The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-12-11

The party that dined with Her Maj
esty were all assembled before she en-
tered the room. After speaking with
each guest separately the Queen took
the arm of her son. Prince Leopold,
arterward Duke Of Albany, and General
Grant vas asked to give his arm to the
Princess Christian. The General and
the Princess followed the Queen, and
the Prince Christian with the Princess
Beatrice followed them. Thus General
Grant preceded the Queens own daugh-
ter and her son-in law which was dis
tinct CONCESSION to him OF rank equal to
royalty, and as different as possible
from the etiquette observed by the
Prince of Wales. Mr.. Grant, however,
did not receive the same recognition :
two duchesses preceded her and she
went in with the Earl of Derby. Jesse
was placed nearly at the tail. The idea
seemed to be to give General Grant a
place that should indicate extraordinary
Difference according to royal rules, but
not to recognize his democratic family
further than courtesy required. The
Queen was gracious, however, to all, and
the dinner passed pleasantly through.
At table General Grant was not placed
next Her Majesty. She had Prince Leo
pold on one side and Prince Christian
on the other then the two Processes.
General Grant was next to the Princess
Christian, which brought him below all
the royal family and two place. from the
Queen. His conversation with Her
Majesty was therefore not animated.
| went to dinner with the Household.
| remember that Sir John Cowell, Lady
Ely, Lady Susan Melville and others Of
the Queens ladie. and gentlemen were
present. My companions were ex-
tremely afable, and | thought they
seemed to wish to make up for my dis
appointment, SO far as they could. AL
most Immediately after we rose Sir John
disappeared, but came back at once and
announced that | was to be in and pre-
sented to the Queen. l had gone
through the forms of presentation at le-
wees and drawing rooms, but had never
exchanged word with Her Majesty
She was standing with her dinner
company at one end of long gallery
when | was led up to her. She bowed
with extreme graciousness, and said i'm
mediately that she had to thank me for
book l had once sent her. This was
the first volume of my History of Gen
eral Grant," which lean and Lady Au-
gusta Stanley had presented to the
Queen for me seven years before. 1t
had been acknowledged at the time by
a courteous note, but with the royal
faculty the circumstance was remember
ed now. OF course l was struck with
the intended courtesy, and thanked Her
Majesty for recollecting ny present
after 50 many years. The Queen then
went on to ask me how General Grant
was enjoying his visit to England. This
gave me an opportunity 20 speak of his
reception throughout the country, which
l was counter enough to say "culmi-
mates tonight" At this the Majesty of
England positively dropped me cour-
tcsy and was evidently gratifed; so that
we were equal on one point at least. l
think she felt sorry that she had left me
out and wanted to atone at any rate
she made me feel very pleasant for a
moment or two in spite of my disap=
pointment.
General Grart had, since his arrival
at Windsor, received a telegram from
the Grand Army of the Republic, which
was holding its annual reunion on that
day, and had sent its congratulations to
its ancient chief. l took the opportu-
nifty to speak of this as indicating the
satisfaction which a million Americans
felt at the compliment the Queen was
paving to their representative and the
royal features beamed again. There is
indeed charm of expression, win
ming smile that comes over Her Maj
esty's countenanCe, grace of demeanor
when she means to be gracious, which is
more than ordinary. 1t was not because
she was queen, for | have been we'll
received by other queens and at this
moment, as may be supposed, | was not
altogether in the mood to admire; but
the plain little woman conquered me
with a sweetness of look and smile
which | had heard of before but had
never seen at court. 1t is of no imagi-
nabIe consequence, but torgave her my
dinner.
She remained in the room only a few
moments longer. | remember that she
talked with Mrs. Grant, Who told me
afterward of a good thing she said to
Her Majesty. Considering the etiquette
Of the dining room, it seemed to me a
perfectly fair reminder, between the two
women. The Queen said something
about her own labors or duties, and Mrs.
Grant replied: eyes, | can imagine
them too have been the wife of great
ruler" Mrs. Grant was not to be put
down, and | was glad she said it.
As for Jesse, he did not say to his
father as newspapers Declared: "Pa, in
troduce her, but behaved with pro-
priety and like young gentleman. He
had held out for his point of etiquette
as well as the royalties, and had won.
He could afford to be polite.
After a while the Queen looked
around, and two duChesses approached