The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-25 00:00:00

ANNIVERSARY OF HER MAJESTY'S
ACCESSION.

On June 2. threeeand-thirty years ago, the reign of
the present Sovereign of England began. Shortly
after two o'clock in the morning of the Dth of June,
1837, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord
Chamberlain left Windsor for Kensington Palace,
where the Princess Victoria was residing with her
mother, to inform her Royal Highness of the King's
death. They reached Kensington Palace about five,
and with some difficulty roused the porter at the gate.
This functionary, apparently ignorant of the rank of
the distinguished visitortn and knowing nothing of the
business upon which they had come, kept them
waiting for some time in the court-yard, and then
turned them into one of the lower rooms, where
they remained until, ringing the bell, the Lord
Chamberlain desired the attendant of the Princess
to inform her Royal Highness that they requested an
audience on business of importance. After another
delay, and another ringing to inquire the cause, the
attendant was summoned, who stated that the Princess
was in such a sweet sleep that she could not venture
to disturb her. The Archbishop of Canterbury gravely
replied : "We are come to the Queen on business of
State, and even her sleep must give way to that 1" It
did; and in a few minutes her Majesty came into the
room in a loose white dress and shawl, her hair falling
over her shoulders, her feet in slippers, tears in her
eyes, but perfectly collected and dignified. Lord
Melbourne was immediately sent for, and a Privy
Council was summoned to assemble at Kensington
at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. At that hour
the Queen, with the Duchess of Kent, entered the
Council-chamber, and the bird Cnancellor admi-
nistered to her Majesty the usual oaths, binding her
to govern the Knoenl im according to its laws and
customs. She first received the homage of her uncles,
the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex, the Queen with
admirable grace rising from her seat ant preventing
them from kneeling. The Cabinet Ministers and
, Privy Councillors then took the oaths of allegiance and
supremacy • the former surrendered their seals of
office which her Majesty returned, and Ministers
kissed her hand on reappointment. A declaration
I was drawn up and signed by all present, acknowledge
jug faith and constant obedience to "our only lawful
and rightful liege Lady Victoria, by the grace of God.
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland. Defender of the Faith." Her Majesty then
spoke to the following effect :

The severe and afflicting loss which the nation has sus-
tained by the death of my beloved uncle has devolved upon
ins the duty of administering the government of this empire.
This awful responsibility Is imposed upon me so suddeoly and
at to early a period of my life, that I should feel myself
utterly oppressed by the burden were I not supported by the
Pipe that Divine Providence, which has elicit me to this
work, will give me strength for its performance, and that I
shall lind in the purity of my intentionu and in my zeal for
the public welfare, those res,urces which usually belong to a
more mature age and a longer experience I place soy firm
reliance upon the wisdom of Parliament and upin the
loyalty and affection of my people. I esteem it also
a peculiar advantage that I succeed to a Sovereign
whose constant regard for the rights and liberlies
of his subjects, and whose desire to promote the
amelioration of the laws and institutions if the country,
have rendered his name the object of general attachment
and veneration E located in England under the tender and
enlightened care of a most affectionate mother, I have
learned from my infancy to respect and love the constitution
of my native country. It will be my unceasing study to main-
tain the li-formed religion as by law established, securing at
the 5 ime time to all the full enjoyment of religious liberty ;
and I shall steadily prltect tire rights, and pr omit° to tlm
utmost of my power, the happine is and welfare of all class,
of my people.
• - • •

A. generation has pegged away since these words
were uttered, eight Parliaments have been called to
the c tunnels of the Sovereign, and twelve Ministries
have ruled in Downing-street. Abroad, all conti-
nental thrones, from the vast empire of Russia to the
smallest of the German grand duchies, have ch ineed
their occupants. Amid the stormy times of conflict
and revolution in Europe, the throne of the Queen of
England has remained unshaken, for the loyalty and
affection of her subjects have been its basis. Amid the
strife of contending parties at home, and throughout
the thirty-three years which separate the Premiership
of Lord Melbourne from that of Mr. Gladstone, Queen
Victoria has ever fulfilled the duties of a constitutional
monarch, placing her " firm reliance upon the wisdom
of Parliament," and never failing to give effect to the
expreseed wishes of her people.