Volume I Part 7 (1/2)
Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your very affectionate and most grateful Niece,
VICTORIA.
_The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
KENSINGTON PALACE, _2nd February 1835._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I know not how to thank you sufficiently for the most valuable autographs you were kind enough to send me. I am particularly delighted with that of Louis Quatorze, ”le grand Roi,”
and my great admiration.... You will not, I hope, think me very troublesome if I venture to ask for two more autographs which I should very particularly like to have; they are Mme. de Sevigne's[19] and Racine's; as I am reading the letters of the former, and the tragedies of the latter, I should prize them highly. Believe me always, my dearest Uncle, your most affectionate and dutiful Niece,
VICTORIA.
[Footnote 19: Marie de Rabutin Chantal, Marquise de Sevigne, born 1626. At twenty-four she was left a widow, and devoted herself to her children's education. When her daughter married the Count de Grignan, she began that correspondence with her on which her reputation chiefly rests. She died in 1696, and the letters were first published in 1726.]
[Pageheading: THE PRINCESS'S CONFIRMATION]
[Pageheading: HONESTY AND SINCERITY]
_The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria._
CAMP OF BEVERLOO (in the North of the Province of Limburg), _3rd August 1835._
MY DEAR LOVE,--By your Mother's letter of the 31st ult^o., I learned of the serious and important action in your young life[20] which has pa.s.sed recently, and I cannot let it pa.s.s without saying some words on the subject. I am perhaps rather strangely situated for a preaching--somewhat in the style of those old camp preachers who held forth to many thousand people on some heath in Scotland. I am also on an immense heath, surrounded by 16,000 men, mostly young and gay, cooking, singing, working, and not very like the stern old Covenanters; however, I shall try. First of all, let me congratulate you that it pa.s.sed happily and well off. Secondly, let me entreat you to look with a serious and reflective mind on the day which is past.
Many are the religions, many the shades of those religions, but it must be confessed the principles of the Christian religion are the most perfect and the most beautiful that can be imagined.... There is one virtue which is particularly Christian; this is the knowledge of our own heart in _real humility_. _Hypocrisy_ is a besetting sin of all times, but _particularly of the present_, and many are the wolves in sheep's clothes. I am sorry to say, with all my affection for old England, the very _state of its Society and politics_ renders many in that country _essentially humbugs and deceivers_; the _appearance_ of the thing is generally _more_ considered than the _reality_; provided matters go off well, and opinion may be gained, the _real good is matter of the most perfect indifference_. Defend yourself, my dear love, against this system; let your dear character always be true and loyal; this does not _exclude prudence_--worldly concerns are now unfortunately so organised that you _must be cautious_ or you may injure yourself and others--but it does not prevent the being sterling and true. Nothing in persons gives greater reliance, greater weight, than when they are known to be _true_. From your earliest childhood I was anxious to see in you this important virtue _saved_ and _developed_, and Lehzen will still be able to recollect that. If it is G.o.d's pleasure that you should once[21] fill the arduous situation to which you seem destined, you will find the importance of what I now say to you. And when others may tremble to have at last their real character found out, and to meet all the contempt which they may deserve, your mind and heart will be still and happy, because it will know that it acts honestly, that truth and goodness are the motives of its actions. I press you now against my heart; may G.o.d bless you as I wish and hope it, and may you always feel some affection for your sincerely devoted camp preacher and Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 20: The Princess was confirmed at the Chapel Royal, on 30th July 1835.]
[Footnote 21: King Leopold not infrequently uses ”once” like the Latin _olim_, as referring to any indefinite date in the future as well as in the past. ”Some day” is what is intended here.]
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
TO CHAPTER V
THE year 1836 was not an eventful one at home; the Whig Ministry were too weak to carry measures of first-rate importance, and could hardly have maintained themselves in power against the formidable opposition of Sir Robert Peel without the support of O'Connell. Parliament was chiefly occupied by the consideration of the Secret Societies in Ireland, t.i.thes, Munic.i.p.al Corporations, and such matters; the Marriage Act, and the Act for the Registration of Births have probably been the most important measures of the year to the country. Troubles which were destined to become more acute arose in Lower Canada and Jamaica, both taking the form of disputes between the executive and the legislature.
On the continent of Europe, affairs were more disturbing. Several attempts were made on the life of the King of the French, while an abortive insurrection with a view of establis.h.i.+ng a military empire was made by Louis Bonaparte at Strasburg. The Prince was allowed to leave the country and go to the United States, but his accomplices were detained for trial. In Algiers the French Government determined to prosecute operations against the Arab Chief Abd-el-Kader, and they sent an expedition to Constantin.