Chapter XXX (3)

The Queen believes that Lord Palmerston is the only person who could exercise any influence over Mr Delane, and even if this should not be much, it will be important that that gentleman should know the mischief his writings are doing, and that the Government sincerely deplore it.

[Footnote 49: At Bonn, in September 1860, Captain Macdonald, a
railway passenger, had been ejected from his seat in the
train by the railway authorities, and committed to prison.
The incident became the subject of considerable diplomatic
correspondence, as well as of some fierce attacks on Prussia
in the _Times_.]

[Pageheading: THE ENGLISH PRESS]

_Mr Delane to Viscount Palmerston._[50]

16 SERJEANT'S INN, _28th October 1861_.

MY DEAR LORD,--I shall be very glad to give the Prussians a respite from that most cruel of all inflictions--good advice.

Indeed, I would not have intruded anything so unwelcome during the splendid solemnities of the Coronation had not the King uttered those surprising anachronisms upon Divine Right.

Pray observe, too, in extenuation of my offence that I sent a faithful chronicler to Koenigsberg, who has described all the splendours in a proper and reverent spirit, and done what man can do to render such ceremonies intelligible, and the recital of them not too wearisome to those who believe in Divine Right as little as your Lordship's very faithful Servant,

JOHN T. DELANE.

[Footnote 50: Enclosed in the following letter.]

[Pageheading: THE _TIMES_]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th October 1861_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to state that when he received a few days ago from Lord Russell the Memorandum which your Majesty intended for him, and which he returned to Lord Russell, he wrote to Mr Delane in accordance with your Majesty's wishes, and he has this morning received the accompanying answer.

Viscount Palmerston would, however, beg to submit that an erroneous notion prevails on the Continent as to English newspapers.

The newspapers on the Continent are all more or less under a certain degree of control, and the most prominent among them are the organs of political parties, or of leading public men; and it is not unnatural that Governments and Parties on the Continent should think that English newspapers are published under similar conditions.

But in this country all thriving newspapers are commercial undertakings, and are conducted on commercial principles, and none others are able long to maintain an existence. Attempts have often been made to establish newspapers to be directed by political men, and to be guided by the same considerations by which those men would govern their own conduct, but such papers have seldom succeeded. The Peelite Party tried some years ago such an experiment with the _Morning Chronicle_, but after spending a very large sum of money on the undertaking they were obliged to give it up. The _Times_ is carried on as a large commercial enterprise, though, of course, with certain political tendencies and bias, but mainly with a view to profit upon the large capital employed.

The actual price at which each copy of the newspaper is sold barely pays the expense of paper, printing, and establishment; it is indeed said that the price does not repay those expenses. The profit of the newspaper arises from the price paid for advertisements, and the greater the number of advertisements the greater the profit. But advertisements are sent by preference to the newspaper which has the greatest circulation; and that paper gets the widest circulation which is the most amusing, the most interesting, and the most instructive. A dull paper is soon left off. The proprietors and managers of the _Times_ therefore go to great expense in sending correspondents to all parts of the world where interesting events are taking place, and they employ a great many able and clever men to write articles upon all subjects which from time to time engage public attention; and as mankind take more pleasure in reading criticism and fault-finding than praise, because it is soothing to individual vanity and conceit to fancy that the reader has become wiser than those about whom he reads, so the _Times_, in order to maintain its circulation, criticises freely everybody and everything; and especially events and persons, and Governments abroad, because such strictures are less likely to make enemies at home than violent attacks upon parties and persons in this country. Foreign Governments and Parties ought therefore to look upon English newspapers in the true point of view, and not to be too sensitive as to attacks which those papers may contain.

[Pageheading: DEMOCRACY IN PRUSSIA]

_The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria._

BERLIN, _5th November 1861_.

Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and humbly begs to say that as he leaves Berlin to-morrow, the Princess Royal has most kindly just given him an Audience of leave, although Her Royal Highness was still suffering considerable pain in her ear, and was quite unfit for any exertion. Her Royal Highness's countenance bears traces of the severe illness of the last few days, but Lord Clarendon trusts that the worst is now over, and that care alone is necessary for her complete recovery. Her Royal Highness is still so weak that she was obliged to desist from writing, which she attempted this morning, and Lord Clarendon took the liberty of earnestly recommending that the journey to Breslau, upon which Her Royal Highness appeared to be bent, should be given up. Lord Clarendon intends to repeat the same advice to the Queen, whom he is to see this evening, as there are to be four days of rejoicings at Breslau, for the fatigue of which the Crown Princess must be utterly unfit.

Her Royal Highness is much alarmed at the state of things here, and Lord Clarendon thinks with great reason, for the King has quite made up his mind as to the course that he will pursue. He sees democracy and revolution in every symptom of opposition to his will. His Ministers are mere clerks, who are quite content to register the King's decrees, and there is no person from whom His Majesty seeks advice, or indeed who is capable or would have the moral courage to give it. The King will always religiously keep his word, and will never overturn the institutions he has sworn to maintain, but they are so distasteful to him, and so much at variance with his habit of thought and settled opinions as to the rights of the Crown, that His Majesty will never, if he can avoid it, accept the consequences of representative Government, or allow it to be a reality. This is generally known, and among the middle classes is producing an uneasy and resentful feeling, but as far as Lord Clarendon is able to judge, there is no fear of revolution--the Army is too strong, and the recollection of 1848 is too fresh to allow of acts of violence.

Lord Clarendon had the honour of an Audience of the King on Sunday. His Majesty was most friendly and kind, but evidently unwell and irritable. Lord Clarendon therefore thought that it would be neither prudent nor useful to say the many things that the Queen had wished that the King should hear from Lord Clarendon. He touched upon the subject of Constitutional Government, and His Majesty said: "I have sworn to maintain our Institutions, and I declare to you, and I wish you to inform your Government, that I will maintain them."

Lord Clarendon proposes to remain Friday at Brussels, and hopes to have the honour of seeing the King.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF KING OF PORTUGAL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th November 1861_.

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--I hardly know _how_ to _write_, for my head reels and swims, and my heart is very sore![51] _What_ an awful misfortune this is! How the hand of death seems bent on pursuing that poor, dear family! once so prosperous. Poor Ferdinand so proud of his children--of his five sons--now the eldest and _most_ distinguished, the head of the family, _gone_, and also another of fifteen, and the youngest _still_ ill! The two others at sea, and will land to-morrow in utter ignorance of everything, and poor, dear, good Louis (whom I thought dreadfully low when we saw him and Jean for an hour on Friday) King! It is an almost incredible event! a terrible calamity for Portugal, and a _real_ European loss! Dear Pedro was so good, so clever, so distinguished! He was so attached to my beloved Albert, and the characters and tastes suited so well, and he had such confidence in Albert! _All, all gone!_ _He_ is happy now, united again to dear Stephanie,[52] whose loss he never recovered.... Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 51: King Pedro of Portugal died of typhoid fever on
the 11th of November; his brother Ferdinand had died on the
6th; and Prince John, Duke of Beja, succumbed in the following
December.]

[Footnote 52: The young Queen Stephanie of Portugal had died
in 1859.]

[Pageheading: THE AFFAIR OF THE _TRENT_]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _13th November 1861_.

... Viscount Palmerston met yesterday at dinner at Baron Brunnow's the Grand Duke Constantine and the Grand Duchess, and they were overflowing with thankfulness for the kind and gracious reception they had met with at Windsor Castle.

There was reason to suspect that an American federal steamer of war of eight guns, which had lately arrived at Falmouth, and from thence at Southampton, was intended to intercept the Mail Packet coming home with the West Indian Mail, in order to take out of her Messrs Mason and Slidell, the two Envoys from the Southern Confederacy, supposed to be coming in her.[53]

Viscount Palmerston had on Monday a meeting at the Treasury of the Chancellor, Doctor Lushington, the three Law Officers,[54] the Duke of Somerset, Sir George Grey, and Mr Hammond.[55] The result of their deliberation was that, according to the Law of Nations, as laid down by Lord Stowell, and practised and enforced by England in the war with France, the Northern Union being a belligerent is entitled by its ships of war to stop and search any neutral Merchantmen, and the West India Packet is such; to search her if there is reasonable suspicion that she is carrying enemy's despatches, and if such are found on board to take her to a port of the belligerent, and there to proceed against her for condemnation. Such being ruled to be the law, the only thing that could be done was to order the _Phaeton_ frigate to drop down to Yarmouth Roads from Portsmouth, and to watch the American steamer, and to see that she did not exercise this belligerent right within the three-mile limit of British jurisdiction, and this was done. But Viscount Palmerston sent yesterday for Mr Adams to ask him about this matter, and to represent to him how unwise it would be to create irritation in this country merely for the sake of preventing the landing of Mr Slidell, whose presence here would have no more effect on the policy of your Majesty with regard to America than the presence of the three other Southern Deputies who have been here for many months. Mr Adams assured Viscount Palmerston that the American steamer had orders not to meddle with any vessel under any foreign flag; that it came to intercept the _Nashville_, the Confederate ship in which it was thought the Southern Envoys might be coming; and not having met with her was going back to the American coast to watch some Merchantmen supposed to be taking arms to the Southern ports.

Viscount Palmerston heard from a source likely to be well informed that at the interview between the Emperor and the King of Prussia at Compiegne, the Emperor, among other things, said to the King that there were three systems of alliance between which France and Prussia might choose: an alliance of France with England, an alliance of Prussia with England, an alliance of France with Prussia. The first the Emperor said now to a certain degree exists, but is precarious and not likely to last long, because England is too exacting; the second would not be useful to Prussia, but might be dangerous, inasmuch as it would look like hostility to France, and England would not be likely to back Prussia effectually if a rupture took place between Prussia and France. The last was the system best for Prussia, and was calculated to promote her interests; at all events, the Emperor hoped that if at any time there should be a rupture between France and England, Prussia would remain neutral. The King of Prussia said he was not come to discuss matters of that kind with the Emperor, but only to pay him a visit of compliment. Your Majesty will be able to compare this statement with the accounts your Majesty may have received of what passed at that visit....

The Chancellor[56] told the Cabinet as he was going away that he would soon have to shut up the Court of Chancery in consequence of having disposed of all the suits before it; and that in future the progress of a Chancery suit will be the emblem of rapidity, and not as formerly synonymous with endless delay.

[Footnote 53: See _ante_, Introductory Note to Chapter XXX.]

[Footnote 54: Sir William Atherton, Attorney-General, Sir
Roundell Palmer, Solicitor-General, and Dr Phillimore, Counsel
to the Admiralty.]

[Footnote 55: Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, afterwards Lord Hammond.]

[Footnote 56: Lord Westbury.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th November 1861_.

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--... Albert is a little rheumatic, which is a plague--but it is very difficult not to have something or other of this kind in this season, with these rapid changes of temperature; _unberufen, unberufen_, he is much better this winter than he was the preceding years.[57] ...

[Footnote 57: The Prince had been unwell, even before the
receipt of the distressing news from Portugal, and began to
suffer from a somewhat continuous insomnia. On the 22nd of
November, he drove to Sandhurst to inspect the new buildings
in progress there. The day was very wet, and, though he
returned in the middle of the day to Windsor, the exertion
proved too severe for him; on the 24th he complained of
rheumatic pains, and of prolonged sleeplessness.]

[Pageheading: REDRESS DEMANDED]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _29th November 1861_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to state that the Cabinet at its meeting this afternoon resumed the consideration of the forcible capture of the Southern Envoys from on board the _Trent_ steamer upon which the law officers had yesterday given the opinion contained in the accompanying report. The law officers and Doctor Phillimore, Counsel to the Admiralty, were in attendance. The result was that it appeared to the Cabinet that a gross outrage and violation of international law has been committed, and that your Majesty should be advised to demand reparation and redress. The Cabinet is to meet again to-morrow at two, by which time Lord Russell will have prepared an instruction to Lord Lyons for the consideration of the Cabinet, and for submission afterwards to your Majesty. The general outline and tenor which appeared to meet the opinions of the Cabinet would be, that the Washington Government should be told that what has been done is a violation of international law, and of the rights of Great Britain, and that your Majesty's Government trust that the act will be disavowed and the prisoners set free and restored to British Protection; and that Lord Lyons should be instructed that if this demand is refused he should retire from the United States.

It is stated by Mrs and Miss Slidell, who are now in London, that the Northern officer who came on board the _Trent_ said that they were acting on their own responsibility without instructions from Washington; that very possibly their act might be disavowed and the prisoners set free on their arrival at Washington. But it was known that the _San Jacinto_, though come from the African station, had arrived from thence several weeks before, and had been at St Thomas, and had there received communications from New York; and it is also said that General Scott, who has recently arrived in France, has said to Americans in Paris that he has come not on an excursion of pleasure, but on diplomatic business; that the seizure of these envoys was discussed in Cabinet at Washington, he being present, and was deliberately determined upon and ordered; that the Washington Cabinet fully foresaw it might lead to war with England; and that he was commissioned to propose to France in that case to join the Northern States in war against England, and to offer France in that case the restoration of the French Province of Canada.

General Scott will probably find himself much mistaken as to the success of his overtures; for the French Government is more disposed towards the South than the North, and is probably thinking more about Cotton than about Canada....

[Pageheading: AN ULTIMATUM]

_Earl Russell to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _29th November 1861_.

Lord Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; Mr Gladstone has undertaken to explain to your Majesty what has taken place at the Cabinet to-day.

Lord Russell proposes to frame a draft for to-morrow's Cabinet of a despatch to Lord Lyons, directing him to ask for the release of Messrs Mason and Slidell and their two companions, and an apology. In case these requirements should be refused, Lord Lyons should ask for his passports.

The Lord Chancellor and the law officers of the Crown are clear upon the law of the case.

Lord Russell will be glad to have your Majesty's opinion on the draft which will go to your Majesty about four o'clock to-morrow, without loss of time, as the packet goes to-morrow evening.[58]

[Footnote 58: The draft of the despatch to Lord Lyons reached
Windsor on the evening of the 30th, and, in spite of his weak
and suffering state, the Prince prepared the draft of the
Queen's letter early the following morning. The letter has
been printed in _facsimile_ by Sir Theodore Martin, who
adds that it has a special value as "representing the last
political Memorandum written by the Prince, while it was at
the same time inferior to none of them, as will presently be
seen, in the importance of its results. It shows, like most of
his Memorandums, by the corrections in the Queen's hand, how
the minds of both were continually brought to bear upon the
subjects with which they dealt."]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S LAST LETTER]

_Queen Victoria to Earl Russell._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st December 1861_.

_Note in the Queen's handwriting._

[This draft was the last the beloved Prince ever wrote; he was very unwell at the time, and when he brought it in to the Queen, he said: "I could hardly hold my pen."

VICTORIA R.]

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

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th December 1861_.

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

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th December 1861_.

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

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: HOPE NOT ABANDONED]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th December 1861_.

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

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

VICTORIA R.

The Americans _may_ possibly get out of it.

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _11th December 1861_.

MY BELOVED VICTORIA,--_How I do feel for you from the bottom of my heart_; that you should have this totally unexpected tribulation of having dear Albert unwell, when not long ago we rejoiced that he was bearing this time of the year so well. Now we must be very patient, as an indisposition of this description at this time of the year is generally mending slowly. The great object must be to arrange all the little details exactly as the patient may wish them; that everything of that description may move very smoothly is highly beneficial. Patients are very different in their likings; to the great horror of angelic Louise, the moment I am ill I become almost invisible, disliking to see anybody. Other people are fond of company, and wish to be surrounded. The medical advisors are, thank God! excellent, and Clark knows Albert so well. Albert will wish you not to interrupt your usual airings; you want air, and to be deprived of it would do you harm. The temperature here at least has been extremely mild--this ought to be favourable. I trust that every day will now show some small improvement, and it will be very kind of you to let me frequently know how dear Albert is going on. Believe me ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th December 1861_.

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

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

VICTORIA R.

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

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th December 1861_.

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

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 60: Dr (afterwards Sir) William Jenner, K.C.B.
(1815-1898), was at this time Physician-Extraordinary to the
Queen.]

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

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

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

_General Grey to Sir Charles Wood._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th December 1861_.

MY DEAR WOOD,--The Queen desires me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to say that she quite approves of the purport of your despatch to the Governor-General, understanding it to be, not that there is to be any reduction of the Artillery force which it had been determined to leave permanent in India as the proper establishment for that country, but simply that some batteries which it had been resolved to bring home, at all events, are to return somewhat sooner than had been intended, etc., etc., etc.,

GREY.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF THE PRINCE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _20th December 1861_.

MY _OWN_ DEAREST, KINDEST _FATHER_,--For as such have I _ever_ loved you! The poor fatherless baby of eight months is now the utterly broken-hearted and crushed widow of forty-two! My _life_ as a _happy_ one is _ended!_ the world is gone for _me!_ If I _must live_ on (and I will do nothing to make me worse than I am), it is henceforth for our poor fatherless children--for my unhappy country, which has lost _all_ in losing him--and in _only_ doing what I know and _feel_ he would wish, for he _is_ near me--his spirit will guide and inspire me! But oh! to be cut off in the prime of life--to see our pure, happy, quiet, domestic life, which _alone_ enabled me to bear my _much_ disliked position, CUT OFF at forty-two--when I _had_ hoped with such instinctive certainty that God never _would_ part us, and would let us grow old together (though _he_ always talked of the shortness of life)--is _too awful_, too cruel! And yet it _must_ be for _his_ good, his happiness! His purity was too great, his aspiration _too high_ for this poor, _miserable_ world! His great soul is _now only_ enjoying _that_ for which it _was_ worthy! And I will _not_ envy him--only pray that _mine_ may be perfected by it and fit to be with him eternally, for which blessed moment I earnestly long. Dearest, dearest Uncle, _how_ kind of you to come! It will be an unspeakable _comfort_, and you _can do_ much to tell people to do what they ought to do. As for my _own good, personal_ servants--poor Phipps in particular--nothing can be more devoted, heartbroken as they are, and anxious only to live as _he_ wished!

Good Alice has been and is wonderful.[64]

The 26th will suit me perfectly. Ever your devoted, wretched Child,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 64: By a singular coincidence, the Princess was to
pass away on the anniversary of the Prince's death. She died
on the 14th of December 1878.]

[Pageheading: DEATH OF LADY CANNING]

_Sir Charles Wood to Queen Victoria._

_22nd December 1861._

Sir Charles Wood, with his humble duty, begs to enclose to your Majesty two letters from India, one giving an account of Lord Canning's investing the Indian Chiefs with the Star of India; and the other an account of poor Lady Canning's illness and death, which, even at this sad moment, may not be without interest for your Majesty.

Sir Charles Wood hopes that he may be forgiven if, when having to address your Majesty, he ventures to lay before your Majesty the expression of his heartfelt sympathy in the sorrow under which your Majesty is now suffering, and his deep sense of the irreparable calamity which has befallen your Majesty and the country.

Though it cannot be any consolation, it must be gratifying to your Majesty to learn the deep and universal feeling of regret and sorrow which prevails amongst all classes of your Majesty's subjects, and in none so strongly as in those who have had the most opportunity of appreciating the inestimable value of those services, of which by this awful dispensation of Providence the country has been deprived.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF LADY CANNING]

_Earl Canning to Queen Victoria._

BARRACKPORE, _22nd November 1861_.[65]

Lord Canning presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Your Majesty will have heard by the last mail of the heavy blow which has fallen upon Lord Canning. The kindness of your Majesty to Lady Canning has been so invariable and so great that he feels it to be right that your Majesty should receive a sure account of her last illness with as little delay as possible.

The funeral is over. It took place quite privately at sunrise on the 19th. There is no burial-place for the Governor-General or his family, and the cemeteries at Calcutta are odious in many ways: Lord Canning has therefore set a portion of the garden at Barrackpore (fifteen miles from Calcutta) apart for the purpose. It is a beautiful spot--looking upon that reach of the grand river which she was so fond of drawing--shaded from the glare of the sun by high trees--and amongst the bright shrubs and flowers in which she had so much pleasure.

Your Majesty will be glad, but not surprised, to know of the deep respect which has been paid to her memory, not only by the familiar members of the household and intimate friends, who refused to let any hired hands perform the last offices, but by the Civil and Military bodies, and by the community at large. The coffin was conveyed to Barrackpore by the Artillery, and was borne through the Garden by English soldiers.

Lord Canning feels sure that your Majesty will not consider these details as an intrusion. He feels sure of your Majesty's kind sympathy. She loved your Majesty dearly, and Lord Canning is certain that he is doing what would have been her wish in thus venturing to write to your Majesty. In the last connected conversation which he had with her, just before the illness became really threatening, she said that she must write again to the Queen, "for I don't want her to think that it was out of laziness that I was not at Allahabad." The fact is, that she had always intended to be present at the Investiture, and had made all her arrangements to go from Darjeeling to Allahabad for the purpose; but Lord Canning, hearing of the bad state of the roads, owing to the heavy and unseasonable rains, and knowing how fatiguing an additional journey of nearly 900 miles would be, had entreated her to abandon the intention, and to stay longer in the Hills, and then go straight to Calcutta. Whether all might have gone differently if the first plan had been held to, God alone knows. His will has been done.

[Footnote 65: Received on the 22nd of December, or
thereabouts.]

[Pageheading: A NOBLE RESOLVE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _24th December 1861_.

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--Though, please God! I am to see you so soon, I must write these few lines to prepare you for the trying, sad existence you will find it with your poor forlorn, desolate child--who drags on a weary, pleasureless existence! I am also anxious to repeat _one_ thing, and _that one_ is _my firm_ resolve, my _irrevocable decision_, viz. that _his_ wishes--_his_ plans--about everything, _his_ views about _every_ thing are to be _my law!_ And _no human power_ will make me swerve from _what he_ decided and wished--and I look to _you_ to _support_ and _help_ me in this. I apply this particularly as regards our children--Bertie, etc.--for whose future he had traced everything _so_ carefully. I am _also determined_ that _no one_ person, may _he_ be ever so good, ever so devoted among my servants--is to lead or guide or dictate _to me_. I know _how he_ would disapprove it. And I live _on_ with him, for him; in fact _I_ am only _outwardly_ separated from him, and _only_ for _a time_.

_No one_ can tell you more of my feelings, and can put you more in possession of many touching facts than our excellent Dr Jenner, who has been and is my great comfort, and whom I would _entreat_ you to _see and hear_ before you see _any one else_. Pray do this, for _I fear much_ others trying to see you first and say things and wish for things which I _should not_ consent to.

Though miserably weak and utterly shattered, my spirit rises when I think _any_ wish or plan of his is to be touched or changed, or I am to be _made to do_ anything. I know you will help me in my utter darkness. It is but for a short time, and _then_ I go--_never, never_ to part! Oh! that blessed, blessed thought! He seems so _near_ to _me_, so _quite my own_ now, my precious darling! God bless and preserve you. Ever your wretched but devoted Child,

VICTORIA R.

What a Xmas! I won't think of it.

[Pageheading: BUSINESS STILL TRANSACTED]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

PICCADILLY, _30th December 1861_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has read with deep emotion your Majesty's letter of the 26th, every word of which went straight to the heart. Viscount Palmerston would, however, humbly express a hope that the intensity of your Majesty's grief may not lead your Majesty to neglect your health, the preservation of which is so important for the welfare of your Majesty's children, and for that of your Majesty's devotedly attached and affectionate subjects; and which is so essentially necessary to enable your Majesty to perform those duties which it will be the object of your Majesty's life to fulfil.

Lord Granville has communicated to Viscount Palmerston your Majesty's wish that Mr Dilke[66] should be made a Baronet, and that Mr Bowring[67] should be made a Companion of the Bath, and both of these things will be done accordingly. But there are three other persons whose names Viscount Palmerston has for some time wished to submit to your Majesty for the dignity of Baronet, and if your Majesty should be graciously pleased to approve of them, the list would stand as follows:

Mr Dilke.

Mr William Brown,[68] of Liverpool, a very wealthy and
distinguished merchant, who lately made a magnificent
present of a public library to his fellow-citizens.

Mr Thomas Davies Lloyd, a rich and highly respectable
gentleman of the county of Carnarvon.

Mr Rich, to whom the Government is under great obligation,
for having of his own accord and without any condition
vacated last year his seat for Richmond in Yorkshire,
and having thus enabled the Government to obtain the
valuable services of Mr Roundell Palmer as your Majesty's
Solicitor-General.

Viscount Palmerston has put into this box some private letters which Lord Russell thinks your Majesty might perhaps like to look at.

[Footnote 66: Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke was on the Executive
Committee of the Exhibition of 1851, and on the Royal
Commission for the Exhibition of 1862. He died in 1869.]

[Footnote 67: Mr Edgar Bowring's Companionship was conferred
on him for services in connection with the earlier Exhibition.
He was afterwards M.P. for Exeter, 1868-1874.]

[Footnote 68: Mr Brown became a baronet in 1863.]

[Pageheading: COMFORT AND HOPE]

_Queen Victoria to Earl Canning._

OSBORNE, _10th January 1862_.

Lord Canning little thought when he wrote his kind and touching letter of the 22nd November, that it would only reach the Queen when _she_ was _smitten_ and _bowed_ down to the earth by an event similar to the one which he describes--and, strange to say, by a disease greatly analogous to the one which took from him _all_ that he loved best. In the case of her adored, precious, perfect, and great husband, her dear lord and master, to whom this Nation owed more than it ever can truly know, however, the fever went on most favourably till the day previous to the awful calamity, and then it was congestion of the lungs and want of strength of circulation (the beloved Prince had always a weak and feeble pulse), which at the critical moment, indeed only two hours before God took him, caused this awful result. To lose one's partner in life is, as Lord Canning knows, like losing _half_ of one's _body_ and _soul_, torn forcibly away--and dear Lady Canning was such a dear, worthy, devoted wife! But to the Queen--to a poor helpless woman--it is not that only--it is the stay, support and comfort which is lost! To the Queen it is like _death_ in life! Great and small--_nothing_ was done without his loving advice and help--and she feels _alone_ in the wide world, with many helpless children (except the Princess Royal) to look to her--and the whole nation to look to her--_now_ when she can barely struggle with her wretched existence! Her misery--her utter despair--she _cannot_ describe! Her _only_ support--the _only_ ray of comfort she gets for _a moment_, is in the _firm conviction_ and certainty of his nearness, his undying love, and of their eternal reunion! Only she prays always, and pines for the latter with an anxiety she cannot describe. Like dear Lady Canning, the Queen's darling is to rest in a garden--at Frogmore, in a Mausoleum the Queen is going to build for him and herself.

Though ill, the Queen was able to tell her precious angel of Lord Canning's bereavement, and he was deeply grieved, recurring to it several times, and saying, "What a loss! She was such a distinguished person!"

May God comfort and support Lord Canning, and may he think in his sorrow of his widowed and broken-hearted Sovereign--bowed to the earth with the greatest of human sufferings and misfortunes! She lived but _for_ her husband!

The sympathy of the many thousands of her subjects, but above all their sorrow and their admiration for him, are soothing to her bleeding, pierced heart!

The Queen's precious husband, though wandering occasionally, was conscious till nearly the last, and knew her and kissed her an hour before his pure spirit fled to its worthy and fit eternal Home!

INDEX

_(The page references in italics refer to Introductory Notes or footnotes.)_

Abd-el-Kader, i, _43_, _57_; ii. _31_, 146

Abercorn, Marchioness of, i. 310

Abercrombie, Dr, physician, i. 448

Abercromby, James, _see_ Dunfermline, Lord

Abercromby, Sir Ralph, iii. 111

Aberdeen, Earl of, Foreign Secretary, i. 22, 309;
political power and views, i. _29_, _30_;
Palmerston's opinion of, i. 375;
Emperor Nicholas, ii. _1_;
Queen's appreciation of, ii. 17, 87, 105; iii. 101, 102, 190;
Corn Laws, ii. 49;
takes leave of the Queen, ii. 85;
ii. 103, 248, 263, 291, 293, 294;
failure to form a Government, ii. 296, 298, 299;
ii. _356,_ 393;
forms a Government, ii. 413-429;
Lord Derby's attack on, ii. _418_;
Queen Victoria's approval of, ii. 430;
Eastern Question, ii. _432_, 437-444, 449-451, 452, _455_-472;
India Bill, ii. 447;
as to giving up office, ii. 458;
on Lord Palmerston's resignation, ii. 467, 468;
Crimea, iii. _1_, 44;
anomalous position of Prince Consort, iii. 3, 4;
Orleans family, iii. 7;
declaration of war with Russia, iii. 12, _13_, _19_;
unsatisfactory speech, iii, 34;
Lord John Russell's possible resignation, iii. 57-60;
Queen's confidence in, iii. 66;
Knight of the Garter, iii. 67, 68;
Lord John Russell's resignation, iii. 71, 72;
Government's resignation on result of Roebuck's motion, iii. 77-80;
Lord John Russell, iii. _88_;
Government of 1855, iii. 97-104;
iii. 190;
on Oudh Proclamation, iii. 286;
and W. E. Gladstone, iii. _349_;
death, iii. _453_

About, Edmond, French writer, iii. 357

Accession, Queen Victoria's reminiscences of, i. 75

Achmet Bey, i. 57

Adams, Mr, iii. 467

Adelaide, Madame, King Louis Philippe's sister,
death, ii. 143-147;
will, ii. 148

Adelaide, Queen (wife of William IV.), parentage and marriage,
i. 23, 24;
character, i. 24;
interests in life, i. 24;
letter on Queen's accession, i. 77;
on Queen's coronation, i. 120;
Protestant Church at Valetta, i. 138;
letters, i. 371, 399, 437;
visits a convent, i. 437;
letter, i. 464;
death, ii. 230

Adelaide, Princess, of Hohenlohe, question of marriage, ii. _356_, 408, 409

Adelaide, Queen Marie, of Sardinia, death, iii. _206_

Adolphus, John, _History of England_, i. 453

Adrianople, Treaty of, i. 229

Adriatic, reported demonstration in, ii. 193

Aemilia, The, iii. _380_

Afghanistan, Dost Mahommed dethroned, i. _142_;
surrender, i. _209_;
insurrection, i. _254_;
disasters retrieved, proclamation, i. _370_;
troubles, i. 373, 382;
Fall of Cabul, i. 385;
successful issue, i. 441;
medals, i. 444;
operations against Afghans, ii. 218

Africa, South, The Transvaal and Orange Free States, ii. _142_; iii. 200

Agriculture, motion on distress of, ii. 285-_286_;
protection, ii. 384; _see_ Corn Laws

Airey, Sir Richard, Quartermaster-General, iii. _175_

Ak Mussid, iii. 45

Akbar Khan (son of Dost Mahommed), i. _254_, _370_, 442

Aland Islands, iii. 36

Alava, Miguel Ricardo di, Spanish General, i. 59

Alba, Duke of, ii. _435_

---- Duchess of, death, iii. _415_

Albemarle, sixth Earl of, Master of the Horse, i. 76, 81, 121, 219

Albert, Archduke, ii. 219

---- Edward, _see_ Wales, Prince of

---- Prince, _see_ Consort, Prince

Albertine branch of House of Saxe-Coburg, history of, i. 2

Aldershot, review of Crimean troops, iii. _198_

Alexander, Grand Duke (afterwards Czar Alexander II.),
iii. _112_, 172;
crowned at Moscow, iii. _158_;
his character, iii. 204

Alexandria, i. 179

Alford, Dean of Canterbury, iii. 227

Alfred, Prince, birth, ii. _21_;
iii. 399;
visit to the Cape, iii. 410, 413;
visit to Ireland, iii. _420_;
joins the _Euryalus_, iii. _433_

Algiers, i. _43_

Ali, Mehemet, Pasha of Egypt, i. _141_, 179, _182_, 190;
ultimatum, i. _209_, 232-240;
resigns claim to Syria, i. _252_

Alibaud, i. 407

Alice, Princess, birth and christening, i. 480, 501; iii. 240;
birthday, iii. 396;
engagement to Prince Louis of Hesse, iii. 405, 415, 416-419;
Prince Consort's death, iii. 474

Allahabad, mutiny, iii. _224_

Allen, Mr, librarian, Holland House, i. 359

Allt-na-Giuthasach, Shiel of, Queen's visits to, ii. 322, 392

Alma, victory of, iii. _1_, _43,_ 49, _252_

Amritsar, ii. 74

Anarchists, ii. 3

Anglesey, Marquess of, i. 388; ii. 86

Annual Summary of Events, 1821-1835, i. _27_;
1836, i. _43_;
1837, i. _56_;
1838, i. _102_;
1839, i. _141_;
1840, i. _209_;
1841, i. _253_;
1842, i. _370_;
1843, i. _450_;
1844, ii. _1_;
1845, ii. _30_;
1846, ii. _71_;
1847, ii. _115_;
1848, ii. _141_;
1849, ii. _208_;
1850, ii. _231_;
1851, ii. _283_;
1852, ii. _356_;
1853, ii. _431_;
1854, iii. _1_;
1855, iii. _63_;
1856, iii. _158_;
1857, iii. _223_;
1858, iii. _261_;
1859, iii. _307_;
1860, iii. _379_;
1861, iii. _420_

Anson, George, i. 199;
Private Secretary to Prince Albert, i. _201_, 206;
interviews with Baron Stockmar, i. 224, 330, 331;
interviews with Lord Melbourne, i. 224, 256, 268, 269, 296,
297, 303, 304, 311;
interviews with Sir Robert Peel, i. 271, 273, 284, 312;
memoranda by, i. 295, 298, 322, 337, 338, 368;
illness, i. 490;
ii. 36, 46, 67

---- Sir George, i. 201

Antonelli, Cardinal, iii. 311

Antwerp, Queen's visit to, ii. _45_;
ii. 68

Apponyi, Count, Austrian Ambassador, i. 237

Apprenticeship in Jamaica, i. _102_

Aquila, Comte d', ii. _32_

Arbuthnot, Colonel, i. 314, 398

Ardenne, ii. 16

Argyll, eighth Duke of, Lord Privy Seal, ii. 420;
Government of 1855, iii. 97;
Privy Seal, iii. 104;
Divorce Bill, iii. 231;
Lord Privy Seal, iii. 348;
Abolition of Paper Duty, iii. 403

Argyll, Duchess of, ii. 376

"Aristocratic," meaning of, i. 107

Army (_see_ Militia), estimates i. 99;
civil government of, i. 147;
bravery of troops, ii. 74;
victory, ii. 77;
Peninsular medals, ii. 109-113;
officers' commissions, ii. 185;
in India, ii. 212;
Prince Consort, ii. 365;
military appointments, ii. 393;
national defences, ii. 396-398;
Queen on augmentation of, iii. 12;
embarkation for the Crimea, iii. 14;
reserve to be sent out, iii. 36;
Bomarsund, iii. _36_;
battle of the Alma, iii. 44;
Indian contingents, iii. 46;
Balaklava, iii. 50;
Sebastopol, iii. 50, _63_;
Inkerman, iii. _53_;
Foreign Enlistment Bill, iii. _58_;
fall of Sebastopol, iii. _64_;
privations of the Army, iii. 68-70;
New Board, iii. 71;
laxity of discipline, iii. 153;
land transport, iii. 157;
retrenchments, iii. 188;
peace establishment, iii. 191;
review of Crimean troops at Aldershot, iii. _198_, 199, 200;
military education, iii. 218, 220;
Indian Mutiny, iii. _224_, 234, 236;
Militia embodied, iii. 241;
Queen's view on need of increasing, iii. 245, 257;
vote of thanks to, iii. _261_;
question of control, iii. 293;
indivisibility of, iii. 319;
Committee on Military Departments, iii. 351

Arnold, Dr, ii. 273

_Arrow_, Chinese dispute, iii. _223_, _228_

Arthur, Prince (afterwards Duke of Connaught), christening,
ii. 231; iii. 121;
birthday, iii. 189;
iii. 436

Ascot, Queen's visit to the races, ii. 13

Ashburton, Baron, i. 368, 462

Ashley, Lord, afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury, i. 165;
Labour Bill, i. _370_;
Factory Labour Bill, ii. 1;
Duchy of Lancaster, iii. 116;
Oudh Proclamation, iii. _282_, _290_

Asis, Don Francisco de, ii. _72_, 99

Aston, Mr (Diplomatic Service), i. 329, 432, 495

Athens, revolution at, i. 494; ii. _231_

Atherton, Sir William, Attorney-General, iii. _467_

Athole, Duchess of, ii. 376

Attock, fort of, captured, ii. 218

Attwood, Thomas, Birmingham Political Union, i. 69, 425

Auchterarder, Church case, i. _448_

Auckland, Baron (afterwards Earl of), Governor-General of India,
i. _142_;
policy in Afghanistan, i. _209_, 266, 373, 383;
ii. 10, 86

Audley, Baron, i. 124

Augusta, of Cambridge, Princess, afterwards Grand Duchess-Dowager of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, i. 434, 437, 440; ii. 256; iii. 264

---- Princess, of Saxony, i. 92

---- Princess, daughter of George III., i. 228; death, i. 230

Augustus, Prince, of Saxe-Coburg, _see_ Saxe-Coburg

Augustus, Prince Ernest, afterwards Duke of Cumberland, iii. _456_

Aulaire, Ste., Ambassador, i. 321, 334, 508

Aumale, Duc d', i. 95, 493, 502; ii. 153, 167;
gallantry, ii. 192-_193_, 267, 337;
visit to New Lodge, iii. 386

Australasian colonies, self-government of, iii. _64_

Australia, emigration to, i. _102_;
wine from, ii. 41

Austria, Empress Elizabeth of, iii. 414

---- Emperor of (Francis Joseph), ii. 318;
attempted assassination of, ii. _440_;
King Leopold's opinion of, ii. 447, 448;
Queen's letter to, iii. 322, 323;
reply, iii. 324, 325;
proposed meeting with the Queen, iii. 408, 409

---- and the Porte, i. 191;
abdication of Emperor, ii. _141_;
Pope declares war against, ii. _141_;
ascendency in Lombardy, ii. 174;
and Italy, ii. 174;
war with the Piedmontese, ii. _178_, _182_, 186, 190, 193;
and England, ii. 183, 186, 190, 191, 198, 380;
declines mediation, ii. 193;
ascendency in N. Italy, ii. _208_;
ii. 229, 275;
and Prussia, ii. 276; ii. 379, 402;
and Eastern Question, ii. 440-444, 451, _452_;
alliance with Prussia, iii. _1_;
and Russia, iii. 13, 25;
proposed alliance with England, iii. _49_, 50, 51, 66;
men required, iii. 115;
negotiations broken off, iii. 118;
and the Four Points, iii. 120, 161, 165;
and France, iii. 168, 306;
and Italy, iii. _307_;
war with Sardinia and defeat, iii. _308_;
and the Papal States, iii. 313;
proposed congress, iii. _325_-334;
troops cross the Ticino, iii. _327_;
French victories, iii. _352_;
conclusion and terms of peace, iii. _354_, _359_, _360_;
Italy, iii. 382

Ayrton, Mr, iii. 239

Azeglio, Count, Premier of Sardinia, ii. 386; iii. 368

Baden, crisis at, ii. 220

---- Princess Mary of, i. 470

Bagot, Sir Charles, Governor-General of Canada, i. 323, 334

Baines, Matthew Talbot, Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster, iii. _116_, 149; Conspiracy Bill, iii. 265, 272

Bala Rao, Indian Mutiny, iii. _351_

Balaklava, successes at, iii. _2_, 50;
hurricane and loss of life at, iii. 56;
iii. 189

Ballard, Lieutenant, siege of Silistria, iii. _36_

Ballot, the, i. _56_; ii. 335

Balmoral Castle, Queen's description of, ii. 194, 323;
Queen's first occupation of, iii. _141_

Baltic, English, expedition to the, iii. 16, 115

Bandeira, Sa da, i. _55_

Bands, on Sundays, iii. 194

Bank Charter Act, ii. _1_;
infringement of, ii. _115_;
suspension of, iii. _224_

Barbes, Armand, i. _179_

Barclay & Perkins' brewery, attack on General Haynau, ii. _269_

Barham, Lady (afterwards Countess of Gainsborough), i. 124, 318; ii. 274

Baring, F. (afterwards Lord Northbrook), Chancellor of the
Exchequer, i. 264, 281, 308, 314; ii. 60, 84, 287, 312, 347;
capture of Lagos, ii. 365, 366;
Board of Works, ii. 421; iii. 79;
Government of 1855, iii. 91

---- Thomas, ii. 368;
Indian Mutiny debate, iii. 239;
India Bill, iii. 294

Barkly, Sir H., Governor of Victoria, iii. 190

Barnard, General, death at Delhi, iii. 243

Barrackpore, funeral of Lady Canning, iii. 475

Barrot, Odilon, i. 248; ii. 149

Barrow, Sir John, i. 432

Barry, Sir Charles, knighted, ii. 363

Bastide, M., ii. 187

Baudrand, General Comte, i. 83

Bayley, Rev. Emilius, iii. 416

Bean, attempt on the Queen's life, i. _370_, 407

Beas, River, ii. 74

Beatrice, Princess (afterwards Princess Henry of Battenberg), birth and christening, iii. 234

Beauclerk, Lord Amelius, i. 108

Beaufort, Duke of, i. 334

Beauharnais, Eugene de, Duke of Leuchtenberg, iii. 354

Beauvale, Lord (afterwards second Viscount Melbourne), i. 191;
i. 232, 418, 490, 512; ii. 165, 436

Beche, Sir Henry T. de la, geologist, i. 315

Bedford, seventh Duke of, i. 296, 509; ii. 130, 132, 195, 257;
opinion of Lord Palmerston, ii. 260, 261;
ii. 403; iii. 89;
Queen's appreciation of Endsleigh, iii. 203

Begum, the ex-Queen of Oudh, iii. 351

Belgians, King of, _see_ Leopold

---- Queen of, _see_ Louise

Belgium, dispute with Holland, i. _43_, _102_, 119, _142_, 145, 146;
independence of, i. 118;
King Leopold's views on, i. 152, 153;
and England, i. 134, 151; ii. 68;
and Germany, i. 379;
and Emperor of Russia, ii. 15;
abortive insurrection, ii. _172_;
neutrality of, iii. 171

Belsham, William, _History of Great Britain_, i. 467

Bengal Mutiny, iii. _224_

Bentinck, Lord George, attack on Sir R. Peel, ii. 79, 80;
ii. 87;
sudden death, ii. _208_

---- Major-General Sir Henry, K.C.B., wounded at Inkerman, iii. _52_; interview with the Queen, iii. 56, 60

Beresford, Lord John George de la Poer, Archbishop of Armagh, ii. _224_

---- Major, iii. 78

---- Viscount, i. 420; ii. 393

Berkeley, Admiral, M.P., Gloucester, iii. 78

Bernadotte, Marshal, iii. 448

Bernard, Dr, trial of, iii. _261_, _274_

Bessarabia, cession of, iii. _152_, _158_, _208_

Bessborough, Earl of, _see_ Duncannon