queen victoria-第29节
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ge between the Duc de Montpensier and the Infanta； and； indeed； there was much to be said for this contention。 The ruin which had fallen upon the House of Coburg during the Napoleonic wars had apparently only served to multiply its vitality； for that princely family had by now extended itself over Europe in an extraordinary manner。 King Leopold was firmly fixed in Belgium； his niece was Queen of England； one of his nephews was the husband of the Queen of England； and another the husband of the Queen of Portugal； yet another was Duke of Wurtemberg。 Where was this to end？ There seemed to be a Coburg Trust ready to send out one of its members at any moment to fill up any vacant place among the ruling families of Europe。 And even beyond Europe there were signs of this infection spreading。 An American who had arrived in Brussels had assured King Leopold that there was a strong feeling in the United States in favour of monarchy instead of the misrule of mobs； and had suggested； to the delight of His Majesty； that some branch of the Coburg family might be available for the position。 That danger might； perhaps； be remote； but the Spanish danger was close at hand； and if Prince Leopold were to marry Queen Isabella the position of France would be one of humiliation； if not of positive danger。 Such were the asseverations of Louis Philippe。 The English Government had no wish to support Prince Leopold； and though Albert and Victoria had some hankerings for the match； the wisdom of Stockmar had induced them to give up all thoughts of it。 The way thus seemed open for a settlement： England would be reasonable about Leopold； if France would be reasonable about Montpensier。 At the Chateau d'Eu； the agreement was made； in a series of conversations between the King and Guizot on the one side； and the Queen； the Prince； and Lord Aberdeen on the other。 Aberdeen； as Foreign Minister； declared that England would neither recognise nor support Prince Leopold as a candidate for the hand of the Queen of Spain； while Louis Philippe solemnly promised； both to Aberdeen and to Victoria； that the Duc de Montpensier should not marry the Infanta Fernanda until after the Queen was married and had issue。 All went well； and the crisis seemed to be over； when the whole question was suddenly re…opened by Palmerston； who had succeeded Aberdeen at the Foreign Office。 In a despatch to the English Minister at Madrid； he mentioned； in a list of possible candidates for Queen Isabella's hand； Prince Leopold of Coburg； and at the same time he took occasion to denounce in violent language the tyranny and incompetence of the Spanish Government。 This despatch； indiscreet in any case； was rendered infinitely more so by being communicated to Guizot。 Louis Philippe saw his opportunity and pounced on it。 Though there was nothing in Palmerston's language to show that he either recognised or supported Prince Leopold； the King at once assumed that the English had broken their engagement； and that he was therefore free to do likewise。 He then sent the despatch to the Queen Mother； declared that the English were intriguing for the Coburg marriage； bade her mark the animosity of Palmerston against the Spanish Government； and urged her to escape from her difficulties and ensure the friendship of France by marrying Isabella to the Duke of Cadiz and Fernanda to Montpensier。 The Queen Mother； alarmed and furious； was easily convinced。 There was only one difficulty： Isabella loathed the very sight of her cousin。 But this was soon surmounted； there was a wild supper…party at the Palace； and in the course of it the young girl was induced to consent to anything that was asked of her。 Shortly after； and on the same day； both the marriages took place。
The news burst like a bomb on the English Government； who saw with rage and mortification that they had been completely outmanoeuvred by the crafty King。 Victoria； in particular； was outraged。 Not only had she been the personal recipient of Louis Philippe's pledge； but he had won his way to her heart by presenting the Prince of Wales with a box of soldiers and sending the Princess Royal a beautiful Parisian doll with eyes that opened and shut。 And now insult was added to injury。 The Queen of the French wrote her a formal letter； calmly announcing； as a family event in which she was sure Victoria would be interested； the marriage of her son； Montpensier〃qui ajoutera a notre bonheur interieur； le seul vrai dans ce monde； et que vous； madame； savez si bien apprecier。〃 But the English Queen had not long to wait for her revenge。 Within eighteen months the monarchy of Louis Philippe； discredited； unpopular； and fatally weakened by the withdrawal of English support； was swept into limbo； while he and his family threw themselves as suppliant fugitives at the feet of Victoria。
II
In this affair both the Queen and the Prince had been too much occupied with the delinquencies of Louis Philippe to have any wrath to spare for those of Palmerston； and； indeed； on the main issue； Palmerston's attitude and their own had been in complete agreement。 But in this the case was unique。 In every other foreign complicationand they were many and seriousduring the ensuing years； the differences between the royal couple and the Foreign Secretary were constant and profound。 There was a sharp quarrel over Portugal； where violently hostile parties were flying at each other's throats。 The royal sympathy was naturally enlisted on behalf of the Queen and her Coburg husband； while Palmerston gave his support to the progressive elements in the country。 It was not until 1848； however； that the strain became really serious。 In that year of revolutions； when； in all directions and with alarming frequency； crowns kept rolling off royal heads； Albert and Victoria were appalled to find that the policy of England was persistently directedin Germany； in Switzerland； in Austria； in Italy； in Sicilyso as to favour the insurgent forces。 The situation； indeed； was just such a one as the soul of Palmerston loved。 There was danger and excitement； the necessity of decision； the opportunity for action； on every hand。 A disciple of Canning； with an English gentleman's contempt and dislike of foreign potentates deep in his heart； the spectacle of the popular uprisings； and of the oppressors bundled ignominiously out of the palaces they had disgraced； gave him unbounded pleasure； and he was determined that there should be no doubt whatever； all over the Continent； on which side in the great struggle England stood。 It was not that he had the slightest tincture in him of philosophical radicalism； he had no philosophical tinctures of any kind； he was quite content to be inconsistentto be a Conservative at home and a Liberal abroad。 There were very good reasons for keeping the Irish in their places； but what had that to do with it？ The point was thiswhen any decent man read an account of the political prisons in Naples his gorge rose。 He did not want war； but he saw that without war a skilful and determined use of England's power might do much to further the cause of the Liberals in Europe。 It was a difficult and a hazardous game to play； but he set about playing it with delighted alacrity。 And then； to his intense annoyance； just as he needed all his nerve and all possible freedom of action； he found himself being hampered and distracted at every turn by。。。 those people at Osborne。 He saw what it was； the opposition was systematic and informed； and the Queen alone would have been incapable of it； the Prince was at the bottom of the whole thing。 It was exceedingly vexatious； but Palmerston was in a hurry； and could not wait； the Prince； if he would insist upon interfering； must be brushed on one side。
Albert was very angry。 He highly disapproved both of Palmerston's policy and of his methods of action。 He was opposed to absolutism； but in his opinion Palmerston's proceedings were simply calculated to substitute for absolutism； all over Europe； something no better and very possibly worsethe anarchy of faction and mob violence。 The dangers of this revolutionary ferment were grave； even in England Chartism was rampanta sinister movement； which might at any moment upset the Constitution and abolish the Monarchy。 Surely； with such dangers at home； this was a very bad time to choose for encouraging lawlessness abroad。 He naturally took a particular interest in Germany。 His instincts； his affections； his prepossessions； were ineradicably German； Stockmar was deeply involved in German politics； and he had a multitude of relatives among the ruling German families； who； from the midst of the hurly…burly of revolution； wrote him long and agitated letters once a week。 Having considered the question of Germany's future from every point of view； he came to the conclusion； under Stockmar's guidance； that the great aim for every lover of Germany should be her unification under the sovereignty of Prussia。 The intricacy of the situation was extreme； and the possibilities of good or evil which every hour might bring forth were incalculable； yet he saw with horror that Palmerston neither understood nor cared to understand the niceties of this momentous problem； but rushed on blindly； dealing blows to right and left； quiteso fa
