The Letters of Queen Victoria, Volume 1: 1837-1843 | Page 3

of Queen Victoria--Houses of Brunswick, Hanover, and
Coburg --Family connections--The English Royal Family--The Royal
Dukes--Duke of Cumberland--Family of George III.--Political position
of the Queen (Pages 1-7)
CHAPTER II
Queen Victoria's early years--Duke and Duchess of
Kent--Parliamentary grant to Duchess of Kent--The Queen of

Würtemberg--George IV. and the Princess--Visits to Windsor--Duchess
of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld --Education of the Princess--The Duchess of
Kent's letter to the Bishops--Religious instruction--Result of
examination--Speech by Duchess of Kent--The Princess's
reminiscences of Claremont--William IV. and the Princess--The
accession--Queen Victoria's character and temperament--Her sympathy
with the middle classes (Pages 8-21)
CHAPTER III
Queen Victoria's relations and friends--King Leopold's influence
--Queen Adelaide--Baroness Lehzen--Baron Stockmar (Pages 22-26)
CHAPTER IV
1821-1835
Observations on the correspondence with King Leopold and
others--First letter received by Queen Victoria--Her first letter to Prince
Leopold --Birthday letters--King Leopold's description of his
Queen--His valuable advice--The Princess's visit to Hever Castle--King
Leopold's advice as to reading, and the Princess's reply--New Year
greeting --On autographs--The Princess's confirmation--King Leopold's
advice as to honesty and sincerity (pages 27-42)
CHAPTER V
1836
Visit of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg--Invitation to the Prince of
Orange--Arrival of Princes Ernest and Albert--The Princess's
appreciation of Prince Albert--King Leopold's advice as to
conversation--Crisis in Spain--Farewell letter--The Princess and the
Church--Death of Charles X.--Abuse of King Leopold--Revolution at
Lisbon--The Princess's name--Newspaper attacks on King Leopold
(pages 43-55)

CHAPTER VI
1837
Spain and Portugal--Music with Princes Ernest and Albert
--Parliamentary language and political passion--The throne of Greece
--Queen of the Belgians' dowry--The English Press--The Princess's
establishment--Young Belgian cousins--Irish Municipal Bill--Whig
Ministers--Birthday rejoicings--King Leopold's advice and
encouragement--Accession imminent--Condition of the King--Reliance
on Lord Melbourne--The Princess and the Church--The Accession--The
Queen's journal--Interview with Lord Melbourne--The Queen's first
Council--Letter from the King of the French--Congratulations from
King Leopold--Nationality of the Queen--The Queen and her Ministers
--Reflection advised--Baron Stockmar--Important subjects for study
--Sister Queens--Letter from Queen Adelaide--Buckingham
Palace--Madame de Lieven--Parliament prorogued--England and
Russia--Discretion advised --Singing lessons--The
elections--Prevalence of bribery--End of King Leopold's
visit--Reception at Brighton--Security of letters--England and
France--France and the Peninsula--Count Molé--The French in Africa
--Close of the session--Prince Albert's education--Canada--Army
estimates--Secretaries of State (pages 56-101)
CHAPTER VII
1838
Lord Melbourne--Canada--Influence of the Crown--Daniel O'Connell
--Position of Ministers of State in England and abroad--New Poor Law
--Pressure of business--Prince Albert's education--Favourite horses
--Deaths of old servants--The Coronation--Address from Bishops--Ball
at Buckingham Palace--Independence and progress of Belgium
--Anglo-Belgian relations--Foreign policy--Holland and Belgium
--Coronation Day--Westminster Abbey--The enthronement--Receiving
homage--Popular enthusiasm--Coronation incidents--Pages of honour
--Extra holidays for schools--Review in Hyde Park--Lord Durham and

Canada--Government of Canada--Ireland and O'Connell--Death of
Lady John Russell--The Queen's sympathy with Lord John
Russell--Belgium and English Government--Belgium and
Holland--Canada--Resignation of the Earl of Durham--English Church
for Malta--Disappointment of Duke of Sussex--Brighton (pages
102-140)
CHAPTER VIII
1839
Murder of Lord Norbury--Holland and Belgium--Dissension in the
Cabinet --The Duke of Lucca--Portugal--Ireland and the
Government--England and Belgium--Prince Albert's tour in
Italy--Jamaica--Change of Ministry imminent--The Queen's
distress--Interviews with the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert
Peel--Lord Melbourne on Sir Robert Peel--The Household --Proposed
new Cabinet--Interview with Lord Melbourne--The Ladies of the
Household and Sir Robert Peel--Reply to Sir Robert Peel --Resignation
of Sir Robert Peel--The Queen's journal--Cabinet minute --Whigs
resume office--Ball at Buckingham Palace--Lord John Russell and Sir
Robert Peel--The Queen on the crisis--King Leopold's approval --The
penny postage--The Queen and Prince Albert--Syria--England and the
Sultan--Proposed visit of King Louis Philippe--Preparing the Queen's
speech--King Leopold's feeling for the Queen--Coming visit of Prince
Albert--Arrival of Princes Ernest and Albert--The Queen's engagement
to Prince Albert--Lord Melbourne's congratulations--King Leopold's
satisfaction--Austria and the Porte--The Queen's happiness --Queen
Louise's congratulations--The Queen's letters to the Royal Family--The
Prince's religion--Announcement to the Council--Marriage
treaty--Question of a peerage--English susceptibilities--Letter from
Donna Maria--Household appointments--Mayor of Newport
knighted--The word "Protestant"--The Prince's coat-of-arms--The
Prince and Mr Anson --Appointment of Treasurer--The Prince and
Lord Melbourne (pages 141-208)
CHAPTER IX

1840
Letters to Prince Albert--Opening of Parliament--The Prince's grant
--The Prince at Brussels--Marriage of the Queen and Prince--Public
enthusiasm--Plays in Lent--Debate on the Corn Laws--England and
China --Disturbance at the Opera--Murder of Lord William
Russell--Mrs Norton --Character of Princess Charlotte--English
manners--Oxford's attempt on the Queen's life--Egypt and the Four
Powers--Prince Louis Napoleon --King Leopold at Wiesbaden--A
threatened crisis--France and the East --A difficult question--Serious
measures--Palmerston and France--Views of King Louis
Philippe--Propositions for settlement--Attitude of France--Pacific
instructions--The Porte and Mehemet Ali--Bombardment of
Beyrout--Guizot and Thiers--Differing views--The Queen's influence
--An anxious time--Attempt on life of King Louis
Philippe--Negotiation with France advised--Thiers more
moderate--Death of Lord Holland --Change of Ministry in
France--Importance of conciliation--The Prince's name in the
Prayer-book--King Leopold on Lord Palmerston --Birth of the Princess
Royal--Settlement of Eastern Question (pages 209-252)
CHAPTER X
1841
Letter to King Leopold--The Prince and literature--The speech from the
throne--Domestic happiness--Duke of Wellington's illness--England
and the United States--Operations in China--Lord Cardigan--Army
discipline --The Nottingham election--The Budget--Irish Registration
Bill--Sugar duties--Ministerial crisis--Lord Melbourne's
advice--Dissolution or resignation--The Household question--Sir
Robert Peel--Mr Anson's intervention--Interview with Lord
Melbourne--King Leopold's sympathy --The Corn Laws--The Queen's
journal--The Prince's