THIRTY YEARS OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA. PERSONAL RECOLLECTION'S BY JOHN TIMBS. IV.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 19 April 1873, Page 2

THIRTY YEARS OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA. PERSONAL RECOLLECTION'S BY JOHN TIMBS. IV.

The marriage of Queen. Victoria and Prince Albert was the most festive national event of the year 1840 ; and never was royal union, celebrated under brighter auspices. Nearly eighty years had elapsed since the marriage of a sovereign had been celebrated in this country, when on September 7, 176-1, King George 111 was united, to Queen Charlotte ; bat this marriage was a matter of policy, the King having sacrificed a private attachment to what were deemed considerations of mere expediency. The union I am about to chronicle was one- of sincere affection, and was interesting not only to the illustrious parties concerned, but to the country whose future destinies were inthnately bound up with the happiness of her Majesty in her domestic relations. It was truly a nationel event — of the fulness of its joy all partook ; and all throughout the country, on that memorable occasion, " Went merry as a marriage bell." On November 24, in the previous year, in the words of chronicle, the- Queen assembled the Privy Council, and announced her intention of marrying Prince Albert of Saxe-Ooburg-Gotha. Then came the opportunity presented by the Duke of Wellington's inquiry in the House of Lords as to the antecedents of the Prince, and' the auspicious response. Prince Albert was born August 26, 1819-, at the Castle of Rosenau, where he was educated under his father's supervision. He entered the University of Bonn, in 1837, as a student of jurisprudence. A small house behind some trees on one side of the cathedral at Bonn, is shown as the residence of the Princo during his university course ; and here it was his custom to rise- at six in th« morning, and, with the interval of three hour* for dinner and recreation, to pursue his studies until seven in the evening. I romember it was my duty, as well ns pleasure, to inspect a series of views, sketched by the Princo in his youth — as Rosenau (his birthplace), the houso in which ho studied, his college, his palaces, and other localities of his early years — such as bespeak a cultivated mind. Prince Albert took his leave of the university at the close of the summer half-year of 1838. In July of the same year, the prince, with hid father and brother, visited England, aud.were present at the coronation of our beloTcd Queen. Tlio j)uko and the Prince, it was remarked, remained at Windsor »nd in London longer tban the gueits of higher rank. On leaving England the Prince went on a tour through Bavaria and Italy. At Michaelmas the Prince returned to Coburg, baring, it was understood, for the first time made the acquaintance of her Majesty. After hii departure rumour was busy in England in pointing to Prince Albert as 'Her Majesty's future consort, and \ although the report was contradicted by the ministerial newspapers, the belief was strengthened by a journey in England made about this time by Leopold King of the ; Belgians, and the subsequent arrival in this country of the i young Prince himself, during the autumn of 1839, Immediately after his departure, the Queen caused ber Privy Council to be summoned, as already stated ; and on the announcement of Her Majesty's intention in the House of Lords, the Duke of Cambridge spoke from his personal knowledge of Prince Albert, and confidently predicted hii future high popularity. The ceremony was appointed to take place on February 10, at the Chapel Royal, St James, which is supposed to be the same building that was used when St James's Palace was first founded as a hospital. It was much enlarged in 1836. Hitherto royal marriages had been solemnised in the evening ; probably from the circumstance of artificial light adding extrinsic splendour to the pageantry of the ceremony. The Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold were married on May 2, 1816, at vine o'clock in the evening, at Carlton House. Waving this precedent, it was resolved to celebrate the marriage of Queen Victoria at noon, probably in consideration of thus affording a much greater number of her Majesty's loyal subjects an opportunity of witnessing a portion of the procession. The ceremony of course was a much less public ouo than the coronation, and much less gorgeous- one, in its auccssoiial details ; bat by a privileged few who were present in the chapel it is described as more deeply interesting and picturesque in its general effect. The announcement drew into London many thousands of persons at daybreak, on February 10 ; the point of attraction being the Mall of St James's Park, through which her Majesty was to pass from Buckingham Palace- to St James's, in the chapel of which latter palace the solemnisation was to take place. Never did St James's Park present such an immense multitude assembled there since the rejoicing at the visit of the Allied Sovereigns in 1 1814. At nine o'clock the crowd between the palaces was very considerable, and at elevon o'clock the pressure was distressing ; the carriage- way boing with great difficulty kept open by Horse Guards and the police, from the Marble Arch of Buckingham Palace to the garden entrance of St. James's Palace. The ladies of her Majesty's suite, and gentlemen composing the suites of Prince Albert and of his father, the Duke of Saxe-Oobourg-Gotha, were first conveyed in carriage to St. James's Palace, the-e to be in readiness to receive the royal bride and bridegroom. The latter next left Buckingham Palace. The Prince wore the uniform of a British field-marshal, with no other decoration than thu insignia of the Order of the Garter, viz., the collar surmounted with two white rosettes on the shoulders, with the George appended, set in precious stones ; and the Garter itself embroidered in diamonds round his knee. The Prince carried in his hand a Bible bound in green velvet, and was supported on one side by his father, the Duke of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha, and on the other by his brother, Prince Ernest. They were preceded by drums and trumpets and officers of her Majesty's household. On his entering the ehapol, tho bridegroom took his place at the altar. Throughout his passage until he entered tho •acred precincts, he was grectod with the hearty cheering with whicli Englithmen welcome a foreign guest about fro become domesticated among them — tho men clapping their hands, and tho ladies waving 1 ho>h* handkerchiefs, and sinil-. ing with evident interest and delight. On descending tho grand staircase, the Prince with his father and brother, entered the carriage amid the sound of trumpets and lowering of colours, the presenting of arms, and all the honours paid to the Queen herself; the escort being a squadron of Life GuimK On the return of .tho Lord Chamberlain from St James's, the Queen left her apartments, leaning on the arm of the Earl of Uxbridgo as Lord Chamberlain, supported by tlio Duchess oF Ken. 1 -, followrJ by a puge of honour, and prjir. coded by theKirl of Bulfoot, the Earl of Surrey, -Lord Torrington, tho Earl of Alber aiarlo, and several other officers of the household. ' {

Her Majesty carried'hcr train over her arm. The royal bride was greeted with loud acclamations on descending from the Grand Hall, but her eyes were bent principally on the ground. Her Majesty wore no diamonds on her head, but a single wro^tli of t>rarige*l>ldl&»o9- The magnincent-J veil did not cover her faoe, but hung down on her ■nouldecJH A pair of very lar«e diumonil ear-rings, > diamond neckladc^^ and the insignia of the Order offebo Garter were the principal oroamontiaVorn by the Qucerf& The Duchess of ILenfc and the Duchess of Sutherland rodr in the same carriage w.th her Majesty, and tlio *oybl dj§ffy» left the palace at a Blow pace, undbr a strong Escort tffriibo household cavalry. The Queen's carriage was preceded by «x othere, convoying the officers of Ucr household }> and each carriage was drawn by two horses only, without fie rich State caparisoning. Her Majesty was enthusiastically cheered, and graciously acknowledged thfr loyalty of her people, but her countenance wasextremely pale, and betokened considerable anxiety. The Queen, upon her amv.vl at St James s Palace, was conducted to her closet, behind tho throne-room, attended by her maids of honour and train-bearers. The Cord Chamberlain, preceded by drums and trumpets, then returnod to the throne-room, to attend her Maiestv to the chapel ; in the course of a few minutes, the doflß again, opened, and amidst the performance of the National Anthem r the Queen, attonded by twelve bridesmaids, the elele of the beauty of the day, and a splendid procession of alktlM officers of the Court, entered the chapel and advanced through the ball-room (or Queen Anne's drawing-room,) the guard or armoury room, thence into the vostibult, and from that down the grand staircase, through the colonnade, in the colour quadrangle, leading hit o tho ohapel, whe.re, as well as in tho apartments through -which the procession, passed, were erected seats for about 1760 visitors, the cost of .whioh was about £9226. The greater portion of the companyconsisted of elegantly-dressed ladies ; colours,, light-blue and green, relieved with white, amber, crimson, P«rpl«> fawn, stone, aad a considerable number of white robe*. Each lady wore a wedding favour of white satin, ribbon, mixed with silver lace and orange blossoms. The ceremony' proceeded according to the accustomed ritual, the Queen pronouncing what was required of her in it in au audible manner, with • a voice remarkable for brilliancy and musical tone. The Duke of Sussex gave away the royal bride, and exactly at a quarter to one o'clock the pealing of the guns in the park announced that at that moment the-hnppy bridegroom hud put tlte' ring upon the finger of the bride. The remaining benedictions having been pronounced, tho Queen shook hands cordially with the members of tho royal family present ) amongst whom,with* marked affection,' the Queen Dowager Adelaide had watchedthe prt» erodings throughout with the intensity of a mother. Princo Albert also- kissed the Queen Dowager's harid, and acknowledged, her congratulations.. ■- , r( j ' 'At a few minutes past one o'clock tlie procession' begun to remarshal itself for its return, in the same order as before, save that the Queen walked hand in hand with her , royal husimul, who placed her Majesty's hand in his own, so as to display the wedding tin^, which appealed more massive than such rings are nsnally' made. The Queen next proceeded to the throne-room, where her Majesty and Prince Albert Bigned the marriage register, which was attested by certain members of tlie royal family and officers of State, the. book being signed on a handsome table prepared for the purpose. This singing was one of most noteworthy incidents ©fc the day. Certain jouraausta enjoyed a glimpse of the attestation through the folding doors, of the throne-room. Before two o'clock, the last carriage, in which rode Prince, and the Queen, attended by the Duchess of, Sutherland, had reached Buckingham Palace. The Prince assisted her Majesty to alight ; and the royal bride entered her own hall, with an open and joyous countenance, slightly flushed, anA in the most smiling and condescending manner acknowledging, the loud and cordial cheers which lang through the apartment. Ths whole party, shortly after, partook of a sumptuous d&jeflner. at the Palace j the centre of the table being occupied by a magnificent cake, three yards in circumference, about fourteen inches in thickness, and weighing nearly 301) lbs— the manufacture of the yeoman confectioner of the royal household. It was surmounted by the figure of $titannia, blessing the illustrioui bride and bridegroom, the figures* being* nearly a foot in height. On the top of the cake were bouquets of white flowers intended for presents to the guests at the noptiaH breakfast. At its close, the royal pair left the palace for Windsor, amidst tho festive acclamations of a vast multitude. The first carriage was occupied only by her Majesty and Prince Albert ; both of- whom appeared in high spirits, and acknowledged the cheers of the crowd iv the park with much earnestness of manner. Four carriages followed, in which were Prince Ernest and the attendants of her Majesty and Prince Albert. Throughout the road to. Windsor, the happy event wai variously celebrated. At Kensington, the birthplace of c Queen, »n arch of evergreens iras> erected aoro»s the road j the children of the public schools -were feasted - T and" 1 foe evening the town was illuminated. Similar festive commemorations were prepared at Hammersm iihV B ren tsford, Hounslow, etc: At Eton College was a portico covered with 6,000 lamps, and there sparkled the classic legends " Gratulatur Etona Victoria et Alberto," and ""Floreat Etona;" and. the 550 Etonians wore bxddafl favours. A brilliant shower of rockets announced the royal party, and at twenty minutes before seven o clock the royal carriage arrived 1 in the high street. Every house was illuminated, or decorated with flags, laurels, mottoes,, etc. ; and the applause -was loud and deafening. Within a few minutes the royal carriage drew up at the grand entrance- to the Castle ; the Queen was handed from the carriage by the Prince ; she .immediately took his awn *nd entered) their magnificent home. Meanwhile, the metropolis was rife with festivity., At lot James's Palace o State ;banquet was given to 10p uoyft} and noble guests and their suites ; all the company wearing court dcesses, and the knights their insignia. The finest gold plate from the royalcoflection was piled upon the sideboard ; and shields, vases, urns, tankards, and groups wre arranged with infinite taste, and illuminated with candelabra, or bras-de>chemin£e. Here glittered many an ancient^tro^iy and costly gem, crystal and enamel. At the banquet served a very fine sturgeon, caught in tlie river. Thamps off Greenwich, and tent us a present to her Majesty by .tho Lord Major. At the dejetiner, tho table bore a wedding cake 200 ft. weight. By permission of the lord'stewand, »transient peep af the wedding banquet of only 100 guests Atas afforded to a favoured few. At the close of this banquet, the- guests' went to' a magnificent entertainment at Sutherland House, the north front and gardens of which illuminated^' Here, likewitt, was.avast|and superb presentation- cake's and the company were but cortw>y#d from one palace to another. ' Tlie Queen Dowager entertained certain members, of the royal family j the ministers gave full-dress dinners ; the societies of tlie Inns of Court feasted in their noble hall ; the clubs in their palatial mansions ; and in every grade of society there was a festal celebration. At a tannery in Bermondsey nearly 400 persons were feasted with an ox roasted whole, a plum-pudding 1681b. weight, seven butts of ale and porter, and a hogshead of cold punch. The six hundred children of the parochial schools of St Martin's-in-tho-Fields wer» feasted at the expense of the benevolent Queen Dowager! Throughout thd country the day was kept by incorporated or individual generosity as a holiday of the olden time, but happily with a holier object than any dearly bought victory, such as hw been a common, occasion of, mjoicing in our tune- > „ [■ The illuminations were very, brilliant. Crowns, strips, initials, and devices blazed in every direction. Gas was obiefly used, but some of the public offices and clubs were decorated wiin myriads of lamps. ' ' f Tho presentation rings were a revival of olden custonj on this memorable celebration. Rings were formerly given avtayin great numbers' at weddings. Anthony Woods relates that in. 1589, one who was. openly profuse, beyond the limits of a sober philosopher, did give away in gold-wire rings, (or rings twisted .with thin gold-wires), at the marriage of one of his maid-servants, to the value of £4000. Upon tho present occasion, the Queen followed the above amiable old custom. Mr.Wyon, the chief engraver of her Majesty's seal, was-commissioned to execute her likeness in profile, in pure gold, bright upon d mat ground, with the legend, " Victoria Aegina ; " tho whole beiug less than a quarter of an inch in diameter. The Queen was so pleased with this microscope work of the meilallio art, that her Majesty ordered six dozen impressions to bo struck, and sot by the royal jewellers (Roundoll and Bridge) in gold rings, for presentation to distinguished personages. The ring is of fine plain gold, with * lover's knot on eacli side of tho medallion.

PaoHPTj Justice. — The Pall Mall Budget »aj»: — It i» only an imt/ions advance in years oiiwj ttvilisation that their laws become barbarous and slow in 'their operation. Them) it something very refreshing in the account given by a San Francisco paper of the mothod in which the law is administered m Yreka, California. The first Alcalde in Yreka in 18^1 wns known ai " Out-eye Foster." This gentleman, it is stated, " left Noderket and soon ran away, and George C. Vail reignod in his stead. No law book wo» ever used in court ; he decided each enso on its own merits, writing out the full history, and his docket is a curiosity." In one case brought before him a boy had driven a team from Oregon ,. and worked all winter for a man who declined to pay. 110 sold out in the spring, and was leaving suddenly, when, on complaint of the boy, Vail and two constables stopped him on the road. It was proved that hie had received $3,000 on his sale, but ho declared himself unable to pay, thouf h not denying the boy's claim. Judge Vail decided in those words, " Constables, stand this man on his head, shake him well, and sco if you can't hear something drop." No aoontr yaid than done. A vigorous (hairing brought to light a -wallet containing $2,000 in gold dubt ; the boy received his claim of $300, tlie judge and coi^stables took an ounce apiece for their trouble, and the' defendant went kit way a lighter mam Justice like this is worth three ounces. A Reflection.— Most men wish to stand well with the world, yet in these days of heavy assessment*, how few of "us there an* who would not ranch rather bo uuJer-i'atcd lhan over-ruled I—l'tiuvA. * J