The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-05 00:00:00

Writing from Cannes on Sunday the Central News
correspondent says: As one instance of the many
tributes of sympathy I may mention the solicitude
shown by the French authorities, and the readiness
with which they have placed all their resources at the
disposal of those whose mournful task it now is to
perform the last offices for the lamented Prince.
Directly the sad event became known the military
commandant offered a guard of honour for the Villa
Nevada, together with his respect and sympathies, a
thoughtful act of kindness which was appreciated.
The residents, not only in Cannes, but in Nice and
in other health-giving resorts in the South of
France, have sent to the Villa Nevada tributes of
flowers in such abundance as can only be described
as overwhelming. This morning I had a long
conversation with Captain Percival and Dr. Royle at
the Villa Nevada. Both gentlemen are overwhelmed
with grief. Captain Percival said the Prince had
greatly benefited by his stay at the Villa Nevada.
"When he came here," continued the captain, " it
was merely for a few days' visit, but he stayed five
weeks. He was always wanting to do too much in
his delicate state of health. He was never quiet for
long together. He would sometimes take a cruise in
the bay or along the coast in our little boat, or, fail-
ing that, would join in some picnic excursion to which
he had been invited. He made himself agreeable in
all directions, and with all with whom he came into
contact. The result was that, although he appeared
in splendid health, his tissues were weakened, and an
excess of blood was produced. He made himself
in two weeks as popular as many men who
have resided in Cannes for twenty years. He was
universally popular and universally regretted." Capt.
Percival then related the circumstances in connection
with the fall of his Royal Highness. "The Duke,"
continued Captain Percival, "although suffering acute
momentary pain after his fall on the steps of the
Cercle Nautique, was not rendered unconscious, and
almost his first words to me when he saw that he
would be unable to meet those whom he expected,
were 'Please entertain my guests for me.' I did as
he requested. After being attended to at the Villa
Nevada the duke rallied completely. He wrote some
letters, dined, and was in high spirits. But I feared
the shock, and got Dr. Royle to lie in the same room
with the duke. About midnight there was a sudden
collapse. A few minutes after the hour I heard Dr.
Royle calling for brandy. I fetched some, and hurried
into the rkom with it. The duke was then in great
pain, but this subsided under Royle's care and atten-
tion. He grew marvellously calm as death approached,
and passed away from earth lying in my arms peaee-
fully and tranquilly. There was but one faint shudder
and all was over. A few moments afterwards and he
looked exactly as though -asleep." Many pathetic
incidents are now related of the late duke by the two
or three constant friends who were rarely absent from
his side during his stay at Cannes. The duke was
at times sad. He felt that he had not a robust
strength, and the thought at times depressed him.
At rare intervals, too, he complained of his ill-
fortune. It happened that on the first day after
arrival he met with an accident in Captain
Percival's boat, the little craft being wrecked. The
matter was by no means serious, but the Duke de-
spondingly exclaimed, "My usual fate; disaster to
friends as well as to myself." On another occasion
when his Royal Highness was in a serious mood he
rose and gazed long and wistfully over the luxurion3
grounds before him to the deep blue sea beyond.
Turning at length to Captain Percival, lie said,
quietly, Percival, I would rather die here than any-
where else in the world." He died in that very room.
I was shown the apartment to-day. It is a most
pleasant room, and one that Captain Percival himself
formerly used, but gave up to his distinguished guest on
his arrival. The walls are hung with sporting and
military pictures, a shield bearing the coat of arms
of some distinguished foreigner forming a note-
worthy feature. The bed which the duke occupied is
a small one, and is placed in the centre of the room.
From the windows a magnificent view of the town,
the bay, and the Estelle Mountains is obtained. Dr.
Royle, whom I met in this room, added little to
what Captain Percival had already told me. He
dwelt upon the invariable gentleness of the Prince,
how much he had improved since his stay here,
as was apparent from his sunburnt cheeks and
gaining strength. I have seen the coffin, which is of
oak and lies in the drawing-room of the house. It is
covered with a pall of black velvet. The inside of
the coffin is lined with white silk. The Duke wears
a purple robe, and his features are placid. His
orders are lying on his breast. Captain Percival was
anxious to have glass let in the lid of the coffin, but it
was feared that decomposition will be too rapid to
render this desirable. The body has not been em-
balmed, as the Duchess of Albany is said to be opposed
to such a course, but arsenic has been used outwardly
to arrest decomposition. The drawing-room is literally
crammed with floral tributes. One magnificent
wreath was sent by Colonel Stockwell, of the Ist
Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, the Duke of
Albany's own regiment. "Place it at h,is feet," wrote
the colonel," "all the regiment asks this."
The Times of Monday says: The Queen, though
still much overcome by the calamity which has befallen
her, is reported to be very much better. The story of
the reception by her Majesty of the distressing news
of her son's death has yet to be told in detail. It
seems that the first intimation that anything serious
had occurred to the Duke came from Dr. Royle,
his Royal Highness's attendant, who telegraphed
from Cannes to Dr. Reid, the Queen's surgeon at
Windsor Castle, informing him that the Prince was
ill, and thus preparing the way for the message
announcing his decease. Her Majesty at tho time
was out in the Castle grounds, and returned to the
Palace about noon, somewhat earlier than usual, and
was immediately made aware of the Prince's death.
Crushed by the blow, the Queen fell to the ground,
and some time elapsed before she recovered. Until
Friday her Majesty had been steadily recovering from
the effects of the accident which has recently pre-
vented her from appearing at public ceremonials, and
had performed her State duties with her accustomed
regularity, omitting nothing that required her atten-
tion and often working late into the night in order
to complete the examination of despatches. What
effect this new trouble will produce upon her health
remains to be seen.

At eleven o'clock on Saturday forenoon her Majesty,
accompanied by the Marchioness of Ely, left Windsor
Castle in a carriage and four, preceded by an outrider,
the Princess Beatrice following in another carriage
with her lady in waiting. The journey of eighteen
miles was performed in an hour and a half, and the
grey horses and outrider proclaiming the nature of
the equipage, her Majesty was silently greeted
upon the way when habitations were passed. The
Queen was seen to be much affected upon
turning into the lodge gates at Claremont,
with which old associations of fatality are con-
nected, burying her face in her handkerchief. Her
Majesty was received at the house by the Princess
Christian, and here again her composure gave way as
recollections of past visits came to her mind. After a
short interval spent in the apartment permanently
devoted to her use, the Queen, accompanied by Prin-
cess Beatrice, who had reached Claremont meanwhile,
repaired to the rooms of the bereaved duchess. The
meetingbetween the Queen and her widowed daughter-
in-law was very toteling, and the interview was pro-
tracted considerabiy beyond the length originally.
intended. Lunt-q3roa was served in the duchess's apart-
ment, and the Royal relatives remained in con-
versation for nearly two hours afterwards. Her
Majesty was eager to induce the duchess to accompany
her back to Windsor; but this course was absolutely
forbidden by Dr. Izod, who paid a visit to his patient
shortly after the Queen's arrival. He informed her
Majesty that although under the present conditions
no apprehensions need be entertained respecting the
duchess, yet if the proposed step was taken he would
not be answerable for the consequences in his patient's
delicate state of health. Her Majesty was therefore
reluctantly compelled to abandon the idea.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also paid a visit
to the Duchess of Albany at Claremont on Saturday
afternoon. The visit was necessarily of brief dura-
tion, as it had been arranged that the Prince of Wales
should leave in the evening for Cannes, and their
Royal Highnesses therefore returned to Marlborough
House about eight o'clock. The Duchess of Albany
was greatly cheered by their visit, and though she felt
her irreparable loss most keenly, she bore up wonder-
fully well. The Prince of Wales left Charing-cross
Station at nine o'clock the same evening by special
train, travelling rid Folkestcne and Boulogne. It had
been intended to keep his departure as private as
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