The Queen regrets Lord Shaftesbury"s declining office, and approves of Lord Elgin"s selection in his place.[51]
She thanks Lord Palmerston for the clear and comprehensive explanation of Sir George Lewis"s Stamp Duties Bill,[52] and approves of Lord Palmerston"s proposal for the adjournment of Parliament for the Easter holidays.
[Footnote 49: The expedition was commanded by Rear-Admiral Richard Dundas. About the same time Vice-Admiral Sir James Dundas retired from the Mediterranean Command, in favour of Sir Edmund Lyons.]
[Footnote 50: The allied fleet comprised 23 line-of-battle ships, 31 frigates and corvettes, 29 smaller steamers and gunboats, and 18 other craft.]
[Footnote 51: As Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; Mr Matthew Talbot Baines was ultimately appointed.]
[Footnote 52: Imposing a penny stamp upon bankers" cheques, if drawn within fifteen miles of the place where they were payable.]
_Queen Victoria to Lord Panmure._
OSBORNE, _22nd March 1855_.
The other day, when the Queen spoke to Lord Panmure on the subject of the distribution of the _Medal_ for the _Crimean_ Campaign amongst the Officers, and those who _are_ in _this_ country, no decision was come to as to how this should be done. The Queen has since thought that the value of this Medal would be greatly enhanced if _she_, were _personally_ to deliver it to the officers and a certain number of men (selected for that purpose). The valour displayed by our troops, as well as the sufferings they have endured, have never been surpa.s.sed--perhaps hardly equalled; and as the Queen has been a witness of _what_ they have gone through, having visited them in their hospitals, she would _like_ to be able _personally_ to give them the reward they have earned so well, and will value so much. It will likewise have a very beneficial effect, the Queen doubts not, on the recruiting. The manner in which it should be done, and the details connected with the execution of this intention of hers, the Queen will settle with Lord Panmure, when she sees him in Town.
Will the Medals now be soon ready?
[Pageheading: THE IMPERIAL VISIT]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th April 1855_.
DEAREST UNCLE,--Your kindness will, I know, excuse any description of all that has pa.s.sed, and _is_ pa.s.sing, and I leave it to Charles. The impression is very favourable.[53] There is great fascination in the quiet, frank manner of the Emperor, and _she_ is very pleasing, very graceful, and very unaffected, but very delicate. She _is_ certainly very pretty and very uncommon-looking. The Emperor spoke very amiably of you. The reception by the public was _immensely_ enthusiastic. I must end here. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 53: The Emperor and Empress of the French arrived on the 16th of April, on a visit to England. They were enthusiastically received both at Dover (notwithstanding a dense fog, which endangered the safety of the Imperial yacht) and on their progress from the South-Eastern terminus to Paddington. In pa.s.sing King Street, the Emperor was observed to indicate his former residence to the Empress.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _19th April 1855_.
DEAREST UNCLE,... I have not a moment to myself, being of course entirely occupied with our Imperial guests, with whom I am much pleased, and who behave really with the greatest tact.[54] The Invest.i.ture went off very well, and to-day (we came from Windsor) the enthusiasm of the thousands who received him in the City was immense.
He is much pleased. Since the time of my Coronation, with the exception of the opening of the great Exhibition, I don"t remember anything like it. To-night we go in state to the Opera. In haste, ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 54: A review of the Household troops in Windsor Park was held on the 17th, and a ball was given at the Castle in the evening. A Council of War on the 18th was attended by the Prince, the Emperor, and some of their Ministers; in the afternoon the Queen invested the Emperor with the Garter. On the following day the Emperor received an address at Windsor from the Corporation of London, and lunched at the Guildhall; the Queen and Prince and their guests paid a State visit to Her Majesty"s Theatre in the evening to hear _Fidelio_. On the 20th the party, with brilliant ceremonial, visited the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, and were enthusiastically received by an immense mult.i.tude; another important Council, relative to the future conduct of the war, was held in the evening.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _24th April 1855_.
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your kind letter of the 19th and 20th, by which I am glad to see that you were well. Our great visit is past, like a brilliant and most successful dream, but I think the effect on the visitors will be a good and lasting one; they saw in our reception, and in that of the whole Nation, nothing _put on_, but a warm, hearty welcome to a faithful and steady Ally. I think also that for Belgium this visit will be very useful, for it will increase the friendly feelings of the Emperor towards my dear Uncle, and towards a country in which England takes so deep an interest.
The negotiations are broken off, and Austria has been called upon to act according to the Treaty of the 2nd December. She intends, I believe, to make some proposal, but we know nothing positive as yet.
In the meantime I fear the Emperor (I mean Napoleon) _will_ go to the Crimea, which makes one anxious.... Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th April 1855_.
The Queen has read the letter of Lady ---- to Lady Palmerston, and now returns it to Lord Palmerston.
She has to observe that it has been with her an invariable rule never to take upon herself the office of sitting in judgment upon accusations or reports against private character. No person therefore can have any reason to suppose that she will by marked neglect or manner appear to p.r.o.nounce a verdict upon matters in which she is not the proper Court of Appeal.
[Pageheading: THE EMPEROR"S LETTER]
_The Emperor of the French to Queen Victoria._
PALAIS DES TUILERIES, _le 25 Avril 1855_.
MADAME ET BONNE S[OE]UR,--A Paris depuis trois jours, je suis encore aupres de votre Majeste par la pensee, et mon premier besoin est de Lui redire combien est profonde l"impression que m"a laissee son accueil si plein de grace et d"affectueuse bonte. La politique nous a rapproches d"abord, mais aujourd"hui qu"il m"a ete permis de connaitre personnellement votre Majeste c"est une vive et respectueuse sympathie qui forme desormais le veritable lien qui m"attache a elle. Il est impossible en effet de vivre quelques jours dans votre intimite sans subir le charme qui s"attache a l"image de la grandeur et du bonheur de la famille la plus unie. Votre Majeste m"a aussi bien touche par ses prevenances delicates envers l"Imperatrice; car rien ne fait plus de plaisir que de voir la personne qu"on aime devenir l"objet d"aussi flatteuses attentions.
Je prie votre Majeste d"exprimer au Prince Albert les sentiments sinceres que m"inspirent sa franche amitie, son esprit eleve et la droiture de son jugement.
J"ai rencontre a mon retour a Paris bien des difficultes diplomatiques et bien d"autres intervenants au sujet de mon voyage en Crimee. Je dirai en confidence a votre Majeste que ma resolution de voyage s"en trouve presque ebranlee. En France tous ceux qui possedent sont bien peu courageux!
Votre Majeste voudra bien me rappeler au souvenir de sa charmante famille et me permettre de Lui renouveler l"a.s.surance de ma respectueuse amitie et de mon tendre attachement. De votre Majeste, le bon Frere,
NAPOLeON.