Victoria’s Letters

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 257, 20 January 1928, Page 1

Victoria’s Letters

quarrels with cabinet

Gladstone Assailed

ALARM AT SHAKEN BRITISH PRESTIGE

By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright.

deceived 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Thursday r* second senes of Queen Victoria’s letters, from 1862 to 1885, coincide with the series of calamities which were shaking Bntish prestige all over the world, including the death of the Prince Imperial, the massacre of the British Mission at Kabul, the British disasters at Isandhlwana and Majnba Hill, Gordon s death, the Phoenix Park murders and the dynamiters crimes. ’ These ail tortured and distressed the Queen

rE tragedies are largely reflected tn the letters. She wrote indignantly regarding the Princef Imperial, and said, "Such an amiable, good man „ould have made such a good Emperor of France some day. It is Incredible that none remained to try to save this precious life.” Urben General Gordon was sent to Khartoum, Queen Victoria was intensely apprehensive, and said, “If anything befalls him, the. result will be awful." Victoria repeatedly vainly stirred up the Cabinet, which remained unsnergetic and decisionless, and even tried to prevent her from congratulating or encouraging the generals. She accordingly wrote to Lord Harthgton thereon, saying “Hartington’s letter 1» very officious and impertinent. The Queen will not stand dictation. The Liberals always wish to make her feel that she is a machine. She will not accept it.” When she heard that Khartoum had fallen, she sent her famous talegram to the Ministers, stating, “To think all this might have been prevented and precious fives •aved by earlier action is too frightful. Gladstone and the Government have Gordon’s innocent, noble, heroic blood on their consciences. It is awful. May they feel It and be made to feel it”

Victoria so distrusted the Government that she wrote to Lady Wolseley, intending her remarks to be gutted on to her husband, then commanding in Egypt: “In strict confidence I must tell you that the Government is mors incorrigible than ever. Your hosband should hold strong language t» them and even threaten to resign if he does not receive the support and liberty of action. Wolseley must

not let out a hint, but I really think the Government must be frightened.” Victoria repeatedly bitterly criticised Gladstone, notably when the Earl of Behconsfield’s Government was defeated in 1880.

She declared, “Gladstone’s conduct for four years has been of violent passionate invective and abuse against Beaconsfield, causing the TurcoRussian War. I could not have a particle of confidence in Gladstone after his violent, mischievous and dangerous conduct and offensive language against myself.” The Queen regarded Chamberlain as one of the bright and dangerous members of the 1880 Ministry. She declared in a letter to the Irish Secretary that she had liberal views regarding improvement of the Empire, but she would not be Queen in a democratic monarchy. “The Radical agitators must seek another monarch; I doubt

whether they will find one.” She blamed the release of Parnell and other leaders for the Phoenix Park murders, after which she sent a letter to the late King Edward ordering him to remonstrate with Lord Hartington, reminding him of the assurances that the Cabinet would not include dangerous Radicals, and adding: “All the worst men, not respecting kings and princes, landmarks of constitution, have been put into the Government despite me. Gladstone’s mischief is incalculable.” Many passages show sympathy with the public. As an instance, she expressed regret that museums were not opened on Sundays, which would he the best antidote to public houses. She also opposed heavy taxation of beer, which was the “poor people’s only beverage.”—A. and N.Z.