The Letters of Queen Victoria Volume I Part 49

[Pageheading: THE PROTESTANT QUESTION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th December 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--... I was quite miserable at not hearing from Albert for _ten_ days; such a long silence is quite insupportable for any one in my position towards Albert, and I was overjoyed on receiving yesterday the _most_ dear, _most_ affectionate, delightful long letter from him. He writes so beautifully, and so simply and unaffectedly.

I hope, dear Uncle, you received my last letter (quite a packet) for Albert, on the 5th or 6th? I send you another now. I fear I am very indiscreet about these letters, but I have so much to tell him, and it will only last two months, so that I trust you will forgive it, and forward them.

I mentioned the topics you spoke of to me in your letter to our good friend Lord Melbourne, and as he is writing, I leave it to him to explain to you, as he writes so much better than I do. He will explain to you _why_ the word Protestant was left out in the Declaration, which I think was quite right; for do what one will, nothing will please these Tories.... I shall be delighted to see Stockmar here, for so many reasons, and the quicker he comes the better....

I have a favour to ask you, dear Uncle, which I hope you will grant, unless it should be _indiscreet_ in me. It is, if you have still got Aunt Charlotte's bust at Claremont, if you would give it to me to put in the Gallery here, where you would see it _oftener_ than you do at Claremont, and I am so anxious there should be one of her _here_.

We have _vile_ weather, cold and foggy; such fogs we have here! I move to London for good on the 9th or 10th of January. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th December 1839._

... I like Lady A---- very much too, only she is a little _strict and particular_, and too severe towards others, which is not right; for I think one ought always to be indulgent towards other people, _as I always think, if we had not been well brought up and well taken care of, we might also have gone astray_. That is always my feeling. Yet it is always right to show that one does not like to see what is obviously wrong; but it is very dangerous to be _too_ severe, and I am certain that as a rule such people always greatly regret that in their youth they have not been as careful as they ought to have been. I have explained this so badly, and written it so badly, that I fear you will hardly be able to make it out.

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th December 1839._

... Again no letter from you!... Lord Melbourne left here this morning, but comes back to-morrow evening, after the wedding of his sister. I hope he will remain here, because I am fond of him, and because he has a share in all my happiness, and is the only man with whom I can speak without _gene_ on everything, which I cannot do with my Court.

"Islay"[80] is still plagued by him every evening--a thing which he much enjoys--and constantly begs for the spectacles. I forgot to tell you that Karl has given me a pretty little Rowley, who likewise lives in the house. The mult.i.tude of dogs is really terrible!

The ceremony of Declaration must have been very fine and touching, and I am most happy that the good people of Coburg are so pleased with our marriage....

[Footnote 80: A pet dog of the Queen's.]

_Dec. 17th._--I have spoken to Lord M. about your wish, and he says--what is my own opinion too--_that your people ought to be as much as possible out of Parliament when they have hardly any politics, which is the best thing--as your Household must not form a contrast to mine--and therefore you could not have violent Tories amongst your people; but you may be quite certain that both I and Lord Melbourne will take the greatest care to select respectable and distinguished people, and people of good character. Perhaps Lord Grosvenor may be your Groom of the Stole, though he is no Peer; but his rank and family are so high, that he would do very well; and, besides, not belonging to any party, and being out of Parliament, is such a great advantage._

The design of our Arms without _supporters_ is unfortunately not finished, but I send you a little drawing which I have made of it myself. The report of Sir William Woods I beg you will send back, but the Arms you can keep.

I add a little pin as a small Christmas present. I hope you will sometimes wear it.

[Pageheading: THE PROTESTANT QUESTION]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _14th December 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I lived in the hope of receiving some letters for you from Albert, but nothing is arrived to-day. Your dear long letter gave me great pleasure. Before I answer some parts of it, I will say a few words on Lord Melbourne's letter. Perhaps you will be so good to tell him that it gratified me much. It is the letter of an honest and an amiable statesman, practical and straightforward. In the omission of the word "Protestant" he was probably right, and it is equally probable that they would have abused him--maybe even more if he had put it in. There is only this to say, however: the Ernestine branch of the Saxon family has been, there is no doubt, the real cause of the establishment of Protestantism in Germany, and consequently in great parts of Northern Europe. This same line became a martyr to that cause, and was deprived of almost all its possessions in consequence of it.

Recently there have been two cases of Catholic marriages, but the main branch has remained, and is, in fact, very sincerely Protestant. Both Ernest and Albert are much attached to it, and when deviations took place they were connected more with new branches transplanted out of the parent soil than with what more properly must be considered as the reigning family.

The Peerage question may remain as it is, but it will not be denied that the great object must be to make Albert as English as possible, and that nothing will render this more difficult than a foreign name....

I shall be most happy to see poor Charlotte's bust in the Gallery at Windsor, and it is kind of you to have had the thought. She was a high and n.o.ble-minded creature, and her affection and kindness for me very great. She had placed the most unbounded confidence in me; our principle had been never to let a single day pa.s.s over any little subject of irritation. The only subjects of that sort we had were about the family, particularly the Regent, and then the old Queen Charlotte. Now I must conclude with my best love. Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: A MISSING LETTER]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th December 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--Many thanks for your two most kind letters. I suppose I _may_ send for Aunt Charlotte's bust, for which I am most grateful--and say I have your authority to do so? You are very kind to think about my stupid health; I don't think I _ever_, at least not for _very_ long, have _walked_ so regularly as I have done this last month--out in fog, and mist, and wind, and cold. But I cannot be otherwise than agitated; getting _no_ letter makes me ill, and _getting_ them excites me....

I have much to write, and therefore cannot make this a long letter, but _one_ thing more I must mention. The very day of the Declaration in Council, on the 23rd ult., I sent off a letter to Albert, by Van de Weyer, saying it was to be forwarded _sans delai_ to Coburg; now, Albert _never_ has received that letter, which was a long one, and thanks me for two, of the 26th and 29th. This vexes me much, and I can't help thinking the letter is lying either at Wiesbaden or Brussels. Would you graciously enquire, for I should not like it to be lost.

Forgive my writing such a letter so full of _myself_. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S SECRETARY]

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE.