The Letters of Queen Victoria, Volume 1: 1837-1843 | Page 4

support--Further interviews--Resignation
postponed--The Queen and the Church--King Leopold's advice--The
Queen's impartiality--Difficulties removed--Vote of want of
confidence--The country quiet--King Leopold's views--Fiscal

Policy--Marriage of Lord John Russell--Visit to Nuneham--Archbishop
Harcourt--The Prince visits Oxford--Letter from Lord Brougham--Visit
to Woburn Abbey--Lord Melbourne and the Garter--A dreaded moment
--Debate on the Speech--Overwhelming majority--Resignation--New
arrangements--Parting with Lord Melbourne--The Prince in a new
position--The Queen and Sir Robert Peel--Lord Melbourne's opinion of
the Prince--The Household question--New Cabinet--Lord Melbourne's
official farewell--Sir Robert Peel's reception--New appointments
--Council at Claremont--The Lord Chamberlain's department--The
French ambassador--Confidential communications--The diplomatic
corps --Governor-General of Canada--India and Afghanistan--Lord
Ellenborough --Russia and Central Asia--Indian finances--The Spanish
mission --Correspondence with Lord Melbourne--Fine Arts
Commission--Peers and audiences--Lord Radnor's claim--The Chinese
campaign--English and foreign artists--Lord Melbourne and the
Court--The Queen and her Government--Baron Stockmar's
opinion--Lord Melbourne's influence --Baron Stockmar and Sir Robert
Peel--Professor Whewell--Queen Christina--Queen Isabella--French
influence in Spain--Holland and Belgium--Dispute with United
States--Portugal--The English Constitution--The "Prime Minister"--The
"Secretaries of State"--Baron Stockmar expostulates with Lord
Melbourne--Birth of Heir-apparent --Created Prince of Wales--The
Royal children (pages 253-369)
CHAPTER XI
1842
Letter from Queen Adelaide--Disasters in Afghanistan--The Oxford
movement--Church matters--The Duke of Wellington and the
christening --Lord Melbourne ill--A favourite dog--The King of
Prussia--Marriage of Prince Ernest--Christening of the Prince of
Wales--The Corn Laws --Marine excursion--Fall of Cabul--Candidates
for the Garter--The Earl of Munster--The Queen and Income
Tax--Lambeth Palace--Sale at Strawberry Hill--Selection of a
governess--Party politics--A brilliant ball--The Prince and the
Army--Lady Lyttelton's appointment--Goethe and Schiller--Edwin

Landseer--The Mensdorff family--Attack on the Queen by
Francis--Letters from Queen Adelaide and Lord Melbourne --Successes
in Afghanistan--Sir R. Sale and General Pollock--Debate on Income
Tax--The Queen's first railway journey--Conviction of
Francis--Presents for the Queen--Another attack on the Queen by Bean
--Death of Duke of Orleans--Grief of the Queen--Letters from the King
and Queen of the French--Leigh Hunt--Lord Melbourne on marriages
--Resignation of Lord Hill--Appointment of Duke of Wellington
--Manchester riots--Military assistance--Parliament prorogued--Causes
of discontent--Mob in Lincoln's Inn Fields--Trouble at the Cape--Tour
in Scotland--Visit to Lord Breadalbane--Return to Windsor--Royal
visitors--A steam yacht for the Queen--Future of Queen Isabella--The
Princess Lichtenstein--Historical works--Walmer Castle--Lord
Melbourne's illness--The Crown jewels--Provision for Princess
Augusta --Success in China--A treaty signed--Victories in
Afghanistan--Honours for the army--The gates of Somnauth--France
and Spain--Major Malcolm --The Scottish Church--A serious
crisis--Letter from Lord Melbourne --Esteem for Baron Stockmar
(370-449)
CHAPTER XII
1843
Recollections of Claremont--Historical writers--Governor-Generalship
of Canada--Mr Drummond shot--Mistaken for Sir Robert Peel--Death
of Mr Drummond--Demeanour of MacNaghten--Letter from Lord
Melbourne --Preparations for the trial--The Royal Family and
politics--King Leopold and Sir Robert Peel--The American
treaty--Position of the Prince of Wales--Good wishes from Queen
Adelaide--Proposed exchange of visits--Mr Cobden's speech--The new
chapel--Fanny Burney's diary --MacNaghten acquitted--Question of
criminal insanity--Princess Mary of Baden--The Prince and the
Levées--Sir Robert Peel's suggestions --Police arrangements--Looking
for the comet--Flowers from Lord Melbourne--The Royal
children--The toast of the Prince--King of Hanover's proposed
visit--Gates of Somnauth restored--Death of Duke of Sussex--Birth and

christening of Princess Alice--Irish agitation --Rebecca riots--Duchess
of Norfolk's resignation--Duelling in the Army--Outpensioners of
Chelsea--Crown jewels--Obstruction of business --Lord Melbourne on
matrimonial affairs--Visit to Château d'Eu --Increased troubles in
Wales--Royal visitors--England and Spain --Arrest of O'Connell--Duc
de Bordeaux not received at Court--Duc de Nemours expected--Visit to
Cambridge--Duc d'Aumale's engagement --Indian affairs--Loyalty at
Cambridge--Proposed visit to Drayton Manor--Travelling
arrangements--Duchesse de Nemours--Birmingham --Canadian seat of
government--Chatsworth--American view of monarchy --Prince
Metternich and Spain (450-512)

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
QUEEN VICTORIA RECEIVING THE NEWS OF HER
ACCESSION TO THE THRONE, 20TH JUNE 1837. From the picture
by H. T. Wells, R.A., at Buckingham Palace
T.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF KENT AND THE PRINCESS VICTORIA.
From the miniature by H. Bone, after Sir W. Beechey, at Windsor
Castle
H.R.H. THE PRINCESS VICTORIA, 1827. By Plant, after Stewart.
From the miniature at Buckingham, Palace
H.M. KING WILLIAM IV. From a miniature at Windsor Castle
H.R.H. THE PRINCE CONSORT, 1840. From the portrait by John
Partridge at Buckingham Palace
H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA, 1841. From the drawing by E. F. T., after
H. E. Dawe, at Buckingham Palace
* * * * *
CHAPTER I

THE ANCESTRY OF THE QUEEN--HOUSES OF BRUNSWICK,
HANOVER, AND COBURG
QUEEN VICTORIA, on her father's side, belonged to the House of
Brunswick, which was undoubtedly one of the oldest, and claimed to
be actually the oldest, of German princely families. At the time of her
birth, it existed in two branches, of which, the one ruled over what was
called the Duchy of Brunswick, the other over the Electorate (since
1815 the Kingdom) of Hanover, and had since 1714 occupied the
throne of England. There had been frequent intermarriages between the
two branches. The Dukes of Brunswick were now, however,
represented only by two young princes, who were the sons of the
celebrated Duke who fell at Quatre-Bras. Between them and the
English Court there was little intercourse. The elder, Charles, had
quarrelled with his uncle and guardian, George IV., and had in 1830
been expelled from his