The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Iii Part 113

VICTORIA R.]

The Queen returns these important drafts, which upon the whole she approves, but she cannot help feeling that the main draft, that for communication to the American Government, is somewhat meagre. She should have liked to have seen the expression of a hope that the American captain did not act under instructions, or, if he did, that he misapprehended them--that the United States Government must be fully aware that the British Government could not allow its flag to be insulted, and the security of her mail communications to be placed to jeopardy, and Her Majesty's Government are unwilling to believe that the United States Government intended wantonly to put an insult upon this country, and to add to their many distressing complications by forcing a question of dispute upon us, and that we are therefore glad to believe that upon a full consideration of the circ.u.mstances, and of the undoubted breach of international law committed, they would spontaneously offer such redress as alone could satisfy this country, viz. the restoration of the unfortunate pa.s.sengers and a suitable apology.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th December 1861_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I have many excuses to make for not writing yesterday, but I had a good deal to do, as my poor dear Albert's rheumatism has turned out to be a regular influenza, which has pulled and lowered him very much. Since Monday he has been confined to his room. It affects his appet.i.te and sleep, which is very disagreeable, and you know he is always _so_ depressed when anything is the matter with him. However, he is decidedly better to-day, and I hope in two or three days he will be quite himself again. It is extremely vexatious, as he was so particularly well till he caught these colds, which came upon worries of various kinds.... Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th December 1861_.

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--I am thankful to report decidedly better of my beloved Albert. He has had much more sleep, and has taken much more nourishment since yesterday evening. Altogether, this nasty, feverish sort of influenza and deranged stomach is _on_ the mend, but it will be slow and tedious, and though there has _not_ been one alarming symptom, there has been such restlessness, such sleeplessness, and such (till to-day) _total_ refusal of all food, that it made one _very, very_ anxious, and I can't describe the _anxiety_ I have gone through! I feel to-day a good deal shaken, for for four nights I got only two or three hours' sleep. We have, however, every reason to hope the recovery, though it may be _somewhat_ tedious, will not be _very_ slow. You shall hear again to-morrow. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: HOPE NOT ABANDONED]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th December 1861_.

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--I enclose you Clark's report, which I think you may like to hear. Our beloved invalid goes on well--but it _must_ be tedious, and I need not tell you _what_ a trial it is to me. Every day, however, is bringing us nearer the end of this tiresome illness, which is much what I had at Ramsgate, only that I was much worse, and not at first well attended to. You shall hear daily.

You will, I know, feel for me! The night was excellent; the first good one he had. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

The Americans _may_ possibly get out of it.

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _11th December 1861_.

MY BELOVED VICTORIA,--_How I do feel for you from the bottom of my heart_; that you should have this totally unexpected tribulation of having dear Albert unwell, when not long ago we rejoiced that he was bearing this time of the year so well. Now we must be very patient, as an indisposition of this description at this time of the year is generally mending slowly. The great object must be to arrange all the little details exactly as the patient may wish them; that everything of that description may move very smoothly is highly beneficial.

Patients are very different in their likings; to the great horror of angelic Louise, the moment I am ill I become almost invisible, disliking to see anybody. Other people are fond of company, and wish to be surrounded. The medical advisors are, thank G.o.d! excellent, and Clark knows Albert so well. Albert will wish you not to interrupt your usual airings; you want air, and to be deprived of it would do you harm. The temperature here at least has been extremely mild--this ought to be favourable. I trust that every day will now show some small improvement, and it will be very kind of you to let me frequently know how dear Albert is going on. Believe me ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th December 1861_.

DEAREST UNCLE,--I can report another good night, and _no_ loss of strength, and continued satisfactory symptoms. But more we dare _not_ expect for some days; _not_ losing ground is a _gain, now_, of _every_ day.

It is very sad and trying for me, but I am well, and I think really _very_ courageous; for it is the first time that _I_ ever witnessed anything of this kind though _I_ suffered from the same at Ramsgate, and was much worse. The trial in every way is so very trying, for I have lost my guide, my support, my all, _for a time_--as we can't ask or tell him anything. Many thanks for your kind letter received yesterday. We have been and are reading Von Ense's book[59] to Albert; but it is _not_ worth much. He likes very much being read to as it soothes him. W. Scott is also read to him. You shall hear again to-morrow, dearest Uncle, and, please G.o.d! each day will be more cheering. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 59: The _Memoirs_ of Varnhagen von Ense (1785-1858), who served for some years in the Austrian and the Russian Armies, and was later in the Prussian Diplomatic Service.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th December 1861_.

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--I can again report favourably of our _most_ precious invalid. He maintains his ground well--had another very good night--takes plenty of nourishment, and shows surprising strength.

I am constantly in and out of his room, but since the _first four dreadful_ nights, _last_ week, _before_ they had declared it to be _gastric fever_--I do not sit up with him at night as I could be of no use; and there is nothing to cause alarm. I go out twice a day for about an hour. It is a very trying time, for a fever with its despondency, weakness, and occasional and _invariable_ wandering, is most painful to witness--but we have _never_ had _one unfavourable_ symptom; to-morrow, reckoning from the 22nd, when dear Albert first fell ill--after going on a wet day to look at some buildings--having likewise been unusually depressed with worries of different kinds--is the _end_ of the _third week_; we _may_ hope for improvement _after_ that, but the Doctors say they should _not_ be _at all disappointed if_ this did _not_ take place till the _end_ of the _fourth week_. I cannot sufficiently praise the skill, attention, and devotion of Dr Jenner,[60] who is the _first fever_ Doctor in Europe, one may say--and good old Clark is here every day; good Brown is also _most_ useful.... We have got Dr Watson[61] (who succeeded Dr Chambers[62]) and Sir H. Holland[63] has also been here. But I have kept clear of these two. Albert sleeps a good deal in the day. He is moved every day into the next room on a sofa which is made up as a bed. He has only _kept_ his bed entirely since Monday. Many, many thanks for your dear, kind letter of the 11th. I knew how _you_ would _feel_ for and think of me. I am very wonderfully supported, and, excepting on three occasions, have borne up very well. I am sure Clark will tell you so.

Ever your most devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 60: Dr (afterwards Sir) William Jenner, K.C.B.

(1815-1898), was at this time Physician-Extraordinary to the Queen.]

[Footnote 61: Afterwards Sir Thomas Watson (1792-1882), F.R.S.]

[Footnote 62: Dr. William Frederick Chambers (1786-1855) was well known as a consulting physician.]

[Footnote 63: Sir Henry Holland (1788-1873) was Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen and the Prince Consort.]

_General Grey to Sir Charles Wood._