The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 14

LAEKEN, _25th May 1837._

MY DEAREST CHILD,--You have had some battles and difficulties of which I am completely in the dark. The thing I am most curious to learn is what the King proposed to you concerning your establishment....

I shall reserve my opinion till I am better informed, but by what I heard I did not approve of it, because I thought it ill-timed.

Stockmar will be able to do much. Two things seem necessary; not to be fettered by any establishment other than what will be _comfortable to you_, and then to avoid any breach with your mother. I have fully instructed Stockmar, and I must say he left me in such good disposition that I think he will be able to be of great use to you.

The great thing is to act without precipitation and with caution. The King seems better again. I am very curious to know what he proposed; you will have it in your power to modify his proposition, as it is difficult your _approbation_ should be dispensed with; it would be a great fault in your situation to _submit_ to this.... They seemed to think the King dying, which does not appear to be the case. Be steady, my good child, and _not_ put out by _anything_; as long as I live _you will not want a faithful friend and supporter_....

Here your somewhat curious little soul has at least the outlines of things....

_26th._--I received yesterday the whole of the papers concerning the King's propositions.[42] I approve your letter to the King, as it is amiable and generous, and this in your position will always tell favourably. I think that if _he_ is well advised he will chiefly consult _your wishes_. This is the footing on which you must place matters. It is not worth while to be told that one is in some sort of age when the consequence is that you are not consulted in what concerns you most personally. Avoid in future to say much about your great _youth_ and _inexperience_. Who made the letter? Was it yourself, or came it from your Mother? You have now the Baron at your elbow, and even your Mother was most anxious for his arrival. _Speak sometimes with him_; it is necessary to accustom you to the thing.

About the King's health.[43] I am doubtful what to think. We have foreseen the case and treated it formerly. The great thing would be to make no change, to keep Ministers and everything as it is, and to gain time; in this way _no one is hurt and no amour-propre blesse_.

For this reason I lean to your keeping, to begin with, Sir Herbert Taylor[44] for your _official_ secretary, though I am not quite _decided_ on the subject. He knows the manner in which the _daily business_ is carried on; this is important. I believe him, and have found him to be an honest man, that would do for State matters; it would not be required that he should be your _confidential_ adviser.

Now I conclude, and send you this letter through Stockmar. My best regards to Lehzen. Ever your faithful Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 42: The King had offered the Princess an establishment of 10,000 a year, independent of her mother.

This was accepted, to the great vexation of the d.u.c.h.ess of Kent, but the arrangement was not carried into effect.]

[Footnote 43: King William's health was at this time causing much anxiety.]

[Footnote 44: Private Secretary to King William IV.]

[Pageheading: BIRTHDAY REJOICINGS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_26th May 1837._

... The demonstrations of affection and kindness from all sides towards me on my birthday, were most gratifying. The parks and streets were crowded all day as though something very extraordinary had happened. Yesterday I received twenty-two Addresses from various places, all very pretty and loyal; one in particular was very well written which was presented by Mr. Attwood[45] from the Political Union at Birmingham.

I am delighted to hear Stockmar is at length arrived; he reached London on Wednesday, and we shall see him to-day.

How distressed I am that poor dear Ernest[46] has been so ill! Thank G.o.d! that he is now better.

The Spanish affairs have turned out better than you had expected; the triumphant capture of Irun[47] was a great thing for the Christinos.

The King is much better.

[Footnote 45: Thomas Attwood founded in 1829 the Birmingham Political Union, which helped to pa.s.s the Reform Act. Previously he had been known for his opposition to the Orders in Council, and the resumption of cash payments. Birmingham elected him without opposition in 1832, and he sat till 1840.]

[Footnote 46: Prince Ernest of Saxe-Coburg.]

[Footnote 47: The frontier town of Spain, near St Sebastian, captured, 16th May, by the Christinos, supported by British troops.]

[Pageheading: ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

TUILERIES, _7th June 1837._

... The _entree_[48] last Sunday was something remarkably splendid; we saw it from the Tuileries, as we had nothing to do with the business itself, and your Aunt's rank would have clashed with that of the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans. The effect of all this on the people of this great town has been _very great_, and evidently much ground has been solidly regained. The King, getting out of that sort of confinement in which it was necessary to keep, has gained much in personal comfort, and also in a political point of view; because to have a King who cannot show himself without being shot at, is a state of society which lowers his authority....

For the present the best plan is to continue to act as you have done hitherto; to avoid quarrels, but also to stick _firmly to your resolution when once_ taken. The violence which is sometimes shown is so well known to you, you know also so well that you have nothing to fear from these people, that _you must keep up your usual cool spirit_, whatever may be tried in the House to _teaze you out of it_.

I mean to wait some more detailed accounts of what is going on in England before I give my opinion on what ought to be done in the case that the King's disease should take a more fatal turn.

As I told you before, however, when we treated this subject verbally and in writing, I believe it to be your interest to act very mildly, _to begin by taking everything as the King leaves it_. By this system you avoid disappointing those whose hopes may remain unchanged, as your own choices, as it were, are not yet made. Parties, which at present are so nearly balanced, remain _in statu quo_, and you gain time.

I must conclude now this letter. My winding up is, keep your mind _cool_ and _easy_; be _not alarmed_ at the prospect of becoming perhaps sooner than you expected Queen; aid will not be wanting, and the great thing is that you should have some honest people about you who have your welfare _really at heart_. Stockmar will be in this respect all we can wish, and we must hope that _useful_ occupation will prevent his health from suffering. Now once more G.o.d bless you.

Ever, my dear child, your faithful Uncle and Friend,

LEOPOLD R.

[Footnote 48: The entry into Paris of the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans, who had been married at Fontainebleau on May 30th.]

[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION IMMINENT]

_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._

LAEKEN, _15th June 1837._

MY BELOVED CHILD,--I hope that to-day will not pa.s.s over without bringing me a letter from you. In the meantime I will begin this epistle, which will go by a messenger of my own to-morrow. In every letter I shall write to you I mean to repeat to you, as a _fundamental rule_, _to be courageous, firm and honest, as you have been till now_.

You may count upon my faithful good offices in all difficulties, and you have at your command Stockmar, whose _judgment_, _heart_, and _character_ offer all the guarantees we can wish for. I wish nothing but to see you _happy and prosperous_, and by Sunday I shall probably write you a long letter, which will enter into details about most things.

My object is that you should be no one's _tool_, and though young, and naturally not yet experienced, your good natural sense and the _truth_ of your character will, with faithful and proper advice, get you very well through the difficulties of your future position, should it be the will of Providence to take the King from this earthly life. Of his real position I am still not quite able to judge, there being so much contradictory in the reports. Be this as it may, the great thing for you is, not to be hurried into important measures, and to _gain time_.

A new reign is always a time of hope; everybody is disposed to see something for his own wishes and prospects. The policy of a new Sovereign must therefore be to act in such a manner as to hurt as little as possible the _amour-propre_ of people, to let circ.u.mstances and the force of things bring about the disappointments which no human power could prevent coming sooner or later: that they should come as _late_ as possible is in your interest. Should anything happen to the King before I can enter more fully into the necessary details, limit yourself to _taking kindly_ and in a _friendly_ manner the present Administration into your service. They are _naturally friendly to your interests_, _as you are in fact the only possible Sovereign of the whole family_, with the exception of the Duke of Suss.e.x, they can _serve_ with _sincerity_ and _attachment_. This is of great importance to you, as it is by no means the same thing to have people who aid and a.s.sist you with feelings of real attachment, or merely from cold and calculating motives of political expediency and self-interest.

This being done, no other step should be taken without consulting seriously. The very time which is necessary to attain this end is favourable to you, as it is your greatest interest for the _present moment_ to act most cautiously and to gain as much _time_ as possible.

In high positions it is excessively difficult to _retrace_ a false move to get out of a mistake; and there exists very rarely, except in time of war and civil feuds, a necessity for an _immediate_ decision.

Your part must be, to resume once more what I said before, to remain as long as possible _agreeable_ to all parties, and after the formation of the Ministry, to be most careful how you take any measure of importance....

[Pageheading: THE KING'S ILLNESS]

_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._