HIS MAJESTY THE KING
EDITED BY ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, M.A.
AND VISCOUNT ESHER, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.
IN THREE VOLUMES
VOL. II.—1844-1853
LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1908
Copyright in Great Britain and Dependencies, 1907, by
H.M. The King.
In the United States by Messrs Longmans, Green & Co.
All rights reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1844
| PAGES |
| Duc de Bordeaux—Hanoverian Orders—Domestic happiness—Death
of the Duke of Coburg—Lord Melbourne
on old age—Recall of Lord Ellenborough—Uncle and
niece—Lord Ellenborough's honours—Prince de Joinville's
brochure—The Emperor Nicholas—A great review—At
the Opera—The Emperor's character—The
Emperor and Belgium—Crisis in Parliament—The
King of Saxony—Lord Ellenborough and India—England,
France, and Russia—France and Tahiti—King
Louis Philippe expected—Arrangements for the
visit—Queen Louise's solicitude—Arrival of King
Louis Philippe—A successful visit—The King's departure—Opening
of the Royal Exchange—Gift to the
Prince of Wales—Education in India |
1-29 |
1845
The Spanish marriages—Position of the Prince—Title of
King Consort—Purchase of Osborne—Maynooth
grant—Religious bigotry—Public executions—Birthday
letter—Princess Charlotte—Vacant Deanery—Wine
from Australia—King of Holland—Projected
visit to Germany—Question of Lords Justices—Visit
to the Château d'Eu—Spanish marriages—The Prince
criticised—Governor-Generalship of Canada—Corn
Laws—Cabinet dissensions—Interview with Sir
Robert Peel—Lord John Russell suggested—Attitude
of Lord Melbourne—The Queen's embarrassment—Attitude
of Sir Robert Peel—Lord Stanley resigns—The
Commandership-in-Chief—Duke of Wellington—[page iv]King Louis
Philippe—Anxiety for the future—Insuperable
difficulties—Lord Grey and Lord Palmerston—Lord
John Russell fails—Chivalry of Sir Robert Peel—He
resumes office—Cordial support—The Queen's
estimate of Sir Robert Peel—Lord Stanley—The
Prince's Memorandum—Comprehensive scheme—The
unemployed—Lord Palmerston's justification—France
and the Syrian War—Letter to King Louis Philippe—Ministry
reinstated |
30-70 |
1846
Sir Robert Peel's speech—Extension of Indian Empire—Bravery
of English troops—Death of Sir Robert Sale—Memorandum
by the Prince—Celebration of victory—Letter
from King Louis Philippe—Irish Crimes Bill—Attack
on Sir Robert Peel—His resignation—Intrigues—End
of Oregon dispute—Sir Robert Peel's
tribute to Cobden—New Government—Cobden and the
Whigs—Parting with the Ministers—Whig jealousies—A
weak Ministry—Anxieties—French Royal Family—Spanish
marriages—Portugal—Prerogative of dissolution—Views
of Lord Melbourne—The Prince and
Sir Robert Peel—Proposed visit to Ireland—Government
of Canada—Wellington statue—Lord Palmerston
and Spain—Instructions to Mr Bulwer—Don Enrique—Sudden
decision—Double engagement—The Queen's
indignation—Letter to the Queen of the French—View
of English Government—Letter to King Leopold—Baron
Stockmar's opinion—Letter to Queen Louise—Lord
Palmerston and the French—Princess of
Prussia—England and the Three Powers—Interruption
of entente cordiale—Spanish marriages—Peninsular
medal—Duke of Wellington's view—England and
Portugal—The Queen's decision on Peninsular medal—Cracow |
71-114 |
1847
England and Portugal—Peaceable policy advised—Spain
and Portugal—Sir Hamilton Seymour—Septennial Act
[page v]
—Church preferments—Jenny Lind—Wellington
statue—Prosperity in India—General election—Earldom
of Strafford—Mission to the Vatican—Portugal—Crisis
in the City—Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland—Mr
Cobden—Foreign policy—Queen of Spain—Queen of
Portugal—Hampden controversy—Lord Palmerston's
despatches—Civil war in Switzerland—Letter from
King of Prussia—The Queen's reply—The Bishops and
Dr Hampden |
115-140 |
1848
Death of Madame Adélaïde—Grief of Queen Louise—The
Queen's sympathy—England and the Porte—Improvements
at Claremont—Revolution in France—Flight
of the Royal Family—Letter from King of
Prussia—Anarchy in Paris—Queen Louise's anxiety—Revolution
foreseen—England's hospitality—New
French Government—British Consul's plan—Escape
of the King and Queen—Graphic narrative—Plan successful—Arrival
in England—Reception at Claremont—Letter
of gratitude—Flight of Guizot—Royal
fugitives—Orleanist blunders—Letter to Lord Melbourne—The
Czar on the situation—State of Germany—Chartist
demonstration—Prince Albert and the unemployed—Chartist
fiasco—Alarming state of Ireland—Conduct
of the Belgians—Events in France—Anxiety
in Germany—Italy—Spain—The French
Royal Family—Affairs in Lombardy—Sir Henry
Bulwer—Lord Palmerston's justification—Instructions
to Sir H. Seymour—Lord Palmerston's drafts—England
and Italy—Lord Minto's mission—Duchesse
de Nemours—Commissions in the Army—Northern
Italy—Irish rebellion—Minor German states—An
ambassador to France—The Queen's displeasure—Opening
the Queen's letters—Lord Palmerston and
Italy—Austria declines mediation—Austria and Italy—In
the Highlands—The Queen and Lord Palmerston—Affairs
in the Punjab—Hostility of the Sikhs—Greece—State
of Germany—Letter of the Prince of
Leiningen—Sir Harry Smith at the Cape—Governorship
of Gibraltar—Mediation in Italy—Death of Lord
Melbourne—The Orleans family—Letter from the
Pope—The French President—Relations with France—England
slighted |
141-207 |
1849
Letter to the Pope—Letter from President of French Republic—Lord
Palmerston and Naples—The army in
India—State of the Continent—France and the President—Gaelic
and Welsh—Lord Gough superseded—End
of the Sikh War—Courage of Mrs G. Lawrence—Letter
from King of Sardinia—Novara—The Queen
fired at by Hamilton—Annexation of the Punjab—Drafts
and despatches—Schleswig-Holstein Question—Proposed
visit to Ireland—Irish title for the young
Prince—Cork and Waterford—The Irish visit—Enthusiasm
in Ireland—Brevet promotions—New Coal
Exchange—Critical position of Germany—Death of
Queen Adelaide |
208-230 |
1850
Grand Duchess Stéphanie—The Draft to Greece—Lord
Palmerston's explanation—Lord John Russell's plan—Suggested
rearrangement—Status quo maintained—Baron
Stockmar's Memorandum—State of France—The
Prince's speech—Lord Palmerston and Spain—Lord
Howden—The Koh-i-noor diamond—A change
imminent—Lord John Russell's report—Sunday
delivery of letters—Prince George of Cambridge—The
Earldom of Tipperary—Mr Roebuck's motion—Lord
Stanley's motion—Holstein and Germany—Lord
Palmerston's explanation—The Protocol—Christening
of Prince Arthur—Don Pacifico Debate—Sir Robert
Peel's accident—Letter from King of Denmark—Death
of Sir Robert Peel—The Queen assaulted by
Pate—Death of Duke of Cambridge—Prince of Prussia—The
Foreign Office—Denmark and Schleswig—Sir
Charles Napier's resignation—Lord Palmerston—Lord
Clarendon's opinion—Duke of Bedford's opinion—Lord
John Russell's report—Press attacks on Lord
Palmerston—Duties of Foreign Secretary—Death of
King Louis Philippe—Visit to Scotland—Illness of
Queen Louise—Attack on General Haynau—Note to
Baron Koller—The Draft gone—Lord Palmerston rebuked—Holstein—A
great grief—Mr Tennyson
made Poet Laureate—Ritualists and Roman Catholics—Unrest
in Europe—England and Germany—Constitutionalism
in Germany—Austria and Prussia—Religious
strife—England and Rome—Lady Peel—The
Papal aggression—Ecclesiastical Titles Bill |
231-282 |
1851
Life Peerages—Diplomatic arrangements—Peril of the
Ministry—Negotiations with Sir J. Graham—Defeat
of the Government—Ministerial crisis—The Premier's
statement—Lord Lansdowne consulted—Lord Stanley
sent for—Complications—Fiscal policy—Sir James
Graham—Duke of Wellington—Difficulties—Lord
Aberdeen consulted—Lord Stanley to be sent for—His
letter—Lord Stanley's difficulties—Mr Disraeli—Question
of dissolution—Explanations—Lord Stanley
resigns—His reasons—The Papal Bill—Duke of
Wellington—Appeal to Lord Lansdowne—Still without
a Government—Lord Lansdowne's views—Further
difficulties—Coalition impossible—Income Tax—Free
Trade—Ecclesiastical Titles Bill—Confusion of
Parties—New National Gallery—The great Exhibition—Imposing
ceremony—The Prince's triumph—Enthusiasm
in the City—Danish succession—The Orleans
Princes—Regret at leaving Scotland—Extension of the
Franchise—Louis Kossuth—Lord Palmerston's intentions—A
dispute—Lord Palmerston defiant—He
gives way—The Queen's anxiety—Lord Palmerston's
conduct—The Queen's comment—Death of King of
Hanover—The Suffrage—The Coup d'État—Louis
Bonaparte—Excitement in France—Lord Palmerston
and Lord Normanby—State of Paris—Lord Palmerston's
approval—Birthday wishes—The crisis—Dismissal
of Lord Palmerston—Inconsistency of Lord
Palmerston—The Prince's Memorandum—Lord Clarendon—Discussion
on new arrangements—Count
Walewski informed—Lord Granville's appointment—The
Queen's view of foreign affairs—Our policy reviewed—Difficulty
of fixed principles—Prince Nicholas
of Nassau—Te Deum at Paris
|
283-355 |
1852
Denmark—Possible fusion of parties—Orleans family—Draft
of the Speech—Women and politics—New
Houses of Parliament—Lord Palmerston's discomfiture—M.
Thiers—The Prince and the Army—Pressure of
business—Defeat on Militia Bill—Interview with Lord
John Russell—Resignation of the Ministry—The
Queen sends for Lord Derby—Lord Derby and Lord
[page viii]
Palmerston—New appointments—New Foreign Secretary—Interview
with Lord Derby—Louis Napoleon—Audiences—Ladies
of the Household—Lord Derby
and the Church—Adherence to treaties—The Sovereign
"People"—New Militia Bill—England and Austria—Letter
from Mr Disraeli—"Necessary" measures—Question
of dissolution—Lord Derby hopeful—Progress
of democracy—England and Italy—Militia Bill
carried—France and the Bourbons—Louis Napoleon's
position—Excitement at Stockport—The Queen inherits
a fortune—Death of Duke of Wellington—Military
appointments—Nation in mourning—Funeral
arrangements—Anecdote of Napoleon III.—England
and the Emperor—National defences—Financial
arrangements—Lord Dalhousie's tribute—Funeral
ceremony—Confusion of parties—Lord Palmerston's
position—Mr Disraeli and Mr Gladstone—Recognition
of the Empire—Budget speech—Letter to the French
Emperor—Secret protocol—Difficult situation—The
Queen's unwillingness to decide—Injunctions to Lord
Derby—Defeat of the Government—Lord Derby's
resignation—Lord Aberdeen sent for—His interview
with the Queen—Lord Aberdeen in office—Lord John
Russell's hesitation—Letter from Mr. Disraeli—The
Queen's anxiety—Christmas presents—Lord Derby's
intentions—New Government—Mr Gladstone at the
Exchequer—The Emperor's annoyance—Appointments—Protracted
crisis—The Cabinet—Lord Derby
takes leave—Letter from Lady Derby—Change of
seals—Peace restored—A strong Cabinet |
356-430 |
1853
The Emperor's annoyance—Headmastership of Eton—Marriage
of Emperor of the French—Mademoiselle Eugénie
de Montijo—Baron Beyens on the situation—Emperor
of Russia and the Turkish Empire—Lord John Russell
and leadership of House of Commons—Count Buol and
refugees—Kossuth and Mazzini proclamations—Want
of arms for the Militia—Russian fleet at Constantinople—French
irritation—Russia's demands—Russia and
England—Liberation of the Madiai—Letter from
Emperor of Russia—Birth of Prince Leopold—Mr
Gladstone's budget speech—Congratulations from the
Prince—India Bill—Emperor of Austria—Church of
England in the Colonies—Oriental Question—Death of
Lady Dalhousie—Lord Palmerston and Lord Aberdeen[page ix]—Russia,
Austria, and Turkey—England's policy—The
Queen's views on the Eastern despatches—Proposed
terms of settlement—Lord John Russell's retirement—Letter
from the Emperor of Russia—Lord
Stratford's desire for war—Letter to the Emperor of
Russia—France and the Eastern Question—Letter
from the Emperor of Russia—Reform Bill—Lord
Palmerston's position—Lord Lansdowne's influence—Resignation
of Lord Palmerston—Lord Stratford's
despatch—Draft to Vienna—Return of Lord Palmerston
to office |
431-472 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
TO CHAPTER XIII
The new year (1844) opened with signs of improved trade, and a
feeling of confidence, partly due to the friendly entente with France.
In Ireland, soon after the collapse of the Clontarf meeting, O'Connell
and some of his associates were indicted for seditious conspiracy, and
convicted. The conviction was subsequently quashed on technical
grounds, but O'Connell's political influence was at an end. In
Parliament, owing chiefly to the exertions of Lord Ashley (afterwards
Earl of Shaftesbury), an important Bill was passed restricting
factory labour, and limiting its hours. The Bank Charter Act,
separating the issue and banking departments, as well as regulating
the note issue of the Bank of England in proportion to its stock of
gold, also became law. Meanwhile the dissensions in the Conservative
party were increasing, and the Ministry were defeated on a
motion made by their own supporters to extend the preferential
treatment of colonial produce. With great difficulty the vote was
rescinded and a crisis averted; but the Young England section of
the Tory party were becoming more and more an embarrassment to
the Premier. Towards the end of the year the new Royal Exchange
was opened amid much ceremony by the Queen.
The services rendered by Sir Charles Napier in India were the subject
of votes of thanks in both Houses, but shortly afterwards Lord
Ellenborough, the Governor-General, was recalled by the Directors
of the East India Company: their action was no doubt due to his
overbearing methods and love of display, but it was disapproved by
the Ministry, and Lord Ellenborough was accorded an Earldom.
During the year there was a recrudescence of the friction between
this country and France, due partly to questions as to the right of
search of foreign ships, partly to a brochure issued by the Prince de
Joinville, a son of Louis Philippe, partly to the assumption of French
sovereignty over Tahiti and the seizure of the English consul there
by the French authorities. Reparation however was made, and the
ill-feeling subsided sufficiently to enable the King of the French to
visit Queen Victoria,—the first friendly visit ever paid by a French
king to the Sovereign of England. Louis Philippe was cordially
received in this country.
Another historic royal visit also took place in 1844, that of the
Emperor Nicholas, who no doubt was so much impressed with his
friendly reception, both by the Court and by Aberdeen, the Foreign
[page 2]
Secretary, that nine years later he thought he could calculate on the
support of England under Aberdeen (then Premier) in a scheme for
the partition of Turkey. Lord Malmesbury, who a few years later
became Foreign Secretary, states in his memoirs that during this
visit, the Czar, Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Wellington, and Lord
Aberdeen "drew up and signed a Memorandum, the spirit and scope
of which was to support Russia in her legitimate protectorship of the
Greek religion and the Holy Shrines, and to do so without consulting
France," but the Memorandum was in reality only one made by
Nicholas of his recollection of the interview, and communicated
subsequently to Lord Aberdeen.
No events of special interest took place in other parts of Europe;
the condition of affairs in the Peninsula improved, though the
announcement of the unfortunate marriage of the Queen Mother
with the Duke of Rianzares was not of hopeful augury for the young
Queen Isabella's future; as a matter of fact, the marriage had taken
place some time previously.
Hesten's Learning Library Edition - Adopted from Gutenberg
