THE QUEEN'S NEW BOOK.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1386, 11 April 1884, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S NEW BOOK.

A KECORD OF DOMESTIC LIFELondon, February 11. Th« Queen's new book was distri buted to the Press this morning. It consists of disconnected diary from August 27, 1862, to September 1883, with a long lapse from October 1872 to final date, covering the period of transition from the administration of Beaconsfiold to that of Gladstone. The entire book is devotfd to domestic family affairs. The political allusions are only incidental.. ..The illustrations

are numerous, and include portraits of 1 the Queen, and Princesses Eleanor, < Louise, and Beatrice. There is also a I portrait of Grant, the Queen's bodyservant, and one of her attendant, the late Joun Brown. There are pictures of two of the Queen's coolie dogs — Sharp and Noble — and several views of scenes in the Highlands from sketches by the Princess Beatrice. In the preface the royal authoress says : : " Remembering the feeling with which our ' Life in ihe Highlands' was received, the writer thinks the present volume may equally awaken sympathy, as, while describing a very altered ; life, it shows how her sad and suffering heart was soothed and cheered by the excursions and incidents it accouuts, as well as by the simple mountaineers, from whom she lparned many lessons of resignation and faith in the quiet and beautiful Highlands." DEDICATION TO THE SCOTCH. After the dedication •• To the royal Highlanders, and especially to the memory of my faithful attendant and friend, John Brown," the diary opens with an account of the building of the memorial cairn in honour of the; Prince Consort. It reads as follows: "We started off in a little pony chaise, led by Brown, Bertie, the Prince of Wales, in front, Eleanor and Louise ou ponies, and with the two little boys, Arthur and Leopold, I actually drove the little carriage to the very top of Craig Lowrigan, Grant and Duncan pushing the carriage behind, with sweet baby Beatrice. We found at the top the view so fine, the day so bright, and the weather so beautifully pink but no pleasure, no joy — all dead. There at the top is the foundation of the cairn to be erected to my precious Albert. I and my poor orphans placed stones on it, and our initials are to be placed on the stones all round it." Several succeeding entriss mention other visits to the Prince's cairn, along with the family records and remarks of domestics. The following may serve as an example of the latter : " When near the cairn Grant said, * I thought you would like to be here to-day on j his birthday." So entirely was ha of i the opinion that this beloved day, and even the 14th of December, the anniversary of his death, must not bo looked upon as a day of mourning. There is so much good and strong faith 1 in these simple people." In October 1863, when making an : excursion from Balmoral to Clova, the I carriage was overturned, the face and ! right hand of the Queen were bruised, Brown's knees were badly hu*t. The succeeding entries refer to Brown's legs badly cut, and he said nothing about it, but to-day one became so inflamed and swelled so much that he could hardly move. The doctor said he must keep it up as much as possible ■ and walk very little, but did uot forbid his going out with carriage. I : did not go in the morning," The i next day, October 12, the Queen writes : " Brown's leg is much better. The doctor thought he could walk over , the hill to-morrow." MEMOIRS OR PRINCE ALBERT. . When making her first visit to Glas salt Shiel Mountain Lodge in 1868 the ; diary descinbes the housewarming as follows : " Brown came to say that all I the servants were ready. There were ! present — Louise, Arthur, Jane, Lady ' Churchill, and a number of domestics ! and police. We made 19 altogether. Five animated reels were danced, in which all but myself joined. After the first reel a whisky toddy was brought for everyone, and John Brown begged that I would drink to the fire-kindling. The merry, pretty little ball ended at 11 o'clock, but the men went on siug- '■ ing in the servants' room for some I time, all vAry happy, but sad thoughts filled my heart, both before dinner •; and when I retired. I thought of -my [ darling husband, whom I fancied I ; must see, and who always wished to build here. Then the sad thought i struck me that it was my first widow's house." LOBNB AND LOUISE. On October 3, 1870, the Prince-,'; Louise became engaged to the Marquis of Lome. The event took place, the Queen says, dining a walk from Glassalt Shiel to Dim Loch, where the Princess had gone with Lady Ely, the Loid Chancellor, and Lome. "Louise, on returning at night, told me Lome had spoken of his devotion to her, and had proposed to her. She had accepted, knowing I would approve. Though I was not unprepared for this result, I felt painfully the thought of losiug her, but naturally gave my consent, and could only pray she might be happy." The sole reference to the affairs in France iv 1870 occurs in speaking of a sermon which she heard in Balmoral. A PLAINT OVER THE FBt>*CE IMPi- RIAIi. In June 1879 the Queen records the receipt of the news telling of the death of the Prince Imperial : "Brown knocked and came in. He said there was bad news, when I, iv alarm, asked 'What?' He replied, ' The yonng French Prince is killed.' I could not take it in, and asked several times. Beatrice then came in with a telegram in her hand and said, ;Oh 1 the Prince Imperial is killed.' I feel a thrill of horror now as I write the words. I put my hand to my head and I cried out 'No? no? it can't be true.' Then dear Beatrice, who cried very much, as I did too, gave me the telegram. To die in such an awfnl horrible way 1 Poor dear Empress 1 Her only, only child — her all — gone 1 I was quite beside myself. Brown was so distressed. Everyone was quite stunned.- Little sleep did I get at thinking of the poor Empress, who did not yet know it. The prince was good and so much beloved. To think of that dear young man — the apple of his mother's eye, born and nurtured in purple — iy*ng thus, is too ie^rfal,

too awful. And it is inexplicable an dreadful that others should not have turned round and fought for him 1'