Volume Iii Part 51 (1/2)
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
LAEKEN, _10th October 1856_.
MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Since your kind letter of the 2nd I have not had any communications from you. I can well understand that it grieves you to leave the Highlands. It is not a great proof of the happiness of human kind, that all love to be elsewhere than at the place where their real residence is, notwithstanding all songs of home sweet home, etc. I plead quite guilty to this, though I used to be much attached to my old home at Coburg and to Claremont. That the weather should have been unfavourable is a great pity; here we have had a most beautiful and mild weather till the 8th, when a severe thunderstorm put an end to it.
Poor Lord Hardinge! I believe after all, though all these people pretend _not_ to mind it, that the Press killed him. I once told Lady Maryborough and the late d.u.c.h.ess of Wellington that it was fortunate the Duke cared so little for the Press. ”Care little,” they said; ”why, nothing annoys and irritates him more.” I find it natural; doing one's best, working with all one's nerves, and to be abused for it, is not pleasant.
To explain the real state of dear Charlotte's affair I enclose the only copy of my letter which exists, and pray you kindly to send it me back. My object is and was that Charlotte should decide as _she_ likes it, and uninfluenced by what I might prefer. _I_ should _prefer_ Pedro, that I confess, but the Archduke[53] has made a favourable impression on Charlotte; I saw that long before any question of engagement had taken place. The Archduke is out at sea, and nothing can well be heard before the 25th of this month. If the thing takes place the Emperor ought to put him at the head of Venice; he is well calculated for it.
I am going on the 15th to Ardenne for a week. I have been since that revolution of 1848 kept away from it almost entirely, compared to former days. And now, with my best love to Albert, I must end, remaining ever, my dearest Victoria, your truly devoted and only Uncle,
LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 53: The Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph of Austria, afterwards Emperor of Mexico.]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BALMORAL, _13th October 1856_.
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I am truly thankful for your kind letter and the very confidential enclosure which I return, and which has interested us both very much, and is truly kind and paternal. I _still hope_ by your letter that Charlotte has not finally made up her mind--as we both feel so strongly convinced of the immense superiority of Pedro over any other young Prince even _dans les relations journalistes_, besides which the position is so infinitely preferable. The Austrian society is _medisante_ and profligate and worthless--and the Italian possessions very shaky. Pedro is full of resource--fond of music, fond of drawing, of languages, of natural history, and literature, in all of which Charlotte would suit him, and would be a _real_ benefit to the country. If Charlotte asked _me_, I should not hesitate a moment, as I would give any of my own daughters to him were he not a Catholic; and if Charlotte consulted her friend Vicky I know what _her_ answer would be as she is so very fond of Pedro.
_14th._--I could not finish last night, and so continue to-day. I shall be most anxious to hear from you about Charlotte, when a _final_ decision has been taken.
Since the 6th we have the _most beautiful weather_--with the country in the _most_ brilliant beauty--but _not_ the bracing weather which did one so much good; yesterday and to-day it is _quite_ warm and relaxing. Albert has continued to have wonderful sport; not only has he killed seven more stags since I wrote, but the finest, largest stags in the whole neighbourhood--or indeed killed in almost any forest!...
Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Pageheading: MILITARY EFFICIENCY]
_Queen Victoria to Lord Panmure._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th November 1856_.
The Queen has received Lord Panmure's two boxes of the 4th. She is glad to hear that the Military and the Defence Committees of the Cabinet are to be rea.s.sembled. The absence of all plans for our defences is a great evil, and hardly credible. There should exist a well-considered general scheme for each place supported by a detailed argument; this when approved by the Government, should be sanctioned and signed by the Sovereign, and not deviated from except upon resubmission and full explanation of the causes which render such deviation necessary; no special work should be undertaken which does not realise part of this general scheme. The Queen trusts that Lord Panmure will succeed in effecting this.
It is very much to be regretted that so few of the soldiers of the German Legion should have accepted the liberal terms of the Government. Those should, however, be made to sail soon.
The returns of the different Departments for the last quarter show a lamentable deficiency in small arms. Fifty-two thousand three hundred and twenty-two for the whole of the United Kingdom is a sadly small reserve to have in store; we should never be short of 500,000. The Queen was struck also with the little work done at Enfield. It appears that during the whole quarter this new and extensive establishment has completed only three muskets!