THE QUEEN AND LORD CRANBROOK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10038, 7 May 1910, Page 4

THE QUEEN AND LORD CRANBROOK.

One of the most interesting stories of Lord Cranbrook, in his recently published biography, is that told in his diary of his last interview as a Minister with Queen Victoria. "I bhall not forget my last interview as Minister," says the diary. "The Queen began by thanking me for my picture, which, she hoped, I should see at Windsor, and trusted to have me often there. Then she exclaimed, "Oh my dear Lord Cranbrook, I cannot tell how sorry I am to lose you or part with you,' burst into tears, and held out her hand, which, kneeling down, and feeling deeply affected, I kissed, expressing my deep gratitude for all her goodness to me in the long past years." A sidelight on the affection with which the Queen regarded Lord "Beaconsfield is contained in a letter from Her Majesty to Lord Cranbrook at the death of her great Prime Minister. "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 he is in or out of office she could always turn to dear Lord Beaconsfield for advice and help in so many things. He was a real friend, and oh! so wise, so calm, and so kind. The Queen feels the loss more and more." An amusing entry in the diary refers to the interest which Queen Victoria took in the treatment and, amongst other things, the clothing of the Zulu chief Cetewayo after his capture. Under date September 21st, 1879, Lord Cranbrook says: "ifesterday. Her Majesty sent for me at eight in the evening. She is full of the capture of Cetewayo and his treatment, and dwelt with much energy and emphasis on her fear that the height of ill-treatment would .be inflicted upon him by his being compelled to dress a l'Anglais. She begged me to write on his behalf,and that of his clotheless ladies, to Sir Michael Hicks Beach to save them from such degradation. It was all rather funny, but with a base of very good reuse; Cetewayo in a blanket would be a far more imposing figure than in a swallow-tail." ,