The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume Iii Part 97

[Footnote 27: The Queen wrote to King Leopold: "As I told you in my little note of Sunday, Lord John became _quite_ reasonable, and is very moderate about this affair; on the other hand Mr Gladstone has threatened to resign--and it is still uncertain if he will not persist in his intention. He is terribly excited."]

[Pageheading: PRIVILEGE RESOLUTIONS]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

PICCADILLY, _6th July 1860_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to state that the House of Commons this night pa.s.sed the three Privilege Resolutions after two divisions.[28]...

The Debate which did not begin till half-past eight, after questions on the adjournment to Monday, was commenced by Mr Digby Seymour, Member for Southampton, who went into an elaborate discussion of the precedents mentioned in the appendix to the Report of the Committee, arguing against the right of the Lords. He attacked Viscount Palmerston's speech, and highly praised that of Mr Gladstone, who, he said, if he lost his place in the Cabinet in consequence of that speech would be rewarded by a Throne in the affections of the Nation.

Mr Horsman then made a very able, eloquent, and remarkable speech, well worth reading....

Mr Bright made an indignation speech in reply. He went over the same ground as the former speaker about the precedents, was astonished and shocked at Mr Horsman's speech, was displeased with the Resolutions, and with Viscount Palmerston's speech, was in admiration unbounded of Mr Gladstone, but all the time was so hoa.r.s.e that his efforts to make himself heard gave to his utterance an appearance of pa.s.sion even greater than that which he actually felt. After his speech the House began skirmis.h.i.+ng as to the question of finis.h.i.+ng the Debate or adjourning it, but the Resolutions were at last agreed to.

[Footnote 28: The Resolutions, which the Committee recommended, and the House of Commons adopted, declared _inter alia_ that the Commons had in their own hands the power "so to impose and remit taxes, and frame bills of supply, that their rights as to the matter, manner, measure, and time might be maintained inviolate."]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _13th July 1860_.

MY BELOVED VICTORIA,--... Bertie has then set out on his interesting journey,[29] which though not without fatigue will be full of information and satisfaction for his young mind. I am glad to hear that dear Albert went with him,[30] he can have no equal to his good and distinguished father for kindness, and a wise guidance of his young life....

[Footnote 29: In consequence of the loyal and patriotic a.s.sistance rendered by Canada during the Crimean War, and the expressed desire of the Canadians to be visited by the Queen in person and to welcome one of her sons as Governor-General, it was decided that the Prince of Wales should make a tour there. During the course of the visit, which was made in company with the Duke of Newcastle, the Prince opened the magnificent bridge over the St Lawrence; he subsequently availed himself of President Buchanan's invitation already referred to (_ante_, p. 373), and was received with the greatest enthusiasm at Was.h.i.+ngton. The Prince returned to England in November.]

[Footnote 30: Referring to a previous letter, in which the Queen had informed the King of the Belgians that Prince Albert had accompanied the Prince of Wales as far as Plymouth.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _31st July 1860_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--... I venture now to confide a _secret_ to you--the details of which you shall hear verbally from us when we have the happiness of seeing you in October. It is that _our_ surmises respecting Louis of Hesse[31] have turned out to be true, and that we have _reason_ to _hope_ that this _affair_ will be in due time realised. The feelings are very reciprocal on both sides, though nothing definitive will be settled till the young people meet again, probably later this Autumn (_but not in Germany_). Please do not say anything about it to any one. Your very great kindness and affection for our children has induced me to mention this to _you_, who moreover _saw the first dawning of these prospects_.

Dear Mamma starts to-day for Edinburgh--sleeping to-night at York.

With Albert's affectionate love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 31: Prince Louis of Hesse, afterwards Grand Duke Louis IV.]

[Pageheading: TRANQUILLITY OF INDIA]

_Queen Victoria to Earl Canning._

OSBORNE, _2nd August 1860_.

The Queen thanks Lord Canning very much for a most interesting letter of the 30th of May, giving a most comprehensive and gratifying account of his progress through her Indian dominions, and of his reception of the different Princes and Chiefs. Such reception and such kind considerate treatment of them is, as Lord Canning knows, entirely in unison with the Queen's _own_ feelings, and both the Prince and herself have been peculiarly gratified at reading this account, and feel sure of the good effect it must have on these Princes, and on India in general.

We have just seen Lord Clyde looking wonderfully well; he speaks in high terms of Lord Canning, and enthusiastically of dear Lady Canning.

Alas! another most valuable public servant and friend of ours, Lord Elphinstone,[32] only returned to die! Lord Canning will grieve much no doubt to hear this.

Both he and Lady Canning will have heard with interest of the birth of our second grandchild and first grand-daughter.[33] Nothing can go better than the Princess Royal does. Of the Prince of Wales's arrival in Canada we could not yet hear, but shall do so in a few days.

This country and Europe continue to be in a state of alarms, or rather more profound distrust in, the conduct and purposes of our neighbour.

Fortunately the feeling of Germany is so unanimous upon this subject, and the Emperor's attempt to produce disaffection or division there has so signally failed and produced so diametrically a contrary effect, and Belgium has shown such an enthusiastic spirit of loyalty only equal to the public spirit which this country has shown in the Volunteer movement, that it is to be hoped these sinister designs are checked for a time at least.

With the Prince's kind remembrance to Lord Canning, the Queen concludes, hoping this letter will find him in good health, and Lady Canning safely returned from her expedition.

[Footnote 32: See _ante_, 25th January, 1859, note 8.]

[Footnote 33: The Princess Charlotte of Prussia, now Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen, was born on the 24th of July.]

[Pageheading: VISIT TO SCOTLAND]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

HOLYROOD, _7th August 1860_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I have _many_ excuses for sending a few hurried lines from here, instead of my usual letter, but I was much hurried yesterday; the separation from baby quite upset me, as she too cried very much--but she is consoled again.

Many thanks for your dear letter of the 3rd, which I shall duly answer on Friday.

We came down here by _night_ train, arriving at eight. We paid dear Mamma a visit at her really charming residence at Cramond,[34] quite near the sea, with beautiful trees, and very cheerful.

And this afternoon she was present the whole time at the splendid Volunteer Review, which lasted from half-past three till near six, in the open carriage with me, and enjoyed it so much; and I was so _happy_ to have _her_ with me on this memorable occasion, having had _you_ with me on the previous occasion.[35] And it was magnificent--finer decidedly than in London--there were more (1,400 more), and then the scenery here is so splendid! That fine mountain of Arthur's Seat, crowded with thousands and thousands to the very top--and the Scotch are very noisy and demonstrative in their loyalty.

Lord Breadalbane, at the head of his Highlanders, was the picture of a Highland chieftain. The dust was quite fearful! At nine we leave for Balmoral. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 34: The d.u.c.h.ess of Kent was spending the summer at Cramond House, near Edinburgh.]

[Footnote 35: The Review in Hyde Park, which took place on the 23rd of June.]