The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1863-12-25
Life Of Queen Victoria.

The Queen after arising at about seven
and attending service at the chapel, takes
breakfast, looks at the newspapers, visits
her children and then affairs of state oc-l
cupy her till about noon. The public af.
fairs of the nation at the end, the Queen
now receives visitors, who have either
been specially invited, Or persons who
have been .honored with her ''commands'
to attend at the Palace. Among these
latter are artists and publishers, who have
rare and novel works to show Her Majes-
ty, or her likeness to take persons en-
trusted with presents for the aviary, for
eigners with special introduction from
their own sovereign stradesmen with arti-
cles which the Queen is desirous of
purchasing, and SO forth. After these
folks have been dismissed the royal
family take their lunch, at which
the Queen eats and drinks heartily
The horses and carriages are then
brought to the door, and Her Majesty eth.
er rides or drives out for three or four
hours, frequently taking the opportunity
of visiting some Of the nobility, the Ouch
ess of Cambride, the Dutchess of Iverness,
or even Gin the country poor but worthy
people who are confined by Sickness
Her Majesty's kindness to tho suffering
Of her own sex is proverbal. It is on re-
cord that when Mrs. Warner, a tragic
actress Of excellent character, was i'll of
disease which ultimately carried her to her
grave, the Queen sent carriage every
day that she might have the advantage of
pure air. On her return home the Queen
spends an hour in her private boudoir or
library and then dresses for dinner. yi'
A dinner at the palace has always been
very stately, dreary, tedious affair The
table service is of cource superb-gold
plate, Sevres porcelain, alabaster vases,
flowers, brilliant chandeliers, servants in
scarlet coats and powdered heads, a mill
tary band performing in an ante-room,
and many ladies and gentlemen at
the table in fnll-dress costume. A
profound silence reigns throughout the
meal, only broken by the voice of the
Queen addressing herself to one or other
of the guests, who are expected to limit
themselve to direct reply. General con-
versation is carried on in whispers only.
A great variety Of wines are drank at the
royal table, the Queen and Prince Albert
combining themselves chiefly to German
(Rhine) wines. =.
& After dinner the party adjourns to the
drawing-room, and there the Queen casts,
aside all ceremony, and gives herself up
to innocent pleasures, and the promotion
of the enjoyment Of her guests and family.
If the party be not large chamber con-
cert or dance is improvised, the Queen
herself taking prominent part in the
singing and dancing. The objects Of in
terest to the stranger in the suit Of draw
ing-rooms are numerous, and she is not
slow to iuvite attention to and explain
them--a hospitable Office, in which she is
cordially sustained by the Princes and
Princesses, and the ladies and noblemen
Of the household. There are magnificent
vases; statues of marble bronze, and ala
baster; glorious pictures by the first mas
tsrs, ancient and modern port folios Of
engraving, musical instruments, curious
articles Of vertu, &c &c. ALI is life and
abandon. AT half past eleven, or earlier,
the Queen retires, gracefully-courtesyipg