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

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[Footnote 117: Sir James Graham's letter is printed in the
Annual Register for 1843. A petition in answer was drawn by
the Assembly and presented to Parliament by Mr Fox Maule.
After the debate on it in the Commons, preparations were
made throughout Scotland for the secession of the
non-intrusionists, as they were called, which event took
place on 18th May 1843, when about 500 Ministers, headed by
Chalmers, seceded from the Old Kirk, and founded the Free
Church.]

[Pageheading: A SERIOUS CRISIS]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

DRAYTON MANOR, _30th December 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and rejoices
to hear that your Majesty approved of the letter which, with your
Majesty's sanction, James Graham proposes to write to the Moderator of
the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Sir Robert Peel fears that there is too much ground for the
apprehensions expressed by your Majesty in respect to future
embarrassment arising out of the position of the Church Question in
Scotland.

Sir Robert Peel saw yesterday a letter addressed by Dr
Abercrombie,[118] the eminent physician in Edinburgh, to Sir George
Sinclair,[119] declaring his conviction that the Secession of
Ministers from their Livings would take place to _a very great
extent_--would comprise very many of the Ministers most distinguished
for learning and professional character, and would meet with very
general support among their congregations.

Sir Robert Peel has little doubt that a serious crisis in the History
of the Church of Scotland is at hand, and that the result of it will
be greatly to be lamented; but still he could not advise your Majesty
to seek to avert it by the acquiescence in demands amounting to the
abrogation of important civil rights and to the establishment
in Scotland of an ecclesiastical domination independent of all
control....

He is very confident that your Majesty will feel that in the present
state of the controversy with the Church of Scotland, there is
peculiar reason for taking the greatest care that every minister
presented to a Crown Living should be not only above exception, but
should, if possible, be pre-eminently distinguished for his fitness
for a pastoral charge.

[Footnote 118: John Abercrombie (1780-1844), one of the chief
consulting physicians in Scotland, and a great medical writer.
He left the Established Church.]

[Footnote 119: Sir George Sinclair (1790-1868), M.P. for
Caithness-shire, was a supporter of the Anti-Patronage
Society, and joined the Free Church.]

[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _30th December 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has been
much delighted this morning by receiving your Majesty's letter of
the 28th. He was the more gratified, as he had begun to be a little
annoyed at being such a very long time without hearing from your
Majesty.

Lord Mahon has sent Lord Melbourne his book.[120] Lord Melbourne has
not yet read it, but he has read the review of it in the _Quarterly_,
which seems to be a sort of abstract or abridgment of the book.
The effect of writing it in French has naturally been to direct all
attention and criticism from the merits of the work to the faults of
the French. People who have read the work speak of it as entertaining,
and the times are curious and interesting. The characters engaged in
them, striking and remarkable. Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear
that Pottinger's conduct is so universally approved. He always
appeared to Lord Melbourne to be a man of great ability, resolution
and discretion, and Lord Melbourne much rejoices that he has turned
out so.

Hallam's opinions Lord Melbourne believes to be in general sound,
and such as have been held and approved by the most able and
constitutional statesmen in this country.

Lord Melbourne is much rejoiced to hear of the Princess and the Prince
of Wales, and also that your Majesty is pursuing your studies quietly,
cheerfully, and happily.

Lord Melbourne is very sensible of the interest which the Baron takes
in his health and which he warmly reciprocates. There is no man whom
he esteems more, nor of whose head and heart he has a better opinion.

We expect here to-morrow the Duchess of Sutherland[121] and Lady
Elizabeth Gower,[122] who have been kind enough to propose to pay Lord
Melbourne a visit.

[Footnote 120: _Essai sur la vie du grand Conde_, afterwards
published in English.]

[Footnote 121: Formerly Mistress of the Robes.]

[Footnote 122: Afterwards Duchess of Argyll.]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XII

Repeated debates took place during the year (1843) on the Corn Laws,
the agitation against them steadily growing, Mr Cobden coming on one
occasion into violent conflict with the Premier. The events of
the previous year in Afghanistan were also the subject of constant
discussion in Parliament. A movement of some importance took place in
Wales in opposition to the increasing number of toll-bars, bands
of rioters dressed in women's clothes and known as "Rebecca and her
daughters," demolishing the gates and committing acts of greater or
less violence. A verse in Genesis (xxiv. 60) fancifully applied gave
rise to this name and disguise.

In Scotland the system of private patronage in the Established Kirk
had become very unpopular, the Act of Anne in favour of the nomination
by lay patrons, and the control given to the Law Courts over the
revising action of the Presbytery being ultimately modified by a
declaration of the General Assembly known as the Veto Act. But it
was decided in what was called the Strathbogie case that the veto was
illusory, the disruption of the old Kirk followed, and on 18th May Dr
Chalmers and five hundred other ministers seceded from it in order to
form the Free Church.

In Ireland the agitation for Repeal was at its height. O'Connell,
supported by the _Nation_ newspaper, founded a Repeal Association in
Dublin, and monster meetings were held on Sundays on some conspicuous
spot of free and historic associations to claim the re-establishment
of a Parliament on College Green. It was believed that a quarter of
a million people were present on one occasion, and the Government,
alarmed at the absolute power wielded by O'Connell over these huge
bodies of men, resolved to prohibit the meetings, and somewhat tardily
issued a Proclamation against that announced for Clontarf on 8th
October. O'Connell accordingly disbanded the meeting, but his action
did not please his more zealous supporters, and his ascendency came
to an end. The agitation collapsed and the principal actors were
arrested.

A military duel fought in the summer of this year, in which a colonel
in the Army was shot by his brother-in-law, made the code of honour
existing on the subject a burning question, the criminal law of
homicide being the same then as now. On Prince Albert's suggestion,
the question was taken up by the heads of the Army and Navy, and the
Articles of War were in the following year amended so as to admit of
an apology and a tender of redress.

The better feeling existing between this country and France enabled
the Queen and Prince to visit Louis Philippe at the Chateau d'Eu.

CHAPTER XII

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 Therese, 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 L750 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.