The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 98

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _31st May 1842._

MY DEAREST UNCLE.--I wish to be the first to inform you of what happened yesterday evening, and to tell you that we are _saines et sauves_. On returning from the chapel on Sunday, Albert was observing how civil the people were, and then suddenly turned to me and said it appeared to him as though a man had held out a pistol to the carriage, and that it had hung fire; accordingly, when we came home he mentioned it to Colonel Arbuthnot, who was only to tell it to Sir J. Graham and Sir Robert Peel, and have the police instructed, and _n.o.body else_.

No one, however, who was with us, such as footmen, etc., had seen anything at all. Albert began to doubt what he believed he had seen.

Well, yesterday morning (Monday) a lad came to Murray[34] (who of course knew nothing) and said that he saw a man in the crowd as we came home from church, present a pistol to the carriage, which, however, did not go off, and heard the man say, "Fool that I was not to fire!" The man then vanished, and this boy followed another man (an old man) up St James's Street who repeated twice, "How very extraordinary!" but instead of saying anything to the police, asked the boy for his direction and disappeared. The boy accordingly was sent to Sir Robert Peel, and (doubtful as it all still was) every precaution was taken, still keeping the thing completely secret, not a soul in the house knowing a word, and accordingly after some consultation, as _nothing_ could be done, we drove out--many police then in plain clothes being distributed in and about the parks, and the two Equerries riding so close on each side that they must have been hit, if anybody had; still the feeling of looking out for such a man was not _des plus agreables_; however, we drove through the parks, up to Hampstead, and back again. All was so quiet that we almost thought of nothing,--when, as we drove down Const.i.tution Hill, very fast, we heard the report of a pistol, but not at all loud, so that had we not been on the alert we should hardly have taken notice of it. We saw the man seized by a policeman _next to whom he was standing when he_ fired, but we did not stop. Colonel Arbuthnot and two others saw him take aim, but we only _heard_ the report (looking both the other way). We felt both very glad that our drive had had the effect of having the man seized. Whether it was loaded or not we cannot yet tell, but we are again full of grat.i.tude to Providence for invariably _protecting_ us! The feeling of horror is very great in the public, and great affection is shown us. The man was yesterday examined at the Home Office, is called John Francis, is a cabinet-maker, and son of a machine-maker of Covent Garden Theatre, is good-looking (they say). I have never seen him at all close, but Arbuthnot gave the description of him from what he saw on Sunday, which exactly answered. Only twenty or twenty-one years old, and _not_ the _least_ mad--but very cunning.

The boy identified him this morning, amongst many others. Everything is to be kept secret _this_ time, which is very right, and altogether I think it is being well done. Every further particular you shall hear. I was really not at all frightened, and feel _very_ proud at dear Uncle Mensdorff calling me "_sehr muthig_," which I shall ever remember with peculiar pride, coming from so distinguished an officer as he is! Thank G.o.d, my Angel is also well! but he says that had the man fired on Sunday, he must have been hit in the head! G.o.d is merciful; that indeed we must feel daily more! Uncle and cousins were quite horrified.... Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

You will tell Louise _all_, of course.

[Footnote 34: The Hon. Charles Augustus Murray, Master of the Household, afterwards Consul-General of Egypt, and Minister in Persia and at Dresden.]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

BUSHEY HOUSE (_Monday night_), _May 1842._

MY DEAR NIECE,--I must write a line to express to you what I felt when I took up the newspapers which informed me of what had happened yesterday. Is it possible?--can it be true? was my first question.

However, the detailed accounts leave no doubt that a pistol was pointed at you again, though not fired. It is really shocking that such wretches exist who dare tempt (_sic_) to alarm you--though in this instance there was nothing alarming except the evil spirit which inspired the boy.

How grateful must we not feel to our merciful G.o.d, who protects you so visibly, and gives you courage and confidence in Him, who is and ever will be your safest guard and support. Trust in Him and you will not fail to be well guided.

I hope it is true that you were not aware of what had happened when you went to church, not to be disturbed in your devotions, and that the account did not agitate you.

Edward[35] came yesterday from town, but he knew nothing but that a pistol had been taken from a man in the Park. We hardly believed the story till the papers informed us of the truth. Pray say to dear Albert what I feel _for_ and _with you both_, and how I thank G.o.d and pray that His merciful protection may never fail you.

We are going to Frogmore to-morrow, and from there shall drive in the Park and to St George's Chapel. I hope the weather will be as fine as it was to-day. G.o.d bless and guard you ever and ever! dearest Victoria, prays your most devotedly attached Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

[Footnote 35: Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar.]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _1st June 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He was much shocked at learning, which he did not do until six o'clock yesterday evening, the event which took place on Monday. After what took place on Sunday, it must have been a trial to your Majesty's nerves, and still more to those of the Prince, to go out on Monday; but it appears to Lord Melbourne that your Majesty judged quite correctly in doing so. Lord Melbourne hardly knows what to say of this repeated attempt.

It is a depravity and a malice as unintelligible as it is atrocious.

Lord Melbourne is at least as grateful as any one of your Majesty's subjects, and the grat.i.tude is universal and fervent for your Majesty's safety.

Lord Melbourne had ridden over in the morning to visit Lord and Lady Uxbridge in their rural retirement, and upon his return to Brocket Hall, about six o'clock, found the morning newspaper with the accounts of what had happened. If they had sent him down a messenger on Monday night, which it would have been better to have done, he would have been yesterday in his place in the House of Lords.

Lord Melbourne found Uxbridge enveloped in parcels and boxes, which he was busy unpacking, Lady Uxbridge reclining by the stream under the shade of a plane-tree, and the two young ladies somewhat pensive. The place looked beautiful, but Lord Melbourne fears that all its beauty will not be a compensation to them for London at this time of the year.

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_Sir James Graham to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _1st June 1842._

Sir James Graham, with humble duty to your Majesty, submits a copy of the Answer to the Address; and an alteration has been made in the Answer which Sir James Graham hopes may render it conformable to the tender and generous feelings which your Majesty has deigned to express with reference to the Prince.

The two Houses of Parliament followed the exact precedent which has been established in Oxford's case; and although the life of the Prince, so dear to your Majesty, is highly valued by all your loving subjects, yet the crime of treason attaches only to an attack on the sacred person of your Majesty; and the expressions used by Parliament with reference to these atrocious crimes, when directed against the Sovereign, are necessarily inapplicable to any other person, and could not be used with propriety. Hence the omission in the former case of all allusion to the Prince; and the silence of Parliament on the present occasion is to be ascribed to the same cause--not to any cold indifference, which the general feeling of attachment to the Prince entirely forbids.

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's dutiful Subject and Servant,

J. R. G. GRAHAM.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _6th June 1842._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I was sure of the kind interest you would take in the event of the 29th and 30th. I am most thankful for your very kind, long letter of the 3rd, which I received the day before yesterday. I have so little time--as we are just setting off for Ascot--that I can hardly write anything to you. There seems no doubt whatever that Francis is totally without accomplices, and a _mauvais sujet_. We shall be able probably to tell you more when we see you. I am grieved that you have deferred your visit again. We are then to expect your arrival either on the Tuesday or Wednesday? Very thankful we should be soon to hear whom you bring with you.

Dear Uncle and the Cousins are delighted with Windsor, and the weather is beautiful, only unfortunately _too_ hot to be pleasant. I rode on my little Barb at a review of Cavalry at Wormwood Scrubbs on Sat.u.r.day, _dont je suis bien fiere_. Now adieu! dearest Uncle. In haste, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

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_Lord Fitzgerald and Vesci to Queen Victoria._

INDIA BOARD, _7th June 1842._

Lord Fitzgerald, with his most humble duty to your Majesty, humbly acquaints your Majesty that despatches have been this day received from the Governor-General and the several Presidencies of India.

They announce a signal victory, achieved by Sir Robert Sale and his admirable garrison.[36]

The circ.u.mstances attending his glorious success, and the consequences likely to result from it, are amongst the most important of this hurtful war.