Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-19
T1E CoRoazTEoN OF vIoroRIA.
BY JOHN c. ABBOTT.

/
BY JOHN c. ABBOTT.
/ Just eight months after the birth of Victoria,
her father, the Duke of Kent, died. The blow
20 her mother was so severe that, for long time
it was doubtful whether she would survive the
] sfiiiction. The event rendered it certain that
the unconscious babe, if its life were preserved,
| would become Queen Of England A deputation
! from the house Of commons waited upon the
/ heart-sIicken mother with coincidence. With
weeping eyes the Duchess of Kent met them,
and in her arms presented to them the smiling
/ babe destined 10 be their sovereign. The moth
! or Of Victoria was a noble woman, endowed
| with all generous and wOnanly excellence. For
tho ffiyolities Of fashion she had no taste, and
her life was devoted to doing good.
The Dnke Of Kent was one of the most esti-
mable men, earnest unaffected, and jealous in
ell efforts for the promotion Of human happi-
ness. He vas the idol Of the common people,
/ and alter his death monument was erected in
| oOmmenoYatiOu Of his rare virtues, In Portland
! Place, London. When Victoria was stiT quite
| d child, her mother took her one day to sec this
monument. With the good judgment which
ever characterized her, she avalea herself of the
| opportunity n impress On the child that the
statue was erected in honor Of her father not
| merely in consequence Of his rank, but because
he was useful aud good man, kind to the poor
and That he took great interest in establishing
schools, that all children might be educated
! that he assisted in founding hospitals for the
sick, and institutions f reform for the unfortu
nate, the miserable, and guilty
When Victoria was six years old, 1t was
deemed important by the court and parliament
of England that she should be invested with
more Of that splendOr which in Europe gener-
ally is considered so essential to royalty The
( fba Of Lgav,k
thousand dollars annually, which was regarded
as small sum to enable her to maintain the
rank of even duchess. But now that she had
royalty ii charge, Lord Liverpool proposed to
parliament that the government should add
thirty thousand dollars annually more to her
purse Sixty thousand dollars were thus the
generous appropriation England conferred upon
the widow and her child. The appearance of
Victoria at this time is thus described by an
eye witnessS:
When l first saw the pale and pretty
daughter of the Duke of Kent she was father
lees Her fair, light form was sporting, In ali
the Tedolsnce Of youth and health, on the no0le
sands of old Ramsgate Her dress was simple
q plain straw bonnet with white ribbon around
the crown colored muslin frock looking gay
and cheerful, and as pretty pair of shoes on,
as pretty q pair of feet as remember 10 have
ever seen. Her mother was her companion, and
every human heart that loves its species, walked
by her parents side, and doubtless gave those
cOunsels which none were more able to offer
than himself for it was William Wilberforcen y
When Victoria was twelve years of age the
imposing ceremonial of her presentation at court
took place. Her uncle, William ", was then
upon the throne. The drawing room of Queen
Adelaide was decorated with a spleIdor which
dazzled the eyes even Of those who had ever
4 IL H. ,f
Victoria was conducted to buckingham palace
in almost regal state, accompanied by her
mother, and by quite retinue of noble ladies
She was placed by the side of the queen, and
she received the homage with which she was
surrounded with q childhke, graceful simplicity
which won the admiration of al hearts. Ii was
her twelfth birthday. Magnificent presents were
laYished upon her. To add still to the eclAt Of
the reception, there were arrangements made for
a brilliant ball, at which a large number of the
children Of her own age of the highest of the
nobility were invited. Victoria in subsequent
life, has often alluded to this scene, as impress
ing her Imagination with vision of fair beauty,
bewildering and never to be etfaced
The duchess of Northumberland, a woman of
distinguished accomplishments, was now ap-
pointed go7erness to Victoria, and her education
was prosecuted with renewed diligence. That
she might be uninterrupted in her studies, and
might have unbroken hours of sleep, it was
very wisely Judged best that she shOnld be
Withdrawn from all general society, and assume
the position of a little girl at school. Her edu-
cation was solid and thorough. She was taught
the history Of her own country, its laws, its lit
eratUre, and the rudiments of the most important
! sciences. The mother of Victoria was German.
From infancy the royal child was taught 70
speak English, German and French, with about
equal facility. She had very decided natural
taste for music, and became quite an accom-
plished performer on several instruments. Draw
ing, also, she cultivated to such degree as
to sketch from nature with correctness and
pleasure.
Great attention was devoted to the physical
education Of the prospective queen. She took
long walks in the open air, and became a very
expert equestrian. In fact, everything was done
which wisdom could describe or wealth execute,
to prepare this young maiden to sit upon the
throne and to sway the sceptre of the most pow
erful nation on the globe The beautiful old
palace of KsnsingtOu, secluded amidst lawns
and parks and gardens, was her favored home
Occasionally, very beautiful little boy, a cous
in Of hers, Albert, came from Germany to visit
his aunt. The two children, as playmates, be-
| came strongly attached to each other. This was
the Prince Albert who subsequently became the
husband Of the Queen-truly a noble man, of
cultivated mind, of warm affections, and of sim
| cere piety. These were by far the happiest
years of Victoria's life.
On the 20th of May, 1887, Victoria attained
the age Of eighteen, her legal majority. The
day was celebrated with ringing Of bells, and
ali the demonstrations of popular Joy. The
highest dignitaries crowded the saloons of Ken
sington to pay homage to the future queen. Al
bert was there, at the time splendid boy of just
her own age Little did the maiden then imsg
inc that the day of coronation was SO near at
! hand. In less than month from this time, on
| the l0th of June, William ~ suddenly died.
! At five o'clock in the morning, the Archbishop
of Canterbury, with retnue Of mobiles, repair
| ed to Kensington to announce to Queen Yicto-
ria that she was queen of England That mora
ing she received her privy council. More than
a hundred Of the highest dignitaries of the realm
were present In the midst of them stood the
maiden queen, her eyes moistened with tears.
When the herald announced her accession TO
the throne she threw herself into her mothers
arms and and wept uncontrolably. When her
uncle, the Duke of Sussex, knelt at her feet, to
take the oath of allegiance, she threw her arms
around his neck and sobbsd out, " Do not kneel
to me, my uncle. Am not still Victoria, your
niece 2"
The morning of the coronation arrived. West
minister Abbey was decorated and crowded as