The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 101

CLAREMONT, _16th July 1842._

The Queen is anxious to draw Sir Robert Peel's attention to a circ.u.mstance which she has already some months ago mentioned to him: this is relative to Sir Edward Disbrowe.[48] The Queen knows that Sir Robert Peel shares her opinion as to Sir Edward Disbrowe's abilities not being of the first order, but this is not the only thing; what she chiefly complains of is his decided unfairness towards Belgium, which she thinks has always shown itself, and again most strongly in his last despatches. The King of the Belgians has never dropped a word on the subject, but the Queen really feels it her duty by her Uncle to state this frankly to Sir Robert Peel, and to say that she thinks it highly important that Sir Edward Disbrowe should be removed to some other Mission. Of course she wishes that this should be done quietly, but she thinks that with a man like the present King of the Netherlands, who is continually intriguing in Belgium and making her Uncle's position very painful, it is of the utmost importance that our Minister there should be totally _unbia.s.sed_--which Sir Edward Disbrowe most decidedly is not. Could not Sir T. Cartwright be sent there, and Sir Edward Disbrowe go to Stockholm? The Queen merely suggests this; but, of course, as long as the man sent to the Hague is sensible and _fair_, it is indifferent to her who goes there....

[Footnote 48: Then British Minister at the Hague.]

[Pageheading: GRIEF OF THE QUEEN]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

CLAREMONT, _17th July 1842._

The Queen had intended to have written to Lord Melbourne some time ago to have thanked him for his kind letter of the 5th, but she was so occupied, first of all with the arrival of our brother and sister, with our removal here, and lastly by the dreadful misfortune at Paris, which has completely overpowered her, and made her quite ill--that it prevented her from doing so. The Queen is sure that Lord Melbourne will have warmly shared the universal horror and regret at the untimely and fearfully sudden end of so amiable and distinguished a Prince as poor Chartres (as we all called the Duke of Orleans) was!

The loss to France, and indeed Europe, is very great; but to the Royal Family, dearest Louise (who all doted on him), and above all to poor unfortunate Helene, who adored him (and he was a most devoted husband to her), and to his two poor little boys of four and one years old--he is an irreparable loss. The Queen has heard from none yet, but has seen a letter from Guizot, who was a witness of the _last scene_, which is quite truly reported in the papers; he says it was fearful--the poor Duke lying and dying on a mattress on the floor surrounded by his parents and sisters, kneeling and praying around their dearly beloved Child! Alas! poor Helene had not even that comfort!

The Queen is very glad that the Bill for the better security of her person has pa.s.sed so quickly and in so gratifying a manner through both Houses.

We are here since yesterday week, enjoying the fine weather, and great quiet and peace; but the news from Paris have damped our spirits.

The Queen is charmed with her new sister,[49] who is a most amiable, sensible, and gentle creature, and without being really handsome, very pretty and pleasing.

We return to town to-morrow and the Queen hopes soon to see Lord Melbourne. We intend going to Windsor to settle, on Sat.u.r.day.

The Queen trusts Lord Melbourne is quite well.

[Footnote 49: The d.u.c.h.ess Ernest of Saxe-Coburg.]

[Pageheading: LETTER FROM KING LOUIS PHILIPPE]

_The King of the French to Queen Victoria._

NEUILLY, _17 Juillet 1842._

MADAME MA BIEN CHeRE ET BIEN BONNE S[OE]UR,--J'ai bien reconnu le c[oe]ur de votre Majeste dans l'empress.e.m.e.nt qu'elle a mis a m'exprimer la part qu'elle prend a mon malheur. Ma malheureuse Reine en est egalement bien touchee, et si elle ne le temoigne pas elle-meme des aujourd'hui a votre Majeste, c'est qu'elle est encore dans l'impossibilite d'ecrire. Nous osons lui demander tous les deux, d'etre notre interprete aupres du Prince Albert, et de lui dire combien nous sommes sensibles a son interet. S'il pouvait y avoir une consolation au coup affreux qui a frappe nos vieux jours, ce serait ces temoignages d'interet, et les regrets dont on entoure le tombeau de mon enfant cheri, et la perte immense que tous ont faite en lui!

C'est a present qu'on sent ce qu'il etait, et ce qu'il devenait chaque jour de plus en plus.

Je remercie de nouveau votre Majeste, du fond de mon c[oe]ur brise, de tous les sentiments dont elle veut bien me donner tant de preuves, et je la prie d'agreer l'expression de la haute estime et de l'inviolable amitie avec lesquelles, je suis, Madame, ma tres chere S[oe]ur, de votre Majeste, le bien affectionne Frere,

LOUIS PHILIPPE R.

_The Queen of the French to Queen Victoria._

NEUILLY, _19 Juillet 1842._

MADAME MA TReS CHeRE S[OE]UR,--Je comptais que votre Majeste et le Prince Albert s'a.s.socieraient a notre immense douleur; que Dieu vous benisse pour les tendres expressions de votre lettre. Nous sommes aneantis par le coup dont Dieu nous a frappes, que sa Sainte Volonte soit faite! J'ai perdu l'objet de ma plus vive tendresse, celui qui depuis 32 ans avait ete mon amour, mon bonheur, et ma gloire, plein de vie, d'avenir, ma tete n'y est plus, mon c[oe]ur est fletri, je tache de me resigner, je pleure et je prie pour cette Ame qui m'etait si chere et pour que Dieu nous conserve l'infortune et precieux Roi dont la douleur est incommensurable; nous tachons de nous reunir tous pour faire un faisceau autour de lui. Notre ange de Louise et votre excellent oncle sont arrives avant-hier; leur presence nous a fait du bien. Helene, aneantie par la douleur, a un courage admirable, sa sante se soutient. Nemours, dont l'affliction est inexprimable, tache de prendre des forces pour nous consoler tous, et les bonnes Victoire et Clementine apres l'horrible et douleureuse scene a laquelle elles avaient a.s.siste, ont pa.s.se trois nuits pour aller chercher leur infortunee Belle-S[oe]ur. Enfin, Dieu veut que nous vivions pour nous soutenir les uns les autres, que ce Dieu Tout Puissant vous benisse, Madame, et vous preserve a jamais de pareilles douleurs, c'est le v[oe]u bien sincere de celle qui se dit de tout son c[oe]ur, Madame, De votre Majeste la toute devouee S[oe]ur,

MARIE AMeLIE.

[Pageheading: LEIGH HUNT]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _22nd July 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty, and ventures to transmit the copy of Mr Leigh Hunt's poem, which he mentioned to your Majesty in his last letter. Lord Melbourne also sends the letter which Mr Leigh Hunt has taken the liberty of addressing to your Majesty, as well as that which he has addressed to Lord Melbourne. Lord Melbourne will inform Mr Hunt that he has done this, and it is not at all required that any further notice should be taken.[50]

It is a very gay and lively work, and has in it some wit and fun.

Lord Melbourne had great pleasure yesterday in seeing your Majesty well and in good spirits.

[Footnote 50: The poem was no doubt _The Palfrey; a Love-Story of Old Times_.]

_Mr Leigh Hunt to Viscount Melbourne._

32 EDWARDES SQUARE, KENSINGTON, _15th July 1842._

MY LORD,--I was once speaking to Mr Fonblanque[51] of my unwillingness to trouble your Lords.h.i.+p, when Prime Minister, with a request to lay my tragedy of the _Legend of Florence_[52] before Her Majesty; and he said that he was sure your good-nature would not have been displeased with it. This is the reason why I now venture to ask whether a similar kindness might be shown the accompanying little poem, supposing no etiquette to stand in the way of it. I have no Tory channels of communication with the Palace, nor wish to seek any; neither can I trespa.s.s upon any friends.h.i.+ps of Her Majesty's, unless they can find my excuse in some previous knowledge of me. On the other hand, I have no fear of being supposed by your Lords.h.i.+p to approach one who is no longer Premier with less respect than when he was in power. I would even venture to say, if the mode of testifying it were not so poor a one, that it is in a double spirit of respectfulness the application is made. Should it be of a nature calculated to give your Lords.h.i.+p any perplexity, I can only blush for having been the occasion of it, and beg it may be laid to the account of an ignorance which lives very much out of the world. The same reason will plead my excuse for not knowing whether a letter to Her Majesty ought, or ought not, to accompany the book; and for begging your Lords.h.i.+p, after its perusal, to suppress it or otherwise accordingly, in case you can oblige me in the other part of my request. Your Lords.h.i.+p will perceive that the Address prefixed to the poem, not having ventured to ask Her Majesty's permission, does not presume to call itself a dedication; neither does it leave the public under any erroneous impression whatsoever as to the nature of its intentions: and on this account I not only expect, of course, no acknowledgment of its receipt on the part of any one about Her Majesty's person, but shall be more than content to understand by your Lords.h.i.+p's own silence that my book has reached its destination, and therefore not been considered altogether unworthy of it.

The bookseller tells me that it is no longer "the mode" for authors to present their volumes _bound_; but in regard to books intended to go to Court, he is not quite so certain; and I find it so difficult to disa.s.sociate the idea of dress from any such proceeding, that I trust my inexperience in this respect also will procure me whatever pardon it may require.

I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lords.h.i.+p's ever grateful and faithful Servant,

LEIGH HUNT.

[Footnote 51: Hunt had founded _The Examiner_ in 1808, and Albany Fonblanque (1793-1872) had succeeded him on it as leader writer.]

[Footnote 52: Leigh Hunt's play, _A Legend of Florence_, had had a great success at Covent Garden in 1840; in 1852 it was performed at Windsor by the Queen's command.]

[Pageheading: THE AFFLICTED FAMILY]