satisfactory behaviour of my friends, the good Belgians ;
fervently do I hope and really trust all will go on well ; but what an extraordinary state of things everywhere! “Je ne sais plus ov je suis,” and I fancy really that we have gone back into the old century. But I also feel one must not be nervous or alarmed at these moments, but be of good cheer, and muster up courage to meet all the difficulties.
Our little riots are mere nothing, and the feeling here is good. . . . What is your opinion as to the late events at Paris ? Do you not think the King ought to have retired to Vincennes or somewhere else a day or two before, and put himself at the head of the army ? Ought not Montpensier at least to have gone to Vincennes ? I know Clém even thinks this—as also that one ought to have foreseen, and ought to have managed things better. Certainly at the very last, if they had not gone, they would all have been massacred ; and J think they were quite right, and in short could not avoid going as quickly as they could ; but there is an impression they fled too quickly. Still the recollection ‘of Louis XVI... . is enough to justify all, and everybody will admit that; but the Princes, they think, ought to have remained. What do you think of all this ? I think the blunders were all on the last three or four days—and on the last day, but were no longer to be avoided at last; there seemed a fatality, and all was lost. Poor Nemours did his best till he could no longer get to the troops. People here also abuse him for letting Victoire go alone—but he remained to do his duty ; a little more empressement on her arrival here I would have wished. Albert told you all about the Montpensiers’ journey. It would do the King irreparable mischief if they went now to Spain ; the feeling of anger would all return. Poor people! they are all in a sad state of want’ at present.
I must conclude. Hoping to hear from you, and to have — your opinion. Ever your devoted Niece, Victoria R.
Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, 15th March 1848.
The Queen cannot let this day pass without offering Lord
Melbourne hers and the Prince’s best wishes for many happy returns of it in health and strength.
Lord Melbourne will agree with the Queen that the last three weeks have brought back the times of the last century, and we are in the midst of troubles abroad. The Revolution in France
