New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-16
Queen and Minister
THE PERSONAL RELATIONS BE TWEEN VICTORIA AND
LORD MELBOURNE.
cops light. 1913, by G. W. smal..,l
London. January Is.


remarkable book the most remarkable
part is that which describes the
| Queens position and views. her inter-
course with Lord Melbourne. including
what the Queen said 10 him and he to
her, and the growth OF the Queens
| mind under his care. The two volumes,
published in London by John Murray,
and 7 presume republiShed i'll America.
consist Of selections from Her Majcs-
| tvs Diaries between the years 49,
and 1910. Viscount Esher has edited
them. | cannot say what the impress
| sion in America has been. Here, apart
! from and beyond the inevitable cour-
tier-like and rather effusive reviews
! in the press, tho feeling has been one
Of amaZcment that the Diaries should
have been given 10 the world. That
| they were made public by the wish of
| the late King only adds ~ the amaze
ment. Lord Esher tells us it was by
dertook the editorship "and under ;he
gracious auspices Of King George V"
Further:
The Editor feels bound 10 express
| his humble gratitude TO the King and
! his deep obligation TO tho Queen for the
Encouragement and assistance he has
received from their Majcsties in the
| preparation of these volumes"
| The King and Queen were. therefore,
! a sort Of joint or assistant editors with
Lord Esher. Princess Christian Of
, Schleswig EiolStein was third collabo-
rator. and Lord Roscbery fourth: :
for his friendly cooperation in having
| read the proofs and for many valuable
suggestions. Finally. in addition to ,he
command Of King Edward. the author
and exact historical knowledge of the
period covered by the Journals. We are
told il is.
III. T.. II. Princess Henry OF Batten-
berg. 10 whose pious regard for her
Mothers memory as EyecutrX of
Queen Victorias Will, the publication Of
the Journals may he ascribed."
If dwell on these Inscriptions Il
praise AID acknowledgements. ii is N
order 10 make il clear how completely
the volumes arc invested with the sane
tion OF the Royal Family, s whole.
Presumably. all the Personages namc
in Lord Eshcr's Preface have as VOL
as Lord Rosebcry, read the proofs. and
have approved Lord Eshcr's method
of editing Neither they nor he hav.
cvaGed the delicate responsibility Of
printing the queens private Diary as
il was written. When Lord Esher
edited the Letters Of Queen Victoria"
perhaps the most valuable book #
political memories Of tho last century.
he did as he has done now. He laid
bare the Queens mind and the Queen 4
method OF expressing her mind. she
had nature OF much simplicity; u
! times amounting 10 naiVete. She used
italics with more than feminine free
dom. She set down with entire frank
ness her opinions on subjects Of which
she knew and could know almost
nothing. on music on dancing. on act
ing. on points of history. on the politics
/ in which she found herself enmeshcd.
on Cabinet crises, on the conduct ~
statesmen whom she had seen bur once
or twice, on the statesmen themselves
az individuals. on foreign affairs &c
we'll as dOmcSt.c. on Foreign POtcn-
tates on her personal relations with all
kinds Of people. on their characters u
manners-on hundred Other thing
che writes as "a girl-Quccn may very
well have ttcn FOR the privacy Of her
own journal. without a thought that II
vas to be read by Others. She mad had
little training in letters or literature.
At times she is illiterate; and is very
often inaccurate in matters Of gram
mar. Her Ian. &c il thu Of school
girl. Her thoughts and her views of
life are those of q schoolgirl. They are
all flung into print Lord Esher docs
not apologize for them; does not refer
ia thc,n. 'ou might think him un
aware of them. There are moments
when lou would say he was reckless.
What is the result of ii all? The re-
suit is that the great Queen stands out
"a greater and more admirable and To-
able figure than before. There are not
/ half dozen biographies or auto
| hiosra phies in al the world in which
the soul Of the man or woman has
/ been stripped 30 bare. There is per-
I hans among women none but Mare
/ Bashkirtseff's in which Ia S as well
as merits and incidents which tell
against as wen as FOR her are recorded
with the same unninching fidelity. In
| both cases the effect is the same. How
many human beings would have come
eouallv well out of similar ordeals? ]
hone a multitude. but in these two
| cases if - not necessary 10 nope. We
/ know.
! That is Lord Eshcr's justification and
eulocv. He had the wit, the sound
judgment. to see thar the truth. the
whole truth. would serve th" Queen
/ hest. and the truth as she told H. Often
.noneh ne has allowed d pctulant opln-
! ion of reproach to pass; an estimate or
. man or woman such az the queen
su,cly would never have uttered 20
.,,. but an intimate friend. There are