1840
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th January 1840._
STOCKMAR is here; I saw him yesterday and to-day, and have begged him
to explain to you _all the Court affairs, and the affairs concerning
the Treaty_, in my name. He will explain to you the Treasury affair,
and will do it much better than I should. I am very happy to see him
again, and to have him here; he can give such good advice to both of
us, and he understands England so fully.... Stocky (as I always
used to call him) is so sensible about everything, and is _so much_
attached to you.
I shall have no great dinners, because the large rooms in the upper
story here are not yet ready. My good old Primus[1] usually dines
with me three or four times a week, almost always on Sundays, _when I
cannot invite other people to dinner, as it is not reckoned right here
for me to give dinners on Sunday, or to invite many people_. Your song
(the bust has been mentioned before) is very fine; there is something
touching in it which I like so much....
[Footnote 1: _I.e._ Premier.]
[Pageheading: OPENING OF PARLIAMENT]
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th January 1840._
This letter will be handed you by Torrington personally. I recommend
you not to leave late, so as to make the journey without hurry. I did
not go to church to-day; the weather is very cold, and I have to be
careful not to catch cold before the 16th, because I open Parliament
in person. _This is always a nervous proceeding, and the announcement
of my marriage at the beginning of my speech is really a very nervous
and awful affair for me. I have never failed yet, and this is the
sixth time that I have done it, and yet I am just as frightened as if
I had never done it before. They say that feeling of nervousness
is never got over, and that Wm. Pitt himself never got up to make
a speech without thinking he should fail. But then I only read my
speech._
I had to-day a visit from George[2] whom I received _alone_, and he
was very courteous. His Papa I have also seen.
[Footnote 2: Prince George of Cambridge.]
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th January 1840._
... Yesterday just as I came home from the House of Lords,[3] I
received your dear letter of the 10th. I cannot understand at all why
you have received no letters from me, seeing that I always wrote twice
a week, regularly....
I observe with horror that I have not formally invited your father;
though that is a matter of course. My last letter will have set that
right. I ought not to have written to you on picture notepaper, seeing
that we are in deep mourning for my poor Aunt, the Landgravine,[4] but
it was quite impossible for me to write to you on mourning paper....
_But this will not interfere with our marriage in the least; the
mourning will be taken off for that day, and for two or three days
after, and then put on again._
Everything went off exceedingly well yesterday. There was an immense
multitude of people, and perhaps never, certainly not for a long
time, have I been received so well; and what is remarkable, I _was
not nervous_, and read the speech really well. The Tories began
immediately afterwards to conduct themselves very _badly_ and to
plague us. But everyone praised you very much. Melbourne made a very
fine speech about you and your ancestors. To-day I receive the
Address of the House of Lords, and, perhaps, also that of the House of
Commons.
[Footnote 3: The Queen had opened Parliament in person, and
announced her intended marriage.]
[Footnote 4: The Princess Elizabeth (born 1770), third
daughter of George III. and widow of the Landgrave Frederick
Joseph Louis of Hesse-Homburg. _See_ p. 195. (Ch. VIII, Footnote 65)]
[Pageheading: TORIES, WHIGS, AND RADICALS]
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _21st January 1840._
I am awaiting with immense impatience a letter from you. Here hardly
anything to relate to-day, because we are living in great retirement,
until informed that my poor Aunt has been buried. With the exception
of Melbourne and my own people, no one has dined for the last week.
We are all of us very much preoccupied with politics. The Tories
really are very astonishing; _as they cannot and dare not attack us in
Parliament, they do everything that they can to be personally rude to
me.... The Whigs are the only safe and loyal people, and the Radicals
will also rally round their Queen to protect her from the Tories;
but it is a curious sight to see those, who as Tories, used to pique
themselves upon their excessive loyalty, doing everything to degrade
their young Sovereign in the eyes of the people. Of course there are
exceptions._
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _31st January 1840._
... You have written to me in one of your letters about our stay at
Windsor, but, dear Albert, you have not at all understood the matter.
_You forget, my dearest Love, that I am the Sovereign, and that
business can stop and wait for nothing. Parliament is sitting, and
something occurs almost every day, for which I may be required, and it
is quite impossible for me to be absent from London; therefore two
or three days is already a long time to be absent. I am never easy a
moment, if I am not on the spot, and see and hear what is going on,
and everybody, including all my Aunts (who are very knowing in all
these things), says I must come out after the second day, for, as I
must be surrounded by my Court, I cannot keep alone. This is also my
own wish in every way._
Now as to the Arms: _as an English Prince you have no right, and Uncle
Leopold had no right to quarter the English Arms, but the Sovereign
has the power to allow it by Royal Command: this was done for Uncle
Leopold by the Prince Regent, and I will do it again for you. But it
can only be done by Royal Command._
I will, therefore, without delay, have a seal engraved for you.
You will certainly feel very happy too, at the news of the coming
union of my much-beloved Vecto[5] with Nemours. It gives me quite
infinite pleasure, because then I can see the dear child more
frequently.
I read in the newspaper that you, dear Albert, have received many
Orders; also that the Queen of Spain will send you the Golden
Fleece....
Farewell, dearest Albert, and think often of thy faithful
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 5: The Princess Victoire of Saxe-Coburg, cousin of
Queen Victoria.]
[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S GRANT]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _31st January 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I am most grateful for your long letter of the
27th and 28th inst. I send a messenger to be able to answer quite
confidentially. I must confess that I never saw anything _so
disgraceful_ than the discussion and vote in the Commons.[6] The whole
mode and way in which those who opposed the grant treated the
question was so extremely _vulgar_ and _disrespectful_, that I cannot
comprehend the Tories. The men who uphold the dignity of the Crown to
treat their Sovereign in such a manner, on such an occasion! Even in
private life the most sour and saturnine people relax and grow gay
and mildly disposed on occasions like this. Clearly, as you are Queen
Regnant, Albert's position is to all intents and purposes that of a
male Queen Consort, and the same privileges and charges ought to be
attached to it which were attached to Queen Adelaide's position. The
giving up the income which the Queen-Dowager came into, and which I
hope and trust Albert would never have, or have had, any chance of
having had himself, was in reality giving up a thing which _custom_
had sanctioned. That Prince George of Denmark[7] was considered to
be in the same position as a Queen Consort there can be, I think,
no doubt about, and when one considers the immense difference in the
value of money then and now, it renders matters still more striking.
I must say such conduct in Parliament I did _not expect_, and the
less when I consider that your Civil List was rather curtailed than
otherwise, perhaps not quite fairly. I rejoice to think that I induced
Lord Melbourne to propose to you not to accede to the giving up of
the Duchy of Lancaster. Parliament did not deserve it, and by good
management I think something may be made of it.
Another thing which made me think that Parliament would have acted
with more decency, is that I return to the country now near £40,000
a year, _not because_ I thought my income _too large_, as worthy Sir
Robert Peel said, but from motives of political delicacy, which at
least might be acknowledged on such occasions. I was placed by my
marriage treaty in the position of a Princess of Wales, which in
reality it was, though not yet by law, there existing a possibility of
a Prince of Wales as long as George IV. lived. I can only conclude by
crying _shame, shame_!...
I hope and trust you will not be too much worried with all these
unpleasant things, and that Albert will prove a comforter and support
to you. And so good-bye for to-day. Ever, my dearest Victoria, your
devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 6: The Ministers proposed an income of £50,000 a
year for the Prince--the Conservatives and Radicals united on
an amendment reducing it to £30,000, which was carried by a
majority of 104.]
[Footnote 7: The Consort of Queen Anne.]
[Pageheading: THE PRINCE AT BRUSSELS]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _1st February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I hope you will be pleased with me, as I send a
messenger on purpose to inform you of Albert's arrival. He will write
himself this night, though rather inclined to surrender himself to
Morpheus.
He looks well and handsome, but a little interesting, being very much
irritated by what happened in the House of Commons. He does not
care about the money, but he is much shocked and exasperated by the
disrespect of the thing, as he well may.
I do not yet know the exact day of their departure, but I suppose it
will be on the 5th, to be able to cross on the 6th. I have already
had some conversation with him, and mean to talk _à fond_ to him
to-morrow. My wish is to see you both happy and thoroughly united
and of one mind, and I trust that both of you will ever find in me a
faithful, honest, and attached friend.
As it is eleven o'clock at night, I offer you my respects, and remain,
ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
Your poor Aunt fainted this morning; she is much given to this, but it
was rather too long to-day.
[Pageheading: AMIABILITY OF THE PRINCE]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _4th February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I have now treated all the questions you wished
me to touch upon with Albert, and I was much pleased with his amiable
disposition. At a certain distance explanations by letter are next to
impossible, and each party in the end thinks the other unreasonable.
When he arrived he was rather exasperated about various things, and
pretty full of grievances. But our conversations have dissipated these
clouds, and now there will only remain the new parliamentary
events and consequences, which change a good deal of what one could
reasonably have foreseen or arranged. You will best treat these
questions now verbally. Albert is quick, not obstinate, in
conversation, and open to conviction if good arguments are brought
forward. When he thinks himself right he only wishes to have it
_proved_ that he _misunderstands_ the case, to give it up without
ill-humour. He is not inclined to be sulky, but I think that he may be
rendered a little melancholy if he thinks himself unfairly or unjustly
treated, but being together and remaining together, there _never_
can arise, I hope, any occasion for any disagreement even on trifling
subjects.... Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _8th February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--This letter will arrive when I trust you will
be most happily occupied; I don't mean therefore to trespass on your
time.
May Heaven render you as happy as I always wished you to be, and as I
always tried hard to see you. There is every prospect of it, and I
am sure you will be mistress in that respect of your own _avenir_.
_Perfect confidence_ will best ensure and consolidate this happiness.
Our rule in poor Charlotte's time was never to permit _one single day_
to pass over _ein Missverständniss_, however trifling it might be.[8]
I must do Charlotte the justice to say that she kept this compact most
religiously, and at times even more so than myself, as in my younger
days I was sometimes inclined to be sulky and silently displeased.
With this rule no misunderstandings can take root and be increased or
complicated by new ones being added to the old. Albert is gentle and
open to reason; all will therefore always be easily explained, and he
is determined never to be occupied but by what is important or useful
to you....
Now I conclude, with my renewed warmest and sincerest good wishes for
you, ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD.
[Footnote 8: _(From an unpublished Contemporary Memoir by
Admiral Sir William Hotham, G.C.B.)_
"Her Royal Highness was now and then apt to give way to a high
flow of animal spirits, natural at her time of life, and from
carelessness more than unkindness to ridicule others. In one
of these sallies of inconsiderate mirth, she perceived the
Prince, sombre and cold, taking no apparent notice of what was
going on, or if he did, evidently displeased. She at length
spoke to him about it, and he at once manifested reluctance
to join in the conversation, saying that though he had been a
tolerably apt scholar in many things, he had yet to learn in
England what pleasure was derived from the exercise of that
faculty he understood to be called "quizzing"; that he could
by no means reconcile it to himself according to any rule
either of good breeding or benevolence. The tears instantly
started in her eye, and feeling at once the severity and
justice of the reproof, assured him most affectionately
that, as it was the first time she had ever merited His Royal
Highness's reproof on this subject, she assured him most
solemnly it should be the last."]
[Pageheading: THE WEDDING-DAY]
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._[9]
_10th February 1840._
DEAREST,--... How are you to-day, and have you slept well? I have
rested very well, and feel very comfortable to-day. What weather! I
believe, however, the rain will cease.
Send one word when you, my most dearly loved bridegroom, will be
ready. Thy ever-faithful,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 9: A note folded in _billet_ form, to be taken by
hand. Addressed:
"HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE.
"THE QUEEN."
This was the day of their marriage at the Chapel Royal. After
the wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace they drove to
Windsor, and on the 14th they returned to London.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th February 1840._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I write to you from here, the happiest, happiest
Being that ever existed. Really, I do not think it _possible_ for any
one in the world to be _happier_, or AS happy as I am. He is an Angel,
and his kindness and affection for me is really touching. To look in
those dear eyes, and that dear sunny face, is enough to make me adore
him. What I can do to make him happy will be my greatest delight.
Independent of my great personal happiness, the reception we both
met with yesterday was the most gratifying and enthusiastic I ever
experienced; there was no end of the crowds in London, and all along
the road. I was a good deal tired last night, but am quite well again
to-day, and happy....
My love to dear Louise. Ever your affectionate,
VICTORIA R.
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
BRUSSELS, _21st February 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I am more grateful than I can express that,
notwithstanding your many _empêchements_ and occupations, you still
found a little moment to write to me. News from you are always
most precious to me, and now almost more than ever. This is such
an important moment in your life, it will so much decide how the
remainder is to be, that I am deeply interested in all I can hear on
the subject. Hitherto, with the exception of your own dear and
Royal self, I have not been spoiled, _et j'ai puisé beaucoup de mes
nouvelles_ in the _Times_ and such like sources.
God be praised that the dear _ménage_ is so happy! I can only say may
it be so for ever and ever. I always thought that with your warm and
feeling heart and susceptibility for strong and lasting affection, you
would prefer this _genre_ of happiness, if you once possessed it, to
every other. It must be confessed that it is less frequent than could
be wished for the good of mankind, but when it does exist, there is
something delightful to a generous heart like yours in this sacred
tie, in this attachment for better for worse, and I think the English
Church service expresses it in a simple and touching manner.
I was happy to see that the Addresses of both Houses of Parliament
were voted in a decent and becoming way. How mean people are! If
they had not seen the public at large take a great interest in your
marriage and show you great affection, perhaps some would again have
tried to bring on unpleasant subjects....
My letter is grown long; I will therefore conclude it with the
expression of my great affection for your dear self. Ever, my most
beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Pageheading: POPULAR ENTHUSIASM]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
_6th March 1840._
... As your Majesty has by your Lord Chamberlain permitted plays to
be acted on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent, it would be condemning
yourself if you did not go to see them if you like to do so....
... Lord Melbourne is much pleased to hear that your Majesty and
the Prince liked _The School for Scandal_. It is upon the whole the
cleverest comedy in the English language, the fullest of wit and at
the same time the most free from grossness.
[Pageheading: THE CORN LAWS]
_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._
_4th April 1840._
Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to state that the House of Commons having resumed the
consideration of the Corn Laws, the debate was closed by Sir Robert
Peel, in a speech much inferior to those which he usually makes. Mr
Warburton moved an adjournment, which caused many members to leave the
House. The motion being opposed, there were on a division 240 against
adjournment, and only 125 in favour of it.
Mr Warburton then by some blunder moved that the House adjourn, which
puts an end to the debate. This was eagerly caught at by the opposite
party, and agreed to. So that the question is lost by this ridiculous
termination, and it is to be feared that it will produce much
discontent in the manufacturing class.[10]
[Footnote 10: The opposition to the Corn Laws was now
increasing in the North.]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
_5th April 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is quite
well but much tired. He has so much to do this morning that he will
not be able to speak to Albemarle,[11] but if Albemarle dines at the
Palace, he certainly will then.
Lord Melbourne always feared anything like a mixture of the Stable
establishments. It would have been much better that what horses the
Prince had should have been kept quite separate, and that the horses
of your Majesty's which he should have to use should have been
settled, and some plan arranged by which they could have been obtained
when wanted. Horses to be used by one set of people and kept and fed
by another will never do. Servants and subordinate agents in England
are quite unmanageable in these respects. If they get [matters] into
their hands neither the Deity nor the Devil, nor both together, can
make them agree. Lord Melbourne writes this in ignorance of the actual
facts of the case, and therefore it may be inapplicable.
[Footnote 11: Master of the Horse.]
_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._
_8th April 1840._
Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to state that Sir James Graham yesterday brought forward
his motion on China in a speech of nearly three hours.[12] He was
answered by Mr Macaulay in a manner most satisfactory to his audience,
and with great eloquence. Sir William Follett spoke with much
ingenuity, but in the confined spirit of a lawyer.
[Footnote 12: The motion was to censure Ministers for their
want of foresight in their dealings with China in connection
with the extension of commerce, and with the opium trade. The
motion was rejected by 271 to 262.]
[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND CHINA]
_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._
_9th April 1840._
Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to report that the debate went on yesterday, when Mr Hawes
spoke against the motion. In the course of the debate Mr Gladstone[13]
said the Chinese had a right to poison the wells, to keep away the
English! The debate was adjourned.
[Footnote 13: Mr Gladstone had been member for Newark since
1832.]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
_2nd May 1840._
Mr Cowper has just come in and tells me that they have determined to
begin the disturbance to-night at the Opera, at the very commencement
of the performance.[14] This may be awkward, as your Majesty will
arrive in the middle of the tumult. It is the intention not to permit
the opera to proceed until Laporte gives way.
Lord Melbourne is afraid that if the row has already begun, your
Majesty's presence will not put an end to it; and it might be as
well not to go until your Majesty hears that it is over and that the
performance is proceeding quietly. Some one might be sent to attend
and send word.
[Footnote 14: A _fracas_ took place at the Opera on 29th
April. The Manager, Laporte, not having engaged Tamburini
to sing, the audience made a hostile demonstration at the
conclusion of the performance of _I Puritani_. An explanation
made by Laporte only made matters worse, and eventually the
Tamburinists took possession of the stage.]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
_6th May 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has just
received this from Lord John Russell--a most shocking event,[15] which
your Majesty has probably by this time heard of. The persons who did
it came for the purpose of robbing the house; they entered by the back
of the house and went out at the front door.[16] The servants in the
house, only a man and a maid, never heard anything, and the maid, when
she came down to her master's door in the morning, found the horrid
deed perpetrated....
[Footnote 15: The murder of Lord William Russell by his valet,
Courvoisier, in Norfolk Street, Park Lane.]
[Footnote 16: This was the original theory.]
[Pageheading: MURDER OF LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
_6th May 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Since he
wrote to your Majesty, he has seen Mr Fox Maule,[17] who had been
at the house in Norfolk Street. He says that it is a most mysterious
affair. Lord William Russell was found in his bed, quite dead, cold
and stiff, showing that the act had been perpetrated some time. The
bed was of course deluged with blood, but there were no marks of blood
in any other part of the room; so that he had been killed in his bed
and by one blow, upon the throat, which had nearly divided his head
from his body. The back door of the house was broken open, but there
were no traces of persons having approached the door from without.
His writing-desk was also broken open and the money taken out, but
otherwise little or nothing had been taken away. The police upon duty
in the streets had neither heard nor seen anything during the night.
In these circumstances strong suspicion lights upon the persons in
the house, two maids and a man, the latter a foreigner[18] and who had
only been with Lord William about five weeks. These persons are now
separately confined, and the Commissioners of Police are actively
employed in enquiring into the affair. An inquest will of course be
held upon the body without delay.
Lord Melbourne has just received your Majesty's letter, and will
immediately convey to Lord John your Majesty's kind expressions of
sympathy.
[Footnote 17: Under-Secretary for Home Affairs; afterwards, as
Lord Panmure, Secretary for War.]
[Footnote 18: Courvoisier.]
[Pageheading: MRS NORTON]
[Pageheading: PRINCESS CHARLOTTE]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _22nd May 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I received yesterday a most kind and dear letter
from your august hands. Charles,[19] who wanted to cross yesterday,
will have had very bad weather. He _is_ prepared not to make too long
a stay in England. He dined here on the 19th. Louise was prepared
to come to dinner, but was not quite equal to it; she therefore came
after it. He came also to see me on the 20th, before his departure for
Ostende. It is very gracious of you to have given him subsidies, but
in fact poor Feo stands more in need of it. She really is too poor;
when one thinks that they have but £600 a year, and that large
castles, etc., are to be kept up with it, one cannot conceive how they
manage it. It was a very generous feeling which prompted you to see
Mrs Norton, and I have been too much her friend to find fault with it.
True it is that Norton was freely accepted by her, but she was very
poor, and could therefore hardly venture to refuse him. Many people
will flirt with a clever, handsome, but poor girl, though not marry
her--besides, the idea of having old Shery[20] for a grandfather had
nothing very captivating. A very unpleasant husband Norton certainly
was, and one who had little tact. I can well believe that she was much
frightened, having so many eyes on her, some of which, perhaps, not
with the most amiable expression.
I was delighted to learn that you meant to visit poor Claremont, and
to pass there part of your precious birthday. Claremont is the place
where in younger days you were least plagued, and generally I saw you
there in good spirits. You will also _nolens volens_ be compelled to
think of me, and maybe of poor Charlotte.
This gives me an opening for saying a few words on this subject. I
found several times that some people had given you the impression that
poor Charlotte had been hasty and violent even to imperiousness and
_rudeness_. I can you assure that it was _not so_; she was quick, and
even violent, but I never have seen anybody so open to conviction, and
so fair and candid when wrong. The proverb says, and not without some
truth, that ladies come always back to the first words, to avoid any
symptom of having been convinced. Generous minds, however, do not do
this; they fight courageously their battles, but when they clearly see
that they are wrong, and that the reasons and arguments submitted to
them are _true_, they frankly admit the truth. Charlotte had eminently
this disposition; besides, she was so anxious to please me, that often
she would say: "Let it be as it may; provided you wish it, I will
do it." I always answered: "I never want anything for myself; when I
press something on you, it is from a conviction that it is for your
interest and for your good." I know that you have been told that she
ordered everything in the house and liked to show that she was the
mistress. It was not so. On the contrary, her pride was to make
me appear to my best advantage, and even to display respect and
obedience, when I least wanted it from her. She would almost
exaggerate the feeling, to show very clearly that she considered me as
her lord and master.
And on the day of the marriage, as most people suspected her of a very
different disposition, everybody was struck with the manner in which
she pronounced the promise of obedience. I must say that I was much
more the master of the house than is generally the case in private
life. Besides, there was something generous and royal in her mind
which alone would have prevented her doing anything vulgar or
ill-bred. What rendered her sometimes a little violent was a slight
disposition to jealousy. Poor Lady Maryborough,[21] at all times some
twelve or fifteen years older than myself, but whom I had much known
in 1814, was once much the cause of a fit of that description. I told
her it was quite childish, but she said, "it is not, because she is a
very coquettish, dissipated woman." The most difficult task I had was
to change her manners; she had something brusque and too rash in her
movements, which made the Regent quite unhappy, and which sometimes
was occasioned by a struggle between shyness and the necessity of
exerting herself. I had--I may say so without seeming to boast--the
manners of the best society of Europe, having early moved in it, and
been rather what is called in French _de la fleur des pois_. A good
judge I therefore was, but Charlotte found it rather hard to be so
scrutinised, and grumbled occasionally how I could so often find fault
with her.
Nothing perhaps speaks such volumes as the _positive fact_ of her
manners getting _quite changed_ within a year's time, and that to
the openly pronounced satisfaction of the very fastidious and not
over-partial Regent. To explain how it came that manners were a little
odd in England, it is necessary to remember that England had been for
more than ten years completely cut off from the rest of the world....
We have bitter cold weather which has given colds to both the
children. Uncle Ferdinand [22] is now only arriving _si dice_ on
Sunday next. He has been robbed of 15,000 francs in his own room _au
Palais-Royal_, which is very unpleasant for all parties.
My letter is so long that I must haste to conclude it, remaining ever,
my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
My love to Alberto.
[Footnote 19: Prince Charles of Leiningen.]
[Footnote 20: The three sisters, Mrs Norton, Lady Dufferin,
and Lady Seymour (afterwards Duchess of Somerset), the latter
of whom was "Queen of Beauty" at the Eglinton Tournament, were
grand-daughters of R. B. Sheridan. Lord Melbourne was much
in Mrs Norton's company, and Norton, for whom the Premier had
found a legal appointment, sued him in the Court of Common
Pleas for _crim. con._; the jury found for the defendant.]
[Footnote 21: Lord Maryborough (1763-1845) was William
Wellesley Pole, brother of the Marquess Wellesley and the
Duke of Wellington. He married Katherine Elizabeth Forbes,
grand-daughter of the third Earl of Granard.]
[Footnote 22: Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, King Leopold's
brother.]
[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCE]
_Memorandum by Mr Anson._
_Minutes of Conversations with Lord Melbourne and Baron Stockmar._
_28th May 1840._
_Lord Melbourne._--"I have spoken to the Queen, who says the Prince
complains of a want of confidence on trivial matters, and on all
matters connected with the politics of this country. She said it
proceeded entirely from indolence; she knew it was wrong, but when she
was with the Prince she preferred talking upon other subjects. I told
Her Majesty that she should try and alter this, and that there was
no objection to her conversing with the Prince upon any subject she
pleased. My impression is that the chief obstacle in Her Majesty's
mind is the fear of difference of opinion, and she thinks that
domestic harmony is more likely to follow from avoiding subjects
likely to create difference. My own experience leads me to think that
subjects between man and wife, even where difference is sure to ensue,
are much better discussed than avoided, for the latter course is sure
to beget distrust. I do not think that the Baroness[23] is the cause
of this want of openness, though her name to me is never mentioned by
the Queen."
_Baron Stockmar._--"I wish to have a talk with you. The Prince leans
more on you than any one else, and gives you his entire confidence;
you are honest, moral, and religious, and will not belie that trust.
The Queen has not started upon a right principle. She should by
degrees impart everything to him, but there is danger in his wishing
it all at once. A case may be laid before him; he may give some
crude and unformed opinion; the opinion may be taken and the result
disastrous, and a forcible argument is thus raised against advice
being asked for the future.
"The Queen is influenced more than she is aware of by the Baroness. In
consequence of that influence, she is not so ingenuous as she was two
years ago. I do not think that the withholding of her confidence does
proceed wholly from indolence, though it may partly arise, as the
Prince suggests, from the entire confidence which she reposes in her
present Ministers, making her inattentive to the plans and measures
proposed, and thinking it unnecessary entirely to comprehend them; she
is of necessity unable to impart their views and projects to him who
ought to be her friend and counsellor."
[Footnote 23: Baroness Lehzen.]
[Pageheading: OXFORD'S ATTEMPT]
_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._
CARLTON TERRACE, _10th June 1840._
Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
though your Majesty must be overwhelmed with congratulations at
your Majesty's escape from the aim of the assassin,[24] yet Viscount
Palmerston trusts that he may be allowed to express the horror with
which he heard of the diabolical attempt, and the deep thankfulness
which he feels at your Majesty's providential preservation.
Viscount Palmerston humbly trusts that the failure of this atrocious
attempt may be considered as an indication that your Majesty is
reserved for a long and prosperous reign, and is destined to assure,
for many years to come, the welfare and happiness of this nation.
[Footnote 24: Edward Oxford, a pot-boy, aged eighteen, fired
twice at the Queen on Constitution Hill. The Queen, who was
untouched either shot, immediately drove to the Duchess of
Kent's house to announce her safety. On his trial, Oxford was
found to be insane.]
_The King of the French to Queen Victoria._
_11 Juin 1840._
MADAME MA S[OE]UR,--C'est avec une profonde indignation que je viens
d'apprendre l'horrible attentat qui a menacé les précieux jours de
votre Majesté. Je rends grâce du fond de mon c[oe]ur à la Divine
Providence qui les a miraculeusement conservés, et qui semble n'avoir
permis qu'ils fussent exposés à un si grand danger, que pour faire
briller aux yeux de tous, votre courage, votre sang-froid, et toutes
les qualités qui vous distinguent.
J'ose espérer que votre Majesté me permettra de recourir à son
entremise pour offrir à S.A.R. le Prince Albert, l'expression de tous
les sentiments dont je suis pénétré, et qu'elle voudra bien recevoir
l'assurance de tous ceux que je lui porte, ainsi que celle de ma haute
estime, de mon inaltérable attachement et de mon inviolable amitié. Je
suis, Madame ma S[oe]ur, de votre Majesté, le bon Frère,
LOUIS PHILIPPE R.
[Pageheading: A PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
_11th June 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and returns
your Majesty many, many thanks for your letter. Lord Melbourne was
indeed most anxious to learn that your Majesty was well this morning.
It was indeed a most awful and providential escape. It is impossible
not to shudder at the thought of it.
Lord Melbourne thinks that it will be necessary to have an examination
of this man before such of your Majesty's confidential servants as are
of the Privy Council;[25] it should take place this morning.
Addresses will be moved in both Houses immediately upon their meeting.
[Footnote 25: _I.e._, the Cabinet.]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _13th June 1840._
MY DEAREST AND MOST BELOVED VICTORIA,--I cannot find words _strong
enough_ to express to you my horror at what happened on the 10th, and
my happiness and delight to see your escape from a danger which was
really very great. In your good little heart I hope that it made you
feel grateful to God for a protection which was very signal. It does
good and is a consolation to think that matters are not _quite_ left
to take care of _themselves_, but that an all-powerful Hand guides
them.
Louise I told the affair mildly, as it might have made too great an
impression on her otherwise. She always feels so much for you and
loves you so much, that she was rejoiced beyond measure that you
escaped so well and took the thing with so much _courage_. That you
have shown _great fortitude_ is not to be doubted, and will make a
very great and good impression. I see that the general feeling is
excellent, but what a melancholy thing to see a young man, without
provocation, capable of such a diabolical act! That attempts of that
sort took place against George III., and even George IV., one can
comprehend; but you have not only been extremely liberal, but in no
instance have you hitherto come into contact with any popular feeling
or prejudice; besides, one should think that your being a lady would
alone prevent such unmanly conduct. It shows what an effect bad
example and the bad press have. I am sure that this act is _une
singerie_ of what passes in France, that it is a fancy of some of
those societies _de Mort aux Rois et Souverains_, without knowing
wherefore, merely as a sort of fashion....
[Pageheading: EGYPT AND THE POWERS]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
ST CLOUD, _26th July 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Your dear letter of the 19th greatly delighted
me....
Let me now add a few words on politics. The _secret_ way in which the
arrangement about the arbitration of the Turco-Egyptian affairs has
been signed, the keeping out of France in an affair so _near_ it
and touching its interests in various ways, has had here a very
_disastrous_ effect.[26] I cannot disguise from you that the
consequences may be very serious, and the more so as the Thiers
Ministry is supported by the movement party, and as _reckless of
consequences_ as your own Minister for Foreign Affairs, even much more
so, as Thiers himself would not be sorry to see everything existing
upset. He is strongly impregnated with all the notions of fame and
glory which belonged to part of the Republican and the Imperial times;
he would not even be much alarmed at the idea of a Convention ruling
again France, as he thinks that _he_ would be the _man to rule_ the
Assembly, and has told me last year that he thinks it for France
perhaps the _most powerful_ form of Government.[27]
The mode in this affair ought to have been, as soon as the Four Powers
had agreed on a proposition, to communicate it officially to France,
to join it. France had but two ways, either to join or to refuse
its adhesion. If it had chosen the last, it would have been a free
decision on her part, and a secession which had nothing offensive in
the eyes of the nation.
But there is a material difference between leaving a company from
motives of one's own, or being _kicked out_ of it. I must beg you to
speak seriously to Lord Melbourne, who is the head of your Government,
on these important affairs; they may upset everything in Europe if the
mistake is not corrected and moderated.
I shall write again to you next Friday from hence, and on Saturday,
1st August, we set off. Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 26: On the 15th of July a convention was signed in
London by representatives of England, Russia, Austria, and
Prussia, offering an ultimatum to the Viceroy of Egypt. The
exclusion of France was hotly resented in Paris. Guizot,
then Ambassador in London, had been kept in ignorance of the
project, but the Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston, denied
that there had been any discourtesy intended, or want of
consideration shown.]
[Footnote 27: Louis Adolphe Thiers (1797-1877), who through
the Press had contributed to the downfall of the Bourbons, had
held various Cabinet offices under Louis Philippe, and, from
March to October 1840, was for the second time Premier.]
[Pageheading: PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
_7th August 1840._ (10 P.M.)
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The House of
Lords lasted until eight, and Lord Melbourne might by an exertion have
got to the Palace to dinner, but as he had the Speech, by no means an
easy one, to prepare for the consideration of the Cabinet to-morrow,
he thought it better to take this evening for that purpose, and he
hopes therefore that your Majesty will excuse his not coming, which is
to him a great sacrifice to have made.
Your Majesty will have probably seen by this time the report from
your Majesty's Consul at Boulogne of the mad attempt of Louis
Bonaparte.[28] It is rather unfortunate that it should have taken
place at this moment, as the violent and excited temper of the French
nation will certainly lead them to attribute it to England. It will
also be highly embarrassing to the King of the French to have in
his possession a member of the family of Bonaparte and so many
Bonapartists who have certainly deserved death but whom it may not be
prudent or politic to execute.
[Footnote 28: The Prince, afterwards the Emperor Napoleon
III., descended on Boulogne with fifty-three persons, and
a tame eagle which had been intended, with stage effect, to
alight on the Colonne de Napoléon. He was captured, tried
for high treason, and sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. He
effected his escape, which was undoubtedly connived at by the
authorities, in 1846.]
[Pageheading: THE CONVENTION OF 1828]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
WIESBADEN, _22nd September 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I was most happy in receiving this morning per
messenger your dear little letter of the 15th, though it is grown a
little elderly. The life one leads here is not favourable to writing,
which, besides, is prohibited, and easily gives me palpitation enough
to sing "_di tanti palpiti!_" I get up at half after six and begin to
drink this hot water; what with drinking and walking one comes to ten
o'clock or half after ten for breakfast. Then I read papers and such
like things. At one o'clock I have been generally bored with some
visit or other till two o'clock. I try to finish some writing, and
then I walk and ride out till dinner-time, generally at seven. In the
evening I have written sometimes, but it certainly does one harm. You
see that there remains but little time for writing.
I am most happy to find that you are well; the papers, which don't
know what to invent to lower the Funds, said that you had been unwell
on the 10th, which, God be praised! is not at all true.
I pity poor Princess Augusta[29] from all my heart. I am sure that if
she had in proper time taken care of herself she might have lived to
a great age. I have not time to-day to write at any length on the
politics of the day, but I am _far from thinking_ that the French
_acted wisely_ in the Oriental affair. I must say that I think
the King _meant well_, but I should not have _abstained_ from the
Conference as he did, though, in France, interference with Mehemet Ali
was certainly not popular. In England much of the _fond_ is logical,
but the form towards France was, and is still, harsh and insulting. I
don't think France, which these ten years behaved well, and the poor
King, who was nearly murdered I don't remember how often, deserved
to be treated so unkindly, and all that seemingly to please the great
Autocrat. We must not forget what were the fruits of the _first_
Convention of July 1828--I think the 16th or 26th of that month; I
ought to remember it, as I took its name in vain often enough in the
Greek affair.
This first Convention brought about the battle of Navarino and the
second campaign of the Russians, which ended with, in fact, the demise
of the poor old Porte, the _Treaty of Adrianople_.[30] Your Majesty
was then afflicted with the age of ten, in itself a good age, and may
not remember much about it except that in 1829 the affair about my
going to Greece began, and that your affectionate heart took some
interest in that. Lord Melbourne, however, you _must encourage to
speak about this matter_. Canning's intention was this: he said we
must remain with Russia, and by this means _prevent_ mischief. The
Duke of Wellington, who came to me shooting at Claremont in 1828,
really did cry, though he is not of a crying disposition, and said
"_by this Convention the Russians will have the power of doing all
they never would have dared to do single-handed_, and shielded by
this infernal Convention, it will not be in our power _to stop them_."
Russia is again in this very snug and comfortable position, that
_the special protection of the Porte_ is confided to its tender
mercies--_la chèvre gardant le chou_, the wolf the sheep, as I suppose
I must not compare the Turcs to lambs. The Power which ruined the
Ottoman Empire, which since a hundred and forty years nearly _pared_
it all round nearly in every direction, is to be the protector and
guardian of that same empire; and we are told that it is the most
scandalous calumny to suspect the Russians to have any other than the
most humane and disinterested views! "_ainsi soit-il_," as the French
say at the end of their sermons. This part of the Convention of the
15th of July 1840 strikes impartial people as strange, the more so
as nothing lowers the Porte so much in the eyes of the few patriotic
Turks who remain than the protection of the arch-enemy of the concern,
Russia. I beg you to read this part of my letter to my good and dear
friend, Lord Melbourne, to whom I beg to be kindly remembered.
[Footnote 29: Princess Augusta, second daughter of George III.
_See_ p. 230. (Ch. IX, 26th September 1840)]
[Footnote 30: Under this treaty (14th September 1829) the
Danubian principalities were made virtually independent
States, the treaty rights of Russia in the navigation of the
Bosphorus and Dardanelles were confirmed, and Greek affairs
were arranged, by incorporating in the treaty the terms of the
Protocol of 22nd March 1829.]
[Pageheading: A THREATENED CRISIS]
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._[31]
WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th September 1840._
This is certainly awkward; but the latter part about Peel is most
absurd; to him I can never apply, we must do everything but that. But
for God's sake do not bring on a crisis;[32] the Queen really could
not go through that _now_, and it might make her _seriously ill_ if
she were to be kept in a state of agitation and excitement if a crisis
were to come on; she has had already so much lately in the distressing
illness of her poor Aunt to harass her. I beseech you, think of _all_
this, and the consequences it might cause, not only to me, but to all
Europe, as it would show our weakness in a way that would be seriously
injurious to this country.
[Footnote 31: The letter, to which this is a reply, seems not
to have been preserved. The Queen's letter, having been shown
to Lord John Russell and copied by him, has hitherto been
supposed to be a letter from Lord Melbourne to Lord John
Russell. _See_ Walpole's _Russell_, vol. i., chap. xiii.]
[Footnote 32: The Cabinet met on the 28th to consider
the Oriental Question. The Government was on the verge of
dissolution, as Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell were in
conflict. The meeting was adjourned till 1st October.]
[Pageheading: FRANCE AND THE EAST]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th September 1840._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I have unfortunately very little time to-day, but
I will try and answer your kind letters of the 13th and 19th briefly.
You know now that the sufferings of good excellent Aunt Augusta
were terminated on the 22nd of this month. I regret her _very, very_
sincerely, though for herself we are all most thankful for the release
of such unexampled sufferings, borne with such unexampled patience.
Almost the last thing she said when she was still conscious, the day
before she died, was to Mr More (the apothecary), who wrote me every
morning a Report: "Have you written to my darling?" Is this not
touching? The Queen-Dowager had her hand in hers when she died, and
closed her eyes when all was over; all the Family were present.
I have seen your letters to Palmerston, and his answer to you, and I
also send you a paper from Lord Melbourne. I assure you that I _do_
give these affairs my _most serious_ attention: it would be indeed
_most_ desirable if France could _come back to us_, and I think what
Metternich suggests very sagacious and well-judged.[33] You must allow
me to state that _France_ has _put herself_ into this unfortunate
state. _I_ know (as I saw _all_ the _papers_) how she was engaged
to join us--and I know how strangely she refused; I know also, that
France _agrees_ in the _principle_, but only doubts the _efficacy_ of
the measures. Where then is "_La France outragée_"? wherefore arm when
there is _no_ enemy? wherefore raise the war-cry? But this has been
_done_, and has taken _more_ effect than I think the French Government
_now_ like; and _now_ she has to undo all this and to calm the general
agitation and excitement, which is not so easy. Still, though France
is in the wrong, and _quite_ in the wrong, still _I_ am most anxious,
as I am sure my Government also are, that France should be pacified
and should again take her place amongst the five Powers. I am sure she
might easily do this....
Albert, who sends his love, is much occupied with the Eastern affairs,
and is quite of my opinion....
[Footnote 33: Metternich's suggestion was that if other
means of coercion failed, the allies should renew their
deliberations in conjunction with France.]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th September 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is quite
well, and will be ready at half-past one.
The Prince's[34] observations are just, but still the making an
advance to France now, coupled with our constant inability to carry
into effect the terms of our Convention, will be an humiliating step.
Lord Melbourne sends a letter which he has received this morning from
Lord Normanby, whom he had desired to see Lord Palmerston and Lord
John Russell, and try what he could do.
Lord Melbourne also sends a letter which he has received from Lord
Lansdowne.
Lord Melbourne would beg your Majesty to return them both.
[Footnote 34: Prince Metternich.]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
DOWNING STREET, _1st October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We have had
the Cabinet and it has passed over quietly. We have agreed to make
a proposition to France founded upon the communication of Prince
Metternich to the King of the Belgians.[35] Palmerston will propose
to-morrow to Neumann,[36] the Prussian Minister, and Brunnow,[37] that
he should write to Granville, authorising him to acquaint Thiers that
if France will concur in respecting the principle of the treaty, we,
without expecting her to adopt coercive measures, will concert with
her the further course to be adopted for the purpose of carrying the
principle into effect. This is so far so good. Lord Melbourne trusts
that it will get over the present entanglement, but of course we must
expect that in a matter so complicated and which we have not the power
of immediately terminating, further difficulties will arise.
[Footnote 35: _See_ p. 231. (Ch. IX, Footnote 33)]
[Footnote 36: Austrian Minister.]
[Footnote 37: Russian Minister.]
[Pageheading: MEHEMET ALI]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
DOWNING STREET, _2nd October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. We have just
had another Cabinet,[38] which was rendered necessary by Brunnow
and the Prussian Minister refusing to concur in what we determined
yesterday without reference to their Courts and authority from
them. This makes it impossible for us to take the step in the way
we proposed, but we have now settled that Palmerston should direct
Granville to submit the proposition to Thiers, and ask him how he
would be disposed to receive it if it were formally made to him. This,
so far as we are concerned, will have all the effect which could have
been attained in the other way.
Very important despatches of the 14th inst. have come from
Constantinople. The Ministers of the Porte held the last proposition
of Mehemet Ali as a positive refusal of the terms of the Convention,
and proceeded by the advice of Lord Ponsonby[39] at once to divest
Mehemet Ali of the Pashalik of Egypt; to direct a blockade of the
coasts both of Syria and Egypt, and to recall the four Consuls from
Alexandria. These are serious measures, and there are despatches from
Lord Beauvale[40] stating that Prince Metternich is much alarmed at
them, and thinks that measures should be immediately taken to diminish
and guard against the effect which they may have in France. Lord
Melbourne humbly begs your Majesty's pardon for this hurried scrawl
upon matters of such importance, but Lord Melbourne will have
the opportunity of speaking to your Majesty more fully upon them
to-morrow.
[Footnote 38: The peace party in the Cabinet were defeated and
Palmerston triumphant.]
[Footnote 39: British Ambassador at Constantinople.]
[Footnote 40: Frederick James Lamb, younger brother of Lord
Melbourne, and his successor in the title (1782-1853). He
was at this time Ambassador at Vienna, having previously been
Ambassador at Lisbon.]
[Pageheading: PALMERSTON AND FRANCE]
[Pageheading: VIEWS OF LOUIS PHILIPPE]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
WIESBADEN, _2nd October 1840._
... There is an idea that Mehemet Ali suffers from what one calls _un
charbon_, a sort of dangerous ulcer which, with old people, is never
without some danger. If this is true, it only shows how little one can
say that the Pashalik of Aleppo is to decide who is to be the master
of the Ottoman Empire in Europe and Asia, the Sultan or Mehemet? It is
highly probable that if the old gentleman dies, his concern will go to
pieces; a division will be attempted by the children, but that in the
East hardly ever succeeds. There everything is personal, except the
sort of Caliphate which the Sultan possesses, and when the man is
gone, his empire _also goes_. Runjeet Singh[41] is a proof of this;
his formidable power will certainly go to the dogs, though the Sikhs
have a social link which does not exist in the Egyptian concern. If we
now were to set everything in Europe on a blaze, have a war which may
change totally all that now exists, and in the midst of it we should
hear that Mehemet is no more, and his whole _boutique_ broken up,
would it not be _really laughable_, if it was not _melancholy_? And
still the war _once raging_, it would no longer put a stop to it, but
go on for _other reasons_.
I cannot understand what has rendered Palmerston so _extremely hostile
to the King_ and Government of France. A _little civility_ would have
gone a great way with the French; if in your Speech on the 11th of
August some regret had been expressed, it would have greatly modified
the feelings of the French. But Palmerston _likes to put his foot on
their necks_! _Now, no statesman must triumph over an enemy that is
not quite dead_, because people forget a real loss, a real misfortune,
but they won't forget _an insult_. Napoleon made great mistakes that
way; he hated Prussia, insulted it on all occasions, but still _left
it alive_. The consequence was that in 1813 they rose to a man in
Prussia, even children and women took arms, not only because they had
been injured, but because they had been treated with _contempt_ and
_insulted_. I will here copy what the King wrote to me lately from
Paris:
"Vous ne vous faites pas d'idée à quel point l'approbation publique
soutient les armements, c'est universel. Je regrette que cela aille
bien au-delà, car la fureur contre l'Angleterre s'accroît et un
des points que je regrette le plus, c'est que tout notre peuple est
persuadé que l'Angleterre veut réduire la France _au rang de Puissance
secondaire_, et vous savez ce que c'est que l'orgueil national et la
vanité de tous les peuples. Je crois donc bien urgent que la crise
actuelle se termine bientôt pacifiquement. Plus je crois que l'union
de l'Angleterre et de la France est la base du repos du monde, plue je
regrette de voir susciter tant d'irritation entre nos deux Nations.
La question est de savoir ce que veut véritablement le Gouvernement
Anglais. J'avoue que je ne suis pas sans crainte et sans inquiétude à
cet égard quand je récapitule dans ma tête tout ce que Lord Ponsonby
a fait pour l'allumer et tout ce qu'il fait encore. Je n'aurais aucune
inquiétude si je croyais que le Gouvernement suivrait la voix de
sa Nation, et les véritables intérêts de son pays qui repoussent
l'alliance Russe et indiquent celle de la France, ce qui est
tout-à-fait conforme à mes v[oe]ux personnels. Mais ma vieille
expérience me rappelle ce que font les passions personnelles, qui
prédominent bien plus de nos jours que les véritables intérêts, et ce
que peut le Gouvernement Anglais pour entraîner son pays, et je
crains beaucoup l'art de la Russie ou plutôt de l'Empereur Nicolas
de captiver, par les plus immenses flatteries, les Ministres Anglais,
preuve Lord Durham. Or si ces deux Gouvernements veulent ou osent
entreprendre _l'abaissement_ de la France, la guerre s'allumera, et
pour _mon compte alors je m'y_ jetterai _à outrance_, mais si comme
je l'espère encore, malgré mes soupçons, ils ne veulent pas la guerre,
alors l'affaire de l'Orient, s'arrangera à l'amiable, et le cri de
toutes les Nations fera de nouveau justice de ces humeurs belliqueuses
et consolidera la paix générale, comme cela est arrivé dans les
premières années de mon règne."
I think it right to give you this extract, as it is written from
the very bottom of the King's heart, and shows the way in which he
considers the present position of affairs. Perhaps you will be so
kind to read it or to let it be read by Lord Melbourne. It is
this _abaissement de la France_ which now sticks in their throats.
Chartres[42] has quite the same feeling, and then the refrain is,
_plutôt périr que de souffrir cette ignominie!_
Really my paper is abominable, but it is a great shame that in the
residence of such a rich Prince nothing can be had. My letter being
long, I conclude it with my best blessings. Ever, my dearest Victoria,
your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 41: Runjeet Singh, known as the Lion of the Punjab,
had died in 1839, having consolidated the Sikh power. As an
outcome of the Sikh wars in 1846 and 1848, the Punjab was
annexed by Great Britain in 1849.]
[Footnote 42: Ferdinand, Duke of Orléans, who died 13th July
1842, was generally called Chartres in the family circle; this
title, which he had previously borne, was conferred on his
younger son, born 9th November 1840.]
[Pageheading: NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCE]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
CLAREMONT, _6th October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. The King's
letter to Lord Melbourne is in many respects just and true.[43] The
practical measure which it recommends, namely, that Lord Granville
should make to Thiers a general proposition for settling the whole
matter, is very much the same as that which we agreed upon at the
Cabinet should be adopted. Lord Melbourne expects that this has been
carried into effect, and if it has not, Lord Melbourne has urged that
it should be done without delay.
These affairs are very troublesome and vexatious, but they are,
unfortunately, more than troublesome, they are pregnant with danger.
[Footnote 43: The King of the Belgians had written a letter
to Lord Melbourne on 1st October, which he had sent to
Queen Victoria, asking her to read it and forward it to Lord
Melbourne.]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
WIESBADEN, _6th October 1840._
... It is to-day the poor King of the French's birthday; he is
sixty-seven years old, and these last ten years he has had a pleasant
time of it. And now he has this serious and difficult complication to
deal with, and still I find him always fair and amiable in his way
of looking at all these things, and bearing the almost unbearable
annoyance and plagues of his arduous position with a degree of
firmness and courage worthy of kinder treatment from the European
Powers than he has received....
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Lord John
Russell has directed a Cabinet to be summoned for to-morrow at three
o'clock, at which he intends to propose that "Instructions should be
sent to Lord Granville to ascertain from the French Government what
terms France would consider satisfactory for the immediate arrangement
of the affairs of the East."
That if such terms shall appear satisfactory, Mr Henry Bulwer[44] or
some person of similar rank should be sent to Constantinople to urge
their acceptance on the Sultan, and that our Allies should be invited
to co-operate in that negotiation.
That the French Government should be informed that the only mode in
which the pacification can be carried into effect is by Mehemet Ali's
accepting the terms of the treaty and then receiving from the Sultan
the terms which shall have been previously agreed upon by his Allies.
Lord Melbourne feels certain that Lord Palmerston will not accede
to these proposals, and indeed Lord Melbourne himself much doubts
whether, after all that has passed, it would be right to submit the
whole matter, as it were, to the decision and arbitration of France.
Lord John Russell seems very much determined to press this question
to a decision to-morrow, and Lord Melbourne much fears that such a
decision may lead to serious consequences.
Lord Melbourne is much grieved to have to send your Majesty
intelligence which he knows will greatly disquiet your Majesty, but
there is no remedy for it.
Lord Melbourne's lumbago is somewhat better to-day but not much. His
being compelled to attend at the House of Lords yesterday prevented
him from recovering. He has remained in bed to-day, and hopes to be
better to-morrow.
[Footnote 44: Henry Bulwer (1801-1872), afterwards Lord
Dalling, then First Secretary of the Embassy in Paris, became
Minister to Spain, 1843-1848; to the United States, 1849-1852;
to Tuscany, 1852-1855; and Ambassador to Turkey, 1858-1865.]
[Pageheading: PACIFIC INSTRUCTIONS]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has just
received your Majesty's box. He will do all he can to put everything
together, and it does not appear to him that there is any necessity
on any side for a decisive step at present. A letter is arrived to-day
from Bulwer, which states that the instructions given to Guizot are,
through the interposition of the King, of a very pacific character. It
would surely be well to see what they are, and whether they will not
afford the means of arranging the whole affair.
Lord Melbourne thought with your Majesty that the letter to Lord
Granville upon Prince Metternich's proposition was a great deal too
short and dry and slight, but the importance of this step is now a
good deal superseded by what has taken place, and the position
of affairs has already become different from that in which it was
resolved upon.
Lord Melbourne very much thanks the Prince for his letter, which may
do much service and have an effect upon the antagonists.
Lord Melbourne has just seen Dr Holland.[45] Lord Melbourne is very
much crippled and disabled. Lord Melbourne does not think that the
shooting has had anything to do with it. His stomach has lately been
out of order, which is always the cause of these sort of attacks. Lord
Melbourne will come down on Sunday if he possibly can, and unless he
should be still disabled from moving.
[Footnote 45: Dr (afterwards Sir) Henry Holland,
Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen, 1850-1873, father of Lord
Knutsford.]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _10th October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. ... All
the question at the Cabinet to-day as to whether we should write
a communication to France was fortunately put an end to by Guizot
desiring to see Palmerston in the morning and making a communication
to him. This communication is very much in substance what Mr. Bulwer's
note had led us to expect. It is a strong condemnation of the act
of the Porte depriving Mehemet Ali of the Government of Egypt,
an expression of satisfaction at having already learned from Lord
Palmerston and Count Apponyi[46] that Austria and England are not
prepared to consider this act as irrevocable, and a threat on the
part of France that he considers the power of Mehemet Ali in Egypt a
constituent part of the balance of Europe, and that he cannot permit
him to be deprived of that province without interfering. It was
determined that this intimation should be met in an amicable spirit,
and that Lord Palmerston should see the Ministers of the other Powers
and agree with them to acquaint the French that they with England
would use their good offices to induce the Porte not to insist upon
the deprivation of Mehemet Ali as far as Egypt is concerned. Lord
Melbourne hopes that this transaction may lead to a general settlement
of the whole question.
Lord Melbourne feels himself much fatigued to-night. Though better, he
is yet far from well, and he knows by experience that this malady when
once it lays hold of him does not easily let go. It was so when he was
younger. He fears, therefore, that it will not be prudent for him to
leave town so early as Monday, but will do so as soon as he can with
safety.
[Footnote 46: Born 1782; at this time the Austrian Ambassador
in France.]
[Pageheading: MEHEMET ALI]
_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._
PANSHANGER, _11th October 1840._
Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty.
Viscount Palmerston submits to your Majesty some interesting letters,
which he received some days ago from Paris, showing that there never
has been any real foundation for the alarm of war with France which
was felt by some persons in this country.
Viscount Palmerston also submits a despatch from Mons. Thiers to Mons.
Guizot which was communicated to him yesterday by Mons. Guizot,
and which seems to open a prospect of an amicable and satisfactory
understanding between France and the Four Powers.
Viscount Palmerston also submits a note from Mr Bulwer intimating that
the French Government would be contented with an arrangement which
should leave Mehemet Ali in possession of Egypt alone, without any
part of Syria, and Viscount Palmerston submits that such is the
arrangement which it would on all accounts be desirable to accomplish.
There seems reason to think that the bombardment of Beyrout[47] and
the deposal of Mehemet Ali by the Sultan have greatly contributed to
render the French more reasonable on this question, by exciting in
their minds an apprehension that unless some arrangement be speedily
effected, the operations now going on in the Levant will end in the
entire overthrow of Mehemet Ali.
[Footnote 47: On 10th October Ibrahim was defeated by
the Allies, and next day Beyrout was occupied by British,
Austrian, and Turkish troops.]
[Pageheading: GUIZOT AND THIERS]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _11th October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has not
written before to-day, because he had nothing new to lay before your
Majesty. Lord Melbourne anxiously hopes she feels some confidence
that the present state of the Eastern affairs is such as may lead to
a speedy, amicable termination--at the same time, with a nation so
irritable as the French, and with the Constitution which they have and
which they are unused to exercise, it is impossible to feel secure
for a moment. Guizot, when he gave the despatch of Thiers to Lord
Palmerston, said that he had nothing to do with the reasonings of that
despatch, and would not enter into any argument upon them.
He delivered them only in his official capacity as the Ambassador of
the King of France. All he would say was that they were the result of
a great effort of that party in France which was for peace. This was a
sufficient intimation that he himself did not approve of them, but it
was not possible to collect from what he said upon what grounds his
dissent was founded. Lord Melbourne has since heard that he says, that
he considers that France has taken too low a tone and has made too
much concession, and that he could not have been a party to this step
if he had been one of the King's Ministers. The step is also probably
contrary to the declared opinion of M. Thiers; whether it be contrary
to his real opinion is another question. But if it was written
principally by the influence of the King, it is a measure at once bold
and friendly upon his part, and the success of which will much depend
upon its being met in an amicable spirit here.
Lord Melbourne returns the letter of the King of the Belgians. Lord
Melbourne kept it because he wished to show it to Lord John Russell,
and some others, as containing an authentic statement of the feelings
of the King of the French, which it is well that they should know....
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th October 1840._
The Queen in returning these letters must express to Lord Palmerston
her very great satisfaction at the favourable turn affairs have taken,
and the Queen earnestly trusts that this demonstration of returning
amity on the part of France will be met in a very friendly spirit
by Lord Palmerston and the rest of her Government. The Queen feels
certain that this change on the part of France is also greatly owing
to the peaceable disposition of the King of the French, and she thinks
that in consideration of the difficulties the King has had to contend
with, and which he seems finally to have overcome, we should make
some return; and indeed, as Lord Palmerston states, the arrangement
proposed is the best which can be desired.
[Pageheading: FEELING IN FRANCE]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _12th October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is much
better to-day, free from pain and difficulty of moving, but he thinks
that it would not be prudent, and that he should run the risk of
bringing back the complaint, if he should leave town to-morrow.
He thinks it might also be imprudent in another point of view, as
affairs are still in a very unsettled state, and the rest of the
Cabinet watch with great impatience, and, to say the truth, not
without suspicion, the manner in which Palmerston will carry into
effect the decision of Saturday. They are particularly anxious
for speed, and I have written both last night and this morning to
Palmerston, to urge him not to delay. He will go down to Windsor
to-morrow, and your Majesty will then have an opportunity of speaking
to him, upon which Lord Melbourne will write again to your Majesty.
Guizot has been with Lord Melbourne this morning for the purpose of
repeating what he had before said to Palmerston, that the Note which
he delivered on Saturday was the result of a great effort made by the
party who are for peace, that it had been conquered against a strong
opposition, that if it were not taken advantage of here now, it would
not be renewed, that the conduct of affairs in France would probably
fall into the hands of the violent party, and that it would be no
longer possible to control the excited feelings of the people of
France.
The worst is that Palmerston, and John Russell, with now the
greater part of the Cabinet, proceed upon principles, opinions, and
expectations which are entirely different from one another, and which
therefore necessarily lead to a different course of action. We are
anxious to finish the business speedily, because we fear that there is
danger of the Government of France being forced into violent measures
by popular outcry. Palmerston, on the contrary, thinks that there is
no danger of war, that the French do not mean war, and that there is
no feeling in France but what has been produced by the Ministry and
their instruments the Press.
We are anxious that the opportunity should be seized now whilst we
have the appearance of success in Syria, not being at all confident of
the ultimate result. Palmerston, on the contrary, is so confident of
complete success, that he wishes to delay concluding the affair until
he can have the benefit of the full advantages, which he anticipates,
in the negotiation.
We should be too glad to see the matter settled, leaving Mehemet Ali
in possession of Egypt.
Palmerston has both the wish and the hope of getting him out of Egypt,
as well as Syria.
These great differences of view, object, and expectation render it
difficult for those who hold them to pursue the same line of conduct.
There is also, as your Majesty knows, much suspicion, distrust and
irritation, and all these circumstances throw great obstacles in the
way of the progress of affairs, but Lord Melbourne hopes that they
will all be overcome, and that we shall arrive at a safe conclusion.
[Pageheading: RELATIONS WITH FRANCE]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _13th October 1840._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. It is
absolutely necessary that we should have a Cabinet on Thursday. There
is so much natural impatience, and so deep an interest taken in what
is now going on, that it cannot be avoided....
Your Majesty will naturally seize this opportunity of stating strongly
to Palmerston your wishes that this opportunity should be taken
advantage of, with a view to the speedy accommodation of the whole
difference. Your Majesty will see the necessity of at the same
time not appearing to take too much the part of France, which might
irritate and indispose.
Your Majesty will find John Russell perfectly right and reasonable.
He was before somewhat embarrassed by the position in which he was
placed. Having agreed to the Convention, it was difficult for him to
take steps which might appear to be in departure from its policy, and
to be occasioned by the gravity of its consequences. But this step
upon the part of France will enable all the friends of peace to act
cordially together. John Russell thinks that you have not been put
fully in possession of his sentiments. Lord Melbourne thinks this is
not the case; but it would be well if your Majesty would try to efface
this impression from his mind as much as possible.
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
_13th October 1840._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,-- ... I have three kind letters of yours unanswered
before me, of the 1st, 2nd, and 6th, for which many thanks. My time is
very short indeed to-day, but Albert has, I know, written to you about
the favourable turn which the Oriental affairs have taken, and of the
proposition of France, which is very amicably received here; Austria
and Prussia are quite ready to agree, but Brunnow has been making
already difficulties (this is in confidence to you). I hope and
trust that this will at length settle the affair, and that peace, the
blessings of which are innumerable, will be preserved. I feel we
owe _much_ of the change of the conduct of France to the peaceable
disposition of the dear King, for which I feel grateful.[48] Pray,
dear Uncle, when an opportunity offers, do offer the King my best,
sincerest wishes for his health and happiness in _every_ way, on the
occasion of his birthday; may he live many years, for the benefit of
all Europe!...
[Footnote 48: The King of the French was alarmed at the
warlike language of his Ministers. He checked the preparations
for war which Thiers was making; he went further, and on
the 24th of October he dismissed the Thiers Ministry, and
entrusted the management of affairs to Soult and Guizot,
who were pacifically inclined and anxious to preserve the
Anglo-French _entente_.]
[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S INFLUENCE]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _16th October 1840._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I received your kind but anxious letter of the
10th, the day before yesterday, and hasten to reply to it by the
courier who goes to-day. Indeed, dearest Uncle, I have worked hard
this last week to bring about something conciliatory, and I hope and
trust I have succeeded. Lord Melbourne, who left Claremont on the
same day as we did, was confined to the house till yesterday, when he
arrived here, by a lumbago and bilious attack; but I had a constant
correspondence with him on this unfortunate and alarming question, and
he is, I can assure you, fully aware of the danger, and as anxious as
we are to set matters right; and so is Lord John, and Palmerston, I
hope, is getting more reasonable. They have settled in consequence of
Thiers' two despatches that Palmerston should write to Lord Ponsonby
to urge the Porte _not_ to dispossess Mehemet Ali finally of Egypt,
and I believe the other foreign Ministers at Constantinople will
receive similar instructions; this despatch Palmerston will send to
Granville (to-night, I believe) to be communicated to Thiers, and _I_
have made Palmerston _promise_ to put into the despatch to Granville
"that it would be a source of great satisfaction to England, if this
would be the cause of bringing back France to that alliance (with
the other Four Powers) from which we had seen her depart with so much
regret." I hope this will have a good effect. Now, in _my_ humble
opinion (but this I say of myself and without anybody's knowledge),
if France, upon this, were to make some sort of advance, and were to
_cease arming_, I think all would do; for you see, if France goes on
arming, we shall hardly be justified in not doing the same, and that
would be very bad. Couldn't you suggest this to the King and Thiers,
as of yourself? My anxiety is great for the return of amity and
concord, I can assure you. I think our child ought to have besides its
other names those of _Turco Egypto_, as we think of nothing else!
I had a long talk with Palmerston on Wednesday, and also with J.
Russell.
I hope I have done good. The Dutch don't like the abdication. I'm so
sorry for poor little Paris![49]
Pray excuse this dreadful scrawl, but I am so hurried. Ever your
devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 49: The Comte de Paris, born 24th August 1838,
eldest son of Ferdinand, Duke of Orleans, who was Louis
Philippe's eldest son.]
[Pageheading: ATTEMPT ON LOUIS PHILIPPE]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _17th October 1840._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--You will, I am sure, have been very much shocked
on hearing that on the 15th there was a new attempt made to kill the
poor good King at Paris.[50] The place was cleverly chosen, as the
King generally puts his head out of the carriage window to bow to
the guard. I join the letter which he had the goodness to forward us
through an _estafette_.[51] May this melancholy _attentat_ impress
on your Ministers the necessity of aiding the King in his arduous
task.... You will have the goodness to show this letter to Albert.
Louise was much alarmed when it arrived at such an unusual hour; it
was ten o'clock. At first we thought it might be something about poor
little Paris, who is not yet so well as one could wish.
We have gloomy miserable weather, and I feel much disgusted with this
part of the world. Ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 50: The King was fired at as he was leaving the
Tuileries, by Darmes, a Marseillais. As Croker wrote to Lord
Brougham on the 31st of October 1840:--"Poor Louis Philippe
lives the life of a mad dog, and will soon, I fear, suffer the
death of that general object of every man's shot."]
[Footnote 51: Express messenger.]
[Pageheading: FRANCE AND EGYPT]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _20th October 1840._
MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA,--I must write to you a few lines by M.
Drouet, who returns to-morrow morning to England. _God bless you_
for the _great zeal_ you have _mis en action_ for our great work,
the maintenance of peace; it is one of the greatest importance for
everything worth caring for in Europe. You know well that no personal
interest guides me in my exertions; I am in fact bored with being
here, and shall ever regret to have remained in these regions, when I
might so easily have gone myself to the Orient, the great object of my
predilection.
I never shall advise anything which would be against the interests and
honour of yourself, your Government, or your country, in which I have
so great a stake myself. The great thing now is _not to refuse to
negotiate_ with France, even if it should end in nothing. Still for
the King Louis Philippe there is an _immense strength_ and facility in
that word "_nous négocions_"; with this he may get over the opening of
the session, and this once done, one may hope to come to a conclusion.
Since I wrote to Lord Melbourne to-day, I have received a letter
from the King, of the 19th, _i.e._ yesterday, in which he tells me,
"_Pourvu qu'il y ait, pour commencer, des négociations, cela me donne
une grande force._"
I have written yesterday to him most fully a letter he may show Thiers
also concerning the armaments. I think that my arguments will make
some impression on Thiers. The King writes me word that by dint of
great exertion he had brought Thiers to be more moderate. If it was
possible to bring France and Mehemet Ali to agree to the greatest part
of the Treaty, it will be worth while for everybody to consent. The
way to bring France to join in some arrangement, and to take the
engagement to compel Mehemet to accept it, would be the best practical
way to come to a conclusion. It is probable, though I know nothing
about it in any positive way, that the efforts of getting possession
of Syria will fail, if the country itself does not take up arms on a
large scale, which seems not to be believed.
To conclude then my somewhat hurried argumentation, the greatest
thing is to negotiate. The negotiation cannot now have the effect of
weakening the execution as that goes on, and it may have the advantage
of covering the non-success if that should take place, which is at
all events possible if not probable. May I beg you to read these few
confused words to Lord Melbourne as a supplement of my letter to him.
Darmes says that if Chartres had been with the King, he would not
have fired, but that his reason for wishing to kill the King was his
conviction that one could not hope for war till he was dead.
It is really melancholy to see the poor King taking this _acharnement_
very much to heart, and upon my word, the other Powers of Europe owe
it to themselves and to him to do everything to ease and strengthen
his awful task.
What do you say to poor Christina's departure?[52] I am sorry for it,
and for the poor children. She is believed to be very rich.
Now I must conclude, but not without thanking you once more for your
_great and most laudable exertions_, and wishing you every happiness,
which you so _much deserve_. Ever, my most beloved Victoria, your
devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 52: Queen Christina abdicated the Regency of Spain,
and went to Paris. In the following May General Espartero,
Duke of Vittoria, was appointed sole Regent.]
[Pageheading: DEATH OF LORD HOLLAND]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd October 1840._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your two kind letters of the 17th
and 20th. I have very little time to-day, and it being besides _not_
my regular day, I must beg you to excuse this letter being very short.
I return you the King's letters with _bien des remercîments_. It is
a horrid business. We have had accounts of successes on the Syrian
coast. Guizot is here since Wednesday, and goes this morning. Albert
(who desires me to thank you for your kind letter) has been talking
to him, and so have I, and he promised in return for my expressions of
sincere anxiety to see matters _raccommodées_, to do all in his power
to do so. "_Je ne vais que pour cela_," he said.
We were much shocked yesterday at the sudden death of poor good, old
Lord Holland.[53] I send you Dr Holland's letter to Lord Melbourne
about it. He is a great loss, and to _Society_ an irreparable one. I'm
sure you will be sorry for it.
Mamma comes back sooner than the 31st. She is in great distress at
poor Polly's death. You will regret him. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
Pray _do_ try and get the King's Speech to be _pacific_, else
Parliament must meet here in November, which would be dreadful for me.
[Footnote 53: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who,
by reason of his social influence, great wealth, and high
intellectual endowments, was one of the most efficient
supporters of the Whig party.]
_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _26th October 1840._
... The Duke of Cambridge arrived, as you know, before yesterday
evening, at Brussels. Your Uncle visited him yesterday, and at six he
came to Laeken to dine with us. I found him looking well, and he
was as usual very good-natured and kind. I need not tell you that
conversation did not flag between us, and that I thought of you almost
the whole time. In the course of the evening he took leave. He left
Brussels this morning early, on his way to Calais, and I suppose you
will hear of him before this letter reaches you. He took charge of all
my love and _hommages_ for you, dear Albert, and all the Royal Family.
Before dinner the children were presented to him (that is Leopold
and Philippe), but I am sorry to say that poor Lippchen was so much
frightened with his appearance, loud voice, and black gloves, that he
burst out crying, and that we were obliged to send him away. The
Duke took his shyness very kindly; but I am still ashamed with his
behaviour.
[Pageheading: NEWS FROM SYRIA]
_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._
CARLTON TERRACE, _8th November 1840._
Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and in
addition to the good news from Syria, which confirms the defeat and
dispersion of the forces, both of Ibrahim and of Solyman Pasha, with
the loss of 8,000 prisoners, 24 pieces of cannon, the whole of
their camp, baggage, and stores, followed by the flight of those two
Generals with a small escort, he has the satisfaction of informing
your Majesty that the new French Ministers had a majority of 68, upon
the vote for the election of the President of the Chamber.[54]
This majority, so far exceeding any previous calculation, seems to
place the stability of the Government beyond a doubt, though it must,
of course, be expected that upon other questions their majority will
not be so overwhelming.
[Footnote 54: M. Sauzet was elected in preference to M.
Odillon Barrot. Thiers resigned the Premiership on 14th
October; in the new Ministry Soult was President of the
Council, Guizot Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Duchatel
Minister of the Interior.]
[Pageheading: DISAFFECTION IN FRANCE]
_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th November 1840._
Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and with
reference to your Majesty's memorandum of the 9th inst., he entreats
your Majesty not to believe that there exists at present in France
that danger of internal revolution and of external war which the
French Government, to serve its own diplomatic purposes, endeavours to
represent.
There is no doubt a large Party among the leading politicians in
France, who have long contemplated the establishment of a virtually,
if not actually, independent State in Egypt and Syria, under the
direct protection and influence of France, and that Party feel great
disappointment and resentment at finding their schemes in this respect
baffled. But that Party will not revenge themselves on the Four Powers
by making a revolution in France, and they are enlightened enough to
see that France cannot revenge herself by making war against the Four
Powers, who are much stronger than she is.
... But your Majesty may be assured that there is in France an immense
mass of persons, possessed of property, and engaged in pursuits of
industry, who are decidedly adverse to unnecessary war, and determined
to oppose revolution. And although those persons have not hitherto
come prominently forward, yet their voice would have made itself
heard, when the question of peace or unprovoked war came practically
to be discussed.
With regard to internal revolution, there is undoubtedly in France a
large floating mass of Republicans and Anarchists, ready at any moment
to make a disturbance if there was no strong power to resist them; but
the persons who would lose by convulsion are infinitely more numerous,
and the National Guard of Paris, consisting of nearly 60,000 men,
are chiefly persons of this description, and are understood to be
decidedly for internal order, and for external peace.
It is very natural that the French Government, after having failed to
extort concessions upon the Turkish Question, by menaces of foreign
war, should now endeavour to obtain those concessions, by appealing
to fears of another kind, and should say that such concessions are
necessary in order to prevent revolution in France; but Viscount
Palmerston would submit to your Majesty his deep conviction that
this appeal is not better founded than the other, and that a firm and
resolute perseverance on the part of the Four Powers, in the measures
which they have taken in hand, will effect a settlement of the affairs
of Turkey, which will afford great additional security for the future
peace of Europe, without producing in the meantime either war _with_
France, or revolution _in_ France.
France and the rest of Europe are entirely different now from what
they were in 1792. The French nation is as much interested now to
avoid further revolution, as it was interested then in ridding itself,
by any means, of the enormous and intolerable abuses which then
existed. France then imagined she had much to gain by foreign war;
France now knows she has everything to lose by foreign war.
Europe then (at least the Continental States) had also a strong desire
to get rid of innumerable abuses which pressed heavily upon the people
of all countries. Those abuses have now in general been removed; the
people in many parts of Germany have been admitted, more or less, to
a share in the management of their own affairs. A German feeling and
a spirit of nationality has sprung up among all the German people, and
the Germans, instead of receiving the French as Liberators, as many
of them did in 1792-1793, would now rise as one man to repel a hateful
invasion. Upon all these grounds Viscount Palmerston deems it his duty
to your Majesty to express his strong conviction that the appeals made
to your Majesty's good feelings by the King of the French, upon the
score of the danger of revolution in France, unless concessions are
made to the French Government, have no foundation in truth, and are
only exertions of skilful diplomacy.
Viscount Palmerston has to apologise to your Majesty for having
inadvertently written a part of this memorandum upon a half-sheet of
paper. And he would be glad if, without inconvenience to your Majesty,
he could be enabled to read to the Cabinet to-morrow the accompanying
despatches from Lord Granville.
[Pageheading: THE STATE OF FRANCE]
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._[55]
WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th November 1840._
The Queen has to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Palmerston's letter
of this morning, which she has read with great attention. The Queen
will just make a few observations upon various points in it, to which
she would wish to draw Lord Palmerston's attention. The Queen does so
with strict impartiality, having had ample opportunities of hearing
both sides of this intricate and highly-important question.
First of all, it strikes the Queen that, even if M. Thiers _did_ raise
the cry, which was so loud, for war in France (but which the Queen
cannot believe he _did_ to the extent Lord Palmerston does), that such
an excitement _once_ raised in a country like France, where the people
are more excitable than almost any other nation, it cannot be so
easily controuled and stopped again, and the Queen thinks this will be
seen in time.
Secondly, the Queen cannot either quite agree in Lord Palmerston's
observation, that the French Government state the danger of internal
revolution, if not supported, merely to extract further concessions
for Mehemet Ali. The Queen does not pretend to say that this danger is
not exaggerated, but depend upon it, a _certain_ degree of danger
does exist, and that the situation of the King of the French and
the present French Government is not an easy one. The majority,
too, cannot be depended upon, as many would vote against Odillon
Barrot,[56] who would _not_ vote on other occasions with the
Soult-Guizot Ministry.
Thirdly, the danger of war is also doubtless greatly exaggerated,
as also the numbers of the French troops. But Lord Palmerston must
recollect how very warlike the French are, and that if once roused,
they will not listen to the calm reasoning of those who wish for
peace, or think of the great risk they run of _losing_ by war, but
only of the glory and of revenging insult, as they call it.
Fourthly, the Queen sees the difficulty there exists at the present
moment of making any specific offer to France, but she must at
the same time repeat how _highly_ and _exceedingly_ important she
considers it that some sort of conciliatory agreement should be come
to with France, for she cannot believe that the appeals made to her
by the King of the French are only exertions of skilful diplomacy. The
Queen's earnest and only wish is peace, and a maintenance of friendly
relations with her allies, consistent with the honour and dignity
of her country. She does not think, however, that the last would be
compromised by attempts to soften the irritation still existing in
France, or by attempts to bring France back to her former position in
the Oriental Question.
She earnestly hopes that Lord Palmerston will consider this, will
reflect upon the importance of not driving France to extremities, and
of conciliatory measures, without showing fear (for our successes on
the coast of Syria show our power), or without yielding to threats.
France has been humbled, and France is in the wrong, but, therefore,
it is easier than if we had failed, to do something to bring matters
right again. The Queen has thus frankly stated her own opinion, which
she thought it right Lord Palmerston should know, and she is sure he
will see it is only dictated by an earnest desire to see _all_ as much
united as possible on this important subject.
[Footnote 55: A copy of this letter was sent at the same time
to Lord Melbourne.]
[Footnote 56: The unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of
the Chamber.]
_Baron Stockmar to Viscount Melbourne._
_21st November 1840._
MY DEAR LORD,--I have just received Her Majesty's order to express
to you her great desire to have from this day the Prince's name
introduced into the Church Prayer. Her own words were: "that I should
press it with Lord Melbourne as the wish she had most at heart at this
moment." Ever yours most sincerely,
STOCKMAR.
[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD ON FRENCH AFFAIRS]
_The King of the Belgians to the Prince Albert._
[_Translated._]
LAEKEN, _26th November 1840._
... As to politics, I do not wish to say much to-day. Palmerston,
_rex_ and autocrat, is, for a Minister finding himself in such
fortunate circumstances, far _too irritable and violent_. One does not
understand the use of showing so much hatred and anger. What he says
about the _appeal to the personal feeling of the Queen, on the part
of the King of the French_, is childlike and malicious, for it has
_never_ existed.
The King was for many years the great friend of the Duke of Kent,
after whose death he remained a friend of Victoria. His relations with
the latter have, up to 1837, passed through very varied phases; she
was for a long time an object of hatred in the family, who had not
treated the Duke of Kent over-amicably, and a proof of this is the
fact that the Regent, from the year 1819, forbade the Duke his house
and presence--which was probably another nail in the Duke's coffin.
Many of these things are quite unknown to Victoria, or forgotten
by her. Still it is only fair not to forget the people who were her
friends before 1837; after that date there was a violent outbreak of
affection among people who in the year 1836 would still not go near
Victoria. October 1836, when he sat next her at dinner, was the
first time that Palmerston himself had ever seen Victoria except at a
distance. As you have the best means of knowing, the King has not even
dreamt of applying to Victoria.
As to danger, it was very great in September, on the occasion of the
_ouvrier_ riot--for a Paris mob fires at once, a thing which--Heaven
be thanked!--English mobs rarely do. Towards the end of October, when
Thiers withdrew, there was a possibility of a revolution, and it was
only the fear of people of wealth that kept them together, and drew
them towards Guizot.
A revolution, at once democratic and bellicose, could not but become
most dangerous. That was on the cards, and only a fairly fortunate
combination of circumstances saved matters. The King and my poor
mother-in-law were terribly _low_, _on both occasions_, and I confess
that I looked everyday with the greatest anxiety for the news. If the
poor King had been murdered, or even if he were now to be murdered,
what danger, what confusion would follow! All these things were met by
Palmerston with the excessively _nonchalante_ declaration, _it was not
so, and it is not so_! Those are absolutely baseless assertions, and
totally valueless. At least I could estimate the danger as well as he
and Bulwer--and, indeed, it was an anxious crisis. I should think the
Revolution of 1790 _et ce qui s'en est suivi_ had done a brisk enough
business in Europe, and to risk a new one of the same kind would
really be somewhat scandalous.
What, however, may be the future fruit of the seed of Palmerston's
sowing, we do not in the least know as yet; it may, however, prove
sufficiently full of misfortune for the future of innocent people.
The Eastern affairs will be put on an intelligible footing only when,
after these differences with Mehemet Ali, something is done for
the poor Porte, which is now so much out of repair. Otherwise there
remains a little place which is called Sebastopol, and from which, as
the wind is almost constantly favourable, one can get very quickly
to Constantinople--and Constantinople is always the one place which
exercises the greatest influence, and all the more because the ducats
come from that quarter, with results which the marked economy of
England is hardly likely to effect....
Victoria has borne herself bravely and properly in the matter, and
_deserves to be greatly praised_....
[Pageheading: BIRTH OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL]
_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _30th November 1840._
MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA,--I have been longing to write to you ever
since we got the _joyful_ tidings,[57] but I would not do so before
the nine days were at an end. Now that they are over, I hope as you
are, thank God, so well, I may venture a few lines to express _a part_
of my feelings, and to wish you joy on the happy birth of your dear
little girl. I need not tell you the _deep, deep_ share I took in this
most _happy event_, and all I felt for you, for dear Albert, when I
heard of it, and since we last met. You know my affection for you,
and I will not trouble you with the repetition of what you know. All
I will say is that I thanked God with all my heart, and as I have
scarcely thanked Him for any other favour....
[Footnote 57: The Princess Royal, afterwards the Empress
Frederick of Germany, was born 21st November 1840.]
[Pageheading: SETTLEMENT OF EASTERN QUESTION]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
_15th December 1840._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your kind little letter of the
10th from Ardenne. I am very prosperous, walking about the house like
myself again, and we go to Windsor on the 22nd or 23rd, which will
quite set me up. I am _very_ prudent and careful, you may _rely_ upon
it. Your little grand-niece is most flourishing; she gains daily in
health, strength and, I may add, beauty; I think she will be very like
her dearest father; she grows amazingly; I shall be proud to present
her to you.
The _dénouement_ of the Oriental affair is most fortunate, is it
not?[58]
I see Stockmar often, who is very kind about me and the Princess
Royal....
Albert sends his affectionate love, and pray believe me always, your
devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 58: On the 3rd of November St Jean d'Acre was
captured by the allied fleet, Admiral Sir Robert Stopford
commanding the British contingent; the battle is said to have
been the first to test the advantages of steam. Admiral Napier
proceeded to Alexandria, and threatened bombardment, unless
the Pasha came to terms. On 25th November a Convention was
signed, by which Mehemet Ali resigned his claims to Syria, and
bound himself to restore the Ottoman Fleet, while the Powers
undertook to procure for him undisturbed possession of the
Pashalik of Egypt.]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _26th December 1840._
... I can well understand that you feel quite astonished at finding
yourself within a year of your marriage a very respectable mother of
a nice little girl, but let us thank Heaven that it is so. Any illness
to which, unfortunately, we poor human creatures are very subject,
would almost have kept you longer in bed, and make you longer weak and
uncomfortable, than an event which in your position as Sovereign is of
a very great importance.
Because there is no doubt that a Sovereign without heirs direct, or
brothers and sisters, which by their attachment may stand in lieu of
them, is much to be pitied, viz., Queen Anne's later years. Moreover,
children of our own, besides the affection which one feels for them,
have also for their parents sentiments which one rarely obtains from
strangers. I flatter myself therefore that you will be a delighted and
delightful _Maman au milieu d'une belle et nombreuse famille_....
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
TO CHAPTER X
At the beginning of the year the Ministry were confronted with
monetary difficulties and bad trade; their special weakness in
finance, contrasted with Sir Robert Peel's great ability, in addition
to their many reverses, indicated that a change was at hand; and
confidential communications were, with Lord Melbourne's full approval,
opened up by the Prince with Sir Robert Peel, to avert the recurrence
of a Bedchamber dispute. The Ministry were defeated on their Budget,
but did not resign. A vote of want of confidence was then carried
against them by a majority of one, and Parliament was dissolved; the
Ministers appealing to the country on the cry of a fixed duty on corn.
The Conservative and Protectionist victory was a decisive one,
the most significant successes being in the city of London,
Northumberland, and the West Riding. Somewhat improving their position
in Scotland and Ireland, and just holding their own in the English
boroughs, the Whigs were absolutely overwhelmed in the counties, and
in the result three hundred and sixty-eight Conservatives and only two
hundred and ninety-two Liberals were returned. The modern practice of
resigning before meeting Parliament had not then been introduced, and
the Ministry was defeated in both Houses on Amendments to the Address,
the Duke of Wellington taking the opportunity of eulogising Lord
Melbourne's great services to the Queen. A powerful Protectionist
Ministry was formed by Sir Robert Peel, including the Duke of
Wellington, Lord Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, and Lord Lyndhurst.
Great national rejoicings took place when, on the 9th of November, a
male heir to the throne, now His Majesty King Edward VII., was born.
In France the bitter feeling against England, arising out of the
Syrian expedition, still continued, but Thiers' supersession by the
more pacific Guizot, and the satisfaction with which both the latter
and his Sovereign regarded the displacement of Palmerston by Aberdeen,
began to lead to a better _entente_. The scheme of fortifying Paris
continued, however, to be debated, while the Orleanist family were
still the subjects of futile _attentats_.
Spain was disturbed, the question of the guardianship of the young
Queen giving rise to dissension: insurrections in the interests of the
Queen-mother took place at Pampeluna and Vittoria, and her pension was
suspended by Espartero, the Regent.
In the east, Mehemet Ali surrendered the whole of the Turkish fleet,
and he was subsequently guaranteed the hereditary Pashalik of Egypt
by the four European Powers who had intervened in the affairs of the
Levant.
In Afghanistan, an insurrection broke out, and Sir Alexander Burnes
was murdered; our envoy at Cabul, Sir William Macnaghten, in an
unfortunate moment entered into negotiations with Akbar Khan, a son
of Dost Mahommed, who treacherously assassinated him. Somewhat
humiliating terms were arranged, and the English force of 4,000
soldiers, with 12,000 camp-followers, proceeded to withdraw from
Cabul, harassed by the enemy; after endless casualties, General
Elphinstone, who was in command, with the women and children, became
captives, and one man alone, of the 16,000--Dr Brydon--reached
Jellalabad to tell the tale.
In China, operations were continued, Sir Henry Pottinger superseding
Captain Elliot, and Canton soon lying at the mercy of the British
arms; the new Superintendent co-operated with Sir Hugh Gough and
Admiral Sir William Parker, in the capture of Amoy, Chusan, Chintu,
and Ningpo.
In America, the union of the two Canadas was carried into effect, but
a sharp dispute with the United States arose out of the Upper Canada
disturbances of 1837. Some Canadian loyalists had then resented the
interference of a few individual Americans in favour of the rebels,
and an American named Durfee had been killed. One M'Leod, a British
subject, was now arrested in the State of New York, on a charge of
having been concerned in the affray. He was acquitted, reprisals were
made by Canadians, and international feeling was for a time highly
acute.
Much interest naturally attaches to Lord Melbourne's continued
correspondence with the Queen, after the change of Government. Baron
Stockmar's remonstrance on the subject shows that he misunderstood the
character of the correspondence, and over-estimated its momentousness.
These letters dealt chiefly with social and personal matters, and
although full of interest from the light which they throw on Lord
Melbourne's relations with the Queen, they show him to have behaved
with scrupulous honour and delicacy, and to have tried to augment,
rather than undermine, Peel's growing influence with the Queen
and Prince. There are comparatively few of Peel's letters in the
collection. He wrote rarely at first, and only on strictly official
matters. But before long his great natural reserve was broken through,
and his intercourse with the Prince, to whom his character was
particularly sympathetic, became very close and intimate.
Of all the English Ministers with whom the Prince was brought in
contact, it is known that he preferred the stately and upright
Commoner, who certainly, of all English Ministers, estimated and
appreciated the Prince's character most truly and clearly.