Chapter I: Part 1

ALICE

GRAND DUCHESS OF HESSE

PRINCESS

OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH AND LETTERS

_WITH PORTRAIT_

NEW YORK & LONDON

G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS

The Knickerbocker Press

1885

_Press of
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
New York_

Dedicated

TO

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

THE HEREDITARY GRAND DUKE

AND TO

THEIR GRAND DUCAL HIGHNESSES

THE PRINCESSES

VICTORIA, ELIZABETH, IRÈNE, ALIX

OF HESSE AND BY RHINE

CONTENTS.

PREFACE. BY HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS CHRISTIAN vii

CHILDHOOD AND GIRLHOOD, 1843-62 11

IN HER NEW HOME, 1862-65.

1862 31
1863 49
1864 71
1865 88

AT HOME AND AT WORK, 1866-72.

1866 123
1867 168
1868 199
1869 216
1870 235
1871 266
1872 284

TRIALS, 1873-1877.

1873 300
1874 321
1875 339
1876 348
1877 356

THE END, 1878 368

CONCLUDING REMARKS 383

APPENDIX.

A WATCHER BY THE DEAD 391

A SKETCH IN MEMORIAM, DECEMBER 14, 1878. BY
SIR THEODORE MARTIN, K.C.B. 398

LINES IN MEMORIAM 406

PREFACE.

The great affection with which my dear Sister has ever been regarded in this country, and the universal feeling of sympathy shown at the time of her death, lead me to hope that the publication of this volume may not be unwelcome, containing as it does extracts from her letters to my Mother, together with a brief record of her married life.

The short Memoir here translated from the German, with which the letters are interwoven, was written, as will be seen at a glance, not as presenting any thing like a complete picture of my Sister’s character and opinions, but merely as a narrative of such of the incidents of her life as were necessary to illustrate and explain the letters themselves.

In these days, when the custom has become general of publishing biographies of all persons of note or distinction, it was thought advisable, in order that a true picture might be given of my Sister, that a short sketch of her life should be prepared by some one who was personally known to her, and who appreciated the many beautiful features of her character. The choice fell upon a clergyman at Darmstadt, Dr. Sell.

It would have been premature and out of place to attempt any thing like a complete picture of a character so many-sided, or of my Sister’s opinions on the affairs of Europe, in which she took the deepest interest, and on which she formed opinions remarkable for breadth and sagacity of view. The domestic side of her nature might alone for the present be freely dealt with; and to help Dr. Sell in delineating this, my Mother selected for his guidance the extracts from my Sister’s letters to her which appear in the present volume. There was no thought at first of making these extracts public, but they were found to be so beautiful, and to be so true an expression of what my Sister really was, that, in compliance with the request of the Grand Duke her husband, they were allowed to be translated and published, so that her subjects might see in them how great reason they had to love her whom they had lost.

The letters in their original form are here given to the English public, and I am sure that all who read them will feel thankful to my Mother for thus granting them a closer insight into my clear Sister’s beautiful and unselfish life.

They will see in them also, with satisfaction, how devoted she was to the land of her birth,--how her heart ever turned to it with reverence and affection as the country which had done and was doing for Liberty and the advancement of mankind more than any other country in the world. How deep was her feeling in this respect was testified by a request, which she made to her husband in anticipation of her death, that an English flag might be laid upon her coffin; accompanying the wish with a modest expression of a hope, that no one in the land of her adoption could take umbrage at her desire to be borne to her rest with the old English colors above her.

In any case I feel confident that the perusal of these letters must deepen the love and admiration which have always been felt for my beloved Sister in this country, where she ever thanked God that her childhood and youth had been tended with a wise love, that had fostered and developed all those qualities and tastes which she most valued and strove to cultivate in her later years.

* * * * *

I had written these words, when another beloved member of our family, whose name often recurs in my Sister’s letters, was suddenly taken from us, and from our country. Writing of my dear Brother to my Mother (February 1, 1868) she said: “May God spare that young bright and gifted life to be a comfort to you for many a year to come!” That life, which then hung trembling in the balance, was mercifully spared, not indeed for many a year, but long enough to make my Brother more beloved by his family and friends, and to enable him to give to his country some token of the good gifts with which he was endowed. As he was the last of us to see my dear Sister in life, so he has been the first to follow her into the Silent Land.

HELENA.

CUMBERLAND LODGE:

_15th April, 1884_.

PRINCESS ALICE.

CHILDHOOD AND GIRLHOOD.

1843-1862.

“I ever look back to my childhood and girlhood as the happiest time
of life.”--(_13th June, 1869._)

Princess Alice, as she is ever called in England, was born at Buckingham Palace on the 25th of April, 1843. She was the third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort. At her christening, which took place at the Palace on the 2d of June, she received the names of Alice Maud Mary. Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester, niece of King George III., and sister-in-law to the Duchess of Gloucester, was one of her godmothers, and her Royal parents chose the name of Maud, which is the same as Matilda, on account of its being an old English name borne by the Empress Maud, and other British princesses. The name of “Mary” was chosen because the little princess was born on the Duchess of Gloucester’s birthday.

The Archbishop of Canterbury officiated at the christening. The sponsors: the reigning King of Hanover, Ernest Augustus; the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester, sister-in-law to the Duchess of Gloucester, niece of George III.; and Feodora, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, half-sister to the Queen.

The christening was, as the Queen herself told her uncle, the King of the Belgians, when writing to him on the 6th of June, “a very imposing ceremony. Nothing could have gone off better, and little Alice behaved extremely well.”[1]

Though twenty-two years only have passed since the wholly unexpected death of Prince Albert deprived the Queen of her devoted husband, the Royal children of a most loving and beloved father, and the whole nation of one of its wisest counsellors, his life, in the admirable biographical memorial by Sir Theodore Martin, forms already part of history, and by it we are enabled to form a just estimate of the perfect character and great intellectual abilities of the Prince, whom his daughter, Princess Alice, revered through life as her highest ideal.

Prince Albert, the second son of the then reigning Duke of Coburg, was the very picture of manly chivalrous beauty. He was very young, not yet twenty-one years old, when he became the Consort of the Queen of England, who was only three months older. But by his strength of character and rare energy of intellect, combined with a thorough self-control and an unswerving devotion to the duties of his position, he succeeded in gaining the love and esteem of a nation which, though it keeps watch over its rights and privileges with peculiar jealousy, knows also how to show great generosity, when once it has learnt to trust and to love.

With his wonderful power of mastering new and difficult subjects he made himself familiar with the history and policy, the social and agricultural conditions, the industries and commercial relations of his adopted country. In his position of intimate confidential adviser to the Sovereign he showed the greatest tact, and gained the affection and respect of the Ministers who succeeded one another at the head of affairs; whilst the more he became known the more his genuine worth was appreciated by the nation at large.

Chief of all, two nations have acknowledged with grateful admiration, that under his influence there grew up in the midst of the most brilliant Court in Europe a domestic family life, so perfect in its purity and charm that it might well serve for a bright example to every home in the land. Whilst sharing with the Sovereign all the labors and cares of state, the Prince made suitable changes and practical arrangements in the Royal Household, and, by steadily adhering to principles which he had at once recognized as the best, he succeeded in making life happy and peaceful to all around him. Thus it was that the Royal Family of England, whether residing in the splendid palaces at Windsor, in London, or at Osborne, the lovely country seat in the Isle of Wight, or at Balmoral, surrounded by the sterner scenery of the Scotch Highlands, was enabled to enjoy a life of perfect tranquillity amidst the political tempests of the most turbulent decade of our times.

The childhood of the Princess Alice was a very happy one, and much favored by circumstances. When she was a year old, her father mentioned her as “the beauty of the family,” and as an extremely good and merry child. Her mother adds, “she was a very vain little person.”

She developed naturally. At first she was not thought to be so highly gifted as later years proved her to be. Her father often used to speak of her as “poor dear little Alice,” as if he had to take her part. She soon became a great favorite with all around her. Lady Lyttleton, who up to 1851 was entrusted with the supervision of the Royal children, and to whose pen we owe so many accounts of that happy family life, writes as follows on the little Princess’ fourth birthday:

“Dear Princess Alice is too pretty, in her low frock and pearl
necklace, tripping about and blushing and smiling at her honors.
The whole family, indeed, appear to advantage on birthdays; no
tradesman or country squire can keep one with such hearty simple
affection and enjoyment. _One_ present I think we shall all wish to
live farther off: a live lamb, all over pink ribbons and bells. He
is already the greatest pet, as one may suppose.

“Princess Alice’s pet lamb is the cause of many tears. He will not
take to his mistress, but runs away lustily, and will soon butt at
her, though she is most coaxy, and said to him in her sweetest
tones, after kissing his nose often, ‘Milly, _dear_ Milly! _do_ you
like me?’”

One of the main principles observed in the education of the Royal children was this--that though they received the best training, of body and mind, to fit them for the high position they would eventually have to fill, they should in nowise come in contact with the actual Court life. The children were scarcely known to the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, as they only now and then made their appearance for a moment after dinner at dessert, or accompanied their parents out driving. The care of them was exclusively entrusted to persons who possessed the Queen and Prince Consort’s entire confidence, and with whom they could at all times communicate direct. The Royal parents kept themselves thoroughly informed of the minutest detail of what was being done for their children in the way of training and instruction.

After the first years of childhood were past, the Royal children were placed under the care of English, French, and German governesses, who, again, were under a Lady Superintendent, and accompanied the children in their walks and watched over them during their games.

To the lessons in foreign languages, music and drawing were soon added, for which the young Princess showed a decided talent.[2] “Her copybooks were always neatness itself, and she wrote a very pretty hand.” “Fresh, blooming, and healthy, escaping most of the illnesses of childhood, cheerful, merry, full of fun and mischief,” she delighted in all bodily exercises, such as gymnastics, skating, etc. Above all, she was passionately fond of riding and of horses. She preferred playing with her brothers, and was bold and fearless as a boy. With all this, however, she soon showed proofs of real kindness of heart and of tender consideration for others. “I remember well,” a former dresser of the Queen’s relates, “meeting the Royal children playing in the corridor, and, as I passed on, the Prince of Wales making a joke about my great height, the Princess said to her brothers, but so that I should hear it: ‘It is very nice to be tall; Papa would like us all to be tall.’” “Her kindness of heart showed itself in all her actions when a child. Whenever she in the least suspected that anybody’s feelings had been hurt, she always tried to make things smooth again.” “At Christmastime she was most anxious to give pleasure to everybody, and bought presents for each with her own pocket-money. She once gave me a little pincushion, and on another occasion a basket, and wrote on a little card with a colored border (always in German for me) ‘For dear Frida [now Madame Müller], from Alice’ and brought it to me herself on Christmas Eve. I felt that she had thought how much I must have missed my home that day.”

The, first journeys on which she, with her elder sister and brother, was allowed to accompany her parents are vividly described in the Queen’s Journal. They were those to Ireland, in 1849, and, in 1850, to the Highlands; and to the beauty and grandeur of Highland scenery she remained through life an enthusiastic devotee.

Her intellectual faculties and the deeper qualities of her character did not, in her case, as, indeed, generally happens with high-spirited, healthy children, develop very early; but almost from the first she showed those qualities of disposition which win all hearts and lend a charm to daily life.

Little theatrical pieces performed by the Royal children on festive anniversaries in the family--partly, too, with a view of gaining facility in foreign languages--were the field in which the young Princess decidedly distinguished herself. No child ever performed the part of the High Priest Joad in Racine’s “Athalie,” with more dignity, and with a more pleasing intonation; and a more delightful German Red Ridinghood[3] than the Princess never appeared upon the stage.

Of one of these performances, given in honor of the Queen and Prince’s wedding-day in 1864, Baroness Bunsen gives the following description in her biography of Baron Bunsen. A tableau representing the Four Seasons had been studied and contrived by the Royal children. “First appeared Princess Alice as the Spring, scattering flowers, and reciting verses, which were taken from Thomson’s ‘Seasons’; she moved gracefully, and spoke in a distinct and pleasing manner with excellent modulation, and a tone of voice sweet and penetrating like that of the Queen.”[4]

It was during these years that Princess Alice formed her warm friendship for the Princess Louise of Prussia, now Grand Duchess of Baden, who records her first impressions of the young Princess in the following words:

“She was at that time most graceful in appearance--charming, merry,
and amiable; and though always occupying a subordinate place to her
very gifted and distinguished sister, there never was the least
semblance of a disagreement. Alice’s cheerful disposition and her
great power of observation showed themselves very early in the
pleasantest manner, and she had a remarkable gift of making herself
attractive to others. Her individuality was less decided and
prominent than that of her sister, and she had a special charm of
childhood grace. Our walks and drives together, the life in the
schoolroom, the games in the corridors, or in dear old Baron
Stockmar’s room--these and all the pleasure and enjoyment of being
together with the two sisters will ever remain amongst the happiest
and most lasting of my recollections.”

The opening of the First Great Exhibition in 1851--Prince Albert’s own creation--was the occasion of a visit of the Prince of Prussia (the present Emperor of Germany) and his family to the English Court. This visit was repeated in 1853. Meanwhile an active correspondence had sprung up between the young friends, in which Princess Alice took a most active part.

“Alice was now drawn more into the circle of the grown-up members
of the family; but, in spite of this, she retained all the
fascination of her charming graceful ways. A great vein of humor
showed itself in her, as well as a certain sharpness in criticising
people who were not congenial to her. Many a little conflict took
place in the schoolroom; but while the individualities of the
sisters became more and more distinct, their happy relations to one
another remained unchanged. She was a great favorite with her
brothers and sisters, though they knew she was fond of mischief.

“To a naturally engaging manner quite exceptional joyousness and
power of showing affectionate emotion imparted an especial charm,
which revealed itself in the fine lines of her face, in her
graceful movements, and a certain inborn nobleness and dignity. Her
attachment to my parents, ‘Uncle Prussia’ and ‘Aunt Prussia,’ was
truly touching.”

In 1855 Princess Alice had her first serious illness--scarlet fever--caught from her younger sister, Princess Louise. She recovered easily, but for some time afterward a certain delicacy was observable. The accounts at that time are unanimous in describing the peculiarly sweet development of her disposition, and the manifestation of a true womanly interest in the works of charity and mercy. The feeling of acting independently for the good of others had been aroused in many ways in the Royal children. The Swiss Cottage at Osborne, in like manner, with its museum, kitchen, store-room, and little gardens, was made the means of learning how to do household work, and to direct the management of a small establishment.

The parents were invited there as guests, to partake of the dishes which the Princesses themselves prepared; and there, too, each child was allowed to choose its own occupation, and to enjoy perfect liberty.

The life in the Highlands, free from the restraint of Court life, brought the Royal children into closer contact with the humbler classes, and called into play their sympathies for the poor.

They were permitted to visit the humblest cottages--nay, even encouraged to do so. There it was, no doubt, that a feeling of pity for and an ardent desire to help the poor, the sick, and the needy, were first aroused in the Princess. We know how these early impressions led in later life to her founding some of the noblest and most beneficent institutions.

The blessings of a happy family life,--which generally those only are allowed to enjoy who live in happy obscurity from the great world,--were fully appreciated by the Princess, as we may see from her later letters, abounding in gratitude to her parents and brothers and sisters, and from the frequent references which she makes to this period of her life.

The visits of the grandchildren to their beloved grandmother, the Duchess of Kent, old in years but young in spirit, at her residences at Frogmore (near Windsor), and Abergeldie (near Balmoral), had a peculiar charm for them.

The first excursion the Princess made out of her native land was to Cherbourg,[5] when, with her brothers and sisters, she accompanied her parents. The lovely scenery about Cherbourg has become familiar to us through the descriptions given by the Queen.

A great change in the life of the Princess took place through the engagement of the Princess Royal to Prince Frederick William of Prussia. Hitherto the Princess had in a great measure shared her sister’s studies and artistic occupations, and had had the same companions, taking quietly and naturally the second place. Now her sister’s departure for a new home wrought an entire change in her life, throwing upon her, as it did, new responsibilities as now the eldest daughter at home, and placing her in a new position in relation to her parents, and particularly to her father, whose constant care it was to imbue her with that sincerity and earnestness of purpose without which, to use his friend Baron Stockmar’s words, “it was impossible to fill one’s position in life happily, worthily, and with dignity.”

The closer intercourse with her father laid the foundation of that deep and intelligent love of plastic art and of music, for which she had already as a child shown a decided talent. Her appreciation of all that was best in the arts was fostered by the many treasures by which she was surrounded at Windsor Castle, and also by prosecuting her studies and practice in music along with the Prince Consort.

The many great and stirring events of those years, the disturbance of Europe through the Revolutions of 1848 and 1849, and the Crimean war, took place when the Princess was already old enough to feel their gravity; and served to awaken and foster the keen interest which she took in later years in all political occurrences.

Another great European conflict was approaching, just about the time of her Confirmation, which took place on the 21st of April, 1869. Besides having been prepared for it by the Dean of Windsor (the Hon. and Very Rev. G. Wellesley), the Prince Consort himself had given the Princess instructions, as he had previously done to the Princess Royal, from “A manual of Religion and of the History of the Christian Church,” by Carl Gottlieb Bretschneider (formerly, “General Superintendent” in Gotha). The Prince’s object in this was to encourage her in serious thought, and in independent reflections on religious questions.

The ceremony of the Confirmation, which was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, had barely been concluded, when the news arrived of the threatened invasion of Sardinia by Austria, which finally ended in the Austro-Italian war, so disastrous to Austria, of 1859.

The Queen makes the following remarks on this event, in a letter to her uncle, the King of the Belgians:

“* * * But this did not in the least disturb our dear child’s
equanimity. She was in a most devotional state of mind--quiet,
gentle, self-possessed, and deeply impressed by the importance and
solemnity of the event. She answered admirably at her examination,
and went through the ceremony in a very perfect manner.”[6]

Not long before this the Queen had given her own opinion of her daughter in the following words:

“She is very good, gentle, sensible, and amiable, and a real
comfort to me. I shall not let her marry as long as I can
reasonably delay her doing so.”[7]

In June 1860 the Queen and Prince Consort received numerous guests at Windsor Castle for the Ascot races, amongst others the King of the Belgians and the two Princes, Louis and Henry of Hesse, the sons of Prince Charles of Hesse and nephews of the reigning Grand Duke. After they had left England, the Prince Consort mentioned to his valued friend Baron Stockmar, that there was no doubt that Prince Louis and Princess Alice had formed a mutual liking, and that he quite expected it would lead to further advances from the young Prince’s family.

Judging by the favorable impression which the manly and attractive Prince of twenty-three had made, the probable result was eagerly looked for.

Before long a letter from Princess Frederick William from Berlin announced that she had been in communication with Prince Louis’ mother, Princess Charles of Hesse (cousin of the Prince Regent of Prussia), who had informed her of her son’s great admiration for her sister. It was arranged that, after the journey of the Queen and Prince Consort to Germany that autumn, the young Prince should pay a second visit to England; and leave of absence for him was to be obtained from the Prince Regent of Prussia.[8] This was done, and he arrived at Windsor Castle in November. On the 30th of November the Queen wrote as follows in her Diary:

“* * * After dinner, whilst talking to the gentlemen, I perceived
Alice and Louis talking before the fireplace more earnestly than
usual, and when I passed to go to the other room, both came up to
me, and Alice in much agitation said he had proposed to her, and he
begged for my blessing. I could only squeeze his hand and say
‘Certainly.’ and that we would see him in our room later. Got
through the evening working as well as we could. Alice came to our
room * * * agitated, but quiet. * * * Albert sent for Louis to his
room; he went first to him and then called Alice and me in. * * *
Louis has a warm, noble heart. We embraced our dear Alice, and
praised her much to him. He pressed and kissed my hand, and I
embraced him. After talking a little, we parted; a most touching,
and to me most sacred, moment.”[9]

As this was entirely a marriage of affection, the happiness of the “young people” was very great.

Prince Louis stayed over Christmas, which this year seemed brighter to the whole family, from the accession of what her father termed “a beloved newly-bestowed full-grown son.” “Our dear Bridegroom,” as the Prince Consort calls the young Prince, left on the 28th of December. The parting was tearful, but full of hope, as he was to return in the spring.

During the first happy weeks after her engagement, Princess Alice had spent the greater part of her evenings with her beloved grandmother, the Duchess of Kent, either reading or playing on the piano to her, as the Duchess’ health did not allow of her dining at Windsor Castle.

The Duchess’ condition had become worse during the first months of the new year (1861), and she died on the 16th of March at the age of seventy-four, in the presence of her beloved and loving daughter, whose happiness and affection had been the joy of her life, and also of her equally beloved son-in-law, and the Princess Alice. On this sad occasion, which she felt most deeply, Princess Alice showed the comfort and help she was fitted to be to her family in times of sorrow and anxiety.

The Queen communicated to Parliament in a “Message” the contemplated marriage of the Princess. The announcement was received with general satisfaction. When, shortly afterward, the question of the Princess’ “settlement” was laid before the House of Commons, the dowry of 30,000_l._, with an annuity of 6,000_l._, was voted without a dissentient voice. “She will not,” writes her careful father, “be able to do great things with it.”

In May, Prince Louis arrived at Osborne on a visit. Soon after, however, he fell ill with the measles. Prince Leopold caught them from him, and was very seriously ill.

In the following month the whole family were for the last time together, including the two sons-in-law[10] and the two grandchildren from Potsdam.

Prince Louis paid another visit to England in September, when he took part in those delightful expeditions in the Highlands, which were to be the last the Prince Consort made.[11]

In December, in the midst of preparations which he was making for Princess Alice’s future household, and for a journey of her brother, Prince Leopold, to Cannes, the Prince Consort fell ill. Princess Alice was often with her father during his illness, reading to him, and in intimate communication with her mother. Soon, however, the illness developed into low fever, and the Prince, worn out by over-work and anxiety, had not strength to resist it, and died peacefully on the 14th of December, in the presence of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Princesses Alice and Hélèna. During the days of unspeakable sorrow which followed upon the death of the Prince Consort, it was Princess Alice above all who was a real support to her broken-hearted mother. The unanimous opinion of eye-witnesses as to what the Princess went through and achieved at this time is truly astonishing.

“Herself filled with the intensest sorrow at her beloved father’s
death--and what a father! what a head of a family! what a friend
and adviser to his wife and children!--she at once took into her
own hands every thing that was necessary in those first dark days
of the destruction of that happy home. All communications from the
Ministers and household passed through the Princess’ hands to the
Queen, then bowed down by grief. She endeavored in every way
possible, either verbally or by writing, to save her mother all
trouble. The decision to leave Windsor for Osborne directly after
the Prince’s death, according to the urgent wish of the King of the
Belgians, and which it was so difficult and painful for the Queen
to make, was obtained by the Princess’ influence.”

The gay, bright girl seemed all at once to have changed into the thoughtful woman.

“It was the very intimate intercourse with the sorrowing Oueen at
that time which called forth in Princess Alice that keen interest
and understanding in politics for which she was afterward so
distinguished. She also gained at this time that practical
knowledge for organizing, and the desire for constant occupation,
which in her public as well as in her private life became part of
herself. The Princess suddenly developed into a wise far-seeing
woman, living only for others, and beloved and respected by the
highest as well as by the lowest.[12]

It was at this time that the _Times_ said of the Princess:

“It is impossible to speak too highly of the strength of mind and
self-sacrifice of the Princess Alice during these dreadful days.
Her Royal Highness has certainly understood, that it was her duty
to be the help and support of her mother in her great sorrow, and
it was in a great measure due to her that the Queen has been able
to bear with such wonderful resignation the irreparable loss that
so suddenly and terribly befell her.”

The young “bridegroom” did not remain absent in those days, but arrived without delay.

A touching trait is told by the same near relation of the Princess whose memorandum has just been quoted. As she was placing wreaths and flowers on the dear dead Prince, and both knelt down near him, she said in a heart-rending voice, “Oh! dear Molly, let us pray to God to give us back dear Papa!”

The letters published in this volume will show that the feeling of that irreparable loss never left her through life, and our impression cannot be a false one, that it was this loss which brought out the deep earnestness of her character, and which made her feel that life was no light thing, but a time of probation to be spent in earnest work and conscientious fulfilment of duty.

She felt it to be a sacred duty to foster the recollections of her girlhood, and to carry out the principles with which her father had embued her, whether in the cultivation of art and science, the encouragement of art manufactures, of agriculture and general education, in the tasteful and practical arrangement of her own house, in bettering the conditions of the lower and working classes by improving their homes and inculcating principles of health, economy, and domestic management. In short, in every way open to her, did the Princess try to walk in her father’s footsteps, and so to do honor to his memory.

It is but natural that during the first weeks of her first great sorrow, and of her many new duties, the thought of her own future should have been put into the background. The preparations for her marriage, however, as well as for her household were continued, according to the known intentions of the Prince Consort. The marriage was solemnized at Osborne on the 1st of July at one o’clock. The Archbishop of York performed the ceremony in the absence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was prevented by illness from being present.

Besides her sorrowing mother, the Crown Prince of Prussia, all her brothers and sisters, the parents and brothers and sisters of the bridegroom, and a number of princely relations were present. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, in the place of her father, led the bride to the altar, whilst the bridegroom was accompanied by his brother, Prince Henry. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Queen withdrew to her room. The guests left the Isle of Wight in the afternoon, whilst the newly-married pair went with a small suit to St. Clare, near Ryde (belonging to Colonel and Lady Catherine Harcourt), where they remained three days.

On the 9th of July, Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse left England, accompanied by the fervent prayers and good wishes of a devoted people, who never forgot what their Princess had been to them in their hour of trouble.

What they felt found apt expression in the following sonnet, which appeared in _Punch_ at the time:

Dear to us all by those calm and earnest eyes,
And early thought upon that fair young brow;
Dearer for that where grief was heaviest, thou
Wert sunshine, till He passed where suns shall rise
And set no more; thou, in affection wise
And strong, wert strength to Her who even but now
In the soft accents of thy bridal vow
Heard music of her own heart’s memories.

Too full of love to own a thought of pride
Is now thy gentle bosom; so ’tis best:
Yet noble is thy choice, O English bride!
And England hails the bridegroom and the guest
A friend--a friend well loved by him who died.
He blessed your troth: your wedlock shall be blessed.

IN HER NEW HOME.

1862-1865.

“Our life is a very, very happy one. I have nothing on earth to
wish for.... To be able to make a bright and comfortable home for
my dear husband is my constant aim.”--(_14th Feb.-1st March,
1864._)

1862.

Meanwhile sorrow had fallen on the Grand Ducal family of Hesse also. Some weeks before the Princess’ marriage (May 25), the Grand Duchess of Hesse (Princess of Bavaria) had died--a woman beloved for her amiable and generous qualities, deeply regretted by her husband, the Grand Duke Louis III., and mourned by all who knew her, high as well as low. Nevertheless, preparations had been made to give a brilliant reception to the newly-married pair. The whole country looked forward with anxiety to the arrival of the young Princess, of whom so much had been heard, and who, though English, was known to have a thoroughly sympathetic feeling for Germany.

The Prince and Princess made a short stay at Brussels, and arrived at Bingen, on the Hessian frontier, on the 12th of July.

A special train took them on to Mayence, where the first official reception took place. The Rhine was crossed in a gaily-decorated steamer, and at the last station before Darmstadt the Grand Duke and all the family received the Prince and Princess and accompanied them to Darmstadt.

At half-past four in the afternoon the young married couple made their state entry into the town, through streets decorated with triumphal arches, flags, and flowers, amidst the peals of bells and the enthusiastic cheers of the assembled crowds, receiving and acknowledging the many marks of respect and affection with which they were greeted.

A mounted guard of honor headed the procession. The schools, the different guilds, the choral societies, the Turnvereine (gymnastic societies), and thousands of town and country folk lined the streets through which the Prince and Princess passed.

The impression produced on every one by the young Princess’ grace and sweet maidenly beauty, and bright winning, yet truly dignified, manner, was very great, and inspired the fairest hopes of what she would prove in her new home. What her own first impressions of that home were are given in the letters which follow.

The circumstances of her new life were certainly very different from those to which she had been accustomed as an English Princess. What she may have felt more keenly, as time went on, in the small but often-recurring differences between English and German life, did not oppress her at first. She had determined to make herself at home in her husband’s country, and she soon contrived to stamp on every room in her house the impress of her fine taste. That house was of the most unpretending character, situated in a quiet quarter of the town, near the palace of Prince and Princess Charles of Hesse. They had few servants besides those who came with them from England.

A short visit to her uncle at Coburg, a lengthened stay at Auerbach,--where the Prince and Princess had a small country house lent them by the Grand Duke,--and excursions to Heidelberg and Carlsruhe, occupied the Summer months. In September they went to Rheinhardtsbrunn in Thuringia to meet the Queen, and it was then settled that they should spend the winter and spring in England with Her Majesty. The house the Prince and Princess were living in at Darmstadt was so small, that plans had at once to be made for a new palace of their own.

On the 10th of November they left Darmstadt, travelling by Coblenz and Cologne to Antwerp. Here the Queen’s yacht, “Victoria and Albert”, awaited them, and brought them to England, where they met with a most hearty reception from all classes.

ROYAL YACHT, July 9th.

BELOVED MAMA:--Before leaving the yacht I must send you a few lines
to wish you once more good-bye, and to thank you again and again
for all your kindness to us.

My heart was very full when I took leave of you and all the dear
ones at home; I had not the courage to say a word,--but your loving
heart understands what I felt.

DARMSTADT, July 13th.

Yesterday, after we reached Bingen, all the Hessian officers of
state received us. At every station we received fresh people, and
had to speak to them. At Mayence also, the beautiful Austrian band
played whilst we waited, in pouring rain, which only ceased as we
reached Darmstadt. The station before, the Grand Duke, Prince and
Princess Charles with their children, Prince Alexander and his
wife, received us--all most kind and cordial.

At the station we were again received; the whole town so prettily
decked out; the Bürger [Burgesses Escort] rode near our carriage;
countless young ladies in white, and all so kind, so loyal; in all
the speeches kind and touching allusions were made to you, and to
our deep grief. I believe the people never gave so hearty a
welcome. We two drove through the town; incessant cheering and
showering of flowers. We got out at Prince and Princess Charles’
house, where the whole family was assembled.

We then went to our rooms, which are very small, but so prettily
arranged, with such perfect taste, all by my own dear Louis; they
look quite English.

We then drove to Bessungen for dinner _en famille_. * * *

We were listening to twelve Sängervereine [Choral Unions] singing
together yesterday evening--two hundred people; it was most
beautiful, but in pouring rain. Some came up-stairs dripping to
speak to us. The Grand Duke gave me a fine diamond bracelet he and
his wife had ordered for me, and showed me all over his rooms.

To-morrow we receive the Ständesherren [Princes and Counts] and the
gentlemen of both Houses.

_My_ thoughts, rather _our_ thoughts, are constantly with you,
beloved Mama. Please give my love to all at home; it is impossible
to write to them all.

July 16th.

* * * It is extremely hot here. The last two days we rode out at
eight in the morning in the wood, where the air is very pleasant,
near the ground where the troops are drilled. On Monday we looked
on, and the soldiers were so much flattered.

At half-past one on Monday we received the gentlemen of the Upper
House, then the Lower House, then the Flügeladjutanten
[aides-de-camp], then the Stadtvorstand [Town Council], then about
seventy officers, then a deputation of the English here. All these
people I had to speak to _en grande toilette_, and at four we drove
to a large dinner at the Schloss. The Grand Duke led me, and I
always sit near him.

Yesterday at three the whole family drove to Seeheim, a lovely
place in the mountains, to dinner with the Grand Duke. In the two
villages we passed, flowers were showered upon us, and the Pfarrer
[clergyman] made a speech.

I am really deeply touched by the kindness and enthusiasm shown by
the people, which is said to be quite unusual. They wait near the
house to see us, and cheer constantly--even the soldiers.

We then drove for tea, which is always at eight, to Jugenheim to
Prince Alexander, whose birthday it was, and did not get home till
10.

The whole family are very amiable toward me, and Prince Alexander
is most clever and amusing.

Darling Louis is very grateful for your kind messages. We talk and
think of you often, and then my heart grows very heavy. Away from
home I cannot believe that beloved Papa is not there; all is so
associated with him.

July 19th.

BELOVED MAMA:--Many thanks for your last kind letter, and all the
news from home; dear Baby [Princess Beatrice] is the only one you
have mentioned nothing of, and I think of her so often.

Some people are coming to us at one, and then the whole Ministerium
[Administration]. It is really so difficult to find something to
say to these people, and they stand there waiting to be spoken to.

Yesterday we received a deputation from Giessen, with a very pretty
dressing-case they brought us as a present.

On Thursday we went incognito with Prince Alexander and his wife to
Frankfort. The town is decked out most beautifully, and countless
Schützen [riflemen] are walking about in their dress. We dined at
the Palais and then sat in the balcony.

I have just taken leave of dear Lady Churchill and General
Seymour.[13] They have made themselves most popular here, and the
people have been very civil to them.

Louis and I have begun reading “Westward Ho,” together.

The Grand Duke went all the way to Kranichstein for me the other
day, and walked about till he was quite hot. He has forbidden my
visiting the other places until his return, as he wishes to lead me
about there himself. I do not see very much of the other relations
save at meals; and, having our own carriages, we two drive together
mostly alone. We have tea usually out of doors in some pretty spot
we drive to.

These lines will find you in Windsor. I went out this morning and
tried to find some of those pretty wreaths to send you, but could
get none. Please put one in St. George’s[14] from me. It is the
first time you go to that hallowed spot without me; but in thought
and prayer I am with you. May God strengthen and soothe you,
beloved Mama, and may you still live to find some ray of sunshine
on your solitary path, caused by the love and virtue of his
children, trying, however faintly, to follow his glorious example!

I do strive earnestly and cheerfully to do my duty in my new life,
and to do all that is right, which is but doing what dear Papa
would have wished.

July 20th.

Thousand thanks for your dear long letter of the 18th just
received. How well do I understand your feelings! I was so sad
myself yesterday, and had such intense longing after a look, a word
from beloved Papa! I could bear it no longer. Yet _how_ much worse
is it not for you! You know, though, dear Mama, _he_ is watching
over you, waiting for you. The thought of the future is the one
sustaining, encouraging point for all. “They who sow in tears shall
reap in joy”; and the great joy will be yours hereafter, dear Mama,
if you continue following that bright example. * * *

We usually get up about quarter or half-past seven, and take some
coffee at eight. Then we either go out till ten or remain at home,
and till twelve I write and arrange what I have to do.

At one, when we return from breakfast, we usually read together. I
have still a great many people to see, and they usually come at
two.

At four is dinner, and at half-past five we are usually back here,
and occupy ourselves till six or seven, then drive out somewhere
for tea at eight, walk about and return at a quarter or half-past
ten. We do not waste our time, I assure you, and Louis has a good
deal to do at this moment.

Mr. Theed’s bust of dear Papa must be very lovely. I am curious to
hear what you think of Marochetti’s.[15] It will be very sad for
you to see.

A fortnight already I am here, and away from my dear home three
weeks! How much I shall have to tell you when we meet. My own dear
Mama, I do love you so much! You know, though silent, my love and
devotion to you is deep and true. If I could relinquish part of my
present happiness to restore to you some of yours, with a full
heart would I do it; but God’s will be done! God sustain my
precious mother! is the hourly prayer of her loving and
sympathizing child.

July 24th.

* * * You tell me to speak to you of _my_ happiness--our happiness.
You will understand the feeling which made me silent towards you,
my own clear bereaved Mother, on that point; but you are unselfish
and loving and can enter into my happiness, though I could never
have been the first to tell you how intense it is, when it must
draw the painful contrast between your past and present existence.
If I say I love my dear husband, that is scarcely enough--it is a
love and esteem which increases daily, hourly; which he also shows
to me by such consideration, such tender loving ways. What was life
before to what it has become now? There is such blessed peace
being at his side, being his wife; there is such a feeling of
security; and we two have a world of our own when we are together,
which _nothing_ can touch or intrude upon. My lot is indeed a
blessed one; and yet what have I done to deserve that warm, ardent
love, which my darling Louis ever shows me? I admire his good and
noble heart more than I can say. How he loves me, you know, and he
will be a good son to you. He reads to me every day out of
“Westward Ho,” which I think very beautiful and interesting.

This morning I breakfasted alone, as he went out with his regiment.
I always feel quite impatient until I hear his step coming
up-stairs, and see his dear face when he returns.

Yesterday, and the previous night, I thought of you constantly, and
of our last journey together to dear Balmoral. Sad, painful though
it was, I liked so much being with you, trying to bear some of your
load of sorrow with you. From here I share all as if I were really
by your side; and I think so many fervent prayers cannot be offered
to a merciful loving God without His sending alleviation and
comfort.

Please remember me to Grant, Brown, and all of them at home in dear
Scotland, and tell them how much I wish, and Louis also, that we
were there, changed though every thing is.

July 25th.

* * * People say we may still have the Palais, but I doubt it. I am
going to tell the Grand Duke that we return to England in autumn
(not only for your sake, but principally because I do not wish to
incommode our parents any longer, and because in the winter we
could not even receive people here).

The only thing I shall regret in our not remaining here is, that
the people feel it so much, and they are most kind; but they will
see and understand that it cannot be otherwise, and that it does
not arise from ill will on our part.

* * * Cecile and Michael[16] were here yesterday, so kind and so
full of real sympathy toward you, which they begged me to express
to you. He has such warm feelings; and they admired and loved dear
Papa, though they saw him but little.

DARMSTADT, August 1st.

* * * My heart feels ready to burst when I think of such sorrow as
yours. I pray my adored Louis may long be spared to me. If you only
knew how dear, how loving he is to me, and how he watches over me,
dear darling!

To-morrow we go to Coburg, which was an old promise. Dear Uncle
sent only two days ago to say he left Coburg on the 5th, and would
we not come before? You will understand that, happy beyond measure
as I am to go there, a lump always comes into my throat when I
think of it--going for the first time with Louis to dear Papa’s
house, where but recently he showed us every thing himself.[17]
Dear Mama, I think I can scarcely bear it--the thought seems so
hard and cruel. He told us as children so much of Coburg, spoke to
us of it with such childlike affection, enjoyed so much telling us
every anecdote connected with each spot; and now these silent spots
seem to plead for his absence.

To see the old Baron [Stockmar] will be a great happiness, and
that Louis should make his acquaintance.

CALENBERG BEI COBURG, August 4th.

Once more in dear Coburg, and you can fancy with what feelings.
Every thing reminds me of beloved Papa and of our last happy visit.

We are living here, and yesterday we spent all the afternoon and
dined at the Rosenau. It was a lovely day, and the view so
beautiful. We went all over the house and walked about in the
grounds. We walked to dear Papa’s little garden, and I picked two
flowers there for you, which I enclose.

Every spot brought up the remembrance of something dear Papa had
told us of his childhood; it made me so sad, I can’t tell you.
Uncle Ernest was also sad, but so kind and affectionate, and they
both seemed so pleased at our having come.

Every thing about dear Papa’s illness, and then of the sad end, I
had to tell. I lived the whole dreadful time over again, and
wonder, whilst I speak of it, that we ever lived through it.

At nine o’clock church service was in the pretty little chapel.
Holzei read, and Superintendent Meyer preached a most beautiful
sermon, the text being where our Saviour told his disciples they
must become as a little child to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
He spoke with his usual fervor, and it was most impressive. I saw
him afterward, and he enquired very much after you.

We are going after breakfast to the Festung, and then Louis and I
are going to see the dear Baron [Stockmar].

DARMSTADT, August 6th.

DEAR BELOVED MAMA:--Can you give me no ray of hope that you in some
way, bodily or mentally, feel better? It makes my heart ache
bitterly, to hear those sad accounts you give of yourself, though I
well know what for you life without _him_ must be! God comfort you!
is my constant prayer.

We saw the dear old Baron for some time. The meeting was sad on
both sides; he was very kind, but so desponding as to every thing!
In England and abroad he looks at every thing in a black light, and
was full of complaints about himself. He asked much after you, and
is anxious to see you again.

August 9th.

Next Monday we are going to Auerbach, to live there for a little
time. It lies in the Bergstrasse, and is very healthy. The Grand
Duke allows us to inhabit one of the houses.

August 16th.

How I long to read what Mr. Helps has written about Papa! What can
it be but beautiful and elevating, if he has rightly entered into
the spirit of that pure and noble being?[18]