Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-10
Queen Victoria's Accession.

Arthur Shadwell, in London Times)
In view of the peculiar interest attach
ing to every historical lhcluent III tho
Oueen's life the following details OF her
Majesty's first Privy Couhcil may NC
thought worth preserving. They are
taken from q private letter written on
the day by my grandfather, Sir Lahceiot
Shadwell, who was Nice-Chanceiior OF
England at the time and the las, holder
of that office:
Yesterday on coming to London l in
ouired at the first turnpike If any express
had passed that morning, and was told
that at 4 o'clock an express passed win
n note TO the Duchess of Northumberland
stating that the King died at quarter al
ter The gatekeeper said he saw the hote
himself AS | passed on l saw every
shop with It's shutters up III heHsihst OF
| ordered my servant TO drive 10 the
Chancellor's house. The Lord Chancellor
had heard nothing of the death. LORD
Shaftesbury came to inquire. lie had
heard nothing ! suggested TO the Chan
ceilor to write to Lord Lansdowne. the
President of the Council He did so, and
at a quarter TO 10 Lord Lansdowne
sent word that my news wa, was
was to meet at Kensngton at II. None
of the courts sat We went to the palace,
where large number of people assembled
by 70 The Privy Councillors met in an
outer room where long table was set
with one chair. quite common one, at
the head. We sent in formal deputation
10 her Majesty to announce the death of
the King and that the crown had deVONed
upon her. She then came into our room
without any female attendant. attended
only by Sir w. Fremantle. took her seat
and read her declaration in the most
beautiful manner-firmly, gently, modest
ly, and in the clearest voice. After some
formal business we were then sworn in
Privy Councillors, and kissed the little
Queens hand The Duke of Sussex told
me the King was conscious to the last.
-. l...t tl.fr h a lie
a pardon. On Sunday night he said he
should get up in the morning and 90
through the day, and that was all he
should do.
Sussex kissed hands they also kissed
their sovereign niece's check. e.. the
Duke of Cumberland kissed her really.
She turned hep cheek to the Duke OF
Sussex. and he made a feint. | stood
close behind her, and saw what took
place. There was more heart i'm the real
Tory kiss than in the Wing .pretence.
Her first signature l noticed-lt was
Victoria Il.
From this account it appears that VIII
kie's picture. which represents the Queen
In a sort of high chair and several mem
bers of the Council seated, Is more picto-
rial than accurate. You may. perhaps.
find room also for an account by the
same eyewitness Of the scarcely less in
teresting Council, at which her Majesty
declared her intention OF marrying Prince
Albert .. ,o,o
November %. 1888.
Some firmness is required when =. young
lady in the presence OF upwards OF lVo
men, no other lady being present. declares
her intention of marrying some favored
youth. Yet the Gear Queen has Just now
exhibited that iirmess. thinh there
must have been at least one hundred
priyy Councillors assembled-after seye-
raj had left the room l counted sixty. Inc
Dukes of Cambridge, Wellington, NOT
folk. and Devonshire w~e there. ana the
Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop OF
London. but no other OF the clergy. me
| Duke OF wellington seemed Feeble, ana
when l spoke TO him. pressed my hand
| In n very feeble manner. When We had
| arranged ourselves at and by the side OF
| a long table, her Majesty entered and sat
| down In chair at the top of the table.
| She held a paper in her hand. which she
| read, declaring her intention TO marry
| Prince Albert. She read with firmness,
| and her voice did not falter. But, as
! observed TO Lord Lansdcwne, she read
with a proper measure OF feeling. for to-
| wards the end her hand shook so much
| that she could hardly hold the paper.
When she had finished reading, Lord
| I.ansdowne. as Lord President OF the
| council. requested Of her Majesty that
| she would allow the paper TO be printed.
| She handed II TO him In silence and re-
| tired. and so did We. Nothing else was
| said or done. All the time the sun shone
| beautifully into the room. Peel came up
! FROM nravton I'm nnrnosa IA shsnA-