The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-25 00:00:00

INTERESTING BIOGRAHPICAL
EXTRACTS.

There has just appeared a very copious biography,
compiled by his widow, of Baron Bunsen, so long the
Prussian representative at the British Court, which
abounds in interesting anecdotes of eminent people.
There is not much of gossip in the volumes, and nothing
of scandal, but nevertheless there are many passages
which even the reader for mere amusement will pei use
with pleasure. Here, for instance, is • characteristic
anecdote of Lord Palmerston, who, with Bunsen, was
returning to London from Osborne
Is the boat which brought them to the shore Lord
Palmerston was requested te take the helm, as it would
seem, to enable all hands to help in rowing through an un-
usually rough sea Bunsen observed that he had not been
before aware of the necessary connection he now observed
between steering the vessel of the State and steering a com-
mon boat—whereto Lint Palmerston answered, ! ono
learns boating at Cambridge, even though one may
have learned nothing better." They landed in safety, but
the tram 11111 gone. Lord Palmerston declared that he
must return to Loudon en pressing business, and must have
a special train. The railway officials protested that the risk
of collision was too great for them to undertake. bird
Palmerston insisted, " lOU my responsibility, then !" and thus
enforced compliance, although every one trembled but him-
self. The special train shot peat station after station, and
arrived hi London without causing or receiving damage, the
directors Terming all payment from Lord Palmerston, as
having transgressed all rules in order to comply with his
desire, and considering themselves overpaid by the happy
result, and their own escape from serious blame,

And here is a glimpse or two of Court life, or rather
of the home life at Court :
I had brought with me German books for the children, and
received permission to present them. The Queen brought
the Royal family into the corridor after luncheon, on pur-
pose to give me that opportueity. The Prince wanted to
have the pictures explained, and I sat on the floor in the
midst of the group; we all spoke I ;erman, and the Princess
Royal, by desire of the Queen, read a fable out of one of the
books perfectly well. The Queen often spoke with me about
education, and in particular of religious instruction. Her
views are very serious, but at the same time liberal and
comprehensive. Site (ns well as Prince Albert( hates all for-
malism. The Queen reads a great deal, and haa done soy
book on the "Church of the Future" the honour to read it
so attentively, that the other day, when at Cashiobury, seeing
the book on the table, she looked oet Deaner* which she
Tad approved, in order to read them aloud to the Queen
Dowager. It is at Osborne House that the Queen more
especially feels herself at home she there enjoys her domes-
tic life and family happiness to her heart's content. She
walks out in the beautiful gardens and pleasure-grounds with
the Prince and her children, In prospect of the sea, and of
the proud men-of-war of Great Britain, In the midst of •
quiet rural population. In the afternoon we all drove to
Rt. C x, the country residence of Lady Catherine Harcourt,
near :,yde, where a baxaar was prepared for the benefit of the
hospital. The Queen madepurchases to a considerable amount,
and distributed a part among the accompanying party. In
the royal ehar-n-bfrne I sat near the Prince of Wales, and be-
hind the two eldest Princesses; they alt spoke German like
their native tongue, even to one another. 'the heir-apperent
has gained in appearance of strength, and has • pleasing
countenance. Ile will be eight years old in November. I
called his attention to the eagerness with which all the In-
habitants crowded round to behold the Queen, because the
was so good, anti therefore beloved.

The following account of Sir R. Peel is worth re-
cording:—

The great statesman and Bunsen felt a mutual attachment
towards each other, and the fact of their so rarely meeting
only proves the incompleteness of this our human existence,
In which even the most active and well-ordered course of life
will be found on retrospection to resemble a web, the threads
of which we have been unable to carry on to the end according
to the design proposed. It is highly probable that on the
occasion of this visit at Drayton, some word of Bunsen's or
certainly his wonderful earnestness of manner, must have
struck tho mind of Sir Robert Peel, anti sunk deep into his
heart, to emerge again at the hour of death for in Had,
when the sufferer was almost past speaking, Sir Robert Peel
Is reportedl to have demanded three times that Bunsen
should be summoned to his bed-side. As the meeting was
prevented by the rapid approach of the last moment, the
feeling which dictated this most affecting call must remain
a mystery. It was at this time that when an allusion was mado
to hardness of hearing, Sir R. Pool mentioned his own mice/w-
-ing inconvenience, not to say suffering, from a sound in his
ears like that of boiling water—which began in consequence
of the report of a fowling-piece going off unawares close to his
head very early in his life, and from which he had no
respite. Wffen Bunsen commented on the peculiar hard-
ship attending such an infirmity in the case of the Parlia-
mentary debater, bound not to lose or misconceive a word,
Sir Robert Peel admitted the effort of keeping up unbroken
attention to be severe.

One more anecdote of another statesman who is still
amongst us. It is written from Woburn Abbey, "the
most royal residence" of the whole which Bunsen had
seen in this country :

Yesterday was a day of satisfaction for the House of flue-
nt!, the news having arrived of Dr. liampden's election.
Lord John had been much vexed in the latter days by the
unreasonableness of the people he had to deal with—tub
yesterday at three o'clock, when we were collected in expec-
tation and talking against time, in came little Johnny, now
Viscount Ainberley, RP., escorted by his aunt-like sister,
and stationed himself at the entrance of the library, dis-
tinctly proclaiming, likes herald, "Dr. liampden—a bishop."
We cheered him, and some one asked him whether he liked
Dr. H—. "I don't mind," was the answer, "for I don't
know him." His father came in afterwards, radiant with satis-
faction. After dinner, I suggested as a toast " Tne Chapter
of Hereford," adding wire once to Lord John, "and he
who has managed them." Nilines and Stafford gave the
"Dean," in opposition, and we were just divided, like the
Chapter, two against fifteen. Lord John took all very kindly;
he talked politics all the evening, unreservedly, about
France, Spain, and Portugal. What I admired in him most
is his invariable simplicity, and the absence not only if all
boasting, but even of exultation, with the greatest openness.
Lady John copies papers for her husband, and is a very
strong Presbyterian and anti-tractarian. She has invited
hermit to come to see us at Carlton Terrace when you
return, and hear our children play and sing the fame of
which house-mimic has seen spread afar, particularly by
Lady de Clifford, who says she always comes out on the
tea race when told that music is going on, especially to hoar
the singing of the tenor.