The Letters of Queen Victoria
Chapter 44 : The Speech is safely arrived, has been read over twice, and shall not be forgotten to-m

The Speech is safely arrived, has been read over twice, and shall not be forgotten to-morrow; the Queen wishes they would not use such thin and slippery paper--for it is difficult to hold with nervous, and, as Lord Melbourne knows, _shaking_ hands. The Queen trusts Lord Melbourne will be less tired in the morning.

[Footnote 56: _See_ Introductory Note, _ante_, p. 141. (to Ch. VIII)]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

OSTENDE, _21st September 1839._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Your _delightful_ little letter has just arrived and went like _an arrow to my heart._ Yes, my beloved Victoria! I _do love you tenderly_, and with all the power of affection which is often found in characters who do not make much outward show of it. I love you _for yourself_, and I love in you the dear child whose welfare I carefully watched. My great wish is always that you should _know_ that I am _desirous_ of _being useful_ to you, without _hoping for any other return_ than some little affection from your warm and kind heart. I am even so far pleased that my eternal political affairs are settled, as it takes away the _last possibility_ of imagining that I may want something or other. I have all the honours that can be given, and I am, politically speaking, very solidly established, more so than most Sovereigns in Europe. The only political longing I still have is for the Orient, where I perhaps shall once end my life, unlike the sun, rising in the West and setting in the East. I never press my services on you, nor my councils, though I may say with some truth that from the extraordinary fate which the higher Powers had ordained for me, my experience, both political and of private life, is great. I am _always ready_ to be useful to you _when and where_ it may be, and I repeat it, _all I want in return is some little sincere affection from you_....

And now I conclude for to-day, not without expressing again my satisfaction and pleasure at having seen you yesterday morning with your dear honest face, looking so dear in your morning attire. Our time was spent very satisfactorily, and only the weather crossed our wishes, and to that one can submit when everything else is delightful.

Once more, G.o.d bless you! Ever, my dearest Victoria, your devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _25th September 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--You will, I think, laugh when you get this letter, and will think I only mean to employ you in _stopping_ my relations at Brussels, but I think you will approve of my wish. In the first place I don't think one can _reckon_ on the Cousins arriving here on the 30th. Well, all I want is that _you_ should detain them one or two days longer, in order that they may arrive here on _Thursday, the 3rd_, if possible _early_. My reason for this is as follows: a number of the Ministers are coming down here on Monday to stay till Thursday, on affairs of great importance, and as you know that people are always on the alert to make remarks, I think if _all_ the Ministers were to be down here when they arrive, people would say--it was to _settle matters_. At all events it is better to avoid this. I think indeed a day or two at Brussels will do these young gentlemen good, and they can be properly fitted out there for their visit. Ever yours devotedly,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I received your kind letter on Sunday, for which many thanks. The _r.e.t.a.r.d_ of these young people puts me rather out, but of course cannot be helped. I had a letter from Albert yesterday saying they could not set off, he thought, before the 6th. I think they don't exhibit much _empress.e.m.e.nt_ to come here, which rather shocks me.

I got a very nice letter from dear Alexander yesterday from Reinhardtsbrun;[57] he says Albert is very much improved, but not taller than Augustus. His description of him is as follows:--"Albert, I found, had become stronger and more handsome; still he has not grown much taller; he is of about the same size as Augustus; he is a most pleasant, intelligent young man. I find, too, that he has become more lively than he was, and that sits well on him, too." (_Translation._) I think you may like to hear this, as I know Alexander is a very correct observer of persons, and his opinion may be relied upon. He adds that Albert plagues Leopold beyond measure.

I shall take care and send a gentleman and carriages to meet my cousins, either at Woolwich or the Tower, at whichever place you inform me they land at. The sooner they come the better. I have got the house _full_ of Ministers. On Monday the Queen Dowager is coming to sleep here for two nights; it is the _first time_, and will be a severe trial. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 57: A picturesque castle, about eight miles from Gotha.]

[Pageheading: A CHARM AGAINST EVIL]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th October 1839._

The Queen sends the little _charm_ which she hopes may keep Lord Melbourne from _all evil_, and which it will make her very happy if he will put [? it with] his keys. If the ring is too small Lord Melbourne must send it back to her, and she will have it altered.

The Queen has made up her mind at length to ask Lady Clanricarde, as Lord Melbourne wishes it so much. Shall Surrey invite her, or Lord Palmerston? and from Thursday to Friday?

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--I have to thank you for three kind letters of the 1st, 4th, and 5th, the last which I received yesterday. I received another letter from Alex. M. yesterday, _since Ernest's arrival_, and he says that they have determined on setting off, so as to embark at Antwerp on the 9th and be here after all on the 10th! I suppose you will have also heard. I shall therefore (unless I hear from you to the contrary) send one of my equerries and two carriages to the Tower on _Thursday_.

I am sorry to hear of the serious disturbances at Ghent; I trust it is all got under now. If you should hear anything more of Roi Guillaume's[58] marriage, pray let me hear it, as it is such an odd story. Old Alava, who was here for two nights last week, told me he knew _Pauline d'Oultremont_ many years ago, when she was young and very gay and pretty, but that he wonders much at this marriage, as the King hates Catholics. Alava is _rayonnant de bonheur_.

I told Lord Melbourne of your alarms respecting the financial crisis, which _we_ did not bring on--those wild American speculations are the cause of it--and he desires me to a.s.sure you that we will pursue as moderate and cautious a course as possible.

The Queen Dowager came here yesterday and stays till to-morrow; she is very cheerful and in good spirits....

I must conclude in haste. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Many thanks for the two supplies of ortolans, which were delicious.

[Footnote 58: William I., King of the Netherlands, was greatly attached to the Roman Catholic Countess d'Oultremont, and in October 1840, being sixty-seven, abdicated his Crown to marry her. He was father of the Prince of Orange, who succeeded him.]

[Pageheading: ARRIVAL OF PRINCE ALBERT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th October 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--... The dear cousins arrived at half-past seven on Thursday, after a very bad and almost dangerous pa.s.sage, but looking both very well, and much improved. Having no clothes, they could not appear at dinner, but nevertheless _debuted_ after dinner in their _neglige_. Ernest is grown quite handsome; Albert's _beauty_ is _most striking_, and he so amiable and unaffected--in short, very _fascinating_; he is excessively admired here. The Granvilles and Lord Clanricarde[59] happened just to be here, but are gone again to-day.

We rode out yesterday and danced after dinner. The young men are very amiable, delightful companions, and I am very happy to have them here; they are playing some Symphonies of Haydn _under_ me at this very moment; they are pa.s.sionately fond of music.

In the way of news I have got nothing to tell you to-day. Everything is quiet here, and we have no particular news from abroad. In Spain the Fueros[60] seem to give sad difficulty to the Cortes.