THE LITTLE WELSHMAN WHO BECAME A COURT FAVOURITE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 99, 8 April 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE LITTLE WELSHMAN WHO BECAME A COURT FAVOURITE.

STRANGE STORY OF “DR: TAFFY.”

We all know that the parents of Queen Victoria—the Duke and Duchess of Kent—were in financial difficulties before the birth of their famous daughter, and that a succession of unexpected events brought them into great prominence. Few know the romantic happenings which occurred at the birth of the Irf-le Prineers Victoria, and the part that, a Welshman played then.

KIND-HEARTED PICTON.

It is first necessary to go back some years. General Sir T. Picton—the hero of the Peninsular War, and Wellington's right-hand man at Waterloo —was a Pembrokeshire man, and was home on furlough after many years of foreign service. The grim ojld warrior was walking in the country roads one day, when he met a fine specimen of a country lad, clad in moleskin trousers, and with an old pair of clogs on his feet. After «ome talk, the-General was so taken with tho boy that he asked, in his usual blunt way: “Well, my boy. whose son are you?” The bo.v replied •promptly: “Mab Shoni’r Crydd, ser.” (Johnny. ' the blacksmith’s sou, isir). “Well, boy, what should you like to lie?” “Doctor sen.” “Wlell, then, doctor you shall be.” The old warhorse kept his word, as he always did. To his credit be i: said, he paid for (ho lad’s education nt Qu-een - Elizabeth’s Grammar School at Carmarthen, and sent him to one of the London hospitals, where he passed his examinations with great credit. But just at (hat time -hv the irony of fate—Picton was killed at Waterloo, and trouble began. Without, money or influence Dr. Daniel Davies p’uckily started a practice in Drury Lane kind Seven Dials, at that time the worst slums in Europe. Great popularity attended him. end “Dr. Taffy” b?eame a household word with the wretched inhabitants of this region.

AN EMPIRE’S GRATITUDE.

Then Fortune knocked at. his door, and in a strange way. Tlie Duchess ot Kent’s coachman’s wife was given up for dead in childbirth. Someone suggested “Dr Taffy ” and in despair he was sent for. He saved her life and that of the child. Soon after the Royal n istress was a like desperate case, and the Royal doctors gave up hope. The old eoaehman, however, saved the situation. “Send for ‘Dr. Taffy/ ” h© said, confidently ; “he’ll save her.” The advice was acted on. Dr. Davies arrived. When he saw how matters stood with the Royal patient he .asked, bluntly ■ “Which do you want me to keep alive, the mort-her or the child?” The agonised Duke instantly replied: “My wife.” “Well,” he said, deliberately, “I will keep them both alive.” And ho did. Tha little Welshman became Court Physician and the baby became the greaa Queen Victoria. The debt the British Empire owes to that Welsh doctor can never be repaid.