Queen Victoria to the Duchess of Gloucester.
RITUALISM
Windsor Castle, 12th December 1850.
My dear Aunt,—Many thanks for your kind letter; you are quite right not to distress the Duchess of Cambridge by mentioning to her what I wrote to you about the Bishop of London.55 I am glad that you are pleased with my answers to the Addresses; I thought them very proper.56
I would never have consented to say anything which breathed a spirit of intolerance. Sincerely Protestant as I always have been and always shall be, and indignant as I am at those who call themselves Protestants, while they in fact are quite the contrary, I much regret the unchristian and intolerant spirit exhibited by many people at the public meetings. I cannot bear to hear the violent abuse of the Catholic religion, which is so painful and cruel towards the many good and innocent Roman Catholics. However, we must hope and trust this excitement will soon cease, and that the wholesome effect of it on our own Church will be the lasting result of it. Ever yours ...
Victoria R.
Footnote 55: The Bishop of London had taken the same view as Lord John Russell of the Papal action, though they had disagreed over the Gorham controversy.
Footnote 56: See ante, [p. 279].
Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.
Windsor Castle, 14th December 1850.