The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-31
Jha 9emS Orleans Qrssaut,
tracts from Queen victoria's Life In ths
Highlands"
TIE HIGHLANDS.

lst of England afterwards appeared terribly
l." She writes:
d were very, very sorry to leave Blair and the
ar Highlands. Every little trihe and every spot
had become attached to our life Of quiet and
oeIty, everything was SO pleasant, and all the
OF to like so much. OH the dear hills, it made
10 very sad to leave them behnd.u
And then, on reaching England, she says:
The English coast appeared terribly fat.
JOrd Aberdeen was quite touched when told him
was so alta he'd to the dear, dear Highlands, and
missed the hDe hills SO much. There Is great
peculiarly about the Highlands and Highlanders;
they are such chivalrous, fine, active people.
pendenly Of the beautiful scenery, there was Q
quiet, "a retirement, q wildness, liberty
and solitude that had such charm for u.s."
TRAVELLING NooGMTA.
The following IL the queens account OF one Of
the incidents Of the expeditions in which she trav
eled incognita:
"a few seconds brought rs over to the road
where there were two shabby vehicles, one kind
of barouehe, into which Albert and / got; Lady
Churchill and General Grey into the other-s
break; each with q pair Of small and rather mis-.
cradle horses, driven by q man from the box.
Grant was on our carriage and Brown on the
other. We had gone so far forty miles-st least
twenty on horseback. We had decided TO call
ourselves Lord and Lady Churchill and party
Lady Churchill passing as Miss Spencer. and Gen.
Grey as DR.. Grey. Brown once forgot this and
called me your majesty as was getting into the
carriage and Grant on tue box once called Al
bert your royal highness,' which set us of laugh
ing, but no one observed il.
1--WE had long three hours drive Il WAS
O'Clock when we got into the carriage. We were
soon out OF the wood, and came upon the Bad
enoch road-passing close by Kinrara, but, uu-
fortunately, not through it, which we ought to
have done. II was very beautifsl-fne wooded
hills, the high Csirngorm range, and Ben Mulch
Dhui, unfortunately much obscured by the mist
on the top, and the broad Spey flowing in the val
ley, with cultivated fields and fine valleys below.
Most striking, however, on our whole long jour
ney was the utter and to me very refreshing, soli
tude. Hardly habitation, and hardly meeting
soul. 1t gradually grew dark: We stopped at
small halfway house for the horses TO take some
water, and the few people about stared vacantly
At two simple vehicles.
1.-THE mountains gradually disappeared
evening was mild, with few drops OF rain. On
and on we went, I'LL al length we saw lights, and
drove through long and struggling 'tOun,' and
turned down q small court to the door OF the inn.
Here we got out quickly, Lady Churchill and
General Grey not waiting for us. We went up a
small staircase and were shown to our bedroom
at the top of livery small, but clean-with a
large fOurpost bed which nearly filed the whole
room. Opposite was the drawing and dining
room in One-very tidy and well-sized. Then
came the room where Albert dressed which was
very small. The two maids Jane Shsckle was
with mel had driven over by another road in a
waggonette, Stewart driving them. Made our.
selves clean and tidy and then sat down to oar
dinner. Grant and Brown were TO have waited on
US, but were bsshful,' and did not ringetted
woman did everything; and when dinner was
over, removed the cloth and placed the bottle OF
wine Tour own which we had brought) on the
table with the glasses, which was the old English
fashion. After dinner tried TO write part of this
account (but the talking round me confused mel
while Albert played At patience Then went
away, to begin undressing, and il was about half
past III when we got to bed?'
"WEDNESDAY. September 5th.
"a misty, rainy morning. Had not slept very
soundly. We got up rather early. and sat working
and reading in the drawing room till the breakfast
was ready, for which we had TO wait for seine
little time Good tea and bread and butter, and
some excellent porridge. Jane Shackle who was
very useful and attentive) said they had all
supped together-nsmely, the two maids, and
Grant, 4Brown, Stewart and Walker, (who were
still there,) and were very merry in the CONNER
cial ROOM The people were very amusing about
uP The woman came in while they were at their
o'nner and said to Grant, DIR. Grey wants YOU
which nearly unset the gravity of all the Others
then they told Jane, your lady gives no trouble >
and Grant IN the morning called up to Jane, does
his lordship want me ~ One could look on the
street, which ia a very long, wide one, with de-
tached houses, from our window. 1t was per.
fecty quiet one stirring, except here and there
a man driving q cart or a boy going along on
bis errand. General Grey bought himself watch
in a shop for e."
IN FNGAL's CAVE.
Another pleasant expedition TO Fingal's Cave,
IN ls47, was notable from the fact that then, for
the first time, the British standard and the queen
of Great Britain entered the cave together. The
queen says:
As we rounded the point the wonderful basal
tic formation came in sight. The appearance ID
presents is most extraordinary; and when we
turned the corner TO 60 into the renowned Fin
ley's Cave the effect splendid, like great
entrance 20 a vaulted hall II looked almost aw.
full as we entered, and the barge heaved up and
down on the swell OF the sea. 1t is very high,
but not longer than two hundred and twenty
seven feet and narrower than / expected, being
only forty feet vide. The sea is immensely deep
in the cave. The rocks, under water, were Of all
colOrs-pink, blue and green-which had most
beautiful and varied effect. 1t was the first time
the British standard, with q queen OF Great
Britain, her husband and children, had ever en-
tered Fingal's Cave, and the men gave three
cheers. which sounded very impressive there"
DEATH or The DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
The queen was at Balmoral when she received
intelligence Of the death OF the duke of yelling.
ton, of whom, an hour later, she wrote in her
journal:
al had just set down to sketch, when Macken-
zie returned, saying my watch was safe at'home
Ot had been missed in the Woods,) and bringing
letters; amongst them Was one from Lord Derby
which tore open, and alas il contained the con.
frmation Of the fatal news that Engand's or
rather Brtans pride, her glory, her hero, the
greatest man che ever had produced, was no
more! Sad day Great and irreparable national
loss
Lord Derby inclosed few lines from Lord
Charles Wellesley saying that his dear, great
father had died Tuesday, at three O'Clock after
a few hours illness aud no suffering. Gods will
be done The day must have come; the duke
was eighty-ihree. IL is well for him that he has
been taken when still in possession of his great
mind, and without long illness. But what a
loss! One cannot think OF this country without
the duke'-our immortal hero.
In him conferred almost earthly hOnor a
subject could possess. His position was the high.
est a subject ever hsd-above party looked uD to
by all. reyered by the whole nation, the friend Of
the sovereign. And how simply he carried these
honors! With what singeness Of purpose, what
straightforwardness, what courage we're all the
motives Of his acts guided. The crown never
possessed-and fear never will-so devoted, 10y
al and faithful a subject, so staunch supporter.
To us (whO, alas! have lost 80 many OF our valued
friends) his loss is irreparsble, for his readi-
ness to aid and advise, if it could be OF use to
us, and TO overcome any and every difficulty, was
uneqused. To Albert he showed the greatest
kindness and the utmost confidence. His expert
ence and his knowledge OF the past were so great,
too; he was a link which connected us with by
times. with the last century, an eva