QUEEN VICTORIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 20 January 1928, Page 7

QUEEN VICTORIA

SECOND SERIES OF LETTERS. COINCIDE WITH TROUBLOUS DAYS TRAGEDY OF KHARTOUM. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received January 20, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. , The second series of Queen Victoria’s Letters, covering the period 1862 to 1885, coincide with a series of calamities that shook British prestige throughout the world, including the death of the Prince Imperial, the massacre of the British Mission at Kabul, the British disasters at Isandulana and Majuba Hill, Gordon’s death at Khartoum, the Phoenix Park (Dublin) murders, and the dynamiter’s crimes. All these tortured and distressed Queen Victoria. The tragedies are largely reflected in her letters. She wrote indignantly regarding the Prince Imperial. She said : “Such an amiable and good man would have mado such a good Emperor of Franco some day. It is incredible that none remained to try and save this precious life.” When Gordon was sent to Khartoum, Queen Victoria was intensely apprehensive. She said: “If anything befalls him the result will be awful.” Queen Victoria repeatedly, but vainly, stirred up the Cabinet, which remained unenergetic and decisionless. It even tried to prevent her congratulating and encouraging her generals. She accordingly wrote to Lord Hartington on the subject, saying: “Hartington’s letter was very officious and impertinent. The Queen will not stand dictation. The Liberals always wish to make her feel that she is a machine. She will not accept it.” When she heard that Khartoum had fallen she sent the famous telegram to the Ministers stating: “To think that all this might have been prevented and precious lives saved by earlier action is too frightful.” She wrote: “Gladstone and the Government have Gordon’s innocent noble and heroic blood on their consciences. It is awful. May they feel it and be made to feel it.” Queen Victoria so distrusted the Government that she wrote to Lady Wolsoley intending that the remarks should be passed on to her husband, who was then commanding in Egypt: “In strict confidence I must tell you that the Government is more incorrigible than ever. Your husband should Hold strong language to them and even threaten to resign if he does not receive support and liberty of action. Wolseley must not let out a bint of this, but I really think that the Government must be frightened.” Queen Victoria repeatedly bitterly criticised Gladstone, notably, when Lord Beaconsfield’s Government was defeated in 1880. She declared: “Gladstone’s conduct for four years has been violent, passionate and invective abuse against Beaconsfield, and causing the TurcoRussian war. I could not have a particle of confidence in Gladstone after his violent, mischievous and dangerous conduct and offensive language against myself.” Tho Queen regarded Chamberlain and Bright as dangerous members of the 1830 Ministry. She declared in a letter to tho Irish Secretary that she had liberal views regarding the improvement of the Empire, but would not be Queen of a democratic monarchy. “Radical agitators must seek another monarch,” She pointed out. “And she doubted whether they would find one. She blamed the release of Parnell and other leaders for the Phoenix Park murder, after which she sent a letter to the late King Edward ordering hint to remonstrate with Lord Hartington, • reminding him of the assurance that Cabinet would not include dangerous radicals, adding: “All the worst men not respecting Kings, Princes, landmarks and the constitution are put into the Government despite me. Gladstone’s mischief is incalculable.”

Many passages show the Queen’s sympathy with the* public as, for instance, when she expresses regret “that the museums are not opened on Sundays which is the best antidote to public houses.”

The Queen also opposed heavy taxation on beer, which, she stated, was the poor people’s only beverage.—Sydney Sun cable.