The Letters of Queen Victoria, Volume 1 (of 3), 1837 to 1843)

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

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

VICTORIA R.

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

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

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

[Pageheading: CABINET DISSENSION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_10th February 1839._

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

[Footnote 14: The Chancellor of the Exchequer.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_10th February 1839._

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

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF LUCCA]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _20th February 1839._

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

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

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

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

STANHOPE STREET, _5th March 1839._

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

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

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

[Pageheading: PORTUGAL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_9th March 1839._

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

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

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _14th March 1839._

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

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

I have no time to add more, but to beg you to believe me, always, your
most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 18: Daughter of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, and
married in April 1840 to the Duc de Nemours.]

[Footnote 19: After a provisional Cabinet, in which the Duc de
Montebello was Foreign Minister, the King appointed a Ministry
with Soult as Premier and Foreign Minister.]

[Pageheading: DIFFICULTIES OF THE MINISTRY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_22nd March 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
acquaint your Majesty that the Cabinet have decided--

1. That it is impossible to acquiesce in the vote of last night in the
House of Lords.[20]

2. That it would not be justifiable to resign in the face of the
declaration which I made in the year 1836, in the House of Lords, that
I would maintain my post as long as I possessed the confidence of the
Crown and of the House of Commons, particularly as there is no reason
to suppose that we have lost the confidence of the House.

3. That the course to be pursued is to give notice in the House
of Commons to-night, that the sense of that House will be taken
immediately after the Easter Holidays, upon a vote of approbation of
the principles of Lord Normanby's government of Ireland.

If we lose that question, or carry it by a small majority, we must
resign. If we carry it, we may go on.

This is a plain statement of the case, and this course will at least
give your Majesty time to consider what is to be done.

[Footnote 20: By 63 to 58 Lord Roden carried a motion for a
Select Committee to enquire into the state of Ireland; the
Ministry replied by obtaining a vote of the House of Commons
in their favour by 318 to 296.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL,[21] _1st April 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has just
received your Majesty's letters, for which he returns many and warm
thanks. Nothing could be more prosperous than his journey down,
although it rained hard the greater part of the way. Lord Melbourne
slept well, and has walked out this morning, although it was still
showery. Nothing is so fatiguing as the first exposure to the air of
the country, and Lord Melbourne feels the influence of it.

Lord Melbourne returns the letters of the King of the Belgians. He
accounts very naturally for the conduct of the poor Duchess,[22] but
she should have recollected the extreme disadvantage and discredit
which attaches to a change of religion. _Un gentilhomme ne change
jamais la religion_, was the saying of Napoleon, and is very just. It
is difficult to understand the movements and motives of parties in a
foreign country, and therefore Lord Melbourne does not feel able to
pronounce any opinion upon the transactions in France. Lord Melbourne
had seen G----'s letters, a pert jackanapes, who always takes the
worst view of every subject, and does as much mischief as he can....

Lord Melbourne is just starting for Panshanger.[23] The evening is
better than the morning was, but cold.

[Footnote 21: Lord Melbourne's house on the Lea, about three
miles north of Hatfield. Its construction was begun by Sir
Matthew Lamb, and completed by his son, Sir Peniston, the
first Lord Melbourne.]

[Footnote 22: Princess Alexander of Wuertemberg. On her
death-bed, she had expressed a wish to her husband that he
should join the Roman Catholic Church.]

[Footnote 23: Panshanger, not far distant from Brocket, the
house of Lord Melbourne's brother-in-law, Lord Cowper, and
celebrated for its pictures, was bought by Lord Chancellor
Cowper, _temp._ Queen Anne.]

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND BELGIUM]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th April 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--... I regret to learn you are still not easy about
your own affairs, but trust all will now be speedily adjusted. You
always allow me, dear Uncle, to speak frankly to you; you will,
therefore, I hope, not be displeased if I venture to make a few
observations on one or two parts of your letter.

You say that the anger of the Belgians is principally directed against
England.[24] Now, I must say you are very unjust towards us, and (if
I could) I might be even a little angry with you, dear Uncle. We only
_pressed_ Belgium for her _own_ good, and _not_ for ours. It may seem
hard at first, but the time will come when you will see that we were
right in urging you not to delay any longer the signature of the
treaty.

I think that you will see in this frank expression of my sentiments no
wish to annoy or hurt you, but only an anxious desire to prove to you
that England is Belgium's sincere friend, and that my Government
are ever desirous of doing what is in their power for the welfare,
security, and prosperity of yourself and your kingdom.

I regret much the state of affairs in France,[25] which cannot but
make us all somewhat anxious; you will, I hope tell me what news you
hear from Paris.

Pray, dearest Uncle, receive my best, my very warmest, wishes for many
happy returns of dear Leopold's birthday, and also, though somewhat
late, for Philippe's birthday.

Give my love to my dear Aunt, and believe me, always, your most
devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 24: He had written on 5th April:--"The feeling is
strongest against England, in which the people expected to
see a support, and only found a strong determination to decide
_everything against them_ and at _their expense_. If there was
a great explosion in France, it would not be astonishing to
see the people here join it; it would rather be astonishing to
see it otherwise, after the kind treatment they received from
the Powers."]

[Footnote 25: The King was for a time without any Ministry,
and the meeting of the Chambers had to be postponed.]

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT IN ITALY]

_Baron Stockmar to Queen Victoria._

NAPLES, _16th April 1839._

MADAM,--As it is some time that I had the honour to address your
Majesty, I hope that a further account of our crusades will meet with
a favourable reception.

It is now somewhat better than a month that we left Florence, I may
say with regret, for we were there very comfortably in every respect.
On our route to Rome we enjoyed the beautiful sight of the cataract at
Terni, the place where Queen Caroline sojourned for some time. We were
particularly fortunate that day, as the brightest sunshine heightened
its picturesque effects beyond description. We found old Rome very
full, and to see it and its ecclesiastic governors to advantage, the
Holy Week is certainly the properest time. From morning to noon the
Prince was at seeing sights, and he made so good a use of his time,
that I don't think that something really remarkable was left unseen.
Upon this very principle, we paid our respects to the Holy Father,[26]
of which interview the Prince made so admirable a sketch, so very
worthy of H.B.,[27] that I am very much tempted to send it for the
inspection of your Majesty. We assisted at the Church ceremonies of
the Holy Week from the beginning to the end. The music of the Sistine
Chapel, which is only vocal, may be well considered as unique, and has
not failed to make a lasting impression upon a mind so musical as the
Prince's....

I never think of your Majesty--and I take the liberty of thinking
very frequently of you--without praying for health, serenity of mind,
comfort and success for you, and I can well say that I am from my
heart, your Majesty's sincerely attached and devoted Servant,

STOCKMAR.

[Footnote 26: Gregory XVI.]

[Footnote 27: Initials adopted by Mr Doyle, father of Richard
Doyle, in his _Reform Caricatures_.]

[Pageheading: BELGIUM]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

_19th April 1839._

... I am glad I extracted some spark of politics from your dear
Majesty, very _kindly_ and _nicely_ expressed. I know that your
generous little heart would not have wished at any time but what was
good for a country in which you were _much beloved_. But the fact is,
that certainly your Government have taken the lead in maintaining a
condition which time had rendered difficult to comply with. Physicians
will tell you that often an operation, which might have been performed
at one time, could not, without great danger for the patient, be
undertaken some years later. We have not been listened to, and
arrangements _are forced_ on us, in themselves full of seeds of
danger, when by consulting the _real interests_ of Holland and
Belgium, both countries might have been placed on a footing of
_sincere peace_ and good neighbourhood. This country feels now humbled
and _desenchante_ with its _soi-disant_ political independence as it
pleased the Conference to settle it. They will take a dislike to a
political state which _wounds their vanity_, and will, in consequence
of this, _not wish it to continue_. Two things will happen, therefore,
on the very first opportunity, either that this country will
be involved in war to better a position which it thinks _too
humiliating_, or that it will voluntarily throw up a nominal
independence in which it is now hemmed in between France and Holland,
which begins on the North Sea, and ends, of all the things in this
world, on _the Moselle_!

I think old Pirson, who said in the Chamber that if the treaty was
carried into execution I was likely to be the first and last King
of the country, was not wrong. Whenever this will happen, it will be
_very awkward_ for England, and _deservedly so_. To see, after eight
years of hard work, blooming and thriving political plantations cut
and maimed, and that by those who have a real interest to protect
them, is very melancholy. I do not say these things with the most
distant idea of bringing about any change, but only because in the
high and very responsible position in which Providence has placed
you, it is good to tell you the truth, as you ought to have weight
and influence on the affairs of Europe; and England, not being in
the possibility of making territorial acquisition, has a real and
permanent interest in the proper maintenance of a balance of political
power in Europe. Now I will leave you to enjoy the beginning of
Spring, which a mild rain seems to push on prodigiously. Believe me
ever, my dear Victoria, your very attached Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: JAMAICA]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_26th April 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to
inform your Majesty that the result of the Cabinet has been a decision
to stand by the Bill as we have introduced it, and not to accede to
Sir Robert Peel's proposal. The Bill is for suspending the functions
of the Legislative Assembly of Jamaica, and governing that island for
five years by a Governor and Council.[28] If Sir Robert Peel should
persist in his proposal, and a majority of the House of Commons should
concur with him, it will be such a mark of want of confidence as it
will be impossible for your Majesty's Government to submit to.

[Footnote 28: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. ( to Ch. VIII)]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _30th April 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I have to thank you for your last letter, which
I received on Sunday. Though you seem not to dislike my political
sparks, I think it is better not to increase them, as they might
finally take fire, particularly as I see with regret that upon this
one subject we cannot agree. I shall therefore limit myself to my
expressions of very sincere wishes for the welfare and prosperity of
Belgium.

The Grand Duke,[29] after a long delay, is at length to arrive on
Friday night; I shall put myself out of my way in order to be very
civil to such a great personage. I am already thinking how I shall
lodge all my relations; you must prepare Uncle Ferdinand for its not
being _very ample_, but this Palace, though large, is not calculated
to hold many visitors....

Believe me, always, your very affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 29: The Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia, afterwards
the Emperor Alexander II.]

[Pageheading: MINISTERIAL CRISIS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_7th May 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has to
acquaint your Majesty that the division upon the Jamaica Bill, which
took place about two this morning, was two hundred and ninety-nine
against the measure, and three hundred and four in favour of it.[30]
Lord Melbourne has not heard from Lord John Russell since this event,
but a Cabinet will of course be summoned early this morning, and Lord
Melbourne cannot conceal from your Majesty that in his opinion the
determination of the Cabinet must be that the relative numbers upon
this vote, joined to the consideration of no less than nine members
of those who have hitherto invariably supported the Government having
gone against it now, leave your Majesty's confidential servants no
alternative but to resign their offices into your Majesty's hands.
They cannot give up the Bill either with honour or satisfaction to
their own consciences, and in the face of such an opposition they
cannot persevere in it with any hope of success. Lord Melbourne
is certain that your Majesty will not deem him too presuming if
he expresses his fear that this decision will be both painful and
embarrassing to your Majesty, but your Majesty will meet this crisis
with that firmness which belongs to your character, and with that
rectitude and sincerity which will carry your Majesty through all
difficulties. It will also be greatly painful to Lord Melbourne to
quit the service of a Mistress who has treated him with such unvarying
kindness and unlimited confidence; but in whatever station he may be
placed, he will always feel the deepest anxiety for your Majesty's
interests and happiness, and will do the utmost in his power to
promote and secure them.

[Footnote 30: The numbers are apparently incorrectly stated.
The division was 294 to 289.]

[Pageheading: RESIGNATION IMMINENT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_7th May 1839._

The present circumstances have been for some time so probable, or
rather so certain, that Lord Melbourne has naturally been led to weigh
and consider maturely the advice which, if called upon, he should
tender to your Majesty when they did arrive. That advice is, at once
to send for the Duke of Wellington. Your Majesty appears to Lord
Melbourne to have no other alternative. The Radicals have neither
ability, honesty, nor numbers. They have no leaders of any character.
Lord Durham was raised, one hardly knows how, into something of a
factitious importance by his own extreme opinions, by the panegyrics
of those who thought he would serve them as an instrument, and by the
management of the Press, but any little public reputation which he
might once have acquired has been entirely dissipated and destroyed by
the continued folly of his conduct in his Canadian Government. There
is no party in the State to which your Majesty can now resort, except
that great party which calls itself Conservative, and of that party,
his rank, station, reputation, and experience point out the Duke of
Wellington as the person to whom your Majesty should apply.

Lord Melbourne therefore advises that your Majesty should send for the
Duke of Wellington, and should acquaint him, provided your Majesty so
feels, that you were entirely satisfied with your late Government, and
that you part from them with reluctance; but that as he and the party
of which he is the head have been the means of removing them from
office, you naturally look to him to advise you as to the means of
supplying their places and carrying on the business of the country.

If the Duke should be unwilling to form the Government himself, and
should desire to devolve the task upon Sir Robert Peel, Lord Melbourne
would advise your Majesty to accede to that suggestion; but Lord
Melbourne would counsel your Majesty to be very unwilling to suffer
the Government to be formed by Sir Robert Peel, without the active
assistance in office of the Duke of Wellington.

With respect both to measures and appointments, your Majesty should
place the fullest confidence in those to whom you entrust the
management of affairs, exercising at the same time, and fully
expressing, your own judgment upon both.

Your Majesty will do well to be from the beginning very vigilant that
all measures and all appointments are stated to your Majesty in the
first instance, and your Majesty's pleasure taken thereon previously
to any instruments being drawn out for carrying them into effect, and
submitted to your Majesty's signature. It is the more necessary to be
watchful and active in this respect, as the extreme confidence which
your Majesty has reposed in me may have led to some omission at times
of these most necessary preliminaries.

The patronage of the Lord Chamberlain's Department is of the greatest
importance, and may be made to conduce at once to the beneficial
influence of the Crown, and to the elevation and encouragement of the
professions of the Church and of Medicine. This patronage, by being
left to the uncontrolled exercise of successive Lord Chamberlains, has
been administered not only wastefully but perniciously. The physicians
to the late King were many of them men of little eminence; the
chaplains are still a sorry set. Your Majesty should insist with the
new Ministers that this patronage should be disposed of, not by the
Lord Chamberlain, but, as it has hitherto been during your Majesty's
reign, by your Majesty upon consultation with your Prime Minister.

[Pageheading: DISTRESS OF THE QUEEN]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1839._

The Queen thinks Lord Melbourne may possibly wish to know how she
is this morning; the Queen is somewhat calmer; she was in a wretched
state till nine o'clock last night, when she tried to occupy herself
and try to think less gloomily of this dreadful change, and she
succeeded in calming herself till she went to bed at twelve, and she
slept well; but on waking this morning, all--all that had happened
in one short eventful day came most forcibly to her mind, and brought
back her grief; the Queen, however, feels better now; but she couldn't
touch a morsel of food last night, nor can she this morning. The Queen
trusts Lord Melbourne slept well, and is well this morning; and that
he will come precisely at eleven o'clock. The Queen has received no
answer from the Duke, which is very odd, for she knows he got her
letter. The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne received her letter last night.