The beautiful life and illustrious reign of Queen Victoria

Front matter

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THE END OF A GLORIOUS REIGN.

Preface

FOR anyone who recognizes the womanly virtues and the royal graces of Queen Victoria, the authorship, compilation and editing of such a work as this must needs be a labor of love. Few undertakings could be more attractive than this to one born a subject of the Queen and now a citizen of the great Republic which has shared the grief of the British Empire in its loss, to a degree that proves how strong are the ties that bind the two countries.

The purpose of this work is to furnish the reader an ample yet convenient biography of Queen Victoria, the greatest of all the English monarchs for several centuries, if not for all time, and to accompany the biography with such historical matter as will serve to indicate the wonderful progress of the British Empire during the reign which has given to the nineteenth century the recognized name of "The Victorian Era." The life of the Queen and the history of her realm were so inextricably mingled that no volume would serve fully which failed to take cognizance of her reign as a monarch as truly as of her personality as a woman. In brief, then, this work may be accepted as an account of the personal life of Victoria of the House of Guelph, her domestic relations as child, maiden, wife, mother and widow, her tastes and abilities, her characteristics and her friendships, and at the same time as a history of the British Empire during the period of her long occupancy of the throne. Her influence upon domestic legislation, her stand for peace with other powers when wars threatened, her friendship for the United States which served us well in the days of the war between North and South, the loyalty of the colonies throughout the world, which bound the British Empire into a unity stronger than laws could do, all these facts are emphasized in due proportion to their importance.

In the preparation of this work, access has been sought to all the more satisfactory sources of information. Long and sympathetic attention to the history of the British Empire and the life and work of the Queen has been supplemented by the mass of published contributions to the same subject. Biographies, char-

8 PREFACE.

acterizations and studies of Queen Victoria by her private librarian and by Jefferson, Barnett Smith, Grace Greenwood, Tooley, Humphrey and others have been scrutinized; histories of England which gave due consideration to the reign of Victoria have been at hand; lives, reminiscences and memoirs of men and women whose position brought them into contact with either the political or the personal life of court and kingdom have furnished much of an anecdotal character; biographies of Gladstone, Palmerston, Melbourne, Peel, Disraeli, Eosebery and the other great prime ministers of the Queen have contributed to the historical side of the work; finally the "Life of the Prince Consort," supervised and in large degree written by the Queen herself, and her own two volumes of "Leaves from Our Journal in the Highlands" have been sources of interesting material.

To all the authors thus laid under tribute as well as to the writers of the press who necessarily furnish the later details of the last days of the Queen's life, full appreciation and gratitude is tendered for their courteous services. It is impossible that new things should be said about the life of a monarch whose doings were w^atched and reported in detail for more than sixty years. Yet to gather into convenient compass the salient features of such a career may be thought not an unimportant task. It is in this spirit that the work is offered to the public by

THE AUTHOR.

Chapter I. In The Days Of Infancy

The Father and Mother of Victoria — Birth of the Princess — A Welcome Child — Stories of Babyhood — Death of the Duke of Kent — Life in Kensington Palace — Beginning an Education — On the Sands at Ramsgate — In Royal Society — Opinions from the Chroniclers of the Day — Anecdotes of Childhood — Nearing the Throne 41

Chapter II. The Life Of A Young Princess

Princess Victoria Learns That She is Heiress to the Throne — Her First Reception — She Attends the Theater — Not Present at the Coronation of William IV. — Her Amusements — Journeys with Her Mother — Enthusiastically Received by the People — A Narrow Escape From Death — Her Confirmation — The Duke of Coburg and His Sons, Ernest and Albert, Visit Kensington Palace — The Ill-Feeling Between the King and the Princess' Mother — She Attains her Majority — 'i'j Nation Celebrates the Event — Death of King William IV 67

Chapter III. The Young Queen's Reign

Victoria is Informed That She is Queen — How She Received the Tidings — Her First Council — Her Address to the Dignitaries — Condition of the Empire at the Time of Her Accession — Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister — The Queen Removes to Buckingham Palace — Amelioration of the Criminal Laws — Daily Life of Her Majesty — Insurrection in the Two Canadas — Reform of the Canadian Constitution — The Coronation — "Vyar in China — Difficulties of the Young Sovereign 88

Chapter IV. The Queen A Bride

Prince Albert's Birthplace — His Early Life — His Engaging Qualities — Princess Victoria's Attachment for Him — The Queen Proposes Marriage to Him — His Visits

10 CONTENTS.

to England — The Queen Informs the Council of Her Intended Marriage — Parliament Votes the Prince an Annuity of £30,000 — The Wedding Ceremony at the Chapel Royal St. James — A Nation Rejoices 122

Chapter V. The Labors Of A Monarch

The Postal System of the United Kingdom — Need of Improvements — Sir Rowland Hill and the Penny Post — Opposition to His Plans — Measures for the Protection of Child Chimney Sweeps — Attempt of Edward Oxford to Shoot the Queen — The Prince Consort Attains His Majority — Birth of the Princess Royal — Accident to Prince Albert — Sir Robert Peel Becomes Prime Minister — Birth and Christening of the Prince of Wales 153

Chapter VI. Family Life And National Duties

Terrible News from Afghanistan — ^A Great Tragedy — Attemps of Francis and Bean to Shoot Her Majesty — The Queen's First "Visit to Scotland — Birth of the Princess Alice — Tom Thumb a Visitor at Windsor Castle — The Emperor of Russia Visits the Court — Famine in Ireland — Chartist Meetings — London in Terror — Trials of Irish Agitators — Death of Lord Melbourne — The Queen Visits Ireland 175

Chapter VII. The First Great World's Exposition

Work of the Prince Consort — He Plans a Great World's Fair — Appointment of a Royal Commission — Hyde Park Chosen for the Site — Strong Opposition Encountered — Building of the Beautiful Crystal Palace — Opening of the Exhibition — The Queen's Account of the Ceremony — Great Multitudes Present — Close of the Exhibition — Death of the Duke of Wellington — Fire in Windsor Castle — Birth of Another Son to the Queen 201

Chapter VIII. Crimean War And Indian Mutiny

War Between Russia and Turkey — England and France Protest at the Plans of the Czar — Popular Feeling Against the Prince Consort — The Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava — Mismanagement in the Crimea — The Emperor and Empress of the French Visit England — End of the War in the East — Treaty of Peace — Indian Mutinies — Marriage of the Princess Royal — Death of Her Majesty's Mother 219

M 5 H -a fe o •^ o

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Her Majesty the Queen— 1853

(From Painting at Windsor Castle.)

CONTENTS. 13

Chapter IX. * The Queen And The United States

niness of the Prince Consort — Civil War in the United States — The Trent Affair, and the Complications which Grew Out of It— How the Queen and the Prince Consort Averted Probable War — A Widowed Queen — Funeral of the Prince Consort — Eastern Tour of the Prince of Wales — The International Exhibition — Marriage of the Prince of Wales — The Queen Visits Netley Hospital — She Unveils a Statue of the Prince Consort — Visit to Germany — She Opens the Session of Her Seventh Parliament — ^War in Germany 232

Chapter X. Years Full Of History

Extension of the Elective Franchise — Federation of Canada — Fenian Troubles in Ireland — Mr. Gladstone's Irish Church Resolutions — The Queen Visits Switzerland — War Between France and Germany — Marriage of the Princess Louise to the Marquis of Lome — Illness of the Prince of Wales— Fatal Accident to a Grandson of the Queen — The Prince of Wales Visits India 256

Chapter XI, Queen Victoria Becomes An Empress

Queen Victoria Becomes the Empress of India — Impressivie Ceremonies at Delhi — The Queen's Interest in Her Indian Empire — The Marquis of Lome Appointed Governor General of Canada— Death of President Garfield— Another Attempt on the Life of the Queen — Death of the Duke of Albany — Marriage of the Princess Beatrice — The Colonial and Indian Exhibition — The Queen Visits Liverpool 276

Chapter XII. Victoria's Golden Jubilee

Fifty Years on the Throne — A People's Love and Loyalty — The Cavalcade Passes Through the Streets of London — Envoys of Nations in the Parade — Thanksgiving Services in Westminster Abbey — The Night Illumination — The Children's Festival — Jubilee Honors — Pardons to Military Deserters — Women's Jubilee Offering Fund — Review of the Troops at Aldershot — Naval Review at Spithead — Jubilee Gift to the Pope 299

14 CONTENTS.

Chapter XIII. The Diamond Jubilee— Sixty Years A Queen

Thanksgivings of a Nation — The Royal Family at St. George's Chapel — Services in the Churches of all Creeds — The Queen Leaves Windsor for the Jubilee Ceremonies — Her Reception at Paddington — Proceedings in Parliament — The Procession — Beautiful Decorations Along the Route — The Colonial Troops — Members of the Royal Families in the Parade — At St. Paul's Cathedral — The Night Illuminations — Dinners to the Poor — The Naval Review at Spithead 321

Chapter XIV. African Events To The Fore

War with the Boers — Dr. Jameson's Raid — Trouble with the Ashantis — Prince Henry of Battenberg Volunteers His Services — He is Taken 111 in Africa — His Death — The Queen's Grief — The Remains Brought to England — Imposing Funeral Ceremonies — Marriage of the Princess Maud — The Queen Attains the Longest Reign of English Sovereigns 339

Chapter XV. Last Years Of Victoria's Reign

Troubles in India — Victories in the Soudan — The Battle at Omdurmau — The Spanish-American War — The Asiatic Problem — Affairs in South Africa — The Queen's Eightieth Birthday — The Boers Declare War — Progress of Hostilities — The Relief of Ladysmith — President Kruger Leaves the Transvaal — The Queen's Visit to Ireland — The Close of Victoria's Reign 354

Chapter XVI. The Death Of The Queen

News of the Queen's Illness Startles the Civilized World — The Royal Family Called to Osborne House — Arrival of the Emperor of Germany — Death of the Queen — Eulogies of the Press — Panegyrics of the Public — President McKinley Cables Condolences to the King — Deep Grief in Canada — Speeches in Parliament — Loyalty Pledged the King — Lord Salisbury's Tribute 371

; • CONTENTS. 15

Chapter XVII. The Impressive Funeral Ceremonies

The Journey from Cowes to Portsmouth — Royalty follows the Bier — Order of the Proceseion — Arrival of the Train at Victoria Station — The Services at Windsor — Foreign Diplomats in Attendance — Exercises in all Parts of the World — Mrs. Garfield's Tribute — The Final Ceremonies — Eulogies From Great Men of all Lands 401

Chapter XVIII. The Personality Of The Queen

Characteristics of the Queen — Her Love for Animals — Her Domestic Habits — Fondness for Outdoor Life — She Possessed a Remarkable Memory — Her Homes — Royalty Learns Gardening — England's Royal Household — Much of the Queen's Time Spent in Reading — Her Favorite Books — Wealth of the Queen — Her Many Descendants 448

Chapter XIX. A Chapter Of Anecdotes

Incidents at Court — Mr. Story's Reminiscences — Amusements of the Royal Children — Trained to be Musicians — The Queen's Double — The Dawn of a Great Future — A Child Reproves the Queen — Carlyle's Brusque Manners — The Shah of Persia — "Expediency not in the Dictionary" — A Royal Punster — An Acrobatic Interlude — The Queen and the Empress Eugenie 470

Chapter XX. Edward VII., King And Emperor

Sketch of the Career of the New King — ^Different Estimates of His Character — His Education—Visit to Canada and the United States — Travels on the Continent and in the Holy Land — His Marriage — Grand Master of the Free Masons— The Ruler of English Society — His Succession to the Throne — Ancient Ceremonies Repeated — Parliament Renews Allegiance — London Given a Glimpse of Medieval Times — Gorgeous Processions , 485

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAQB

Frontispiece . 11

12 . 21

22 . 29

30 . 49

50 . 51

52 . 61

62 . 79

The End of a Glorious Keign .

Queen Victoria and Family . .

Victoria Alexandrina ....

Osborne House, Where Queen Victoria Died

Queen Victoria — Taking the Oath

Prince Albert — Husband of Queen Victoria

The Late Queen Victoria and Edward VII.

Queen Victoria in Coronation Eobes

Alexandra, Queen and Empress .

Queen Victoria — In 60th Year of Her Keign .

Group Showing Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Consort and four

Children in Windsor Forest . . . . .80

Four Generations op English Royal Family . . 89

Victoria in Wedding Dress . . . . . . 90

Queen's Favorite Dog, Sharp . . . . • • 91

Queen Victoria in Her Garden Chaise . . . . .91

The Queen Visiting Highland Tenants .... 101

St. George's Chapel ....... 102

Sarcophagus of Albert the Prince Consort .... 119

Monuments of Beaconsfield and Malcolm .... 120

Eager for News of the British-Boer War .... 129

Princess Victoria in 1830— From a Painting Made From Life . 130 Lord Roberts .......•• 131

The Marquis of Salisbury, Premier of England . . . 132

Sir John A. Macdonald . . . • • . . 141

Alfred Tennyson . . . • • • • 142

Victoria's Wedding Procession . . . . . . 159

Kensington Palace, London — Birthplace of Queen Victoria . 160 Balmoral Castle, Scotland ...... 160

Albert Memorial — Marble Group ..... 169

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Royal Mausoleum ....

OoEONATioJT Chair, Westminster Abbey

Queen's Private Chapel

Grand Vestibule, Windsor Castle

German Emperor, William II., and Family

Duke of York ....

David Livingstone ....

Rev. Chas. H. Spurgeon

Windsor Castle — Main Gate

Windsor Castle — Queen's Sitting Room

St. James' Palace .

Albert Memorial, London

House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey

Windsor Castle — Favorite Home of Queen Victoria in England

Throne Room, Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle — Henry VIII. Gate

One of the Corridors at Windsor Castle

Buckingham Palace

Marlborough House

Lord Mayor Green of London

Where Lies Oliver Goldsmith

Tower of London

Rt. Hon. .William Ewart Gladstone

Wellington ....

Benjamin Disraeli

Daniel O'Connell

St. Paul's Church

Empress Frederick .

Robert Peel

House of Lords

Windsor Castle, Side View

Christ Church College, Oxford .

Queen Victoria at Various Ages, Plate I.

Queen Victoria at Various Ages, Plate II.

Last Moments of Queen Victoria, Scene at Osborne House

Queen Victoria Lying in State at Osborne House

Tenants of Osborne Paying Tribute to the Dead Queen

Arrival of the Crown Prince — Greeting the Kaiser

Voyage of the "Alberta" Bearing all That was Mortal of the Late

Queen from Cowes to Portsmouth . . . , 39J

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 19

FeOM OSBORJfE TO WINDSOR— The OoFFIK LEAVIifG THE POBCH OF

Osborne House ....... 392

Funeral of Queen Victoria Passing Through Hyde Park . 409

Memorial Service in St. George's Chapel, Windsor . . . 4io

Royal Mourners at Funeral Services in St. George's Chapel . 427

The Funeral Procbssion Leaving Windsor for Frogmore . . 428

King Edward VII. 's First Act of Government . . . 445

THE LIVING DESCENDANTS OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

Plate I

1 King Edward VII.

2 Empress Fbedebigk.

3 Princess Christian of Sghleswig-Hol-

BTEIN.

4 Duchess of Argyll.

5 dcke of connaught.

6 Princess Henry of Battenbbbg.

7 German Emperor.

8 DiiKH OF York.

9 Prince Henry of Prussia.

16 Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstbin.

11 Grand Duke of Hesse.

13 Prince Arthur of Cohnaught.

Plate II , . . ,

1 Crown Princess of Roumania. 3 Gband Duchess of Hesse.

3 Hereditary Princess of Hohenlohe>Lan

genburg.

4 Princess Beatrice op Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

5 Princess Margaret op Oonnaught.

6 Princess Patricia of Connauqht.

7 German Crown Prince.

8 Prince Eitel Fritz of Prussia.

Prince Oscar op Prussia.

10 Prince Edward op York.

11 Prince George op York. 13 Prince Henry of York.

. 446

13 Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

H Prince Alexander of Battenberg.

15 Prince Maurice of Battenberg.

16 Prince Leopold op Battenberg.

17 Duchess op Fife.

18 Princess Victoria of Wales.

19 Princess Charles op Denmark.

20 Princess Aribert op Anhalt.

31 Princess Victoria op Schleswig-Hol-

STEIN.

S3 Princess Alice op Albany.

23 Princess Louis of Battenberg.

24 Princess Henry of Prussia.

. 463

13 Prince Carol op Roumania.

14 Prince Alexander op Greece.

15 Prince Gottfried op Hohenlohe-Lanqen-

burg.

16 Prince Frederick William of Hesse.

17 Prince Maximilian op Hesse.

18 Prince Wolfgang Maurice op Hesse.

19 Prince Philip of Hesse.

20 Princess Henry XXX., op Reuss.

31 Princess Victoria Louise op Prussia.

S3 Princess Victoria op York.

23 Lady Alexandra Dup?.

24 Lady Maud Duff.

Plate III .

1 Grand Duchess Serge op Russia,

2 Empress op Russia.

'i Hereditary Princess Charlotte of Saxe- Meiningen.

4 Duchess of Sparta.

5 Princess Frederick Charles of Hesse.

3 Princess Adolphus of Schaumburg-Lippe. ? Princess Victoria Eugenie oi" Baisbs-

BEBQ.

8 Grand Duchess Olga op Russia.

9 Grand Duchess Tatiana of Russia.

10 Grand Duchess Marie op Russia.

11 Princess Elizabeth of Hessb.

13 Princess Elizabeth of Roumania.

13 Princess Marie of Roumania.

14 Princess Helena of Gbbecb.

Victoria alexandrima

LATE QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND EMPRESS

OP INDIA.

Victoria, the sixth ruler of the House of Hanover and only child of Edward, Duke of Kent, succeeded her uncle, William IV, when eighteen years of age. For over sixty-three years she enjoyed a reign unexampled in the history of England and is held in reverence by millions of subjects and people all over the ■world.

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Introduction

WHEN the great bell of St. Paul's proclaimed to London the passing of Queen Victoria, and later when the sad news was transmitted over continents and under seas to all quarters of the globe, there was only one feeling in all hearts — that of love and admiration and tenderest regret and sorrow for one whose life and name stood not alone for the sceptered majesty of a great kingdom and empire, but also for one of the noblest and purest ideals of womanhood. Not only in Great Britain and its dependencies, but throughout the civilized world, the news was received with a keen sense of the greatness with which she had played her part both as woman and as queen. It was the especial merit of the Queen so to fill the functions of rulership as to exercise a positive influence. By precept and example, by her eminent qualities of good sense and kindliness, by her strength of character and her love of peace, she did much to make the nation great and to secure the advancement of the world at large.

Kindred in race and blood, speaking the same tongue and claiming part of the same glorious heritage of ancient renown, America stood side by side with Britannia at Victoria's bier. For the Queen who lay dead at Osborne ruled with such a gentle and gracious sway as to extend her dominion beyond the borders of her great empire and exact the tribute of respect, admiration and love from all. Americans have warm hearts, and recognize their friends, whoever they may be. And in Queen Victoria, throughout her long life, this country always had a firm friend. In the dark days of civil strife and war, when some of her statesmen faltered and declared the Union w^as about to be dissolved, Queen Victoria was steadfast and never ceased to uphold the side and cause she believed to be for the right and whose triumph would mean most for advancing humanity. It is a matter of history that but for her influence England probably would have gone to war with the United States over the Slidell and Mason affair, and in the early days of the Spanish- American trouble it is now known that Queen Victoria

24 INTRODUCTION.

also expressed to the President of the United States her belief in tlie righteousness of America's cause and assured him of England's friendship and sympathy.

In Europe, also, her name was a bulwark of peace. Connected by ties of relationship with most of the crowned heads of Europe, all European rulers were ready to strain a point, if need be, to keep on terms of amity with the empire over which Victoria ruled. Like Alexander III. of Russia, "the peacemaker of Europe," Queen Victoria's counsel and influence always were cast on the side of peace. That events which were too strong for her to overrule led to the South African war and its many disasters, was the greatest sorrow of the closing days of her life. This tragic finale to her reign adds a pathos to her death, which was probably hastened by worry and sorrow over the South African tragedy and events she felt herself powerless to control. And it is significant of the place Victoria held in the world's heart that no one, not even the embattled Boers of South Africa, held her responsible for the mistakes which precipitated England's most disastrous war of the century.

It is a noteworthy fact that while the changing conditions since she was crowned in 1837 have tended to reduce greatly the specific powers of sovereignty, she accepted the natural trend of events with equanimity, steadily gaining in esteem and afi'ection as the years passed. Never was she more sincerely revered and loved than during the decade just closed; never was the quiet force of her influence more generally recognized. The whole period embraced in the Victorian era has been the period of Great Britain's greatest imperial development. The statesmen who were her advisers when she came to the throne, a girl of eighteen, seem now to have belonged to an entirely different epoch, so great has been the change in the political world and in the currents and tendencies of intellectual life. In all this process of growth Victoria exercised a wholesome, if passive, influence. She met new burdens and honors with dignity; she kept before the British public high ideals of principle and conduct; and if the political growth and material prosperity of England are not directly traceable to her, her essential goodness and her well-poised character have at least done much to maintain the sentiments of confidence and patriotism which tend most to make for a nation's happiness.

From the very beginning of the Queen's reign her desires and her

INTRODUCTION. «5

views made themselves felt. It is even credited in large degree to her that the Ministry of Lord Melbourne, to which she was friendly, remained in power for four years after her accession before succumbing to a hostile majority in the House of Commons. Important legislation of great consequence to the national policies and the liberties of the people filled the early years of Victorians reign, and the kingdom was long disturbed by domestic puzzles. Eeforms of the poor laws, the establishment of the policy of free trade with the abolishment of the corn laws, educational and religious controversy over the Church in Ireland and Scotland, the potato famine in Ireland and the widespread distress resulting, reforms in the electoral laws, extension of the franchise, destruction of the "pocket boroughs," abolishment of the purchase of commissions in the army, Irish land legislation and its associated problems, labor acts in reference to the unions and the removal of disabilities of various sorts from Roman Catholics and Jews — these have been among the noteworthy questions in the domestic affairs of Great Britain seeking solution during the nation's longest reign.

The outlook in domestic affairs before King Edward VII. is by no means as puzzling as that which faced his mother at the beginning of her reign. The relations of man to man and man to government in Great Britain have been thrashed out in the last sixty years with astonishing fullness. The country has its liberties, the people have the ballot, the government is responsible and responsive to the popular will, and many a lesson has been learned in the sixty years.

In international affairs, too, it is a very different world from that which Victoria entered as a monarch. Invention and discovery have brought countries into closer knowledge of each other, knowledge has solved puzzles and allayed antagonisms. The Queen was young in the days of revolution, the days of Kossuth, Mazzini, Garibaldi, and the struggles of France. In her time Europe has changed much and the relations of the nations have changed more. The great powers have become greater, in Europe and in their foreign possessions, and the smaller ones are vanishing factors. International problems to be faced may be greater to-day than they were when the Queen came to the throne, but they surely are much more clearly defined and by consolidation are reduced in number from what they were then.

Victoria was a powerful influence in retaining for England the loyalty of the British colonies. She saw Canada and Australia

26 INTRODUCTION.

complete schemes of federation which make them nations in all but name. She saw India become her empire from the doubtful status of company government out of which the great country has issued. She saw South Africa rise to wealth and strength, only to furnish the war which saddened her life in its last year. To what extent the new monarch and his successors may be able to inspire such loyalty as the colonists felt for the Queen is one of the most important questions which imperial Great Britain may need to answer.

Victoria renewed the vitality and replenished the stock of the royal family, so that the empire need no longer fear a failure in the succession. When she came to the throne the royal line was virtually at an end. Mother of nine children, her descendants have multiplied into the most numerous of all royal families of to-day. More than that, by intermarriage Victoria has been mother, mother-in-law or grandmother to royalty in virtually the whole of Protestant Europe, thus making for peaceful relations and unity of action in many times of crisis.

Queen Victoria rehabilitated royalty in the mind of the English people. A few years ago there were those who prophesied that she would be the last British monarch, so definite were the republican tendencies of the country and so uncertain were the people as to what sort of a king Albert Edward of Wales would make. But her life as woman and queen conquered the hearts of her people, and to-day no voice is heard to suggest that the house of Guelph is nearing the end of its reign.

The change of rulers comes at a time when the empire is beset with dangers and difficulties. After an era which is destined to be as distinctive in British history as the era of Elizabeth, it was Victoria's fate to see the British empire embarrassed by war and apparently losing its primacy among the nations of the earth. Whether it has not actually passed the climax of its greatness and is now on the point of a retrograde movement is a question yet to be determined. The circumstances under which Albert Edward has assumed the sovereign power, as King Edward VII., are therefore peculiarly trying, but thoughtful observers will be slow to conclude that as king he will fail to satisfy the needs and expectations of the British people. The oldest son of the great Queen has an enormous personal popularity both in England and among Englishmen who have migrated to British depen-

INTRODUCTION.

dencies and he is endowed with tact to a remarkable degree. How^- ever England may have looked upon its heir-apparent twenty years ago, in the recent years during which he has been called upon to perform most of the public and ceremonial functions of the monarch, acting as Victoria's representative, he has shown dignity and discretion. His reign in all probability will be comparatively brief, but there is good reason to believe that he will be guided by safe and sober conservatism and will be a highly popular monarch. If the present threatened change in Great Britain's political and commercial status is going to make new plans and policies necessary, moreover, be will have an advantage in the fact that he is not too old to become reconciled to changes or to help in putting them into effect. At the outset of his reign he will find on every hand impressive illustrations of the power and usefulness of the British sovereign who rules as Victoria ruled — with honesty of purpose, largeness of heart and an unwavering love of her subjects.

As to her epitaph, that is characteristic and was written by herself against the time, now at hand, when she should be laid in the marble sarcophagus at Frogmore beside that of Prince Albert:

"Victoria- Albert, Here at last I shall Rest with thee; With thee in Christ Shall rise again."

Queen Victoria Taking Oath

(From a Painting ma-de from Life.)

THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE AND ILLUSTRIOUS REIGN

OF

QUEEN VICTORIA.

Chapter I. In The Days Of Infancy

The Father and Mother of Victoria— Birth of the Princess— A Welcome Cliild— Stories of Babyhood— Death of the Dulie of Kent— Life in Kensington Palace— Beginning an Education—On the Sands at Ramsgate — In Boyal Society — Opinions from the Chroniclers of the Day— Anecdotes^of Childhood— Nearing the Throne.