The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Ii Part 65

_Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _13th August 1850._

MY DEAR JOHN RUSSELL,--I have taken a copy of this memorandum of the Queen and will not fail to attend to the directions which it contains.

With regard to the sending of despatches to the Queen, they have sometimes been delayed longer than should have been the case, in consequence of my having been prevented by great pressure of business, and by the many interruptions of interviews, etc., to which I am liable, from reading and sending them back into the Office so soon as I could have wished. But I will give orders that the old practice shall be reverted to, of making copies of all important despatches as soon as they reach the Office, so that there may be no delay in sending the despatches to the Queen; this practice was gradually left off as the business of the Office increased, and if it shall require an additional clerk or two you must be liberal and allow me that a.s.sistance.--Yours sincerely,

PALMERSTON.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_The Duc de Nemours to Queen Victoria._

CLAREMONT, _26 Aout 1850._

MADAME MA CHeRE COUSINE,--La main de Dieu vient de s'appesantir sur nous. Le Roi notre Pere n'est plus.[34] Apres avoir recu hier avec calme et resignation les secours de la religion, il s'est eteint ce matin a huit heures au milieu de nous tous. Vous le connaissiez ma chere Cousine, vous savez tout ce que nous perdons, vous comprendrez donc l'inexprimable douleur dans laquelle nous sommes plonges; vous la partagerez meme je le sais!

La Reine brisee, malgre son courage, ne trouve de soulagement que dans une retraite absolue ou ne voyant personne elle puisse laisser cours a sa douleur.

Veuillez faire part a Albert de notre malheur et recevoir ici, ma chere Cousine, l'hommage des sentiments de respect et d'attachement, de votre bien affectionne Cousin,

LOUIS D'ORLeANS.

[Footnote 34: King Louis Philippe was in his seventy-seventh year when he died: his widow, Queen Marie Amelie, lived till 1866, when she died at the age of eighty-four.]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _26th August 1850._

The Queen wishes Lord Palmerston to give directions for a Court mourning according to those which are usual for an abdicated King.

She likewise wishes that every a.s.sistance should be given, and every attention shown to the afflicted Royal Family, who have been so severely tried during the last two years, on the melancholy occasion of the poor King of the French's death.

The Queen starts for Scotland to-morrow.

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _30 August 1850._

... I have offered to the poor Queen of the French to remain at Claremont and _d'en disposer_ as long as Heaven does not dispose of myself. She, of course, dislikes the place, but will keep the family with her at least for some time.

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

TAYMOUTH CASTLE, _5th September 1850._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and was happy to receive your Majesty's gracious letter, which reached him the night before last.

The proofs of attachment to your Majesty, which are everywhere exhibited, are the more gratifying as they are entirely spontaneous.

It is fit and becoming that your Majesty should inhabit the royal Palace of Holyrood, and this circ.u.mstance gives great satisfaction throughout Scotland.

Lord John Russell is glad to learn that the family of the late King of the French will continue to reside in England.

The reflection naturally occurs, if Napoleon and Louis Philippe were unable to consolidate a dynasty in France, who will ever be able to do it? The prospect is a succession of fruitless attempts at civil Government till a General a.s.sumes the command, and governs by military force.

[Pageheading: THE POET LAUREATE]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

DUNKELD, _7th September 1850._

... Lord John Russell has had the honour of receiving at Taymouth a letter from the Prince. He agrees that the office of Poet Laureate ought to be filled up. There are three or four authors of nearly equal merit, such as Henry Taylor, Sheridan Knowles, Professor Wilson, and Mr Tennyson, who are qualified for the office.

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTEND, _7th October 1850._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I write a few words only to tell you how our dear patient is.[35] Yesterday was a most perilous, truly dreadful day; our dear angelic Louise was so fainting that Madame d'Hulst, who was with her, felt the greatest alarm. She afterwards was better, and her mother, Clem, Joinville, and Aumale having arrived, she saw them with more composure than could have been expected. Still, she would in fact wish to be left quiet and alone with me, and we try to manage things as much as possible so that their visit does not tire her too much.

Her courage and strength of mind are most heart-breaking when one thinks of the danger in which she is, and her dear and angelic soul seems even to shine more brightly at this moment of such great and imminent danger. I am in a dreadful state when I am with her. She is so contented, so cheerful, that the possibilities of danger appear to me impossible; but the physicians are very much alarmed, without thinking the state absolutely hopeless. That one should write such things about a life so precious, and one in fact still so young, and whose angelic soul is so strong! You will feel with me as you love her so dearly. G.o.d bless you and preserve you from heart-breaking sufferings like mine. Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 35: The Queen of the Belgians died on the 11th of October, at the age of thirty-eight.]

[Pageheading: GENERAL HAYNAU]