_The 22nd._--I have but little time to write. The d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland is here, who admires you much, and is very sympathetic....
_The 23rd._--Your letter of the 15th just received. I will now answer at once. _It is, as you rightly suppose, my greatest, my most anxious wish to do everything most agreeable to you, but I must differ with you respecting Mr Anson.... What I said about Anson giving you advice, means, that if you like to ask him, he can and will be of the greatest use to you, as he is a very well-informed person. He will leave Lord Melbourne as soon as he is appointed about you. With regard to your last objection, that it would make you a party man if you took the Secretary of the Prime Minister as your Treasurer, I do not agree in it; for, though I am very anxious you should not appear to belong to a Party, still it is necessary that your Household should not form a too strong contrast to mine, else they will say, "Oh, we know the Prince says he belongs to no party, but we are sure he is a Tory!" Therefore it is also necessary that it should appear that you went with me in having some of your people who are staunch Whigs; but Anson is not in Parliament, and never was, and therefore he is not a violent politician. Do not think because I urge this, Lord M. prefers it; on the contrary, he never urged it, and I only do it as I know it is for your own good._ You will pardon this long story. _It will also not do to wait till you come to appoint all your people. I am distressed to tell you what I fear you do not like_, but it is necessary, my dearest, most excellent Albert. Once more I tell you that you can perfectly rely on me in these matters....
[Pageheading: THE TORIES]
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1839._
... The Historical Sketch has interested us greatly; Lord Melbourne read it through immediately. I greatly thank you also for the genealogical tree you sent me.
Now, my dearest, to be about what is _not so pleasant or amusing.
I mean, now for business. I always think it safer to write that in English, as I can explain myself better, and I hope you can read my English, as I try to be very legible. I am much grieved that you feel disappointed about my wish respecting your gentlemen, but very glad that you consent to it, and that you feel confidence in my choice.
Respecting the Treasurer, my dearest Albert, I have already written at great length in my last letter, so I will not say much more about it to-day, but I will just observe that, tho" I fully understand (indeed no one could feel more for you in the very trying position you will be placed in than I do) your feelings, it is absolutely necessary that an Englishman should be at the head of your affairs; therefore (tho" I will not force Mr. Anson on you) I ask you if it is not better to take a man in whom I have confidence, and whom I know well enough to trust perfectly, than a man who is quite a stranger, and whom I know nothing of?_
I am very glad that your father knows Lord Grosvenor. As to the Tories, I am still in a rage;[81] they abuse and grumble incessantly in the most incredible manner.
I will tell good Lord Melbourne that you are very grateful. That you will write to him is very nice of you, and makes me glad. I shall always feel very happy if you, my dearest Albert, will be very friendly to this good and just man; and I am convinced that, when you will know him more intimately, you will be as fond of him as I am.
No one is more abused by bad people than Lord M.--_and n.o.body is so forgiving_....
I have just learned that my two uncles, the Dukes of Suss.e.x and Cambridge (_to whom Lord M. had written_) _very willingly consent to let you take precedence of them; it was, of course, necessary to ask them about it...._
[Footnote 81: _Lit._ raging (_wuthend_). The phrase was a favourite one of King Leopold"s, from whom the Queen had adopted it.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _27th December 1839._
MY DEAR UNCLE,--Just two words (though you don"t deserve _half a one_, as your silence is unpardonable) to say I have just heard from Albert, who, I am glad to say, consents to _my_ choosing his people; so _one essential_ point is gained, and we have only the Treasurer to carry now. I am sure, as you are so anxious Albert should be thoroughly English, you will see how necessary it is that an Englishman should be at the head of his financial affairs.
I see that you wrote to Lord Melbourne that you were glad to hear I took more walking exercise, but I must tell you that ever since I have done so I sleep badly, and feel unwell! If the weather would only allow me to ride I should be quite well. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Pageheading: THE PRINCE AND LORD MELBOURNE]
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th December 1839._
... I here enclose Lord Melbourne"s letter. I have read it, and _I think that nothing could be better; it is just what I told you, and it is the honest and impartial advice of a very clever, very honest, and very impartial man, whose_ greatest wish is to secure your and my happiness. Follow this advice and you may be sure of success. Lord Melbourne told me that he had it written on purpose in a clear hand, by one of his secretaries, as he thought and feared you would not be able to read his own hand, which I daresay would have been the case, as he writes a very peculiar hand; he has therefore only signed it.
I saw to-day the Duke of Cambridge, who has shown me your letter, with which he is quite delighted--and, indeed, it is a very nice one. The Duke told Lord Melbourne he had always greatly desired our marriage, and never thought of George; but that _I_ do not believe.
I must conclude, my dearest, beloved Albert. Be careful as to your valuable health, and be a.s.sured that no one loves you as much as your faithful VICTORIA.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
TO CHAPTER IX
The marriage of the Queen and Prince Albert took place amid great splendour and general rejoicings on the 10th of February; the general satisfaction being unaffected by the tactless conduct of Ministers who, by not acting in conjunction with the Opposition, had been defeated on the question of the amount of the Prince"s annuity, the House of Commons reducing it from 50,000 to 30,000.
At home, the Privilege Question aroused great interest, a point which for months convulsed the Courts and Parliament being whether a report, ordered by the House to be printed, of a Committee appointed by the House, was protected by privilege against being the subject of an action for libel. The Courts having decided that it was not, an Act was pa.s.sed to alter the rule for the future, but meanwhile the sheriffs had been imprisoned by the House for executing the judgment in the usual course.
The Ministry tottered on, getting a majority of nine only on their China policy, and twenty-one on a direct vote of confidence. The Bill for the union of the two Canadas was, however, pa.s.sed without difficulty.
An attempt by a barman named Oxford to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Queen on Const.i.tution Hill fortunately failed, and Oxford was committed, after trial, to a lunatic asylum. In July, the prospect of an heir being born to the throne led to the pa.s.sing of a Regency Bill, naming Prince Albert Regent, should the Queen die leaving issue; the Duke of Suss.e.x alone entered a formal protest against it.
Afghanistan continued unsettled, and Lord Auckland"s policy seemed hardly justified by the unpopularity at Cabul of Shah Sooja; Dost Mahommed still made efforts to regain his position, but he ultimately surrendered to Sir William Macnaghten, the British Envoy at Cabul.
The disputes with China continued, and hostilities broke out; British ships proceeded to China, and Chusan was captured.
In France an attempt against the Government was made by Louis Napoleon, who landed at Boulogne in a British steamer, was captured, and sentenced to life imprisonment. More serious difficulties between this country and France arose out of Eastern affairs. The Four Powers, England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, had addressed an ultimatum to Mehemet, requiring him to evacuate North Syria, France declining to take part in the conference on the subject. An Anglo-Austrian army undertook to eject him, St Jean d"Acre was stormed, and France thrust into a position of unwilling isolation. Thiers, who had been made Minister, expected that Mehemet would be able to retain his conquests, and for a time it looked as though France would interfere to protect him. Ultimately, in spite of some ostentatious preparations in France, peaceful counsels prevailed, and Thiers found it advisable to retire in favour of Guizot.
In Holland, William I. (then sixty-seven) abdicated in favour of his son, the Prince of Orange (William II.). The need of a younger and firmer ruler was the reason officially stated in the Royal Proclamation. The real reasons were probably the King"s attachment to the Roman Catholic Countess d"Oultremont, whom he now privately married, and the humiliation he felt at the unfavourable termination of the Belgian dispute.
CHAPTER IX
1840
_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th January 1840._
STOCKMAR is here; I saw him yesterday and to-day, and have begged him to explain to you _all the Court affairs, and the affairs concerning the Treaty_, in my name. He will explain to you the Treasury affair, and will do it much better than I should. I am very happy to see him again, and to have him here; he can give such good advice to both of us, and he understands England so fully.... Stocky (as I always used to call him) is so sensible about everything, and is _so much_ attached to you.
I shall have no great dinners, because the large rooms in the upper story here are not yet ready. My good old Primus[1] usually dines with me three or four times a week, almost always on Sundays, _when I cannot invite other people to dinner, as it is not reckoned right here for me to give dinners on Sunday, or to invite many people_. Your song (the bust has been mentioned before) is very fine; there is something touching in it which I like so much....
[Footnote 1: _I.e._ Premier.]