CONTENTS.
| [CHAPTER XXI.] COLONIAL HOME RULE AND FINANCIAL REFORM. | |
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| PAGE | |
| Mr. Roebuck and Emigration—Self-Government and the Colonies—Unsympathetic Whig Policy—Radicalsand the Colonial Office—The Peelites and Hudson’s Bay Company—Financial Reform—Mr. Cobdenat Variance with Mr. Bright—Combined Agitators—The Demand for Retrenchment—Trade and theFlag—Tories and Taxes—A reductio ad absurdum—A Raid on a Surplus—International Arbitration—ParliamentaryReform—Parliament and the Jews—The Tories oppose the Alteration of the ParliamentaryOath—Episcopal Prejudice—Tory Obstructionists—An Ordnance Department Scandal—Mr.Delane’s Attacks on Lord Palmerston in the Times—The Queen Remonstrates against Lord Palmerston’sRecklessness—An Anti-Palmerstonian Cabal—Lady Palmerston’s Intrigues—Lord BroughamBetrays the Cabal—Palmerston’s Victory—Rome and France—The Second War—The Disaster of Chillianwalla—Indignationof the Country—Lord Gough’s Recall—Napier to the Rescue—The East IndiaDirectors Oppose Napier’s Appointment—The Convict War at the Cape—Boycotting the Governor | [385] |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] FAMILY CARES AND ROYAL DUTIES. | |
| Education of the Prince of Wales—Selection of Mr. Birch as Tutor—The Queen’s Jealousy of her ParentalAuthority—Her Letter to Melbourne on the Management of her Nursery—Her Ideas on Education—PrinceAlbert’s Plans for the Education of the Prince of Wales—Stockmar’s Advice—The Visit toIreland—The Queen at Waterford—“Rebel Cork” en fête—The Visit to Dublin—Viceregal Festivities—TheVisit to the National Model Schools—Shiel’s Speech—The Queen and the Duke of Leinster—Farewellat Kingstown—The Queen Dips the Royal Ensign—Loyal Ulster—The Visit to the LinenHall—Lord Clarendon on the Queen’s Visit—A Cruise on the Clyde—Home in Balmoral—The Queen’s“Bothie”—The Queen’s University of Ireland—First Plans for the Great Exhibition—Opening of theLondon Coal Exchange—The Queen’s Barge—Death of Queen Adelaide | [403] |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] CLOUDS IN THE EAST AND ELSEWHERE. | |
| Political Wreckage—Force triumphs over Opinion—The State of France—Election of Prince Charles LouisBonaparte as Prince-President—The Sad Plight of Italy—Palmerston’s Anti-Austrian Policy—Defeatof Piedmont—The Fall of Venice—Fall of the Roman Republic—A Cromwellian Struggle in Prussia—TheQueen’s Partisanship—Her Prussian Sympathies—The Hungarian Refugees in Turkey—A DiplomaticConflict with Russia—Opening of Parliament—Mr. Disraeli and Local Taxation—ParliamentaryReform—The Jonahs of the Cabinet—The Dispute with Greece—Don Pacifico’s Case—Coercion ofGreece—Lord Palmerston meekly accepts an Insult from Russia—French Intervention—A DiplomaticConflict in France—Recall of the French Ambassador—False Statements in Parliament—The Queen’sIndignation—The Don Pacifico Debate—The Civis Romanus sum Doctrine—Palmerston’s Victory—TheWest African Slave Trade | [420] |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] SOME EPOCH-MARKING LEGISLATION. | |
| The Colonies and Party Government—The Movement for Autonomy—Lord John Russell’s Colonial Bill—ToryOpposition to Colonial Federation—Mr. Adderley’s Plan—Mr. Gladstone’s Scheme for ColonialChurch Courts—The Colonial Bills Mangled in the House of Lords—More English Doles for Ireland—AnIrish Reform Bill—Lord John Russell Proposes to Abolish the Lord-Lieutenancy—The Queen’sIrish Policy—Her offer to Establish a Royal Residence in Ireland—The Bungled Budget—The Demandfor Retrenchment—The Tories Insist on a Reduction of Official Salaries—Lord John Russell’s Commissionon Establishments—The Queen and the Church—The Ecclesiastical Appeals Bill—The “GorhamCase”—Death of Peel—The Queen’s Sorrow—A Nation in Mourning—Peel’s Character and Career—TheQueen’s Alarm about Prince Albert’s Health—The Queen at Work—The Queen’s Reading-Lamp | [438] |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] FALL OF THE WHIG CABINET. | |
| Debates on “No Popery”—Mutiny of the Irish Brigade—Defeat of Lord John Russell—Lord Stanley“sent for”—Timid Tories—Lord Stanley’s Interviews with the Queen—A Statesman’s “DomesticDuties”—Is Coalition Possible?—The Queen’s Mistake—The Duke of Wellington’s Advice—Return ofthe Whigs to Office—The Queen’s Aversions—The “No Popery” Bill Reduced to a Nullity—AnotherBungled Budget—The Income Tax Controversy—The Pillar of Free Trade—The Window Tax andthe House Duty—The Radicals and the Slave Trade—King “Bomba” and Mr. Gladstone—Cobden onGeneral Disarmament—Palmerston in a Millennial Mood—The Whig-Peelite Intrigue—The Queen andthe Kossuth Demonstrations—Another Quarrel with Palmerston—A Merry Council of State | [463] |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] THE FESTIVAL OF PEACE AND THE COUP D’ÉTAT. | |
| The World’s Fair—Carping Critics—Churlish Ambassadors Rebuked by the Queen—Opening of the GreatExhibition—A Touching Sight—The Queen’s Comments on “soi-disant Fashionables”—The Dukeof Wellington’s Nosegay—Prince Albert among the Missionaries—The Queen’s Letter to Lord JohnRussell—Her Pride in her Husband—The London Season—The Duke of Brunswick’s Balloon “Victoria”—Bloomerism—TheQueen at Macready’s Farewell Benefit—The Queen’s Costume Ball—The SpanishBeauty—An Ugly “Lion”—The Queen at the Guildhall Ball—Grotesque Civic Festivities—RoyalVisits to Liverpool and Manchester—A Well-Dressed Mayor—The Queen on the “Sommerophone”—TheCoup d’État—The Assassins of Liberty—The Appeal to France—The Queen’s Last Quarrel withPalmerston—Palmerston’s Fall—Outcry against the Queen—A “Presuming” Muscovite—The Queen’sVindication | [480] |
| [CHAPTER XXVII.] A YEAR OF EXCITEMENT AND PANIC. | |
| Cassandras in the Service Clubs—The Tories and the Queen’s Speech—Lord John Russell’s Triumph—TheMilitia Bill—Defeat of the Russell Ministry—Fall of the Whig Cabinet—Palmerston’s “Tit forTat”—A Protectionist Government—Novices in Office—A Cabinet of Affairs—Mr. Disraeli’s Budget—LordJohn Russell’s Fatal Blunder—The Second Burmese War—Dalhousie’s Designs on Burmah—Howthe Quarrel Grew—Lambert’s Indiscretion—The Attack on Rangoon—Fall of the Citadel—Annexation—DesultoryWarfare—Dissolution of Parliament—The General Election—Equipoise ofParties—Factions and Free Trade—Palmerston’s Forecasts—Forcing the Hand of the Ministry—Deathof the Duke of Wellington—The Queen’s Grief—The Nation in Mourning—The Lying-in-State—ShockingScenes—The Funeral Pageant—The Ceremony in St. Paul’s—A Veteran in Tears—The Laureate’sVotive Wreath—Review of the Duke’s Character | [496] |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII.] THE LAST YEAR OF “THE GREAT PEACE.” | |
| Abortive Attacks on the Ministry—Mr. Disraeli’s First Budget—Fall of the Tory Cabinet—The Queenand Lord Aberdeen—Organising the Coalition—A Ministry of “All the Talents”—The Queen andSouth Kensington—A Miser’s Legacy to the Queen—Sport at Balmoral—Proclamation of the SecondEmpire—The “Battle of the Numeral”—The Queen Initiates a Policy—Personal Government in theVictorian Age—A Servile Minister—Lord Malmesbury’s Spies—Napoleon III. and “Mrs. Howard”—CreoleCard-Parties at Kensington—Napoleon III. Proposes to Marry the Queen’s Niece—Lord JohnRussell’s Education Scheme—Mr. Gladstone’s First Budget—The India Bill—Transportation ofConvicts to Australia Stopped—The Gold Fever in Australia—The Rush to the Diggings—The FirstGold Ships in the Thames—Gold Discoveries and Free Trade—Chagrin of the Protectionists—TheRise in Prices—Practical Success of Peel’s Fiscal Policy—Strikes and Dear Bread—End of theGreat Peace | [515] |
| [CHAPTER XXIX.] DRIFTING TO WAR. | |
| Origin of the Crimean War—Russia and “the Sick Man”—Coercing Turkey—The Dispute about the HolyPlaces—A Monkish Quarrel—Contradictory Concessions—The Czar and the Tory Ministry of 1844—TheSecret Compact with Peel, Wellington, and Aberdeen—Nesselrode’s Secret Memorandum—TheCzar and Sir Hamilton Seymour—Lord John Russell’s Admissions—The Czar’s Bewilderment—LordStratford de Redcliffe—The Marplot at Constantinople—A Hectoring Russian Envoy—The AlliedFleets at Besika Bay—The Conference of Vienna—The Vienna Note—The Turkish Modifications—TheCase for England—The British Fleet in the Euxine—A Caustic Letter of the Queen to LordAberdeen—Prince Albert’s Warnings—The Massacre of Sinope—Internal Feuds in the Cabinet—LordJohn Russell’s Intrigues—Palmerston’s Resignation and Return—The Fire at Windsor—Birthof Prince Leopold—The Camp at Chobham—The Czar’s Daughters—Naval Review at Spithead—RoyalVisit to Ireland | [540] |
| [CHAPTER XXX.] WAR. | |
| The War Fever in 1854—Attacks on Prince Albert—Aberdeen’s Correspondence with the Queen—TheQueen’s Opinion of the Country—“Loyal, but a little mad”—Stockmar on the Constitution—PrinceAlbert’s Position at Court—The Privileges of a Reigning Queen’s Husband—Debates on the Prince’sPosition—The Peace and War Parties—Mr. Cobden’s Influence—A new Vienna Note—A Challenge toRussia—The Russian Ambassador leaves London—Recall of Sir H. Seymour from St. Petersburg—RussianIntrigues with the German Powers—The Czar’s Counter-Propositions—His Sarcastic Letterto Napoleon III.—An Austrian Compromise—Lord Clarendon’s Ultimatum to Russia—The Czar’sReply—Declaration of War—Omar Pasha’s Victories in the Principalities—The Siege of Silistria—Evacuationof the Principalities—The Rising in Greece—The Allies at the Piræus—The Allies occupyGallipoli—Another English Blunder—Invasion of the Crimea—The Duke of Newcastle and a SleepyCabinet—Lord Raglan’s Opinion on the War—The Landing of the Allies at Eupatoria—Battle of theAlma—Russian Fleet Sunk at Sebastopol—At Balaclava—Death of Marshal St. Arnaud—The Siege ofSebastopol—Battles of Balaclava and Inkermann—Mismanagement of the War—Public Indignationagainst the Government—Mr. Roebuck’s Motion—Fall of the Coalition Ministry | [574] |
| [CHAPTER XXXI.] PARTY GOVERNMENT AND WAR. | |
| Stratford de Redcliffe Cooling Down—Tory Distrust of the French Alliance—The Queen’s Kindness toLord Aberdeen—The Emperor Napoleon and Prince Albert—The Prince Visits France—The Queen atBalmoral—Her Feelings towards the Prince of Prussia—The Queen holds a Council of War—She DemandsReinforcements for Lord Raglan—Napoleon’s Alarm—Prince Albert’s Plan for an Army ofReserve—The Queen on the Austrian Proposals—Her Anxiety about the Troops—Raglan’s MeagreDespatches—The Queen and Miss Nightingale—At Work for the Soldiers—Extorting Information fromLord Raglan—Ministerial Changes—Lord John Russell’s Selfishness—A Miserly Whig Duke—TheQueen’s Disgust at Russell’s Treachery—Resignation of Russell—Fall of the Coalition—The Queenand the Crisis—She holds out the Olive Branch to Palmerston—Palmerston’s Cabinet—Quarrel betweenMr. Disraeli and Lord Derby—The Sebastopol Committee—Mr. Roebuck and Prince Albert—TheVienna Conference and the Death of Czar Nicholas—The Austrian Compromise—Parties and theWar—Russell’s Humiliation—He Resigns in Disgrace—The Queen Quashes the Peace Negotiations—ARoyal Blunder—The Queen tries to Gag the Peelites—Aberdeen Browbeaten by the Court—Canrobert’sResignation—Crimean Successes—Failure of the Attack on the Redan—Death of Raglan | [618] |
| [CHAPTER XXXII.] ROYALTY AND THE WAR. | |
| Financing the War—The Queen’s Opinion of War Loans—A Dreadful Winter—Distress in the Country—The“Devil” in Devonshire—Bread Riots—War Loans and a War Budget—The Queen and the WoundedSoldiers—Her Condemnation of “the Hulks”—Presentation of War Medals in Hyde Park—Visit of theEmperor and Empress of the French—A Plot to Capture the Queen—Councils of War at Windsor—TheGrand Chapter of the Order of the Garter—Imperial Compliments—Napoleon III. in the City—Atthe Opera—The Queen’s Birthday Gift to the Emperor—Scarlet Fever at Osborne—Prorogation ofParliament—A Court Intrigue with Dom Pedro of Portugal—The Queen Visits Paris—Her Receptionat St. Cloud—The Ball at the Hôtel de Ville—Staring at the “Koh-i-noor”—At the Tomb of the GreatEmperor—Prince Bismarck’s Introduction to the Queen—Home again—Lord Clarendon on the Queen’sVisit to Paris—How the Prince of Wales Enjoyed himself—At Balmoral—The Bonfire on Craig Gowan—SebastopolRejoicings—“A Witches’ Dance supported by Whisky”—Courtship of the PrincessRoyal—Prince Frederick William of Prussia—His Proposal of Marriage—Attacks of the Times—Visitof Victor Emmanuel—His Reputation in Paris—Memorial of the Grenadier Guards—Fresh Chargesagainst Prince Albert—His Vindication of the Crimean Officers | [643] |
| [CHAPTER XXXIII.] THE END OF THE WAR. | |
| Lord Raglan’s Successor—“Take Care of Dowb”—Lord Panmure’s Nepotism—The Crisis of the War—Gortschakoff’sLast Struggle—The Battle of the Tchernaya River—France and the War—A DespondentCourt—Divided Counsels among the Allies—The Bridge of Rafts—The Grand Bombardment—FrenchAttack on the Malakoff—British Attack on the Redan—Why the Attack Failed—The “Heroof the Redan”—Pélissier’s Message to Simpson—Appeal to Sir Colin Campbell—Evacuation of the Redan—Fallof Sebastopol—Retreat of the Russians to the North Town—Paralysis of the Victors—TheQueen’s Anger—Her Remonstrances with Lord Panmure—A New Commander-in-Chief—Taking Careof “Dowb”—Codrington Chosen—The Wintry Crimean Watch—Diplomatic Humiliation of Palmerston—FranceNegotiates Secretly Terms of Peace with Austria—Palmerston’s Indignant Remonstrances—TheQueen Objects to Prosecute the War Alone—The Surrender of Palmerston—He Abandons theTurks—An Unpopular Peace—The Tories Offer to Support the Peace—The Queen and the Parliamentof 1856 | [669] |
| [CHAPTER XXXIV.] PEACE AND PARLIAMENT. | |
| Opening of Parliament—A Cold Speech from the Throne—Moderation of Militant Toryism—Mr. Disraeli’sCynical Strategy—The Betrayal of Kars—The Life Peerage Controversy—Baron Parke’s Nickname—MoreAttacks on Prince Albert—Court Favouritism among Men of Science—The Congress of Paris—HowFrance Betrayed England—Walewski’s Intrigues with Orloff—Mr. Greville’s Pictures of FrenchOfficial Life—Snubbing Bonapartist Statesmen—Peace Proclaimed—Popular Rejoicings—A Mementoof the Congress—The Terms of Peace—The Tripartite Treaty—The Queen’s Opinion of the Settlement—ParliamentaryCriticism on the Treaty of Paris—Stagnation of Public Life in England—The Queen’s“Happy Family” Dinner Party—A little “Tiff” with America—The Restoration of H.M.S. Resolute—TheBudget—Palmerston’s Tortuous Italian Policy—The Failure of his Domestic Policy—The Confirmationof the Princess Royal—Robbery of the Royal Nursery Plate—Prince Alfred’s Tutor—Reviewsof Crimean Troops—Debates on the Purchase System—Lord Hardinge’s Tragic Death—The Duke ofCambridge as Commander-in-Chief—Miss Nightingale’s Visit to Balmoral—Coronation of the Czar—RussianChicanery at Paris—A Bad Map and a False Frontier—Quarrel between Prussia and Switzerland—Quarrelbetween England and the Sicilies—Death of the Queen’s Half-Brother—Settlement ofthe Dispute with Russia—“The Dodge that Saved us” | [679] |
| [CHAPTER XXXV.] TWO LITTLE WARS AND A “PENAL DISSOLUTION.” | |
| The Queen’s New Year Greeting to Napoleon III.—A Gladstone-Disraeli Coalition—A Scene in theCarlton Club—Mr. Disraeli’s Attack on Lord Palmerston’s Foreign Policy—The Queen Consents toReduce the Income Tax—A Fallacious Budget, with Imaginary Remissions—The Persian War—GeneralOutram’s Victories—Unpopularity of the War—Making War without Consulting Parliament—TheRupture with China—A “Prancing Proconsul”—The Bombardment of Canton—Defeat of LordPalmerston, and his Appeal to the Country—A Penal Dissolution—Abortive Coalition between thePeelites and Tories—Mr. Gladstone and the Intriguers—Split in the Peelite Party—Palmerston’s Victoryat the Polls—The Rout of the Manchester School—The Lesson of the Election—Opening of the NewParliament—The Work of the Session—Mr. Gladstone’s Obstruction of the Divorce Bill—The Settlementof the Neufchâtel Difficulty—The Question of the Principalities—Visit of the French Emperorto the Queen | [699] |
| [CHAPTER XXXVI.] THE INDIAN MUTINY. | |
| The Centenary of Plassey—Rumours of Rebellion—Causes of the Mutiny—The Annexation of Oudh—LordDalhousie’s Indian Policy—Its Disturbing Effect on the Minds of the Natives—The Royal Family ofDelhi—The Hindoo “Sumbut”—The Discontent of the Bengal Army—The Grievances of the Sepoy—TheGreased Cartridges—The Mystery of the “Chupatties”—Mutiny of the Garrison at Meerut—The Marchto Delhi—Sir Henry Lawrence at Lucknow—The Tragedy of Cawnpore—Death of the Commander-in-Chief—Whotook Delhi?—Sir John Lawrence in the Punjab—The Saviour of India—Lord Canning atCalcutta—First Relief of Lucknow—Despatch of Sir Colin Campbell—Second Relief of Lucknow—SavageFighting at the Secunder-baugh—The Queen’s Letter to Sir Colin Campbell—His Retreat to Cawnpore—HisManagement of the Campaign—Windham’s Defeat at the Pandoo River—Sir Colin Campbell’sVictory over the Gwalior Army | [720] |
| [CHAPTER XXXVII.] THE ROYAL MARRIAGE. | |
| Birth of Princess Beatrice—Death of the Duchess of Gloucester—A Royal Romance—Franco-RussianIntrigues—The Art Treasures Exhibition at Manchester—Announcement of the Marriage of the PrincessRoyal—Prince Albert’s Views on Royal Grants—The Controversy on the Grant to the Princess Royal—Visitof the Grand Duke Constantine—The Christening of Princess Beatrice—Prince Albert’s Title asPrince Consort Legalised—The First Distribution of the Victoria Cross—Opposition to the Order—TheQueen’s Visit to Manchester—Departure of the Prince of Wales to Germany—The Queen and the IndianMutiny—Her Controversy with Lord Palmerston—Sudden Death of the Duchess of Nemours—TheMarriage of the Princess Royal—The Scene in the Chapel—On the Balcony of Buckingham Palace—TheIlluminations in London—The Bride and Bridegroom at Windsor—The Last Adieus—The Departure ofthe Bride and Bridegroom to Germany | [738] |