New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-05

left to face the Zulus alone, deserted py
his companions in the most coWarolE
fashion.
Bigre was chosen by General Lord
Chelmsford. on account OF his intimacy
with the prince. to escort the poor LADS
mangled remains back TO England, ana
sui sequently when the Empress. after the
conclusion Of the Zulu war. made her
memorable pilgrimage to South Africa ior
the purpose of Offering up prayers on the
very spot where her boy met with MS
death. II was young Lieutenant Bigge who
was chosen TO escort her. She became
very fond OF him. and warmly recon-
mended him TO Queen Victoria as her
sons dearest friend; and as the Queen al
ways felt that both she and her people had
something 10 atone for In connection with
this young prince whose life had been
sacrificed by the cowardice Of an Englisn
officer and OF some English soldiers, she
did not hesitate to assure young Bigge
career by attaching him to her household.
as groom in waiting.
Bigge was particularly favored by Prin-
cess Beatrice. who had been deeply at
tschcd to tho Prince Imperial, the statute
deberripg members of the reigning house
Of England from contracting any legal
marriage with a Roman Catholic consti-
tIting the only obstacle to what would
have been an exceedingly popular match.
For the Prince Imperial was a thoroughly
English boY-far more English than his
father. Napoleon III-and 10 this day En-
press Eugene looks upon Princess Beatrice,
who subsequently married the late Prince
Henry of Battenberg, in the light of a
sort Ct daughterin-law Before he had
been year at court young Bigge was
made assistant private secretary, and II
was his duty TO help General Sir Henry
Ponsonby. AS the latter always took a
holiday in the autumn, when Queen Vic
toria was at Balmoral. IL came about that
Arthur Bigge was always on duty at this
period, and so was brought into close in
tercourse with the aged sovereign at the
time when her household was cut down TO
the smallest limits and the ceremonial Of
the court was reduced as much as possible.
The Queen herself has shown US the extent
Of this simplicity and privacy in her Life
in the Highlands"
IL was natural, under these crcum-
stances. that a closer degree of friendship
should arise between the sovereign and
her immediate dependents than the mere
relation of superior and subordinate en-
ployes When six years before Queen Vic
torias death General Sir Henry Ponsonby
was compelled by ill-health TO retire from
the Office of private secretary, Sir Arthur.
who had meanwhile been created a knight
Commander Of the Order Of the Bath, was
appointed to succeed him, and from thence
forth played an important part In political
affairs, being entrusted with the duty OF
interviewing outgoing ministers and OF
conveying his royal mistresss views, ap-
prehensions and prejudices concerning
their Successors. For neither MIR. Glad
stone nor Lord Salisbury was persona
gratissma with Queen Victoria, and she
preferred 70 conduct negotiations with
them as far as possible through her pri-
waite secretary.
When she died the new King, Edward
VII, retained his own private secretary
in that Office. and Sir Arthur Biggc be-
came the private secretary Of the heir
apparent-that is to say, Of the present
King-and while Lord Knol!ys has been
retained in office until now for the purpose
of assisting in the settlement Of certain
matters left open on the demise Of Edward
vi. il is understood that from henceforth
General Sir Arthur Bigge will be the sole
chief private secretary.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOI.