Volume I Part 41 (1/2)
Everything fair and just I a.s.sented to, even to having Lord Lyndhurst as Chancellor, and Sir H. Hardinge and Lord Ellenborough in the Cabinet; I insisted upon the Duke in the Foreign Office, instead of Lord Aberdeen.... All this I granted, as also to give up all the Officers of State and all those of my Household who are in Parliament.
When to my utter astonishment he asked me to change my Ladies--my princ.i.p.al Ladies!--this I of course refused; and he upon _this resigned_, saying, as he felt he should be beat the very first night upon the Speaker, and having to begin with a minority, that unless he had this demonstration of my confidence he could not go on!
You will easily imagine that I firmly resisted this attack upon my power, from these people who pride themselves upon upholding the prerogative! I acted quite alone, but I have been, and shall be, supported by my country, who are very enthusiastic about it, and loudly cheered me on going to church on Sunday. My Government have n.o.bly stood by me, and have resumed their posts, strengthened by the feelings of the country....
Pray tell my dearest Aunt that I really cannot write to her to-day, for you have no conception of what I have to do, for there are b.a.l.l.s, concerts, and dinners all going on besides. Adieu! my beloved Uncle.
Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Pageheading: APPROVAL OF KING LEOPOLD]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _17th May 1839._
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I feel deeply grateful for your very kind and interesting letter, which reached me yesterday, inclusive of the papers.
You have pa.s.sed a time of great agitation and difficulty, which will, however, contribute to enlarge the circle of your experience. _I approve very highly of the whole mode in which you proceeded_; you acted with great _good faith_ and _fairness_, and when finally propositions were made which you considered you could not submit to, you were very right to resist them. The march of the whole affair is very clear and fair, and does you _great credit_.... Peel in making his demand misjudged you; he remembered George IV., and even the late King, and dreamt of Court influence of people near the Sovereign. You have the great merit, for which you cannot be too much praised, of being _extremely honest_ and honourable in your dealings. If you had kept Peel, you would have acted honestly by him, without any Lady's having a chance of doing him a bad turn. When he asked the measure as an expression of your great confidence in him, it was not fair, because _you_ had not wished to take him; he was forced upon you, and therefore, even if you had granted his request, n.o.body would have seen in it a proof of your confidence in him, but rather a sacrifice to a far-stretched pretence.
Besides, that he was to have encountered difficulties as a Minister was partly the consequence of the policy of his party, and you were not bound to give him any a.s.sistance beyond what he had a right to ask as a Minister. I was sure that Lord Melbourne would give you both the fairest and the most honourable advice in this painful crisis. He was kind enough last year to speak to me on the subject, and I could but approve what he said on the subject. Altogether, keeping now your old Ministers, you will have reason to congratulate yourself on the result; it is likely to strengthen them, by showing the Radicals what may be the consequences.
Rumour spoke of their wis.h.i.+ng to add some Radicals to the Cabinet; I don't see that they could improve the Ministry by it, which is perfectly well composed as it is at present, and new elements often have a dissolving effect. It was very kind of you to have explained everything so clearly to me, but I deserve it for the _great interest_ I take in all that concerns you....
[Pageheading: A SMALL LIBERAL MAJORITY]
_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._
_6th June 1839._
Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the honour to report that Sir Robert Peel's Bill[44] was discussed yesterday in the House of Commons, with great fairness and an entire absence of party spirit.
Viscount Melbourne will have acquainted your Majesty with the result of the Cabinet of yesterday. It appears to Lord John Russell that the Liberal party, with some explanation, will be satisfied with the state of things for the present, and that the great difficulties which attend the complete union of the majority will be deferred till the commencement of next Session. It is always well to have some breathing-time.
[Footnote 44: The Jamaica Bill for the temporary suspension of the Const.i.tution.]
_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._
WILTON CRESCENT, _11th June 1839._