The New York herald., 1873-07-03
SAD GLIMpSES OF ENGLISH RURAL LIFE.
Interviews with the Royal Steward and
the Dismissed WOrkmen.
AMERICA OR THE PooRHoUsE
Youth Hopes for a Competence Beyond
the Sea-Age Anticipates Lies
Decline Among Paupers.

The question at issue between the owners OF
capital and their laborers-between those giving
and those seeking emplOyment-being now univer-
sally admitted to be the crucial problem Of the day
In England, special commissioner has been ap-
pointed by the HERALD to make personal inquiry
into the merits OF each notable case as 1t arises
and to record the result OF his investigation for
the benefit Of our readers. The first case which
has fallen within the scope Of his inquiry Is an i'm
portant one OF the parties being no less per-
sonage than nra 'f .'ii.
THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND, ..,f
who, it appears, has been at strife with some Of
the farm laborers employed at the royal estate at
Osborne. We now leave our correspondent to
speak for himself:-
= LONDON, June I6, 1873.
The royal estate Of Osborne. which l have re-
Gently visited Is situated in the Isle Wight, near
East C0wes, and can be reached by crossing the
water either from Portsmouth or Southampton.
The former is the shorter route, and consequently
the one always adopted by the Queen, but the lat
ter is infinitely more picturesque. Steam
ers more roomy and comfortable than
are generally to be found in England
convey the passenger down the broad
expanse OF Southampton water, where are to be
seen pilot boats on the lookout for home ward bound
craft, trim and elegant yachts skimmng before the
wind, and here ana there some huge levathan be.
longing either to the Peninsular and Oriental or
the Royal Mail Company, ploughing It's way into
dock or carrying a bevy of outward bound passen-
gers, whose sad 1aces are regretfully turned
toward the native land 30 rapidly sinking behind
them. This enormous pile Of red buildings, faced
with white stone, said to be
r QUARTER or A MILE IN LENGTH
Is Netley Hospital, for the accommodation Of inva
lid soldiers, and some distance further, on the op-
pOsite side OF the water, we come upon Calsholt
Castle, an old fortress, now dismantled and used
as coastguard station. Here In mid-stream lies
the Hector, an enormous irOnclad acting as guard
ship, and in front of the silver streak Of
sea lies West Cowes, the headquarters OF the prn
cipal English yacht squadrons and the place where
the most important regattas are held. The point
to the extreme right Is called Egypt Point the
fayorte bathing ground OF the ladies, and there
are the machines drawn up with their white avn.
ngs already spread out FOR the service Of their fair
occupants. Then come terraces OF houses, some on
the shore, some one above the other climbing up
the Cliff, then the stone-embanked promenade, and
Immediately above that an ancient castellated,
turretted building, which has now been modern
lied into the club house OF the Royal Yacht Squad
ron, with fine conservatory and lovely, smooth
shaven velvet lawn which, in the season. are the
muchsought-for privilege Of entree Our steamer
tacks now, and in a few minutes is brought up
alongside the pier where we disembarE. Our sea
journey is, however, not yet finished, and we have
to ferry across the mouth Of the River Medina in
tiny steam launch to East COwes, near which o.
borne House is situated.
1t may here be remarked that whereas Bucking-
ham Palace. st. James Palace and Windsor Castle
are royal residences-the property Of the Sovereign
for the time being-Osborne House and Baimoral
arc the personal and private property of Queen
Victoria The former was purchased by the late
Prince Consort some twenty years ago, and is q
magnificent house, in q fine situation, looking
down over the broad expanse Of green meadow
10 the sea. 1t is, however, not nearly so finely
situated or Of so picturesque style in itself its
Dcighbor, Norris Castle, which was much coveted
by the Prince Consort while making his selection.
The owner Of Norris Castle, however, was a Mr..
Robert Bell ... s.c-I ,..-..
THE PROPRIETOR OF A RADICAL NEWSPAPER
called the Weekly Dispatch, to which the poetess
Eliza Cook used to contribute and in which a
writer signing himself "Pubcola' used to iulmi-
nate against aristocracy, and he determined to
make royalty pay for its whm. The Prince Consort,
however, had the character OF carrying prudence
to the extent of avarice and declined to pay Mr..
Bell mis- price. n 3
East Cowes is little village, very small but in
tensey respectable. The poorest shops have
wellto-do air about them; placards posted on the
walls implore the Inhabitants mot to give money
or food to beggars," and inform all such persons
that they will be Immediately arrested, while the
walls OF the cofYee room of the little Medina Hotel
In which wait while my carriage is getting ready,
glows all over with loyalty. There are two por-
traits Of the Queen and two OF the late Prince
the slmperih. hairdresser's dummy in the robes OF
the order OF the Garter. which that essentially
Court painter, WHITEWATER, disgraced himself by
perpetrating), q picture OF the Queen receiving
the sacrament, another of Her Majesty's wedding
and third OF the royal party on pony back In
the Highlands Now the carriage, an open
ny, driven by very Drownaced boy,
is ready, and OF we start. This brick building
20 our left is the barracks and In its open square
are two or three squads OF the regiment now
habiting II, the Seventy-nlnth Hghlanders. One OF
these squads, going through ordinary drill, Is in
full dress, and the men, their scarlet jacket and
tartan petticoat with bare knees and cross-gar-
tered legs and high bonnet with hanging plume,
look admirably picturesque and ferocious. Another
Of the squads which is in undress, prim white
Jacket and tartan pataioons is being instructed In
the sword exercise by sergeant with hair OF
pSNh~SSt Shech DOueS Vi HclBuJ anu aCCeuL vi
a breadth impossible to be found out of North
Britain. .n.t. v.e
After the ascent OF toierably steep hill and
short drive along country road we arrive at q
pair OF huge iron gates with the gilt monogram
formed of the entwined letters " and worked in
fhe middle Of them, nanked by a neat stone lodge
with large crown craven in stone over the door
way, out Of which issues very pretty FORTRESS,
who very politely asks me where am going. NV
nntmat on OF my desire to see Mr. Macpherson half
satisfied her. but even then, before she opens the
gate she asks II I am expected, II have any ap-
pointmeRt. In Washington walked into the room
OF the Secretary OF the Treasury without any ante
and found the Secretary OF War
equally ACCESSIBLE but here it appears that land
Sbaifr thinks It right to stand on his dignity. Ny
however that had come long
'vay TO see the object Of my interview caused the