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Title: The Letters of Queen Victoria, Volume 1 (of 3), 1837-1843)
       A Selection from Her Majesty's Correspondence Between the
       Years 1837 and 1861

Author: Queen Victoria

Editor: Arthur Christopher Benson and Viscount Esher

Release Date: December 5, 2006 [EBook #20023]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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

       *       *       *       *       *

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

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

_Frontispiece, Vol. I._]




THE LETTERS OF
QUEEN VICTORIA

A SELECTION FROM HER MAJESTY'S
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE YEARS
1837 AND 1861


PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF
HIS MAJESTY THE KING


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


IN THREE VOLUMES


VOL. I.--1837-1843


LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1908

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

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

_All rights reserved._




PREFACE


Entrusted by His Majesty the King with the duty of making a selection
from Queen Victoria's correspondence, we think it well to describe
briefly the nature of the documents which we have been privileged to
examine, as well as to indicate the principles which have guided us
throughout. It has been a task of no ordinary difficulty. Her Majesty
Queen Victoria dealt with her papers, from the first, in a most
methodical manner; she formed the habit in early days of preserving
her private letters, and after her accession to the Throne all her
official papers were similarly treated, and bound in volumes. The
Prince Consort instituted an elaborate system of classification,
annotating and even indexing many of the documents with his own hand.
The result is that the collected papers form what is probably the most
extraordinary series of State documents in the world. The papers which
deal with the Queen's life up to the year 1861 have been bound
in chronological order, and comprise between five and six hundred
volumes. They consist, in great part, of letters from Ministers
detailing the proceedings of Parliament, and of various political
memoranda dealing with home, foreign, and colonial policy; among these
are a few drafts of Her Majesty's replies. There are volumes concerned
with the affairs of almost every European country; with the history
of India, the British Army, the Civil List, the Royal Estates, and all
the complicated machinery of the Monarchy and the Constitution. There
are letters from monarchs and royal personages, and there is further
a whole series of volumes dealing with matters in which the
Prince Consort took a special interest. Some of them are arranged
chronologically, some by subjects. Among the most interesting volumes
are those containing the letters written by Her Majesty to her uncle
Leopold, King of the Belgians, and his replies.[1] The collection
of letters from and to Lord Melbourne forms another hardly less
interesting series. In many places Queen Victoria caused extracts,
copied from her own private Diaries, dealing with important political
events or describing momentous interviews, to be inserted in the
volumes, with the evident intention of illustrating and completing the
record.

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

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

His Majesty the King having decided that no attempt should be made to
publish these papers _in extenso_, it was necessary to determine upon
some definite principle of selection. It became clear that the only
satisfactory plan was to publish specimens of such documents as
would serve to bring out the development of the Queen's character and
disposition, and to give typical instances of her methods in dealing
with political and social matters--to produce, in fact, a book for
British citizens and British subjects, rather than a book for
students of political history. That the inner working of the unwritten
constitution of the country; that some of the unrealised checks and
balances; that the delicate equipoise of the component parts of our
executive machinery, should stand revealed, was inevitable. We have
thought it best, throughout, to abstain from unnecessary comment and
illustration. The period is so recent, and has been so often traversed
by historians and biographers, that it appeared to us a waste of
valuable space to attempt to reconstruct the history of the years
from which this correspondence has been selected, especially as Sir
Theodore Martin, under the auspices of the Queen herself, has dealt so
minutely and exhaustively with the relations of the Queen's innermost
circle to the political and social life of the time. It is tempting,
of course, to add illustrative anecdotes from the abundant Biographies
and Memoirs of the period; but our aim has been to infringe as little
as possible upon the space available for the documents themselves,
and to provide just sufficient comment to enable an ordinary reader,
without special knowledge of the period, to follow the course of
events, and to realise the circumstances under which the Queen's
childhood was passed, the position of affairs at the time of her
accession, and the personalities of those who had influenced her in
early years, or by whom she was surrounded.

The development of the Queen's character is clearly indicated in the
papers, and it possesses an extraordinary interest. We see one of
highly vigorous and active temperament, of strong affections, and with
a deep sense of responsibility, placed at an early age, and after a
quiet girlhood, in a position the greatness of which it is impossible
to exaggerate. We see her character expand and deepen, schooled by
mighty experience into patience and sagacity and wisdom, and yet never
losing a particle of the strength, the decision, and the devotion with
which she had been originally endowed. Up to the year 1861 the
Queen's career was one of unexampled prosperity. She was happy in her
temperament, in her health, in her education, in her wedded life, in
her children. She saw a great Empire grow through troubled times in
liberty and power and greatness; yet this prosperity brought with it
no shadow of complacency, because the Queen felt with an increasing
depth the anxieties and responsibilities inseparable from her great
position. Her happiness, instead of making her self-absorbed, only
quickened her beneficence and her womanly desire that her subjects
should be enabled to enjoy a similar happiness based upon the same
simple virtues. Nothing comes out more strongly in these documents
than the laborious patience with which the Queen kept herself informed
of the minutest details of political and social movements both in her
own and other countries.

It is a deeply inspiring spectacle to see one surrounded by every
temptation which worldly greatness can present, living from day to
day so simple, vivid, and laborious a life; and it is impossible to
conceive a more fruitful example of duty and affection and energy,
displayed on so august a scale, and in the midst of such magnificent
surroundings. We would venture to believe that nothing could so deepen
the personal devotion of the Empire to the memory of that great Queen
who ruled it so wisely and so long, and its deeply-rooted attachment
to the principle of constitutional monarchy, as the gracious act of
His Majesty the King in allowing the inner side of that noble life and
career to be more clearly revealed to a nation whose devotion to their
ancient liberties is inseparably connected with their loyalty to the
Throne.




EDITORIAL NOTE


Our special thanks, for aid in the preparation of these volumes, are
due to Viscount Morley of Blackburn, who has read and criticised
the book in its final form; to Mr J. W. Headlam, of the Board of
Education, and formerly Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, for much
valuable assistance in preparing the prefatory historical memoranda;
to Mr W. F. Reddaway, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, for
revision and advice throughout, in connection with the introductions
and annotations; to Lord Knollys, for criticism of selected materials;
to Lord Stanmore, for the loan of valuable documents; to Dr Eugene
Oswald, for assistance in translation; to Mr C. C. Perry and M. G.
Hua, for verification of French and German documents; to Miss Bertha
Williams, for unremitting care and diligence in preparing the volumes
for press; to Mr John Murray, our publisher, for his unfailing
patience and helpfulness; and especially to Mr Hugh Childers, for
his ungrudging help in the preparation of the Introductory annual
summaries, and in the political and historical annotation, as well as
for his invaluable co-operation at every stage of the work.




TABLE OF CONTENTS


CHAPTER I

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

CHAPTER II

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


CHAPTER III

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


CHAPTER IV
1821-1835

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


CHAPTER V
1836

Visit of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg--Invitation to the Prince of
Orange--Arrival of Princes Ernest and Albert--The Princess's
appreciation of Prince Albert--King Leopold's advice as to
conversation--Crisis in Spain--Farewell letter--The Princess and the
Church--Death of Charles X.--Abuse of King Leopold--Revolution at
Lisbon--The Princess's name--Newspaper attacks on King Leopold
(pages 43-55)


CHAPTER VI
1837

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


CHAPTER VII
1838

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


CHAPTER VIII
1839

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


CHAPTER IX
1840

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

CHAPTER X
1841

Letter to King Leopold--The Prince and literature--The speech from the
throne--Domestic happiness--Duke of Wellington's illness--England and
the United States--Operations in China--Lord Cardigan--Army discipline
--The Nottingham election--The Budget--Irish Registration Bill--Sugar
duties--Ministerial crisis--Lord Melbourne's advice--Dissolution or
resignation--The Household question--Sir Robert Peel--Mr Anson's
intervention--Interview with Lord Melbourne--King Leopold's sympathy
--The Corn Laws--The Queen's journal--The Prince's support--Further
interviews--Resignation postponed--The Queen and the Church--King
Leopold's advice--The Queen's impartiality--Difficulties removed--Vote
of want of confidence--The country quiet--King Leopold's views--Fiscal
Policy--Marriage of Lord John Russell--Visit to Nuneham--Archbishop
Harcourt--The Prince visits Oxford--Letter from Lord Brougham--Visit
to Woburn Abbey--Lord Melbourne and the Garter--A dreaded moment
--Debate on the Speech--Overwhelming majority--Resignation--New
arrangements--Parting with Lord Melbourne--The Prince in a new
position--The Queen and Sir Robert Peel--Lord Melbourne's opinion of
the Prince--The Household question--New Cabinet--Lord Melbourne's
official farewell--Sir Robert Peel's reception--New appointments
--Council at Claremont--The Lord Chamberlain's department--The French
ambassador--Confidential communications--The diplomatic corps
--Governor-General of Canada--India and Afghanistan--Lord Ellenborough
--Russia and Central Asia--Indian finances--The Spanish mission
--Correspondence with Lord Melbourne--Fine Arts Commission--Peers and
audiences--Lord Radnor's claim--The Chinese campaign--English and
foreign artists--Lord Melbourne and the Court--The Queen and her
Government--Baron Stockmar's opinion--Lord Melbourne's influence
--Baron Stockmar and Sir Robert Peel--Professor Whewell--Queen
Christina--Queen Isabella--French influence in Spain--Holland and
Belgium--Dispute with United States--Portugal--The English
Constitution--The "Prime Minister"--The "Secretaries of State"--Baron
Stockmar expostulates with Lord Melbourne--Birth of Heir-apparent
--Created Prince of Wales--The Royal children (pages 253-369)


CHAPTER XI
1842

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


CHAPTER XII
1843

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




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


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

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

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

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

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

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

       *       *       *       *       *




CHAPTER I

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


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


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

The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, to which the Queen belonged on her
mother's side, and with which she was to be even more intimately
connected by her marriage, was one of the numerous branches into which
the ancient and celebrated House of Wettin had broken up. Since the
11th century they had ruled over Meissen and the adjoining districts.
To these had been added Upper Saxony and Thuringia. In the 15th
century the whole possessions of the House had been divided between
the two great branches which still exist. The Albertine branch
retained Meissen and the Saxon possessions. They held the title of
Elector, which in 1806 was exchanged for the title of King. Though
the Saxon House had been the chief protectors of the Reformation,
Frederick Augustus I. had, on being elected to the throne of Poland,
become a Roman Catholic; and thereby the connection between the two
branches of the House had to a great extent ceased. The second line,
that of the Ernestines, ruled over Thuringia, but, according to the
common German custom, had again broken up into numerous branches,
among which the Duchies of Thuringia were parcelled out. At the time
of the Queen's birth there were five of these, viz., Gotha-Altenburg,
Coburg-Saalfeld, Weimar-Eisenach, Meiningen, and Hildburghausen. On
the extinction of the Gotha line, in 1825, there was a rearrangement
of the family property, by which the Duke of Hildburghausen received
Altenburg, Gotha was given to the Duke of Coburg, and Saalfeld with
Hildburghausen added to Meiningen. These four lines still exist.

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

It was owing to this territorial sub-division and lack of cohesion
that these princes could not attach to their independence the
same political importance that fell to the share of the larger
principalities, such as Hanover and Bavaria, and they were
consequently more ready than the other German princes to welcome
proposals which would lead to a unification of Germany.

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


[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF COBURG]

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

By the first marriage of the Duchess of Kent, the Queen was also
connected with a third class of German princes--the Mediatised, as
those were called who during the revolution had lost their sovereign
power. Many of these were of as ancient lineage and had possessed as
large estates as some of the regnant princes, who, though not always
more deserving, had been fortunate enough to retain their privileges,
and had emerged from the revolution ranking among the ruling Houses of
Europe. The mediatised princes, though they had ceased to rule, still
held important privileges, which were guaranteed at the Congress
of Vienna. First, and most important, they were reckoned as
"_ebenburtig_," which means that they could contract equal marriages
with the Royal Houses, and these marriages were recognised as valid
for the transmission of rights of inheritance. Many of them had vast
private estates, and though they were subjected to the sovereignty of
the princes in whose dominions these lay, they enjoyed very important
privileges, such as exemption from military service, and from
many forms of taxation; they also could exercise minor forms of
jurisdiction. They formed, therefore, an intermediate class. Since
Germany, as a whole, afforded them no proper sphere of political
activity, the more ambitious did not disdain to take service with
Austria or Prussia, and, to a less extent, even with the smaller
States. It was possible, therefore, for the Queen's mother, a Princess
of Saxe-Coburg, to marry the Prince of Leiningen without losing caste.
Her daughter, the Princess Feodore, the Queen's half-sister, married
Ernest, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and thus established an
interesting connection with perhaps the most widely-spread and most
distinguished of all these families. The House of Hohenlohe would
probably still have been a reigning family, had not the Prince of
Hohenlohe preferred to fight in the Prussian army against Napoleon,
rather than receive gifts from him. His lands were consequently
confiscated and passed to other princes who were less scrupulous.
The family has given two Ministers President to Prussia, a General in
chief command of the Prussian army, a Chancellor to the German Empire,
and one of the most distinguished of modern military writers. They
held, besides their extensive possessions in Würtemberg and Bavaria,
the County of Gleichen in Saxe-Coburg.


[Pageheading: FAMILY CONNECTIONS]

It will be seen therefore that the Queen was intimately connected with
all classes that are to be found among the ruling families of Germany,
though naturally with the Catholic families, which looked to Austria
and Bavaria for guidance, she had no close ties. But it must be borne
in mind that her connection with Germany always remained a personal
and family matter, and not a political one; this was the fortunate
result of the predominance of the Coburg influence. Had that of the
House of Hanover been supreme, it could hardly have been possible
for the Queen not to have been drawn into the opposition to the
unification of Germany by Prussia, in which the House of Hanover was
bound to take a leading part, in virtue of its position, wealth, and
dignity.

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

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

The Duchess's third brother, Leopold (afterwards King of the
Belgians), married first the Princess Charlotte, daughter of George
IV., and afterwards the Princess Louise Marie, eldest daughter of
King Louis Philippe. Prince Augustus (son of Ferdinand, the Duchess
of Kent's brother) married another daughter of Louis Philippe, the
Princess Clémentine, while Prince Augustus's sister, Victoria, married
the Duc de Nemours, a son of Louis Philippe. Another nephew, Duke
Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander, son of the Duchess of Würtemberg, married
the Princess Marie, another daughter of Louis Philippe.

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

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


[Pageheading: THE ENGLISH ROYAL FAMILY]

It must be borne in mind that abstention from active political life
had been in no sense required, or even thought desirable, in members
of the Royal House. George III. himself had waged a life-long struggle
with the Whig party, that powerful oligarchy that since the accession
of the House of Hanover had virtually ruled the country; but he did
not carry on the conflict so much by encouraging the opponents of the
Whigs, as by placing himself at the head of a monarchical faction. He
was in fact the leader of a third party in the State. George IV. was
at first a strong Whig, and lived on terms of the greatest intimacy
with Charles James Fox; but by the time that he was thirty, he had
severed the connection with his former political friends, which had
indeed originally arisen more out of his personal opposition to his
father than from any political convictions. After this date he became,
with intervals of vacillation, an advanced Tory of an illiberal
type. William IV. had lived so much aloof from politics before his
accession, that he had had then no very pronounced opinions, though he
was believed to be in favour of the Reform Bill; during his reign his
Tory sympathies became more pronounced, and the position of the Whig
Ministry was almost an intolerable one. His other brothers were men
of decided views, and for the most part of high social gifts. They not
only attended debates in the House of Peers, but spoke with emotion
and vigour; they held political interviews with leading statesmen, and
considered themselves entitled, not to over-rule political movements,
but to take the part in them to which their strong convictions
prompted them. They were particularly prominent in the debates on the
Catholic question, and did not hesitate to express their views with an
energy that was often embarrassing. The Duke of York and the Duke of
Cumberland had used all their influence to encourage the King in his
opposition to Catholic Emancipation, while the Duke of Cambridge had
supported that policy, and the Duke of Sussex had spoken in the House
of Lords in favour of it. The Duke of York, a kindly, generous man,
had held important commands in the earlier part of the Revolutionary
war; he had not shown tactical nor strategical ability, but he was for
many years Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and did good administrative
work in initiating and carrying out much-needed military reforms. He
had married a Prussian princess, but left no issue, and his death,
in 1827, left the succession open to his younger brother, the Duke of
Clarence, afterwards King William IV., and after him to the Princess
Victoria.


[Pageheading: THE ROYAL DUKES]

The Duke of Kent was, as we shall have occasion to show, a strong Whig
with philanthropic views. But the ablest of the princes, though also
the most unpopular, was the Duke of Cumberland, who, until the birth
of the Queen's first child, was heir presumptive to the Throne. He had
been one of the most active members of the ultra-Tory party, who had
opposed to the last the Emancipation of the Catholics and the Reform
Bill. He had married a sister-in-law of the King of Prussia, and lived
much in Berlin, where he was intimate with the leaders of the military
party, who were the centre of reactionary influences in that
country, chief among them being his brother-in-law, Prince Charles of
Mecklenburg.

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

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

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

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

The Duke of Cambridge was a moderate Tory, and the most conciliatory
of all the princes. But for more than twenty years he took little part
in English politics, as he was occupied with his duties as Regent of
Hanover, where he did much by prudent reforms to retain the allegiance
of the Hanoverians. On his return to England he resumed the position
of a peacemaker, supporting philanthropic movements, and being a
generous patron of art and letters. He was recognised as "emphatically
the connecting link between the Crown and the people." Another member
of the Royal Family was the Duke of Gloucester, nephew and son-in-law
of George III.; he was more interested in philanthropic movements than
in politics, but was a moderate Conservative, who favoured Catholic
Emancipation but was opposed to Parliamentary Reform.

Thus we have the spectacle of seven Royal princes, of whom two
succeeded to the Throne, all or nearly all avowed politicians of
decided convictions, throwing the weight of their influence and
social position for the most part on the side of the Tory party,
and believing it to be rather their duty to hold and express strong
political opinions than to adopt the moderating and conciliatory
attitude in matters of government that is now understood to be the
true function of the Royal House.


[Pageheading: INDEPENDENCE OF THE QUEEN]

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

This was partly due to the fact that from an early age she had imbibed
a respect for liberal views from her uncle Leopold, King of the
Belgians, to whom she was devoted from her earliest childhood, and for
whom she entertained feelings of the deepest admiration, affection,
and confidence; but still more was it due to the fact that, from the
very first, the Queen instinctively formed an independent judgment
on any question that concerned her; and though she was undoubtedly
influenced in her decisions by her affectionate reliance on her chosen
advisers, yet those advisers were always deliberately and shrewdly
selected, and their opinions were in no case allowed to do more than
modify her own penetrating and clear-sighted judgment.




CHAPTER II

MEMOIR OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S EARLY YEARS


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

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

He was a man of advanced Liberal ideas. He had spoken in the House
of Lords in favour of Catholic Emancipation, and had shown himself
interested in the abolition of slavery and in popular education. His
tastes were literary, and towards the end of his life he had even
manifested a strong sympathy for socialistic theories.

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


[Pageheading: THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT]

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

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

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

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

The Duchess of Kent was an affectionate, impulsive woman, with more
emotional sympathy than practical wisdom in worldly matters. But her
claim on the gratitude of the British nation is that she brought up
her illustrious daughter in habits of simplicity, self-sacrifice, and
obedience.

As a testimony to the sincere appreciation entertained by the
politicians of the time for the way in which the Duchess of Kent had
appreciated her responsibilities with regard to the education of a
probable heir to the Crown of England, we may quote a few sentences
from two speeches made in the House of Commons, in the debate
which took place (27th May 1825) on the question of increasing the
Parliamentary annuity paid to the Duchess, in order to provide duly
for the education of the young Princess.

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

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

Mr Canning said:

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


[Pageheading: EARLY REMINISCENCES]

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

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


[Pageheading: EARLY REMINISCENCES]

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

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

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


[Pageheading: GEORGE IV.]

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

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

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

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

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

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


[Pageheading: DUCHESS OF SAXE-COBURG-SAALFELD]

"In 1826 (I think) my dear Grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, came to Claremont, in the summer. Mamma and my
sister went on part of the way to meet her, and Uncle Leopold I think
had been to fetch her as far as Dover. I recollect the excitement and
anxiety I was in, at this event,--going down the great flight of steps
to meet her when she got out of the carriage, and hearing her say,
when she sat down in her room, and fixed her fine clear blue eyes on
her little grand-daughter whom she called in her letters 'the flower
of May,' 'Ein schönes Kind'--'a fine child.' She was very clever and
adored by her children but especially by her sons. She was a good deal
bent and walked with a stick, and frequently with her hands on her
back. She took long drives in an open carriage and I was frequently
sent out with her, which I am sorry to confess I did not like, as,
like most children of that age, I preferred running about. She was
excessively kind to children, but could not bear naughty ones--and I
shall never forget her coming into the room when I had been crying and
naughty at my lessons--from the next room but one, where she had
been with Mamma--and scolding me severely, which had a very salutary
effect. She dined early in the afternoon and Uncle Leopold asked many
of the neighbours and others to dinner to meet her. My brother Prince
Leiningen came over with her, and was at that time paying his court
to one of her ladies, Countess Klebelsberg, whom he afterwards
married--against the wish of his grandmother and mother--but which was
afterwards quite made up. In November (I think, or it may have been
at the end of October) she left, taking my sister with her back to
Coburg. I was very ill at that time, of dysentery, which illness
increased to an alarming degree; many children died of it in the
village of Esher. The Doctor lost his head, having lost his own child
from it, and almost every doctor in London was away. Mr Blagden came
down and showed much energy on the occasion. I recovered, and remember
well being very cross and screaming dreadfully at having to wear, for
a time, flannel next my skin. Up to my 5th year I had been very much
indulged by every one, and set pretty well _all_ at defiance. Old
Baroness de Späth, the devoted Lady of my Mother, my Nurse Mrs Brock,
dear old Mrs Louis--_all_ worshipped the poor little fatherless child
whose future then was still very uncertain; my Uncle the Duke of
Clarence's poor little child being alive, and the Duchess of Clarence
had one or two others later. At 5 years old, Miss Lehzen was placed
about me, and though she was most kind, she was very firm and I had
a proper respect for her. I was naturally very passionate, but always
most contrite afterwards. I was taught from the first to beg my maid's
pardon for any naughtiness or rudeness towards her; a feeling I have
ever retained, and think every one should _own_ their fault in a kind
way to any one, be he or she the lowest--if one has been rude to or
injured them by word or deed, especially those below you. People will
readily forget an insult or an injury when others _own_ their fault,
and express sorrow or regret at what they have done."


[Pageheading: THE EDUCATION OF THE PRINCESS]

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


[Pageheading: LETTER TO THE BISHOPS]

[Pageheading: RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION]

The Duchess therefore brought the matter under the consideration
of those whom, from their eminent piety, great learning, and high
station, she considered best calculated to afford her valuable advice
upon so important a subject. She stated to the Bishops of London
and Lincoln[3] the particular course which had been followed in the
Princess's education, and requested their Lordships to test the
result by personal examination. The nature and objects of Her Royal
Highness's appeal to these eminent prelates will be best shown by the
following extracts from her letter to the Bishops:--

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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


[Pageheading: RESULT OF EXAMINATION]

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

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

    [Footnote 5: Dr William Howley.]

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

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


[Pageheading: CLAREMONT]

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

"Many, many thanks, dearest Victoria, for your kind letter of the
7th from dear Claremont. Oh I understand how you like being there.
Claremont is a dear quiet place; to me also the recollection of the
few pleasant days I spent during my youth. I always left Claremont
with tears for Kensington Palace. When I look back upon those years,
which ought to have been the happiest in my life, from fourteen
to twenty, I cannot help pitying myself. Not to have enjoyed the
pleasures of youth is nothing, but to have been deprived of all
intercourse, and not one cheerful thought in that dismal existence of
ours, was very hard. My only happy time was going or driving out with
you and Lehzen; then I could speak and look as I liked. I escaped
some years of imprisonment, which you, my poor darling sister, had
to endure after I was married. But God Almighty has changed both
our destinies most mercifully, and has made us _so_ happy in our
homes--which is the only real happiness in this life; and those years
of trial were, I am sure, very useful to us both, though certainly not
pleasant. Thank God they are over!... I was much amused in your last
letter at your tracing the _quickness_ of our tempers in the female
line up to Grandmamma,[6] but I must own that you are _quite right_!"

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

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

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

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


[Pageheading: WILLIAM IV.]

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

In June 1830 George IV. died, and William IV. succeeded to the Throne.
He had no legitimate offspring living; and it consequently became
practically certain that if the Princess outlived her uncle she would
succeed him on the Throne. The Duchess of Kent's Parliamentary Grant
was increased, and she took advantage of her improved resources to
familiarise the Princess with the social life of the nation. They paid
visits to historic houses and important towns, and received addresses.
This was a wise and prudent course, but the King spoke with ill-humour
of his niece's "royal progresses." The chief cause of offence was that
the Princess was not allowed by the Duchess of Kent to make her public
appearances under his own auspices, as he not unnaturally desired.
He also began to suspect that the Princess was deliberately kept
away from Court; a painful controversy arose, and the Duchess
became gradually estranged from her brother-in-law, in spite of the
affectionate attempts of Queen Adelaide to smooth matters over. His
resentment culminated in a painful scene, in 1836, when the King, at
a State banquet at Windsor, made a speech of a preposterous character;
speaking of the Duchess, who sat next him, as "that person," hinting
that she was surrounded with evil advisers, and adding that he should
insist on the Princess being more at Court. The Princess burst into
tears; the Duchess sate in silence: when the banquet was over, the
Duchess ordered her carriage, and was with difficulty prevailed upon
to remain at Windsor for the night. The King went so far in May 1837
as to offer the Princess an independent income, and the acceptance of
this by the Princess caused the Duchess considerable vexation; but the
project dropped. The King died in the following month, soon after the
Princess had attained her legal majority; he had always hoped that the
Duchess would not be Regent, and his wish was thus fulfilled.

It is no exaggeration to say that the accession of the Princess
Victoria reinstated the English monarchy in the affections of the
people. George IV. had made the Throne unpopular; William IV. had
restored its popularity, but not its dignity. Both of these kings were
men of decided ability, but of unbalanced temperament. In politics
both kings had followed a somewhat similar course. George IV. had
begun life as a strong Whig, and had been a close friend of Fox. Later
in life his political position resolved itself into a strong dislike
of Roman Catholic Relief. William IV. had begun his reign favourably
inclined to Parliamentary Reform; but though gratified by the personal
popularity which his attitude brought him in the country, he became
alarmed at the national temper displayed. It illustrates the tension
of the King's mind on the subject that, when he was told that if the
Reform Bill did not pass it would bring about a rebellion, he replied
that if it did bring about a rebellion he did not care: he should
defend London and raise the Royal Standard at Weedon (where there
was a military depôt); and that the Duchess of Kent and the Princess
Victoria might come in if they could.


[Pageheading: CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT]

[Pageheading: SYMPATHY WITH MIDDLE CLASSES]

The reign of William IV. had witnessed the zenith of Whig efficiency.
It had seen the establishment of Parliamentary and Municipal Reform,
the Abolition of Slavery, the new Poor Law, and other important
measures. But, towards the end of the reign, the Whig party began
steadily to lose ground, and the Tories to consolidate themselves.
Lord Melbourne had succeeded Lord Grey at the head of the Whigs, and
the difference of administration was becoming every month more and
more apparent. The King indeed went so far as abruptly to dismiss his
Ministers, but Parliament was too strong for him. Lord Melbourne's
principles were fully as liberal as Lord Grey's, but he lacked
practical initiative, with the result that the Whigs gradually
forfeited popular estimation and became discredited. The new reign,
however, brought them a decided increase of strength. The Princess had
been brought up with strong Whig leanings, and, as is clear from
her letters, with an equally strong mistrust of Tory principles and
politicians.

A word may here be given to the Princess's own character and
temperament. She was high-spirited and wilful, but devotedly
affectionate, and almost typically feminine. She had a strong sense
of duty and dignity, and strong personal prejudices. Confident, in a
sense, as she was, she had the feminine instinct strongly developed of
dependence upon some manly adviser. She was full of high spirits, and
enjoyed excitement and life to the full. She liked the stir of London,
was fond of dancing, of concerts, plays, and operas, and devoted to
open-air exercise. Another important trait in her character must be
noted. She had strong monarchical views and dynastic sympathies,
but she had no aristocratic preferences; at the same time she had no
democratic principles, but believed firmly in the due subordination
of classes. The result of the parliamentary and municipal reforms of
William IV.'s reign had been to give the middle classes a share in
the government of the country, and it was supremely fortunate that the
Queen, by a providential gift of temperament, thoroughly understood
the middle-class point of view. The two qualities that are most
characteristic of British middle-class life are common sense and
family affection; and on these particular virtues the Queen's
character was based; so that by a happy intuition she was able to
interpret and express the spirit and temper of that class which,
throughout her reign, was destined to hold the balance of political
power in its hands. Behind lay a deep sense of religion, the religion
which centres in the belief in the Fatherhood of God, and is impatient
of dogmatic distinctions and subtleties.




CHAPTER III

QUEEN VICTORIA'S RELATIONS AND FRIENDS


It may be held to have been one of the chief blessings of Queen
Victoria's girlhood that she was brought closely under the influence
of an enlightened and large-minded Prince, Leopold, her maternal
uncle, afterwards King of the Belgians. He was born in 1790, being the
youngest son of Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and his youth
was spent in the Russian military service. He had shown talent and
courage in the field, and had commanded a battalion at Lützen and
Leipsic. He had married, in 1816, the Princess Charlotte, only child
of George IV. For many years his home was at Claremont, where the
Princess Charlotte had died; there the Princess Victoria spent many
happy holidays, and grew to regard her uncle with the most devoted
affection, almost, indeed, in the light of a father. It is said that
Prince Leopold had hoped to be named Regent, if a Regency should be
necessary.[1] He was offered, and accepted, the throne of Greece in
1830, but shrank from the difficulties of the position, and withdrew
his acceptance upon the plea that Lord Aberdeen, who was then Foreign
Secretary, was not prepared to make such financial arrangements as he
considered satisfactory.[2]

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

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

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


[Pageheading: THE KING OF THE BELGIANS]

In 1831, when Louis Philippe, under pressure from Lord Palmerston,
declined the throne of Belgium for his son the Duc de Nemours, Prince
Leopold received and accepted an offer of the Crown. A Dutch invasion
followed, and the new King showed great courage and gallantry in an
engagement near Louvain, in which his army was hopelessly outnumbered.
But, though a sensitive man, the King's high courage and hopefulness
never deserted him. He ruled his country with diligence, ability, and
wisdom, and devoted himself to encouraging manufactures and commerce.
The result of his firm and liberal rule was manifested in 1848, when,
on his offering to resign the Crown if it was thought to be for
the best interests of the country, he was entreated, with universal
acclamation, to retain the sovereignty. Belgium passed through the
troubled years of revolution in comparative tranquillity. King Leopold
was a model ruler; his deportment was grave and serious; he was
conspicuous for honesty and integrity; he was laborious and upright,
and at the same time conciliatory and tactful.

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

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


[Pageheading: QUEEN ADELAIDE]

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

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

It is a pathetic instance of the irony of fate that Queen Adelaide
should have thus been supposed to desire to take an active part in
politics. It is obvious, from her letters, that she had practically
no political views at all, except a gentle distrust of all proposed
changes, social or political. Her one idea of her position as Queen
was to agree with any expression of opinion that fell from the King.
She was fond of music, and took a deep interest in her religious
duties and in all that concerned the welfare of the Protestant
communion. But apart from this, her interests were entirely domestic
and personal, and her letters reveal her character in the most
amiable light. Her devotion to the King, and the tender and respectful
diffidence with which she welcomed her niece to the Throne, show a
very sweet nature.

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


[Pageheading: BARONESS LEHZEN]

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


[Pageheading: BARON STOCKMAR]

Baron Stockmar was another of the interesting personalities who came
into very close contact with the Queen in her early years. He was
forty-nine at the time of the accession, but he had come to England
more than twenty years before as private physician to Prince Leopold.
He endeared himself to the Princess Charlotte, who died holding his
hand. He afterwards became Prince Leopold's private secretary, and
took a prominent part as the Prince's representative in the successive
negotiations with regard to his candidature for the thrones of Greece
and Belgium. Upon the accession of Queen Victoria, Stockmar joined
the Court in a private capacity, and for fifteen months he held an
unofficial position as her chief adviser. There was a general feeling
of dislike in the minds of the English public to the German influences
that were supposed to be brought to bear on the Queen; and Lord
Melbourne found it necessary to make a public and categorical denial
of the statement that Stockmar was acting as the Queen's private
secretary. But the statement, if not technically, was virtually
true. Stockmar lived at Court, had interviews with the Queen and her
Ministers, and though he industriously endeavoured to efface himself,
yet there is no doubt that he was consulted on most important
questions. In 1838, he had been entrusted by King Leopold, with the
Queen's knowledge and consent, with a mission of great delicacy: he
was asked to accompany Prince Albert on a tour in Italy, with the idea
of completing his education, and in order to satisfy himself that
the Prince would be a worthy Consort for the Queen. This task he
discharged admirably, and became the most confidential and trusted of
all the Prince's friends. There are many letters of Stockmar's to the
Prince extant, which prove that Stockmar never shrank from speaking
the plainest truth to the Prince on matters of duty and faults of
temperament, without any courtier-like attempt to blink criticism
that might have been unpalatable. The Prince had the generosity and
humility to value this trait of Stockmar's very highly, to such an
extent that Stockmar's influence possessed if anything too great a
preponderance. Stockmar had jealously nursed two profound political
ideals--the unity of Germany under Prussia, and the establishment of
close relations between Germany and England. He induced Prince Albert,
heavily burdened as he was with work, to devote almost too much time
and thought to the former of these aims. Stockmar was a profound
student of social and constitutional questions. He had made a close
study of English political institutions; but though he grasped the
constitutional theory of the English Throne, and saw that the first
necessity for the Sovereign was to hold a position independent of
party, he never clearly understood that the Monarch should keep as
far as possible clear of political details. Stockmar's view of the
position was that the Sovereign should be practically Premier as well;
and much of the jealousy that was felt, on various occasions, at
the position which Prince Albert assumed with regard to political
situations, is referable to Stockmar's influence.

He was a very able man, with immense political knowledge, and without
personal ambition; Lord Palmerston, who was no friend to Stockmar's
theory of government, admitted that he was the most disinterested man
he had ever encountered. Stockmar's ambition was to achieve his
own political ideals, and to modify the course of events in what he
conceived to be beneficial directions; he was entirely indifferent
to the trappings of power, and this very disinterestedness made his
influence more supreme.

He suffered all his life from feeble health and a hypochondriacal
tendency, and was genuinely fond of retirement and quiet life. He
certainly deserved the devoted confidence reposed in him by Prince
Albert and the Queen; it may perhaps be questioned whether his own
_doctrinaire_ bias did not make itself too strongly felt, in the
minuteness with which Prince Albert dealt with English politics; but
the net result of his influence was that the danger, which lies in
wait for strictly constitutional Sovereigns, was averted--the danger,
that is, of leaving the administration of State affairs in the hands
of specialists, and depriving it of the wise control and independent
criticism which only the Crown can adequately supply.




INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER IV


Queen Victoria, from the very first, took great pleasure in filing
the correspondence addressed to her. There are many volumes of letters
received from her various relations. We have thought it best to give
some of Queen Adelaide's early letters; they indicate in a remarkable
manner the growing estrangement between King William IV. and the
Duchess of Kent. In the earlier letters the King enquires very
affectionately after the Duchess, and constant mention is made of
presents sent to her; but the references made to her become less
frequent and colder, till at last the King contents himself with
sending messages only to the Princess. But the letters of Queen
Adelaide are always written in a strain of touching devotion and
affection, and reveal her as a woman of large heart and great
simplicity of character.


[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD]

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

The letters which the Queen wrote to King Leopold are of extraordinary
interest; she kept up an unbroken correspondence with him, and spoke
freely of all that was in her mind. Two points are worthy of special
mention: though she was early convinced of the necessity of holding an
independent constitutional position in politics she mentions the Tory
party with undisguised mistrust; and further, the name of King William
hardly ever occurs until his last illness.

King Leopold's early letters reveal his character in the most amiable
light. He familiarised the Queen with all the complicated details of
foreign politics; he gave her the most sensible and wise advice; he
warned and encouraged her; he answered her enquiries with the minutest
care: and the warm affection to which he gave frequent expression is a
very sacred and beautiful thing to contemplate.

We have selected several of the Princess Victoria's letters to the
King of the Belgians before her accession, because they throw a
remarkable light upon her temperament. In the first place, they reveal
the deep affectionateness of her character, and, what is still more
remarkable at her age, her frankness and outspokenness in expressing
her feelings.

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

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

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

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

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


[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT]

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

A close study of the Queen's correspondence reveals the character of
the Prince in a way which nothing else could effect. Traces of
his untiring labour, his conscientious vigilance, his singular
devotedness, appear on every page. There are innumerable memoranda in
his own hand; the papers are throughout arranged and annotated by him;
nothing seems to have escaped him, nothing to have dismayed him. As
an instance of the minute laboriousness which characterised the Royal
household, it may be mentioned that there are many copies of important
letters, forwarded to the Prince for his perusal, the originals of
which had to be returned, written not only by the Prince himself, but
by the Queen under his direction. But besides keeping a vigilant eye
upon politics, the Prince took the lead in all social and educational
movements of the time, as well as devoting a close and continuous
attention to the affairs of Europe in general, and Germany in
particular. It is obvious from the papers that the Prince can hardly
ever have taken a holiday; many hours of every day must have been
devoted by him to work; yet he was at the same time a tender husband
and father, always ready with advice and sympathy, and devoted to
quiet domestic life.

After the Queen's marriage the correspondence becomes far more
voluminous. It is difficult to exaggerate the amount of conscientious
labour bestowed by the Queen and the Prince Consort on all matters
which concerned the welfare of the nation. The number of documents
which passed through their hands, and which were carefully studied by
them, was prodigious.

The drafts of the Queen's replies to letters are in many cases in the
handwriting of the Prince Consort, but dated by herself, and often
containing interlinear corrections and additions of her own. Whether
the Queen indicated the lines of the replies, whether she dictated the
substance of them, or whether they contain the result of a discussion
on the particular matter, cannot be precisely ascertained. But
they contain so many phrases and turns of expression which are
characteristic of her outspoken temperament, that it is clear that
she not only followed every detail, but that the substance of
the communication bore in most cases the impress of her mind. A
considerable number of the drafts again are in her own hand, with
interlinear corrections and additions by the Prince; and these so
strongly resemble in style the drafts in the handwriting of the
Prince, that it is clear that the Queen did not merely accept
suggestions, but that she had a strong opinion of her own on important
matters, and that this opinion was duly expressed.

One fact must, however, be borne in mind. It happens in many cases
that a correspondence on some particular point seems to be about to
lead up to a definite conclusion, but that the salient and decisive
document is absent. In these cases it is clear that the matter was
settled at a personal interview; in many cases the Prince prepared
a memorandum of an important interview; but there are a considerable
number of such correspondences, where no record is preserved of the
eventual solution, and this incompleteness is regrettable, but, by the
nature of the case, inevitable.


[Pageheading: LEADING STATESMEN IN 1837]

The young Queen, on coming to the Throne, had little technical
knowledge of the details of diplomacy, but she already had a real and
intelligent acquaintance with foreign affairs, though it was rather
personal than political, and, as we have seen, was more inspired by
her interest in the fortunes and position of her numerous maternal
relations than by the political views of her paternal relatives. Among
the English statesmen of the day there were few who were qualified
to help and instruct her. The two men who for over twenty years
alternately guided the foreign policy of the country were Lord
Aberdeen and Lord Palmerston. They represented two opposed schools.
Lord Aberdeen, a Peelite, was naturally and by tradition inclined to
desire harmonious relations with all foreign Powers, and to abstain,
as far as was consistent with maintaining British interests, from any
sort of intervention in European affairs; Palmerston was a disciple of
Canning, who had definitely broken with the principles of the Congress
of Vienna, and openly avowed his approval of a policy of intervention,
to any extent short of actual war, in the interests of liberty and
good government. The only other man who had any title to speak with
authority on foreign affairs was the Duke of Wellington, who had held
the seals as Foreign Secretary for a few months in 1834 and 1835. He
had, however, lost much of the reputation for political sagacity which
he had held at the time when he was the arbiter of Europe and virtual
ruler of France. Moreover, being, as he was, a much occupied man, with
varied business to transact, and at the mercy of his almost excessive
conscientiousness, he held himself to a considerable extent aloof
from current politics, though he never lost his absorbing interest in
Continental affairs.




CHAPTER IV

1821-1835


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




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

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

God bless and preserve you is the constant prayer of your most truly
affectionate Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

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




_The Duchess of Clarence to the Princess Victoria._

_24th May 1822._

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

To dear little Xandrina Victoria.

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

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

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

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




[Pageheading: EARLY LETTERS]


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




KENSINGTON PALACE, _25th November 1823._

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

VICTORIA.

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

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




_Prince Leopold_[7] _to the Princess Victoria._

PARIS, _20th April 1829._

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

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

LEOPOLD.

    [Footnote 7: Afterwards King of the Belgians.]

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




[Pageheading: BIRTHDAY LETTERS]


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

[_May 1829._]

If I had wings and could fly like a bird, I should fly in at your
window like the little robin to-day, and wish you many very happy
returns of the 24th, and tell you how I love you, dearest sister, and
how often I think of you and long to see you. I think if I were once
with you again I could not leave you so soon. I should wish to stay
with you, and what would poor Ernest[9] say if I were to leave him so
long? He would perhaps try to fly after me, but I fear he would not
get far; he is rather tall and heavy for flying. So you see I have
nothing left to do but to write to you, and wish you in this way all
possible happiness and joy for this and many, many years to come. I
hope you will spend a very merry birthday. How I wish to be with you,
dearest Victoire, on that day!

I have not thanked you, I believe, for a very dear letter you have
written to me, which gave me the greatest pleasure. Your descriptions
of the plays you had seen amused me very much. I wish I had seen your
performance too. Your most affectionate Sister,

FEODORE.

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




_The Duchess of Clarence to the Princess Victoria._

BUSHEY PARK, _14th August 1829._

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

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

God bless you, my dear Victoria, is always the prayer of your most
truly affectionate Aunt,

ADELAIDE.




_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

BRUSSELS, _22nd May 1832._

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

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

This will make you feel, my dear Love, that you must give your
attention more and more to graver matters. By the dispensation of
Providence you are destined to fill a most eminent station; to fill
it _well_ must now become your study. A good heart and a trusty and
honourable character are amongst the most indispensable qualifications
for that position.

You will always find in your Uncle that faithful friend which he
has proved to you from your earliest infancy, and whenever you feel
yourself in want of support or advice, call on him with perfect
confidence.

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

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

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN,[10] _31st August 1832._

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

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

Now to her appearance. She is about Feodore's height, her hair
very fair, light blue eyes, of a very gentle, intelligent and kind
expression. A Bourbon nose and small mouth. The figure is much like
Feodore's but rather less stout. She rides very well, which she proved
to my great alarm the other day, by keeping her seat though a horse of
mine ran away with her full speed for at least half a mile. What she
does particularly well is dancing. Music unfortunately she is not
very fond of, though she plays on the harp; I believe there is some
idleness in the case. There exists already great confidence and
affection between us; she is desirous of doing everything that can
contribute to my happiness, and I study whatever can make her happy
and contented.

You will see by these descriptions that though my good little wife is
not the tallest Queen, she is a very great prize which I highly value
and cherish....

Now it is time I should finish my letter. Say everything that is kind
to good Lehzen, and believe me ever, my dearest Love, your faithful
Friend and Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

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

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




[Pageheading: A BIRTHDAY LETTER]

[Pageheading: VALUABLE ADVICE]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _21st May 1833._

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

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

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

_Self-examination_ is the most important part of the business, and
a very useful mode of proceeding is, for instance, every evening to
recapitulate the events of the day, and the motives which made one act
oneself, as well as to try to guess what might have been the motives
of others. Amiable dispositions like yours will easily perceive
if your own motives _were good_. Persons in high situations must
particularly guard themselves against selfishness and vanity. An
individual in a high and important situation will easily see a great
many persons eager to please the first, and to flatter and encourage
the last. Selfishness, however, makes the individual itself miserable,
and is the cause of constant disappointment, besides being the surest
means of being disliked by everybody.

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

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

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

It becomes, therefore, necessary that the character should be so
formed as not to be intoxicated by greatness and success, nor
cast down by misfortune. To be able to do so, one must be able to
appreciate things according to their real value, and particularly
avoid giving to trifles an undue importance.

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

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

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

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

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

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: VISIT TO HEVER CASTLE]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _14th September 1834._

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

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate and
dutiful Niece,

VICTORIA.




[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _18th October 1834._

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

As my paper draws to a close, I shall finish also by giving you my
best blessings, and remain ever, my dearest Love, your faithfully
attached Friend and Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

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




[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S READING]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _22nd October 1834._

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

For the autographs I beg to return my best thanks. They are
most valuable and interesting, and will be great additions to my
collections. As I have not got Sully's Memoirs, I shall be delighted
if you will be so good as to give them to me. Reading history is one
of my greatest delights, and perhaps, dear Uncle, you might like to
know which books in that line I am now reading. In my lessons with the
Dean of Chester,[13] I am reading Russell's _Modern Europe_,[14] which
is very interesting, and Clarendon's _History of the Rebellion_. It
is drily written, but is full of instruction. I like reading different
authors, of different opinions, by which means I learn not to lean on
one particular side. Besides my lessons, I read Jones'[15] account
of the wars in Spain, Portugal and the South of France, from the year
1808 till 1814. It is well done, I think, and amuses me very much. In
French, I am now in _La Rivalité de la France et de l'Espagne_, par
Gaillard,[16] which is very interesting. I have also begun Rollin.[17]
I am very fond of making tables of the Kings and Queens, as I go on,
and I have lately finished one of the English Sovereigns and their
consorts, as, of course, the history of my own country is one of
my first duties. I should be fearful of tiring you with so long an
account of myself, were I not sure you take so great an interest in my
welfare.

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

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate, very
dutiful, and most attached Niece,

VICTORIA.

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

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

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

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

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

ST. LEONARDS, _19th November 1834._

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

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

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

VICTORIA.

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




_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _2nd December 1834._

MY DEAREST LOVE,--You have written a very clever, sharp little letter
the other day, which gave me great pleasure. Sure enough, when I show
you what a Queen ought not to be, I also ought to tell you what she
should be, and this task I will very conscientiously take upon myself
on the very first occasion which may offer itself for a confidential
communication. Now I must conclude, to go to town. I must, however,
say that I have given orders to send you Sully's Memoirs. As they have
not been written exclusively for young ladies, it will be well to have
Lehzen to read it with you, and to judge what ought to be left for
some future time. And now God bless you! Ever, my beloved child, your
attached Friend and Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: A NEW YEAR GREETING]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

ST. LEONARDS, _28th December 1834._

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

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate and most
grateful Niece,

VICTORIA.




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _2nd February 1835._

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

VICTORIA.

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




[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S CONFIRMATION]

[Pageheading: HONESTY AND SINCERITY]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

CAMP OF BEVERLOO (in the North of the Province of Limburg), _3rd
August 1835._

MY DEAR LOVE,--By your Mother's letter of the 31st ult^o., I learned
of the serious and important action in your young life[20] which has
passed recently, and I cannot let it pass without saying some words
on the subject. I am perhaps rather strangely situated for a
preaching--somewhat in the style of those old camp preachers who held
forth to many thousand people on some heath in Scotland. I am also
on an immense heath, surrounded by 16,000 men, mostly young and
gay, cooking, singing, working, and not very like the stern old
Covenanters; however, I shall try. First of all, let me congratulate
you that it passed happily and well off. Secondly, let me entreat you
to look with a serious and reflective mind on the day which is past.
Many are the religions, many the shades of those religions, but it
must be confessed the principles of the Christian religion are the
most perfect and the most beautiful that can be imagined.... There is
one virtue which is particularly Christian; this is the knowledge of
our own heart in _real humility_. _Hypocrisy_ is a besetting sin of
all times, but _particularly of the present_, and many are the wolves
in sheep's clothes. I am sorry to say, with all my affection for old
England, the very _state of its Society and politics_ renders many in
that country _essentially humbugs and deceivers_; the _appearance_ of
the thing is generally _more_ considered than the _reality_; provided
matters go off well, and opinion may be gained, the _real good is
matter of the most perfect indifference_. Defend yourself, my dear
love, against this system; let your dear character always be true
and loyal; this does not _exclude prudence_--worldly concerns are
now unfortunately so organised that you _must be cautious_ or you may
injure yourself and others--but it does not prevent the being sterling
and true. Nothing in persons gives greater reliance, greater weight,
than when they are known to be _true_. From your earliest childhood
I was anxious to see in you this important virtue _saved_ and
_developed_, and Lehzen will still be able to recollect that. If it is
God's pleasure that you should once[21] fill the arduous situation to
which you seem destined, you will find the importance of what I now
say to you. And when others may tremble to have at last their real
character found out, and to meet all the contempt which they may
deserve, your mind and heart will be still and happy, because it will
know that it acts honestly, that truth and goodness are the motives of
its actions. I press you now against my heart; may God bless you as
I wish and hope it, and may you always feel some affection for your
sincerely devoted camp preacher and Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

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

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




INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER V


THE year 1836 was not an eventful one at home; the Whig Ministry were
too weak to carry measures of first-rate importance, and could hardly
have maintained themselves in power against the formidable opposition
of Sir Robert Peel without the support of O'Connell. Parliament was
chiefly occupied by the consideration of the Secret Societies in
Ireland, Tithes, Municipal Corporations, and such matters; the
Marriage Act, and the Act for the Registration of Births have probably
been the most important measures of the year to the country. Troubles
which were destined to become more acute arose in Lower Canada and
Jamaica, both taking the form of disputes between the executive and
the legislature.

On the continent of Europe, affairs were more disturbing. Several
attempts were made on the life of the King of the French, while an
abortive insurrection with a view of establishing a military empire
was made by Louis Bonaparte at Strasburg. The Prince was allowed to
leave the country and go to the United States, but his accomplices
were detained for trial. In Algiers the French Government determined
to prosecute operations against the Arab Chief Abd-el-Kader, and they
sent an expedition to Constantin.

Holland and Belgium were occupied with a dispute about their boundary
line, the cession to Belgium of Luxemburg being the chief point
of difference. The difficulties that arose in passing an important
Municipal Act for Belgium caused King Leopold temporarily to regret he
had not accepted the throne of Greece.

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

There was also a disputed succession in Spain, where by the ancient
law women might succeed to the throne. Ferdinand VII., who had revoked
the Pragmatic Sanction of 1711 and restored the former system, died in
1833, leaving no son. His elder daughter Isabella, then three years
of age, was proclaimed Queen (her mother Christina being appointed
Regent), and Isabella's claims were recognised by England and France.
The late King's brother, Don Carlos, taking his stand upon the Salic
Law as established by the Pragmatic Sanction, raised the standard of
revolt and allied himself with Dom Miguel, the young Queens Maria
and Isabella mutually recognising each other, and being supported by
France and England against the "Holy Alliance" of Austria, Russia, and
Prussia. A seven years' civil war resulted, which did not end
till, from sheer exhaustion, the Carlists had to cease fighting the
Christinos, as the loyal party was called. The English Government in
the previous year had sanctioned the enlistment of 10,000 men; who,
commanded by Colonel (afterwards Sir de Lacy) Evans, landed at San
Sebastian in August to assist the Christinos. A British auxiliary
contingent was already with the Spanish army, while a naval squadron
under Lord John Hay was active on the coast. Mendizabal was Prime
Minister at the beginning of the year 1836, and was succeeded in May
by Isturitz. Riots took place at Madrid, and Isturitz fled to France;
Calatrava succeeding him, assisted by Mendizabal. The Christino cause
did not much advance during the year.




CHAPTER V

1836


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

_4th March 1836._

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

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _7th March 1836._

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _29th March 1836._

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

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




[Pageheading: THE PRINCES ERNEST AND ALBERT]


_The Princess Hohenlohe to the Princess Victoria._

STUTTGART, _16th April 1836._

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _26th April 1836._

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

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

You ask me about Sully's Memoirs, and if I have finished them. I have
not finished them, but am reading them with great interest, and find
there is a great deal in them which applies to the present times, and
a great deal of good advice and reasoning in them. As you say, very
truly, it is extremely necessary for me to follow the "events of the
day," and to do so impartially. I am always both grateful and happy
when you give me any advice, and hope you will continue to do so as
long as I live.

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

Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your truly devoted and attached
Niece,

VICTORIA.

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




[Pageheading: THE PRINCE OF ORANGE]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

_13th May 1836._

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

I am really _astonished_ at the conduct of your old Uncle the King;
this invitation of the Prince of Orange and his sons, this forcing him
upon others, is very extraordinary.[4] It is so, because persons in
political stations and champions of great political passions cannot
put aside their known character as you would lay your hat upon a
table.

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

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

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

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





[Pageheading: ARRIVAL OF PRINCE ALBERT]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_23rd May 1836._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,-- ... Uncle Ernest and my cousins arrived here on
Wednesday, _sains et saufs_. Uncle is looking remarkably well, and my
cousins are most delightful young people. I will give you no detailed
description of them, as you will so soon see them yourself. But I
must say, that they are both very amiable, very kind and good, and
extremely merry, just as young people should be; with all that,
they are extremely sensible, and very fond of occupation. Albert is
extremely handsome, which Ernest certainly is not, but he has a most
good-natured, honest, and intelligent countenance. We took them to the
Opera on Friday, to see the _Puritani_, and as they are excessively
fond of music, like me, they were in perfect ecstasies, having never
heard any of the singers before....




[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_7th June 1836._

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

I must thank you, my beloved Uncle, for the prospect of _great_
happiness you have contributed to give me, in the person of dear
Albert. Allow me, then, my dearest Uncle, to tell you how delighted I
am with him, and how much I like him in every way. He possesses every
quality that could be desired to render me perfectly happy. He is so
sensible, so kind, and so good, and so amiable too. He has, besides,
the most pleasing and delightful exterior and appearance you can
possibly see.

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

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

VICTORIA.




[Pageheading: CONVERSATION]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

_17th June 1836._

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

LEOPOLD R.

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_9th August 1836._

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

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

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

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

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_2nd September 1836._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,-- ... The state of Spain is most alarming and
unfortunate.[8] I do hope something will be done. The news were rather
better yesterday and the day before. The Christinos had gained a
victory over the Carlists.[9] I take a great interest in the whole of
this unfortunate affair. I hope and trust Portugal may not suffer by
all the affairs of Spain, but much is to be feared. Dieskau will have
told you much about the internal affairs, which seem to go on very
prosperously. Pray has the Duchess of Braganza[10] written to you or
Aunt Louise since Ferdinand's marriage?

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

VICTORIA.

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

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

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

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




[Pageheading: A FAREWELL LETTER]


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

CLAREMONT, _21st September 1836._

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

Believe me, always, your ever devoted and most affectionately attached
Niece and _Child_,

VICTORIA.

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





[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS AND THE CHURCH]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _11th November 1836._

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

RAMSGATE, _14th November 1836._

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

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

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

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

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

VICTORIA.

Pray, dear Uncle, is the report of the King of Naples' marriage to the
Archduchess Theresa true? I hear the king has behaved uncommonly
well at Naples during the cholera panic. I enclose the measure of my
finger.

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

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




[Pageheading: DEATH OF CHARLES X]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _18th November 1836._

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




[Pageheading: REVOLUTION AT LISBON]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S NAME]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_21st November 1836._

MY MOST DEARLY BELOVED UNCLE,--You cannot imagine how happy you have
made me by your very dear, kind, long, and interesting letter of the
18th, which I received yesterday morning, and for which I beg you
to accept my _very warmest_ and best thanks. You know, I think, my
dearest Uncle, that _no_ creature on earth _loves_ you _more_ dearly,
or has a higher sense of admiration for you, than I have. Independent
of all that you have done--which I never, never can be grateful enough
for--my love for you exceeds all that words can express; it is innate
in me, for from my earliest years the name of _Uncle_ was the dearest
I knew, the word _Uncle_, _alone_, meant no other but you!

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

I cannot tell you how distressed I was by the late unfortunate
_contre-révolution manquée_ at Lisbon,[15] and how sorry I was to see
by the letter you wrote me, that you were still unaware of it on the
18th. Mamma received a letter from Lord Palmerston yesterday morning,
which she has sent you, and which is consolatory, I think. He speaks
in the highest terms of our beloved Ferdinand, which proves that he
becomes daily more and more worthy of his arduous situation, and says
that the Queen's situation "is better than it was," less bad than it
might have been "after such an affair," and not so good as it would
have been had poor Donna Maria waited patiently till all was ripe for
action. Dietz[16] wrote Mamma a most desponding letter, so much so,
that had we not got Lord Palmerston's letter we must have thought
all, all was over.[17] I hope, dear Uncle, you will tell _me_ _your_
feeling about the whole, which will only satisfy me; no one else
could, for I take an interest in Ferdinand's welfare as though he were
my brother.

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

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

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

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

Believe me, always, your most devoted and affectionately attached
Niece,

VICTORIA.

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

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

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

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

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

CLAREMONT, _5th December 1836._

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

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




INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER VI


The closing months of the reign of William IV. were not marked by any
stirring events at home. The Conservative opposition to the Melbourne
Ministry was strengthened before the meeting of Parliament by a great
speech by Sir Robert Peel at Glasgow, and Lord Brougham later on
emerged from his retirement to become the able and venomous critic of
his former friends. The Government failed to carry important measures
on Church Rates and Irish Municipal Corporations, while the Radical
group pressed persistently their favourite motions in support of
the Ballot, and against the Property qualification of members,
Primogeniture, the Septennial Act, the Bishops' seats and Proxy Voting
in the House of Lords. The Ministry was saved from shipwreck by the
demise of the Crown and by the accession of the Princess Victoria,
who, on attaining her legal majority a month earlier, had received
marked signs of enthusiastic popular favour.

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

For some time past the state of Canada had caused grave anxiety. By
an Act of 1791, it had been divided into Upper and Lower Canada, each
with a Governor, Council, and House of Representatives, Lower Canada
being in the main French, while Upper Canada was occupied by British
settlers. Friction first arose in the former, between the nominee
Council and the popular Assembly, the Assembly declining to pay the
salaries of officials whom they had censured, but whom the Executive
had retained in their posts. Mr Papineau, who had been Speaker of
the Assembly, was leader in the popular movement. Lord Gosford, the
Governor of Lower Canada, dismissed some Militia officers who had
taken part in political demonstrations, and warrants were issued for
the apprehension of certain members of the Assembly, on the charge
of high treason: within a short time the discontented party broke out
into rebellion. The course which events would take in Upper Canada
was for a time doubtful. Sir Francis Head, the Governor, placed his
regular troops at the service of Lord Gosford, preferring to rely on
the militia. This unusual action was successful, but was not approved
by the Colonial Office. The state of affairs became very alarming at
the close of the year, when it was announced in Parliament that Lord
Gosford had resigned and that Sir John Colborne (afterwards Lord
Seaton) had been appointed to succeed him.

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

Affairs continued unsettled in the Peninsula. In Spain General Evans
was defeated near San Sebastian, but afterwards, in conjunction with
Lord John Hay, captured Irun, the frontier town. Don Carlos
meanwhile marched on Madrid, but was encountered by Espartero,
Commander-in-Chief of the Christinos, who was Prime Minister for a
brief period during the year. The British legion was dissolved, and
Evans returned to England.

In Portugal the English were becoming unpopular for their supposed
intervention: Ferdinand, the Queen's consort, who was naturally
believed to be in harmony with the British Cabinet, acted tactlessly
in accepting the Commandership-in-Chief, and internal hostilities
continued throughout the year.

In Hanover a reactionary step was taken by King Ernest, who had
succeeded his brother, William IV. of England, on the throne of
Hanover; by letters patent he abrogated the Constitution of 1833, an
action which, imperfect and open to criticism though the Constitution
was, naturally aroused anxiety among the supporters of representative
institutions throughout Europe.




CHAPTER VI

1837




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_16th January 1837._

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

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

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

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

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

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




[Pageheading: SPAIN AND PORTUGAL]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_23rd January 1837._

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    [Footnote 8: The Queen Regent, Christina.]

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

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

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




[Pageheading: PARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

CLAREMONT, _30th January 1837._

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

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

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

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

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




[Pageheading: POLITICAL PASSION]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

_3rd February 1837._

MY DEAR CHILD,-- ... I am sorry to see so much violence in England at
this moment; I consider it as the most lamentable circumstance, as it
renders matters so very difficult to settle. Besides, the poor Crown
is more or less the loser in all this, as it generally ends with the
abolition of something or other which might have proved useful for the
carrying on of Government. A rule which you may thus early impress on
your mind is, that people are far from acting generally according to
the dictates of their interests, but oftener in consequence of their
passions, though it may even prove injurious to their interests.
If the Tory part of Parliament could have brought themselves to act
without passion, much in the reform of Parliament might have been
settled much more in conformity with their best interests. I was
authorised, in 1831, to speak in this sense to the Duke of Wellington
by Lord Grey;[15] the effect would have been highly beneficial to
both parties, but passion made it impossible to succeed. This is a
dangerous part of the business, and we must see during the present
session of Parliament if parties are grown wiser. I fear they are not.
The business of the highest in a State is certainly, in my opinion,
to act with great impartiality and a spirit of justice for the good of
all, and not of this or that party.[16]

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

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

CLAREMONT, _6th February 1837._

MY BELOVED UNCLE,-- ... I do not know quite for certain when we leave
this place, but I should think to-day week. You must be pleased, dear
Uncle, I think, for we shall have been _six months_ in the country
next Thursday, as we left town on the 10th of August last, and I am
sure you will stand by me for my having my season fully, as you may
understand that my _Operatic_ and _Terpsichorean_ feelings are pretty
strong, now that the season is returning, and I have been a very good
child, not even _wishing_ to come to town till now. We shall certainly
come here for the Easter week.

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

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

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

There were two questions in my last letter but one, which you have
not answered, dear Uncle. They are: 1st, What you think of the Queen
Christina of Spain, what opinion _you_ have of her, as one cannot
believe _reports_? 2nd, If you know what sort of people are about
poor little Queen Isabel, and if she is being _well_ or _ill_ brought
up?...

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



[Pageheading: A DINNER PARTY]

[Pageheading: THE THRONE OF GREECE]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_14th March 1837._

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    [Footnote 22: Chief Secretary for Ireland.]

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

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

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

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

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



_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _31st March 1837._

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

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




[Pageheading: PRESS COMMENTS]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _7th April 1837._

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




[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S ESTABLISHMENT]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _11th April 1837._

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

I received a messenger from Coburg. I enclose the letters and also
a packet with fans. Ever, my beloved child, your faithfully attached
Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

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

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

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

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_12th April 1837._

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

How happy I am that that beloved Aunt is going on so well and does not
suffer from the cold, as also the _jeune Philippe_. Leopold must
be great fun with his Aunt Marie;[33] does he still say "_pas beau
frère!_" or is he more reconciled to his brother? It is very noble in
the Duc de Nemours to have thus given up his _apanage_;[34] I am sorry
there were such difficulties about it. There is no Ministry formed
yet, I see by the papers.

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

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




[Pageheading: THE IRISH MUNICIPAL BILL]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_28th April 1837._

MY MOST BELOVED UNCLE,--.... Sir Henry Hardinge's[35] motion was quite
lost, I am happy to say, and don't you think, dearest Uncle, that
it has almost done good, as it proves that the Tories have lost all
chance of getting in? It was a trial of strength, and the Ministry
have triumphed. I have been reading in the papers, what I suppose you
already know, that it is believed that the Lords _will_ pass the Irish
Corporation Bill;[36] and also that Ministers mean to drop for the
present the question about Church Rates,[37] as the Radicals, being
angry with Ministers relative to the Canada business, would not
support them well.

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

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

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




_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _28th April 1837._

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




[Pageheading: MINISTERIAL ANXIETY]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_2nd May 1837._

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

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

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




_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_9th May 1837._

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

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

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

Now farewell, dearest Uncle. I beg my affectionate love to my dear
Aunt, and my most respectful _hommages_ to the Members of the Family
with you. Believe me, always, your affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA.

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

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

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




[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S ESTABLISHMENT]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _25th May 1837._

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

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

_26th._--I received yesterday the whole of the papers concerning the
King's propositions.[42] I approve your letter to the King, as it
is amiable and generous, and this in your position will always tell
favourably. I think that if _he_ is well advised he will chiefly
consult _your wishes_. This is the footing on which you must place
matters. It is not worth while to be told that one is in some sort
of age when the consequence is that you are not consulted in what
concerns you most personally. Avoid in future to say much about
your great _youth_ and _inexperience_. Who made the letter? Was it
yourself, or came it from your Mother? You have now the Baron at your
elbow, and even your Mother was most anxious for his arrival. _Speak
sometimes with him_; it is necessary to accustom you to the thing.

About the King's health.[43] I am doubtful what to think. We have
foreseen the case and treated it formerly. The great thing would be to
make no change, to keep Ministers and everything as it is, and to gain
time; in this way _no one is hurt and no amour-propre blessé_.
For this reason I lean to your keeping, to begin with, Sir Herbert
Taylor[44] for your _official_ secretary, though I am not quite
_decided_ on the subject. He knows the manner in which the _daily
business_ is carried on; this is important. I believe him, and have
found him to be an honest man, that would do for State matters; it
would not be required that he should be your _confidential_ adviser.
Now I conclude, and send you this letter through Stockmar. My best
regards to Lehzen. Ever your faithful Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

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

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

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




[Pageheading: BIRTHDAY REJOICINGS]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_26th May 1837._

... The demonstrations of affection and kindness from all sides
towards me on my birthday, were most gratifying. The parks and streets
were crowded all day as though something very extraordinary had
happened. Yesterday I received twenty-two Addresses from various
places, all very pretty and loyal; one in particular was very well
written which was presented by Mr. Attwood[45] from the Political
Union at Birmingham.

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

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

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

The King is much better.

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

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

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




[Pageheading: ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

TUILERIES, _7th June 1837._

... The _entrée_[48] last Sunday was something remarkably splendid; we
saw it from the Tuileries, as we had nothing to do with the business
itself, and your Aunt's rank would have clashed with that of the
Duchess of Orleans. The effect of all this on the people of this great
town has been _very great_, and evidently much ground has been solidly
regained. The King, getting out of that sort of confinement in which
it was necessary to keep, has gained much in personal comfort, and
also in a political point of view; because to have a King who cannot
show himself without being shot at, is a state of society which lowers
his authority....

For the present the best plan is to continue to act as you have
done hitherto; to avoid quarrels, but also to stick _firmly to your
resolution when once_ taken. The violence which is sometimes shown is
so well known to you, you know also so well that you have nothing
to fear from these people, that _you must keep up your usual cool
spirit_, whatever may be tried in the House to _teaze you out of it_.
I mean to wait some more detailed accounts of what is going on in
England before I give my opinion on what ought to be done in the case
that the King's disease should take a more fatal turn.

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

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

LEOPOLD R.

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




[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION IMMINENT]


_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _15th June 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--I hope that to-day will not pass over without
bringing me a letter from you. In the meantime I will begin this
epistle, which will go by a messenger of my own to-morrow. In every
letter I shall write to you I mean to repeat to you, as a _fundamental
rule_, _to be courageous, firm and honest, as you have been till now_.
You may count upon my faithful good offices in all difficulties,
and you have at your command Stockmar, whose _judgment_, _heart_, and
_character_ offer all the guarantees we can wish for. I wish nothing
but to see you _happy and prosperous_, and by Sunday I shall probably
write you a long letter, which will enter into details about most
things.

My object is that you should be no one's _tool_, and though young, and
naturally not yet experienced, your good natural sense and the _truth_
of your character will, with faithful and proper advice, get you very
well through the difficulties of your future position, should it be
the will of Providence to take the King from this earthly life. Of his
real position I am still not quite able to judge, there being so much
contradictory in the reports. Be this as it may, the great thing for
you is, not to be hurried into important measures, and to _gain time_.
A new reign is always a time of hope; everybody is disposed to see
something for his own wishes and prospects. The policy of a new
Sovereign must therefore be to act in such a manner as to hurt as
little as possible the _amour-propre_ of people, to let circumstances
and the force of things bring about the disappointments which no human
power could prevent coming sooner or later: that they should come as
_late_ as possible is in your interest. Should anything happen to the
King before I can enter more fully into the necessary details, limit
yourself to _taking kindly_ and in a _friendly_ manner the present
Administration into your service. They are _naturally friendly to your
interests_, _as you are in fact the only possible Sovereign of the
whole family_, with the exception of the Duke of Sussex, they can
_serve_ with _sincerity_ and _attachment_. This is of great importance
to you, as it is by no means the same thing to have people who aid and
assist you with feelings of real attachment, or merely from cold and
calculating motives of political expediency and self-interest.
This being done, no other step should be taken without consulting
seriously. The very time which is necessary to attain this end is
favourable to you, as it is your greatest interest for the _present
moment_ to act most cautiously and to gain as much _time_ as possible.
In high positions it is excessively difficult to _retrace_ a false
move to get out of a mistake; and there exists very rarely, except in
time of war and civil feuds, a necessity for an _immediate_ decision.
Your part must be, to resume once more what I said before, to
remain as long as possible _agreeable_ to all parties, and after the
formation of the Ministry, to be most careful how you take any measure
of importance....




[Pageheading: THE KING'S ILLNESS]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_16th June 1837._

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

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




_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _17th June 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--... I shall to-day enter on the subject of what is
to be done when the King ceases to live. The moment you get official
communication of it, you will entrust Lord Melbourne with the office
of retaining the present Administration as your Ministers. You will do
this in that honest and kind way which is quite your own, and say some
kind things on the subject. The fact is that the present Ministers are
those who will serve you personally with the greatest _sincerity_ and,
I trust, attachment. For them, as well as for the Liberals at large,
you are the _only_ Sovereign that offers them _des chances d'existence
et de durée_. With the exception of the Duke of Sussex, there is
no _one_ in the family that offers them anything like what they can
reasonably hope from you, and your immediate successor, with the
mustaches,[49] is enough to frighten them into the most violent
attachment for you.

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

I am now at the end, I think, of what I had to say. May Heaven bless
you and keep up your spirits. Ever, my beloved child, your faithful
Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

Pardon the hurry in which this letter was written.

    [Footnote 49: The Duke of Cumberland.]




[Pageheading: THE KING'S CONDITION HOPELESS]


_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_19th June 1837._

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

The King's state, I may fairly say, is _hopeless_; he may _perhaps_
linger a few days, but he cannot recover _ultimately_. Yesterday the
physicians declared he could not live till the morning, but to-day he
is a little better; the great fear is his _excessive_ weakness and
no _pulse_ at all. Poor old man! I feel sorry for him; he was always
personally kind to me, and I should be ungrateful and devoid of
feeling if I did not remember this.

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

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




[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _20th June 1837._

Viscount Melbourne[50] presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
being aware that your Majesty has already received the melancholy
intelligence of the death of his late Majesty, will do himself the
honour of waiting upon your Majesty a little before nine this morning.
Viscount Melbourne has requested the Marquis of Lansdowne[51] to
name eleven as the hour for the meeting of the Council at Kensington
Palace.

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

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



_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

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

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

VICTORIA R.

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

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



_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th June 1837._

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

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

ADELAIDE.




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S FIRST COUNCIL]


_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Tuesday, 20th June 1837._

I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me that the Archbishop of
Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here, and wished to see me. I got
out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown)
and _alone_, and saw them. Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain)
then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had
expired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that I
am _Queen_. Lord Conyngham knelt down and kissed my hand, at the same
time delivering to me the official announcement of the poor King's
demise. The Archbishop then told me that the Queen was desirous that
he should come and tell me the details of the last moments of my poor
good Uncle; he said that he had directed his mind to religion, and had
died in a perfectly happy, quiet state of mind, and was quite prepared
for his death. He added that the King's sufferings at the last were
not very great but that there was a good deal of uneasiness. Lord
Conyngham, whom I charged to express my feelings of condolence and
sorrow to the poor Queen, returned directly to Windsor. I then went to
my room and dressed.

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

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

I went in of course quite alone and remained seated the whole time.
My two Uncles, the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex, and Lord Melbourne
conducted me. The Declaration, the various forms, the swearing in of
the Privy Councillors, of which there were a great number present,
and the reception of some of the Lords of the Council, previous to the
Council, in an adjacent room (likewise alone) I subjoin here. I was
_not_ at all nervous and had the satisfaction of hearing that people
were satisfied with what I had done and how I had done it. Received
after this, audiences of Lord Melbourne, Lord John Russell, Lord
Albemarle (Master of the Horse), and the Archbishop of Canterbury,
all in my room and alone. Saw Stockmar. Saw Clark, whom I named my
physician. Saw Mary. Wrote to Uncle Ernest. Saw Ernest Hohenlohe, who
brought me a kind and very feeling letter from the poor Queen. I feel
very much for her, and really feel that the poor good King was always
so kind personally to me, that I should be ungrateful were I not
to recollect it and feel grieved at his death. The poor Queen is
wonderfully composed now, I hear.

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




[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS]


_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _22nd June 1837._

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

He then moved an Address of Condolence and Congratulation, which
was seconded by Sir Robert Peel. Sir Robert Peel very properly took
occasion to speak in terms of high admiration of the deportment of
your Majesty before the Privy Council on Tuesday. The Address was
agreed to without a dissentient voice, and your Majesty may rest
assured that the House of Commons is animated by a feeling of loyalty
to the Throne, and of devotion to your Majesty.

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




_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

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

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

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

ADELAIDE.




[Pageheading: CONGRATULATIONS]


_The King of the French to Queen Victoria._

PARIS, _le 23 Juin 1837._

MADAME MA S[OE]UR,--J'ai appris avec une vive peine la perte que votre
Majesté vient de faire dans la personne de son très cher et bien aimé
Oncle le Roi Guillaume IV. d'auguste et vénérable mémoire. La vive et
sincère amitié que je porte à votre Majesté, et à ceux qui lui sont
chers, les liens de parenté qui rapprochent nos deux familles par
l'alliance de ma fille chérie avec le Roi des Belges votre Oncle bien
aimé, et enfin le souvenir qui m'est toujours bien cher de la tendre
amitié qui m'attachait au feu Prince votre Père, depuis que nous
nous étions vus en Amérique, il y a déjà trente-huit ans,[55] me
déterminent à ne pas attendre les formalités d'usage, pour offrir
à votre Majesté mes félicitations sur son avènement au Trône de la
Grande-Bretagne. Il m'est doux de penser que l'heureuse direction que
la Princesse votre excellente et bien aimée Mère a si sagement donnée
à votre jeune âge, vous met à portée de supporter dignement le grand
fardeau qui vous est échu. Je fais les v[oe]ux les plus sincères pour
que la Providence bénisse votre Règne, et qu'il soit une époque de
bonheur et de prospérité pour les peuples que vous êtes appelée a
gouverner. Puissiez-vous aussi jouir longtemps de tout le bonheur
personnel que je vous souhaite du fond de mon c[oe]ur. Je serai
toujours bien empressé de manifester à votre Majesté tous les
sentiments d'attachement et d'affection que je lui porte. Qu'elle
me permette d'y ajouter l'expression de la haute estime et de
l'inviolable amitié avec lesquelles je ne cesserai d'être, Madame ma
S[oe]ur, de votre Majesté Le Bon Frère,

LOUIS PHILIPPE R.

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




_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _23rd June 1837._

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

I have been most happy to learn that the swearing in of the Council
passed so well. The Declaration in the newspapers I find simple and
appropriate. The translation in the papers says, "_J'ai été élevés en
Angleterre._" 1. I should advise to say as often as possible that you
are _born_ in England. George III. _gloried_ in this, and as _none_
of your cousins are born in England, it is your interest _de faire
reporter cela fortement_. 2. You never can say too much in praise of
your country and its inhabitants. Two nations in Europe are really
almost ridiculous in their own exaggerated praises of themselves;
these are the English and the French. Your being very national is
highly important, and as you happen to be born in England and never to
have left it a moment,[56] it would be odd enough if people tried
to make out the contrary. 3. The Established Church I also recommend
strongly; you cannot, without _pledging_ yourself to anything
_particular_, _say too much on the subject_. 4. Before you decide
on anything important I should be glad if you would consult me; this
would also have the advantage of giving you time. In politics most
measures will come in time within a certain number of days; to retrace
or back out of a measure is on the contrary extremely _difficult_, and
almost always _injurious_ to the highest authority.

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




[Pageheading: THE MINISTERS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_25th June 1837._

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

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

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

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

Ever your devoted and grateful Niece and affectionate _Child_,

VICTORIA R.

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




[Pageheading: DELIBERATION ADVISED]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _27th June 1837._

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

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




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _29th June 1837._

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

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




[Pageheading: STOCKMAR]

[Pageheading: SUBJECTS FOR STUDY]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _30th June 1837._

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

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

I recommend to your kind attention what Stockmar will think it his
duty to tell you; he will never press anything, never plague you with
anything, without the thorough conviction that it is indispensable
for your welfare. I can guarantee his independence of mind and
disinterestedness; nothing makes an impression upon him but what his
experience makes him feel to be of importance for you. I am delighted
with your plan. You will recollect that I pressed upon you repeatedly
how necessary it was for you to continue your studies on a more
_extended_ scale, more appropriate to the station you were destined
once to fill. No one is better qualified to direct those studies for
the next few years than Stockmar, few people possess more general
information, and very, very few have been like him educated, as it
were, by fate itself since 1816. There is no branch of information in
which he may not prove useful--

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

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

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: SPANISH AFFAIRS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_3rd July 1837._

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

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

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

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

I am quite _penetrated_ by the King's kindness in sending good old
General Baudrand[58] and the Duc d'Elchingen[59] over to compliment
me; Baudrand did it very well, and with much good feeling. In
Portugal, affairs look very black, I grieve to say. They have
no money, and the _Chartists_ want to bring about another
counter-revolution, which would be fatal to the poor Queen's
interests, I fear.

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

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

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

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

    [Footnote 59: Son of Marshal Ney.]




_The Earl of Liverpool to Baron Stockmar._

_5th July 1837._

Went about half-past ten o'clock to Apsley House, and told the Duke
of Wellington the whole of my communication with the Queen, Duchess
of Kent, and Sir John Conroy on 15th June, also of my communication
subsequently with Lord Melbourne, all of which he very much approved
of. He said that he was quite sure that the Queen would find Lord
Melbourne an honourable man, and one in whom Her Majesty might put
confidence; that he was a man apt to treat matters too lightly, or,
as he expressed it, a _poco curante_, but in the main an honest and
an honourable man. Upon my speaking to him of the kind and paternal
conduct of King Leopold towards his Niece, he said that he was fully
persuaded of this, and should at all and any time be ready to uphold
it by his approbation, but that he had no immediate connection with
the Press, whose attacks indeed he held very cheap, though they were
frequently very offensive. He then asked me whether it was not true
that the Queen had thought of some reviews at which she would appear
on horseback. I said there had been some talk of it. He desired me to
say that he thought this would be very dangerous, that she had much
better do this in an open carriage, as no one except such as himself
knew how difficult it was to get steady riding horses, and besides
that, she could not be attended by any female, and that this would
appear indelicate.




[Pageheading: QUEEN ADELAIDE]


_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th July 1837._

MY DEAREST NIECE,--I must, before I leave this dear Castle, once more
express to you the grateful sense I entertain for the kind treatment I
have experienced from you since it has pleased our heavenly Father to
put you in possession of it. You have contributed much to my comfort
under all the painful and distressing circumstances of this time
of woe, and I assure you that I ever shall remember it with sincere
gratitude.

I hope that you continue quite well and do not suffer from the
exertions and duties of your new position. My best wishes and prayers
attend you on all occasions, for I shall be for the rest of my
life devoted and attached to you as your most affectionate Aunt and
Subject,

ADELAIDE.




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _10th July 1837._

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

The Queen has just seen the Lord Chamberlain and has given him all her
orders. The Lord Chamberlain says that he will do everything in
his power to facilitate the Queen's going into Buckingham Palace on
Thursday.

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

    [Footnote 60: The Lord Chamberlain.]




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_11th July 1837._

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

_25th._--I shall not go out of town, I think, before the 20th or
thereabouts of next month. Windsor requires thorough cleaning, and I
must say I could not think of going in sooner after the poor King's
death. Windsor always appears very melancholy to me, and there are so
many sad associations with it. These will vanish, I daresay, if I see
you there soon after my arrival there.

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




[Pageheading: MADAME DE LIEVEN]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

NEUILLY, _12th July 1837._

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

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

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 61: The Princess Dorothea de Benckendorff married the Count
de Lieven at fifteen; in 1812, he became Russian Minister (and later
Ambassador) in London, whither she accompanied him. She was a woman
of extraordinary cleverness, enjoying the confidence of George
IV., Liverpool, Canning, Castlereagh, and Wellington. Inspiring the
efforts, and even composing the despatches of her husband, she became
herself the confidential correspondent of Nesselrode, Esterhazy, Posso
di Borgo, Guizot, and Lord Aberdeen. In 1834, the Lievens returned to
St Petersburg, where the Emperor Nicholas, though indifferent to the
society of women of talent, showed her special marks of regard. Her
husband died at Rome, in January 1838, and she established herself
in Paris, afterwards seeking a home in England during the troubles
of 1848. Returning to Paris, her _salon_ became again the resort of
diplomatists, politicians, and men of the world. She died in January
1857.

Madame de Lieven about this time told Greville that she had had an
audience of the Queen, "who was very civil and gracious, but timid
and embarrassed, and talked of nothing but commonplaces"; and Greville
adds that the Queen "had probably been told that the Princess was an
_intrigante_, and was afraid of committing herself."

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

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

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




[Pageheading: PARLIAMENT PROROGUED]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_18th July 1837._

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

    VICTORIA R.




_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _22nd July 1837._

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

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

    [Footnote 62: The Russian Ambassador.]




[Pageheading: DISCRETION ADVISED]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _24th July 1837._

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

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

Believe me ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.




_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _29th July 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--Your dear letter of the 24th inst. is, amongst _so
many kind letters_, _almost the kindest I yet received_ from your
dear hands. My happiness and my greatest pride will always be, to be
a _tender and devoted father to you, my beloved child_, and to watch
over you and stand by you with _heart_ and _soul as long_ as the heart
which _loves_ you so sincerely will beat.

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

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

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

Now I will conclude for the day, not to bore you, and beg you always
to believe me, my dear and beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle and
Friend,

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: PRINCESS HOHENLOHE]


_The Princess Hohenlohe to Queen Victoria._

LANGENBURG, _31st July 1837._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--On arriving here, I found your dear letter of
the 9th of this month; and some days ago I received the one of the
16th. Many, many thanks for them both; it is indeed kind of you to
write to me now when you have so much to do. You have no idea what a
feeling it is, to hear and read of you, and to think that it is _you_,
_my own dear sister_, who are the object of general observation, and,
I may say, admiration; it is sometimes like a dream. For those who are
near you it is quite different than for me, who have not seen you yet
in your new position, but must represent to myself all through the
report of others. The description in the papers of your proroguing
Parliament I read with great interest; it must have been an imposing
moment for you, your standing for the first time in your life in
the middle of that assembly where the interests and welfare of your
country are discussed and decided upon. It is with pride, pleasure,
and anxiety I think of you at the description of such scenes and
occurrences. I saw too by the papers that your _incognito_ at the
Opera was not quite kept as you wished it....




[Pageheading: THE ELECTIONS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _1st August 1837._

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

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

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

I have resumed my singing lessons with Lablache[64] twice a week,
which form an agreeable recreation in the midst of all the business I
have to do. He is such a good old soul, and greatly pleased that I go
on with him. I admire the music of the _Huguenots_ very much, but do
not sing it, as I prefer Italian to French for singing greatly. I
have been learning in the beginning of the season many of your old
favourites, which I hope to sing with you when we meet. I wish I could
keep Lablache to sing with us, but he will be gone by that time, I
greatly fear.

Now farewell, my beloved Uncle. Give my affectionate love to my dear
Aunt, and believe me always, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_J'embrasse Léopold et Philippe._

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

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




[Pageheading: THE ELECTIONS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_9th August 1837._

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

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

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

    [Footnote 65: Queen Augusta of Würtemberg.]

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




_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

ENDSLEIGH, _15th August 1837._

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

It is not to be denied that this near balance of parties makes the
task of conducting the government difficult for any Ministry. On
the other hand, the circumstances of the country do not present any
extraordinary difficulty, and were any such to arise, the general
composition of the new House of Commons affords a security that the
maintenance of the Constitution and the welfare of the country would
be permanent objects to the majority of its Members.[67]

Lord John Russell had some time ago the honour of stating to your
Majesty that the return of Mr Fox Maule for Perthshire, and of Mr Hume
for Middlesex, were hardly to be expected. In this as in many other
instances the superior organisation of the Tory party have enabled
them to gain the appearance of a change of opinion, which has not in
fact taken place.

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

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




[Pageheading: LEAVING WINDSOR]


_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

ENDSLEIGH, _21st August 1837._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
has the honour to submit to your Majesty a letter from the Earl of
Coventry requesting an Audience.

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

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




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

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

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

Farewell, my beloved Uncle and _father!_ may Heaven bless and protect
you; and do not forget your most affectionate, devoted, and attached
Niece and _Child_,

VICTORIA R.

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




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians_.

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd October 1837._

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--... I am quite sad to leave this fine place, where,
if it had not been for the meeting of Parliament _so_ early this year,
I would have remained till November. I have passed _such_ a pleasant
time here, the _pleasantest summer_ I have _ever_ passed in my life; I
have had the _great_ happiness of having you and my beloved Aunt here,
I have had pleasant people staying with me, and I have had delicious
rides which have done me more good than anything. It will be such a
break-up of our little circle! Besides my own people, Lord Melbourne
and Lord Palmerston are the only people who have been _staying_ here,
and this little party was very social and agreeable. The Princess
Augusta of Saxony[69] has been here for two nights; she is neither
young nor handsome, but a very kind good person.

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

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

Believe me always, in haste, your devoted and affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

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

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




[Pageheading: RECEPTION AT BRIGHTON]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_6th October 1837._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and in
acknowledging your Majesty's gracious communication, of yesterday
returns his thanks for the very lively account which your Majesty has
given of the journey and the entrance into Brighton. Lord Melbourne
entirely partakes in the wish your Majesty has been graciously pleased
to express that he had been there to witness the scene; but your
Majesty will at once perceive that it was better that he was not, as
in that case Lord Melbourne would have been accused of an attempt
to take a political advantage of the general enthusiasm and to mix
himself and the Government with your Majesty's personal popularity.
Lord Melbourne fears that for some time your Majesty will find
yourself somewhat incommoded by the desire, which naturally prevails
amongst all ranks and classes, to obtain an opportunity of seeing your
Majesty....




_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _9th October 1837._

... I have also told Stockmar to try to settle something for _regular_
safe communication; in quiet times like the present, one a week would
be sufficient. You know now that all letters are read, and that should
not be _always_ the case with ours. There is, however, one thing
about which I think it right to warn you. This way of reading people's
letters is often taken advantage of by the writers of them, who
are _not so ignorant of the thing as is imagined_ to write the very
subject which they wish to convey to the ears of persons without
compromising themselves. I will give you an example: we are still
plagued by Prussia concerning those fortresses; now, to tell the
Prussian Government many things, which we _should not like_ to tell
them _officially_, the Minister is going to write a despatch to our
man at Berlin, sending it _by post_; the Prussians _are sure_ to read
it, and to learn in this way what we wish them to hear. The diplomats
in England may resort to this same mode of proceeding to injure
people, to calumniate, and to convey to your knowledge such things
as they may hope to have the effect of injuring some people _they may
fear_, in your eyes. I tell you the _trick_, that you should be able
to guard against it; it is of importance, and I have no doubt will be
resorted to by various political people.... Ever, my dearest Victoria,
your faithfully devoted Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND FRANCE]

[Pageheading: LOUIS PHILIPPE'S POLICY]

[Pageheading: COUNT MOLÉ]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

TRIANON, _19th October 1837._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... There is a great disposition here to be on
the best possible terms with England. As it has but too often happened
that the diplomatic agents of the two countries have drawn, or been
believed to draw, different ways, I recommended strongly to Count
Molé[71] to give strong and clear instructions to his people,
particularly at Madrid, Lisbon, and Athens.... He is going to read
them to Lord Granville, and also to communicate as much as possible
all the despatches of the French diplomats to the English Government.
This will be a proof of confidence, and it will besides have the
advantage of giving often useful information, enabling thereby the
English Government to hear two opinions instead of one. It cannot be
denied that the idea that the Plenipotentiaries of the two countries
were following two different lines of policy has been hurtful to
the causes of the two Queens in the Peninsula. To put a stop to this
double action is the only benefit which the Queens will at present
derive from a better understanding between England and France; but as
it is, it will be still of some importance to them, and take away from
the different political parties the possibility of using the pretended
misunderstanding against the Government of the Queens. I trust that
you will tell your Ministers to meet this friendly disposition with
frankness and kindness. The wish of the King here is, to have matters
concerted between the Plenipotentiaries of both countries. In this way
it would become difficult for the parties in Spain or Portugal to
say that the two Plenipotentiaries support different candidates for
Ministerial power, and the division in the parties connected with the
Queens might be in this manner _prevented_ or _reconciled_. Many and
many are the ill-natured hints thrown out against the King's policy
here, and because he is clever, he is suspected of having _ambitious
schemes without end_; it may not be without some importance to set
this, in your mind at least, to rights. Whatever may have been the
King's views immediately after the revolution of July[72] I will not
decide; perhaps he may a moment have wished to be able to do something
for France. Supposing this for the sake of argument to have been so,
two months of his reign were sufficient to show him that the great
question was not to conquer territories or foreign influence, but
to save Monarchy. He saw clearly that though _he_ might begin a war,
necessarily it would soon degenerate into a war of propaganda, and
that he and his family would be the first victims of it. His struggle
has constantly been to strengthen his Government, to keep together or
create anew the elements indispensable for a Monarchical Government,
and this struggle is far from being at its end, and most probably
the remainder of his life will be devoted to this important task; and
whatever may be the more lively disposition of the Duke of Orleans,
great part of his reign if he comes to the throne, and perhaps the
_whole_ of it, will, _bon gré mal gré_, take the same turn. That it
should be so _is very natural_, because of _what use_ would be some
_foreign provinces_ if they would only add to the difficulty of
governing the old? Therefore, knowing as I do all the proceedings
of the King and his Cabinet, even more fully than I do those of your
Government; seeing constantly in the most unreserved manner the whole
of the despatches; knowing as the nearest neighbour the system that
they constantly followed up towards us, I must say that no one is
more against acquiring influence in foreign States, or even getting
burthened with family aggrandisement in them, than he. He rejected
most positively the marriage of Joinville with Donna Maria because he
will not have anything to do with Portugal. He rejects a _mille_ times
the idea of a future union of the Queen of Spain with Aumale, because
he will not have a son where it _is not_ his intention to support him.

His fear of being drawn into a real intervention has been the cause
of his having been so anxious not to have a French Legion in Spain. He
may be right or wrong on this subject--I do not decide this, as I was
of a different opinion last year; but his fear of being drawn too
far, like a man whose clothes get caught by a steam-engine, is natural
enough. His dislike to the ultra-Liberals in the Peninsula is also
very natural, because they uphold principles of Government which
render Monarchy impossible, and the application of which to France
would be the ruin of the King. England, from the peculiarity of
its position, can do many things which in France would upset
everything.... I must close my letter, and shall answer yours
to-morrow. God bless you! Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted
Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

    [Footnote 71: French Premier and Foreign Secretary.]

    [Footnote 72: 1830.]



_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

PAVILION, BRIGHTON, _25th October 1837._

... Now, dearest Uncle, I must speak to you _un peu de Politique_.
I made Lord Melbourne read the _political_ part of your letter. He
wished me to communicate to you part of the contents of a letter of
Lord Granville's which we received yesterday. Lord Granville complains
a good deal of Molé,[73] and says, that though he is apparently very
cordial and friendly towards us, and talks of his desire that we
should be on a better footing as to our foreign Ministers than we have
hitherto been, that whenever Lord Granville urges him to do anything
decisive (to use Lord G.'s own words) "he _shrinks_ from the
discussion," says he must have time to reflect before he can give any
answer, and evades giving any reply, whenever anything of _importance_
is required. This, you see, dear Uncle, is not satisfactory. I merely
tell you this, as I think you would like to know what Molé tells _our_
Ambassador; this differs from what he told _you_. What you say
about Louis Philippe I am sure is very true; his situation is a very
peculiar and a very difficult one....

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




[Pageheading: THE FRENCH IN AFRICA]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

TRIANON, _27th October 1837._

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

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




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _19th November 1837._

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

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

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

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

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

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

    [Footnote 76: French Minister at Madrid.]

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




[Pageheading: CLOSE OF THE SESSION]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th December 1837._

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




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

LAEKEN, _26th December 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--You were _somewhat irritable_ when you wrote to
me!... Affairs stand now as follows: the studies at Bonn take the
whole of April, and may be concluded at the beginning of May. From May
till the end of August, if you approved of the visit, the time should
be _utilisé_. A _séjour_ at Coburg would _not_ be of much use; here
we are generally absent in the summer. To confide therefore the young
gentleman to his Uncle Mensdorff[79] for three months, would give him
so much time for some _manly accomplishments_, which do no harm to a
young man. To make him _enter the Service_ would _not_ do at all. What
you say about his imbibing principles of a political nature, there
is no great fear of that. First of all, Prague is not a town where
politics are at all agitated; these topics are very rarely touched
upon; besides, Albert is clever, and it is not at the eleventh
hour that anybody in three months will make him imbibe political
principles. Perhaps you will turn in your mind what you think on the
subject, and communicate me the result of it....

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

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




[Pageheading: CANADA]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_27th December 1837._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and acquaints
your Majesty that he has this morning received a letter from
the Speaker[80] consenting to remain until Whitsuntide. This is
inconvenient enough, but the delay relieves your present embarrassment
upon this head, and puts off changes until a period of the Session
when public affairs will be more decisively settled.

Lord Melbourne is sorry to have to inform your Majesty that there was
a good deal of difference of opinion yesterday in the Cabinet upon the
affairs of Canada.[81] All are of opinion that strong measures should
be taken for the repression of the insurrection, but some, and more
particularly Lord Howick, think that these measures of vigour should
be accompanied by measures of amendment and conciliation. We are to
have a Cabinet again upon the subject on Wednesday next, when Lord
Melbourne hopes that some practical result will be come to without
serious difference.

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

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



_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _28th December 1837._

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

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

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




[Pageheading: ARMY ESTIMATES]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th December 1837._

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

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

The Queen regrets that there should be so much difficulty with respect
to the Report of the Army Estimates, but fervently trusts that no
serious difficulties will arise from it; she will be very anxious to
talk about this and many other matters when she sees Lord Melbourne,
which the Queen _hopes_ (as Lord Melbourne says nothing to the
contrary) she will do on the 3rd or 4th.

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

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are here, and the Queen is very
sorry to say, that from what she _sees_ and _hears_, she has reason to
fear all is _not_ as it _should_ be; _her_ mother is most _markedly_
civil and affectionate towards both the Duke and Duchess, and spoke
Politics with the former. The Queen will tell Lord Melbourne more
about this when she sees him.

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

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

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




[Pageheading: CANADA]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_30th December 1837._

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

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




[Pageheading: STATE DEPARTMENTS]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_31st December 1837._

... Lord Melbourne has not yet been able to leave London. In order to
have a chance of arranging these troublesome affairs it is necessary
continually to see those who are principally engaged in them. From
a conversation which he has had this evening with Lord Howick, Lord
Melbourne has better hopes of producing a general agreement upon
Canadian affairs, but the question of the administration of the Army,
which is of less immediate importance, is of more difficulty. Your
Majesty knows the importance attached by the King of the Belgians to
this matter. The opinion of the Duke of Wellington is also strongly
against the projected alteration. On the other hand, five Cabinet
Ministers have pledged themselves to it by signing the report, and
consider themselves as having publicly undertaken to the House of
Commons that some such measure shall be proposed. Lord Melbourne has
asked for the opinions of Lord Hill[85] and Sir Hussey Vivian[86] in
writing. When Lord Melbourne receives them he must submit them to your
Majesty with as short and as clear a statement as he can make of a
question which is of a technical and official character, and with
which Lord Melbourne does not feel himself to be very familiar. Lord
Melbourne transmits a copy of the proposed Order in Council to carry
the recommendation of the report into effect, which will acquaint your
Majesty precisely what the powers and duties are which it is intended
to transfer from the Secretary of State[87] to the Secretary-at-War.
It is the more necessary to be cautious, because it can be done
without taking the opinion or having recourse to the authority of
Parliament.

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

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

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

    [Footnote 85: Commander-in-Chief.]

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

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

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




INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER VII


The Melbourne Ministry were able to maintain themselves in office
during the year (1838), but were too weak to carry important measures.
The prevailing distress led to much criticism of the Poor Law Act of
1834, and the disturbances in Canada turned the tide of emigration
to Australia. But public interest in politics was eclipsed by the
gaieties of the Coronation, in which all ranks partook. The events
of Imperial importance elsewhere centred in Jamaica and Canada, the
apprenticeship system in the former place leading to a renewal of the
anti-slavery agitation at home, and the passing of a Colonial Bill for
absolute emancipation. The Canadian troubles brought about the passing
of an Imperial Act for the suspension for two years of the Legislative
Assembly of Lower Canada, and Lord Durham, an impulsive and
generous-hearted man, was sent out as High Commissioner. Having
dismissed the Executive Council of his predecessor, he nominated a
fresh one, but an ordinance thereafter promulgated in reference to
the rebels was severely criticised. Lord Brougham, rejoicing at the
opportunity of paying off old scores, castigated the Government,
especially Lord Glenelg, the Colonial Secretary, and carried a measure
censuring their Canadian policy. The Ministry disallowed the ordinance
of Lord Durham, who, finding himself unsupported, resigned his
Commission and returned home. On his arrival at Plymouth, he made a
speech, in which he described the rebellion as finally at an end;
the news, however, subsequently arrived that after his departure from
Canada, disturbances had broken out afresh. Sir John Colborne was
appointed to succeed Lord Durham with full powers.

The Civil War continued in Spain through the year, and intermittent
rioting took place in Portugal, a country which was now verging on
bankruptcy. The old Dutch and Belgian controversy as to the possession
of Luxemburg was revived, the King of Holland, who had obstinately
withheld his concurrence for six years from the Articles on the faith
of which King Leopold accepted the throne of Belgium, now showing
overt hostility in the disputed territory. As was natural, France was
in sympathy with Belgium, and the two countries entered into a treaty
of commerce and reciprocity.




CHAPTER VII

1838


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_1st January 1838._

... Lord Melbourne feels most deeply the extreme kindness of your
Majesty's expressions. Whatever may happen in the course of events,
it will always be to Lord Melbourne a source of the most lively
satisfaction to have assisted your Majesty in the commencement of your
reign, which was not without trouble and difficulty, and your Majesty
may depend that whether in or out of office Lord Melbourne's conduct
will always be directed by the strongest attachment to your Majesty's
person, and by the most ardent desire to promote your Majesty's
interests, which from his knowledge of your Majesty's character and
disposition Lord Melbourne feels certain will be always identified
with the interests of your People.




[Pageheading: CANADA]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_14th January 1838._

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

Lord Glenelg[3] is on Monday to make a statement to the House of Lords
upon the subject of Canada, on which a debate may not improbably arise
by which Lord Melbourne may be detained. On Wednesday there is neither
House of Lords nor Cabinet dinner. Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday will
therefore be festive days, on which Lord Melbourne will have great
pleasure in obeying your Majesty's commands and also on Monday, if he
should not be kept in the House of Lords.

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

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

    [Footnote 2: Daughter of Earl Grey.]

    [Footnote 3: Colonial Secretary.]




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

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

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

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


[Pageheading: INFLUENCE OF THE CROWN]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

BRUSSELS, _16th January 1838._

MY DEARLY BELOVED CHILD,--... I am very grateful for Lord Melbourne's
kind recollection of me. I have a sincere regard for him, and I think
that our intercourse has satisfied him of one thing, that I have
nothing so much at heart than your welfare, and what is for the good
of your Empire. I wish very much that you would speak with him on
the subject of what ought to be done to keep for the Crown the little
influence it still may possess. His views on this important subject
are the more trustworthy as he always has belonged to the moderate
Liberals, and therefore has had the means of judging the matter
with great impartiality. Monarchy to be carried on requires certain
elements, and the occupation of the Sovereign must be constantly to
_preserve these elements_, or should they have been too much weakened
by untoward circumstances, to contrive by every means to _strengthen
them again_. You are too clever not to know, that it is _not_ the
being _called_ Queen or King, which can be of the _least consequence_,
when to the title there is not also annexed the power indispensable
for the exercise of those functions. All trades must be learned, and
nowadays the trade of a _constitutional Sovereign, to do it well, is a
very difficult one_.

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

LEOPOLD R.




_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

_24th January 1838._


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

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

ADELAIDE.

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




[Pageheading: DANIEL O'CONNELL]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _22nd February 1838._

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

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

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




[Pageheading: DEPARTMENTS OF STATE]

[Pageheading: BUREAUCRACY]


_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _25th February 1838._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and with
reference to your Majesty's question upon the subjects to which Lord
William Russell's recent despatch relates, he has the honour to state:
that in the Governments of the Continent, and more especially in those
which have no representative Assemblies, the second class of persons
in the public offices possess and exercise much more power and
influence than the corresponding class of persons do in this
country. In England the Ministers who are at the head of the several
departments of the State, are liable any day and every day to defend
themselves in Parliament; in order to do this, they must be minutely
acquainted with all the details of the business of their offices, and
the only way of being constantly armed with such information is to
conduct and direct those details themselves.

On the Continent, where Ministers of State are not liable so to be
called to account for their conduct, the Ministers are tempted
to leave the details of their business much more to their
Under-Secretaries and to their chief clerks. Thus it happens that
all the routine of business is generally managed by these subordinate
agents; and to such an extent is this carried, that Viscount
Palmerston believes that the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, in France,
Austria, Prussia, and Russia, seldom take the trouble of writing
their own despatches, except, perhaps, upon some very particular and
important occasion.

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

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

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

But on the Continent, changes of Ministers are oftener changes of
individual men from personal causes, than changes of parties from
political convulsions; and therefore when the Chief retires, the
Under-Secretary remains. There are consequently in all the public
offices abroad a number of men who have spent the greater part of
their lives in their respective departments, and who by their long
experience are full of knowledge of what has been done in former
times, and of the most convenient and easy manner of doing what may be
required in the time present. This affords to the Chiefs an additional
motive for leaning upon their subordinates, and gives to those
subordinates still more real influence.

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_21st March 1838._

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

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

Lord Minto[8] told Lord Melbourne last night to acquaint your
Majesty that Lord Amelius Beauclerck,[9] your Majesty's first Naval
Aide-de-Camp, intended to ask an Audience to-day of your Majesty,
and that the object of it was to request that he and the other
Aides-de-Camp might wear sashes. This was always refused by the
late King as being absurd and ridiculous--as it is, particularly
considering Lord Amelius's figure--and your Majesty had perhaps better
say that you can make no change.

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

    [Footnote 6: Philip Henry, fourth Earl.]

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

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

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




[Pageheading: PRESSURE OF BUSINESS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th April 1838._

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

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

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_5th April 1838._

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




[Pageheading: FAVOURITE HORSES]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th April 1838._

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

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

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

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

    VICTORIA R.

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

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




[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT'S EDUCATION]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

_13th April 1838._

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

(_Undated._)

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

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




[Pageheading: OLD SERVANTS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th April 1838._

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

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




_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, _17th April 1838._

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




[Pageheading: THE CORONATION]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

_17th April 1838._

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

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




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th April 1838._

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

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




[Pageheading: THE TRAIN-BEARERS]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _5th May 1838._

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

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

Perhaps, when the names are agreed to, Lord Melbourne would kindly
undertake to speak or write to the parents of the young ladies
proposing it to them.

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_17th May 1838._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thinks
that your Majesty had better direct Lord Conyngham to ask the
Archbishop, before the Audience, who has generally been there and how
it ought to be conducted.

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

Your Majesty had better say something kind to each of the Bishops as
they are presented. They are presented to your Majesty in this manner
as a sort of privilege, instead of being presented at the Drawing-Room
with others, and your Majesty should conduct yourself towards them
exactly as if they had been presented in the usual circle. The time is
about half-past one, and your Majesty had better be punctual so as not
to delay the Drawing-Room.


[Pageheading: THE SLAVE TRADE]


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

[Draft enclosed]

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

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




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th May 1838._

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

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

We have got a number of Austrians and Milanese here, among whom are
a Prince Odescalchi, and a Count Eugène Zichy, renowned for his
magnificent _turquoises_ and his famous valzing, a good-natured
_élégant_; we have also Esterhazy's daughter Marie--now Countess
Chorinsky--a Count and Countess Grippa, and a Marquis and Marchioness
of Trivalzi, etc.

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

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




[Pageheading: INDEPENDENCE OF BELGIUM]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _2nd June 1838._

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

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

All I want from your kind Majesty is, that you will _occasionally_
express to your Ministers, and particularly to good Lord Melbourne,
that, as far as it is _compatible_ with the interests _of your own_
dominions, you do _not_ wish that your Government should take
the _lead_ in such measures as might in a short time bring on the
_destruction_ of this country, as well as that of your uncle and his
family.

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

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

Now I will make haste to conclude, and remain ever, my dearest
Victoria, your truly devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

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




[Pageheading: ANGLO-BELGIAN RELATIONS]

[Pageheading: PROGRESS OF BELGIUM]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th June 1838._

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

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

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

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

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

I perfectly understand and feel that your position with respect to all
these affairs is very difficult and trying, and the feelings of your
subjects are far from unnatural; yet I sincerely hope that you will
use the great influence you possess over the minds of the leading men
in Belgium, to mitigate discontent and calm irritation, and procure
acquiescence in whatever arrangements may ultimately be found
inevitable.

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

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

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

I trust, dearest Uncle, that you will, at all times, believe me your
devoted and most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.




[Pageheading: FOREIGN POLICY]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _June [18] 1838._

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

I will now tell you honestly that I had some misgivings; I did not
exactly think that you had quite forgotten me, but I thought I had
been put aside as one does with a piece of furniture which is no
longer wanted. I did not complain, because I fear if affection is once
on the decline, reproaches only diminish it the faster. I therefore
said nothing, but in a life full of grief and disappointments like
mine, the loss of your affection would have been one of the most
severe. It was in this point of view that the declaration made by
Lord Palmerston at the beginning of May to the Prussian Government
chagrined me much.[19] It was premature, because the negotiation
was not yet renewed. It looked as if the English Government had
been anxious to say to the Northern Powers, who always steadfastly
_protected_ Holland, "You imagine, perhaps, that we mean to have
_égards_ for the uncle of the Queen; there you see we shall make even
shorter work with him now than we did under our late master."

This impression had been _general_ on the Continent; they considered
the declaration to Prussia in this way: "La Reine et ses Ministres
sont donc entièrement indifférents sur le compte du Roi L.; _cela
change entièrement_ la position, et nous allons faire mains basses sur
lui." From that moment their language became extremely imperious;
they spoke of nothing but acts of coercion, bombardment, etc., etc. I
firmly believe, because I have been these many years on terms of great
and sincere friendship with Palmerston, that he did not himself quite
foresee the importance which would be attached to his declaration. I
must say it hurt me more in my _English_ capacity than in my Belgian,
as I came to this country _from England_, and was chosen _for that
very reason_. Besides, I am happy to say, I was never as yet in the
position to ask for any act of kindness from you, so that whatever
little service I may have rendered you, remained on a basis of perfect
disinterestedness. That the first diplomatic step in our affairs
should seem by your Government to be directed against me, created
therefore all over the Continent a considerable sensation. I shall
never ask any favours of you, or anything that could in the least be
considered as _incompatible_ with the interests of England; but you
will comprehend that there is a great difference in claiming favours
and in being treated as an enemy....

I will conclude my overgrown letter with the assurance that you
never were in greater favour, and that I love you dearly. Believe me,
therefore, ever, my best beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

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

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




[Pageheading: THE CORONATION]


_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

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

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

ADELAIDE.




_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Thursday, 28th June 1838._

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

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




[Pageheading: THE ABBEY]


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

I reached the Abbey amid deafening cheers at a little after half-past
eleven; I first went into a robing-room quite close to the entrance
where I found my eight train-bearers: Lady Caroline Lennox, Lady
Adelaide Paget, Lady Mary Talbot, Lady Fanny Cowper, Lady Wilhelmina
Stanhope, Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, Lady Mary Grimston, and Lady Louisa
Jenkinson--all dressed alike and beautifully in white satin and silver
tissue with wreaths of silver corn-ears in front, and a small one of
pink roses round the plait behind, and pink roses in the trimming of
the dresses.

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

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

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


[Pageheading: HOMAGE]

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

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


[Pageheading: POPULAR ENTHUSIASM]

I then again descended from the Throne, and repaired with all the
Peers bearing the Regalia, my Ladies and Train-bearers, to St Edward's
Chapel, as it is called; but which, as Lord Melbourne said, was
more _un_like a Chapel than anything he had ever seen; for what was
_called_ an _Altar_ was covered with sandwiches, bottles of wine,
etc., etc. The Archbishop came in and _ought_ to have delivered
the Orb to me, but I had already got it, and he (as usual) was _so_
confused and puzzled and knew nothing, and--went away. Here we waited
some minutes. Lord Melbourne took a glass of wine, for he seemed
completely tired. The Procession being formed, I replaced my Crown
(which I had taken off for a few minutes), took the Orb in my left
hand and the Sceptre in my right, and thus _loaded_, proceeded through
the Abbey--which resounded with cheers, to the first robing-room;
where I found the Duchess of Gloucester, Mamma, and the Duchess of
Cambridge with their Ladies. And here we waited for at least an hour,
with _all_ my ladies and train-bearers; the Princesses went away about
half an hour before I did. The Archbishop had (most awkwardly) put
the ring on the wrong finger, and the consequence was that I had the
greatest difficulty to take it off again, which I at last did with
great pain. Lady Fanny, Lady Wilhelmina, and Lady Mary Grimston looked
quite beautiful. At about half-past four I re-entered my carriage,
the Crown on my head, and the Sceptre and Orb in my hands, and we
proceeded the same way as we came--the crowds if possible having
increased. The enthusiasm, affection, and loyalty were really
touching, and I shall ever remember this day as the _Proudest_ of my
life! I came home at a little after six, really _not_ feeling tired.


[Pageheading: INCIDENTS OF THE CORONATION]

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

    [Footnote 22: The King of Hanover.]

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

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


[Pageheading: PAGES OF HONOUR]

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

Spoke of my intending to go to bed, etc.; he said, "You may depend
upon it, you are more tired than you think you are." I said I had
slept badly the night before; he said that was my mind, that nothing
kept people more awake than any consciousness of a great event going
to take place, and being agitated. He was not sure if he was not going
to the Duke of Wellington's.

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

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




[Pageheading: EXTRA HOLIDAYS FOR SCHOOLS]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _29th June 1838._

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

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

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




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _2nd July 1838._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--_Many_ thanks for _two_ kind letters, one which I
got last Monday and one this morning. The kind interest you take in
me and my country (of which, and of the nation, I'm more proud than I
ever was, since I've witnessed their excessive affection and
loyalty to me) makes me certain that you will be glad to hear how
_beautifully_ everything went off. It was a memorable and glorious day
for me. The millions assembled to witness the progress to and from the
Abbey was _beyond_ belief, and _all_ in the highest good-humour. It
is a fine ceremony, and a scene I shall _ever_ remember, and with
pleasure. I likewise venture to add that people thought I did my part
very well.

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

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

VICTORIA R.




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_8th July 1838._

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

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

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




[Pageheading: LOYAL DEMONSTRATIONS]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

NEUILLY, _12th July 1838._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I am very grateful for your kind letter; it
is extremely _meritorious_, amidst such fatigues and festivities and
occupations of every kind, to find a moment to write. I expressed
already the _great satisfaction_ with which I read and heard all
the accounts of the Coronation, and I believe that there _never_ was
anything like it. The only one which in point of loyal demonstration
may approach it is that of George III., but I think it fell short of
yours.

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

Believe me, ever, my dearest Victoria, your very devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

The whole of the family here offer their best _hommages_.




_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

NEUILLY, _20th July 1838._

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




[Pageheading: LORD DURHAM]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_10th August 1838._

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_10th August 1838._

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

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

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




_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

_25th September 1838._

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

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




[Pageheading: IRELAND AND O'CONNELL]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_25th October 1838._

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

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

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

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

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_4th November 1838._

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

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




[Pageheading: DEATH OF LADY JOHN RUSSELL]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th November 1838._

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _9th November 1838._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Your kind and interesting letter of the
6th reached me yesterday morning. I hail in you those simple and
unaffected feelings which it contains. May you _always_ preserve that
great warmth and truth of character which you now possess, and rest
assured that it will be an ornament to you, and the means of finding
the same truth and warmth of feeling in others. Those who serve, from
whatever motive it may be, have always their eyes wide open on their
superiors, and no qualities impose so much on them the necessity of
respect, which they _gladly avoid_, than a warm and noble character
that knows how to feel for others, and how to sympathise with their
sorrows. I pity Lord John from all my heart, having always had for him
sentiments of the sincerest regard. I fear that as a political man it
may prove also a severe blow. All depends on how he takes it, if he
will wish to forget his grief by occupying himself with political
strife or if his greater sensibility will make him wish to indulge it
in solitude....




[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th November 1838._

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

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

I have this morning heard from Ferdinand that the good Queen is
at last confined, after keeping us for _two months_ and _more dans
l'attente_ of the event. It took place on the 3rd, and Ferdinand
writes such a funny letter, saying, "nous sommes tous bien heureux
surtout moi qui craignais que ce ne fût une petite fille ce qui m'eût
été un peu désagréable, car en fait d'enfants j'aime mieux les petits
garçons, parce qu'ils sont plus gais et plus tapageurs."[32] Isn't
this very good?

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

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_20th November 1838._

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

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

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




[Pageheading: CANADA AND LORD DURHAM]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_22nd November 1838._

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

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

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

With respect to Canada, Lord Melbourne feels that it may be considered
somewhat presumptuous in him to undervalue danger, which is considered
by those upon the spot to be so great and so imminent, but still he
cannot feel the alarm which seems to be felt there. Lord Durham, Lord
Melbourne is convinced, exaggerates the peril in order to give greater
_éclat_ to his own departure. The worst symptom which Lord Melbourne
perceives is the general fear which seems to prevail there, and which
makes every danger ten times as great as it really is.

    [Footnote 34: The birth of an heir on 16th September 1837
    conferred on Prince Ferdinand the right to the title of King.]

    [Footnote 35: See _ante_, p. 131. (Ch VII, Footnote 30)]

    [Footnote 36: Lord Duncannon (1781-1847), at this time Lord
    Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests,
    was afterwards (as Earl of Bessborough) Lord-Lieutenant of
    Ireland. He must not be confused with the Lord Dungannon who
    sat in the House of Commons as Mr Hill-Trevor from 1830-1841,
    and, as Viscount Dungannon, was elected in 1843, but
    immediately unseated on petition.]




[Pageheading: BELGIUM AND ENGLAND]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _24th November 1838._

MY DEAR VICTORIA,--Van Praet[37] is bearer of this letter. The
present moment being one of some importance--which may, if imprudently
managed, cause great disturbances in the West of Europe, and exercise
a reaction on your own Government--I think it my duty to inform you
of what is going on.

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

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

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

LEOPOLD R.

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

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




[Pageheading: BELGIUM AND HOLLAND]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_2nd December 1838._

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

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

Lord Melbourne would suggest that your Majesty should say "that
your great affection for the King, as well as your anxiety for the
interests of your own country, and your desire for the promotion
of peace, render you most solicitous to have the Belgian question
speedily and definitively settled; that it appears to you that it can
only be settled by the agreement of the four Powers who constitute the
Conference, and that therefore you cannot but wish most strongly to
carry France as well as the two others along with you."[39]

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_3rd December 1838._

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

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

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




[Pageheading: BELGIAN AFFAIRS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _5th December 1838._

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

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

Pray give my affectionate love to Aunt Louise and the children, and
believe me, always, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.




[Pageheading: LORD DURHAM'S RESIGNATION]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_8th December 1838._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
just received your Majesty's letters. Lord Durham arrived yesterday
evening, and Lord Melbourne has just seen Mr. Stanley, who has seen
him. He represents him as calm, but much hurt and vexed at the last
despatch which expresses your Majesty's disapprobation of his conduct
in issuing the proclamation.[42] Lord Durham said that he should
immediately write an answer to it, in which he should state that he
would communicate to the Government all the information which he had
collected upon the state of the Canadas. That he should not ask an
audience of your Majesty. This is his present decision. He may alter
it; if he should, and through any channel request an audience, Lord
Melbourne is now clearly of opinion that your Majesty should merely
say that an answer will be sent and the propriety of granting an
audience may then be fully considered by your Majesty's confidential
servants. Mr Stanley represents Lord Durham as not speaking with much
violence or asperity, but seeming to feel much the censure conveyed in
the last despatch.

Your Majesty will receive from the Colonial Office a _précis_ of
Sir John Colborne's despatches. Nothing can be more honourable. The
American force which made an incursion into Upper Canada have all been
taken prisoners....

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_8th December 1838._

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




[Pageheading: AN ENGLISH CHURCH FOR MALTA]


_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

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

MY DEAREST NIECE,--The English mail going to-day gives me another
opportunity to address you, and to name a subject to you which I think
deserves your consideration, and about which I feel most anxious. It
is the want of a _Protestant church_ in this place which I mean.
There are so many English residents here, it is the seat of an English
Government, and there is _not one_ church belonging to the Church of
England.... The consequence of this want of church accommodation has
been that the Dissenters have established themselves in considerable
numbers, and one cannot blame persons for attending their meetings
when they have no church of their own.

I address myself to you, as the head of the Church of England, and
entreat you to consider well this important subject, and to talk it
over with your Ministers and the Archbishop, in order to devise the
best means of remedying a want so discreditable to our country. Should
there be no funds at your disposal to effect this object, most happy
shall I feel to contribute to any subscription which may be set on
foot, and I believe that a considerable sum may be raised amongst the
Protestants of this island, where all parties are most anxious to
see a proper place of divine worship erected; without assistance from
England, however, it cannot be effected. I therefore most humbly and
confidently submit this subject to you, dearest Victoria, who will
bestow upon your Protestant subjects of this island an everlasting
benefit by granting them what they want most.[44]...

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

ADELAIDE.

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

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




[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ANXIETIES]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_21st December 1838._

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

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

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




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_22nd December 1838._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and cannot
express how deeply concerned he is to find himself restrained from
obeying your Majesty's commands, and repairing without delay to
Brighton. Both his duty and his inclination would prompt him to do
this without a moment's delay, if he did not find it incumbent upon
him to represent to your Majesty the very important circumstances
which require his presence for two or three days longer in London.
The session of Parliament approaches; the questions which are to be
considered and prepared are of the most appalling magnitude, and of
the greatest difficulty. Many of your Majesty's servants, who fill
the most important offices, are compelled by domestic calamity to
be absent, and it is absolutely necessary that there should be some
general superintendence of the measures to be proposed, and some
consideration of the arrangements to be made. Lord Melbourne assures
your Majesty that he would not delay in London if he did not feel it
to be absolutely necessary for your Majesty's service....




[Pageheading: BRIGHTON]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _28th December 1838._

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

I am glad to find that you like Brighton better than last year. I
think Brighton very agreeable at this time of the year, till the east
winds set in. It also gives the possibility of seeing people without
having them on one's hands the whole day, as is the case in the
country. The Pavilion, besides, is comfortable; that cannot be denied.
Before my marriage it was there that I met the Regent. Charlotte
afterwards came with old Queen Charlotte. How distant all this
already, but still how present to one's memory.

The portrait of your Aunt and Leopold is nicely done. Don Leopoldo is
like, and has at times even a more intelligent look; he would amuse
you--he is very original and very sly. I often call him the little
tyrant, because nobody knows so well _de faire aller le monde_.... My
most beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

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




INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER VIII


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

Penny Postage was introduced by an Act of this session.

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

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

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

The dispute between Belgium and Holland as to the Luxemburg territory
was settled by a treaty in the course of the year. Lord Durham
presented his report on Canada, a document drafted by Charles Buller
but inspired by Lord Durham himself; though legislation did not take
place this year, this document laid the foundation of the federal
union of the Canadas, and of the Constitution of other autonomous
colonies, but for the present the ex-Commissioner met with much
criticism of his actions.

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

In China a dispute of long standing became acute. With the renewal of
the East India Company's charter, in 1834, the Chinese ports had been
thrown open, and the opium trade became a source of great profit
to private traders. In spite of the prohibition which the Chinese
Government laid on importation of opium, the traffic was actively
carried on, and, as a result of the strained relations which ensued,
Captain Elliot, the British Chief Superintendent, requested that
warships should proceed to China for the protection of British life
and property.




CHAPTER VIII

1839


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

PAVILION [BRIGHTON], _1st January 1839._

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

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

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

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

VICTORIA R.

Forgive this short scrawl.

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

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

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

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





[Pageheading: MURDER OF LORD NORBURY]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_6th January 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
returns his best and warmest thanks for the very kind and gracious
communication which he had the honour and pleasure of receiving from
your Majesty yesterday evening. Your Majesty will have seen in the
newspapers that Lord Norbury was shot at in his own grounds and
dangerously wounded.[5] Lord Melbourne learns to-day by a letter
from Lord Morpeth that Lord Norbury is since dead. This is a shocking
event, and will, of course, create a strong sensation, much stronger
than the death in the same manner of several persons of inferior
degree. It is almost the first time that an attempt of this kind has
been directed against an individual of that rank or station....

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

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

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

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




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th January 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--The dreadful moment has arrived, and dear Marie[8] is
no more to bless her loving relations with her presence on this earth
of grief and troubles! It is a heavy dispensation, and one that it is
difficult to comprehend, but we must submit.

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

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

I will not prolong this letter, but merely repeat _how_ much I feel
for you all, and beg you to believe me, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

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




[Pageheading: HOLLAND AND BELGIUM]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _18th January 1839._

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

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

Your cousins kiss your hands, and I remain, my dearest Victoria, your
devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.




_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _27th January 1839._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
returns to your Majesty the accompanying papers which he received
from Viscount Melbourne. Your Majesty will have seen by Sir Edward
Disbrowe's[9] despatches that the concentration of Dutch troops
mentioned in these reports was purely defensive, and was the
consequence of the military demonstrations previously made by the
Belgians; and it appears, moreover, that the Dutch force is inferior
in number to the Belgian force opposite to it; and that affords an
additional security against the chance of an invasion of Belgium by
the Dutch. It is, however, undeniable that when two armies are drawn
up in face of each other, separated by a small distance, and animated
by mutual hatred, the chances of collision become great and imminent.
But it is to be hoped in the present case that the communication made
by the Conference to the two parties on Thursday last may avert danger
of hostilities between the Dutch and Belgians.[10]

    [Footnote 9: Minister at the Hague.]

    [Footnote 10: _See_ next letter.]




[Pageheading: BELGIUM AND ENGLAND]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _7th February 1839._

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

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

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

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

VICTORIA R.

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

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

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




[Pageheading: CABINET DISSENSION]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_10th February 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thinks
it right and necessary to acquaint your Majesty that the Cabinet
yesterday was very stormy and unpleasant. Lord John Russell brought on
the question of the Civil Government of the Army, in a temperate and
judicious manner, but Lord Howick made a most violent speech, strongly
condemning the whole of the present system and arraigning the conduct
of the Treasury and other Departments, saying that he should not throw
up his office because no measure was brought forward, but that, when
questioned upon the subject by Mr Hume in the House of Commons, as it
was certain that he would be, he should say that Government would do
nothing upon the subject, until he (Mr Hume) compelled them, and that
he should express his entire disapprobation of the present system,
and his reasons in detail for that disapprobation. Your Majesty will
perceive that nothing could be more violent than this course. It was
borne with great patience by the rest of the Cabinet, although Mr.
Rice,[14] against whom the greater part of Lord Howick's speech was
directed, felt himself most deeply hurt, and so expressed himself in
private afterwards to Lord Melbourne. Upon the whole, Lord Melbourne
cannot but consider that affairs are in a most precarious state, and
that whilst there is so much discontent fermenting within the Cabinet
itself, there must be great doubt of Lord Melbourne's being much
longer able to hold the Administration together.

    [Footnote 14: The Chancellor of the Exchequer.]




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_10th February 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is very
sorry that his communication has occasioned your Majesty so much alarm
and uneasiness. Lord Melbourne hopes that there is nothing imminent
and immediate, but this sort of outbreak and contention may so soon
become serious, that Lord Melbourne thought it his duty to take an
early opportunity of informing your Majesty of what had taken place.
Lord Melbourne would wait upon your Majesty without delay, but trusts
that this letter will be sufficient to dispel any disquietude which
his former communication may have excited.




[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF LUCCA]


_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _20th February 1839._

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

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

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




_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _5th March 1839._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty,
and requests to be honoured with your Majesty's commands upon the
accompanying letter from Count Pollon.[16] Viscount Palmerston at the
same time begs to state that he has reason to believe, from what Count
Pollon said to him in conversation two days ago, that the Duke of
Lucca[17] has a notion that Sovereign Princes who have had the honour
of dining with your Majesty, have been invited by note and not by
card. If that should be so, and if your Majesty should invite the
Duke of Lucca to dine at the Palace before his departure, perhaps the
invitation might be made by note, instead of by card, as it was when
the Duke last dined at the Palace. Your Majesty may think this a small
matter, but the Duke is a small Sovereign.

    [Footnote 16: For many years Sardinian Minister in England.]

    [Footnote 17: Lucca was an independent Italian State.]




[Pageheading: PORTUGAL]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th March 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and feels
very deeply the very kind and gracious concern which your Majesty
expresses for his health, as well as your Majesty's solicitude and
interest upon all occasions. Lord Melbourne will take your Majesty's
advice, but his experience teaches him that illness is not so easily
put off, and that it will have its course in spite of precaution....

Lord Melbourne thinks, upon the whole, that your Majesty had perhaps
better write by messenger a few lines of kindness and recollection.
It can be no descent on your Majesty's part to do so, and as we may be
obliged to take very strong measures with respect to Portugal, it
is as well that there should be no appearance of any deficiency of
affection or attention. Lord Melbourne [thinks] that, for the reason
given by your Majesty, your Majesty may perhaps as well not go to the
play this evening, but is very sorry to hear that your Majesty is low
and out of spirits.




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _14th March 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--Many thanks for two letters, one which I received last
Sunday, and the other enclosing a letter from Stockmar this morning. I
am glad you agree with me about Victoire.[18] Since I wrote to you,
I got these two letters from the Portuguese children--as I
disrespectfully but very deservedly call them--which I send you, in
order that you may see how they wish Victoire to come to them, which
I fear and think is totally impracticable, for it would never do for
Victoire to go so far without her mother. Nevertheless, I thought it
but right by them to send you these letters, and I have written to
them giving them little hope.

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

I have no time to add more, but to beg you to believe me, always, your
most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

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

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




[Pageheading: DIFFICULTIES OF THE MINISTRY]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_22nd March 1839._

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

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

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

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

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

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

    [Footnote 20: By 63 to 58 Lord Roden carried a motion for a
    Select Committee to enquire into the state of Ireland; the
    Ministry replied by obtaining a vote of the House of Commons
    in their favour by 318 to 296.]




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL,[21] _1st April 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has just
received your Majesty's letters, for which he returns many and warm
thanks. Nothing could be more prosperous than his journey down,
although it rained hard the greater part of the way. Lord Melbourne
slept well, and has walked out this morning, although it was still
showery. Nothing is so fatiguing as the first exposure to the air of
the country, and Lord Melbourne feels the influence of it.

Lord Melbourne returns the letters of the King of the Belgians. He
accounts very naturally for the conduct of the poor Duchess,[22] but
she should have recollected the extreme disadvantage and discredit
which attaches to a change of religion. _Un gentilhomme ne change
jamais la religion_, was the saying of Napoleon, and is very just. It
is difficult to understand the movements and motives of parties in a
foreign country, and therefore Lord Melbourne does not feel able to
pronounce any opinion upon the transactions in France. Lord Melbourne
had seen G----'s letters, a pert jackanapes, who always takes the
worst view of every subject, and does as much mischief as he can....

Lord Melbourne is just starting for Panshanger.[23] The evening is
better than the morning was, but cold.

    [Footnote 21: Lord Melbourne's house on the Lea, about three
    miles north of Hatfield. Its construction was begun by Sir
    Matthew Lamb, and completed by his son, Sir Peniston, the
    first Lord Melbourne.]

    [Footnote 22: Princess Alexander of Würtemberg. On her
    death-bed, she had expressed a wish to her husband that he
    should join the Roman Catholic Church.]

    [Footnote 23: Panshanger, not far distant from Brocket, the
    house of Lord Melbourne's brother-in-law, Lord Cowper, and
    celebrated for its pictures, was bought by Lord Chancellor
    Cowper, _temp._ Queen Anne.]




[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND BELGIUM]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th April 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--... I regret to learn you are still not easy about
your own affairs, but trust all will now be speedily adjusted. You
always allow me, dear Uncle, to speak frankly to you; you will,
therefore, I hope, not be displeased if I venture to make a few
observations on one or two parts of your letter.

You say that the anger of the Belgians is principally directed against
England.[24] Now, I must say you are very unjust towards us, and (if
I could) I might be even a little angry with you, dear Uncle. We only
_pressed_ Belgium for her _own_ good, and _not_ for ours. It may seem
hard at first, but the time will come when you will see that we were
right in urging you not to delay any longer the signature of the
treaty.

I think that you will see in this frank expression of my sentiments no
wish to annoy or hurt you, but only an anxious desire to prove to you
that England is Belgium's sincere friend, and that my Government
are ever desirous of doing what is in their power for the welfare,
security, and prosperity of yourself and your kingdom.

I regret much the state of affairs in France,[25] which cannot but
make us all somewhat anxious; you will, I hope tell me what news you
hear from Paris.

Pray, dearest Uncle, receive my best, my very warmest, wishes for many
happy returns of dear Leopold's birthday, and also, though somewhat
late, for Philippe's birthday.

Give my love to my dear Aunt, and believe me, always, your most
devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

    [Footnote 24: He had written on 5th April:--"The feeling is
    strongest against England, in which the people expected to
    see a support, and only found a strong determination to decide
    _everything against them_ and at _their expense_. If there was
    a great explosion in France, it would not be astonishing to
    see the people here join it; it would rather be astonishing to
    see it otherwise, after the kind treatment they received from
    the Powers."]

    [Footnote 25: The King was for a time without any Ministry,
    and the meeting of the Chambers had to be postponed.]




[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT IN ITALY]


_Baron Stockmar to Queen Victoria._

NAPLES, _16th April 1839._

MADAM,--As it is some time that I had the honour to address your
Majesty, I hope that a further account of our crusades will meet with
a favourable reception.

It is now somewhat better than a month that we left Florence, I may
say with regret, for we were there very comfortably in every respect.
On our route to Rome we enjoyed the beautiful sight of the cataract at
Terni, the place where Queen Caroline sojourned for some time. We were
particularly fortunate that day, as the brightest sunshine heightened
its picturesque effects beyond description. We found old Rome very
full, and to see it and its ecclesiastic governors to advantage, the
Holy Week is certainly the properest time. From morning to noon the
Prince was at seeing sights, and he made so good a use of his time,
that I don't think that something really remarkable was left unseen.
Upon this very principle, we paid our respects to the Holy Father,[26]
of which interview the Prince made so admirable a sketch, so very
worthy of H.B.,[27] that I am very much tempted to send it for the
inspection of your Majesty. We assisted at the Church ceremonies of
the Holy Week from the beginning to the end. The music of the Sistine
Chapel, which is only vocal, may be well considered as unique, and has
not failed to make a lasting impression upon a mind so musical as the
Prince's....

I never think of your Majesty--and I take the liberty of thinking
very frequently of you--without praying for health, serenity of mind,
comfort and success for you, and I can well say that I am from my
heart, your Majesty's sincerely attached and devoted Servant,

STOCKMAR.

    [Footnote 26: Gregory XVI.]

    [Footnote 27: Initials adopted by Mr Doyle, father of Richard
    Doyle, in his _Reform Caricatures_.]




[Pageheading: BELGIUM]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

_19th April 1839._

... I am glad I extracted some spark of politics from your dear
Majesty, very _kindly_ and _nicely_ expressed. I know that your
generous little heart would not have wished at any time but what was
good for a country in which you were _much beloved_. But the fact is,
that certainly your Government have taken the lead in maintaining a
condition which time had rendered difficult to comply with. Physicians
will tell you that often an operation, which might have been performed
at one time, could not, without great danger for the patient, be
undertaken some years later. We have not been listened to, and
arrangements _are forced_ on us, in themselves full of seeds of
danger, when by consulting the _real interests_ of Holland and
Belgium, both countries might have been placed on a footing of
_sincere peace_ and good neighbourhood. This country feels now humbled
and _désenchanté_ with its _soi-disant_ political independence as it
pleased the Conference to settle it. They will take a dislike to a
political state which _wounds their vanity_, and will, in consequence
of this, _not wish it to continue_. Two things will happen, therefore,
on the very first opportunity, either that this country will
be involved in war to better a position which it thinks _too
humiliating_, or that it will voluntarily throw up a nominal
independence in which it is now hemmed in between France and Holland,
which begins on the North Sea, and ends, of all the things in this
world, on _the Moselle_!

I think old Pirson, who said in the Chamber that if the treaty was
carried into execution I was likely to be the first and last King
of the country, was not wrong. Whenever this will happen, it will be
_very awkward_ for England, and _deservedly so_. To see, after eight
years of hard work, blooming and thriving political plantations cut
and maimed, and that by those who have a real interest to protect
them, is very melancholy. I do not say these things with the most
distant idea of bringing about any change, but only because in the
high and very responsible position in which Providence has placed
you, it is good to tell you the truth, as you ought to have weight
and influence on the affairs of Europe; and England, not being in
the possibility of making territorial acquisition, has a real and
permanent interest in the proper maintenance of a balance of political
power in Europe. Now I will leave you to enjoy the beginning of
Spring, which a mild rain seems to push on prodigiously. Believe me
ever, my dear Victoria, your very attached Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: JAMAICA]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_26th April 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
inform your Majesty that the result of the Cabinet has been a decision
to stand by the Bill as we have introduced it, and not to accede to
Sir Robert Peel's proposal. The Bill is for suspending the functions
of the Legislative Assembly of Jamaica, and governing that island for
five years by a Governor and Council.[28] If Sir Robert Peel should
persist in his proposal, and a majority of the House of Commons should
concur with him, it will be such a mark of want of confidence as it
will be impossible for your Majesty's Government to submit to.

    [Footnote 28: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. ( to Ch. VIII)]




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _30th April 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I have to thank you for your last letter, which
I received on Sunday. Though you seem not to dislike my political
sparks, I think it is better not to increase them, as they might
finally take fire, particularly as I see with regret that upon this
one subject we cannot agree. I shall therefore limit myself to my
expressions of very sincere wishes for the welfare and prosperity of
Belgium.

The Grand Duke,[29] after a long delay, is at length to arrive on
Friday night; I shall put myself out of my way in order to be very
civil to such a great personage. I am already thinking how I shall
lodge all my relations; you must prepare Uncle Ferdinand for its not
being _very ample_, but this Palace, though large, is not calculated
to hold many visitors....

Believe me, always, your very affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

    [Footnote 29: The Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia, afterwards
    the Emperor Alexander II.]




[Pageheading: MINISTERIAL CRISIS]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_7th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has to
acquaint your Majesty that the division upon the Jamaica Bill, which
took place about two this morning, was two hundred and ninety-nine
against the measure, and three hundred and four in favour of it.[30]
Lord Melbourne has not heard from Lord John Russell since this event,
but a Cabinet will of course be summoned early this morning, and Lord
Melbourne cannot conceal from your Majesty that in his opinion the
determination of the Cabinet must be that the relative numbers upon
this vote, joined to the consideration of no less than nine members
of those who have hitherto invariably supported the Government having
gone against it now, leave your Majesty's confidential servants no
alternative but to resign their offices into your Majesty's hands.
They cannot give up the Bill either with honour or satisfaction to
their own consciences, and in the face of such an opposition they
cannot persevere in it with any hope of success. Lord Melbourne
is certain that your Majesty will not deem him too presuming if
he expresses his fear that this decision will be both painful and
embarrassing to your Majesty, but your Majesty will meet this crisis
with that firmness which belongs to your character, and with that
rectitude and sincerity which will carry your Majesty through all
difficulties. It will also be greatly painful to Lord Melbourne to
quit the service of a Mistress who has treated him with such unvarying
kindness and unlimited confidence; but in whatever station he may be
placed, he will always feel the deepest anxiety for your Majesty's
interests and happiness, and will do the utmost in his power to
promote and secure them.

    [Footnote 30: The numbers are apparently incorrectly stated.
    The division was 294 to 289.]




[Pageheading: RESIGNATION IMMINENT]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_7th May 1839._

The present circumstances have been for some time so probable, or
rather so certain, that Lord Melbourne has naturally been led to weigh
and consider maturely the advice which, if called upon, he should
tender to your Majesty when they did arrive. That advice is, at once
to send for the Duke of Wellington. Your Majesty appears to Lord
Melbourne to have no other alternative. The Radicals have neither
ability, honesty, nor numbers. They have no leaders of any character.
Lord Durham was raised, one hardly knows how, into something of a
factitious importance by his own extreme opinions, by the panegyrics
of those who thought he would serve them as an instrument, and by the
management of the Press, but any little public reputation which he
might once have acquired has been entirely dissipated and destroyed by
the continued folly of his conduct in his Canadian Government. There
is no party in the State to which your Majesty can now resort, except
that great party which calls itself Conservative, and of that party,
his rank, station, reputation, and experience point out the Duke of
Wellington as the person to whom your Majesty should apply.

Lord Melbourne therefore advises that your Majesty should send for the
Duke of Wellington, and should acquaint him, provided your Majesty so
feels, that you were entirely satisfied with your late Government, and
that you part from them with reluctance; but that as he and the party
of which he is the head have been the means of removing them from
office, you naturally look to him to advise you as to the means of
supplying their places and carrying on the business of the country.

If the Duke should be unwilling to form the Government himself, and
should desire to devolve the task upon Sir Robert Peel, Lord Melbourne
would advise your Majesty to accede to that suggestion; but Lord
Melbourne would counsel your Majesty to be very unwilling to suffer
the Government to be formed by Sir Robert Peel, without the active
assistance in office of the Duke of Wellington.

With respect both to measures and appointments, your Majesty should
place the fullest confidence in those to whom you entrust the
management of affairs, exercising at the same time, and fully
expressing, your own judgment upon both.

Your Majesty will do well to be from the beginning very vigilant that
all measures and all appointments are stated to your Majesty in the
first instance, and your Majesty's pleasure taken thereon previously
to any instruments being drawn out for carrying them into effect, and
submitted to your Majesty's signature. It is the more necessary to be
watchful and active in this respect, as the extreme confidence which
your Majesty has reposed in me may have led to some omission at times
of these most necessary preliminaries.

The patronage of the Lord Chamberlain's Department is of the greatest
importance, and may be made to conduce at once to the beneficial
influence of the Crown, and to the elevation and encouragement of the
professions of the Church and of Medicine. This patronage, by being
left to the uncontrolled exercise of successive Lord Chamberlains, has
been administered not only wastefully but perniciously. The physicians
to the late King were many of them men of little eminence; the
chaplains are still a sorry set. Your Majesty should insist with the
new Ministers that this patronage should be disposed of, not by the
Lord Chamberlain, but, as it has hitherto been during your Majesty's
reign, by your Majesty upon consultation with your Prime Minister.




[Pageheading: DISTRESS OF THE QUEEN]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen thinks Lord Melbourne may possibly wish to know how she
is this morning; the Queen is somewhat calmer; she was in a wretched
state till nine o'clock last night, when she tried to occupy herself
and try to think less gloomily of this dreadful change, and she
succeeded in calming herself till she went to bed at twelve, and she
slept well; but on waking this morning, all--all that had happened
in one short eventful day came most forcibly to her mind, and brought
back her grief; the Queen, however, feels better now; but she couldn't
touch a morsel of food last night, nor can she this morning. The Queen
trusts Lord Melbourne slept well, and is well this morning; and that
he will come precisely at eleven o'clock. The Queen has received no
answer from the Duke, which is very odd, for she knows he got her
letter. The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne received her letter last night.




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_8th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is
much grieved that he did not answer your Majesty's letter yesterday
evening, as your Majesty desired, but he did not get it till late, and
he felt much tired and harassed by all that had passed during the day.
The situation is very painful, but it is necessary for your Majesty to
be prudent and firm. It is of all things necessary not to be suspected
of any unfair dealing. Whilst Lord Melbourne holds his office,
everything of course may be written to him as usual; but still the
resolutions for the formation of the new Government will now commence,
and it will never do, whilst they are going on, either for appearance
or in reality, that Lord Melbourne should dine with your Majesty, as
he did before this disturbance. It would create feeling, possibly lead
to remonstrance, and throw a doubt upon the fairness and integrity
of your Majesty's conduct. All this is very painful both to do and to
say, but it is unavoidable; it must be said, and it must be done. Lord
Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty at eleven.[31]

    [Footnote 31: Lord Melbourne had made the not unnatural
    mistake of recommending to the Queen, as members of her first
    Household, ladies who were nearly related to himself and his
    Whig colleagues. No doubt these were the ladies whom he knew
    best, and in whom he had entire confidence; but he ought to
    have had sufficient prescience to see that the Queen would
    probably form strong attachments to the ladies who first
    served her: and that if the appointments had not in the first
    instance a political complexion, yet that the Whig tendencies
    which these Ladies represented were likely to affect the
    Queen, in the direction of allying her closely with a
    particular party in the State.]




[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

[Pageheading: SIR ROBERT PEEL]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

_8th May 1839._

The Queen told Lord Melbourne she would give him an account of what
passed, which she is _very_ anxious to do. She saw the Duke for about
twenty minutes; the Queen said she supposed he knew why she sent for
him, upon which the Duke said, No, he had no idea. The Queen then said
that she had had the greatest confidence in her late Ministry, and
had parted with them with the greatest reluctance; upon which the Duke
observed that he could assure me no one felt more pain in hearing the
announcement of their resignation than he did, and that he was deeply
grieved at it. The Queen then continued, that as his party had been
instrumental in removing them, that she must look to him to form a
new Government. The Duke answered that he had no power whatever in
the House of Commons, "that if he was to say black was white,[32] they
would say it was not," and that he advised me to send for Sir Robert
Peel, in whom I could place confidence, and who was a gentleman and a
man of honour and integrity. The Queen then said she hoped he would at
all events have a place in the new Cabinet. The Duke at first rather
refused, and said he was so deaf, and so old and unfit for any
discussion, that if he were to consult his own feelings he would
rather not do it, and remain quite aloof; but that as he was very
anxious to do anything that would tend to the Queen's comfort, and
would do everything and at all times that could be of use to the
Queen, and therefore if she and her Prime Minister urged his accepting
office, he would. The Queen said she had more confidence in him
than in any of the others of his party. The Queen then mentioned the
subject of the Household, and of those who were not in Parliament. The
Duke did not give any decisive answer about it, but advised the Queen
not to begin with conditions of this sort, and wait till the matter
was proposed. The Queen then said that she felt certain he would
understand the great friendship she had for Lord Melbourne, who had
been to her quite a parent, and the Duke said _no one felt and knew
that better than he did, and that no one could still be of greater
use to the Queen than Lord Melbourne_. The Duke spoke of his personal
friendship for Lord Melbourne, and that he hoped I knew that he had
often done all he could to help your (Lord Melbourne's) Government.
The Queen then mentioned her intention to prove her great _fairness_
to her new Government in telling them, that they might know there was
no unfair dealing, that I meant to see you often as a friend, as I
owed _so_ much to you. The Duke said he quite understood it, and knew
I would not exercise this to weaken the Government, and that he would
take my part about it, and felt for me. He was very kind, and said he
called it "a misfortune" that you had all left me.

The Queen wrote to Peel, who came after two, embarrassed and put out.
The Queen repeated what she had said to the Duke about her former
Government, and asked Sir Robert to form a new Ministry. He does not
seem sanguine; says entering the Government in a minority is very
difficult; he felt unequal to the task, and far from exulting in what
had happened, as he knew what pain it must give me; he quite approved
that the Duke should take office, and saw the importance of it; meant
to offer him the post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and if he
refused, Lord Aberdeen; Lord Lyndhurst, Chancellor; hoped to secure
Stanley and Graham; Goulburn to be the candidate for the Speaker's
Chair; he expects a severe conflict then, and if he should be beat
must either resign or dissolve Parliament. Before this the Queen said
she was against a dissolution, in which he quite agreed, but of course
wished no conditions should be made; he felt the task arduous, and
that he would require me to demonstrate (_a certain_ degree, if _any_
I can only feel) confidence in the Government, and that my Household
would be one of the marks of that. The Queen mentioned the same thing
about her Household, to which he at present would give no answer, and
said nothing should be done without my knowledge or approbation. He
repeated his surprise at the course you had all taken in resigning,
which he did not expect. The Queen talked of her great friendship for,
and gratitude to Lord Melbourne, and repeated what she had said to the
Duke, in which Peel agreed; but he is such a cold, odd man she can't
make out what he means. He said he couldn't expect me to have the
confidence in him I had in you (and which he never can have) as he has
not deserved it. My impression is, he is not _happy_ and sanguine. He
comes to me to-morrow at one to report progress in his formation of
the new Government. The Queen don't like his manner after--oh! how
different, how dreadfully different, to that frank, open, natural and
most kind, warm manner of Lord Melbourne.[33] The Duke I like by far
better to Peel. The Queen trusts Lord Melbourne will excuse this long
letter, but she was so very anxious he should know all. The Queen was
very much collected, and betrayed no agitation during these two
trying Audiences. But afterwards again _all_ gave way. She feels Lord
Melbourne will understand it, amongst enemies to those she most relied
on and esteemed, and people who seem to have no heart; but what is
worst of all is the being deprived of seeing Lord Melbourne as she
used to do.

    [Footnote 32: _Sic_: an obvious mistake for "black was
    black."]

    [Footnote 33: Lady de Grey had written to Peel on 7th
    May:--"The Queen has always expressed herself much impressed
    with Lord Melbourne's open manner, and his truth. The latter
    quality you possess, the former not.

    "Now, dear Peel, the first impression on so young a girl's
    mind is of immense consequence, accustomed as she has been
    to the open and affectionate manner of Lord Melbourne, who,
    _entre nous_, treats her as a father, and, with all his
    faults, feels for her as such."--_Sir Robert Peel_, Parker,
    vol. ii. p. 389.]




[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ADVICE]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has read
with the greatest attention the very clear and distinct account which
your Majesty has written of that which passed at the Audiences which
your Majesty has given to the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel.
Nothing could have been more proper and judicious than your Majesty's
conduct, and they appear to have acted upon their part with propriety
and sincerity. Lord Melbourne has no doubt that both with respect
to him (Lord Melbourne) and to themselves and their own feelings and
position, they expressed what they really think. The Duke was right in
saying that in general, in affairs of this nature, it is best not to
begin with conditions; but this matter of the Household is so personal
to yourself, that it was best to give an intimation of your feelings
upon it in the first instance. Lord Melbourne has little doubt that if
they could have acted from themselves, they would have acceded to your
Majesty's wish at once; but your Majesty must recollect that they have
others to satisfy, and must not attribute entirely to them anything
that is harsh and unreasonable. Lord Melbourne advises your Majesty
to urge this question of the Household strongly as a matter due to
yourself and your own wishes; but if Sir Robert is unable to concede
it, it will not do to refuse and to put off the negotiation upon it.
Lord Melbourne would strongly advise your Majesty to do everything to
facilitate the formation of the Government. Everything is to be
done and to be endured rather than run the risk of getting into the
situation in which they are in France, of no party being able to form
a Government and conduct the affairs of the country.[34]

The Dissolution of Parliament is a matter of still more importance,
and if this should be again pressed upon your Majesty, Lord Melbourne
would advise your Majesty to reserve your opinion, not to give a
promise that you will dissolve, nor to say positively that you
will not. You may say that you do not think it right to fetter the
Prerogative of the Crown by previous engagements, that a dissolution
of Parliament is to be decided according to the circumstances at the
time, that you mean to give full confidence to the Government that
shall be formed, and to do everything in your power to support them,
and that you will consider whether Parliament shall be dissolved, when
you are advised to dissolve it, and have before you the reasons for
such a measure.

Lord Melbourne earnestly entreats your Majesty not to suffer yourself
to be affected by any faultiness of manner which you may observe.
Depend upon it, there is no personal hostility to Lord Melbourne nor
any bitter feelings against him. Sir Robert is the most cautious and
reserved of mankind. Nobody seems to Lord Melbourne to know him, but
he is not therefore deceitful or dishonest. Many a very false man has
a very open sincere manner, and _vice versâ_....

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty is better this
morning.

    [Footnote 34: Alluding to the successive failures of Soult,
    Thiers, and Broglie.]




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen cannot sufficiently thank Lord Melbourne for his most kind
letter, and for his excellent advice, which is at once the greatest
comfort and of the greatest use to her; the Queen will follow it in
every respect, and nothing of importance shall be done without due
reflection; and she trusts Lord Melbourne will help her and be to her
what she told him he was, and begged him still ever to be--a father to
one who never wanted support more than she does now.

Lord Melbourne shall hear again after she sees Peel this morning....

The Queen has just now heard Lord Liverpool is not in town.

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is able to read her letters; if ever
there is anything he cannot read, he must send them back, and mark
what he can't read.




[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S GRATITUDE]


_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _9th May 1839._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
to return your Majesty his grateful thanks for your Majesty's gracious
communication of this morning. It affords Viscount Palmerston the most
heart-felt satisfaction to know that his humble but zealous endeavours
to promote the interests of his country and to uphold the honour of
your Majesty's Crown, have had the good fortune to meet with your
Majesty's approbation; and he begs most respectfully to assure
your Majesty that the deep impression produced by the condescending
kindness which he has upon all occasions experienced from your Majesty
can never be effaced from his mind.




[Pageheading: THE HOUSEHOLD]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
suggest that if Sir Robert Peel presses for the dismissal of those of
your Household who are not in Parliament, you may observe that in so
doing he is pressing your Majesty more hardly than any Minister ever
pressed a Sovereign before.

When the Government was changed in 1830, the principal posts of the
Household were placed at the disposal of Lord Grey, but the Grooms and
Equerries were not removed.

When Sir Robert Peel himself became Minister in 1834, no part of the
Household were removed except those who were in Parliament.

When I became Prime Minister again in 1835, none of the Grooms or
Equerries were removed because none of them were in Parliament.

They press upon your Majesty, whose personal feelings ought from your
circumstances to be more consulted, a measure which no Minister before
ever pressed upon a Sovereign.

If this is put to him by your Majesty, Lord Melbourne does not see how
he can resist it.




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen writes one line to prepare Lord Melbourne for what _may_
happen in a very few hours. Sir Robert Peel has behaved very ill,
and has insisted on my giving up my Ladies, to which I replied that I
never would consent, and I never saw a man so frightened. He said
he must go to the Duke of Wellington and consult with him, when both
would return, and he said this must suspend all further proceedings,
and he asked whether I should be ready to receive a decision, which I
said I should; he was quite perturbed--but this is _infamous_. I said,
besides many other things, that if he or the Duke of Wellington had
been at the head of the Government when I came to the Throne, perhaps
there might have been a few more Tory Ladies, but that then if you had
come into Office you would never have _dreamt_ of changing them. I was
calm but very decided, and I think you would have been pleased to see
my composure and great firmness; the Queen of England will not submit
to such trickery. Keep yourself in readiness, for you may soon be
wanted.




[Pageheading: PROPOSED NEW CABINET]


_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Thursday, 9th May 1839._

_At half-past two_ I saw the Duke of Wellington. I remained firm, and
he told Sir Robert that I remained firm. I then saw Sir Robert Peel,
who stopped a few minutes with me; he must consult those (of whom I
annex the List) whom he had named:

  THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON  _Secretary for Foreign Affairs_
  SIR JAMES GRAHAM        _Secretary for the Home Department_
  LORD STANLEY            _Secretary for the Colonies_
  LORD LYNDHURST          _Lord Chancellor_
  LORD ELLENBOROUGH       _President of the Board of Control_
  SIR H. HARDINGE         _Secretary at War_

and he said he would return in two or three hours with the result,
which I said I should await.[35]

    [Footnote 35: It was a curious circumstance, much commented
    on at the time, that in the _Globe_ of 9th May, a Ministerial
    evening paper, which would probably have gone to press at two
    o'clock in the afternoon, the following paragraph appeared:
    "The determination which it is well known Her Majesty has
    taken, not to allow the change in the Government to interfere
    with the ladies of her Court, has given great offence to the
    Tories."]




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen has received Lord Melbourne's letter. Lord Melbourne will
since have heard what has taken place. Lord Melbourne must not think
the Queen rash in her conduct; she saw both the Duke and Sir Robert
again, and declared to them she could not change her opinion. The
Ladies are not (as the Duke imagined was stated in the Civil List
Bill) in the _place_ of the Lords; and the Queen felt this was an
attempt to see whether she could be led and managed like a child;
if it should lead to Sir Robert Peel's refusing to undertake the
formation of the Government, which would be absurd, the Queen will
feel satisfied that she has only been defending her own rights, on
a point which so nearly concerned her person, and which, if they had
succeeded in, would have led to every sort of unfair attempt at power;
the Queen maintains _all_ her ladies,--and thinks her Prime Minister
will cut a sorry figure indeed if he resigns on this. Sir Robert is
gone to consult with his friends, and will return in two or three
hours with his decision. The Queen also maintained the Mistress of the
Robes, for as he said _only_ those who are _in Parliament_ shall be
removed, I should like to know if they mean to give the _Ladies_ seats
in Parliament?

We shall see what will be done. The Queen would not have _stood so
firmly_ on the Grooms and Equerries, but her _Ladies_ are _entirely_
her own affair, and _not_ the Ministers'.




[Pageheading: THE CRISIS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Lord
Melbourne had certainly never expected that this demand would be
urged, and therefore had never advised your Majesty as to what was to
be done in such a case. Lord Melbourne strongly advises your Majesty
to hear what the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel urge, but to
take time before you come to a peremptory and final decision.




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. This is a
matter of so much importance, and may have such grave results,
that any advice which Lord Melbourne could give would be of little
importance unless it coincided with the opinions of others, and
particularly of all those who were and intend still [to] continue to
be his colleagues.

It will depend upon their determination whether your Majesty is to be
supported or not. The best course will perhaps be that you should
hear Sir Robert Peel's determination, say nothing, but send for Lord
Melbourne, and lay the matter before him. Lord Melbourne will then
summon a Cabinet to consider of it.




[Pageheading: THE LADIES OF THE BEDCHAMBER]


_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_9th May 1839._

At half-past six came Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till ten
minutes past seven.


[Pageheading: THE LADIES]

I then began by giving him a detailed account of the whole proceeding,
which I shall state here as briefly as possible. I first again related
what took place in the two first interviews, and when I said that
the Duke said he had assisted my Government often very much, Lord
Melbourne said: "Well, that is true enough, but the Duke did all he
could about this vote." "Well, then," I said, "when Sir Robert Peel
came this morning, he began first about the Ministry. I consented,
though I said I might have my personal feelings about Lord Lyndhurst
and Lord Aberdeen, but that I would suppress every personal feeling
and be quite fair. I then repeated that I wished to retain about me
those who were not in Parliament, and Sir Robert _pretended_ that
I had the preceding day expressed a wish to keep about me those who
_were_ in Parliament. I mentioned my wish to have Lord Liverpool, to
which Sir Robert readily acceded, saying he would offer him the place
of Lord Steward, or of Lord in Waiting. He then suggested my
having Lord Ashley,[36] which I said I should like, as Treasurer or
Comptroller. Soon after this Sir Robert said: 'Now, about the Ladies,'
upon which I said I could _not_ give up _any_ of my Ladies, and
never had imagined such a thing. He asked if I meant to retain _all_.
'_All_,' I said. 'The Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the
Bedchamber?' I replied, '_All_,'--for he said they were the wives
of the opponents of the Government, mentioning Lady Normanby[37] in
particular as one of the late Ministers' wives. I said that would not
interfere; that I never talked politics with them, and that they
were related, many of them, to Tories, and I enumerated those of my
Bedchamber women and Maids of Honour; upon which he said he did not
mean _all_ the Bedchamber women and _all_ the Maids of Honour, he
meant the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber; to
which I replied _they_ were of more consequence than the others, and
that I could _not_ consent, and that it had never been done before. He
said I was a Queen Regnant, and that made the difference. 'Not here,'
I said--and I maintained my right. Sir Robert then urged it upon
_public grounds only_, but I said here I could not consent. He then
begged to be allowed to consult with the Duke upon such an important
matter. I expressed a wish also to see the Duke, if Sir Robert
approved, which he said he did, and that he would return with the
Duke, if I would then be prepared for the decision, which I said I
would. Well," I continued, "the Duke and Sir Robert returned soon, and
I first saw the Duke, who talked first of his being ready to take the
post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which I had pressed Peel
to urge on him (the Duke having first wished to be in the Cabinet,
without accepting office), and the Duke said, 'I am able to do
anything,' for I asked him if it would not be too much for him. Then
I told him that I had been very well satisfied with Sir Robert
yesterday, and asked the Duke if Sir Robert had told him what had
passed about the Ladies. He said he had, and then I repeated all my
arguments, and the Duke his; but the Duke and Sir Robert differed
considerably on two points. The Duke said the _opinions_ of the Ladies
were nothing, but it was the _principle_, whether the Minister could
remove the Ladies or not, and that he (the Duke) had understood it was
stated in the Civil List Bill, 'that the _Ladies were instead of the
Lords_,' which is quite false, and I told the Duke that there were not
_twelve Lords_, as the expense _with the Ladies_ would have been too
great." Lord Melbourne said: "There you had the better of him,
and what did he say?" "Not much," I replied. I repeated many of my
arguments, all which pleased Lord Melbourne, and which he agreed to,
amongst others, that I said to the Duke, Was Sir Robert so weak that
_even_ the Ladies must be of his opinion? The Duke denied that. The
Duke then took my decision to Sir Robert, who was waiting in the next
room; after a few minutes Sir Robert returned. After stopping a
few minutes, as I have already stated, Sir Robert went to see his
colleagues, and returned at five: said he had consulted with those who
were to have been his colleagues, and that they agreed that, with
the probability of being beat the first night about the Speaker, and
beginning with a Minority in the House of Commons, that unless
there was _some_ (_all_ the Officers of State and Lords I gave up)
demonstration of my confidence, and if I retained all my Ladies
this would not be, "they agreed unanimously they could not go on." I
replied I would reflect, that I felt certain I should not change my
mind, but that I should do nothing in a hurry, and would write him my
decision either that evening or the next morning. He said, meanwhile,
he would suspend all further proceedings.

    [Footnote 36: Afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury, the well-known
    Philanthropist.]

    [Footnote 37: J. W. Croker wrote to the King of Hanover:--

    "_11th May 1839._

    "... This is the sum of the whole affair. Sir R. Peel could
    not admit that broad principle that all were to remain.
    Lady Normanby (whom the Queen particularly wishes for), for
    instance, the wife of the very Minister whose measures have
    been the cause of the change, two sisters of Lord Morpeth, the
    sisters-in-law of Lord John Russell, the daughter of the Privy
    Seal and the Chancellor of the Exchequer....

    "Her Majesty's ball last night was, I am told, rather dull,
    though she herself seemed in high spirits, as if she were
    pleased at retaining her Ministers. She has a great concert on
    the 13th, but to both, as I hear, the invitations have been on
    a very exclusive principle, no Tories being invited who could
    on any pretence be left out. These are small matters, but
    everything tends to create a public impression that Her
    Majesty takes a personal and strong interest in the Whigs--a
    new ingredient of difficulty."--_Croker Papers_, II. 347.]

I also told Lord Melbourne that I feared I had embarrassed the
Government; that I acted quite alone. Lord Melbourne saw, and said
I could not do otherwise. "I must summon the Cabinet," said Lord
Melbourne, at half-past nine. "It may have very serious consequences.
If we can't go on with this House of Commons, we may have to dissolve
Parliament, and we don't know if we may get as good a House of
Commons." I begged him to come, and he said: "I'll come if it is in
any time--if it's twelve; but if it's one or two, I'll write."

After dinner (as usual with the Household) I went to my room, and
sat up till a quarter past two. At a quarter to two I received the
following letter from Lord Melbourne, written at one o'clock:--




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S ULTIMATUM]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_10th May 1839_ (1 A.M.).

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The Cabinet
has sate until now, and, after much discussion, advises your Majesty
to return the following answer to Sir Robert Peel:--

"The Queen having considered the proposal made to her yesterday by Sir
Robert Peel to remove the Ladies of her Bedchamber, cannot consent to
adopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to usage, and which
is repugnant to her feelings."[38]

    [Footnote 38: Greville asserts that the plan adopted by the
    outgoing Cabinet, of meeting and suggesting that this letter
    should be despatched, was "utterly anomalous and unprecedented,
    and a course as dangerous as unconstitutional.... They ought to
    have explained to her that until Sir Robert Peel had formally
    and finally resigned his commission into her hands, they could
    tender no advice.... The Cabinet of Lord Melbourne discussed
    the proposals of that of Sir Robert Peel, and they dictated to
    the Queen the reply in which she refused to consent to the
    advice tendered to her by the man who was _at that moment_ her
    Minister."--_Greville's Journal, 12th May 1839._]




_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

_10th May 1839._

The Queen having considered the proposal made to her yesterday by Sir
Robert Peel, to remove the Ladies of her Bedchamber, cannot consent to
adopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to usage, and which
is repugnant to her feelings.[39]

    [Footnote 39: Sixty years later the Queen, during a
    conversation at Osborne with Sir Arthur Bigge, her Private
    Secretary, after eulogising Sir Robert Peel, said: "I was very
    young then, and perhaps I should act differently if it was all
    to be done again."]




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th May 1839._

The Queen wrote the letter before she went to bed, and sent it at
nine this morning; she has received no answer, and concludes she will
receive none, as Sir Robert told the Queen if the Ladies were not
removed, his party would fall directly, and could not go on, and that
he only awaited the Queen's decision. The Queen therefore wishes to
see Lord Melbourne about half-past twelve or one, if that would do.

The Queen fears Lord Melbourne has much trouble in consequence of all
this; but the Queen was fully prepared, and fully intended to give
these people a fair trial, though she always told Lord Melbourne she
knew they couldn't stand; and she must rejoice at having got out of
the hands of people who would have sacrificed every personal feeling
and instinct of the Queen's to their bad party purposes.

How is Lord Melbourne this morning?




[Pageheading: AN ANXIOUS WEEK]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th May 1839._

Half-past one will do as well as one; any hour will do that Lord
Melbourne likes, for the Queen will not go out.

There is no answer from Peel.

The Queen is wonderfully well, considering all the fatigue of
yesterday, and not getting to bed till near half-past two, which is
somewhat of a fatigue for to-night when the Queen must be very late.
Really all these Fêtes in the midst of such very serious and anxious
business are quite overwhelming.




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th May 1839._

The Queen forgot to ask Lord Melbourne if he thought there would be
any harm in her writing to the Duke of Cambridge that she really was
fearful of fatiguing herself, if she went out to a party at Gloucester
House on Tuesday, an Ancient Concert on Wednesday, and a ball at
Northumberland House on Thursday, considering how much she had to do
these last four days. If she went to the Ancient Concert on Wednesday,
having besides a concert of her own here on Monday, it would be four
nights of fatigue, really exhausted as the Queen is.

But if Lord Melbourne thinks that as there are only to be English
singers at the Ancient Concert, she ought to go, she could go there
for one act; but she would much rather, if possible, get out of it,
for it is a fatiguing time....

As the negotiations with the Tories are quite at an end, and Lord
Melbourne _has been here_, the Queen hopes Lord Melbourne will not
object to dining with her on _Sunday_?




[Pageheading: RESIGNATION OF PEEL]


_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

_10th May 1839._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has had
the honour of receiving your Majesty's note of this morning.

In respectfully submitting to your Majesty's pleasure, and humbly
returning into your Majesty's hands the important trust which your
Majesty had been graciously pleased to commit to him, Sir Robert Peel
trusts that your Majesty will permit him to state to your Majesty his
impression with respect to the circumstances which have led to the
termination of his attempt to form an Administration for the conduct
of your Majesty's Service.

In the interview with which your Majesty honoured Sir Robert Peel
yesterday morning, after he had submitted to your Majesty the names of
those whom he proposed to recommend to your Majesty for the principal
executive appointments, he mentioned to your Majesty his earnest wish
to be enabled, with your Majesty's sanction, so to constitute your
Majesty's Household that your Majesty's confidential servants might
have the advantage of a public demonstration of your Majesty's full
support and confidence, and that at the same time, as far as possible
consistently with that demonstration, each individual appointment in
the Household should be entirely acceptable to your Majesty's personal
feelings.

On your Majesty's expressing a desire that the Earl of Liverpool[40]
should hold an office in the Household, Sir Robert Peel requested your
Majesty's permission at once to offer to Lord Liverpool the office of
Lord Steward, or any other which he might prefer.

Sir Robert Peel then observed that he should have every wish to apply
a similar principle to the chief appointments which are filled by
the Ladies of your Majesty's Household, upon which your Majesty
was pleased to remark that you must reserve the whole of those
appointments, and that it was your Majesty's pleasure that the whole
should continue as at present, without any change.

The Duke of Wellington, in the interview to which your Majesty
subsequently admitted him, understood also that this was your
Majesty's determination, and concurred with Sir Robert Peel in opinion
that, considering the great difficulties of the present crisis, and
the expediency of making every effort in the first instance to
conduct the public business of the country with the aid of the present
Parliament, it was essential to the success of the Commission with
which your Majesty had honoured Sir Robert Peel, that he should have
that public proof of your Majesty's entire support and confidence
which would be afforded by the permission to make some changes in
that part of your Majesty's Household which your Majesty resolved on
maintaining entirely without change.

Having had the opportunity through your Majesty's gracious
consideration, of reflecting upon this point, he humbly submits to
your Majesty that he is reluctantly compelled, by a sense of public
duty and of the interests of your Majesty's service, to adhere to his
opinion which he ventured to express to your Majesty.

He trusts he may be permitted at the same time to express to your
Majesty his grateful acknowledgments for the distinction which your
Majesty conferred upon him by requiring his advice and assistance in
the attempt to form an Administration, and his earnest prayers that
whatever arrangements your Majesty may be enabled to make for that
purpose may be most conducive to your Majesty's personal comfort and
happiness, and to the promotion of the public welfare.

    [Footnote 40: Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, third Earl,
    1784-1851, became Lord Steward in 1841.]




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL]


_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Friday, 10th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne came to me at two and stayed with me till ten minutes
to three. I placed in his hands Sir Robert Peel's answer, which he
read. He started at one part where he (Sir Robert) says, "_some_
changes"--but some or all, I said, was the same; and Lord Melbourne
said, "I must submit this to the Cabinet." Lord Melbourne showed me
a letter from Lord Grey about it--a good deal alarmed, thinking I
was right, and yet half doubtful; one from Spring Rice, dreadfully
frightened, and wishing the Whig ladies should resign; and one from
Lord Lansdowne wishing to state that the ladies would have resigned.
Lord Melbourne had also seen the Duke of Richmond, and Lord Melbourne
said we might be beat; I said I never would yield, and would never
apply to Peel again. Lord Melbourne said, "You are for standing
out, then?" I said, "Certainly." I asked how the Cabinet felt. "John
Russell, strongly for standing out," he said; "Duncannon, very
much so; Holland, Lord Minto, Hobhouse, and the Chancellor, all for
standing out; Poulett Thomson too, and Normanby also; S. Rice and
Howick alarmed."




[Pageheading: CABINET MINUTE]


CABINET MINUTE.

_Present._

  The LORD CHANCELLOR.
  The LORD PRESIDENT.
  The LORD PRIVY SEAL.
  VISCOUNT MELBOURNE.
  The MARQUIS OF NORMANBY.
  The EARL OF MINTO.
  The CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER.
  The LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
  The VISCOUNT PALMERSTON.
  The VISCOUNT HOWICK.
  The VISCOUNT MORPETH.
  Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE, Bart.
  The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.
  Mr. POULETT THOMSON.

Her Majesty's Confidential Servants having taken into consideration
the letter addressed by Her Majesty to Sir Robert Peel on the 10th of
May, and the reply of Sir Robert Peel of the same day, are of opinion
that for the purpose of giving to an Administration that character of
efficiency and stability and those marks of the constitutional support
of the Crown, which are required to enable it to act usefully for the
public service, it is reasonable that the great offices of the Court
and the situations in the Household held by members of either House of
Parliament should be included in the political arrangements made on a
change of Administration; but they are not of opinion that a similar
principle should be applied or extended to the offices held by Ladies
in Her Majesty's Household.[41]

    [Footnote 41: This paragraph was read by Lord John Russell
    to the House of Commons during the course of the Ministerial
    explanations on 13th May.]

Her Majesty's Confidential Servants are therefore prepared to support
Her Majesty in refusing to assent to the removal of the Ladies of her
Household, which Her Majesty conceived to be contrary to usage, and
which is repugnant to her feelings, and are prepared to continue in
their offices on these grounds.

Viscount Howick concurs in the opinion expressed in the foregoing
Minute that the removal of the Ladies of Her Majesty's Household
ought not to form part of the arrangements consequent upon a change
of Administration, and shares in the readiness his colleagues have
declared to support Her Majesty in acting upon this opinion; but
he thinks it his duty to state his conviction that the immediate
resumption of their offices by Her Majesty's Confidential Servants is
not the mode in which their support can be most effectively afforded
and is not calculated to promote the good of Her Majesty's service.

He conceives that before it is determined that the present
Administration should be continued, further explanation should be
sought with Sir Robert Peel, by which it is not impossible that his
concession to Her Majesty's just objection to the removal of the
Ladies of her Household might have been obtained, while the endeavour
to arrive at this result, even though unsuccessful, would at all
events tend to secure additional support to Her Majesty's present
Servants, and thus to enable them to surmount those difficulties,
which have recently compelled them humbly to tender their resignations
to Her Majesty, and which he fears will be found not to have been
diminished by the course it has now been determined to pursue.

In humbly submitting this opinion to Her Majesty, Viscount Howick begs
permission to add that he nevertheless acquiesces in the determination
of his colleagues, and will render them the best assistance in his
power in their endeavour to carry on Her Majesty's service.




[Pageheading: MELBOURNE RESUMES OFFICE]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th May 1839._

The Queen is very anxious to hear that Lord Melbourne has not suffered
from the ball last night, as it was very hot at first. The beginning
was rather dull and heavy, but after supper it got very animated, and
we kept it up till a quarter past three; the Queen enjoyed herself
very much and isn't at all tired; she felt much the kindness of many
of her kind friends, who are her _only real_ friends. Lady Cowper and
Lord and Lady Minto, the Duchess of Somerset, and Lord Anglesey were
particularly kind. On the other hand, there were some gloomy faces to
be seen, and the Duchess of Gloucester was very cross.

The Queen is ashamed to say it, but she has forgotten _when_ she
appointed the Judge Advocate; when will the Cabinet be over?

The Queen danced the first and the last dance with the Grand Duke,[42]
made him sit near her, and tried to be very civil to him, and I
think we are great friends already and get on very well; I like him
exceedingly.

    [Footnote 42: The Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia, afterwards
    the Emperor Alexander II.]




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th May 1839._

The Queen anxiously hopes Lord Melbourne is quite well this morning,
and has _not_ suffered from the dinner at Pozzo's.

The Queen wishes to know if she ought to say anything to the Duchess,
of the noble manner in which her Government mean to stand by her? The
account in the _Observer_ of the whole proceeding is the most correct
both as to details and facts, that the Queen has yet seen; were they
told what to put in? There was considerable applause when the Queen
entered the Theatre, which she, however, thought best and most
delicate not to encourage, and she was cheered when she drove up to
the Theatre and got out, which she never is in general.

The Grand Duke came and sat with the Queen in her box, for at least
half an hour last night--and the Queen asked him if he knew exactly
what had happened, which he said he did not--and the Queen accordingly
gave him an account of what passed, and he was _shocked_ at Sir Robert
Peel's proposal, thought his resignation on that account absurd, and
was delighted at the continuance in office of my present Government.

The Queen supposes and fears that Lord Melbourne dines with the
Lansdownes to-morrow, but she wishes to know if Wednesday, Saturday,
and Sunday would suit him?

Lord Melbourne must not forget the List of our supporters in the
House of Commons, which the Queen is very anxious to have as soon as
possible. If Lord Melbourne can dine here to-morrow the Queen would be
glad, of course.




[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S OPINION]


_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

_13th May 1839._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that he this day made his statement to the House,
in answer to Sir Robert Peel.

Sir Robert Peel made a skilful, and not unfair statement. He, however,
spoke only of his intention of changing some of the Ladies of the
Bedchamber. But he did not say that he had made this intention clear
to your Majesty; only that he had so arranged the matter with his
political friends. The popular impression is greatly in favour of the
course pursued by your Majesty.




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_14th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is most
sorry to hear that your Majesty does not feel well. It is very natural
that your Majesty does not. Lord Melbourne does not believe that there
was anything wanting in your Majesty's manner yesterday evening,[43]
but depend upon it, if there was, every allowance would be made for
the fatigue and anxiety which your Majesty has gone through, and for
the painful and embarrassing situation in which your Majesty is still
placed.

Lord Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty at two, and will have the
honour of conversing with your Majesty upon Peel's speech.

    [Footnote 43: At the State Concert.]




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S VIEW]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _14th May 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I begin to think you have forgotten me, and you will
think I have forgotten you, but I am certain you will have guessed the
cause of my silence. How much has taken place since Monday the 7th
to yesterday the 13th. You will have easily imagined how dreadful
the resignation of my Government--and particularly of that truly
inestimable and excellent man, Lord Melbourne--was for me, and you
will have felt for me! What I suffered I cannot describe! To have to
take people whom I should have no confidence in, ... was most painful
and disagreeable; but I felt I must do it, and made up my mind to
it--nobly advised and supported by Lord Melbourne, whose character
seems to me still more perfect and noble since I have gone through all
this.

I sent for the Duke of Wellington, who referred me to Peel, whom I
accordingly saw.

Everything fair and just I assented to, even to having Lord Lyndhurst
as Chancellor, and Sir H. Hardinge and Lord Ellenborough in the
Cabinet; I insisted upon the Duke in the Foreign Office, instead
of Lord Aberdeen.... All this I granted, as also to give up all the
Officers of State and all those of my Household who are in Parliament.

When to my utter astonishment he asked me to change my Ladies--my
principal Ladies!--this I of course refused; and he upon _this
resigned_, saying, as he felt he should be beat the very first night
upon the Speaker, and having to begin with a minority, that unless he
had this demonstration of my confidence he could not go on!

You will easily imagine that I firmly resisted this attack upon my
power, from these people who pride themselves upon upholding the
prerogative! I acted quite alone, but I have been, and shall be,
supported by my country, who are very enthusiastic about it, and
loudly cheered me on going to church on Sunday. My Government have
nobly stood by me, and have resumed their posts, strengthened by the
feelings of the country....

Pray tell my dearest Aunt that I really cannot write to her to-day,
for you have no conception of what I have to do, for there are balls,
concerts, and dinners all going on besides. Adieu! my beloved Uncle.
Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.




[Pageheading: APPROVAL OF KING LEOPOLD]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _17th May 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I feel deeply grateful for your very kind and
interesting letter, which reached me yesterday, inclusive of the
papers.

You have passed a time of great agitation and difficulty, which will,
however, contribute to enlarge the circle of your experience. _I
approve very highly of the whole mode in which you proceeded_;
you acted with great _good faith_ and _fairness_, and when finally
propositions were made which you considered you could not submit to,
you were very right to resist them. The march of the whole affair is
very clear and fair, and does you _great credit_.... Peel in making
his demand misjudged you; he remembered George IV., and even the late
King, and dreamt of Court influence of people near the Sovereign. You
have the great merit, for which you cannot be too much praised, of
being _extremely honest_ and honourable in your dealings. If you had
kept Peel, you would have acted honestly by him, without any Lady's
having a chance of doing him a bad turn. When he asked the measure
as an expression of your great confidence in him, it was not fair,
because _you_ had not wished to take him; he was forced upon you, and
therefore, even if you had granted his request, nobody would have seen
in it a proof of your confidence in him, but rather a sacrifice to a
far-stretched pretence.

Besides, that he was to have encountered difficulties as a Minister
was partly the consequence of the policy of his party, and you were
not bound to give him any assistance beyond what he had a right to ask
as a Minister. I was sure that Lord Melbourne would give you both the
fairest and the most honourable advice in this painful crisis. He was
kind enough last year to speak to me on the subject, and I could but
approve what he said on the subject. Altogether, keeping now your
old Ministers, you will have reason to congratulate yourself on the
result; it is likely to strengthen them, by showing the Radicals what
may be the consequences.

Rumour spoke of their wishing to add some Radicals to the Cabinet;
I don't see that they could improve the Ministry by it, which is
perfectly well composed as it is at present, and new elements often
have a dissolving effect. It was very kind of you to have explained
everything so clearly to me, but I deserve it for the _great interest_
I take in all that concerns you....




[Pageheading: A SMALL LIBERAL MAJORITY]


_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

_6th June 1839._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that Sir Robert Peel's Bill[44] was discussed
yesterday in the House of Commons, with great fairness and an entire
absence of party spirit.

Viscount Melbourne will have acquainted your Majesty with the result
of the Cabinet of yesterday. It appears to Lord John Russell that the
Liberal party, with some explanation, will be satisfied with the
state of things for the present, and that the great difficulties which
attend the complete union of the majority will be deferred till
the commencement of next Session. It is always well to have some
breathing-time.

    [Footnote 44: The Jamaica Bill for the temporary suspension of
    the Constitution.]




_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _11th June 1839._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to state that the division of last night was extremely
encouraging to the future prospects of the Government.

Combined with the division on the Speakership,[45] it shows that the
Liberal party have still a clear though small majority in the House
of Commons, and that it may probably not be necessary to resort to a
dissolution. Indeed, such a measure in present circumstances would be
of very doubtful issue.

Lord John Russell stated last night that he would not divide on the
Canada resolutions, but move for leave to bring in a Bill.

    [Footnote 45: Mr Shaw Lefevre was elected by 317 against 299
    for Mr Goulburn.]




_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

_6th July 1839._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that Mr. Rice yesterday brought forward his
financial statement with great ability.

He moved a resolution in favour of a penny postage, which Sir Robert
Peel declared it to be his intention to oppose on the report. This
will be on Friday next. This seems a mistake on the part of the
Opposition.[46]

    [Footnote 46: The penny postage scheme came into operation on
    10th January 1840.]




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND PRINCE ALBERT]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th July 1839._ (_20 minutes to 12._)

The Queen is really quite shocked to see that her box was taken to
Lord Melbourne to Park Lane, and she fears (by the manner in which
Lord Melbourne's note is written) that he was at dinner at Lady
Elizabeth H. Vere's when he got it. The Queen had imagined that the
House of Lords was still sitting, and therefore desired them to take
the box there, but never had intended it should follow him to dinner;
she begs Lord Melbourne to excuse this mistake which must have
appeared so strange.

Did the dinner go off well at Lady Elizabeth H. Vere's, and were there
many people there? Did Lord Melbourne go to Lady R. Grosvenor's party
or did he go home?

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is quite well and not tired.

Monday at two o'clock for the Judge Advocate.

The Queen hears Lady Sandwich is very much delighted at her
appointment.




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _15th July 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I have no letter from you, but hope to get one
soon....

I shall send this letter by a courier, as I am anxious to put several
questions to you, and to mention some feelings of mine upon the
subject of my cousins' visit, which I am desirous should not
transpire. First of all, I wish to know if _Albert_ is aware of the
wish of his _Father_ and _you_ relative to _me?_ Secondly, if he knows
that there is _no engagement_ between us? I am anxious that you should
acquaint Uncle Ernest, that if I should like Albert, that I can make
_no final promise this year_, for, at the _very earliest_, any such
event could not take place till _two or three years hence_. For,
independent of my youth, and my _great_ repugnance to change my
present position, there is _no anxiety_ evinced in _this country_ for
such an event, and it would be more prudent, in my opinion, to wait
till some such demonstration is shown,--else if it were hurried it
might produce discontent.

Though all the reports of Albert are most favourable, and though
I have little doubt I shall like him, still one can never answer
beforehand for _feelings_, and I may not have the _feeling_ for him
which is requisite to ensure happiness. I _may_ like him as a friend,
and as a _cousin_, and as a _brother_, but not _more_; and should this
be the case (which is not likely), I am _very_ anxious that it should
be understood that I am _not_ guilty of any breach of promise, for
_I never gave any_. I am sure you will understand my anxiety, for I
should otherwise, were this not completely understood, be in a very
painful position. As it is, I am rather nervous about the visit, for
the subject I allude to is not an agreeable one to me. I have little
else to say, dear Uncle, as I have now spoken openly to you, which I
was very, _very anxious_ to do.

You will be at Paris, I suppose, when you get this letter, and I
therefore beg you to lay me at the feet of the whole family, and to
believe me ever your very devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _20th July 1839._

The Queen anxiously hopes Lord Melbourne has slept well, and has not
suffered from last night. It was very wrong of him not to wish the
Queen good-night, as she expected he would in so small a party, for
she _saw_ that he did _not_ go away immediately after supper. When
did he get home? It was great pleasure to the Queen that he came last
night. We kept up the dancing till past three, and the Queen was much
amused, and slept soundly from four till half-past ten, which she is
ashamed of. She is quite well, but has got a good deal of cold in her
head; she hopes to see Lord Melbourne at two.




[Pageheading: THE DUCHESS OF BRAGANZA]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th July 1839._

The Queen has seen the Duchess of Braganza,[47] who, though a good
deal changed, is still handsome, and very amiable; she seemed so glad,
too, to see the Queen again. The child[48] is grown a dear fine girl.
Lord Palmerston thought it right that I should ask her to dinner also
on Saturday and take her to the Opera; and on Sunday, as she came on
purpose to see the Queen, and goes on Monday.

On Sunday (besides Lord Melbourne) the Queen proposes asking
Palmerston, Normanby, Uxbridge, and Surrey, and no one else except the
Duchess's suite. The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne will approve of this.
He will not forget to let the Queen know how the debate is going on,
at about nine or ten, as she will be curious to know. She trusts he
will not suffer from the fatigue of to-night.

    [Footnote 47: The step-mother of Donna Maria. Pedro I. assumed
    the title of Duke of Braganza after his abdication.]

    [Footnote 48: Probably the princess known as "Chica,"
    afterwards Princesse de Joinville.]




[Pageheading: SYRIAN AFFAIRS]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

ST CLOUD, _26th July 1839._

... Everything is pretty quiet, and the _grâce accordée à Barbès_[49]
has put down the rage against the King personally, at least for some
little time. The affairs of the Orient interest a good deal. I think
that it is better the Porte should be on a favourable footing with
Mehemet Ali than if that gentleman had pushed on in arms, as it will
put the _casus foederis_ out of the question, and the Turks will not
call in the assistance of the Russians. Whoever pushed the late Sultan
into this war has done an act of great folly, as it could only bring
the Porte into jeopardy.

    [Footnote 49: Armand Barbès, the leader of a fatal riot
    in Paris, was sentenced to death, a sentence afterwards
    remitted.]




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_3rd August 1839._

Lord Melbourne will wait upon your Majesty at a quarter before five,
if possible, but there is much to discuss at the Cabinet. The Caspian
Pasha has taken the Turkish fleet to Alexandria,[50] and Mehemet Ali
says that he will not give it up to the Sultan until he dismisses the
Grand Vizier, and acknowledges the hereditary right of the Pasha to
the countries which he at present governs. This is to make the Sultan
his subject and his vassal.

The accounts from Birmingham are by no means good.[51] There has
been no disturbance of the peace, but the general disposition is both
violent and determined.

    [Footnote 50: The Viceroy of Egypt had revolted against the
    Porte, and on 8th June the Sultan purported to deprive him and
    Ibrahim, his son, of their dignities. War was declared,
    and the Turkish fleet despatched to Syria. But the Admiral
    treacherously sailed to Alexandria, and the Ottoman troops,
    under Hafiz, who had succeeded Mehemet Ali in the Government
    of Egypt, were utterly routed. With the traitorous conduct
    of the Turkish admiral, Disraeli, a few years later, compared
    Peel's conversion to Free Trade.]

    [Footnote 51: Chartist riots were very frequent at the time.
    _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. (to Ch. VIII)]




[Pageheading: THE OPERA]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th August 1839._

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is quite well this morning, and did not
sit up working very late last night; the Queen met him twice yesterday
in the Park, and really wondered how anybody _could_ ride, for she
came home much hotter than she went out, and thought the air quite
like as if it came out of an oven; to-day we can breathe again. It was
intensely hot at the Opera; the Queen-Dowager visited the Queen in her
box, as did also the young Grand Duke of Weimar, who is just returned
from Scotland, and whom the Queen has asked to come after dinner
to-morrow. The Queen has not asked the Duke of Sussex to come after
dinner to-morrow, as she thought he would be bored by such a sort of
party; does not Lord Melbourne think so? and she means to ask him to
dinner soon.

The Queen has not asked Lord Melbourne about any days this week
besides to-morrow (when she trusts he may be able to come, but she
does not know what there is in the House) and Wednesday; but perhaps
Lord Melbourne will consent to leave Thursday and Friday open in
_case_ he should be able to come one or both of those days.




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th August 1839._

The Queen has just received Lord Melbourne's letter; and wishes to
know if Lord Melbourne means by "to-day" that he is also coming to
see her _this afternoon_, (which she does not expect) as well as _this
evening_? for she did _not_ ask him in her note of this morning _if_
he would come to-night (for she felt _sure_ of that), but if he could
come _to-morrow_, about which he has not answered her, as to whether
he expects there will be anything of great length in the House of
Lords. Lord Melbourne will forgive the Queen's troubling him again,
but she felt a little puzzled by his letter; she sent him a card for
Wednesday without previously asking him, as she thought that would
suit him, and hopes it does?

The Queen will follow Lord Melbourne's advice respecting the Duke of
Sussex.

We have just returned from hearing not only a very long, and very bad,
but also, a very ludicrous, sermon.

The heat is somewhat less, but the Queen is undecided as to driving
out or not.




[Pageheading: KING LOUIS PHILIPPE]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _9th August 1839._

... I am sorry that you are less pleased with the old Duke, but party
spirit is in England an incurable disease. These last two years he had
rendered essential service to the present Administration; perhaps he
has been soured by last summer's events. It was my intention to have
answered your questions sooner, but from Paris I had not the means.
Now the time draws so near when I hope to have the happiness of seeing
you, that I think it will be better to treat the matter verbally, the
more so as my most beloved Majesty is easily displeased with what may
be written with the best intention, instead that in conversation the
immediate reply renders any misunderstanding, however small, very
difficult; and as I do not wish to have any great or small with you,
and see no occasion for it, I will give my answer _de vive voix_.

Now comes a subject which will _astonish_ you. I am charged _de
sonder_ your will and pleasure on the following subject. The King my
father-in-law goes to Eu, where he hopes to remain till the 5th or 6th
of September. Having at his disposition some very fine steamers, his
great wish would be to go over to Brighton, just for one afternoon and
night, to offer you his respects in person. He would in such a
case bring with him the Queen, my Aunt, Clémentine,[52] Aumale and
Montpensier. The first step in this business is to know what
your pleasure is, and to learn that very frankly, as he perfectly
understands that, however short such a visit, it must be submitted to
the advice even of some of your Ministers. What renders the thing very
difficult, in my opinion, is that in a country like France, and with
so many Ministerial difficulties, the King to the _last hour_ will
hardly know if he can undertake the thing. As, however, the first
object is to know your will, he begged me to ascertain that, and to
tell you that if you had the _smallest objection_ you would not be
carried away by the apprehension of hurting him by telling me honestly
that you did _not_ see how the affair could be arranged, but to speak
out, that he knew enough how often objections may arise, and that even
with himself he could only be sure of the thing at the last moment.

    [Footnote 52: Who afterwards married Queen Victoria's cousin,
    Prince Augustus (Gusti) of Coburg.]



[Pageheading: THE NEW SULTAN]


_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _19th August 1839._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and in
submitting the accompanying private letter from the Earl Granville[53]
begs to state that neither Viscount Melbourne nor Viscount Palmerston
are of opinion that it would be expedient that your Majesty should
send an Ambassador Extraordinary to compliment the young Sultan[54]
on his accession. The circumstances connected with his accession are
indeed fitter matter for condolence than for congratulation, and he
would probably be better pleased by the restoration of his fleet than
by the arrival of Ambassadors Extraordinary. Moreover, it has not been
customary for the Sovereign of England to send such missions upon the
accession of Sultans.

    [Footnote 53: The first Earl Granville (1773-1846), formerly
    Ambassador Extraordinary to the Russian Court, at this time
    Ambassador at Paris.]

    [Footnote 54: Abdul Medjid, a lad of sixteen, succeeded the
    Sultan Mahmoud. The majority of the Powers agreed to place him
    under the protection of Europe, and to warn Mehemet Ali
    that the matter was for Europe, not him, to decide. France,
    however, wished to support Mehemet, and direct the Alliance
    against Russia. But Nicholas I. of Russia was prepared to
    support England as far as regarded the affairs of Turkey and
    Egypt, and to close the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to warships
    of all nations, it being stipulated that Russian ships of war
    only were to pass the Bosphorus, as acting under the mandate
    of Europe in defence of the Turks. _See_ further, Introductory
    Notes for 1839 and 1840. (to Ch. VIII and Ch. IX)]




_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTENDE, _24th August 1839._

... The King's intention would be to leave Eu in the evening, let us
say at eight or nine o'clock, and to land, perhaps at ten or eleven,
at Brighton on the _following morning_. He would have the honour of
dining with you, and would re-embark in the _evening of the same day_,
so as to be back on the _following morning_ at Eu. He will therefore,
as you see, _not_ sleep in England.

If you cannot give any _pied-à-terre_ in the Palace for these few
hours, they will remain in an hotel. But I must say that as the King
and Queen put themselves to _some inconvenience in coming_ to see
you, it would be _rather desirable_ to offer them rooms in the Palace,
which I think might be easily managed. As far as we are concerned, it
_does not matter_ if we are housed in an hotel or where we bivouac. I
will charge Van de Weyer to take rooms for us somewhere....

Do not imagine that I have done the least to bring this about for my
own satisfaction, which is _very limited_ in this business, but the
King wished _much to see you once_, and so did the Queen, who abhors
sailing more than anybody, and this is perhaps the _only_ opportunity
which may ever offer of doing it, even with some political benefit, as
it certainly is desirable that it should appear that the two maritime
Powers are on good terms.... And now, God bless you! Ever, my dearest
Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.





[Pageheading: LOUIS PHILIPPE'S VISIT]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTENDE, _25th August 1839._ (_La St Louis._)

MY DEAR VICTORIA,--To keep up the fire of letters, I write again,
having received this morning interesting news. As I must forward
this letter by Calais, and know not who may read it in these times of
curiosity, I am forced to be guarded; but the news are as follows,
of the 23rd--curious coincidence, as your letter was also of that
date--that, the moment _approaching, many and serious_ difficulties
arise, and that the expedition was considered imprudent by some
people, that, besides, the presence would perhaps be required,
before the _possible_ departure, at the _usual home_ of the person
interested, that therefore for the present it would perhaps be best to
give it up. I must say that I am _most happy_ that matters have come
to this pass, because it would have been next to impossible to arrange
affairs properly in proper time. You may now consider everything _as
over_, and settle your plans without reference to it....




[Pageheading: THE VISIT POSTPONED]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _26th August 1839._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had already written you a letter when I received
your two very kind ones, and I shall therefore not send my first. My
friendship for the dear King and Queen makes me, as you may easily
understand, wish most exceedingly to see them and to make the
acquaintance of the Queen and all the family. And I feel the immense
kindness of them all in wishing to see me, and in coming over for only
a few hours. Politically it would be _wished_ by _us all_, and the
_only_ difficulty I see is the following, which is, that _I do not
feel quite_ equal to going to Brighton and receiving them all, so soon
after the Prorogation.[55] I do not _feel_ well; I feel _thoroughly_
exhausted from all that I have gone through this Session, and am quite
knocked up by the two little trips I made to Windsor. This makes me
fear, uncertain as it all is, with such a pressure of business, so
many affairs, and with so much going on, that I should be unequal to
the journey and the whole thing. This, and this _alone_, could make me
express a wish that this most kind visit should take place _next_
year instead of this year. I feel such regret really in saying this--I
should so wish to see them, and yet I feel I am not _quite_ up to
it. You will understand me, dear Uncle, I am certain, as I know the
anxiety you always express for my health. For _once_ I _long_ to leave
London, and shall do so on Friday. If you could be at Windsor by the
4th, I should be delighted.

The dear Ferdinands, whom I _all dearly_ love, will await you here.
I have had so much to do and so many people to see, that I feel quite
confused, and have written shockingly, which you must forgive. Ever
your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

    [Footnote 55: On 27th August.]




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S SPEECH]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _26 August 1839._ (_10 minutes to 12._)

The Queen has received both Lord Melbourne's notes; she was a good
deal vexed at his not coming, as she had begged him herself to do so,
and as he wrote to say he would, and also as she thinks it right and
of importance that Lord Melbourne should be here at large dinners; the
Queen _insists_ upon his coming to dinner to-morrow, and also begs him
to do so on Wednesday, her two last nights in town, and as she will
probably not see him at all for two days when she goes on Friday;
the Queen would wish to see Lord Melbourne _after_ the Prorogation
to-morrow at any hour _before_ five he likes best.

The Queen has been a good deal annoyed this evening at Normanby's
telling her that John Russell was coming to town next Monday in order
to _change_ with _him_.[56] Lord Melbourne _never_ told the Queen that
this was definitely settled; on the contrary, he said it would "remain
in our hands," to use Lord Melbourne's own words, and only be settled
during the Vacation; considering all that the Queen has said on the
subject to Lord Melbourne, and considering the great confidence the
Queen has in Lord Melbourne, she thinks and feels he ought to have
told her that this was _settled_, and not let the Queen be the
last person to hear what is settled and done in her own name; Lord
Melbourne will excuse the Queen's being a little eager about this, but
it has happened once before that she learnt from other people what had
been decided on.

The Queen has such unlimited confidence in Lord Melbourne that she
knows all that he does is right, but she cannot help being a little
vexed at not being told things, when she is accustomed to great
confidence on Lord Melbourne's part.

Lord Melbourne may rely on the Queen's secrecy respecting Howick; he
knows the Queen always keeps things to herself; Normanby hinted at his
wish to get rid of Howick.

The Speech is safely arrived, has been read over twice, and shall not
be forgotten to-morrow; the Queen wishes they would not use such thin
and slippery paper--for it is difficult to hold with nervous, and, as
Lord Melbourne knows, _shaking_ hands. The Queen trusts Lord Melbourne
will be less tired in the morning.

    [Footnote 56: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. (to Ch. VIII)]




_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTENDE, _21st September 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Your _delightful_ little letter has just arrived
and went like _an arrow to my heart._ Yes, my beloved Victoria! I _do
love you tenderly_, and with all the power of affection which is often
found in characters who do not make much outward show of it. I love
you _for yourself_, and I love in you the dear child whose welfare I
carefully watched. My great wish is always that you should _know_
that I am _desirous_ of _being useful_ to you, without _hoping for
any other return_ than some little affection from your warm and kind
heart. I am even so far pleased that my eternal political affairs are
settled, as it takes away the _last possibility_ of imagining that I
may want something or other. I have all the honours that can be given,
and I am, politically speaking, very solidly established, more so than
most Sovereigns in Europe. The only political longing I still have
is for the Orient, where I perhaps shall once end my life, unlike
the sun, rising in the West and setting in the East. I never press
my services on you, nor my councils, though I may say with some truth
that from the extraordinary fate which the higher Powers had ordained
for me, my experience, both political and of private life, is great. I
am _always ready_ to be useful to you _when and where_ it may be, and
I repeat it, _all I want in return is some little sincere affection
from you_....

And now I conclude for to-day, not without expressing again my
satisfaction and pleasure at having seen you yesterday morning with
your dear honest face, looking so dear in your morning attire. Our
time was spent very satisfactorily, and only the weather crossed our
wishes, and to that one can submit when everything else is delightful.
Once more, God bless you! Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted
Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.




[Pageheading: VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _25th September 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--You will, I think, laugh when you get this letter,
and will think I only mean to employ you in _stopping_ my relations at
Brussels, but I think you will approve of my wish. In the first place
I don't think one can _reckon_ on the Cousins arriving here on the
30th. Well, all I want is that _you_ should detain them one or two
days longer, in order that they may arrive here on _Thursday, the
3rd_, if possible _early_. My reason for this is as follows: a number
of the Ministers are coming down here on Monday to stay till Thursday,
on affairs of great importance, and as you know that people are always
on the alert to make remarks, I think if _all_ the Ministers were to
be down here when they arrive, people would say--it was to _settle
matters_. At all events it is better to avoid this. I think indeed a
day or two at Brussels will do these young gentlemen good, and
they can be properly fitted out there for their visit. Ever yours
devotedly,

VICTORIA R.




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I received your kind letter on Sunday, for which many
thanks. The _retard_ of these young people puts me rather out, but of
course cannot be helped. I had a letter from Albert yesterday saying
they could not set off, he thought, before the 6th. I think they don't
exhibit much _empressement_ to come here, which rather shocks me.

I got a very nice letter from dear Alexander yesterday from
Reinhardtsbrun;[57] he says Albert is very much improved, but not
taller than Augustus. His description of him is as follows:--"Albert,
I found, had become stronger and more handsome; still he has not grown
much taller; he is of about the same size as Augustus; he is a most
pleasant, intelligent young man. I find, too, that he has become more
lively than he was, and that sits well on him, too." (_Translation._)
I think you may like to hear this, as I know Alexander is a very
correct observer of persons, and his opinion may be relied upon. He
adds that Albert plagues Leopold beyond measure.

I shall take care and send a gentleman and carriages to meet my
cousins, either at Woolwich or the Tower, at whichever place you
inform me they land at. The sooner they come the better. I have got
the house _full_ of Ministers. On Monday the Queen Dowager is coming
to sleep here for two nights; it is the _first time_, and will be a
severe trial. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

    [Footnote 57: A picturesque castle, about eight miles from
    Gotha.]




[Pageheading: A CHARM AGAINST EVIL]


_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th October 1839._

The Queen sends the little _charm_ which she hopes may keep Lord
Melbourne from _all evil_, and which it will make her very happy if he
will put [? it with] his keys. If the ring is too small Lord Melbourne
must send it back to her, and she will have it altered.

The Queen has made up her mind at length to ask Lady Clanricarde, as
Lord Melbourne wishes it so much. Shall Surrey invite her, or Lord
Palmerston? and from Thursday to Friday?




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I have to thank you for three kind letters of the 1st,
4th, and 5th, the last which I received yesterday. I received another
letter from Alex. M. yesterday, _since Ernest's arrival_, and he says
that they have determined on setting off, so as to embark at Antwerp
on the 9th and be here after all on the 10th! I suppose you will have
also heard. I shall therefore (unless I hear from you to the contrary)
send one of my equerries and two carriages to the Tower on _Thursday_.

I am sorry to hear of the serious disturbances at Ghent; I trust it
is all got under now. If you should hear anything more of Roi
Guillaume's[58] marriage, pray let me hear it, as it is such an odd
story. Old Alava, who was here for two nights last week, told me he
knew _Pauline d'Oultremont_ many years ago, when she was young and
very gay and pretty, but that he wonders much at this marriage, as the
King hates Catholics. Alava is _rayonnant de bonheur_.

I told Lord Melbourne of your alarms respecting the financial crisis,
which _we_ did not bring on--those wild American speculations are the
cause of it--and he desires me to assure you that we will pursue as
moderate and cautious a course as possible.

The Queen Dowager came here yesterday and stays till to-morrow; she is
very cheerful and in good spirits....

I must conclude in haste. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Many thanks for the two supplies of ortolans, which were delicious.

    [Footnote 58: William I., King of the Netherlands, was greatly
    attached to the Roman Catholic Countess d'Oultremont, and in
    October 1840, being sixty-seven, abdicated his Crown to marry
    her. He was father of the Prince of Orange, who succeeded
    him.]




[Pageheading: ARRIVAL OF PRINCE ALBERT]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--... The dear cousins arrived at half-past seven on
Thursday, after a very bad and almost dangerous passage, but looking
both very well, and much improved. Having no clothes, they could not
appear at dinner, but nevertheless _débutéd_ after dinner in their
_négligé_. Ernest is grown quite handsome; Albert's _beauty_ is
_most striking_, and he so amiable and unaffected--in short, very
_fascinating_; he is excessively admired here. The Granvilles and Lord
Clanricarde[59] happened just to be here, but are gone again to-day.
We rode out yesterday and danced after dinner. The young men are very
amiable, delightful companions, and I am very happy to have them here;
they are playing some Symphonies of Haydn _under_ me at this very
moment; they are passionately fond of music.

In the way of news I have got nothing to tell you to-day. Everything
is quiet here, and we have no particular news from abroad. In Spain
the Fueros[60] seem to give sad difficulty to the Cortes.

Ever, my dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

    [Footnote 59: Ulick John, first Marquis of Clanricarde
    (1802-1874), Ambassador at St Petersburg, afterwards Lord
    Privy Seal.]

    [Footnote 60: Certain rights and privileges of the Basques.]




[Pageheading: A MOMENTOUS DECISION]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th October 1839._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--This letter will, I am sure, give you pleasure,
for you have always shown and taken so warm an interest in all that
concerns me. My mind is quite made up--and I told Albert this morning
of it; the warm affection he showed me on learning this gave me
_great_ pleasure. He seems _perfection_, and I think that I have the
prospect of very great happiness before me. I _love_ him _more_ than I
can say, and I shall do everything in my power to render the sacrifice
he has made (for a _sacrifice_ in my opinion it is) as small as I
can. He seems to have a very great tact--a very necessary thing in his
position. These last few days have passed like a dream to me, and I
am so much bewildered by it all that I know hardly how to write; but I
_do_ feel _very_, _very_ happy.

It is absolutely necessary that this determination of mine should be
known to _no one_ but yourself, and Uncle Ernest--till the meeting of
Parliament--as it would be considered otherwise neglectful on my part
not to have assembled Parliament at once to have informed them of
it.... Lord Melbourne, whom I of course have consulted about the whole
affair, quite approves my choice, and expresses great satisfaction
at the event, which he thinks in every way highly desirable. Lord
Melbourne has acted in this business, as he has always done towards
me, with the greatest kindness and affection.

We also think it better, and Albert quite approves of it, that
we should be married very soon after Parliament meets, about the
beginning of February; and indeed, loving Albert as I do, I cannot
wish it should be delayed. My feelings are a _little_ changed, I must
say, since last Spring, when I said I couldn't _think_ of marrying for
_three or four years_; but seeing Albert has changed all this.

Pray, dearest Uncle, forward these two letters to Uncle Ernest
(to whom I beg you will enjoin _strict_ secrecy, and explain these
details, which I have not time to do) and to faithful Stockmar.

I think you might tell Louise of it, but none of her family. I should
wish to keep the dear young gentlemen here till the end of next month.
Ernest's sincere pleasure gave me great delight. He does so adore
dearest Albert. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.




_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _16th October 1839._

Lord Melbourne will be ready to wait upon your Majesty at a little
before one.

Lord Melbourne reads with great satisfaction your Majesty's expression
of feeling, as your Majesty's happiness must ever be one of Lord
Melbourne's first objects and strongest interests.




[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD'S SATISFACTION]

[Pageheading: AUSTRIA AND THE PORTE]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

WIESBADEN, _24th October 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Nothing could have given me greater pleasure
than your dear letter. I had, when I saw your decision, almost the
feeling of old Zacharias[61]--"Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart
in peace"! Your choice had been for these last years my conviction of
what might and would be _best_ for your happiness; and just because I
was convinced of it, and knowing how _strangely_ fate often _deranges_
what one tries to bring about as being the best plan one could fix
upon, _the maximum of a good arrangement_, I feared that it would
_not_ happen. In your position, which may and will, perhaps, become
in future even more difficult in a political point of view, _you could
not exist_ without having a _happy_ and an _agreeable intérieur_.

And I am much deceived--which I think I am not--or you will find
in Albert just the very qualities and dispositions which are
indispensable for your happiness, and _which will suit your own
character, temper, and mode of life_. You say most amiably that you
consider it a sacrifice on the part of Albert. This is true in many
points, because his position will be a difficult one; but much, I may
say _all_, will depend on your affection for him. If _you love him,
and are kind to him_, he will easily bear the burthen of the position;
and there is a steadiness and at the same time cheerfulness in his
character which will facilitate this. I think your plans excellent.
If Parliament had been called at an unusual time it would make them
uncomfortable, and if, therefore, they receive the communication at
the opening of the Session, it will be best. The marriage, as you say,
might then follow as closely as possible.

Lord Melbourne has shown himself the _amiable_ and _excellent_ man I
always took him for. Another man in his position, instead of _your_
happiness, might have merely looked to his own personal views and
imaginary interests. Not so our good friend; he saw what was best _for
you_, and I feel it deeply to his praise.

Your keeping the cousins next month with you strikes me as a very good
plan. It will even show that you had sufficient opportunity of judging
of Albert's character....

On the 22nd, Prince Metternich came to see me. He was very kind, and
talked most confidentially about political affairs, particularly the
Oriental concerns.[62] M. de Brunnow had been with him. The short of
his views is this: he wishes that the Powers could be _unanimous_,
as he sees in this the best chance of avoiding measures of violence
against the Pasha of Egypt, which he considers _dangerous_, either as
_not_ sufficiently effective, or of a nature to bring on complications
most earnestly to be avoided, such as making use of Russian troops.
Austria naturally would like to bring about the best possible
arrangement for the Porte, but it will adhere to any arrangement or
proposition which can be agreed upon by England and France. He is,
however, positive that Candia must be given back to the Porte, its
position being too threatening, and therefore constantly alarming the
Porte. He made me write the import of our conversation to King Louis
Philippe, which I did send after him to Frankfort, where he was to
forward it to Paris. Perhaps you will have the goodness to communicate
this political scrap to good Lord Melbourne with my best regards. He
spoke in praise of Lord Beauvale.[63] The Prince is better, but grown
very old and looking tired. It gave me great pleasure to see him
again.

I drink the waters now four days, and can therefore not yet judge of
their good or bad effects. My palpitations are rather increased here;
if my stupid heart will get diseased I shall soon be departing for
some other world. I would it could be soon then.

Till further orders I shall say nothing to your Mother, Charles, or
Feodore.

Now I will conclude with my best blessings, and remain, my dearest and
most beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

    [Footnote 61: An obvious slip for Simeon.]

    [Footnote 62: _See_ Introductory Notes for 1839 and 1840.
      (to Ch. VIII and Ch. IX)]

    [Footnote 63: Frederick Lamb, younger brother of Lord
    Melbourne, Ambassador Extraordinary at Vienna, who had
    recently been made a Peer.]




[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S HAPPINESS]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th October 1839._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Your most kind and most welcome letter of the 24th
arrived yesterday, and gave me very, very great pleasure. I was sure
you would be satisfied and pleased with our proceedings.

Before I proceed further, I wish just to mention one or two
alterations in the plan of announcing the event.

As Parliament has _nothing_ whatever to say respecting the marriage,
can neither approve nor disapprove it (I mean in a manner which might
_affect_ it), it is now proposed that, as soon as the cousins are gone
(which they now intend to do on the 12th or 14th of November, as time
presses), I should assemble all the Privy Councillors and announce to
them my intention....

Oh! dear Uncle, I _do_ feel so happy! I do so adore Albert! he is
quite an angel, and so very, very kind to me, and seems so fond of me,
which touches me much. I trust and hope I shall be able to make him
as happy as he _ought_ to be! I cannot bear to part from him, for we
spend such happy, delightful hours together.

Poor Ernest has been suffering since Wednesday last with the jaundice,
which is very distressing and troublesome, though not alarming.... I
love him dearly too, and look upon him quite as a brother.

What you say about Lord Melbourne has given me great pleasure; it is
very just and very true. There are not many _such_ honest kind friends
to be found in this world. He desires me to say that he is deeply
sensible of your good opinion, and that he can have no other object
than that which he considers best to secure my happiness, which is
closely connected with the well-being of the country.

I am glad you saw Prince Metternich, and that you were satisfied with
the interview.

I hope and trust you may derive much benefit from your stay at
Wiesbaden. Pray name me to good Stockmar, and believe me, always, your
most devoted Niece and Child,

VICTORIA R.




[Pageheading: CONGRATULATIONS]


_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _9th November 1839._

MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA,--Your Uncle has already told you, I trust,
with what feelings of deep affection and gratitude I received the so
_interesting_ and _important_ communication which you permitted him
to make to me; but I was longing for an opportunity to speak to you
myself of the great subject which fills now our hearts, and to tell
you how very grateful I have been, I am, and will ever be, for the
confidence and trust which you so kindly placed in me. All I can
say is that you did full justice to my feelings, for _nothing_ could
interest _more_ my heart than _your_ marriage, my most dearly loved
Victoria, and I could not have heard even of that of Clémentine with
_more_ anxious affection and sisterly love. I cannot really tell you
_with words_ how deeply and strongly I was moved and affected by the
great news itself, and by your dear, unaffected, confiding, happy
letter. When I received it I could do nothing but cry, and say
internally, "May God bless her now and ever!" Ah! may God bless you,
my most beloved Victoria! may He shower on you His best blessings,
fulfil _all_ your heart's wishes and hopes, and let you enjoy for
_many, many years_ the happiness which the dearest ties of affection
_alone_ can give, and which is the only _real_ one, the only worthy of
the name in this uncertain and transitory world!

I have seen much of dear Albert two years ago, I have watched him, as
you may well think, with particular care, attention, and interest, and
although he was very young then, I am well convinced that he is not
only fit for the situation which he is now called to fulfil, but, what
is still more important in my eyes, that he has _all those qualities_
of the heart and the mind which can give and ensure happiness. I think
even that his disposition is particularly well calculated to suit
yours, and I am fully confident that you will be both happy together.
What you tell me of your fear of not being worthy of him, and able to
make him sufficiently happy, is for me but a proof more of it. Deep
affection makes us always diffident and _very humble_. Those that we
love stand so high in our own esteem, and are in our opinion so much
above us and all others that we naturally feel unworthy of them and
unequal to the task of making them happy: but there is, I think, a
mingled charm in this feeling, for although we regret not to be
what we should wish to be for them, feeling and acknowledging the
superiority of those we love and must always love and respect, is a
great satisfaction, and an increasing and everlasting one. You will
feel it, I am sure, as well as I do....

You will excuse my blots and hurried scribbling when I will tell you
that in order to profit of the private messenger which goes to-morrow
morning I write to you at ten in the evening, a thing quite unusual
for me, and even rather forbidden: but after having been deprived of
expending my heart for so many days, I could not _not_ avail myself of
the present opportunity. When I write to you by the ordinary messenger
I will continue to be _silent_; but I trust you will permit me to
say some time a word, when a safe opportunity presents itself, for my
heart is with you more than I can tell. I would that I could see you,
when it could be, for an hour. I remain, my most beloved Victoria,
ever and ever your most affectionate

LOUISE.




[Pageheading: THE ANNOUNCEMENT]


_Queen Victoria to the Duke of Sussex._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th November 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--The affection which you have shown me makes me feel
certain that you will take interest in an event which so nearly
concerns the future happiness of my life; I cannot, therefore, delay
any longer to inform you of my intended marriage with my Cousin
Albert, the merits of whose character are so well known by all who
are acquainted with him, that I need say no more than that I feel as
assured of my own happiness as I can be of anything in this world.

As it is not to be publicly known, I beg you not to mention it except
to our own Family.

I hope you are well and enjoying yourself. Believe me, always, your
affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.[64]

    [Footnote 64: Similar letters with slight variations were
    written to the Duke of Cambridge, the Princess Augusta, the
    Princess Sophia, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess
    Sophia Matilda, the King of Hanover, and the Princess
    Elizabeth (Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg).]




_Queen Victoria to Queen Adelaide._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _14th November 1839._

MY DEAR AUNT,--Your constant kindness and the affection you have ever
shown me make me certain that you will take much interest in an event
which so nearly concerns the future happiness of my life; I cannot,
therefore, any longer delay to inform you of my intended marriage with
my Cousin Albert. The merits of his character are so well known to all
who are acquainted with him, that I need say no more than that I feel
as assured of my own happiness as I can be of anything here below, and
only hope that I may be able to make him as happy as he deserves to
be. It was both my duty and my inclination to tell you of this as
soon as it was determined upon; but, as it is not to be yet publicly
announced I beg you not to mention it except to our own Family. I
thank you much for your kind letter, and rejoice to hear you have
enjoyed yourself so much. Believe me, always, your very affectionate
Niece,

VICTORIA R.




_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _18th November 1839._

The Queen just writes two lines to send Lord Melbourne the
accompanying civil letter from the Queen Dowager, and to give him an
account of the visit of the Cambridges. They were all very kind and
civil, George grown but not embellished, and much less reserved with
the Queen, and evidently happy to be _clear_ of me. He gave a very
indifferent account of the King of Greece, but a favourable one of the
Queen.

The Duchess said she had expected the Queen would marry Albert, and
was not surprised at the event. They were very discreet and asked no
questions, but described the Duchess of Gloucester to be _suffering_
much from the necessity of keeping the secret.

The weather cleared up, and the Queen has just returned from a walk.
She hopes Lord Melbourne got safe to London in spite of the wet
and the water on the road; and she hopes he will take great care of
himself. She would be thankful if he would let her know to-morrow if
he will dine with her also on Thursday or not.




[Pageheading: LETTERS TO PRINCE ALBERT]


_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th November 1839_.

MY DEAR UNCLE,--Many thanks for your kind letter of the 5th, received
last week. I am in a great hurry, and therefore have only time to
write to you a line to tell you, first, that on the 15th I wrote
to all the Royal Family announcing the event to them, and that they
answered all very kindly and civilly; the Duchess of Cambridge
and Augusta, with the Duke and George, came over on purpose to
congratulate me yesterday; secondly, that the marriage is to be
_publicly announced_ in an Open Council on the 23rd, at Buckingham
Palace, where I am going to-morrow. I return here _after_ the Council
on the 23rd. I am so happy to think I need not then conceal my
feelings any longer. I have also written to the King of Hanover and
the Landgravine,[65] and to all our relations abroad. I hope, dear
Uncle, you will not have _ill-treated_ my dearest Albert! I am very
anxious to hear from him from Wiesbaden. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

    [Footnote 65: Princess Elizabeth (1770-1840), daughter of
    George III. and widow of the Landgrave Frederick Joseph Louis
    of Hesse-Homburg.]


[The following extracts of letters from the Queen to Prince Albert
were written partly in English and partly in German. The English
portions are printed in italics, the German, translated, in ordinary
type. These letters are all written in terms of profound affection,
which deepened very shortly into complete and absolute devotion to the
Prince.]




_Queen Victoria to Prince Albert._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _21st November 1839._

... It is desired here that the matter should be declared at Coburg
as soon as possible, and immediately after that I shall send you the
Order.[66]

_Your rank will be settled just before you come over, as also your_
_rank in the Army._ Everything will be very easily arranged. Lord
Melbourne showed me yesterday the _Declaration_, which is very simple
and nice. I will send it you as soon as possible....

_Lord Melbourne told me yesterday, that the whole Cabinet are strongly
of opinion that you should NOT be made a Peer._ I will write that to
Uncle....

    [Footnote 66: The Garter.]




[Pageheading: THE RELIGIOUS QUESTION]


_22nd November 1839._

... Lord Melbourne has just been with me, and greatly wishes the
Declaration to be made at Coburg as soon as possible. _He also desired
me to ask you to see if you can ... a short History of the House of
Saxe-Coburg, who our direct ancestors were, and what part they took in
the Protestant, or rather Lutheran, religion; he wishes to hear this
in order to make people here know exactly who your ancestors are, for
a few stupid people_ here _try_ to say you are a _Catholic, but nobody
will believe it._ Send (it) as soon as possible; perhaps good Mr.
Schenk would write it out in English....

_As there is nothing to be settled for me, we require no treaty of
marriage; but if you should require anything to be settled, the best
will be to send it here. Respecting the succession, in case Ernest
should die without children, it would not do to stipulate now, but
your second son, if you had one, should reside at Coburg. That can
easily be arranged if the thing should happen hereafter, and the
English would not like it to be arranged now...._




[Pageheading: THE DECLARATION]


_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd November 1839._

... Just arrived here, 5.30. Everything has gone off very well. The
Council[67] was held at two o'clock; more than a hundred persons were
present, and _there_ I had to read the Declaration. _It was rather an
awful moment, to be obliged to announce this to so many people, many
of whom were quite strangers, but they told me I did it very well, and
I felt so happy to do it._

Good Lord Melbourne was deeply moved about it, and Uxbridge likewise;
it lasted only two or three minutes. _Everybody, they tell me, is very
much pleased, and I wish you could have seen the crowds of people who
cheered me loudly as I left the Palace for Windsor._ I am so happy
to-day! oh, if only _you_ could be here! I wish that you were able
to participate in all the kindness which is shown to me. To-day I can
only send you the Declaration.[68] _The description of the whole_ I
will send after this....

Send me as soon as possible the report of the announcement at Coburg.
I wear your dear picture mornings and evenings, and wore it also at
the meeting of the _Conseil._

    [Footnote 67: A Special Meeting of the Privy Council was held
    on the 23rd November, to receive the Queen's intimation of her
    engagement. The Queen wrote in her Journal:--

    "I went in; the room was full, but I hardly knew who was
    there. Lord M. I saw, looking at me with tears in his eyes,
    but he was not near me. I then read my short Declaration. I
    felt my hands shook, but I did not make one mistake. I felt
    more happy and thankful when it was over."]

    [Footnote 68: J. W. Croker wrote to Lady Hardwicke:--

    "_24th November 1839._

    "... She then unfolded a paper and read her Declaration,
    which you will, before this can reach you, have seen in the
    newspapers. I cannot describe to you with what a mixture of
    self-possession and feminine delicacy she read the paper. Her
    voice, which is naturally beautiful, was clear and untroubled;
    and her eye was bright and calm, neither bold nor downcast,
    but firm and soft. There was a blush on her cheek which made
    her look both handsomer and more interesting; and certainly
    she _did_ look as interesting and as handsome as any young
    lady I ever saw.

    "I happened to stand behind the Duke of Wellington's chair,
    and caught her eye twice as she directed it towards him, which
    I fancy she did with a good-natured interest. ...The crowd,
    which was not great but very decent, I might almost say
    respectable, expressed their approbation of the Duke of
    Wellington and Sir R. Peel, and their disapprobation of the
    Ministers very loudly. Lord John and Lord Normanby, they tell
    me, were positively hooted.... Lord Melbourne ... seemed to me
    to look _careworn_, and on the whole the meeting had a sombre
    air."--_Croker Papers_, ii. 359.]




[Pageheading: THE PEERAGE QUESTION]


_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

WIESBADEN, _22nd November 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I was delighted with your dear little letter.
You write these kind of letters with a very great facility, and they
are generally so natural and clever, that it makes one very happy
to receive them. I had written less of late, because I thought you
occupied more agreeably than to read my letters. I have on purpose
kept back a courier, to be able to send you the latest news from here
of M. Albert. The young people arrived here only on the 20th, in the
morning, having very kindly stopped at Bonn. I find them looking well,
particularly Albert; it proves that happiness is an excellent remedy,
and keeps people in better health than any other. He is much attached
to you, and moved when he speaks of you. He is, besides, in great
spirits and gaiety, and full of fun; he is a very amiable companion.

Concerning the peerage, that is a matter to be considered at any
time; the only reason why I do wish it is, that Albert's foreignership
should disappear as much as possible. I have, in different
circumstances to be sure, suffered greatly from my having declined
conditionally the peerage when it was offered me in 1816.[69] Your
Uncle[70] writes to you in German: as far as I understood him, he
speaks of the necessity of a marriage treaty; that is a matter of
course. There is, however, something additional to be regulated
concerning the possible succession in the Coburg-Gotha dominions,
there being betwixt it and Albert but good Ernest. Some regulation
becomes therefore necessary, at least reasonable. The Duke wishes also
to know if the treaty is to be made in England or in Germany.
Should the last of the two be fixed upon, he thinks that one of your
Ministers abroad would be the proper person for it. Ever, my dear
Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

    [Footnote 69: The Dukedom of Kendal was offered to, and, after
    consideration, declined by, Prince Leopold.]

    [Footnote 70: The Duke of Saxe-Coburg (Ernest I.).]




_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th November 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I thank you for your kind letter which I received
the day before yesterday; but I fear you must have been very dull at
Wiesbaden....

Everything went off uncommonly well on the 23rd, but it was rather
formidable;[71] eighty-two Privy Councillors present; everybody very
much pleased--and I was loudly greeted on leaving the Palace _after_
the Council.

The _whole Cabinet_ agree with me in being _strongly_ of opinion that
Albert should _not_ be a Peer; indeed, I see everything against it and
_nothing_ for it; the English are very jealous at the idea of Albert's
having any political power, or meddling with affairs here--which I
know from himself he will _not_ do.

As Wiesbaden is half-way (or thereabouts) to Coburg, I take the
liberty of enclosing a large letter to Albert, which I beg you to send
on to him.

We are quite flooded here, and the road to Datchet is quite
impassable. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

    [Footnote 71: Greville mentions that the Queen's hands
    trembled so, that she could hardly read the Declaration which
    she was holding.]




[Pageheading: BRITISH SUSCEPTIBILITIES]


_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_27th November 1839._

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

A little civility would be well bestowed upon Lord and Lady
Tankerville, and might not be without its effect, but if your Majesty
does not like it, it cannot be helped.

The others also shall, if possible, be kept in good humour.

The misrepresentation, respecting Prince Alexander[72] your Majesty
will see corrected in the _Morning Chronicle_ of that morning, but of
course your Majesty will not expect that this contradiction will put
an end to bitter and offensive remarks. It will now be said that,
knowing the true religion, he has given over his children to the
false, and that he has sacrificed their eternal welfare to his own
worldly objects.[73] There is nothing which cannot be turned in an
hostile and malignant manner by malignant and perverted ingenuity.

Can your Majesty inform Lord Melbourne what is the arrangement
respecting King Leopold's children? They are, Lord Melbourne presumes,
to be brought up Roman Catholics.

Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes to hear that your Majesty is better and
more free from pain. He is himself very well.

    [Footnote 72: Prince Alexander of Würtemberg.]

    [Footnote 73: See _ante_, p. 150. (Ch. VIII, Footnote 22)]




_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _27th November 1839._

_The English are very jealous of any foreigner interfering in the
government of this country, and have already in some of the papers
(which are friendly to me and you) expressed a hope that you would not
interfere. Now, though I know you never would, still, if you were a
Peer, they would all say, the Prince meant to play a political part._
I am certain you will understand this, but it is much better not to
say anything more about it now, and to let the whole matter rest.
The Tories make a great disturbance (saying) that you are _a Papist_,
because the words "_a Protestant Prince_" have not been put into the
Declaration--a thing which would be quite unnecessary, seeing that I
_cannot_ marry a _Papist_....




_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

_29th November 1839.