Chapter XVII
, and 25th October, 1848, note 45.]
[Footnote 38: Sir George Grey had been sent out by the Duke of Newcastle in 1854. He had previously been Governor of South Australia and New Zealand successively. He returned to New Zealand as Governor in 1861, and was Premier of the Colony, 1877-1884. He died in 1898, and was buried in St Paul's Cathedral.]
[Pageheading: FOREIGN ORDERS]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
OSBORNE, _30th July 1856_.
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I am much grieved to have to retract the permission which in my letter of yesterday I said I would give to Lord Westmorland.[39] When I said so, I had _not_ received the opinion of the Ministers, which I have since done, and this is, I am sorry to say, conclusive _against_ it. I quite overlooked _one_ very important case of very late date, viz. the Plenipotentiary at Paris--on whom the Emperor pressed very hard to confer his order in commemoration of the Peace; but it was refused, and the Emperor was a good _deal hurt_. If _now_ Lord Westmorland received the permission, the Emperor might with _right_ complain. I am much grieved, dearest Uncle, at all this, but it was quite unavoidable, and I was at the time much distressed at your giving the order to Lord Westmorland as I foresaw nothing but difficulties. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 39: King Leopold had proposed to bestow a decoration on Lord Westmorland.]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _1st August 1856_.
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... When your excellent Ministers will consider things coolly, which is not to be expected in this hot weather, I am sure they will come to other conclusions. The rule is a _very wise one_, and has been kept up even at the time of those great congresses of Paris, Vienna, and ditto Paris in 1815. But in cases of particular affection and feeling _not_ connected with politics, there have been during the reigns of George IV. and William IV. exceptions. The Duke of Devonshire was sent to the Coronation, I think, of the Emperor Nicholas, because one knew the Emperor liked him. And he has worn ever since that diamond star of the St Andrew of the largest dimensions.
Our Napoleon is too wise not to understand that a treaty has a direct political character. And, during the next fifty years of your glorious reign, there will be most probably a great many more treaties and congresses. You may get all sorts of things during that time, but you cannot either by the power of heaven or of earth get a new uncle, who has kept his word twenty-five years; rather an undertaking considering circumstances.... I remain, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
ON BOARD THE _Victoria and Albert_, _14th August 1856_.
DEAREST UNCLE,--You will be surprised to get a letter so soon again from me, and still more on _so_ trivial a subject, but I come as a petitioner for a supply of the cakes or _Oblaten_ which you kindly always send me, but which have come to a dead _stop_, having been too rapidly consumed; _all_ the children having taken to eat them. As I am not a very good breakfast eater, they are often the _only_ things I _can_ take at that time, and consequently I miss them much. May I therefore beg them to be sent?
We are still here; profiting by the _bad_ sea, to visit many beautiful _points de vue_ in this really beautiful country. We saw yesterday one of the loveliest places possible--_Endsleigh_--the Duke of Bedford's, about twenty miles from here.
The weather is so bad, and it blows so hard, that we shall go back to Southampton to-morrow by railroad--a beautiful line which we have never seen. I must close in haste. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
We went to Saltram, Lord Morley's, this afternoon.
[Pageheading: LORD GRANVILLE'S MISSION]
[Pageheading: THE CZAR ALEXANDER]
[Pageheading: CORONATION OF THE CZAR]
_Earl Granville to Queen Victoria._[40]
MOSCOW, _30th August 1856_.
Lord Granville presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs, according to your Majesty's desire, to submit to your Majesty the impressions which he has received during the short time of his stay in this country.
Lord Granville's conversation with the Emperor of Russia, and what he has heard from various reliable sources, have led him to the following conclusions respecting His Imperial Majesty.
He is handsome, but thinner and graver than when he was in England. When speaking with energy to Lord Granville his manner seemed to be rather an imitation of some one else than his own, and he did not look Lord Granville in the face. His usual manner is singularly gentle and pleasing. He does not give the idea of having much strength either of intellect or of character, but looks intelligent and amiable. Although the education of a Caesarwitch must be subject to pernicious influences, the present Emperor has had advantages which those in his position have not usually had. The Emperor Nicholas came to the throne without having had the confidences of his predecessor. He initiated his son into everything that was going on, while others who knew the good-nature of the Grand Duke Alexander's character, told him that which they did not tell his father. He was supposed to have different tastes from the late Emperor, but, since the death of the latter, he has liked the late Emperor's favourite residence which he himself had formerly disliked, he has taken to all the military pursuits of his father, and is said to have shown undignified haste in issuing regulations about, and in appearing in, new uniforms. He is liked by those who surround him, but is blamed for not having those habits of punctuality and of quick decision in business which characterised the late Emperor.
There is still much talk of stimulants to be applied by His Imperial Majesty to commerce and to the development of the resources of the country.... There are persons, however, here well qualified to judge, who doubt whether much more will be performed than has formerly been done, after brilliant promises at the beginning of a reign. His Imperial Majesty is not supposed to have that power of will which will enable him to deal with the mass of corruption which pervades every class in this country. The Empress,[41] a woman of sense and ability, is believed to have great influence with her husband when he is with her, but he is generally guided by the person who speaks last to him before he acts--and His Imperial Majesty has not the talent of surrounding himself with able men. His Ministers certainly do not appear to be men of that remarkable intellect as have been usually supposed to be employed by the Court of St Petersburg. Count Orloff is stated to have but little influence, and to have lost his former activity. Prince Gortschakoff is clever in society, of easy conversation and some smartness in repartee. He is vain, a great talker, and indiscreet. It is difficult to keep him to the point. He flies about from one thing to another, and he is so loose in his talk, that the repetition of isolated phrases might lead to impressions of his meaning, which would not be correct....
The Serf Question is admitted by all to be of a very difficult character, and will become more so as the wealth of the country increases. Indeed when that state of things occurs, it is more than likely that popular movements will take place, and it is frightful to consider the immediate results of a revolution in a country organised as this is at present. No country in Europe will furnish so fair a chance of success to Socialism. The reins of Government were held so tight during the last reign, that even the relaxation which now exists is not altogether without danger.
The preparations for the Coronation are on an immense scale. The present estimate of the expenses is L1,000,000; the last Coronation cost half that sum; the Coronation of Alexander, L150,000; while that of the Emperor Paul did not exceed L50,000. The military household of the present Emperor consists of one hundred and twenty generals--that of Nicholas, at the beginning of his reign, consisted of twenty.
Your Majesty is spoken of by the Emperor and by the Society here with the greatest respect. Lord and Lady Granville have met with nothing but remarkable civility from all classes.
Lord Granville has had great pleasure in seeing His Royal Highness Prince Frederick William of Prussia in such good health and spirits. His only anxiety was an interval of fourteen days during which His Royal Highness did not hear from England. That anxiety has been relieved by a letter received to-day. Lord Granville ventures to request your Majesty to present his respectful remembrances to the Princess Royal with his congratulations at Her Royal Highness's complete recovery. Lord Granville begs to advise Her Royal Highness, when residing abroad, not to engage a Russian maid. Lady Wodehouse found hers eating the contents of a pot on her dressing-table--it happened to be castor oil pomatum for the hair.
Lord Granville has been requested to convey to your Majesty and to His Royal Highness Prince Albert the Prince of Nassau's expressions of devotion and respect. The atmosphere in which His Highness at present resides does not appear to have had much influence on His Highness's opinions.
[Footnote 40: Lord Granville was appointed head of a special mission, with the temporary rank of Ambassador, to attend the Coronation of the Czar Alexander.]
[Footnote 41: Marie Alexandrovna, formerly the Princess Marie of Hesse, daughter of the Grand Duke Louis II.]
[Pageheading: CHURCH APPOINTMENTS]
_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._
ST LEONARDS, _6th September 1856_.
Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to submit for your Majesty's gracious approval that Dr Tait, Dean of Carlisle, should be appointed Bishop of London with a clear explanation to him that the Diocese will probably be divided into two--one of London and one of Westminster.
That the Bishop of Ripon[42] should be appointed Bishop of Durham, with a like explanation that the Diocese of Durham may possibly be divided into two--one for Durham and one for Northumberland.
That the Dean of Hereford[43] should be appointed Bishop of Ripon; and that Dr Trench[44] be appointed Dean of Westminster with the condition that he is not to receive any fees or emoluments arising out of appointments of Knights of the Bath.
Dr Trench is a man of the world and of literature, and would in those respects be well suited to be Dean of Westminster, and if his tendencies are, as some persons suppose, rather towards High Church opinions, his position as Dean would not afford him any particular means of making those opinions prevail; while his appointment would show that the patronage of the Crown was not flowing exclusively in one direction.
Viscount Palmerston will, on another occasion, submit to your Majesty the names of persons for the Deaneries of Hereford and Carlisle.[45]
[Footnote 42: Charles Thomas Longley (1774-1868) became Bishop of Durham 1856, Archbishop of York 1860, and Archbishop of Canterbury 1862.]
[Footnote 43: Richard Dawes, who became Dean in 1850, and restored the Cathedral. He did not become Bishop of Ripon; Robert Bickersteth, a Canon of Salisbury, being eventually appointed. See _post_, 24th November, 1856, note 60.]
[Footnote 44: Richard Chenevix Trench (1807-1886), Archbishop of Dublin from 1864-1884.]
[Footnote 45: Francis Close (1797-1882), Rector of Cheltenham, succeeded Dr Tait as Dean of Carlisle.]
_The Duke of Cambridge to Queen Victoria._
ST JAMES'S PALACE, _17th September 1856._
MY DEAR COUSIN,--This morning the reply from Baden reached me, and I hasten to inform you at once of the purport of it, embodied in a very excellent letter written by my sister Mary, who _declines_ the proposal made to her on the part of the King of Sardinia, for some very excellent and weighty reasons.[46]
I must confess that I fully agree with her in the view she has taken, and, I can say with truth, that I think her decision is a very judicious and very correct one, and I am not at all sorry she has come to it. As I know that Clarendon was very anxious to have an early reply, I have in the first instance sent Mary's letter on to him, and have requested him, after perusing it, to send it on to you, and I hope you will not think that I have been wanting in respect to you in so doing. With many thanks to you for your great kindness in having left the decision of this weighty matter entirely in our hands, I beg to remain, my dear Cousin, your most dutiful Cousin,
GEORGE.
[Footnote 46: The King had, in January 1855, lost his consort, Queen Marie Adelaide, daughter of the Archduke Renier of Austria. Lord Clarendon wrote to Baron Marochetti:--...
"The Queen's first care was for the happiness of Princess Mary, and it was the wish of Her Majesty and of Her Majesty's Government that the decision should be left to the unbiassed judgment of Her Royal Highness.
"Princess Mary, having maturely weighed the matter in all its different bearings, has come to the conclusion that it is her duty as regards both the King of Sardinia and herself to decline the offer, which you were empowered to make on the part of His Majesty.
"Princess Mary fully appreciates the many excellent and noble qualities of the King. She does not doubt that in him individually she would be happy, and she thinks that the alliance would be popular in England; but Her Royal Highness feels that as the Protestant Queen of Sardinia she must be in a false position, and that a wife can never find herself thus placed without injury to her husband.
"Princess Mary is deeply attached to her religion, which is the first consideration in this world, and in the free and undisturbed exercise of that religion, however much it might be sanctioned by the King, and supported by His Majesty's Government, she feels that she would be the object of constant suspicion, that her motives would be liable to misconstruction, and that the King would be exposed to grave embarrassments, which time would only serve to increase.
"I am not surprised at this decision, which, from my knowledge of Princess Mary's profound religious feeling, I rather led you to anticipate; but I am bound to say that with reference to her religion, and with reference to that alone, Her Royal Highness has, in my opinion, decided with wisdom and foresight.
"I am convinced, however, that in renouncing upon conscientious grounds the brilliant position which has been offered to her, of which she fully appreciated the advantages, Princess Mary can only have added to the respect which the King already feels for the noble and elevated character of Her Royal Highness."]
[Pageheading: THE KING OF PORTUGAL]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BALMORAL, _19th September 1856._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I cannot have your kind and confidential letter of the 15th answered, and therefore write to-day to thank you for it. You may rely on our divulging nothing. We are, however, both very anxious that dear Pedro should be preferred.[47] He is out and out _the_ most distinguished young Prince there is, and besides that, good, excellent, and steady according to one's heart's desire, and as one could wish for an _only and beloved daughter_. For Portugal, too, an _amiable_, well-educated Queen would be an immense blessing, for there _never_ has been one. I am sure you would be more likely to secure Charlotte's happiness if you gave her to Pedro than to one of those innumerable Archdukes, or to Prince George of Saxony. Pedro should, however, be written to, if you were favourably inclined towards him.
I must end now, hoping soon to hear from you again. Pedro is _just_ nineteen; he can therefore well wait till he has completed his twentieth year. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 47: Both the Queen and King Leopold were desirous of arranging a marriage between King Pedro and the Princess Charlotte, which, however, did not take place. See _post_, 10th October, 1856, 16th June, 1857, and 3rd May, 1859.]
[Pageheading: RUSSIAN PROCRASTINATION]
_Queen Victoria to the Empress of the French._
[_Draft._][48]
_Septembre 1856._
Je regrette autant que V.M.I. les divergences existantes entre les vues de nos deux Gouvernements au sujet du Traite de Paris.[49] [Il est impossible pour nous cependant de ceder aux Russes les demandes qu'ils mettent en avant, seulement parcequ'elles sont soutenues par la France. Le fait est que] Ma maniere d'envisager la situation actuelle est celle-ci: les Russes ne cessent de suivre la meme politique des le commencement de la complication Orientale jusqu'a present. Ils cedent ou la force majeure les y contraint, mais tachent de se reserver par des chicanes ou subterfuges les moyens de reprendre a un temps plus opportun leurs attaques sur l'independance et l'integrite de cette pauvre Turquie. [Nous au contraire sommes determines.] La France et l'Angleterre au contraire ont manifeste leur determination de la sauver et de l'assurer contre ces attaques. C'etait la la cause de la guerre; c'etait la le but de la paix; mon Gouvernement n'oserait le sacrifier vis-a-vis de mon peuple par complaisance envers l'Empereur de Russie. Un coup d'oeil sur la Carte, par exemple, demontre qu'en detruisant Ismail, Kilia, etc., etc. [(acte auquel nous ne venons qu'a present d'apprendre que la France avait donne son assentiment a notre insu)] la Russie a prive l'aile droite de la nouvelle ligne de frontiere de toute defense; tandis qu'en substituant le nouveau Bolgrad a celui connu au Congres elle pousserait un point strategique au centre, couperait la partie cedee de la Bessarabie du reste de l'Empire Ottoman, et se mettrait a meme de devenir de nouveau maitresse de la rive gauche du Danube, quand elle le voudra. Comme dans ce cas [nous] nos deux pays sont tenus par Traite a reprendre les armes, il me parait de notre devoir a prevenir de tels dangers. Ces dangers seront ecartes a l'instant que la France s'unira a nous pour tenir un langage ferme a la Russie, qui tache de nous desunir et il ne faut pas qu'elle y reussisse.
Je vous exprime la toute ma pensee, sachant que l'Empereur attend une franchise entiere de son amie, convaincue aussi, que si son opinion differe de la mienne, c'est du au moins d'importance qu'il attache peut-etre aux points en dispute avec la Russie, et a un sentiment de generosite envers un ennemi vaincu, auquel il me serait doux de m'abandonner avec lui, si je pouvais le faire de maniere a concilier les interets de la Turquie et de l'Europe.
[Footnote 48: This is the original draft, which appears to have been modified later by the omission of the sentences in brackets.]
[Footnote 49: The Treaty had involved the restitution of the fortress and district of Kars to Turkey. The Russians, however, delayed the stipulated evacuation in an unwarrantable manner. Ismail also was included within the portion of Bessarabia to be ceded to Turkey, but, instead of surrendering it intact, the Russians destroyed its fortifications; they also laid claim to Serpent's Island at the mouth of the Danube, which was within the ceded portion, and of Bolgrad, the future ownership of which was, owing to the inaccuracies of maps, in dispute. The English Government sent a fleet to the Black Sea to enforce the obligations of the Treaty, while the French Government seemed to make unnecessary concessions to Russia.]
[Pageheading: ALTERATIONS SUGGESTED]
_The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria._
TAYMOUTH, _21st September 1856_.
Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and humbly ventures to express his opinion that the Empress might think the tone of your Majesty's letter rather too severe. It is by no means severe, but perfectly just and true as regards the conduct of Russia and France, and on that very account it might wound the _amour-propre_ of the Emperor.
Lord Clarendon ventures to suggest the omission of the second sentence beginning by "_il est impossible_," and of the parenthesis at the bottom of the second page.[50] In the concluding sentence it might perhaps be better to say "_la France et l'Angleterre_" instead of "_nous_," which would possibly be taken as an announcement of separate
## action. Your Majesty might perhaps think it right to add after the
last words "_tels dangers_"--"_ces dangers seront ecartes a l'instant que la France s'unira a nous pour tenir un langage ferme a la Russie qui tache de nous desunir et il ne faut pas a s qu'elle y reussisse_."[51]
[Footnote 50: _I.e._ the passage from "acte auquel" to "notre insu."]
[Footnote 51: The Prince wrote in reply to this letter: "The draft of letter to the Empress of the French has been altered in every particular as you suggest, and I will send you a corrected copy of it by to-morrow." See _post_, 10th November, 1856, note 54.]
_Queen Victoria to the Duke of Cambridge._
BALMORAL, _22nd September 1856_.
MY DEAR GEORGE,--I waited to thank you for your letter of the 17th till I had received Mary's from Lord Clarendon, which I did yesterday morning, and which I now return to you. It is admirably written, and does dear Mary the greatest credit; she puts it on the _right_ ground, viz. that of the _Protestant feeling_ which should _always_ actuate our family, and to this we _now must_ keep. It _effectually_ closes, however, the door to _all Catholic_ proposals--whether from Kings or Princes, which makes matters easier.
I must say, however, that I think it very wrong of _certain_ ladies to have spoken of Mary's feelings and wishes on the subject, which has no doubt encouraged the idea when they had no reason for doing so.
I am very glad that the decision has been so entirely dear Mary's own, and that _she is_ convinced of my anxious wish for her happiness and welfare--which I have as much at heart as if she were my own sister.
It is very necessary, however, that _not_ a word should be breathed of this whole affair, and I trust that you will caution your mother and sisters and their relations to be very silent on the subject, as it would be otherwise very offensive to the King.
With Albert's love, ever your very affectionate Cousin,
VICTORIA R.
[Pageheading: DEATH OF LORD HARDINGE]
_Queen Victoria to Viscountess Hardinge._
BALMORAL, _26th September 1856_.
MY DEAR LADY HARDINGE,--Where can I find words to express to you our _deep heartfelt_ sorrow at the sad and totally unexpected news conveyed to us by telegraph yesterday.[52]
My first thought was for you, dear Lady Hardinge, whose whole existence was so completely bound up in _his_, that this blow must be awful indeed. We feel _truly_ and sincerely what we, and the country, have lost in your dear, high-minded, noble husband, whose _only_ thought was _his duty_. A more loyal, devoted, fearless public servant the Crown never possessed. His loss to _me_ is one of those which in our times is quite _irreparable_. Added to all this we have ever had _such_ a true affection and personal friendship for dear Lord Hardinge, and know how warmly these feelings were requited. _All_ who had the pleasure of knowing him must ever remember his benevolent smile and kind eye.
But I speak of ourselves and of what we have lost, when I _ought_ only to express _our_ sympathy with _you_, in your present overwhelming loss, but I could not restrain my pen, and the expression of our feelings may perhaps be soothing to your bleeding heart.
Most truly also do we sympathise with your children.
Pray do not think of answering this yourself, but let us hear through your son or daughter how you are. Ever, dear Lady Hardinge, with the sincerest regard and truest sympathy, yours affectionately,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 52: Lord Hardinge, who had only temporarily rallied from the stroke he had received at Aldershot, died on the 24th.]
[Pageheading: THE ARCHDUKE MAXIMILIAN]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _10th October 1856_.
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Since your kind letter of the 2nd I have not had any communications from you. I can well understand that it grieves you to leave the Highlands. It is not a great proof of the happiness of human kind, that all love to be elsewhere than at the place where their real residence is, notwithstanding all songs of home sweet home, etc. I plead quite guilty to this, though I used to be much attached to my old home at Coburg and to Claremont. That the weather should have been unfavourable is a great pity; here we have had a most beautiful and mild weather till the 8th, when a severe thunderstorm put an end to it.
Poor Lord Hardinge! I believe after all, though all these people pretend _not_ to mind it, that the Press killed him. I once told Lady Maryborough and the late Duchess of Wellington that it was fortunate the Duke cared so little for the Press. "Care little," they said; "why, nothing annoys and irritates him more." I find it natural; doing one's best, working with all one's nerves, and to be abused for it, is not pleasant.
To explain the real state of dear Charlotte's affair I enclose the only copy of my letter which exists, and pray you kindly to send it me back. My object is and was that Charlotte should decide as _she_ likes it, and uninfluenced by what I might prefer. _I_ should _prefer_ Pedro, that I confess, but the Archduke[53] has made a favourable impression on Charlotte; I saw that long before any question of engagement had taken place. The Archduke is out at sea, and nothing can well be heard before the 25th of this month. If the thing takes place the Emperor ought to put him at the head of Venice; he is well calculated for it.
I am going on the 15th to Ardenne for a week. I have been since that revolution of 1848 kept away from it almost entirely, compared to former days. And now, with my best love to Albert, I must end, remaining ever, my dearest Victoria, your truly devoted and only Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 53: The Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph of Austria, afterwards Emperor of Mexico.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BALMORAL, _13th October 1856_.
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I am truly thankful for your kind letter and the very confidential enclosure which I return, and which has interested us both very much, and is truly kind and paternal. I _still hope_ by your letter that Charlotte has not finally made up her mind--as we both feel so strongly convinced of the immense superiority of Pedro over any other young Prince even _dans les relations journalistes_, besides which the position is so infinitely preferable. The Austrian society is _medisante_ and profligate and worthless--and the Italian possessions very shaky. Pedro is full of resource--fond of music, fond of drawing, of languages, of natural history, and literature, in all of which Charlotte would suit him, and would be a _real_ benefit to the country. If Charlotte asked _me_, I should not hesitate a moment, as I would give any of my own daughters to him were he not a Catholic; and if Charlotte consulted her friend Vicky I know what _her_ answer would be as she is so very fond of Pedro.
_14th._--I could not finish last night, and so continue to-day. I shall be most anxious to hear from you about Charlotte, when a _final_ decision has been taken.
Since the 6th we have the _most beautiful weather_--with the country in the _most_ brilliant beauty--but _not_ the bracing weather which did one so much good; yesterday and to-day it is _quite_ warm and relaxing. Albert has continued to have wonderful sport; not only has he killed seven more stags since I wrote, but the finest, largest stags in the whole neighbourhood--or indeed killed in almost any forest!...
Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Pageheading: MILITARY EFFICIENCY]
_Queen Victoria to Lord Panmure._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th November 1856_.
The Queen has received Lord Panmure's two boxes of the 4th. She is glad to hear that the Military and the Defence Committees of the Cabinet are to be reassembled. The absence of all plans for our defences is a great evil, and hardly credible. There should exist a well-considered general scheme for each place supported by a detailed argument; this when approved by the Government, should be sanctioned and signed by the Sovereign, and not deviated from except upon resubmission and full explanation of the causes which render such deviation necessary; no special work should be undertaken which does not realise part of this general scheme. The Queen trusts that Lord Panmure will succeed in effecting this.
It is very much to be regretted that so few of the soldiers of the German Legion should have accepted the liberal terms of the Government. Those should, however, be made to sail soon.
The returns of the different Departments for the last quarter show a lamentable deficiency in small arms. Fifty-two thousand three hundred and twenty-two for the whole of the United Kingdom is a sadly small reserve to have in store; we should never be short of 500,000. The Queen was struck also with the little work done at Enfield. It appears that during the whole quarter this new and extensive establishment has completed only three muskets!
With regard to some of the barracks, the tenders have not even yet been accepted, although the year is nearly drawing to a close. The Queen hopes soon to receive the returns for the Fortification Department, which is fully two months in arrear....
With respect to the list for the Bath, the Queen is somewhat startled by the large number. Before sanctioning it, she thinks it right to ask for an explanation of the services of the officers, and the reasons for which they are selected for the honour. She returns the list for that purpose to Lord Panmure, who will perhaps cause the statement to be attached to each name. This, of course, does not apply to the foreigners. Amongst the Sardinians, however, the Queen observes the absence of the names of the Military Commissioners attached first to Lord Raglan and afterwards to General Simpson. The first was a Count Revel, who has frequently applied for the honour, and the Queen thinks ought to have it.
[Pageheading: FRANCE AND RUSSIA]
_The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria._
FOREIGN OFFICE, _10th November 1856_.
Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty, and humbly begs to transmit a letter from the Empress which was left here this afternoon by M. de Persigny, who also left a despatch from Count Walewski, of which Lord Clarendon begs to transmit a copy.[54] It is a most unsatisfactory result of all the tripotage that has been going on, as it is an invitation _pur et simple_ to reassemble the conference with Prussia, and to abide by the decision of the majority.
Lord Clarendon is to see M. de Persigny to-morrow morning.
[Footnote 54: Count Walewski had written to Count Persigny: "The communications which I have received give us cause to fear that Her Majesty's Government may persist in declining the proposal to reassemble the Conference.... We only know of five Powers which have had an opportunity to express an opinion on the point at issue.... It appears that Sardinia has not yet formed her decision. We cannot therefore foresee in what sense the majority will pronounce, and it is evident to us that the reunion will realise the object desired, that of bringing on a decision which cannot be questioned by any one, seeing that it will have been obtained by the concurrence of the Representatives of all the Powers."]
[Pageheading: NEUCHATEL]
_The Empress of the French to Queen Victoria._
COMPIEGNE, _le 7 Novembre 1856_.
MADAME ET TRES CHERE S[OE]UR,--Je viens apres plus de deux mois m'excuser pres de votre Majeste d'une faute bien involontaire; par quelques mots que Persigny m'a dit j'ai cru comprendre que votre Majeste s'etonnait que je ne lui eusse pas ecrit en reponse a sa lettre. La seule crainte d'ennuyer votre Majeste m'a empeche de le faire, je croyais d'ailleurs que vous n'aviez pas besoin d'assurances sur la bonne foi et surtout sur la bonne volonte de l'Empereur.
J'espere que grace a Dieu tous les petits differens qui ont surgi dans ces derniers temps s'aplaniront, car c'est l'interet des deux pays, et le v[oe]u le plus cher que nous puissions former.[55]
L'Empereur a ete bien peine d'apprendre les fausses suppositions auxquelles out donne lieu un desaccord momentaire; il n'aurait jamais suppose que le desir de maintenir un engagement pris peut-etre meme trop a la hate, mais dont un honnete homme ne peut se departir ait pu faire croire que l'alliance avec votre Majeste ne lui etait pas tout aussi chere et tout aussi precieuse qu'auparavant; il est heureux de penser que la reunion de la conference sera un moyen de tout arranger, puisque l'opinion de la Sardaigne n'etait pas encore connue; elle creera par sa voix une majorite, et le Gouvernement francais ne faisant rien pour influencer l'opinion du Piemont, le cabinet de votre Majeste peut sans concession accepter cette combinaison. Je ne saurais assez dire combien pour ma part je suis tourmentee, car je voudrais partout et en tout voir nos deux pays marcher d'accord et surtout quand ils ont le meme but. Nous sommes a Compiegne depuis trois semaines, l'Empereur chasse souvent, ce qui l'amuse beaucoup et lui fait beaucoup de bien...
L'Empereur me charge de le mettre aux pieds de votre Majeste. Je la prie en meme temps de ne point nous oublier aupres du Prince Albert, et vous, Madame, croyez au tendre attachement que [je] vous ai voue et avec lequel je suis, Madame et tres chere S[oe]ur, de votre Majeste la toute devouee S[oe]ur,
EUGENIE.
[Footnote 55: Besides the complications arising out of the procrastination of Russia, in carrying out the Treaty of Paris, an international difficulty had lately arisen in Switzerland. A rising, professedly in defence of the hereditary interests of the King of Prussia, took place in the Canton of Neuchatel, but was suppressed, and some of the insurgents taken prisoners by the Republican Government. The King of Prussia virtually expressed his approval of the movement by claiming the liberation of the prisoners, and his action was, to some extent, countenanced by the French Emperor. The matter was finally adjusted in 1857.]
[Pageheading: M. DE PERSIGNY]
_The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria._
FOREIGN OFFICE, _11th November 1856_.
Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and humbly begs to transmit the letters which arrived yesterday together with a copy of Count Walewski's despatch.
Lord Clarendon begs to return his thanks to your Majesty for allowing him to see the Empress's letter.... The letter does not seem to require an answer at present.
Lord Clarendon had a conversation of two hours this morning with M. de Persigny, who fought all his battles o'er again, but did not say much beyond what Lord Cowley had reported. He is quite sure that the Emperor is as staunch as ever to the Alliance, and that he believes all his own personal interests as well as those of France are bound up with England. He said, too, that the Empress was not the least taken in by the flatteries of Russia, which she estimates at their _juste valeur_.
M. de Persigny seems to have performed an act of painful duty and rather of true devotion, by giving the Empress some advice about her own conduct and the fate she was preparing for herself if she was not more properly mindful of her position and the obligations it entails. Lord Clarendon has seldom heard anything more eloquent or more touching than the language of M. de Persigny in describing what he said to the Empress, who appears to have taken it in the best part, and to have begun acting upon the advice the next day. M. de Persigny has no doubt that Count Walewski will soon be removed from his present office, and will be _promoted to St. Petersburg_, but Lord Clarendon will wait to believe this until it is a _fait accompli_, as it is more likely than not that when M. de Persigny is no longer on the spot to urge the Emperor, Count Walewski will resume his influence.
Count Walewski's despatch made a very unfavourable impression upon the Cabinet, who were of opinion that upon such an invitation and such slender assurances respecting the course that Sardinia might take, we ought not to give up our solid and often repeated objections to reassembling the Congress--at all events it was considered that we ought to have a positive answer from Turin before we gave a final answer....
[Pageheading: SIR ALEXANDER COCKBURN]
_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._
PICCADILLY, _13th November 1856_.
Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to state that Sir Alexander Cockburn[56] accepts the office of Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, but expresses a strong wish not altogether to be shut out from Parliamentary functions. His health, which has frequently interfered with his attendance in the House of Commons, makes him feel uncertain as to the future, and he is not desirous of being immediately placed in the House of Lords, but he would be glad to be allowed to look forward to such a favour from your Majesty at some future time if he should find his health stand sufficiently good to give him a fair prospect of being useful in the House of Lords. He says that with the Baronetcy of an uncle he will succeed to an estate of L5,000 a year, independent of what he has realised by his own professional exertions; and that consequently there would be a provision for a Peerage. Viscount Palmerston begs to submit for your Majesty's gracious approval that such a prospect might be held out to Sir Alexander Cockburn. The Chancellor and Lord Lansdowne and Lord Granville concur with Viscount Palmerston in thinking that much public advantage would arise from the presence of both Sir Alexander Cockburn, and of the Master of the Rolls,[57] in the House of Lords, and there are numerous precedents for the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and for the Master of the Rolls being Peers of Parliament.[58] Their judicial duties would no doubt prevent them from sitting in the morning on appeal cases, but their presence in the evening in debates in which the opinions and learning of men holding high positions in the legal profession would be required, could not fail to be of great public advantage. Of course any expectation to be held out to Sir Alexander Cockburn would for the present be a confidential and private communication to himself....
[Footnote 56: Sir Alexander Cockburn's parliamentary success dated from his speech in the Don Pacifico debate; see _ante_, vol. ii., p. 252, note 23. He was made Solicitor-General shortly after, and then Attorney-General, being reappointed to the latter office in the end of 1852. He had defended both McNaghten and Pate for attacks on the Queen's person. The uncle whom he soon afterwards succeeded as baronet was now Dean of York.]
[Footnote 57: Sir John Romilly, created a peer in 1866.]
[Footnote 58: _E.g._, Lord Eldon in the former office; Lord Langdale in the latter.]
[Pageheading: PRINCE CHARLES OF LEININGEN]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _21st November 1856_.
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--On Vicky's sixteenth birthday I cannot write on black-edged paper, it looks too gloomy, and I begin by wishing you joy on this day, with the sincere hope that it will also _dans l'avenir_ prove to you one of satisfaction and happiness. I must now turn to your kind and affectionate letter of the 19th. I was sure that your warm heart would feel deeply the loss we have sustained.[59] You must, however, remember that you were ever a most affectionate sister, and that Charles was fully aware and most grateful for these your kind and sisterly sentiments. The real blow was last year; if that could have been mitigated, life might have been preserved under tolerable circumstances. As things, however, proceeded, if the present attack could have been warded off, Charles's existence would have been one of the most awful suffering, particularly for one whose mental disposition was quick and lively. Your sentiments on this occasion do you honour; it is by feelings like those you express that evidently _der Anknuepfungspunkt_ with a future life must be looked for, and that alone with such sentiments we can show ourselves fit for such an existence.
For your precious health we must now claim that you will not permit your imagination to dwell too much on the very melancholy picture of the last moments of one whom you loved, however natural it may be, and however difficult it is to dismiss such ideas.
Feo feels all this in a most beautiful and truly pious way. It is strange that November should be so full of sad anniversaries. I can well understand what Vicky must have suffered, as it could not be expected that Fritz Wilhelm could quite understand her grief....
Now I must leave you, remaining ever, my beloved Victoria, your truly devoted Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
My best love to Albert.
[Footnote 59: The Queen's half-brother, Prince Charles of Leiningen, had died on the 13th.]
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _24th November 1856_.
The Queen approves the recommendation of Mr Bickersteth[60] for the vacant Bishopric of Ripon, but she cannot disguise from herself that however excellent a man Mr Bickersteth may be, his appointment will be looked upon as a strong party one, as he is one of the leaders of the Low Church Party; but perhaps Lord Palmerston may be able in the case of possible future appointments to remove any impression of the Church patronage running unduly towards party extremes.
[Footnote 60: Mr Bickersteth (a nephew of Lord Langdale, a former Master of the Rolls) was then Rector of St Giles'. Lord Palmerston had written that he thought him well qualified for a diocese "full of manufacturers, clothier-workmen, Methodists, and Dissenters."]
[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S GRIEF]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th November 1856_.
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I was again prevented from writing to you yesterday as I intended, by multitudinous letters, etc. I therefore come only to-day with my warmest thanks for your most kind, feeling, and sympathising letter of the 23rd, which I _felt deeply_.
Poor dear Charles, I loved him _tenderly_ and _dearly_, and feel every day _more_ how impossible it is that the great blank caused by his loss should _ever_ be filled up, and how _impossible it is to realise_ the dreadful thought that I shall never see his dear, dear face again in this world! All the accounts of his peaceful death, of his fine and touching funeral, seem to me to be the descriptions of _another person's_ death and burial--not poor dear Charles's.
Don't fear for my health, it is particularly good--and _grief_ never seems to affect it; little worries and annoyances fret and irritate me, but _not great_ or sad events. And I _derive_ benefit and _relief_ both in my body and soul in _dwelling_ on the sad object which is _the_ one which fills my heart! The having to think and talk of other and indifferent things (I mean _not_ business so much) is very trying to my nerves, and does me harm.
Vicky is well again, and the young couple seem really very fond of each other. We have from living [together] for twelve days--as we did entirely alone with him and Vicky in our own apartments--got to know him much more intimately, and to be much more _a notre aise_ with him than we could be in the London season, and he is now quite _l'enfant de la maison!_ He is excellent and very sensible. I hope that you may be equally pleased and satisfied with _your_ future son-in-law.
I must now conclude in great haste; excellent Stockmar is particularly well and brisk. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._
OSBORNE, _8th December 1856_.
Lord Palmerston's explanation of Lord Panmure's object in proposing the appointment of a Director-General of Education of the Army in the Civil Department of its Government has but confirmed the Queen's apprehensions as to the effect of that step, if sanctioned. The Queen has for some time been expecting the proposal of a well-digested and considered plan for the education of the officers of the Army, and knows that the Duke of Cambridge has had such a one elaborated. Surely, in the absence of any fixed and approved system of education, it would be most imprudent to establish an Office for the discharge of certain important functions which are not yet defined. The Queen must therefore ask that the system of education to be in future adopted should first be submitted to her, and afterwards only the plan for the machinery which is to carry this out, the fitness of which can only be properly judged of with reference to the object in view.
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._
OSBORNE, _12th December 1856_.
The Queen returns the enclosed letters. Sir H. Bulwer's is a clever composition, showing his wit and powers of writing.
The Queen has never, however, seen anything from him producing the impression that great and important affairs would be safe in his hands.
The mission to Washington will be difficult to fill.[61] Is it necessary to be in a hurry about it? Lord Elgin is sure to perform the duties very well, but is his former position as Governor-General of Canada not too high for him to go to Washington as Minister?...
[Footnote 61: A complaint had been made by the Government of the United States of the unlawful enlistment in that country of recruits for the English army, and Mr Crampton, the British Minister at Washington, had been dismissed. Diplomatic relations were resumed after a suspension of some months; and Lord Napier was appointed British Minister in March 1857.]
[Pageheading: THE MAHARAJAH DHULEEP SINGH]
_Memorandum by Queen Victoria._
OSBORNE, _15th December 1856._
The Queen has seen the Memorandum which the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh has sent to the East India Company; she thinks all he asks very fair and reasonable, and she trusts that the East India Company will be able to comply with them. As we are in complete possession since 1849 of the Maharajah's enormous and splendid Kingdom, the Queen thinks we ought to do _everything_ (which does not interfere with the safety of her Indian dominions) to render the position of this interesting and peculiarly good and amiable Prince as agreeable as possible, and not to let him have the feeling that he is _a prisoner_.
His being a Christian and completely European (or rather more English) in his habits and feelings, renders this much more necessary, and at the same time more easy.
The Queen has a very strong feeling that everything should be done to show respect and kindness towards these poor fallen Indian Princes, whose Kingdoms we have taken from them, and who are naturally very sensitive to attention and kindness.
Amongst all these, however, the Maharajah stands to a certain degree alone, from his civilisation, and likewise from his having lost his kingdom when he was a child entirely by the faults and misdeeds of others.[62]
[Footnote 62: In reply, Mr Vernon Smith stated that he had brought all the Queen's wishes before the Company.]
[Pageheading: MILITARY EDUCATION]
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._
OSBORNE, _18th December 1856._
In answer to Lord Palmerston's explanation with regard to Colonel Lefroy's[63] appointment, the Queen has to say, that if he is to be made Inspector of Regimental Schools, she has no objection; but she must protest against his being made _Director_ of Education for the Army generally. We want a Director-General of Education very much, but he ought to be immediately under the Commander-in-Chief, if possible a General Officer of weight, assisted by a Board of Officers of the different Arms.
Education ought to be made one of the essential requisites of an officer, and the reports on his proficiency ought to go direct through the proper superior from the bottom to the top, particularly if selection by merit is to receive a greater application for the future. If for his military proficiency and moral discipline, an officer is to be responsible to his Military chief, but for his mental acquirements to a Civil department, the unity of the system will be broken and the Army ruined; and this _must_ be the case if the superintendence of the education is separated from the Military command.
The subject of Military Education has, as Lord Palmerston says, often been discussed in Parliament, which expects that some sufficient arrangement shall be made for it. But the mere creation of a place for an officer, however meritorious, to find him an equivalent for one which has to be reduced, can hardly be so called, and may even defeat the object itself. This subject is a most important one, and ought to be thoroughly examined before acting. The Queen understands that the Duke of Cambridge has transmitted to Lord Panmure a complete scheme, which must be now before him. If Lord Palmerston, Lord Panmure, the Duke of Cambridge, and the Prince were to meet to consider this scheme, and the whole question in connection with it, the Queen would feel every confidence that a satisfactory decision would be arrived at.
[Footnote 63: John Henry Lefroy, who now became Inspector-General of Army Schools, was an artillery officer of considerable scientific attainments. Many years later he was K.C.M.G. and Governor of Tasmania.]
[Pageheading: BESSARABIA]
_The Emperor of the French to Queen Victoria._
[_Undated._]
MADAME ET TRES CHERE S[OE]UR,--Le Prince Frederic Guillaume m'a remis la lettre que votre Majeste a bien voulu lui donner pour moi. Les expressions si amicales employees par votre Majeste m'ont vivement touche et quoique je fusse persuade que la diversite d'opinion de nos deux Gouvernements ne pouvait en rien alterer vos sentiments a mon egard, j'ai ete heureux d'en recevoir la douce confirmation. Le Prince de Prusse nous a beaucoup plu et je ne doute pas qu'il ne fasse le bonheur de la Princesse Royale, car il me semble avoir toutes les qualites de son age et de son rang. Nous avons tache de lui rendre le sejour de Paris aussi agreable que possible, mais je crois que ses pensees etaient toujours a Osborne ou a Windsor.
Il me tarde bien que toutes les discussions relatives au Traite de Paix aient un terme, car les partis en France en profitent pour tenter d'affaiblir l'intimite de l'alliance.[64] Je ne doute pas neanmoins que le bon sens populaire en fasse promptement justice de toutes les faussetes qu'on a repandues.
Votre Majeste, je l'espere, ne doutera jamais de mon desir de marcher d'accord avec son Gouvernement et du regret que j'eprouve quand momentairement cet accord n'existe pas.
En la priant de presenter mes hommages a S.A.R. la Duchesse de Kent et mes tendres amities au Prince, je lui renouvelle l'assurance de la sincere amitie et de l'entier devouement avec lesquels je suis, de votre Majeste, le bon Frere et Ami,
NAPOLEON.
[Footnote 64: A settlement with Russia of the disputed Bessarabian frontier was at length decided upon, on lines suggested by the Emperor to the British Government.]
_The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria._
THE GROVE, _22nd December 1856._
Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and humbly begs to transmit a letter from Lord Cowley, which contains the report of a curious conversation with the Emperor, and which might make a despatch not very unlike Sir H. Seymour's when he reported the
## partitioning views of the Emperor Nicholas.[65]
It is curious that in both cases the bribe to England should be Egypt. The Emperor of the French said nothing about the share of the spoils that France would look for, but His Majesty means Morocco, and Marshal Vaillant[66] talked to Lord Clarendon of Morocco as necessary to France, just as the Americans declare that the United States are not safe without Cuba....
[Footnote 65: See _ante_, 9th May, 1854, note 30. The Queen does not appear to have preserved a copy of Lord Cowley's letter.]
[Footnote 66: Minister of War.]
[Pageheading: THE DISPUTE ADJUSTED]
_Queen Victoria to the Emperor of the French._
CHATEAU DE WINDSOR, _le 31 Decembre 1856._
SIRE ET CHER FRERE,--Je saisis avec empressement l'occasion de la nouvelle annee pour remercier votre Majeste de son aimable lettre, en vous priant d'agreer mes bons v[oe]ux autant pour le bonheur de V.M. que pour celui de l'Imperatrice et de votre fils.
La nouvelle annee commence encore avec le bruit des preparatifs de guerre, mais j'espere qu'on restera aux preparatifs et apres le rapprochement qui a eu lieu entre vous, Sire, et la Prusse, j'ai toute confiance qu'il vous sera possible d'assurer une solution pacifique de cette question Suisse,[67] malheureusement envenimee par l'amour-propre froisse de tous cotes.
Je suis bien heureuse que nos difficultes survenues a l'execution du Traite de Paris soient maintenant entierement aplanies et que ce que V.M. signalait dans votre lettre comme une esperance soit a present une realite. Rien ne viendra desormais, je l'espere, troubler notre bonne entente qui donne une garantie si importante au bien-etre de l'Europe. Nous avons ete bien contents d'apprendre que notre futur gendre vous ait tant plu; il nous a ecrit plein de reconnaissance de l'aimable accueil que vous lui avez donne et plein d'admiration de tout ce qu'il a vu a Paris.
Ma mere se remet peu a peu de la terrible secousse qu'elle a eprouvee, et me charge ainsi que le Prince de leurs felicitations pour le jour de l'an.
J'embrasse l'Imperatrice et me dis pour toujours, Sire et cher Frere, de V.M.I., la bien affectionnee S[oe]ur, et fidele Amie,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 67: See _ante_, 7th November, 1856, note 55.]
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
TO