# A Revised and Enlarged Account of the Bobbili Zemindari/Chapter 11/1893

1893.
The year 1893 is the most important and the most enjoyable one of the present reign. The Rajah left Bobbili on the 14th April on his way to Europe, left his son, the Kumara Rajah, at Madras, under the care of his tutor, Mr. E. P. Oldfield, took leave of his mother and ​brothers at Venkatagiri, and embarking at Bombay landed at Marseilles. Thence he went to Paris, stayed there for a few days, and reached London on the 19th May. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Wenlock, was kind enough to write letters of introduction to the Secretary of State for India and others. His youngest brother, Rajah Venugopal Bahadur, also accompanied him from Madras. On the 29th of that month they attended the Levee at St. James' Palace held by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on Her Majesty's behalf. They were allowed the privilege of going to the Levee by the Ambassador's gate and were presented by the Secretary of State for India. They also went to the customary Reception at the Foreign Office in honour of Her Majesty's Birthday on the 3rd June. They went by the Pimlico Entrance to the two State Balls and one State Concert given in Buckingham Palace. They paid their respects to H. R. H. the Duke of Connaught on the ​19th July, when the Duke said he remembered seeing the Rajah at Poona. They also went to the Garden Party at Marlborough House, given on the 5th July by H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, to have the honour of meeting H. M. the Queen. Lord Kimberley, the Secretary of State for India, kindly introduced the Rajah and his brother to H. R. H. the Duke of York at the Garden Party, given by Mr. and Lady Constance Shaw Lefevre, to meet the Duke and Princess Victoria May before they were married. H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, at the interview given on the 10th July to the Rajah and his brother, was pleased to say that he was glad to make their acquaintance, to which the Rajah replied that it was a great honour to them to be graciously allowed to pay him their loyal respects. The Rajah paid his most humble and loyal respects to H. M. the Queen-Empress on
17th "The Greatest Day of the Tour."
"I left my place at 20 minutes to 12 o'clock and drove to Paddington Station for Windsor Castle; thence I went in the special train at 1-10 P.M., in which Lord Kimberley, Lord Ripon, and some other Privy Councillors were going to attend H. M.'s Council. Sir Gerald Fitzgerald met me at the station and accompanied me to the Castle. The special train arrived at Windsor at 1-40 P.M. There were some carriages from the Castle awaiting to convey us there. Sir Fitzgerald and myself drove in a Landau drawn by a pair of horses, which were driven by a postillion.
"In the Castle I was conducted to a room to wait there till called for. There I had some fruit and lemonade for my lunch. A little after 3 o'clock I was called for and was conducted by Sir Fitzgerald near to the Queen's Chamber. Then the Lord-in-waiting received me, conducted me to the Queen's Chamber, and presented me to Her Majesty. H. M. was ​standing, and shook hands with me in a very pleasing manner.
"Her Majesty's conversation, though short, was very kind and pleasing. Her Majesty was pleased to introduce me to H. M.'s daughter, Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, who was with Her Majesty.
Though Her Majesty is 74 years of age, she noticed carefully my oriental costume. Her Majesty was very kind and pleasing in her expressions. I was very much pleased, and felt more honoured in being allowed thus to pay my most humble and loyal respects to our Sovereign who has already ruled 56 years. Since my boyhood I have had an intention to go to England to pay my loyal respects to Her Majesty. Now my wishes are realized.
"A few minutes after, the Privy Councillors and myself left the Castle, drove to the station, and returned to the Paddington station by the special train. Now I can say I am fully satisfied with my visit to this distant country. ​I may also mention here in this connection that I am the first Rajah that has ever come from the Madras Presidency.
"Thank God! this is the most happy day of my life."
Shortly afterwards the Rajah was presented with a photo bearing H. M.'s autograph signature, in acknowledging the receipt of which the Rajah wrote as follows:—
Dear Sir,
"I have no words to express my most humble and loyal thanks to Her Gracious Majesty, the Queen and Empress of India, for H. M.'s most kind favour in presenting me with Her Portrait. I esteem it a very great and special favour on the part of H. M. to my ancient family which has been ever loyal to the British Government, and whose footsteps, it has been, and will ever be, my desire to follow.
"I have erected a market at Bobbili to commemorate H. M.'s Jubilee, and on my ​return to my country, I intend to build a Town Hall in memory of my loyal visit to H. M., which, with H. M.'s permission, 1 would name the 'Victoria Town Hall.'
"I would beg you, Sir, to convey to Her Gracious Majesty, with every expression of loyalty, and with my humble thanks, my gratitude for, and appreciation of, H. M.'s Gracious Gift.
    I have the honour to remain,
    Sir,
    Your most obedient and humble servant,
(Signed) V. S. RANGA-RAO, Rajah of Bobbili."
In reply to this the Right Hon'ble H. F. Ponsonby wrote:—
"Osborne, Isle of Wight, England, 17th August, 1893.
"Sir,
"In reply to your letter, which I had much pleasure in submitting to the Queen, I am ​commanded by Her Majesty to assure you that she has learnt with much satisfaction your intention of building a Town Hall, in memory of your visit to the Queen, and that Her Majesty gladly grants permission for the building to be named the 'Victoria Town Hall.'
    I have the honour to be,
    Sir,
    Your faithful servant,
(Signed) HENRY F. PONSONBY."
The Rajah presented an Ivory Casket to H. R. H. the Princess May of Teck, as a wedding present, which was acknowledged in the following words:—
"White Lodge, Richmond Park,
Surrey.
"Her Serene Highness the Princess Victoria May of Teck desires the Comptroller to convey her grateful thanks to H. H. the Rajah of Bobbili for the beautiful gift he has kindly sent ​to her which the Princess has pleasure in accepting."
4th July, l893.
The Rajah presented an Ivory Casket to the Queen-Empress and subscribed 100 guineas to St. Mary's Hospital Fund. He and his brother attended the "At Homes" of the Duke of Westminster, the Marchioness of Salisbury, Lady Battersea, Lady Henry Lennox, and the Marchioness of Ripon, the Countess of Jersey, and also Lady Temple's Garden Party and the Anniversary Fete at the Crystal Palace.
He visited Lord Kimberley, Secretary of State for India, Lord Connemara, Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff, Lord Herschell, Lord Northbrook, Lord Reay, and some others.
During his sojourn in England, the Rajah visited Brighton, Oxford, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Bedford. On his way back he visited Paris, Lucerne, Venice, Florence and Rome. ​He received addresses of welcome from the people of Venkatagiri, and of Bobbili where he safely returned on the 13th September, 1893.