The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-22
SIXTY YEARS OF VICTORIA
The Remarkable Reign of the
Queen of England.
Continued from First Page

VI viz AsANAaNtAA BciA - NA4os ~
their existence at the time OF the reform
TIN, had accepted that measure oaly as an
installment, and were determined 20 agi-
tate for a new and more drastic legislation,
were either elected by a ma ority of nearly
300. or else not press a into a division at all.
In less than twelve months time the
government introduced the jamaica hin
10y which it was proposed, in the face OF
exis ing troubles, to suspend the constitu-
ton IN that island. Its second reading
passed Oaly toy d majority Of five, which
was practically Il defeat. Lord Melbourne
resigned, advising the Queen TO send fOr
the Duke of Wellington.
sir Robert Peel undertook to form a
government.
1t was now that the Queen first gaze
proof OF the possession OF an Independents
viii, and exercised it in manner which
gave rise TO considerable apprehension.
Sir Robert Peel demanded, as a mark OF
her confidence, and as he was constitu-
rlonally entitled to do, that her ma 5esiy
should dismiss certain ladies related To
the late ministry holding high appoint
ments in her household. Thus arose what
Is historically known as the great bed
chamber question" The Queen refused,
and persevered in her refusal Sir Robert
Peel dessted from his attempt, and Lord
Melbourne and his colleagues resumed their
offices. Petticoat government had car
ried the day.
Great was the Indignation OF the country
and terrible the invective Of Lord ErouG-
ham, who, though a Wing himself, was at
daggers drawn with the ministers, and 70
whose attacks Lord Melbourne's govern
mcat chiefly owed its fan, against this
succassfu al act OF self-aSsertiol OF the Queen.
the Jamaica question: said the former
Lord chancellor, a is to be new fashioned,
principles are to be given up, and all
because II two ladies of the bed-C hdmher.'
The actual fan Of the Melbourne admins
tration was delayed until 1S4I; four wears
after the accession OF her majesty, hut
meanwhile other events OF nearly equal
importance and OF infinitely greater
interest had happened in the life OF the
Queen. Tie hope Of her grandm. ther
had been fulfilled, and the two cousins
Albert, Of SaXe-Coburg, and Victoria, Of
England, had become man and wife.
The official and public announcement
OF the hetrCthal was not made either in
Germany or England till the close Of the
year. The intelligence was received with
satisf action, as Lord Melhourn ne mad
predicted, by the English people, FOR two
reasons; first, because universal report
spoke well Of the prince; second, because
it promised to sever finally the connection
between England and Hanover.
The prince arrived in England for his
marriage On February 6, 1910. The mar
rage took place on February 10 in the
chapel Of st. James Palace.
Ia June it became known that there was
a prospect OF an heir to the throne and a
biz was passed appointing the prince CON
sort regent in the event OF the Queens
death.
The reign Of Queen Victoria may, per
haps, for the purpose of the future l.is
touan, be divided into four periods though
not Of equal length and Importance.
First, from her accession to the over
throw Of Lord MeIbourne's administrator,
In 1871.
Second, from that event to the Crimean
war
Third, from the Crimean war to the Re
form bill of 1867.
Fourth. from the passing Of that great
measure TO the present time.
ItiSimpuSSible for US to exhibit in chrono-
logical order OF TO examine with anything
like exhaustiveness the different events Of
even personal interest to the Queen during |
each OF these four periods. II we were to |
make the attempt we should be virtually |
writing the history Of England for almost
half a century. Advertiug, therefore, 20 the
second Of the divisions which we have
above made, we may say that the Conserva-
tives, under Peel, in their accession To pow
CT found that they had a troubloUs condition
of affairs with which 10 cope. At home
there were scarcity OF work, low wages,
high-pHced food. These privations were
admirably borne, but II was impossible TO
tell when the popular patience might give
way. As il was, serious Instructions, re |
curing % be put down by military force. |
broke out the next yearin Staffordshirean ana !
South Wales.
Abroad, England wasinvolvedina serious
Chinese war. In AfgEanistan, the greatest |
disaster which ever befell the British army
was Impending. The presence Of the Eng |
lish fleet in the Tagus alone prevented a |
Portuguese Instruction.
The income tax rose to I'd. on the pound |
sterling on all incomes above ESQ $500.
and the Queen greatly increased her pop |
ularity hy declining to exercise her royal |
right OF indemnity from the burden. To-
gcther with the Prince, she did all that |
she could to give stimulus to tradeby court |
festivities. Dinners, concerts, and balls |
followed fast upon each other. On May |
26 the Queen and Prince Albert went in |
state to a ban given at Convent Garden |
Theater for the relief OF the Spitalfields /
weavers. A magnificent bal costume had /
been given at Buckingham Palace with |
similar object a fortnight before.
This same year, Notwithstanding the j
hearty efforts OF the Queen TO identify her |
self with her sub jects and to promote their |
welfare, two attempts were made upon her |
life. Two years previously an insane pot |
boy, Edward oxford, had fired pistol at |
her ma iesty as she was driving On Con- |
stltutional Hill Now the attack was re |
pcated by che Francis with similar /
weapon on nearly the same spot The pistol |
ball passed under the carriage About /
two months after this hunchback named |
Bean similarly essayed the aSsassin's role, |
but was prevented from accomplishing |
this obs ect by a boy, Dassett, who happened /
Go be near.
Perhaps the eliminating triumph OF the |
first seven years of the Queens reign was /
that which her ajesty achieved on OctO-
Der 2S, 1874, when she opened the new /
Royal Exchange, in London. Nothing
her majesty wrote TO her uncle Leopold /
the next day, ever went off better, and
the procession there, as well as the pro
Ceedings at the buildings, were splendid
and royal in the extreme. 1t was a fine and
gratifying sight TO see the myriads Of peo-
pie assembled, more than at the coronation
even, and all in such good humor and so