Nothing can equal
the consternation produced by this event. This morning Brookfield, who had
preached a very fine sermon without any reference to this calamity, said a few
words at the end, which were in excellent taste, and were a touching tribute to
the character of the Prince. They excited a very deep sensation.
I dined to-night at
Flahault's, and was relieved to hear as good a report of the Queen as could
possibly be expected. She had passed the night in the room with the body, had
been overcome by sleep for two hours, and on awakening had a tremendous burst
of grief, succeeded by violent fits of crying. To-day she saw the Duchess of
Sutherland, and talked over the whole case with her. She took the Duchess into
the room to view the body, and then told her the object of her future life
would be to carry out all his views and wishes, that she was determined to
exert herself and to fulfil the duties of her position. Ellice was at Flahault's,
and said he fully expected she would resume that energy of character which had
been so remarkable on her accession, and which after her marriage became
absorbed in his. The difficulties of her position were, however, very great.
The Prince had taken all trouble from off her hands, and had, in fact,
transacted nearly the whole business of the State, and all that of the Court,
to the most minute detail. He thought it would be impossible for the Queen to
go on without a private secretary, such as Sir Herbert Taylor had been to the
two preceding Sovereigns, but such a post should by rights be filled by a
Cabinet Minister, and where was he to be found? Sir Herbert Taylor had been
tolerated because of the kindness of George III., and suffered to continue with
William IV. because of the confidence placed in his high character, although
Lord Grey and others had always objected on constitutional grounds to the King
having any one about him in so anomalous a position. Lady Augusta Bruce, whom
the Queen has adopted since the Duchess of Kent's death, will probably fill the
place formerly occupied by Baroness Letzen, but this can only be for her
private and domestic affairs. The difficulties, in short, are endless, and meet
you at every corner.
The résumé of
the President's Message has arrived. He makes no mention of the 'Trent' affair,
which may perhaps be considered as a loophole. On the other hand, Congress had
passed a resolution of thanks to Commodore Wilkes, and the Navy Department had
expressed its emphatic approval of the capture of Mason and Slidell, but stated
that Wilkes had displayed too much forbearance in not capturing the 'Trent,'
and that lenity must not form a precedent for any similar
infraction of neutral obligations by foreign commercial vessels.
This is considered
as very warlike news. Ellice expects the Americans will brag to the last, and
then give in; that they will return such an answer to our despatch as will
require the consideration of our Government; that Lyons will come away, which
will at once create such a panic at New York as to make it next to impossible
for the Government to get money. This is his idea. Another possible event is
the murder of Mason and Slidell by the mob—for when a whole people becomes mad,
the course they may pursue is difficult to conjecture.
SOURCE: Alice
Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville:
1857-1861, pp. 417-9
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