THIRTY YEARS OF THE REIGN OF VICTORIA.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 156, 8 May 1873, Page 2

THIRTY YEARS OF THE REIGN OF VICTORIA.

PEBSONAI* BLCOLLECTION3 BY JOHN TIMBB. VI. In 1811, while tho citizens of London were keeping their time-honoured 9th of November, there came unto them the glorious intelligence of tho birth at Buckingham Palace of tho heir-apparent to tho .British Cro .\ n. As the citizens and their guests sat at their high festival in tho .Guildhall in tlio evening, great was their jubilation at this auspicious event ; and, although their ancient banquetirig-rponi has been the scene of many stimng events in our history, rarely has there been among them one of such significance' and interesting nasociation. Royal Highness was created Prnve of Wales anu 1 Earl of Oiicster, bv patent, on tho Bth Decomber following ; the magnates of Heralds' College having determined the arms to be borne by the Prince, and inquired into the long-disputed origin of the famous "Prince of Wales'? Feathers," tho most picturesquo badge with which we arc jiiow so familiar. The .christening of the Prince of Wales took place in Si George's Clinpul, \Vind3or, on the 21th of January, 1812 The King of Prussia was present a3 sponsorj.ond J;he reeeptior. of his Majesty at Greenwich, vu ajnoving ceromony. The Kins; had hardly* placed 'his foot; an' English ground when l J rinco Albort talked hastily lonvurd, and-grdapingfJiis Majesty's hand with t\iQ most ardent warmth, bade the Prussian King^a cwrdial welwine to England/- His Majesty ■ was equally affected, and retained tbe-P-rinco's hand for nearly halt a miriute in his own. The Prince, with a fine sense of feeling that did him 1 the 'highest honour, afterwards drew back, and advancing to tho 'Duke of Wellington, who was some little distance behind, took Jiis Grace by the hand, 1 and presented him to the King, who, in tho most earnest 'manner, grasped his Grace's hand, and hastily inquu-ed after his health. Those incidents were not lost upon the public spectators, who cheered' most , vociferously. In short it was clear, from the manner in which tho, whole ceremony was conducted, that the people of England still loved .the pomp and ]>ower and pride of royalty,, and — ',' ' '•" To feast the eye with ceremonial greatness." So highly decorated tin edifice as St George's Chapel at Windsor" needed but UtitTo decoration for the baptismal ceremony; and little was attempted. JJcforc the altar was raised a di'as, or haut 2>as, in the r 'centre 'of which was placed tho baptismal font 1 , on a purpln felvet and gold ottoman. This font consists of a golde.asnl.vis on-'wbich rests a ppdestaj and bowl used nt the christemn-j* of Charles If, whence rises a lotus-leaved vase containing' tho water. Semi-oircularly on bhe''haut pas were placed twelve clinirs and fald-stools of purple anil gold. Upon tho altar were arranged the communion semcos of the Chapel Royal St James's and'Sfc George's, comprising sit salvers, eight largo tankards, and v flagons, two cups, and teii smaller vessels of gold* 6r~silver v gilt. , The entire iloor of tho'chapcl was coy§fQ^rVfj.tlija ) pfpQ^i cirppt, ornamented With tho Star of the Order of the Garter, and the Cross or Shield of £n» George. ' ' ! At half-past twelve o'clock tho royal procession left tho quadrangle ut the Castfo in carriages, and soon reachod Wolsoy's Hall. Shortly afterwards, the 1 Archbishop of; Canter-, bury entered the platform ftmd'st j6cl before the font, and was joined by the Arohbishop of York, (ho "Bishops of London, Norwich, Winchester, and Oxford, and tho Dean and Canons of Windsor.' Tlie roial procession thcsi left Wolsoy'B Hall, the Queen an -1 Prince Albert aiid their attendants filing off and entering- tho choir by the north door, to the right ;* and the 'King of Prussia and suite, the Duchessos of Kent 'and Cambridge, and the Duke an <l Princess Augusta of Cambridge, entering by the opposite or southern door. The Queen, in- a few seconds, appeared, conducted by Prince Albert, and preceeded by the Lord Chamberlain and Master of the Household, when the company rose and tho band played the March from " Joseph." The Queen wore the r«bes of Sovereign of the Order of the Garter, and a circlet of diamonds. Her Majesty was supported by Prince Albert, the Duke' of Sussex, Prince George of Cambridge, and Princes Ferdinand and Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. The Duke of Wellington stood behind, her Majesty's chair, bearing the Sword of State. The march having been concluded, the Archbishop of Canterbury, standing behind the font, and supported as before, commenced rtading tho baptismal service, during the greater (part of which the Queen, Prince Albert, and the King of Prussia, and the oiJher royal ' sponsors, repeated the uwal responses in an- audible tone-of voice. In the evening a magnificent banquet was served in St. George's Hall to one hundred and forty 1 distinguished guests, »> servant in the royallivery being tatfind each chair. The christening cake was thirty inchos.in diameter, and with its figure and ornaments -stood '"aboiife four feet high. In the evening took place a grand concert. In the town of Windsor tho joyous event of the day was variously celebrated. ,In commemoration of the eventful day the King of Prussia, while yet in England, resolved to dedicate' to his rpjral gadwn a splendid baptismal shield, which, in ids chadesign, should correspond with the importance of the Act of the Church performed, on, tho above day, and likewise be worthy of tho state of German art. On the King's return to Berlin, this design was. carried into execution. In thecentre of the shield the artist has placed tho figure of Him who is Himself tho Way, the Truth, and the< Life, and,who, forms the central point of? tho CJiristiau faith aud life, and to whom nil has reference that is represented on the shield. The work was not completed until 18i-7. The surface is cast in' metal and chased ; and.) the figurps forinv an outer' circle of characteristic groups, tne details of which are ,very numerous. One of the earliest portraits of tho Prince of Wales, was painted by Sir' William Ross, R.A., and has been engraved by permission of her Majesty ; it is a beautiful specimen of that branch of art in* which Sir William Ross excelled — tho portraiture of children. Tho largo enamel, by TharbiH"n,.pf the Queen and tho young Prince, ha* likewise been engraved, and possesses an historic interest. Being now literally in tho domain of records of Hoy'alty, I may here be allowed 1 to quote * memorable instance of her Majesty's regard for her highly conscientious minister, Sir Robert Peol, following what may be regarded as a critical turn in his political career. A political gossip of that period says : — , ' "I am glad t to learn from the best authority that Sir Robert Peel begins to feel* that he has been gradually gaining influence with the Quoen ; and her manner' is certainly becoming far more gracious towards him than could hare ' been expected from the untoward circumstances under which he hod been presented tq her notice. He describes her as endowed with considerable abilities, and not only in a wonderful manner become conversant with State affairs, but also as taking an all-absorbent interest in them. • When a messenger's box is brought to 'Windsor, her countenance, which is naturally serious, brightens up immediately. She read? all the dispatches, makes her comments! and ' is really lomuch engrossed with their one idea, that she never enters into the light gossiping conversation, to'which young women are generally addicted. Peel, who at the iirst felt rather embarrassed with his young mistress, is now become more at ease with her ; and ho has so much good talent and ' toot that he soon find's a duo to her good opinion. He gained much ground with her by the adroit manner in .which he offered to Prince Albert the presidency of a new society of arts. Ht took care, first,' in a deferential manner, to consult her Majesty's 1 wishes on the subject, stating that her choice would be ' popular in the country ; and she immediately embraced the idea with great eagerness. She ordered the young princess; to be brought down to him, and treated' him with great affability. On a later occasion, when ho and Lady Peel weco invited 'to stay a few days at Windsor, her Majesty, in the course of conversation, asked him what was tho reason of his great hostility to tho system of her late Government. He immediately took advantage of this, to enter into- a detail of tho revolutionary tendency of air their measures, and the bad* spirit which they had so wantonly excited in the country — a spirit which' was "rapidly threatening the ruin of the monarchy as well as that of the country. He said that crowned heads should not only thmk of what was agreeable to their own feelings, but also what was coni ducive to the welfare of their posterity. It was in itself a contradiction, that sovereigns should ho democrats, or encourage these principles m their own^ dominions. That in another month, her Majesty might, probably, give birth to a , son, to wJiom it must be the object of her anxiety to leave her crown as a sure and peaceful inheritance ; and how could that bo accomplished by following the system of concession and revolution, into which she had been gradually led under tho false hope of obtaining a short-lived and Uncertain popularity, at the expense of undermining the great props of the Constitution of the Church and State P As Peel has great eloqueney and fluency, it may be supposed that these arguments could not fail to have a certain weight." Baron Bunsen, in his " Privato Memoirs," says of tlio Queen's poignant grief for the loss of this great statesman : ,— " July 3, 1850. The all-absorbing subject of interest has 1 been collecting and learning everything tljat , can be known abont'Sir Robert Peel. Thonewspapers give an interesting smnmary of his. life, and some of them were edged with bl jiyk, out of respuct for him. The Queen's grief is excessive -, she is in a constant flood of tears, and with the greatest difficulty could be prevailed upon to hold the levde which, having been fixed for this day, could not be put off. Many expressions of hers are quoted, showing her full sense of theloss she herself and the countuy have sustained : 'I have lost not meroly a friend, but a father.' "The loss of Peel can never be supplied. The Queen and 'Prince have shown, on the occasion of this calamity, their o\Vn high tending ill human nature Altogether, whnt a treasure of sincerity, truth, and noble feeling is there in this royal pair ! A great impression has ' been made upon tho -Prince of Prussia by such a degree of mourning for a public .servant!" ' , I cannot refrain from adding another testimonial to tho high character of Peel from ore of the most trustworthy men of hii time. When the Duko of Wellington tsought to express what seemed to him most admirable in the character of Sir Robert Peel, he said "hetocufthemosttrutJifulmanhehad'eoer knoitin," adding, "I was Jong connected with him in public life. We were both in the councils of our Sovereign together, and I had long the honour to enjoy his private friendship. In' all the' course of my acquaintance with Sir Robert Peel I nevci* knew u man in whosd truth and justice I hud U uioro

lively confidence, or in whom I saw a more invariable desi: to proinoto Lho public service. In tbo wbolo course «ter communication with him, I never know an instance in wm< ho did not show the strongest attachment to truth ; and never saw^ia the whole course ot my life, the smallest rqjW for auipeoting that ho stated anything which ho did n frankly believe to be the fact."