The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Iii Part 40

[Pageheading: MISS NIGHTINGALE]

_Queen Victoria to Miss Florence Nightingale._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _[January] 1856_.

DEAR MISS NIGHTINGALE,--You are, I know, well aware of the high sense I entertain of the Christian devotion which you have displayed during this great and b.l.o.o.d.y war, and I need hardly repeat to you how warm my admiration is for your services, which are fully equal to those of my dear and brave soldiers, whose sufferings you have had the _privilege_ of alleviating in so merciful a manner. I am, however, anxious of marking my feelings in a manner which I trust will be agreeable to you, and therefore send you with this letter a brooch, the form and emblems of which commemorate your great and blessed work, and which, I hope, you will wear as a mark of the high approbation of your Sovereign![9]

It will be a very great satisfaction to me, when you return at last to these sh.o.r.es, to make the acquaintance of one who has set so bright an example to our s.e.x. And with every prayer for the preservation of your valuable health, believe me, always, yours sincerely,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 9: The presentation took place on the 29th of January. The jewel resembled a badge rather than a brooch, bearing a St George's Cross in red enamel, and the Royal cypher surmounted by a crown in diamonds. The inscription "Blessed are the Merciful" encircled the badge which also bore the word "Crimea."]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th February 1856_.

With respect to Lord Clarendon's observation that he hopes that the Queen "will approve of his upholding the Sardinians in the Conference and in all other respects," she can only a.s.sure him that she is _most sincerely_ anxious that he should do so, as the Queen has the greatest respect for that n.o.ble little country, which, since it has possessed an honest, straightforward as well as courageous King, has been a bright example to all Continental States.

The Queen rejoices to hear that Count Cavour is coming to Paris.

The Queen hopes that the determination not to admit Prussia will be adhered to.[10] She hears that Baron Beust[11] means to go to Paris to represent the German Confederation; this should be prevented by all means.

[Footnote 10: Prussia was not admitted to the sitting of the Conference until a later stage.]

[Footnote 11: Prime Minister of Saxony.]

[Pageheading: BELGIAN NEUTRALITY]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _13th February 1856_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had the happiness of receiving your kind letter of the 8th on Sat.u.r.day, and thank you much for it. I gave your kind message to Colonel Phipps, who was much gratified by it. We came here in wretched weather yesterday, leaving Mamma _still_ at Frogmore.

The Conferences will begin very shortly; Lord Clarendon starts for Paris on Friday. _No_ one but him could undertake these difficult negotiations. _No_ one can tell _what_ the result will be--and I will say nothing, for I have _too strong_ personal feelings to speak upon the subject.

With respect to your answer respecting your _neutrality_, and the possibility of your being obliged to break it, I must repeat that I see _no possibility_ or _eventuality_ that _could oblige_ you to do so. _Belgium_ of its own accord bound itself to remain neutral, and its very existence is _based_ upon that neutrality, which the other Powers have guaranteed and are bound to maintain _if Belgium keeps_ her engagements. I cannot at all see HOW you could _even_ entertain the question, for, as I just said, the _basis_ of the _existence_ of Belgium is her _neutrality_.

The weather is so mild that we should almost hope Stockmar would start soon. If _he_ can't come himself, he should send his son for a few days, who could bring us any confidential communication from his father, and could be the bearer of any from us. Something of this kind is most necessary, for it is overwhelming to write to one another upon so many details which require immediate answer....

With Albert's love, and ours to your young people, believe me, always, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

_14th February 1856._

The Queen has seen in the reports of the House of Commons that a return has been moved for of all the decorations of the Bath given since the war. The Queen hopes the Government will not allow the House of Commons so much further to trespa.s.s upon the prerogatives of the Crown as now _virtually_ to take also the control over the distribution of honours and rewards into their hands.

[Pageheading: TERMS OF PEACE]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _15th February 1856_.

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I have to thank you for your dear kind letter of the 12th. Madame de Sevigne says, with great truth, that a letter to be a good letter ought to be as if one heard the person speak; your dear letters are always so, and you would therefore be praised by Madame de Sevigne, and that very deservedly. Lord Clarendon is, Heaven be praised, well calculated to bring matters to a happy conclusion. I will try to make some impression on the mind of the Emperor Alexander, his best policy will be the most honest. By all I can learn they wish most sincerely the conclusion of this war. If on the side of the Allies only the things which really protect the territories of the present Turkish Empire are asked, the Russians ought not to man[oe]uvre, but grant it, and the Allies also ought to be moderate.

You are very properly never to be contradicted, but there are a few things to be remarked. This neutrality was in the real interest of this country, but our good Congress here did _not_ wish it, and even opposed it; it was _impose_ upon them. A neutrality to be respected must be _protected_. France at all time in cases of general war can put an end to it, by declaring to us _Vous devez etre avec nous ou contre nous_. If we answer _Nous sommes neutres_, they will certainly try to occupy us; then the case of self-defence arises and the claim to be protected by the other powers....

My beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: THE CONFERENCE]

_Queen Victoria to the Emperor of the French._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _le 15 Fevrier 1856_.

SIRE ET CHER FReRE,--Mes Commissaires pour le Conseil de Guerre sont a peine revenus de Paris et notre plan de campagne est a peine arrete, que mes Plenipotentiaires pour la Conference de paix se mettent en route pour a.s.sister sous les yeux de V.M. a l'[oe]uvre de la pacification. Je n'ai pas besoin de vous recommander Lord Clarendon, mais je ne veux pas le laisser partir sans le rendre porteur de quelques mots de ma part.

Quoique bien convaincue qu'il ne pourra dans les discussions prochaines s'elever de questions sur lesquelles il y aurait divergence d'opinions entre nos deux Gouvernements, j'attache toutefois le plus haut prix a ce que l'accord le plus parfait soit etabli avant que les conferences ne soient ouvertes; et c'est dans ce but que j'ai charge Lord Clarendon de se rendre a Paris quelques jours avant, afin qu'il put rendre un compte exact des opinions de mon Gouvernement, et jouir de l'avantage de connaitre _a fond_ la pensee de V.M.

J'eprouverai un sentiment d'intime satisfaction dans ce moment critique, et je le regarderai comme une preuve toute particuliere de votre amitie, si vous voulez permettre a Lord Clarendon de vous exposer personnellement mes vues et d'entendre les Votres de Votre proper bouche.

Les operations de nos armees et de nos flottes combinees, sous un commandement divise, ont ete sujettes a d'enormes difficultes; mais ces difficultes ont ete heureus.e.m.e.nt vaincues. Dans la Diplomatie comme a la guerre, les Russes auront sur Nous le grand avantage de l'unite de plan et d'action, et je les crois plus forts sur ce terrain que sur le champ de bataille; mais a coup sur, nous y resterons egalement victorieux, si nous reussissons a empecher l'ennemi de diviser nos forces et de nous battre en detail.