The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-29
ROYAL DISPUTES.
Conspicuous Absence Of the Duchess Of
Edinburgh from a Levee.
TEE QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE.
The Indelicacy of Court
announcements.
MOVEMENTS or THE CAR IN LONDON.

LONDON May 49, 1874.
| wrote you in my last that siderable talk had
taken place In the upper circles OF London society
concerning the non-appearance OF the Duchess Of
Edinburgh at the drawing room held by the queen
last week. and | further minated that the real
cause OF this non-appearance was supposed to be
the revival OF the question OF precedence and the
refusal of the Duchess to yield the pas to the
Princess Beatrice, In accordance with the queens
wish and the rules laid down for the settlement OF
such matters. which are to be found in "Debretts
Pecrage' and books OF that kind On the day fol-
lowing that on which my letter was mailed para
graph appeared in the Times in the position and
the large type awarded only to official announce
ments. This paragraph admitted the surprise
which had been felt at the absence or Her Royal
Highness from the drawing room, bus ascribed It
to the fact OF her beng In 'nteresting
situation" and, consequently, unable 10
bear any unnecessary fatigue. and It wound
up with the expression OF the convection that the
English people. who take great interest in the
royal family, would be pleased at the news.
Whether they were pleased not they were
tainly surprised. and vast amount OF astonish-
ment was expressed at the want OF delicacy in the
announcement. Such matters are not ordinarily
paraded in general society. and though the fact
of the wife OF the reigning sovereign, OF the reign
ing sovereign herself or OF the Princess OF Wales
being encei2lte Is necessarily announced as an OIL
cia fact which vast issues are dependent, there
was no excuse Tor such announcement IN the
present instance. The Duchess of Edinburgh,
though member of the royal family, is in the pc.
stion OF private lady. But the wonder and the
scandal were Increased thousandfold when, on
the very next day, appeared another paragraph,
equally large typed and equally prominent In the
Dadly Nes0S the telegraph and the Stand
ara (but not the Tines, stating emphaticaliy
that the editors were desired to announce that the
paragraph of the previous day was not in any way
authorized by the Duke OF Edinburgh. Now It was
obvious to every one That such an announcement
as that in the Times would not have been put forth
by the remarkably ong-headed ytss conductor OF
that journal, Mr.. j. 7. Delane on his own respon-
s,btlity. 1t must, therefore, have been what the
French call ''c0,nnaat,sique," aud the only ques-
tton was, by whom it could have been sent Public
opinion pointed at once TO the Queen, and public
opinion continues to regard Her Majesty as the
author OF the statement But for what purpose 1t
was made, unless throw the public of the scent
OF the precedence question, no one can possibly
imagine. l understand that b0rh the Prince OF
Wales and the Duke OF Edinburgh are exceedingly
indignant at the whole affair. but the opportune
arrival of the Gear will postpone II 1t does not put
an end to, any chance OF an open breach between
tine members OF the royal family
GRAvEsEND DISAPPOINTED AND DOVER GRATIFIRD.
According to arrangements made the Gear was
to arrive at Gravesend on Wednesday morning,
and the little town was decorated, the Mayor and
corporation and county magnates gathered to-
| gether and all preparations made very much as
! they were as l described them on the occasion
the Duchess OF Edinburgh's arrival. But at ten
O'Clock telegram was received stating that the
imperial yacht which bore the expected guest had
grounded OF Flushing and that when 1t noated 1t
would make for Dover as its port Of arrival Il
! may here remark that by some people this ground
ing OF Flushing is supposed to be predetermined.
They maintain that the Gear always intended to
come by Dover and that the Dutch pilot in cnarge
was instructed to run the yacht on to q soft mud
bank where she could lay safely and noat easily.
A Russian pilot was also on board who. 1t is
said, in fear OF his life, escaped on to
another ship after the accident, and has never
been seen since) The Gravesenders were natu-
rally in despair but nothing could be done, and the
news had fortunately arrived sufficiently soon in
London to prevent those members Of the English
royal family who were coming to meet their guest
from starting for the wrong point. Only Prince
Arthur and the Russian Ambassador arrived at
Gravesend, and by twelve o'clock q special train
had been prepared for them by which they started
for Dover via Chatham.
Meanwhile Dover was not unprepared for the
honor in store for her. The Trinity yacht Galatea
/ x,
and, leaving him with his imperial iather-in. law
returned in hot haste to Dover, where Sir Fred
erick Arrow, the Deputy Master OF the Trinity
House, notified the coming arrival and instructed
| the authorities to do the best they could in the
way OF an impromptu welcome. Mayor and
Town Council arrayed themselves In their
robes OF ONCE, regiments were sum-
moned. bands got together, and by the
! time that the special train from London brought
down the Prince Of Wales, the Duchess OF Edin.
burgh and the Duke of Cambridge all was in toler.
able readiness. At halt-past five the imperial
| yacht was signaed, and at half-past six she hove
alongside the pier, the Car and the Grand Duke
| Alexis standing on the paddlebox. Down 90 the
Prince OF Wales and the Duchess OF Edinburgh, arm
l In arm, the latter dressed in lavender SILK, with
I an Indian shawl and pink bonnet, trimmed with
/ violet. The next minute she is clasped in her
fathers arms and warmly embraced by him. The
1 Gar who wore the uniform or Russian general,
seemed delighted at the hearty reception given
him by the people and bowed again and again.
! He did not disembark for some time awaiting the
removal OF his baggage to the special train in
waiting, and in the interval ne remained on deck
with his son in-law, the Prince OF Wales,
Prince Arthur and the Duke or Cambridge,
receiving congratulatory visits from the
principal ofdcials, from his own ambassador. Count
Brunnow, and the Consul General, M. DE Berg, and
from his old acquaintances Lord Augustus LOTUS
British Ambassador at ST. Petersburg, and General
Wellesley, military attache at the same Court who
! happened to be here on leave o: absence. When
all was ready for landing the Imperial guest
stepped ashore amid enormous cheering, and
after receiving the inevitable address from the
town oficals despatched telegram to the En-.
press, announcing his sale arrival and his delight
! at the warmth OF his welcome. Then. with his
daughter on his arm, he stepped into the railway
] carriage and the train started on.
AT WINDSOR.
! who chronicle these matters for the benefit OF
| the HERALD do so, am fain to confess at second
! hand and from notes placed at my disposal by one
Of my colleagues, who first went to Graves
/ end and who had to hurry on from