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

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... The irksome position in which you have lived will have the merit
to have given you the habit of _discretion_ and _prudence_, as in your
position you never can have _too much_ of either. Great measures of
State I hope you will be able to avoid at first. I have already--if
you would read it over, and perhaps let Stockmar see it--written to
you some months ago on the subject of the necessity of maintaining the
influence of conservative principles, and of protecting the Church.
You will do well to keep both objects in view. You will do wisely
by showing yourself attached to the English Protestant Church as it
exists in the State; you are particularly where you are, because you
are a Protestant. I know you are averse to persecution, and you are
right; miss, however, _no opportunity_ to show your sincere feeling
for the existing Church; it is _right_ and _meet_ that you should do
so. I must repeat that you will do well as long as it will be possible
to hurt no one's hopes or prospects. That this will not always, or
very long, be possible is the consequence of the state of parties;
still, one may be frank and honest, and still kind to all. Concerning
foreign policy I shall write on some future occasion. In the meantime
I trust you will protect the two Queens in the Peninsula, who are
miserably ill off. I am sure, with your good sense you will not find
it difficult to judge questions yourself. I cannot too much recommend
this, as it will then become a habit, and even an amusement to you.
Cultivate always a genuine feeling of right and wrong, and be very
true and honourable in your dealings; this gives great strength. I
have taken into consideration the advantage or disadvantage of my
coming over to you _immediately_. The result of my _examen_ is that I
think it better to visit you later. If, however, you wanted me at any
time, I should come in a moment. People might fancy I came to enslave
you, while I glory in the contrary; and, thirdly, that they might be
jealous, or _affect_ it at least, of my coming, as if I thought of
ruling the realm for _purposes of my own_....

I am now at the end, I think, of what I had to say. May Heaven bless
you and keep up your spirits. Ever, my beloved child, your faithful
Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

Pardon the hurry in which this letter was written.

[Footnote 49: The Duke of Cumberland.]

[Pageheading: THE KING'S CONDITION HOPELESS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_19th June 1837._

MY DEARLY BELOVED UNCLE,--Your _kind_ and _dear_ letter, containing
_most wholesome_, _prudent_, _sound_ and _excellent_ advice, was given
me by our _good_ and _invaluable honest_ friend, Stockmar, and I beg
you to accept my best thanks for it. Before I say anything else, let
me tell you how happy and thankful I am to have Stockmar here; he
has _been_, and _is_, of the _greatest_ possible use, and be assured,
dearest Uncle, that he possesses my _most entire confidence_!

The King's state, I may fairly say, is _hopeless_; he may _perhaps_
linger a few days, but he cannot recover _ultimately_. Yesterday the
physicians declared he could not live till the morning, but to-day he
is a little better; the great fear is his _excessive_ weakness and
no _pulse_ at all. Poor old man! I feel sorry for him; he was always
personally kind to me, and I should be ungrateful and devoid of
feeling if I did not remember this.

I look forward to the event which it seems is likely to occur soon,
with calmness and quietness; I am not alarmed at it, and yet I do
not suppose myself quite equal to all; I trust, however, that with
_good-will_, _honesty_, and _courage_ I shall not, at all events,
_fail_. Your advice is most excellent, and you may depend upon it I
shall make use of it, and follow it, as also what Stockmar says. I
_never showed_ myself, _openly_, to belong to _any party_, and I _do
not_ belong to any party. The Administration will undoubtedly be well
received by me, the more so as I have _real_ confidence in them, and
in particular in Lord Melbourne, who is a straightforward, honest,
clever and good man.

I need not add much more, dearest Uncle, but that I trust that the
all-powerful Being who has so long watched over my destinies will
guide and support me, in whatever situation and station it may please
Him to place me!...

[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _20th June 1837._

Viscount Melbourne[50] presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
being aware that your Majesty has already received the melancholy
intelligence of the death of his late Majesty, will do himself the
honour of waiting upon your Majesty a little before nine this morning.
Viscount Melbourne has requested the Marquis of Lansdowne[51] to
name eleven as the hour for the meeting of the Council at Kensington
Palace.

[Footnote 50: Lord Melbourne, so far as can be augured from
his handwriting, which is extremely difficult to decipher,
appears always to have written his own name _Melburne_. But
it is not the correct spelling, and no one else seems to have
employed it.]

[Footnote 51: Lord President of the Council; formerly for a
brief period (1806-7) Chancellor of the Exchequer.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_20th June 1837_ (_half-past eight_ A.M.).

DEAREST, MOST BELOVED UNCLE,--Two words only, to tell you that my poor
Uncle, the King, expired this morning at twelve minutes past two.
The melancholy news were brought to me by Lord Conyngham[52] and the
Archbishop of Canterbury[53] at six. I expect Lord Melbourne almost
immediately, and hold a Council at eleven. Ever, my beloved Uncle,
your devoted and attached Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 52: Francis Nathaniel, second Marquis of Conyngham,
had been M.P. for Westbury and Donegal, and was now Lord
Chamberlain.]

[Footnote 53: William Howley (1766-1848), Bishop of London
1813-1828, Primate 1828-1848.]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th June 1837._

MY DEAREST NIECE ... I feel most grateful for your kind letter full of
sympathy with my irreparable loss, and thank you with all my heart for
your feeling expressions on this melancholy occasion. I am, as you
may suppose, deeply affected by all the sad scenes I have gone through
lately; but I have the great comfort to dwell upon the recollection of
the perfect resignation, piety, and patience with which the dear King
bore his trials and sufferings, and the truly Christian-like manner of
his death.

Excuse my writing more at present, my heart is overwhelmed and my
head aches very much. Accept the assurance of my most affectionate
devotion, and allow me to consider myself always as your Majesty's
most affectionate Friend, Aunt, and Subject,

ADELAIDE.

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S FIRST COUNCIL]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Tuesday, 20th June 1837._

I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me that the Archbishop of
Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here, and wished to see me. I got
out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown)
and _alone_, and saw them. Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain)
then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had
expired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that I
am _Queen_. Lord Conyngham knelt down and kissed my hand, at the same
time delivering to me the official announcement of the poor King's
demise. The Archbishop then told me that the Queen was desirous that
he should come and tell me the details of the last moments of my poor
good Uncle; he said that he had directed his mind to religion, and had
died in a perfectly happy, quiet state of mind, and was quite prepared
for his death. He added that the King's sufferings at the last were
not very great but that there was a good deal of uneasiness. Lord
Conyngham, whom I charged to express my feelings of condolence and
sorrow to the poor Queen, returned directly to Windsor. I then went to
my room and dressed.

Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station, I shall
do my utmost to fulfil my duty towards my country; I am very young
and perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I am
sure that very few have more real goodwill and more real desire to do
what is fit and right than I have.

Breakfasted, during which time good, faithful Stockmar came and talked
to me. Wrote a letter to dear Uncle Leopold and a few words to dear
good Feodore. Received a letter from Lord Melbourne in which he said
he would wait upon me at a little before 9. At 9 came Lord Melbourne,
whom I saw in my room, and of _course quite alone_, as I shall
_always_ do all my Ministers. He kissed my hand, and I then acquainted
him that it had long been my intention to retain him and the rest of
the present Ministry at the head of affairs, and that it could not be
in better hands than his. He again then kissed my hand. He then read
to me the Declaration which I was to read to the Council, which he
wrote himself, and which is a very fine one. I then talked with him
some little time longer, after which he left me. He was in full
dress. I like him very much, and feel confidence in him. He is a very
straightforward, honest, clever and good man. I then wrote a letter to
the Queen. At about 11 Lord Melbourne came again to me, and spoke to
me upon various subjects. At about half-past 11 I went downstairs and
held a Council in the red saloon.

I went in of course quite alone and remained seated the whole time.
My two Uncles, the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex, and Lord Melbourne
conducted me. The Declaration, the various forms, the swearing in of
the Privy Councillors, of which there were a great number present,
and the reception of some of the Lords of the Council, previous to the
Council, in an adjacent room (likewise alone) I subjoin here. I was
_not_ at all nervous and had the satisfaction of hearing that people
were satisfied with what I had done and how I had done it. Received
after this, audiences of Lord Melbourne, Lord John Russell, Lord
Albemarle (Master of the Horse), and the Archbishop of Canterbury,
all in my room and alone. Saw Stockmar. Saw Clark, whom I named my
physician. Saw Mary. Wrote to Uncle Ernest. Saw Ernest Hohenlohe, who
brought me a kind and very feeling letter from the poor Queen. I feel
very much for her, and really feel that the poor good King was always
so kind personally to me, that I should be ungrateful were I not
to recollect it and feel grieved at his death. The poor Queen is
wonderfully composed now, I hear.

Wrote my journal. Took my dinner upstairs alone. Went downstairs.
Saw Stockmar. At about twenty minutes to 9 came Lord Melbourne and
remained till near 10. I had a very important and a very _comfortable_
conversation with him. Each time I see him I feel more confidence in
him; I find him very kind in his manner too. Saw Stockmar. Went down
and said good-night to Mamma, etc. My _dear_ Lehzen will _always_
remain with me as my friend, but will take no situation about me, and
I think she is right.

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WILTON CRESCENT, _22nd June 1837._

Lord John Russell[54] presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
has the honour to report that he presented to the House of Commons
this day your Majesty's gracious Message.

He then moved an Address of Condolence and Congratulation, which
was seconded by Sir Robert Peel. Sir Robert Peel very properly took
occasion to speak in terms of high admiration of the deportment of
your Majesty before the Privy Council on Tuesday. The Address was
agreed to without a dissentient voice, and your Majesty may rest
assured that the House of Commons is animated by a feeling of loyalty
to the Throne, and of devotion to your Majesty.

[Footnote 54: Writing as Leader of the House of Commons.]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

(Undated--_22nd or 23rd June 1837._)

MY DEAREST NIECE,--I am most grateful for your amiable letter and
truly kind offer to come and see me next week. Any day convenient to
your Majesty will be agreeable to me, the sooner the better, for I am
equally anxious to see you again, and to express to you in person all
that I feel for you at this trying moment. If Monday will suit you
I shall be ready to receive you and your dear Mother on that day. My
prayers are with you and my blessing follows you in all you have to go
through. My health is as well as it can be after the great exertions
I have suffered, and I try to keep up under my heavy trial and deep
affliction.

My best wishes attend you, my dearest Niece, and I am for ever your
Majesty's most affectionate and faithful Friend, Aunt and Subject,

ADELAIDE.

[Pageheading: CONGRATULATIONS]

_The King of the French to Queen Victoria._

PARIS, _le 23 Juin 1837._

MADAME MA S[OE]UR,--J'ai appris avec une vive peine la perte que votre
Majeste vient de faire dans la personne de son tres cher et bien aime
Oncle le Roi Guillaume IV. d'auguste et venerable memoire. La vive et
sincere amitie que je porte a votre Majeste, et a ceux qui lui sont
chers, les liens de parente qui rapprochent nos deux familles par
l'alliance de ma fille cherie avec le Roi des Belges votre Oncle bien
aime, et enfin le souvenir qui m'est toujours bien cher de la tendre
amitie qui m'attachait au feu Prince votre Pere, depuis que nous
nous etions vus en Amerique, il y a deja trente-huit ans,[55] me
determinent a ne pas attendre les formalites d'usage, pour offrir
a votre Majeste mes felicitations sur son avenement au Trone de la
Grande-Bretagne. Il m'est doux de penser que l'heureuse direction que
la Princesse votre excellente et bien aimee Mere a si sagement donnee
a votre jeune age, vous met a portee de supporter dignement le grand
fardeau qui vous est echu. Je fais les v[oe]ux les plus sinceres pour
que la Providence benisse votre Regne, et qu'il soit une epoque de
bonheur et de prosperite pour les peuples que vous etes appelee a
gouverner. Puissiez-vous aussi jouir longtemps de tout le bonheur
personnel que je vous souhaite du fond de mon c[oe]ur. Je serai
toujours bien empresse de manifester a votre Majeste tous les
sentiments d'attachement et d'affection que je lui porte. Qu'elle
me permette d'y ajouter l'expression de la haute estime et de
l'inviolable amitie avec lesquelles je ne cesserai d'etre, Madame ma
S[oe]ur, de votre Majeste Le Bon Frere,

LOUIS PHILIPPE R.

[Footnote 55: In 1799 the Duke of Kent was Commander-in-Chief
in British North America.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _23rd June 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--Your new dignities will not change or increase
my old affection for you; may Heaven assist you, and may I have the
_happiness of being able to be of use to you_, and to contribute to
those successes in your new career for which I am so anxious. Your
letter of the 19th, written very shortly before the important event
took place, gave me _great satisfaction_; it showed me a temper of
mind well calculated for the occasion. To see the difficulties of the
task without shrinking from them or feeling alarm, and to meet them
with courage, is the way to succeed. I have often seen that the
_confidence_ of success has been the _cause of the success itself_,
and you will do well to _preserve_ that sentiment.

I have been most happy to learn that the swearing in of the Council
passed so well. The Declaration in the newspapers I find simple and
appropriate. The translation in the papers says, "_J'ai ete eleves en
Angleterre._" 1. I should advise to say as often as possible that you
are _born_ in England. George III. _gloried_ in this, and as _none_
of your cousins are born in England, it is your interest _de faire
reporter cela fortement_. 2. You never can say too much in praise of
your country and its inhabitants. Two nations in Europe are really
almost ridiculous in their own exaggerated praises of themselves;
these are the English and the French. Your being very national is
highly important, and as you happen to be born in England and never to
have left it a moment,[56] it would be odd enough if people tried
to make out the contrary. 3. The Established Church I also recommend
strongly; you cannot, without _pledging_ yourself to anything
_particular_, _say too much on the subject_. 4. Before you decide
on anything important I should be glad if you would consult me; this
would also have the advantage of giving you time. In politics most
measures will come in time within a certain number of days; to retrace
or back out of a measure is on the contrary extremely _difficult_, and
almost always _injurious_ to the highest authority.

[Footnote 56: The Duke and Duchess of Kent were settled at
Amorbach, in Leiningen, till a short time before the birth of
their child, when they came to Kensington.]

[Pageheading: THE MINISTERS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_25th June 1837._

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--Though I have an _immense_ deal of _business_
to do, I shall write you a few lines to thank you for your kind and
useful letter of the 23rd, which I have just received. _Your_ advice
is always of the _greatest importance_ to me.

Respecting Claremont, Stockmar will be able to explain to you the
_total_ impossibility of my being out of London, as I must see my
Ministers _every_ day. I am _very_ well, sleep well, and drive every
evening in the country; it is so hot that walking is out of the
question. Before I go further let me pause to tell you how fortunate I
am to have at the head of the Government a man like Lord Melbourne.
I have seen him now every day, with the exception of Friday, and the
more I see him, the more confidence I have in him; he is not only a
clever statesman and an honest man, but a good and a kind-hearted man,
whose aim is to do his duty for his country and not for a _party_. He
is of the greatest use to me both politically and privately.

I have seen almost all my other Ministers, and do regular, hard,
but to _me delightful_, work with them. It is to me the _greatest
pleasure_ to do my duty for my country and my people, and no fatigue,
however great, will be burdensome to me if it is for the welfare of
the nation. Stockmar will tell you all these things. I have reason
to be highly pleased with all my Ministers, and hope to God that
the Elections[57] may be favourable, as I well know that the present
Ministry is the best and most moderate we can have.

Do not, my dearly beloved Uncle, fear for my health; I shall take
_good_ care of it. I beg your advice on the enclosed paper.

Ever your devoted and grateful Niece and affectionate _Child_,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 57: At that time rendered necessary by the demise of
the Crown.]

[Pageheading: DELIBERATION ADVISED]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _27th June 1837._

MY DEAR CHILD,--... Now I must touch on another subject which is of
vital importance for you and your comfort, viz. the habits of business
which you will contract now. The best plan is to devote certain hours
to it; if you do that, you will get through it with great ease. I
think you would do well to tell your Ministers that for the present
you would be ready to receive those who should wish to see you between
the hours of eleven and half-past one. This will not plague you much,
and will be sufficient in most cases for the usual business that is to
be transacted.

I shall add to this a piece of advice. Whenever a question is of some
importance, it should not be decided on the day when it is submitted
to you. Whenever it is not an urgent one, I make it a rule not to let
any question be forced upon my _immediate_ decision; it is really not
doing oneself justice _de decider des questions sur le pouce_. And
even when in my mind I am disposed to accede, still I always keep the
papers with me some little time before I return them. The best mode
for you will be, that each Minister should bring his box with him,
and when he submits to you the papers, _explain them to you_. Then you
will keep the papers, either to think yourself upon it or to consult
somebody, and either return them the next time you see the Minister
to whom they belong, or send them to him. Good habits formed _now_ may
for ever afterwards be kept up, and will become so natural to you that
you will not find them at all fatiguing.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _29th June 1837._

The Queen has received Lord Melbourne's communication, and thinks,
as Prince Ernest of Hesse goes to the funeral, it would be proper the
Prince of Leiningen should do just the same. The Queen requests that
Lord Melbourne will be so good as to take care that the Prince of
Leiningen is informed as to the proper dress he ought to wear on the
occasion.

Lord Albemarle mentioned yesterday to the Queen, that all the ladies'
saddle-horses, including the Queen-Dowager's own favourite horses,
belonged to the Queen; but it strikes her that it would be well if the
Queen was to give the Queen-Dowager the choice of two or three of her
own horses, and that she might keep them. The Queen would wish Lord
Melbourne to give her his opinion on this subject....

[Pageheading: STOCKMAR]

[Pageheading: SUBJECTS FOR STUDY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _30th June 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--... I am glad to see that you are so much pleased
with Lord Melbourne. I believe him to be as you think him. His
character is a guarantee which is valuable, and remember that
_cleverness_ and _talent_, _without an honest heart and character_,
_will never do for your Minister_. I shall name nobody, but what I
said just now applies to some people you have recently seen.

I am so happy that you enter into the important affairs which
Providence has entrusted to you with so much interest and spirit; if
you continue you will be _sure of success_, and your own conscience
will give you the most delightful and satisfactory feelings. To be
_National_ is the _great thing_, and I was sure you would agree with
what I said repeatedly to you on this _vital subject_, and you will be
certain in this way of the _love_ of the nation you govern.

I recommend to your kind attention what Stockmar will think it his
duty to tell you; he will never press anything, never plague you with
anything, without the thorough conviction that it is indispensable
for your welfare. I can guarantee his independence of mind and
disinterestedness; nothing makes an impression upon him but what his
experience makes him feel to be of importance for you. I am delighted
with your plan. You will recollect that I pressed upon you repeatedly
how necessary it was for you to continue your studies on a more
_extended_ scale, more appropriate to the station you were destined
once to fill. No one is better qualified to direct those studies for
the next few years than Stockmar, few people possess more general
information, and very, very few have been like him educated, as it
were, by fate itself since 1816. There is no branch of information in
which he may not prove useful--

(1) History, considered in a practical and philosophical way; (2)
International Law and everything connected with it; (3) Political
Economy, an important branch nowadays; (4) Classic studies; (5)
_belles lettres_ in general; (6) Physical Science in all its branches,
etc., etc.--the list would be very long if I were to enumerate it all.
The _sooner_ you do this the better; in all countries and at all times
men like Stockmar have filled similar situations, even in the most
bigoted and jealous countries, such as Spain, Austria, etc. You will
have him in this case _constantly near you without_ anybody having the
right of finding fault with it, and to be useful to you he should be
near you. Stockmar would have the _immense_ advantage, for so young
a Queen, to be a _living_ dictionary of all matters scientific and
politic that happened these thirty years, which to you is of the
greatest importance, because you _must study_ the political history of
at least the last thirty-seven years _more particularly_. I had begun
something of the sort with you, even so far back as George II.; you
will do well to go through the reign of George III., and to follow the
various circumstances which brought on finally the present state of
affairs....

My letter grows too long, and you will not have time to read it; I
will therefore come to an end, remaining ever, my beloved Victoria,
your faithfully attached Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: SPANISH AFFAIRS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_3rd July 1837._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had the happiness of receiving your kind letter
of 30th June yesterday, and hasten to thank you for it. Your dear and
kind letters, full of kind and excellent advice, will always be of the
greatest use to me, and will always be my delight. You may depend
upon it that I shall profit by your advice, as I have already so often
done.