Chapter XII (1)

1843

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th January 1843._

DEAREST UNCLE,--... We have been _very_ gay; danced into the New Year, and again _last_ night, and were _very_ merry, though but a very small party; young and old danced. Good Lord Melbourne was here from Saturday till this morning, looking very well, and I _almost_ fancied happy old times were returned; but alas! the dream is _past_! He enquired much after you.

Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: BETROTHAL OF PRINCE DE JOINVILLE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

CLAREMONT, _10th January 1843._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I am happy to write to you again from this so very dear and comfortable old place, where you will have heard from Louise that we arrived with our dear Pussy on Thursday last. We are _all_ so particularly well, including Pussy, that we intend, to my great delight, to prolong our stay till next Monday. This place has a peculiar charm for us both, and to me it brings back recollections of the _happiest_ days of my otherwise _dull_ childhood--where I experienced such kindness from you, dearest Uncle, which has ever since continued. It is true that my _last_ stay here _before_ I came to the Throne, from November '36 to February '37, was a peculiarly painful and disagreeable one, but somehow or other, I do _not_ think of those times, but only of all the former _so_ happy ones. Victoria plays with my old bricks, etc., and I think you would be pleased to see this and to see her _running_ and jumping in the flower garden, as _old_--though I fear _still little_--_Victoria of former days_ used to do. She is very well, and such an amusement to us, that I can't bear to move without her; she is _so_ funny and speaks so well, and in French also, she knows almost everything; she would therefore get on famously with Charlotte....

Might I ask you some questions about Joinville's match,[1] which interests me much? First of all, _have_ you heard of his arrival at Rio? Secondly, if the Donna Francesca pleases, is he empowered _at once to make the demand_, or must he write home first? How nice it would be if the _two_ marriages could take place at _once_; but I suppose, under any circumstances, that could _not_ be....

Alexandrine is nearly quite recovered; she writes such pretty, affectionate, kind letters, poor dear child, and is so fond of Ernest. I must say I think _he_ seems improved, as he likes to live _quietly_ with her, and speaks of her too with the greatest affection.

Now, my dearest Uncle, let me take my leave, begging you to believe me, always, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 1: He was married to the Princess Francesca of
Brazil on 1st May.]

[Pageheading: HISTORICAL READING]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _12th January 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks your Majesty much for your letter of the 9th inst. which he received yesterday. Every letter that he receives from your Majesty brings back to his mind the recollection of times, which, though they were clouded with much care and anxiety, were still to Lord Melbourne a period of much happiness and satisfaction....

Hallam has not written a History of the Church, but in all his books there is necessarily much about the Church, and much that is worthy of mention. A short History of the Church is, Lord Melbourne fears, not to be found, the subject is so large and so difficult that it cannot be treated shortly. Dr Short[2] has written and published a clever, brief, and distinct summary, but it relates principally to the Church of England, and in order to be fully understood, requires to be read by one who has already some acquaintance with the subject.

The book which your Majesty remembers Lord Melbourne reading is the production of Dr Waddington,[3] whom your Majesty, under Lord Melbourne's recommendation, made Dean of Durham, which dignity he now holds. It is a very good book.

Adolphus's[4] History is by no means a bad book, and will give your Majesty the facts of the beginning of the reign of George III. well and accurately enough. The Duke of Sussex once told Lord Melbourne that he had asked his father whether Adolphus's account of the beginning of his reign was correct, and that the King had replied that substantially it was so, but that there were some mistakes, and that what had been done by one person was often attributed to another. Adolphus's History will receive some illustration from Horace Walpole's letters of that period....

Lord Melbourne thinks that he is really getting rid of the gout, and gathering strength. He still has some doubt whether he shall be able to go up for the meeting of Parliament. Lord Melbourne begs to renew to your Majesty the warm and respectful assurance of his gratitude and attachment.

[Footnote 2: Bishop, then of Sodor and Man, afterwards of St
Asaph. His book, a _Sketch of the History of the Church of
England_, was published in 1832.]

[Footnote 3: George Waddington (1793-1869), Dean of Durham,
published in 1833 the _History of the Church from the Earliest
Ages to the Reformation_.]

[Footnote 4: John Adolphus, barrister, wrote a history of
England from 1760 to 1783.]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

CANFORD HOUSE, _Friday, 13th January 1843._

MY DEAREST NIECE,--... As you take so kind an interest in our dear Thesy,[5] I send you a letter which I have received from her mother-in-law, with an excellent account of her and her infant. Her happiness is a great blessing, and I thank God that she is so well this time. Can you imagine her with _two boys_? It seems so odd, for it is but a short time since she was here with us. How time flies rapidly. I own I was not a little surprised to find that you are probably the godmother; or is the little boy only to be named after you? I remember well what you said to me when I was asked to be the godmother of the first boy, "_that I could not accept it_," as I must not take the responsibilities attached to a sponsor with a Roman Catholic child. On that ground alone, and having learned your opinion which sanctioned my own, I refused it then at the risk of offending the dear parents. Now, after all that was said on the subject, if _you have accepted_ the offer of becoming sponsor to this little _Victor_, YOU, as the Head of the English Church, give to understand that _I_ was wrong in my notions of the duties which our Church imposes upon sponsors, having refused what you accepted. I tell you fairly and openly that it has vexed me, but of course I say this only to _yourself_, dearest Victoria, and not to any one else, for it does not become me to find fault with what you please to do. But I could not entirely pass it over in silence, and regret that my former refusal must now become doubly annoying to my relations. I beg your pardon for thus frankly stating my feelings to you on a subject which I shall now despatch from my mind, and I trust you will not take it ill, and excuse me for having mentioned it to you _alone_.... Your most attached and devoted Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

[Footnote 5: Princess Thérèse, daughter of the Prince of
Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst, and wife of Prince Frederick
Charles of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg.]

_Queen Victoria to Queen Adelaide._

CLAREMONT, _15th January 1843._

I am at a loss to comprehend, my dear Aunt, what you mean by saying that you refused being godmother to Thesy's first child, as _I_ had sanctioned your doing so. I never remember even _talking_ to _you_ on the subject, but only heard from Mamma that _you_ had refused doing so--which I was surprised at. I therefore felt no hesitation in accepting the offer of Thesy, particularly as I am already godmother to one of the children of Prince Esterhazy's daughter. I am grieved, dearest Aunt, that this occurrence should annoy you, but I can _assure_ you that I do not remember _ever_ having spoken to you on the subject at all.

[Pageheading: GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP OF CANADA]

_Lord Stanley to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _19th January 1843._

Lord Stanley, with his humble duty, submits to your Majesty that in pursuance of the permission which your Majesty was pleased to give him personally, he has this day offered to Sir Charles Metcalfe[6] the Governor-Generalship of Canada; and Lord Stanley has much satisfaction in adding that the offer has been readily and thankfully accepted. This appointment, Lord Stanley is convinced, is, under the circumstances, the best which could have been made, and he believes not only that it will be generally approved, but that Sir Charles Metcalfe's long experience and tried discretion will afford the best prospect of conducting the affairs of Canada safely and successfully through the present crisis. As Sir Charles Metcalfe will naturally be anxious previous to his embarkation (which, however, will probably not take place for at least six weeks) to have the honour of being presented to your Majesty on his appointment, Lord Stanley hopes he may be honoured by your Majesty's commands as to the time when it may be your Majesty's pleasure to admit him to an audience. Perhaps Sir Charles's attendance after the Council at which your Majesty's Speech on the opening of the Session has to be settled, may give your Majesty as little trouble as any time that could be named.

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most, dutiful Servant and Subject,

STANLEY.

[Footnote 6: Metcalfe had had a long Indian career, and for
a year had been Provisional Governor-General, when he removed
the restrictions on the liberty of the Press. He was created a
peer in 1845, but never took his seat. He resigned his post at
the end of that year, and died soon after.]

[Pageheading: ASSASSINATION OF MR DRUMMOND]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert._

WHITEHALL, _20th January (1843)._

SIR,--I have the painful duty of acquainting your Royal Highness that Mr Drummond, my Private Secretary, was shot at this day about quarter past three o'clock, in the neighbourhood of Charing Cross.[7]

Two pistols were discharged, the first close to Mr Drummond's back, the second after the assassin had been seized by a policeman.

The ball entered in the back and has been extracted, after passing round the ribs. I have just left Mr Drummond's house. No vital part appears to have been injured, and there is no unfavourable symptom whatever.

The assassin gives his name _MacNaghten_, and appears to be a Glasgow man.

Two five-pound notes were, I understand, found upon his person, and a receipt for £750 given to Daniel MacNaghten, confirming, therefore, the man's account of his name.

We have not hitherto been able to discover that this man had any alleged grievance or complaint against the Treasury or any public office.

He has been loitering about the public offices for the last fortnight, and being questioned, I understand, some days since, by the Office Keeper of the Council office, said he was a policeman. This, of course, for the purpose of evading further enquiry.

The policeman who apprehended the man, says that he heard the man exclaim after firing the shots: "He or she (the policeman is uncertain which) shall not disturb my peace of mind any more."

These are all the particulars I have heard or learned. I am afraid I have given them to your Royal Highness in a hurried manner. I have thought it better to convey this information to Her Majesty, through the kind intervention of your Royal Highness, than by a direct communication to the Queen.

I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal Highness's most faithful and humble Servant,

ROBERT PEEL.

[Footnote 7: Edward Drummond had been Private Secretary to
Canning, Ripon, and Wellington, as well as to Peel, and was
very popular; he was in his fifty-first year. He had just left
his uncle's Bank at Charing Cross, when he was shot.]

[Pageheading: MISTAKEN FOR SIR ROBERT PEEL]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _21st January 1843._

Sir Robert Peel begs leave to mention to your Majesty a fact _which has not hitherto transpired_--and of which he was not aware until he had an interview this morning with Sir James Graham.

On the Inspector Tierney going into the cell of MacNaghten this morning, he said to MacNaghten: "I suppose you are aware who is the person whom you have shot?"

He (MacNaghten) said: "Yes--Sir Robert Peel."

From this it would appear that he had mistaken Mr Drummond for Sir Robert Peel.

The Magistrate thought it better not to have this evidence at present placed on record.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF MR DRUMMOND]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the very painful duty to report to your Majesty the fatal consequences of the attack on Mr Drummond.

He breathed his last this morning about half-past ten o'clock.

A very unfavourable change took place last night, and no hopes were entertained after seven o'clock in the evening.

This sad event has had such an effect on Lady Peel, and all the circumstances attending it are so distressing to Sir Robert Peel, that relying upon your Majesty's great kindness, he ventures to express a hope that your Majesty will have the goodness to permit Sir Robert and Lady Peel to remain for the present in London, or should your Majesty desire to see Sir Robert Peel before Wednesday next, to allow him to wait upon your Majesty in the morning of any day which your Majesty may be pleased to name.

He need scarcely assure your Majesty that nothing but such a sad event as that which has occurred would induce him to prefer this request to your Majesty.

Sir Robert Peel encloses such further information as has reached him respecting MacNaghten.

He does not hesitate to send to your Majesty every word of information of the least importance which he receives....

The evidence of his mental delusion is strong, but it must be borne in mind that he was exactly the instrument which others would employ.

Sir Robert Peel has no reason for surmising this to be the case, but the possibility of it ought not and shall not be overlooked.

[Pageheading: DEMEANOUR OF MACNAGHTEN]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _25th January 1843._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and makes no apology for frequently writing to your Majesty on the painful subject in respect to which your Majesty has manifested so deep an interest.

Sir Robert Peel humbly thinks that your Majesty's observations with respect to the clear distinctions in the cases of insanity are most just. It will be most unfortunate indeed if the Law does not attach its severest penalty to a crime so premeditated and so deliberately and savagely perpetrated, as that of MacNaghten.

The Jury are, however, the sole judges on this point, that is to say, it rests with them exclusively, either to find an absolute verdict of guilty of murder, or to acquit on the ground of insanity.

MacNaghten will be charged with the offence of murder, and every effort will be made to bring him to condign punishment.

His counsel will probably endeavour to establish his insanity.

Nothing can be more collected and intelligent in many respects than his conduct in prison. He was conversing with the gaoler, and seemed not disinclined to unburden his mind, when he suddenly stopped and enquired from the gaoler whether such conversations as that which he was holding went beyond the prison walls.

On being informed that no security could be given that they would remain secret, he said he should hold his tongue, but that all would come out by and by.

Sir Robert Peel takes the liberty of enclosing for your Majesty's perusal a note which he has just received from Miss Emily Eden, sister of Lord Auckland, and of Mrs Charles Drummond.

If it should be in your Majesty's power to assign apartments at some future period to Miss Drummond, who lived with her brother Edward, and was mainly dependent upon him, it would be a very great comfort to a lady of the most unexceptionable conduct, and most deeply attached to her poor brother.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _25th January 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has been much gratified this morning by receiving your Majesty's letter of the 23rd; he has determined upon following your Majesty's advice, and upon not hazarding the throwing himself back by coming up to London and attempting to attend the House of Lords at the commencement of the Session. The assassination of Mr Drummond, for Lord Melbourne fears it must be called so, is indeed a dreadful thing. Lord Melbourne is not surprised, for people are very apt to turn all their wrath and indignation upon the man from whom they actually receive an answer which they do not like, without in the least considering whether he is really responsible for it. Lord Melbourne used often to be himself assailed with threats of personal violence. Sometimes he took notice of them by swearing the peace against those who used them, and having them bound over in sureties. Sometimes he disregarded them, but he does not think it either prudent or justifiable entirely to neglect such intimations. Lord Melbourne does not wonder that this event brings to your Majesty's recollection what has taken place in your own case.

Hallam is, in Lord Melbourne's opinion, right about Ireland. Her advocates are very loud in their outcry, but she has not really much to complain of.

Lord Melbourne was very glad to hear of the marriage of Prince Augustus of Coburg with the Princess Clémentine, as he apprehends that the connection must be very agreeable to your Majesty.

Lord Melbourne begs to be respectfully and affectionately remembered to His Royal Highness.

[Pageheading: COMMITTAL OF MACNAGHTEN]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _28th January 1843._

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to inform your Majesty, that the prisoner Daniel MacNaghten was fully committed for trial this afternoon. He was not defended before the Magistrates; but in his manner he was quite cool, intelligent, and collected; he asked no questions, but he expressed a wish to have copies of the Depositions.

His trial will probably commence on Friday or Saturday next, and there is reason to believe that, at the request of his relatives in Glasgow, counsel will be retained, and that the plea of insanity will be raised in his defence.[8]

Every preparation is in progress to meet this vague and dangerous excuse. It will turn out that the pistols were bought at Paisley by MacNaghten on the 6th of August last; and information has reached Sir James Graham, which, he thinks, will prove that MacNaghten is a Chartist, that he has attended political meetings at Glasgow, and that he has taken a violent part in politics. He yesterday saw a Presbyterian clergyman, who prayed with him; who pointed out the atrocity of his crime, the innocence of his victim, the pangs of sorrowing relatives, and who exhorted him to contrition and repentance. Some impression was made at the moment; but his general demeanour is marked by cold reserve and hardness of heart.

[Footnote 8: He was defended by four counsel, including Mr
Cockburn, afterwards Lord Chief Justice.]

[Pageheading: THE ROYAL FAMILY AND POLITICS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _2nd February 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks much for the letter of the 30th ult., which he received here yesterday morning. He believes it is more prudent not to go to London, but he greatly regrets that his not doing so will deprive him for so long a time of the honour and pleasure of seeing your Majesty.

The Duke of Sussex acquainted Lord Melbourne and took his opinion before he issued his cards for the dinner. Lord Melbourne does not think that he can have any idea of playing the part to which Lord Erroll alluded. It is better that a dinner should be given somewhere. He having nothing of the kind would look too much like giving up the whole business and disbanding the party. Lord Melbourne entirely agrees with your Majesty as to the political conduct which ought to be pursued by the members of the Royal Family, but he remembers no time in which they have been induced to act with so much prudence and propriety. Your Majesty will see in Adolphus the very prominent share which the Duke of Cumberland,[9] the General of Culloden, took in the Party contentions of those days. He was a strong partisan and in a great measure the founder of the Whig party. Lord Melbourne has often heard George IV. converse upon that subject, and he used to contend that it was quite impossible for a Prince of Wales in this country to avoid taking an active part in politics and political contentions. The fact is, that George III. did not discourage this in his own family sufficiently, and the King of Hanover always said that his father had encouraged him in the active part which he took, and which certainly was sufficiently objectionable.

The assassination of Drummond is indeed a horrible event. Lord Melbourne does not see as yet any clear, distinct, and certain evidence of what were the real motives and object of the man. But we shall hear upon his trial what it is that he urges. Your Majesty will, of course, recollect that the Jury acquitted Oxford, and there then was nothing to do but to acquiesce in the verdict. If the Jury should take a similar view of this man's crime, it will be impossible for the Government to do anything to remedy the evil which Lord Melbourne thinks will be caused by such a decision. Lord Melbourne knew Mr Drummond pretty well. He used formerly to be much in Hertfordshire, both at Hatfield and at Gorhambury, and Lord Melbourne has often met him at both places, and thought him with all the rest of the world, a very quiet, gentlemanly, and agreeable man. Lord Melbourne very well remembers the murder of Mr Perceval and Bellingham's trial. Lord Melbourne was then in the House of Commons, but was not present at the time the crime was perpetrated. There were differences of opinion as to the manner in which Sir James Mansfield conducted the trial. Many thought that he ought to have given more time, which was asked for on the part of the prisoner, in order to search for evidence at Liverpool. But the law which he laid down in his charge is certainly sound, correct, and reasonable. Lord Melbourne is very glad to think that your Majesty has not to go to the House of Lords to-day.

[Footnote 9: This Duke died unmarried in 1765, and his nephew,
the fourth son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, was created Duke
of Cumberland in 1766. He in his turn died without issue, in
1790, and in 1799 the fifth son of George III. (afterwards
King of Hanover) received the same title.]

[Pageheading: THE AMERICAN TREATY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _3rd February 1843._

... Lord Melbourne thinks that the Speech was very well and judiciously drawn; the only paragraph which he does not like is that about the American treaty.[10] It betrays too great an anxiety for peace, and too much fear of war.[11]

[Footnote 10: See _ante_, pp. 368, 370 (Ch. X, 'The United States').
The treaty had been negotiated by Lord Ashburton.]

[Footnote 11: "By the treaty which Her Majesty has concluded
with the United States of America, and by the adjustment of
those differences which, from their long continuance, had
endangered the preservation of peace, Her Majesty trusts
that the amicable relations of the two countries have been
confirmed."]

_The Queen of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _6th February 1843._

MY BELOVED VICTORIA,--I am quite of your opinion about balls. _Nothing_ can change what _cannot change_, and I consider all these things, which have always been _a bore_ to me, as a matter _of duty_ and not otherwise. The duties of station are to be fulfilled like the others, and my _first_ and _most pleasant_ duty is to do _all_ that your Uncle may command or wish. Your Uncle was much _shocked_ by your answer about _Miss Meyer_,[12] whom he considered of _uncommon beauty_. He is quite in love with her picture, and is very anxious to discover who she is. The other pictures of the _book of beauty_ he abandons to you, and they are certainly worthy of a _book of ugliness_.... Yours most devotedly,

LOUISE.

[Footnote 12: Eugénie Meyer, step-daughter of Colonel Gurwood,
C.B., married the first Viscount Esher, Master of the Rolls.
The Queen had written that she did not admire that style of
beauty.]

[Pageheading: KING LEOPOLD AND PEEL]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _10th February 1843._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... I am very much gratified by your having shown my hasty scrawl to Sir Robert Peel, and that the sincere expression of a conscientious opinion should have given him pleasure.

It was natural at first that you should _not_ have liked to take him as your Premier; many circumstances united against him. But I must say for you and your family, as well as for England, it was a great blessing that so firm and honourable a man as Peel should have become the head of your Administration. The State machine breaks often down in consequence of mistakes made forty and fifty years ago; so it was in France where even Louis XIV. had already laid the first foundation for what happened nearly a hundred years afterwards.

I believe, besides, Sir Robert sincerely and warmly attached to you, and as you say with great truth, _quite above_ mere party feeling. Poor Lady Peel must be much affected by what has happened.... Your truly devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _12th February 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He received here on Friday last, the 10th, your Majesty's letter of the 8th, which gave him great pleasure, and for which he gratefully thanks your Majesty. Lord Melbourne is getting better, and hopes soon to be nearly as well as he was before this last attack, but he still finds his left hand and arm and his left leg very much affected, and he does not recover his appetite, and worse still, he is very sleepless at night, an evil which he is very little used to, and of which he is very impatient....

Lord Melbourne adheres to all he said about Lord Ashburton and the Treaty, but he thinks more fire than otherwise would have taken place was drawn upon Lord Ashburton by the confident declaration of Stanley that his appointment was generally approved. The contrary is certainly the case. There is much of popular objection to him from his American connection and his supposed strong American interests. Lady Ashburton, with whom he received a large fortune, is a born American. But he is supposed to possess much funded property in that country, and to have almost as strong an interest in its welfare as in that of Great Britain. With all this behind, it is a bad thing to say that his appointment was liable to no suspicion or objection. It seems to Lord Melbourne that what with Ellenborough with the Gates of Ghuznee upon his shoulders,[13] and Ashburton with the American Treaty round his neck, the Ministry have nearly as heavy a load upon them as they can stand up under, and Lord Melbourne would not be surprised if they were to lighten themselves of one or the other.

[Footnote 13: The Somnauth Proclamation created a good deal of
ridicule.]

[Pageheading: POSITION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _13th February 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has just recollected that in the letter which he wrote yesterday, he omitted to advert to a part of your Majesty's last to which your Majesty may expect some answer. He means the part relating to the character and situation of a Prince of Wales in this country. George IV. was so conscious of having mixed himself most unrestrainedly in politics, and of having taken a very general part in opposition to his father's Government and wishes, that he was naturally anxious to exonerate himself from blame, and to blame it upon the necessity of his position rather than upon his own restless and intermeddling disposition. But Lord Melbourne agrees with your Majesty that his excuse was neither valid nor justifiable, and Lord Melbourne earnestly hopes that your Majesty and the Prince may be successful in training and instructing the young Prince of Wales, and to make him understand correctly his real position and its duties, and to enable him to withstand the temptations and seductions with which he will find himself beset, when he approaches the age of twenty-one. It is true that Sir John made the observation, which Lord Melbourne mentioned to your Majesty, and which you now remember correctly. He made it to Sir James Graham, when he went to talk to him about the offence which William IV. had taken at the Duchess of Kent's marine excursion; and at the receiving of royal salutes. Your Majesty was not very long in the situation of an acknowledged, admitted, and certain Heir Apparent, but still long enough to be aware of the use which those around you were inclined to make of that situation and of the petitions and applications which it naturally produced from others, and therefore to have an idea of the difficulties of it.

Lord Melbourne heartily wishes your Majesty every success in the interesting and important task in which you are engaged of forming the character and disposition of the young Prince.

[Pageheading: DOMESTIC HAPPINESS]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

CANFORD HOUSE, _14th February 1843._

MY DEAREST NIECE,--Your delightful letter of Tuesday gave me such pleasure and satisfaction that I must thank you with all my heart for it. Your happiness, and your gratitude for that happiness, is most gratifying to my feelings, having loved you from your infancy almost as much as if you had been my own child. It is therefore happiness to me to hear from yourself those expressions to which you gave vent. I thank God that you have such an excellent husband, so well calculated to make you happy and to assist you in your arduous duties by his advice, as well as his help in sharing your troubles. I pray that your domestic happiness may last uninterruptedly, and that you may enjoy it through a long, long period of _many, many years_. You cannot say too much of _yourself_ and dear Albert when you write to me, for it is a most interesting subject to my heart, I assure you.

What a _shame_ to have put on darling little Victoria a _powdered wig_! Poor dear child must have looked very strange with it! Did her brother appear in _einer Allonge-Perücke_?...

I shall hope to follow you to town early next month, and look forward with great pleasure to seeing you so soon again. Forgive me my horrible scrawl, and with my best love to dearest Albert, believe me, ever, my dearest Victoria, your most affectionate and faithfully devoted Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

Pray tell your dear mother, with my affectionate love, that I will answer her letter to-morrow.

[Pageheading: INTERCHANGE OF VISITS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _14th February 1843._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your kind letter of the 10th, which I received on Sunday. I am only a little wee bit distressed at your writing _on the 10th_, and not taking any notice of the _dearest, happiest_ day in my life, to which I owe the present _great_ domestic happiness I now enjoy, and which is much greater than I deserve, though certainly my Kensington life for the last six or seven years had been one of great misery and oppression, and I may expect some little retribution, and, indeed, _after_ my accession, there was a great deal of worry. Indeed I _am_ grateful for possessing (_really without_ vanity or flattery or _blindness_) the _most perfect_ being as a husband in existence, or who ever did exist; and I doubt whether anybody _ever_ did love or respect another as I do my dear Angel! And indeed Providence has ever mercifully protected us, through manifold dangers and trials, and I feel confident will continue to do so, and then let outward storms and trials and sorrows be sent us, and we can bear all....

I could not help smiling at the exactitude about Monday the 19th of June; it is a great happiness to us to think with such certainty (_D.V._) of your kind visit, which would suit perfectly. _À propos_ of this, I am anxious to tell you that we are full of hope of paying you in August a little visit, which last year was in so melancholy a way interrupted; but we think that for _many_ reasons it would be better for us to pay you our _first_ visit only at _Ostend_, and not at Brussels or Laeken; you could lodge us _anywhere_, and we need then bring but very few people with us--it might also facilitate the meeting with Albert's good old grandmother, who fears to cross the sea, and whose great _wish_ is to behold Albert again--and would not be so difficult (_pour la lère fois_) in many ways. I could, nevertheless, see Bruges and Ghent from thence by help of the railroad, and return the same day to Ostend.

What you say about Peel is very just. Good Lord Melbourne is much better.

I hope soon to hear more about Joinville and Donna Francesca. Now, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

We are all very well (_unberufen_) and move, _to our horror_, to town on Friday.

[Pageheading: COBDEN'S ATTACK ON PEEL]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _18th February (1843)._

(_Saturday morning._)

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs leave to acquaint your Majesty that the debate was brought to a close this morning about half-past three o'clock. The motion of Lord Howick[14] was rejected by a large majority, the number being--

For the Motion 191
Against it 305
---
Majority 114
---

The chief speakers were Mr R. Cobden and Lord John Russell in favour of the motion, Mr Attwood, Lord Francis Egerton, and Sir Robert Peel against it.

In the course of the evening there was much excitement and animated discussion, in consequence of the speech of Mr Cobden, who is the chief patron of the Anti-Corn Law League.

Mr Cobden with great vehemence of manner observed more than once that Sir Robert Peel ought to be held _individually responsible_ for the distress of the country.[15]

Coupling these expressions with the language frequently held at the meetings of the Anti-Corn Law League, and by the press in connection with it, Sir Robert Peel in replying to Mr Cobden charged him with holding language calculated to excite to personal violence.

[Footnote 14: To go into Committee on the depression of the
manufacturing industry. The debate turned mainly on the Corn
Laws.]

[Footnote 15: To this attack Peel replied with excessive
warmth, amid the frantic cheering of his party, who almost
refused to hear Cobden's explanation in reply. Peel, alarmed
at the fate of Drummond, thought (or affected to think) that
Cobden was singling him out as a fit object for assassination.
For years Cobden resented this language of Peel most deeply.
"Peel's atrocious conduct towards me ought not to be lost
sight of," he wrote in February 1846. A _rapprochement_ was
effected by Miss Martineau--see her letter to Peel (Parker,
vol. iii. p. 330)--and a reference to the matter by Disraeli
in the House of Commons led to satisfactory explanations on
both sides.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Lincoln._[16]

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _18th February 1843._

The Queen, immediately on her arrival yesterday, went to look at the new Chapel, with which she is much pleased, but was extremely disappointed to find it still in such a backward state. As it is of the utmost importance to the Queen to be able to _use_ it _very soon_, she wishes Lord Lincoln would be so good as to hurry on the work as much as possible; perhaps Lord Lincoln could increase the number of workmen, as there seemed to her to be very few there yesterday.

[Footnote 16: Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests.]

[Pageheading: FANNY BURNEY'S DIARY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

BROCKET HALL, _21st February 1843._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He received safely your Majesty's letter of the 18th inst. Lord Melbourne entreats your Majesty that you never will think for a moment that you can tire him by questions, or that it can be to him anything but a great pleasure to answer them. He will be only too happy if any information that he possesses or can procure can be of the least use or pleasure to your Majesty. Lord Melbourne conceives that your Majesty must be surprised at his complaining of sleeplessness. He is much obliged by the suggestion of the camphor. He mentioned it to the gentleman who attends him, and he said that it was a very good thing, and certainly has a soothing and quieting effect, and that in fact there was some in the draught which Lord Melbourne now takes at night. But Lord Melbourne has taken to going down to dinner with those who are in the house, and sitting up afterwards until near twelve o'clock, and since he has done this he has slept better. We expect the Duke and Duchess of Bedford for two nights on Wednesday next. Lord and Lady Uxbridge and Ella and Constance often come over in the morning and eat their luncheon here, which Lord Melbourne takes very kindly of them. George Byng[17] came the other morning in a waistcoat of Peel's velveteen. Lord Strafford brought the whole piece off the manufacturer, and let George Byng have enough for a waistcoat. It is a dull blue stuff, and the device and inscription not very clear nor easy to make out.[18]

Adolphus is, as Aberdeen says, too rigidly Tory, but there are plenty of narratives of the same period, such as Belsham[19] and others, of whom it may be said with equal truth that they are too Whig....

Lord Melbourne read the _Edinburgh_ on Madame d'Arblay, which is certainly Macaulay's, but thought it unnecessarily severe upon Queen Charlotte, and that it did not do her justice, and also that it rather countenanced too much Miss Burney's dislike to her situation. It appears to Lord Melbourne that Miss Burney was well enough contented to live in the Palace and receive her salary, but that she was surprised and disgusted as soon as she found that she was expected to give up some part of her time to conform to some rules, and to perform some duty. Lord Melbourne is sorry to say that he missed the article on Children's Books,[20] a subject of much importance, and in which he is much interested.

Lord Melbourne has received the engraving of the Princess, and is much pleased by it, and returns many thanks. It is very pretty, very spirited, and as far as Lord Melbourne's recollection, serves him, very like. Lord Melbourne remains, ever, your Majesty's faithful, devoted, and attached Servant.

[Footnote 17: Brother-in-law of Lord Uxbridge, and afterwards
Earl of Stratford.]

[Footnote 18: The allusion is to a hoax played on the Premier,
by a presentation made to him of a piece of the then novel
fabric, velveteen, stamped with a free-trade design. Peel
afterwards wrote that he was unaware that the specimen bore
"any allusion to any matters which are the subject of public
controversy."]

[Footnote 19: William Belsham (1752-1827) wrote, in twelve
volumes, _A History of Great Britain to the Conclusion of the
Peace of Amiens in 1802_.]

[Footnote 20: In the _Quarterly Review_, by Lady Eastlake.]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL (_4th March 1843_). (_Sunday morning._)

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs leave to acquaint your Majesty that the prisoner MacNaghten was acquitted last night, after a trial which lasted two days, upon the ground of insanity.

The fuller account of the evidence which Sir Robert Peel has seen is on the accompanying newspaper.

The only other information which has reached Sir Robert Peel is contained in a note (enclosed) from Mr Maule, the solicitor to the Treasury, who conducted the prosecution. The three Judges[21] appear to have concurred in opinion, that the evidence of insanity was so strong as to require a verdict of acquittal--and the Chief Justice advised the Jury to find that verdict without summing up the evidence or delivering any detailed charge upon the facts of the case and the law bearing upon them.

It is a lamentable reflection that a man may be at the same time so insane as to be reckless of his own life and the lives of others, and to be pronounced free from moral responsibility, and yet capable of preparing for the commission of murder with the utmost caution and deliberation, and of taking every step which shall enable him to commit it with certainty.

[Footnote 21: Chief Justice Tindal, and Justices Williams and
Coleridge.]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _10th March 1843._

Sir Robert Peel, with his humble duty to your Majesty, begs leave to acquaint your Majesty that the House of Commons was occupied last night with the attack upon Lord Ellenborough for the Somnauth Proclamation.[22]

The motion was made by Mr Vernon Smith.[23] The resolution proposed condemned the Proclamation as _unwise_, _indecorous_ and _reprehensible_. Mr Vernon Smith was followed by Mr Emerson Tennent,[24] one of the Secretaries to the Board of Controul.

Mr Macaulay next spoke, and condemned the conduct of Lord Ellenborough in a speech of great bitterness and great ability.

The motion was negatived by a majority of 242 to 157.

The minority included Lord Ashley, Sir Robert Inglis, and six other gentlemen, who generally support your Majesty's servants.

The debate was a very animated one, with a strong infusion of Party zeal.

[Footnote 22: See _ante_, p. 445. (Ch. XI, 'The Gates of Somnauth')]

[Footnote 23: Robert Vernon Smith (1800-1873), afterwards
President of the Board of Control, created Lord Lyveden in
1859.]

[Footnote 24: James Emerson (1804-1869), afterwards Sir James
Emerson Tennent, M.P. for Belfast, author of _Letters from the
Ægean_, etc.]

[Pageheading: CRIMINAL INSANITY]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th March 1843._

The Queen returns the paper of the Lord Chancellor's to Sir Robert Peel with her best thanks.

The law may be perfect, but how is it that whenever a case for its application arises, it proves to be of no avail? We have seen the trials of Oxford and MacNaghten conducted by the ablest lawyers of the day--Lord Denman, Chief Justice Tindal, and Sir Wm. Follett,[25]--and _they allow_ and _advise_ the Jury to pronounce the verdict of _Not Guilty_ on account of _Insanity_,--whilst _everybody_ is morally _convinced_ that both malefactors were perfectly conscious and aware of what they did! It appears from this, that the force of the law is entirely put into the Judge's hands, and that it depends merely upon his charge whether the law is to be applied or not. Could not the Legislature lay down that rule which the Lord Chancellor does in his paper, and which Chief Justice Mansfield did in the case of Bellingham; and why could not the Judges be _bound_ to interpret the law in _this_ and _no other_ sense in their charges to the Juries?[26]

[Footnote 25: Solicitor-General. His health gave way in middle
life, and he died in 1845.]

[Footnote 26: In consequence of the manner in which the trial
terminated, and the feeling excited in the country, the House
of Lords put certain questions on the subject of criminal
insanity to the Judges, whose answers have been since
considered as establishing the law.]

[Pageheading: PRINCESS MARY OF BADEN]

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _13th March 1843._

Lord Aberdeen presents his humble duty to your Majesty. In obedience to your Majesty's commands he has endeavoured to consider the letter of the Grand Duke of Baden with reference to the position of the Princess Mary[27] in this country. Lord Aberdeen does not find in the proceedings of the Conference of Great Powers at Vienna, at Aix la Chapelle, or at Paris, anything which can materially affect the question. The great difficulty with respect to the Princess appears to arise from the fact that in this country the rank and precedence of every person are regulated and fixed by law. Should your Majesty be disposed to deviate from the strict observance of this, although Lord Aberdeen cannot doubt that it would receive a very general acquiescence, it is still possible that the Princess might be exposed to occasional disappointment and mortification....

There is a consideration, to which Lord Aberdeen would humbly advert, which may not altogether be unworthy of your Majesty's notice. Your Majesty does not wish to encourage alliances of this description; and although there may be no danger of their frequent occurrence, it cannot be denied that an additional inducement would exist if Princesses always retained their own rank in this country.

On the whole, Lord Aberdeen would humbly submit to your Majesty that the Princess might be received by your Majesty, in the first instance, with such distinction as was due to her birth--either by a Royal carriage being sent to bring her to your Majesty's presence, or in any manner which your Majesty might command--with the understanding that she should permanently adopt the title and station of her husband. Your Majesty's favour and protection, afforded to her in this character will probably realise all the expectations of the Grand Duke; and, without acknowledging any positive claim or right, your Majesty would secure the gratitude of the Princess.

[Footnote 27: The Princess Mary of Baden had recently married
the Marquis of Douglas, eldest son of the Duke of Hamilton.
_See_ p. 439. (Ch. XI, 1st November, 1842)]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE TO HOLD LEVÉES]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th March 1843._

The Queen has spoken again to the Prince about the Levées, who has kindly consented to do what can be of use and convenience to the Queen. There is one circumstance which must be considered and settled, and which the Queen omitted to mention to Sir Robert Peel when she saw him. The chief, indeed the _only_, object of having these Levées, is to save the Queen the _extreme fatigue_ of the _Presentations_ which would come in such a _mass_ together when the Queen _held them herself_; the Prince naturally holds the _Levées for_ the Queen, and _represents her_; could not therefore everybody who was presented to him be made to understand that this would be tantamount to a presentation to the Queen herself? There might perhaps be an objection on the part of people presented to kneel and kiss the Prince's hand. But this could be obviated by merely having the people named to the Prince. The inconvenience would be _so great_ if nobody at all could be presented till late in the season, that something must be devised to get over this difficulty.

[Pageheading: LEVÉES]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _18th March 1843._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs leave to submit to your Majesty that should your Majesty determine that the Prince should hold Levées on behalf of your Majesty, the best course will be to announce the intention from the Lord Chamberlain's Office in terms to the following purport:

"His Royal Highness Prince Albert will, by Her Majesty's
command, hold a Levée on behalf of Her Majesty on ----

"It is Her Majesty's pleasure that presentations to the Prince
at this Levée shall be considered equivalent to presentations
to the Queen.

"Addresses to Her Majesty may be presented to Her Majesty
through the Secretary of State, or may be reserved until Her
Majesty can hold a Levée in person."

Sir Robert Peel humbly submits to your Majesty that it would not be advisable to _prohibit_ by notice in the _Gazette_ subsequent presentations to your Majesty. It will probably answer every purpose to state that they shall be considered _equivalent_, and when your Majesty shall hold a Levée it may be then notified at the time that second presentations are not necessary.

When the Prince shall hold the Levée, it may be made known at the time, without any formal public notification, that kneeling and the kissing of hands will not be required.

Sir Robert Peel hopes that the effect of holding these Levées may be materially to relieve your Majesty, but it is of course difficult to speak with certainty. He was under the impression that in the reign of Queen Anne, Prince George had occasionally held Levées on the part of the Queen during the Queen's indisposition, but on searching the _Gazette_ of the time he cannot find any record of this.

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

CLAREMONT, _19th March 1843._

The Queen has received Sir Robert's letter, and quite approves of his suggestions concerning the Levées. The Prince is quite ready to do whatever may be thought right, and the Queen wishes Sir Robert to act upon the plan he has laid before her in his letter of yesterday. Perhaps it would be right before making anything public to consider the question of Drawing-Rooms likewise, which are of such importance to the trades-people of London. It would be painful for the Queen to think that she should be the cause of disappointment and loss to this class of her subjects, particularly at this moment of commercial stagnation. The Queen conceives that it would be the right thing that the same principle laid down for the Levées should be followed with regard to Drawing-Rooms, the Prince holding them for her. The Queen is anxious to have soon Sir Robert's opinion upon this subject. The Queen on looking at the almanac finds that _only_ the _two_ next weeks are available for these purposes _before_ Easter.

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _27th March 1843._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hastens to reply to your Majesty's note of this date.

Sir Robert Peel assures your Majesty that he does not think that there is the slightest ground for apprehension on the occasion of the Levée, but Sir Robert Peel will, without the slightest allusion to your Majesty's communication to him, make personal enquiries into the police arrangements, and see that every precaution possible shall be taken.

He begs, however, humbly to assure your Majesty that there never has reached him any indication of a hostile feeling towards the Prince. It could only proceed from some person of deranged intellect, and he thinks it would be almost impossible for such a person to act upon it on the occasion of a Levée.

It may tend to remove or diminish your Majesty's anxiety to know that Sir Robert Peel has _walked_ home every night from the House of Commons, and, notwithstanding frequent menaces and intimations of danger, he has not met with any obstruction.

He earnestly hopes that your Majesty will dismiss from your mind any apprehension, and sincerely believes that your Majesty may do so with entire confidence. But nothing shall be neglected.

[Pageheading: THE COMET]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _28th March 1843._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter of the 24th, on Sunday. How lucky you are to have seen the comet![28] It is distinctly _to be seen_ here, and _has been seen_ by many people, but we have till now looked out in vain for it. We shall, however, persevere.

We left dear Claremont with great regret, and since our return have been regaled with regular March winds, which, however, have not kept me from my daily walks. To-day it is finer again.

It is most kind and good of dearest Albert to hold these Levées for me, which will be a great relief for hereafter for me. Besides _cela le met dans sa position_; _he_ and _I_ must be _one_, so that I can _only be represented_ by _him_. I think this, therefore, a good thing for that reason also; and God knows, he, dear angel, _deserves_ to be the _highest_ in _everything_.

Our Consecration went off extremely well, and the Chapel is delightful, and so convenient. I am sure you will like it.