The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-24
THE QUEENS LETTERS.
They Contain May Gent e, ympa-
tncIic E.xpl esslO..o.

NAS&AS AJAfA SoSA0''S~
Only a very few of the many beautiful
letters written by the queens own mana
fave ever been given to the public.
Two were printed by Mrs. Oliphant in
her Life Of the Late Principal Tulloch,
and at this moment they will be read
withe peculiar interest. The first is to
the Rev. w. w. Ttiiloch, SON of the
principal, and the other to Mrs. Tul!och.
1t is in reading such letters, as Mrs.
Oliphant remarks, that we realize how
the Queen gained the empire she held
in the heart Of her people.
Osborne, Feb. Is, 1856.
II was stunned by this dreadful news;
your dear, excellent, distinguished father
also taken away from us. and from dear
Scotland, whose Church he so nobly
defended. l have again lost dear and
honoured friend; and my heart sinks
within me when 1 think that shall not
again on earth look on that noble pre-
sence, that kindly face, and listen to those
words of wisdom and Christian large
heartednesS which used to do me so
much good. But should not speak Of
myself when you, his children, and your
dear mother, and our beloved Scotland,
lose so much. Still, l may be. hope,
forgiven. if I do appear egotistical. for
have lost SO many, and when l feel so
ALONE.
'.Your dear father was so kind, so wise,
and it was such a pleasure to see him
at dear Balmoral! No more! Never
again! These dreadful words so often
have had to repeat make my heart turn
sick Gods will be done! Your dear
father. is at rest and his bright spirit
free!
I'VE must not grieve for him. When
I saw you at Balmoral you seemed anx-
ious about him, and ! heard the other
day he could not write. Pray convey
the expression of my deepest sympathy
to your dear mother, whose health, I
know, is not strong, and to all your
family. I mourn with you.
princess Beatrice is deeply grieved, and
wishes me to express her true sympathy
with you all. I shall be most anxious
for details Of this terrible event.
Ever yours truly and sorrowingly.
VICTORIA, r, and I.
Windsor Castle, Feb. II, 1886.
Dear Mrs. Tulloch,-You must allow
one who respected, admired and loved
your dear, distinguished husband to
write to you, though personally unac-
Quainted with you, and try to say what
l feel.
my heart bleeds for you-the dear,
worthy companionlof that noble, excel
lent man, so highly gifted and large
hearted, and so brave! whose life is
crushed by the greatest loss which can
befall a woman.
ITO me the loss of such friend, whom
so greatly respected and trusted. is
very great; and cannot bear to think
| that I shall not again see him, and
! admire that handsome, kindly face and
noble presence, and listen to his wise
words, which breathe such lofty Chris
tian spirit. am most anxious to visit
you, and trust you will allow me to do
SO quite quietly and privately. as one
who knew your dear husband so well,
and has gone through much sorrow, and
knows what you feel and what you
suffer.
pray express my true sympathy to all
your children, who have lost such a
father.
MY thoughts will be especially with
you Tomorrow, and I pray that God
may be with you to help and sustain
you. Believe me, always yours most
sincerely.
VICTORIA, r. and To
To Lord Tennyson, also, the Queen
wrote many charming and characteristic
letters. After Tennyson sent an epitaph
on Prince Leopold to her in March, 1884,
the Queen wrote:
Almost all I needed most to lean on
and who helped and comforted me-are
taken from me. But, though all happi-
ness is ct an end for me in this world
I am ready to fight on. praying that I
may be supported in bearing my heavy
cross. and in trying to be Of use and
help to this poor. dear young widow of
my darling child. whose life, which was
So bright and happy for barely two
years; has been utterly crushed. But
she bears it admirably. with the most
genuine patience and courageous and
unmurmuring resignation.
All these terrible sorrows show us,
however. truly and really. that here is
not our abiding home.'u'-The British
Weekly.