The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07 00:00:00

THE QUEEN AT HUGHENDEN.

The Queen and Princess Beatrice visited the tomb
of Lord Beaconsfield at Hughenden Church on Satur-
day afternoon. Her Majesty and the Princess,
attended by the L9xly-in-Waiting and Lord Charles
Fitzroy, the latter of whom was mounted, left Windsor
Castle at twenty minutes to three in an open carriage
drawn by four greys. The Queen's destination was
known only to those few intrnsted with the arrange-
ments, it being her Majesty's desire that her visit
should be made as privately as was possible under the
circumstances. At the wish, too, of the Queen the route
taken by the Royal visitors was that driven over by the
late Earl of Beaconsfield on returning from Windsor
Castle to Hughenden upon the occasion of his last
visit to Her Majesty on the 10th of December last.
Accordingly, on quitting the palace, they proceeded
through 'Windsor, Eton College, and Donley, to
Cliveden, the seat of the Duke of Westminster. Here,
at the "Feathers" Inn, the Royal equipage was met
t)y one of Sir Philip Rose's grooms, and piloted from
Penn by way of Haslemere, Deadman Dane's Bottom,
and Cryees-hill to Hughenden, which was reached at
half-past four o'clock, after a drive of nearly two
hours.
Since the funeral of Lord Beaconsfield there have
been many visitors to Hughenden, some of whom have
journeyed long distances in order to make a pilgrimage
to his tomb. By three o'clock there was an assemblage
of some 200 people gathered on the greensward or
'walking about the paths of the burial-place, and
azing at the withered wreaths hanging upon the
ornamental ironwork round the vault containing the
remains. Evidently few of those present were aware
that the Sovereign was expected till the churchyard
was cleared by Captain Tyrwhite Drake, the Chief
Constable of the county, Mr. Superintendent Denson,
and a small posse of the Bucks police, brought sud-
denly from Aylesbury without being informed of the
duty they were to undertake, every precaution having,

indeed, been observed by the authorities to prevent
the fact of the intended Royal visit being known in
the district. It was net, too, until the afternoon that
the entrance to the vault at the lower end of the
graded approach was opened by the bricklayers
selected for this work, when through the small
cemented archway the coffin of the late Earl, covered
with the Royal and other wreaths, was revealed, many
of the floral contributions being nearly as fresh as
when deposited by the Prince of Wales and the rest
of the mourners last Tuesday. At about four o'cloc-k
Lord Rowton and Sir Philip Rose reached the church-
yard, and with the Rev. H. 131agden, M.A., vicar of
Hughenden, completed the arrangements for the re-
ception of Her Majesty, a stoma of wind and rain
interfering slightly with the preparations, and driving
the spectators beneath the trees for shelter.
In choosing the route over the beautiful though
hilly country from Clivedon the Royal party had
contrived to avoid the town of Wycombe, in order
that the privacy of their visit might not be disturbed
by the assemblage of a crowd, and save to the few
persons who chanced to be near the churchyard at
the moment, the fact of Her Majesty's close proximity
to the ancient borough was unknown to the majority
of the residents. It was jest over the half-hour
when the Royal outriders, led by Sir Philip Rose's
servant, passed through the lodge gate of Hughenden-
manor from off the Aylesbury-road. Following
rapidly up the slope came the Queen's carriage,
occupied by Her Majesty, Princess Betrice, and
the Lady-in-Waiting, Lord Charles Fitzroy, the
mounted Equerry, riding behind the equipage, which,
proceeding to the wicket gate, paused immediately at
the entrance to the churchyard. Here the Queen and
incess were received by Lord Rowton, with whom
they walked to the south porch of the church, where
they were shown through the sacred building by the
vicar and Mrs. Blagden, who had been desired to be in
attendance for the purpose. Various objects of in-
terest, including the seat formerly occupied by Lord
Beaconsfield, were pointed out by Mr. and Meet.
Blagden, and then after a few minutes' stay within
the church, the Royal visitors walked across the green
sward to the inclined excavation leading to the open-
ing to the vault of Lord Beaconsfield. They were
followed by Mr. Brown, the Queen's personal attend-
ant, who carried a very beautiful wreath and cross
formed of white camellias and other flowers brought
in the Royal carriage from Windsor Castle. For a
few seconds her Majesty stood upon the turf at the
head,of the incline, and looked down the sloping path
at the open vault, and then, followed by Princess
Beatrice, Lord Rowton, the Lady-in-Waiting, and
Lord Charles Fitzroy, walked to the tomb and
placed the wreath and cross upon the heap of
floral offerings, which completely obscured the lid of
Lord Beaconsfield's coffin. When at last the sad
visit was concluded, the_ Queen, Princess Beatrice, and
suite emerged slowly from the excavation, and, walk-
ing to their carriage drove from the churchyard, some
heavy drops of rain falling as the Royal party pro-
ceeded up the steep and winding roadway on the hill-
side to the small plateau on which the residence of the
late Lord Beaconsfield is situated. Entering the
private grounds of the Manor House, where the
Queen's arrival was heralded by the startled cry of
Lord Beaconsfield's favourite peacooks as they strutted
about the Minister's lawn, Her Majesty and Princess
Beatrice alighted at the glass sheltered piazza, the
interior of which is adorned with statuary and foliage
plants, and, passing into the mansion, took tea in the
salon. Later on the Royal visitors inspected the Earl
of Beaconsfield's favourite study and the other prin-
cipal antirtments, and after a short stay at the house
left Hughenden on their return home. It was half-
past five when her Majesty and Princess Beatrice
quitted the grounds, the Royal carriages passing down
the park slopes to Wycombe, and proceeding thence to
Windsor Castle.

During a sermon from the text Judges xvi., 30,
"The dead which he slew at his death were more
than they which he slew in his life," preached on
Sunday afternoon in Westminster Abbey to a crowded
congregation, Dean Stanley referred to the late Lord
Beaconsfield. He said he had several times from
that place spoken of the hollowness of what were
called "popular judgments." They were at all times
worthless in themselves, and they had over and over
again been found to shift with every gust of feel-
ing or passion. Such, in a great measure, were
the varying opinions respecting the great states-
man who had gone. There was the expres-
sion of strong approval three years ago; there
was the expression of no less strong disapproval a year
ago; there was now this strong expression of sym-
pathy which seemed almost universal. Those who
lamented over the departed Earl and those also, if
such there were, who did not, should nerve themselves
to do what in them lay on one side or other of
political life to supply the qualities which they
imagined they had lost in him. There was beyond
all question a great gulf and void created whenever
we lost from among us any one who filled a vast
space in the eyes of the people of this and of other
countries. It disturbed the balance of power and of
parties, changed the hopes and fears of almost every
class. It was not only in the camp to which the
departed statesman belonged that this sense of vacancy
was felt. Great statesmen the acknowledged leaders
of parties were by the very fact of their greatness
raised above those parties themselves; they were, in
fact, much more nearly allied to each other in purpose
and in principle than the rank and file of their sup-
porters would suffer us to believe. The Dean went on
to describe Mr. Gladstone and the late Lord Beacons-
field as the "great twin brethren of our day," each
supplying what the other needed for the public weal.
Though they differed so widely in opinion. it was to
be hoped posterity would acknowledge that each fought
for what he deemed right in the cause of England's
empire and of England's commonwealth. Moderation,
where moderation was possible and necessary; the
genius that knew when to give way and when to resist;
the unconquerable strength of will and the passionate
love of the honour and greatnessof England—these were
virtues which belonged to no party and were in them-
selves wholly independent of whatever lines divided
one party from another. The name of Lord Beacons-
field would be remembered by posterity as that of one
who had an extraordinary career which led the alien in
race, the despised in debate, the eccentric in demeanour,
the romantic adventurer, the fierce assailant, by un-
flagging perseverance, unfailing sagacity, unshaken
fidelity, constantly increasing dignity, aila larger and
larger breadth of view to reach the highest summits of
fame and splendour.