Year: 1867

painful experience, and she thanks God that
none of her daughters are exposed to such
danger


In October, 1899, the visit to England was
paid which decided the fate of the young
Princes life Prince Albert was accom-
panied by his brother, and both were charged
with letter from the King of Belgans
to the Queen, in which he recommended them
to her kindness.


The volume then goes to describe the
reception given by the Queen to the Princes,
and the way of life at Windsor during their
stay. They arrived ON the 10th of October,
and on the l4th the Queen told Lord Mel
bourne that she had made up her mind to
the marriage. The courtier statesman ex-
pressed his great satisfaction. An intima-
ton was given to the Prince that the Queen
wished to speak to him the next day. On
that day. the 10th, the Prince had been out
hunting with his brother, but returned at
twelve and half an hour afterward obcyed
! the Queen summons to her room, where he
I found her alone. After few minutes con-
versation on other subjects the Queen told
him why she had sent for him - we can
we'll understand, = writes General Grey, ''any
little hesitation and delicacv she may have
felt in doing SO, for the Queen position
making it imperative that any proposal OF
marriage should come first from her, must





who, deriving their ideas on this subject from
the practice of private live, wont 10 look
upon. as the privilege and happiness OF a wo-
man to have her hand sought in marriage
instead of having to offer it herself The
Queen herself saws that the Prince received
her offer : without any hesitation, and with
tne warmest demonstration of kindness and
affection The Queen told him to fetch
his brother Ernest, which he did.
The Queen announced what had taken
place in the following letter to the King Of
Belgium


WINDSOR CASTLE. Oct. Is, 1889.


Ny DEAREST UNCLE This letter Will. |
am sure, give you pleasure, for you have al
WAYS shown and taken warm an interest
in all that concerns me Nv mind Is quite
made up, and | told Albert this morning OF
it. The warm affection he showed me on
learning this gave me much pleasure lie
seems perfection, and | think that | have
the prospect Of very great happiness be
fore me | love him more than | can say,
and shall do everything in my power t. rem
der his sacrihcc-for such i'll my opinion 1t
is-as small as | can. He seems to have
great tact, very necessary thing in his po-
sition. These last few days have passed
like dream t. me. and | am 80 much be-
wildered by it all that hardly know how to
L
solutelv necessary that this determination Of
mine should be made known t. no one bat
Yourself and Uncle Ernest until after the
meeting Of parliament, as it would be CON
sidcrcd otherwise. neglccttul on my part
not to have assembled parliament at once 10
inform them Of it.


Lord Melbourne. whom ! have of course
consulted about the whole affair quite ap-
proves my choice, and expresses great salts
faction at this event, which he thinks IN
every way highly desirable.


Lord Melbourne hrs acted in this business
a. he has always done toward me with the
greatest kindness and affection. We also
think it better, and Albert quite approves of
it, that we should be married very soon after
parliament meets, about the beginning OF
February


PRAY. dear uncle. forward these two letters
t. Uncle Ernest, t. whom | beg You viii
cnioin secrecy, and explain these details,
which have not time l. do. and t. faithful
Stockmar. | think You might tell Louise of
it, but none of her family.


| wish to keep the dear young gentlemen
here till the end of the next month. Er-
nest 5 sincere pleasure gives me great delight.
He does SO adore dearest Albert.


Ever, dearest uncle, your devoted niece.


Y. r..


The King replied that the Queens choice
had been for the last wears ' his cOnyic-
ton Of what would he best fer her happi-
ness.


:. In Your position. which may and viii
perhaps become in future more difficult IN
political point of view. You could not exist
without having happy and agreeable in
terieur And am much deceived, which
| think | am not. or You will find in Albert
Just the very qualities and disposition which
are Indispensable for your happiness, and
which will suit Your own character, temper
and mode of lite.


You say most amiahlv that YOU consider
it Il sacrifice on the part of Albert. This Is
true in many points, because his position
will be a difficult one ; but much, may say
all, will depend on your affection for him
If YOU love him and are kind to him, he will
eagerly bear the bothcrs Of his position, and
there is a steadiness, and at the same time
cheerfulness in his character, which will
facilitate this


From Prince Alhert's own letters we learn
something more of this interesting inter
view In a letter to his grandmother he
writes


- The Queen sent for me alone in her
room a few days ago, and declared to me in a
general outburst of love and affection Ger
gusse Won Herzlichkeit und Liebe) that | had
gained her whole heart. and would make her





make her the sacrifice of sharing her life
with her. for she said she looked upon it as
a sacrifice the only thing which troubled
her was that she did not think she was wor-
thy of The joyous openncss OF manner
in which she told me this quite enchanted me.
and | was quite carried away by it. She is
really most good and amiable, and am quite
sure Heaven has not given me into evil
hands, and shat we shall be happy together.
Since that moment Victoria does ha fever
she fancies | should wish or like, and we
talk together a great deal about our future
life. which she promises to make as happy
as possible.


In another letter to a college friend be
, says


:. You know how matters stood when |
. last saw YOU here. After that the sky was
darkened more The Queen declared to my
uncle at Belgium that she wished the affair
to be considered as broken off, and that for
: four wears she could think of no marriage.
, went, therefore, with the quiet but firm
resolution to declare on my part that |. also,
tired of the delay, withdrew entirely from
the affair. 1t not, however, thus or
. dained by Providence for, on the second
day after our arrival, the most friendly dem
onstrations were directed toward me, and
two DAYS later | was secretly called to pri-
vate audience in which the Queen offered
, me her hand and heart. The strictest sccre-
! cy was required Ernest alone knew of it,
and it was only at our departure that |
. could communicate my engagement to my
mother


t Many interesting passages from the
Queens Journal are then G iven relating to
the announcement of the marriage to the
, privv council and the parliament, and the
! preliminary arrangements. After the Prince
returned to Germany the Queen corresponded