THE QUEEN'S BOOK.

Kumara Times, Issue 2387, 23 April 1884, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S BOOK.

The following extracts from her Majesty Queen Victoria's recently published work—" More Leaves from the Journal of a Life in the Highlands " are of general interest:— BETROTHAL OF PRINCESS LOUISE TO THE MARQUIS OP LORNE. Balmoral, October 3rd, 1870.—This wss an eveutful day. Our dear Louise was engaged to Lord Lorne. The event took place during a walk from Glassalt to the Dhu Loch. She had gone there with James Ely, the Lord Chancellor (Lord Hatherley), and Lome. I had driven with Beatrice and the Hon. Mrs Ponsonby to Pannanich Wells, two miles from Ballater, on the south side of the Dee, where I had been many years ago. Unfortunately almost all the trees which covered the hills have been cut down. We got out and tasted the water, which is strongly impregnated with iron, and looked at the bath and at the humble but very clean accommodation in the curious little old inn, which used to be very much frequented. Brown formerly stayed there for a year as a servant, aud then quantities of horses and goats were there. The same perfectly cloudless sky ou the two preceding days. We got home by seveu. Louise who returned some time after we did, told me that Lome had spoken of his devotion to her, and proposed to her, and that she had accepted him, knowing that I would approve. Though I was not unprepared for this result, I felt painfully the thought of losing her. But I naturally gave my consent, aud could only pray that she might be happy. JOHN BROWN AND THE REPORTERS. The following is given in the chapter describing a visit to Gleucoe in 1873. We sat down on the grass (we three) on our plaids, and had our luncheon served by Brown and Francie ) then I sketched. The day was most beautiful and calm. Here, however—here in this complete solitude, we were spied upon by impudently inquisitive reporters, who followed us everywhere ; but one in particular, who writes for some of the Scotch papers, lay down and watched with a telescope, and dodged me and Beatrice and Jane Churchill, who were walking about, and was most impertinent when Brown went to tell him to move, which Jane herself had thought of doing. However, he did go away at last, and Brown came back saying he thought there would have been a fight, for when Brown said quite civilly that the Queen wished him to move away, he replied he had quite as good a right to remain there as the Queen. To this Brown answered very strongly, upon which the impertinent individual asked did he know who he was, and Brown answered he did, and that the highest gentleman in England would not dare to do what he did, much less a reporter, and he must move on or ho would give him some-thing more. The man said would he d;uo say that before these other men (~li reporters) who were coming up. Bnnvn answered yes In *■'. = ,'.! :.,.';-.„■« anybody wuo did not bcu*»w *> Ue ought.

More strong words were used, bub the others came up and advised the man to come away quietly, which he finally did. Such conduct ought to be known. We were there nearly an hour, and began walking down a portion of the steep part. LOVE FOR SCOTLAND. In the account of a visit to the Lochiel country the Queen says :—" I feel a sort of reverence in going over these scenes in this most beautiful country, which I ain proud to call my own; where there was such devoted loyalty to the family of my ancestors, for Stuart blood is in my veins, and I am now their representative, and the people are as devoted and loyal to me as they were to that uahappy race." JOHN BROWN. Her Majesty concludes with a few remarks on John Brown. Her Majesty says :—" The faithful attendant who is so often mentioned throughout these leaves is no longer with her whom he served so truly, devotedly, untiringly. In the fulness of health and strength he was snatched away from his career of usefulness, after an illness of only three days, on the 27th March of this year, respected by all who recognised his rare worth and kindness of heart, and truly regretted by all who knew him. His loss to me (ill and helpless ;\s I was at the time, from au accident) is irreparable, for he deservedly possesned my entire confidence—and to say that he is daily, nay, hourly, missed by me, whose lifelong gratitude he won by his constant care, attention, and devotion, is but a feeble expression of the truth. A truer, nobler, trustier heart, more loyal or more loving, never beat within the human breast.—"Balmoral, November, 1883."