The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 85

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _13th December 1851._

The Queen sends the enclosed despatch from Lord Normanby to Lord John Russell, from which it appears that the French Government _pretend to have received_ the entire approval of the late _coup d'etat_ by the British Government, as conveyed by Lord Palmerston to Count Walewski.

The Queen cannot believe in the truth of the a.s.sertion, as such an approval given by Lord Palmerston would have been in complete _contradiction_ to the line of strict neutrality and pa.s.siveness which the Queen had expressed her desire to see followed with regard to the late convulsion at Paris, and which was approved by the Cabinet, as stated in Lord John Russell's letter of the 6th inst. Does Lord John know anything about the alleged approval, which, if true, would _again_ expose the honesty and dignity of the Queen's Government in the eyes of the world?[36]

[Footnote 36: On the 15th, Lord Normanby wrote to Lord Palmerston that he must now a.s.sume M. Walewski's report to be correct, and observed that if the Foreign Secretary held one language in Downing Street and prescribed another course to the British Amba.s.sador, the latter must be awkwardly circ.u.mstanced. Lord Palmerston (in a letter not shown to the Queen or the Cabinet) replied that he had said nothing inconsistent with his instructions to Lord Normanby, that the President's action was for the French nation to judge of, but that in his view that action made for the maintenance of social order in France.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _13th December 1851._

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--These lines are to express my _very warmest_ wishes for _many, many happy_ returns of your dear birthday, and for _every_ earthly blessing you _can_ desire. How I wish you could spend it _here_, or we with you! I venture to send you some trifles which will recall the Exhibition in which you took so much interest. The continuation of the work I send you, I shall forward as it comes out.

As I wrote so lately, and shall do so on Tuesday, I will not touch on politics--with one exception--that I think it of high importance that the Orleans should clear themselves of _all_ suspicion of a _plot_, which _some people_, I am sure, wish to make it _appear_ they _are_ involved in; and that public contradiction should be given to the foolish report, _much_ credited _here_, that Joinville has gone to Lille, or to some part of France, to head the Troops. Ever your devoted Niece and Child,

VICTORIA R.

How you will _again_ miss your departed Angel!

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S EXPLANATION]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WOBURN ABBEY, _18th December 1851._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He received from Lord Palmerston yesterday an explanation of his declaration of opinion to Mr Walewski, which Lord John Russell regrets to state was quite unsatisfactory.

He thought himself compelled to write to Lord Palmerston in the most decisive terms.

Lord Palmerston requested that his letter might be returned to be copied.

The whole correspondence shall be submitted to your Majesty.

Your Majesty will find in the box a despatch of Lord Normanby of the 15th, and an answer of Lord Palmerston of the 16th,[37] which has been sent without your Majesty's sanction, or the knowledge of Lord John Russell.

[Footnote 37: The letters are given in full in Ashley's _Life of Lord Palmerston_, vol. i. chap. vii., were Lord Palmerston's explanation of the 16th, in answer to the Premier's letter of the 14th, will also be found.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _19th December 1851._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Receive my warmest and best thanks for your truly kind and gracious recollection of my old birthday, and your amiable presents.

Our angelic Louise had quite _un culte_ for that day, and two have already pa.s.sed since the best and n.o.blest of hearts beats no longer amongst us. When one sees the haste and ardour of earthly pursuits, and how all this is often disposed of, and when one sees that even the greatest success always ends with the grave, one is tempted to wonder that the human race should follow so restlessly bubbles often disappearing just when reached, and always being a source of never-ending anxiety. France gives, these sixty years, the proof of the truth of what I say, always believing itself at the highest point of perfection and changing it a few weeks afterwards.

A military Government in France, if it really gets established, must become dangerous for Europe. I hope that at least at its beginning it will have enough to do in France, and that we may get time to prepare.

England will do well not to fall asleep, but to keep up its old energy and courage.... Your truly devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: DISMISSAL OF LORD PALMERSTON]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _19th December 1851._

The Queen has received several communications from Lord John Russell, but has not answered them, as she expected daily to hear of Lord Palmerston's answer. As Lord John Russell in his letter of yesterday's date promises to send her his correspondence with Lord Palmerston, she refrains from expressing a decided opinion until she has had an opportunity of perusing it; but Lord John will readily conceive what must be her feelings in seeing matters go from bad to worse with respect to Lord Palmerston's conduct!

[Pageheading: LORD GRANVILLE]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WOBURN ABBEY, _19th December 1851._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the honour to submit to your Majesty a correspondence with Viscount Palmerston, which terminates with a letter of this day's date.

Lord John Russell has now to advise your Majesty that Lord Palmerston should be informed that your Majesty is ready to accept the Seals of Office, and to place them in other hands.

Lord John Russell has summoned a Cabinet for Monday.

They may be of opinion that they cannot continue a Government.

But that is not Lord John Russell's opinion; and should they agree with him, he will proceed without delay to recommend a successor to your Majesty.

The Earl Granville appears to him the person best calculated for that post, but the Cabinet may be of opinion that more experience is required.