The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-11
12.3 and I27 Main Street.
About Queen Victoria.

HUOut SuOC' 'NS0''o'
Anent the great event which all Eng
land Is to celebrate in few days and in
which all the world will prove interested
spectators Russian estimate OF England $
queen will prove interesting TO many.
NJ. de Martens, who is editing the great
collection of treaties between Russia and
other European powers, and who has con-
sequently access to the archives Of the
Russian foreign Office. has published In the
Vestnik Evropy an interesting article emit
tied THE Emperor Nicholas I. and Queen
Victoria" in which he gives some curious
extracts from the confidential dispatches
Of the Russian ambassadors accredited TO
the court of st. James during the earlier
part Of the queens reign. The article con-
tains number of historical portraits. show
ing how the queen and the principal states
men Of the time appeared 10 the represen-
tatives OF Russia.
To begin with her majesty. We have
sketch by the famous Count Pozzo di Bor-
30. In a dispatch dated Jure 90 1887, he de-
clares it impossible to give any description
Of the young sovereign, because her mother
had kept her in such complete state OF
isolation that mo one exists who could
form an idea Of the character, feelings ard
disposition Oh tQ6 yOuuS 4OcCAs l4Ar1O SS-Se
only suggestions in which one can always
remark the opinions and wishes Of the per-
son who expresses them" Gradually. how
ever, ne forms his own opinion. and he soon
relates how her majesty has studied with
wonderful perseverance the constitutional
machine and the character Of her ministers.
First of all she emancipated herself from
the despotic authority of her mother ~ no
hoped to direct, under the name OF her
daughter, the affairs Of England" She had
only one adviser in whom she had unbound
ed confidence, King Leopold of Belgium.
whom she respected immensely for his great
Intelligence and political talents. Towards
all around her ''she observes caution and
impenetrable secrecy: she never talks OF
any one connected with politics or the ad-
ministrat!on; almost every day she invites
some one to dinner, systematically exclud-
ing personages belong ing to the opposition.
You see in what secrecy affairs are carried
on
This secrecy did not at all please the
diplomatic body. They were accustomed to
the political indiscre,!on of George III. and
George w., who spoke freely Of political
affairs and sometimes complained OF their
ministers to foreign ambassadors. From
the moment OF her accession the young
queen adopted the principle OF submitting
10 the will OF the nation expressed In par
lament, but at the same time she display
ed decision, firm character. imperturbable
tranquility of mind and complete mental
equilibrium" At one moment Pozzo di
Borgo imagined that in the English gov
eminent the queen was little more than a
mere cipher, almost a Quandte negligeable.
He says:
49, al.
together Wing. I say the monarchical pow
er, because the queen Is nothing but the
mystical symbol Of that power. Lord Mel
bourne makes his suggestions 10 the young
ruler. and obliges her to sign all acts which
require her signature for their legality. lie
directs her household and her occupations.
Whatever he desires in the household ar
rangements and political affairs she also
desires without exception.
Already in May, 1859. Pozzo oil Borgo had
changed his opinion on this subject, and
convinced himself that her majesty acted
as she DID, not because she herself SYM
pathized with the reforming tendencies OF
tie party. When Lord Melbourne propos-
ed 10 save the cabinet by taking into II
some moderate Tories she Indignantly re-
jected the idea, and the worthy Russian
ambassador began to fear that she might
enter on a revolutionary path. He wrote 20
his government in May. 1899:
~ the queen, as one may suppose from
her disposition. places herself AZ the head
OF the extreme reformers she VIII succeed
in destroying the last remnants OF the poll
teal authority OF the aristocracy and the
church, and degrade the sovereign power
TO a simple and Insignificant Formally
IN personal matters, also. her majesty
began to display independence OF judgment.
When the duke OF Wellington refused 10
give precedence 20 Prince Albert she de-
ciare3. according 10 the Russian anbassa-
dor. that she would not invite the old rebel
duke TO the wedding, and she yielded only
when she perceived that his absence would
make an unfavorable impression on public
opinion. las rule she knew how 10 have
her own way and TO get passed wha; she
vantsd." II iSS Baron Brunnow reports:
The young queen is distinguished no; By
a want OF energy. but rather by a super
fluffy OF Il All recognize il her feeling
OF justice and straigh,for~ardness which
does honor 20 her character. In the eyes
OF Russian ambassadors. however. she TAI
ore dsfect-she was 10, very vel disposed
towards Russia Thss defect - judged
oharitab,y by II. De Martens:
IF We hear in mind that tire queen noun;
ed the throne when there was an outbu-s;
ct English R1ssopsoo.s- when Lord Pal
nerston considered Il possible 10 accuse
Russia openly G. bad iA.ta- t-sa:.aese an
bition- and many other crimes. 4 VII seem
quite natural that TIE young 2oee7 should
have regarded Russia with great suspicion.
and the Emperor Nicholas a. the enemy
OF England These feelings were corxi-
eraoly strengthened IN her by Tie influence
had ample reason 20 consider tie Russian
emperor as his sworn enemy
Mcae ansczble relations we're createt
shortly afterwards By the visit 20 England
o. re Txeareyttch. who was TO beccEe
Alexander U-r-o-icu Tines