The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-26
OSBORNE HOUSE.
FACTS ABOUT KING EDWARDS
 GIFT
To the British Satton-Lstters From
 Queen Victoria Describing its
Charms.

Osborne House, which the king has given to the nation, lies one mile to the southeast Of East Cowes, between the river Medina and the Solent. The present edifice was erected after de- signs by Mir T. Cubitt, and is in the do- mestic Italian style. 4 striking feature is the square tower, one hundred and seven feet high, and there is also a clock tower which rises to a height of ninety feet. The late queens apart
 ments are situated in advance of the flag tower, and are filled with statuary and pictures mainly the works of mod ern artists. The estate, after coming
 into her Majesty's possession, was re- peatedly enlarged, and now comprises
 about five thousand acres, reaching far
 towards Ryde by the seashore and to
 the vicinity of Newport inland. It in-
 cludes terrace gardens and grounds of
 surpassing beauty, mas private pier on the shore for the use of the royal
 household, and on the outskirts are a
 number of excellent cottages occupied by the workpeople on the estate. Bar ton Manor House, picturesque gabled
 mansion, was rebuilt by Queen Victoria, | with careful retention of it's old fea- lures, as residence for her principal steward.
 The estate was purchased by her Ma jesty from Lady Isabella Blaehford in
 1S45, and the mansion house which then stood upon it-a plain and unpreten-
 tious building of modern date-was soon after taken down to make room for the existing palatial structure. For a long period the manor was held by l the Bowermans, an old Isle of Wight | family not yet extinct. and it belonged in the time of Charles to Eustace
 Mann, passing by the marriage of his granddaughter to the Blachford family. Originally the name was Austerbourne, or Oysterbourne, which has been re- garded by some as equivalent to Est Borne, by others as derived from adja- cent oyster beds. Barton Manor, one of | the additions made to the estate, has l long historic record. As early as 12S2 | an oratory for, six chaplains and a clerk had been founded there. It
 passed to the Bishops of Winchester in 14S9 and was given by Bishop Wayn-
 
 it was purchased by the late queen. It was in the open-air life of Osborne that the Prince Consort often sought re- newed health and strength, and, in ear | Her days, superintended the works in ! progress. There is an interesting letter, written in May, 1850, and recorded in | the Life of the Prince, in which he eX- I presses himself thus to the Dowager ! Duchess of Coburg: Tn our island
 home we are wholly given up to the enjoyment of the warm summer wealth. CT. The children catch butterflies, the queen sits under the trees, and I drink the Kissingen water, Ragotsky. To- ! day mamma, aunt (the Duchess of
 Kent,) and Charles (Prince Leiningen) are to come to stay fortnight with us; then we go to town to compress the (so-
 called) pleasures of the season into four 1 weeks"
 Sir Robert Peels death occurred shortly after, and we find the queen writing to King Leopold in the follow ing terms: Albert who has been so fresh and we'll when he came back (from Osborne), looks so pale and
 fagged again. He has felt and feels Sir Roberts loss dreadfully" It was dur ing her stay at Osborne in the same month that her late Majesty found the necessity of placing on record in memorandum which has become histor- ical her views as to the transaction of business between the crown and the secretary of state for foreign affairs. ip+b the same year, tidings were received of the death of King Louis Philippe. Writing again to the Dowager Duchess of Coburg, the prince says: We cele-
 brated the day quietly and peacefully
 at Osborne with the children. It was,
 however, unhappily, day of mourning. Just before dinner came news of the
 death that morning of poor old King Louis Philippe. By starting at six in the morning we managed yesterday to pay flying visit to the afflicted faml-
 ly."
 None of Queen Victoria's letters
 breathe such a spirit of happiness fin
 her home life as those written at Os-
 borne in these earlier days of married life. Sir Theodore Martin quotes let ter addressed in 1852 to King Leopold, the court having proceeded to the Isle of Wight for the queens birthday: "We spent yesterday very happily and peacefully only feel that I can never
 be half grateful enough for so much love, devotion and happiness. My be- loved Albert was, if possible. more than usually kind and good, showering gifts which he knew I wished for on me.
 Mama was most kind, too, and the chil-
 dren, in particular Vicky, did every thing they can to please me-"
 It was to Osborne that the prince Consort referred, to make a last quota ton, in the following few lines, written to his stepmother in 1857: "We made our escape two days ago to this place, which is meant for haven of rest, but is now selected by all sorts of exalted personages as the place to pay us visits l "a total bouleversement of it's original purpose
 It need hardly be recalled that it was at Osborne that the late revered queen breathed her last, and the nearness of her memory will only serve to endear the gift the more to the subjects of
 King Edward.-London Telegraph.