The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 15

_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'a.s.sa.s.sinat 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 Suss.e.x, 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.

... 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 amus.e.m.e.nt 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 c.u.mberland.]

[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 a.s.sured, 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 a.s.surance 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._