IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /. ;% .<^A 1/ /^^^4 /, C/i « 1 1.0 I.I '•2^ i i l^|28 |jo "^W m m S «£ 1112.0 " III 2.5 2.2 L4 1.6 6' ^ w o ^1 ^ > / m C/M Photographic Sciences Corporation ^\ •^^ ^ ;\ 23 WEST MAIN STRfET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S«0 (716) •72-4503 t" A " (meaning "CON- TINUED "), or the symbol V whichever applies. [meaning "END"), Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon Ie cas: Ie symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie symbole V signifiu "FIN". rrata o 1 d 3 3?X Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: 1 2 3 1 Les cartns. planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 & partir de I'angle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant Ie nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. "T m .m Queen Victoria. •ft* »^ &, ^^ PorlT«itbyMf JRusiell 'VlnciotBt»«ipi\nri*lLSr »a';'?^': L jUElN M SouUenr DA\if WARD. LOCK AN D CO \ ^^ ■- LONDON. NEW YORK. AHD M«:?.£OU&.*^ \m7 ■■t'****''*'-******'!^'!*!!!' 7 /^ f QUEEN VICTORIA aA Sou\)enir of \\}q I^GCGrd I^ei^r\. BY David Williamson, WARD. LOCK AND CO., LIMITED LONDON, NEW YORK. AND MELBOURNE 1397. WAS 2S3230 CONTENTS. FRONTISPIECE—PIIOTOGRAVUliE OF THE QUEEN. CHAPTER 1. THE (JUKEN S DAIEY LITE PAGE CHAPTER II. EKOM THE NURSERY TO THE TlHiONE . 13 CHAPTER III. UUEEN WII'E — MOTHER — WIDOW . CHAPTER IV. WINDSOR CASTLE ...... 21 CHAPTER V. THE gUEEN's I.IEE A I" OSUORNE CHAPTER VI. THE queen's life AT BALMORAL . CHAPTER VII. THE queen's RELATIVES CHAPTER VIII, AN Al'PRECIATION OF THE QUEEN . 4' 49 60 p tl J'liolu /ij ] [Hughes & MuUiits, Kyde. THE gUEEN IN HER ROBES OF STATE. iSlueen Victoria. CHAPTER 1. THE QUl'.ES'S DAILY LIU I.. HE early life of the Oueen is so familiar to most of her loyal subjects, that I make no apology for de\oting the first chapter in this biography to an account of Her Majesty's life at the present day. Millions of people who know nothing of Court ceremonials and the arduous duties of a Sovereign have an abiding interest in the personal life of Queen Victoria. They are, in many cases, better acquainted with the relationships of the Royal Family than with their own genealogical tree, and could " pass with honours " an examination in the ties which bind the Queen to 8 diuccii IDictoi'la. the (lifTerent Courts of Kurope " unto the third and fourtli generations." This deep interest in her concerns has been earned by the Queen in her capacity as Wife, Mother, Widow, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, and not simply because she is Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India. The daily record of the Coiii't Ciniilar is to many the chief item in a daily newspaper, although that presents the faintest picture of the Queen's day's work. For few realise what a busy woman the Queen is. To her there comes no interval of holiday, no respite from official duties, no day on which she may be From a Photo hy] DUKE OF CONNAUGHT. [Russell. IlL'KE or SAXK-COnURO-GOTHA GERMAN EMl'KROR. PRINCE OK WALES. HKK MAJESTY THE gUEEN. THE EMPRESS FREDERICK. A FAMILY GROUP. said to be " of!" duty." It may surprise some people to learn thut she appends her signature to about fifty thousand documents a year, a task which is not performed until the contents of each has been ascertained. The Queen has grown more business-like with each year of her reign, and more regardful of the importance of each act to which she gives authority. Woe betide the official who has not taken the trouble to master the precedents for any ceremonials, or has failed to observe the punctilious rules which govern it. Yet it must not be imagined that the Queen is a martinet who never deviates from a set programme. Not long ago, a well-known physician was entering the Royal presence in order to receive knighthood. He was suffering severely from gout, and the Queen noticed the pain, which was evident in his slow walk. " Pray don't think of Ubc (^uccn'ij 2Dall\? Xttc. knecliii}^," she said, imiuLHliately ; and thtiSj for once in lier reif,'n at all events, knif^htliood was conferred on a man standing,'. It is chielly in matters of detail that the (Jneen is particular. For instance, letters which are sent for her perusal nmst not be creased or folded in any way. Various rules as to the dress of those in attend- ance mif,dit seem, at first si},dit, to be arbi- trary, but are really founded on common - sense, as well as a desire to uphold the proper dignity of a Court. A Royal Prince who ap- peared in hunting- boots was once rebuked for forgetting that he was no longer in the field, but in the Queen's apart- ments. All the younger Princes and Princesses are instructed in good manners and in the con- sideration for those who serve them, by seeing how scrupulous the Queen is in acknowledg- ing the smallest act of courtesy. ■ Indeed, this appre- ciation of service de- serves to be noted as one of the best charac- teristics of the Queen. " I am one of those," wrote Her Majesty to Dean Stanley when the latter had lost his valet, " who think the loss of a faithful servant the loss of a friend, and one who can never be replaced.'" Again and agam the Queen has written with her own hand in the Court Circular brief but touching tributes to the worth and fidelity of her servants. I remember seeing a beautiful gold bracelet on the wrist of a woman in a little Devonshire village. It was given her on the morning when she left the service of the Queen \\\ AN ORUINARV MENU CARD FOR THE QUEEN S DINNER. r ?.■ 11 !- •• J'hoto by [J. Knsstil. THE QUEEN, WITH HER DAUGHTERS THE EMPRESS FREDERICK AND PRINCESS HENRY OF BATTENBERG. Zbc (Jiuceu's S)aili> Xtfc. II order to be nuirried. The date of the wedding had been postponed more than once to meet the wishes of the Royal Mistress, but at last the day for quitting the Castle had come. '•'he Oueen sent for the young woman, and after giving her kindly counsels, fastened on her wrist the gold bracelet, locked it, and, retaining the key said : " Now, though you are leaving me, you will still be my servant, and every time you look at this locked bracelet you must remember her who has the key." iisscll. THE LAST PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN PRIOR TO HER MARRIAGE. • ' Ffom the picture by William Fowler. . • . The Queen has a dislike of change, and many of her servants have been several years with her. When they retire, they receive every consideration, either in the shape of a pension, or in appointment to some post. Nor are they then forgotten, for the Queen's memory of faces is proverbial, and years afterwards some gate-keeper has been astonished by Her Majesty's thoughtful enquiries. The daily routine of the Court is always being varied by interesting incidents, but in its main features the Queen's day is spent in the following fashion. She has been an early riser ever since that first morning of her reign, when at six o'clock she appeared to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chamberlain, and the Marquis of Conyngham " in a loose white nightgown and shawl, her nightcap thrown off, and her hair falling upon her shoulders, her feet in slippers, tears in her eyes, but perfectly collected and dignified." When thj Queen has taken la (Sluecu IDtctovia. irfi breakfast alone, or in company with Trinccss llcatricc, she reads a poition of the Scriptures— she is a thoroii^'h student of the liihle - inspects her liirthday Hook, f,dances at her private correspondence from Russia, Germany, Denmark, Sandrinf,diain, and elsewhere, and l)e{,'ins the "business" of the day by listeninf; to important news read aloud from the Times. This proj,'ramme is often carried out on a bright morninj^f in a tent, for the (Jueen likes plenty of fresh air, and not seldom breakfasts at Frogmore or in the grounds of Osborne, and spc-nds the rest of a busy morning out-of-doors. Despatch-boxes and the letter from the Leader of the House, detailing the previous night's doings in the House of Commons, await the Queen's consideration immediately after breakfast, or a Cabinet Minister has audience with her before returning to town. Then comes a drive, followeil by a simple luncheon. The list of guests for Her Majesty's dinner-party has to be finally completed, and telegrams are despatched accordingly. After lunch, there are possibly more State documents for signature, as well as private letters to be written. The Queen is a first-rate correspondent, as her relatives have good reason to know. She remembers birthdays or other anniversaries with loving generosity, as regards her grand-children and great-grandchildren, and with sympathetic thought as regards her older descendants. In the afternoon there is usually another drive, concluding in time for tea, after which some book, such as Nansen's " Farthest North," is read aloud, while the Queen does fancy-work, probably for a charitable object. About half-past eight the Queen's dinner-part)' will be assembling — a Cabinet Minister or two, a distinguished general and his wife, a famous traveller, an Ambassador, and the usual suite. The Queen bows to her guests, and takes her place at the table with the most distinguished man on her right. With him she converses in low tones, and, if he be newly returned from a distant part of the Empire, she will make many enquiries as to the conditions under which her subjects live. The Queen says a few words to each of her guests before retiring to her boudoir, and these words always prove her acquaintance with their career and work. Occasionally the dinner is followed by tableaux vivants or by music. In this case there are usually extra guests invited from the neighbourhood. The Queen never fails to thank any artistes who minister to her pleasure, and accords personal interviews to the more prominent ones. Often she requests their signature in a handsome Birthday Book kept for this purpose. At the conclusion of the evening there may be a late despatch-box claiming attention before the Queen can rest. But she is at last able to retire, with the consciousness of having accomplished a longer and more valuable day's work than any woman in her realm, . , . CHAPTER II. FliO.M THE NURSKKY TO Till: TIIROSH. OR the purpr/ses of record it may be convenient to summarise briefly the facts relatinji to the ea.ly life of her who has come to be known throughout the wide world as Queen Victoria. Victoria Alexandrina was the only child of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. and of the l'rinc(!ss Louisa Victoria, of Saxe-Coburg. She was born at Kensington Palace on May 24tli, i8ig. Her father died a few months later, and as neither (ieorge IV. nor his brothers, the Dukes of York and Clarence, left heirs, the Princess Victoria was heir- presumptive to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland. Her childhood was spent under the happiest of conditions. The Duchess of Kent believed in her daughter's training being thorough, and for this purpose she engaged skilful teach- ers who prepared our future Queen for her great responsibilities. But, at the same time, the chief teacher was the Duchess her- self, a cultured and charming woman. Her whole interest '"as centred in this daughter w ho was some day to be ihe ruler of millions, and she set a fine example of self-sacrifice which KENSINGTON PALACE AT TIIU TIME OF THE BIRTH OF I'RINCESS VICTORIA. ""^^ ''"" ^"^ WnOle From a Drawing by Westall world under a debt of 18 TIIIC I)1'C1:E.S'^ of KKNT and I'UINCICSS y ctokia. From the Portrait hv Sir W Hkkciikv. 1% Queen IMctorla. lYiiTiWC tH> the iloAth of tho Dtiku of Kent, the government of tliu hone .^»rt>««l»l «•» ..jxMl his willow. Ami from morning to niglit, until the (hite >ifc €hr \»«yfl6 * jKVt^^iv^n. the l)uchess was never separated from her itaughter. $^MM was ?** rir»t\Y every morning tlie Durhess of Kent devoted herself to the PENCIL SIGNATURE OF PRINCESS VICTORIA WHEN KOt'R YEARS OK A(iK. iHtnK:tk>Q of her infant daughter. She was at this early period her chief iastructress in languages; for the Princess, we are told, became familiar with three several languages at a time of life when other children have scarcely acquired the rudiments of their native tongue. If she had a favour to ask, or a request to prefer, she readily perceived that it was most agreeable to the maternal ear when tilled in the Teutonic accents of the Duchess of Kent's beloved fatherland, whereupon many caressing phrases were addressed by the little Princess to the ronral mother in German. But the vernacular language of the heir-presumptive to the throne of Great Britain was English. It is no slight testimony to the character and conduct of the Duchess that she was the only parent since the Restoration who had the uncon- trolled power of bringing up thq heir to the throne, and that her con- stant recommendation to her daughter to live simply, practise self-denial, cul- tivate to the utmost her abilities for study, and put her trust in God, has born:" such good and abundant fruit. The Duchess of Kent was ably seconded in the training of the Princess Victoria by the Baroness Lehzen. This lady was the daughter of a Hanoverian clergyman, and first appeared in England in the year 1818, as governess of the Princess Fedora, the daughter of the Duchess of Kent t«e &€.'KK Of %Z*1 (rATHER OF THE QUEEN). Pfem Sj«f W Bf.echev's Portrait in the flf/yal Collect f on. jfrom tbc -Wnrscn? to tbc Ubronc. 15 CHARLOTTE, THIRD DUCHESS OK NORTHUMBERLAND, I'r.im II Miniiiliiii- I'V ]. Koiiimitson. l.y Uox first husband. She was thus brou^'lit in lontact with Trincess Victoria almost fronj her cradle. it was not, however, until 1H24, when the Princess Fedora was married. that she formally entered upon the duties of >;over- ness to Trinress \ictoria. This duty she under- took by the command of (ieor^'e l\'., and at the earnest wish of the Duchess of Kent, between whom and Mademoiselle Leh/en there had >,'rown u() a very close and afl'ectionate Friendship. Three years later that is, in 1H27- ^Tadem()iselle Leh/en was raised by Georf,'e 1\', to the rank of Baroness of the kingdom of Hanover, as a reward for her services as instructress to his nieces. She continued to act as lady companion, and to aid in the educa- tion of the heir to the throne until Her Majesty's accession in 1837. The Baroness subsequently remained at Court as the Queen's friend, finally retiring into Germany in 1842, and dyint^ there in 1870. It was this lady who, if w'e are rightly informed, originated the happy idea of instructing her pupil in the forms and ceremonies of the Court by means of the dolls which the Oueen as a child loved so well. Thus a juvenile pastime was made use of to attain an important end in education. Indeed, right up to the Princess's tenth year, no inconsiderable portion of her playhours was given to rehearsing Court receptions and presentations by means of her numerous retinue of dolls, which were put into Court costume, with plumes and lappets for the occasion. A long board full of pegs, which fitted into holes in the feet of the little nannikins, served as the stage upon which the mimic ceremonials took place. In this way the future Queen and Empress, while holding her make-believe drawing-rooms and levees, with all their attendant dramatis persouw of State, learned unconsciously to perform her part in the functions of her high position with that ease and grace which has since characterised her every act. When the Princess was in her fifth year, the Duchess of Kent deemed it necessary to begin her education in a , , . ,• ,1 RICHARD WESTALL, R.A., WHO GAVE PRINCESS more regular and systematic manner ; the victoria painting lessons. m '4' I h jfroin tbe 1Wuvocr\) to tF)e ITbvone. 17 ■'■■ -s w _ O" . 0: M u 1'. w o < R O w a: O K w , a: ^ H KliV. IJEORCiE DAVYS, PRECEPTOR T(l riUNCESS VICTORIA, AND AFTERVARDS BISIKJP OF PETERBOROUGH. Rev. (ieorge Davys was the preceptor chosen for this high duty. Mr, Davys, who was born at Loughhorough in 1780, graduated as tenth wrangler at Cambridge in 1803, and was shortly afterwards elected a Fellow of Christ's College. He presented himself soon after ordination to the small fan.Uy living of W'illoughby. Subse(iuently he held curacies at Chesterford and Swaffham Prior, whence he removed to Kensington, and devoted him- self to tuition and literary pursuits. Parish magazines were then unheard of ; but his Cottagc/s Monthly Visitor was edited by him until he became a bishop. His shilling " History of England " (chiefly for use in schools) has bee" widely circulated. In due course Mr. Davys was placed over the Princess as the general director of the "solid department" of her studies, "in which," we are told, " the useful as well as the learned branches were cultivated," the Baroness Lehzen continuing to preside over the " more ornamental departments," such, for injtance, as dancing ; in which elegant accomplishment the Queen was trained by Madame Bourdin, always, however, under the surveillance of the governess. Indeed, no matter who may have been the teacher, the young Princess was never long out of the sight of her mother or the Inironess. So solicitously was she guarded, in fact, that Sir Walter Scott writes in his diary after a visit to the Duchess of Kent, " The little lady is educated with such care, and watched so closely, that no busy maid has a moment to say, "You are the heir of England." Mr. John Bernard Sale was her chief instructor in music, both vocal and instrumental. He was the son of John Sale, the composer, and was for a lime chorister at St. George's Church, Windsor. Subsequently he became the organist at St. Margaret's, Westminster, I.UKl) MEI.UOURNE. From the Portrait by G. HAVTERi i8 diucen Victoria. '$ and later, by the appointment of his royal pupil, organist of the Chapel Royal. He became instructor to the Princess in 1826, and continued to direct her musical studies for many years. She received singing lessons from the famous vocalist, Luigi Lablache. The training of her voice was of undoubted advantage in the subsequent duties of speaking in public. In the early yean- of her reign, the Queen's voice was a particularly pleasant mezzo-soprano, and could be heard with great clearness in the House of Lords at the opening of Parliament, or on other occasions. Those who have been honoured with audiences of Her Majesty always remark on the resonant tones of her voice, and on her adm'rable enunciation. The Queen has retained her love of vocal music, and most of our eminent singers have appeared before her. The last public concert she attended was at the Albert Hall, when Gounod's "Mors et Vita" was performed. Madame Patti and Madame Albani have sung before the Queen in private, the latter on several occasions at Balmoral. It was probably from Mr. Sale that the Queen acquired her preference for Italian music. She was, however, always an admirer of the compositions of Handel, Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart. The Queen is also fond of Mendelssohn's work, especially of his vocal duets. It may be remembered that Mendelssohn has left on record the story of his playing before the Queen and of her sympathetic reception of him. Mr. Richard Westall, R.A., was for many years Her Royal Highness's instructor, and he was justly proud of the progress she made under his tuition. The Queen has ever been interested in artists and their work. Although she has not favoured British portrait-painters in quite the traditional way, she has shown again and again her admiration for artists in black and white. Mr, R. Caton Woodville, Mr. Forestier, Mr. Reginald Cleaver, and others have received generous commissions from the Queen, and her critical remarks on their work prove Westall's pupil has not fDrgotten the tuition she received. A very beautiful and pathetic story is told of Westall's relation to Her Majesty and the Duchess of Kent. When originally asked to undertake the art tuition of the young Princess, he consented only on one condition— that he should do it gratuitously. In consequence of unfortunate speculation- in " Old Masters," Westall eventually became pecuniarily embarrassed, and a pensioner Photo by] {London Stereoscopic Co. THE gUEEN AT THE TIME OF HER ACCESSION. jfrom tbc IRurseri? to tbe Ubrone. 19 of the Academy. " As his end drew near, however, he became troubled about a blind sister, who was dependent upon him, and whom he feared to leave unprovided for. " He therefore wrote a letter to the Duchess, telling her. of his poverty and his consequent inability to make any provision for his sister, and begging her and the Princess's consideration on her behalf. He gave directions that the letter should be posted immediately after his death. This was done, and the Duchess received it the morning following his decease, which occurred in December, 1836, and before the news of the event had reached the Palace. " Knowing the handwriting, the Duchess exclaimed, ' Oh, here is a letter from Mr. Westall,' and immediately opened it to read its contents to the Princess. " Both were naturally very much surprised to learn the contents of the letter. It need hardly be added — so well is Her Majesty's sympathy and bounty in such cases known — that the dying Academician's request was nobly responded to. Miss Westall being at once granted a pension of ^100 a year from Her Majesty's private purse, which she continued to receive until her death at an advanced age at Brighton, where she lived." The Princess, before the completion of her eleventh year, spoke French, German, and English, and was acquainted with Italian. She had likewise made some progress in Latin, reading Virgil and Horace with ease, and had com- menced Greek. It may be added, also, that about the same time she entered upon the study of the English Constitution, under the direction of Mr. Amos, a gentleman deeply versed in that subject. When it became certain that the Princess would be Queen of England, a change had to some extent to be made in her studies ; that is, they had, if possible, to be broadened and deepened. For one thing book learning alone was not considered sufficient for the future Sovereign, and so a series of objec lessons were given to her by means of tours — repeated year after year during her girlhood — in different parts of the country. Another important change in respect to the training of the future Queen, introduced at this time, was the appointment of the Dowager Duchess of Northumberland as her instructress in matters relating to State ceremonies, and so forth. The Princess's first public appearance was at a ball given by King William on her twelfth birthday. She attended her first Drawing Room- then very different functions from thoEa at which she presided in after years— four days later. She was confirmed, after dihgent preparation, in 1834 at the Chapel Royal, St. James. On the attainnient of her majority a splendid ball was given in honour of the future Queen at Buckingham Palace, and it is interesting to recall that her first partner was the Earl of Arundel and Surrey. About three weeks afterwards, the death of King William IV. occurred, and Princess Victoria, at the age of eighteen, became Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. [For many of the facts in this chapter I am indebted to a charming article, "The Queen's Tutors," by Mr. Alfred T. Story, who has kindly permitted excerpts to be made.] ' J ^ CHAPTER III. Q UE K .V— \ VIbE— MOTHER— WIDOW St ^ O . ?*, ^ ■^ ■-■ Si: = s -., W "^ ■; I w "■ ■J .~ C 5 a: S (55 ■^ ^ "iRINCESS VICTORIA was crowned Queen in Westminster Ahl.ey on June 28th, 1837. Throughout the solemn ceremony the young Oueen, upon whom every eye was turned, conducted herself with a quiet dignity which made a great impression on all. Charles Greville has left on record an account of the first meeting of the Privy Council held by the (,)ueen on the morning of her accession. " Never was anything like the first impression she produced or the chorus of praise and admiration which is raised at her manner and behaviour, and certainly not without justice. It was very extraordinary, and something far beyond what was looked for. Her extreme youth and inexperience, and the ignorance of the world concerning her, naturally excited intense curiosity to see how she would act on this trying occasion, and there was a considerable assemblage at the palace, notwithstanding the short notice which was given She went through liie whole ceremony — occasionally look- ing at Melbourne for instruction when she had any doubt what she had to do, which hardly ever occurred — with perfect calmness and self-posses- sion, but at the same time with a graceful modesty and propriety particu- larly interesting and ingratiating." This self-possession has never de- serted the Oueen. In her diary she once wrote, " Great events always make me calm," and though the spec- tacle of thousands of subjects eyeing lier every action has often moved the (Jueen to tears, yet she has never become Hurried or forgotten any detail in the programmes drawn up for public functions. Lord Melbourne was in office when the Queen came to the throne, and on his wise counsels she leant reliantly. He may be said to have given the Queen those lessons in government which were the foundation of her profound knowledge of politics and of the ethics of wise rule. He supported Her Majesty in her 21 THE PRINCE CONSORT. Fnm an Eiigraving by F. Hoi.l. 22 ^ueen IDictoria. ir action as regards retaining the " Ladies of the Bedchamber" — a thorny question, which led to Sir Robert Peel's resignation. The Queen had the delicate duty of announcing to the Privy Council her own engagement to marry Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg-Gotha, to whom she was profoundly attached. On February loth, 1840, the marriage took place, and surely rever did a British Sovereign have a happier married life than that which was the good fortune of the Queen and Prince Albert. Their union was blessed by the birth of four sons and five daughters. Prince Albert, who was not designated the Prince Consort until 1857, proved of the utmost importance in State affairs, and gradually won the favour of those who had opposed him bitterly, by the suave wisdom and genuine philanthropy which animated him. Every now and again there would be outbursts of jealousy at the position held by Prince Albert. One reads them now with more amusement than with any other feeling, but they caused a good deal of misery to the Queen and her husband at the time. When the Prince attended an important debate in the House of Com- mons, several politicians were foolish enough to imagine that his presence was intended to overawe the " Mother of Parliaments." In the Queen's own words, " the Prince merely went, as the Prince of Wales and the Queen's other sons do, for once to hear a fine debate, which is so useful to all princes. But this he naturally felt unable to do again." In 1848 the Queen paid her first visit to Balmoral, and in the following year she went to Ireland for the first time in her reign. Two years later came I'JwU' by [Russell. THE EMPRESS FREDERICK (eldest ciuld of the queen and prince consort). the remarkable Great Exhibition, in which Prince Albert had manifested much interest. The Queen felt the death of the Duke of Wellington, in 1852, very keenly, and wrote : *' He was the pride and good genius, as it were, of this country — the most loyal and devoted subject, and the staunchest supporter, the Crown ever had." It is unnecessary to trace in such a book the various political changes which have made the Queen's reign notable. Suffice it to say that in them all Her Majesty took a judicious part, deferring to the expressed wishes of the representatives of her people. The family life of the Queen was, as has been remarked, profoundly happy. Her husband lightened the burdens and responsibihties of State as far as was permissible, and attended the Queen on all her journeys, and at every public H s H b O U o < b: S H O H O (in l-li-- 24 diuccn Dlctovla. function, speaking gracefully when occasion retiuired. The various attempts on the (,)ueen's life, which were made on seven or eight different occasions, only proved that she was endowed v=Mi remarkable courage, and aroused a still more enthusiastic affection for her in the hearts of the people. In these, the early years of her married life, the Queen and the Prince were constant attendants at the theatre and the opera, and entertained a succession n( nionarchs with due hospitality. Meanwhile, their children were growing up, and the eldest, the Princess I?oyal, was the first to leave her parents for a home of her own. She was married in 1858, in the Chapel Royal, to the handsome and beloved Crown Prince of Germany, who for so brief a period was destined to reign as German Emperor thirty years later, and then pass away, after a terrible illness borne with remarkable courage. The Empress I'^ederick has ever been her mother's confidant, and since she has shared the sorrow of widowhood, she has seemed to be bound even closer to the Queen than before. She is a con- stant visitor to England, and resembles her mother more nearly each year. The Empress has beeii called " the cleverest woman in Europe," and there is no doubt that she is a fine scholar, and possesses an unusually intimate knowledge of Statecraft. The year 1861 will always be a sorrowful memory to the Queen, for within a brief space of time death robbed her of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and her husband, the Prince Consort. The illness of the latter was tragically brief. On I^ecember nth there was a bulletin announcing that Prince Albert was "suffering from fever, un- attended by unfavourable symptoms, but likely, from its symptoms, to continue for some time." Alas ! three days later the tolling of the great bell of St. Paul's Cathedral announced at midnight the sorrowful news that the Prince Consort had died. The fever had hastened its course, and despite the most loving care, and the skilful treatment of physicians, the Prince passed away on December 14th, gazing to the last moment in the face of the Queen. It was years afterwards that the true character of the Prince came to be appreciated. He was only in his forty-third year when he died, yet what a useful life had been his. To the Queen the nation accorded the sympathy due to the widow as well as the Sovereign. It was the first link in a chain of grief that Photo hv] [[.oiiildtt Sliuoscopii Co. THE yUEEN AT THE TIME OK HER WMiOWHOOD. Queen Mite flDotber-■DDli^ow. 35 TlIK LATK I'KINCKSS Al.lCK, llKANl) DUCHESS OF HESSE. has bound the (jueen to the hearts of her sub- jects in a way which is uni(iue. For some time she withdrew from public hfe, and her diary f^ives sad evidence of how the loss of her husband de- pressed and saddened her ; and yet, in the midst of her K''i^'f) ^'le was sustained by the thouf^ht of her responsibilities, and gradually emerf,'ed from retirement into the exercise of various State duties. Princess Alice's weddin^^ in 1862, at Osborne, to the ( I rand Duke of Hesse, cast a ray of sunshine into the gloom. This daughter was on especially affectionate terms with the Queen, who rejoiced in her happiness, short-lived as it proved. The Princess was the devoted nurse of her children, and from their Hps caught the contagion, which took her from her loved family on December 14th, 1878, the seventeenth anniversary of the death of the Prince Consort. Princess Alice was a woman of rare sweetness, and a memoir of her acquainted the public with the many gifts which she used so untiringly for the benefit of others. In March, 1863, St. George's Chapel, Windsor, was filled with a brilliant throng to witness the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra, eldest daughter of the King of Denmark. The bride had been welcomed by tens of thousands when she landed on English shores, and the Princess of Wales has never lost that secure hold on the affections of the British people. She has had her great sorrow in the loss of the Duke of Clarence in 1892, and her deep anxieties in the serious illnesses of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York ; but she has also had her joys in the happy marriage of her son, the Duke of York, to Princess May of Teck, and THE PRINCESS OF WALES AT THE AGE OF ig. From an Engraving by Samuel Cousins. m^ l^ax.-,'- .r'.3KWIJK5W ^^j2£^g SfL / '"——•- .s* :i^"^ 3= SSL viftSEsSlKSM^ - -w^ • 1^1^^' <^^ -♦:i»*^\ >^ 1 > P a; 2k w ^ -«Ssk ^uccn— TKHife flDotbcr TRIlit»ow. b: Q y. < X M ■< w u y. K a; ■r. < o H u y. M S H b C M (J! < 5 < M X H the no less happy weddings of her two daughters with the Duke of Fife and Prince Charles of Den- mark respectively. The Prince of Wales, filling a difficult position with admirable diligence and tact, has gained for himself undoubted popularity. He has exercised valu- able ' influence in State affairs on several occasions, and has laboured THE I'KINCE OF WALES AT TH.v ACJE OF 27 abundantly for the well-being of his future subjects. On his estate at Sandringham he has entertained a remarkably com- prehensive list of famous men, who one and all bear witness to the genuine kindliness of the Prince of Wales and his charming wife. The Queen's third daughter. Princess Helena, married, in 1866, Prince Christian THE FOUR DAUGHTERS OF THE QUEEN. aS ^uccn Dictoiin. I h il: N ii I' of Schleswij; - Holstein. She has alvays taken a particular interest in n»f). They are exceedingly popular in the neighbourhood of Aldershot, and, indeed, wherever they are known. The Oueen sustained another bereavement in iHH^, when her fourth son, the Duke of Albany, died in the South of I'Vance. He had always been delicate and studious, and was therefore hardly so well known to the public as he de- served to be. He married the Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont in 1882, a lady who has endeared herself to a large section of Society by her un- afTected geniality and willingness to serve any good cause. One daughter, Princess Alice, and a son (born after his father's death) are the constant companions of the widowed Duchess of Albany. The youngest of the Queen's family — Princess Beatrice — deserves special mention, for she has been her constant companion at home and abroad, and has relieved the Queen of many tedious duties. Indeed, when she married Prince Henry of Battenberg in 1885, it v.as made a condition that she should still spend the greater part of her time with Her Majesty. She was destined to enter even more fully into the experiences of the Queen, for on her fell, in 1895, the same sorrow of widowhood as had been borne by her mother for so many years. Prince Henry of Battenberg had persuaded those in authority to permit him to join the Ashantee Expedition, and set forth with high hopes of gaining distinction in active service. But fever laid hold of him, and in a few hours he had died, far from home and his loved ones. It was a sad end to the aspirations of a mendier of a family which seemed doomed to lose its sons in a tragic manner. The Queen's Speech, in February, i8ij6, said: "I and my dear daughter are greatly touched and comfort ad in this heavy bereavement by the wide-spread sympathy which has been shown by my subjects throughout the Empire at home and abroad." Since the Prince's death, his widow and four children have usually been with the Queen, who has now two daughters and a daughter-in-law who are, Hke herself, widows. t r > • ^ * ■ » ■ f (■ ) I'liolo liy\ \Kiincll. H R.H. PRINCESS HENRY OF HATTENHEK(i. ,'W— '. ■• * * ::::):■:.. :>?*• ;:;i;.M50Oi?3 CHAPTER IV. WIKDSOR CASTLE. i'iS O every British subject, Windsor Castle is a place of interest. For eight centuries it has been a pivot of national life, but never has it touched so vividly the imagination as during the reign of Queen Victoria. It has been visited by millions, who have gazed with awe mingled with affection as they thought of Windsor Castle not only as a h.storic land- mark but also as the home of the Queen. Above the lovely valley of the Thames its white walls rise in stately grandeur, and cast their reflection on the silver stream below. From its terrace you may view an English landscape as fair as can be found — green meadows and woodland glades stretching far as the eye travels. The Castle is representative of the various professions and arts which have made the British Empire. Its Round Tower recalls the fact that the palace had a military origin; for though this portion of the building was commenced by Edward III., there had been pre- viously a Norman keep erected by the Conqueror himself, who used the small Castle more as a hunting lodge than as a fort. The tower was intended by Edward III. to be the home of the Order of the Garter, and in it was placed the huge round table of those famous knights who held high festival at Windsor, whilst for the religious portion of the ceremonies the King rebuilt the chapel in the Lower Ward, and dedicated it to St. George, the patron of the Order. St. George's Chapel, as we know it, is very different from the original small the queen in 1866. church of "Edward of Windsor." This •^'"' '"''^''"'^ miniature by F. A. Tilt, from which the , V 1-1 ., .... enamel tvas prepared for Mr. Pekbody. cliurch, like so many other ecclesiastical edifices of England, owes its present form to the great church-building age of Henry VII. Begun by his predecessor, it was not finished till the reign of Henry VIII. Remains of the earlif: work are to be seen principally in the Great or Dean's Cloister, where the w 'Is of the first chapel of Henry III. are 10 Minbsor Castle. 31 preserved. The most notable relic of the work of Edward IV. is the Horse-shoe Cloister, built in the form of the King's badge, the fetter-lock, and a curious example of domestic architecture in a fortress. The visitor to-day, thanks to the wise care of the Queen, views the edifice in practically its original form, for the disfigurements and obstructions of the intervening ages have been removed, and we see the chapel in all the glory of its first design. Its architecture is in the Perpendicular style, of which it presents a very fine example, whilst the noble dimensions suggest to the admiring spectator the characteristics of a cathedral rather than those of a private chapel. Artists innumerable have dona homage to the beauty of the exterior, a noticeable feature of which is that, though the chapel consists of choir and nave, with spacious aisles and transepts, it has no central tower— an omission, maybe, intentional on the part of the designer, for the chapel forms a prominent feature in the outline of the Castle, the appearance of which, by the introduction of the ordinary church tower here, would be quite changed. On the riches of its internal beauty, of stately column and stained glass, ancient banners and noble carving, we need not expatiate, neither can we attempt to describe the wealth of historic monument and the beauty of its tombs. But no one can refer to St. George's Chapel without also mentioning the adjoining " tomb-house," founded by Henry VII., finished by the ill-fated Wolsey, and transformed by Queen Victoria into the Albert Memorial Chapel. This occupies the position in relation to St. George's Chapel that the Lady Chapel does to a cathedral. The Queen restored and beautified the edifice as a memorial of her beloved Consort, whose cenotaph occupies a n.ost prominent position near the chancel. Towards the west door is the Duke of Albany's memorial, and between that and the Prince Consort's is the sarcophagus of the Duke of Clarence, each surmounted by a recumbent figure of the deceased Prince it commemorates. The remains of the Prince Consort do not lie here, but in the beautiful mausoleum at Frogmore, not far distant. Leaving the details of the outer buildings, we hurry on to that superb suite of State apartments in which Her Majesty appears as Sovereign, and at times as Royal hostess. These rooms are situated on the first floor of the buildings on the north side of the quadrangle of the Upper Ward. Chief among them is the Waterloo Chamber, on the north side of St. George's Hall. This has been aptly described as the noblest apartment in the Castle. It is, indeed, both a marvel and a museum of art. By day the light enters it from a lantern extending the whole length of the roof, whilst at night it is illuminated by large sunlight gas burners— in connection with which your guide will not fail to inform you that this is the only room in the Castle lit by gas, and perhaps he will add that the gas was introduced on the suggestion of the Prince Consort, and completed shortly before the death of that lamented Prince. It is here that the Queen occasionally witnesses the theatrical performances, ever pleasing to her, but the enjoyment of which, during many years after her great bereavement, Her Majesty denied herself. From the peculiarity of its lighting, the Waterloo Chamber is admirably fitted for the purpose of a picture I f y y r- I ■ ■?»:,'■■• •" -«*^;_ .^r'-" .-*■' I 'ffl )■ ^ *• "J^ ^^ *=3 ' " ' -.^ M. •• ' ' ' / • •■' -■'' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■-S^'T- '"•'•--* "Sr ■■ < '.•■- '■-'^ -'Jit .S^mh^ C^wpcl, Miu&soi: Castle. 33 » > gallery, and here are to be seen many valuable and historical portraits of sovereigns, generals, and statesmen connected in one way or another with the great battle. They were painted by command of George IV., and by him presented to the nation ; the chamber being specially constructed, in what was previously an open space called the Horn Court, to receive them. The architect was Sir Jeffrey Wyatville. The lower portions of the walls are panelled in oak, the upper portions of che ceiling being richly diapered. In the chimney-pieces and panellings may be traced some of the inimitable carvings of Grinling Gibbons. The pictures are far too numerous for us even to name. vSuffice it to say that Shee's portrait of George III. occupies the place of honour on the north wall, supported THE GREEN UKAWING-ROOM. on either hand by his successors — George IV. (by Lawrence), and William IV. (by Wilkie.) It is interesting here to remember that the very heroes of the .ittle themselves were often banqueted in this princely hall by the sailor king. Lord Liverpool and Lord Castlereagh, the Duke of Brunswick, the Emperor Francis I. of Austria, Alexander I. of Russia, the Dukes of York and Cambridge, the Duke of Wellington, with PlatofT and Blucher, are among the remaining pictures ; but the finest portraits in the Chamber are those of Pope Pius \TI. and Cardinal Gonsalvi, both by Sir Thomas Lawrence. - _--_-. ^.^___^. Every portion of these State apartments teems with art objects. The first room to which visitors are usually conducted is called the Vandyke Room, because all of the works here are from the pencil of the great master who rose so high in the favour of Charles I. There are no fewer than twenty-two of his pictures, A PERFORMANCE BEFORE THE QUEEN IN THE WATERLOO CHAMBER AT WINDSOR. p! Mtn^sov Castle. 35 including two great paintings at either end of the room, one representing King Charles on horseback, and opposite to it the monarch with his queen and two eldest children — the Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II., and Mary, the Princess Koyal. Concerning the equestrian picture, a story is told of how, in the troublous times that befel soon after it was painted, the monarch's head was cut out by some courtier in order to preserve it, and was only replaced after the Restoration, the head of Cromwell having in the meantime been substituted in order to complete the picture. Leaving these art treasures, we pass to the Zuccarelli Room, which was formerly known as the Queen's State Drawing Room, and is now named after the famous Tuscan painter, nine of whose works are here displayed. THE queen's boudoir. The State Ante-room next claims our attention. This in the olden days was the King's State bed-chamber, and here was shown, up to the beginning of the present century, the bed occupied by Queen Anne. In the Throne Room, which adjoins the Waterloo Chamber, there stands the splendid ivory throne presented by the Maharajah of Travancore. Seated on this, the Queen was wont to confer knighthood in the early years of her reign. The Grand Reception Room is decorated with beautiful specimens of Gobelin tapestry. Everyone enjoys the grandeur of St. George's Hall, on the walls of which are emblazoned the arms of all the Knights of the Garter since the foundation of that Order. The hall has been requisitioned for State ^ i '1 36 (Siuccn IDlctorta. banquets occasionally, on the visit of some monarch or in celebration of some great event. The display of the famous gold plate is said to be wonderfully brilliant at such a function. _ In the Guard Chamber there are several interesting cunos as well as trophies of war. The Queen's Presence Chamber and the Audience Chamber complete this rapid tour of the State Apartments. The Queen's private rooms are only shown, in her absence, to a privileged few. They occupy the east and south sides of the quadrangle of the Upper Ward. Alike in the matter of art and of architectural arrangements, these rooms can favourably compare with the more public halls of this regal residence; THE GRAND CORRIDOR. but they are, of course, more representative of the personality of Her Majesty, and of the crowded events of her glorious reign. In short, we have here illustrated in a thousand ways the life of the Queen and the mother. At the very entrance to the suite we notice in the corridor vestibule the pathetic memorial sculpture of the Queen and the Prince Consort, executed in Hfe-size by the sculptor Theed. The figures are attired in the Saxon garb of the ninth century, Her Majesty wearing a rich mantle, with a diadem on her head ; the Prince also in a mantle so arranged as to display his figure to advantage. Their attitude and expression suggest the tender affection existing between them ; their left hands being clasped, the Queen's right hand resting I MinDsor Cnstle. 37 on the Prince's shoulder, whilst the Royal Consort is pointing upward with his disengaged hand. The pictures in the Grand Corridor, into which we immediately pass, mainly- deal with incidents in Her Majesty's life. Tney include Sir I) avid W i 1 k i e ' s canvas of her First Council, Sir George Hayter's paintings of the Oueen in her Coronation Robes, of her Marriage, and of the Chris- tening of the Prince of Wales. Other pictures show the marriage of the Princess Royal (Empress ' Frederick), of the Prince of Wales, and other mem- bers of the Royal Family; the series being continued by Chevalier's paint- ing of the Queen and Royal Family on their way to St. Paul's for the Thanksgiving Ser- ■ ■- . vice on the reco\ery of the Prince of Wales from his dangerous illness, and Lockhart's striking picture of the Jubilee Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. These, of course, are but a few of the many art treasures the corridor contains, treasures not only of painting, but of sculpture and of the rarest cabinet work. Standing here, amidst all the varied riches of the place, the visitor cannot fail to admire the judgment of the architect, Wyatville, who, overcoming great difficulties in modifying the ancient structure, provided the Royal apartments with so ample and beautiful a means of access, without in any way interfering with their essential privacy. The corridor, in fact, runs the whole length of ^' ItortiJ.^ iwy. "^ 38 r (Siuccii Victoria. these two sides of t'le Castle. It is sixteen feet in widtli, and had it but been provided with an arched roof of },dass it would have been the most magnificent thing of its kind in the world. The ceiling, however, though somewhat low, is in keeping with the general design, and its richly gilt and diversified centres add to the general wealth of decoration which is so impressive. The upper part of the walls is hung with pictures, whilst along the lower portion are cabinets of rare beauty and great variety. There are, too, many priceless mementoes, not one of which, however, surpasses in interest the well-worn Bible of General Gordon— treasured, by the gueens command, in a richly-enamelled casket of rock-crystal of seventeenth century work. It was presented by the late Miss Gordon, sister of the General, and was acknowledged in an autograph letter of two sheets full of touching sympathy. From the corridor we quickly reach the Queen's Private Audience Chamber, an apartment which is justly considered the gem of the whole palace. Over the iloor an inscription informs us that " This chamber was altered and decorated under the superintendence of H.R.H. the Prince Consort, in the 24th year of the reign of Queen Victoria." The lower part of the walls is panelled with satin-wood richly inlaid with other ornamental woods, and above, the wall is stencilled with the devices of the Order of the Garter. In the domed ceiling are medallion portraits of the sovereigns of England from William the Conqueror to Queen Victoria, and over these are large medallions of the four national saints of the United Kingdom. The upper wall panels bear portraits by Gainsborough of King George III. and his family, and pictures of Her Majesty's children by Winterhalter; whilst below the pictures hundreds of choicest enamels are let into the wood-work, giving the faces of Royal and illustrious persons from the time of Henry VII. to the present day. The royal collection of gems exhibited at South Kensington Museum in 1862 stands on richly-carved and gilt cabinet tables on either side of the entrance, whilst on a table in the window recess is a bust of the Prince Consort carved in one solid piece of ivory. The Royal Dining Room is the principal apartment in the Prince of Wales's Tower, at the north-east angle of the Castle. Its Gothic furniture was designed by Welby Pugin, when he worked with Sir Jeffrey Wyatville.. A feature of the apartment is the enormous punch-bowl, in silver gilt, designed by Flaxman for the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV. The oowl is formed of giant shells, beneath which are modelled submarine rocks with great limpets clinging to them, whilst corals and various sea-shells are on the foot of the bowl. An enormous ladle, also in the form of a shell, lies in front. The bowl, which weighs many thousand ounces, has two handles, one in the shape of a lion, and the other of a unicorn. The room is decorated in white and gold with crimson hangings. The doors are ornamented with Chippendale work; and it was here, in the Jubilee year, that the numerous dinner parties took place. After theatrical performances in St. George's Hall, the Royal Party take supper here, but on ordinary occasions the Queen dines in the Oak Room overlooking the quadrangle. We should mention in connection with the large Dining Room that it has within the last fifty years suffered severe damage both by fire and water — the fire Mtut>soi- Castle. n occurring in 1853 and the Hood in 18(^1, caused by the burstinj,' of a waterpipe during the visit of the German l-uiperor. Next to the Private Audience Chamber is the (Juecn's boudoir, in tiio Victoria Tower, with windows commanding views of the south front of the Castle and southward over the park. The furniture is in crimson ana ^->ld damasi<, as the Queen's tastes still favour the fashions which prevailed in the lifetime of her Consoti. The walls are adorned chiefly with family pictures, and every available space upon cabinet, table, and mantelpiece— and even upon the piano — is covered with miniatures and photographs, together with various presents given to the Queen by her children upon birthdays and other occasions. The chairs are exciuisitely wrought in J^eauvais tapestry, whilst a special low chair of very beautiful design was a gift to the Queen from a private lady. The Library is in the north-west angle of the Upper Ward. It contains about 100,000 volumes, and is under the able management of Mr. Richard Holmes. The Queen's Private Chapel is next to St. George's Hall, the organ in the gallery of which supplies the music. The style is Gothic, and is in harmony with much of the remainder of the Castle. There is a beautiful stained-glass window in the east end, and on the walls are memorials of some of the Queen's trusted servants, including Sir Thomas Biddulph and Dean Stanley. In a small retiring room adjoining the Chapel are various historic portraits, including the only known original pictures of Henry V., Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard HI. Also one may see Holbein's sketch of the witty Duchess of Milan, who declined the honour of being made Queen of England as wife of Henry VIII., on the ground that she had " only one neck." You notice a little old-fashioned gilt clock on a bracket. This, too, is a reminder of the Eighth Harry. It as his wedding gift to the hapless Anne Boleyn. In a cursory sketch of the contents of so vast a place as Windsor Castle, one must of necessity have omitted many items of interest ; but enough has been written to recall many of its glories to those who have visited the Castle, and to inspire in others the desire to see this home of the Queen. Photo by\ WINDSOR, FROM THE RIVER. [Kiissfll. AT A NAVAL KEVli'W. THE "look-out" on the "ALBERTA," WHEN THE gUEEN IS ON BOARD. tA_-.^.! ■^CHAPTER V THE (JUEEX'S LIFE AT DSIiUKM:. NE can readily understand the reasons for the Queen's fondness for her home in the Isle of W'if^ht, when one contrasts its pleasant freedom with the stateliness of Windsor Castle. There is a charniiuj^ sense of detach. nent when the short journey has been accomplished which lands one in the island of which the chief inhabitant is Her Majesty the Queen. And this feeling is increased as you walk through country lanes with trim hedges, past neat rustic cottages, and see nowhere the evidence J'lwto hy] [•■' • /•■• Ht'licn, Cuwcs. THE "ALBERTA," WITH THE gUEEN ON BOARD, REACHING OSBORNE. 9 t(Ili^^30l• CnsJtlo. of the (Juerii's piDxiiiiity. I'crhaps as you rest liy the waysiile a high car- riage, with a poslilHon, drives slowly past, and in it you recognise Her Majesty and one of her daughters. The cottager wcjuld hardly turn from hanging out the washing or scrubbing the door- step at so familiar a sight ; yet millions of the Oueen's loyal sub- jects would gladly suH'cr any inconvenience to have a similar privilege. Such inattention on llic part of the cottager is not due to anything save the knowledge thai iherc is an unwritten law to respect the Oueen's privacy when she is living at Osborne. Just as the Scot at Balmoral will, at the approach of a royal carriage, disappear from the roailside, so the ■')ttager will take care not to observe too closely the (Juccn as she drives thro my \illage in the Isle of Wight. "^ j t^^ f-^-^**vp?v- •■•.*..: :- t ' -C .$ . -.<:-'" . q 'Z^i^^K^ -.,11 ^'"^%r ^ i'ituto i^\ I <;CI;EN'.S (.ATli, OSllCJK.NE. |l. '• ■ /'i il'/l, Cui.'iS i'/ui(() hy\ OSBORNE. \A. E. licken Cowis Tlbc *2iuccn'3 Xtfc at Osbovnc. 43 Osl)orne is Iltir Majesty's own proiuirly ; every part of ilw; cstalt: lias been developed under her instructions and plans. There she has borne many joys and sorrows, rfinotc from the busier haunts of men ; and there she has spent holi- days of well-earneil rest amid family Katherings of relatives connected with every Huropean tluoiir. Cm it be surprising that for Osborne the Oueen has an especial affection ? Osborne is to most people inacces- sible. '\'\u' loyal tourist may, after MAKOCHETTl ij ULST OF THE yUEEN, AT OSUOKNE. glancing up and down a hme, climb up to the high palings and survey the white mansion, embowered in trees, where his Sovereign lives. But he will not be able, unless accompanied by some special permit, to pass through any of the gates which lead thereto. The following account has been given to me by one who was privileged to visit Osborne some time ago : "The interest of my first visit to Osborne commenced at Portsmouth, inasmuch as the officials at the railwa^ station were greatly puzzled by the Victoria and Albert being at the pier to convey some person to the island. THEED S BUST OF THE LATE PRINCE CONSOKT, AT OSBOKNE. -^^ T (t* % \ If t 44 (Stucen IDictovta. " I was going on business, with information from one of the great departments of State, and, as the Vidovia ami Albert was to be at Portsmouth at that time, she was ordered to wait for me. It was great fun to see a group of officials standing on tlie platfor.n waiting for the stranger to alight, and to s';e their bf^wildered expressions as an ordinary personage, quite unknown to them all, alighted and quietly strolled to the royal yadit. I landed at Cowes, and jumped into a cab and drove to Osborne, again puzzling the spectators and police, who all knew the boat, but to whom I was a complete stranger. I was stopped three times en route— once at the lodge and twice within the grounds— but a magic name passed me on, and my cab drew up at Osborne House. " My business was personal, and when I arrived the (Jueen was at lunch ; so in the next room, separated from the dining-room by folding doors, I was Photo by] VIEW FROM THE TERRACE AT OSBORNE. [.'1. E. liekmi, Cowcs. served with refreshment. I am not in the habit of lunching from silver plate, nor with two men to wait upon me, but I enjoyed the exquisite little meal spread before me, and was especially struck by the beauty of the glass upon the table — so thin and so finely engraved — and by the thoughtfulness that had been shown in providing three kinds of mineral waters as well as wine for me to dtink at my cho'ce. "Luncheon over, I saw Sir John Cowell and then Sir Henry Ponsonby, both delightful men — now, alas ! no more. I was then taken through the corridor — a long, narrow room decorated in French grey, and filled with beautiful statuary, delightful cabinets, charming lacquer work, and glorious flowers. I waited awhile in the grey drawing-room, and immediately betook myself to examine the (Jueen's water-colours with which it is hung, and understood then how very talented is xrbc (Queen's Xite af ©sborne. 45 Her Majesty in this delightful art, and of what really high merit are her works. Presently Prince Henry came in and I had a chat with him, and then I heard a whispered discussion between three of the ladies-in- waiting as to who should ac- company the Queen on her drive. Tea was then served, and I had a good look at the lovely Sevres china and gold- mounted service from which Her Majesty was to take her cup of tea ere she went for her drive. " A moment or two later the Queen was announced, and Sir Henry Ponsonby presented me, and I was in the presence of my much-loved Sovereign, who was good enough to say she was glad to see me. It was many months after that when I was in ' the presence ' again, but so wonderful is the Queen's memory — though it was at Windsor, in much greater state, that next I spoke to Her Majesty— she instantly remembered me and recollected my name. " Princess Beatrice was v/ith the Queen when I was ;it Osborne, and behind was her Indian servant ; the Princess suggested that I might like to see some of the rooms, and I was shown the great Indian room, richly deco- rated in Sikh work, at which the native work- men were busily engaged. The house is homely and charming, neither grand nor stately. The pictures it contains are STATUARY AT OSBORNE. _ ^^^ ^f tj^gpi thg WOrk THE REST OF INNOCENCE "—PAUt. AND VIRGINIA. " ^ ■' CORRIDOR AT OSBORNE. 46 (Sinccn IDtctovin. of the Queen, the Royal Family, and Lord Ronald Gower. The statuary is a feature of the house ; tb cabinets, lacquer work, and bronzes are very good ; yet the house is not a dace but a home ; not a show place but comfortable ; and nothing impressed me more than the sight of needlework, knitting, toys, balls, rocking-horses, and magazines left lying about in this most homely and comfortable of the residences of our beloved Sovereign, whose praise is in all the earth, but whose heart is in the keeping of her affectionate people." Although few can hope to see Osborne itself, it is possible for all visitors to the Isle of \\ight to enjoy a sight of Whippingham Church, which for From 1 riwto by\ WHIPPINGHAM CHURCH. ( W. H. Kirk & Sons, Cowes. OVhen- the Queen med to worship when residing at Osborne, ami where Princess Beatrice was married.) several years was more closely linked to the Queen and the Royal Family than it is now. Nowadays the Queen usually attends service in the private chapel in the grounds of Osborne, but formerly, when in residence in the Isle of Wight, Her Majesty was a diligent worshipper in the village church of Whippingham. The picturesque church of St. Mildred's, more commonly known as Whippingham Church, is the only place of worship in the village. To every one Zbc (SiiKcn's %\tc at ©sborne. 47 of Her Majesty's loyal subjects the building has a strong personal interest, however. It stands on a slight eminence overlooking the Medina. The present edifice bears an inscrip- tion over the door which states that the church " was designed by Albert, Prince Consort, and rebuilt by Queen Victoria, in conjunction with him, in the year of our Lord mdccclxi." For our Queen the church must be crowded with memories — ^some joyous ones, and some of the greatest sadness. It was here that H.R.H. Princess Beatrice was married to Prince Henry of Battenberg, on July 23rd, 1885, and now the remains of the Prince rest within a marble cenotaph, in a beautiful memorial chapel in the north chancel, which faces the Royal pew. But the most striking fea- ture in the church is the monu- ment erected to the memory of the late Prince Consort. It stands within Her Majesty's pew, on the eastern side of the chancel arch, and is of white marble, relieved with gold. The design is a charming one, and repre- sents two angels holding a crown of gold over the medallion of the Prince. Below this there are three panels let into archways ; the two side ones contain the arms of the Prince and of the Queen. The central panel bears the following inscription, the lettering being in gold : To the beloved memory of Francis Albert Charles Augustus ? • ' '■ .. » Emmanuel, Prince Consort, who departed this life, December 14, ,. .. , ■ iSfii, in his 43rd year. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." — Rev. ii. 10. This monument is placed in the church, erected under his direction, by his broken- hearted and devoted widow, Queen Victoria, 18O4. Another monument which calls forth the sympathies of a nation is that erected to the memory of Princess Alice, whose death occurred so sadly on the anniversary of the death of her father, to whom she had been so devotedly attached. This beautiful piece of sculpture Hkewise represents two angels, one on either side of the medallion of the Princess. A wreath of flowers encircles the head, while a most artistic and symbolical touch is given to the whole by the From II Photo by] | II'. //. Kirk & Sons, Cowes. MONUMENT, ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE PRINCE CONSORT, IN VVHIPPINGHAM CHURCH ■^ ■l p 48 -r (Siuccn iDictorla. rose in the foreground that is lying just where it has fallen to the ground. This monument is inscribed: . : To the dear memory of Alice Maud Mary, Princess of . -l^' Great Britain and Ireland. Grand Duchess of Hesse, who de- ■ :■: ' parted this life in her jOth year, on the anniversary of her beloved father's death. December i.), i«78- "Blessed are the pur J in heart, for they shall see God." -St. Matthew v. 8. This fy monument is placed by her sorrowing mother, (,)ueen Victoria, The architecture of W'hippingham Church, a;; will be seen from our illustrations, has a distinct individuality of its own, which is particularly emphasised by its square tower. The ground plan follows the usual ecclesiastical lines, and is in the form of a Latin cross, the chancel being of an unusual length however, which gives it the appearance of being somewhat out of proportion to the rest of the building. It was built in this way in order that there might be suf- ficient space for the Osborne pews which are placed there. The seats occupied by the Queen and members of the Royal Family are on the south side of the chancel. They are approached by a private entrance near the altar. Among the many striking features in the Church the font should have individual mention. It is a unique affair, being formed of a massive square piece of white marble supported by a well-proportioned pier, likewise of white marble, with four smaller pillars of beautifully veined coloured stone. .,^., The Queen shows a kindly interest in the welfare of her neighbours in the Isle of Wight, and subscribes liberally to various funds. The appointment of Princess Henry of Battenberg to be Governor of the island is a further proof of the Royal Family's wish to sustain their connection with the Isle of Wight. The Queen has received her grandson, the German Emperor, on several occasions at Osborne when he has participated in the Annual Regattas held oflf Cowes. And not infrequently has the Queen been a spectator of the exciting races in which the Emperor's yacht contended for supremacy with the yachts of the Prince of Wales f.nd other ardent sportsmen. From a Photo by] [W. H. Kirk & Sons, Coicis. ROYAL PEW, WHIPPINGHAM CHURCH. -i : B wmm CHAPTER VI. BALMORAL. IT is as " Countess of Balmoral " that the Queen prefers to travel on the Continent, thus avoid- ing many wearisome formalities. This title is specially perplexing to foreigners, who give Bal- moral a wide variety, of pronui.'^iations. Windsor they know, and Buckingham Palace also; the Tower of London, too, is considered by many of them as a Royal residence. But Balmoral Where is it ? And why should the Queen of England be the Countess of Balmoral ? These are puzzles which remain unsolved by our neigh- bours on the Continent. Balmoral is the Sans-souci of Queen Victoria. There, on her private property, she can live in less exacting State than at any of her official residences, and there she has long been the "Lady Bountiful" to numbers of her Scottish subjects, who respect her desire for retirement with a reticence characteristic of their nation. We have been admitted into the confidence of the Queen as to her experiences at Balmoral, by means of her volu. le " Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands." In that book the dedication runs : — "To the dear memory of him who made the life of the writer bright and happy, these simple records are lovingly and grate- fully inscribed," and throughout its pages there are constant references to the Prince Consort. The first im- pressions which the place made on the ueen are worth ■" ,' BIRKHALL, PART OF THE QUEEN S ESTATE. 49 B I; 1 ^P 50 (Siueen Dlctovallater, to the glen (or valley) along which the Dee winds, with beautiful wooded hills, which remind- ed us very much of the Thiiringerwald. It was so calm and so solitary, it did one good as one gazed around ; and the pure mountain air was most refresh- ing. All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils." Of course, the , , ^ ., . Photo by] [\V.A.Hau'es,Aberileett, old Castle was too alltnagiubhsaich lodge. 3Balmoval. 51 A vr^ ■*"» .>^f^^' >ii^< FALLS OF GLASALLT. small and in other ways unsuited, so building operations were soon under way ; and the Queen describes, seven years later, the new Balmoral Castle, where she has since spent so many months each year. " The new house looks beautiful. The tower and the rooms in the connecting part are, however, only half-finished, and the offices are still unbuilt ; therefore the gentlemen (except the Minister) live in the old house, and so do most of the servants ; there is a long wooden passage which connects the new house with the offices. An old shoe was thrown after us into the house, for good luck, when we entered the hall. The house is charming ; the rooms delightful ; the furniture, paper, everything perfection." When the Queen came to Bal- moral the next year, she found the Castle completed, and in her journal she wrote : " Every year my heart becomes more fixed in this dear Paradise, and so much more so now that all has become my dear Albert's own creation, own work, own building, own laying out, as at Osborne; and his great taste, and the impress of his dear hand, has been stamped every- where." All around Balmoral are lo\'ely spots, linked in the Queen's memory with excursions made in the com- pany of the Prince Consort and her chil- dren, and many are the memo- rials which re- GLASALLT SHIEL. FUOM THE .SODTII-EAST SIDE OF LOCH MUICK. Call mtcrestuig 5a (Siuecn Dictorta. incidents in the Highlands. The Prince Consort purchased Ijirkhall, a property n| about 7,000 acres, for the Prince ot Wales, who, having ceased to retjuire a residence on Deeside, sold it to the (juccii in 1885. Considerable additions have been made by Her Majesty. The old ivy-clad front faces the Muick, but a modern wing, with a more imposing entrance, looks towards Ballater. The house is beautifully situated among trees — birks, or birches — from which it derives its name. It is always lent by the Queen to mem- bers of the Royal Family or distinguished friends of Her Majesty, the Duchess of Albany being a frequent occupant. But a generation has not wholly passed away which can remember when the garden was let for market purposes, and straw- berries and cream could be had in the drawing-room at sixpence a plate. The Prince's connection with Birkhall is commemorated by a cairn, now ruinous, which was erected on' one of the Coyles by the tenantry in connection with his marriage ; another cairn was afterwards built on the highest Coyle, having a stona bearing the following inscription : — I'holo In] 111'. A . Iliiwis. A bcidccn. LOCH MUICK ON THE SOUTH-EAST SIDE. I' I JErecteD BY COMMAND OF • . „ QUEEN VICTORIA ' ' v ,' '. in remembrancil of the marriage of ' ' Aldert Edward, Prince of Wales, '^ " » ■ : " ; ■ - ■_;- AND '':.'■-;.''';• ^^ ' - . '\ Alexandra, Princess of Denmark, . ; ■ ; :, lOTii March, 1863. . ■ But time spares not even royal memorials, and the inscription-stone now lies at the foot of the cairn. It is on the Birkhall Estate that the Alltnagiubhsaich Lodge stands, about three miles above the Falls, and facing the south, embosomed among pines which recent wind-storms have not spared. It is a modern structure, the part on the left being the forester's cottage, connected by a covered passage with the lodge, which has a range of bedrooms at the back. A building of some sort had stood h°re from time immemorial, and doubtless deserved the name it bore— " The 3Balmoral. 53 riic Prince property of Prince of • rcMpiire a the (jueen ; have been )kl ivy-clad a modem ; entrance, house is s — birks, or > its name, an to meni- istinguished Duchess of ipant. But assed away the garden and straw- riad in the plate. The H 3irkhall is r )w ruinous, ^ ection with e, having a i ■ i now lies at ands, about pines which 5art on the the lodge, : had stood lore — " The I'holu by\ UUBII LOCH. [U'. .1. Hatves, Abcnh-cii. Hut" — before it fell into Royal possession. Looking towards the Capel Mounth and Loch Muick, and well sheltered by larches, it is a charming occasional residence, and here the Queen and the Prince Consort fre- quently came, on a visit of two or three days' duration, from Balmoral. It is re- ferred to in " Leaves from the Journal of our Life in the Highlands," as " our humble little abode." The lodge is con- veniently situated for the royal deer-forest of Lochnagar, and many a pleasant even- ing has been spent here by the Prince and his friends after a day's sport among the stags, the proceedings winding up with a torchlight dance on the lawn in front of the house. The public path leading to Lochnagar passes in rear of the lodge, but too often tourists prefer to walk by and stare into the front windows. The Falls of Muick, about five miles from Ballater, are annually visited by thousands. At the point where the Falls occur the glen is contracted, as though some titanic hand had here throttled the valley, which is richly wooded with a variety of trees, larches predominating. The Falls did not escape the ubiquitou; Pennant, who tells us that the " hole was supposed by the vul- gar to be bottomless." The height of the Linn is about thirty feet, and prevents the upward passage of salmon. A salmon ladder has been talked of, as there is excel- lent spawning ground in the upper reaches of the river. The Falls used to be frequently visited by the Queen. Photo by] ABERGELDlE CASTLE. [W. A. Hams, Aberdeen. ^ 1 5^ Queen Dictoria. The Glasallt Shiel is close to the shore of the loch, and on the left hank of the stream Glas Allt (the f^ray burn), from which it derives its name. The shicl is a neat gray-granite building of two stories facing the loch, sheltereil by firs, and protected from the north wind by the western extremity of Ant-Sroii (the nose), a dependency of Lochnagar. This neighbourhood had long been a favourite with the Prince Consort, so afti-r his death the gueen erected the shiel. Hut owing to increasing ye:>rs Her Majesty's visits both to Alltnagiubh- saicli Lodge and Glasallt Shiel are getting fewer and fewer; an annual afternoon visit suffices now. It would not be right to omit a mention of Dr. Norman Macleod in this account of the Queen's life at Balmoral. Her attendance at kirk has been an interesting feature of the manner in which the Queen has assimilated Scottish ways, although it has not seldom given annoyance to ecclesiastics in I£ngland, whose jy.iipathies were narrower than the Queen's. A characteristic note may be culled from the " Journal " as to Dr. Macleod, who was so great a helper to the Queen in her spiritual life. " We went to kirk as usual " (she writes in 1854) "at twelve o'clock. The service was performed by the Re\'. Norman Macleod, of Glasgow, son of Dr. Mac- leod, and anything finer I never heard. The sermon — entirely extempore — was quite admirable ; so simple, and yet so eloquent, and so beautifully argued and put. . . . . The second prayer was very touching ; his allusions to us were so simple, saying after his mention of us, ' bless their children.' It gave me a lump in my throat, as also when he prayed for ' the dying, the wounded, the widow, and the orphans.' JCveryone came back delighted ; and how satisfactory it is to come back from church with such feelings ! " The Queen has been often present at the annual Communion Service — a ceremony as impressi\e as it is simple. When the young Tsar Nicholas of Russia and his wife (the Queen's granddaughter) paid a visit to Balmoral in 1896, they accompanied her to the quiet country kirk on Sunday, where, in the presence of the loyal and devout neighbours of the Queen, the two mightiest rulers of the earth knelt together in worship. : . -,, From a Photo by\ [Kmsill. TlUi TSAR ANI5 TS..-IINA OF RUSSIA. I l);iiik of I'lie sliii'l iirs, and nose), a I t, so after (' IS ller tnafjiuhh- Shiel are n annual omit a od in lliis Balmoral. )een an Manner in ;d Scottish loni given England, 3wer than note may as to Dr. 1 helper to fe. " We i writes in "he service . Norman Dr. Mac- ver heard. 3ore — was ind yet so irgued and o us were [ave me a jnded, the isfactory it Service — a ficholas of il in 1896, jresence of lers of the CHAPTER VII y // /■ (J u K iz N ' s A' /•; /. .1 T I \' r: s . Ul'AiE is no living Sovereign who pos.sesses so large a circle of relatives and descendants as Oneen Victoria. Is.^ond the limits of her own family, the Queen iias innumerable cousins, the exact relationship of whom it would ta.\ the genius of a genealogist to determine. Her oldest living relative is II.R.II. the Duke of Cambridge, K.Ci., her cousin He is the senior in age, having been born about two months before the Queen. The Duke is still energetic, although since his retirement from the post of Commander-Ill ("hief he has had the burden of official duties consider- ably lightened. Me retains an active interest in many public institutions, and often delivers addi esses on behalf of various philanthropies. His sister, the (Irand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, is another relative who almost ranks as a contemporary of the (,_)ueen. The Duke's other sister is the popular and bt'iievolent Duchess of Teck, who, since the marriage of her daughter to the Duke of York, has arri\ed at the still more important relationship of being grandmother to Prince Edward of York, the youthful heir to the throne. The (,)ueen was deeply interested in the betrothal of her grandson to Princess May, and was present at the christening of Prince i:.ilward, who has now a brother, known by the somewhat new name in our Royal lineage of Prince David. These young Princes have, with the children of the Duchess of Fife, raised the Princess of Wales to the dignity of grandmo.ther, although her Royal Highness still looks more like the sister of her daughters than a grandmother. A relative of the Queen who lias not been seen in this country for many years is the Duke of Cumberland, who resides usually at Gmunden, in Austria. He ranks as a Prince of the United Kingdom of Great 1 Britain and Ireland, is a Jvieutenant-General in our Army, and is entitled to sit in tlie House of Lords, Photo by] [l<:iss,'ll. THE DIKE OF CAMBRIDGE, K.G. The Queen's cousin and oldest living relaliie. ^ 5« ^ueen Dictorin. W He married a sister of the Princess of Wales. The Duke of Ciunherland's y()iinj,'er sister is I'rinccss l-'rederica, who married Haron von Pawel Ram- miiij^en, and resides at Hampton Court Palace. It would i)e (liflTiciilt to unravel the tangled skein whicli int«'rmarriaKf has ciraleil in the relationship of the Oueen to almost every European Court. The German Imperial family is, of course, closely linked with Queen Victoria, for the Emperor is the son of the Ouccn's eldest child. The Russian Imperial family is hardly less connected, for the Tsarina is the daiif,'hter of Princess Alice, the Oueen's beloved and lamented dauf^hter. To the little Grand Duchess 01f,'a, born on November 15th, 1H95, the (Jueen was one of the sponsors at the christening ceremony. To the Court of Denmark the British Royal Eamily is tied by that "crimson thread of kinship" which has attached this country with growing afl'ection ever since the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra. The alliance of Princess Maud of Wrdes to Prince Carl of Denmark has o i' iti- tuted another bond of family relationship. The Queen's great - grandchildren are scattered all over Europe. Prince Carol and the Princess IClizabeth (I Roumania are the children of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg's daughter, and there- fore have the Queen as their great- grandmother. Princess Elizabeth of Hesse is another grandchild of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, and great-grand- child of the Queen. The three children of the Crown Prince of Greece are other members of this wide circle. Prince George Dekelia of Greece, though only about seven years old, has no less than three great-grandmothers— Queen X/ir'^nY-ir, +U„ r^ r T>. , . PRINCE AND PRINCESS OK WALES IN 1864, Victoria, the Queen of Denmark, and with prince albert victor. I'lwlo liy\ [Ldiiilon Slcnvscopk Co, THE PRINCESS OK WALKS. !^ Ubc <2iuccn'9 IRclatlvcs. 57 Princess inberlamrs I'rederica, wcl Ram- ion Court unravel erniarriagc lip of the ean Court, iiily is, of h (Jueen the son of family is |e Tsarina Alice, the daufjhter. ess 01>;a, iSg5, the ors at the miark the id by that h growing Alexandra, rlwto by IHE DUKK OK VOKK. IKuiSiill. the Grand Duchess Coi.stanlint'— hosides iho i-xtr.iordinary total of forty-five uncles and aunts. Prince Waldeinar of Prussia, being the son of the ICinpress l-'rederiik's soconil son, is another great- granticliild of the Oucen ; and the two sons of Prince I'rederick Charles of llessc-Cassfl sustain the sainr rel.ition- siiip to Iler Majesty. The Oueen's eldest great-grandchild is Princess X'ictoria I'eodora of Saxc- Meiningen, daughter of the accomplished daugiiter of the ICmpress Frederick. She has spent a great deal of her life with the daughters of the IHike and 1 )iichess of Saxe-Coburg. The Cierman ICmperor's family constitutes a large group of great-grandciiildren, of whom only one — Princess Victoria Louise — is a girl. The three children of Prince Louis of IJattenberg ; the infant child of Prin- cess llolicnlohe-Langenlnirg ; and the two little girls of the Duchess of Fife, complete the list ot those who hail Queen \'ictoria as their great-grandmother. One can hardiy overrate the importance of these links with the various Courts of Europe in considering not only the peace of the British ICmpire, but also the educational influence in government which has been, often unconsciously, wielded by our venerated Sovereign over her Royal relatives. Far and wide, beyond the boundaries of Europe, Queen Victoria is a name to conjure with, a name which, pronounced in many languages, is respected in all lands. And this effect we may trace quite as much to the pure family life of the Queen as to the extension of the British Empire. Natives of many a distant land have regarded " the great White Queen " as their Mother, and have, with touching awe, yearned to come under her protection. When chiefs from tribes in Africa have visited this country, their highest happiness has been attained when they have gazed photo by\ iRusseit. on the kindly face of our Queen. In h.r.h. the nvciiEs's of york. b ^ a U id in o X v: o X 3 O K Z U bj) [ij ^ J U 5 o — . -q: O o E < XTbe Queen's IRelatives. 59 a volume on life in Syria, published not lonj; ago, there was a picturesque account of how an autograph letter from the Queen, returning thanks for Jubilee congratulations, was the magnet which attracted thousands from a distance of many miles. And one explorer has told us how, in the course of his travels in the Dark Continent, he found an old picture of the Queen the object of continual worship by a heathen tribe ! These are instances of the way in which the Queen's personality has laid hold of the imagination ; and it has been, probably, as the head of an ever-growing family rather than as a great Sovereign that such a result has been attained. ^ in CROWN I'RINCE OF ROUMANIA. DIKE THE LATF I'RINCE PRINCE nUKE OF TlIF GERMAN ()K HENRY OK o'- SAXE-COIIl UC. TSAK. EMl'KROR. CONNAUCHT. HATTENUERO. W ; '■■ K. a g 1 5- ° (/2 H -.a i- OS . Z U GERMAN EMPRESS. PRINCESS HENRV OF HATTENIIERG. THE TSAI'INA. PRINCESS PRINCE nUCHESS OF nUCHESS OF AT EXANDRA AI,FKKI) OF CONNAliiin. SAXE-COHURIi OF SAXE-COlURr, SAXE-COHURG, Photographed hy Mr. Kiisstll at liosniati, on the ilay of the hetnithal of the Tsar niut Tsiiriiia of liiissia CHAPTER VIII AN APPRECIATION OF THE QUEEN. T would be interesting to collect some of the impressions which the Queen has made on the foremost personages of her reign. Many of these impressions will be found in autobiographies and other volumes, dealing with the careers of statesmen, authors, explorers, and others who have been introduced to Her Majesty. Thomas Carlyle has left on record an account of his meeting the Queen at the house of Lady Augusta Stanley, which also supplies an example of the Queen's sympathy. I quote from the second volume of Froude's luminous " Life." " The installation of Edinburgh [1866] had drawn the world's eyes on Carlyle, His address had been in everyone's hands, had been admired by the wise, and had been the fashion of the moment with the multitude. The death of his wife following immediately, in so sudden and startling a manner, had given him the genuine sympathy of the entire nation. His enemies, if any enemies remained, had been respectfully silent. The Queen represented her whole subjects and the whole English-speaking race when she conveyed to Cheyne Row, through Lady Augusta Stanley, a message — delicate, graceful, and even affectionate. John Carlyle had remained there after the return from Hoddington to London. To him Lady Augusta wrote, at Her Majesty's desire, and I will not injure the effect of her words by compressing them : '"TO DR. CARLYLE. - " ' Osborne, April 2,oth^ 1866. «* ' Dear Mr. Carlyle, — I was here when the news of the terrible calamity with which your brother has been visited reached Her Majesty, and was received by her with feelings of sympathy and regret, all the more keen from the lively interest with which the Queen had so recently followed the proceedings in Edinburgh. Her Majesty expressed a wish that, as soon as I could do so, I should convey to sir. Carlyle the expression of these feelings, and the assurance of her sorrowful understanding of a grief which she herself— alas ! — knows too well. - , .^-.--_^,.„_ _._ " ' It was with heartfelt interest that the Queen heard yesterday that Mr. Carlyle had been able to make the effort to return to his desolate home, and that you are with him.'" I'hoto by\ {Mn. Cameron. THOMAS CARLYLE. tin appveciation of tbe (Jiueen. fii Personally, Carlyle was unknown to the Queen. He had never been presented, had never sought admission within the charmed circle which surrounds the constitutional crown. Perhaps, in reading Lady Augusta's words, he thought more of the sympathy of the " bereaved widow " than of the notice of his Sovereign. He replied : "Chelsea, May ist, i866. •' Dear Lady Augusta, — The gracious mark of Her Majesty's sympathy touches me with many feelings, sad and yet beautiful and high. Will you, in the proper manner, with my humblest respects, express to Her Majesty my profound sense of her great goodness to me in this the day of my calamity. I can write to nobody. It is best for me at present, when I do not even speak to anybody. " Believe me, yours, with many grateful regards, "T. Carlyle." Another incident befel him in ths beginning of 1869, of a more pleasing kind. He received an intimation from Dean Stanley that Her Majesty would like to become personally ac- quainted with a m.an of whom she had heard so much, and in whose late sorrows she had been so interested. He was not a courtier ; no one could suspect him of seeking the favour of the great of the world, royal or noble. But for the Queen, throughout his life he had entertained always a loyal respect and pity, wishing only that she could be less enslaved by the "talking apparatus " at Westminster. He had felt for her in her bereavement as she had remembered him in his own. Th meetinq; was at the Westminster Deanery. " The Qi en [he sayr] - was really very gracious and prett in her demeanour throughout ; rose ^°" greatly in , v esteem by everything that happened ; did not fail in any point. The intervie .v was quietly very mournful to me ; the one point of real interest, a sombre thought. Alas ! how would it have cheered her bright soul, for my sake, had she been there ! " I think it was Thomas Carlyle who described the Queen as " gliding into the room as though she were on skates " — a happy phrase, which is an exact simile for the graceful carriage of Her Majesty in those days. The impression left by the Queen on the mind of John Bright was that she was "the most absolutely truthful v/oman " he had ever met. Her Majesty reciprocated the admiration which the Quaker statesman had for his Sovereign. Mr. Gladstone, the oldest living servant of the Crown, has eulogised the Queen's " thorough comprehension of the conditions of the groat Covenant mi i '&i (Siueen Dictorfa. between the Throne and the people "-an interesting^ tribute to the constitutional knowledge of his Sovereign from one who has been her Prime Minister four times. \ '.■"■;' -i^; ; ' These three, out of many allusions by eminent men to the character of the Queen, may be taken as representative views of Her Majesty. Were it possible to hear from the hps of those who are in constant attendance their opinion of the Queen, it is probable that their verdict would be very similar. First and foremost among the Queen's characteristics must be placed her sympathy. She has been the first Sovereign to extend her patronage systematically and personally to philanthrophy. In all her long reign she has been cautious as 'i ^>1 JT^V - ' '^i* , FIRST PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN, PAINTED AFTER HER CORONATION. to all charitable work claiming her interest, with the result that in no case that can be recalled has she thrown the aegis of her name over unworthy causes. Again, the nation has come to expect that when any sore calamity falls upon any portion of the community, the Queen will instantly express her sympathy in one of those heartfelt messages which are so telling in their simplicity. And one is in danger of forgetting that, till the reign of Victoria, such evidences of sympathy between monarch and subjects were unknown. The hundreds of visits to hospitals and like institutions which have been paid by the Queen and her family, are another form of philanthrophy which has been practically inaugurated by Her Majesty. The constant commands sent to heroic seamen, soldiers, and indeed any who have performed brave deeds, to receive in person the commendation of the Queen, are yet another feature of Her Majesty's ready appreciation of valour which distinguishes her reign. That the Victoria an apprcciattcn of tbe (Siucen. 63 Cross was founded by the gueen is certainly a fact to be proudly noted. Indeed one might safely say that the title of "The Friend of Philanthropy" would be as appropriate to the Queen as was that of "The Keeper of the Peace" to Alexander III. Kindness to children, care of the sick, sympathy with the sorrowing— these have been ever sure to receive the Queen's favour. She has been the unconscious instigator of numberless good works, and the continual encourager of heroic deeds. The Queen is a courageous woman. Not only the possessor of physical courage, undaunted by several dangers to her life, she has had the courage of her opinions. She waited patiently for the nation to learn the true character of the Prince Consort, in face of slanders as cruel as they were unfounded. And in the f > v^^H. H I ^I^^^^^^B^-^^-^l ^M yj^H H 1 mwm ^■^SIk 1 THE QUEEN IN THE ROBES OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER. conduct of State affairs she has exercised an influence which has gained for her an admiration universal among nations. Could the secret history of European Governments during the last fifty years be revealed, it would be seen how often Queen Victoria has courageously upheld truth and right. " Great events always make me calm," she once recorded in her diary ; and it is this calm reliance on a Higher Power which has enabled the Queen to act with such stately dignity in scenes where thousands of eyes were fixed intently on her. A truly devout woman, she has passed through an unparalleled series of sorrows, and gained thai peace which is made perfect by suffering. The Queen's gratitude has been already mentioned. All who serve her Would testify that she is a good mistress — thoughtful, considerate, and appreciative. I l: s I (Siueen IDlctotia. 64 Ever in her thoughts from the earliest days of her reign has been the sense of her responsibihty to her great Empire. Bereavements, sore and sudden though they have been, have never been allowed to interfere w.th the dut.es of State. When her carriage was upset in the Highlands, the Queen's first thought, she herself records, was that '< there were still things I had not set led and waned to do." She has mastered details which would weary most men ; she has compelled herself to learn everything possible about her domunons, though geography never had a charm for her; she has dehghted n.lhons of her Indian tub^cts by studying Hindustani ; she has penetrated subtle mtncac.es of pohcy witi the industry of a statesman. These are a few of the thmgs she has done because she loves her people. ■ - ~ To-day, Queen Victoria stands amid all the monarchs on the earth the Best Beloved, .nd thnt is the reward of her Sixty Years' Re.gn. (5o& Save tbc (Sluecn! mmmimmmmmmimimmmmmm m