The New York herald., 1871-03-26
QUEEN VICTORIA.

Her Majesty Vocalist, Described BY
Niendelssohn.
An original letter by Mendelssohn, written in 1S42
giving various details OF the private life OF nef
Majesty and the late Prince Consort, has Just been
published In a German paper. The famous composer
had, 1t seems been on visit to Buckingham Palace
when the Prince Consort Albert asked him to try his
organ.
While they were talking together the Queen en-.
tered the room attired III simple morning dress.
obliged to leave lor Claremont in an hour and then
nterruptng herself, exclaimed, But goodness, what
room and even the pedals Of the organ with leaves
OF music from portfolio that lay open. As she
spoke she p knels down. and began picking up the
not idle. then begged that the Prince would play
me something, so that might boast about in Ger
pedals SO charningly, and clearly, and correctly,
that 1t would have done credit to any professional;
ana iae queen % came and sat by him, and listened,
~. Then II was my turn, and began my chorus from
sSt. Paul, "How lovely are the messengers" Be
fore ] got TO the end OF the first verse they both
Joined IN the chorus and all the time Prince Albert
e sops 0r e nse very eyr Prime:
one OF my songs aud after little begging she SAID
she would try Fruhllngslied in B na 'f 1t is sdll
here" she added, tor all my music packed up for
Claremont" Prince Albert went to look for IT, but
came back saying it was already packed. "But one
then lett the room to see after 1t. While she was
gone Prince Albert said TO me, tShe begs you WILL
me little case with beautiful ring, on winch is
engraved ~. r. 1872"
linen her Majesty came back and said, "Lady -
Is gone and has taken all my things with her. IL
is really most annoying you can't think how
that amused me.l begged, however, that might
she would sing another. song. After consultation
with her husband she said she would sing some.
thing OF Glucks. Meantime the Prince and Prin.
cess OF G0tha had come in, and we i've proceeded
through the various corridors and reoinS to the
Queens sitting room. where there was gigamio
fWn rt
bird cages and pictures on the walls, and splendid
0oGud books on the liable, and music on the piano
The Duchess OF Kent was the next conner, and
while they were all talking rummaged about
among the music and discovered my first set OF
to sing one OF those than Gluck's TO Which
she very kindly consen!ed.and which dld
Sich" she sang 1t quite charmingiy, in srlct
tune and time, and with very good execution. only
down to D. anu then comes up again chromatically.
she sang d sharp eacn time and as gave herthe
last note both times, the last time she sang d, and
then 1t onght to have been ID sharp; but with the
exception OF this little mistake 1t was reag cna'm-
ing; and the last long have never heard better
or purer or more natural from any amateur. Yield
ing afterwards TO further solicitation she sang the
"Pilgerspruch-Lass Dich Nur'' really quite fault
lessy, and with charming feeling and expression.
l thought to myself one must not pay too many
compliments on such an occasion, so merely
thanked her great many times uDon which she
said, "Oh, II only had not been so frightened
generally have such long breatn.n Then 1
praised her heartily, and with the best conscience
- NY ~ yuot ehoe Palc WIN ehS ioHa dt
the Close she had done wel taking the three fol-
lowing and connecting notes IN the same breath, as
one seldom hears 1t done; aud therefore itamuscd
me doubly that she herself should have begun
about 1t.
After this Prince Albert sang the "Aerntteed es
list eln Schnetter," ana everything went or In the
most pleasant manner possible, the Queen before
leaving saying to ME several times tnat she hoped
would soon come 10 England again ana pay them
visit.
Bythe-by, forgot to tell now just as her Majesty
was going to sing. she said, "But the parrot must
go out irst or he Will screech louder lhtn shall
sing,h upon which Prince Albert rang the bell and
the Prince OF Uotla said he would carry 1t out and
/ said, "Aow me-" ana carried the great cage out
To the astonlsliment OF the servants.