The letters of Queen Victoria, vol. 3, 1854-1861

THE Queen received Lord Clarendon's box by special messenger yesterday evening. The acceptance by Russia of our interpretation of the four points[1] is a most clever, diplomatic...

The Queen returns Mr Gladstone's letters, and gladly accepts his patriotic offer.[1] He will have difficulty in solving a delicate question, affecting national feeling, against...

LORD ABERDEEN presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He cannot wonder at the indignation expressed by your Majesty at the base and infamous attacks made upon the Prince durin...

The Queen returns the drawings for the "Victoria Cross." She has marked the one she approves with an X; she thinks, however, that it might be a trifle smaller. The motto would b...

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs to be allowed to wish your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Prince Consort many prosperous returns of Ne...

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Accept my warmest thanks for your kind and affectionate letter of the 8th. I hope and trust to hear that your cold has left you, and that on Monday I shall ha...

Now I must speak a little of passing events. Louis Napoleon wished for a Congress because it would have placed a new authority between himself and the Italians, whom he fears ev...

The despatches from Sir George Grey[1] which the Queen returns are most interesting. The two chief objects to accomplish appear to be the bringing the Kaffirs in British Kaffrar...

Conservatives in opposition, i. _56_; dissensions, ii. _1_; Corn Laws, ii. 66; ii. 83, 315, 384, 403; form a Government, ii. 412-430; Roebuck Motion, iii. 79, 226; Government of...

Conservative overtures to Lord Palmerston--Illness of King of Prussia--His death--The absorption of Naples--Garter for new King of Prussia--The Provostship of Eton--Lord John an...

Income Tax, Queen's decision to pay, i. 387; iii. 36; Bill, i. 403, 405; raised, ii. _141_, 303, 307, 312, 388; reduction for farmers, ii. 406; ii. _431_; iii. 226; increase, ii...

Sardinia, ii. _141_, _175_; war with Austria, ii. _178_, _182_, 186, 190, 193; Western Alliance against Russia, iii. _63_; success against Russia, iii. _135_, 154, 161; Treaty o...

---- Duc de, i. 63, 65; at Constantin, i. 96; marriage, i. _149_; i. 414, 439, 495, 498, 506; ii. 5, 148, 153, 154, 164, 167, 173, 185, 204, 354, 360; iii. 6; death of his wife,...

---- IV. of England (formerly Duke of Clarence), politics, i. 5; marriage, i. 8, 14, 24; succession to the Throne, i. 19; estrangement with Duchess of Kent, i. 19, _27_, 68; dea...

---- Lord Fitzroy, afterwards Lord Raglan ii. 393, 396; Commander of Forces for the East, iii. _26_; victory at the Alma, iii. 50; Field-Marshal, iii. 52, 53; Inkerman, iii. 52,...

---- Prince Frederick William of (afterwards Emperor Frederick), question of marriage, iii. 142, 146, 147, 182, 195, 205, 220; marriage to the Princess Royal, iii. 253, _261_, 4...

on Palmerston's defence, ii. 364; _Endymion_, ii. _376_; Chancellor of the Exchequer, ii. 381; debate on dissolution, ii. 382, 384; Militia Bill, ii. 385, 386, 387; speech on Du...

France, attempts on life of King, i. _43_, 243, _408_; expedition to Constantin, i. _43_, _57_; heated debates in Chamber, i. 59, 63; Duke and Duchess of Orleans, i. 69; and Eng...

Bordeaux, Duc de (afterwards Comte de Chambord), i. 495, 498, 499, 506, 508; visit to London, i. 509, 510; ii. 3, 177; rumoured visit to England, iii. 7; and the King of the Bel...

Hardinge, Sir Henry (afterwards Viscount), i. 65; Secretary at War, i. 163, 279, 309; Governor-General of India, ii. 28, 29; settlement of Sikh boundaries, ii. 74; Queen's appre...

China, opium trade dispute, i. _142_, _209_, 219, _254_, 260, 265; operations in, i. 261, 337, _370_, 441; war of 1857, iii. _223_, 226, _231_; Treaty of Tien-tsin, iii. _262_,...

universal suffrage, ii. _283_; _coup d'état_ in Paris, ii. 334-340; assumes Imperial title, projected marriage, ii. _356_, _406_, 408, 422; Queen Victoria's opinion of, ii. 360,...

Lord Melbourne's return to office, i. 170; ball at Buckingham Palace, i. 172; views on Cabinet crisis, i. 174; feelings for Prince Albert, i. 177, 178; at the Opera, i. 178; arr...

---- 1st King of the Belgians, birth and parentage, i. 4, 22; Queen's reminiscences of, i. 10, 11, 13, 22; kindness to Duchess of Kent, i. 11; influence on, and kindness to the...

on dissolution, ii. 81; statue, ii. 95, 123, _124_; Peninsular War medals, ii. 109, 113; on intervention in Portugal, ii. 123; on defence of England, ii. _141_; Queen's tribute...

Germany, King of Prussia on, ii. 137; effect of French Revolution, ii. _141_; anxiety in, ii. 167, 170, 174; Minor States, ii. 188, 189; interest in Lombardy, ii. 193; disorder...

---- and Austria, ii. _182_, 183, 187, 190, 380; Eastern Question, ii. _432_, 441, 444, 452; iii. _1_, 13, 25; proposed alliance, iii. _49_, 50, 65, 115, 118; Four Points, iii....

his unpopularity, iii. 300; new Reform Bill, iii. _307_; reconciliation with Lord J. Russell, iii. _307_; forms a Government, iii. _307_, 344-348; foreign affairs, iii. _324_; a...

Canada, friction in, i. _56_, 98, 100, _102_, 103; Lord Durham, Governor-General, i. 104, 128, 133, 135-137; resignation, i. 137; union of, i. _209_; dispute with United States,...

Coal Exchange opened, ii. _228_; thanksgiving after cholera epidemic, ii. 228; death of Queen Adelaide, ii. 230 1850 Pate's attack, ii. _231_, 253; the draft to Greece, ii. 234,...

visit to England, iii. 117; Queen's opinion of, iii. 122, 137; Queen's letter to, _re_ Treaty of Paris, iii. 207, 208; attempted assassination of, iii. _261_, _264_; tour in Sco...

illness, i. 143; Belgium and Holland, i. 145; marriage, i. 201; Eastern crisis, i. _227_-240; views on France, i. 233, 246; China and opium trade, i. 260, 261; votes for dissolu...

Sir R. Peel's resignation and return to office, ii. 48-67; letter from King Louis Philippe, ii. 57; reply, ii. 69-70 1846 Opening of Parliament in person, ii. _73_; defeat of th...

Foreign Secretary, iii. _272_; Orsini incident, iii. 273, 274; Danish Question, iii. 280; and Italy, iii. 305; proposed congress to settle Italian difficulties, iii. 325-335, _3...

---- Nicholas, Emperor of, i. 234; visit to England, ii. 12; Queen's opinion of, ii. 12, 14, 15, 17; effect on foreign countries, ii. 19; on the French Revolution, ii. 165; disp...

Queen's confidence in and appreciation of, i. 74, 79, 158, 159, 174, 189, 192; letter to Queen on accession, i. 74; interview with Queen, i. 76; arrangements for King William IV...

mission to Vienna, iii. _308_, 323, 324-326; rumoured treaty between France and Russia, iii. 330; terms of peace at Villafranca, iii. _359_, _360_; England's congress representa...

Porte, the, i. 179; and Austria, i. 191; convention of 1828, i. 229, 232; and Mehemet Ali, i. 237; Eastern Question, ii. _431_, 441-444, _449_, 452-465, 469; iii. _1_, 12, 13, _...

Order of Black Eagle conferred, i. 372; christening, i. 376, 380; education, i. 463, 475; Grand Cross of St Andrew, ii. 17; present from the King of the French, ii. 27; Duke of...

Macaulay, T. B. (afterwards Lord Macaulay), Secretary at War, i. _141_; China debate, i. 219; in favour of dissolution, i. 281, 308; on Somnauth Proclamation, i. 469; Maynooth g...

Baring, F. (afterwards Lord Northbrook), Chancellor of the Exchequer, i. 264, 281, 308, 314; ii. 60, 84, 287, 312, 347; capture of Lagos, ii. 365, 366; Board of Works, ii. 421;...

Argyll, eighth Duke of, Lord Privy Seal, ii. 420; Government of 1855, iii. 97; Privy Seal, iii. 104; Divorce Bill, iii. 231; Lord Privy Seal, iii. 348; Abolition of Paper Duty,...

Cambridge, first Duke of, i. 4; political views, i. 5, 6; Regent of Hanover, i. 7; marriage, i. 99, 207, 208, 245; daughter's marriage, i. 434, 437, 440, 475, 476; death, ii. _2...

Turkey, Convention about Egypt, i. 227-243, 258; war with Russia, ii. _432_; Eastern Question, ii. 437, 441-444, _449_, _452_, 464-465, 469-471; and Persia, iii. 4; Russian occu...

Prince Consort to hold levées for the Queen, i. 470, 471, 472, 473; the toast of the Prince, i. 475; birth and christening of Princess Alice, i. 480, 481; Turnpike riots in Sout...

Liberals (_see_ Whigs), small majority, i. 176; gains at election, 1839, ii. 126, 458; Lord Palmerston's followers, the Liberal Party, iii. _110_; Oudh Proclamation debate, iii....

---- King of (Ernest Augustus), the Queen's uncle, i. 6, 72, 76, 123, 126; claim to Crown jewels, i. 439; visit to the Queen, i. 477, 480-482; power to confer Orders, ii. 5; dea...

Prussia (_see_ Prussia, King of), and Holland, i. 119; ii. 275, 278; Eastern Question, ii. _452_; alliance with Austria, iii. _1_; position in impending war, iii. 17, 115; and E...

Balmoral, iii. 209; defence of England, iii. 212; death of Prince Charles of Leiningen, iii. 216, 217; letter to Louis Napoleon, iii. 221 1857 Indian Mutiny, iii. _223_, 234, 23...

The original page headings have been retained and moved to appropriate positions at the beginning of letters and text to which they refer, so as not to interrupt the flow of the...

Annual Summary of Events, 1821-1835, i. _27_; 1836, i. _43_; 1837, i. _56_; 1838, i. _102_; 1839, i. _141_; 1840, i. _209_; 1841, i. _253_; 1842, i. _370_; 1843, i. _450_; 1844,...

reminiscences of events on the King's death, i. 75; address of condolence and congratulation, i. 77; her nationality, i. 78; her Ministers, i. 79; 13th July--goes to Buckingham...

visits Holyrood, iii. 406; Balmoral, iii. 407; proposed meeting with the Emperor of Austria, iii. 408, 409; appeal from the King of Naples, iii. 409; reply, iii. 412; appointmen...

Graham, Sir James, Home Secretary, i. 163, 219, _253_, 309, 448; public executions, ii. 38, 39; Corn Laws, ii. 49; takes leave of the Queen, ii. 85, 88; as to joining the Whig C...

---- Emperor of (Francis Joseph), ii. 318; attempted assassination of, ii. _440_; King Leopold's opinion of, ii. 447, 448; Queen's letter to, iii. 322, 323; reply, iii. 324, 325...

review of Crimean troops at Aldershot, iii. _198_; as to decorating Duke of Westmorland, iii. 202; Princess Charlotte's proposed marriage, iii. 207; on death of Prince Charles o...

Victor Emmanuel, King of Sardinia, ii. _208_, 218; visit to England, iii. _64_, _156_; joins the Western Alliance, iii. _66_; rumoured conversation with Louis Napoleon, iii. 168...

death of his wife, i. 130, 131, 133; Home Secretary, i. _141_; civil government of the Army, i. 147; Corn Laws, i. 148, 381; politics, i. 267, 277, 278, 281; Sugar Duties, i. 27...

Tory party and the Royal family, i. 5, 6; consolidation of, i. 20; Queen's opinion of, i. _27_, 60, 61, 203, 207, 212, 213; failure of, i. 66; organisation of, i. 90; unsuccessf...

visit to the Queen, iii. 335; birth of Princess Charlotte, iii. 406; detailed account of death of King of Prussia, iii. 424-426; domestic happiness of, iii. 430; death of Duches...

interview with Persigny, iii. 232; and Italy, iii. 305; declines joining the new Cabinet, iii. 346; St Juan dispute, iii. 373; coronation of King of Prussia, iii. 428, _429_; re...

and Prussia, ii. 276; ii. 379, 402; and Eastern Question, ii. 440-444, 451, _452_; alliance with Prussia, iii. _1_; and Russia, iii. 13, 25; proposed alliance with England, iii....

his opinion of the Czar, iii. 203; Garter, iii. 227; China War debate, iii. 229; fails to form a Government, iii. _307_, 343; and the _Times_ disclosures, iii. 347; President of...

---- Philippe, King of the French, biography of, i. 4; Belgian throne, i. 22; attempted assassination of, i. _43_, 243, 407; letters to the Queen, i. 77; ii. 27, 57, 78, 146, 16...

Peelites, ii. 359, 368, 375, 403, _404_; position in Government of 1852, ii. 412, 413, 414; iii. _63_; Lord John Russell's resignation, iii. 75; Government of 1855, iii. 82, 83,...

preparation for war, iii. 192; attack on Budget, iii. _224_, 226; Chinese dispute, iii. _228_; Divorce Bill, iii. _231_; High Commissioner to Ionian Islands, iii. _262_, 301, 30...

hospitals for sick and wounded soldiers, iii. 113; Crimean medals, iii. 116; visit of the Emperor and Empress of the French, iii. 117; review in Windsor Park, iii. _117_; invest...

Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, i. 308; interview with the Queen, i. 309; Roman Catholics, i. 365; ii. _30_; King Leopold's opinion of, i. 462; Queen's visit to,...

peril of the Ministry, ii. 285; defeat of the Government, ii. 288; inability to form a Government, ii. 288-313; Parliamentary Reform, ii. 332, 333; resignation of Whig Governmen...

Louise (Queen of the Belgians), marriage and correspondence with the Queen, i. _28_; her character, i. 34; letter on the Queen's engagement, i. 192; on death of the Duke of Orle...

failure to form a Government, ii. 296, 298, 299; ii. _356,_ 393; forms a Government, ii. 413-429; Lord Derby's attack on, ii. _418_; Queen Victoria's approval of, ii. 430; Easte...

Pius IX., Pope, ii. _115_; flight to Gaëta, ii. 204, _208_; letter to the Queen, ii. 204; reply, ii. 210; Papal brief, titles for English bishops, ii. _232_, _272_; papal aggres...

character, i. 24; interests in life, i. 24; letter on Queen's accession, i. 77; on Queen's coronation, i. 120; Protestant Church at Valetta, i. 138; letters, i. 371, 399, 437; v...

offer to resign, ii. 243; on Lord Palmerston's removal, ii. 262; Haynau despatch, ii. 267-270; on Ritualism, "No Popery," ii. _273_; and Sir James Graham, ii. 286; defeat of Gov...

refusal of Foreign Office, ii. 413-418; accepts Foreign Office, ii. 422-427; resigns Foreign Secretaryship, ii. _431_; Leadership without office, ii. 438; pledged to introductio...

Kent, Duchess of (Queen's mother), biography of, i. 3, 4, 8, 9; character and disposition, i. 9; Parliamentary Grant, i. 9; education of Princess Victoria, i. 14-17; Parliamenta...

views on the council of war at Paris, iii. 168, 169; views of King of Sardinia, iii. 198; England's policy, iii. 169; letter to Florence Nightingale, iii. 170; distribution of h...

The Emperor Napoleon and M. Hübner--Attitude of the Pope--Northern Italy--The Queen's first grandchild--Advice to the Emperor Napoleon--Meeting of Parliament--The Indian forces-...

Peace proposals--The Four Points--Offer of the Garter to the Premier--Sufferings of the troops in the Crimea--Resignation of Lord John--The Queen's disapproval--Lord Palmerston...

letter to French Emperor advising peace, iii. _315_; Indian Army Question, iii. 316-320; opens Parliament, iii. _317_; letter to Emperor of Austria, and reply, iii. 322, 323, 32...

forms a Government, iii. _63_; on Lord John Russell's resignation, iii. 72; Premier, iii. 76-78; position on Lord Derby's and Lord John Russell's failure to form a Government, i...

Chinese dispute, iii. _223_, _228_; and the House of Lords, iii. 227; retains his seat, iii. _231_; financial crisis, iii. 256; Conspiracy Bill, iii. _266_; Reform Bill, iii. 27...

1824 Miss Lehzen becomes her governess, i. 25 1826 Visits George IV. at Windsor, i. 11-13; serious illness, i. 13, 14 1827 Visits George IV. at Windsor, i. 13 1828 First letter...

Ellenborough, Lord (afterwards Earl of), President of Board of Control, i. 163, 309, 326; Governor-General of India, i, 344; Indian warfare, i. 407, _443_; Somnauth proclamation...

Foreign Secretary, ii. _431_; Eastern Question, ii. 439-444, _452_-471; Duke of Cambridge in Paris, iii. 14; Russian loan, iii. _35_; Crimea, iii. _43_; Austrian alliance, iii....

---- second Earl, ii. 261; Foreign Secretary, ii. _283_, 343, 344, 345, 348; audience with the Queen, ii. 349; Queen's view of Foreign Policy, ii. 351, 366, 372; resignation 185...

Stockmar, Baron, private physician and secretary to King Leopold, unofficial adviser to the Queen, i. 25; accompanies Prince Albert on tour, i. 25, 152; his character, i. 25, 26...

The Conference--The Queen's determination--Russia accepts the terms--Sardinia and the Conference--Protection of neutrals--The Crimean enquiry--Incorporation of Oudh--Canning suc...

possible suitors, i. 47, 48; admiration for Prince Albert, i. 48, 49, 50; visits Lord Liverpool at Buxted Park, i. 50; Church matters, i. 52; 72; change of name discussed, i. 55...

Marriage of Princess Royal--The Orsini _attentat_--The Conspiracy Bill--Resignation of the Government--Lord Derby summoned--The new Cabinet--Trial of Bernard--The Emperor and th...

The Emperor Napoleon's pamphlet, _The Pope and the Congress_--Annexation of Savoy--Meeting of Parliament--Sardinian designs--Mr Gladstone's Budget--Scene at the Tuileries--The E...

---- fourth Earl of, i. 97; Ambassador at Madrid, i. 281; Lord Privy Seal, i. 308; ii. 60, 83, 86, 131, 132, 169, 195, 223, 224, 236, 244; opinion on Lord Palmerston's removal,...

Disraeli, Benjamin, "Young England," ii. 16; "poisoned chalice," ii. _59_; protectionist, ii. _71_; attack on Sir R. Peel, ii. 79, 80; leader of Opposition, ii. _208_, 216, 248;...

battle of the Alma, iii. 44, 49; treatment of Indian Princes, iii. 47; views on Austrian Alliance, iii. 48, 50; Balaklava, iii. 50, _51_; Inkerman, iii. 52, 54-56; Crimean medal...

1854 PAGES The Eastern Question--Attack on the Prince--The French alliance--The Orleans family--The Reform Bill--The Baltic command--The British ultimatum--Departure of the Guar...

Lord Stratford's despatch, ii. 469 1854 Opens Crystal Palace, iii. _2_; Press attacks on Prince Albert, iii. _1_, 3, 7, 8; on reception of Orleans family, iii. 6, 7; Reform Bill...

The China War--Position of Parties--Defeat of the Government--The General Election--The Divorce Bill--Betrothal of Princess Charlotte of Belgium--The Indian Mutiny--Delhi--Cawnp...

_Times_, newspaper, i. 425; ii. 20, 27, _30_, _48_, 86, 135, 172, 190, 220, 241, 244, 263, 282, 348, _411_; iii. _1_, 8, 16; Crimea, iii. 36; Queen's visit to France, iii. 138;...

on Palmerston's successor, ii. 346; seals of office given up, ii. 374; Home Office, ii. 468; Colonies, iii. _1_, 34; resignation of Lord John Russell, iii. 75, 76-78; Government...

Gladstone's Budget statement, iii. 388; Earl Cowley's stormy interview with French Emperor, iii. 390-394; Prince of Wales visits Coburg and Gotha, iii. _396_; letters of thanks...

Government crisis, ii. 290, 308, 310, 413-417; in the Cabinet, ii. 424; Reform Bill, ii. 468; and Lord John Russell, iii. 58; formation of the Government of 1855, iii. 85-89, 90...

declaration of war with Russia, iii. _19_; on the defenceless state of England, iii. 36; on the state of India, iii. 38, 53; views on Army promotions, iii. 39; disapproves of sp...

on civil government of the Army, i. 147; Corn Laws, i. 465; and Lord Palmerston, ii. 59; possible Colonial Secretary, ii. 59; Ireland, ii. 84; his party, ii. 86; views on resign...

Colonial Office, ii. 421; and Disraeli, ii. _428_; India Bill, ii. 447; Eastern Question, ii. _454_, 455; position in the Government, ii. 458; speech at Reform Club, iii. _25_;...

Ireland, ii. 226; Earldom of Tipperary, ii. 245-247; Ireland, ii. 303; Ranger of the Parks, ii. 393; in Paris, iii. 14; interview with Napoleon, iii. 24-26; writes from Constant...

Lord Palmerston forms a Government, iii. 96-104; letter to King of Prussia, iii. 107; visit to the wounded from Crimea, iii. 110; letter to Princess of Prussia on sudden death o...

congratulates French Emperor on peace, iii. 378 1860 Volunteer Review in Hyde Park, iii. _379_; Prince of Wales visited Canada and United States, iii. _380_, _405_; difficulties...

on Lord John Russell's resignation, iii. 72-75; memo. on the crisis, iii. 74, 75; on Government's resignation, iii. 79; inability of Lord Derby and Lord John Russell to form a G...