f. The Queen thinks it best that Lord John Russell should show this
letter to Lord Palmerston.
[Footnote 33: Compare the memorandum suggested by Baron
Stockmar, _ante_, p. 238. This letter was, after much
forbearance, written in the hope of bringing Lord Palmerston
to a proper understanding of his relation to the Sovereign.
Even when the catastrophe came, and its tenor had to be
communicated by the Premier to Parliament, the Preamble was
generously omitted; but in consequence of its description by
Lord Palmerston, in a letter published by Mr Ashley, as an
_angry_ memorandum, it was printed in full in _The Life of the
Prince Consort_.]
_Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell._
FOREIGN OFFICE, _13th August 1850._
MY DEAR JOHN RUSSELL,--I have taken a copy of this memorandum of the
Queen and will not fail to attend to the directions which it contains.
With regard to the sending of despatches to the Queen, they have
sometimes been delayed longer than should have been the case, in
consequence of my having been prevented by great pressure of business,
and by the many interruptions of interviews, etc., to which I am
liable, from reading and sending them back into the Office so soon
as I could have wished. But I will give orders that the old practice
shall be reverted to, of making copies of all important despatches
as soon as they reach the Office, so that there may be no delay in
sending the despatches to the Queen; this practice was gradually left
off as the business of the Office increased, and if it shall require
an additional clerk or two you must be liberal and allow me that
assistance.--Yours sincerely,
PALMERSTON.
[Pageheading: DEATH OF LOUIS PHILIPPE]
_The Duc de Nemours to Queen Victoria._
CLAREMONT, _26 Aout 1850._
MADAME MA CHERE COUSINE,--La main de Dieu vient de s'appesantir sur
nous. Le Roi notre Pere n'est plus.[34] Apres avoir recu hier avec
calme et resignation les secours de la religion, il s'est eteint ce
matin a huit heures au milieu de nous tous. Vous le connaissiez ma
chere Cousine, vous savez tout ce que nous perdons, vous comprendrez
donc l'inexprimable douleur dans laquelle nous sommes plonges; vous la
partagerez meme je le sais!
La Reine brisee, malgre son courage, ne trouve de soulagement que dans
une retraite absolue ou ne voyant personne elle puisse laisser cours a
sa douleur.
Veuillez faire part a Albert de notre m
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