The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 62

These letters dealt chiefly with social and personal matters, and although full of interest from the light which they throw on Lord Melbourne's relations with the Queen, they show him to have behaved with scrupulous honour and delicacy, and to have tried to augment, rather than undermine, Peel's growing influence with the Queen and Prince. There are comparatively few of Peel's letters in the collection. He wrote rarely at first, and only on strictly official matters. But before long his great natural reserve was broken through, and his intercourse with the Prince, to whom his character was particularly sympathetic, became very close and intimate.

Of all the English Ministers with whom the Prince was brought in contact, it is known that he preferred the stately and upright Commoner, who certainly, of all English Ministers, estimated and appreciated the Prince's character most truly and clearly.

CHAPTER X

1841

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_5th January 1841._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I have to thank you for two very kind letters, of the 26th December and 1st January, and for all your very kind and good wishes. I am sorry to hear you have all been plagued with colds; we have as yet escaped them, and I trust will continue to do so. I think, dearest Uncle, you cannot _really_ wish me to be the "Mamma d'une _nombreuse_ famille," for I think you will see with me the great inconvenience a _large_ family would be to us all, and particularly to the country, independent of the hards.h.i.+p and inconvenience to myself; men never think, at least seldom think, what a hard task it is for us women to go through this _very often_. G.o.d's will be done, and if He decrees that we are to have a great number of children, why we must try to bring them up as useful and exemplary members of society. Our young lady flourishes exceedingly, and I hope the Van de Weyers (who have been here for three days), who have seen her twice, will give you a favourable description of her. I think you would be amused to see Albert dancing her in his arms; he makes a capital nurse (which I do not, and she is much too heavy for me to carry), and she already seems so happy to go to him.

The christening will be at Buckingham Palace on the 10th of February, our dear marriage-day.

Affairs are certainly still precarious, but I feel confident all will come right....

Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _8th January 1841._

... I trust also that affairs will come right; what is to be feared is the _chapter of accidents_. Your name bears glorious fruits in all climes; this globe will soon be too small for you, and something must be done to get at the other planets....

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S EDUCATION]

_Memorandum--Mr Anson._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th January 1841._

Lord Melbourne said, "The Prince is bored with the sameness of his chess every evening. He would like to bring literary and scientific people about the Court, vary the society, and infuse a more useful tendency into it. The Queen however has no fancy to encourage such people. This arises from a feeling on her part that her education has not fitted her to take part in such conversation; she would not like conversation to be going on in which she could not take her fair share, and she is far too open and candid in her nature to pretend to one atom more knowledge than she really possesses on such subjects; and yet, as the world goes, she would, as any girl, have been considered accomplished, for she speaks German well and writes it; understands Italian, speaks French fluently, and writes it with great elegance. In addition to this old Davys instilled some Latin into her during his tutors.h.i.+p. The rest of her education she owes to her own natural shrewdness and quickness, and this perhaps has not been the proper education for one who was to wear the Crown of England.

"The Queen is very proud of the Prince's utter indifference to the attractions of all ladies. I told Her Majesty that these were early days to boast, which made her rather indignant. I think she is a little jealous of his talking much even to men."

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S SPEECH]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_19th January 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has just received your Majesty's letter. Lord Melbourne is very sorry not to come down to Windsor, but he really thinks that his absence from London at this moment might be prejudicial.

Lord Melbourne will do his utmost to have the Speech worded in the most calm manner, and so as in no respect to offend or irritate any feelings. Some mention of the good conduct and gallantry of the Navy there must be--to omit it would be injurious and disheartening--but as to any expressions complimentary to France or expressive of regret at our separation from it, it will be hardly possible to introduce anything of that nature.[1] It is quite unusual in our Speeches from the Throne to express either approbation or disapprobation of the conduct of foreign nations and foreign Governments. It is surprising how very seldom it has been done, and the wisdom and prudence of abstaining from it is very manifest. It would be giving an opinion upon that which does not belong to us. Anything which would have the effect of producing satisfaction in France must be of an apologetic character, which there is no ground for, and for which neither the Government nor the country is prepared.

The best course will be a total reserve upon this head, certainly abstaining from anything that can be in the slightest degree offensive.

[Footnote 1: France was not mentioned, though the Convention with the other Powers, and the naval operations in conjunction with Austria, were referred to.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_22nd January 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty.

Lord Melbourne will be most happy to wait upon your Majesty on Sat.u.r.day and Sunday.

Lord Melbourne is very sorry that your Majesty is compelled to come to London contrary to your inclinations; but Lord Melbourne much rejoices that your Majesty expresses that reluctance, as there is no surer sign of complete happiness and contentment in the married life than a desire to remain quietly in the country, and there is nothing on the earth Lord Melbourne desires more anxiously than the a.s.surance of your Majesty's happiness.

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S INFANCY]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

BRUSSELS, _22nd January 1841._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I thank you very sincerely for your kind letter of the 19th, which I hasten to answer. I should not have bored you by my presence, but the act of the christening is, in my eyes, a sort of closing of the first cyclus of your dear life. I was shooting at the late Lord Craven's in Berks.h.i.+re, when I received the messenger who brought me the horrifying news of your poor father's deadly illness. I hastened in bitter cold weather to Sidmouth, about two days before his death. His affairs were so much deranged that your Mother would have had no means even of leaving Sidmouth if I had not taken all this under my care and management. That dreary journey, undertaken, I think, on the 26th of January, in bitter cold and damp weather, I shall not easily forget. I looked very sharp after the poor little baby, then about eight months old. Arrived in London we were very unkindly treated by George IV., _whose great wish was to get you and your Mamma out of the country_, and I must say without my a.s.sistance you could _not_ have remained.... I state these facts, because it is useful to remember through what _difficulties_ and _hards.h.i.+ps_ one had to struggle. You will also remember that though there existed the _possibility_ of your eventually succeeding to the Crown, that possibility was very doubtful, the then d.u.c.h.ess of Clarence having been confined after your Mother, and there being every reason to think that, though poor little Princess Elizabeth did not live more than some months, other children might appear.[2]

It was a long time from 1820 to 1837! We got over it, however, and, as far as you are concerned, G.o.d be praised! safely and happily. You are married, with every prospect of many happy years to come, and your happiness is _crowned_, and _consolidated_, as it were, by the birth of the dear little lady. Having from motives of discretion, perhaps _carried even too far_, not a.s.sisted at your coming to the throne, nor at your Coronation, nor afterwards at your marriage, I wished to a.s.sist at the christening of the little Princess, an event which is of great importance....

[Footnote 2: Two children were born to the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Clarence--Charlotte Augusta Louisa, born and died 29th March 1819, and Elizabeth Georgina Adelaide, born 10th December 1820, and died 4th March 1821.]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._