The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 53

Je vous prie d'etre persuadee que rien n'est plus sincere que la reconnaissance que j'en conserve, et de me laisser nourrir la confiance que je puis compter sur la continuation de ces dispositions si aimables.

En vous renouvelant les sentiments d'amitie la plus parfaite, je suis, votre tres cher Frere,

VICTOR EMANUEL.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _10th April 1849._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--You will, I am sure, share our joy at Ernest's _wonderful_ success at Eckerforde.[7] It is a marvellous piece of good fortune _pour son bapteme de feu_, but it alarmed and agitated us all to think that he might have been wounded, _to say the least_, for he had his horse killed under him. At all events, he has done honour to the poor race to which he belongs, and it makes us both very happy.

I think it will tend decidedly to shorten the war. Poor dear Alexandrine! in what anxiety she will have been.

The victory of Novara[8] seems to have been one of the hardest fought and most brilliant battles known for years and years, and old Radetzky says that he must name every individual if he was to do justice to officers and men. But the loss was very severe. The regiment of Kinsky lost _twenty-four_ officers! The Archduke Albert distinguished himself exceedingly, which is worthy of his n.o.ble father. I could work myself up to a great excitement about these exploits, for there is nothing I admire more than great military exploits and daring.

[Footnote 7: In this engagement with the Danes, arising out of the Schleswig-Holstein dispute, Prince Ernest greatly distinguished himself.]

[Footnote 8: In which Marshal Radetzky defeated the Piedmontese.]

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

_Queen Victoria to the Duke of Wellington._

_1st May 1849._

The Queen cannot let this day pa.s.s without offering to the Duke of Wellington her warmest and sincerest wishes for many happy returns of this day. She hopes the Duke will place the accompanying trifle on his table, and that it will recall to his mind _one_ who ever reflects with grat.i.tude on the services he has rendered and always does render to his Sovereign and his country.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _8th May 1849._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Alas! poor Germany, I am wretched about her; those news from Dresden are very distressing.[9] Really with such an excellent man as the poor King, it is too wicked to do what they have done. If only _some sort_ of arrangement could be made; then afterwards there might be modifications, both in the Const.i.tution, etc., for that Const.i.tution never will work well.

Our Navigation Laws debate in the House of Lords began last night, and is to be concluded to-night. There seems to be almost a certainty that there will be a majority, though a very small one, and the danger of course exists that any accident may turn it the other way.

Knowing your esteem for our worthy friend, Sir Robert Peel, you will, I am sure, be glad to hear that his second son, Frederick,[10] made such a beautiful speech--his maiden speech--in the House of Commons last night; he was complimented by every one, and Sir Robert was delighted. I am so glad for him, and also rejoice to see that there is a young man who promises to be of use hereafter to his country.

Albert is again gone to lay a first stone. It is a delight to hear people speak of the good he does by always saying and doing the right thing....

[Footnote 9: The King of Prussia, finding Saxony, Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Hanover opposed to the ascendency of Prussia in the Confederation, declined the Imperial Crown of Germany; fresh disturbances thereupon ensued, and at Dresden, the King of Saxony had to take refuge in a fortress.]

[Footnote 10: Afterwards the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Peel, who died in 1906.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _22nd May 1849._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I could not write to you yesterday, my time having been so entirely taken up by kind visitors, etc., and I trust you will forgive these hurried lines written just before our departure for Osborne.[11] I hope that you will not have been alarmed by the account of the occurrence which took place on Sat.u.r.day, and which I can a.s.sure you did _not_ alarm _me_ at all. _This_ time it is quite clear that it was a wanton and wicked wish merely to _frighten_, which is very wrong, and will be tried and punished as a _misdemeanour_. The account in the _Times_ is quite correct. The indignation, loyalty, and affection this act has called forth is very gratifying and touching.

Alice gives a very good account of it, and Lenchen[12] even says, "Man shot, tried to shoot dear Mamma, must be punished." They, Affie, and Miss Macdonald were with me. Albert was riding, and had just returned before me. Augustus and Clem had left us just two hours before....

Many thanks for your kind letter of the 19th. _What_ a state Germany is in!--I mean _Baden_, but I hope that this violent crisis may lead to good.

I must conclude. Ever your truly devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 11: The Queen, while driving down Const.i.tution Hill, was fired at by one William Hamilton, the pistol being charged only with powder. He was tried under the Act of 1842, and sentenced to seven years' transportation.]

[Footnote 12: Princess Helena (now Princess Christian), born 25th May 1846.]

[Pageheading: ANNEXATION OF THE PUNJAB]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _26th May 1849._

The Queen has to say, in answer to Lord John Russell's communication respecting India, that she quite approves the annexation of the Punjab, and is pleased to find that the Government concur in this view. The elevation of Lord Dalhousie to a Marquisate is well deserved, and almost the only thing that can be offered him as a reward for his services; but considering his want of fortune, the Queen thinks that it should be ascertained in the first instance whether the increase of rank will be convenient to him. Lord Gough's elevation to the dignity of Viscount has the Queen's sanction.

[Pageheading: FOREIGN OFFICE BUSINESS]

_Lord John Russell to the Prince Albert._

CHESHAM PLACE, _19th June 1849._

SIR,--I have spoken to Lord Palmerston respecting the draft to Mr Buchanan.[13]

It appears that he converted it into a private letter, as I suggested, but he thought fit to place it on record, as it contained information derived from authentic sources, and of importance.