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

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[Footnote 22: Chief Secretary for Ireland.]

[Footnote 23: John Henry, first Viscount, formerly M.P. for
Bury St Edmunds.]

[Footnote 24: Sir John Cam Hobhouse, a Radical, and a friend
of Byron, at whose wedding he acted as best man; he was
imprisoned in 1819 for breach of privilege. He was elected
M.P. for Westminster in 1820 as Burdett's colleague, and
afterwards for Nottingham and Harwich. Commissioner of Woods
and Forests (the old Houses of Parliament being burned down
during his term of office), and later President of Board of
Control. Created Lord Broughton, 1851.]

[Footnote 25: Stephen Lushington, advocate in the old
Ecclesiastical Court, M.P. for Ilchester and the Tower
Hamlets, and a Judge in the Ecclesiastical and Admiralty
Courts from 1828 to 1867.]

[Footnote 26: Stephen Woulfe, M.P. for Carlisle,
Solicitor-General, and subsequently Attorney-General, for
Ireland, becoming Chief Baron in 1838.]

[Footnote 27: On 10th March a heated debate took place in the
French Chamber on the question of the Queen of the Belgians'
dowry, a Deputy calling for the production of King Louis
Philippe's rent-roll, and a complete statement of his income.]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _31st March 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--Your dear letter of the 28th gave me the greatest
pleasure. I was sure from your constant affection for us that you
would feel much interested in the event of the 24th. It was a moment
of some anxiety, but all passed over very well. Your Aunt is going
on very well, and the little cousin[28] also. He is smaller than his
brother was, but promises to be like him; the features are much the
same, the shape of the forehead and mouth. The elder Prince was
much interested about his _frere_, and anxious to see him; at first,
however, he declared after a long contemplation, "_pas beau frere!_"
Now he thinks better of him, but makes a very odd little face when he
sees him. The name of the little one will be Philippe Eugene Ferdinand
Marie Clement Baudouin (Baldwin)--a name of the old Counts of
Flanders--Leopold Georges. My Aunt, who is his godmother, wished
he should be called Philippe in honour of his grandfather, and
as Philippe _le Bon_ was one of the most powerful Princes of this
country, I gave him the name with pleasure. Eugene is her own name,
Ferdinand that of Chartres, Marie of the Queen and also of Princess
Marie, Clement of Princess Clementine; Leopold your Aunt wished, and
George in honour of St George of England and of George IV. Probably I
shall hereafter give to Leopold the title of Duke of Brabant, and to
Philippe that of Count of Flanders, both fine old titles.

[Footnote 28: Philippe, second son of King Leopold, afterwards
Count of Flanders. He died in 1905.]

[Pageheading: PRESS COMMENTS]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _7th April 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--... You have been the subject of all sorts of
newspaper paragraphs; your good and sensible way of looking on these
very creditable productions _will be of use to you_. If the press says
useful things, and makes observations which merit attention, there
is no doubt that sometimes, though God knows very rarely, something
useful may be gleaned from them. But when you see its present state,
when the one side says black and the other white, when the opposite
political characters are treated by their respective antagonists as
rogues, fools, blockheads, wretches, and all the other names in which
the English political dictionary is so _very rich_, one stands like
the ass, between two bundles of hay, considerably embarrassed which
ought to be chosen....

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S ESTABLISHMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _11th April 1837._

... As I believe the visit at Windsor is fixed for the 15th, I hope
this letter will arrive in time. Perhaps the King will speak to you
about the necessity of forming you an establishment.[29]... Your
position, having a Mother with whom you very naturally remain, would
render a _complete_ independent establishment perhaps matter of _real_
inconvenience; still something like that which Charlotte had will
become desirable. My idea, if it meets with your approbation, would
be this: The Duchess of Northumberland would remain your first Lady,
Baroness Lehzen would fill a position similar to that of Mrs Campbell,
who had been Charlotte's governess in her younger days, and the
Dean[30] would step into the position which good Dr Short[31] held.
An Equerry, I do not think--as you will not go out without your
Mother--you would require. On the other hand, it may become matter
of examination if you will perhaps like to have some young ladies
attendants in the style of Lady Catherine Jenkinson;[32] should this
be your wish, it would become necessary to make very good choices,
else perhaps you would derive more trouble than comfort from the
arrangement; _cela va sans dire_, that the choice could only be
made by yourself, and that nobody should be given you _against_ your
wishes. Should the King speak to you on the subject, I would at once
express this my wish if you should approve some such arrangement,
and beg him to let _you choose_. Resist mildly but _positively_ any
nomination of a Gentleman other than the Dean; it is highly probable
that any other would be put about you as a spy, and turn out at all
events a great bore, which is better avoided....

I received a messenger from Coburg. I enclose the letters and also
a packet with fans. Ever, my beloved child, your faithfully attached
Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 29: The Princess was to attain her legal majority on
24th May.]

[Footnote 30: George Davys, the Princess Victoria's
instructor, Dean of Chester, and afterwards Bishop of
Peterborough.]

[Footnote 31: Thomas Vowler Short, Rector of St George's,
Bloomsbury, appointed in 1841 Bishop of Sodor and Man.]

[Footnote 32: Lady Catherine Jenkinson, daughter of the Earl
of Liverpool, soon after the Queen's accession married Colonel
Francis Vernon Harcourt.]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_12th April 1837._

... What you say about the newspapers is very true and very
flattering. They are indeed a curious compound of truth and untruth. I
am so used to newspaper nonsense and attacks that I do not mind it in
the least....

How happy I am that that beloved Aunt is going on so well and does not
suffer from the cold, as also the _jeune Philippe_. Leopold must
be great fun with his Aunt Marie;[33] does he still say "_pas beau
frere!_" or is he more reconciled to his brother? It is very noble in
the Duc de Nemours to have thus given up his _apanage_;[34] I am sorry
there were such difficulties about it. There is no Ministry formed
yet, I see by the papers.

[Footnote 33: Princess Marie of Orleans, born 1813, daughter
of King Louis Philippe, and thus sister to the Queen of the
Belgians.]

[Footnote 34: This grant was surrendered in order that due
provision might be made by the Legislature for the elder
brother, the Duke of Orleans, on the occasion of his marriage
with the Princess Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.]

[Pageheading: THE IRISH MUNICIPAL BILL]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_28th April 1837._

MY MOST BELOVED UNCLE,--.... Sir Henry Hardinge's[35] motion was quite
lost, I am happy to say, and don't you think, dearest Uncle, that
it has almost done good, as it proves that the Tories have lost all
chance of getting in? It was a trial of strength, and the Ministry
have triumphed. I have been reading in the papers, what I suppose you
already know, that it is believed that the Lords _will_ pass the Irish
Corporation Bill;[36] and also that Ministers mean to drop for the
present the question about Church Rates,[37] as the Radicals, being
angry with Ministers relative to the Canada business, would not
support them well.

[Footnote 35: On a motion for going into supply, Sir H.
Hardinge proposed an amendment censuring the Government for
the authorisation of the raising of a force of Volunteers to
assist the Spanish Government, and for the method in which
that force had been organised. The amendment was lost by a
majority of 36, on 19th April.]

[Footnote 36: The Irish Municipal Bill, to convert
Corporations of Municipalities into Electoral Councils, was
introduced in the House of Commons on the 15th of February.
The Bill was opposed by the Conservatives, but passed the
House of Commons. In the Lords an amendment of Lyndhurst's
struck out the constructive clauses, and the Act became, on
the 18th of May, an Act for the Abolition of Municipalities
in Ireland. Lord John Russell brought forward a motion to
reconstruct the Bill. But the Peers declined to pass it, and
it was postponed.]

[Footnote 37: As Ministers only obtained a majority of 5 in a
house of 569, the measure was dropped.]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _28th April 1837._

... I hope you occupy yourself with the several great questions which
agitate parties. I think a good mode will be to talk concerning them
sometimes with the Dean. He is a good moderate man, and still well
able to give you sufficient information. From conversation with clever
people, such as dine sometimes with you, much may be very usefully
gathered, and you will do well to attend to this. I am no enemy to
this way of instruction, and have seen people who were sharp enough
to profit wonderfully by it. You hear in this way the opinions of a
variety of persons, and it rests with your own good sense to classify
and appreciate them....

[Pageheading: MINISTERIAL ANXIETY]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_2nd May 1837._

... You may depend upon it that I shall profit by your excellent
advice respecting Politics. Pray, dear Uncle, have you read Lord
Palmerston's speech concerning the Spanish affairs,[38] which he
delivered the night of the division on Sir Henry Hardinge's motion? It
is much admired. The Irish Tithes question came on last night in the
House of Commons,[39] and I am very anxious for the morning papers,
to see what has been done. Lord Melbourne looks remarkably well, Lord
Palmerston not very well, and as for poor little Lord John Russell,
he is only a shadow of himself. It must be dreadfully fagging work for
them; they sit so very late too, for when the Spanish question came
on, the division only took place at four o'clock in the morning, and I
saw them at the Drawing-Room the same day afterwards....

[Footnote 38: Lord Palmerston indignantly asked whether
England should continue to fulfil her engagement with the
Queen of Spain, or disgracefully abandon an ally whom she had
pledged herself to succour.]

[Footnote 39: The Irish Tithe Bill, a measure to facilitate
the collection of tithes, was abandoned because the Tories
would not consent to any secular appropriation of Church
revenues, and the Whigs would not consent to the withdrawal
of their amendments. A remarkable feature in the Bill was a
proposal that a portion of every clergyman's income should be
applied to education, as was already prescribed by a former
Act.]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_9th May 1837._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--It was very kind of you to write to me from your
new chateau; I hardly ventured to hope for my usual letter, and yet I
should have been much disappointed had I not received it. I am sorry
that the house is so bad, but hope you will have found a good position
for a new one....

Pray, dearest Uncle, may I ask such an indiscreet question as, if
Major Stroekens is a clever man; he was so nervous and embarrassed
when he came here, that I could not make him out. He brought me a very
nice letter from Donna Maria.

I am anxiously waiting to hear the issue of the battle between
the Carlists and Christinos, which is, they say, to decide a great
deal.[40]

Now farewell, dearest Uncle. I beg my affectionate love to my dear
Aunt, and my most respectful _hommages_ to the Members of the Family
with you. Believe me, always, your affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA.

Old Pozzo[41] dined here last Wednesday, and he gave me a long, I
must say clever, dissertation about the state of France, during
dinner-time.

[Footnote 40: After an obstinate investment by the Carlists,
Espartero had relieved Bilbao on Christmas Day, 1836. The
Christino commanders then began to concert a combined
movement on the Carlist lines, which stretched from Irun to
Villafranca.]

[Footnote 41: Count Pozzo di Borgo (1764-1842), Russian
Ambassador. By birth a Corsican and a devoted patriot, he was
a life-long opponent of Napoleon and his designs. He entered
the Russian diplomatic service in 1803, and after Waterloo
became Russian Ambassador in Paris. He was Ambassador in
London for two years, when his health gave way.]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S ESTABLISHMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _25th May 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--You have had some battles and difficulties of which
I am completely in the dark. The thing I am most curious to learn
is what the King proposed to you concerning your establishment....
I shall reserve my opinion till I am better informed, but by what
I heard I did not approve of it, because I thought it ill-timed.
Stockmar will be able to do much. Two things seem necessary; not to be
fettered by any establishment other than what will be _comfortable
to you_, and then to avoid any breach with your mother. I have
fully instructed Stockmar, and I must say he left me in such good
disposition that I think he will be able to be of great use to you.
The great thing is to act without precipitation and with caution. The
King seems better again. I am very curious to know what he proposed;
you will have it in your power to modify his proposition, as it is
difficult your _approbation_ should be dispensed with; it would be a
great fault in your situation to _submit_ to this.... They seemed to
think the King dying, which does not appear to be the case. Be steady,
my good child, and _not_ put out by _anything_; as long as I live _you
will not want a faithful friend and supporter_....

Here your somewhat curious little soul has at least the outlines of
things....

_26th._--I received yesterday the whole of the papers concerning the
King's propositions.[42] I approve your letter to the King, as it
is amiable and generous, and this in your position will always tell
favourably. I think that if _he_ is well advised he will chiefly
consult _your wishes_. This is the footing on which you must place
matters. It is not worth while to be told that one is in some sort
of age when the consequence is that you are not consulted in what
concerns you most personally. Avoid in future to say much about
your great _youth_ and _inexperience_. Who made the letter? Was it
yourself, or came it from your Mother? You have now the Baron at your
elbow, and even your Mother was most anxious for his arrival. _Speak
sometimes with him_; it is necessary to accustom you to the thing.

About the King's health.[43] I am doubtful what to think. We have
foreseen the case and treated it formerly. The great thing would be to
make no change, to keep Ministers and everything as it is, and to gain
time; in this way _no one is hurt and no amour-propre blesse_.
For this reason I lean to your keeping, to begin with, Sir Herbert
Taylor[44] for your _official_ secretary, though I am not quite
_decided_ on the subject. He knows the manner in which the _daily
business_ is carried on; this is important. I believe him, and have
found him to be an honest man, that would do for State matters; it
would not be required that he should be your _confidential_ adviser.
Now I conclude, and send you this letter through Stockmar. My best
regards to Lehzen. Ever your faithful Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 42: The King had offered the Princess an
establishment of L10,000 a year, independent of her mother.
This was accepted, to the great vexation of the Duchess of
Kent, but the arrangement was not carried into effect.]

[Footnote 43: King William's health was at this time causing
much anxiety.]

[Footnote 44: Private Secretary to King William IV.]

[Pageheading: BIRTHDAY REJOICINGS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_26th May 1837._

... The demonstrations of affection and kindness from all sides
towards me on my birthday, were most gratifying. The parks and streets
were crowded all day as though something very extraordinary had
happened. Yesterday I received twenty-two Addresses from various
places, all very pretty and loyal; one in particular was very well
written which was presented by Mr. Attwood[45] from the Political
Union at Birmingham.

I am delighted to hear Stockmar is at length arrived; he reached
London on Wednesday, and we shall see him to-day.

How distressed I am that poor dear Ernest[46] has been so ill! Thank
God! that he is now better.

The Spanish affairs have turned out better than you had expected; the
triumphant capture of Irun[47] was a great thing for the Christinos.

The King is much better.

[Footnote 45: Thomas Attwood founded in 1829 the Birmingham Political
Union, which helped to pass the Reform Act. Previously he had been
known for his opposition to the Orders in Council, and the resumption
of cash payments. Birmingham elected him without opposition in 1832,
and he sat till 1840.]

[Footnote 46: Prince Ernest of Saxe-Coburg.]

[Footnote 47: The frontier town of Spain, near St Sebastian,
captured, 16th May, by the Christinos, supported by British
troops.]

[Pageheading: ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

TUILERIES, _7th June 1837._

... The _entree_[48] last Sunday was something remarkably splendid; we
saw it from the Tuileries, as we had nothing to do with the business
itself, and your Aunt's rank would have clashed with that of the
Duchess of Orleans. The effect of all this on the people of this great
town has been _very great_, and evidently much ground has been solidly
regained. The King, getting out of that sort of confinement in which
it was necessary to keep, has gained much in personal comfort, and
also in a political point of view; because to have a King who cannot
show himself without being shot at, is a state of society which lowers
his authority....

For the present the best plan is to continue to act as you have
done hitherto; to avoid quarrels, but also to stick _firmly to your
resolution when once_ taken. The violence which is sometimes shown is
so well known to you, you know also so well that you have nothing
to fear from these people, that _you must keep up your usual cool
spirit_, whatever may be tried in the House to _teaze you out of it_.
I mean to wait some more detailed accounts of what is going on in
England before I give my opinion on what ought to be done in the case
that the King's disease should take a more fatal turn.

As I told you before, however, when we treated this subject verbally
and in writing, I believe it to be your interest to act very mildly,
_to begin by taking everything as the King leaves it_. By this system
you avoid disappointing those whose hopes may remain unchanged, as
your own choices, as it were, are not yet made. Parties, which at
present are so nearly balanced, remain _in statu quo_, and you gain
time.

I must conclude now this letter. My winding up is, keep your mind
_cool_ and _easy_; be _not alarmed_ at the prospect of becoming
perhaps sooner than you expected Queen; aid will not be wanting, and
the great thing is that you should have some honest people about you
who have your welfare _really at heart_. Stockmar will be in this
respect all we can wish, and we must hope that _useful_ occupation
will prevent his health from suffering. Now once more God bless you.
Ever, my dear child, your faithful Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 48: The entry into Paris of the Duke and Duchess of
Orleans, who had been married at Fontainebleau on May 30th.]

[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION IMMINENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _15th June 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--I hope that to-day will not pass over without
bringing me a letter from you. In the meantime I will begin this
epistle, which will go by a messenger of my own to-morrow. In every
letter I shall write to you I mean to repeat to you, as a _fundamental
rule_, _to be courageous, firm and honest, as you have been till now_.
You may count upon my faithful good offices in all difficulties,
and you have at your command Stockmar, whose _judgment_, _heart_, and
_character_ offer all the guarantees we can wish for. I wish nothing
but to see you _happy and prosperous_, and by Sunday I shall probably
write you a long letter, which will enter into details about most
things.

My object is that you should be no one's _tool_, and though young, and
naturally not yet experienced, your good natural sense and the _truth_
of your character will, with faithful and proper advice, get you very
well through the difficulties of your future position, should it be
the will of Providence to take the King from this earthly life. Of his
real position I am still not quite able to judge, there being so much
contradictory in the reports. Be this as it may, the great thing for
you is, not to be hurried into important measures, and to _gain time_.
A new reign is always a time of hope; everybody is disposed to see
something for his own wishes and prospects. The policy of a new
Sovereign must therefore be to act in such a manner as to hurt as
little as possible the _amour-propre_ of people, to let circumstances
and the force of things bring about the disappointments which no human
power could prevent coming sooner or later: that they should come as
_late_ as possible is in your interest. Should anything happen to the
King before I can enter more fully into the necessary details, limit
yourself to _taking kindly_ and in a _friendly_ manner the present
Administration into your service. They are _naturally friendly to your
interests_, _as you are in fact the only possible Sovereign of the
whole family_, with the exception of the Duke of Sussex, they can
_serve_ with _sincerity_ and _attachment_. This is of great importance
to you, as it is by no means the same thing to have people who aid and
assist you with feelings of real attachment, or merely from cold and
calculating motives of political expediency and self-interest.
This being done, no other step should be taken without consulting
seriously. The very time which is necessary to attain this end is
favourable to you, as it is your greatest interest for the _present
moment_ to act most cautiously and to gain as much _time_ as possible.
In high positions it is excessively difficult to _retrace_ a false
move to get out of a mistake; and there exists very rarely, except in
time of war and civil feuds, a necessity for an _immediate_ decision.
Your part must be, to resume once more what I said before, to
remain as long as possible _agreeable_ to all parties, and after the
formation of the Ministry, to be most careful how you take any measure
of importance....

[Pageheading: THE KING'S ILLNESS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_16th June 1837._

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--... I cannot say how happy I am that the _entree
publique_ into Paris succeeded so well, and that the dear King was
so well received; I trust he will now at last be rewarded for all the
troubles and anxiety he has had ever since 1830. Lord Palmerston said
that the French say that _l'assassinat est hors de mode_. I hope and
trust in Heaven that this may be the case, and _for ever_!

You know, of course, dear Uncle, how _very ill_ the King is; it
may _all be over_ at _any moment_, and yet _may_ last a few days.
Consequently, we have not been out anywhere in public since Tuesday,
6th, and since Wednesday all my lessons are stopped, as the news may
arrive very suddenly....

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _17th June 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--... I shall to-day enter on the subject of what is
to be done when the King ceases to live. The moment you get official
communication of it, you will entrust Lord Melbourne with the office
of retaining the present Administration as your Ministers. You will do
this in that honest and kind way which is quite your own, and say some
kind things on the subject. The fact is that the present Ministers are
those who will serve you personally with the greatest _sincerity_ and,
I trust, attachment. For them, as well as for the Liberals at large,
you are the _only_ Sovereign that offers them _des chances d'existence
et de duree_. With the exception of the Duke of Sussex, there is
no _one_ in the family that offers them anything like what they can
reasonably hope from you, and your immediate successor, with the
mustaches,[49] is enough to frighten them into the most violent
attachment for you.