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.