The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Iii Part 3

[Pageheading: DEPARTURE OF THE GUARDS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _28th February 1854._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--... The news from Austria are quite excellent, and much more than we had any reason to expect. It will make a great difference in the nature and duration of the War. Our summons to Russia went last night _via_ Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, and if they are received either with silence, or the Emperor refuses to evacuate the Princ.i.p.alities--_War_ will be considered as declared. The French send a similar summons. The messenger is to wait _six_ days for an answer, but no longer.

The last battalion of the Guards (Scots Fusiliers) embarked to-day.

They pa.s.sed through the courtyard here at seven o'clock this morning.

We stood on the balcony to see them--the morning fine, the sun rising over the towers of old Westminster Abbey--and an immense crowd collected to see these fine men, and cheering them immensely as they with difficulty marched along. They formed line, presented arms, and then cheered us _very heartily_, and went off cheering. It was a _touching and beautiful_ sight; many sorrowing friends were there, and one saw the shake of many a hand. My best wishes and prayers will be with them all....

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

[_Undated._]

The Queen was rather annoyed at the manner in which Lord Clarendon pressed the Duke of Cambridge's going to the Tuileries last night.[17]

She thought it an immense boon upon her part to allow the Duke of Cambridge _to go to Paris_--and instead of its being considered as such by Lord Clarendon and Count Walewski, the Queen was told it would offend the Emperor if the Duke did not go to the Tuileries also. The Queen observed that it was unnecessary and unusual for the Duke, or any Prince almost, to live at the _Palace_ of the Sovereign, unless he was a very particular friend or near relation. The Duke of Genoa had refused going there, though he had received other civilities here; in the same manner _no Prince_ comes to this _Palace_ unless he is a very _near relation_ or particular friend. To this Lord Clarendon replied that it was "because the _Emperor wished_ it," which rather shocked the Queen, and she spoke _strongly_ to him upon the subject. The result was that the Queen said she would speak to the Duke of Cambridge about it, and see, as the Emperor made _so great a point of it_, and Lord Clarendon considered that the _Alliance depended upon it_, what he would do....

The Queen must and _will_ protest, for she cannot mix up personal friendship with a political Alliance. The former is the _result_ of the _experience_ of years of mutual friendship, and cannot be _carried by storm_....

There would be nothing unusual in apartments being offered to the Duke of Cambridge, and declined by him. This was done by the King of the Belgians only last summer at Berlin and Vienna, without anybody's construing it into an affront. The Queen adds a list of the Royal personages who have been in England and never resided at the Palace.

Lord Aberdeen may show this letter to Lord Clarendon.

[Footnote 17: The Duke was going to the Crimea, and it was arranged that he should stop at Paris on the way.]

[Pageheading: STABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _1st March 1854._

The Queen has to acknowledge Lord John Russell's letter of this morning. Much as she must regret the postponement of the second reading of the Reform Bill, she must admit its wisdom under the present peculiar circ.u.mstances;[18] but she doubts the advantage of naming a precise day after Easter on which it is to come on.

Considering the _importance_ to the country of _preserving_ the present Government and of not allowing it to be beat on so vital a question, the opportunity should not be lost of ascertaining the state of feeling both in the House of Commons and in the country after the rea.s.sembling of Parliament, before the Government decide on entering upon the struggle which the carrying through of the measure might entail. It is quite impossible _now_ to conjecture with certainty what that state of feeling and the general political circ.u.mstances at home and abroad may be at that time. Possibly the country may be more eager _then for_ the measure--or the War may _disincline_ it _altogether_ towards it.

The Queen seizes this opportunity of expressing her sense of the _imperative importance_ of the Cabinet being _united_ and of one mind at this moment, and not to let it _appear_ that there are differences of opinion within it. The knowledge that there are such is a cause of GREAT _anxiety_ to the Queen, at a time when she is to enter upon a European War, of which n.o.body can confidently predict the extent.

[Footnote 18: See the Queen's letter of the 4th of March, _post_.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _2nd February (? March) 1854._

In returning these letters to Lord Aberdeen the Queen must express to him that there are _hints_ in them which give her great uneasiness.

The stability of this Government is not only of _paramount importance_ at the _commencement_ of the War, but throughout it; the moment for negotiation may arrive much sooner than we now expect--and _then_, more than _now even_, the Government ought to be composed of the _ablest and most moderate_ men which this Country can produce.

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th March 1854._

The Queen thanks Lord John Russell for his letter received this morning. She has read the proceedings in the House of Commons with much interest.[19] She was particularly pleased with Lord John's second speech, in which he affirmed the principle that public men ought not to oppose the regard for personal honour or reputation to the well-understood interests of the Country. Indeed, the Queen cannot conceive the possibility of their collision, as an exclusive regard for the well-understood interests of the Country must always redound to the honour and reputation of a Statesman.

[Footnote 19: Lord John Russell had announced the decision of the Government to postpone till the 27th of April the second reading of the Reform Bill, and, in reply to some sarcastic comments from Mr Disraeli, stated that he would be ashamed of himself if he preferred anything connected with his own personal reputation to the interest of the country. He added that the security of the country depended upon its confidence in the character of public men.]

[Pageheading: THE BALTIC FLEET]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _14th March 1854._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Your kind letter of the 9th arrived here on Sat.u.r.day just when we returned from a splendid and never-to-be-forgotten sight-- the sailing of our n.o.ble Fleet for the Baltic;[20] the Navy and Nation were particularly pleased at _my leading them out_, as they call it, which in fact was the case, as, in our little _Fairy_ we went on and lay to, to see them all come out, which (the wind being fair) they did, with sails set, each pa.s.sing us close by, and giving us three hearty cheers, as I think none but British tars _can_ give. Gloriously they bore along, followed by the prayers and good wishes of all. You should read the account in yesterday's _Times_. Another sailing squadron goes to-morrow. The Captains and Admirals all took leave on board, and seemed much impressed with the solemnity of the moment.... Ever your truly devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 20: The Fleet, under Sir Charles Napier, had been a.s.sembled at Spithead.]

[Pageheading: THE KING OF PRUSSIA]

[Pageheading: PRUSSIAN NEUTRALITY]

[Pageheading: WAR DECLARED]

_Queen Victoria to the King of Prussia._

[_Translation._]

OSBORNE, _17th March 1854._