Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE PUBLIC LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

by

JOHN MCGILCHRIST.

Felt and Dillingham, 455, Broome Street, New York.

CONTENTS.
PAGE

CHAPTER I.

ANCESTRY.

Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, the Protector of
Luther--Staunch Protestantism of the Queen's Saxon
Forefathers--House of Saxe-Coburg--A Saxon Desperado of the
Middle Ages--A Fighting Hero of the Eighteenth Century--The
Queen's Grandmother a Woman of Extraordinary Excellence--
Great Alliances in the Marriages of her Uncles and Aunts 1

CHAPTER II.

THE GREATEST OF THE MODERN COBURGS.

Romantic Career of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, the Queen's
Uncle--His Continuous, Kind, and Fatherly Care of his
Orphaned Niece--The Duchy of Coburg held by Napoleon--
Sufferings of the Ducal Family--A Temptation resisted--The
Tide turned--Leopold's Popularity in England--Betrothal and
Marriage to the Princess Charlotte of Wales 8

CHAPTER III.

PARENTAGE AND BIRTH OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

How the Princess Victoria came to be Heiress Presumptive to
the Throne--Death of the Princess Charlotte--Marriages of the
Royal Dukes--Of the Duke of Kent--Birth of the Princess
Alexandrina Victoria--Prediction of George IV.--Death of the
Duke of Kent--His Character--His Liberal Opinions--Public
Condolence with the Widow and Orphan--Early Life of the
Duchess of Kent 14

CHAPTER IV.

FIRST YEARS OF CHILDHOOD.

Old Memories of Kensington Palace--Enlargements of the
Structure by William III., Anne, Queen Caroline, and the Duke
of Sussex--Maids of Honour--Rank and Beauty in the Gardens--
Wilberforce and the Infant Princess--Victoria at Ramsgate--A
Picture of Victoria when Five Years Old--Her Physical
Training--Popularity as a Child--Her Youthful Charities--A
Narrow Escape from Death--Early Development of Quick
Intelligence--Anecdotes--Love of Nature--Proneness to
Self-Will--But Counterbalanced by Candour--Waggishness--A
Portrait of the Child-Princess by Leigh Hunt 23

CHAPTER V.

EDUCATION OF THE PRINCESS VICTORIA.

Additional Grant by Parliament for the Maintenance and
Education of the Princess--Wise Lessons learned at her
Mother's Knee--A Visit to George IV. at Windsor--Assiduous
Pursuit of Knowledge--Accession of William IV.--Victoria
becomes next in Succession to the Crown--Regency Bill--
Satisfaction of the Good Grandmother at Coburg--Her Death--
Joy of Victoria at the Elevation of her Uncle to the Belgian
Throne--Parliamentary Inquiry into the Progress of her
Education--Satisfactory Report in Response--Presented at
Court--Great Ball on her Twelfth Birthday at St. James's
Palace--Court Scandal and Baseless Rumours--The Duchess of
Northumberland appointed Governess--The Princess and the
Poet Southey 37

CHAPTER VI.

THE PRINCESS IN HER TEENS.

Visits paid to many parts of England--Love of Cathedrals and
Church Music--Trip to North Wales and the Midland Counties--
Visit to a Cotton Mill--To Oxford--Gala Day at Southampton--
Interview with the Young Queen of Portugal--Confirmation of
the Princess--Tour to the North--York Musical Festival--At
Ramsgate with the King of the Belgians--A Noble Deed at
Tunbridge Wells 47

CHAPTER VII.

EARLY DAYS OF PRINCE ALBERT.

Birth--Melancholy Story of his Mother--Brought up under the
Care of his Two Excellent Grandmothers--His Winning Ways as
a Child--His Tutor, Florschuetz--The Brothers, Ernest and
Albert--Visit to Brussels, and its Beneficial Effects--Hard
Study--Tour through Germany, &c.--First Visit to England,
and Meeting with Victoria--Studies at Brussels--Enters the
University of Bonn--Tour to Switzerland and Italy--Public
Announcement of Betrothal--Leaves Coburg and Gotha for his
Marriage 52

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PRINCESS VICTORIA BECOMES QUEEN REGNANT.

First Meeting of the Princess Victoria and Prince Albert--
Coming of Age--Festivities on the Occasion--Death of William
IV., and Accession of Victoria--The Queen holds her First
Privy Council--Her Address--Proclamation as Queen at St.
James's Palace--Beautiful Traits of Character displayed by
the Queen--Stirring and Gorgeous Scene--Delight of the
People at the Queen's Accession 61

CHAPTER IX.

THE MAIDEN QUEEN.

Removal to Buckingham Palace--First Levee--Dissolves
Parliament--Beauty of her Elocution--Splendid Reception by
the City of London--Settlement of the Queen's Income--Her
Daily Life--Her Admirable Knowledge of, and Devotion to, the
Business of the State--Reverence for the Lord's Day 69

CHAPTER X.

THE QUEEN CROWNED.

Novel Features in the Coronation--Its Cost--Large Amount of
Money Circulated--Splendour of the Procession--Enormous
Crowds--The Scene within the Abbey--Arrival of the Queen--
The Regalia and Sacred Vessels--Costume of the Queen--
Astonishment of the Turkish Ambassador at the Scene--The
Coronation Ceremony--The Queen's Oath--The Anointing--The
Crown placed on her Head--The Homage--An Aged Peer--The
Queen's Crown--The Illuminations and General Festivities--
Fair in Hyde Park--The Duke of Wellington and Marshal Soult
at the Guildhall 75

CHAPTER XI.

THE BEDCHAMBER PLOT.

Resignation of Lord Melbourne's Cabinet--Sir Robert Peel
sent for--Fails to form a Cabinet--His Explanation--The
Queen refuses to Dismiss her Ladies of the Bedchamber--
Supported by her late Ministers--Sir Robert Peel's
Objections--The Queen will not give way--The Whigs recalled
to Power--Public Opinion on the Dispute--The Whig Ministers
blamed, and the Queen exculpated 84

CHAPTER XII.

COURTSHIP AND BETROTHAL.

Desire of the Coburg Relatives for a Marriage between
Victoria and Albert--Favourable Impressions mutually made by
Victoria and Albert--Prince Albert's Letter on the Queen's
Accession--Opposition of King William IV. to the Marriage--
Correspondence between the Cousins--King Leopold Urges on
the Marriage--The Queen's Reluctance to become Betrothed--
Her subsequent Regret at this--The Prince craves a definite
Determination--His Second Visit to England--Betrothed at
Last--Returns to Germany to say Farewell 91

CHAPTER XIII.

THE QUEEN WEDDED.

Announcement of the Intended Marriage to the Privy Council
and Parliament--Parliamentary Settlement of the Prince's
Rank, &c.--Annoying Circumstances--The Prince's
Protestantism--His Income--Arrival of the Bridegroom--
Receives a National Welcome--The Wedding--Honeymoon Spent at
Windsor 100

CHAPTER XIV.

EARLY YEARS OF MARRIED LIFE.

Difficulties and Delicacy of Prince Albert's Position--Early
Married Life--Studies continued--Attempts on the Queen's
Life--Courage of the Queen--Birth of the Princess Royal--
Parting from the Whig Ladies of the Bedchamber--Dark Days
for England--Birth of the Prince of Wales--The Queen
Described by M. Guizot--A Dinner at Buckingham Palace--State
Dinner at Windsor 110

CHAPTER XV.

THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND.

Christening of the Prince of Wales--Manufacturing Distress--
The Queen's Efforts to alleviate it--Assesses Herself to the
Income Tax--Resolves to Visit Scotland--Embarks at Woolwich--
Beacon Fires in the Firth of Forth--Landing on Scottish
Soil--A Disappointment--Formal Entry into Edinburgh--Richness
of Historical and Ancestral Associations--The Queen on the
Castle Rock--A Highland Welcome--Departure from Scotland 126

CHAPTER XVI.

WHAT ENGLAND OWES TO PRINCE ALBERT.

The Prince's Study of our Laws and Constitution--Two
Misconceptions Outlived--His Versatility--His First Speech
an Anti-Slavery one--His Appreciation and Judicious Criticism
of Art--Scientific Side of his Mind--As an Agriculturist 141

CHAPTER XVII.

FOREIGN TRAVEL AND HOME VISITS.

Visit to King Louis Philippe at Eu--A Loyal Corporation--
Splendid Reception of the Queen in France--Anecdote of the
Queen's Regard for Prince Albert--Visit of the Czar
Nicholas--Home Life in Scotland--Visit to Germany--
Illuminations of the Rhine--A Rural Fete at Coburg 149

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE QUEEN IN IRELAND.

First Visit to Ireland--Rapturous Reception at Cork--
Queenstown so denominated--Enthusiasm at Dublin--Its
Graceful Recognition by the Queen--Visit to the Dublin
Exhibition--Encouragement of Native Industry--Visit to the
Lakes of Killarney--The Whirligig of Time 157

CHAPTER XIX.

THE WORLD'S CONGRESS OF INDUSTRY.

Prince Albert the Inaugurator of International Exhibitions--
Proposes, Unsuccessfully, his Scheme to the Government--To
the Society of Arts, Successfully--First Steps towards
Realisation--Objections to be Met--Perseverance of the
Prince--The Royal Commission--The Prince's Speech at York--
The Opening Ceremony--The Royal Procession 164

CHAPTER XX.

THE WAR CLOUD.

Bright Hopes of Peace Dispelled--An Era of War all over the
World--The Russian War--The Queen's Visits to the Wounded
Soldiers--Presentation of the War Medals--Crimean Heroes--The
Volunteer Movement 172

CHAPTER XXI.

THE QUEEN IN HER HIGHLAND HOME.

The Queen as an Author--"The Early Years of the Prince
Consort"--"Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the
Highlands"--Love for Children of all Ranks--Mountain Ascents
on Pony-back--In Fingal's Cave--"The Queen's Luck"--
Salmon-spearing, and a Catastrophe attending it--Erection of
a Memorial Cairn--Freedom of Intercourse with Humble
Highlanders--Visits to Cottagers--"Mrs. Albert"--Travelling
Incognito--Highland Dinners--"A Wedding-Party frae
Aberdeen"--A Disguise Detected 186

CHAPTER XXII.

THE WIDOWED QUEEN.

Unbroken Happiness of the Queen's Life up to 1861--Death of
the Duchess of Kent--The Prince Consort slightly Ailing--
Catches Cold at Cambridge and Eton--The Malady becomes
Serious--Public Alarm--Rapid Sinking, and Death--Sorrow of
the People--The Queen's Fortitude--Avoidance of Court
Display--Good Deeds--Sympathy with all Benevolent Actions--
Letter of Condolence to the Widow of President Lincoln--The
"Albert Medal"--Conclusion 194

LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA.