THE FRENCH VISIT
Melbourne,6th September 1843.
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks your Majesty much for your letter of the 27th ult., which he received here some days ago. We have been quite dismayed and overwhelmed with the melancholy intelligence of death after death which has followed us. I was much concerned for poor Charles Howard's loss, but we were quite struck down by the melancholy event of poor Mrs W. Cowper.62She promised to suit us all well, my sister particularly, and to be a great source of happiness and comfort.
Your Majesty is quite right in supposing that Lord Melbourne would at once attribute your Majesty's visit to the Château d'Eu to its right cause—your Majesty's friendship and affection for the French Royal Family, and not to any political object. The principal motive now is to take care that it does not get mixed either in reality or in appearance with politics, and Lord Melbourne cannot conceal from your Majesty that he should lament it much if the result of the visit should turn out to be a treaty upon any European matter, unfavourable to England and favourable to France. Do not let them make any treaty or agreement there. It can be done elsewhere just as well, and without any of the suspicion which is sure to attach to any transaction which takes place there.
Footnote 62: Mr and Mrs William Cowper had only been married on 24th June.
Laeken,8th September 1843.
My dearest and most beloved Victoria,—I have been highly gratified that you found a moment to write me such a dear letter. I am sure that the personal contact with the family at Eu would interest you, and at the same time remove some impressions on the subject of the King, which are really untrue. Particularly the attempt of representing him like the most astute of men, calculating constantly everything to deceive people.
His vivacity alone would render such a system extremely difficult, and if he appears occasionally to speak too much and to seem to hold a different language to different people, it is a good deal owing to his vivacity and his anxiety to carry conviction to people's mind.
The impression of your visit will besides do wonders in removing the silly irritation which had been got up since 1840, and which might have in the end occasioned serious mischief, and that without beingin the leastcalled for, the passions ofnations become very inconvenient sometimes for their Governors.... Your devoted Uncle,
Leopold R.
My best love to dearest Albert; he seems to have had the greatest success, and I am very glad of it, as it had some time ago been the fashion to invent all sorts of nonsense.
I left Stockmar extremely hypochondriacal, but I trust not so unwell as he fancied. His son accompanies him to Coburg.
THE QUEEN'S RETURN
On board theVictoria and Albert,in the River,6321st September 1843.
My dearly beloved Uncle,—I seize the first opportunity of informing you of our excellent passage; we shall be in half-an-hour or three-quarters at Woolwich; it is now half-past tenA.M.The day and night were beautiful, and it is again, very fine to-day. We anchored in Margate Roads at eleven last night, and set off again about five.
Let me thank you and my beloved Louise in both our names again for yourgreat kindnessto us, which, believe me, we feeldeeply. We wereso happywith you, and the stay wasso delightful, but so painfully short! It was such a joy for me to be once again under the roof of one who has ever been a father to me! I wasverysad after you left us; it seems so strange that all should be over—but thedelightfulsouvenir willeverremain. To leave my dearest Louise too was so painful—and also poor Aunt Julia,64so immediately after making her acquaintance; pray tell her that, for me. I shall write to Louise to-morrow. You must forgive my hand being so trembling, but we arelighterthan usual, which causes the tremulous motion to be so much more felt.
That God may bless and protect youall alwaysis our fervent prayer. Believe me, always, your devoted and grateful Niece and Child,
Victoria R.
Footnote 63: On the 12th the Queen and Prince Albert sailed from Brighton on a visit to King Leopold. They visited Ostend, Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp.
Footnote 64: Sister of the Duchess of Kent, married to the Grand Duke Constantine.
Windsor Castle,22nd September 1843.
The Queen has received Sir James Graham's letter of the 22nd.65She has long seen with deep concern the lamentable state of turbulence in South Wales, and has repeatedly urged the necessity of its being put an end to, byvigorousefforts on the part of the Government. The Queen, therefore, willinglygives her sanction to the issuing of a special Commission for the trial of the offenders and to the issuing of a proclamation. Monday, the 2nd, being the earliest day at which, Sir James says, the necessary Council could be held, will suit the Queen very well; she begs, therefore, that Sir James will cause the Council to meet here on that day at three o'clock.
Footnote 65: The insurrection of the Rebeccaites was assuming a more dangerous form, and at Hendy Gate they committed a cold-blooded act of murder.
MATRIMONIAL PROJECTS
Windsor Castle,26th September 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—I cannot sufficiently thank you for your twomost kindand affectionate letters of the 22nd and 23rd, which gave me the greatest pleasure.How oftenwe think of ourdearanddelightfulvisit it is impossible for me to say; indeed, I fear thesetwonever-to-be-forgottenvoyagesandvisitshave made me think Windsor and its daily occurrences very dull. But this is very ungrateful for what I have had, which is so much more than I ever dared to hope for. The weather is become colder, and yesterday and the day before were horrid, foggy, raw days; to-day it is finer again....
Feodore and Ernest came to us yesterday, and I find them bothverywell; Feodore is, I think, grown more serious than she was....
You remember that when we were together we talked of who Aumale could marry; he will only marry a Catholic, and no Spaniard, no Neapolitan, no Austrian, and also no Brazilian, as Louise tells me. Why should not Princess Alexandrine of Bavaria do? It would be a good connection, and you say (though not as pretty as Princess Hildegarde) that she is not ill-looking.Qu'en pensez-vous?Then forTatane66—a Princess of Saxony would be extremelypasslich.
How long does Aunt Julia stay with you?
Albert, I suppose, writes to you, and I, dearest Uncle, remain ever and ever, yourmost trulydevoted andwarmly attachedNiece,
Victoria R.
We find Pussy amazingly advanced in intellect, but alas! also in naughtiness. I hold up Charlotte as an example of every virtue, which has its effect; for when she is going to be naughty she says: "Dear Ma, what does cousin Charlotte do?"
Footnote 66: Antoine, Duc de Montpensier.
ROYAL VISITORS
Windsor Castle,3rd October 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—Many, many thanks for your kind letter of the 28th, received on Sunday, which was written fromthe Camp of Beverloo, which Albert recollects withgreat pleasureand interest, having amused himself so much there.
I can give you excellent accounts of ourselves. The boy returned from Brighton yesterday, looking really the picture of health, and muchembelli; Pussy is in great force, but not to be compared to Charlotte in beauty; and Fatima (aliasAlice) is as enormous and flourishing as ever. Dearest Louise seems much pleased with Aunt Julia, which I am glad of, and I rejoice that poor Aunt has had the happiness of making my beloved Louise's acquaintance, for it will be a happy recollection for her in her solitude.
We expect the Grand Duke Michael here this afternoon; he is to stay till Friday. The Michael Woronzows,67with a son and daughter, are also coming, and we shall be a large party, and are going to dine in the Waterloo Gallery, which makes a very handsome dining-room, and sit after dinner in that beautiful grand Reception Room.HowI envy your going to that dear French family! I hope that you will like my favourite Chica. I trust, however, that you willnotstay too long away for your good people's sake.
Not being quite sure of your going, I shall direct this to Brussels still.
We went this morning to Kew, visited the old Palace—which is not at all a bad house—the Botanical Gardens, and then my Aunt's.68
The Revolution at Athens69looks likele commencement de la fin; it wasveryunanimous.
Now, dearest Uncle, adieu! Ever, your most affectionate Niece,
Victoria R.
Footnote 67: Prince Michael Woronzow (1782-1856) was a plenipotentiary at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818), and was in command at the siege of Varna in 1828.
Footnote 68: The Duchess of Cambridge.
Footnote 69: A bloodless revolution had taken place on the 14th of September, partly in consequence of King Otho exercising his patronage in favour of Bavarians rather than Greeks. He now acceded to the popular demands.
THE DUC DE BORDEAUX
Windsor Castle,9th October 1843.
The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's two letters. She has been reflecting upon his proposition that Mr Lytton Bulwer70should be appointed Minister at Madrid, and quite approves it. The Queen trusts that he will try and keep on the best terms with the French Minister there, and that without in any way weakening our interests, the representatives of these two powerful countries will acttogether. The Queenfeelscertainthat if it is known byourrespective Ministers thatbothGovernmentswishto acttogether, and notagainstone another, that much irritation will be avoided; and that our agents, particularly in distant countries, will understand that they arenotfulfilling the wishes of their Sovereign by representing every little incident in the most unfavourable light....
The Queen hopes that Lord Aberdeen will take some early opportunity of employing Mr Aston. Who will replace Mr Bulwer at Paris? his successor ought to be an efficient man, as Lord Cowley71is rather infirm. The Queen regrets to say that the Duc de Bordeaux72is coming here; he really must not be received by the Queen, as she fears his reception at Berlin has donenogood; and altogether, from what she sees in the papers, she fears there is no good purpose in his coming here.
Footnote 70: Afterwards Lord Dalling.
Footnote 71: Lord Cowley, brother of the Duke of Wellington, and one of four brothers all either raised in or promoted to the peerage, was now seventy years of age. In after-years his son was also Ambassador at Paris.
Footnote 72: Afterwards known as Comte de Chambord, and claiming the French throne as Henri V.: he was grandson of Charles X., and at this time about twenty-three years of age.
Windsor Castle,13th October 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—It is not my day, but my object in writing is to speak to you about thedearNemours' visit, which we are so anxious to see accomplished. Louise writes to me about the Duke of Bordeaux coming to England making some difficulty, and I wish therefore to state what we know of the affair. Weunderstand(for of course we have had no direct communication) that the Duc de Bordeaux has embarked at Hamburg forHull, and intends travelling in Scotlandbeforehe visits England, andthatincognito and under the name of Comtetel et tel; his being in Scotland when Nemours is in England, and particularlyon a visit to us here,couldmakenodifficulty, and even if he were travelling aboutincognitoin England, it could not signify, I think. Moreover, I feel certain that if he knew thatIhad invited the Nemours and that they were coming over shortly, he would go away, as the Legitimists would not be pleased at Nemours beingfêtedby me—while their Henry V. wasnoteven noticed or received. I could easily, and indeed have almost done so, make it known generally thatIexpect the Nemours, and I would sayimmediately, and he would be sure to get out of the way. I cannot tell youhow veryanxious we are to see the Nemours; I have been thinking of nothing else, and to lose this great pleasure would be too mortifying. Moreover, as I really andtruly do not think it need be, it would bebestif the Nemours could comebeforethe 10th of November; which is thelatestterm when they could come? Now pray, dearest Uncle, do settle this for me; you have no notionhowwe wish it. I will be sure to let you know what I hear, and if there is anything you could suggest about this, I need not say but that we shall attend to it with pleasure. The Grand Duke Michael will be gone by the end of this month.Ainsi je mets cette chère visite dans vos mains. Ever your devoted Niece,
VictoriaR.
Pray, dearest Uncle, let me have an answer by the next post about this, as I am all in afidgetabout it.
ARREST OF O'CONNELL
Windsor Castle,17th October 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—Your kind letter of the 13th I received yesterday, and return you my warmest thanks for it....
By your letter, and by one I received from Victoire yesterday morning, I see every reason to hope that we shall see the dear Nemours, for there will be no difficulty to prevent that poor stupid Duc de Bordeaux from beingin Londonat the time. He is to be informed indirectly that the Nemours are coming at the beginning of next month on a visit to us, in consequence of a pressing invitation of ours; this alone will keep him off, as the contrast would be disagreeable to the Legitimists. Independent of this, his disembarkation at Hull, and proceeding at once to Scotland, seems to indicate his wish to be in private.
The great event of the day is O'Connell's arrest;73they have found bail, but the trial will shortly commence. The case against him isverystrong, the lawyers say.
Everything is perfectly quiet at Dublin. You will have seen how O'Connell has abused the King; it is all because our visit to Eu has put an end toanyhopes of assistance from France, which he pretended there would be, and he now declares for the Duc de Bordeaux!...
You must encourage the dear King and Queen to send over some of the dear family often to us;ils seront reçus a bras ouverts....
We intend to take advantage of Feodore and Ernest's going to the Queen Dowager's to pay a visit to Cambridge, where we have never been; we mean to set off to-morrow week, to sleep at Trinity Lodge that night, and the two following nights atLord Hardwicke's,74which is close to Cambridge. These journeys are very popular, and please and interest Albert very much.... Believe me, always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate Niece,
Victoria R.
Footnote 73: After the official prohibition on 7th October of the intended Clontarf meeting, O'Connell and others were arrested in Dublin for conspiracy. After giving bail, O'Connell issued an address to the Irish people. The trial was postponed till the following year.
Footnote 74: Wimpole, near Royston, nine miles from Cambridge.
THE DUC DE BORDEAUX
Drayton Manor,20th October 1843.
Sir,—The enclosed letter75from Sir James Graham to me (which as your Royal Highness will perceive isentirely of a private character) contains details of a conversation with Baron Neumann which will, I think, be interesting to Her Majesty and to your Royal Highness; and knowing your Royal Highness will consider the communication a confidential one, I prefer sending the letterin extensoto the making of any extracts from it.
I am afraid there is more in the Duc de Bordeaux's visit than the mere gratification of a desire on his part to see again places with which he was familiar in his youth.
If, however, he should be so ill-advised as to make any political demonstration, or to ally himself with any particular party in this country, he would, in my opinion, derive little from it, and there would be the opportunity of giving to the King of the French a new proof of our fidelity to our engagements, and of the steadiness of our friendship towards him and his dynasty.
The great body of the French people would comprehend the object of any such demonstrations on the part of the Duc de Bordeaux, and would, it is to be hoped, see in them an additional motive for union in support of the King, and confidence in the honour and integrity of this country.
I will not fail to inform the Grand Duke of Her Majesty's intended visit to Cambridge, and to suggest to him that it will not be convenient to the Queen to receive him at Windsor before Saturday at the earliest, and probably Monday.
On the day after I spoke to your Royal Highness I gave instructions for enquiries to be made respecting the two properties in the Isle of Wight.76It is necessary to make such enquiries through some very confidential channel, as a suspicion of the object of them would probably greatly enhance the price.
The party on whom I could entirely rely was out of town,but will return to-morrow, and will immediately find out what he can respecting the properties.
The result shall be made known to the Queen and your Royal Highness without delay.
Will your Royal Highness have the goodness to mention this to Her Majesty?...
I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal Highness's most faithful and humble Servant,
Robert Peel.
Footnote 75: Referring to the visit of the Duc de Bordeaux.
Footnote 76: The Queen and the Prince were at this time making enquiries about a suitable residence in the Isle of Wight. The purchase of Osborne resulted.
THE QUEEN'S DECISION
Windsor Castle,21st October 1843.
My dear Sir Robert,—I return you Sir James Graham's letter. There is a pretty general impression of the Duc de Bordeaux's visit being a got-up thing for various political intrigues. I confess I do not understand the link with Ireland, or at least the importance of his being well received by the Roman Catholics, but am strongly impressed that his presence whether in Scotland, England, or Ireland is for no good, and therefore think it our duty that we should render it difficult for him to protract it. The Queen and myself think that the uncertainty of his being received at Court or not is doing harm, and wouldmuchwish, therefore, that it wasdecidedlystatedthat the Queen will not receive him. His coming here without ever asking (indeed knowing that it was disliked), as well as the part which Austria and Prussia seem to have taken in the matter, do not strengthen his claim for such a favour. No good can come from the reception, and the King of the French must prefer its not taking place. Let us, therefore, settle that point, and show that we are neither afraid of him nor prepared to be made dupes of.
The Queen is desirous that no official person should treat the Duke with a distinction which is likely to attract unnecessary attention. Believe me, always yours truly,
Albert.
THE DUC DE NEMOURS
Windsor Castle,24th October 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—I had the happiness of receiving your most kind letter of the 20th yesterday, for which I thank you very much. The good news of the dear Nemours coming is a great happiness to us, and I fervently hope and trust that the Duc de Bordeaux will be kept off, which Ifullyexpect he will.Suppose, however, he couldnotbe, and the Nemours could not comethen, would the King not kindly allow them to come later? Even if the Chambers were to be sitting—such a littleAusflugof ten days only could really not be a great inconvenience? Surely if you were to mention this to the dear King, with my affectionate respects, he would grant it. It is besides only incaseBordeaux should come to London, which Ireallythink he willnot, if he once knows that the Nemours are coming. And I must add that I think Nemours not coming atallthis year, after it had been announced, would have a bad effect, particularly as people here think that some great Powers have instigated Bordeaux's coming here,—and even think that the Roman Catholics and Repealers in Ireland mean to make use of him. Consequently Nemoursnotcomingat all, should he be prevented from coming at the beginning of November, would not be a good thingpolitically, independent of theextreme disappointmentit would cause us....
The accounts both you and Louise gave me of good Hadjy and Chica give me great pleasure, as I take a lively interest in both, and am very fond of them. We found amongst some very curious old miniatures several of Catherine of Braganza when young (Charles II.'s wife), which are so like Chica;77it is curious how sometimes you can trace likenesses many generations back....
Pray offer our respects toall. How long do you stay? Ever your devoted niece,
Victoria R.
Footnote 77: The Princess de Joinville was a sister of Queen Maria II. of Portugal, and Queen Catherine of Braganza was daughter of King John IV.
THE DUC DE BORDEAUX
Drumlanrig,27th October 1843.
Lord Aberdeen, with his humble duty, begs to lay before your Majesty another letter received last night from Lord Morton,78which gives an account of the visit of the Duc de Bordeaux, and of his further communication with the Duc de Lévis on the projects and views of His Royal Highness.
Lord Aberdeen has ventured to submit this letter to your Majesty, although not intended for your Majesty's perusal, as it gives a pleasing and satisfactory description of the conduct and sentiments of this unfortunate Prince.
In order to explain to your Majesty how Lord Morton, who lives in a very retired manner, should have received a visitfrom the Duc de Bordeaux, Lord Aberdeen begs to mention that when the family of Charles X. resided at Edinburgh, after the Revolution of July 1830, they received information more than once, from the present Royal Family of France, that certain desperate characters had left Paris for Edinburgh, with the intention of assassinating the Duc de Bordeaux, in order to prevent all possibility of a Restoration. In consequence of this information, it was thought to be dangerous for the Prince to walk or to expose himself in the neighbourhood of Holyrood House. He was frequently driven in a carriage to Lord Morton's,79where he remained for a few hours, taking exercise in the park, and playing with Lord Morton's children. It is the recollection of this which has led the Prince to make his acknowledgments on the present occasion.
Lord Aberdeen also begs humbly to mention to your Majesty that on his arrival here he found the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch in expectation of a visit from the Duc de Bordeaux, on his way from Glasgow to Carlisle. Lord Aberdeen informed the Duke and Duchess of the objections which might exist to this visit; but he believes that communications on the subject had already gone too far to render it possible to break it off with any degree of propriety. The great attentions paid by the Duke and his predecessors to the French Royal Family, both during the former and last emigration, sufficient account for this desire on the part of the Prince.
Footnote 78: George Sholto, nineteenth Earl of Morton (1789-1858).
Footnote 79: Dalmahoy, Midlothian.
VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE
Windsor Castle,31st October 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—I had the pleasure of receiving your dear and kind letter of the 27th yesterday, by which I learn that you are all well and going on the 4th. Forgive me, dearest Uncle, if I say that I am glad that you areat lengthgoing back to Belgium, as (though I fully understand frompersonalexperience how delightful it must be to be in the midst of that dear and perfect family) I think these long absences distress your faithful Belgians a little.
We returned on Saturday, highly pleased and interested with our tour,80though a littledone up. I seldom remembermore enthusiasm than was shown at Cambridge, and in particular by the Undergraduates. They received my dear Angel, too, with the greatest enthusiasm. This is useful, as these young peoplewill all, in time, have a certain part to play; they are the rising generation, and an event of this kind makes a lasting impression on their minds.
You will have heard from Louise that there is no longer any impediment to the dear Nemours coming, which you may easily conceive gives me the greatest satisfaction. Since then, I have heard that Bordeaux does not intend visiting London till he sees by the papers that the Nemours are gone. I saw a letter from a gentleman, with whom he had been staying, and who says that he is very pleasing and unaffected, and very easily amused, and quite pleased "with missing a few pheasants, and dancing quadrilles in the evening to a pianoforte." Poor fellow! his fate certainly is a melancholy one. He should renounce, buy some property in Germany, and marry, and settle there.
I am glad to hear of Montpensier's arrival, and that my favourite Chica is in your good graces; she is a dear natural child. I am so impatient to see my dear Victoire and good Nemours—who was always a great ally of mine—again!
The Grand Duke came here last night, and goes away after luncheon, and leaves England on Thursday. He is charmed with all he has seen, and I must say is very amiable and civil. He has got a most charming large dog, called Dragon, like a Newfoundland, only brown and white, with the most expressive eyes imaginable andsi bien dressé. Prince Alexander of the Netherlands is also coming down to take leave this week. We never had so many visitors.
I am beyond everything interested with that beautiful novel by Rellstab,811812, which I know you admire so much. The description of the Russian Campaign is incomparable, and so beautifully written. You quiteseeeverything before you. Have you read his other,Paris und Algier? By the by, have you read Custine's82book on Russia? They say it is very severe on Russia, and full of hatred to the English.
We found the children very well, and Bertie quite recovered, but poor fat Alice (who, Imustsay, is becomingverypretty) has had the earache.
Mamma with Feo and Ernest are with the Queen Dowager at Witley Court since Thursday last, and only return nextThursday (the day after to-morrow). Clem seems very happy, and writes that she is happiest when she istête-à-têtewith poor Gusti, whichIshouldnotfancy. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
BETROTHAL OF THE DUC D'AUMALE
I open my letter, dearest Uncle, to say that I havejustseen in a confidential despatch from Lord Cowley that Aumale is authorised to ask for the hand of the daughter of the Prince de Salerno83(a singular coincidence after what I wrote to you inutter ignoranceof this report), and that he was also to find out what the opinions of the Neapolitan Royal Family were respecting an alliance with the Queen of Spain. But tell me, dearest Uncle, if these reports are true? You mayrelyon my discretion, and I shall not breathe a word of what you may answer me, if you wish the secret to be kept.
Footnote 80: The Royal party went by road from Paddington to Cambridge, and stayed at the Lodge at Trinity; on the following day Prince Albert was made LL.D. The party then went to Wimpole, and visited Bourn (Lord Delawarr's). At the ball which was given at Wimpole, there was a sofa, covered with a piece of drapery given by Louis XIV. to the poet Prior and by him to Lord Oxford, the owner of Wimpole, before its purchase by Lord Chancellor Hardwicke.SeeLord Melbourne's letter of 7th November,post, p.503.
Footnote 81: Louis Rellstab (1799-1860), a prolific German writer of novels, whose thinly-veiled attacks on public men earned him at one time a sentence of imprisonment.
Footnote 82: The Marquis Astolphe de Custine (1790-1857), author ofLa Russie en 1839, at this time recently published.
Footnote 83: The Due d'Aumale married in November 1844, Caroline, daughter of the Prince and Princess of Salerno.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Drayton Manor,31st October 1843.
Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs leave to return to your Majesty the accompanying communication from Lord Ellenborough, and a letter which your Majesty proposes to send to Lord Ellenborough.
In compliance with your Majesty's desire that Sir Robert Peel should inform your Majesty whether he sees anything objectionable in that letter, Sir Robert Peel humbly represents to your Majesty that he does not think it would be advisable for your Majesty personally to express to the Governor-General of India your Majesty's opinion with regard either to the policy of retaining Scinde,84as being of the greatest importance to the security of the Indian Empire, or as to the completeness of the defence of Sir Charles Napier from the accusations brought against him.
He humbly and most respectfully takes the liberty of submitting to your Majesty, that these being matters of important public concern, the regular and constitutional channel for conveying the opinion of your Majesty with respect to them would be through your Majesty's servants.
In the particular case, indeed, of India, instructions do not proceed from your Majesty's servants, directly signifying your Majesty's pleasure, but are conveyed in despatches to theGovernor-General, signed by the three members of the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors.
The Secret Court of Directors—that is, the whole Court acting in secret—have come to a Resolution (in Sir Robert Peel's opinion very unwisely and precipitately) expressing the gravest doubt, on their part, as to the policy and justice of the recent transactions in Scinde.85
The Court is aware that your Majesty's servants disapprove of this proceeding on their part, and that they have declined to transmit officially to Lord Ellenborough, through the Secret Committee, the condemnatory Resolution of the Court. One of the grounds on which they deprecated the Resolution was the passing of it in the absence of full and complete information from India, in respect to the policy and to the events which led to the occupation of Scinde.
Under these circumstances, as well on the general Constitutional ground, as with reference to the present state of the public correspondence in regard to Scinde, and the particular relation of the Governor-General to the East India Company, and the Court of Directors, Sir Robert Peel humbly advises your Majesty to forbear from expressing an opinion, in a private communication to the Governor-General, with regard to events in Scinde or to the policy hereafter to be pursued in respect to that country. Sir Robert Peel begs to add that in a private letter by the last mail to Lord Ripon, Lord Ellenborough observes that he is going on very harmoniously with the Members of Council at Calcutta.
Footnote 84: Earlier in the year Lord Ellenborough had appointed Sir Charles Napier Governor of Scinde, and had by Proclamation applied the Slave Trade and Slavery Abolition Acts to Scinde.
Footnote 85: See Parker'sSir Robert Peel, vol. iii. chap. 1.
Melbourne,7th November 1843.
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks your Majesty much for the letter of the 4th inst., which he has received this morning with great satisfaction. Lord Melbourne hears with great pleasure of the gratification which your Majesty and the Prince received in your visit to Cambridge. Lord Melbourne collects from all the accounts that the proceedings in the Senate House were not only full of loyalty, enthusiasm, and gratitude, but also perfectly decorous, respectful, academic, and free from all those political cries which have recently prevailed so much in the theatre at Oxford on similar occasions.86Lord Melbourne hopes he is within [the mark]; if he is it forms a remarkable and advantageouscontrast. Lord Melbourne does not know anywhere a better account of Cambridge, its foundations, and the historical recollections of its founders, than is given in Mr. Gray's ode on the installation of the Duke of Grafton, which it would not be amiss to read with the large explanatory notes that are given in the editions of Mason and Mathias.87
Lord Melbourne is very partial to Lord Hardwicke, who always is and has been very civil and good-natured to Lord Melbourne, and these are qualities to which Lord Melbourne is not at all indifferent. Wimpole is a curious place. Lord Melbourne is not exactly aware how the Yorkes got hold of it.88There is much history and more poetry connected with it. Prior89mentions it repeatedly, and always calls the first Lady Harley, the daughter of the Duke of Newcastle, Belphebe.90If Hardwicke should have a daughter, he should christen her Belphebe. The Lady Belphebe Yorke would not sound ill....
Footnote 86: Seeante, p.292.
Footnote 87: Gray, the poet, who had been appointed by the Duke Professor of Modern History, composed an ode (set to music by Randall) for the latter's installation as Chancellor, on 1st July 1769.
Footnote 88: The cultured but indolent Edward, Lord Harley, afterwards Earl of Oxford (son of the great minister), sold Wimpole to Lord Chancellor Hardwicke in 1740 to pay off a debt of £100,000. He had married Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles, daughter and heiress of John, Duke of Newcastle, who brought him £500,000, most of which he dissipated. Their only child, Margaret, the "noble lovely little Peggy" of Prior, married William Bentinck, second Duke of Portland. Lady Oxford sold to the nation the "Harleian Collection" of manuscripts, now in the British Museum.
Footnote 89: Who died there in 1721.
Footnote 90: Alluding to the rarely printed poem "Colin's Mistakes," where "Bright Ca'ndish Holles Harley" is seen in the glades of Wimpole by the dreamy youth, and mistaken for Gloriana, Belphebe, etc.
PROPOSED VISIT TO PEEL
Whitehall,9th November 1843.
Sir,—I was greatly gratified by learning on my return to London last night from Witley Court that it is not improbable that Her Majesty and your Royal Highness may confer the high honour of a visit to Drayton Manor towards the conclusion of the present month.
I venture to think, from what I saw of Witley Court, that the arrangement proposed by your Royal Highness will be more convenient to Her Majesty than the staying at Witley Court.
I can assure your Royal Highness that nothing shall be left undone by Lady Peel and me to contribute to the comfort of Her Majesty and your Royal Highness during your occupation of Drayton Manor, and to mark our sense of the kind condescension of Her Majesty and your Royal Highness in making it your abode.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal Highness's most faithful and humble Servant,
Robert Peel.
TRAVELLING ARRANGEMENTS
Whitehall,Sunday, 12th November 1843.
Sir,—I send to your Royal Highness a little book which is published every month, giving very useful information as to distances, or at least times, on all the railways. Possibly your Royal Highness has this book regularly sent to you.
I think, before Her Majesty promises a visit to Witley Court, there are one or two points worthy of consideration which are in favour of proposing to the Queen Dowager to meet the Queen at Drayton Manor first. The Queen would have to go and to return in the same day. The Queen Dowager might remain either one night or two nights at Drayton. Secondly, the Birmingham and Derby line is not on the same level with the line which goes to Droitwich (eleven miles from Witley Court), and there is a little delay in posting a carriage, or in passing from the lower line of railway to the upper.
Thirdly, there is the passage for Her Majesty, though not through Birmingham as in an ordinary travelling carriage, yet in the immediate outskirts of the town, and this twice in the same day.
The Corporation (which is a completely Radical one) might solicit permission to present an Address to Her Majesty at the station.
There would, I am sure, be nothing but demonstrations of the greatest loyalty and attachment to Her Majesty, but there would probably be a great concourse of people, and some delay, if the Address were received.
Perhaps your Royal Highness will think of these suggestions, which I am induced to offer by the desire to foresee everything which may have a bearing upon the personal comfort of the Queen.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal Highness's most faithful and humble Servant,
Robert Peel.