1841

BIRTH OF PRINCE OF WALES.

111

is even to usque ad. I mention this single slip in nearly an hour's conversation to show how perfectly the Prince speaks English as to idiom, and the accent is scarcely ever perceptibly foreign. His features are tranquil in talking. The absence of pride and even of the ceremonious reserve which "hedges" Royalty is very engaging.

'In alluding to the means by which a school of rising fresco painters might be encouraged, he said, "There are two great auxiliaries in this country which seldom fail to promote the success of any scheme-fashion, and a high example. Fashion, we know, is all in all in England, and if the CourtI mean the Queen and myself-set the example hereafter by having works of this kind done, the same taste will extend itself to wealthy individuals. The English country seats, which are the most beautiful in the world, would acquire additional effect from the introduction of such a style of decoration, and with such occupation the school would never languish, and would at least have time to develope itself fully."

'This is perhaps a word-for-word specimen of His Royal Highness's accurate and graceful conversation. I could not come up to it; but on one occasion, speaking of the limited character and means of frescoes, I said that it might in some sort be compared to sculpture, which could conceal nothing, and in which necessity of defining involved the necessity of beauty. The Prince paid me the gracious-compliment of saying, "You have expressed in a few words what I would have said in many.'

Shortly before the interview thus recorded, the hopes of the Queen and the Prince had been crowned by the birth of the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on the 9th of November. The recovery of the Queen was rapid, and nothing occurred to mar the happiness this event was calculated to create. On the 21st, the birthday of the Princess Royal, the following entry occurs in Her Majesty's Journal:

'Albert brought in dearest little Pussy' (the Princess Royal)'in such a smart white merino dress trimmed with blue, which Mama had given her, and a pretty cap, and placed her on my bed, seating himself next to her, and she was very dear and good. And as my precious, invaluable Albert sat there, and our little Love between us, I felt quite moved with happiness and gratitude to God.'

From Windsor Castle, to which the Court removed on the 6th of December, the Queen wrote to King Leopold :

'We arrived here sains et saufs with our awfully large nursery establishment yesterday morning. To-day is very bright, clear, and dry, and we walked out early, and felt like prisoners freed from some dungeon.

'I wonder very much, whom our little boy will be like. You will understand how fervent are my prayers, and I am sure everybody's must be, to see him resemble his Father in every, every respect, both in body and mind! Oh, my dearest

112

CHRISTMAS.

1841

Uncle, I am sure if you knew how happy, how blessed I feel, and how proud in possessing such a perfect being as my husband, and if you think that you have been instrumental in bringing about this union, it must gladden your heart!'

In another letter a few days afterwards (14th December) Her Majesty recurs to the same theme:

'We must all have trials and vexations; but if one's home is happy, then the rest is comparatively nothing. I assure you, dear Uncle, that no one feels this more than I do. I had this autumn one of the severest trials I could have, in parting with my government, and particularly from our kind and valued friend, and I feel even now this last very much: but my happiness at home, the love of my husband, his kindness, his advice, his support, and his company make up for all, and make me forget it.'

When Christmas came round with its pleasant festivities and its shining Christmas-trees, it had within it a new source of delight for the Royal parents. To think,' says the Queen's Journal, that we have two children now, and one who enjoys the sight already, is like a dream!' And in writing to his Father the Prince expresses the same feeling. This,' he says, 'is the dear Christmas Eve, on which I have so often listened with impatience for your step, which was to usher us into the present-room. To-day I have two children of my own to give presents to, who, they know not why, are full of happy wonder at the German Christmas-tree and its radiant candles.'

11

The coming year was danced into in good old English fashion.' In the middle of the dance, as the clock finished striking twelve, a flourish of trumpets was blown, in accordance with a German custom. This, the Queen's Journal records, 'had a fine solemn effect, and quite affected dear Albert, who turned pale, and had tears in his eyes, and pressed my hand very warmly. It touched me too, for I felt that he must think of his dear native country, which he has left for me.'

11 The custom is German also.

CHAPTER VIII.

The King of Prussia's Arrival in England--Acts as Sponsor to Prince of Wales-Attends Opening of Parliament by Queen-Betrothal and Marriage of Prince's Brother-Uneasy State of Public Affairs-Sir Robert Peel's Financial Measures-Income Tax-Disasters in India--Queen shot at by Francis-Francis's Sentence of Death commuted to Transportation for Life-Next Day Queen fired at by Bean--Death of Duke of Orleans--Disturbed State of the Country-The Queen's First Visit to Scotland-Impressions of Scotland-Indian Victories-Prince applies himself to Study of Politics-Continues to rise in Public Estimation--His Rules of Conduct as described by General Grey-Necessity for Reorganisation of Royal Household.

THE Conflicting claims of relatives, at once numerous and in high position, made the choice of Sponsors for the Prince of Wales a matter of considerable anxiety to the Queen and the · Prince. The knot of the difficulty was cut by their resolving to invite the King of Prussia to undertake the office. He was not connected by the ties of blood; but his position as Sovereign of the most important Protestant kingdom on the Continent justified the selection, and secured for it the general approval of the country.

King Frederick William, who, it was known, had been for some time anxious again to visit England, did not hesitate long in accepting the invitation. 'Politicians, as their habit is,' says Baron Stockmar (Denkwürdigkeiten, p. 377), 'attached an exaggerated political importance to the affair. The King, who foresaw this, wrote to Metternich, and in a manner asked for his advice. The answer was evasive; and on this the King determined not to give himself any concern about the political intrigues which were set on foot against the journey. Certain it is, that the Russians, Austrians, and even the French, in the person of Bresson (their ambassador at Berlin) manœuvred against it. They were backed up by a Court party, who were persuaded that the King would avail himself of the opportunity to promote, along with Bunsen and the Archbishop of Canterbury, his pet idea of Anglicanizing the Prussian Church. When the King's decision to go became known, Bresson begged that he would at least go through France, and give the Royal Family a meeting; but this was declined,'

114

BAPTISM OF PRINCE OF WALES.

1842

On the 22nd of January the King arrived at Greenwich, where he was met by Prince Albert. On reaching Windsor Castle, he was received at the door of Entrance by the Queen with all the formalities of state. 'The King,' says Her Majesty's Journal of the day, is not taller than Albert, and very fat. His features are small, but he has a pleasing countenance, not much hair, and very little whisker. He was in common morning costume, and complained much of appearing so before me.' His kindly and attractive manners are spoken of in warm terms. 'He is entertaining, agreeable, and witty, tells a thing so pleasantly, and is full of amusing anecdotes.'

1

Royal baptisms had hitherto been, as a rule, celebrated within the Palace. But it was felt to be more in harmony with the religious sentiment of the country that its future King should be christened within a consecrated building. St. George's Chapel, Windsor, was selected for the purpose; and there, under circumstances of peculiar state and splendour, the rite was performed at 10 A. M. on the 25th of January, the baby Prince behaving, according to the Times' reporter, with truly princely decorum.' Besides the King of Prussia, the other Sponsors were the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg represented by the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha represented by the Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Sophia represented by the Princess Augusta of Cambridge, and Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg. It is impossible,' says the Queen's Journal, to describe how beautiful and imposing the effect of the whole scene was in the fine old Chapel, with the banners, the music, and the light shining on the altar.' 2

The King, who profited by every opportunity of seeing all that was most worthy to be seen during the fortnight of his

1 On these qualities a pleasant commentary is afforded by a letter of the Baroness Bunsen's (Bunsen's Life, ii. 7), describing a ball at Windsor Castle on February 28. 'As soon as the King, with Prince Albert, came, the ball began, the Queen making the King dance in a quadrille with herself, which he did with suitable grace and dignity, though he had long given up dancing, and though his figure is not good. . . . My impression of the Queen's deportment is, that it is perfect in grace and dignity: she conversed eagerly with the King, laughing heartily (no company laugh), at things he said to entertain her.' 2 There was a full choral service at the Christening. A special anthem had been composed by Mr. (now Sir) George Elvey for the occasion. On the Prince being told of this, and asked when it should be sung, he answered, 'Not at all. No anthem. If the service ends by an anthem, we shall all go out criticising the music. We will have something we all know-something in which we can all join-something devotional. The Hallelujah Chorus; we shall all join in that, with our hearts.' The Hallelujah Chorus ended the ceremony accordingly.

1842

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

115

stay, was present at a scene of almost equal splendour and interest the day before he left England, in the opening of Parliament by the Queen in person. A contemporary letter of the Baroness Bunsen, quoted in her husband's Memoirs (vol. ii. p. 9), furnishes a graphic sketch of a ceremony, the interest of which, always great, was heightened both by the presence of a guest so distinguished, and by the circumstances under which the new Parliament met:

'On Thursday, February 3, was the opening of Parliament-the great scene from which I had expected most, and was not disappointed. The throngs in the streets, in the windows, on every spot where foot could stand --all looking so pleased--the splendid Horse Guards, the Grenadier Guards-of whom it might be said, as the King did on another occasion, "An appearance so fine you know not how to believe it true,"—the Yeomen of the Body Guard; then, in the House of Lords, the Peers in their robes, the beautifully dressed ladies, with many, many beautiful faces; last, the procession of the Queen's entry, and herself, looking worthy and fit to be the converging point of so many rays of grandeur . . . . The composure with which she filled the throne, while awaiting the Commons, was a test of character-no fidget and no apathy. Then her voice and enunciation could not be more perfect. In short, it could not be said that she did well, but she was the Queen; she was, and felt herself to be, the acknowledged chief among grand national realities. Placed in a narrow space behind Her Majesty's mace-bearers, and peeping over their shoulders, I was enabled to hide and subdue the emotion I felt, in consciousness of the mighty pages in the world's history condensed in the words, so impressively uttered in the silver tones of that feminine voice-Peace and War, the fate of millions, relations of countries, exertions of power felt to the extremities of the globe, alterations of corn laws, the birth of a future Sovereign, mentioned in solemn thankfulness to Him in whose hands are nations and rulers! With what should one respond, but with the heart-felt aspiration, "God bless and guide her! for her sake, and the sake of all!"'

The next day the King left England. His warm and imaginative nature had been deeply moved by the incidents of his brief stay. He was much affected at going, and left behind him in the hearts of his hosts a feeling of the greatest affection and respect for his thoroughly amiable disposition and great attainments. The feeling was reciprocal, and was expressed by his Minister, Count Anton Stolberg, who had accompanied him on his visit, in writing to Baron Stockmar, some weeks afterwards (6th March). The King, my master,' he says, 'thinks with pleasure of that never-to-be-forgotten time.' In it was laid the foundation of a friendship with the Queen and the Prince, which was cemented by the confidential correspondence of future years.

In the midst of the excitement of this Royal visit the