The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 5

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th October 1844._

DEAREST UNCLE,--You will, I am sure, forgive my writing but a few lines as I am all alone in the agitation of the dear King's arrival, and I will leave my letter open to announce it to you. My _dearest_ master is gone to Portsmouth to receive him. The excitement and curiosity to see the dear King, and the desire to give him a most hearty reception, is _very great indeed_.

Many thanks for your kind letters of the 28th and 4th. I can't think who could have said that Peel, etc., would _not_ have been here; for he, Aberdeen, and the old Duke are to be here the whole time, and all the other Ministers will come _during_ his stay.

I am very glad Joinville is arrived, and avoided his _entrees triomphales_. I hope he will take great care of himself.

You will have heard from dear Louise of our voyage, etc. I cannot reconcile myself to be _here_ again, and pine for my _dear_ Highlands, the hills, the pure air, the quiet, the retirement, the liberty--_all_--more than is right. The children are well. I am sorry to hear that you are not quite so yet.

3.30.--The King and Montpensier arrived quite safely at two, and are both looking extremely well. We have just lunched with them. It seems like a dream to me, and a very pleasant one.

Albert sends his affectionate love. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Bertie has immediately taken a pa.s.sion for Montpensier.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _9th October 1844._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks your Majesty much for the letter of the 7th inst., which he has just received, and with very great satisfaction, as he had begun to think your Majesty's silence rather long. But he perfectly understands the reasons which prevented your Majesty from writing during your stay in the Highlands. Lord Melbourne is very glad to find that your Majesty enjoyed that country so much, and is so enthusiastically fond of it.

Lord Melbourne believes that he was at the places which your Majesty mentions. In the year 1802 he stayed some months in Perths.h.i.+re with the late Lord Kinnaird, and enjoyed it much. It annoys him sometimes to think how altered he is in strength since that time. Lord Melbourne has never yet thanked your Majesty for the pretty etchings of poor Islay and Eos, which your Majesty sent to Lord Melbourne when he was last at Windsor. Lord Melbourne has ordered them both to be framed, and will hang them up in his room here. They will afford Lord Melbourne most agreeable and pleasing souvenirs of the happiest period of his life, for he cannot say otherwise than that he continually misses and regrets the time when he had daily confidential communication with your Majesty. Lord Glenlyon[30] has one merit in Lord Melbourne's eyes, which is that he was a steady and firm supporter to the last of Lord Melbourne's Government. Lord Melbourne hopes and trusts that he feels no animosity against those who opposed him. But he does and always shall entertain a kindly and grateful recollection of those who supported him.

Lord Melbourne begs to be remembered to His Royal Highness.

[Footnote 30: _See_ vol. i. p. 429.]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _12th October 1844._

MY DEARLY BELOVED VICTORIA,--... I thank you very much for attending to all my recommendations about _my_ father: I only fear that they will lead you to believe that we consider him as a _great child_ and treat him like one: but he is so _precious_ and _dear_ to _us all_ that I am sure you will _understand_ and _excuse_ our being _over anxious_... Yours most devotedly,

LOUISE.

[Pageheading: A SUCCESSFUL VISIT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE HOUSE, _17th October 1844._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had intended to have written to you on Monday, but you will since have heard of the great _confusion_ of that day which prevented me from doing so. The dear King's visit went off to perfection, and I much and deeply regret its being pa.s.sed. He was _delighted_, and was _most_ enthusiastically and affectionately received wherever he showed himself. Our proceedings I wrote to good, dear Louise (whom you should not leave so long alone), who will no doubt have given you the details. What an extraordinary man the King is! What a wonderful memory, and how lively, _how sagacious!_He spoke very openly to us all, and is determined that our affairs should go on well. He wishes Tahiti _au fond de la mer_. He spoke also very openly about poor Hadjy's _brochure_ which seems to have distressed him more than anything. The King praised my dearest Albert most highly, and fully appreciates his great qualities and talents--and what gratifies me _so much_, treats him completely as his equal, calling him "Mon Frere," and saying to me that _my husband_ was the same as me, which it is--and "Le Prince Albert, c'est pour moi le Roi." The King is _very_ sad to go, but he is determined, he says, _to see me every year_. Another _very_ great thing is, that the officers of the two Navies staying at Portsmouth were on the best terms together and paying one another every sort of compliment. As Admiral La Susse (a very gentlemanlike man) and his squadron were sadly disappointed on Monday,[31] we thought it would please them if we went on board the _Gomer_, which we did, on Tuesday morning, and breakfasted there, and I drank the King's health. I am certain that the visit and everything connected with it can but do the _greatest good_.

We stay here till Monday. It is a very comfortable little house, and the grounds and place are delightful, so private--and the view so fine.

I must now conclude, begging you to believe me, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

I forgot to say how much we liked good Montpensier, who got on extremely well.

[Footnote 31: It had been intended that the King should return to France, as he had come, by way of Portsmouth, crossing in the frigate _Gomer_, but, in consequence of the wet and stormy weather, he returned by Dover and Calais.]

[Pageheading: DEPARTURE OF THE KING]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the French._

OSBORNE HOUSE, _le 17 Octobre 1844._

SIRE, ET MON TReS CHER FReRE,--Votre Majeste m'a ecrit deux bien bonnes lettres de Douvres pour lesquelles je vous remercie de tout mon c[oe]ur. Les expressions de bonte et d'amitie que vous me vouez ainsi qu'a mon cher Albert nous touchent sensiblement; je n'ai pas besoin de vous dire encore, combien nous vous sommes attaches et combien nous desirons voir se raffermir de plus en plus cette _entente cordiale_ entre nos deux pays qui existe si heureus.e.m.e.nt entre nous personnellement. C'etait avec un vif regret que nous nous sommes separes de votre Majeste, et de Montpensier, et ce sera une grande fete que de voir renouveler une visite dont le souvenir nous est si cher.

Albert se met a vos pieds, Sire, bien sensible ainsi que moi-meme de l'amitie et la confiance que vous lui avez temoignees.

J'ose prier votre Majeste d'offrir mes plus tendres hommages a la Reine et a Madame votre S[oe]ur et de me rappeler au souvenir de Montpensier. Je suis pour la vie, Sire et mon cher Frere, de votre Majeste la bien affectionnee S[oe]ur et fidele Amie,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: OPENING OF ROYAL EXCHANGE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th October 1844._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had the happiness of receiving your kind letter of the 26th while I was dressing to go to the City for the opening of the Royal Exchange.[32] Nothing ever went off better, and the procession there, as well as all the proceedings _at_ the Royal Exchange, were splendid and royal in the extreme. It was a fine and gratifying sight to see the myriads of people a.s.sembled--more than at the Coronation even, and all in such good humour, and so loyal; the articles in the papers, too, are most kind and gratifying; they say _no_ Sovereign _was more_ loved than I am (I am bold enough to say), and _that_, from our _happy domestic home_--which gives such a good example. The _Times_ you have, and I venture to add a _Chronicle_, as I think it very pretty; you should read the accounts. _I_ seldom remember being so gratified and pleased with any public show, and my beloved Albert was so enthusiastically received by the people. He is _so_ beloved by all the really influential people, and by _all_ right-thinking ones. We came back here yesterday evening. The accounts from Paris are excellent too. How long are the good Joinvilles to remain in the south, and where? By-the-by, dearest Uncle, have you read the continuation of Consuelo,[33] called the "Comtesse de Rudolstadt"? It is _dreadfully_ interesting.

The Knights of the Garter did _not_ wear the whole costume, but only the mantle. Being on this topic, shall tell you that I intend giving the Garter to Ernest, but pray do not mention it to E. or _any one_.

With Albert's affectionate love. Ever your devoted Niece and Child,