The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 79

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _15th July 1851._

The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter. She has no objection on this particular occasion to knight the two Sheriffs, this year being so memorable a one.

But the Queen would wish it clearly to be _understood_ that they have no right or claim to be knighted whenever the Queen goes into the City.

On the occasion of the opening of the Royal Exchange the Sheriffs were not knighted....

We regret to hear of Lord John's continued indisposition.

[Pageheading: THE DANISH SUCCESSION]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _25th August 1851._

The Queen wishes to draw Lord John Russell's attention to the enclosed draft, which she does not think can go in its present shape. We argued in innumerable despatches that the _choice of the successor_ to the Danish Crown was entirely an internal question for Denmark, in which foreign Powers could not interfere. Here, however, it is laid down that the German Diet has no right to treat the succession in Holstein (a German State) as an _internal_ question, as it ought to be decided on--not according to the _German law of succession_, but according to the interests of Europe. Nor is it true, as stated in the despatch, that the Duke of Augustenburg has _no_ claim to the Danish Crown. His mother was the daughter of Christian VII. and of Queen Matilda.

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BALMORAL CASTLE, _16th September 1851._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Accept my best thanks for your kind and dear letter of the 8th. It is a good thing for Leo to begin to follow in your footsteps, but (if I may speak out plainly), I think that anything like _fonctions_ and _representation_ is agreeable and _not_ difficult to Leo. It is the common contact with his fellow-creatures, the being put on a par with him, the being brought to feel that he is as much _one_ of them as any other, in spite of his birth, which I think of such great importance for him, and I therefore hope you will send him to _Bonn_.

My letter is terribly _decousu_, for it has been twice interrupted.

I was out the whole day with Albert, in the forest in a perfectly tropical heat. Since we went to Allt-na-Giuthasach, our little bothy near Loch Muich on the 12th, the heat of the sun has been daily increasing, and has reached a pitch which makes it almost sickening to be out in it, though it is beautiful to behold. The sky these last two evenings has been like an Italian one, and for the last few days--at least the last four--without the slightest particle of cloud, and the sun blazing. With this, not a breath of air. The mountains look quite crimson and lilac, and everything glows with the setting sun.

The evenings are quite a _relief_. Really one cannot undertake expeditions, the heat is so great. We thought of you, and wished you could be here; you would fancy yourself in Italy.

Albert got a splendid stag to-day. I must hastily conclude, hoping to hear from you that you _will come_. Our moonlights have been magnificent also. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BALMORAL CASTLE, _22nd September 1851._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I write to you on purpose on this large paper in order that you may see and admire it. Landseer did it also on purpose, and I think it is even finer than the other. It is so truly the character of the n.o.ble animal.

That abuse of the poor Orleans family in our papers is abominable, and Lord John is equally shocked at it, but won't interfere. Don't you think Joinville should not have left it open for him to accept it, for it is _impossible_ for _him_ to be _President_ of the French Republic?

Still, I feel convinced that he and they _all_ do what they think best for _France_.

I must conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: CONSt.i.tUTIONAL MONARCHS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

s.h.i.+EL OF ALLT-NA-GIUTHASACH, _30th September 1851._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I write to you from our little bothy in the hills, which is quite a wilderness--where we arrived yesterday evening after a long hill expedition to the Lake of Loch Nagar, which is one of the wildest spots imaginable. It was very cold. To-day it pours so that I hardly know if we shall be able to get out, or home even. We are not _snowed_, but _rained up_. Our little s.h.i.+el is very snug and comfortable, and we have got a little piano in it. Lady Douro is with us.

Many thanks for your kind letter of the 22nd. Our warm, fine weather left us on the 25th, and we have had storm and snow in the mountains ever since then.

The position of Princes is no doubt difficult in these times, but it would be much less so if they would behave honourably and straightforwardly, giving the people gradually those privileges which would satisfy all the reasonable and well-intentioned, and would weaken the power of the Red Republicans; instead of that, _reaction_ and a return to all the tyranny and oppression is the cry and the principle--and all papers and books are being seized and prohibited, as in the days of Metternich!...

Vicky was kicked off her pony--a quiet beast--but not the least hurt; this is more than three weeks ago. Alfred (whom you will recollect I told you was so terribly heedless and entirely indifferent to all punishment, etc.) tumbled downstairs last week. He was not seriously hurt at all, and quite well the next morning, only with a terribly black, green, and yellow face and very much swelled. He might have been killed; he is always bent upon self-destruction, and one hardly knows what to do, for he don't mind being hurt or scolded or punished; and the very next morning he tried to go down the stairs leaning over the banisters just as he had done when he fell.

Alas! this will be my last letter but one from the dear Highlands. We start on the 7th, visiting Liverpool and Manchester on our way back, and expect to be at Windsor on the 11th.

I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: THE HIGHLANDS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BALMORAL CASTLE, _6th October 1851._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Only two words can I write to you, as we are to start to-morrow morning. My heart is _bien gros_ at going from here.

I love my peaceful, wild Highlands, the glorious scenery, the dear good people who are much attached to us, and who feel their _Einsamkeit_ sadly, very much. One of our Gillies, a young Highlander who generally went out with me, said, in answer to my observation that they must be very dull here when we left: "It's just like death come all at once." In addition to my sorrow at leaving this dear place, I am in great sorrow at the loss of a dear and faithful, excellent friend, whom you will sincerely lament--our good Lord Liverpool. He was well and in the highest spirits with us only six weeks ago, and in three days he was carried away. I cannot tell you _how_ it has upset me; I have known him so long, and he was such an intimate friend of ours. We received the news yesterday.

Many thanks for your kind letter of the 29th. I am glad all went off so well, but it must have been dreadful to miss dearest Louise.