THE QUEEN RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT AT HER CORONATION. (See p. 44.)

THE QUEEN RECEIVING THE

AT

THE

LIFE AND TIMES

OF

QUEEN VICTORIA.

BY

ROBERT WILSON.

Illustrated with numerous Portraits, Views, and
Historical Pictures.

VOLUME I.

CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED:

LONDON, PARIS & MELBOURNE

1891.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

207223

ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
R 1901 L.

EDITORIAL NOTE.

THE first Eleven Chapters of this Work are from the pen of the late MR. EDMUND OLLIER, to whom the Publishers originally entrusted the commission to write it-a commission which he was compelled to resign by the illness which terminated in his lamented death.

A Remarkable Visit to Kensington Palace-Death of King William IV.-Details of his Last Days-Parlia-

mentary Eulogies on his Character-Progress in the Last Half-Century-Ancestry of Queen Victoria-

Her Descent Traced to Odoacer, King of Italy-Saxon Ancestors of her Majesty-Liberal Views of the

Duke of Kent, Father of the Queen-State of the Succession after the Death of the Princess Charlotte

-Marriage of the Duke of Kent, and Birth of the Princess Victoria-Christening at Kensington Palace

-The Name "Victoria," and its Associations-Death of the Duke of Kent-Kensington Palace in the

Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries-Early Training of Victoria by her Mother-Child-Life of the

Princess-False Rumours of Ill-Health-Anecdotes of Juvenile Years-The Princess and George IV.-

Accession of William IV.-The Regency Bill-Prince Leopold and the Throne of Belgium-Studies of

the Princess-Her Life of Retirement-Home Tours in Various Parts of England-Visit to the Cotton

Mills of the Messrs. Strutt at Belper-Reception at Oxford and at Southampton-Benevolence to an

Actress-Her Royal Highness Declared of Age on the 24th of May, 1837

First Council of the Queen-Her Address to the Assembled Dignitaries-Admirable Demeanour of the

Young Sovereign - Proclamation of Queen Victoria Condition of the Empire at the Time of her

Accession-Character of Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister-His Training of the Queen in Constitu-

tional Principles-Question of the Royal Prerogative and the Choosing of the Ministry-Removal of the

Queen to Buckingham Palace-First Levee-Her Majesty's Speech on the Dissolution of Parliament-

Amelioration of the Criminal Laws-Results of the General Election -Meeting of the New Legislature

-The Civil List Fixed-Relations of the Queen towards the Duchess of Kent-Daily Life of her Majesty

-Royal Visit to the City-Insurrection in the Two Canadas-Measures of the Government, and Sup-

pression of the Revolt-The Melbourne Administration and Lord Durham-Reform of the Canadian

Constitution

CHAPTER III.

THE DIFFICULTIES OF A YOUNG SOVEREIGN.

Decline in the Popularity of the Queen-Its Causes-Her Majesty Accused of Encouraging the Papists-

Alleged Design to Assassinate the Monarch -Disloyal Toryism --Honourable Conduct of the Queen—

Fatal Riots at Canterbury, owing to the Pretensions of John Nicholls Thom-Preparations for the

Coronation-The Ceremony at Westminster Abbey-Incidents of the Day-Mismanagement at Coro-

nations-Development of Steam Navigation and the Railway System-Prorogation of Parliament in

August, 1838-Difficult Position of the Government-Rise of Chartism-Appearance of Mr. Gladstone

and Mr. Disraeli in the Political Arena-Failure of Mr. Disraeli's First Speech-"Conservatives" and

"Liberals"--Capture of Aden, in Southern Arabia - Wars with China, owing to the Smuggling of Opium

into that Country by the Anglo-Indians-Troubles in Jamaica-Bill for Suspending the Constitution

-Defeat and Resignation of the Melbourne Government-Ineffectual Attempt of Sir Robert Peel to

Form a Cabinet-The Question of the Bedchamber Women-Reinstatement of the Melbourne Ad-

ministration

PAGE

. 19

35

1

CHAPTER IV.

COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE.

English Chartism in the Summer of 1839-Riots in Birmingham-Principal Leaders of the Chartist Party

-Excesses of the Artisans in Various Parts of Great Britain and Ireland-Chartist Rising at New-

port, Monmouthshire-Conviction of Frost, Williams, and Jones-The Queen and Prince Albert-Early

Life of the Prince-His Engaging Qualities-Desire of King Leopold to Effect a Matrimonial Engage-

ment between Prince Albert and the Princess Victoria-First Visit of the Former to England-His

Studies in Germany-Informal Understanding between Prince Albert and Queen Victoria-Difficulties

of the Case--The Prince's View of the Matter in the Autumn of 1839-Second Visit to England, and

Formal Betrothal Letter of Baron Stockmar on the Subject-Announcement of the Royal Marriage to

the Privy Council and to Parliament-The Appointment of the Prince's Household-Subjects of Difficulty

and Dissension-Question of the Prince's Religion-Reduction of his Annuity by a Vote of the House

of Commons-Progress from Gotha to England, and Reception at Buckingham Palace-Marriage of

Prince Albert to the Queen at the Chapel Royal, St. James's

57

CHAPTER V.

THE FIRST YEAR OF MARRIED LIFE.

Difficulties of the Early Married Life of Prince Albert-His Unpopularity in Certain Quarters-Attempt

to Suppress Duelling in the Army-Position of the Prince in the Royal Household-Want of Supervi-

sion in the Management of the Palace-Introduction of Reforms, on the Initiative of Prince Albert -

Duties Assumed by the Prince-Domestic Life-Post Office Reform-Defective State of the Service

previous to 1810-Rowland Hill and the Penny Post-Opposition to the New Scheme-Introduction of

the Lower Rate of Postage-General Features and Effects of the Change-Measure for the Protection

of Children Employed in Chimney-Sweeping-Attempt of Edward Oxford to Shoot the Queen-Ap-

pointment of Prince Albert as Regent under certain Eventualities-Life and Studies at Windsor-

Birth of the Princess Royal-Devotion of the Prince to her Majesty-Christmas at Windsor (1840)—

Christening of the Princess-Accident to Prince Albert-The Eastern Question: Turkey and Egypt-

Removal of the Body of Napoleon I. from St. Helena to Paris-Rise and Development of the Agita-

tion for Free Trade

PAGE

71

CHAPTER VI.

TROUBLES IN THE STATE AND HAPPINESS AT HOME.

Growing Unpopularity of the Melbourne Administration-The Stockdale Case-Approaching Fall of the

Government-Financial Embarrassments-Lord John Russell's Proposal with respect to the Corn Laws

-Defeat of the Ministry-General Election, and Conservative Majority-Views of Prince Albert-

Settlement of the "Bedchamber" Question-Wise Counsel of the Prince and Baron Stockmar-Visits

of the Queen to Places of Interest-Troublesome Loyalty-Launch of the Trafalgar The Melbourne

Government and Free Trade-Speech from the Throne on the Meeting of the New Parliament-Vote

of Want of Confidence in the Government-Resignation of Ministers-Final Years of Lord Melbourne

-Formation and Chief Objects of Sir Robert Peel's Administration-The High Church Movement in

England-Disruption of the Church of Scotland-Lord Melbourne's Opinion of Prince Albert-Sir Robert

Peel and the Prince-Public Appearances of the Latter in Connection with Social and Artistic Ques-

tions-Birth and Christening of the Prince of Wales-Meeting of Parliament for the Session of 1812—

Splendid Festivities at Court-Attempts of Francis and Bean to Shoot her Majesty.

CHAPTER VIL

CONVULSIONS IN THE EAST.

Approaches to a Great Tragedy-State of Afghanistan-Position of Dost Mahomed in 1836-Mission of

Captain Burnes to Cabul in 1837-Afghanistan, England, and Russia-Determination of the Governor-

General of India to Restore Shah Soojah to the Afghan Throne-Garbling of Burnes's Despatches—

Action of the Anglo-Indian Government against the Russians before Herat - British Invasion of

Afghanistan in 1839-Difficulties, Dangers, and Successes of the Campaign-Cold Reception of Shah

Soojah at Cabul-Operations in the Khyber Pass-Outbreak of Insurrections against the Restored

Power-Actions with the British-Surrender of Dost Mahomed-Increased Turmoil among the Afghans

-Massacre of November 2nd, 1811-Imbecility of General Elphinstone-Murder of Sir William Mac-

naghten-Agreement between the British Authorities and Akbar Khan-Retreat of the Army of Occu-

pation-Horrors of the March, and Complete Destruction of the Army-Defence of Jellalabad by Sir

Robert Sale-Operations of Generals Nott, Pollock, and Sale-Capture of Cabul-Release of the Prisoners,

and Close of the War-Lord Ellenborough and the Gates of Somnauth-Murder of Stoddart and Conolly

in Bokhara-Disturbed State of England in 1842-The Queen's First Visit to Scotland-Receipt of Good

News from the East-Position of Prince Albert towards the State-Discretion of his Private Life --

Extent of his Labours-Colonisation in New Zealand and New South Wales.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.

Renewed Popularity of the Queen-Services of Prince Albert-A Volunteer Poet Laureate-Birth of the

Princess Alice-The Whig Deficit, and how Sir Robert Peel Dealt with It-The Income Tax, and Re-

duction of Duties-The Sliding Scale-Advance of Free Trade Principles-Assassination of Mr. Drum-

mond-The Question of Criminal Insanity-Sir Robert Peel and Mr. Cobden-Disturbances in South

Wales: "Rebecca" and her Daughters- Condition of Women in Mines and Collieries-Lord Ashley

and the Factories Act-Opinion of the Queen and Prince Albert on the Qualities of Sir Robert Peel-

Levees held by the Prince-The Frescoes for the Houses of Parliament-Encouragement of Fresco-

Painting by the Queen and Prince Albert-The Summer House in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace

-Visit of her Majesty and the Prince to Louis Philippe at the Château d'Eu-The Duke of Wellington

on the Necessity for a Council of Regency-Designs of France on the Succession to the Spanish Throne

-Dishonest Engagement of the French King-English Opinion completely Misled-Royal Visits to

Belgium, to Cambridge, and to the Midlands-The Prince as a Fox-hunter-Model Farming-Events in

India: Wars in Scinde and Gwalior

89

111

. 131