The Letters of Queen Victoria
Chapter 125 : [Pageheading: MATRIMONIAL PROJECTS]_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._ WINDS

[Pageheading: MATRIMONIAL PROJECTS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th September 1843._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I cannot sufficiently thank you for your two _most kind_ and affectionate letters of the 22nd and 23rd, which gave me the greatest pleasure. _How often_ we think of our _dear_ and _delightful_ visit it is impossible for me to say; indeed, I fear these _two_ never-to-be-forgotten _voyages_ and _visits_ have made me think Windsor and its daily occurrences very dull. But this is very ungrateful for what I have had, which is so much more than I ever dared to hope for. The weather is become colder, and yesterday and the day before were horrid, foggy, raw days; to-day it is finer again....

Feodore and Ernest came to us yesterday, and I find them both _very_ well; Feodore is, I think, grown more serious than she was....

You remember that when we were together we talked of who Aumale could marry; he will only marry a Catholic, and no Spaniard, no Neapolitan, no Austrian, and also no Brazilian, as Louise tells me. Why should not Princess Alexandrine of Bavaria do? It would be a good connection, and you say (though not as pretty as Princess Hildegarde) that she is not ill-looking. _Qu'en pensez-vous?_ Then for _Tatane_[66]--a Princess of Saxony would be extremely _pa.s.slich_.

How long does Aunt Julia stay with you?

Albert, I suppose, writes to you, and I, dearest Uncle, remain ever and ever, your _most truly_ devoted and _warmly attached_ Niece,

VICTORIA R.

We find p.u.s.s.y amazingly advanced in intellect, but alas! also in naughtiness. I hold up Charlotte as an example of every virtue, which has its effect; for when she is going to be naughty she says: "Dear Ma, what does cousin Charlotte do?"

[Footnote 66: Antoine, Duc de Montpensier.]

[Pageheading: ROYAL VISITORS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _3rd October 1843._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many, many thanks for your kind letter of the 28th, received on Sunday, which was written from the Camp of Beverloo, which Albert recollects with _great pleasure_ and interest, having amused himself so much there.

I can give you excellent accounts of ourselves. The boy returned from Brighton yesterday, looking really the picture of health, and much _embelli_; p.u.s.s.y is in great force, but not to be compared to Charlotte in beauty; and Fatima (_alias_ Alice) is as enormous and flouris.h.i.+ng as ever. Dearest Louise seems much pleased with Aunt Julia, which I am glad of, and I rejoice that poor Aunt has had the happiness of making my beloved Louise's acquaintance, for it will be a happy recollection for her in her solitude.

We expect the Grand Duke Michael here this afternoon; he is to stay till Friday. The Michael Woronzows,[67] with a son and daughter, are also coming, and we shall be a large party, and are going to dine in the Waterloo Gallery, which makes a very handsome dining-room, and sit after dinner in that beautiful grand Reception Room. _How_ I envy your going to that dear French family! I hope that you will like my favourite Chica. I trust, however, that you will _not_ stay too long away for your good people's sake.

Not being quite sure of your going, I shall direct this to Brussels still.

We went this morning to Kew, visited the old Palace--which is not at all a bad house--the Botanical Gardens, and then my Aunt's.[68]

The Revolution at Athens[69] looks like _le commencement de la fin_; it was _very_ unanimous.

Now, dearest Uncle, adieu! Ever, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 67: Prince Michael Woronzow (1782-1856) was a plenipotentiary at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818), and was in command at the siege of Varna in 1828.]

[Footnote 68: The d.u.c.h.ess of Cambridge.]

[Footnote 69: A bloodless revolution had taken place on the 14th of September, partly in consequence of King Otho exercising his patronage in favour of Bavarians rather than Greeks. He now acceded to the popular demands.]

[Pageheading: THE DUC DE BORDEAUX]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th October 1843._

The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's two letters. She has been reflecting upon his proposition that Mr Lytton Bulwer[70] should be appointed Minister at Madrid, and quite approves it. The Queen trusts that he will try and keep on the best terms with the French Minister there, and that without in any way weakening our interests, the representatives of these two powerful countries will act _together_.

The Queen feels _certain_ that if it is known by _our_ respective Ministers that _both_ Governments _wish_ to act _together_, and not _against_ one another, that much irritation will be avoided; and that our agents, particularly in distant countries, will understand that they are _not_ fulfilling the wishes of their Sovereign by representing every little incident in the most unfavourable light....

The Queen hopes that Lord Aberdeen will take some early opportunity of employing Mr Aston. Who will replace Mr Bulwer at Paris? his successor ought to be an efficient man, as Lord Cowley[71] is rather infirm. The Queen regrets to say that the Duc de Bordeaux[72] is coming here; he really must not be received by the Queen, as she fears his reception at Berlin has done _no_ good; and altogether, from what she sees in the papers, she fears there is no good purpose in his coming here.

[Footnote 70: Afterwards Lord Dalling.]

[Footnote 71: Lord Cowley, brother of the Duke of Wellington, and one of four brothers all either raised in or promoted to the peerage, was now seventy years of age. In after-years his son was also Amba.s.sador at Paris.]

[Footnote 72: Afterwards known as Comte de Chambord, and claiming the French throne as Henri V.: he was grandson of Charles X., and at this time about twenty-three years of age.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th October 1843._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--It is not my day, but my object in writing is to speak to you about the _dear_ Nemours' visit, which we are so anxious to see accomplished. Louise writes to me about the Duke of Bordeaux coming to England making some difficulty, and I wish therefore to state what we know of the affair. We _understand_ (for of course we have had no direct communication) that the Duc de Bordeaux has embarked at Hamburg for _Hull_, and intends travelling in Scotland _before_ he visits England, and _that_ incognito and under the name of Comte _tel et tel_; his being in Scotland when Nemours is in England, and particularly _on a visit to us here_, _could_ make _no_ difficulty, and even if he were travelling about _incognito_ in England, it could not signify, I think. Moreover, I feel certain that if he knew that _I_ had invited the Nemours and that they were coming over shortly, he would go away, as the Legitimists would not be pleased at Nemours being _feted_ by me--_while their Henry V._ was _not_ even noticed or received. I could easily, and indeed have almost done so, make it known generally that _I_ expect the Nemours, and I would say _immediately_, and he would be sure to get out of the way.

I cannot tell you _how very_ anxious we are to see the Nemours; I have been thinking of nothing else, and to lose this great pleasure would be too mortifying. Moreover, as I really and truly do not think it need be, it would be _best_ if the Nemours could come _before_ the 10th of November; which is the _latest_ term when they could come? Now pray, dearest Uncle, do settle this for me; you have no notion _how_ we wish it. I will be sure to let you know what I hear, and if there is anything you could suggest about this, I need not say but that we shall attend to it with pleasure. The Grand Duke Michael will be gone by the end of this month. _Ainsi je mets cette chere visite dans vos mains._ Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Pray, dearest Uncle, let me have an answer by the next post about this, as I am all in a _fidget_ about it.

[Pageheading: ARREST OF O'CONNELL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._