THE QUEEN’S NEW BOOK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1152, 15 March 1884, Page 3

THE QUEEN’S NEW BOOK.

The Queen’s new book was published on February 14th. A despatch says the dedication is as follows ; —‘ To my loyal Highlanders, and especially to the memory of my devoted personal attendant, faithful John Brown, these records of my widowed life in Scotland are gratefully dedicated. Victoria E,-’ In her opening chapters the Queen devotes a number of chapters to Brown. Sho tells how he became a favourite with Prince Albert, and explains her own reason for trusting her. She minutely describes the position he held in the Royal household, and other domestics of the Court are mentioned in kindly terms, In all personal references the Queen invariably uses the plural number, and * our beloved daughter Beatrice’ ‘ our devoted and gallant John Brown,’ ‘ our beloved uncle the Emperor of Germany,’ ‘ our deeply lamented daughter Alice,’ receive frequent allusion. There is scant leference to the Prince of Wales, only once in fact does she speak qf him at any length. This was on the occasion of his severe

illness from typhoid fever. The Queen makes long comments on political events and gives many opinions on men and the times. She also expresses an especially high estimate of the late Earl Beaconsfield and discloses his views on the results of the general election qf IBdQ, and £\lso. his ideas on the situation about the time of his death. In this manifest preference for the ideas of the departed statesman there is an obvious implication of a criticism of the policy of Mr Gladstone. In another part of the book the Queen gives an account of the growth of the friendship between herself and

the Empress Eugenie after the fall of Napoleon. She professes to hpjd the character of Napoleon, especially under misfortune, in yery high estimation. The book as a vvhple refers less to the Queen's domestic life than was anticipated, whilst it has vastly more comments on social and political events of the period. The first edition numbers ton thousand copies. A French edition by Marie JJrousart is announced for speedy publication. English lladical papers make light of the book. It is stated the whole of original edition was sold on the day of publication, and a second would be ready by the end of the month.