OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# The Letters of Queen Victoria/Volume 3

THE LETTERS OF
QUEEN VICTORIA
A SELECTION FROM HER MAJESTY'S CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE YEARS 1837 and 1861
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING
EDITED BY ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, M.A.
AND VISCOUNT ESHER, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.
IN THREE VOLUMES
VOL. III.—1854-1861
LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1908
Copyright, in Great Britain and Dependencies, 1907, by H. M. the King.
In the United States by Messrs Longmans, Green, and Co.
All rights reserved
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIII 1854
CHAPTER XXIV 1855
CHAPTER XXV 1856
CHAPTER XXVI 1857
CHAPTER XXVII 1858
CHAPTER XXVIII 1859
CHAPTER XXIX 1860
CHAPTER XXX 1861
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
H.M. Queen Victoria, H.R.H. the Prince Consort, and Children. From the picture by F. Winterhalter at Buckingham Palace | Frontispiece H.M. Eugenie, Empress of the French. From a miniature by Sir W. K. Ross at Windsor Castle Facing p. 120 Viscount PALMERSTON, K.G. From the drawing by Sir George Richmond, R.A., in the possession of the Earl of Carnwath é ; ; 2 : by 232 H.R.H. The Prince or Wales. From a drawing by F. Winterhalter, 1859|320 H.R.H. THE Prince Consort, 1861. From the picture by Smith, after Corbould, at Buckingham Palace 472
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
# The Letters of Queen Victoria/Volume 2/Chapter 13/To King of Belgians 30 January 1844

Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
Windsor Castle, 30th January 1844.
My dearest Uncle,—I must begin by thanking you for your kind letter of the 26th, and by wishing you joy that the féte went off so well. I am glad Leo will appear at the next ball; he is nearly nine years old, and it is good to accustom children of his rank early to these things.
Guizot’s speech is exceedingly admired, with the exception of his having said more than he was justified to do about the right of search. Our speech has been very difficult to frame; we should like to have mentioned our visits to France and Belgium, but it has been found impossible to do so; France is mentioned, and it is the first time since 1834!
To-morrow we go up to Town “pour ce bore,” as the good King always said to me; whenever there were tiresome people to present he always said: “Je vous demande pardon de ce bore.”
I have had a tiresome though not at all violent cold which I was alarmed might spoil the sonorousness of my voice for the speech on Thursday, but it promises well now.
I own I always look with horror to the beginning of a Parliamentary campaign.
With Albert’s love. Ever your devoted Niece, Victoria R.
# The Letters of Queen Victoria/Volume 2/Chapter 13/To King of France 17 October 1844

Queen Victoria to the King of the French.
Osborne House, le 17 Octobre 1844.
Sire, et mon très cher Frère,—Votre Majesté m’a écrit deux bien bonnes lettres de Douvres pour lesquelles je vous remercie de tout mon cœur. Les expressions de bonté et d’amitié que vous me vouez ainsi qu’a mon cher Albert nous touchent sensiblement; je n’ai pas besoin de vous dire encore, combien nous vous sommes attachés et combien nous désirons voir se raffermir de plus en plus cette entente cordiale entre nos deux pays qui existe si heureusement entre nous personnellement. C’était avec un vif regret que nous nous sommes séparés de votre Majesté, et de Montpensier, et ce sera une grande fête que de voir renouveler une visite dont le souvenir nous est si cher.
Albert se met à vos pieds, Sire, bien sensible ainsi que moi-même de l’amitié et la confiance que vous lui avez témoignées.
J’ose prier votre Majesté d’offrir mes plus tendres hommages à la Reine et à Madame votre Sœur et de me rappeler au souvenir de Montpensier. Je suis pour la vie, Sire et mon cher Frère, de votre Majesté la bien affectionnée Sœur et fidèle Amie, Victoria R.
# The Letters of Queen Victoria/Volume 2/Chapter 13/To King of Belgians 6 February 1844

Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
Windsor Castle, 6th February 1844.
My dearly beloved Uncle,—You must now be the father to us poor bereaved, heart-broken children. To describe to you all that we have suffered, all that we do suffer, would be difficult; God has heavily afflicted us; we feel crushed, overwhelmed, bowed down by the loss of one who was so deservedly loved, I may say adored, by his children and family; I loved him and looked on him as my own father; his like we shall not see again; that youth, that amiability, and kindness in his own house which was the centre and rendezvous for the whole family, will never be seen again, and my poor Angel’s fondest thought of beholding that dearly beloved Vaterhaus—where his ​thoughts continually were—again is for ever gone and his poor heart bleeds to feel this is for ever gone. Our promised visit, our dearest Papa’s, and our fondest wish, all is put an end to. The violence of our grief may be over, but the desolate feeling which succeeds it is worse, and tears are a relief. I have never known real grief till now, and it has made a lasting impression on me. A father is such a near relation, you are a piece of him in fact,—and all (as my poor deeply afflicted Angel says) the earliest pleasures of your life were given you by a dear father; that can never be replaced though time may soften the pang. And indeed one loves to cling to one’s grief; I can understand Louise’s feeling in her overwhelming sorrows.
Let me now join my humble entreaties to Albert’s, relative to the request about dearest Louise, which he has made. It is a sacrifice I ask, but if you knew the sacrifice I make in letting and urging Albert to go, I am sure, if you can you will grant it. I have never been separated from him even for one night, and the thought of such a separation is quite dreadful; still, I feel I could bear it,—I have made up my mind to it, as the very thought of going has been a comfort to my poor Angel, and will be of such use at Coburg. Still, if I were to remain quite alone I do not think I could bear it quietly. Therefore pray do send me my dearly beloved Louise; she would be such a comfort to me; if you could come too—or afterwards (as you promised us a longer visit), that would be still more delightful. I may be indiscreet, but you must think of what the separation from my all and all, even only for a fortnight, will be to me!
We feel some years older since these days of mourning. Mamma is calm, but poor Aunt Julia is indeed much to be pitied. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted and unhappy Niece and Child, Victoria R.
* ↑ The Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha died on 29th January.
* ↑ The Grand Duchess Constantine of Russia, sister of the Duchess of Kent and of the deceased Duke of Saxe-Coburg.
# The Letters of Queen Victoria/Volume 2/Chapter 13/To King of Belgians 8 October 1844

Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
Windsor Castle, 8th October 1844.
Dearest Uncle,—You will, I am sure, forgive my writing but a few lines as I am all alone in the agitation of the dear King’s arrival, and I will leave my letter open to announce it to you. My dearest master is gone to Portsmouth to receive him. The excitement and curiosity to see the dear King, and the desire to give him a most hearty reception, is very great indeed.
​Many thanks for your kind letters of the 28th and 4th. I can’t think who could have said that Peel, etc., would not have been here; for he, Aberdeen, and the old Duke are to be here the whole time, and all the other Ministers will come during his stay.
I am very glad Joinville is arrived, and avoided his entrées triomphales. I hope he will take great care of himself.
You will have heard from dear Louise of our voyage, etc. I cannot reconcile myself to be here again, and pine for my dear Highlands, the hills, the pure air, the quiet, the retirement, the liberty—all—more than is right. The children are well. I am sorry to hear that you are not quite so yet.
3.30.—The King and Montpensier arrived quite safely at two, and are both looking extremely well. We have just lunched with them. It seems like a dream to me, and a very pleasant one.
Albert sends his affectionate love. Ever your devoted Niece, Victoria R.
Bertie has immediately taken a passion for Montpensier.
# The Letters of Queen Victoria/Volume 2/Chapter 13/To King of Belgians 9 January 1844

CHAPTER XIII
1844
Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
Windsor Castle, 9th January 1844.
My Dearest Uncle,— I had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter of the 4th, which is written from Ardenne, where I grieve to see you are again gone without my beloved Louise.
Charlotte is the admiration of every one, and I wish much I could have seen the three dear children en représentation.
Our fat Vic or Pussette learns a verse of Lamartine by heart, which ends with "le tableau se déroule à mes pieds"; to show how well she had understood this difficult line which Mdlle Charier had explained to her, I must tell you the following bon mot. When she was riding on her pony, and looking at the cows and sheep, she turned to Mdlle Charier and said: "Voilà le tableau qui se déroule à mes pieds." Is not this extraordinary for a little child of three years old? It is more like what a person of twenty would say. You have no notion what a knowing, and I am sorry to say sly, little rogue she is, and so obstinate. She and le petit Frère accompany us to dear old Claremont to-day; Alice remains here under Lady Lyttelton's care. How sorry I am that you should have hurt your leg, and in such a provoking way; Albert says he remembers well your playing often with a pen-knife when you talked, and I remember it also, but it is really dangerous.
I am happy that the news from Paris are good; the really good understanding between our two Governments provokes the Carlists and Anarchists. Bordeaux is not yet gone; I saw in a letter that it was debated in his presence whether he was on any favourable occasion de se présenter en France! ​Do you think that possible? Then again the papers say that there are fortifications being made on the coast of Normandy for fear of an invasion; is this so? These are many questions, but I hope you will kindly answer them, as they interest me. With Albert's love. Believe me ever, your devoted Niece, Victoria R.
# The Letters of Queen Victoria/Volume 2/Chapter 13/To Robert Peel 23 April 1844

Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel.
Buckingham Palace, 23rd April 1844.
The Queen has heard with the greatest regret from Sir R. Peel that the Court of Directors, after all, mean to recall Lord Ellenborough. She cannot but consider this very unwise at this critical moment, and a very ungrateful return for the eminent services Lord Ellenborough has rendered to the Company in India. They ought not to forget so soon in what state Lord Ellenborough found affairs in 1842. The Queen would not be sorry if these gentlemen knew that this is her opinion.
# The Master and His Dogs

Perry index 52
* "A Farmer and his Dogs", in Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists (1692)
* "The Master and his Dogs", translated by George Fyler Townsend, in Three Hundred Æsop's Fables (1867)
* "The Farmer and His Dogs", translated by Vernon Stanley Jones, in Æsop's fables: A New Translation (1912)
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
# The Mahabharata/Book 2: Sabha Parva/Section XVI

"Yudhishthira said,--'Desirous of the imperial dignity but acting from selfish motives and relying upon courage alone, how, O Krishna, can I despatch ye (unto Jarasandha)? Both Bhima and Arjuna, I regard as my eyes, and thee, O Janardana as my mind. How shall I live, deprived of my eyes and mind. Yama himself cannot vanquish in battle the mighty host of Jarasandha that is endued, besides, with terrible valour. What valour can ye exhibit against it. This affair that promises to terminate otherwise may lead to great mischief. It is my opinion, therefore, that the proposed task should not be undertaken. Listen, O Krishna, to what I for one think. O Janardana, desisting from this act seemeth to me to be beneficial. My heart to-day is afflicted. The Rajasuya appeareth to me difficult of accomplishment.'"
"Vaisampayana said,--"Arjuna who had obtained that excellent of bows and that couple of inexhaustible quivers, and that car with that banner, as also that assembly room, now addressed Yudhishthira and said,--'I have obtained, O king, a bow and weapons and arrows and energy and allies and dominions and fame and strength. Those are always difficult of acquisition, however much they may be desired. Learned men of repute always praise in good society nobleness of descent. But nothing is equal to might. Indeed, O monarch, there is nothing I like more than prowess. Born in a race noted for its valour, one that is without valour is scarcely worthy of regard. One, however, possessed of valour, that is born in a race not noted for it, is much superior to the former. He, O king, is a Kshatriya in every thing who increaseth his fame and possessions by the subjugation of his enemies. And he that is possessed of valour, though destitute of all (other) merits, will vanquish his foes. One, however, that is destitute of valour, though possessed of every (other) merit, can scarcely accomplish anything. Every merit exists by the side of valour in an incipient state. Concentration of attention, exertion and destiny exist as the three causes of victory. One, however, that is possessed of valour doth not yet deserve success if he acts carelessly. It is for this that an enemy endued with strength sometimes suffers death at the hands of his foes. As meanness overtakes the weak, so folly sometimes overtakes the strong. A king, therefore, that is desirous of victory, should avoid both these causes of destruction. If, for the purpose of our sacrifice, we endeavour to slay Jarasandha and rescue the kings kept by him for a cruel purpose, there is no higher act which we could employ ourselves in. If, however, we do not undertake the task, the world will always think us incompetent. We have certainly the competence, O king! Why should you, therefore, regard us as incompetent? Those that have become Munis desirous of achieving tranquillity of souls, obtain yellow robes with ease. So if we vanquish the foe, the imperial dignity will easily be ours. We shall, therefore fight the foe."
# The Mahabharata/Book 2: Sabha Parva/Section XVIII

"Krishna continued,--'hearing these words of the king, the Rakshasa woman answered--Blessed be thou, O king of kings. Capable of assuming any form at will. I am a Rakshasa woman called Jara. I am living, O king, happily in thy house, worshipped by all. Every day I wander from house to house of men. Indeed, I was created of old by the Self-create and was named Grihadevi (the household goddess)'. Of celestial beauty I was placed (in the world) for the destruction of the Danavas. He that with devotion painteth on the walls (of his house) a likeness of myself endued with youth and in the midst of children, must have prosperity in his abode; otherwise a household must sustain decay and destruction. O lord, painted on the walls of thy house is a likeness of myself surrounded by numerous children. Stationed there I am daily worshipped with scents and flowers, with incense and edibles and various objects of enjoyment. Thus worshipped in thy house, I daily think of doing thee some good in return. It chanced, O virtuous king, that I beheld the fragmentary bodies of thy son. When these happened to be united by me, a living child was formed of them. O great king, it hath been so owing to thy good fortune alone. I have been only the instrument, I am capable of swallowing the mountain of Meru itself, what shall I say of the child? I have, however, been gratified with thee in consequence of the worship I receive in thy house. It is, therefore, O king, that I have bestowed this child on thee.
"Krishna continued,--Having spoken these words, O king, Jara disappeared there and then. The king having obtained the child then entered the palace. And the king then caused all the rites of infancy to be performed on that child, and ordered a festival to be observed by his people in Honour of that Rakshasa woman. And the monarch equal unto Brahma himself then bestowed a name on his child. And he said that because the child had been united by Jara, he should be called (Jarasandha i.e., united by Jara). And the son of the king of Magadha endued with great energy, began to grow up in bulk and strength like a fire into which hath been poured libation of clarified butter. And increasing day by day like the moon in the bright fortnight, the child began to enhance the joy of his parents.'"
# The Liberator (newspaper)/September 18, 1857/Call for a Northern Convention

The Liberator.
Boston, September 18, 1857.
Call for a Northern Convention.
Whereas, it must be obvious to all, that the American Union is constantly becoming more and more divided, by Slavery, into two distinct and antagonistic nations, between whom harmony is impossible, and even ordinary intercourse is becoming dangerous;
And, whereas, Shivery has now gained entire control over the three branches of our National Government, Executive, Judiciary, and Legislative; has so interpreted the Constitution as to deny the right of Congress to establish freedom even in the territories, and by the same process has removed all legal protection from a large portion of the people of the free States, and has inflicted, at many times and places, outrages far greater than those which our fathers rose in arms to repel;
And, whereas, there seems no probability that the future will, in these respects, be different from the last, under existing State relations;
The undersigned respectfully invite their fellow-citizens of the Free States to meet in Convention, at Cleveland, (Ohio,) on Wednesday and Thursday, October 28th and 29th, 1857, to consider the practicability, probability, and expediency of a separation of the Free and Slave States, and to take such other measures as the condition of the times may require.
☞Friends of free discussion and free inquiry! have you appended your names to this Call, and forwarded them as directed? There is still an opportunity to sign it; let it be improved by all who take an interest in the subject. We understand some decline on the modest ground of not wishing to see their names in print. Their wish will be gratified. Of course, only a very small proportion of the names actually sent in can be published; but it is both desirable and important to have as many obtained as possible, as a basis of action. We again ask attention to the fact, that no one, by signing the Call, thereby necessarily subscribes to the doctrine of disunion. The Convention is to be held for consultation as to what is the duty of the North: what its final decision may be, it would be useless to conjecture. If there were no other reasons for putting our name to the Call, the denial of the right of the North to ‘calculate the value of the Union,’ by the Southern slave oligarchy, while they make it a matter of constant calculation, and threaten to cut the connection whenever they shall be successfully foiled in their nefarious purposes, would be with us an all-sufficient stimulus. If you dare to be free, and to maintain a manly independence, send in your names!
# The Liberator (newspaper)/September 18, 1857/Anniversary of the Western A. S. Society

Anniversary of the Western A. S. Society.
Salem, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1857.
Dear Friend May:
The anniversary meeting at Alliance closed on Monday. It was, on the whole, the best one I ever saw in the West. It was well attended, and the discussions were very spirited, and mainly interesting and profitable. I see no reason why we may not prosecute a campaign worthy of so auspicious a beginning. Calls pour in on us from all quarters for lectures and conventions, and many old Republicans and Free Soil men are about tired of their political warfare.
You will soon see the Resolutions of the Anniversary, and I hope approve them, too. They all passed unanimously, except that of S. S. Foster on political action; and the opposition to that was almost as decided as the approval of the rest. I think it finds very little, if any, favor among the Executive Committee, or any of the old friends of the Western Society, except, it may be, among a very few of strong political tendencies, or actual members of the Republican party.
The resolutions on the Church found no opponent whatever. Those relating to the new compensation project of Elihu Burritt were equally unfortunate It was delightful to see how promptly and how unitedly the Western Society placed the whole weight of its foot on this last attempt of cowardice and compromise to evade its most solemn duty, at once to demand the liberation of the captive, regardless of the iron demands of those who have robbed them so long.
The meeting continued three days. On Sunday, the attendance was at least three thousand persons. The great Oberlin Tent was never much better filled never with a more earnest and determined congregation of the friends of freedom and humanity.
Yours, for the right, Parker Pillsbury.
# The Liberator (newspaper)/September 18, 1857/Another Case of Imposture

Another Case of Imposture.
Windsor Locks, Conn., Sept. 7, 1857.
Mr. Garrison:
Dear Sir,—George Thompson, the fugitive, whom you sent from Boston, Saturday morning, to meet Mr. Seward at Albany, (according to his account,) came to us that evening, You will have heard the particulars of the attempt to arrest him, and his escape, before you receive this. His friends in Springfield judged it best to send him southward, and he was accordingly brought within a few miles of this place, and directed to one of my people and myself. We were at a loss what to do, but concluded, in view of the large reward offered for him, and the consequent probability of considerable effort to track him, and a sharp lookout, especially on the main lines of travel near Springfield, that it would be safest for him to go immediately in the direction of Albany, over the country roads. It being the Sabbath, I was necessarily confined at home by my pulpit duties yesterday, and could not carry him on his way, as I should have been glad to do. He remained with us Saturday night, and started on foot early yesterday morning, being pretty well, though somewhat stiff and sore.
If no misfortune befel him, he reached Rev. —— ——’s, West Hartland, Conn., last evening, by whom he would be cared for. Thence he was directed to go to Mr. —— ——, West Winsted, Conn., and remain there till he heard from yourself or Mr. Seward. From West Winsted, it is but a few miles to Canaan on the Housatonic railroad, if you should think it safe for him to proceed in that way.
He lost the money you gave him, through the superabundant kindness of his heart in changing a counterfeit bill for a scoundrel whom he camo across in the cars. He says the conductors were very kind to him. We supplied him with as much money as we thought he would need: between four and five dollars.
I trust he will be kept from the power of his oppressor, and to hear from you of his reaching a place of safety. May God hasten the day when we shall not be obliged to hide the fugitive, to save him from being, forced back into slavery!
Very truly, yours, SAMUEL H. ALLEN.
☞We know nothing whatever of the colored man, ‘George Thompson,’ referred to in the foregoing letter, and accordingly pronounce him to be an impostor—regretting that our benevolent friend has been so basely deceived. Too much of caution cannot be exercised, on the part of those whose sympathies are warmly enlisted in behalf of the colored population, bond and free, in relation to colored applicants for aid either in their own case, or ostensibly to ransom some relative from bondage. Impostors of this class are travelling in all directions, and will be likely to increase rather than diminish in numbers and boldness. Look well at the documents—require the best anti-slavery testimony—and, as a general rule for safety, give very sparingly of money.—Ed. Lib.