THE DUCHESSE DE NEMOURS
Windsor Castle,14th November 1843.
My dearest, kindest Uncle,—A long and mostinterestingletter reached me on Sunday, dated 9th and 10th, and I begto return my warmest thanks for it. The confidence you show me I feel deeply and gratefully, and you may rely on my discretion. Before I touch upon any of the subjects in your letter I will give you news of our visitors. The dear Nemours arrived safely after a good passage on Saturday, well but very tired. They are now quite recovered, and we are too happy to have them here. Nemours looks well, and is very kind and amiable, but I think there is a seriousness since poor Chartres' death which used not to be formerly, though he always wasreserved, and that, I think, he isnotnow. Dearest Victoire isamazinglyimproved anddéveloppée—really quite wonderfully so. We are all so struck by it, by her good sense and by her conversation; and with that she has kept that innocence and gentleness which she always had—and isso lovely, dear sweet child. I must always look at her, and she, dear child, seems so pleased to see me again. I find hergrown, but grown very thin, and she has not those bright colours she used to have. All that you say of Bordeaux is just what Nemours says, and what Guizot writes, and whatIand also Sir Robert Peelalwaysfelt and thought. Aberdeen, with the greatest wish to doallthat is kind and right,really thoughtthat B. was only come to amuse himself, and had no idea tillnowthat the feeling in France inallthe different parties was so strong. You will have heard by this time that we have decidednotto receive B. inany waywhatever. It is a pleasure to hear how mildly and sensibly Nemours speaks upon all these subjects, and indeed every subject....
I think you diduncommonly rightin what you answered the poor King about thearrêtéin favour of thePrussians, and I am very glad youhavedone so. It will have a good effect here.
Louise will tell you how we celebrated good Bertie's birthday. The children are in great favour with the Nemours.
Pray, dearest Uncle, do not forget to send me the list of Rellstab's works. We think of making another little tour after the dear Nemours' departure, to Drayton (Sir Robert Peel's), Chatsworth, and Belvoir.
We are very sorry to lose dear Feo and Ernest. They are so good and excellent, and she is sobrav. Ever, your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
BIRMINGHAM
[Memorandum enclosed from Sir Robert Peel to Prince Albert, about the political condition of Birmingham, which the Prince was intending to visit.]
The Mayor is a hosier—ofextremepolitical opinions—in fact, a Chartist.
The contest for the office of Mayor was between him and a man of Radical opinions, but Chartism prevailed.
The Mayor has taken a violent part, before his Mayoralty, against Church Rates, and in reference to the state of Ireland.
The Conservative party took no part whatever in the Municipal Elections, and would not vote.
They would, if invited or permitted by the Mayor and Town Council, cordially co-operate with men of opposite opinions in any mark of respect to the Prince.
No probability of any tumult or of any demonstration but one of respect personally towards the Prince, if his visit be clearly and manifestly unconnected with politics.
An immense concourse of people must be expected, not only from Birmingham, but Wolverhampton, Walsall, and all the neighbouring towns, and previous police arrangements must be very carefully made.
There may be a proposal of a collation and of an Address, to be received in the Town Hall.
Should not the Lord Lieutenant (Lord Warwick) have notice?
Is the Mayor to accompany the Prince in the same carriage?91
The Mayor has no carriage.
No communication should be made to any party in Birmingham, except to the municipal authorities, notwithstanding their political bias andextremeopinions.
The late Mayor, Mr James, though a Radical, would have summoned the leading men of different parties.
Doubts as to whether the present Mayor would, or whether he would not, place the whole arrangement in the hands of the party with which he is connected.
This risk must be incurred, as communications to other parties would not be advisable.
Footnote 91: This was the course adopted.
THE DUC DE BORDEAUX
Foreign Office,1st December 1843.
Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has not yet received any communication from the Duc de Lévis, notwithstanding he had been led to expect it, from a notice repeatedly conveyed to him to that effect. It seems probable that in consequence of what the Duc de Lévis may have heard, as well as from the course pursued by the friends of the Duc de Bordeaux, Lord Aberdeen may not now see him at all. Should this be the case, Lord Aberdeen is rather inclinedto regret it; as although he would formerly have seen him with some reluctance, he would now be glad to have an opportunity of expressing his sentiments very plainly respecting the proceedings of the Prince and his adherents in this country.
Lord Aberdeen understands from Sir Robert Peel that your Majesty would like to be informed of any particulars connected with the Levée lately held by the Duc de Bordeaux. Lord Aberdeen would willingly communicate these particulars, but in reality there is very little to be added to the official accounts contained in theMorning Post, which it is obvious are inserted by authority. He saw M. de Ste Aulaire this morning, who was a good deal excited by what has taken place, and has written very fully to Paris; but he knew nothing more than he had seen in the newspapers.
It may perhaps be worth mentioning to your Majesty that at the presentation of the Address by M. Chateaubriand92on Friday, the cries of "Vive le Roi!" and "Vive Henri V.!" were so loud as to be distinctly audible in the Square. Lord Aberdeen understands that this enthusiasm has been the cause of serious differences amongst many of those who had come to pay their respects to the Duc de Bordeaux, a large portion of whom are by no means disposed to recognise him as King during the life of the Duc d'Angoulême.93
Lord Aberdeen cannot learn that any other member of the Diplomatic Body has been presented to the Duc de Bordeaux, and does not believe that any such presentation has taken place. Indeed, there appears to be a general disinclination that such should be the case; although some of them feel considerable difficulty in consequence of the relationship existing between their Sovereigns and the Prince.
Footnote 92: François, Vicomte de Chateaubriand (1768-1848), a great supporter of the Bourbons, and made a Peer in 1815. He was Ambassador in London in 1822.
Footnote 93: Eldest son of Charles X.
Chatsworth,3rd December 1843.
The Queen approves of Lord Stanley's proposed Draft to Sir Charles Metcalfe.94This question can in no way be settled without giving offence to one part of the country; the Queen, however, hopes that the fixing upon Montreal as the seat of Government will hereafter be considered as fair by impartial minds. Sir Charles continues to show great discretion andfirmness in his most arduous and unsatisfactory situation, and deserves much praise and encouragement.
Footnote 94: Governor-General of Canada.
VISIT TO CHATSWORTH
Belvoir Castle,4th December 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—Being much hurried, I can only write you a few lines to thank you for your kind letter of the 29th, received this morning. You will have heard from Louise the account of our stay at Drayton (which is a very nice house), and of Albert's brilliant reception at Birmingham. We arrived at Chatsworth on Friday, and left it at nine this morning, quite charmed and delighted with everything there. Splendour and comfort are so admirably combined, and the Duke does everything so well. I found many improvements since I was there eleven years ago. The conservatory is out and out the finest thing imaginable of its kind. It is one mass of glass, 64 feet high, 300 long, and 134 wide.95The grounds, with all the woods and cascades and fountains, are so beautiful too. The first evening there was a ball, and the next the cascades and fountains were illuminated, which had a beautiful effect. There was a large party there, including many of the Duke's family, the Bedfords, Buccleuchs, the Duke of Wellington, the Normanbys, Lord Melbourne (who is much better), and the Beauvales. We arrived here at half-past two, we perform our journey so delightfully on the railroad, so quickly and easily. It puts me in mind of our dear stay in Belgium, when we stop at the various stations.
Albert is going out hunting to-morrow, which I wish wasover, but I am assured that the country is much better than the Windsor country.
The Duc de Bordeaux's proceedings in London are most highly improper.
The Queen Dowager is also here.
We leave this place on Thursday for home, which, I own, I shall be glad of at last. Ever your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
Footnote 95: It was built by Mr Joseph Paxton, then Superintendent of the Gardens, whose intelligence had attracted the Duke of Devonshire's attention. In 1850 he was the successful competitor for the Great Exhibition building, and was knighted on its completion. He superintended its re-erection at Sydenham, and afterwards became M.P. for Coventry.
Langenburg,10th December 1843.
My dearest Victoria,—... You ask in your letter about the manner in which my children say their prayers? Theysay it when in their beds, but not kneeling; how absurd to findthatnecessary, as if it could have anything to do with making our prayers more acceptable to the Almighty or more holy. How really clever people can have those notions I don't understand. I am sorry it is the case there, where there is so much good and, I am certain, real piety. Dear Pussy learning her letters I should like to see and hear; I am sure she will learn them very quick. Has Bertie not learned some more words and sentences during your absence?...
Your attached and devoted sister,
Feodora.
PRINCE ALBERT WITH THE HOUNDS
Windsor Castle,12th December 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—I thank you much for your kind letter of the 7th, which I received as usual on Sunday. Louise will be able to tell youhowwell the remainder of our journey went off, and how well Albert's hunting answered.96One can hardly credit the absurdity of people here, but Albert's riding so boldly and hard has made such a sensation that it has been written all over the country, and they make much more of it than if he had done some great act!
It rather disgusts one, but still it had done, and does, good, for it has put an end to all impertinent sneering for the future about Albert's riding. This journey has done great good, and my beloved Angel in particular has hadthe greatest success; for instance, at Birmingham the good his visit has done has been immense, for Albert spoke to all these manufacturersin their own language, which they did not expect, and these poor people have only been accustomed to hear demagogues and Chartists.
We cannot understand how you can think the country about Chatsworthnotpretty, for it is (with the exception of the moors) beautiful, wooded hills and valleys and rapid streams. The country round Belvoir I do not admire, but the view from the castle is very fine and extensive, and Albert says puts him so in mind of the Kalenberg....
Pray have you heard anything about Aumale's plans? Dear little Gaston seems much better.
The Duc de Bordeaux has been informed of my and the Government's extreme displeasure at their conduct; they say there shall be no more such displays. He was to leave London yesterday, only to return again for a day, and then to leave England altogether.
With Albert's love, ever, dearest Uncle, your most devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
Footnote 96: The Prince hunted with the Belvoir hounds on the 5th.
AN AMERICAN VIEW OF MONARCHY
Laeken,15th December 1843.
My dearest Victoria,—I am most happy to see that your journey passed so well, and trust you are not sorry to be again in your very dear and comfortable home, and with your dear children. People are very strange, and their great delight is to find fault with their fellow-creatures; what harm could it have done them if Albert hadnothunted at all? and still I have no doubt that his having hunted well and boldly has given more satisfaction than if he had done Heaven knows what praiseworthy deed;ainsi est et sera le monde.
I am glad also that the Birmingham course succeeded so well; the theme had been for some years, particularly amongst manufacturers, that Royalty was useless and ignorant, and that the greatest blessing would be, to manufacture beyond measure, and to have an American form of Government, with an elective head of State.
Fortunately, there has always hitherto been in England a very aristocratic feeling freely accepted by the people, who like it, and show that they like it.... I was much amused, some time ago, by a very rich and influential American from New York assuring me that they stood in great need of a Government which was able to grant protection to property, and that the feeling of many was for Monarchy instead of the misrule of mobs, as they had it, and that he wished very muchsome branch of the Coburg family might be disposablefor such a place.Qu'en dites-vous, is not this flattering?...
There is nothing very remarkable going on, besides I mean to write again on some subjects. Give my best love to Albert, and Pussy, who may remember me perhaps, and I remain, ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,
Leopold R.
Windsor Castle,19th December 1843.
My dearest Uncle,—Your kind and dear letter of the 15th, written in your true wit and humour, reached me on Sunday and gave me great pleasure. We have had also most wonderfully mild weather, butIthink very disagreeable and unseasonable; it always makes me so bilious. The youngfolks are very flourishing and prosperous—Pussette knowing all her letters, and even beginning to read a little. When I mentioned your birthday to her, she said, "I cried when I saw Uncle Leopold," whichwasthe case, I am sorry to say, the first time she saw you this year....
I don't believe that thewhiteflag on the house at Belgrave Square97is true. Lord Melbourne and the Beauvales were here for three nights; and it was a pleasure to see Lord Melbourne so much himself again; the first evening he was a good deal excited and talked and laughed as of old; the two other evenings he was in the quite silent mood which he often used to be in formerly, and reallyquitehimself, and there was hardly any strangeness at all. Lady Beauvale is really avery, very, charming person, and so attentive and kind to both her husband and Lord Melbourne. Our little chapel here (which is extremely pretty) is to be consecrated this morning, and Lady Douro comes into Waiting for the first time. To-morrow Mamma gives us a dinner. Poor Lord Lynedoch98is, I fear, dying, and Lord Grey is so bad he cannot last long.99
Ever your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
Footnote 97: The house occupied by the Duc de Bordeaux.
Footnote 98: Thomas, Lord Lynedoch, had died the previous day, aged ninety-five. He highly distinguished himself in the Peninsula and in Holland, and received the thanks of Parliament, and a Peerage in 1814.
Footnote 99: He died in July 1845.
THE SPANISH MARRIAGE
Windsor Castle,28th December 1843.
The Queen has been much amused to see by Sir Robert Gordon's despatch of the 15th, the extreme fright of Prince Metternich at the proposed marriage of Queen Isabel with Count Trapani,100but she regrets that Sir Robert tried to make excuses for the conduct we have pursued, which the Queen thinks requires no apology.
Footnote 100: Seeante, p.488, note 55.
Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.Paper supplied by John Dickinson & Co., Ld., London.
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