The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-06-02
QUEEN VICTORIA.

On Sunday, May 21th last, Victoria,
Queen Of Great Britain and Ireland, En-
press Of India, completed her seventy
second and entered on her seventy-third
year, being, except the King Of Den
mark, the senior sovereign il Europe in
point q age ard without exception IS 10
duration Of reign.
Queen Victori&'s grandfather, George
III, had family Of fifteen children Of
whom seven were sons, and OF these. the
eldest, VINO became George ", surviy-
ed MS only child, the second died with
out issue, the third, best known as
William ", had two daughters who
both died IN infancy, and the fourth,
Edward, Duke Of Kent, left an only
daughter, now Queen Victoria, at her
fathers death only eight months old.
The young Princess was most carefully
brought up by her widowed mother, her
self lady Of no mean abilities, who now
devoted herself altogether to the educa-
ton Of her child. The duchess and her
little daughter lived very quiet retired
life at hensington; II Is said that at the
tine Of her accession 10 the throne. the
Princess Victoria, then iaSs eighteen.
had never slept away from her mothers
roof, nor had ever been alone with any
one but her mother or he- goTerress,
nor Is It generally known al what age
the Princess vas informed Ct her future
position.
The trials and troubles, as well as the
successes, and we may say gl7ries, Of
6ity-four years have amply justified the
wisdom Of the course taken By the
widowed Duchess Of Kent, and TIL her
death IN 1851, At the age Of seventy-fve
years, she was the constant and houored
companion Of her grateful daughter.
The story Of the announcement to the
young Queen, then Just one month over
eighteen, q her accession TO the throne,
has been often told, but never better
than by one Of the young ladies in at
tendance On the Princess.
Directly the old King was dead, the
Archbishop Of Canterbury and the Lord
Chamberlain posted of from Windsor
Castle 10 keasingto1. It vas , O'Clock
IN the morning when they started, and
they did not reach Ke1sington til ).
'' They knocked, they rang, they
thUmped i0- Z considerable time before
they could rouse the porter At the gate.
They we're again kept waiting in the
courtyard, then taken into one Of the
lower rooms, WHARF they seemed for
gotten By everybody. They rang the
bel and desired that the attendant Of
the Princess Victoria might De sent 70
inform her Royal Highnass that they re-
Quested Al audience On business Of in
portanee- After another delay, and
another ringing 10 inquire the cause, the
attendant was summoned, who stated
that the Princess was In such q sweet
sleep that she could not venture 70 dis
turb her. Then they said, We are
come on business OF state to the QUEES.
and even her sleep must give Eay to |
that Il did, and to prove that she did
not keep them waiting, in few minutes
she came into the room IN loose white |
night gown and shawl, her night cap
thrown of, and her hair falling upon her
shoulders, her feet in slippers, tears in |
her eyes, bat perfectly collected and |
At II o'clock that forenoon the Young |
Queen had to meet the Priyy Council.
The Clerk Of the Council says, She
bowed to the Lords, took her seat, and
then read her speech IN a clear, distinct
and audible voice, and without any az
pesranee Of fear or embarrassment; she
was quite plainly dressed and in mourn
ing."
After the Queen had taken the pre-
scribed oath, the pEiyy councillors were
sworn, the two old royal dukes, her
1ncless first. g She kissed them both.
md rose from her chair and moved to- !