The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 8

You will, I am sure, be pleased to hear that we have succeeded in purchasing _Osborne_ in the Isle of Wight,[10] and if we can manage it, we shall probably run down there before we return to Town, for three nights. It sounds so snug and nice to have a place of _one's own_, quiet and retired, and free from all Woods and Forests, and other charming Departments who really are the plague of one's life.

Now, dearest Uncle, adieu. Ever your truly devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 9: See Peel's reply, _Life of the Prince Consort_, chap. xiii.]

[Footnote 10: The purchase was suggested by Sir Robert Peel.]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _3rd April 1845._

The Queen had intended to have written to Lord Melbourne from Osborne to thank him for his last note of the 19th, but we were so occupied, and so delighted with _our new_ and really delightful _home_, that she hardly had time for anything; besides which the weather was so beautiful, that we were out almost all day. The Queen refers Lord Melbourne to Mr Anson for particulars of the new property, which is very extensive, as she is not at all competent to explain about acres, etc. But she thinks it is impossible to imagine a prettier spot--valleys and woods which would be beautiful anywhere; but all this near the sea (the woods grow into the sea) is quite perfection; we have a charming beach quite to ourselves. The sea was so blue and calm that the Prince said it was like Naples. And then we can walk about anywhere by ourselves without being followed and mobbed, which Lord Melbourne will easily understand is delightful. And last, not least, we have Portsmouth and Spithead so close at hand, that we shall be able to watch what is going on, which will please the Navy, and be hereafter very useful for our boys.

The Children are all well. The Queen has just had a lithograph made after a little drawing which she did herself of the three eldest, and which she will send Lord Melbourne with some Eau de Cologne.

f.a.n.n.y and Lord Jocelyn dined here last night; she is looking very well, and he seems much pleased at being in office, and being employed.

The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne is enjoying this fine weather, and here concludes with the Prince's kind remembrance.

[Pageheading: THE MAYNOOTH GRANT]

[Pageheading: RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _15th April 1845._

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--Here we are in a great state of agitation about one of the greatest measures ever proposed;[11] I am sure poor Peel ought to be _blessed by_ all Catholics for the manly and n.o.ble way in which he stands forth to protect and do good to poor Ireland. But the bigotry, the wicked and blind pa.s.sions it brings forth is quite dreadful, and I blush for Protestantism![12] A Presbyterian clergyman said very truly, "_Bigotry_ is more _common than shame_...."

[Footnote 11: The Bill to increase the grant to the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth was carried by Peel in the teeth of opposition from half his party: another measure was pa.s.sed to establish colleges for purely secular teaching ("G.o.dless colleges" they were nicknamed) in Cork, Belfast, and Galway, and affiliate them to a new Irish university.]

[Footnote 12: As Macaulay had said during the previous night's debate: "The Orangeman raises his war whoop, Exeter Hall sets up its bray, Mr Macneile shudders to see more costly cheer than ever provided for the priests of Baal at the table of the Queen, and the Protestant operatives of Dublin call for impeachments in exceedingly bad English."]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _23rd April 1845._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Our Maynooth Bill is through the second reading. I think, if you read Sir Robert's admirable speeches, you will see how good his plan is. The _Catholics_ are quite delighted at it--full of grat.i.tude, and behave extremely well; but the Protestants behave shockingly, and display a narrow-mindedness and want of sense on the subject of religion which is quite a disgrace to the nation. The case of Austria, France, etc., cannot be compared to this, as _this_ is a _Protestant_ country, while the others are Catholic; and I think it would never do to support a Roman Catholic Church with money belonging to the Protestant Church. The Protestant Establishment in Ireland must remain untouched, but let the Roman Catholic Clergy be well and handsomely educated.

The Duc de Broglie[13] dined with us last night; his _travaux_ are going on satisfactorily; he asked when you were coming, and said you were "_beaucoup Anglais et un peu Francais_," which is true, I think.

With Albert's affectionate respects, believe me always, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 13: Achille Charles, Duc de Broglie, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs.]

_Mr Goulburn[14] to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _30th April 1845._

Mr Goulburn submits with his humble duty to your Majesty that several representations have been made to the Treasury as to the convenience which the public would derive from the circulation of silver threepenny-pieces. Such pieces are lawfully current under your Majesty's Proclamation of the 5th July 1838. But as such pieces have been hitherto reserved as your Majesty's Maundy money, and as such especially belong to your Majesty's service, Mr Goulburn considers that a coinage of them for general use could not take place without a particular signification of your Majesty's pleasure.

Mr Goulburn therefore humbly submits for your Majesty's gracious consideration the signification of your Majesty's pleasure as to the issue of such a coinage.

[Footnote 14: Chancellor of the Exchequer.]

[Pageheading: PUBLIC EXECUTIONS]

_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _13th May 1845._

Sir James Graham, with humble duty, begs to lay before your Majesty the enclosed Memorial.

The proceedings in Newgate on the occasion of the last condemned sermon and on the morning of the execution have been fully investigated;[15] and the report established the necessity of legislative interference to prevent the recurrence of scenes so disgraceful and demoralising. The policy of depriving capital executions of their present publicity is well worthy of careful revision; and Sir James Graham, in obedience to your Majesty's desire, will bring the subject under the notice of his colleagues. He is disposed to think that the sentence might be carried into execution in the presence of a Jury to be summoned by the Sheriff with good effect; and that the great body of idle spectators might be excluded, without diminishing the salutary terror and awful warning which this extreme punishment is intended to produce on the public mind. In dealing, however, with a matter in which the community has so deep an interest, it is prudent not to violate public opinion, and caution is necessary before a change of the long-established usage is proposed.[16]

Sir James Graham deeply regrets the part taken by the newspapers in seeking to indulge the general curiosity with respect to all details of the conduct, habits, and demeanour of these wretched criminals in their last moments; but he fears that the license of the Press cannot be checked by any act of authority; if the public be excluded from witnessing the executions, they will probably become still more anxious to obtain a printed report of all that has taken place; and Sir James Graham is so thoroughly convinced that the punishment of death in certain cases must be maintained, that he would consider any course inexpedient which was likely to lead the public to desire the remission of capital executions in all cases without exception....

J. R. G. GRAHAM.

[Footnote 15: The attraction these executions had for the general public was at this time a great scandal.]

[Footnote 16: Public executions were abolished in 1868.]

[Pageheading: A BIRTHDAY LETTER]