New-York tribune., 1902-02-05

V r. I QUEEN VICTORIA. Her Life and En-
kt by the Of Marqys qy o. 1speted fne ddoWo otavo pp
XVI, S7e. Harper & Bros.
It is with a feeling Of disappointment that the
reader reIinquishes this book Differing from
all other biographies OF the nlustrious queen. in
having been written from within instead OF from
outside her immediate encourage, by one who
was more intimately associated with the sub
5ect Of the volume than anybody else who has
ever endeavored TO portray her personality and
character in print, one naturally expects IN 1t
something intrinsicaIy new concerning one Of
the most remarkable figures Of the nineteenth
century. This expectation is strengthened by
the Duke Of Argylls preface. in which he init
mates that he can bring his readers within
sound Of the very voice" to which he himself
has been listening. I'VE do not care" he states,
''to know the effect OF life and events on the
mind of a writer. We desire TO hear the person
whose life forms those events. or whose exist
ence illunined them. Comment on a character
and the attempted dissection Of motives and
actions on the part OF essayist or historian
we must often feel to be impertinence. Let
the dead speak Do not lecture around their
shrine. To do would be TO confess that
life is indeed vain show" And then he goes
on to say: Il had collected many interest
ing letters from men OF mark telling Of the
great events of the hour. and had intended in
this volume TO give those speaking of days
which have passed fifty years ago"
After such an introduction one naturally
settles down to read the volume with increased
interest. and the feeling OF disappointment
which gradually steals one is proportion
ately great. The book is rather history of a
reign than OF a personality. 1t is a charmingly
and reverently written reiteration of facts and
episodes which have already received publicity.
and with the exception Of a few trivial anec-
dotes concerning the Queens early childhood
there is absolutely nothing novel. nothing that
enables the reader TO feel that his stock or
knowledge has been increased or that he has
been enabled TO develop his conception Of her
character and Of the place which she merits In
the annals of her time. There is but one point.
indeed. TO which the duke draws attention and
which is worthy of being noted 1t is the ex-
PLANTATION which he furnishes OF the Queens ac-
ton in causing Sir Theodore Martin to publish
under her direction the life and correspondence
Of the Prince Consort. According TO the Duke OF
Argyll this publication was determined upon
by the late Queen for the purpose Of vindicating
her lamented husband IN the eyes Of the nation,
of demonstrating the value Of the assistance
which he had rendered both to the crown and
TO the nation throughout his married life, and
above all. Of correcting the false impression
current until his death to the effect that he had
been guilty of altogether unconstitutional in
reference In the affairs Of the government. In
deed. this last mentioned accusation formed the
subject of so many and such bitter attacks
upon him by the press Of every shade of po-
Ntical opinion during his married life that the
Queen was determined to clear his name in con-
nection with the matter after his demise, and to
remove every false impression that had been
formed by her people concerning Albert the
Good.