AMERICAN GOSSIP ON THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 436, 7 October 1869, Page 3

AMERICAN GOSSIP ON THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND.

<•• — -■■ {From the Correspondent ofthe Boston Journal.) In domestic life her Majesty sets an example that the nobility and the wealthy classes wculd do well to .imitate. The time not passed in the affairs of the State is passed in domestic duties, for the Queen eats no idle bread. Her breakfast hour is eight o'clock. This is the social meal of England. The Queen meets her guests at the breakfast table with the unaffected ease of a high-born lady. Motherly, unaffected, and considerate, all are put at their ease. Letters intended for the family and guests are put at the plate of each, and it is no breach of decorum to examine them. She is the woman of her household at her breakfast table, and not the Queen of State. The dinner is a more stately affair. The Queen attends personally to her household, to the employment and discharge of servants, to the expenses, the wages, and I all that pertain to the disbursement of funds. Sewing, knitting, visiting the poor and sick, her Majesty always has a round that she goes, to employ the time not officially occupied as a sovereign. She is the hardest worked woman in England. Her official duties usually commence at seven o'clock in the morning, one hour before breakfast. Wherever she is, despatches are sent daily by messengers, who ride in flrst-ciass cars, hearing what are called baskets. The papers from all departments are submitted to her. The baskets are dark morocco boxes, afoot in length. These are sent from Downing street, the Admiralty, the Home Department, the Head ot the Army, &c. Each Dasket is locked by the Minister who sends it. A card hanging from the inside contains the hame of the Minister. Every train to Windsor,

Balmoral, and Osborne carries messengers, : with these boxes. The Queen and Minister alone can unlock them, for she signs nothing ! which she does not read. Every bill, Act, treaty, document, petition, or paper requiring her name is subjected to personal attention. Her Majesty is admitted to be one of the best business women in the kingdom. Each day's business is finished before the day closes. Usually the messenger waits and takes the basket, locked by her Majesty, back to the Minister from' whom it came. The Queen holds a ready pen, aud carries on her personal correspondence, which is very large. She pays her own postage, like any lady in the land. " She has always given personal attention to her children, and their religious training has been the object of much solicitude and care. Her favourite pastime at Balmoral is among the lowly and the sick, with whom she talks, reads, prays, and leaves medicine, food, money, and little tokens of her regard. .....'•