New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31

perfect OF all private secretaries, is Sir Francis
Knollys, who has been with the Prince OF Wales
for more than quarter OF century. Inc very
personifcation Of discretion, loyalty and dlsln-
terestedness, he is untring in his devotion to his
royal master, and his one object in life seems 70
be to spare the Prince all worry, annoyance and
anxiety, and 10 shield him from HARM His sentl-
menIs toward the Prince are due, not alone to
the feelings OF affection which the British Heir
Apparent inspires in all his encourage, but also
10 gratitude. For many years the Controllership
Of the Princes household was in the hands OF the
late General Sir William Knoiys. The latter, al
though most gallant soldier and the very soul
OF honor, but poor administrator, ana so
loose was the surveillance which he exercised over
the various branches Of the royal establishment
that one Of the chief clerks Of the financial depart
ment was enabled to embezzle an enormous sum
before being discovered. Although the losses sus
talned by the Prince in the matter amounted TO
nearly half million Of dollars, neither old Sir
William nor his son Francis, yet his daughter,
who is she favOrite Lady in Waiting OF the
Princess ever heard q single word Of complaint,
censure or protest from the royal couple. IL any
thing, the latter were even more gracious ana
more affectionate in their attitude toward the
three KnOllvs. who formed part Of their house
hold than ever before Sir William immediately
resigned but only 10 be invested with the lucrative
sinecure OF Sergcant-at-Ams Of the House of
Lords, which the Prince procured for him. Sir
| Francis, a man Of exquisite tact and refinement,
has been able TO appreciate to its fullest extent
tile dehcacy and consideration of his royal master
in the matter, and manifests in return a devotion
to the Prince which can only be likencd to that
OF some faithful and intelligent collie The Prince
lind, nd mDlicitlV and has
secrets from him, and the result is that Sir
Francis Is able to fulfill the duties OF private
secretary in an absolutely ideal manner constitut
ing the memory, and sometimes, too, the con-
science, of his royal chief.
Another conspicuous and influential private
secretary is General Sir Henry Ponsonby. who has
charge Of the Privy Purse and Of the correspond
cnce Of Queen Victoria Few persons outside the
immediate Court circle aware of the extent
Of his influence which is exercised in the most
unobtrlsivc and discreet manner In many Of
the great political crises it is he, who, some times
in the name Of the Queen and sometimes in his
own private capacity but always in the interests
Of Her Majesty has acted mediator between
conflicting interests and between the rival parties
Many are the quarres and disputes within the royal
| family itself which he has smoothed over. with
the exception Of a couple OF years in the Crmca,
galantry in the conflict with the Russians, he
has been all his life private secretary. Shortly
after joining the Coldstream Guards he was APP
| pointed private secretary to Lord Clarendon, the
vccroy Of Ireland, and he kept his position as
such under Lord Carlisle and at least two other
| of tho Lord LicutenantS. On his return from the
| Crimean war; he was attached to the household
OF the late Prince Consort, and subsequently
siren hened his position at Court by marrying
one of the Queens favorite Maids Of Honor. On
| the death OF General Sir Thomas Biddulph in
| 1870 he became the principal private secretary
| Of the Queen. Unlike Sir Francis knollys who
is somewhat the reverse Of Coollooling, Sir Henry
is very handsome, sodicrly-looiing old man OF
| sXty-eight, with shortcut gray beard, regular
features. and tall, erect figure.
| We're the Queen to be deprived at the present
moment Of the services of Sir Henry Ponsonby or
the Prince OF Wales, of those Of Sir Francis
| Knollys the loss would prove irreparable For
both Of these royal personages have become So
much accustomed 10 have the various aspects of
each matter thought over for them and presented
to them by their efficient private secretaries that
they have almost entirely lost the habit of doing
their own thinking. They content themselves with
| doing the deciding.
Columns more could be written about the i'm
portance OF the private secretaries and of the in
nucncc which they exercise Always by their
masters side, unohetrusivcy guiding and directing
| his thoughts and his acts, and discussing every
thing with him, IT is easy to understand the cN-
tent Of their power. And the moro trust that
their chiefs place in them, the valuable their
services are certain 10 become Indeed. tine labors
and rcspon>bitle. OF the employers diminish in
| the proportion to the degree Of confidence which
| they extend TO their private secrctarles.
EX-ArrACIIE