Year: 1867

QUEEN VICTORIA'S C0URTSHIP.


Long before this time the project of a
marriage with Queen Victoria had been
afoat in the minds of many OF the Princes
family. Indeed, when only little child,
he had been told that such union was
destined for him. Nothing, however,
passed between the Queen and the Prince
on the subject until after the second visit
of the latter in 1929. But the king of the
Belgians had openly broached the subject
before that time cit was probably in the
early part of thai year that the King, in
writing to the Queen, first mentioned the
idea of such a marriage and the proposal
must have been favorably received, for in
March, 1888, the King writes to Baron
Stockmar, and gives an account of the
manner in which Prince Albert had re-
ceived the communication which (of course,
with the Queens sanction) he had made to
him."


The King writes


have had a long conversation with Albert, and
have put the whole case honestly and kindly be-
fore him. He looks at the question from it's most
elevated and honorable point of view. He con-
siders that troubles are inseparable from all hu-
man positions and that, therefore, if one must be
subject to plaques and annoyances, it is better to
be so for some great or worthy object than for
trifes and miseries. have told him that his
great youth would make it necessary to postpone
the marriage for few years. found HIM
very sensible on all these points. But one ching
he observed with truth. am ready, he said,
ssto submit to this delay, if have only some
tain assurance to go upon. But If, after waiting,
perhaps, for three years. l should lind that the
Queen no longer desired the marriage, it would
place me in a very ridiculous position, and would,
to a. certain extent, ruin all the prospects OF my
future life"


The Queen, il would seem, wished for
delay. She "did not wish to marry for
some time yet" Her Majesty says, writing
of herself, "she thought herself still too
young, and also wished the Prince to be
older when he made his appearance IN Eng
land. In after years she often regretted
this decision on her part, and constantly
deplored the consequent delay OF her mar
riage Had she been engaged to the
Prince year sooner than she was, and had
she married him at least six months earlier
she would have escaped many trials and
troubles of different kinds"


The Prince and his father seem to have
objected from the first to the proposal for
delay. In letter to Baron Stockmar, dat
ed the 10Th of September, 1888 Gust after
the return from the tour), the King Of the
Belgians writes:


The young &C Itlcman arrived here yesterday.
Albert IS much improved. He looks so much
more manly, and from his tO1Urltue ono might
easily take him to be twenty-five or twonty-throc.


this time he was not nineeen'l WAY have h hsp4fh f
ther says upon the subject of the marriage is true.
Albert is past eighteen. If he waits till he is
in his twenty first, twenty-second or tWenty-thlrd
year, it will be impossible for him to begin any
new career, and his whole life would be marrcd II
| the Queen should change her mind


A delay, however, was fixed upon, and
it was during this delay that Prince Albert
paid the visit to Italy of which we have just
spoken. The Prince returned to Coburg
| in June, 1889, and in October Of that year
paid his second and decisive visit to Eng
| land. He seems to have feared that the
Queen was likely to change her mind, and
| that when she asked for delay she perhaps
pleaded for release from the engagement
altogether Let the Queens own words,
emphatic and not to be read without deep
| interest, speak on this subject:


| The Queen says she never entertained any idea
of this and she afterwards repeatedly informed
the Prince that she would never have married any
| one else. She expresses, however, great regret
that she had not after her accession, kept up her
correspondence with her cousin, as she had done
| before it, Nor the Queen now (she adds)
think without Indignation against herself, OF her
wish to keep the Prince waiting tor prooaDly three
or four years. at the risk OF running all his pros
poets for life! And the Prince has since told her
| that he came in 1889 with the intention OF
telling her that if she could not then make up her
! mind she must understand that he could not now
wait for decision, as he had done at a former
| period when this marriage was first talked about.
| The only excuse the Queen can make for herself
is in the fact that the sudden change from the
| cluded life at Kensngton to the independence OF
| her position as Queen Kegnant, at the age OF
| eighteen, put all ideas of marriage out OF he1
| mind which she now most bitterly repents. A
worse school for young girl, or one more detr1
mental to all natural feelings and affections can
not Well be imagined than the position OF a queen
| at eighteen, without experience and without
husband to guide and support her. This the
| Queen can state from painful experience, and she
thanks God that none of her daughters are expo
| sed to such dangers.


On the 10th of October the Prince, &C
companied by his brother, arrived at Wind
sor, at half-past seven in the evening"
They here met with the most cordial and
affectionate reception by the Queen, who
received them herself at the top of tie
staircase, and conducted them at once &c
the Dutches of Kent.


The three years that had passed since
they were last in England, had generally
improved their personal appearance. Tai
and manly, as both the princes were IN fig
ure and department, Prince Albert was.
! indeed, eminently handsome. But there
was, also, in his countenance gentlenesE
of expression, and peculiar sweetness IL
his smile, with a look of deep thought, and
high intelligence in his clear. blue eye anC
expansive forehead, that added a charm tc
| the lWpESSSlOu HlOCuOCet III IhOoO WIN
saw him, far beyond that derived from
mere regularity of features.


The way of life at Windsor, during the sta,
of the princes, is thus described The
Queen breakfasting at the time in her owl
room, they afterwards paid her a visit there
and at two o'clock had luncheon with he
and the Duchess of Kent. In the after
noon they all rode-the Queen and Ouch
ess, and the two princes, with Lord Mel
bourne, and most of the ladies and gentle
men i'll attendance, forming large caval
cade There was a great dinner ever.
evening, with dance after it, three time
a week. On the 18th, there was an i'm
portant interruption to the ordinary rou
tine of the day. The Queen had told Lore
Melbourne the day before, that she hat
made up her mind to the marriage, a
which he expressed great satisfaction, AM
he said to her. as her Majesty states in he
! journal, '' think it will be very we'll re
ceived, for hear that there is an anxiety noN


that it should be, and I am very g.ad @


it." adding, in quite paternal tone, . Yo


will be much more comfortable, for q VIC


man cannot stand alone for any time, L
CHI no - (Ian w