1843
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th January 1843._
DEAREST UNCLE,--... We have been _very_ gay; danced into the New Year,
and again _last_ night, and were _very_ merry, though but a very
small party; young and old danced. Good Lord Melbourne was here from
Saturday till this morning, looking very well, and I _almost_ fancied
happy old times were returned; but alas! the dream is _past_! He
enquired much after you.
Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Pageheading: BETROTHAL OF PRINCE DE JOINVILLE]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
CLAREMONT, _10th January 1843._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I am happy to write to you again from this so very
dear and comfortable old place, where you will have heard from Louise
that we arrived with our dear Pussy on Thursday last. We are _all_
so particularly well, including Pussy, that we intend, to my great
delight, to prolong our stay till next Monday. This place has a
peculiar charm for us both, and to me it brings back recollections
of the _happiest_ days of my otherwise _dull_ childhood--where I
experienced such kindness from you, dearest Uncle, which has ever
since continued. It is true that my _last_ stay here _before_ I came
to the Throne, from November '36 to February '37, was a peculiarly
painful and disagreeable one, but somehow or other, I do _not_ think
of those times, but only of all the former _so_ happy ones. Victoria
plays with my old bricks, etc., and I think you would be pleased to
see this and to see her _running_ and jumping in the flower garden, as
_old_--though I fear _still little_--_Victoria of former days_ used
to do. She is very well, and such an amusement to us, that I can't
bear to move without her; she is _so_ funny and speaks so well, and in
French also, she knows almost everything; she would therefore get on
famously with Charlotte....
Might I ask you some questions about Joinville's match,[1] which
interests me much? First of all, _have_ you heard of his arrival at
Rio? Secondly, if the Donna Francesca pleases, is he empowered _at
once to make the demand_, or must he write home first? How nice it
would be if the _two_ marriages could take place at _once_; but I
suppose, under any circumstances, that could _not_ be....
Alexandrine is nearly quite recovered; she writes such pretty,
affectionate, kind letters, poor dear child, and is so fond of Ernest.
I must say I think _he_ seems improved, as he likes to live _quietly_
with her, and speaks of her too with the greatest affection.
Now, my dearest Uncle, let me take my leave, begging you to believe
me, always, your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 1: He was married to the Princess Francesca of
Brazil on 1st May.]
[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _12th January 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks
your Majesty much for your letter of the 9th inst. which he received
yesterday. Every letter that he receives from your Majesty brings back
to his mind the recollection of times, which, though they were clouded
with much care and anxiety, were still to Lord Melbourne a period of
much happiness and satisfaction....
Hallam has not written a History of the Church, but in all his books
there is necessarily much about the Church, and much that is worthy of
mention. A short History of the Church is, Lord Melbourne fears, not
to be found, the subject is so large and so difficult that it cannot
be treated shortly. Dr Short[2] has written and published a clever,
brief, and distinct summary, but it relates principally to the Church
of England, and in order to be fully understood, requires to be read
by one who has already some acquaintance with the subject.
The book which your Majesty remembers Lord Melbourne reading is
the production of Dr Waddington,[3] whom your Majesty, under Lord
Melbourne's recommendation, made Dean of Durham, which dignity he now
holds. It is a very good book.
Adolphus's[4] History is by no means a bad book, and will give your
Majesty the facts of the beginning of the reign of George III. well
and accurately enough. The Duke of Sussex once told Lord Melbourne
that he had asked his father whether Adolphus's account of the
beginning of his reign was correct, and that the King had replied that
substantially it was so, but that there were some mistakes, and that
what had been done by one person was often attributed to another.
Adolphus's History will receive some illustration from Horace
Walpole's letters of that period....
Lord Melbourne thinks that he is really getting rid of the gout, and
gathering strength. He still has some doubt whether he shall be able
to go up for the meeting of Parliament. Lord Melbourne begs to renew
to your Majesty the warm and respectful assurance of his gratitude and
attachment.
[Footnote 2: Bishop, then of Sodor and Man, afterwards of St
Asaph. His book, a _Sketch of the History of the Church of
England_, was published in 1832.]
[Footnote 3: George Waddington (1793-1869), Dean of Durham,
published in 1833 the _History of the Church from the Earliest
Ages to the Reformation_.]
[Footnote 4: John Adolphus, barrister, wrote a history of
England from 1760 to 1783.]
_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._
CANFORD HOUSE, _Friday, 13th January 1843._
MY DEAREST NIECE,--... As you take so kind an interest in our
dear Thesy,[5] I send you a letter which I have received from her
mother-in-law, with an excellent account of her and her infant. Her
happiness is a great blessing, and I thank God that she is so well
this time. Can you imagine her with _two boys_? It seems so odd, for
it is but a short time since she was here with us. How time flies
rapidly. I own I was not a little surprised to find that you are
probably the godmother; or is the little boy only to be named after
you? I remember well what you said to me when I was asked to be the
godmother of the first boy, "_that I could not accept it_," as I
must not take the responsibilities attached to a sponsor with a Roman
Catholic child. On that ground alone, and having learned your opinion
which sanctioned my own, I refused it then at the risk of offending
the dear parents. Now, after all that was said on the subject, if _you
have accepted_ the offer of becoming sponsor to this little _Victor_,
YOU, as the Head of the English Church, give to understand that _I_
was wrong in my notions of the duties which our Church imposes upon
sponsors, having refused what you accepted. I tell you fairly
and openly that it has vexed me, but of course I say this only to
_yourself_, dearest Victoria, and not to any one else, for it does not
become me to find fault with what you please to do. But I could not
entirely pass it over in silence, and regret that my former refusal
must now become doubly annoying to my relations. I beg your pardon for
thus frankly stating my feelings to you on a subject which I shall
now despatch from my mind, and I trust you will not take it ill,
and excuse me for having mentioned it to you _alone_.... Your most
attached and devoted Aunt,
ADELAIDE.
[Footnote 5: Princess Thérèse, daughter of the Prince of
Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst, and wife of Prince Frederick
Charles of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg.]
_Queen Victoria to Queen Adelaide._
CLAREMONT, _15th January 1843._
I am at a loss to comprehend, my dear Aunt, what you mean by saying
that you refused being godmother to Thesy's first child, as _I_ had
sanctioned your doing so. I never remember even _talking_ to _you_ on
the subject, but only heard from Mamma that _you_ had refused doing
so--which I was surprised at. I therefore felt no hesitation in
accepting the offer of Thesy, particularly as I am already godmother
to one of the children of Prince Esterhazy's daughter. I am grieved,
dearest Aunt, that this occurrence should annoy you, but I can
_assure_ you that I do not remember _ever_ having spoken to you on the
subject at all.
[Pageheading: GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP OF CANADA]
_Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria._
DOWNING STREET, _19th January 1843._
Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, submits to your Majesty that in
pursuance of the permission which your Majesty was pleased to give
him personally, he has this day offered to Sir Charles Metcalfe[6] the
Governor-Generalship of Canada; and Lord Stanley has much satisfaction
in adding that the offer has been readily and thankfully accepted.
This appointment, Lord Stanley is convinced, is, under the
circumstances, the best which could have been made, and he believes
not only that it will be generally approved, but that Sir Charles
Metcalfe's long experience and tried discretion will afford the best
prospect of conducting the affairs of Canada safely and successfully
through the present crisis. As Sir Charles Metcalfe will naturally be
anxious previous to his embarkation (which, however, will probably
not take place for at least six weeks) to have the honour of being
presented to your Majesty on his appointment, Lord Stanley hopes he
may be honoured by your Majesty's commands as to the time when it may
be your Majesty's pleasure to admit him to an audience. Perhaps Sir
Charles's attendance after the Council at which your Majesty's Speech
on the opening of the Session has to be settled, may give your Majesty
as little trouble as any time that could be named.
The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most, dutiful Servant
and Subject,
STANLEY.
[Footnote 6: Metcalfe had had a long Indian career, and for
a year had been Provisional Governor-General, when he removed
the restrictions on the liberty of the Press. He was created a
peer in 1845, but never took his seat. He resigned his post at
the end of that year, and died soon after.]
[Pageheading: ASSASSINATION OF MR DRUMMOND]
_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert._
WHITEHALL, _20th January (1843)._
SIR,--I have the painful duty of acquainting your Royal Highness that
Mr Drummond, my Private Secretary, was shot at this day about quarter
past three o'clock, in the neighbourhood of Charing Cross.[7]
Two pistols were discharged, the first close to Mr Drummond's back,
the second after the assassin had been seized by a policeman.
The ball entered in the back and has been extracted, after passing
round the ribs. I have just left Mr Drummond's house. No vital part
appears to have been injured, and there is no unfavourable symptom
whatever.
The assassin gives his name _MacNaghten_, and appears to be a Glasgow
man.
Two five-pound notes were, I understand, found upon his person, and
a receipt for £750 given to Daniel MacNaghten, confirming, therefore,
the man's account of his name.
We have not hitherto been able to discover that this man had any
alleged grievance or complaint against the Treasury or any public
office.
He has been loitering about the public offices for the last fortnight,
and being questioned, I understand, some days since, by the Office
Keeper of the Council office, said he was a policeman. This, of
course, for the purpose of evading further enquiry.
The policeman who apprehended the man, says that he heard the man
exclaim after firing the shots: "He or she (the policeman is uncertain
which) shall not disturb my peace of mind any more."
These are all the particulars I have heard or learned. I am afraid
I have given them to your Royal Highness in a hurried manner. I have
thought it better to convey this information to Her Majesty, through
the kind intervention of your Royal Highness, than by a direct
communication to the Queen.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal
Highness's most faithful and humble Servant,
ROBERT PEEL.
[Footnote 7: Edward Drummond had been Private Secretary to
Canning, Ripon, and Wellington, as well as to Peel, and was
very popular; he was in his fifty-first year. He had just left
his uncle's Bank at Charing Cross, when he was shot.]
[Pageheading: MISTAKEN FOR SIR ROBERT PEEL]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _21st January 1843._
Sir Robert Peel begs leave to mention to your Majesty a fact _which
has not hitherto transpired_--and of which he was not aware until he
had an interview this morning with Sir James Graham.
On the Inspector Tierney going into the cell of MacNaghten this
morning, he said to MacNaghten: "I suppose you are aware who is the
person whom you have shot?"
He (MacNaghten) said: "Yes--Sir Robert Peel."
From this it would appear that he had mistaken Mr Drummond for Sir
Robert Peel.
The Magistrate thought it better not to have this evidence at present
placed on record.
[Pageheading: DEATH OF MR DRUMMOND]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843._
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the
very painful duty to report to your Majesty the fatal consequences of
the attack on Mr Drummond.
He breathed his last this morning about half-past ten o'clock.
A very unfavourable change took place last night, and no hopes were
entertained after seven o'clock in the evening.
This sad event has had such an effect on Lady Peel, and all the
circumstances attending it are so distressing to Sir Robert Peel, that
relying upon your Majesty's great kindness, he ventures to express a
hope that your Majesty will have the goodness to permit Sir Robert and
Lady Peel to remain for the present in London, or should your Majesty
desire to see Sir Robert Peel before Wednesday next, to allow him to
wait upon your Majesty in the morning of any day which your Majesty
may be pleased to name.
He need scarcely assure your Majesty that nothing but such a sad event
as that which has occurred would induce him to prefer this request to
your Majesty.
Sir Robert Peel encloses such further information as has reached him
respecting MacNaghten.
He does not hesitate to send to your Majesty every word of information
of the least importance which he receives....
The evidence of his mental delusion is strong, but it must be borne in
mind that he was exactly the instrument which others would employ.
Sir Robert Peel has no reason for surmising this to be the case, but
the possibility of it ought not and shall not be overlooked.
[Pageheading: DEMEANOUR OF MACNAGHTEN]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843._
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and makes no
apology for frequently writing to your Majesty on the painful subject
in respect to which your Majesty has manifested so deep an interest.
Sir Robert Peel humbly thinks that your Majesty's observations with
respect to the clear distinctions in the cases of insanity are most
just. It will be most unfortunate indeed if the Law does not attach
its severest penalty to a crime so premeditated and so deliberately
and savagely perpetrated, as that of MacNaghten.
The Jury are, however, the sole judges on this point, that is to say,
it rests with them exclusively, either to find an absolute verdict of
guilty of murder, or to acquit on the ground of insanity.
MacNaghten will be charged with the offence of murder, and every
effort will be made to bring him to condign punishment.
His counsel will probably endeavour to establish his insanity.
Nothing can be more collected and intelligent in many respects than
his conduct in prison. He was conversing with the gaoler, and seemed
not disinclined to unburden his mind, when he suddenly stopped and
enquired from the gaoler whether such conversations as that which he
was holding went beyond the prison walls.
On being informed that no security could be given that they would
remain secret, he said he should hold his tongue, but that all would
come out by and by.
Sir Robert Peel takes the liberty of enclosing for your Majesty's
perusal a note which he has just received from Miss Emily Eden, sister
of Lord Auckland, and of Mrs Charles Drummond.
If it should be in your Majesty's power to assign apartments at some
future period to Miss Drummond, who lived with her brother Edward, and
was mainly dependent upon him, it would be a very great comfort to a
lady of the most unexceptionable conduct, and most deeply attached to
her poor brother.
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _25th January 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has been
much gratified this morning by receiving your Majesty's letter of the
23rd; he has determined upon following your Majesty's advice, and upon
not hazarding the throwing himself back by coming up to London and
attempting to attend the House of Lords at the commencement of the
Session. The assassination of Mr Drummond, for Lord Melbourne fears it
must be called so, is indeed a dreadful thing. Lord Melbourne is
not surprised, for people are very apt to turn all their wrath and
indignation upon the man from whom they actually receive an answer
which they do not like, without in the least considering whether he
is really responsible for it. Lord Melbourne used often to be himself
assailed with threats of personal violence. Sometimes he took notice
of them by swearing the peace against those who used them, and having
them bound over in sureties. Sometimes he disregarded them, but he
does not think it either prudent or justifiable entirely to neglect
such intimations. Lord Melbourne does not wonder that this event
brings to your Majesty's recollection what has taken place in your own
case.
Hallam is, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, right about Ireland. Her
advocates are very loud in their outcry, but she has not really much
to complain of.
Lord Melbourne was very glad to hear of the marriage of Prince
Augustus of Coburg with the Princess Clémentine, as he apprehends that
the connection must be very agreeable to your Majesty.
Lord Melbourne begs to be respectfully and affectionately remembered
to His Royal Highness.
[Pageheading: COMMITTAL OF MACNAGHTEN]
_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _28th January 1843._
Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to inform your Majesty, that
the prisoner Daniel MacNaghten was fully committed for trial this
afternoon. He was not defended before the Magistrates; but in his
manner he was quite cool, intelligent, and collected; he asked no
questions, but he expressed a wish to have copies of the Depositions.
His trial will probably commence on Friday or Saturday next, and there
is reason to believe that, at the request of his relatives in Glasgow,
counsel will be retained, and that the plea of insanity will be raised
in his defence.[8]
Every preparation is in progress to meet this vague and dangerous
excuse. It will turn out that the pistols were bought at Paisley by
MacNaghten on the 6th of August last; and information has reached
Sir James Graham, which, he thinks, will prove that MacNaghten is a
Chartist, that he has attended political meetings at Glasgow, and
that he has taken a violent part in politics. He yesterday saw a
Presbyterian clergyman, who prayed with him; who pointed out the
atrocity of his crime, the innocence of his victim, the pangs
of sorrowing relatives, and who exhorted him to contrition and
repentance. Some impression was made at the moment; but his general
demeanour is marked by cold reserve and hardness of heart.
[Footnote 8: He was defended by four counsel, including Mr
Cockburn, afterwards Lord Chief Justice.]
[Pageheading: THE ROYAL FAMILY AND POLITICS]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _2nd February 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks
much for the letter of the 30th ult., which he received here yesterday
morning. He believes it is more prudent not to go to London, but he
greatly regrets that his not doing so will deprive him for so long a
time of the honour and pleasure of seeing your Majesty.
The Duke of Sussex acquainted Lord Melbourne and took his opinion
before he issued his cards for the dinner. Lord Melbourne does not
think that he can have any idea of playing the part to which Lord
Erroll alluded. It is better that a dinner should be given somewhere.
He having nothing of the kind would look too much like giving up
the whole business and disbanding the party. Lord Melbourne entirely
agrees with your Majesty as to the political conduct which ought to be
pursued by the members of the Royal Family, but he remembers no time
in which they have been induced to act with so much prudence and
propriety. Your Majesty will see in Adolphus the very prominent share
which the Duke of Cumberland,[9] the General of Culloden, took in the
Party contentions of those days. He was a strong partisan and in a
great measure the founder of the Whig party. Lord Melbourne has often
heard George IV. converse upon that subject, and he used to contend
that it was quite impossible for a Prince of Wales in this country to
avoid taking an active part in politics and political contentions. The
fact is, that George III. did not discourage this in his own family
sufficiently, and the King of Hanover always said that his father had
encouraged him in the active part which he took, and which certainly
was sufficiently objectionable.
The assassination of Drummond is indeed a horrible event. Lord
Melbourne does not see as yet any clear, distinct, and certain
evidence of what were the real motives and object of the man. But we
shall hear upon his trial what it is that he urges. Your Majesty will,
of course, recollect that the Jury acquitted Oxford, and there then
was nothing to do but to acquiesce in the verdict. If the Jury should
take a similar view of this man's crime, it will be impossible for
the Government to do anything to remedy the evil which Lord Melbourne
thinks will be caused by such a decision. Lord Melbourne knew Mr
Drummond pretty well. He used formerly to be much in Hertfordshire,
both at Hatfield and at Gorhambury, and Lord Melbourne has often met
him at both places, and thought him with all the rest of the world, a
very quiet, gentlemanly, and agreeable man. Lord Melbourne very well
remembers the murder of Mr Perceval and Bellingham's trial. Lord
Melbourne was then in the House of Commons, but was not present at the
time the crime was perpetrated. There were differences of opinion as
to the manner in which Sir James Mansfield conducted the trial. Many
thought that he ought to have given more time, which was asked for
on the part of the prisoner, in order to search for evidence at
Liverpool. But the law which he laid down in his charge is certainly
sound, correct, and reasonable. Lord Melbourne is very glad to think
that your Majesty has not to go to the House of Lords to-day.
[Footnote 9: This Duke died unmarried in 1765, and his nephew,
the fourth son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, was created Duke
of Cumberland in 1766. He in his turn died without issue, in
1790, and in 1799 the fifth son of George III. (afterwards
King of Hanover) received the same title.]
[Pageheading: THE AMERICAN TREATY]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _3rd February 1843._
... Lord Melbourne thinks that the Speech was very well and
judiciously drawn; the only paragraph which he does not like is that
about the American treaty.[10] It betrays too great an anxiety for
peace, and too much fear of war.[11]
[Footnote 10: See _ante_, pp. 368, 370 (Ch. X, 'The United States').
The treaty had been negotiated by Lord Ashburton.]
[Footnote 11: "By the treaty which Her Majesty has concluded
with the United States of America, and by the adjustment of
those differences which, from their long continuance, had
endangered the preservation of peace, Her Majesty trusts
that the amicable relations of the two countries have been
confirmed."]
_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _6th February 1843._
MY BELOVED VICTORIA,--I am quite of your opinion about balls.
_Nothing_ can change what _cannot change_, and I consider all these
things, which have always been _a bore_ to me, as a matter _of duty_
and not otherwise. The duties of station are to be fulfilled like the
others, and my _first_ and _most pleasant_ duty is to do _all_ that
your Uncle may command or wish. Your Uncle was much _shocked_ by
your answer about _Miss Meyer_,[12] whom he considered of _uncommon
beauty_. He is quite in love with her picture, and is very anxious
to discover who she is. The other pictures of the _book of beauty_
he abandons to you, and they are certainly worthy of a _book of
ugliness_.... Yours most devotedly,
LOUISE.
[Footnote 12: Eugénie Meyer, step-daughter of Colonel Gurwood,
C.B., married the first Viscount Esher, Master of the Rolls.
The Queen had written that she did not admire that style of
beauty.]
[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD AND PEEL]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _10th February 1843._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... I am very much gratified by your having
shown my hasty scrawl to Sir Robert Peel, and that the sincere
expression of a conscientious opinion should have given him pleasure.
It was natural at first that you should _not_ have liked to take him
as your Premier; many circumstances united against him. But I must
say for you and your family, as well as for England, it was a great
blessing that so firm and honourable a man as Peel should have become
the head of your Administration. The State machine breaks often down
in consequence of mistakes made forty and fifty years ago; so it was
in France where even Louis XIV. had already laid the first foundation
for what happened nearly a hundred years afterwards.
I believe, besides, Sir Robert sincerely and warmly attached to you,
and as you say with great truth, _quite above_ mere party feeling.
Poor Lady Peel must be much affected by what has happened.... Your
truly devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _12th February 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He received
here on Friday last, the 10th, your Majesty's letter of the 8th,
which gave him great pleasure, and for which he gratefully thanks your
Majesty. Lord Melbourne is getting better, and hopes soon to be nearly
as well as he was before this last attack, but he still finds his
left hand and arm and his left leg very much affected, and he does not
recover his appetite, and worse still, he is very sleepless at night,
an evil which he is very little used to, and of which he is very
impatient....
Lord Melbourne adheres to all he said about Lord Ashburton and the
Treaty, but he thinks more fire than otherwise would have taken place
was drawn upon Lord Ashburton by the confident declaration of Stanley
that his appointment was generally approved. The contrary is certainly
the case. There is much of popular objection to him from his American
connection and his supposed strong American interests. Lady Ashburton,
with whom he received a large fortune, is a born American. But he is
supposed to possess much funded property in that country, and to
have almost as strong an interest in its welfare as in that of Great
Britain. With all this behind, it is a bad thing to say that his
appointment was liable to no suspicion or objection. It seems to Lord
Melbourne that what with Ellenborough with the Gates of Ghuznee upon
his shoulders,[13] and Ashburton with the American Treaty round his
neck, the Ministry have nearly as heavy a load upon them as they can
stand up under, and Lord Melbourne would not be surprised if they were
to lighten themselves of one or the other.
[Footnote 13: The Somnauth Proclamation created a good deal of
ridicule.]
[Pageheading: POSITION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _13th February 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has just
recollected that in the letter which he wrote yesterday, he omitted
to advert to a part of your Majesty's last to which your Majesty may
expect some answer. He means the part relating to the character and
situation of a Prince of Wales in this country. George IV. was so
conscious of having mixed himself most unrestrainedly in politics,
and of having taken a very general part in opposition to his father's
Government and wishes, that he was naturally anxious to exonerate
himself from blame, and to blame it upon the necessity of his position
rather than upon his own restless and intermeddling disposition. But
Lord Melbourne agrees with your Majesty that his excuse was neither
valid nor justifiable, and Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your
Majesty and the Prince may be successful in training and instructing
the young Prince of Wales, and to make him understand correctly his
real position and its duties, and to enable him to withstand the
temptations and seductions with which he will find himself beset, when
he approaches the age of twenty-one. It is true that Sir John made the
observation, which Lord Melbourne mentioned to your Majesty, and which
you now remember correctly. He made it to Sir James Graham, when he
went to talk to him about the offence which William IV. had taken at
the Duchess of Kent's marine excursion; and at the receiving of
royal salutes. Your Majesty was not very long in the situation of
an acknowledged, admitted, and certain Heir Apparent, but still long
enough to be aware of the use which those around you were inclined to
make of that situation and of the petitions and applications which it
naturally produced from others, and therefore to have an idea of the
difficulties of it.
Lord Melbourne heartily wishes your Majesty every success in the
interesting and important task in which you are engaged of forming the
character and disposition of the young Prince.
[Pageheading: DOMESTIC HAPPINESS]
_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._
CANFORD HOUSE, _14th February 1843._
MY DEAREST NIECE,--Your delightful letter of Tuesday gave me such
pleasure and satisfaction that I must thank you with all my heart for
it. Your happiness, and your gratitude for that happiness, is most
gratifying to my feelings, having loved you from your infancy almost
as much as if you had been my own child. It is therefore happiness to
me to hear from yourself those expressions to which you gave vent. I
thank God that you have such an excellent husband, so well calculated
to make you happy and to assist you in your arduous duties by his
advice, as well as his help in sharing your troubles. I pray that your
domestic happiness may last uninterruptedly, and that you may enjoy it
through a long, long period of _many, many years_. You cannot say too
much of _yourself_ and dear Albert when you write to me, for it is a
most interesting subject to my heart, I assure you.
What a _shame_ to have put on darling little Victoria a _powdered
wig_! Poor dear child must have looked very strange with it! Did her
brother appear in _einer Allonge-Perücke_?...
I shall hope to follow you to town early next month, and look forward
with great pleasure to seeing you so soon again. Forgive me my
horrible scrawl, and with my best love to dearest Albert, believe
me, ever, my dearest Victoria, your most affectionate and faithfully
devoted Aunt,
ADELAIDE.
Pray tell your dear mother, with my affectionate love, that I will
answer her letter to-morrow.
[Pageheading: INTERCHANGE OF VISITS]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _14th February 1843._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your kind letter of the 10th, which
I received on Sunday. I am only a little wee bit distressed at your
writing _on the 10th_, and not taking any notice of the _dearest,
happiest_ day in my life, to which I owe the present _great_ domestic
happiness I now enjoy, and which is much greater than I deserve,
though certainly my Kensington life for the last six or seven years
had been one of great misery and oppression, and I may expect some
little retribution, and, indeed, _after_ my accession, there was a
great deal of worry. Indeed I _am_ grateful for possessing (_really
without_ vanity or flattery or _blindness_) the _most perfect_ being
as a husband in existence, or who ever did exist; and I doubt whether
anybody _ever_ did love or respect another as I do my dear Angel! And
indeed Providence has ever mercifully protected us, through manifold
dangers and trials, and I feel confident will continue to do so, and
then let outward storms and trials and sorrows be sent us, and we can
bear all....
I could not help smiling at the exactitude about Monday the 19th
of June; it is a great happiness to us to think with such certainty
(_D.V._) of your kind visit, which would suit perfectly. _À propos_ of
this, I am anxious to tell you that we are full of hope of paying you
in August a little visit, which last year was in so melancholy a way
interrupted; but we think that for _many_ reasons it would be better
for us to pay you our _first_ visit only at _Ostend_, and not at
Brussels or Laeken; you could lodge us _anywhere_, and we need then
bring but very few people with us--it might also facilitate the
meeting with Albert's good old grandmother, who fears to cross the
sea, and whose great _wish_ is to behold Albert again--and would
not be so difficult (_pour la lère fois_) in many ways. I could,
nevertheless, see Bruges and Ghent from thence by help of the
railroad, and return the same day to Ostend.
What you say about Peel is very just. Good Lord Melbourne is much
better.
I hope soon to hear more about Joinville and Donna Francesca. Now,
ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
We are all very well (_unberufen_) and move, _to our horror_, to town
on Friday.
[Pageheading: COBDEN'S ATTACK ON PEEL]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _18th February (1843)._
(_Saturday morning._)
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
leave to acquaint your Majesty that the debate was brought to a
close this morning about half-past three o'clock. The motion of Lord
Howick[14] was rejected by a large majority, the number being--
For the Motion 191
Against it 305
---
Majority 114
---
The chief speakers were Mr R. Cobden and Lord John Russell in favour
of the motion, Mr Attwood, Lord Francis Egerton, and Sir Robert Peel
against it.
In the course of the evening there was much excitement and animated
discussion, in consequence of the speech of Mr Cobden, who is the
chief patron of the Anti-Corn Law League.
Mr Cobden with great vehemence of manner observed more than once that
Sir Robert Peel ought to be held _individually responsible_ for the
distress of the country.[15]
Coupling these expressions with the language frequently held at the
meetings of the Anti-Corn Law League, and by the press in connection
with it, Sir Robert Peel in replying to Mr Cobden charged him with
holding language calculated to excite to personal violence.
[Footnote 14: To go into Committee on the depression of the
manufacturing industry. The debate turned mainly on the Corn
Laws.]
[Footnote 15: To this attack Peel replied with excessive
warmth, amid the frantic cheering of his party, who almost
refused to hear Cobden's explanation in reply. Peel, alarmed
at the fate of Drummond, thought (or affected to think) that
Cobden was singling him out as a fit object for assassination.
For years Cobden resented this language of Peel most deeply.
"Peel's atrocious conduct towards me ought not to be lost
sight of," he wrote in February 1846. A _rapprochement_ was
effected by Miss Martineau--see her letter to Peel (Parker,
vol. iii. p. 330)--and a reference to the matter by Disraeli
in the House of Commons led to satisfactory explanations on
both sides.]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Lincoln._[16]
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _18th February 1843._
The Queen, immediately on her arrival yesterday, went to look at
the new Chapel, with which she is much pleased, but was extremely
disappointed to find it still in such a backward state. As it is of
the utmost importance to the Queen to be able to _use_ it _very soon_,
she wishes Lord Lincoln would be so good as to hurry on the work as
much as possible; perhaps Lord Lincoln could increase the number of
workmen, as there seemed to her to be very few there yesterday.
[Footnote 16: Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests.]
[Pageheading: FANNY BURNEY'S DIARY]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _21st February 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He received
safely your Majesty's letter of the 18th inst. Lord Melbourne entreats
your Majesty that you never will think for a moment that you can
tire him by questions, or that it can be to him anything but a great
pleasure to answer them. He will be only too happy if any information
that he possesses or can procure can be of the least use or pleasure
to your Majesty. Lord Melbourne conceives that your Majesty must be
surprised at his complaining of sleeplessness. He is much obliged by
the suggestion of the camphor. He mentioned it to the gentleman who
attends him, and he said that it was a very good thing, and certainly
has a soothing and quieting effect, and that in fact there was some
in the draught which Lord Melbourne now takes at night. But Lord
Melbourne has taken to going down to dinner with those who are in the
house, and sitting up afterwards until near twelve o'clock, and since
he has done this he has slept better. We expect the Duke and Duchess
of Bedford for two nights on Wednesday next. Lord and Lady Uxbridge
and Ella and Constance often come over in the morning and eat their
luncheon here, which Lord Melbourne takes very kindly of them. George
Byng[17] came the other morning in a waistcoat of Peel's velveteen.
Lord Strafford brought the whole piece off the manufacturer, and let
George Byng have enough for a waistcoat. It is a dull blue stuff, and
the device and inscription not very clear nor easy to make out.[18]
Adolphus is, as Aberdeen says, too rigidly Tory, but there are plenty
of narratives of the same period, such as Belsham[19] and others, of
whom it may be said with equal truth that they are too Whig....
Lord Melbourne read the _Edinburgh_ on Madame d'Arblay, which is
certainly Macaulay's, but thought it unnecessarily severe upon Queen
Charlotte, and that it did not do her justice, and also that it rather
countenanced too much Miss Burney's dislike to her situation. It
appears to Lord Melbourne that Miss Burney was well enough contented
to live in the Palace and receive her salary, but that she was
surprised and disgusted as soon as she found that she was expected to
give up some part of her time to conform to some rules, and to perform
some duty. Lord Melbourne is sorry to say that he missed the article
on Children's Books,[20] a subject of much importance, and in which he
is much interested.
Lord Melbourne has received the engraving of the Princess, and is
much pleased by it, and returns many thanks. It is very pretty, very
spirited, and as far as Lord Melbourne's recollection, serves him,
very like. Lord Melbourne remains, ever, your Majesty's faithful,
devoted, and attached Servant.
[Footnote 17: Brother-in-law of Lord Uxbridge, and afterwards
Earl of Stratford.]
[Footnote 18: The allusion is to a hoax played on the Premier,
by a presentation made to him of a piece of the then novel
fabric, velveteen, stamped with a free-trade design. Peel
afterwards wrote that he was unaware that the specimen bore
"any allusion to any matters which are the subject of public
controversy."]
[Footnote 19: William Belsham (1752-1827) wrote, in twelve
volumes, _A History of Great Britain to the Conclusion of the
Peace of Amiens in 1802_.]
[Footnote 20: In the _Quarterly Review_, by Lady Eastlake.]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL (_4th March 1843_). (_Sunday morning._)
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
leave to acquaint your Majesty that the prisoner MacNaghten was
acquitted last night, after a trial which lasted two days, upon the
ground of insanity.
The fuller account of the evidence which Sir Robert Peel has seen is
on the accompanying newspaper.
The only other information which has reached Sir Robert Peel is
contained in a note (enclosed) from Mr Maule, the solicitor to the
Treasury, who conducted the prosecution. The three Judges[21] appear
to have concurred in opinion, that the evidence of insanity was so
strong as to require a verdict of acquittal--and the Chief Justice
advised the Jury to find that verdict without summing up the evidence
or delivering any detailed charge upon the facts of the case and the
law bearing upon them.
It is a lamentable reflection that a man may be at the same time so
insane as to be reckless of his own life and the lives of others, and
to be pronounced free from moral responsibility, and yet capable of
preparing for the commission of murder with the utmost caution and
deliberation, and of taking every step which shall enable him to
commit it with certainty.
[Footnote 21: Chief Justice Tindal, and Justices Williams and
Coleridge.]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _10th March 1843._
Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave
to acquaint your Majesty that the House of Commons was occupied
last night with the attack upon Lord Ellenborough for the Somnauth
Proclamation.[22]
The motion was made by Mr Vernon Smith.[23] The resolution
proposed condemned the Proclamation as _unwise_, _indecorous_
and _reprehensible_. Mr Vernon Smith was followed by Mr Emerson
Tennent,[24] one of the Secretaries to the Board of Controul.
Mr Macaulay next spoke, and condemned the conduct of Lord Ellenborough
in a speech of great bitterness and great ability.
The motion was negatived by a majority of 242 to 157.
The minority included Lord Ashley, Sir Robert Inglis, and six other
gentlemen, who generally support your Majesty's servants.
The debate was a very animated one, with a strong infusion of Party
zeal.
[Footnote 22: See _ante_, p. 445. (Ch. XI, 'The Gates of Somnauth')]
[Footnote 23: Robert Vernon Smith (1800-1873), afterwards
President of the Board of Control, created Lord Lyveden in
1859.]
[Footnote 24: James Emerson (1804-1869), afterwards Sir James
Emerson Tennent, M.P. for Belfast, author of _Letters from the
Ægean_, etc.]
[Pageheading: CRIMINAL INSANITY]
_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th March 1843._
The Queen returns the paper of the Lord Chancellor's to Sir Robert
Peel with her best thanks.
The law may be perfect, but how is it that whenever a case for its
application arises, it proves to be of no avail? We have seen the
trials of Oxford and MacNaghten conducted by the ablest lawyers of the
day--Lord Denman, Chief Justice Tindal, and Sir Wm. Follett,[25]--and
_they allow_ and _advise_ the Jury to pronounce the verdict of _Not
Guilty_ on account of _Insanity_,--whilst _everybody_ is morally
_convinced_ that both malefactors were perfectly conscious and aware
of what they did! It appears from this, that the force of the law is
entirely put into the Judge's hands, and that it depends merely upon
his charge whether the law is to be applied or not. Could not the
Legislature lay down that rule which the Lord Chancellor does in
his paper, and which Chief Justice Mansfield did in the case of
Bellingham; and why could not the Judges be _bound_ to interpret the
law in _this_ and _no other_ sense in their charges to the Juries?[26]
[Footnote 25: Solicitor-General. His health gave way in middle
life, and he died in 1845.]
[Footnote 26: In consequence of the manner in which the trial
terminated, and the feeling excited in the country, the House
of Lords put certain questions on the subject of criminal
insanity to the Judges, whose answers have been since
considered as establishing the law.]
[Pageheading: PRINCESS MARY OF BADEN]
_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria._
FOREIGN OFFICE, _13th March 1843._
Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. In obedience
to your Majesty's commands he has endeavoured to consider the letter
of the Grand Duke of Baden with reference to the position of the
Princess Mary[27] in this country. Lord Aberdeen does not find in the
proceedings of the Conference of Great Powers at Vienna, at Aix
la Chapelle, or at Paris, anything which can materially affect the
question. The great difficulty with respect to the Princess appears
to arise from the fact that in this country the rank and precedence
of every person are regulated and fixed by law. Should your Majesty be
disposed to deviate from the strict observance of this, although
Lord Aberdeen cannot doubt that it would receive a very general
acquiescence, it is still possible that the Princess might be exposed
to occasional disappointment and mortification....
There is a consideration, to which Lord Aberdeen would humbly advert,
which may not altogether be unworthy of your Majesty's notice. Your
Majesty does not wish to encourage alliances of this description;
and although there may be no danger of their frequent occurrence,
it cannot be denied that an additional inducement would exist if
Princesses always retained their own rank in this country.
On the whole, Lord Aberdeen would humbly submit to your Majesty that
the Princess might be received by your Majesty, in the first instance,
with such distinction as was due to her birth--either by a Royal
carriage being sent to bring her to your Majesty's presence, or in any
manner which your Majesty might command--with the understanding that
she should permanently adopt the title and station of her husband.
Your Majesty's favour and protection, afforded to her in this
character will probably realise all the expectations of the Grand
Duke; and, without acknowledging any positive claim or right, your
Majesty would secure the gratitude of the Princess.
[Footnote 27: The Princess Mary of Baden had recently married
the Marquis of Douglas, eldest son of the Duke of Hamilton.
_See_ p. 439. (Ch. XI, 1st November, 1842)]
[Pageheading: THE PRINCE TO HOLD LEVÉES]
_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th March 1843._
The Queen has spoken again to the Prince about the Levées, who has
kindly consented to do what can be of use and convenience to the
Queen. There is one circumstance which must be considered and settled,
and which the Queen omitted to mention to Sir Robert Peel when she saw
him. The chief, indeed the _only_, object of having these Levées, is
to save the Queen the _extreme fatigue_ of the _Presentations_
which would come in such a _mass_ together when the Queen _held them
herself_; the Prince naturally holds the _Levées for_ the Queen, and
_represents her_; could not therefore everybody who was presented
to him be made to understand that this would be tantamount to a
presentation to the Queen herself? There might perhaps be an objection
on the part of people presented to kneel and kiss the Prince's hand.
But this could be obviated by merely having the people named to the
Prince. The inconvenience would be _so great_ if nobody at all could
be presented till late in the season, that something must be devised
to get over this difficulty.
[Pageheading: LEVÉES]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
DOWNING STREET, _18th March 1843._
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
leave to submit to your Majesty that should your Majesty determine
that the Prince should hold Levées on behalf of your Majesty, the best
course will be to announce the intention from the Lord Chamberlain's
Office in terms to the following purport:
"His Royal Highness Prince Albert will, by Her Majesty's
command, hold a Levée on behalf of Her Majesty on ----
"It is Her Majesty's pleasure that presentations to the Prince
at this Levée shall be considered equivalent to presentations
to the Queen.
"Addresses to Her Majesty may be presented to Her Majesty
through the Secretary of State, or may be reserved until Her
Majesty can hold a Levée in person."
Sir Robert Peel humbly submits to your Majesty that it would not
be advisable to _prohibit_ by notice in the _Gazette_ subsequent
presentations to your Majesty. It will probably answer every purpose
to state that they shall be considered _equivalent_, and when your
Majesty shall hold a Levée it may be then notified at the time that
second presentations are not necessary.
When the Prince shall hold the Levée, it may be made known at the
time, without any formal public notification, that kneeling and the
kissing of hands will not be required.
Sir Robert Peel hopes that the effect of holding these Levées may be
materially to relieve your Majesty, but it is of course difficult to
speak with certainty. He was under the impression that in the reign of
Queen Anne, Prince George had occasionally held Levées on the part
of the Queen during the Queen's indisposition, but on searching the
_Gazette_ of the time he cannot find any record of this.
_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._
CLAREMONT, _19th March 1843._
The Queen has received Sir Robert's letter, and quite approves of his
suggestions concerning the Levées. The Prince is quite ready to do
whatever may be thought right, and the Queen wishes Sir Robert to
act upon the plan he has laid before her in his letter of yesterday.
Perhaps it would be right before making anything public to consider
the question of Drawing-Rooms likewise, which are of such importance
to the trades-people of London. It would be painful for the Queen to
think that she should be the cause of disappointment and loss to
this class of her subjects, particularly at this moment of commercial
stagnation. The Queen conceives that it would be the right thing that
the same principle laid down for the Levées should be followed with
regard to Drawing-Rooms, the Prince holding them for her. The Queen is
anxious to have soon Sir Robert's opinion upon this subject. The Queen
on looking at the almanac finds that _only_ the _two_ next weeks are
available for these purposes _before_ Easter.
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _27th March 1843._
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hastens
to reply to your Majesty's note of this date.
Sir Robert Peel assures your Majesty that he does not think that there
is the slightest ground for apprehension on the occasion of the Levée,
but Sir Robert Peel will, without the slightest allusion to your
Majesty's communication to him, make personal enquiries into the
police arrangements, and see that every precaution possible shall be
taken.
He begs, however, humbly to assure your Majesty that there never has
reached him any indication of a hostile feeling towards the Prince.
It could only proceed from some person of deranged intellect, and he
thinks it would be almost impossible for such a person to act upon it
on the occasion of a Levée.
It may tend to remove or diminish your Majesty's anxiety to know
that Sir Robert Peel has _walked_ home every night from the House
of Commons, and, notwithstanding frequent menaces and intimations of
danger, he has not met with any obstruction.
He earnestly hopes that your Majesty will dismiss from your mind any
apprehension, and sincerely believes that your Majesty may do so with
entire confidence. But nothing shall be neglected.
[Pageheading: THE COMET]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _28th March 1843._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter of
the 24th, on Sunday. How lucky you are to have seen the comet![28] It
is distinctly _to be seen_ here, and _has been seen_ by many people,
but we have till now looked out in vain for it. We shall, however,
persevere.
We left dear Claremont with great regret, and since our return have
been regaled with regular March winds, which, however, have not kept
me from my daily walks. To-day it is finer again.
It is most kind and good of dearest Albert to hold these Levées for
me, which will be a great relief for hereafter for me. Besides _cela
le met dans sa position_; _he_ and _I_ must be _one_, so that I can
_only be represented_ by _him_. I think this, therefore, a good thing
for that reason also; and God knows, he, dear angel, _deserves_ to be
the _highest_ in _everything_.
Our Consecration went off extremely well, and the Chapel is
delightful, and so convenient. I am sure you will like it.
You will be glad to hear that dear old Eos (who is still at Claremont)
is going on most favourably; they attribute this sudden attack to her
over-eating (she steals whenever she can get anything), living in too
warm rooms, and getting too little exercise since she was in London.
Certainly her wind was _not_ in the _slightest_ degree affected by
her accident, for in the autumn she coursed better than all the other
young dogs, and ran and fetched pheasants, etc., from any distance,
and ran about the very evening she was taken so ill, as if nothing was
the matter. Evidently part of her lungs must be _very_ sound still;
and they say _no one's_ lungs are _quite sound_. She must be well
starved, poor thing, and not allowed to sleep in beds, as she
generally does.
[Footnote 28: Its appearance gave rise to much discussion
among astronomers. On the 17th Sir John Herschel saw its
nucleus from Collingwood in Kent, and on the following night
a dim nebula only; so it was probably receding with great
velocity.]
[Pageheading: MELBOURNE ON DIET]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
BROCKET HALL, _2nd April 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He received
yesterday morning your Majesty's letter of the 30th ult., for which
he sincerely thanks your Majesty. Lord Melbourne is delighted to
find that your Majesty was pleased with the bouquet. The daphnes are
neither so numerous nor so fine as they were, but there are still
enough left to make another bouquet, which Lord Melbourne will take
care is sent up by his cart to-morrow, and left at Buckingham Palace.
Lord Melbourne is very much touched and obliged by your Majesty's very
kind advice, which he will try his utmost to follow, as he himself
believes that his health entirely depends upon his keeping up his
stomach in good order and free from derangement. He owns that he is
very incredulous about the unwholesomeness of dry champagne, and
he does not think that the united opinion of the whole College of
Physicians and of Surgeons would persuade him upon these points--he
cannot think that a "Hohenlohe" glass of dry champagne, _i.e._ half a
_schoppen_,[29] can be prejudicial. Lord and Lady Erroll[30] and Lord
Auckland and Miss Eden are coming in the course of the week, and they
would be much surprised not to get a glass of champagne with their
dinner. Lord Melbourne is very glad to learn that the Prince's Levée
did well, and feels that His Royal Highness undertaking this duty must
be a great relief and assistance to your Majesty. Lord Melbourne hopes
to see the Baron here when he comes. The spring still delays and hangs
back, but it rains to-day, which Lord Melbourne hopes will bring it
on.
[Footnote 29: A _schoppen_ is about a pint; it is the same
word etymologically as "scoop."]
[Footnote 30: William George, seventeenth Earl of Erroll,
married a sister of the first Earl of Munster.]
[Pageheading: THE ROYAL CHILDREN]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th April 1843._
DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your very kind letter of the 31st,
which I received on Sunday, just as our excellent friend Stockmar made
his appearance. He made us very happy by his excellent accounts of
you _all_, including dearest Louise, and the children he says are _so_
grown; Leo being nearly as tall as Louise! _En revanche_ he will, I
hope, tell you how prosperous he found us all; and how surprised
and pleased he was with the children; he also is struck with Albert
junior's likeness to his dearest papa, which everybody is struck with.
Indeed, dearest Uncle, I will venture to say that not only _no Royal
Ménage_ is to be found equal to _ours_, but _no other ménage_ is to
be compared to ours, nor is _any one_ to be compared, take him
altogether, to _my dearest_ Angel!...
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _6th April 1843._
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has this
moment received your Majesty's note.
Sir Robert Peel will immediately make enquiry in the first instance in
respect to the correctness of the report of the dinner. The omission
of the health of the Prince is certainly very strange--it would be
very unusual at any public dinner--but seems quite unaccountable at
a dinner given in connection with the interests of one of the Royal
Theatres.
The toasts are generally prepared not by the chairman of the meeting,
but by a committee; but still the omission of the name of the Prince
ought to have occurred at once to the Duke of Cambridge, and there
cannot be a doubt that he might have rectified, and ought to have
rectified, the omission.
Sir Robert Peel is sure your Majesty will approve of his ascertaining
in the first instance the real facts of the case--whether the report
be a correct one, and if a correct one, who are the parties by whom
the arrangements in respect to the toasts were made.
This being done, Sir Robert Peel will then apply himself to the
execution of your Majesty's wishes, in the manner pointed out by your
Majesty.
He begs humbly to assure your Majesty that he enters most fully into
your Majesty's very natural feelings, and that he shall always have
the greatest pleasure in giving effect to your Majesty's wishes
in matters of this nature, and in proving himself worthy of the
confidence your Majesty is kindly pleased to repose in him.
[Pageheading: THE TOAST OF THE PRINCE]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _6th April 1843._
Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, hastens to
make a communication to your Majesty, on the subject of your Majesty's
letter of this morning, which he hopes will remove from your Majesty's
mind any unfavourable impression with regard to the _toasts_ at the
theatrical dinner, or to the conduct of the Duke of Cambridge in
reference to them.
Sir Robert Peel, since he addressed your Majesty, has made enquiry
from Colonel Wood, the member for Brecon, who was present at the
meeting.
In order to have the real statement of the case, Sir Robert Peel
did not mention the object of the enquiry. The following were the
questions and the answers:--
_Q._ What were the toasts at the theatrical dinner last night?
COLONEL WOOD. The first was _The Queen and the Prince_. The Duke said
he thought he could not give the health of the Queen in a manner more
satisfactory than by coupling with the name of Her Majesty that of her
illustrious Consort.
Colonel Wood said that his impression was that the Duke meant to do
that which would be most respectful to the Prince, and that he had
in his mind when he united the name of the Prince with that of your
Majesty, the circumstances of the Prince having recently held the
Levée on behalf of your Majesty.
It might perhaps have been better had His Royal Highness adhered to
the usual custom, and proposed the health of the Prince distinctly and
separately, but he humbly submits to your Majesty that the _intention_
of His Royal Highness must have been to show respect to the Prince.
The reports of public dinners are frequently incorrect, the reporters
being sometimes placed at a great distance from the chairman.
[Pageheading: THE KING OF HANOVER]
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _12th April 1843._
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and will
not fail to forward by the first opportunity the letter to Lord
Ellenborough which accompanied your Majesty's note.
In consequence of his conversation yesterday morning with Baron
Stockmar, Sir Robert Peel begs to mention to your Majesty that he saw
to-day a private letter from Berlin, which mentioned that the King
of Hanover had apparently abandoned the intention of visiting England
this year, but that on the receipt of some letters from England, which
he suspected to be written for the purpose of discouraging his visit,
the King suddenly changed his intention and wrote a letter to your
Majesty, stating that he had thoughts of such a visit.
It was not stated from whence the letters advising the King to remain
on the Continent had proceeded.
This letter also stated that the King of Hanover proposed to waive
his rank of Sovereign as far as he possibly could on his arrival in
England, and to take his seat in the House of Lords without taking any
part in the proceedings.
It added that the King could not, in any event, be in England before
the latter end of May or beginning of June, and rather hinted that
as his proposed visit was more out of a spirit of contradiction and
impatience of obstacles being thrown in the way of it, than from any
strong wish on his part to come here, he might probably change his
intention and defer his visit, particularly if he should find that
there was no particular impediment in the way of it.
_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._
WHITEHALL, _13th April 1843._
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
leave to acquaint your Majesty that the Duke of Cambridge having
called on Sir Robert Peel this morning, he took an opportunity of
asking His Royal Highness whether he thought the King of Hanover had
made up his mind to visit England this year.
The Duke's reply was, as nearly as possible, as follows:--
"Oh yes, the King will certainly come, but I can tell you privately he
means to have nothing to do with the House of Lords. He will not
make his appearance there. The King has taken his servants for six
weeks--that is, engaged their attendance upon him for that time.
I know the porter is engaged and the stable servants. The King has
written to Her Majesty. His real object in coming is to arrange his
private papers, which were left in confusion, and to consult Sir Henry
Halford."[31]
This was all that was material that His Royal Highness said.
[Footnote 31: The eminent physician.]
[Pageheading: THE GATES OF SOMNAUTH]
_Lord Ellenborough to Queen Victoria._
CAMP, DELHI, _19th February 1843._
... The gates of the Temple of Somnauth, which have been escorted to
Delhi by five hundred cavalry of the protected Sikh States, will be
escorted from Delhi to Muttra, and thence to Agra by the same force of
cavalry, furnished by the Rajahs of Bhurtpore and Alwar.[32]
While there has been universally evinced a feeling of gratitude to
the British Government for the consideration shown to the people of
Hindustan in the restoration of these trophies, there has not occurred
a single instance of apparent mortification amongst the Mussulmans.
All consider the restoration of the gates to be a national, not a
religious, triumph. At no place has more satisfaction been expressed
than at Paniput, a town almost exclusively Mussulman, where there
exist the remains of the first mosque built by Sultan Mahmood after he
had destroyed the city and temples of the Hindoos....
[Footnote 32: See _ante_, p. 445. (Ch. XI, 'The Gates of Somnauth')]
[Pageheading: DEATH OF THE DUKE OF SUSSEX]
_Extract from the Will of his late Royal Highness the Duke of
Sussex, dated the 11th August 1840[33] (sent at the Queen's
request by Sir Robert Peel to the Duke of Wellington for his
advice.)_
"I desire that on my death my body may be opened, and should the
examination present anything useful or interesting to science, I
empower my executors to make it public. And I desire to be buried in
the public cemetery at Kensal Green in the Parish of Harrow, in the
County of Middlesex, and not at Windsor."
[Footnote 33: The Duke of Sussex died on 21st April of
erysipelas. His first marriage in 1793 to Lady Augusta Murray,
daughter of the fourth Earl of Dunmore, was declared void
under the Royal Marriage Act. Lady Augusta died in 1830; her
daughter married Sir Thomas Wilde, afterwards Lord Truro. The
Duke contracted a second marriage with Lady Cecilia Underwood,
daughter of the Earl of Arran and widow of Sir George Buggin:
she was created Duchess of Inverness in 1840, with remainder
to her heirs-male.]
_The Duke of Wellington to Sir Robert Peel._
STRATHFIELDSAYE, _21st April 1843._
MY DEAR PEEL,--I have just now received your letter of this day, and I
return the enclosure in the box. It appears to me that the whole case
must be considered as hanging together; that is, the desire to be
buried at Kensal Green, that of Freemasons to pay Masonic Honours,[34]
that the body of the Duchess of Inverness should be interred near to
his when she dies.
Parties still alive have an interest in the attainment of the two last
objects, which are quite incompatible with the interment of a Prince
of the Blood, a Knight of the Garter, in St George's Chapel at
Windsor.
The Queen's Royal Command might overrule the Duke's desire to be
buried at Kensal Green.[35] Nobody would complain of or contend
against it.
But there will be no end of the complaints of interference by
authority on the part of Freemasons, and of those who will take part
with the Duchess of Inverness: and it is a curious fact that there
are persons in Society who are interested in making out that she was
really married to the Duke.[36] Against this we must observe that it
will be urged that the omission to insist that the interment should
take place in the Collegiate Chapel of St George's, Windsor, and thus
to set aside the will, lowers the Royal Family in the opinion of the
public, and is a concession to Radicalism. But it is my opinion that
the reasons will justify that which will be done in conformity with
the will.
I confess that I don't like to decide upon cases in such haste; and
I cannot consider it necessary that a decision should be made on the
course to be taken in respect to the Duke's funeral, on the morrow of
the day on which he died.
It would be desirable to know the opinion of the Lord Chancellor, the
Archbishop, and others.
I can't think of anything likely to occur, which might alter me: and
I'll abide by that which I have above given.
It will be absolutely necessary to take effective measures for the
preservation of the peace at this funeral at Kensal Green: and
even that the magistrates should superintend the procession of the
Freemasons. Believe me, ever yours most sincerely,
WELLINGTON.
[Footnote 34: The Duke of Sussex being Grand Master of
England, and Master of the Lodge of Antiquity.]
[Footnote 35: The body lay in state at Kensington, and was
eventually buried, as the Duke had desired, in the Kensal
Green Cemetery.]
[Footnote 36: See _ante_, p. 478, note 33 (this Ch., above). The
marriage took place, by special licence, at Lady Cecilia's house
in Great Cumberland Place.]
_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._
_22nd April 1843._
MY DEAREST NIECE,--I am just come back and feel very anxious to
know how you are, and beg at the same time to offer to you my most
affectionate condolence on the melancholy event which has taken again
another member of our family from us. Pray do not trouble _yourself_
with answering this note, but let me hear how you feel, and whether
you will like to see me to-morrow or at any time most convenient to
you.
I feel deeply our new loss, which recalls all the previous sad losses
which we have had so forcibly, and I pray that it may not affect you
too much, dearest Victoria, and that you will not suffer from the
shock it must have been to you. I was not in the least aware of the
danger and near approach of the fatal end, and only yesterday began to
feel alarmed by the accounts which I had received.
I have been with the poor Duchess of Inverness on my way to town, and
found her as composed as possible under the sad circumstances, and
full of gratitude to you and all the family for all the kindness which
she had received. I pity her very much. It must be her comfort to have
made the last years of the Duke's life happy, and to have been his
comfort to the last moment.
I wish you good-night, dearest Niece, and beg you to give my best
love to dear Albert, and to believe me most devotedly your most
affectionate Aunt,
ADELAIDE.
[Pageheading: BIRTH OF PRINCESS ALICE]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _16th May 1843._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Your kind and dear letter of the 12th has given
me great pleasure. I am happy to give you still better accounts of
myself.[37] I have been out every day since Saturday, and have resumed
all my usual habits almost (of course resting often on the sofa, and
not having appeared in Society yet), and feel so strong and well; much
better (independent of the nerves) than I have been either time. We
are most thankful for it. The King of Hanover has never said _when_ he
will come, even _now_, but always threatens that he will....
Our little baby, who I really am proud of, for she is so very forward
for her age, is to be called _Alice_, an old English name, and the
other names are to be _Maud_ (another old English name and the same
as Matilda) and _Mary_, as she was born on Aunt Gloucester's birthday.
The Sponsors are to be: The King of Hanover,--Ernestus the Pious; poor
Princess Sophia Matilda,[38] and Feodore, and the christening to be on
the 2nd of June. It will be delightful to see you and dearest Louise
on the 19th of June, God willing.
Are there any news of Joinville's proceedings at Rio?[39] Ever your
devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 37: Princess Alice was born on 25th April.]
[Footnote 38: Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester.]
[Footnote 39: He married Princess Francesca, sister of the
Emperor of the Brazils and of Queen Donna Maria.]
[Pageheading: CHRISTENING OF PRINCESS ALICE]
_The Earl of Ripon to Queen Victoria._
INDIA BOARD, _5th June 1843._
Lord Ripon, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs to inform your
Majesty that despatches have been this day received at the India House
from the Governor-General of India and from the Governor of Bombay,
announcing the successful issue of a battle, on the 24th of March,
between Sir Charles Napier and Meer Shere Mahommed.[40] The forces of
the latter were completely routed, with the loss of all the guns and
several standards.
RIPON.
[Footnote 40: Sir Charles Napier, who was in command in
Scinde, defeated the army of the Ameers of Upper and Lower
Scinde at Meeanee on 17th February, and on the 20th took
Hyderabad. On the 24th March he attacked the enemy, who were
posted in a strong position on the banks of a tributary of the
Indus, and obtained a decisive victory.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
CLAREMONT, _6th June 1843._
DEAREST UNCLE,--I received your kind letter on Sunday, and thank
you much for it. I am sorry that you could not take the children to
Ardenne, as nothing is so good for children as _very_ frequent change
of air, and think you do not let the children do so often enough.
Ours do so continually, and are so movable that it gives us no trouble
whatever.
Our christening went off very brilliantly, and I wish you could have
witnessed it; nothing could be more _anständig_, and little _Alice_
behaved extremely well. The _déjeuner_ was served in the Gallery, as
at dear Pussy's christening, and there being a profusion of flowers on
the table, etc., had a beautiful effect.
The King of Hanover arrived _just in time_ to be _too late_. He is
grown very old and excessively thin, and bends a good deal. He is very
gracious, for _him_. Pussy and _Bertie_ (as we call the boy) were
not at all afraid of him, _fortunately_; they appeared after the
_déjeuner_ on Friday, and I wish you could have seen them; they
behaved so beautifully before that great number of people, and I must
say looked _very dear_, all in white, and _very distingués_; they were
much admired.
We came here on Saturday. The news from Ireland continue to be very
alarming. Hoping to hear soon, for _certain_, when you come, believe
me, ever, your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
I hope you will _kindly answer_ my letter of _last Tuesday_.
[Pageheading: IRISH AFFAIRS]
_Sir Thomas Fremantle_[41] _to Sir Robert Peel._[42]
HOUSE OF COMMONS, _9th June (1843)._
MY DEAR SIR ROBERT,--The King of Hanover took his seat at twenty
minutes past four. He is now on the Woolsack with the Lord Chancellor,
the Duke of Wellington, and Lord Strangford; no other Peers are in the
House, the time of meeting being five o'clock.
It was not necessary that any other Peers should introduce His
Majesty. He merely produced his writ of summons, and went to the table
to be sworn. I remain, yours sincerely,
THOMAS FREMANTLE.
[Footnote 41: One of the Secretaries of the Treasury:
afterwards Lord Cottesloe.]
[Footnote 42: Forwarded to the Queen by Sir Robert Peel.]
_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert._
WHITEHALL, _11th June 1843._
(_Sunday._)
SIR,--In consequence of the conversation which I had with your Royal
Highness on Thursday last on the subject of Ireland, I beg to mention
to your Royal Highness that the Cabinet met again to-day at Lord
Aberdeen's house.
We had a very long discussion.
The prevailing opinion was that if legislation were proposed,[43] that
legislation should be as effectual as possible; that there would be
no advantage in seeking for new powers unless these powers were
commensurate with the full extent of the mischief to be apprehended.
Foreseeing, however, all the difficulties of procuring such powers,
and the increased excitement which must follow the demand for them,
we were unwilling to come to an immediate decision in favour of
recommending new legislation, and resolved therefore to watch the
course of events for some time longer, continuing precautionary
measures against disturbances of the public peace.
I have not received any material information from Ireland by the post
of this day, nor has Sir James Graham.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal
Highness's most faithful and humble Servant,
ROBERT PEEL.
[Footnote 43: In consequence of the Repeal agitation, the
Ministers had already introduced an Irish Arms Bill, which was
carried.]
[Pageheading: THE REBECCA RIOTS]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _22nd June 1843._
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He was
infinitely obliged to your Majesty for coming into the room the other
evening when he was with the Prince, and very much delighted to have
an opportunity of seeing your Majesty, especially in such good health
and spirits.
Lord Melbourne is very glad that your Majesty has seen _As you Like
It_. It is indeed a most gay, lively, and beautiful play. To see or to
read it is quite like passing an hour or two in a forest of fairyland.
It is so lively, and at the same time so romantic. All depends upon
Rosalind, which was an excellent part of Mrs. Jordan. Jaques is also a
very particular character and difficult to play.
Lord Melbourne feels himself better, but still weak. He does not like
to say much about politics, but he cannot refrain from observing that
they seem to him to have permitted these lawless riotings in South
Wales[44] to go on with success and impunity a great deal too long.
When such things begin nobody can say how far they will go or how
much they will spread. There are many who expect and predict a general
rising against property, and this is invariably the way in which such
things begin.
[Footnote 44: The agitation against the turnpike system which
had broken out in South Wales. _See_ Introductory Note, p.
450. (to Ch. XII)]