The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-25
QUEEN yIorohrA,s scorer HOME.


In life uartiality or aversion 20 particular
places, and In the Csc OF Queen Victoria n
marked prediction for Scotlsnd showed Itself
at an carry period of her married life. Apart
from the fascination which its romantic scenery
is likely to exec else there were brought to bear
upon her mind a thousand interesting circum-
stances aud associations peculiar to herself. In
her diary she tells how, a few Years before she
went In rict iucoI nito with her special friend,
the Duchess Dowsaer OF Atnol, aud the Marchi-
oness Of Lorne, to revisit Yarmouth Ctstle, tho
prlncely nome OF Lord ljre idaloane. Not wish
In. on any account to disclose who tley were,
the party gave up all idea Of driving through
the Rrounds-for which a name must he given
but contented themselves with going through
the splendid "poheies," as the grounds are
called In Scotland, on foot. Reaching an ele-
waited spot, which commands a glorious view
Of the castle and Its approaches, the Queen tells
with VIII Il emotion she looked down upon
sceue In which she had once formed the most
conspicuous figure, when her dear old friend,
the late Marquis OF Breadalbane, had welcomed
her to his house with q taste, solendor, and
sense Of what was due to tue occasion which
could never DC surpassed. She ana her husband
were then "in pride OF youtn," and In the en-
joymen, OF all that could conduce to earthly
felicity aud the memory OF that hour ~ss never
deeply-l creaved widow looked upon the scene
In which she had last played a part as the
blooming wife OF twenty-thfee, can readily be
i'm aeineJ. / he charm for her Ia Scotland is that
there above all places she associates every
step OF ground with him VINO has gone.
In England they we're always Queen and
Prince. In Scotland they were, for the most
part, man and wife, living 10 seclusion, making
excursions 90 foot and horseb Eek, doing every
thing for all the world like anybody else. And
then II was their own place their very own. No
State palace, but a real genuine suns souci.
As time has gone on this passion for Baltnurh
las Intensified, and, tho convenience Of Minis
tiers and exlgencies OF State affairs ithstand-
Ing, the Queen ~ there spring and autumn. and
spends ABOUT a fourth OF the year In her Scotch
hUme.
In 1892 Queen Victoria paid her nrst visit to
Scotland. and was so well pleased with her ex-
perience there that she repeated II In 1874 and
| In lSi7, and on Feb. rs, 1Sis, a paragraph APP
peared IN the London Times to the effect that
Negotiations We been for some time pc nding
be ween her Majesty and the Earl Of Aberdeen
| for a lease OF Balmoral Castle, In the Aberdeen
| shlre Highlands, and have now been conclu ded.
Her Majesty has taken that beautiful ana ro-
m ntic place. together wi n the rient OF sport
Ing over the ciicumjacent property for the un-
expired term Of the lease held by the late Sir Il.
| Gordon, relative of Loru Aberdeen, under the
Ear OF Fife, period of not less than twenty
eight years. Bslmoral Ia about Aft y-nve miles
rom Aberdeen" On Friday. Sept. (, In the
same year, the Queen and Prince reached Bal
moral for their fret autumn abode there.
In her diary. under date September, 1s4s, the
| Queen wives her first im pressions: " We arrived
It Bslmoral at a quarter to three. 1t Is II
l Issl n
There Is a picturesque tower and garden
10 front, with high wooded hill. and at
the back there is wood down 10 the Dee
and the hills rise all around. There Is a nice
little hall, With oil lard room next to IL Is the
| dining room. Up stairs descending by a good
| BROAD staircsse) INN ediately TO the right, and
| above the dining room, is our sitting room dor.
| merly the dining rooIn), nne large room, xt
| to which IL our bedroom. opening into a little
| dressing room, which Is Alberl's. Opposite,
down n few steps, are the childrens and Mi q
| Htlu yards three rooms. The ladies live below,
| and the gentlemen up stairs. We lunched al
most Immediately, and at half past four we
walked out nd went up to the top OF the
| wooded bill opposite our windows, here the re-
is csirn. and up which there is pretty wind
| ing pain. TIE view from here. looking down
| upon the house, is charming. IL was so calm
| and so solitary IL did one good as one guzed
around, and the pure mountain air was most re-
fresbing. All seemed to breathe freedom and
peace, and to make one forget the world and IL.
sad turmolls. Tue scenery Is wild, and yet not
| dtsolate."
| Banoral stands In the county Of Aberdeen
In the united parishes of Crathie and BrAemar
| Crathie Is deemed to be u compound OF crag and
nr, sgnifying rocky land; derivation which the
.spect OF the parish andy Justines. he united
parish contains about 20O.OcO acres, and presents
a wonderful variety OF bold and romantic
scenery. intermixed with deep valleys and yer
dHnt plains. There are three consider. bl,
| mountains In the parish, Of which Carintou
rises to the height OF 4.22O feet. LochnAgar Il
also In the parish. which contains the famou,
Mar forest. the property Of Lord Fife and MIR
Farquharson OF Invercauld. here are nv,
| pruprietors' seats ia the parsh-Mar Lodge
Lord Flies, and lnyercauid, MIR. Farquharsoni
being the chief.
10 l852 the announcement was made that il
was determined 10 build a new palace at u 4
moral, between the river and the present site
estimated to cost from $4,000 to flOu,OOO, al.C
that the site was already staked out. Inc FRS
stone OF the new castle was laid on Sept. 2s, 1853
by the Queen, ana under date Of Sept. Z, 1855
the Queen writes: AT a quarter past seyel
O'Clock we arrived at dear Balmoral. Strange
very Strange. IL seemed 10 me, To drive past, in
deed IN Ough, the old house, the CONNECTING psr
between II aud the Offices being broken through
The new house looks beautiful. An old sho,
was thrown after us into the house for good lucl
when we entered tue hail. The house is CHI rm
ing; the rooms delightful; the furniture, papeIs
everything perfection. The view from the win
dows OF our rooms, aud from the library, draw
Ing room. &c, below them OF the valley OF tn,
Dee, with the mountains in the background
which one could never see from the old house
Is quite beautiful. We walked about and along
side the river, and looked ut all that had beef
donc, and considered all that has to be done
nd htterward we went over to the poor de-
old house, and to our rooms, which 1t was quit
melancholy to zee 30 deserted, and settled aoou
things being brought over" Three days afte
came the news Of the fall Of Sevastopol, an,
the Queen writes, that the new house Seem
To be lucky indeed, for from the hrst moment o
our arrival we have had good news"
Tho structure consists Of two separate blocks
Joined by lower connecting wing, at til,
angle or return OF which, at about 70 feet e.s
OF the principal house, stands the large tower, Il
feet square, with circular staircase turret OF
ana anrla. Using uhout tt0 fact Iho r,,t,a al