RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRINCESS VICTORIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1854, 3 June 1887, Page 31

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRINCESS VICTORIA.

Some pleasant glimpses of the eaily life of Queen Victoria are afforded in the letters of Fraulein Lehzen, her German governess, who was afterwards ■ made a Hanoverian baroness. It was in May of the- year 1831, as these letters show, that this lady gave up an engagement in Paris to enter on her new career of activity at Kensington, where in quiet retirement the Duchess of Kent was conducting the education of her daughter Victoria. The unassuming letters, in which she recorded her experiences for the benefit of her friends in Germany, were 'carefully treasured. Copies of them passed from hand to hand, and afforded to a deeply-interested circle glimpses into the distant home where she followed her calling with 'singular trueheartedness and devotion. The extracts we give are, of course, translations. First comes

an account of. her friendly in England.-'; '-, % '\ r . „i\ At five in the morning, accompanied by my attendant, I drove out of Harwich on my way to London, and by 3 o'clock; in the afternoon the journey, was accomplished. Tbjs expedition — for suchpne may. really term itf-rwas most refreshing. In Harwich- I, had already taken the opportunity pf changing, my travelling mantlo for a new and ■ becoming I "' 'one, and so arrived in good trim at'my : hotel: 5 /!r'found the country just such as I expected, 'well 'cared for, with : splendid, roads, but few trees* It was extraordinarily,cold, for the time of year in England., When I had. put myself risp.mewhat to rights at the,hotel,l:hired/a,fly and-drove to Herr.Kucher's (Here Kucherj was, German chaplain in London), admiring as, I jwent, .along the splendid city, already lighted.-, fit, was about 6 o'clock when". I. reached {his house..: I was informed/that .the > Duchess -of Kent, was much pleased at the news, of my arrival, and -regretted that, owing to the public having already been informed, she was going, to the but that the Princess and lady? in-waiting- were ; expecting me. I dined at ,Herr Kucher's;;, they have charming children, and I am much pleased with both parents, At 9 o'clock. we. drove to Kensington Palace. ' Herr Kucher advised me not to use the style " Your Highness,", but to say simply " Princess." • •„ „-.<\ K -\ • The Jady-in- waiting received me pleasantly, .and the Princess, in.a pretty, childlikftway, and they immediately refreshed me with tea. . -My little Princess will be 12 years old tomorrow. She is- not tall,- but. very-pretty, has dark brown hair, beautiful. brown .eyes, and a mouth- which though ,-nob tiny,, is very goodtempered and pleasant, very fine teeth, a small but graceful figure, and a very small foot. She was dressed in white muslin, with a coral necklet. Her whole bearing is so childish and engaging that one could not a more aimiable child. . • .. - - .-- „„" At 10 o'clock the lady-in-waiting conducted, us to our apartments.- They consist of four rooms— the ante-room, the living-room, the bedchamber, and hanging-closet; - 1 sleep with the Princess in one;- of the rooms, which contains two beautiful large upholstered beds, resembling small houses. Ope maid waits on us both. The furniture in the room is mahogany with gilding, the sofas and beds are' covered with pretty chintzj the floor with pretty carpets, &o. The lady-in-waiting, Fraulein Sput, who resembles'Frau.voh Constant somewhat,. onlj that she is younger, told me that the > whole circle breakfasted at 8.30, but -that the Duchess (of Kent) desired me to rest ; myself on the following morning, and to breakfast alone. Notwithstanding this, I rose.early enpugh, and about breakfast-time the Duchess .sent to say that she was impatient- to see me. , I hastily threw on my white dress and stepped out courageously to meet her. ' ' > , She was standing at the breakfast table, and is a woman between 30 and 40, rather stout, with brown, hair and brown eyes. • Without being beautiful she has an expression of ex* treme goodness. She said something about being obliged by my rapid journey, to which I replied that I .had only consulted my own interests in so coming. She then gave me her hand, which I kissed, receiving a kiss in return upon my travel-paled .cheek. -At breakfast we seated ourselves at a round table. Soon afterwards the Duke (the Duke of Sussex, brother-in-law to. the Duchess, whose husband died in 1820) arrived. ' He had a noble bearing'; ' he. said many amiable things about the rapidity of my journey, and about sea-sick-ness.- I assured him that all that was forgotten. The Duke speaks .German^with me, but the Duchess' speaks French. The latter wishes me to converse in French with the Princess because my pronunciation pleases her; and really for the most part, although I am associated with royalty, I cannot call the treatment, I receive other than friendly. ' , '','"'■ At 1 o'clock luncheon is served, bufothe Duke does not join us. In the evening, at 6 o'clock, we dine. The company at table consists of the Duke, the Duchess, Fraulein Sput, the Princess, the domestic physician, and myself. The Duke speaks much and pleasantly ; he is very learned and likes to be talked to about Germany, about which he knows a, great deal ( himself., . The Duchess is a very affectionate mother, and appears, in all that she says to desire the true happiness of her children. She draws, sings, and playß very well. I, have requested permission to give the Princess lessons'in French and Italian mystlf, in all other subjects Kucher and the court painter and musician, who are both Germans, will instruct her. As we did not go to church on Sunday morning the Duchess read a sermon aloud and commented pleasantly on it to her daughter. The little Princess is a charming child, and resembles Princess Charlotte, so they say. After dinner we remain together until 9 o'clock, when, tea being over, I retire with my Princess, who goes to - bed, and I can then amuse myself. . Last evening Prince Leopold (the brother of the Duchess, known as a Prince of Coburg) was here. Traces of the deepest sorrow are still visible .on his countenance, although his journey to Scotland has greatly benefited him. .He also is musical, and consequently the evenings are generally < 1 i voted to music and song. I have begged Herr Hoffmann to take me in hand. - This morning the Duchess spoke to me about her daughter again, and gave me permission to use the more familiar thou in speaking to her. This I declined^ giving my reason,- which she kindly approved. The Princess has very many talents .and much goodness of disposition, plays very prettily, and has a pleasant voice. I will write again in a' week. ... As far as my wardrobe is concerned I can use everything, and my clothes even meet with approval, my black.hat even, for my little Princess is wearing just such an one. , This extract sufficiently shows how pleasantly and cordially the relationship' between the Baroness Lehzen and her charge was maintained. But the intimate thou for which the Princess begged, the Baroness considered herself justified in refusing, inasmuch as in her pupil- she always believed she saw the heiress to the English crown. It was the -Baroness Lehzen who was instructed by the Duchess that it was time the Princess should be acquainted with' her right to the throne. Up to this time' the greatest care had been exercised to prevent any gossiping lady's-maid from evening whispering to the little one that she would one day become- Queen of England. With the permission of the Duchess, Baroness Lehzen placed the genealogical table of the royal house in her history book.before the Princess. "I see," said she, more frightened than pleased, "as soon as she had "glanced at it, "that I stand nearer to the. throne than I believed." 11 It is so," said her governess to ber.^ "Many a child," said the . rincess^woe-

- fully,'" would- lie proud in* my place. But they do not know the difficulties. It is a brilliant lot; but one of grave responsibility." V ' But deeply moved by the significance of the moment, she 'laid her little hand in the hands of her governess, and,-as though recording a vow, said in childlikie words, " I will be good." ,' .*,..,', 'The. following letter of Fraulein Lehzen bears' a striking 'testimony;; to the wisdom With which the Princess wastrained. ! I entrust -you with" the enclosed, 1 which is a '• ; very striking likeneßß ! df I 'my'Prin'ceßS'with which • JSckhardfc, the Ducbiss'. painter, has presented ' " niaT Will you take* 'care' of it until such time as 1 I am? permitted' to return to" my Fatherland,' -when I will come and claim it from you.? She in goodness and beauty; Is she not •charming? -In-French' l can already take her -through Koch's Grammar;- she plays difficult sonatas, and she also draws very charmingly. I speak French with her partly because in doing tso I avoid tHe "thou" about which- the Princess ihas renewed her attack. „ . ' '." ■ The* "Duchess - continues • unspeakably kind ' towards me; sometimes she is too polite, and ' then I do not' rest- until she has becoma less' so. She' wished^ for example; that when she and the Princess drove out- I* should ait by her side and the Princess at the back. Several times I could ' not prevent it, but at last she has given in and say s ' on occasions with a laugh at Her daughter,;!' Sit by me since Fraulein' Lehzen wishes it to be, so." But Ido not hesitate 'to remark to the little one, whom I am most anxious not to spoil, that • this consideration is not on her account because she is still a child, but that my respect for her mother disposes me to decline the seat;. , The Duchess ' submits ' herself in a most Christian spirit to her loss, though she, less than anyone, can forget the Duke as can anyone who knew' him. Meanwhile little Viotoria'is a great comfort to her mother, for she bears a great resemblance to her father, as indeed to mo3t of the royal family, 'and is justly thought to be beautiful. •' -. I now know the whole of the royal family with the exception of the King. * Since the death of the Duke he has not yet been at the Duchess', fie is godfather to the little Victoria. The grateful pupil maintained a close intimacy ,with the German governess, even after she had ascended the- throne', of England, and indeed keptjher near her for many years. • - The return later on of the Baroness to her, German home could -not break the' 'bonds of: mutual love- which the years of happy intercourse had fostered. ' 1 Queen "Victoria, who" has always evinced ' the greatest interest r in all "who have been privileged to cameinto.personal contact with her, retained, a. warm and faithful rememt the brance of her dear instructress. When, in the year 1845, she spent some happy days with Prince Albert in Gotha, she noted' in her diary what a particular joy it was to her ■ " that she could see her." again," — for she had hurried from Buckeburg in order to greet the Queen on German soil. On the 12th of September 1870, the Queen noted in her diary the death of the aged Lehzen, with words' of rare affection 1 : ■ " She never< allowed herself a single holiday. I worshipped her; at the same time, I had unbounded respect for her. .She seemed really to think only of me." — Leisure Hour.'