Volume I Part 73 (1/2)
[Pageheading: A DREADED MOMENT]
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
SOUTH STREET, _15th August 1841._
... Lord Melbourne well knows the feeling which your Majesty describes. The expectation of an event which is dreaded and deprecated, and yet felt to be certain and imminent, presents itself continually to the mind and recurs at every moment, and particularly in moments of satisfaction and enjoyment. It is perhaps no consolation to be told that events of this nature are necessary and incidental to your Majesty's high situation, but Lord Melbourne anxiously hopes that the change, when it does take place, will not be found so grievous as your Majesty antic.i.p.ates, and your Majesty may rely that Lord Melbourne will do everything in his power to reconcile it to your Majesty's feelings.
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th August 1841._
Lord Melbourne is very glad to hear of the Princess's tooth.
Lord Melbourne is much obliged to your Majesty for informing him about the mourning.
He is quite well and will be ready when your Majesty sends.
_Memorandum by Mr Anson._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd August 1841._
Lord John Russell was staying at the Castle, and asked to-day for an audience of Her Majesty, and was closeted for a long time. The Prince asked Her Majesty what Lord John came for. The Queen said he came about several things, but particularly he wished to impress upon the Queen that Her Majesty should not allow Sir Robert Peel to propose any new Grants in Parliament, as they (the Whigs) could not well oppose it, and this being felt, the whole unpopularity would fall upon the Queen's person. An idea existed that the Tories were always jobbing with money, and the grant for the building the new stables at Windsor had shown how suspicious people were.
Lord John did not speak clearly out, but on consultation with Lord Melbourne the Queen thought Lord John must have alluded to Peel having spoken equivocally at the end of his speech relative to the Prince's annuity, and would now probably propose a further grant, and would say the time was now come in order to stand well with the Queen. The Queen replied that she would never allow such a thing to be proposed and that it would be a disgrace to owe any favour to that Party.
The only answer the Prince gave was that these views were _very agreeable_ for him.
[Pageheading: A CARRIAGE ACCIDENT]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _24th August 1841._
... Our accident[65] was not so very bad, and considering that it is the _very first_ that had happened in the course of _five summers_, with _so many_ carriages and horses, one cannot be surprised. I beg leave also to say that I _can_ get out _very_ quick. I am very thankful that you agree to the couriers. I am a little sorry that you have put poor Mamma off _so_ late, as she is _very_ much hurt at it, I fear, by what I hear, and accuses me of it. But that will, I trust, be forgiven. You don't say that _you_ sympathise with me in my present heavy trial,[66] the heaviest I have ever had to endure, and which will be a sad heartbreaking to me--but I know you do feel for me. I am quiet and prepared, but still I fell very _sad_, and G.o.d knows! very wretched at times, for myself and my country, that _such_ a change must take place. But G.o.d in His mercy will support and guide me through all. Yet I feel that my constant headaches are caused by annoyance and vexation!
Adieu, dearest Uncle! G.o.d bless you! Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 65: The Queen had driven to Virginia Water to see Prince Albert's beagles hunting, when owing to the hounds running between the horses' legs and frightening them, a pony phaeton and four containing Lord Erroll, Lady Ida Hay, and Miss Cavendish was upset. One of the postillions was (not dangerously) hurt.]