The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-23
FOREIGN GOSSIP.
Copyright. 1s1s. by A. d. jacobson,

1
Queen victoria's pet country residence
by the sea. is no more. Princess Henry
of Battenberg, her youngest daughter
CBeatrice), to whom the estate had been
bequeathed by her mother, has taken her
final departure and the stately old house
has been dismantled. / have had oc-
casion to tell once before that 1t is to
be sold but II is wrong that the Prin-
cess also means to resign her office as
Governor of the Isle of Wight. But
she will occupy Barton Manor for the
Cowes regatta later in the summer, as
King George, her nephew, has loaned II
to her for three months occupation.
Barton Manor is a nice house of mod
crate size, and much more attractive In
every way than Osborne Cottage. II
was lent last year by the King to Sir
Dighton Probyn for several months.
The Duke of Northumberland (the sew
enth OF that title) is a pretty sick man.
He has returned from his trip to South
Africa, a voyage which his physicians
advised him to take for the benefit of
his health. but from which apparently
he derived but little. II any, good results
| The Duke has gone to his fine country
seat, Alnovick Castle. where he Joined
his wife, the former Lady Edith Camp
| bell. niece of the Duke of Argyle, who
is in mourning for her brother. Lord
Archibald Campbell, younger brother and
heir to the Argyle dukedom. who died
recently Lady Victoria Percy had &C
companied her father to Cape Town. The
son, Lord Eustace Percy, is an attache
to the British Embassy at Washington.
The late Sir John Charles Robinson's
| well developed natural taste for objets
d art had been cultivated by many jour
neys to Italy and Spain. Prince Albert,
Queen Victoria's consort. in 1852. appoint
| ed him the first superintendent of the Art
Collections at South Kensington Museum.
This post he occupied with efficiency sew
enteen years, making some notable pur-
chases Later on Sir John became well
known as a shrewd adviser to collectors.
and he was instrumental in purchasing
several important works of art for the
nation. In 1852 Queen Victoria appointed
him surveyor of the Queens pictures and
works of art. an Office under the Lord
Chamberlain, which he held nineteen
years.
Sir John was a good deal worried in this
post because he could not carry out
changes which were obviously necessary.
owing to the Queens refusal to permit
any alteration, even in trihes, from the
arrangement which had prevailed during
her husbands, prince Alberts) life. The
Queen did not even approve of the i'm
mense collection of crown pictures being
put into proper order. and this work was
reserved for Sir Johns successor. Mr..
Lionel Gust. Sir John Robinson was
fond of controversy. and his methods Of
expressing and maintaining his views were
calculated to exasperate the feelings of
his antagonists. however convincing TO
the reason. However. II is certain that
he rendered great public service by his
work at South Kensington. The Empress
Frederick OF Germany greatly respected
his opinions. and consulted him when
she was forming her collection at Fried
richshof
Mr.. Gladstone. who had swept no fewer
than $40 articles of the tariff tax list
bringing the total down to forty-eight,
recalled with great pride in later years
that he had been six times Chancellor
of the British EXchequer in thirty years.
Disraeli. also, was prouder of his work
as chancellor than of his partnerships
as was shown when, on bidding good-by
for what proved to be the last time to
John Bright, he said: II am proud TO
remember that / have been three times
Chancellor of the EXchequer."
II is fortunate for Britain that her
purse strings always have been in dis
Greet and honorable hands, for OF all a
nations secrets none should be more
1edlOuSlN guarded tndn those OF
finances, and il is eloquent of the integ-
rity of British statesmen that no case
has ever been known in which a single
budget secret has beeen taken advantage
of. until ii had become the property of
the world. although its disclosure might
have put a fortune into the pockets none
too we'll filled.
And the chancellor has no monopoly of
this integrity: for apart from every
,I1,-
two men to whom the budget is as much
IN open book as to him. the permanent
financial secretary to the treasury and
the permanent administrative secretary,
who have its detail to the last penny at
their finger ends, and who have a larger
part than himself in preparing it. There
are two or more minor officials who also
know its seCrets-at least in part. For
months before the British budget is re-
vealed to the world. memoranda is pass
ing from one department to another; in
quiries by the hundreds are made and
answered; comments are made on the
margins of documents; copies of this, |
that and the other are made and cor
rected, pigeon-holed, each furnishing
some small clue to the mystery. And
yet no whisper comes from all these dis |
Greet budget builders to the outer world |
II a whisper ever is heard, its origin is |
and accuracy. Other state secrets Of
great moment may leak out through |
carelessness or fraud: but the budget |
remains inviolate.
There is, however, story OF one be- |
trayal which had no serious conse-
uuences, except for the betrayer. In Mr. |
Gladstones first chancellorship. his priv
ate secretary, a youthful member or a |
noble family, is said to have raised the |
curtain on the forthcoming budget over |
the teacups. Probably he revealed moth |
ing of Importance but a secretary so in |
discreet was no man for the responsible |
position, and his place promptly was
given to a better guarded tongue.
On another memorable occasion what
threatened to be a disaster had an anus
ing sequel. 1t was in 1858, and Mr..
Ward Hunt, DisraelIs chancellor of the
exchequer. was about to rise to make
his budget speech to a crowded and
expectant house, when to his horror,
the dispatch-box which enshrined the
secrets was to be seen nowhere. Mr..
Hunt grew purple and then white with
anguish. The house. learning the cause
of his confusion. was in a state OF panic.
Never in Parliamentary history had there
been SUCH a catastrophe.
St james and all its purlieus were
ransacked in every corner for the vag-
rant box, but It refused to reveal its
was on the verge of a collapse; messen-
gers. whips" officials were rushing here
and there In a frenzy OF anxiety. when
at last breathless messenger made
his appearance with the Grant box,
which had been on Mr. Hunt's desk in