!....</p> + +<p class="ind">Now with Albert's love, ever your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to Lord Clarendon</i>.</h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>30th March 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Clarendon's letter with great +satisfaction. We are now reaping the fruits of an honest and +straightforward conduct, and the Queen hopes Lord Clarendon +will likewise in all future cases of difficulty arrest the mischief, +sure to arise from a continuance of mutual suspicion between +this Country and any Power, by at once entering upon full +and unreserved explanations, on the first symptoms of distrust.</p> + +<p class="ind">As the Emperor deserves great credit, if he really caused +the liberation of the Madiai, the Queen wishes Lord Clarendon +to express to Count Walewski her feelings on this subject.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Emperor of Russia to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CZAR'S LETTER</span> + +<table summary="date" align="right" border="0" style="margin-right: 10%;"> +<tr> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle"><span class="sc">St. Pétersbourg</span>, <i>le</i></td> + <td class="left1b"><span style="font-size: 0.9em;"> </span>8<br /> + <span style="line-height: 50%">—</span><br /> + 20</td> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle"><i> Avril 1853.</i></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="clear" style="margin-bottom: -1.5em;"> </p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Monseigneur</span>,—J'allais Vous adresser mes félicitations +sincères pour l'heureuse délivrance de Sa Majesté la Reine, +quand Votre aimable lettre est venue me prévenir.<sup>14</sup> Veuillez +donc, Monseigneur, être persuadé, que c'est avec grande joie, +que ma femme et moi, nous avons appris cet heureux événement, +et j'ose aussi vous prier de déposer aux pieds de Sa +Majesté mes humbles hommages et félicitations. Je me flatte +n'avoir pas besoin de Vous assurer tous deux, Monseigneur, +de toute la sincérité des sentiments d'affection que je Vous +porte. Cette fois j'ose y joindre mes remercîments bien sentis +à Sa Majesté la Reine, pour l'indulgence et l'attention qu'Elle +a daigné prêter aux communications dont j'avais chargé directement +Sir Hamilton Seymour, qui a le mérite seul d'avoir su +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.445" id="pageii.445"></a>[page 445]</span> +transmettre mes intentions avec une fidélité et une exactitude +parfaites.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je crois que dans peu Sa Majesté la Reine sera dans le cas de +se persuader, que <i>Son sincère et fidèle ami</i> l'a prévenue à temps +de ce qu'il prévoyait devoir infailliblement arriver; non certes +dans l'intention d'être un <i>prophète de mauvais augure</i>, mais dans +la conviction intime, que ce n'est que la confiance la plus intime, +la plus complette et la plus parfaitte identité de vues +entre Sa Majesté et Son très humble serviteur, c. à. d. entre +l'Angleterre et la Russie, que peuvent commander aux événements +et conjurer de terribles catastrophes!</p> + +<p class="ind">Maintenant nous nous entendons, et je m'en remets à Dieu +pour tout ce qui doit arriver.</p> + +<p class="ind">C'est avec la plus haute considération et la plus sincère amitié +que je serais, toujours, Monseigneur, de Votre Altesse Royale +le tout dévoué Cousin,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Nicolas</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 14: The fourth son of the Queen and Prince, afterwards Duke of Albany, was born on the +7th of April at Buckingham Palace.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">BIRTH OF PRINCE LEOPOLD</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>18th April 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—My first letter is <i>this</i> time, as last +time, addressed to you; last time it was because dearest Louise, +to whom the first had heretofore always been addressed, was +with me—alas! <i>now</i>, she is no longer amongst us! I can +report very favourably of myself, for I have never been +better or stronger or altogether more comfortable.</p> + +<p class="ind">Stockmar will have told you that <i>Leopold</i> is to be the name +of our fourth young gentleman. It is a mark of love and +affection which I hope you will not disapprove. It is a name +which is the dearest to me after Albert, and one which recalls +the almost <i>only</i> happy days of my sad childhood; to hear +"Prince Leopold" again, will make me think of all those +days! His other names will be George Duncan Albert, and +the Sponsors, the King of Hanover, Ernest Hohenlohe, the +Princess of Prussia and Mary Cambridge.</p> + +<p class="ind">George is after the King of Hanover, and Duncan as a +compliment to dear Scotland.... Ever your devoted Niece +and Child,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MR GLADSTONE'S BUDGET</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Chesham Place</span>, <i>19th April 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +and is happy to say that Mr Gladstone's statement last night +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.446" id="pageii.446"></a>[page 446]</span> +was one of the most powerful financial speeches ever made in +the House of Commons.<sup>15</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Pitt in the days of his glory might have been more +imposing, but he could not have been more persuasive.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John Russell is very sanguine as to the success of the +plan, both in the House of Commons and in the country.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 15: Mr Gladstone's Budget imposed a duty for the first time on the succession to real +property; he retained the Income Tax for two years longer, at its then rate of sevenpence +in the pound on incomes above £150, and extended it, at the rate of fivepence in the pound, +to incomes between £100 and £150. Ireland was made subject to the tax, but received +relief in other directions. Remissions of indirect taxes were also made, and one of these, +the repeal of the Advertisement Duty, was carried against the Government. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to Mr Gladstone.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>19th April 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Mr Gladstone</span>,—I must write to you a line in +order to congratulate you on your success of last night. I +have just completed a close and careful perusal of your speech, +which I admire extremely, and I have heard from all sides that +the effect it has produced is very good. Trusting that your +Christian humility will not allow you to become dangerously +elated, I cannot resist sending you the report which Lord John +Russell made to the Queen for your perusal; knowing that it +will give you pleasure, and that these are the best rewards +which a public man can look for. Ever yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Mr Gladstone to the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Downing Street</span>, <i>19th April 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Sir,—I have to offer my most humble and grateful thanks +to Her Majesty for graciously allowing me to know the terms +in which Lord John Russell's kindness allowed him to describe +the statement made by me last night in the House of Commons; +and to your Royal Highness for the letter which your Royal +Highness had been pleased to address to me.</p> + +<p class="ind">The reception which you, Sir, gave to my explanation on +the 9th instant of the propositions I had to submit to the +Cabinet, was one of the first and best omens of their favourable +fortune.</p> + +<p class="ind">As a Servant of the Crown, deeply sharing in that attachment +which all servants of Her Majesty must feel both to her +Throne and Person, I venture to hope that the propositions +of the Government declared through me, are in accordance +with our faith and loyalty to Her Majesty.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.447" id="pageii.447"></a>[page 447]</span> + +<p class="ind">For myself, Sir, I am most thankful, if it can be said that +I have not by my own defects injured a good and an honest +cause; my only title to reward lies in sincerity of purpose, +and by such testimony as that of your Royal Highness I am +already much more than duly rewarded....</p> + +<p class="ind">I return the letter of Lord John Russell, and I pray your +Royal Highness to believe me, Sir, your most dutiful and most +obedient Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">W. E. Gladstone</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE INDIA BILL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>27th May 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has read Lord Aberdeen's letter of yesterday +with great concern. She had been much surprised to hear +from Lord John Russell on the 24th that "in concert with +Sir Charles Wood and Sir James Graham, he had settled last +night to propose to the Cabinet on Wednesday to delay the +measure (on the Indian Government) till next Session, and +that Sir James Graham had stated that Lord Aberdeen would +be ready to assent to this course."<sup>16</sup> She did not answer Lord +John until she should have heard from Lord Aberdeen himself. +From the explanation he has now given to the Queen, she must +say that it would have a <i>very bad</i> effect if the measure were +withdrawn at the eleventh hour, and after all that has been +publicly and privately stated.<sup>17</sup> Nothing damages a Government +more than the appearance of vacillation and uncertainty +of purpose, and no Government ought to shun this more than +the <i>present</i>. The fact of a dissension in the Cabinet on a vital +point, which it cannot be hoped will remain concealed, must +besides much impair its vigour and power....</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen earnestly hopes that it will not become necessary +to change the course announced by the Government.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 16: The India Bill, which passed during the Session, threw open the lucrative patronage +of the Company (whose existence was continued but with less absolute control) to competition. +The Mutiny, and the resulting legislation of 1858, tended subsequently to +overshadow Sir Charles Wood's measure.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 17: The matter had been referred to a Cabinet Committee, reported upon, agreed to in full +Cabinet, proposed to and sanctioned by the Queen and announced to Parliament. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Laeken</span>, <i>3 June 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest, best Victoria</span>,—... The young Emperor<sup>18</sup> +I confess I like much, there is much sense and courage in his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.448" id="pageii.448"></a>[page 448]</span> +warm blue eye, and it is not without a very amiable merriment +when there is occasion for it. He is slight and very graceful, +but even in the <i>mêlée</i> of dancers and Archdukes, and all in +uniform, he may always be distinguished as the <i>Chef</i>. This +struck me more than anything, as now at Vienna the dancing is +also that general <i>mêlée</i> which renders waltzing most difficult.... +The manners are excellent and free from pompousness or +awkwardness of any kind, simple, and when he is graciously +disposed, as he was to me, <i>sehr herzlich und natürlich</i>. He keeps +every one in great order without requiring for this an <i>outré</i> +appearance of authority, merely because he is the master, and +there is that about him which gives authority, and which sometimes +those <i>who have the authority cannot succeed in getting +accepted or in practising</i>. I think he may be severe <i>si l'occasion +se présente</i>; he has something very <i>muthig</i>. We were several +times surrounded by people of all classes, and he certainly +quite at their mercy, but I never saw his little <i>muthig</i> expression +changed either by being pleased or alarmed. I trust that this +family connection may mitigate the only impression which in +Austria has created a hostile feeling, viz. the suspicions in +Palmerston's time that it had become a plan of England <i>to +destroy</i> the Austrian Empire. After the <i>attentat</i> on the Emperor +the impression on those who are attached to their country was, +and still is, that in England a sort of menagerie of Kossuths, +Mazzinis, Lagranges, Ledru Rollins, etc., is kept to be let +occasionally loose on the Continent to render its quiet and +prosperity impossible. That impression, which Lord Aberdeen +stated in the House of Lords at the end of April, is strong everywhere +on the Continent, in Prussia as it is in Austria, and even +here our <i>industriels</i> are convinced of it. About what is to be +done by way of graciousness on your part we will consider.... Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,</p> + + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Leopold R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 18: Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria.</p> + + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Duke of Newcastle to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><i>7th June 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Newcastle presents his humble duty to your +Majesty, and has the honour of bringing under your Majesty's +notice a desire for some time past felt by the Archbishop of +Canterbury, and by others interested in the welfare of the +Church of England in the Colonies, that the extensive See of +Capetown should be divided, and that a new Bishopric of +Grahamstown should be erected.</p> + +<p class="ind">An endowment of £10,000 for the proposed See has lately +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.449" id="pageii.449"></a>[page 449]</span> +been provided by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel +in Foreign Parts.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Newcastle under these circumstances hopes that +your Majesty will approve of the erection of this new See, and +has the honour to recommend to your Majesty that, in that case +the Rev. J. W. Colenso should be appointed to it.</p> + +<p class="ind">Mr Colenso at present holds a living in the Diocese of Norwich, +he was second wrangler at Cambridge, and was at one +time tutor to two of the sons of the late Sir Robert Peel at +Harrow.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Duke of Newcastle has received a very high character of +Mr Colenso from his Diocesan, and the Archbishop of Canterbury +considers him a fit person to be recommended to your +Majesty.</p> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE KING OF HANOVER</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Buckingham Palace</span>, <i>22nd June 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dearest Uncle</span>,—Many thanks for your kind letter of +the 17th, which I could not answer on my usual day (yesterday), +as we were the whole day at the Camp, where there was a +Review, at which I rode. It was a very fine sight, but my +enjoyment was a good deal spoilt by the nervousness which I +was in at having my poor blind cousin<sup>19</sup> <i>on</i> horseback next to +me—<i>led</i>. It is a sad sight, and one which keeps me in a constant +state of anxiety, as one is afraid of saying or doing anything +which may pain or distress him, or of his meeting with +any accident; but he manages it wonderfully well, hardly ever +makes a mistake, and manages so well at dinner. He is very +cheerful, kind, and civil, and would be very good looking if it +were not for his poor eyes. He likes to go everywhere and do +everything like anybody else, and speaks of things <i>as if he saw</i> +them....</p> + +<p class="ind">The Oriental Question is at a standstill. It is the Emperor +of Russia who must enable <i>us</i> to help him out of the difficulty. +I feel convinced that <i>War will</i> be <i>avoided</i>, but I don't see +<i>how</i> +exactly. Our Troops looked beautiful yesterday. I wish your +young people could see our Camp.<sup>20</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">With Albert's love, believe me, ever, your devoted Niece,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 19: King George V. of Hanover.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 20: Lord Stratford de Redcliffe had insisted that the disputed points as to the guardianship +of the Holy Places, and the Russian demand for a Protectorate over the Christian +subjects of the Sultan, should be kept distinct. After the former had been arranged and +the latter had been rejected by the Porte acting under Lord Stratford's advice, Menschikoff +abruptly quitted Constantinople, and the Russian troops, crossing the Pruth, +invaded the Danubian principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (now united as Roumania). +In England, meanwhile, a military encampment had been established at Chobham. +</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.450" id="pageii.450"></a>[page 450]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Dalhousie to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">DEATH OF LADY DALHOUSIE</span> + +<p class="indright"><i>12th July 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Dalhousie presents his humble duty to your Majesty, +most gratefully acknowledging the gracious words which +your Majesty has addressed to him in the time of his great +affliction.<sup>21</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty has been pleased for many years to honour him +with frequent marks of personal distinction. He is indeed most +keenly sensible of the favour which bestowed them all. But +his deep gratitude must ever be given to the goodness which +dictated the touching assurance he has now received of your +Majesty's interest in the piteous fate of one who for eighteen +years has been all the world to him, whose patient, gentle +spirit, and whose brave heart had turned aside so many perils, +and who yet has sunk at last under the very means on which all +had securely reckoned as her certain safety.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Dalhousie ought not perhaps to have uttered even +this much of his sorrow, but your Majesty's truly gracious +words have melted it from his heart; and still encourage +him to believe that your Majesty will not regard it as +obtrusive.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Dalhousie will not mingle the other topics, on which +it is his duty to address your Majesty, with this respectful +expression of the enduring gratitude, with which he has the +honour to subscribe himself, your Majesty's most obedient, +most humble, and most faithful Subject and Servant,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Dalhousie</span>.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 21: Lady Dalhousie died on the 6th of May, on her passage home from India.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON'S ATTITUDE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>11th September 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen presents his most humble duty to your +Majesty....</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen has by no means forgotten the conversation +to which your Majesty has referred; but after full consideration +he believes that the safest and best course has been adopted.<sup>22</sup> +Trusting to your Majesty's gracious condescension, and the +confidence with which Lord Aberdeen has been honoured, he +will humbly venture to lay before your Majesty, without any +reserve, the motives which have induced him to offer this advice +to your Majesty.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.451" id="pageii.451"></a>[page 451]</span> + +<p class="ind">The situation of Lord Palmerston is peculiar.<sup>23</sup> Unless he +should continue to be a cordial member of your Majesty's +Government, he may very easily become the leader of Opposition. +Lord Aberdeen is at this moment ignorant of his real +views and intentions. He has been recently more than once +thwarted in his endeavours to press a hostile policy upon the +Cabinet; and it has been reported to Lord Aberdeen that he +has expressed himself in terms of great hostility. This cannot +perhaps be avoided, and is only the result of taking different +views of the public interest; but it is very essential that Lord +Palmerston should have no personal or private cause of complaint +against Lord Aberdeen. From his office of Home Secretary +he might naturally expect to have the honour of attending +your Majesty; and should this not be the case he might probably +resent it and attribute it to the jealousy and ill-will of +Lord Aberdeen. But whether he did this, or not, himself, the +Public and the Press would not fail to do so, and would convert +this neglect into the ground of the most hostile and bitter +attacks.</p> + +<p class="ind">Your Majesty may perhaps be aware that there is no amount +of flattery which is not offered to Lord Palmerston by the Tory +party, with the hope of separating him altogether from the +Government.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen fully admits that this step which he has +humbly proposed to your Majesty may fail to produce any good +effect, and that it may even be turned hereafter to the injury +of the Government; but, at all events, Lord Aberdeen's conscience +will be clear; and if Lord Palmerston has any generous +feelings, it is not impossible that he may appreciate favourably +a proceeding which cannot but afford him personal satisfaction.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 22: Lord Aberdeen had suggested that it would be advisable for several reasons that +Lord Palmerston should be invited to Balmoral as Minister in attendance, and he accordingly +went there on the 15th of September. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>24th September 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has this morning received Lord Clarendon's letter +of the 22nd inst. She has not been surprised at the line taken +by Austria, who, Lord Clarendon will remember, the Queen +never thought could be depended upon, as she is not in that +independent position which renders a National Policy possible. +The accounts from Constantinople are very alarming, and make +the Queen most anxious for the future. She quite approves +of the steps taken by the Government. The presence of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.452" id="pageii.452"></a>[page 452]</span> +Fleets at Constantinople in case of general disturbance will +take from the Emperor of Russia what Lord Cowley calls his +<i>coup de Théâtre à la Sadlers Wells</i>, viz.: the part of the generous +protector of the Sultan and restorer of Order.<sup>24</sup></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 23: Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell led the war party in the Cabinet; but the +latter was pledged to the introduction of a Reform Bill, while the former was opposed to +the scheme. Lord Aberdeen's pacific views were making him increasingly unpopular in +the country.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 24: Even after the Russian occupation of the Principalities, which the Russian Minister, +Count Nesselrode, had described as not an act of war, but a material guarantee for the +concession by Turkey of the Russian demands, the resources of diplomacy were not +exhausted. The Four Powers—England, France, Austria, and Prussia—agreed, in conference +at Vienna, to present a note for acceptance by Russia and the Porte, to the effect +(<i>inter alia</i>) that the Government of the Sultan would remain faithful "to the letter and +to the spirit of the Treaties of Kainardji and Adrianople relative to the protection of the +Christian religion." This was most unfortunately worded, but, however, the clause had +obtained the sanction of the English Government, and the Czar expressed his willingness +to accept it. Lord Stratford, however, saw the danger underlying the ambiguity of the +language, and, under his advice, the Porte proposed as an amendment the substitution +of the words "to the stipulations of the Treaty of Kainardji, confirmed by that of Adrianople, +relative to the protection by the Sublime Porte of the Christian religion." The +Russian Government refused to accept this amendment, and from that moment war was +inevitable. The British Fleet under Admiral Dundas had been sent from Malta to the +East at the beginning of June. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE VIENNA NOTE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>25th September 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of the 23rd, +and is very thankful to him for this full and lucid statement of +the present very critical situation.</p> + +<p class="ind">She transmits to him a memorandum containing our views, +drawn up by the Prince with the desire he might also communicate +it to Lord Clarendon.<sup>25</sup></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must say she now rejoices the Fleets should be +on their way to Constantinople.</p> + +<p class="ind">God grant that any outbreak at Constantinople may yet be +averted.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 25: The Memorandum stated that it would be fruitless further to attempt to settle the +dispute by the "Rédaction" of Notes to be exchanged between Turkey and Russia, or +the choice of particular words and expressions in public documents designed in order to +avoid naming the real objects in dispute.</p> + +<p class="ind">"It is evident" (it was added) "that Russia has hitherto attempted to deceive us in +pretending that she did not aim at the acquisition of any <i>new</i> Right, but required only a +satisfaction of honour and a re-acknowledgment of the Rights she already possessed by +Treaty; that she <i>does intend</i> and for the first time lays bare that intention, to acquire +<i>new</i> Rights of interference which the Porte does <i>not</i> wish to concede and cannot concede, +and which the European Powers have repeatedly declared she <i>ought not</i> to concede....</p> + +<p class="ind">"If the views of Russia, for instance, with regard to 'Modification III. of the Note,' +were to prevail, the extension of the advantages and privileges enjoyed by Christian +communities, in their capacity as <i>foreigners</i>, to the Greeks generally, with the Right +granted to Russia to intercede for them to this effect, would simply make foreigners of +10,000,000 of the subjects of the Porte, or depose the Sultan as their sovereign, putting +the Emperor of Russia in his place." +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>6th October 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... The Cabinet will meet to-morrow; and Lord Aberdeen +will have the honour of humbly reporting to your Majesty the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.453" id="pageii.453"></a>[page 453]</span> +result of their discussions. It will be Lord Aberdeen's endeavour +to prevent any rash decision; and, above all, to keep open +the possibility of peaceful communications. No doubt, it may +be very agreeable to humiliate the Emperor of Russia; but +Lord Aberdeen thinks that it is paying a little too dear for this +pleasure, to check the progress and prosperity of this happy +country, and to cover Europe with confusion, misery, and +blood.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">MOVEMENTS OF THE FLEET</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>7th October 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +As your Majesty will expect to hear from him to-day, he has +the honour of addressing your Majesty, although he could wish +that it had been in his power to give your Majesty a more full +and satisfactory account of the decisions of the Cabinet. The +meeting was very long, and considerable difference of opinion +prevailed in the course of the discussion. At length, however, +Lord Aberdeen is happy to say there was such an agreement +as ensured a certain degree of unanimity. With this view, it +was determined to adhere to a defensive principle of action in the +East. The Fleets may perhaps be already at Constantinople; +but, at all events, they are to be brought there forthwith, and +to be stationed either there or in the Bosphorus, unless the +Russians should cross the Danube, or make any attack upon the +Turkish possessions on the coast of the Black Sea. In this case, +the combined Fleets would enter the Black Sea, for the defence +of the Turkish territory.</p> + +<p class="ind">Considering the position we have already assumed in this +unfortunate affair, perhaps it was impossible to do less than +this; and as there is very little chance of Russia undertaking +any active hostilities of the nature apprehended, it may reasonably +be hoped that no actual collision will take place. At +the same time it must be recollected that Russia will regard the +entrance of line of battle-ships into the Black Sea as a virtual +declaration of war against herself.</p> + +<p class="ind">There is yet no confirmation of the actual declaration of war +by the Porte, and although there is no reason to suspect any +serious impediment to the decision of the Divan being fulfilled, +it is rather strange that intelligence to this effect has not been +received. If Lord Stratford should see great cause for apprehension +at the prospect of the Turks in the prosecution of +hostilities, it is just possible that by his influence he may have +arrested the progress of their warlike measures; but probably +this is too much to hope. At all events, Lord Aberdeen trusts +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.454" id="pageii.454"></a>[page 454]</span> +that the path of negotiation is not finally closed, and that, +notwithstanding the equivocal position of Great Britain in this +contest, it may still be possible to employ words of conciliation +and peace....</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">WAR IMMINENT</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>10th October 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">I had a long interview with Sir James Graham this morning, +and told him that Lord Aberdeen's last letter to the Queen and +him<sup>26</sup> made us very uneasy. It was evident that Lord Aberdeen +was, against his better judgment, consenting to a course of +policy which he inwardly condemned, that his desire to maintain +unanimity at the Cabinet led to concessions which by +degrees altered the whole character of the policy, while he held +out no hope of being able permanently to secure agreement. I +described the Queen's position as a very painful one. Here +were decisions taken by the Cabinet, perhaps even acted upon, +involving the most momentous consequences, without her +previous concurrence or even the means for her to judge of the +propriety or impropriety of course to be adopted, with evidence +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.455" id="pageii.455"></a>[page 455]</span> +that the Minister, in whose judgment the Queen placed her +chief reliance, disapproved of it. The position was morally and +constitutionally a wrong one. The Queen ought to have the +whole policy in spirit and ultimate tendency developed before +her to give her deliberate sanction to it, knowing what it involved +her in abroad and at home. She might now be involved +in war, of which the consequences could not be calculated, +chiefly by the desire of Lord Aberdeen to keep his Cabinet +together; this might then break down, and the Queen would +be left without an efficient Government, and a war on her hands.<span class="rightnote">LORD ABERDEEN OVERBORNE</span> +Lord Aberdeen renounced one of his chief sources of strength +in the Cabinet, by not making it apparent that he requires the +sanction of the Crown to the course proposed by the Cabinet, +and has to justify his advice by argument before it can be +adopted, and that it does not suffice to come to a decision at +the table of the Cabinet. Sir James Graham perfectly coincided +with this view and offered to go up to Town immediately. +The Queen wrote the letter to Lord Aberdeen ... which Sir +James takes up with him. He shall arrive at Windsor on +Friday (14th), and Lord Aberdeen is to have an Audience on +Saturday. Sir James will tell him that the Queen wants his +deliberate opinion on what course is best to be followed, and +that the course once adopted should be steadily and uninterruptedly +pursued.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 26:</p> + + <h6 style="margin-top: -2.5em; font-style: italic;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir James Graham.</i><br /> + <i>Submitted to the Queen.</i></h6> + + <p class="indrightnote" style="margin-top: -1em;"><span class="sc">Argyll House</span>, <i>8th October 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;"><span class="sc">My dear Graham</span>,—... When we met, Clarendon made a sort of <i>résumé</i> of what +had taken place before we all separated, but ended with no specific proposal. After a +few interlocutory remarks from different quarters, Palmerston proposed his plan. Lord +John faintly supported it in general terms, but did not seem much in earnest about it. +I said that it appeared to involve the necessity of a declaration of war against Russia, +and the calling together Parliament forthwith. Gladstone strongly argued against the +proposal. Clarendon then read an outline of his proposed instructions, which were a +great abatement from Palmerston's plan. We came at last to a sort of compromise; our +great difficulty being now to deal with the question of entering the Black Sea. I consented +to this being done, provided it was strictly in defence of some point of attack on Turkish +territory. I have no fear that this will take place; and as long as we abstain from entering +the Black Sea, Peace may be possible between us and Russia. We have thus assumed +a strictly defensive position, which for the moment may be sufficient, and will enable us to +carry on negotiations; but this cannot last long. Under the character of defensive war, +we should inevitably become extensively engaged. Should the Turks be at all worsted, +which is probable, of course we must increase our assistance. We should have a French +army, and perhaps English money—all for defence.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">The aspect of the Cabinet was, on the whole, very good. Gladstone, active and energetic +for Peace; Argyll, Herbert, C. Wood, and Granville, all in the same sense. Newcastle, +not quite so much so, but good; Lansdowne, not so warlike as formerly; Lord John +warlike enough, but subdued in tone; Palmerston urged his views perseveringly, but not +disagreeably. The Chancellor said little, but was cordially peaceful. Molesworth was +not present, there having been some mistake in sending the notice.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">On the whole, therefore, yesterday passed off well enough; but we shall see what to-day +will bring us. Not a syllable was said in the Cabinet on any other subject. Lord John +seemed in good humour; he came to see me a few minutes before the Cabinet. I told +you that I had spoken to Gladstone very fully; but I did not press any decision respecting +<i>domestic</i> matters, as it would at this moment be quite unseasonable. Nevertheless, +it must not be forgotten altogether. Yours, etc., etc.,</p> + +<p class="authornote"><span class="sc">Aberdeen</span>. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD STRATFORD'S INSTRUCTIONS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Balmoral</span>, <i>11th October 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Clarendon's letter. She had +written to Lord Aberdeen that she felt it her duty to pause +before giving her consent to the measures decided on in the +Cabinet, until she should have received an explanation on the +views which dictated that decision, and of the ulterior steps +involved in it; and Sir James Graham is gone up to Town, +verbally to explain more fully the Queen's feelings. She has +now received and read the Despatches, which have in the +meantime been sent off to their points of destination without +having received her sanction!</p> + +<p class="ind">The draft to Vienna the Queen thinks very ably argued, and +justly to define the present position of the question at issue.<sup>27</sup></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.456" id="pageii.456"></a>[page 456]</span> + +<p class="ind">The instructions to Lord Stratford,<sup>28</sup> on the other hand, appear +to her very vague, and entrusting him with enormous powers +and a latitude of discretion which is hardly to be called safe. +As matters have now been arranged, it appears to the Queen, +moreover, that we have taken on ourselves in conjunction with +France all the risks of a European war, without having bound +Turkey to any conditions with respect to provoking it. The +hundred and twenty fanatical Turks constituting the Divan at +Constantinople are left sole judges of the line of policy to be +pursued, and made cognisant at the same time of the fact that +England and France have bound themselves to defend the +Turkish Territory! This is entrusting them with a power +which Parliament has been jealous to confide even to the hands +of the British Crown. It may be a question whether England +ought to go to war for the defence of so-called Turkish Independence; +but there can be none that if she does so, she ought to +be the sole judge of what constitutes a breach of that independence, +and have the fullest power to prevent by negotiation +the breaking out of the war.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would wish copies of the enclosed papers to be +sent for her use as soon as convenient.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 27: In this despatch Lord Clarendon, after referring to the interpretation which Count +Nesselrode had put upon the Vienna Note, and the Russian rejection of it as amended +by the Porte, told Lord Westmorland that it would be useless and dishonourable to recommend +it in its unaltered form, that the Czar was contending for privileges for Christian +subjects of the Porte not hitherto enjoyed by them, and that a war embarked upon in +such a cause would be without parallel in history.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 28: Authority had been given to Lord Stratford to employ the British Fleet in the manner +he might deem most fit for defending Turkish territory from aggression, and he was +instructed that if the Russian Fleet left Sebastopol, the British Fleet was to pass through +the Bosphorus. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">RESENTMENT OF THE CZAR</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>16th October 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">We saw Lord Aberdeen yesterday. He went with us through +the whole of the proceedings of the last six weeks with respect +to the Eastern Question. Regretted Count Nesselrode's Note,<sup>29</sup> +which Baron Brunnow owned nobody would regret more than +the Count himself, acknowledged the weakness of Austria, felt +sure of Lord Stratford's insincerity towards him and the Government,... +as he had to Lord Aberdeen's certain knowledge +called "the conduct of the Government infamous" and declared +"he would let the world know that his name was Canning." +He acknowledged the disadvantage of the course adopted by +the Cabinet, which left the Turks at liberty to do as they +pleased; he had to concede this to the Cabinet, which would +otherwise have been broken up by Lord John and Lord +Palmerston. Had he known what the Queen's opinion was, +he might have been more firm, feeling himself supported by the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.457" id="pageii.457"></a>[page 457]</span> +Crown, but he had imagined from her letters that there was +more animosity against Russia and leaning to war in her +mind.</p> + + +<p class="note1">Footnote 29: In this despatch to Baron Meyendorff, the Austrian Foreign Minister, the Count +had disclosed the fact that the Russian interpretation of the Vienna Note differed from +that of the other Powers. +</p> + +<p class="ind">Yet, under all the adverse circumstances Lord Aberdeen saw +still reason for hope that a peaceable settlement could be +obtained. The French were ready to do anything we pleased, +go to war, remain at peace, etc., etc.; in fact, Louis Napoleon +had experienced the great advantage for his position of the +Alliance with England.... Lord Stratford was thoroughly +frightened, and had made a proposal himself, which accordingly +he would support <i>con amore</i>. The Emperor of Russia had failed +in his attempt to form a Northern League against the Western +Powers.... The Emperor complained bitterly of the conduct of +the Powers, who had disgraced him before the world by making +him accept a Note, and sanctioning its alteration by Turkey; +"now they should do what they pleased and settle matters +with Turkey first, and bring him only what was settled and +fixed, he was wearied of the whole business, and anxious to get +rid of it for ever."</p> + +<p class="ind">What Lord Aberdeen now proposed was to follow the Emperor's +advice and agree with Turkey upon a Note, leaving out +all that she had objected to in the Vienna Note as Lord Stratford +recommended, and taking as much as possible Redschid +Pasha's own words to found the proposal of it upon the declaration +made by the Emperor at Olmütz to the Powers, that he +sought for <i>no new</i> right, privilege, or advantage, but solely for +the confirmation of the legal <i>status quo</i>, but accompanying this +with a declaration, that if Turkey created needless difficulties +and tried to evade a peaceful settlement the Powers would +withdraw their support and leave her to fight her own battle. +We went over the Documents which are not yet settled, even +between Lord Aberdeen and Lord Clarendon, and will require +the greatest caution in their wording. It is evident that the +Turks have every inducement not to let this opportunity slip +in going to war with Russia, as they will probably never find +so advantageous a one again, as the whole of Christendom +has declared them in the right, and they would fight with +England and France actively on their side!</p> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD JOHN AND THE PREMIERSHIP</span> + +<p class="ind">At home, Lord Aberdeen said matters do not stand much +better. Lord John has convinced himself that, under present +circumstances it would not do for him to ask Lord Aberdeen to +retire from the Prime Ministership and let him step in in his +place; perhaps he has found out also that the Peelites will not +serve under him; his own Whig colleagues would very much +regret if not object to such a change, and that Lord Palmerston +could not well submit to the arrangement. So he told Lord +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.458" id="pageii.458"></a>[page 458]</span> +Aberdeen that he had given up that idea; it was clear, however, +that he was now looking for an opportunity to break up the +Government on some popular ground, which it was impossible +to hope that he should not find. He now had asked for the +immediate summoning of Parliament, called for by the state +of the Oriental <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Queston'">Question</ins>. This would create the greatest alarm +in the country, and embarrassment to the Government, and +was therefore resisted. Lord Aberdeen told Lord John quite +plainly he knew what the proposal meant—he meant to break +up the Government. "I hope not," was Lord John's laughing +reply.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen taxed Lord Aberdeen with imprudence in talking +to Lord John of his own readiness to leave office, which he +acknowledged, but called <i>very natural</i> in a man of seventy. +Lord John was dissatisfied with his position;... upon Lord +Aberdeen telling him that he had the most powerful and +honourable position of any man in England as leader of the +House of Commons, he answered, "Oh, <i>there</i> I am quite +happy!"</p> + +<p class="ind">I asked how under such circumstances that all-important +measure of Parliamentary Reform, upon which the future +stability and well-being of the Country so much depended, was +to be matured and brought forward? Lord Aberdeen replied +that Lord John had it all ready and prepared in his pocket, and +told Lord Aberdeen so, adding, however, that under present +circumstances there was no use in bringing it forward, to which +Lord Aberdeen added: "You mean unless you sit in the chair +which I now occupy?" Lord John laughed.</p> + +<p class="ind">We discussed the probable consequences of Lord John's +retirement. Lord Aberdeen thought that Lord Palmerston, +Lord Lansdowne, and even Lord Clarendon would secede with +him, but this by no means implied that the whole party would; +Lord Palmerston would not coalesce with Lord John, but try +for the lead himself; Lord Clarendon quite agreed with Lord +Aberdeen, and had been very angry with Lord John, but was +personally under great obligations to him, and Sir James +Graham had (as he said) been very much struck with the change +of tone in Lord Clarendon at the last meeting of the Cabinet. +Most of the Liberals seemed very much pleased with their +situation. Sir James Graham had, of his own accord, told +Lord Aberdeen that, in the event of Lord John's secession, he +himself could not well sit in the House of Commons under so +much younger a man as Mr Gladstone as Leader. He knew +that there would be objections to his assuming the lead himself, +but he would be quite ready to go to the House of Lords to +support Lord Aberdeen.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.459" id="pageii.459"></a>[page 459]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Emperor of Russia to Queen Victoria.</i><sup>30</sup></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CZAR'S LETTER</span> + +<table summary="date" align="right" border="0" style="margin-right: 10%;"> +<tr> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle"><span class="sc">Tsarsko</span>, <i>ce</i></td> + <td class="left1b">18<br /> + <span style="line-height: 50%">—</span><br /> + 30</td> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle"><i>Octobre 1853.</i></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="clear" style="margin-bottom: -1.5em;"> </p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame</span>,—Votre Majesté connaît, je l'espère, les sentiments +d'affection sincère qui m'attachent à Sa personne, depuis que +j'ai eu l'honneur de L'approcher. Il m'a semblé qu'Elle +daignait aussi m'accorder quelque bienveillance. A la veille +d'événements, peut-être fort graves, qu'Elle daigne donc excuser +si je m'adresse droit à Elle, pour essayer de prévenir des +calamités, que nos deux pays ont un égal intérêt à éviter. J'ose +le faire avec d'autant plus de confiance, que longtemps encore +avant que les affaires d'Orient eussent pris la fâcheuse tournure +qu'elles ont acquise depuis, je m'étais adressé directement à +votre Majesté, par l'entremise de Sir Hamilton Seymour, pour +appeler votre attention, Madame, sur des éventualités, alors +encore incertaines, mais déjà fort probables à mes yeux, et que +je désirais éclaircir, <i>avant tout</i>, avec le Cabinet Anglais, pour +écarter autant qu'il m'était possible, toute divergence d'opinion +entre nous. La correspondance d'alors, qu'Elle daigne de la +faire relire atteignit son but, car elle mettait le Gouvernement +Anglais au fait de mes plus intimes pensées sur ces graves éventualités, +tandis que, je devais au moins le penser ainsi, j'obtiens +en réponse un égal exposé des vues du Gouvernement de votre +Majesté.</p> + +<p class="ind">Sûrs ainsi de ce que nous désirions de part et d'autre, par +quelle fatalité devons-nous donc, Madame, en venir à une +mésintelligence aussi prononcée, sur des objets qui paraissaient +convenus d'avance, <i>où ma parole est engagée vis-à-vis de votre +Majesté</i>, comme je crois <i>celle du Gouvernement Anglais engagée +de même vis-à-vis de moi</i>.</p> + +<p class="ind">C'est à la justice, au cœur de votre Majesté que j'en appelle, +c'est à Sa bonne foi et à Sa sagesse que je m'en mets qu'Elle +daigne de décider entre nous.</p> + +<p class="ind">Devons nous rester, comme je le souhaite ardemment, +dans une bonne intelligence également profitable à nos +deux États, ou juge-t-Elle, que le pavillon Anglais doive +flotter près du croissant, pour combattre la croix de Saint +André!!!</p> + +<p class="ind">Telle que soit la détermination de votre Majesté, qu'Elle +veuille être persuadée de l'inaltérable et sincère attachement +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.460" id="pageii.460"></a>[page 460]</span> +avec lesquels je ne cesserais d'être, de votre Majesté, le tout +dévoué frère et ami,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Nicolas</span>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je prie votre Majesté de vouloir bien faire mes amitiés à +Monseigneur le Prince Albert.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 30: Greville calls the writing of this letter an unusual step; but in sending it to Lord +Aberdeen and Lord Clarendon, the Queen observed that its despatch was an important +and advantageous fact, as it both committed the Czar personally, and enabled her to +state certain truths to him, as well as to explain privately the views which guided her own +and her Ministers' conduct.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD STRATFORD'S PROPOSAL</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>5th November 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Although the Queen will have the pleasure of seeing Lord +Aberdeen this evening, she wishes to make some observations +on the subject of Lord Stratford's last private letters communicated +to her yesterday by Lord Clarendon.<sup>31</sup> They exhibit +clearly on his part a <i>desire</i> for war, and to drag us into it. When +he speaks of the sword which will not only have to be drawn, +but the scabbard thrown away, and says, the war to be successful +must be a "<i>very comprehensive one</i>" on the part of +England and France, the intention is unmistakable, and +it becomes a serious question whether we are justified in +allowing Lord Stratford any longer to remain in a situation +which gives him the means of frustrating all our efforts for +peace. The question becomes still graver when it is considered +that General Baraguay d'Hilliers seems from Lord Cowley's +account of his conversation with him equally anxious for +extreme measures.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must express her surprise that Lord Stratford +should have coolly sent on so preposterous a proposal as +Redschid Pasha's note asking for a Treaty of Alliance, the +amalgamation of our Fleets with the Turkish one, and the sending +of our surplus ships to the "<i>White</i>" Sea (!) without any +hesitation or remark on his part. As the note ends, however, +by saying that the Porte desires <i>que les points ci-dessus émenés +(sic) soient appréciés par les Cours d'Angleterre et de France, et +que ces Cours veuillent bien déclarer leur intention d'agir en +conséquence</i>, this appears to the Queen to afford an admirable +opportunity for stating plainly and strongly to the Turkish +Government that we have <i>no intention</i> of being used by them +for their own purposes. This time such a declaration might be +<i>handed in</i> to the Turkish Government, so that there can be no +mistake about the matter for the future.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen encloses the letter and note, and wishes Lord +Aberdeen to show her letter to Lord Clarendon.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 31: Lord Stratford had written that Redschid Pasha was unable to make head against +his warlike colleagues, and that unless some proposal of a decidedly satisfactory kind +should come from Vienna very soon, there would be no chance of avoiding hostilities. +Lord Stratford added that he had obtained a promise that no act of hostility should +take place on the Turkish side before the expiration of fifteen days, and concluded with +the words: "I fear that war is the decree of Fate, and our wisest part will be to do what +we can to bring it to a thoroughly good conclusion." +</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.461" id="pageii.461"></a>[page 461]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Emperor of Russia.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE QUEEN TO THE CZAR</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>ce 14 Novembre 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Sire et très cher Frère</span>,—C'est avec une profonde et +sincère satisfaction que je viens de recevoir la lettre que V.M.I. +a bien voulu m'écrire le 18/30 +Octobre. Je suis vivement touchée +des sentiments affectueux que vous m'y témoignez. V.M. me +connaît assez pour savoir combien ils sont réciproques.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je vous remercierai également, Sire, de la franchise avec +laquelle vous me parlez des complications actuelles; je ne +saurais mieux répondre aux loyales intentions de V.M. qu'en +lui exprimant à mon tour, et avec toute droiture, mes opinions à +ce sujet, car c'est là, j'en suis sûre, le meilleur moyen de conserver +utilement une amitié bien véritable.</p> + +<p class="ind">J'ai, mon cher Frère, conformément à votre désir, relu les +communications confidentielles que vous avez bien voulu me +faire, ce printemps, par l'intermédiaire du bon Sir Hamilton +Seymour, et les réponses que mon Gouvernement a reçu l'ordre +d'adresser à V.M.</p> + +<p class="ind">Bien qu'une différence d'opinion très notable devînt alors +évidente entre V.M. et moi relativement à la manière d'envisager +l'état de la Turquie et l'appréciation de sa vitalité, le +Mémorandum de V.M. en date du 3/15 Avril vint néanmoins dissiper +de la manière la plus heureuse ces fâcheuses appréhensions; +car il m'annonçait que, si nous n'étions pas d'accord sur <i>l'état +de santé</i> de l'Empire Ottoman, nous l'étions cependant sur la +nécessité, pour le laisser vivre, de ne point lui faire des demandes +humiliantes, pourvu que tout le monde en agît de même, et que +personne n'abusât de sa faiblesse pour obtenir des avantages +exclusifs. V.M. dans ce but, daigna même se déclarer prête +"à travailler de concert avec l'Angleterre à l'œuvre commune +de prolonger l'existence de l'Empire Turque, en évitant toute +cause d'alarme au sujet de sa dissolution."</p> + +<p class="ind">J'avais de plus la conviction qu'il n'existait et ne pouvait +exister au fond aucune divergence d'opinion entre nous au +sujet des réclamations relatives aux Lieux-Saints, réclamations +qui, j'avais droit de le croire, constituaient le seul grief de la +Russie contre la Porte.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je mets, Sire, la confiance la plus entière dans la parole que +V.M. a bien voulu me donner alors, et, que les assurances subséquentes, +dues à votre amitié, sont venues confirmer, en me +donnant la connaissance de Vos intentions. Personne n'apprécie +plus que moi la haute loyauté de V.M., et je voudrais +que les convictions que j'ai à cet égard pussent seules résoudre +toutes les difficultés. Mais quelle que soit la pureté des motifs +qui dirigent les actions du Souverain même le plus élevé par +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.462" id="pageii.462"></a>[page 462]</span> +le caractère, V.M. sait que ses qualités personnelles ne sont +point suffisantes dans des transactions internationales par +lesquelles un État se lie envers un autre en de solennels engagements; +et les véritables intentions de V.M. ont été à coup sûr +méconnues et mal interprétées, à cause de la forme donnée au +réclamations adressées à la Porte.</p> + +<p class="ind">Ayant à cœur, Sire, d'examiner ce qui avait pu produire ce +fâcheux malentendu, mon attention a été naturellement attirée +par l'article 7 du Traité de Kainardji; et je dois dire à V.M. +qu'après avoir consulté, sur le sens qui pouvait avoir été attaché +à cet article, les personnes les plus compétentes de ce pays-ci; +après l'avoir relu ensuite moi-même, avec le plus sincère désir +d'impartialité, je suis arrivée à la conviction que cet article +n'était point susceptible de l'extension qu'on y a voulu donner. +Tous les amis de V.M. ont, comme moi, la certitude que vous +n'auriez point abusé du pouvoir, que vous eût ainsi été accordé; +mais une demande de ce genre, pouvait à peine être acceptée par +un Souverain qui tient à son indépendance.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je ne cacherai pas davantage à V.M. l'impression douloureuse +qu'a produit sur moi l'occupation des Principautés. Cette +occupation a causé, depuis les quatres derniers mois, une +perturbation générale en Europe, et pourrait amener des +événements ultérieurs que je déplorerais d'un commun accord +avec V.M. Mais, comme les intentions de V.M. envers la Porte +sont, je le sais, amicales et désintéressées, j'ai toute confiance +que vous trouverez le moyen de les exprimer et mettre à exécution +de manière à détourner de plus graves dangers, que tous +mes efforts, je vous assure, tendront sans cesse à empêcher. +L'attention impartiale avec laquelle j'ai suivi les causes qui ont +fait échouer jusqu'à présent toutes les tentatives de conciliation, +me donne la ferme conviction qu'il n'existe pas d'obstacle +réel qui ne puisse être écarté ou promptement surmonté avec +l'assistance de V.M.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je n'abandonne point l'espoir de cet heureux résultat, même +après les tristes conflits qui ont fait couler le sang dans les +Principautés; car j'ai la foi en Dieu que lorsque de toute +part les intentions sont droites et lorsque les intérêts bien +entendus sont communs, le Tout-Puissant ne permettra pas +que l'Europe entière qui contient déjà tant d'éléments inflammables, +soit exposée à une conflagration générale.</p> + +<p class="ind">Que Dieu veille sur les jours de V.M.; et croyez, Sire, à +l'attachement sincère avec lequel je suis, Sire et cher Frère, de +votre Majesté Impériale, la bien bonne Sœur et Amie,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Victoria R.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">Albert est très sensible au souvenir de V.M. et me prie de le +mettre à vos pieds.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.463" id="pageii.463"></a>[page 463]</span> + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD ABERDEEN'S SCRUPLES</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>26th November 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. +The Cabinet met to-day for the consideration of the overtures +made by the French Government for the settlement of the +Eastern Question.<sup>32</sup> These proposals were in substance adopted; +although a considerable change was made in their form, and +in some of their details. The step now taken is evidently wise; +but Lord Aberdeen can scarcely venture to hope that it will +be attended with success. Pacific language is accompanied +with insulting and hostile acts; and it remains to be seen +what effect will be produced on the Emperor of Russia by the +entrance of English and French ships of war into the Black +Sea, under the pretext of bringing off Consuls from Varna, and +of looking after the grain-ships at the Sulina mouth of the +Danube. This information has hitherto been only communicated +by telegraph; but it is calculated to lead to serious consequences, +of which Lord Stratford must be perfectly well +aware.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 32: The Emperor had made certain suggestions to Lord Cowley, which the British +Government were willing to adopt; but the anti-Russian feeling was increasing daily in +the nation, and, as will be seen from the Queen's letter of the 27th of November, Lord +Stratford seemed resolved on war. +</p> + + + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>27th November 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of yesterday. +She is sorry to find that after all a considerable change was +made in the form of the French proposal. She is not aware at +present of what that change consists in and is therefore unable +to form an opinion as to the effects of its introduction, but she +quite concurs in Lord Aberdeen's apprehensions with regard +to the effect of Lord Stratford's orders to the Fleet. The +perusal of Lord Stratford's Despatches of the 5th inst. has +given the Queen the strongest impression that, whilst guarding +himself against the possibility of being called to account for +acting in opposition to his instructions, he is pushing us deeper +and deeper into the War policy which we wish to escape. +Wherefore should three poor Turkish steamers go to the +Crimea, but to beard the Russian Fleet and tempt it to come out +of Sebastopol, which would thus constitute the much desired +contingency for our combined Fleets to attack it, and so engage +us irretrievably!</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen must seriously call upon Lord Aberdeen and the +Cabinet to consider whether they are justified in allowing such +a state of things to continue!</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.464" id="pageii.464"></a>[page 464]</span> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Emperor of Russia to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">THE CZAR TO THE QUEEN</span> + +<table summary="date" align="right" border="0" style="margin-right: 10%;"> +<tr> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle"><span class="sc">S. Pétersbourg</span>, <i>le</i></td> + <td class="left1b"><span style="font-size: 0.9em;"> </span>2<br /> + <span style="line-height: 50%">—</span><br /> + 14</td> + <td class="left1b" valign="middle"><i>Décembre 1853.</i></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="clear" style="margin-bottom: -1.5em;"> </p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">Madame</span>,—Je remercie votre Majesté d'avoir eu la bonté +de répondre aussi amicalement que franchement à la lettre que +j'ai eu l'honneur de lui écrire. Je la remercie également de la +foi qu'elle accorde à ma parole,—je crois le mériter, je l'avoue,—28 +années d'une vie politique, souvent fort pénible, ne +peuvent donner le droit à personne d'en douter.</p> + +<p class="ind">Je me permets aussi, contrairement à l'avis de votre Majesté, +de penser, qu'en affaires publiques et en relations de pays à +pays, rien ne peut être <i>plus sacré</i> et ne l'est en effet à mes yeux +que la parole souveraine, car elle décide en dernière instance +de la paix ou de la guerre. Je ne fatiguerais certes pas l'attention +de votre Majesté par un examen détaillé du sens qu'elle +donne à l'article 7 du Traité de Kainardji; j'assurerais seulement, +Madame, que depuis 80 ans la Russie et la Porte l'ont +compris ainsi que nous le faisons encore. Ce sens-là n'a été +interrompu qu'en derniers temps, à la suite d'instigations que +votre Majesté connaît aussi bien que moi. Le rétablir dans +son réception primitive et la justifier par un engagement plus +solennel, tel est le but de mes efforts, tel il sera, Madame, +quand même le sang devrait couler encore contre mon vœu le +plus ardent; parce que c'est une question vitale pour la Russie, +et mes efforts ne lui sont impossibles pour y satisfaire.</p> + +<p class="ind">Si j'ai dû occuper les Principautés, ce que je regrette autant +que votre Majesté, c'est encore Madame, parce que les libertés +dont ces provinces jouissent, leurs ont été acquises <i>au prix du +sang Russe, et par moi-même Madame les années</i> 1828 <i>et</i> 29. Il +ne s'agit donc pas de <i>conquêtes</i>, mais à la veille d'un conflit que +l'on rendait de plus en plus probable, il eût été indigne de moi +de les livrer sûrement à la main des ennemis du Christianisme, +dont les persécutions ne sont un secret que pour ceux qui +veulent l'ignorer. J'espérais avoir répondu ainsi aux doutes +et aux regrets de votre Majesté <i>avec la plus entière franchise</i>. +Elle veut bien me dire qu'Elle ne doute pas qu'avec mon aide +le rétablissement de la paix ne soit encore possible, malgré le +sang répandu; j'y réponds de grand cœur, <i>Oui</i>, Madame, si +les organes des volontés de votre Majesté <i>exécutent fidèlement ses +ordres et ses intentions bienveillantes. Les miennes n'out pas +varié dès le début de cette triste épisode. Reculer devant le danger, +comme vouloir maintenant autre chose que je n'ai voulu en violant +ma parole, serait au-dessous de moi</i>, et le noble cœur de votre +Majesté doit le comprendre.</p> + +<p class="ind">J'ajouterais encore que son cœur saignera en apprenant les +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.465" id="pageii.465"></a>[page 465]</span> +horreurs qui se commettent déjà par les hordes sauvages, près +desquels flotte le pavillon Anglais!!!</p> + +<p class="ind">Je la remercie cordialement des vœux qu'Elle veut bien faire +pour moi; tant que ma vie se prolongera ils seront réciproqués +de ma part. Je suis heureux de le Lui dire, en l'assurant +du sincère attachement avec lequel je suis, Madame, de votre +Majesté, le tout dévoué Frère and Ami,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Nicolas.</span></p> + +<p class="ind">Je me rappelle encore une fois au bon souvenir de Son +Altesse Royale le Prince Albert et le remercie également de +ses paroles obligeantes.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON AND REFORM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>6th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">... As Lord John Russell will have the honour of seeing +your Majesty to-morrow, he will be able to explain to your +Majesty the present state of the discussions on Reform, and +the progress of the Measure.<sup>33</sup> Lord Aberdeen feels it to be his +duty to inform your Majesty that on Saturday evening he +received a visit from Lord Palmerston, who announced his +decided objection to the greater part of the proposed plan.<sup>34</sup> +He did this in such positive terms that Lord Aberdeen should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.466" id="pageii.466"></a>[page 466]</span> +imagine he had made up his mind not to give the Measure his +support; but Lord John entertains considerable doubt that +such is the case.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen thinks it by no means improbable that Lord +Palmerston may also desire to separate himself from the +Government, in consequence of their pacific policy, and in +order to take the lead of the War Party and the Anti-Reformers +in the House of Commons, who are essentially the same. Such +a combination would undoubtedly be formidable; but Lord +Aberdeen trusts that it would not prove dangerous. At all +events, it would tend greatly to the improvement of Lord +John's Foreign Policy.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 33: On the 19th of November Lord John had written to the Queen outlining the Reform +proposals of the Committee of the Cabinet. The Queen subsequently wrote to make +additional suggestions, <i>e.g.</i>, for finding a means of bringing into the House official persons +or men without local connections, and for dealing with Ministerial re-elections.</p> + +<p class="note1">Footnote 34: Lord Palmerston wrote to Lord Lansdowne, giving an account of the affair:—</p> + +<p class="indrightnote"><span class="sc">"Carlton Gardens</span>, <i>8th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;"><span class="sc">"My dear Lansdowne</span>,—I have had two conversations with Aberdeen on the subject +of John Russell's proposed Reform Bill, and I have said that there are three points in it +to which I cannot agree.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"These points are—the extent of disfranchisement, the extent of enfranchisement, +and the addition of the Municipal Franchise in Boroughs to the pound;10 Householder Franchise....</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"We should by such an arrangement increase the number of bribeable Electors, and +overpower intelligence and property by ignorance and poverty.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"I have told Aberdeen that I am persuaded that the Measure as proposed by John +Russell and Graham will not pass through the two Houses of Parliament without material +modifications, and that I do not choose to be a party to a contest between the two Houses +or to an Appeal to the Country for a Measure of which I decidedly disapprove; and that +I cannot enter into a career which would lead me to such a position, that, in short, I do +not choose to be dragged through the dirt by John Russell. I reminded Aberdeen that +on accepting his offer of Office, I had expressed apprehension both to him and to you, +that I might find myself differing from my Colleagues on the question of Parliamentary +Reform.</p> + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top:-0.5em;">"I have thought a good deal on this matter. I should be very sorry to give up my +present Office at this moment: I have taken a great interest in it, and I have matters in +hand which I should much wish to bring to a conclusion. Moreover, I think that +the presence in the Cabinet of a person holding the opinions which I entertain as to the +principles on which our Foreign Affairs ought to be conducted, is useful in modifying the +contrary system of Policy, which, as I think, injuriously to the interests and dignity of +the Country, there is a disposition in other quarters to pursue; but notwithstanding all +this. I cannot consent to stand forward as one of the Authors and Supporters of John +Russell's sweeping alterations. Yours sincerely,</p> + +<p class="authornote"><span class="sc">Palmerston"</span>. +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Prince Albert to the Earl of Aberdeen.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON'S POSITION</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>9th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind"><span class="sc">My dear Lord Aberdeen</span>,—The Queen has consulted with +Lord John Russell upon the Reform plan, and on the question +of Lord Palmerston's position with regard to it; and he will +doubtless give you an account of what passed. She wishes me, +however, to tell you likewise what strikes her with respect to +Lord Palmerston. It appears to the Queen clear that the +Reform Bill will have no chance of success unless prepared and +introduced in Parliament by a <i>united</i> Cabinet; that, if Lord +Palmerston has made up his mind to oppose it and to leave the +Government, there will be no use in trying to keep him in it, +and that there will be danger in allowing him to attend the +discussions of the Cabinet, preparing all the time his line of +attack; that if a successor to him would after all have to be +found at the Home Office, it will be unfair not to give that +important member of the Government full opportunity to take +his share in the preparation and deliberation on the measure +to which his consent would be asked. Under these circumstances +it becomes of the highest importance to ascertain—</p> + +<p class="ind">1. What the amount of objection is that Lord Palmerston +entertains to the Measure;</p> + +<p class="ind">2. What the object of the declaration was, which he seems +to have made to you.</p> + +<p class="ind">This should be obtained <i>in writing</i>, so as to make all future +misrepresentation impossible, and on this alone a decision can +well be taken, and, in the Queen's opinion, even the Cabinet +could alone deliberate.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should Lord Palmerston have stated his objections with the +view of having the Measure modified it will be right to consider +how far that can safely be done, and for the Queen, also, to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.467" id="pageii.467"></a>[page 467]</span> +balance the probable value of the modification with the risk +of allowing Lord Palmerston to put himself at the head of the +Opposition Party, entailing as it does the possibility of his +forcing himself back upon her as leader of that Party.</p> + +<p class="ind">Should he on the other hand consider his declaration as a +"notice to quit," the ground upon which he does so should be +clearly put on record, and no attempt should be made to +damage the character of the Measure in the vain hope of propitiating +him. Ever yours truly,</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert</span>.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD PALMERSTON RESIGNS</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>16th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen arrived yesterday and returned to-day to +meet the Cabinet to-morrow. Lord Palmerston has sent in +his resignation in a short note to Lord Aberdeen, a further correspondence +with Lord John and Lord Lansdowne, Lord Aberdeen +put into my hands, and I have copied the two most +important letters which follow here.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord John is reported as very angry, calling Lord Palmerston's +conduct "treacherous," a term Lord Aberdeen hardly +understands, as against him he has been perfectly consistent +with regard to the Reform Measure, from the beginning, and +had frequently denied the necessity of Reform.... Lord +Aberdeen had advised Lord John to show boldness and energy, +and to undertake the Home Office at once himself; this would +have a great effect under the difficulties of the circumstances, +would show that he was in earnest and determined to carry his +Reform Measure. Lord John seemed hit by the idea, but +asked for time to consider; after seeing <i>Lady</i> John, however, +he declined.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen's fears are still mainly as to the Eastern +Question, Lord John pressing for war measures. Lord +Aberdeen had followed my advice, and had a long explanation +on the subject, in which they both agreed that their policy +should be one of Peace, and he thought matters settled when +Lord John now asks for contingent engagements to make war +on Russia if her forces cross the Danube (which Lord Aberdeen +thinks quite uncalled for), and to convoy the Turkish expeditions +in the Black Sea, even if directed against Russian territory, +etc., etc. The Cabinet is certain not to agree to either of these +propositions.</p> + +<p class="ind">When Lord Aberdeen announced the intended rupture with +Lord Palmerston to Lord John, he drily said: "Well, +it would be very awkward for you if Palmerston quarrels +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.468" id="pageii.468"></a>[page 468]</span> +one day with you about Reform, and I the next about +Turkey!"</p> + +<p class="ind">There can be no doubt that Lord Palmerston will at once +try to put himself at the head of the late Protectionist party, +and, with the present indifference of the Country upon Reform, +the fate of the Bill is by no means certain. On the +question of Peace or War, Lord Aberdeen is quite certain that +the House of Commons will adopt no war resolutions.</p> + +<p class="ind">Much will depend, however, on the line taken by Lord +Lansdowne, who has great influence in the House of Lords, +and whose secession would spread great alarm over the Country +as to the real tendency of the Measure (which the Duke of +Newcastle describes as in fact a great increase of power to the +land<sup>35</sup>). We agree that the Queen should write to him to +prevent any hasty step.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen sanctioned the offer of the Home Office to Sir +George Grey, and of a seat in the Cabinet to Mr Cardwell (the +President of the Board of Trade).</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 35: <i>I.e.</i>, the landed interest.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Marquis of Lansdowne.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD LANSDOWNE AND REFORM</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>16th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has been made very anxious by the Resignation +of Lord Palmerston, but still more so by hearing that Lord +Lansdowne has not been able to reconcile himself to the +Measure of Reform as now proposed in the Cabinet, which +has caused Lord Palmerston's withdrawal. Lord Lansdowne +is aware of the paramount importance which the Queen attaches +to a safe settlement of that question, and to the maintenance +of her present Government; and she would press upon +Lord Lansdowne not to commit himself to a final determination +before she shall have an opportunity of seeing him. The +Queen will go to Windsor on Thursday, and hold a Council on +Friday, at which it may perhaps be convenient to Lord Lansdowne +to attend, and it will give the Queen the greatest pleasure +to find that Lord John Russell has succeeded in removing Lord +Lansdowne's objections.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">LORD STRATFORD'S DESPATCH</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Osborne</span>, <i>17th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen returns the enclosed Draft and Despatch to Lord +Clarendon.</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.469" id="pageii.469"></a>[page 469]</span> + +<p class="ind">She has never been so much perplexed respecting any +decision she has had to make, as in the present instance. She +has read Lord Stratford's Despatch (358) over several times, +and she is struck, every time more, with the consummate +ability with which it is written and argued; but also with +the difficulty in which it places the person reading it to +extract distinctly what the Porte will be prepared to +concede.</p> + +<p class="ind">The concluding passage of the Draft involves the most +important consequences. As the Queen understands it, it +promises war with Russia in a given contingency, but the +contingency is: Russia rejecting terms which are "in their +spirit and character such as Your Excellency sets forth in +your Despatch." The Queen finds it impossible to make +such tremendous consequences dependent upon such +vague expressions. The more so, as "the spirit and +character" alluded to, appears to her to be, as if purposely, +obscure.</p> + +<p class="ind">When Lord Stratford says, that the Turks would be satisfied +"with a renewal in clear and comprehensive terms of the +formal Declarations and Treaties already existing in favour of +the Porte"—the Queen cannot understand what is meant—as +all the former Treaties between Russia and Turkey have +certainly not been in favour of the Porte. Nor is it clear to +the Queen whether "the clear and unquestionable deliverance +from Russian interference applied to spiritual matters" is +compatible with the former treaties.</p> + +<p class="ind">Whilst the Queen, therefore, perfectly agrees in the principle +that, should Russia "for its own unjustifiable objects, show +herself regardless of the best interests of Europe" by rejecting +every fair term, the time will have arrived "for adopting +measures of more active coercion against her"—she cannot +sanction such a Declaration except on terms which are so +clear in themselves as to exclude all misinterpretation.</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">SINOPE</span> + +<p class="indright">(Undated.)</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has received Lord Clarendon's letter of the 19th, +and enclosures. She approves the Draft to Vienna, and asks +to have a copy of it, together with the Despatch from Lord +Westmorland to which it refers.</p> + +<p class="ind">She also approves of the Draft to Lord Cowley, with certain +exceptions, viz., on the second page our accordance with the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.470" id="pageii.470"></a>[page 470]</span> +views of the French Government "upon the utterly unjustifiable +course that Russia has pursued," etc., is stated. If, as +the Queen must read it, this refers to the affair at Sinope,<sup>36</sup> it +is a dangerous assertion, as we have yet no authentic account +of the circumstances of the case, which would make it possible +to judge what degree of justification there might have been. +The sentence should, at any rate, be qualified by some expression +such as "as far as we know," or "should present accounts +prove correct," etc.</p> + +<p class="ind">The word "utterly" might under any circumstances be +left out, as a state of War is in itself a justification of a +battle.</p> + +<p class="ind">On page four the words "by sea" will have to be added to +make the statement precise and correct.</p> + +<p class="ind">The concluding sentence, the Queen must consider as tantamount +to a declaration of war, which, under the guarded +conditions however attached to it, she feels she cannot refuse +to sanction. It would, in the Queen's opinion, be necessary, +however, distinctly and fully to acquaint the Russian Government +with the step now agreed upon.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston's mode of proceeding always had that +advantage, that it threatened steps which it was hoped would +not become necessary, whilst those hitherto taken, started on +the principle of not needlessly offending Russia by threats, +obliging us at the same time to take the very steps which we +refused to threaten.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen has to make one more and a most <i>serious</i> observation. +The Fleet has orders now to prevent a recurrence of +such disasters as that of Sinope. This cannot mean that it +should protect the Turkish Fleet in acts of aggression upon the +Russian territory, such as an attack on Sebastopol, of which +the papers speak. This point will have to be made quite clear, +both to Lord Stratford and the Turks.</p> + +<p class="ind">The Queen would also wish to have copies of the Draft, when +corrected, of Lord Cowley's Despatch.</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 36: On the 30th of November the Russian Fleet from Sevastopol attacked the Turkish +squadron in the harbour of Sinope, a naval station in the Black Sea, and destroyed it. +The feeling in the country against Russia was greatly inflamed by the incident, which was +referred to as the "massacre of Sinope." +</p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>Memorandum by the Prince Albert.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PUBLIC FEELING</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">Windsor Castle</span>, <i>25th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen had an Audience of the Queen yesterday +afternoon. He reported that some of his colleagues, Sir C. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.471" id="pageii.471"></a>[page 471]</span> +Wood, the Duke of Newcastle, and Mr Gladstone, had been very +anxious that Lord Palmerston should be readmitted into the +Cabinet; they had had interviews with him in which he had +expressed his hope to be allowed to reconsider his step. Lady +Palmerston had been most urgent upon this point with her +husband. All the people best conversant with the House of +Commons stated that the Government had no chance of going +on with Lord Palmerston in opposition, and with the present +temper of the public, which was quite mad about the Oriental +Question and the disaster at Sinope. Even Sir W. Molesworth +shared this <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'opnion'">opinion</ins>.</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Palmerston had written a letter to Lord Aberdeen, in +which he begs to have his resignation considered as not having +taken place, as it arose entirely from a misapprehension on his +part, his having believed that none of the details of the Reform +Measure were yet open for consideration, he had quite agreed +in the principle of the Measure! Lord Aberdeen saw Lord +John and Sir J. Graham, who convinced themselves that under +the circumstances nothing else remained to be done. Lord +Aberdeen having asked Lord John whether he should tell the +Queen that it was a political <i>necessity</i>, he answered: "Yes, +owing to the shabbiness of your colleagues," to which Lord +Aberdeen rejoined: "Not shabbiness; <i>cowardice</i> is the +word."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen owns that the step must damage the Government, +although it ought to damage Lord Palmerston still more. +Lord John's expression was: "Yes, it would ruin anybody but +Palmerston."</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen thinks, however, that he can make no further +difficulties about Reform, and he, Lord John, and Graham were +determined to make no material alterations in the Bill. Graham +is suspicious lest the wish to get Palmerston in again, on +the part of a section of the Cabinet, was an intrigue to get +the Measure emasculated. Lord Aberdeen does not believe +this....</p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen describes Lord John's feeling as very good +and cordial towards him. He, Lord John, had even made him +a long speech to show his gratitude for Lord Aberdeen's +kindness to him.</p> + +<p class="author"><span class="sc">Albert.</span></p> + + +<h5 style="margin-top: 3em;"><i>The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria.</i></h5> + +<span class="rightnote">PALMERSTON RESUMES OFFICE</span> + +<p class="indright"><span class="sc">London</span>, <i>26th December 1853.</i></p> + +<p class="ind">Lord Aberdeen, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, +has the honour of enclosing copies of Lord Palmerston's letter +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii.472" id="pageii.472"></a>[page 472]</span> +to him,<sup>37</sup> and of his answer. Lord Aberdeen was not without +some apprehension of receiving a rejoinder; but instead of +which, a note arrived this morning, merely asking if a Cabinet +was likely to be summoned in the course of the week, as he was +going into the country; in fact, a note just as if nothing whatever +has taken place!</p> + + +<p class="note1" style="margin-top: 3em;">Footnote 37: Lord Palmerston wrote: "I find ... that I was mistaken in inferring from your +letter that the details of the intended Reform Bill had been finally settled by the Government, +and that no objection to any part of those details would be listened to." He went +on to say that, under the circumstances, he could not decline to comply with the wish of +many members of the Government that he should withdraw his resignation. +</p> + +<table summary="printer" align="center" style="margin-top: 10em;"> +<tr><td> +<i>Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld. London and Aylesbury.<br /> +Paper supplied by John Dickinson & Co., Ld., London.</i> +</td></tr> +</table> + + + + + +<table align="center" summary="note" width="560px" style="margin-top: 10em;"> +<tr><td class="note"><a name="tntag" id="tntag"></a> +<h4><a class="footnote" href="#tn">Transcriber's Note:</a></h4> +<p> +This is the second volume of three. </p> +<p style="margin-top:-1em;">The index is in Volume III, with links to all +three volumes; and some footnotes are linked between volumes.</p> + +<p style="margin-top:-1em;">These links are designed to work when +the book is read on line. However, if you want to download all +three volumes and have the links work on your own computer, +then follow these directions carefully. +</p> + +<p> +1. 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There are a few spelt as 'Mr.', with the period. These +have been left as they appeared in the original book.</p> + + +<h6>Russian Dates.</h6> +<p> +The difference between the Russian Calendar and the Calendar used in +Western Europe was 12 days...22nd March 1848, in Great Britain and +Western Europe, was 3rd April in Russia; 8th April 1853, in Great +Britain and Western Europe, was 20th April in Russia, etc.</p> + +<h6>General Note: consistency</h6> +<p>There are some differences in personal spelling, and the use or non-use of hyphens and accents, from one year to another; the original has always been retained.</p> + +<h5>Errata - old typos:</h5> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors have been repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections.</p> +<p style="margin-top:-1em;">Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> + + + +</td></tr></table> + + + + + +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Letters of Queen Victoria, Vol 2 +(of 3), 1844-1853, by Queen Victoria + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS--QUEEN VICTORIA, 1844-1853 *** + +***** This file should be named 24780-h.htm or 24780-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/7/8/24780/ + +Produced by Paul Murray, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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