Volume Iii Part 109 (1/2)
We went that afternoon (16th) to Frogmore, where we slept. The first evening was terribly trying, and I must say quite overpowered me for a short time; _all_ looked _like life_, and yet _she_ was not there! But I got calmer; the very fact of being surrounded by all she liked, and of seeing the dear pretty house inhabited again, was a satisfaction, and the next morning was beautiful, and we went after breakfast with wreaths up to the Mausoleum, and into the vault which is _a plain-pied_, and so pretty--so airy--_so_ grand and simple, that, affecting as it is, there was no anguish or bitterness of grief, but calm repose! We placed the wreaths upon the splendid granite sarcophagus, and at its feet, and _felt_ that _only_ the _earthly robe_ we loved so much was there. The pure, tender, loving spirit _which loved us_ so tenderly, is above us--loving us, praying for us, and _free_ from _all_ suffering and woe--_yes_, that _is_ a _comfort_, and that _first birthday_ in _another_ world must have been a _far_ brighter one than _any_ in this poor world below! I only grieve _now_ that we should be going so far away from Frogmore, as I long to go there; only Alice and dear Augusta Bruce[31](who feels as a daughter of hers) went with us. The morning was so beautiful, and the garden _so_ lovely!...
The news from Austria are very sad, and make one very anxious. The King of Sweden is full of wild notions put into his head by the Emperor Napoleon, for whom he has the greatest admiration!...
It is high time I should end my long letter. With Albert's affectionate love, ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 31: Lady Augusta Bruce, who bad been living with the d.u.c.h.ess of Kent at the time of her death, was appointed by the Queen to be her resident Bedchamber Woman.]
[Pageheading: VISIT TO IRELAND]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
VICE-REGAL LODGE, PHOENIX PARK, _26th August 1861_.
MY BELOVED UNCLE,--_Not_ to miss your messenger I write a few hurried lines to thank you for your two dear letters of the 16th and the 22nd, the last of which I received yesterday morning here.... Would to G.o.d that affairs in Hungary took a favourable turn--_mais j'en ai bien peur_. We had a very good pa.s.sage on Wednesday night, since which it has blown very hard. We left Osborne on Wednesday morning (21st) at quarter to nine, and anch.o.r.ed in Kingstown Bay at half-past eleven that night. The next day (22nd) we landed at eleven and came here, and it rained the whole day. On Sat.u.r.day we all went over to the camp, where there was a field-day. It is a fine _emplacement_ with beautiful turf. We had two cooling showers. Bertie marched past with his company, and did not look at all so very small.
Yesterday was again a very bad day. I have felt weak and very nervous, and so low at times; I think _so_ much of dearest mamma, and miss her love and interest and solicitude _dreadfully_; I feel as if we were no longer cared for, and miss writing to her and telling her everything, dreadfully. At the Review they played one of her marches, which entirely upset me.
Good Lord Carlisle[32] is most kind and amiable, and so much beloved.
We start for Killarney at half-past twelve. This is the _dearest of days_, and one which fills my heart with love, grat.i.tude, and emotion.
G.o.d bless and protect for ever my beloved Albert--the purest and best of human beings! We miss our four little ones and baby sadly, but have our four eldest (except poor Vicky) with us.
Now good-bye, dearest Uncle. Ever your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 32: Lord Carlisle was Viceroy in both the administrations of Lord Palmerston; as Lord Morpeth he had been Chief Secretary in the Melbourne Government.]
_Queen Victoria to Earl Canning._
BALMORAL, _9th September 1861_.
The Queen has not heard of Lord Canning for some time, but is happy to hear indirectly that he is well, and that everything is going on well under his admirable administration.
It is most gratifying to the Queen to see how peaceful her Indian Dominions are, and considering the very alarming state of affairs during the years 1857, '58, and even '59, it must be a source of unbounded satisfaction and pride to Lord Canning to witness this state of prosperity at the end of his Government.
As Lord Canning will now soon return to England, the Queen is anxious to offer him the Rangers.h.i.+p of the Park at Blackheath, with the house which dear Lord Aberdeen had for some years, hoping that he might find it acceptable and agreeable from its vicinity to London.[33]
[Footnote 33: Lord Aberdeen had died on the 14th of December 1860.]
[Pageheading: THE ORLEANS PRINCES]