queen victoria-第33章
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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 far as he could seewithout system； and even without motiveexcept； indeed； a totally unreasonable distrust of the Prussian State。
But his disagreement with the details of Palmerston's policy was in reality merely a symptom of the fundamental differences between the characters of the two men。 In Albert's eyes Palmerston was a coarse； reckless egotist； whose combined arrogance and ignorance must inevitably have their issue in folly and disaster。 Nothing could be more antipathetic to him than a mind so strangely lacking in patience； in reflection； in principle； and in the habits of ratiocination。 For to him it was intolerable to think in a hurry； to jump to slapdash decisions； to act on instincts that could not be explained。 Everything must be done in due order； with careful premeditation； the premises of the position must first be firmly established； and he must reach the correct conclusion by a regular series of rational steps。 In complicated questionsand what questions； rightly looked at； were not complicated？to commit one's thoughts to paper was the wisest course； and it was the course which Albert； laborious though it might be； invariably adopted。 It was as well； too； to draw up a reasoned statement after an event； as well as before it； and accordingly； whatever happened； it was always found that the Prince had made a memorandum。 On one occasion he reduced to six pages of foolscap the substance of a confidential conversation with Sir Robert Peel； and； having read them aloud to him； asked him to append his signature； Sir Robert； who never liked to commit himself； became extremely uneasy； upon which the Prince； understanding that it was necessary to humour the singular susceptibilities of Englishmen； with great tact dropped that particular memorandum into the fire。 But as for Palmerston； he never even gave one so much as a chance to read him a memorandum； he positively seemed to dislike discussion； and； before one knew where one was； without any warning whatever； he would plunge into some hare…brained； violent project； which； as likely as not； would logically involve a European war。 Closely connected； too； with this cautious； painstaking reasonableness of Albert's； was his desire to examine questions thoroughly from every point of view； to go down to the roots of things； and to act in strict accordance with some well…defined principle。 Under Stockmar's tutelage he was constantly engaged in enlarging his outlook and in endeavouring to envisage vital problems both theoretically and practicallyboth with precision and with depth。 To one whose mind was thus habitually occupied； the empirical activities of Palmerston； who had no notion what a principle meant； resembled the incoherent vagaries of a tiresome child。 What did Palmerston know of economics； of science； of history？ What did he care for morality and education？ How much consideration had he devoted in the whole course of his life to the improvement of the condition of the working…classes and to the general amelioration of the human race？ The answers to such questio
