The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 6

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 32: On the preceding day.]

[Footnote 33: The novel by George Sand (1804-1876), published in 1842.]

_The King of the French to Queen Victoria._

SAINT CLOUD, _le 15 Novembre 1844._

MADAME MA BIEN CHeRE S[OE]UR,--Mes souvenirs de Windsor sont de ceux dont aucun ne s'efface. Je n'oublie donc pas une pet.i.te question qui m'a ete si joliment adressee, _Where is my gun?_ et a present j'en ai trouve un qui serait indigne de la destinee que je prie votre Majeste de me permettre de lui donner, si le regret que la disparition du premier fusil avait cause, ne m'avait pas appris que le second devait etre d'un genre a supporter tous les accidents que l'enfance aime a infliger a ses joujoux. C'est donc tout simplement un tres modeste fusil de munition adapte a sa taille que j'adresse a votre Majeste pour son auguste et charmant enfant le Prince de Galles, comme ma reponse a sa question.

J'ai encore une autre dette dont je vous prie de me permettre de m'acquitter. Quelque vif que soit mon desir de revoir Windsor, ce serait un trop long r.e.t.a.r.d que d'attendre cet heureux moment, pour offrir a la Princesse Royale cette pet.i.te boite a ouvrage, de Paris, qu'elle m'a fait esperer lui serait agreable, et tout ce que je desire c'est que vos enfants se ressouviennent un jour d'avoir vu celui qui a ete le fidele ami de leur grand-pere, comme il l'est et le sera toujours de leurs bien aimes parents.

Que votre Majeste me permette encore d'offrir ici au Prince Albert l'expression de la vive et sincere amitie que je lui porte et que je lui garderai toujours, et d'accepter celle de l'inalterable attachement avec lequel je suis pour la vie, Madame ma bien chere S[oe]ur, de votre Majeste, le bon Frere bien affectionne et fidele Ami,

LOUIS PHILIPPE R.

[Pageheading: EDUCATION IN INDIA]

[Pageheading: SIR HENRY HARDINGE]

_Sir Henry Hardinge to Queen Victoria._

_23rd November 1844._

Sir Henry Hardinge[34] with his most humble duty to your Majesty, humbly submits for your Majesty's consideration the following observations on the state of affairs in this large portion of your Majesty's dominions.

The return of peace has also increased the desire of the native population to receive the advantages of English education. The literature of the West is the most favourite study amongst the Hindoos in their schools and colleges. They will discuss with accuracy the most important events in British History. Boys of fifteen years of age, black in colour, will recite the most favourite pa.s.sages from Shakespeare, ably quoting the notes of the English and German commentators. They excel in mathematics, and in legal subtleties their acuteness is most extraordinary.

In order to reward native talent and render it practically useful to the State, Sir Henry Hardinge, after due deliberation, has issued a resolution, by which the most meritorious students will be appointed to fill the public offices which fall vacant throughout Bengal.

This encouragement has been received by the Hindoo population with the greatest grat.i.tude. The studies in the Mohammedan schools and colleges have hitherto been confined to Arabic, the Koran, and abstruse studies relating to their religion, having always shown a marked aversion to English literature. Since the publication of the Resolution they have at once determined to change their system in order to partic.i.p.ate in the benefits held out to native merit of every sect.

It is impossible throughout your Majesty's immense Empire to employ the number of highly paid European civil servants which the public service requires. This deficiency is the great evil of British Administration. By dispersing annually a proportion of well-educated natives throughout the provinces, under British superintendence, well-founded hopes are entertained that prejudices may gradually disappear, the public service be improved, and attachment to British inst.i.tutions increased....

Sir Henry Hardinge, in closing these observations, most humbly ventures to a.s.sure your Majesty that he antic.i.p.ates no occurrence as probable, by which the tranquillity of this portion of your Majesty's dominions is likely to be disturbed.

H. HARDINGE.

[Footnote 34: Governor-General of India, in succession to Lord Ellenborough.]

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XIV

The new year (1845) opened auspiciously, trade improving owing to the great impetus given to it by the many lines of railway then in course of promotion. Over two hundred schemes were prepared at the commencement of the session to seek legislative sanction, and speculation outran all reasonable limits. The Income Tax (which in the ordinary course would have expired) was renewed, and the Anti-Corn Law Leaguers were more persistent than ever in their a.s.saults on Protection, while the attacks on the Ministry from a section of their own party were redoubled. The most remarkable measure of the year was the Government Bill for increasing the grant to the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth, which was strongly opposed from the Conservative and the Protestant points of view; Mr Gladstone, though he approved of the measure, retired from the Ministry, as he had a few years before written in the opposite sense. Towards the close of the year the condition of Ireland, owing to the failure of the potato crop, became very alarming, and the Ministry greatly embarra.s.sed. Lord John Russell wrote from Edinburgh to the electors of the City of London, announcing his conversion to the Repeal of the Corn Laws, and the _Times_ announced that such a Bill would be brought in by the Ministry. Peel, reluctant to accept the task, resigned office in December, and a Whig Ministry was attempted. Owing to dissensions, the attempt had to be abandoned, and Peel returned to office, without Lord Stanley, but with Mr Gladstone, who however did not seek re-election for the seat vacated by his acceptance of office.

A dispute of great importance arose during the year with the United States, relating to the boundary line between English and American territory west of the Rocky Mountains. Twenty-five years earlier the same question had arisen, and had been settled on the footing of joint occupancy. The increased importance of the Pacific slope made the matter more vital, involving as it did the ownership of Vancouver Island and the mouth of the Columbia River; President Polk unequivocally claimed the whole, and said he would not shrink from upholding America's interests; the British Government was equally firm, and the matter was not adjusted till 1846.

In India, which during nearly the whole year enjoyed peace, the Sikhs in December a.s.sumed the aggressive, and crossed the Sutlej, invading British India. They were signally defeated by Sir Hugh Gough at Moodkee and Ferozeshah. In Scinde Sir Charles Napier prosecuted operations against the mountain desert tribes.

In New Zealand some disastrous collisions took place between the natives and the settlers; the former on two occasions either defeating or repulsing the British arms.

In France the most important events were the Bill for fortifying Paris, the campaign waged against Abd-el-Kader in Algeria, and a horrible act of cruelty perpetrated there. In Spain Don Carlos abdicated his claims to the throne in favour of his son; the Queen's engagement to Count Trapani was rumoured. In other parts of Europe little that was eventful occurred.

CHAPTER XIV

1845

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _14th January 1845._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--What you say about Aquila[1] and Montpensier interests me. What madness is it then to force Trapani on Spain! Pray explain to me the cause of the King's obstinacy about that Spanish marriage, for _no_ country has a right to dictate in that way to another. If Tatane[2] was _to think_ of the Infanta, England would be extremely indignant, and would (and with right) consider it tantamount to a marriage with the Queen herself. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 1: Louis Charles, Comte d'Aquila, a son of Francis I., King of the Two Sicilies, and brother of the Comte de Trapani and of Queen Christina; he and his brother were therefore uncles of Queen Isabella.]

[Footnote 2: The Duc de Montpensier.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _18th January 1845._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... The Spanish marriage question is really very curious; in fact, all the other Bourbon branches are hostile to the Orleans family, but the idea that makes the King so constant in his views about it, is that he imagines it would create in France a bad impression if _now_ any other than a Bourbon was to marry the Queen of Spain. That feeling they have _themselves created_, as in France they did not at all care about it; having, however, declared _quasi_ officially in the French Chambers that they _will not have any but a Bourbon_, if circ.u.mstances should after all decide it otherwise it would now be a defeat, but certainly one of their own making.... Your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.