queen victoria-第54章
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ialism； had thrown out the suggestion that the Queen of England ought to become the Empress of India。 Victoria seized upon the idea with avidity； and； in season and out of season； pressed upon her Prime Minister the desirability of putting his proposal into practice。 He demurred； but she was not to be baulked； and in 1876； in spite of his own unwillingness and that of his entire Cabinet； he found himself obliged to add to the troubles of a stormy session by introducing a bill for the alteration of the Royal Title。 His compliance； however； finally conquered the Faery's heart。 The measure was angrily attacked in both Houses； and Victoria was deeply touched by the untiring energy with which Disraeli defended it。 She was； she said； much grieved by 〃the worry and annoyance〃 to which he was subjected； she feared she was the cause of it； and she would never forget what she owed to 〃her kind； good； and considerate friend。〃 At the same time； her wrath fell on the Opposition。 Their conduct； she declared； was 〃extraordinary； incomprehensible； and mistaken；〃 and； in an emphatic sentence which seemed to contradict both itself and all her former proceedings； she protested that she 〃would be glad if it were more generally known that it was HER wish； as people WILL have it； that it has been FORCED UPON HER！〃 When the affair was successfully over； the imperial triumph was celebrated in a suitable manner。 On the day of the Delhi Proclamation； the new Earl of Beaconsfield went to Windsor to dine with the new Empress of India。 That night the Faery； usually so homely in her attire； appeared in a glittering panoply of enormous uncut jewels； which had been presented to her by the reigning Princes of her Raj。 At the end of the meal the Prime Minister； breaking through the rules of etiquette； arose； and in a flowery oration proposed the health of the Queen…Empress。 His audacity was well received； and his speech was rewarded by a smiling curtsey。
These were significant episodes； but a still more serious manifestation of Victoria's temper occurred in the following year； during the crowning crisis of Beaconsfield's life。 His growing imperialism； his desire to magnify the power and prestige of England； his insistence upon a 〃spirited foreign policy；〃 had brought him into collision with Russia； the terrible Eastern Question loomed up； and when war broke out between Russia and Turkey； the gravity of the situation became extreme。 The Prime Minister's policy was fraught with difficulty and danger。 Realising perfectly the appalling implications of an Anglo…Russian war； he was yet prepared to face even that eventuality if he could obtain his ends by no other method； but he believed that Russia in reality was still less desirous of a rupture； and that； if he played his game with sufficient boldness and adroitness； she would yield； when it came to the point； all that he required without a blow。 It was clear that the course he had marked out for himself was full of hazard； and demanded an extraordinary nerve； a single false step； and either himself； or England； might be plunged in disaster。 But nerve he had never lacked； he began his diplomatic egg…dance with high assurance； and then he discovered that； besides the Russian Government； besides the Liberals and Mr。 Gladstone； there were two additional sources of perilous embarrassment with which he would have to reckon。 In the first place there was a strong party in the Cabinet； headed by Lord Derby； the Foreign Secretary； which was unwilling to take the risk of war； but his culminating anxiety was the Faery。
From the first； her attitude was uncompromising。 The old hatred of Russia； which had been engendered by the Crimean War； surged up again within her； she remembered Albert's prolonged animosity； she felt the prickings of her own greatness； and she flung herself into the turmoil with passionate heat。 Her indignation with the Oppositionwith anyone who ventured to sympathise with the Russians in their quarrel with the Turkswas unbounded。 When anti…Turkish meetings were held in London； presided over by the Duke of Westminster and Lord Shaftesbury； and attended by Mr。 Gladstone and other prominent Radicals； she considered that 〃the Attorney…General ought to be set at these men；〃 〃it can't；〃 she exclaimed； 〃be constitutional。〃 Never in her life； not even in the crisis over the Ladies of the Bedchamber； did she show herself a more furious partisan。 But her displeasure was not reserved for the Radicals； the backsliding Conservatives equally felt its force。 She was even discontented with Lord Beaconsfield himself。 Failing entirely to appreciate the delicate complexity of his policy； she constantly assailed him with demands for vigorous action； interpreted each finesse as a sign of weakness； and was ready at every juncture to let slip the dogs of war。 As the situation developed； her anxiety grew feverish。 〃The Queen；〃 she wrote； 〃is feeling terribly anxious lest delay should cause us to be too late and lose our prestige for ever！ It worries her night and day。〃 〃The Faery；〃 Beaconsfield told Lady Bradford； 〃writes every day and telegraphs every hour； this is almost literally the case。〃 She raged loudly against the Russians。 〃And the language；〃 she cried； 〃the insulting languageused by the Russians against us！ It makes the Queen's blood boil！〃 〃Oh；〃 she wrote a little later； 〃if the Queen were a man； she would like to go and give those Russians； whose word one cannot believe； such a beating！ We shall never be friends again till we have it out。 This the Queen feels sure of。〃
The unfortunate Prime Minister； urged on to violence by Victoria on one side； had to deal； on the other； with a Foreign Secretary who was fundamentally opposed to any policy of active interference at all。 Between the Queen and Lord Derby he held a harassed course。 He gained； indeed； some slight satisfaction in playing on the one against the otherin stimulating Lord Derby with the Queen's missives； and in appeasing the Queen by repudiating Lord Derby's opinions； on one occasion he actually went so far as to compose； at Victoria's request； a letter bitterly attacking his colleague； which Her Majesty forthwith signed； and sent； without alteration； to the Foreign Secretary。 But such devices only gave a temporary relief； and it soon became evident that Victoria's martial ardour was not to be sidetracked by hostilities against Lord Derby； hostilities against Russia were what she wanted； what she would； what she must； have。 For now； casting aside the last relics of moderation； she began to attack her friend with a series of extraordinary threats。 Not once； not twice； but many times she held over his head the formidable menace of her imminent abdication。 〃If England；〃 she wrote to Beaconsfield； 〃is to kiss Russia's feet； she will not be a party to the humiliation of England and would lay down her crown；〃 and she added that the Prime Minister might； if he thought fit； repeat her words to the Cabinet。 〃This delay；〃 she ejaculated； 〃this uncertainty by which； abroad； we are losing our prestige and our position； while Russia is advancing and will be before Constantinople in no time！ Then the Government will be fearfully blamed and the Queen so humiliated that she thinks she would abdicate at once。 Be bold！〃 〃She feels；〃 she reiterated； 〃she cannot； as she before said； remain the Sovereign of a country that is letting itself down to kiss the feet of the great barbarians； the retarders of all liberty and civilisation that exists。〃 When the Russians advanced to the outskirts of Constantinople she fired off three letters in a day demanding war； and when she learnt that the Cabinet had only decided to send the Fleet to Gallipoli she declared that 〃her first impulse〃 was 〃to lay down the thorny crown； which she feels little satisfaction in retaining if the position of this country is to remain as it is now。〃 It is easy to imagine the agitating effect of such a correspondence upon Beaconsfield。 This was no longer the Faery； it was a genie whom he had rashly called out of her bottle； and who was now intent upon showing her supernal power。 More than once； perplexed； dispirited； shattered by illness； he had thoughts of withdrawing altogether from the game。 One thing alone； h
