Year: 1871

JVHN BaUWN, THE SCoTCH GlLLlE.


thra LONDON, Sept 10, 1871.


The Ill health and ong.contnued seclusIon OF
Queen Victoria are two questions which are now
asitaung tho MINDS OF the English people in no
small degree Untl quite recently the majority Of
her subjects OF opinion that her sickness, al
though frequently reported IN the Court journals,
Was but u somewhat clumsily contrlvel excuse for
that aversion to pubic life which she has exhibited
since the death Of Prince Albert, lew years ago.
There is little doubt That the Queen was frequently
said to be sick wnen physically she was in robust
health, and those who laaillar with the heredi
tary obsIlnacy of the Guelph family found small
difficulty in believing that her Ministers, unable to
overcome her rcpugnancc to appearing in public,
mad again endeavoied to excite feeling Of personal
loyalty by appealing 10 the sympahes OF the nation.


When, by blow as uncXL Lected as 1t was terrible,
the Queen was widowed the whole nation m0urned
with her, AMI IN the early days OF her sorrow the
press and The pulpit pointed to her as o bright
example Of what conjugal love snould be. Before
many months were over, however, trade began TO
suffer. The large dry goods houses especially
became sensible that their annual profits were
greatly diminished by the cessation OF Court fcstv
ties, and murmur arose that the duty Of q vile
was one thing aua the duty Of q queen another. In
course OF time the newspapers hestatingy
acknowledged that the Queens privacy was the
cause OF grave dlscontent, and having once broken
she ice, gradually grew boder aud openly declared
that monarch was guilty Of


GEOss NEGLECT OF DUTY


who allowed private domestic troubles to inter-
iere with the interests Of the public. Still
the Queen remained Obdurate, and with
provoking persistency continued to spend her
ume between Balmoral and osborne, leaving Buck.
.lo
footmen anu maid servants on board wages. The
Clamor at length was too serious to permit Of fur
ther prevarication, and the Prince or Wales was
deputed TO hold levees and drawing rooms In his
mothers namc 1t was especially provided that all
present ations made to His Royal Highness should
be tantamount to an Introduction 10 Her Majesty;
and 1t was fondy hoped that this concession to the
public demand would calm the troubled waters. ut
all events, for q time.


UNrOPULARITY OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.


The idea was good one; but, as has been the
case with many other good Ideas, proved to be
grounded on false premises The Prince OF Wales
was too well known. He could he in all places
ut all times. The greater part Of that class by
whom presentation at Court Is consid.
cred an honor, an event to be marked
with white chalk In life's calendar, had
talked with the Prince, eaten and drank with him,
met HIM In public ana private ana listened to
limited scandal concerning those doings OF his, OF
which they were not personally cognzant. No man
Is q hero to his pdtet DE- chamtre. Why should any
one dress in court suit, hamper his legs with
long sword. pay heavy price for carriage hire and
expose himself to all the discomforts OF a crowded
room and an absurd etiquette for tile sake OF Kissing
the hand OF man VINO was, ana Is to tins day, ready
AMI willing to be the boon companion OF alS This
Is fancy sketch, the ubiquitous readers Of the
HERALD Know well, and the truth OF the statement
Is clearly shown In the result The Princes levees
were poorly attended, and the public discomfort
has waxed stronger and stronger until to day there
are symptoms OF positive rebellion, and men openly
discuss the chances OF the mere existence OF royalty
In England.


WHY VICTORIA DOES NOT APPEAn IN PUBLIC.


Then why does not Victoria comply with the
wishes plainly expressedi She cannot. Her
Ministers, II runors In the highest circles and
among those who have every opportunity OF know
Ing the truth to be believed dare not allow her
10 appear, except at-rare intervals. Few persons.
even among the upper classes In England, know
that curing the last few years OF the life OF Prince
Albert the Queen exhibited symptoms Of that men,
tai alteration with which so many members Of her
family have been afflicted. At the time OF his death
he was and for some time had been, practically
King of England, and in the transaction Of public
business the Queen relied implicitly on him for d.
rectlon and advice. 1t IL almost impossible to
over.esiimate the influence which he established
over her by sheer strength OF character.
Her intense veneration for him Us husband
only served TO increase her faith In him as man.
and It is easy to conceive how imperceptibly she
allowed him to assume the exercise OF her peculiar
functions, as they became too arduous for her men,
tai capacity. Prince Albert, on the other hand,
though fully understanding the relative position
winch ne and his wife occupied towards each other,
never gave her reason to suppose that the authority
was virtually vested In himself, and it was not
unti Victoria was alone tnat she felt how unable
she was 70 bear tae weight OF responsibility imposed
upon her. In the --


FIRST MONTHS OF HER wIDowHooD


reason was almost entirely suspended. She did as
sne was told, mechanically. She could not even
rcazc that her husband was dead, but would fire..
quentiy hold conversation with him. as II he was
present the flesh. Whenever she rallied from this
state and was able to comprehend her position, her
anguish was 80 intense that she was equally inca
pacitaied from taking part In public matters Her
physicians cherished hope that time, the great
healer, would close these wounds, and that when
the nrst bitterness OF grief was over her mind
would recover It's equilibrium. These hopes have,
IL Is feared been long disspated and the Queen Is
to-day


CONFIRMED HYPocH0NDRIAc.


few facts concerning her uaiiy HE, which nave
been gathered from the best possible sources Of
Information will doubtless prove interesting to the
readers OF the HERALD.


DOMESTIC ECONOMY.


The Queen to-day Is, as she has ever been, an
eager student aud practiser OF domestic economy.
II Is notorious that the royal servants receive far
smaller wages than those In the employ OF the
nobility. Their duties, too, which are numerous
ard exactIng, must pc performed with the greatest
nicely. The queen enjoys the reputation Of being
an excellent housewife and personally superntends
all the details OF the domestic arrangements. Her
housekcepcrs receive orders from her own lips, and
arc held strictly responsible If her instructions are
not carried out to the letter. This trait in her char
actcr Is attributable only to the preccp's OF her
mother the latc Duchess OF Kent but totnc example
OF ner husband. Prince Albert was, perhaps as far
as his own servants were concerned, the most un-