The Beautiful Life and Illustrious Reign of Queen Victoria

by John Rusk

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE YOUNG QUEEN'S REIGN. Victoria is Informed That She is Queen?How She Received the Tidings?Her First Conn ell?Her Address to the Dignitaries?Condition of the Empire at the Time of Her Accession?Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister?The Qneen Removes to Buckingham Palace?Amelioration of the Criminal Lavs?Dally Life of Her Majesty?Insurrection In the Two Canadas?Reform of the Canadian Constitution?The Coronation?War in China?Difficulties of the Young Sovereign. LORD ARCHBISHOP HOWLEY and Lord Conyngham reached Kensington Palace about five o'clock in the morning, and knocked, rang, and beat at the doors several times before they could gain admission. When at length the porter was aroused, the visitors were shown into one of the lower rooms, where a long time passed 'without any attention being paid to them. Growing impatient, they rang the bell, and desired that the attendant on the Princess Victoria might be sent to inform her Royal Highness that they requested an audience on business of importance. Another long delay ensued, and again the bell was rung, that some explanation might be given of the difficulty which appeared to exist. On the Princess' attendant making her appearance, she declared that Her Royal Highness was in so sweet a sleep that she could not venture to disturb her. It was now evident that stronger measures must be taken, and one of the visitors said, We have come on business of state to the Queen, and even her sleep must give way to that. The attendant disappeared, and a few minutes afterwards the young Sovereign came into the room in a loose white nightgown and shawl, her nightcap thrown off, and her hair falling upon her shoulders, her feet in slippers, tears in her eyes, but perfectly collected and dignified. This piquant bit of descript...

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1901