The Shasta courier., 1863-03-14
The Coronation of Victoria.


Just eight months after the birth of victo-
ria. her father, the Duke of Kent, died. The
blow to her mother was so severe that, for =
long time, it was doubtful whether she would
survive the affection. This event rendered it
certain that the unconscious babe, if its life
were preserved. would become Queen of Eng
land. A deputation from the House of Com
mons waited upon the heart stricken mother
with coincidence. With weeping eyes the
Duchess of Kent met them, and in her own
arms, presented to them the smiling babe. des-
tined to be their sovereign. The mother of
Victoria was noble woman, endowed with
all generous and womanly excellence. For
the frivolties Of fashion she had no taste, and
her life was devoted to doing good.
The Duke of Kent was one of the most es.
timable of men, earnest, unaffected, and zeal
Gus IL all efforts for the promotion of human
happiness. He was the idol of the common
people, and after his death monument was
erected, in commenoration of his virtues, in
Portland Place. London. When Victoria was
still quite child, her mother took her ono
day to see this monument. With the good
judgement which ever characterized her, she
availed herself of the opportunity to impress
upon her child that the statue was erected in
honor of her father, not merely in consequence
of his rank, but because he was useful and
good man, kind to the poor; that he assisted
in founding hospitals for the. sick, and insti.
tutions Of reform for the unfortunate, the mis-
cradle and tie guilty.
When Victoria was six years old, it was
deemed important by the court and parliament
of England that she should be invested with
more of that splendor which, in Europe gen.
orally, is considered so essential to ROYALTY.
The income of the Duchess of Kent was then
thirty thousand dollars annually, which was
regarded as a small sum to enable her to
maintain the rank of even duchess. But
now that she had royalty in charge, Lord
Liverpool proposed in Parliament that.t
government. should add thirty thousand dol
lars more annually to her purse. Sixty
thousand dollars were thus the generous ap-
preparation England conferred upon the Wild
ow and her child. The appearance of Vic
toria at this time is thus described by al eye.
witness:
When first saw the pale and pretty
daughter of the Duke of Kent, she was fa-
therless. Her fair, light form was sporting,
in I'll the rcdolence of youth and health, on
the noble sands of old Ramsgate. Her dress
was simple: plain straw bonnet with white
ribbon around the crown-a colored muslin
frock, looking gay and cheertul-and as pref
ty pair of shoes, on as pretty pair of feet,
as / remember ever to have seen. Her
mother was her companion, and venerable
man, whose name is craven ON every human
heart that loves its species, walked by her
PARENTS side, and doubtless gave those coun.
sells, which none We're more able to offer than
himself, for it was William Wilberforce''
When Victoria was twelve years of age,
the imposing ceremonial of her presentation
at Court took place. Her uncle, William w.,
was then upon the throne. The drawing
room of Queen Adelaide was decorated with
a splendor which dazzled the eyes even of
those who had lived amidst the gorgeousness
of the Court. Victoria was conducted to
Buckingham Palace in almost regal state, ac-
companied by her mother, and by quite a
retinue of noble ladies. She was placed by
the side of the queen. and she received the
homage with which she was surrounded with
child like, graceful simplicity which won
the admiration of all hearts. 1t was her
twelfth birthday. Magnificent presents were
lavished upon her. To add still to the eczat
of the reception, there were arrangements
made for a very brilliant ball, at which large
number of the children of her own age high
est of the nobility were invited. Victoria, in
subsequent life, has often alluded to this
scene, as impressing her Imagination with
vision of fairy beauty, bewildered, and never
to be effaced.
The duchess of Northumberland, wo-
man distinguished accomplishments, was
now appointed gorerness to Victoria, and
her education was prosecuted with renewed
diligence. That she might be uninterrupted
in her stud .es, and might have unbrokan
hours of sleep, it was very wisely Judged best
that she should be Withdrawn from all gen.
eral society, and assume the position of lit
tie girl at school. Her education was solid
and thorough. She was taught the history
of her own country, its laws, its literature,
and the rudiments of the most important
science. The mother of Victoria was Ger
man. From infancy the royal child was
taught to speak English, German and French,
such progress in Latin as to read Horace with
some fuencv. She had decided natural
taste for music, and became quite an accom-
plished performer on several instruments.
Drawing she also cultivated to such degree.
as to sketch from nature with correctness and
pleasure.
Great attention was devoted to the physi-
cal education of the prospective queen. She
took long walks in the open air, end became
a very expert EQUESTRIAN. In fact, everything
was done which wisdom could devise or
wealth execute, to prepare the young maiden
to sit upon the throne, and to sway the scep-
tre of the most powerful nation on the globe
The beautiful old palace of Kensington. se-
cluded amidst lawns and parks and gardens,
was her favored home. Occasionally very
beautiful little boy, cousin of hers, Albert,
came from Germany to visit his aunt The
two children, as playmates, became strong
ly attached to each other. This was the
Prince Albert who subsequently became the
husband ofthe Queen-truly a noble man,
of cultured mind. of warm affections. and of
sincere piety. These were by far the hap
piest years of Victoria's life.
On the Goth of May, 1887, Victoria attain
ed the age of eighteen, her legal majority.
The day was celebrated with ringing Of bells,
and all the demonstrations of popular joy.
The highest dignitaries crowded the saloons
Of Kensington 10 pay homage to the future
queen. Albert was there, at that time. .
splendid boy just of her own age Little