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

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This old Reverend Mother, the Abbess, was very infirm, and could not
get up from her chair, but she spoke very politely and ladylike to me
in French. She has been forty years in her present _situation_,
and comes from Bretagne. The chaplain of the Convent is also an old
Frenchman, and there are several other French nuns amongst them--one
who had been condemned to be guillotined in the Revolution, and was
set at liberty just at the moment the execution was to have taken
place. I should like to know whether these good nuns resumed again at
once their silence when I left them, or whether they were permitted to
talk over the events of that day.... Your most affectionately devoted
Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

[Footnote 98: Afterwards King George V. of Hanover. He married
Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, 18th February 1843.]

[Footnote 99: Princess Augusta of Cambridge. _See_ p. 434.
(Ch. XI, Footnote 93)]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ILLNESS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_1st November 1842._

... Many thanks for your most kind and amiable letter of the 28th,
which I received yesterday. The prospect of the possibility of dearest
Louise's spending some time with us _quite enchants_ us, and I hope
and trust that you will carry your plan into execution. Our plans,
which we only settled last night, are as follows:--the scarlet fever
is on the decrease at Brighton, but not sufficiently so to justify our
going there immediately; so we therefore intend going to Walmer with
the children, but a very reduced suite (as the house is considerably
smaller than Claremont), on the 10th, and to stay there till the 22nd
inst., when we shall go to Brighton and remain there till the 13th of
December. Now if dearest Louise would meet us there then, and
perhaps come back with us here for a little while _then_? Windsor is
_beautiful_ in December.

The news of Lord Melbourne, I am thankful to say, are _excellent_, and
he improves rapidly under Dr Holland's care, but his first seizure was
very alarming.[100] I shall not fail to convey your kind message to
this worthy friend of ours.

I am so pleased at your account of Nemours and poor Helene.
Tatane[101] is not your favourite, is he?

Lord Douglas's[102] marriage with Princess M. of Baden _is_ settled;
_I_ shall of course treat her as a Princess of Baden--I can't do
otherwise (it is like Aunt Sophie,[103] and Princess M. of Wuertemberg
who married Count Neipperg[104])--and him as Lord Douglas, which won't
please him.

I wish Clem's marriage was no longer a secret, now that it _is
settled_, as it is (forgive my saying it) really a fashion in our
family to have these _secrets de la comedie_, when one is almost
forced to tell a lie about what is true. I _own_ I dislike these
secrets; it was so with poor Marie and with Vecto. Now _adieu!_
dearest, kindest Uncle, and believe me, always, your most affectionate
Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 100: He had a paralytic seizure, and never regained
his former health or spirits.]

[Footnote 101: Duc de Montpensier.]

[Footnote 102: Afterwards eleventh Duke of Hamilton: he was
married to Princess Mary on 23rd February following.]

[Footnote 103: Sister of the Duchess of Kent and of the King
of the Belgians, and the wife of Count Mensdorff.]

[Footnote 104: Alfred, Count Neipperg, who died in 1865.]

[Pageheading: THE CROWN JEWELS]

[Pageheading: PROVISION FOR PRINCESS AUGUSTA]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _11th November 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
leave to acquaint your Majesty that he brought under the consideration
of your Majesty's servants the questions relating to certain of
the Crown Jewels, and the claim upon them preferred by the King of
Hanover.[105]

In the course of the discussion it appeared to Sir Robert Peel that
there were still some points in respect to this very embarrassing
question which required the grave consideration of legal authorities,
and that it would not be prudent to take any step, even that of
submitting the case to arbitration, without the highest legal
authority.

The submission to arbitration might avoid the evil (and a very great
one it would be) of public controversy in a Court of Justice, and of
public examination of members of the Royal Family on a matter partly
of a domestic nature; but on the other hand, great care must be taken
that by submitting the case to the award of arbitrators, even should
they be nominated altogether by your Majesty, we do not relinquish any
_fair_ advantage for the Crown of England which would have accompanied
an appeal to the regularly constituted tribunals of the country.

Your Majesty's Solicitor-General was employed as Counsel for the King
of Hanover, and it has been thought therefore advisable to make the
reference to the Attorney-General and to the Queen's Advocate.

Sir Robert Peel has attempted to bring every questionable point in the
case submitted to them under the consideration of your Majesty's law
advisers, and when their report shall be received he will not fail to
lay it before your Majesty.

Sir Robert Peel had a personal interview a few days since with His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, on the subject of a
public provision for the Princess Augusta on the occasion of her
marriage.[106]

Sir Robert Peel thought it advisable to enquire from the Duke of
Cambridge, as the impression of the public (of which His Royal
Highness is quite aware) is that he has a considerable fortune of his
own, independently of his annual allowance from Parliament.

The Duke of Cambridge seemed entirely to share the impressions of
Sir Robert Peel that in the present state of the country, and of the
public revenue, great caution is requisite in respect to the proposal
of a grant of public money as a marriage portion to the Princess
Augusta, and that it would be important that in any proposal to be
made there should be a general acquiescence on the part of the House
of Commons.

As the marriage is not to take place for some time it appears to Sir
Robert Peel that it might be advisable to postpone a decision, at
least in respect to the particular amount of any provision to be made,
till a period nearer to the meeting of Parliament.

A public intimation, or the public notoriety long beforehand of the
intention to propose a grant of public money might, in the present
temper of the times, interpose additional obstacles in the way of it.

Sir Robert Peel proposes to return to Drayton Manor for a short time,
and to leave London to-morrow morning.

[Footnote 105: The King claimed them on the ground that part
belonged to the Crown of Hanover, and part had been bequeathed
to him by Queen Charlotte. The matter was referred to a
Commission consisting of Lords Lyndhurst and Langdale, and
Chief Justice Tindal. The two former were divided in opinion,
and the Chief Justice died before the award was made. It was
not till 1857 that a final decision, substantially in favour
of Hanover, was given.]

[Footnote 106: See _ante_, p. 437.
(Ch XI, Footnote 99, 31st October, 1842)]

[Pageheading: SUCCESSES IN CHINA]

_Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _23rd November 1842._

Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, has the honour of submitting to
your Majesty an original despatch from Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh
Gough, received this morning, detailing the triumphant successes which
had crowned the exertions of your Majesty's Naval and Military forces
in China,[107] and of the completely satisfactory result in the
execution of a Treaty of Peace with the Emperor of China, upon terms
highly honourable to your Majesty and advantageous to this country.

Lord Stanley learns from Lord Fitzgerald that he is also forwarding to
your Majesty, by this messenger, the details which the same mail
has brought of the complete and triumphant issue of the campaign in
Afghanistan.

Lord Stanley trusts that he may be permitted to offer to your Majesty
his humble congratulations upon intelligence so glorious to British
Arms, and so important to British interests. It is difficult to
estimate the moral effect which these victories may produce, not
on Asia merely, but throughout Europe also. At the same moment your
Majesty has brought to a triumphant issue two gigantic operations,
one in the centre of Asia, the other in the heart of the hitherto
unapproachable Chinese Empire. In the former, past disasters have
been retrieved; a signal victory has been achieved on the very spot
memorable for former failure and massacre; the honour of the British
Arms has been signally vindicated; the interests of humanity have been
consulted by the rescue of the whole of the prisoners; and, after a
series of victories, the Governor-General of India is free, without
discredit, to enter upon measures of internal improvement, and having
established the supremacy of British power, to carry on henceforth a
more pacific policy.

In China a termination has been put to the effusion of blood by the
signature of a treaty which has placed your Majesty's dominions on a
footing never recognised in favour of any foreign Power--a footing
of perfect equality with the Chinese Empire; which has obtained large
indemnity for the past, and ample security for the future, and which
has opened to British enterprise the commerce of China to an extent
which it is almost impossible to anticipate. It may interest your
Majesty to hear that already enquiries are made in the City for
superintendents of ships to trade to _Ningpo direct_.

Lord Stanley has taken upon himself to give orders in your Majesty's
name for firing the Park and Tower guns in honour of these glorious
successes. A _Gazette_ extraordinary will be published to-morrow, the
voluminous nature of the despatches rendering it necessary to take
some time lest an important despatch should be omitted.

All which is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most dutiful Servant
and Subject,

STANLEY.

[Footnote 107: Chapoo was taken by Sir Hugh Gough in May: in
June the squadron, under Admiral William Parker, entered the
waters of the Yang-tze, captured Chin-kiang-fu, and were about
to attack Nanking, when the treaty was concluded, embracing
among other things a payment by the Chinese of 21,000,000
dollars, the cession of Hong Kong, and the opening of the
ports of Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai.]

[Pageheading: VICTORIES IN AFGHANISTAN]

_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria._

INDIA BOARD, _23rd November 1842._[108]

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave
most humbly to inform your Majesty that the despatches received from
the Governor-General of India announce the results of a series of most
brilliant exploits by the armies under Major-General Nott and General
Pollock in Afghanistan.

Each of those armies has achieved a glorious victory over superior
numbers of the enemy.

The city of Ghuznee has been captured, and its formidable fortress
utterly razed and destroyed.

The survivors of the British garrison, which had capitulated in the
spring of the year, and who had been reduced to slavery, have been
redeemed from bondage.

The splendid victory of General Pollock has been obtained over the
army commanded by Akbar Khan in person, on the very spot where the
greatest disaster had befallen the British Army on their retreat, and
where the last gun had been lost.

On the 16th of September, General Pollock entered Cabul with his
victorious troops and planted the Colours of your Majesty in the Bala
Hissar, on the spot most conspicuous from the city.

An extract from a letter from General Pollock to Lord Ellenborough,
dated at Cabul the 21st of September, gives the most gratifying
intelligence that _all_ the British prisoners, with the exception of
Captain Bygrave, have been rescued from Akbar Khan, and were expected
in the British camp on the 22nd of September.

An extract from a letter from General Pollock announcing the
redemption of the prisoners is also most humbly submitted to your
Majesty, by your Majesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant,

FITZGERALD AND VESCI.

[Footnote 108: The mail, which informed Ministers of the Chinese
success, also brought the news of the capture of Cabul. General
Nott (see _ante_, p. 402 (Ch XI, 'Sale and Pollock')) had by the
end of July completed his preparations, and marched upon Ghuznee,
having arranged to meet Pollock at Cabul, and having transferred
the Scinde command to General England. Nott was before Ghuznee
on 5th September, but at daylight on the 6th found it evacuated;
the citadel was destroyed by him and the Gates of Somnauth
removed, as directed by Lord Ellenborough. Pollock, to whose
discretion Ellenborough had entrusted the policy of advancing on
Cabul, secured supplies at Gundamuck, and on his advance met the
enemy in a strong position in the Jugdulluck Pass and dispersed
them; then at Tezeen, on 12th September, he was attacked by Akbar
Khan with 20,000 men. The Pass was forced, and the Afghans
retired to the Haft Kotal, where they were utterly defeated,
close to the scene of Elphinstone's disaster. Nott arrived at
Cabul on the day after Pollock.]

[Pageheading: AFFAIRS OF PORTUGAL]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

ARDENNE, _24th November 1842._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... I do not think, or I may say I am pretty
certain, because I have often seen Donna Maria's letters, they hardly
ever speak of politics, except just saying that they are surrounded by
such very sad people without honour or honesty. I am sure they are
not French at Lisbon beyond the kindly feelings which result from the
recollection of Donna Maria's stay at Paris. My constant advice has
been to look exclusively to the closest alliance with England, and
Ferdinand is now _well aware_ of it; but you know that the Liberal
party tried to even harm him by representing him as a _mere_ creature
of England. We live in odd times when really one very often thinks
people mad; their _uncontrouled_ passions do not develop
amiable feelings, but on the contrary everything that is bad and
unreasonable....

You are a very affectionate and kind Mamma, which is very
praiseworthy; may Heaven preserve your dear little children! Victoria
is very clever, and it will give you great pleasure to see the
development which takes place with children just at that time of life.
What you say of Ernest is unfortunately but too true; that trick of
exaggeration is one of the worst I almost know, and particularly in
people in high stations, as one finally knows not what to believe,
and it generally ends with people disbelieving all such individuals do
say.... Your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WALMER CASTLE, _25th November 1842._

The Queen wishes Sir Robert to consider, and at an _early_ period to
submit to her, his propositions as to how to recompense and how
to mark her high approbation of the admirable conduct of all those
meritorious persons who have by their strenuous endeavour, brought
about the recent brilliant successes in China and Afghanistan.

[Pageheading: MILITARY HONOURS]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WALMER CASTLE, _29th November 1842._

Approve of the G.C.B. given to--

Sir H. POTTINGER.
Sir W. PARKER.
GENERAL NOTT.
GENERAL POLLOCK.

Likewise of the proposed pension to Sir R. Sale, and the Baronetcy to
Sir Hugh Gough.

Thinks the latter very fit to succeed Sir Jasper Nicols[109] as
Commander-in-Chief in India.

Grants with pleasure the permission _to her troops_ engaged
in Afghanistan to accept and wear the four medals which the
Governor-General has had struck for the Indian Army, and hopes that
besides gratifying the troops, it will have the beneficial effect of
still further strengthening the good feeling existing between the two
armies. Were it not for this impression, the Queen would have thought
it more becoming that she herself should have rewarded her troops with
a medal than leaving it to the Governor-General.

[Footnote 109: Lieut.-General Sir Jasper Nicols (1778-1849),
created a K.C.B. for his services at Bhurtpore.]

[Pageheading: THE GATES OF SOMNAUTH]

_Lord Ellenborough to Queen Victoria._

SIMLA, _18th October 1842._

Lord Ellenborough, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, humbly
offers to your Majesty his congratulation on the entire success which
has attended the operations of the Fleet and Army under your Majesty's
direction in the Yantze-Kiang,[110] and submits to your Majesty
the general order which, on the receipt of the intelligence of that
success and of the peace concluded with the Emperor of China upon the
terms dictated by your Majesty, he issued to the Army of India.

Your Majesty will have observed that in the letter of the 4th of July
to Major-General Nott, that officer was instructed to bring away the
gates of the Temple of Somnauth, from the tomb of Mahmood of Ghuznee,
and the club of Mahmood also.

The club was no longer upon the tomb, and it seems to be doubtful
whether it was taken away by some person of Lord Keane's Army in 1839,
or by Shah Sooja, or whether it was hidden in order to prevent its
being taken away at that time.

The gates of the Temple of Somnauth have been brought away by
Major-General Nott.

These gates were taken to Ghuznee by Sultan Mahmood in the year 1024.
The tradition of the Invasion of India by Sultan Mahmood in that year,
and of the carrying away of the gates after the destruction of the
Temple, is still current in every part of India, and known to every
one. So earnest is the desire of the Hindoos and of all who are not
Mussulmans to recover the gates of the Temple, that when ten or twelve
years ago Runjeet Singh was making arrangements with Shah Sooja for
assisting him in the endeavour to recover his throne,[111] he wished
to make a stipulation that when Shah Sooja recovered his power he
should restore the gates to India, and Shah Sooja refused.

Lord Ellenborough transmits for your Majesty's information a copy of
the Address he intends to publish on announcing that the gates of the
Temple will be restored.[112]

The progress of the gates from Ferozepore to Somnauth will be one
great national triumph, and their restoration to India will endear the
Government to the whole people.[113]

[Footnote 110: See _ante_, p. 441, note 107.
(Ch. XI, 'Successes in China')]

[Footnote 111: See _ante_, p. 142. (Intro Note to Ch. VIII)]

[Footnote 112: "The insult of 800 years," he wrote in this
rather theatrical proclamation, "is at last avenged. The
gates of the temple of Somnauth, so long the memorial of your
humiliation, are become the proudest record of your national
glory.... You will yourselves, with all honour, transmit the
gates of sandal-wood, through your respective territories, to
the restored Temple of Somnauth."]

[Footnote 113: See _post_, pp. 463, 468, and 477.
(Ch. XII, Footnote 13; 10th March, 1843; 19th February, 1843)]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND SPAIN]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th December 1842._

DEAREST UNCLE,--I have to thank you for two most kind letters of the
5th and 8th. I can report very favourably of the healths of young and
old; we are all very flourishing, and have since yesterday perfectly
_May_ weather. Clear, dry frost would be wholesome.

Victoire gave me yesterday a much better account of poor little
Robert.[114]

In Portugal affairs seem quieted down, but Ferdinand is imprudent
enough to say to Mamma that he would be wretched to lose Dietz (very
naturally), and _would not be at all sorry to go away_. Now, this is
_folly_, and a most dangerous language to hold, as if he entertains
this, I fear the Portuguese will _some beau matin_ indulge him in his
wishes.

The news from Spain are better, but I must own frankly to you, that
_we are all disgusted_ at the _French intrigues_ which have _without
a doubt_ been at the bottom of it all, and can, I fear, be traced
very close to the Tuileries. Why attempt to ruin a country (which they
luckily _cannot succeed_ in) merely out of personal dislike to a man
who certainly has proved himself capable of keeping the country quiet,
and certainly is by far the _most honest_ Spaniard in existence,
whatever crimes or faults the French may choose to bring against him.
And what will be the effect of all this? A total dislike and mistrust
of France, and a still closer alliance with England. I have spoken
thus freely, as a repetition of last year's scenes is _too much_ to
remain silent, and as I have ever been privileged to tell you, dearest
Uncle, my feelings, and the truth.

Poor Lord Hill's death, though fully expected, will grieve you, as it
has grieved us.

I am much amused at what you say about Charles, and shall tell it him,
when I write to him. Believe me, always, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 114: The infant Duc de Chartres.]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th December 1842._

The Queen is very desirous that something should be done for Major
Malcolm[115] (who was the bearer of "the news of Victory and Peace"),
either by promotion in the Army or by any other distinction. He is a
very intelligent and well-informed officer, and has been employed
in China both in a Civil and Military capacity, and has made, and is
going to make again, a long journey at a very bad time of the year,
though suffering severely at this moment from ague.

[Footnote 115: In such cases it has been usual to confer some
distinction.]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1842._

The Queen thanks Sir Robert for his letter of the 23rd. She thinks
that Major Malcolm's going back to China the bearer of verbal
instructions as well as written ones will greatly facilitate the
matter and prevent misunderstandings, which at such a great distance
are mostly fatal. The Queen joins in Sir Robert's opinion, that before
coming to a final arrangement it will be most valuable to have Sir H.
Pottinger's opinion upon your present message, and thinks it much
the best that Sir H. should in the meantime be entrusted with
the _extraordinary_ full powers for concluding any provisional
arrangements, as she believes that very great confidence may be placed
in him. Lord Stanley's suggestions strike the Queen as very judicious
and calculated to facilitate the future Government of Hong-Kong.

The Queen hopes to hear more from Sir Robert when she sees him here,
which she hopes to do from Monday the 2nd to Wednesday the 4th.

[Pageheading: THE SCOTCH CHURCH]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

DRAYTON MANOR, _26th December 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and with
reference to enquiries made by your Majesty when Sir Robert Peel
was last at Windsor, on the subject of the Scotch Church and the
proceedings of the last General Assembly, begs leave to acquaint your
Majesty that the Moderator of the Assembly has recently addressed a
letter to Sir Robert Peel, requiring an answer to the demands urged by
the General Assembly in a document entitled a Protest and Declaration
of Right.[116]

The demands of the General Assembly amount to a reversal by Law of the
recent decisions of the Court of Session and of the House of Lords,
and to a repeal of the Act of Queen Anne, which establishes the Right
of Patronage in respect to Livings in the Church of Scotland.

That Act by no means gives any such absolute right of appointment
to the Crown or other patrons of Livings, as exists in England. It
enables those legally entitled to the patronage to present a clergyman
to the Living, but the Church Courts have the power, on valid
objections being made and duly sustained by the parishioners, to set
aside the presentation of the patron, and to require from him a new
nomination.

The Church, however, requires the absolute repeal of the Act of Anne.

An answer to the demands of the Church will now become requisite.

Sir James Graham has been in communication with the law advisers of
your Majesty in Scotland upon the legal questions involved in this
matter, and will shortly send for your Majesty's consideration the
draft of a proposed answer to the General Assembly.[117]

[Footnote 116: The famous Auchterarder case had decided that,
notwithstanding the vetoing by the congregation of the nominee
of the patron, the Presbytery must take him on trial if
qualified by life, learning, and doctrine,--in other words,
that the Act of Anne, subjecting the power of the Presbytery
to the control of the law courts, was not superseded by the
Veto Act, a declaration made by the General Assembly. In the
Strathbogie case, a minister had been nominated to Marnock,
and 261 out of 300 heads of families had objected to him. The
General Assembly having directed the Presbytery to reject him,
the civil court held that he must be taken on trial. Seven
members of the Presbytery obeyed the civil power, and the
General Assembly, on the motion of Dr Chalmers, deposed them
and declared their parishes vacant.]