Chapter XI (4)

MY DEAR PEEL,--Arbuthnot has shown me your letter to him respecting this house.

Nothing can be more convenient to me than to place it at Her Majesty's disposition at any time she pleases....

I am only apprehensive that the accommodation in the Castle would scarcely be sufficient for Her Majesty, the Prince, and the Royal children, and such suite as must attend....

It is the most delightful sea-residence to be found anywhere, particularly for children. They can be out all day, on the ramparts and platforms quite dry, and the beautiful gardens and wood are enclosed and sheltered from the severe gales of wind. There are good lodgings at Walmer village and on Walmer beach at no great distance from the Castle, not above half a mile. Believe me, ever, yours most sincerely,

WELLINGTON.

If the Queen should send anybody here, I beg that he will write me a line, that I may have an apartment prepared for him.

[Pageheading: LETTER FROM QUEEN ADELAIDE]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

CANFORD HOUSE, _31st October 1842._

MY DEAREST NIECE,--A thousand thanks for your very kind dear letter of yesterday with its enclosures, which I have just received. Your opinion respecting George of Hanover's[98] marriage is quite my own, and I regret that the King does not seem to be inclined to settle it and fix a day for the celebration of it. I do not know his reasons against it, for I have not heard from him for a long, long time. I am so sorry to find that the accounts of his health are so indifferent, and fear he is not careful enough.

I am happy to hear that you thought the Cambridge visit went off well, and that the affianced[99] looked and seemed happy. I hope it will always be the same, and that the marriage will not be delayed too long. I always had imagined that the Duke of Cambridge was rich and would give a fortune to his daughters, but I have lately heard that it is not the case. I do not know what is the usual marriage portion of an English Princess given by the country. In Germany those portions are called _die Prinzessin Teuer_.

We received 25,000 Fl. each when we married, and 10,000 Fl. for our _trousseaux_ each.

If the young couple are to live in future with the Grand Duke they will not want any Plate, but if they are to have a separate _ménage_, then they will want it. I shall find it out by and by. I wonder that the Duchess likes to part with her fine sapphires. I thought the turquoises had been intended for Augusta.

I wish you could see the Convent to which I went the other day. The nuns belong to the Order of the Cistercian _Trappists_. They are not allowed to speak amongst themselves--what a relief my visit must have been to them!--and they neither eat meat, nor butter, nor eggs--nothing but milk, vegetables and rice. They look healthy, and there were several young rather pretty ones amongst them. One, the best-looking of them all, Sister Marie Josepha, took me affectionately by the hand and said, "I hope the air agrees with you here and that you feel better?" and then she added, "Come again--will you, before you leave this country again?" She told me that she was born in Ireland and had a German grandfather. She seemed to be the favourite amongst them all, for when I bought of their works and asked them to make up my bill, they called Marie Josepha to summon it up, and she said to me, "Do not stay for that; we will send you your things with the bill." Two hours after my visit to them I received my things, with a wreath of flowers besides as their gift to me; on the paper attached to it was written, "To the Queen-Dowager, from the Reverend Mother and her Community."

This old Reverend Mother, the Abbess, was very infirm, and could not get up from her chair, but she spoke very politely and ladylike to me in French. She has been forty years in her present _situation_, and comes from Bretagne. The chaplain of the Convent is also an old Frenchman, and there are several other French nuns amongst them--one who had been condemned to be guillotined in the Revolution, and was set at liberty just at the moment the execution was to have taken place. I should like to know whether these good nuns resumed again at once their silence when I left them, or whether they were permitted to talk over the events of that day.... Your most affectionately devoted Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

[Footnote 98: Afterwards King George V. of Hanover. He married
Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, 18th February 1843.]

[Footnote 99: Princess Augusta of Cambridge. _See_ p. 434.
(Ch. XI, Footnote 93)]

[Pageheading: LORD MELBOURNE'S ILLNESS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_1st November 1842._

... Many thanks for your most kind and amiable letter of the 28th, which I received yesterday. The prospect of the possibility of dearest Louise's spending some time with us _quite enchants_ us, and I hope and trust that you will carry your plan into execution. Our plans, which we only settled last night, are as follows:--the scarlet fever is on the decrease at Brighton, but not sufficiently so to justify our going there immediately; so we therefore intend going to Walmer with the children, but a very reduced suite (as the house is considerably smaller than Claremont), on the 10th, and to stay there till the 22nd inst., when we shall go to Brighton and remain there till the 13th of December. Now if dearest Louise would meet us there then, and perhaps come back with us here for a little while _then_? Windsor is _beautiful_ in December.

The news of Lord Melbourne, I am thankful to say, are _excellent_, and he improves rapidly under Dr Holland's care, but his first seizure was very alarming.[100] I shall not fail to convey your kind message to this worthy friend of ours.

I am so pleased at your account of Nemours and poor Hélène. Tatane[101] is not your favourite, is he?

Lord Douglas's[102] marriage with Princess M. of Baden _is_ settled; _I_ shall of course treat her as a Princess of Baden--I can't do otherwise (it is like Aunt Sophie,[103] and Princess M. of Würtemberg who married Count Neipperg[104])--and him as Lord Douglas, which won't please him.

I wish Clem's marriage was no longer a secret, now that it _is settled_, as it is (forgive my saying it) really a fashion in our family to have these _secrets de la comédie_, when one is almost forced to tell a lie about what is true. I _own_ I dislike these secrets; it was so with poor Marie and with Vecto. Now _adieu!_ dearest, kindest Uncle, and believe me, always, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 100: He had a paralytic seizure, and never regained
his former health or spirits.]

[Footnote 101: Duc de Montpensier.]

[Footnote 102: Afterwards eleventh Duke of Hamilton: he was
married to Princess Mary on 23rd February following.]

[Footnote 103: Sister of the Duchess of Kent and of the King
of the Belgians, and the wife of Count Mensdorff.]

[Footnote 104: Alfred, Count Neipperg, who died in 1865.]

[Pageheading: THE CROWN JEWELS]

[Pageheading: PROVISION FOR PRINCESS AUGUSTA]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _11th November 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs leave to acquaint your Majesty that he brought under the consideration of your Majesty's servants the questions relating to certain of the Crown Jewels, and the claim upon them preferred by the King of Hanover.[105]

In the course of the discussion it appeared to Sir Robert Peel that there were still some points in respect to this very embarrassing question which required the grave consideration of legal authorities, and that it would not be prudent to take any step, even that of submitting the case to arbitration, without the highest legal authority.

The submission to arbitration might avoid the evil (and a very great one it would be) of public controversy in a Court of Justice, and of public examination of members of the Royal Family on a matter partly of a domestic nature; but on the other hand, great care must be taken that by submitting the case to the award of arbitrators, even should they be nominated altogether by your Majesty, we do not relinquish any _fair_ advantage for the Crown of England which would have accompanied an appeal to the regularly constituted tribunals of the country.

Your Majesty's Solicitor-General was employed as Counsel for the King of Hanover, and it has been thought therefore advisable to make the reference to the Attorney-General and to the Queen's Advocate.

Sir Robert Peel has attempted to bring every questionable point in the case submitted to them under the consideration of your Majesty's law advisers, and when their report shall be received he will not fail to lay it before your Majesty.

Sir Robert Peel had a personal interview a few days since with His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, on the subject of a public provision for the Princess Augusta on the occasion of her marriage.[106]

Sir Robert Peel thought it advisable to enquire from the Duke of Cambridge, as the impression of the public (of which His Royal Highness is quite aware) is that he has a considerable fortune of his own, independently of his annual allowance from Parliament.

The Duke of Cambridge seemed entirely to share the impressions of Sir Robert Peel that in the present state of the country, and of the public revenue, great caution is requisite in respect to the proposal of a grant of public money as a marriage portion to the Princess Augusta, and that it would be important that in any proposal to be made there should be a general acquiescence on the part of the House of Commons.

As the marriage is not to take place for some time it appears to Sir Robert Peel that it might be advisable to postpone a decision, at least in respect to the particular amount of any provision to be made, till a period nearer to the meeting of Parliament.

A public intimation, or the public notoriety long beforehand of the intention to propose a grant of public money might, in the present temper of the times, interpose additional obstacles in the way of it.

Sir Robert Peel proposes to return to Drayton Manor for a short time, and to leave London to-morrow morning.

[Footnote 105: The King claimed them on the ground that part
belonged to the Crown of Hanover, and part had been bequeathed
to him by Queen Charlotte. The matter was referred to a
Commission consisting of Lords Lyndhurst and Langdale, and
Chief Justice Tindal. The two former were divided in opinion,
and the Chief Justice died before the award was made. It was
not till 1857 that a final decision, substantially in favour
of Hanover, was given.]

[Footnote 106: See _ante_, p. 437.
(Ch XI, Footnote 99, 31st October, 1842)]

[Pageheading: SUCCESSES IN CHINA]

_Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _23rd November 1842._

Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, has the honour of submitting to your Majesty an original despatch from Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Gough, received this morning, detailing the triumphant successes which had crowned the exertions of your Majesty's Naval and Military forces in China,[107] and of the completely satisfactory result in the execution of a Treaty of Peace with the Emperor of China, upon terms highly honourable to your Majesty and advantageous to this country.

Lord Stanley learns from Lord Fitzgerald that he is also forwarding to your Majesty, by this messenger, the details which the same mail has brought of the complete and triumphant issue of the campaign in Afghanistan.

Lord Stanley trusts that he may be permitted to offer to your Majesty his humble congratulations upon intelligence so glorious to British Arms, and so important to British interests. It is difficult to estimate the moral effect which these victories may produce, not on Asia merely, but throughout Europe also. At the same moment your Majesty has brought to a triumphant issue two gigantic operations, one in the centre of Asia, the other in the heart of the hitherto unapproachable Chinese Empire. In the former, past disasters have been retrieved; a signal victory has been achieved on the very spot memorable for former failure and massacre; the honour of the British Arms has been signally vindicated; the interests of humanity have been consulted by the rescue of the whole of the prisoners; and, after a series of victories, the Governor-General of India is free, without discredit, to enter upon measures of internal improvement, and having established the supremacy of British power, to carry on henceforth a more pacific policy.

In China a termination has been put to the effusion of blood by the signature of a treaty which has placed your Majesty's dominions on a footing never recognised in favour of any foreign Power--a footing of perfect equality with the Chinese Empire; which has obtained large indemnity for the past, and ample security for the future, and which has opened to British enterprise the commerce of China to an extent which it is almost impossible to anticipate. It may interest your Majesty to hear that already enquiries are made in the City for superintendents of ships to trade to _Ningpo direct_.

Lord Stanley has taken upon himself to give orders in your Majesty's name for firing the Park and Tower guns in honour of these glorious successes. A _Gazette_ extraordinary will be published to-morrow, the voluminous nature of the despatches rendering it necessary to take some time lest an important despatch should be omitted.

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

STANLEY.

[Footnote 107: Chapoo was taken by Sir Hugh Gough in May: in
June the squadron, under Admiral William Parker, entered the
waters of the Yang-tze, captured Chin-kiang-fu, and were about
to attack Nanking, when the treaty was concluded, embracing
among other things a payment by the Chinese of 21,000,000
dollars, the cession of Hong Kong, and the opening of the
ports of Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai.]

[Pageheading: VICTORIES IN AFGHANISTAN]

_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria._

INDIA BOARD, _23rd November 1842._[108]

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave most humbly to inform your Majesty that the despatches received from the Governor-General of India announce the results of a series of most brilliant exploits by the armies under Major-General Nott and General Pollock in Afghanistan.

Each of those armies has achieved a glorious victory over superior numbers of the enemy.

The city of Ghuznee has been captured, and its formidable fortress utterly razed and destroyed.

The survivors of the British garrison, which had capitulated in the spring of the year, and who had been reduced to slavery, have been redeemed from bondage.

The splendid victory of General Pollock has been obtained over the army commanded by Akbar Khan in person, on the very spot where the greatest disaster had befallen the British Army on their retreat, and where the last gun had been lost.

On the 16th of September, General Pollock entered Cabul with his victorious troops and planted the Colours of your Majesty in the Bala Hissar, on the spot most conspicuous from the city.

An extract from a letter from General Pollock to Lord Ellenborough, dated at Cabul the 21st of September, gives the most gratifying intelligence that _all_ the British prisoners, with the exception of Captain Bygrave, have been rescued from Akbar Khan, and were expected in the British camp on the 22nd of September.

An extract from a letter from General Pollock announcing the redemption of the prisoners is also most humbly submitted to your Majesty, by your Majesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant,

FITZGERALD AND VESCI.

[Footnote 108: The mail, which informed Ministers of the Chinese
success, also brought the news of the capture of Cabul. General
Nott (see _ante_, p. 402 (Ch XI, 'Sale and Pollock')) had by the
end of July completed his preparations, and marched upon Ghuznee,
having arranged to meet Pollock at Cabul, and having transferred
the Scinde command to General England. Nott was before Ghuznee
on 5th September, but at daylight on the 6th found it evacuated;
the citadel was destroyed by him and the Gates of Somnauth
removed, as directed by Lord Ellenborough. Pollock, to whose
discretion Ellenborough had entrusted the policy of advancing on
Cabul, secured supplies at Gundamuck, and on his advance met the
enemy in a strong position in the Jugdulluck Pass and dispersed
them; then at Tezeen, on 12th September, he was attacked by Akbar
Khan with 20,000 men. The Pass was forced, and the Afghans
retired to the Haft Kotal, where they were utterly defeated,
close to the scene of Elphinstone's disaster. Nott arrived at
Cabul on the day after Pollock.]

[Pageheading: AFFAIRS OF PORTUGAL]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

ARDENNE, _24th November 1842._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... I do not think, or I may say I am pretty certain, because I have often seen Donna Maria's letters, they hardly ever speak of politics, except just saying that they are surrounded by such very sad people without honour or honesty. I am sure they are not French at Lisbon beyond the kindly feelings which result from the recollection of Donna Maria's stay at Paris. My constant advice has been to look exclusively to the closest alliance with England, and Ferdinand is now _well aware_ of it; but you know that the Liberal party tried to even harm him by representing him as a _mere_ creature of England. We live in odd times when really one very often thinks people mad; their _uncontrouled_ passions do not develop amiable feelings, but on the contrary everything that is bad and unreasonable....

You are a very affectionate and kind Mamma, which is very praiseworthy; may Heaven preserve your dear little children! Victoria is very clever, and it will give you great pleasure to see the development which takes place with children just at that time of life. What you say of Ernest is unfortunately but too true; that trick of exaggeration is one of the worst I almost know, and particularly in people in high stations, as one finally knows not what to believe, and it generally ends with people disbelieving all such individuals do say.... Your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WALMER CASTLE, _25th November 1842._

The Queen wishes Sir Robert to consider, and at an _early_ period to submit to her, his propositions as to how to recompense and how to mark her high approbation of the admirable conduct of all those meritorious persons who have by their strenuous endeavour, brought about the recent brilliant successes in China and Afghanistan.

[Pageheading: MILITARY HONOURS]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WALMER CASTLE, _29th November 1842._

Approve of the G.C.B. given to--

Sir H. POTTINGER.
Sir W. PARKER.
GENERAL NOTT.
GENERAL POLLOCK.

Likewise of the proposed pension to Sir R. Sale, and the Baronetcy to Sir Hugh Gough.

Thinks the latter very fit to succeed Sir Jasper Nicols[109] as Commander-in-Chief in India.

Grants with pleasure the permission _to her troops_ engaged in Afghanistan to accept and wear the four medals which the Governor-General has had struck for the Indian Army, and hopes that besides gratifying the troops, it will have the beneficial effect of still further strengthening the good feeling existing between the two armies. Were it not for this impression, the Queen would have thought it more becoming that she herself should have rewarded her troops with a medal than leaving it to the Governor-General.

[Footnote 109: Lieut.-General Sir Jasper Nicols (1778-1849),
created a K.C.B. for his services at Bhurtpore.]

[Pageheading: THE GATES OF SOMNAUTH]

_Lord Ellenborough to Queen Victoria._

SIMLA, _18th October 1842._

Lord Ellenborough, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, humbly offers to your Majesty his congratulation on the entire success which has attended the operations of the Fleet and Army under your Majesty's direction in the Yantze-Kiang,[110] and submits to your Majesty the general order which, on the receipt of the intelligence of that success and of the peace concluded with the Emperor of China upon the terms dictated by your Majesty, he issued to the Army of India.

Your Majesty will have observed that in the letter of the 4th of July to Major-General Nott, that officer was instructed to bring away the gates of the Temple of Somnauth, from the tomb of Mahmood of Ghuznee, and the club of Mahmood also.

The club was no longer upon the tomb, and it seems to be doubtful whether it was taken away by some person of Lord Keane's Army in 1839, or by Shah Sooja, or whether it was hidden in order to prevent its being taken away at that time.

The gates of the Temple of Somnauth have been brought away by Major-General Nott.

These gates were taken to Ghuznee by Sultan Mahmood in the year 1024. The tradition of the Invasion of India by Sultan Mahmood in that year, and of the carrying away of the gates after the destruction of the Temple, is still current in every part of India, and known to every one. So earnest is the desire of the Hindoos and of all who are not Mussulmans to recover the gates of the Temple, that when ten or twelve years ago Runjeet Singh was making arrangements with Shah Sooja for assisting him in the endeavour to recover his throne,[111] he wished to make a stipulation that when Shah Sooja recovered his power he should restore the gates to India, and Shah Sooja refused.

Lord Ellenborough transmits for your Majesty's information a copy of the Address he intends to publish on announcing that the gates of the Temple will be restored.[112]

The progress of the gates from Ferozepore to Somnauth will be one great national triumph, and their restoration to India will endear the Government to the whole people.[113]

[Footnote 110: See _ante_, p. 441, note 107.
(Ch. XI, 'Successes in China')]

[Footnote 111: See _ante_, p. 142. (Intro Note to Ch. VIII)]

[Footnote 112: "The insult of 800 years," he wrote in this
rather theatrical proclamation, "is at last avenged. The
gates of the temple of Somnauth, so long the memorial of your
humiliation, are become the proudest record of your national
glory.... You will yourselves, with all honour, transmit the
gates of sandal-wood, through your respective territories, to
the restored Temple of Somnauth."]

[Footnote 113: See _post_, pp. 463, 468, and 477.
(Ch. XII, Footnote 13; 10th March, 1843; 19th February, 1843)]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND SPAIN]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th December 1842._

DEAREST UNCLE,--I have to thank you for two most kind letters of the 5th and 8th. I can report very favourably of the healths of young and old; we are all very flourishing, and have since yesterday perfectly _May_ weather. Clear, dry frost would be wholesome.

Victoire gave me yesterday a much better account of poor little Robert.[114]

In Portugal affairs seem quieted down, but Ferdinand is imprudent enough to say to Mamma that he would be wretched to lose Dietz (very naturally), and _would not be at all sorry to go away_. Now, this is _folly_, and a most dangerous language to hold, as if he entertains this, I fear the Portuguese will _some beau matin_ indulge him in his wishes.

The news from Spain are better, but I must own frankly to you, that _we are all disgusted_ at the _French intrigues_ which have _without a doubt_ been at the bottom of it all, and can, I fear, be traced very close to the Tuileries. Why attempt to ruin a country (which they luckily _cannot succeed_ in) merely out of personal dislike to a man who certainly has proved himself capable of keeping the country quiet, and certainly is by far the _most honest_ Spaniard in existence, whatever crimes or faults the French may choose to bring against him. And what will be the effect of all this? A total dislike and mistrust of France, and a still closer alliance with England. I have spoken thus freely, as a repetition of last year's scenes is _too much_ to remain silent, and as I have ever been privileged to tell you, dearest Uncle, my feelings, and the truth.

Poor Lord Hill's death, though fully expected, will grieve you, as it has grieved us.

I am much amused at what you say about Charles, and shall tell it him, when I write to him. Believe me, always, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 114: The infant Duc de Chartres.]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th December 1842._

The Queen is very desirous that something should be done for Major Malcolm[115] (who was the bearer of "the news of Victory and Peace"), either by promotion in the Army or by any other distinction. He is a very intelligent and well-informed officer, and has been employed in China both in a Civil and Military capacity, and has made, and is going to make again, a long journey at a very bad time of the year, though suffering severely at this moment from ague.

[Footnote 115: In such cases it has been usual to confer some
distinction.]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1842._

The Queen thanks Sir Robert for his letter of the 23rd. She thinks that Major Malcolm's going back to China the bearer of verbal instructions as well as written ones will greatly facilitate the matter and prevent misunderstandings, which at such a great distance are mostly fatal. The Queen joins in Sir Robert's opinion, that before coming to a final arrangement it will be most valuable to have Sir H. Pottinger's opinion upon your present message, and thinks it much the best that Sir H. should in the meantime be entrusted with the _extraordinary_ full powers for concluding any provisional arrangements, as she believes that very great confidence may be placed in him. Lord Stanley's suggestions strike the Queen as very judicious and calculated to facilitate the future Government of Hong-Kong.

The Queen hopes to hear more from Sir Robert when she sees him here, which she hopes to do from Monday the 2nd to Wednesday the 4th.

[Pageheading: THE SCOTCH CHURCH]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

DRAYTON MANOR, _26th December 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and with reference to enquiries made by your Majesty when Sir Robert Peel was last at Windsor, on the subject of the Scotch Church and the proceedings of the last General Assembly, begs leave to acquaint your Majesty that the Moderator of the Assembly has recently addressed a letter to Sir Robert Peel, requiring an answer to the demands urged by the General Assembly in a document entitled a Protest and Declaration of Right.[116]

The demands of the General Assembly amount to a reversal by Law of the recent decisions of the Court of Session and of the House of Lords, and to a repeal of the Act of Queen Anne, which establishes the Right of Patronage in respect to Livings in the Church of Scotland.

That Act by no means gives any such absolute right of appointment to the Crown or other patrons of Livings, as exists in England. It enables those legally entitled to the patronage to present a clergyman to the Living, but the Church Courts have the power, on valid objections being made and duly sustained by the parishioners, to set aside the presentation of the patron, and to require from him a new nomination.

The Church, however, requires the absolute repeal of the Act of Anne.

An answer to the demands of the Church will now become requisite.

Sir James Graham has been in communication with the law advisers of your Majesty in Scotland upon the legal questions involved in this matter, and will shortly send for your Majesty's consideration the draft of a proposed answer to the General Assembly.[117]

[Footnote 116: The famous Auchterarder case had decided that,
notwithstanding the vetoing by the congregation of the nominee
of the patron, the Presbytery must take him on trial if
qualified by life, learning, and doctrine,--in other words,
that the Act of Anne, subjecting the power of the Presbytery
to the control of the law courts, was not superseded by the
Veto Act, a declaration made by the General Assembly. In the
Strathbogie case, a minister had been nominated to Marnock,
and 261 out of 300 heads of families had objected to him. The
General Assembly having directed the Presbytery to reject him,
the civil court held that he must be taken on trial. Seven
members of the Presbytery obeyed the civil power, and the
General Assembly, on the motion of Dr Chalmers, deposed them
and declared their parishes vacant.]

[Footnote 117: Sir James Graham's letter is printed in the
Annual Register for 1843. A petition in answer was drawn by
the Assembly and presented to Parliament by Mr Fox Maule.
After the debate on it in the Commons, preparations were
made throughout Scotland for the secession of the
non-intrusionists, as they were called, which event took
place on 18th May 1843, when about 500 Ministers, headed by
Chalmers, seceded from the Old Kirk, and founded the Free
Church.]

[Pageheading: A SERIOUS CRISIS]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

DRAYTON MANOR, _30th December 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and rejoices to hear that your Majesty approved of the letter which, with your Majesty's sanction, James Graham proposes to write to the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Sir Robert Peel fears that there is too much ground for the apprehensions expressed by your Majesty in respect to future embarrassment arising out of the position of the Church Question in Scotland.

Sir Robert Peel saw yesterday a letter addressed by Dr Abercrombie,[118] the eminent physician in Edinburgh, to Sir George Sinclair,[119] declaring his conviction that the Secession of Ministers from their Livings would take place to _a very great extent_--would comprise very many of the Ministers most distinguished for learning and professional character, and would meet with very general support among their congregations.

Sir Robert Peel has little doubt that a serious crisis in the History of the Church of Scotland is at hand, and that the result of it will be greatly to be lamented; but still he could not advise your Majesty to seek to avert it by the acquiescence in demands amounting to the abrogation of important civil rights and to the establishment in Scotland of an ecclesiastical domination independent of all control....

He is very confident that your Majesty will feel that in the present state of the controversy with the Church of Scotland, there is peculiar reason for taking the greatest care that every minister presented to a Crown Living should be not only above exception, but should, if possible, be pre-eminently distinguished for his fitness for a pastoral charge.

[Footnote 118: John Abercrombie (1780-1844), one of the chief
consulting physicians in Scotland, and a great medical writer.
He left the Established Church.]

[Footnote 119: Sir George Sinclair (1790-1868), M.P. for
Caithness-shire, was a supporter of the Anti-Patronage
Society, and joined the Free Church.]

[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _30th December 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has been much delighted this morning by receiving your Majesty's letter of the 28th. He was the more gratified, as he had begun to be a little annoyed at being such a very long time without hearing from your Majesty.

Lord Mahon has sent Lord Melbourne his book.[120] Lord Melbourne has not yet read it, but he has read the review of it in the _Quarterly_, which seems to be a sort of abstract or abridgment of the book. The effect of writing it in French has naturally been to direct all attention and criticism from the merits of the work to the faults of the French. People who have read the work speak of it as entertaining, and the times are curious and interesting. The characters engaged in them, striking and remarkable. Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear that Pottinger's conduct is so universally approved. He always appeared to Lord Melbourne to be a man of great ability, resolution and discretion, and Lord Melbourne much rejoices that he has turned out so.

Hallam's opinions Lord Melbourne believes to be in general sound, and such as have been held and approved by the most able and constitutional statesmen in this country.

Lord Melbourne is much rejoiced to hear of the Princess and the Prince of Wales, and also that your Majesty is pursuing your studies quietly, cheerfully, and happily.

Lord Melbourne is very sensible of the interest which the Baron takes in his health and which he warmly reciprocates. There is no man whom he esteems more, nor of whose head and heart he has a better opinion.

We expect here to-morrow the Duchess of Sutherland[121] and Lady Elizabeth Gower,[122] who have been kind enough to propose to pay Lord Melbourne a visit.

[Footnote 120: _Essai sur la vie du grand Condé_, afterwards
published in English.]

[Footnote 121: Formerly Mistress of the Robes.]

[Footnote 122: Afterwards Duchess of Argyll.]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XII

Repeated debates took place during the year (1843) on the Corn Laws, the agitation against them steadily growing, Mr Cobden coming on one occasion into violent conflict with the Premier. The events of the previous year in Afghanistan were also the subject of constant discussion in Parliament. A movement of some importance took place in Wales in opposition to the increasing number of toll-bars, bands of rioters dressed in women's clothes and known as "Rebecca and her daughters," demolishing the gates and committing acts of greater or less violence. A verse in Genesis (xxiv. 60) fancifully applied gave rise to this name and disguise.

In Scotland the system of private patronage in the Established Kirk had become very unpopular, the Act of Anne in favour of the nomination by lay patrons, and the control given to the Law Courts over the revising action of the Presbytery being ultimately modified by a declaration of the General Assembly known as the Veto Act. But it was decided in what was called the Strathbogie case that the veto was illusory, the disruption of the old Kirk followed, and on 18th May Dr Chalmers and five hundred other ministers seceded from it in order to form the Free Church.

In Ireland the agitation for Repeal was at its height. O'Connell, supported by the _Nation_ newspaper, founded a Repeal Association in Dublin, and monster meetings were held on Sundays on some conspicuous spot of free and historic associations to claim the re-establishment of a Parliament on College Green. It was believed that a quarter of a million people were present on one occasion, and the Government, alarmed at the absolute power wielded by O'Connell over these huge bodies of men, resolved to prohibit the meetings, and somewhat tardily issued a Proclamation against that announced for Clontarf on 8th October. O'Connell accordingly disbanded the meeting, but his action did not please his more zealous supporters, and his ascendency came to an end. The agitation collapsed and the principal actors were arrested.

A military duel fought in the summer of this year, in which a colonel in the Army was shot by his brother-in-law, made the code of honour existing on the subject a burning question, the criminal law of homicide being the same then as now. On Prince Albert's suggestion, the question was taken up by the heads of the Army and Navy, and the Articles of War were in the following year amended so as to admit of an apology and a tender of redress.

The better feeling existing between this country and France enabled the Queen and Prince to visit Louis Philippe at the Château d'Eu.