Queen Victoria and Cetewayo.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 May 1910, Page 4

Queen Victoria and Cetewayo.

ROYAL PROTEST AGAINST CLOTHING THE CHIEF.

Two interesting glimpses of the life of Queen Victoria are contained in an important political memoir issued by Messrs Longmans—"Gathorne Hardy, First Earl of Crajibrook," adited by his son, the Hon. Alfred E. Gathorne Hardy.

The laite Queen's interest in Cetewayo's clothes affords amusing reading, as chronicled in the diary. Under date September 21st, 1879, Lord Crambrook says:— "Yesterday h'or Majesty sent for me at eight in the evening. She is full of (the capture of Cetewayo and his treatment, fliul dwells with much energy and emphasis on her fear that the height of ill-treatment would be inflicted upon him toy his being compelled to dress a I'Anglais. She ibegged me to write on -his behalf and that of his clotheless ladies, to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach to save tliem from such degradation. "It was all rather funny, but with a base of very good sense. Cetewayo in a blanket would be a Far more imposing figure than in a swallow-tail." ... There is a pathetic letter written on the death of Lord Beaconsfield which shows in what great esteem the Queen held that statesman. She wrote to Lord Cran,brook: "The Queen longed to hear from Lord Cranbrook," she wrote in reply to a letter from him, "after our (terrible loss of our beloved friend. Lord Beaconsfield, for he was so kind to the Queen during his pleasant visits here in times of much anxiety, that she felt sure he would feel for her in what is a dreadful and irreparable loss to her. "For whether in or out of office she could always turn to dear Lord Beaconsfield for advice end help in so many things. He was a. real friend, and. oh! so wise, so calm, and so kind. The Queen fefels the loss more and more."