New-York tribune., 1901-01-23
ROYALTY AS A TRADE.

his royal station.
ROYALTY AS A TRADE.
Royalty is an exacting and arduous business
even under constitutional conditions, with Min
listers to do the work and Parliament to assume
the responsibility of legislation. The young
Queens mornings spent in critical exami-
nation of State papers. and frequently the af-
ternoons were occupied with consultations with
her Prime Minister. BY the reform acts Of the
Queens reign. the democracy constituted
the arbiter between political parties but the
Ministers remained the servants Of the Crown
The leaders of the Commons at midnight Of
every days session wrote letter to the Queen
informing her of the legislative business OF the
day The sovereign knew the secrets Of the
Cabinet before any policy measure had been
officially explained to Parliament. Reports Of
department business first submitted to the
Queen and the foreign correspondence passed
under her eyes. The Queen was throughout her
reign the busiest woman in England 1t was
not until the publication OF The Life of the
Prince Consort'' that the extent and intensity
Of the Queens industry were adequately ap-
preciated by her subjects. Then it was per-
ceived that public affairs occupied with her the
same place which professional career the
routine OF business transactions fills in ordinary
life.
1t was in 1910 that the Queen wrote: "I think
our child ought to have besides its other names
those Of Turko-Egypto. we think OF nothing
else" That was her first experience of the in
terminabIe Eastern Question. which was to oc-
cupy large portion of Ter leisure throughout
her reign. The drudgery involved by royal
scrutiny of diplomatic correspondence is indi-
Gated by the fact that 2S. 900 dispatches passed
through the Queens hands during memorable
crisis in 1913. In the course of a few years her
attention absorbed by foreign complications
in every quarter of her worldwide dominions by
the opium with China, serious outbreaks
in Canada. revolt in the West Indies the
murder Of the British Envoy at Cabul. the disas-
trous retreat Of the British army to JugduIluk
Pass and the conquest of Afghanistan. In the
Afghan complications the Queen and Prince
Albert took intense personal interest. and when
the captives were delivered and British prestige
was vindicated they distributed honors among
the troops with lavish hand. Soon afterward
they made visit to King Louis Philippe. in
order to improve the relations between France
and England, which had been strained by in
trigues in Egypt. military operations in Syria
and intrigues over the Spanish succession. Louis
Philippe gave assurances during the recertion
at Eu that he would not give his son to Spain.
e.en if the offer was made to him; and Lord
Aberdeen replied that with the exception of
Louis PhilIppe's sons any as2irant whom Spain
might choose would be acceptable to England.
The Queen received In her turn Il visit from
Emperor Nicholas of Russia. and was amazed
by the candor with which he discussed the East
ern question and expressed .ilarm about Aus
tria He is she records in her Journal too
frank for he talks openly before people
which he should not do and with difficulty re-
strains himself" New complications with
rror
the South Seas made it expedient for Louis
Philippe to return the Queens visit The re-
ception at Windsor Castle was a magnificent
affair." and reflected lustre upon the English
Court What was most remarkable was the fact
that like the State revels in honor of the Gar
il cost the country nothing Sir Robert Peel in
referring to these visits remarked in ParIia-
ment: II am not required to press for the extra
expenditure OF one shilling account of these
unforeseen causes of Increased expenditure. /
think that to state this is only due to the per-
sonal credit of Her Majesty. who insists upon
1t that there shall be every magniicence re-
quired by her station. but without incurring
single debt This essentially new ex-
perience Royalty before the Queens time had
never been out of debt. and was continually ask
ing to have it's purse replenished-
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
with the gentleness and amiability of the Queen
that he fancied that he could impose upon her
good nature Acting under Guizot's influence.
he arranged an unsuitable marriage for Queen
Isabella of Spain, and then allowed his son, the
Duke of Montpensier. to become the husband of
her sister. the Infanta. He thus violated his
pledges to the English Court by bringing a
member OF his family in line for the succession
to the Spanish throne He made Queen Louise
of Belgium, the wife of King Leopold the
medium Of his explanations to 'the good little
Queen of England who. as he hoped would not
look through the spectacles of Lord Palmerston
The correspondence. subsequently published
in the Life of the Prince COnsort.' proved that
the Queen more than a match for the artfu
and disngenuous plotter, whose spurious argu-
ments were refuted by her with dignity and
force. While he powerless on his throne to
entangle her in argument. he commanded her
sympathy in his hour of misfortune when he
lost his crown and was driven into exile in Eng
land. That was in 1S4S. when revolution seemed
to be spreading everywhere and no throne was
safe. How little did I DREAM exclaimed the
Queen. when the royal exiles retired to Clare
mont that this would be the way we should
meet againw This was when France was in
flames and Belgium menaced, and when Ger