The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 34

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._[2]

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd January 1848._

The Queen sends Lord John Russell a letter from her Uncle, the King of the Belgians, which will show how dreadful a blow Mme. Adelade's death will be to the King of the French and Royal Family. The Queen's first thought was to write to the King, which she would not have done without first mentioning it to Lord John; but upon reflection she thought it quickest and best to write _at once_ to her cousin Clementine (Princess Augustus of Saxe-Coburg), to convey in her name to the King her sincere sympathy at this melancholy event. The King of the Belgians' letter has, however, brought back to the Queen her first thought of writing to the King, and she wishes to know what Lord John thinks of it. The Queen thinks it as undignified as unfeeling to carry on political coolness at moments like these, when her own feelings of sympathy are so strong and so sincere. The Queen would certainly under other circ.u.mstances have instantly written to the King. On the other hand, her first letter to her cousin (the King's daughter) may be sufficient, as it conveys a direct message; and there may be people who will construe this into a political act, but the Queen thinks that this risk should rather be run than that she should appear unfeeling and forgetful of former kindness and intimacy.

The Queen would be glad to have Lord John's opinion on this subject as soon as possible.

[Footnote 2: This letter is headed "Reproduction--Substance of a letter to Lord John Russell, written from recollection."]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _3rd January 1848._

MY DEARLY BELOVED VICTORIA,--I thank you _most sincerely_ for your kind last letter, and all your good wishes for the New Year. Alas! the year _ended_ and _began_ in a _most painful_ and _heartrending way for us_. The loss of my good, excellent, beloved Aunt is an _immense misfortune_ for _us all_, and the most _dreadful blow_ for my poor Father. We are all broken-hearted by this, at last _unexpected_ event.

Some years we were uneasy about my poor Aunt's health, and of late I had been particularly alarmed by what I heard of her increasing weakness; but I was very far from believing that her end was _so near_. I was only anxious for the winter. At least her end was peaceful. She went to sleep and did not wake more. She died without a struggle; the horror of death, and the still greater pang of the last farewell, of the last leave-taking of her beloved brother, was spared her. I thank G.o.d for _this_ proof of His mercy, and hope He will keep up my Father under _such a heavy affliction_. To him the loss is _irretrievable_. My Aunt lived _but_ for him; one may almost say that her affection alone had kept her alive these last years, and a devotion like hers--that devotion of all instants--so complete, so full of self-denial--cannot, will never, be replaced. A heart _like hers_, so true, so n.o.ble, so warm, so loving, so devoted, is _rarely_ seen. To us also, independently of my Father, the loss is a _dreadful_ one. My Aunt was a second mother for us; we loved her and looked up to her in this way, and certainly few mothers do for their children what she did for us, or loved them better. We are overwhelmed with grief by the sudden disappearance of a being _so dear_ and _so necessary_ to us all, and we go to-morrow to Paris, to mourn with the remainder of the family, and offer my poor Father the only consolation he can feel at this cruel moment, that of being surrounded by all those he loves.

I have still so much to do previous to our melancholy journey that I cannot say more to-day. I am sure you will excuse me. I shall, G.o.d willing, write in a more proper way the next time. In the meanwhile I thank G.o.d that you are _unberufen_ all well, and, in sorrow or in joy, I am equally, my beloved Victoria, from the bottom of my heart, yours most devotedly,

LOUISE.

[Pageheading: LETTER TO KING LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WOBURN ABBEY, _4th January 1848._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has no hesitation in saying that he thinks your Majesty will do well to follow your own kind impulse to write a letter to the King of the French. There will be some persons, and M. Guizot perhaps among the number, who will construe this into a political act; but it is better to be subject to such misconstructions than to leave undone any act of sympathy to the King of the French in his sore affliction.

Should the King attempt to found upon your Majesty's letter any political intercourse, Lord John Russell has no doubt that your Majesty will explain to him that your present proceeding is entirely founded upon private regard, and past recollections of intimacy, and is not intended as an opening for political correspondence.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the French._

CH. DE WINDSOR, _5 Janvier 1848._

SIRE ET MON BON FReRE,--Je ne voulais pas suivre l'impulse de mon c[oe]ur, dans les premiers instants de la vive douleur de votre Majeste, en vous ecrivant--mais maintenant ou la violence de cette rude secousse peut-etre sera un peu adoucie, je viens moi-meme exprimer a votre Majeste la part sincere que nous prenons, le Prince et moi, a la cruelle perte que vous venez d'eprouver, et qui doit vous laisser un vide irreparable. Ayez la bonte, Sire, d'offrir nos expressions de condoleance a la Reine, et faisant des v[oe]ux pour le bonheur de V.M., je me dis, Sire et mon bon Frere, de V.M., la bonne S[oe]ur,

V. R.

A S.M. le Roi des Francais.

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND THE PORTE]

_The King of the French to Queen Victoria._

PARIS, _8 Janvier 1848._

MADAME MA BONNE S[OE]UR,--Dans la profonde douleur ou m'a plonge le coup cruel qui vient de me frapper, une des plus douces consolations que je p.u.s.s.e recevoir, est la lettre que votre Majeste a eu la bonte de m'adresser, tant en son nom qu'en celui du Prince son Epoux.

L'expression de la part que vous prenez tous deux a mon malheur, et de l'interet que vous continuez a me porter, m'a vivement emu, et quelque douloureuse qu'en soit l'occasion, qu'il me soit permis, Madame, de vous en remercier, et de dire a votre Majeste que mon c[oe]ur et mes sentimens pour elle, sont et seront toujours les memes que ceux que j'etais si heureux de Lui manifester a Windsor et au Chateau d'Eu.

Je prie votre Majeste de vouloir bien etre, aupres du Prince son Epoux, l'interprete de toute ma sensibilite. La Reine est bien touchee de ce que votre Majeste m'a charge de Lui temoigner, et je la prie de croire que je suis toujours, Madame, ma bonne S[oe]ur, de votre Majeste, le bon Frere,

LOUIS PHILIPPE R.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

CLAREMONT, _11th January 1848.[sic: 1843]_

The Queen has this morning seen a draft addressed to Lord Cowley, in which he is desired to advise the Sultan to give Abd-el-Kader a command in his Army--a step which the Queen cannot approve, not because it is not good advice to the Porte, but because it is uncalled for on our part, and might be considered by France as a hostile step towards her. What would we say if the French were to advise M. Ali to give Akbar Khan the command of his army?[3]

[Footnote 3: See _ante_, vol. i. p. 254.]

[Pageheading: CLAREMONT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

CLAREMONT, _11th January 1848._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I always write with pleasure to you from this _so_ very dear old place, where we are safely and happily housed with our _whole_ little family since yesterday. The weather is very cold, and it is the third night of a black frost which is likely to continue for some days. Many thanks for your kind letter of the 7th, which, according to the new arrangement, I received already on the 8th.

Your visit will, I fear, have been a very melancholy one. Poor Mme.

Adelade's death was so extremely sudden, it must be a dreadful blow to the poor King. I _have_ written to him. Louise will have told you that poor Aunt Sophia[4] is decidedly sinking.

I wish, dearest Uncle, if even Louise feels unequal to coming to us now (which would be a _sad disappointment_), _you_ would come to see us. Why not come while she is at Paris? It would be such a pleasure to us. You will of course have no b.a.l.l.s, and you might come even sooner than you originally intended. Pray do see if you could manage this. I am sure you could. If Louise could come, of course that would be still better.

Albert desires me to ask you the following favour, viz. if you would give us the picture that is here of Grand Uncle Frederic (the Field-Marshal), that we might hang it up in London, where we have made a fine collection of his contemporaries, and we would replace it by a faithful copy, which could be hung up in the frame here. Will you grant this?

We are very desirous of getting the Woods and Forests to build a small _gla.s.s dome_ to the greenhouse here where the palm-trees are, and (if you approved) there could be no difficulty in getting this done; the palm-trees are beautiful, and will be quite stunted and spoilt if not allowed to grow. We shall stay here till Monday next. With Albert's love, ever your truly devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.