STATE OF GERMANY
Windsor Castle, 3rd December 1850.
My beloved Uncle,—Two of your dear letters are before me, of the 29th November and of yesterday. In the former you give me a promise, which I consider most valuable, and which I shall remind you of if you get desponding, viz. "I will to please you labour on, and do all the good I can." It is so pleasing to feel that one does good and does one's duty. It sweetens so many bitter trials.
The state of Germany is indeed a very anxious one. It is a mistake to think the supremacy of Prussia is what is wished for. General Radowitz himself says that what is necessary for Germany [is] that she should take the lead, and should redeem the pledges given in '48. Unless this be done in a moderate and determined way, a fearful reaction will take place, which will overturn Thrones; to use Radowitz's own words: "und nicht vor dem Thron stehen bleiben." Prussia is the only large and powerful really German Power there is, and therefore she must take the lead; but her constant vacillation—one day doing one thing and another day another—has caused her to be entirely distrusted. You are quite right in saying things should be done d'un commun accord, and I think that the other great Powers ought to be consulted. Unfortunately, Lord Palmerston has contrived to make us so hated by all parties abroad, that we have lost our position and our influence, which, considering the flourishing and satisfactory state of this country during all the European convulsions, ought to have been immense. This it is which pains and grieves me so deeply, and which I have so plainly been speaking to Lord John Russell about. What a noble position we might have had, and how wantonly has it been thrown away!
Good Stockmar is well, and always of the greatest comfort and use to us. His judgment is so sound, so unbiassed, and so dispassionate. Ever your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.
ENGLAND AND ROME
Windsor Castle, 8th December 1850.
The Queen received Lord John Russell's letter and the draft yesterday. He must be a better judge of what the effect of Mr Sheil's51 presence in Rome may be than she can; but for her own part, she thinks it entirely against her notions of what is becoming to ask the Pope for a favour (for it is tantamount to that) at a moment when his name is being vilified and abused in every possible manner in this country. It strikes the Queen as an undignified course for this Government to pursue.