New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-21
GRANT AT WINDSOR.
BY GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.
JESSE'S ULTlMATUM AND THE CAPTURE
OF THE QUEENS TABLE.

| OF THE QUEENS TABLE.
| THE OFFICIAL STORY OF A FAMOUS DINNER TOLD
AT LAST
Copyright 1886
| The Queen was at Balmoral when General Grant
arrived in London, but soon after her MAJESTY 5
return to Windsor card was sent TO General and
Mrs. Grant with these words partly written and
partly engraved:
"1he Lord Steward
has received Her Majesty's commands to invite
General and Mrs. Grant
to dinner at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. 26th June
and to remain until the following day.
Windsor Castle
25th June, 1877.
| See other side"
On the other side engraved:
buckingham Palace,
1877"
SHOULD the ladies or gentlemen TO whom In
viaions are sent be out of town. and not expected
to return In time to obey the Queens commands
on the day the invitations for the cards are TO
| be brought back"
This is not exactly the form in which ex-sover
eigns are invited to Windsor but il is the fashion
in which Her Majesty commands the presence OF
her subjects The American Minister and Mrs
lferrcpont were summoned in precisely the same
way and a similar card sent to me The in
|
etiquette General and Mrs. Grant had the
honor to accept Her Malesty's most gracious invi-
tation etc" The Generals youngest son. Jesse.
youth Of nineteen was travelling with his father
at this time and Mrs Grant naturally desired that
he Should receive all the attention which the cir
cllmstances would allow. Jesse himself did not
share this feeling. He was not anxious for royal
OF aristocratic invtatic ms. and when IT was ex-
planned to him that so extraordinary an opportunity
OF meeting distinguished people could hardly hap
pen to young man again. he replied that the
honor was meant for his father. not for him. and
that If he should return to England alone. none OF
these important personages would remember him
or invite him. He did not value compliments
paid to himself account of his father.
Notwithstanding this | was desired to send a
message to Sir John Cowen. the Master OF the
rOueen's Household with whom l had been per-
sonaly acquainted for several years. telegranhe1
him in these words: Personal and confidential
to yourself | would not. of course. make such a
suggestion unauthorized, but If it could be pro-
posed to invite General Grants SON. Mr. Jesse
Grant a young Of nineteen or twenty 1t
would be great qualification to General and MIS-.
Grant II this Is contrary to etiquette, please
consider this telegram not sent"
A card like that addressed to General Grant
was Immediately forwarded to Jesse and on the
afternoon appointed set out by train for Windsor
Theparty included General and Mrs Grant the Minis
ter and Mrs rerrepont. Jesse and myself. with
four or five servants The Queens car1ares were
in waiting at the station. and the Master OF the
Household received us at the Castle. The Queen
was out driving and would not be Wis bic until
dinner so that all the nonsense that was published
about Her Majesty welcoming General Grant at
the foot Of the grand staircase as she would have
done the Shah Of Persia or any other olack or
white monarch who visited her, was without foun-
dation. Such potentates were allowed to greet
their sister SOY ereign with royal kiss but the
Queen was not in the house when the eN-lresident
arrived. Undoubtedly Her Malesty's absence was
planned.
The General was shown to his rooms, which were
the same we were told that the Gar had once
occupied. as well the Duke Of Edinburgh. i'm
mediately after his marriages. Jesse and / had
ar arrments higher up. where Sir John COwell at
once visited me and said with little embarr5ss-
ment that Mr Jesse and | were TO dine with the
Household and not at Her Maiestys table: but
that Immediately after dinner we should be taku
in and presented TO the Queen. The Royal House
hold is always served at a separate table. and
usually only one or two of the ladies' and gentle
men in waiting are invited to DIN Her Majesty S
partv FOREIGN Ministers. the members OF the
Government even the Prime Minister. when he
is in attendance. al dine at this table, unless sp~
ciaIy invited by Her MAJESTY Jesse and l. how
ever had been specially invited by the Queen and
the invitation was now modified. if not withdrawn
As soon as Sir John had left the room Jesse de-
clared that he would not dine with the Household.
He had been invited by the Queen and if he could
not sit at her table he would return to town We
descended to General Grants apartments AMI found
the Duchess Of ROxburgh one Of the ladies' IN walt
ing. pavin- visit to Mrs Grant The Duchess
was explaining the arrangements for dinner. ami
stated that the Queen was unable to receive
large parties at table, as the number produced
giddiness This explanation was evidently con
sdercd necessary. although it was not offered as an
excuse Tie Duchess also took aims to say that
the ladies' AMI gentlemen in wa1n5 were all per
sons Of distinction. and then Withdrew. The MIN
istsr and Mrs PerrepOnt were now present. and
Jesse at once repeated that he preferred TO return
to town to dining with the servants There was
q long discussion after this during which some
Of the real wants in the room and doubt
less heard and repeated the wonderful remarks OF
the democratic youth for shortly afterward an
other Of Her MaJesty's ladies in waiting was an
nounced This was the MarchiOness Of Ely. who
came on the same euand as her predecessor Os
tensbly To pay her respects to Mrs Grant. but IN
reality to explain that she herself was to be OF
the rarity with which Jesse was to dine and u
repeat the story of the Queens dizziness anu ina
biity to receive large party at table Of course
all this was only gracefully and casually INTRO
duced. but when the information was commune
Gated the courtier retired.
Then the democrats resumed their discussion
Jesse insisted on going home at once he said ne
had not cared TO come TO Windsor at all when
was true. and that he certainly would not dine
with any but his hostess The DeneiaI was
,,r-iIli far AL
thoucbt that his son should dine at the same table
With himself. The Queen, however, had not yet
et,rned and none OF the couI tiers could decide
the matter Finally General amt desired me 10
see the Master OF the Household. and TO say That
| bn had of course. no wish 70 suggest any chanse