THE QUEEN AND MRS STAUNTON.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3896, 17 January 1878, Page 3

THE QUEEN AND MRS STAUNTON.

On the Sunday evening preceding the day' fixed for the execution of the Stuuntons, the mother of the two men travelled alone to Balmoral, in order to obtain an interview with the Queen and beseech clemency for her wretched sons, so at least says " Touchstone." On reaching Ballatcr, after leaving Aberdeen, the last station some twelve miles from Balmoral, the poor woman sought some conveyance to take her the remainder of the journey. Nothing could be obtained, and the people, on hearing the melancholy mission of the unfortunate mother, showed their sympathy by obtaining for her a seat on the mail bag in the little cart, which contained only one small seat for tbe driver. The mail bag was thrown into the cart, and the poor woman was allowed to sit herself upon it. So she travelled through the cold and dismal night the twelve dreary miles to Balmoral. On reaching the Castle, the next and formidable difficulty that met her was obtaining an audience of the Queen. After explaining the object of her journey to the attendants, she at last obtained an interview with Sir Thomas Biddulph, who, after patiently listening to what she had to say,promised to let the Queen immediately know the object of her being at the Castle. With little delay the Queen, setting aside all etiquette and formality, entered the apartment in which Mrs Staunton was seated, and with a true Sovereign's and woman's heart listened to the appeal and humble prayer of one of her subjects in her deep distress. The poor petitioner prayed for mercy and that the lives of her children might be spared. The Q.ueen, no doubt with an aching heart, could only explain that she was entirely in the hands of her responsible Minister. The painful interview ended, the petitioner, grateful for the condescension of her Sovereign,' sought how to I return to Ballater, hrfart-broken th-vt the last 1 hope of Baying her wretched eons had failed her. The servants enquired how she i<< tended • getting back the twelve miles to Bullaler. , There was no conveyance, and they pla'nly saw the poor woman was quite incapable of walking the distance. Again the Queen was informed of the circumstances, and with that consideration bo characteristic of her nature, she ordered that one of her own carriages should be got ready to take Mrs Staunton back. Scarcely had the poor mother left the Castle when the mail bag containing her Majesty's letters and despatches was opened, and, to the eratitica.ti.rn and relief of the Queen, the Home Secretary's despatch recommending the reprieve was amongst the number. The lonely mother went or. her way back, worn out and dejected. The Queeu at once instructed a special messenger to .proceed on horseback and take the glad tidings to her sister in sorrow. Such deeds require no comment, but raise tbe Monarch to the highest eminence. Mrs Staunton, on reaching Ballatter, was instantly informed of the gl;ui tidings, and that the mail bag on which she had sat with a bleeding heart contained tho reprieve which she had travelled so many miles to obtain. Such is a simple account of an episode in the life of the Queen, well harmonising with all that her subjects already know of her. It lias been definitely decided to place Aden in a thorough state of defence. This decision is due, it is said, to representations made by the Prince of Wales after hk late visit to the fortress on his way to India*. The Russian official paper states that since the mobilisation of the army nine months ago there have been only three capital sentences in a liost of 200,000 men. One was passed on the soldier who attacked M. Pognon, correspondent of the Havas agency, the second wag for insulting an officer, and the third for desertion. GfSERAX TODZBBBW AND TEB CzAß.— The arrival of General Todleben at the Russian head-quarters, and his- .virtual assumption of the command ©5 the army operating against Plevna, attracted great attention in Rnesian society. If the story current in St. Petersburg be tame, the pride of the Russian Emperor must hare suffered , when he summoned Todleben to the scat of • war ; for it is believed that tho long forced inactivity of the distinguished engineer was due to his "having too bluntly assorted his opinion! in opposition to his Imperial master. It is said ' that, having summoned Todleben last year, the Czar told him he was about to mobilize four corps on the Roumanian front ier, with a. view to eventualities in Turkey. '' Four will rsot be enough; you will need eight," was Todleben's reply. "1 said four," answered the Czar haughtily; aad the engineer whose military genius had kept the allied armies a whole long year befora Sebastopol, went forth from the Imperial presence a disgraced offender against the. b autocratic spirit which can brook no contss-iction. With a loaded pittol at your head you would not triilb with a foot-pad. Why then trifle vilh diae—ifc which is a& often as much to be dreaded as the ruffian who demands '•your money or your life" wiih his finger on the trigger. Recollect that a cough is tbe harbinger of consumption, that a trifling kiduey disorder may develop into Bright's disease, both considered i- curable maladies. Apply the remedy while it is yet time, and remember tbat Udolpho Wolik'b Schtzdah Aromatic Bchnai*ps is the best preventative.

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