The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-10

the poor Queen now stands in that
painful position
"Au intimation was accordingly given
/ to he Prince, through Erren Alvensle-
| ben, Master of the Horse to the Duke of
Coburg, and long attached TO his fam
| lily, who had accom- panied the Prince
! to England, that the Queen wished to
speak to him the next day.
"On that day, the 18th, the Prince
had been out hunting early with his
brother, but returned at twelve, snd
half an hour afterwards obeyed the
| Queens summons to her room, where
| he found her alone. After u few min
utes conversation on other subjects the
Queen told him why she had sent for
/ him; and we can well understand any
hesitation and delicacy which she may
| have felt in doing so; for the queen g
position, making itimperative that any
proposal of marriage should first come
| from her, must necessarily appear n
painful one to those who, deriving their
ideas on this subject from the practice
of private life, are wont TO look upon it
| as the privilege and happiness of a
woman to have her hand sought in
marriage, instead of having to offer it
herself"
THE EVENT ANNOUNCED.
On the same day the Queen announc-
ed her intention to the King of the Bel
gians in the following letter:
"WINDsoR CASTLE, Oct. 10, 1899.
"My dearest Uncle: This letter will, l
| am sure, give you great pleasure, for
you have always shown and taken
so warm an interest in all that concerns
me. My mind is quite made up, and l
told Albert this morning of it. The
warm affection he showed me on learn
ing this, gave me great pleasure. He
seems perfection, and think that l
have the prospect OF very great happi-
ness before me. L love him more than l
can say, and shall do everything in my
power to render this saCriiice-Ior such
in my opinion it is-as small as I can.
He seems to have great tact, very me-
cessary thing in his position. These
last few days have passed like dream
to me, and 1 am so much bewildered by
il all that hardly know how to write;
but do feel very happy. 1t is absolutely
necessary that this determination of
mine should be known to no one but
yourself and Uncle Ernest until alter
the meeting of Parliament; as it would
be considered neglectful on my part not
to have assembled Parliament at once
to inform them of ii.
"Lord Melbourne, whom / have of
course consulted about the whole affair,
quite approves of my choice, and ex-
presses great satisfaction at this event,
which he thinks is in every way highly
desirable. .a. ..H-aE
Lord Melbourne has acted in this
business as he has always done towards
me, with the greatest kindness and at
fiction. We also think it better, and
Albert quite approves of II, that we
should be married very soon after Par
lament meets, about the beginning OF
February.
"Pray, dearest uncle, forward these
two letters to Uncle Ernest, to whom l
beg you will enjUin strict secrecy, and
explain these details, which have not
time to do, and to faithful Stockmar l
think you might tell Louise of it, but
none of her family.
"I wish to keep the dear young gem
tleman here till the end OF next month.
ErnesIs sincere pleasure gives me
great delight. He does SO adore dear
est Albert. Ever, dearest Uncle, your
devoted niece, ''V. r."
The King, in his reply, says that the
Queens choice had been "for these last
years" his conviction of what would be
best for her happiness, and adds;
I'm your position, which may and
will, perhaps, become iu future even
more difficult in Il political point of
view, you could not exist without hay
ing a happy and agreeable interieur.'
And L am much deceived (Which L
think am not,) or you will find in AL
bert Just the very qualities and DISPOSE
ton which are indispensable for your
happiness, and which will suit your
own character, temper and mode of
life.
you say most amiably that you con-
slider it a sacrifice on the part of Albert,
This is true in many points, because
his position will be a difficult one; but
much, L may say all, will depend on
your affection for him. If you love him
and are kind to him he will easily bear
the bOthers of his position, and there is
a steadiness, and at the same time
cheerfulness, in his character which
will facilitate this"
THE nRIDkGRooM ELECT.
What Prince Albert himself felt on
the subject we can learn from his own
letters. He thus wrote to his grand
mother:
"The subject which has occupied us
so much of late is at last settled. The
Queen sent for me alone to her room
few days ago, and declared TO me in a
genuine ouLburst of love and affection
hErguSSe UOn Her=Lichkeit und Liebe,)
that had gained her whole heart, ana
would make her intensely happy
(it6er9Lucktich) if would make her the
sacrifice of sharing her life with her,
flee; the only thing which troubled her
was that she did not-think she was
worthy of me. The Joyous opeuness
OF manner in which she told me this
quite enchanted me, and L was quite
carried away by it. She is really most
good and amiable, and l am quite sure
Heaven has not given me Into evil
hands, and that we shall be happy to-
gether."
"Since that moment Victoria does
whatever she fancies L should wish or
like, and we talk together great deal
about our future life, which she prom
ises me to make as happy rs possible.
Oh, the future does it not bring with it
the moment when shall have to take
leave OF my dear, dear home,
and of you! l cannot think OF
that without deep melancholy ta-
king possession of me. 1t was on the
18th October that Victoria made me this
declaration, and / have hitherto shrunk
make it better ?"
To his college friend, Prince Lowen-
stein, he wrote thus:
eyes, am now actually a bride
grown, and about the 4th of Febru-
ary hope to see myself united to her 1
love. ..
"You know how matters stood when
last saw you here. After that the sky
was darkened more and more. The
Queen declared to my uncle of Belgium
that she wished the affair to be consid-
cred as broken of. and that for four
years she could think of no marriage.
1 went, therefore, with the quiet but
firm resolution to declare, on my part,
that also, tired of the delay, withdrew
entirely from the affair. 1t was not,
however, thus ordained by ProVidence;
for on the second day after our arrival
the most friendly denominations were
directed toward me, and two days later
l WAS secretly called to a private audi
III l.. IL 4