The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 92

MY DEAR UNCLE,--Not to miss my day, I write a line to thank you for your kind letters of the 10th and 13th, but shall write fully by the messenger. Our Claremont trip was very enjoyable, only we missed p.u.s.s.y so much; another time we shall take her with us; the dear child was so pleased to see us again, particularly dear Albert, whom she is _so_ fond of.... We think of going to Brighton early in February, as the physicians think it will do the children great good, and perhaps it may _me_; for I am very strong as to fatigue and exertion, but not quite right otherwise; I am growing thinner, and there is a want of tone, which the sea may correct.

Albert's great _fonction_[6] yesterday went off beautifully, and he was so much admired in all ways; he always _fascinates_ the people wherever he goes, by his very modest and unostentatious yet dignified ways. He only came back at twelve last night; it was very kind of him to come. The King of Prussia means, I believe, to cross on the 20th.

Now _addio_. Ever your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 6: The Prince laid the foundation stone of the new Royal Exchange.]

[Pageheading: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON]

_The Duke of Wellington to Queen Victoria._

LONDON, _21st January 1842._

Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He is much flattered by your Majesty's most gracious desire that he should bear the Sword of State at the ceremony of the christening of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

He had already received from Sir Robert Peel an intimation of your Majesty's gracious pleasure on this subject. He is in such good health, as to be able to perform any duty upon which your Majesty may think proper to employ him; and he will attend your Majesty's gracious ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday morning, the 25th Jan. inst.

All of which is humbly submitted to your Majesty by your Majesty's most dutiful and devoted Subject and Servant,

WELLINGTON.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _22nd January 1842._

The Queen cannot say _how grieved_ she is, and the Prince also, at hearing of Lord Melbourne's serious indisposition, by his letter this morning. How _very_ provoking if he cannot come on Tuesday. It will be the _only_ important ceremony during the Queen's reign which Lord Melbourne has _not_ been present at, and it grieves her _deeply_. It was already a deep mortification not to see him in his old place, but not to see him _at all_ is _too_ provoking. If Lord Melbourne should soon get well we shall hope to see him later during the King's[7]

stay. The Prince is gone to Greenwich to meet the King, and I expect them about five o'clock.

The Queen hopes to hear soon of Lord Melbourne's being better, and expresses again her very sincere regret at his being prevented from coming.

[Footnote 7: Frederick Wilham IV., King of Prussia.]

[Pageheading: THE SLAVE TRADE]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria._

_28th January 1842._

Lord Aberdeen presents his most humble duty to your Majesty. Some time ago, your Majesty was graciously pleased to express a desire to have a copy of the Treaty concluded by your Majesty with the Four Great Powers of Europe, for the more effectual suppression of the Slave Trade.[8] Lord Aberdeen has had one prepared for your Majesty's use, which he humbly begs to lay before your Majesty.

In obeying your Majesty's commands Lord Aberdeen thinks it his duty, at the same time, to state to your Majesty that, with the exception of some alterations and additions of little importance, the Treaty in its present form had existed for a considerable time in the Foreign Office. He found, also, that there had been a reluctance to sign it on the part of the French Government; but as the objection was chiefly of a personal nature, it was speedily removed. The only share, therefore, which Lord Aberdeen can properly be said to have had in this transaction is that of having been enabled to afford your Majesty the great satisfaction of completing this blessed work at an earlier period than would otherwise have been the case.

[Footnote 8: The treaty conferred a mutual right of search.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _1st February 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has to thank your Majesty for the letters of the 28th and the 31st ult., the last of which he received this morning.

Lord Melbourne is very glad that your Majesty opens the Parliament in person. Your Majesty knows Lord Melbourne's opinion, that it ought always to be done, when it can be, without reference to Ministers, politics, or political questions. Lord Melbourne hopes to be able to go to the House in the evening, but he fears that it would be too much for him if he were to attempt to attend also in the morning.

Lord Melbourne was in despair at hearing of poor Eos.[9] Favourites often get shot; Lord Melbourne has known it happen often in his time.

That is the worst of dogs; they add another strong interest to a life which has already of itself interest enough, and those, G.o.d knows!

sufficiently subject both to accident and decay.

Lord Melbourne is sorry to do anything that could trouble your Majesty in the slightest degree, but he doubts not that your Majesty is already aware of the matter, and therefore he has less scruple in sending to your Majesty a letter[10] which he has received from the Duke of Suss.e.x. Upon the plea of not being well, Lord Melbourne has put off seeing the Duke upon this subject until after Monday next, and when he does see him, he will try to keep him quiet, which your Majesty knows when he has got a thing of this sort into his head, is no easy matter.

[Footnote 9: A favourite greyhound of the Prince, accidentally shot by Prince Ferdinand. _See_ King Leopold's letter, 4th February.]

[Footnote 10: This letter is not preserved among the Queen's papers.]

[Pageheading: THE KING OF PRUSSIA]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st February 1842._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I have to thank you for a kind, short note of the 27th inst., which I received on Sunday. I gave your kind message to the King of Prussia, who was much _touche_ by it. He is a most amiable man, so kind and well-meaning, and seems so much beloved. He is so amusing too. He is very anxious that Belgium should become _liee_ with Germany, and I think, dearest Uncle, that it would be for the _real_ good of Belgium if it could be so. You will have heard how perfectly and splendidly everything went off on the 25th. Nothing could have done better, and _little_ Albert (_what_ a pleasure that he has that _dearest_ name!) behaved so well. The King left us yesterday morning to go to town, where we follow him to-morrow; he was quite sad to leave Windsor, which he admired so much. He dined with the Sutherlands yesterday, and dines with the Duke of Wellington to-day, and the Cambridges to-morrow. On Thursday he dines with us (he lodges in Buckingham Palace), and on Friday takes his departure. He is really a most agreeable visitor, though I must own that I am somewhat knocked up by our great exertions.

Uncle Ferdinand is very well, and we are delighted with dear Leopold;[11] he is so much improved, and is such a modest, sensible boy.

I can't say much for poor Gusti,[12] though I love him, but he is really too odd and inanimate. I hope Louise will see the King of Prussia. You have heard our great misfortune about dear Eos; she is going on well, but slowly, and still makes us rather anxious. It made me quite ill the first day, and keeps me fidgety still, till we know that she is quite safe. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

We were grieved to hear Papa had been so ill.

[Footnote 11: Son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, and brother of the King of Portugal, afterwards a candidate for the hand of Queen Isabella of Spain. See _post_, p. 487.

(Ch. XII, Footnote 54)]