The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Iii Part 66

[Pageheading: THE NAVY]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

OSBORNE, _15th March 1858_.

The Queen sends to Lord Derby a Memorandum on the state of preparation of our Navy in case of a war, the importance of attending to which she has again strongly felt when the late vote of the House of Commons endangered the continuance of the good understanding with France.

The whole tone of the Debate on the first night of the rea.s.sembly of Parliament has shown again that there exists a great disposition to boast and provoke foreign Powers without any sincere desire to investigate our means of making good our words, and providing for those means which are missing.

The Queen wishes Lord Derby to read this Memorandum to the Cabinet, and to take the subject of which it treats into their anxious consideration.

The two appendices, stating facts, the one with regard to the manning of the Navy by volunteers with the aid of bounties, the other with regard to impressment, have become unfortunately more lengthy than the Queen had wished, but the facts appeared to her so important that she did not like to have any left out.

_Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _22nd March 1858_.

(_Monday, half-past eight o'clock._)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer with his humble duty to your Majesty.

This evening was a great contrast to Friday. House very full on both sides....

Mr B. Osborne commenced the general attack, of which he had given notice; but, after five years' silence, his weapons were not as bright as of yore. He was answered by the Government, and the House, which was very full, became much excited. The Ministerial benches were in high spirit.

The Debate that ensued, most interesting and sustained.

Mr Horsman, with considerable effect, expressed the opinions of that portion of the Liberal Party, which does not wish to disturb the Government.

Lord John Russell vindicated the Reform Bill of 1832 from the attacks of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and with great dignity and earnestness.

He was followed by Mr Drummond on the same subject in a telling epigram. Then Lord Palmerston, in reply to the charges of Mr Horsman, mild and graceful, with a sarcastic touch. The general impression of the House was very favourable to the Ministry; all seemed changed; the Debate had cleared the political atmosphere, and, compared with our previous state, we felt as if the eclipse was over.

[Pageheading: RESIGNATION OF PERSIGNY]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _23rd March 1858_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--You will, I trust, forgive my letter being short, but we have only just returned from Aldershot, where we went this morning, and really have been quite baked by a sun which was hardly hotter in August, and without a breath of wind....

Good Marie[17] has not answered me, will you remind her? I _did_ tell her I hoped for her child's[18] sake she would give up the nursing, as we Princesses had other duties to perform. I hope she was not shocked, but I felt I only did what was right in telling her so.

I grieve to say we lose poor Persigny, which is a real loss--but he would resign. Walewski behaved ill to him. The Emperor has, however, named a successor which is _really_ a compliment to the Army and the Alliance--and besides a distinguished and independent man, viz. the Duc de Malakhoff.[19] This is very gratifying.

In all this business, Pelissier has, I hear, behaved extremely well. I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 17: Marie Henriette, d.u.c.h.ess of Brabant, afterwards Queen of the Belgians; died 1902.]

[Footnote 18: Princess Louise of Belgium was born on the 4th of February.]

[Footnote 19: Formerly General Pelissier; see _ante_, 14th September, 1855, note 80.]

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS]

_Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _23rd March 1858_.

(_Tuesday._)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer with his humble duty to your Majesty.

The discussion on the Pa.s.sport Question, this evening, was not without animation; the new Under-Secretary, Mr Fitzgerald,[20] makes way with the House. He is very acute and quick in his points, but does not speak loud enough. His tone is conversational, which is the best for the House of Commons, and the most difficult; but then the conversation should be heard. The general effect of the discussion was favourable to the French Government.

In a thin House afterwards, the Wife's Sister Bill was brought in after a division. Your Majesty's Government had decided among themselves to permit the introduction, but a too zealous member of the Opposition forced an inopportune division.

[Footnote 20: William Robert Seymour Vesey Fitzgerald, M.P.

for Horsham 1852-1865. He was Governor of Bombay 1867-1872.]

_Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _25th March 1858_.

(_Thursday._)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer with his humble duty to your Majesty.

The Lease of the Lord-Lieutenancy was certainly renewed to-night--and for some years. The majority was very great against change at present, and the future, which would justify it, it was agreed, should be the very decided opinion of the Irish members. It was left in short to Ireland.

The Debate was not very animated, but had two features--a most admirable speech by Lord Naas,[21] quite the model of an official statement, clear, calm, courteous, persuasive, and full of knowledge; it received the praises of both sides.