VICTORIA'S LETTERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 85, 20 January 1928, Page 5

VICTORIA'S LETTERS

.; A PERIOD OF DISASTERS. ' CRITICISM OF GLADSTONE. .NO CONFIDENCE IN HIM. <Pe»- Press Association— Copyright.) <"Sun.") (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m:) LONDON, January 19, . The second series of "Queen Victoria's Letters, 1862-85," coincide with a series of calamities shaking Braiisk prestige throughout the world, including the death of the Prince Imperial, the massacre of the British Mission at Kabul, the British disasters at Isandlwana affldMajuba Hill, Gordon s *! *death, the Phoenix Park murders, and dynamiters' crimes. These all tortured and distressed the Queen:- The tragedies are lately reflected in her letters. - i Queen Victoria wrote indignantly regarding the death of the Prince ImI peri_l. She, said: "Such an amiable, gpod man would have made such a good Emperor of Franc© some day. It is incredible that none remained to try to save this precious life." When Gordon wad sent to Khartoum, Queen Victoria mas intensely apprehensive. She said:: "If anything 'befalls him the result will be awful." Victoria repeatedly but vainly stirzad up the Cabinet, which remained unenergetic and decisiionless. It even tried to prevent her congratulating and encouraging the. JSeneials. She ingly wrote to Lord Harrington on the subject, saying r * 'Lord Hartington' a" letter is very officious and impertinent. The Queen will not- .stand dictation. Hie Liberals always wish to make her .feel that she is a machine. She will «riot accept it." When she heard that Khartoum had {fallen, the Queen sent the famous tele;grain to Ministers, etating: "To think that all this might, have been prevented «nd precious lives saved by earlier action is too frightful.". She wrote: "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." . Queen Victoria so distrusted the Go-. . vernment that she wrote to Lady Wolseley intending that her remarks should , bo passed on to Lord Wolseley, who was commanding in Egypt: "It is in strict confidence that I must tel| you the Government is more incorrigible than ever. Your husband should hold strong language* to them and even threaten to resign if he does not receive support and liberty of action. Wolseley must not let out a hint, but I really .thing the Government must be fright■ened."

Queen; Victoria ' repeatedly bitterly criticised Gladstone,.notably when Beaco'nsfield's Government was defeated in 1880. She declared': "Gladstone's conduct for four years has,been violent, passionate, invective abuse againstßeaconsfield, causing the Turko-Russian •war; I jCduld not have a particle of confidence in Gladstone after his violent, mischievous, dangerous conduct and offensive language against myself." The Queen regarded Chamberlain and Bright as dangerous members of the ,1880 Ministry. , She declared in a letter to the Irish Secretary that she' had Liberal • views regarding the improvement of the Empire,.but would not be Queen of a democratic Monarchy. Radical. agitators must seek another monarch. She doubted whether they would find one. She blamed the release of Parnell and other leaders for the Phoenix Park murders. After this the Queen sent a letter, to the late King Edward; ordering him to remonstrate with Lord Harrington, and reminding him of the assurance that Cabinet would not include dangerous radicals, adding: "All the worst men not respecting Kins;s and Princes and landmarks of the Constitution are put into the Government, despite me. Gladstone's mischief is incalculable."

Many passages show sympathy with the public, as, for instance, when the .Queen expresses regret that museums are not opened on Sundays, which is >, the best antidote to public-houses. She j?7so opposed heavy taxation on beer, which was the poor people's only beverage.