Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-15
OUR LONDON LETTER,
LIFE IsCIDENFs OF TEE QUEEN AID
FER HOUSEHOLD.
Brief Review OF Her New Book - Char
acteristics Shown BY its Contents
Interesting Extracts-Etc.
LoHpoN. February l6. 1854


The new book by the Qaeen is just out,
and your readers, I feel sure, will be glad
to see a few extracts from it. L is enti-
tied, "More Leaves From the Journal of
Life in the Highlands. and covers period
OF twenty yeaTs-ifom 1862 to 1882. The
dedication IS, 80 my loyal Highlarders,
and especially to the memory OF my de-
voted personal attendant and faithful
friend, John own" An engraved por
trait of Brown is prominent feature Of
the book, and Her Majesty pays to him at
the close the following tribute The
faithful attendant WHO is so often men
Stoned throughout these Leaves is no
longer with her whom he served so truly,
devotsdly, untiringly. In the fullness OF
health and strength he was snatched away
from his career of usefulness, after an i'll.
ness of only three days, respected and be-
loved by all who recognized his rare worth
and kindness of heart, and truly regretted
by all who knew him. His loss to me Oil
and helpless as ! was at the time from an
accident) is irreparable, for he deservedly
possessed my entire confidence and to say
that he is dsiiy, nay, hourly, missed by
me, whose lifelong gratitude he won by his
care, att sntion and devotion, is but
feeble expression Of the truth.
GA truer nobler trustier heart,
More loyal, and more loving, never beat
Within human breast.
As the title indicates, the work is de.
voted almost entirely to q description Of
her Maiasty's domestic life in the High
lands. There are many sad touches in it,
called forth b , the Queens memory of her
dead husband and mother, who, it will be
remembered, were taken away within few
years of each other. The record opens
with an account Of a Journey paid to one
of the hills around Balmorsl in August
1862 to watch the progress Of a cairn
which was being built in memory of the
Prince Consort. "The view was so fine,
the day go light, aud the heather so beauti-
fully pink-but no pleasure, no Joy, all
dead And here, at the top, is the iounda
ton of the earn TO be erected to my
precious Albert, I and my poor six
orphans all placed stones on it ; and our
initials, as we'll as those of the three absent
ones, are TO be carved on stones all round
it. felt very shakY and nervous" Then
comes an account of visit to Bair in the
autumn OF 1883, in which are recalled the
memories OF a happier visit-happier for
both hosts and guests for the Duke Of
Athol was now ii with an incurable dis
ease
"Oh, it was so dresdfully sad To think
of the contrast TO the time, two years ago,
when my darling was 90 well, and l so
happy with him, and just beginning to re-
cover from my great sorrow fer dearest
mammR's death-looking forward to many
more such delightful expeditions and the
poor Duke then so full of life and st ength.
How little We know what is before US l
felt very sad, but was so much occupied
with the poor Ddke-fOr whom ! truly
grieve-thst [ did not feel the trial of re-
turning to Blair in such altered circum.
stances as ! should otherwise have DONE
In an entry relssing to visit to Lord
Daihousie at Invermark, about the same
time, are these touching words Il felt
tired. sad and bewlldered. For the first
time in my life | am alone in a strange
house, without either mother or husband !
and the thong toverwhelmed and distressed
me deeply, I had dear child with me,
but those loving ones above me were both
gone-their support taken away 1t
seemed SO dreadful !" The blank caused
by the loss of the Prince seems to have
been specially felt by the Queen when
called to discharge duties of public char
acter. At the unwilling Of a statue at
Aberdeen she writes sadly: There was no
one to direct me and to say, as formerly,
what was to be done. This ceremony was
depressing in other respects also. Prin-
cipal Camp6ells prayer she tells US, was
very long, which was trying in the rain,
and the entry ends d" Very tired thank.
full it was ove. but the recollection of the
whole scene, Of the whole journey, without
my dear Albert, was dreadful.
Iutermingled with these sad entries are
descriptions of scenes which show that, in
mingling with the poor around her High
land home, the Q1een found occasional re-
lief from her melancholy. Here IS what
she says of the christening of a woodlands
child, at which she Condescended to act as
godmotner
owe stood on ore side, John Thompson
fthe father in his highland dress, next to
the minister, who was opposite me at the
head of the table. Barbara, his wife,
stood next to him, with the baby in her
arms. The Old Ihompsons and 1eir mar
Tied daughter, the Donald Stewards,
Grants, and Victoria Morgan and sister.
and Brown. Or. Taylor, who wore his
gown, then began wish an address and
prayer, giving thanks for a living mother
and q living child, after which followed an.
other prayer he then read few passages
from scripture af.er which came the usual
questions which he addressed so the father
and to which ne bowed assent. Then the
minister told him, Present your child for
baptism, After this the father took the
child, and held it. while the minister bap.
TIED it, spriukliug IL with water, but not
making the sign OF the cross, saying first to
those present, The childs name Is Veto
ria l thought it most appropriate, touch
ing and impressive. gave my present.
silver mug-t) the iht1eT, kissed the little
baby, and then we al drank to its health,
and that OF its mother, in whisky, which
was handed around with cakes"
During a visit at G.asssl5 Sliel a serv-
ants ball was given asa ''house.warmiug =
and her Msjassy describes this pleasant
event as folio 9s;
After waiting for awhile in my sitting
room, Brown came TO say that all the
servants were ready Tor the house warm
ing, and at 20 minutes to 10 we went into
the little dlningroom, which had been
cleared, and where all the servants were
assembled. We made nineteen altogether
Five animated rea!s were danced, in which
all but myself j5iled After the first reel. /
whisky teddy was brought round for every.
one, and Brown begged I would drink to
the tre-kjntune. Tneu Grant made
little speech, with an sl4usi0n to the wild
place we were IN. and conc.aiingi in a wish
that our royal mistress, our good Queen,
should live long, This was followed by
cheers given ous by Ross in regular High.
land STYLE and an drank my health. The
merry, pretty ljttls ball ended at quarter.
past ] /, bat the men went on singing in
the steward room for some time, aud all
were very happy.
The following is o graphic account Of an
accident 60 the royal party. owing, It
seems, to the m1ddled condition OF the
coschman. Brown is again on the scene
and appears 20 bsye done valiant service
1T was quite dark when We left, but all
the lamps were lie as usual from the first,