Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-18
THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND.

I'LL, nau lclb uo Shiiuioh WIN Souid
have succeeded to the throne, and the
crown passed therefore to the daugh-
ter of his brother, fourth son of George,
the Duke of Kent. This was the
Princess Alexandria Victoria, who
was born at Kensiugton Palace on
Nav q, 1919. The princess was
therefore at this time little more than
eighteen years of age. The Duke of
Kent died Il few months after the
birth of his daughter, and the child
was brought up under the care of his
widow. She was well brought up
both as regards her intellect, her char
acter and her training was excellent.
She was taught to be self.reliant,
brave, and systematical. Prudence
and economy were inculcated on her
as though she had been born to be
poor. One is not generally inclined
to attach much Importance to what
historians tell us of the education of
contemporary princes or princesses !;
but it cannot be doubted that the
Princess Victoria was trained for in
tellgence and goodness. There is a
pretty description, which has been
often quoted, but will bear citing once
more, given by Miss Wynne, of the
manner in which the young sovereign
received the news of accession to
throne. The Archbishop OF CanteI-
bury, DIR. Howley, and the %4ord
Chamberlain, the Marquis of Conyng-
ham, left Windsor for Kinsington
Palace, where the Princess Victoria
had been residing, to inform her of the
Kings death. 1t was two hours after
midnight when they started, and they
did not reach kensington until five
o'clock in the morning. They knock
ed, they rang, they thumped for a
considerable time before they could
arouse the porter at the gate; they
were again kept waiting in the court
yard, then turned into one of the
lower rooms, where they seemed for
gotten by everybody. They rang the
bell, and desired that the attendant of
the Princess Victoria might be sent to
inform Her Highness that they re-
quested an audience on business of
Importance. After another delay, and
another ringing to inquire the cause,
the attendant was summoned, who
stated that the Princess was in such a
y sweet sleep that she could not venture
TO disturb her. Then they said, 1--WE
are come on business of state to the
Queen, and even her sleep must give
way to that" 1t did and to prove
that she did not keep them waiting, in
few minutes she came into the room
in a loose white nightgown and shawl
her nightcap thrown off, and her hair
falling upon her shoulders, her feet in
slippers, tears in her eyes, but per-
fectly collected and dignifed The
Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, was
presently sent for, and meeting OF
the Privy Conncil summoned for
eleven o'clock, when the Lord Chan
cellor administered the usual oaths to
the Queen, and Her Majesty received
in return the oaths of allegiance of the
Cabinet Ministers and other privy
councillors present Mr.. Greville, who
was usually as little disposed to record
any enthusiastic admiration of royalty
and royal parsonage as Humboldt or
Narnhagen Won Ense could have been,
has described the scene in words well
worthy of quotation "The King died
at twenty minutes after two in the
morning, and the young Queen met
the Council at Keusington Palace at
eleven. Never was anything like the
first impression she produced, or the
chorus of praise and admiration which
Is raised about her manner and be-
haviOur, aud certainly not without
justice. 1t was very extraordinary,
and something far beyond what was
looked for. Her extreme youth and
inexperience, and the ignorance of the
world concerning her, naturally ex-
cited intense curiosity to see how she
would act under this trying occasion,
and there was q considerable assem-
blage at the place, Notwithstanding
the short notice which was given.
The first thing to be done was to teach
her her lesson, which, for this purpose,
Melbourne had himself to learn. She
bowed to the lord, took her seat, and
then read her speech in a clear, dis
tlnct, and audible voice, and without
any appearance of fear or embarrass-
ment' She was quite plainly dressed,
and in MOURNING. After she had road
her speech, and taken and signed the
oath for the security of the Church of
Scotland, the privy councillors were
sworn, the two royal dukes first by
themselves; and as these two old men,
her uncles, knelt before her, swear
ing allegiance and kissing her hand,
she blushed up to the eyes, as If she
ielt the contrast between their civil
and their natural relations and this