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Title: The Life of King Edward VII

Author: J. Castell Hopkins

Release date: April 20, 2008 [eBook #25112]
                Most recently updated: January 3, 2021

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF KING EDWARD VII ***




Produced by Stacy Brown, Juliet Sutherland and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net







[Illustration: EDWARD VII, KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN
AND IRELAND AND OF THE BRITISH DOMINIONS BEYOND THE SEAS, AND EMPEROR OF
INDIA

Born November 9, 1841. Ascended the throne January 22, 1901. Died May 6,
1910]




THE LIFE OF KING EDWARD VII

WITH A SKETCH OF THE CAREER OF KING GEORGE V

By J. CASTELL HOPKINS, F.S.S.

1910

_Author of "Queen Victoria, Her Life and Reign;" "Life and Work of
Mr. Gladstone;" "The Story of the Dominion", &c., &c._

Profusely Illustrated




Copyright 1910, by
W. E. Scull.




PREFACE


During a number of years' study of British institutions in their modern
development and of British public life in its adjustment to new and
changing conditions I have felt an ever-growing appreciation of the
active influence exercised by the late Sovereign of the British Empire
upon the social life and public interests of the United Kingdom and an
ever-increasing admiration for his natural abilities and rare
tactfulness of character. King Edward the Seventh, in a sixty years'
tenure of the difficult position of Heir to the British Throne, built
into the history of his country and Empire a record of which he and his
people had every reason to be proud. He had for many years the
responsibilities of a Royal position without the actual power; the
public functions of a great ruler without the resources usually
available; the knowledge, experience and statecraft of a wise Sovereign
without Regal environment.

The Prince of Wales, however, rose above the apparent difficulties of
his position and for more than a quarter of a century emulated the wise
example of his princely father--Albert the Good--and profited by the
beautiful character and unquestioned statesmanship of his august mother.
As with all those upon whose life beats the glare of ever-present
publicity and upon whose actions the press of friendly and hostile
nations alike have the privilege of ceaseless comment, the Heir to the
British Throne had to suffer from atrocious canards as well as from
fulsome compliments. Unlike many others, however, he afterwards lived
down the falsehoods of an early time; conquered by his clear, open life
the occasional hostility of a later day; and at the period of his
accession to the Throne was, without and beyond question, the best liked
Prince in Europe--the most universally popular man in the United
Kingdom and its external Empire. Upon the verge of His Majesty's
Coronation there occurred that sudden and dramatic illness which proved
so well the bravery and patience of the man, and increased so greatly
the popularity and _prestige_ of the Monarch.

Since then the late King has yearly grown in the regard of his people
abroad, in the respect of other rulers and nations, in the admiration of
all who understood the difficulties of his position, the real force of
his personality and influence, the power with which he drew to the
Throne--even after the remarkable reign of Victoria the Good--an
increased affection and loyalty from Australians and South Africans and
Canadians alike, an added confidence and loyal faith in his judgment
from all his British peoples whether at home or over seas.

In the United States, which King Edward always regarded with an
admiration which the enterprise and energy of its people so well
deserved, he in turn received a degree of respect and regard which did
not at one time seem probable. To him, ever since the visit to the
Republic in 1860, a closer and better relation between the two great
countries had been an ideal toward which as statesman and Prince and
Sovereign he guided the English-speaking race.

The reader of these pages will, I hope, receive a permanent impression
of the career and character of one who has been at once a popular
Prince, a great King, a worthy head of the British Empire and of his own
family, a statesman who has won and worn the proud title of "The Royal
Peacemaker."

J. CASTELL HOPKINS.

_Toronto, Canada, 1910._




TABLE OF CONTENTS


  CHAPTER I.
  The Crown and the Empire                                 17

  CHAPTER II.
  Early Years and Education of the Prince                  31

  CHAPTER III.
  Royal Tour of British America and the United States      47

  CHAPTER IV.
  The Royal Marriage                                       69

  CHAPTER V.
  Early Home Life and Public Duties                        79

  CHAPTER VI.
  Travels in the East                                      99

  CHAPTER VII.
  Serious Illness of the Prince                           117

  CHAPTER VIII.
  The Prince of Wales in India                            131

  CHAPTER IX.
  Thirty Years of Public Work                             162

  CHAPTER X.
  Special Functions and Interests                         181

  CHAPTER XI.
  The Prince and His Family                               191

  CHAPTER XII.
  The Prince as a Social Leader                           203

  CHAPTER XIII.
  The Prince as a Sportsman                               211

  CHAPTER XIV.
  Habits and Character of the Prince                      218

  CHAPTER XV.
  The Prince as an Empire Statesman                       234

  CHAPTER XVI.
  The Prince as Heir Apparent                             248

  CHAPTER XVII.
  Accession to the Throne                                 268

  CHAPTER XVIII.
  The First Year of the New Reign                         286

  CHAPTER XIX.
  Empire Tour of the New Heir to the Throne               305

  CHAPTER XX.
  The King and the South African War                      351

  CHAPTER XXI.
  Preparations for the Coronation                         368

  CHAPTER XXII.
  Serious Illness of the King                             380

  CHAPTER XXIII.
  The Coronation                                          391

  CHAPTER XXIV.
  The Reign of King Edward                                420

  CHAPTER XXV.
  The King as a Diplomatist and Peace-maker               432

  CHAPTER XXVI.
  The Death of King Edward                                440

  CHAPTER XXVII.
  The Solemn Funeral of the King                          451

  CHAPTER XXVIII.
  The New King and His Imperial Responsibilities          461




[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA
  At the time of her marriage]

[Illustration: KING EDWARD AS PRINCE OF WALES IN 1879]

[Illustration: MARRIAGE OF EDWARD AND ALEXANDRA, THEN PRINCE AND
PRINCESS OF WALES, 1863
  From a painting at Windsor by W. P. Firth R.A.]




CHAPTER I.

The Crown and the Empire


The great development of a political nature in the British Empire of the
nineteenth century was the complete harmony which gradually evolved
between the Monarchy and a world-wide democracy. This process was
all-important because it eliminated an element of internal discord which
has destroyed more than one nation in the past; because it permitted the
peaceful progress of scattered states to continue through the passing
years without having questions of allegiance to seriously hamper their
growth; because it trained political thought along lines of stability
and continuity and made loyalty and liberty consistent and almost
synonymous terms; because it made the Crown the central symbol of the
Empire's unity, the visible object of a world-wide allegiance, the
special token of a common aspiration and a common sentiment amongst many
millions of English-speaking people--the subject of untutored reverence
and unquestioned respect amongst hundreds of millions of other races.


THE POSITION OF THE CROWN

The chief factor in this development was the late Queen Victoria, and to
the inheritance of the fabric thus evolved came a son who was educated
amid the constitutional environment in which she lived and was trained
in the Imperial ideas which she so strongly held and so wisely impressed
upon her statesmen, her family and her people. King Edward came into
responsibilities which were greater and more imposing than those ever
before inherited by a reigning sovereign. He had not only the great
example and life of his predecessor as a model and as a comparison; not
only the same vast and ever-changing and expanding Empire to rule over;
not only a similar myriad-eyed press and public to watch his every
expression and movement; but he entered with his people upon a new
century in which one of the first and most prominent features is a decay
in popular respect for Parliament and a revival of the old-time love for
stately display, for ceremonial and for the appropriate trappings of
royalty. With this evident and growing influence of the Crown as a
social and popular factor is the knowledge which all statesmen and
constitutional students now possess of the personal influence in
diplomacy and statecraft which was wielded by the late Queen Victoria
and which the experience and tact of the new Monarch enabled him to also
test and prove. Side by side with these two elements in the situation
was the conviction which has now become fixed throughout the Empire that
the Crown is the pivot upon which its unity and future co-operation
naturally and properly turns; that the Sovereign is the one possible
central figure of allegiance for all its scattered countries and
world-wide races; that without the Crown as the symbol of union and the
King as the living object of allegiance and personal sentiment the
British realms would be a series of separated units.

These facts lend additional importance to the character and history of
the Monarchy; to the influences which have controlled the life and
labours of King Edward; to the abilities which have marked his career
and the elements which have entered into the making of his character. He
may not in succeeding years of his reign have declared war like an
Edward I., or made secret diplomatic arrangements like a Charles II. He
may not have manipulated foreign combinations like a William III., or
dismissed his Ministers at pleasure like a George III., or worked one
faction in his Kingdom against another like a Charles I. None of these
things have been attempted, nor will his successor desire to undertake
them. But none the less there lay in his hand a vast and growing
power--the personal influence wielded by a popular and experienced
Monarch over his Ministry, his Court, his Diplomatic Staff throughout
the world, and his high officers in the Army and Navy. The prestige of
his personal honours or personal wishes and the known Imperialism of his
personal opinions must have had great weight in controlling Colonial
policy in London; while his experience of European and Eastern
statecraft through many years of close intercourse with foreign and home
statesmen undoubtedly had a marvelous effect in the control of British
policy abroad.

To the external Empire, as constituted at the beginning of the twentieth
century, the Crown is a many-sided factor. The personal and diplomatic
influence of the Sovereign is obvious and was illustrated by Queen
Victoria in such historic incidents as the personal relations with King
Louis Philippe which probably averted a war with France in the early
forties; in the later friendship with Louis Napoleon which helped to
make the Crimean War alliance possible; in the refusal by the Queen to
assent to a certain _casus belli_ despatch during the American War which
saved Great Britain from being drawn into the struggle; in her influence
upon the Cabinet in connection with the Schleswig-Holstein question,
which was exerted to such an extent (according to Lord Malmesbury) as to
have averted a possible conflict with Germany.

The political power of the Crown and its wearer is proven to exist in
the dismissal of Lord Palmerston for his rash recognition of the French
_coup d'état_; in the occasional exercise of the right of excluding
certain individuals from the Government--notably the case of Mr.
Labouchere a decade ago; in such direct exercise of influence as the
Queen's intervention in the matter of the Irish Church Disestablishment
Bill as related by the late Archbishop Tait. The Imperial influence of
the Sovereign has been shown in more than merely indirect ways. The
Queen's refusal to approve the first draft of the Royal Proclamation for
India in 1858 and her changes in the text were declared by Lord Canning
to have averted another insurrection. Her personal determination to send
the Prince of Wales to Canada in 1860 and her own visit to Ireland in
one of the last years of her reign were cases of actual initiative and
active policy. South Africa owed to the late Queen the several visits of
the Duke of Edinburgh and the exhibition of her well-known sympathy with
the views of Sir George Grey--who, had he been allowed a free hand,
would have consolidated and united those regions many years ago and
averted the recent disastrous struggle.

Australia owed to her the compliment of various visits from members of
the Royal family, the kindly personal treatment of its leaders and a
frequently expressed desire for its unity in one great and growing
nationality--British in allegiance and connection and power; Australian
in local authority, patriotism and development. India was indebted to
its Queen-Empress for continued sympathy and wise advice to its
Governors-General; for the phraseology in the Proclamation after the
Mutiny, already referred to, which rendered the new conditions of
allegiance comprehensible and satisfactory to the native mind; for the
important visit of the Prince of Wales to that country in 1877; and for
the support given to Lord Beaconfield's Imperial policy of asserting
England's place in the world, of purchasing the Suez Canal shares in
order to help in keeping the route to the East and of paving the way for
that acquisition of Egypt and the Soudan which has since made Cecil
Rhodes' dream of a great British-African empire a realizable
probability. The Colonies, as a whole, owed to Queen Victoria a
condition of government which made peaceful constitutional development
possible; which extinguished discontent and the elements or embers of
republicanism; which gradually eliminated the separative tendencies of
distance and slowly merged the Manchester school ideas of the past into
the Imperialism of the present; which made evolution rather than
revolution the guiding principle of British countries in the nineteenth
century.


THE MONARCHY IN HISTORY

How has the Crown become such an important factor in the modern
development of British peoples? The answer is not found altogether in
personal considerations nor even in those of loyalty to somewhat vague
and undefined principles of government. These considerations have had
great weight but so also has the traditional and actual power of the
Monarchy in moulding institutions and ideas during a thousand years of
history. To a much greater extent than is generally understood in these
democratic days has this latter influence been a factor. Through nearly
all British history the Sovereign has either represented the popular
instincts of the time or else led in the direction of extended territory
and power under the individual influence of royal valour or statecraft.
The history of England has not, of course, been confined to the
biography of its Kings or Queens, but it would be as absurd to trace
those annals without extended study of the rulers and their characters
as it would be to write the records without reference to the people and
popular progress. And the Monarchy has done much for the British Isles.
Its influence has effected their whole national life in war and in
peace, in religion and in morals, in literature and in art. The
individual achievements and actions of some of these rulers constitute
the very foundation stones in the structure of modern British power.
Others again have helped to build the walls of the national edifice
until the Sovereign at the beginning of the twentieth century has
become the pivot upon which turns the constitutional unity of a great
Empire and which forms the only possible centre for a common allegiance
amongst its varied peoples.

At first this monarchical principle was embodied in the form of military
power, was based upon feudal loyalty, and was associated with the noble
ideals, but somewhat reckless practices, of mediæval chivalry. The
victories of Egbert and Alfred the Great transformed the Heptarchy into
a substantial English Kingdom. The military skill of William the
Conqueror gave an opportunity to blend the graces of Norman chivalry,
and a somewhat higher form of civilization, with the rougher virtues of
the Saxon character. Henry II. personally illustrated this combination,
with his ruddy English face and strong physical powers, and impressed
himself upon British history by the conquest of Ireland. Richard Coeur
de Lion gave his country many famous pages of crusading in the East, and
embodied in his life and character the adventurous and daring spirit of
the age. Edward I. dominated events by his energy and ability, subdued
Wales, and for a time conquered the Kingdom of Scotland. Edward III., in
his long reign of fifty years, carried the British flag over the fields
of France, and won immortality at the battles of Crecy and Poictiers.
Henry V. gained the victory of Agincourt, and won and wore the title of
King of France. Then came the Wars of the Roses and the turbulent
termination to a period of six centuries during which the English
Monarchs had represented the military spirit of their times, and had led
in the rough process of struggle and conquest out of which was growing
the United Kingdom of to-day.

With the reign of Henry VIII. commenced the period of religious
change--the struggles for religious liberty against ecclesiastical
dominance. Limited as were the achievements of Henry and Elizabeth, in
this respect, by prevailing bigotry and narrowness of view as well as
by diverse personal characteristics, they none the less did great
service to the country and the people. The rule of Cromwell--who, in the
exercise of Royal power and the possession of regal personal ability,
may properly be included in such a connection--gave that liberty of
worship to a portion of the masses with which previous Sovereigns had
more especially endowed the classes. During the reign of the Stuarts
religious dissensions and ecclesiastical controversies and intermittent
persecutions, illustrated the predominant passion of the period; and
forced the weak or indifferent monarch of the moment to be an
unconscious factor in the progress towards that general toleration which
the Revolution of 1688 and the crowning of William and Mary finally
accomplished. But, whether it was Henry persecuting the monks, or
Elizabeth the Roman Catholics, or Mary the Protestants, or Cromwell the
Episcopalians, or Charles II. the Dissenters, each ruler was being led,
to a great degree, by the undercurrent of surrounding bigotry and was,
in the main, representative of a strong, popular sentiment of the time.
Henry voiced the national uprising against Rome, just as the second
Charles embodied popular reaction against the Puritans, and as William
of Orange was enabled to lead a successful opposition to the gloomy and
personal bigotry of the last of the Royal Stuarts.

The third period of British monarchical history in this connection was
that marked by the growth toward constitutional government under the
sway of the House of Hanover. Coupled with this was the equally
important foundation of a great Colonial empire, and the loss of a large
portion of it in the reign of George III. But the development of
constitutional rule under the Georges should not be confounded with the
growth of the popular and Imperial system which exists to-day. The
latter is simply a progressive evolution out of the aristocratic and
oligarchical government of the Hanoverian period, just as that system
had been a step from the kingly power of the Tudors and the Stuarts,
which, in turn, had arisen upon the ruins of feudalism and military
monarchical power. It is this gradual growth, this "gently broadening
down from precedent to precedent," which makes the British constitution
of to-day the more or less perfected result of centuries of experience
and struggle. But that result has only been made possible by a peculiar
series of national adjustments in which the power of the Monarchs has
been modified from time to time to suit the will of the people, while
the ability of individual Sovereigns has been at the same time given
full scope in which to exercise wise kingcraft or pronounced military
skill. It has, in fact, been a most elastic system in its application
and to that elasticity has been due its prolonged stability of form
under a succession of dynastic or personal changes.


THE CONSTITUTION AND THE MONARCHY

It is a common mistake to minimize the importance and value of the
aristocratic rule by which the government of England was graded down
from the high exercise of royal power under the Tudors and Stuarts to
that beneficial exercise of royal influence which marks the opening of
the present century period. To the aristocracy of those two centuries is
mainly due the fact that the growth from paternal government and
personal rule to direct popular administration was a gradual
development, through only occasional scenes of storm and stress, instead
of involving a succession of revolutions alternating with civil war.
Somers and Godolphin, Walpole and Chatham, Pitt and Shelburne, Eldon and
Canning, Grey and Liverpool, Wellington and Durham, Melbourne and
Palmerston, were all of this aristocratic class, though of varying
degrees in rank and title and with varied views of politics. They filled
the chief places in the Government of the country during a period when
the people were being slowly trained in the perception and practice of
constitutional and religious liberty. At the best such processes are
difficult and often prove bitter tests of national endurance; and it was
well for Great Britain that the two centuries under review produced a
class of able and cultured men who--though naturally aristocratic at
heart--were upon the whole honestly bent upon furthering the best
interests of the masses. And this despite the mistakes of a Danby or a
North.

Yet, even towards the close of this period of preparation, popular
government, as now practised, was neither understood by the immediate
predecessors of Queen Victoria, nor by the nobles who presided over the
changing administrations of the day. It was not clearly comprehended by
Liberals like Russell and Grey; it was feared by Wellington and the
Tories as being republican and revolutionary; it was dreaded by many who
could hardly be called Tories and who, in the condition of things then
prevalent, could scarcely even be termed Loyalists. Writing in 1812,
Charles Knight, the historian, described the fierce national struggle of
the previous twenty years with Napoleon and expressed a longing wish for
the prop of a sincere and spontaneous loyalty to the throne in the
critical times that were to follow. But such a sentiment of loyalty was
not then expressed, and could hardly have been publicly evoked by a
ruler of the type of George IV., whether governing as Prince-Regent or
as King.

There is, however, no doubt of its having existed, and there seems to
have been, even through those troubled years, an inborn spirit of
loyalty to the Crown as being the symbol of the State and of public
order. Its wearer might make mistakes and be personally unpopular, but
he represented the nation as a whole and must consequently be respected.
This powerful feeling has often in English history made the bravest and
strongest submit to slights from their Sovereign, and has won the most
disinterested devotion and energetic action from men who have never
even seen the Monarch in whose personal character there was sometimes
little to evoke or deserve such faith and sacrifice. For ages this
loyalty had been the preservative of society in England, and it is still
indispensable to the tranquility and permanence of a state, whether
given in its full degree to the Sovereign of Great Britain, or in a more
divided sense to the elective and partisan head of a modern republic.

In the time of the Georges, as well as in the middle ages and at the
present moment, loyalty was and is a sincere and honest patriotism,
refining the instincts and elevating the actions of those who were
willing to waive self-interest on any given occasion in order to guard
what they believed to be the true basis of national stability and order.
Certainly, a Monarchy which could survive the wars and European
revolutions, the internal discontents and personal deficiencies, of the
period which commenced with the reign of George I. and closed with that
of William IV., must have possessed some inherent strength greater than
may be gathered from many of the superficial works which pass for
history. But, whatever that influence was, it does not appear to have
been personal. With the close of the reign of Queen Anne the brilliant
_prestige_ of personal authority and power wielded by the Sovereign had
passed quietly away and, up to the death of William IV. and the
accession of Victoria, had not been replaced by the personal influence
of a constitutional ruler.


PRESENT POSITION OF THE MONARCHY

Out of all these changing developments has come a military position in
which the Sovereign no longer leads his forces in war but in which he
commands a sentiment of loyalty as hearty, in the breasts of the
Colonial soldiers ten thousand miles away from his home at Windsor, as
ever did the personal presence of an Edward I., or a Richard the
Lion-Hearted. Out of them has come a religious position in which the
Sovereign is head of a particular Church and yet, as such, gives no
serious offence to masses of his subjects who belong to other faiths and
who receive through his Governments around the world absolute freedom of
religious worship--almost as a matter of course. Out of the
constitutional evolution has come the adaptation of the Monarchy to not
only new conditions but to countries separated by oceans and continents
from the mother-state, and the evolution of a system which combines
420,000,000 people under one Crown and one flag. In August, 1884, the
_Times_ spoke of a correspondent amongst the Khirgese of Central Asia
who stated that the people of that region had not the remotest idea of
where or what England was--but they had heard of Queen Victoria; and a
few years later Mr. Henry Labouchere, the inconsistent and bitter
Radical, told the _Forum_ of New York that "were a Parliamentary
candidate to address an electoral meeting on the advantages of a
republic he would be deemed a tilter at a windmill."

Such is a summary of the history and position of the British Monarchy. A
thousand years ago it combined the seven little Kingdoms of England into
one; to-day it combines the Kingdoms and Dominions and Commonwealths and
Islands of a quarter of the earth's surface into one. The power of the
Crown was once chiefly employed in making war and compelling peace by
force of arms and military skill; to-day it is largely utilized in
promoting peace and controlling diplomacy. The position of the Monarch
was once that of the head of a class, or the leader of some distinct
manifestation of public feeling, or the military chief of a great
faction; to-day it is that of embodying the power of a united people,
giving dignified interpretation to the policy of a nation, and serving
as the symbol of unity to the masses of population in an extended
empire.

One of the interesting features in the Crown's popularity and influence
is the absence of serious criticism or controversy over the expense of
its maintenance. Perhaps the only practical expression of disapproval
affecting the Monarchy heard during Queen Victoria's long reign was an
occasional grumbling as to the paucity of Court functions, the absence
of Royal splendour and expenditures from the City of London, the
sombreness and quiet which characterized the ordinary, everyday life of
the Sovereign. The total financial cost of the Monarchy has been placed
at a million pounds sterling per annum, but this total includes various
large sums which could just as properly be charged to the ordinary
governing requirements of the country without reference to the
particular form of its institutions. Against this sum may also be placed
the proceeds of the Crown Lands which were surrendered to Parliament
upon the accession of William and Mary and which had before that been
recognized as a personal estate of the Sovereign over which Parliament
had no control. In addition to these Crown Land revenues other sums were
voted as required. Upon their surrender to the nation (during the life
of each Sovereign) it has become the custom, since 1868, to vote a
permanent Civil List for the ensuing reign and out of this sum the
ordinary Court and personal expenses are supposed to be met. In the case
of Queen Victoria the amount was £385,000 a year, supplemented, however,
by other votes and special allowances to herself and the Royal family
from time to time.

Upon her accession the Queen retained out of the old Crown Lands, or
revenues, those of the Duchy of Lancaster and they have risen in value
from £20,000 to £50,000 per annum. The Royal palaces are maintained
apart from the Civil List and the building of Royal yachts and other
similar expenses are considered as additional items. The revenues of the
Duchy of Cornwall, which have always pertained to the Prince of Wales,
and the incomes or special sums voted to the members of the Royal
family, make up an amount nearly as large as the Civil List. But these
apparently large sums have not in recent years created any feeling of
dissatisfaction; nor has any been expressed save by certain individuals
of the Labouchere type, who possess little influence and less sincerity.
Upon the whole the situation in this connection possesses considerable
interest to the student of history, or of popular sentiment, as showing
how a practical, business-loving, money-making people can become devoted
to an institution which must in the nature of things be expensive and
which, in the ratio of its dignity and effectiveness as an embodiment of
growing national power, must be increasingly so as the years roll on.

The reason for this condition of feeling is the combination which the
Monarchy has during the past century come to present to the minds of the
public. Tradition and history reaching down into the hearts and lives of
the people may be considered the basic influence; a general belief in
the superiority of British institutions over all others may be stated as
a powerful conservative force; while personality and character in the
Sovereign may be described as the chief constructive element in this
process of increasing loyalty to the Crown. Convenience, custom, love of
ceremony, belief in stability and aversion to change, are lesser factors
which may be mentioned. The result is that Mr. George W. Smalley, for so
many years the American correspondent of the New York _Tribune_ in
London, could write recently in the _Century_ the belief of a foreigner
and a republican that "England is a very democratic country, but there
does not exist in England the vestige of a republican party."

King Edward, therefore, came to the throne of Great Britain and its
Empire at a time when the influence of the Sovereign was growing in
proportion as the influence and popularity of Parliament appeared to be
waning. Fifty years before his accession it was a truism to assert that
power in England was being steadily concentrated in the House of
Commons; to-day it may be said with equal truth that the position of the
Crown is growing steadily in a power which is wielded by personal
influence and popularity and which, while it touches no privilege, nor
right, nor liberty of Parliament, increases in proportion as the latter
body is relegated to the back-ground by public opinion and popular
interest. Vast responsibility, therefore, rests to-day in the hands of a
British Sovereign and the results for good or ill, depend largely upon
his character, his training, his previous career and his present sense
of duty. Alarm has even been expressed upon this point by historical
theorists such as Professor Beesly and Dr. Goldwin Smith. Certain it is,
however, that in the hands of King Edward this growing power was safe.
If prolonged experience and acquired statecraft and intimate knowledge
of his people can be considered sufficient guarantees for its exercise,
it is also safe in the hands of King George.




CHAPTER II.

Early Years and Education of the Prince


The married life of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort was one of the
happiest recorded in history or known in the private annals of
individual lives. It was a love-match from the first and it lasted to
the end as one of those beautiful illustrations of harmony in the home
which go far in a materialistic and selfish age to point to higher
ideals and to conserve the best principles of a Christian people. His
affection was shown in myriad ways of devoted care and help; her feeling
was well stated in a letter to Baron Stockmar--"There cannot exist a
purer, dearer, nobler being in the world than the Prince." From such a
union was born Albert Edward, the future King and Emperor, on November
9th, 1841. The Queen's first child had been the Princess Royal, and
there was naturally some hope that the next would be a male heir to the
Throne. There was much public rejoicing over the event which was
announced from Buckingham Palace at mid-day of the date mentioned; the
Privy Council met and ordered a thanksgiving service; the national
anthem was sung with enthusiasm in the theatres and public places;
telegrams of congratulation poured in from Princes abroad and peers and
peasants at home; and _Punch_ perpetrated verses which well illustrated
the public feeling:

    "Huzza! we've a little Prince at last
      A roaring Royal boy;
    And all day long the booming bells
      Have rung their peels of joy."

On December 8th following, the little Prince was created by
letters-patent Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester--the titles of Prince
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Saxony, Duke
of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of
the Isles and Prince, or Great Steward of Scotland, being his already by
virtue of his mother being the reigning Sovereign at the time of his
birth. During six hundred years there had been from time to time a
Prince of Wales. The first was the son of Edward I., but the title was
never made hereditary, and there have been periods, totalling altogether
288 years, in which it lay dormant. The Black Prince was perhaps the
best known of the line. The new Prince of Wales--destined to hold the
designation for nearly sixty years and to make it one of the best known
in the world--was solemnly baptized on January 25th, 1842, in St.
George's Chapel, Windsor, by the simple names of Albert Edward. The
first was after his father, the second in memory of the Queen's father,
the Duke of Kent. The scene was one of splendour, and the uniforms and
glittering orders and gleaming gems and beautiful dresses harmonized
well with the stately setting of the Chapel Royal.


THE GORGEOUS CHRISTENING CEREMONY

Besides the Royal party, which included Frederick William IV., King of
Prussia, there were a throng of Ambassadors, Knights of the Garter,
Members of the Privy Council, Peers and Peeresses, statesmen and heads
of the Church. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of
London, Winchester, Oxford and Norwich were in special attendance, and
the sponsors for the young Prince were the King of Prussia, the Duchess
of Kent (proxy for the Duchess of Saxe-Cobourg), the Duke of Cambridge
(proxy for the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha), Princess Augusta of Cambridge
(proxy for Princess Sophia) and Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Cobourg. The
cost of this gorgeous christening ceremony and attendant functions was
said to have been fully two million dollars. A part of this was,
however, due to the entertainments accorded King Frederick William IV.,
who, as the chief Protestant monarch of the Continent, was given a
particularly cordial and elaborate welcome. In connection with the
christening of the future King it is interesting to note that an
ecclesiastical newspaper, of Toronto, called _The Church_, referred to
the event on March 19th, 1842, and declared that should the Prince live
to be King he would be known as Edward VII. On February 3rd Queen
Victoria opened Parliament in person with the following as the
preliminary words in the Speech from the Throne: "I cannot meet you in
Parliament assembled without making a public acknowledgment of my
gratitude to Almighty God on account of the birth of the Prince, my son;
an event which has completed the measure of my domestic happiness and
has been hailed with every manifestation of affectionate attachment to
my person and Government by my faithful and loyal people."


CHILDHOOD OF THE PRINCE

The early events of the Prince's life were followed with much interest
by the public and with a personal and individual feeling which grew in
volume with the ever-increasing popularity of the young Queen. The Court
in those years was a gay one and events such as the Queen's famous
Plantagenet Ball of 1842; the state visit to King Louis Philippe of
France in 1843; the coming of Nicholas I., Czar of all the Russias, to
the Court of St. James in 1844, followed a little later by William,
Prince of Prussia--afterwards William I. of Germany, and by a return
visit of the King and Queen of the French; kept the social demands of
the period up to a very high pitch. Yet the quiet, careful surroundings
of an almost ideal home were given to the young Prince and to those who
afterwards came to the family circle, by a mother who, in the midst of
many national cares and private anxieties could write to her
much-respected friend and uncle--Leopold of Belgium--that "my happiness
at home, the love of my husband, his kindness, his advice, his support
and his company make up for all and make me forget all."

The Princess Victoria, afterwards for a brief year Empress of Germany,
had been born on November 21, 1840; the Prince of Wales was the next
child; the Princess Alice, who afterwards married the Grand Duke of
Hesse, was born on April 25, 1843; Prince Alfred--Duke of Edinburgh and
of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in later years--followed on August 6, 1844; the
Princess Helena came next on May 25, 1846, and afterwards became the
wife of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein; the Princess Louise, who
married the Marquess of Lorne and future Duke of Argyll, was born on
March 18, 1848; Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, followed on May 1,
1850; Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, on April 7, 1853; Princess
Beatrice, afterwards wife and widow of Prince Henry of Battenberg, was
born on April 14, 1857, and completed the Royal family for the time.

The greatest care and attention was given to the youthful Prince.
Writing to King Leopold soon after his birth--on December 7, 1841--the
Queen had said: "I wonder very much who my little boy will be like. You
will understand how fervent are my prayers, and I am sure every one's
must be, to see him resemble his father in every respect, both in body
and mind." From the earliest period the child grew into his life of
ceremony and state, but it was a process carefully graded to suit the
development of natural faculties. Nothing appears to have been allowed
to unduly burden his gradual growth in experience and knowledge and
certainly a more pleasant domestic environment and life could hardly be
imagined. At a later period his studies were so varied in character as
to excite some slight apprehension in a part of the public mind.

The first public appearance of the Prince was on February 4, 1842, when
the Queen was inspecting some troops near Windsor and the babe was held
up by his nurse from a window of the Castle so that the crowd could see
him. He has been described in many prints and stories as being a very
lively infant and child. Lady Lyttelton[1], a sister to Mrs. Gladstone,
was in charge of the Royal nursery as a sort of trusted Governess during
the first six years of his life and everything was conducted with
regularity and care. The Queen personally supervised the arrangements,
whether for instruction, pleasure or exercise, though she often had to
express in diary or letter her regret at not being able to be as much
with her children as she desired. Simplicity was, perhaps, the guiding
principle of this early training, though it was combined with a certain
amount of familiarity in matters of ceremony and formality. In
September, 1843, when the Queen and Prince Consort were in France the
Royal children were at Brighton in charge of Lady Lyttelton and the
people used to take great delight in waiting for the daily outing of the
little Prince and his sister and the presentation of a loyal salute by
the raising of hats and the waving of handkerchiefs. The child had been
taught to raise his chubby fist to his forehead in reply and a
journalist of the time veraciously declares that he did it with "evident
enjoyment and infantile dignity." A little later, on December 20th, a
party of nine Ojibbeway Indians were presented to the Queen at Windsor
Castle and the Chief gravely referred to the toddling Royal infant in
his speech as "the very big little White Father whose eyes are like the
sky that sees all things and who is fat with goodness like a winter
bear."

Another attractive event in these annals of childhood was a visit of Tom
Thumb to Buckingham Palace on March 23, 1844. Not long afterwards, on
June 5th, the little Prince saw his first Review, on the occasion of the
Emperor of Russia's visit, and clapped his hands and shouted at the
splendid spectacle. On March 24, 1846, he was given that first and
greatest pleasure of all children, a visit to the circus (Astley's). He
applauded liberally and when the clown was brought to the Royal box at
his request, the little Prince gravely shook hands with him and thanked
him "for making me laugh so much." Similar stories might be multiplied
in many pages. Every trifling incident of the Royal childhood seems,
indeed, to have been treasured by some one. Late in 1846 a visit was
made on the _Victoria and Albert_ yacht to the coast of Cornwall and,
after the landing, the Royal party went to Penrhyn where the little
Prince, as Duke of Cornwall, was formally welcomed by Mayor and
Corporation as their feudal lord. In August of the succeeding year he
was taken by the Queen and Prince Consort on a tour around the west
coast of Scotland and during a visit to Cluny Macpherson's Scottish
home, he received one of the first of a multitude of interesting
presents--a ring containing a miniature of Prince Charles Stuart. In
August 1844, he accompanied his parents on a visit to Ireland, where he
met with splendid acclamation from the people and was created Earl of
Dublin by the Queen. It has been said that the reception was so
enthusiastic as to have left a profound impression on the child's mind.

On October 30, 1849, when nearly eight years old, the Prince of Wales
performed his first public function. Accompanied by the little Princess
Royal and his father he proceeded in state from Westminister in a Royal
barge rowed by watermen. All London turned out to see the youthful
royalties--"Puss and the boy" as the Queen called them in her Diary--and
Lady Lyttelton in a letter to Mrs. Gladstone has left a charming picture
of the pleasure expressed by the little Prince at his reception and at
the various quaint customs revived for the occasion. It was at this
time that Miss Louisa Alcott, author of _Little Women_, wrote home that
the Prince was "a yellow-haired laddie, very like his mother. Fanny and
I nodded and waived as he passed and he openly winked his boyish eye at
us, for Fanny with her yellow curls waving looked rather rowdy and the
poor little Prince wanted some fun." Two years later, on May 1st, the
youthful Heir to the Throne assisted the Queen at the brilliant
ceremonies attending the opening of the first and great Exhibition of
that year.


EARLY EDUCATION OF THE PRINCE

Meanwhile, the important matter of education had been occupying the
attention of the Queen and her husband. After careful inquiry during
nearly a year the Rev. Henry Mildred Birch was selected and on April 10,
1844, the Prince Consort wrote, in a private and family letter, that
"Bertie will be given over in a few weeks into the hands of a tutor whom
we have found in Mr. Birch, a young, good-looking, amiable man who was a
tutor at Eton and who not only himself took the highest honours at
Cambridge but whose pupils have also won special distinction. It is an
important step and God's blessing be upon it, for upon the good
education of princes and especially of those who are destined to govern,
the welfare of the world in these days very greatly depends." This
gentleman acted until 1852 when, upon the advice of Sir James Stephen,
the appointment was given to Mr. Frederick W. Gibbs, who retained it for
the succeeding six years. In special lines of study such as Art and
Music there were various instructors for the young Prince as well as for
the rest of the family--the Rev. Charles Tarver being his classical
tutor, Sir Edwin Landseer an instructor in the art of painting and Mr.
E. H. Corbould his teacher in water-colours.

The descriptions of the Prince of Wales in these childhood days vary
greatly; probably in natural accordance with the variable temperament
of his age. Lady Lyttelton who, perhaps, knew him best, described him to
Mr. Greville in 1852--though that interesting _litterateur_ is not
always reliable--as being "extremely shy and timid, with very good
principles and, particularly, an exact observer of truth." The
description is, however, so much in harmony with his bringing up that it
may well be accepted as accurate. These years, however, passed rapidly
away in a commingling of instruction, ceremonial and innocent
recreation. The Baroness Bunsen in her _Memoirs_ gives a pleasant
picture which illustrates the character of the amusements current in the
Royal family at their different homes at Windsor, Osborne, or Balmoral.
This particular incident was a Masque devised by the children, when
Prince "Bertie" was twelve years old, in honour of the anniversary of
their parents' marriage. The Prince who represented Winter and was clad
in a coat covered with imitation icicles, recited some verses from
Thomson's Seasons. Princess Alice was Spring; the Princess Royal,
Summer; Prince Alfred, Autumn; while Princess Helena, representing St.
Helena, the traditional mother of Constantine and native of Britain,
called down Heaven's benediction upon the Royal couple.

About this time the Prince of Wales made his first appearance in the
House of Lords, sitting beside the Queen as she received Addresses from
Parliament concerning the impending war with Russia. He seems to have
taken a keen interest in that conflict and, in March 1855, went with his
parents to visit the wounded at Chatham Military Hospital. In August he
accompanied the Queen and Prince Consort upon the first visit paid by an
English Sovereign to Paris since the days of Henry II. and shared in the
splendid reception given by the Emperor Napoleon and the French people.
Even here, however, his tutor was with him and idleness or pleasure was
not allowed to occupy the field entirely. With the Princess Royal, he
was present at a splendid ball given in Versailles--the first since the
days of Louis XVI--and they sat down at supper with the Emperor and
Empress. The young Prince enjoyed the visit so much and liked his
Imperial hosts so well--a liking which he never forgot in later years of
sorrow and suffering--that he begged the Empress to get leave for his
sister and himself to stay a little longer. The Queen and his father, he
explained, had six more children at home and they could, he thought, do
without them for a while.

Of course, this was not possible. The Prince Consort, however, was
greatly pleased with the way in which the children had behaved and wrote
to Baron Stockmar, shortly after, expressing his belief that the Prince
had been a general favourite. To the Duchess of Kent he wrote that "the
task was no easy one for them but they discharged it without
embarrassment and with natural simplicity." From this it is evident that
the shyness spoken of by Lady Lyttelton had largely passed away from the
manner of the Prince. During this year the latter--now fourteen years
old--took an incognito walking tour through the west of England
accompanied by Mr. Gibbs and Colonel Cavendish. The next two or three
years were spent in a happy life of mixed pursuits in England and
Scotland, or in travel abroad, alternating, according to the place and
season, between fishing and shooting, ponies and picnics, deer-stalking
and juvenile dances, studies, tours and occasional functions. Many
pictures of the Royal family in these days of childhood and youth have
been preserved from the brushes of Winterhalter, Richmond, Landseer,
Saul and others.


LATER EDUCATION OF THE PRINCE

Not the least important of the educative influences of this period were
the tours undertaken by the young Prince. In the autumn of 1856,
accompanied by those who could best instruct him in the matters
witnessed, he visited the great seats of industry in Provincial England
including mills, ironworks, coal mines and engineering centres. In April
1857 he enjoyed a tour through the beautiful Lake region and especially
appreciated the hill-climbing in Cumberland. During June he accompanied
the Queen on a state visit to Manchester and witnessed the first
distribution of the Victoria Cross medals in Hyde Park, London. In July
the Prince left England for Konigswinter with a short European tour in
view for "purposes of study," as the Prince Consort put it in a private
letter. With him were General Grey, Colonel (afterwards Sir Henry)
Ponsonby, his tutors and Dr. Armstrong. During the tour several young
men joined him as companions--the late Mr. W. H. Gladstone; Mr. Charles
Wood, now Lord Halifax; Mr. Frederick Stanley, now Earl of Derby and
Governor-General of Canada; and the present Earl Cadogan, Viceroy of
Ireland. The Prince on this occasion went up the Rhine and through
Germany and Switzerland. Upon his return, in October, he attended
lectures on science by Dr. Faraday while continuing his regular studies.
Early in the succeeding year he attended the marriage of his sister, the
Princess Royal, to the Prussian Prince who afterwards became the Emperor
Frederick, and parted from the sister "Vicky," to whom he was much
attached, with evident sorrow.

On April 1, 1858, when nearly seventeen years of age, the Prince was
confirmed in the Chapel Royal at Windsor. Writing of this ceremony, the
Prince Consort observed to Baron Stockmar that Lord Derby, Lord
Palmerston and Lord John Russell were amongst those who were present and
that the event "went off with great solemnity and, I hope, with an
abiding impression on his mind." At the examination before the
Archbishop of Canterbury and his Royal parents the Prince was described
as acquitting himself "extremely well." On the succeeding day he took
the Sacrament. Shortly afterwards followed a two weeks walking tour in
the south of Ireland in which the Prince was accompanied by Mr. Gibbs,
Captain de Ros--afterwards Lieutenant-General Lord de Ros--and Dr.
Minter. Succeeding this came a short period of steady study and the
formal establishment of the young Prince at White Lodge in Richmond
Park, under the tuition of Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Tarver and with three
companions carefully selected by his father--Lord Valletort, the present
(1902) Earl of Mount Edgecumbe, Major Teesdale V.C. and Major Lindsay
V.C. Of the first named the Prince Consort wrote privately that he had
been much on the Continent and was "a thoroughly good, moral and
accomplished man," who had passed his youth in attendance on his invalid
father. He also referred to the manner in which Major Teesdale had
distinguished himself at Kars and Major Lindsay at Alma and Inkerman and
of the latter said: "He is studious in his habits, lives little with the
other young officers, is fond of study and familiar with French and
Italian."[2] These considerations are interesting as indicating with
what care the companions of the young Prince were selected by his wise
father from time to time. Here the Prince had, amongst his elements of
instruction, lectures on History from the Rev. Charles Kingsley, the
well-known author of _Westward Ho_ and, for ten years following,
Professor of History at Cambridge. They were given by special desire of
the Queen and must have proved deeply interesting. Canon Kingsley was,
during the rest of his life, an object of special liking to the Prince
and always an honoured guest at Sandringham and Marlborough.

[Illustration: EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, AT THE AGE OF SEVEN
  In Sailor's Dress]

[Illustration: EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, AGED FIVE
  Represents the Prince as feeding a pet rabbit]

[Illustration: EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, AGED SIXTEEN
  In Highland costume]

[Illustration: THE YOUTHFUL EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, 1859]

On November 9, 1859, the Prince of Wales completed his eighteenth year
and attained his legal majority. The Queen wrote him a letter which
Charles Greville, in his _Diary_, describes as "one of the most
admirable ever penned." On the same day he was appointed a Colonel in
the Army and given the Order of the Garter--that most distinguished of
all orders of knighthood. At the same time Colonel the Hon. Robert
Bruce, brother of the Lord Elgin who had proved so successful a
Governor-General of Canada and India, was appointed Governor to the
Prince and was described by the Prince Consort as possessing amiability
with great mildness of expression and as being "full of ability." He had
been Military Secretary to Lord Elgin in Canada and was at this time in
command of a battalion in the Grenadier Guards.[3] A month later the
Prince started on a Continental tour accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Tarver
as his chaplain and director of studies. He stayed some time in Rome,
where he visited the Pope, on May 7 reached Gibraltar, and from thence
visited the south of Spain and Lisbon. He reached home in the middle of
June and took up a serious course of study at Edinburgh, with the late
Lord Playfair as his instructor in chemistry, and with other equally
distinguished teachers in specific lines or subjects. The public was at
this time taking much interest in these studies of the Heir Apparent and
fear was expressed that he might, perhaps, be over-educated. _Punch_
expressed this feeling in the following lines:

    "To the south from the north, from the shores of the Forth,
    Where at hands Presbyterian pure science is quaffed,
    The Prince, in a trice, is whipped to the Isis,
    Where Oxford keeps springs mediæval on draught.

         *     *     *     *     *

    Dipped in grey Oxford mixture (lest _that_ be a fixture),
    The poor lad's to be plunged in less orthodox Cam.,
    Where dynamics and statics, and pure mathematics,
    Will be piled on his brain's awful cargo of cram."

After three months of Edinburgh training the Prince Consort went down
and held a sort of conference with the teachers. He wrote as to the
result[4] that they all spoke highly of their pupil, who seemed to have
shown zeal and goodwill. "Dr. Lyon Playfair is giving him lectures on
chemistry in relation to manufactures and, at the close of each special
course, he visits the appropriate manufactory with him so as to explain
its practical application. Dr. Schmitz gives him lectures on Roman
history. Italian, German and French are advanced at the same time; and
three times a week the Prince exercises with the 16th Hussars who are
stationed in the city." It was of this period that Sir Wemyss Reid, in
his biography of Lord Playfair, tells an amusing story. The Prince and
Dr. Playfair were standing near a cauldron containing lead which was
boiling at white heat. "Has Your Royal Highness any faith in science,"
said the Professor and the reply was, "Certainly." The latter then
carefully washed the Prince's hand with ammonia and said:

"Will you now place your hand in this boiling metal and ladle out a
portion of it?"

"Do you tell me to do this?" asked the Prince.

The answer was in the affirmative and the Prince instantly put his hand
into the boiling mass and ladled out some of it without sustaining any
injury. Following this period of study at Edinburgh University came the
celebration of the Prince's nineteenth birthday and a hunting party in
the Highlands. Thence the Prince went to Oxford for a time and was
admitted a member of Christ Church College where he joined freely in the
social life and sports of the institution. On January 16, 1861, after
his return from Canada, he became an under-graduate of Trinity College,
Cambridge, and was allowed, by special favour, to live in a neighbouring
village with his Governor--Colonel Bruce. Here lectures were again given
to the Prince by Canon Kingsley and the young man was kept pretty close
to his studies during the winter of that year. In the summer he went on
military duty in Ireland and the Queen thus recorded in her _Diary_ a
visit paid to him at Curragh on August 26th: "At a little before three
we went to Bertie's hut which is, in fact, Sir George Brown's. It is
very comfortable--a nice little bedroom, sitting-room, drawing-room, and
a good sized dining-room where we lunched, with our whole party. Col.
Percy commands the Guards and Bertie is placed specially under him. I
spoke to him and thanked him for treating Bertie as he did, just like
any other officer, for I know that he keeps him up to his work in a way,
as General Bruce told me, that no one else had done; and yet Bertie
likes him very much."


DEATH OF THE PRINCE CONSORT

This was the last birthday of the Prince Consort and it was spent
travelling to Killarney with the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the
younger members of the Royal family. A few days there and then the young
Prince returned to camp. In the autumn he visited the Rhine manoeuvres
of the German army and met his future bride, the Princess Alexandra. He
then returned to Cambridge and from thence journeyed in haste to Windsor
on December 13th to be present at his father's death-bed on the
following evening. No sadder event has occurred in the history of
English royalty than this premature and much-mourned death of the good
and really great Prince Consort. To the young Heir Apparent it meant the
loss of a loving father, a careful guardian, a watchful and wise
adviser. To the wife and widow it meant the ruin of a great happiness
and a sorrow which no passing years could ever remove. Sir Theodore
Martin's beautiful description of the scene at the death-bed, at which
knelt the Queen, the Princess Alice, the Princess Helena and the Prince
of Wales, may well be given here: "In the solemn hush of that mournful
chamber there was such grief as has rarely hallowed any death-bed. A
great light, which had blessed the world, and which the mourners had
but yesterday hoped might long bless it, was waning fast away. A
husband, a father, a friend, a master, endeared by every quality by
which man in such relations can win the love of his fellow-man, was
passing into the Silent Land, and his loving glance, his wise counsels,
his firm, manly thought should be known among them no more. The Castle
clock chimed the third quarter after ten. Calm and peaceful grew the
beloved form; the features settled into the beauty of a perfectly serene
repose; two or three long, but gentle breaths were drawn; and that great
soul had fled to seek a nobler scope for its aspirations in the world
within the veil, for which it had often yearned, where there is rest for
the weary, and where 'the spirits of the just are made perfect.'"

Not long before his death the Prince Consort had readily agreed to his
son's wish for a visit to the Holy Land and had planned the
preliminaries of the tour before he was stricken by the disease which
carried him off. After that sad event it was felt by the Queen that such
a journey would now be doubly wise and proper and she made arrangements
for General Bruce to accompany the Prince, together with Major Teesdale,
Captain Keppel and a small suite. By special wish of the Prince Consort
and at the urgent request of the Queen, the Rev. Dr. Arthur Penrhyn
Stanley consented to accompany the Prince. He joined the Royal party at
Alexandria on February 28, 1862, and they at once proceeded to Cairo and
from thence visited the Pyramids. A little later Palestine was reached
and, following in the historic steps of Richard Coeur de Lion and
Edward I., another Heir to the British Throne finally reached Jerusalem.
The closely-guarded Cave of Macphelah was opened to the Prince of Wales
as well as the famous Mosque of Hebron which for nearly seven hundred
years had been closed to even Royal visitors. Lake Tiberias, Bethany,
Bethlehem, the Groves of Jericho, were visited and some time was spent
in tents upon the journey to Damascus. From thence the party traveled
to Beyrout, visited Tyre and Sidon, and proceeded to Tripoli. The
journey was made by the Prince so as to include Patmos, Ephesus, Smyrna,
Constantinople, Athens and Malta. From every place where it was possible
the Prince collected flowers which he carefully sent to his sister, the
Princess Royal. Of His Royal Highness during this interesting tour Dean
Stanley put on record his opinion at the time: "It is impossible not to
like him and to be constantly with him brings out his astonishing memory
of names and persons.... I am more and more struck by the amiable and
endearing qualities of the Prince."

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Sarah, Lady Lyttelton, daughter of the second Earl Spencer and wife
of the third Lord Lyttelton. Born 1787, Died 1870.

[2] This officer afterwards became Major-General Sir C. C. Teesdale
V.C., K.C.M.G., C.B. and was A.D.C. to the Queen in 1877-87. Major
Lindsay was better known in later years as Colonel Sir Robert
Lloyd-Lindsay K.C.B. In 1885 he was raised to the Peerage as Lord
Wantage.

[3] He afterwards became a Major-General in the Army and died in 1862 of
fever caught while with the Prince of Wales during his Eastern tour.

[4] Martin's _Life of the Prince Consort_.




CHAPTER III.

Royal Tour of British America and the United States


The first important public event in the career of the young Prince was
one which, during forty years, has held a marked place in Canadian
memories and a prominent place in Canadian and American history. In some
respects the tour of the Prince of Wales, in 1860, through the scattered
and disconnected Provinces of British America has wielded an influence
far out of proportion to the contemporary judgment of the event; beyond,
perhaps, what the Queen and Prince Consort in their wise and patriotic
policy of the time hoped to achieve. It was, in reality, the first break
in the hitherto steady progress of the Manchester school theory
regarding ultimate Empire disruption; the first check given to the
widely accepted doctrine that the Colonies were of no use except for
trade and, in any case, were like the fruit which ripens only to fall
from the parent stem.

Mr. Bright, Lord John Russell, Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Mr. Cobden,
Lord Ashburton, Lord Ellenborough, Lord Derby, and many others, were at
this time touched with the blight of these theories and to them there
was no sense, and nothing but expense, in trying to cultivate Colonial
loyalty or promote Colonial co-operation.


IMPERIAL CONDITIONS IN 1860

To this school--and it was one embracing many able men and
thinkers--trade was more important than any other consideration, and the
greatest object of external policy was the development of friendly
relations with the United States. American extension of territory was
not looked upon with alarm even when it took a slice of the Maine
boundary and threatened trouble over that of Oregon. The Republic had
not yet gone in seriously for high protection and did not, therefore,
vitally touch the pockets of patriots who could not foresee, even in
their keen regard for commerce and its development, that trade and
territory were in the future to be most intimately related.

The Queen and Prince Consort did, however, understand something of the
future of the Empire--dimly it might be but still effectively. It had
been announced during the progress of the Crimean War that a Royal tour
of British America might be arranged within a few years, and the
Canadian Legislature, on May 14th, 1859, took advantage of the coming
completion of the great Victoria Bridge across the St. Lawrence, at
Montreal, to tender a formal invitation to the Sovereign herself to be
present at the opening ceremonies; to receive a personal tribute of the
unwavering attachment of her subjects; and to more closely unite the
bonds which attached the Province to the Empire. This unanimously-passed
address was taken to London by Mr. Speaker Henry Smith, and the response
elicited was most favourable to the indirect request of the Assembly and
Legislative Council--the initiative in the matter being due to a motion
by the Hon. P. M. M. S. Vankoughnet in the latter House. The
Governor-General received a reply, dated January 30th, 1860, and signed
by the Duke of Newcastle, Colonial Secretary, which stated that Her
Majesty greatly regretted that her duties at the Seat of the Empire
would prevent so long an absence, but that it might be possible for H.
R. H. the Prince of Wales to attend the ceremony at a later date. "The
Queen trusts that nothing may interfere with this arrangement for it is
Her Majesty's sincere desire that the young Prince, on whom the Crown
of this Empire will devolve, may have the opportunity of visiting that
portion of her dominions from which this Address has proceeded and may
become acquainted with a people in whose progress towards greatness, Her
Majesty, in common with her subjects in Great Britain, feels a lively
and enduring sympathy."


THE PRINCE COMMENCES HIS TOUR

Preparations were at once commenced in the British Provinces to properly
receive the Royal guest. By the 9th of July all arrangements in England
had been made, including the acceptance of an invitation to visit the
United States--as a private gentleman under the title of Lord Renfrew.
On that date the Prince sailed from Plymouth in the ship _Hero_
after replying to a farewell address, when he declared that he was
proceeding to "the great possessions of the Queen in North America
with a lively anticipation of the pleasure which the sight of a noble
land, great works of nature and human skill and a generous and active
people must produce." The Royal suite was composed of the Duke of
Newcastle--practically guardian to the youthful Prince; the Earl of St.
Germans, Lord Chamberlain to the Queen; General, the Hon. Robert Bruce;
Dr. Auckland and two Equerries--Major Teesdale, V.C., and Captain Grey.

Newfoundland was first reached on July 23d. An enthusiastic reception
was given to the Royal visitor at St. John's by ringing bells, lusty
cheers, waving flags and evening illuminations. The Prince was received
by the Governor, Sir Alexander Bannerman, and then passed in procession
through beautiful arches and decorations to Government House. A levée
was held, many addresses received and a collective reply given, in which
the Prince made the statement that "I shall carry back a lively
recollection of the day's proceedings and your kindness to myself
personally; but, above all, of these hearty demonstrations of patriotism
which prove your deep-rooted attachment to the great and free country
of which we all glory to be called sons." A ride around the town
followed, without ceremony, and in the evening a state dinner and ball
were given. The attendance at the latter was very large and the Prince
delighted everyone, and particularly the ladies, by dancing with evident
zest and pleasure until three o'clock in the morning. During the day
thus commenced he left the Island amid every evidence of popularity and
loyalty--after accepting a handsome Newfoundland dog as a present from
the people and presenting Lady Bannerman with a set of jewels in
commemoration of his visit.


ARRIVAL AT HALIFAX

The Royal squadron arrived at Halifax on the morning of July 30th and,
despite unpleasant weather, the entire city turned out to welcome the
Queen's son. The streets were lined by the regular soldiers and
volunteers and were beautifully decorated with arches, transparencies
and evergreens. The arches numbered seventeen and included one which the
Roman Catholic Archbishop Connolly had erected at his own expense. The
Prince was received by His Excellency the Earl of Mulgrave--afterwards
Marquess of Normanby--and Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne,
Major-General Trollope and the members of the Provincial Government.
Mayor Caldwell read an address expressing "devotion to the British
throne and attachment to British institutions" and His Royal Highness in
reply referred to the noble Harbour of Halifax in which all the navies
of Great Britain could "ride in safety." There was much enthusiasm shown
in the streets and at one point 4000 children sang an adaptation of the
National Anthem as a sort of welcoming ode. At Government House the Hon.
William Young read an address from the Executive Council of the Province
in which special reference was made to the Nova Scotians who had won
laurels "beneath the Imperial flag" in the recent Crimean campaign. It
was signed by the Hon. Joseph Howe, the Hon. A. G. Archibald, the Hon.
J. McCully, the Hon. William Annand and others and, in replying, the
Prince made a significant allusion to the Confederation policy of
several years later when he expressed hopes for their happiness as a
loyal and united people.

On the following day a Royal review was held and in the evening a state
dinner and ball were attended while illuminations turned the darkness of
the outside night into brightness. At the ball the ladies selected as
partners, according to a contemporary historian, were "principally the
wives and daughters--much oftener the latter--of gentlemen connected
with the staff or with the Government of the Province." The same
writer[5] states that when the Prince adjourned to supper he begged that
the ball might not proceed in his absence "as he would not be long away
and his programme was full." The third day in Halifax included a Levée
at Government House; the reception of the addresses from the Church of
England, King's College, Windsor, the Masons, the Methodist Conference,
the Free Church of Scotland, the Kirk of Scotland, the Roman Catholic
Church, the Presbyterian Church, and Acadia College. A visit followed to
the one-time residence and grounds of H. R. H. the Duke of Kent and a
Regatta was witnessed. A state dinner and reception at Government House,
a torch-light procession of Firemen and a display of fireworks in the
evening closed the events of the visit. Early in the morning of August
2nd, His Royal Highness left for St. John--stopping on the way at
Windsor, which was beautifully decorated, to receive an address and
partake of a banquet. An address was also accepted at Hautsport.

On the following morning the Prince was welcomed at St. John by Mr.
Manners-Sutton, the Lieutenant-Governor, the members of the Government,
the Judges, etc. At one point during the procession to his temporary
residence 5000 school children sang patriotic airs and threw flowers at
their Royal guest. The usual addresses and evening illuminations
followed--the latter eclipsing those of Halifax, or St. John's,
Newfoundland. August 4th and the Sunday which followed were spent at
Fredericton. The Anglican Cathedral was attended there and a sermon from
Bishop Medley listened to. On the following day the Executive Council
presented an address in which it stated that "if the necessity should
ever arise all the available resources of New Brunswick will be freely
offered for the defence of Imperial interests and the maintenance of
national honour." The address from the City referred to "the universal
heart-throb of our Empire of perpetual sunlight" and another address was
presented from the Anglican clergy. The Prince replied appropriately to
each and afterwards held a Levée at Government House and attended a
grand ball held in his honour. On Tuesday, August 7th, he started from
Prince Edward Island, being enthusiastically welcomed on the way at
Indiantown and Carleton in New Brunswick, and at Truro and Picton in
Nova Scotia.

The Prince of Wales arrived at Charlottetown on the morning of August
9th and, despite pouring rain, was received by crowds in a tastefully
decorated city. He was formally welcomed by Lieutenant-Governor George
Dundas, Chief Justice Hodgson, Premier, the Hon. Charles Palmer, and all
the dignitaries and officials of the Island. As the procession passed to
Government House 2000 children sang the National Anthem and the crowds
cheered enthusiastically. A Levée was held on the following day, a
review of the volunteers proceeded with, and addresses received from the
Provincial and Civic authorities. A ball at the Provincial Building
concluded the festivities and the Prince danced until three in the
morning. The Royal visitor then departed for the Upper Provinces and
arrived in Gaspé Bay, on August 12th, after seeing much that was
beautiful in the way of scenery. Here the Prince was formally welcomed
to the Canada of that day by His Excellency Sir Edmund W. Head,
Governor-General of all British America, and by the Canadian Ministry,
which included the Hon. John A. Macdonald, George E. Cartier, A. T.
Galt, John Ross, N. F. Belleau, J. C. Morrison, L. S. Morin and others
of historic name. A visit to the gloomy and splendid scenes along the
Saguenay followed and on August 17th, after passing further up the St.
Lawrence, Quebec was reached by the Royal fleet. The succeeding day was
marked by His Royal Highness' first public entry into Canada.


THE ROYAL WELCOME AT QUEBEC

No more splendid natural setting for a national event can be found in
the world than that afforded by the crowning heights, the broad sweep of
river, the ancient and towering fortress of Quebec. Upon this occasion
the old-fashioned French city, nestling upon the sides of the cliff, was
vivid with flags and the narrow streets filled with arches, while crowds
of interested people thronged every part of the place. The Heir to the
Throne was formally received at the wharf by the Governor-General, who
was accompanied by the Canadian Ministry in their uniforms of blue and
gold; Lord Lyons, the British Minister at Washington; Lieutenant-General
Sir W. Fenwick Williams, Commander of the Forces; Sir A. N. McNab, Sir
E. P. Taché, Major H. L. Langevin and others prominent in the public
life of the Provinces. In a special Pavilion which had been erected, the
Prince was presented by Major Langevin--better known to a subsequent
generation as Sir Hector Langevin, M.P.--with an address describing the
loyalty of the French population to British institutions and connection.
In his reply the Royal guest spoke of the differences of origin,
language and religion as being "lost in one universal spirit of
patriotism which had knit all classes to the Mother-land in common ties
of equal liberty and free institutions." During the procession through
the city which followed there was much cheering, and in the evening,
despite the rain which had poured all day, the illuminations were
exceedingly good.

On the following day the Anglican Cathedral was attended by His Royal
Highness with the Governor-General and their suites. The succeeding day
was again stormy but a visit was paid to the Chaudière Falls and on
Tuesday a Levée was held at the old Parliament Buildings attended by the
Roman Catholic Hierarchy of the Province of Quebec in a body, clad in
purple robes, and followed in order by the Judges and members of the
Legislative Council and Assembly of the United Provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada--as Ontario and Quebec were then generally called. An
address was presented on behalf of the Council by its Speaker, the Hon.
N. F. Belleau and replied to by the Prince, after which he conferred the
honour of knighthood upon Mr. Belleau. An address was then presented on
behalf of the Assembly by its Speaker, the Hon. Henry Smith, who also
received the distinction of being personally knighted by the Royal
visitor. Other addresses were presented and later in the day a visit was
paid to the beautiful Falls of Montmorenci--the route to which was
ornamented with arches, flags and evergreens. In the evening a grand
ball was given and the Prince danced through almost the entire
programme. On the following day a visit was paid to Laval University and
an address received from the Roman Catholic Hierarchy at the hands of
Bishop Horan of Kingston, as well as one from the University. The former
document stated that the Church was always careful to teach that Kings
reign by God's will and that, therefore, "entire submission is due to
the authority they have received from on high." They believed
"traditional respect for the high moral principle of legitimate
authority" to be the real strength of Canadian society. The Prince
responded in fitting terms to both addresses. The Ursuline Convent was
also visited and an address received. In the evening a display of
fireworks was given and on the morning of August 23rd His Royal Highness
departed for Three Rivers.


THE PRINCE AT MONTREAL

The trip up the River was a pleasant one and, after a brief stay at
Three Rivers where the Mayor--Mr. J. E. Turcotte M.P.P.--presented an
address, the journey was resumed to Montreal. Accompanying the steamer
_Kingston_ (which had been specially fitted up for this occasion) from
Three Rivers was another containing the members of the Legislature. All
along the shores of the St. Lawrence were little crowds of _habitants_
striving for a glimpse of the Royal visitor and, when nearing Montreal,
he was received by a fleet of vessels crowded with cheering people. The
reception in the city commenced on the morning of August 25th and was
marked by the gathering of numerous crowds and intense interest. An
address was presented by Mr. Charles S. Rodier, the Mayor of Montreal,
in a handsome Pavilion specially erected for the purpose, and surrounded
by the entire military and volunteer force of the district and city. The
Mayor in his scarlet robes, the Ministers in their new Windsor uniforms,
the officers in their varied military dress and Bishop Fulford and the
Anglican clergy in their gowns, made quite a brilliant spectacle on the
dais. After the Prince had replied to the address the Royal procession
passed through the city to the Crystal Palace, the streets being gay
with flags, banners, evergreens, transparencies and eight, more or less,
handsome arches.

At the new building, or Crystal Palace, an Exhibition was duly opened by
the Prince, who then proceeded to the Victoria Bridge station where he
was met by the Hon. John Ross, President of the Grand Trunk Railway, and
other officials. An address was presented descriptive of the great
structure across the St. Lawrence and, after his reply, the Prince was
taken from the station to the Bridge in a carriage lined with crimson
velvet and there proceeded to formally open it for public use. An
elaborate luncheon, attended by 600 persons and presided over by Sir
Edmund Head, followed. After receiving an address from the workmen
employed in the undertaking His Royal Highness returned to the city and
in the evening witnessed illuminations which made Montreal a blaze of
light. On Sunday, the 26th, the Prince attended Christ Church Cathedral
and heard a sermon from Bishop Fulford. During the succeeding day he
witnessed a lacrosse game by Indians, watched a procession of Temperance
organizations, and held a Levée at the Court House where addresses were
presented from the Church of England, McGill College, the inhabitants of
Red River Colony--now the City of Winnipeg--and others.

In the evening one of the finest balls ever given on the Continent of
America was attended by the Prince. The decorations were gorgeous and
yet tasteful and the Royal guest is stated to have danced incessantly
until half-past four in the morning. On Tuesday he visited Dickenson's
Landing in a special car built by the Grand Trunk Railway and from
thence went down the Rapids of the St. Lawrence in the steamer
_Kingston_. The evening saw a Grand Musical Festival in his honour and
on the following day a Royal review of 1600 troops took place. A visit
followed to Sir George Simpson's residence at Isle Dorval, accompanied
by a canoe excursion down the St. Lawrence under the auspices of the
Hudson's Bay Company, of which Sir G. Simpson had so long been head. The
evening witnessed a torch-light procession of Montreal Firemen. On
August 30th the Royal visitor, the Governor-General and their suites,
took a special train for St. Hyacinthe where the Prince was
enthusiastically received and several addresses presented at the Roman
Catholic College. At Sherbrooke, in the afternoon, flags were flying
everywhere and arches had been erected on all the principal streets. An
address was read by the Mayor, Mr. J. G. Robertson--afterwards for many
years Treasurer of the Province. A visit was then paid to the residence
of the Hon. A. T. Galt, Minister of Finance, and on the way thither His
Royal Highness was almost smothered in bouquets of flowers thrown at him
by young women along the route. A Levée was held here and hundreds of
people presented. At Montreal in the evening, a great display of
fireworks took place and on the following morning the Prince left the
city finally.

[Illustration: KING EDWARD AS PRINCE OF WALES
  When visiting Canada in 1860]

[Illustration: VISIT OF KING EDWARD WHEN PRINCE OF WALES TO TORONTO IN
1860]


AT THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED PROVINCES

At every village and town and tiny settlement on the way to Ottawa
crowds turned out to welcome and cheer the passing visitor; while flags
and arches and decorations indicated the pleasure of the people in more
practical shape. Near the capital of the United Provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada--seven years hence to be the capital of the new
Dominion--the Prince of Wales was received by a fleet of steamers and
1200 lumbermen and Indians in birch-bark canoes and was escorted into
the city in a most picturesque style. Mayor Workman presented an address
and a procession through the capital followed. On September 1st the
corner stone of the splendid Parliament Buildings, which afterwards
graced the hills of the Chaudière, was laid by the Royal visitor amid
scenes of considerable dignity and much enthusiasm. Amongst those
present were H. E. Sir Edmund Head, Lord Mulgrave, General Sir Fenwick
Williams, Hon. John A. Macdonald and the other members of the Ministry.
In the afternoon a state luncheon was given by the Government at which
the Governor-General presided and the toasts proposed were presented
respectively by His Excellency, Sir N. F. Belleau, Sir Henry Smith and
the Prince himself. A visit to the Chaudière Falls followed and the
usual illuminations were given in the evening. On Sunday Christ Church
Cathedral was attended and early in the succeeding day the journey was
resumed--Arnprior, Almonte and Brockville being visited and addresses
received.

At this point in the tour occurred an unfortunate misunderstanding with
the Orangemen of Kingston and Toronto. While in Montreal the Duke of
Newcastle--who was practically in charge of the Prince's movements so
far as they affected state and public interests--heard that the members
of the Loyal Orange Order proposed to erect arches along the route of
the Royal procession in Toronto and Kingston and to decorate them with
Orange colours and regalia. The Duke at once wrote to Sir Edmund Head
that this would not do. "It is obvious that a display of this nature on
such an occasion is likely to lead to religious feud and breach of the
peace; and it is my duty to prevent, so far as I am able, the exposure
of the Prince to supposed participation in a scene so much to be
deprecated, and so alien to the spirit in which he visits Canada." He
added that if the policy was persisted in he would advise the Prince not
to visit the places in question.

Sectarian feeling, it may be added, was very strong at this time in
Upper Canada and the Catholics and Orangemen were drawn up in two
distinctly hostile camps of religious and political thought. This was
especially the case in Toronto and Kingston. The Governor-General at
once wrote the Mayors of these two towns under date of August 31st and,
in the course of his letter said: "You will bear in mind, Sir, that His
Royal Highness visits this Colony on the special invitation of the whole
people, as conveyed by both branches of the Legislature, without
distinction of creed or party; and it would be inconsistent with the
spirit and object of such an invitation, and such a visit, to thrust on
him the exhibition of banners or other badges of distinction which are
known to be offensive to any of Her Majesty's subjects." Roman Catholics
called meetings to protest at the intended action of the Orangemen; the
latter met in public and private and convinced themselves that the
representatives of the former were being allowed to control the Prince's
movements. They pointed to their own well-known loyalty to the Crown and
British institutions and to the fact that Roman Catholics had been
permitted every privilege in welcoming the Prince in Lower Canada.
Eventually, although the Duke of Newcastle made every effort to smooth
matters over, the City Council of Kingston and the Orangemen of that
place refused to give way and the steamer _Kingston_, after sixteen
hours had been given for consideration, passed in her course to
Belleville without the Prince landing in the gaily decorated and
historic town.

Writing from the steamer on September 5th, before leaving for the next
destination in the Royal tour, the Duke wrote to the Mayor a long letter
in which the following sentence occurs: "What is the sacrifice I asked
the Orangemen to make? Merely to abstain from displaying in the presence
of a young Prince of 19 years of age--the heir to a sceptre which rules
over millions of every form of Christianity--symbols of religious and
political organization which are notoriously offensive to the members of
another creed!" He expressed regret that the City Council had not
accepted the suggestion to present their address on board the steamer as
had been done by the Church of Scotland Synod. The reply of the Mayor,
Mr. O. S. Strange, disclaimed sympathy with the Orangemen while
defending a refusal to approve the advice given to the Prince of Wales.
It also pointed out that the garbs and flags of the Orange Order were no
more compromising to the Royal visitor than were the robes and insignia
of the Catholic Hierarchy of Quebec during the reception in that
Province.


ROYAL RECEPTION AT TORONTO

Belleville was reached on September 5th, but no landing was effected on
account of Orange troubles of the same kind as at Kingston. The
disappointment of the people was extreme, as the preparations had been
elaborate and the decorations costly. Visits followed to Cobourg, where
a ball was given; to Rice Lake, where an address was received from the
Mississaga Indians; to Peterborough, Whitby and Port Hope, which were
most lavishly decorated. Toronto was reached on September 7th and the
greatest reception of the tour given to the Royal visitor. As the centre
of Orange sentiment in Upper Canada some difficulty was feared, and as a
matter of fact there was a misunderstanding between the Duke of
Newcastle and Mayor Wilson--afterwards Sir Adam Wilson, Chief Justice of
Ontario--regarding the Orange arch; but this was ultimately smoothed
over. The city was gay with flags and decorations; nine arches had been
erected in the principal streets; a large amphitheatre was built for the
purposes of the formal reception; and the city was crowded with people.
At the amphitheatre an address was received from the city and replied to
by the Prince in a speech in which he referred to the generous loyalty
of his welcome as the Queen's representative--"a loyalty tempered and
yet strengthened by the intelligent independence of the Canadian
character." A welcome was sung by 5000 school children and a procession
through Toronto followed. Brilliant illuminations in the evening made
the town bright and in the ensuing morning the Prince held a Levée at
which one thousand gentlemen were presented.

Addresses were presented during this function from the Upper Canada
Bible Society, the Church of England Synod Trinity University, the
Presbyterian Synod, the St. George's Society, the Temperance
organizations, the County Council of York, and Knox College, and were
duly replied to. In the afternoon His Royal Highness attended a
reception given by the Law Society and in the evening a dance under the
same auspices at Osgoode Hall. On the next day, Sunday, the Prince
attended service at St. James Cathedral and listened to a sermon from
Bishop Strachan. On Monday, an excursion was made to Collingwood, on the
Georgian Bay, and the Prince was accompanied by the Governor-General,
Sir Fenwick Williams and the Hon. Messrs. A. T. Galt, P. M. Vankoughnet,
W. B. Robinson, J. Hillyard Cameron and others, as well as by his suite.
At Newmarket, Aurora, Bradford and Barrie addresses were received and at
every point along the Northern Railway there were decorations and crowds
of people.

At Collingwood there was luncheon and an enthusiastic reception and the
Prince then returned to Toronto, where he watched the games of the
Canadian Highland Society for a time. September 11th was a very wet day,
but the Royal visitor attended a Regatta held under the auspices of the
Royal Canadian Yacht Club, opened Queen's Park, and laid a pedestal for
a statue to the Queen. He also reviewed the Toronto Volunteer Corps, and
visited the University of Toronto where he received an address as well
as one from Upper Canada College. A visit to the Educational Department
of the Province and Knox College followed and a busy day was concluded
by a great ball in the evening, at which the Prince danced until four in
the morning.


THE PRINCE IN THE WEST

On September 12th His Royal Highness left Toronto for a trip through the
western portion of Upper Canada (Ontario) and was welcomed at every
station by decorations and cheering crowds. Arches were everywhere and
salutes were fired with frequency. A short stop was made at Guelph and
Stratford and an address was received at the German settlement of
Peterburg, to which the Prince replied in the same language. In the
afternoon London was reached and an enthusiastic reception given which
included a torchlight procession and evening illuminations. Sarnia was
visited on the following day and, besides the usual addresses, one was
presented from the Indians of Upper Canada. At London, in the evening, a
ball was given and the young Prince danced with the animation which he
had displayed at all the entertainments of this character given in his
honour. On September 14th he proceeded to visit Niagara Falls in a new
and beautiful car specially constructed by the Great Western Railway
Company.

Woodstock, Paris, Brantford, Dunnville and Port Colborne were visited
_en route_, and at the Falls in the evening most exquisite illuminations
were exhibited for the pleasure of the visitor--lines of fire running
along the cliffs while other kinds of light intensified the natural
splendour of the scene. During his several days at this point, the
Prince saw Blondin cross the chasm on a rope; attended service at the
little church in the Canadian village; paid a brief visit to the
American fort on the other side of Niagara River; saw the Welland Canal
and visited Queenston Heights and the tomb of Sir Isaac Brock. At the
latter place he received an address from one hundred and sixty survivors
of the War of 1812 at the hands of Chief Justice Sir J. Beverley
Robinson and, on September 18th, laid the corner-stone of an obelisk in
honour of the chief Canadian hero of that contest. A visit to Port
Dalhousie and Hamilton followed, and at the latter place the reception
was marked by splendid decorations and much enthusiasm.

In his reply to the address the Royal visitor was more than usually
impressive--no doubt realizing that the end of this visit to a great
country of the future was close at hand. "I can never forget," he said,
"the scenes I have witnessed during the short time in which I have
enjoyed the privilege of associating myself with the Canadian people,
which must ever be a bright epoch in my life. I shall bear away with me
a grateful remembrance of kindness and affection which, as yet, I have
been unable to do anything to merit; and it shall be the constant effort
of my future years to prove myself not unworthy of the love and
confidence of a generous people." Fire-works, a state concert, a visit
to the Central School, a luncheon at the Royal Hotel, a visit to the
waterworks and a grand ball in the evening were amongst the events of
the stay in Hamilton. On September 20th the last address received and
answered by His Royal Highness in Canada was presented by the
Agricultural Society of Upper Canada. To its loyal phrases the King and
Emperor of a distant future made this final response: "My duties as
representative of the Queen, deputed by her to visit British North
America, cease this day; but in a private capacity I am about to visit,
before I return home, that remarkable land which claims with us a common
ancestry and in whose extraordinary progress every Englishman feels a
common interest. Before I quit British soil let me once more address
through you the inhabitants of United Canada and bid them an
affectionate farewell. May God pour down his choicest blessings upon
this great and loyal people."


THE PRINCE OF WALES IN THE UNITED STATES

Windsor was reached in the evening and after words of loyal greeting had
been received from its people, the Prince of Wales left Canadian soil
and, accompanied by the Governor of Michigan and the Mayor of Detroit,
crossed the river to United States territory and was welcomed there as
Lord Renfrew--one of his many minor titles. This part of the Royal tour
had been arranged as a result of an invitation received by the Queen
from President Buchanan dated June 4th, 1860, and expressing the hope
that His Royal Highness' visit would be extended to the Republic. This
had been agreed to by the Queen who intimated in reply that, while in
the United States, the Prince would drop all Royal state and travel
under the name of Lord Renfrew as he was accustomed to do on the
Continent of Europe. It may be said, in passing, that this _incognito_
was very slightly observed and that the Royal visitor was welcomed
everywhere as the heir to the British throne and the son of a
much-respected and friendly Sovereign.

At Detroit the Prince parted from the Governor-General of Canada and the
members of the Canadian Government who had hitherto accompanied him and,
after a drive around the city and a brilliant illumination in the
evening, departed on the morning of September 21st for Chicago. A
special car was provided by the Michigan Central Railway. At Chicago
there was no formal welcome or function; no particular enthusiasm or
crowds. The Prince was driven around the great new city of the West and
enjoyed his first experience of the panorama of American development
which that centre even then presented. He did not stay long and on the
22nd departed for Dwight, in the same State, where four days were spent
in shooting. On September 27th he arrived at St. Louis, then a place of
about seventeen thousand people, and here His Royal Highness visited the
State Fair. There were estimated to have been twenty-eight thousand
persons in the amphitheatre of the Fair and a curious incident of the
visit is recorded by a writer, already quoted, who states that a vain
search of the city had been made for a Union Jack to place beside the
American flag on the central building.

From St. Louis the Prince proceeded to Cincinnati, in Ohio, and on the
evening of September 29th attended a ball given by an enterprising
citizen who had just erected a handsome new theatre. On Sunday, St.
John's Church was visited and a sermon preached by Bishop McIlvaine.
Pittsburg was reached on October 1st and an enthusiastic but informal
reception accorded. Harrisburg was the next place visited and it was
noted that, as the Prince and his suite went further east and south, the
curious crowds gave place to increasingly enthusiastic crowds. At
Baltimore immense throngs of people had gathered and thence on October
3rd the Royal party proceeded to Washington which they reached in the
afternoon. The Prince, who had been accompanied through American
territory by Lord Lyons, the British Minister, was welcomed to the
capital by General Cass and then driven to the White House where, in the
evening, a state reception was given in his honour.

On the following day the President held a Levée, accompanied by "Lord
Renfrew," and a great number of people attended. Afterwards a visit was
paid to the handsome public buildings of the city. On October 5th,
President Buchanan, his niece, Miss Harriet Lane, the Prince of Wales
and many members of the American Cabinet and Diplomatic Corps, as well
as the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Lyons, visited Mount Vernon. There,
for a few moments, the descendant of George III. stood with uncovered
head before the tomb of George Washington. In the evening a state dinner
was given by Lord Lyons and on the following day the Prince left
Washington for Richmond. Here his most enjoyable experience is said to
have been, not the historical explanations and hospitable companionship
of Governor Letcher, but the first taste of a mint julep mixed by a
negro of much local fame in the preparation of this cooling drink.
Baltimore was visited on October 8th and Philadelphia on the 10th. At
some of these centres of population the Prince was able to spend a part
of the day, incognito, amongst the people who, in perfect ignorance of
his presence, no doubt taught the future King of Great Britain much that
he would never otherwise have known as to public opinion in a country
where the courses of freedom were uncontrolled by custom and unshackled
by precedent or tradition. A feature of the visit to Philadelphia was a
splendid concert given in the Opera House, at which Patti and others
sang to a brilliant audience amidst striking decorations. To the verses
of "God Save the Queen" were added the following lines:

    "Long may the Prince abide,
    England's hope, joy and pride,
      Long live the Prince;
    May England's future King,
    Victoria's virtues bring,
    To grace his reign.
      God save the Prince."

On October 11th the Prince of Wales arrived in New York and was welcomed
on his steamer by General Winfield Scott and a reception committee. At
the landing place Mayor Fernando Wood received him with the simple
words: "As Chief Magistrate of this city, I welcome you here and believe
that I represent the entire population without exception." The guest's
reply was equally brief and then, clad in a Colonel's uniform, the
Prince was driven through crowded streets to the City Hall, where six
thousand soldiers were reviewed, and thence to the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The only unpleasant incident of the visit was the refusal of an Irish
regiment to turn out upon this occasion with the other troops. During
the following day His Royal Highness visited the University of New York,
the Astor Library and the Cooper Institute. At the first-named
institution he listened to an address on the electric telegraph from
Professor Morse. In the evening a splendid ball was given at the Academy
of Music where brilliant decorations vied with the beautiful costumes.

On the following day the Prince, with his suite, visited Brady's
photograph gallery and Barnum's Museum and, in the evening, witnessed a
torch-light procession of five thousand Firemen. At the first-named
place he inspected and asked for portraits of the eminent men of the
United States and especially inquired for one of Secretary W. L. Marcy.
Trinity Church was attended on Sunday and a sermon heard from the Rev.
Dr. Francis Vinton--assisted in the service by a number of other
clergymen. The church was crowded and ten thousand people waited outside
to see the Royal visitor. New York was left on the following morning and
West Point and Albany visited. In the afternoon of October 17th the
Prince and his suite arrived at Boston and were formally welcomed by the
Governor of Massachusetts as representing a country with which the
American people were, he declared, united by "many ties of language, law
and liberty." At luncheon the Hon. Edward Everett was one of the guests
as the Hon. W. H. Seward had been at a dinner in Albany. In the
afternoon a children's concert was given at the Music Hall in honour of
the Prince and an Ode written by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes was sung with
enthusiasm to the air of the British National anthem. It commenced with
the following verse:

    "God bless our fathers' Land,
    Keep her in heart and hand,
      One with our own.
    From all her foes defend,
    Be her brave people's friend,
    On all her realms descend
      Protect her throne!"

A ball was given in the evening at the Boston Theatre and, on the
following morning, a flying visit paid to Cambridge and to Harvard
University. Incidentally, it may be added, the Prince met Longfellow,
Emerson, Holmes and others during his stay in Boston. On October 20th he
reached Portland and, amid roaring cannon, ringing bells and crowds of
cheering people passed from the shores of America to his ship in the
ranks of a British squadron and thence home to the British Isles. On
November 15th, His Royal Highness arrived at Plymouth and shortly
afterwards the Duke of Newcastle received the Order of the Garter from
the Queen as a token of her appreciation of his conduct during the Royal
tour. Under date of December 8th Her Majesty communicated to the
American President, through Lord Lyons, her great satisfaction at "the
feeling of confidence and affection" which had been shown upon this
occasion by the people of the United States towards herself and her
country.

Speaking on the same date at Nottingham, England, the Duke of Newcastle
stated that during his recent visit to British North America he had
"witnessed such devotion to the Sovereign and these realms as no one who
had not witnessed it himself would be willing to believe. It was a
demonstration of the attachment of the entire people to the throne of
England and of their veneration for the lady who at present occupied it.
It was a loyalty not of creed, nor of party, nor of race." As to the
United States the influence of the Queen's personality had been even
more striking. The reception of the Prince there had been an
extraordinary one. "With one solitary exception they met with nothing
but enthusiasm and, in fact, he did believe that the visit of the Prince
of Wales to America had done more to cement the good feeling between the
two countries than could possibly have been affected by a quarter of a
century of diplomacy."

FOOTNOTES:

[5] Robert Cellem in _Visit of the Prince of Wales_ to Toronto, Canada,
1861.




CHAPTER IV.

The Royal Marriage


Three years after the birth of the Heir to the British Throne, in one of
the historic palaces of his family and country, there was born on
December 1st, 1844, in a comparatively humble home at Copenhagen, the
Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louisa Julia of Denmark. The
house was called a palace, her father was Heir to the Throne of Denmark,
and became King Christian IX. on November 15th, 1863, but the mansion
was, none the less, a quiet and unostentatious place, and the Prince a
personage with hardly more resources or a larger revenue than many an
English country gentleman.

Simplicity and domesticity were the guiding principles of the Princess
Alexandra's education and training. Her mother, the late Queen Louise of
Denmark, was beautiful, graceful and clever, and seems to have possessed
that love of home which is more rare than even the striking combination
of qualities just mentioned. She was passionately fond of music, while
Prince Christian was fond of drawing, and these subjects, together with
languages and needle-work and all the essentials of the most simple home
work and management, were taught to the girls who were respectively to
become Empress of Russia, Queen of Great Britain, and Duchess of
Cumberland in after years.

As the years passed on the Princess Alexandra became probably the most
beautiful girl in the Courts of Europe, and one of the least known
outside a limited family circle. When hardly seventeen, and at a period
in which the marriage of the young Prince of Wales was being seriously
thought of by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, he chanced to see a
portrait of the Princess. There seems to be no doubt that it was purely
by accident--unless the wise and far-seeing Prince Consort indirectly
controlled the incident--and that the picture of the lovely young girl,
smiling from out of simple surroundings and a simple costume, had an
immediate effect. He kept the photograph, and a little later saw a
miniature of the Princess at the home of a friend. In a surprisingly
short time the Prince had heard that the original of the picture was
"the most beautiful girl in Europe," and was on his way to Prussia to
attend the military manoeuvres of the season. The Crown Prince and
Princess of Denmark happened to be travelling in the vicinity at the
time.


THE PRINCE MEETS PRINCESS ALEXANDRA

On September 24th, 1861, the Prince of Wales and his party met the
Danish Royal party in the Cathedral of Worms, and the former had a first
glance at his future wife. Then followed a few days at the Castle of
Heidelberg, where they were all guests together, and about which a note
in Prince Albert's _Diary_ of September 30th says that "the young people
seem to have taken a warm liking for each other." Less than three months
after this entry the writer had passed away, but the sad event only made
the widowed Queen more anxious for her son's marriage. Further meetings
occurred at the Princess Frederick's--the English Crown Princess--and
elsewhere, and on September 9th, 1862, the betrothal took place;
although it was not publicly announced until November 8th. The Prince
was then just twenty-one and the Princess not yet eighteen, and it was
understood that some months would elapse before the marriage. Meanwhile,
in August, Queen Victoria had first met and been charmed by her future
daughter-in-law at the Laacken Palace of the King of the Belgians. The
Danish people were naturally delighted at the news, and, poor as they
were in a national sense, they at once subscribed a total sum of £8,000
to constitute what was called the People's Dowry. This the Princess
accepted with cordial thanks to the nation, but asked that a substantial
portion of it be allotted to provide a dowry for six poor girls whose
weddings should take place on the same day as her own.


THE COMING OF THE PRINCESS

Meantime the English people were expressing their pleasure at the news
in various ways. The House of Commons voted the Prince of Wales a yearly
income of £40,000 and his bride-to-be £10,000 for herself. Including the
£40,000 from the Duchy of Cornwall this made a reasonable sum, while
Sandringham and Marlborough House were allotted as Royal
residences--requiring, however, much remodelling and improvement.
Preparations of the most elaborate and splendid sort were made to
welcome the lovely Danish Princess and into these arrangements the whole
people seemed to throw themselves with mingled excitement and pleasure.

In the little Copenhagen palace this turmoil was hardly known; the
preparations certainly were not comprehended; and the quiet family were
preparing in the most simple way for the great occasion--not the least
excitement of the moment being the fact of their all going to England
together. The wedding day was fixed for the 10th of March, and a few
days before this the Princess left Denmark for her new home; passing
over carpets of flowers strewn in her way by pressing and cheering
crowds of affectionate people; receiving addresses everywhere, and
smiles and tears and good wishes from simple peasants, who had decorated
even their hedgerows and who made the departure look like a triumphal
procession. Then King Frederick VII., presented her with a necklace of
diamonds and a facsimile of the Dagmar Cross--that precious relic of
early days and of the first Christian Queen of Denmark.

The Princess arrived in the Thames on board the _Victoria and
Albert_--which had been escorted from Flushing by a squadron of
war-ships--on the morning of March 1st, and was welcomed at Gravesend by
an outburst of enthusiasm which literally astounded her. A stately and
formal reception she had, of course, anticipated but the splendour of
what actually appeared, the elaborate character of the preparations, the
surprising interest shewn by the people, were indeed revelations of the
changed conditions into which the bride of the Heir Apparent had come.
At Gravesend the dense crowds which lined the shores, or at least some
portion of them, saw a sight which has been well described as pretty--"A
timid girlish figure, dressed entirely in white, who appeared on the
deck at her mother's side and then retiring to the cabin, was seen first
at one window then at another, the bewildering face framed in a little
white bonnet; the work of her own hands."


HER RECEPTION IN ENGLAND

When the Prince's yacht approached and he was seen to rush across the
gangway, catch his bride in his arms and kiss her, the delight of the
onlookers was unconstrained. As the Royal couple landed, girls strewed
flowers under their feet. Then followed the glittering procession from
Gravesend to London and thence to Windsor through long lines of
decorated houses, garlanded and festooned roadways, flashing sabres and
gorgeous uniformed soldiers. In London the streets were packed with
people; triumphal arches, banners and devices were everywhere. In the
poorer streets, in the homes of the artisan and the factory girl, there
was the same effort to show pleasure in the happiness of the Princess
and appreciation of her grace and beauty as there was in the great
residential squares. At Eton there was a triumphal arch and a loyal
gathering of enthusiastic boys; at Windsor the Queen received the
Princess and conducted her to the suite of rooms which had been lately
occupied by the Princess Alice. The first part, the popular reception,
was over and it had proved how accurately the Poet Laureate had grasped
the situation when he wrote of "the sea-king's daughter from over the
sea" and gave that lordly command to the nation:

    "Welcome her; thunders of fort and of fleet!
    Welcome her; thundering cheer of the street!
    Welcome her; all things youthful and sweet!
    Scatter the blossoms under her feet."

[Illustration: QUEEN VICTORIA, 1901
  The Honored Mother of Edward VII]

[Illustration: H. R. H. ALBERT, PRINCE CONSORT, THE FATHER OF EDWARD VII
  From a painting by F. Winterhalter]

[Illustration: THE CROWN JEWELS OF ENGLAND
  These Jewels of untold value are kept to a well protected case in the
  Tower of London. They include the ancient and modern Crowns]

[Illustration: THE CORONATION OF EDWARD VII
  King Edward received his crown at the hands of the venerable
  Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey, on August 9,
  1902, in the presence of representative peers and commoners of
  the Empire]


CELEBRATION OF THE MARRIAGE

The marriage was celebrated in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, on March
10th, the ceremony being performed by Dr. Longley, Archbishop of
Canterbury, assisted by the Bishops of London, Winchester and Chester
and by Dean Wellesley of Windsor. The Queen, owing to the Prince
Consort's recent death, took no part officially but looked on from the
Royal closet. The historic Chapel was a blaze of colour and jewels and
the wedding guests numbered nine hundred of the highest rank and station
and reputation in the land. Mr. Speaker Denison, afterwards Lord
Ossington, in his _Diary_ gives a description of the scene. "It was a
very magnificent sight--rich, gorgeous and imposing. Beautiful women
were arrayed in the richest attire, in bright colours, blue, purple,
red, and were covered with diamonds and jewels. Grandmothers looked
beautiful: Lady Abercorn, Lady Westminster, Lady Shaftsbury. Among the
young, Lady Spencer, Lady Castlereagh, Lady Carmarthen, were bright and
brilliant. The Knights of the Garter in their robes looked each of them
a fine picture. As each of the Royal persons, with their attendants,
walked up the Chapel, at a certain point each stopped and made an
obeisance to the Queen--the Princess Mary, the Duchess of Cambridge, the
Princess of Prussia, the Princess Alice of Hesse, the Princess Helena,
the Princess Christian, etc., each in turn formed a complete scene. The
Princess Alexandra, with her bridesmaids, made the best and most
beautiful scene. The Princess looked beautiful and very graceful in her
manner and demeanour." The bridesmaids were eight in number--Lady
Victoria Scott, Lady Victoria Howard, Lady Agneta Yorke, Lady Feodora
Wellesley, Lady Diana Beauclerk, Lady Georgina Hamilton, Lady Alma
Bruce, and Lady Helena Hare. They represented many of the noblest houses
in England and wore dresses described as being of "white tulle over
white glacé silk" and trimmed with roses, shamrocks and white heather.
Each of them also wore a locket presented by the Prince of Wales and
composed of coral and diamonds so as to represent the red and white
national colours of Denmark. It is interesting to note that, in 1898,
all these ladies were still living.

During the ceremony, the Prince of Wales was supported by his uncle, the
Duke of Saxe-Coburg, and his brother-in-law, the Crown Prince of
Prussia. He wore the uniform of a British General, the Collar of the
Garter, the Order of the Star of India and the rich, flowing purple
velvet mantle of a Knight of the Garter. Princess Alexandra was given
away by her father and wore a white satin skirt trimmed with garlands of
orange blossoms and puffings of tulle and Honiton lace, the bodice being
draped with the same lace, while the train of silver moire antique was
covered with orange blossoms and puffings of tulle. She wore also the
diamond and pearl necklace, earings and brooch, given her by the
bridegroom and the _rivière_ of diamonds presented by the Corporation of
London, as well as three bracelets given, respectively, by the Queen,
the ladies of Leeds and the ladies of Manchester. Her beautiful hair was
very simply dressed and on it lay a wreath of orange blossoms covered
by a veil of Honiton lace. The bridal bouquet was composed of orange
blossoms, white rosebuds, orchids and sprigs of myrtle. The actual
ceremony was a very short one, the Prince giving his responses clearly,
though the Princess was at times almost inaudible. The whole function
had been a brilliant one--the first marriage celebrated in this Chapel
since that of Henry I. in 1122--and no touch of mourning was allowed to
mar the pageantry of the scene and the bright colours of uniforms and
dresses.

The wedding breakfast was held in the State dining-room and in St.
George's Hall and, while it was proceeding, the King of Denmark was
lavishly entertaining both rich and poor in the home country of the
Royal bride. Throughout Great Britain that night bon-fires blazed, bells
rang, houses were illuminated, balls and festivities were held, school
children treated and banquets spread. Edinburgh excelled itself and some
one has said that a pen of fire dipped in rainbow hues would have been
needed to describe its pyrotechnic display. Meanwhile, the Prince and
Princess of Wales had taken their departure for Osborne, which had been
lent them by the Queen, and there the brief honeymoon was spent. At
Reading, on the way thither, thirty thousand people met the train and
presented the Princess with a bouquet. Writing of this most popular of
historic weddings Canon Kingsley said in a private letter, dated March
12th, that "one real thing I did see, and felt too, the serious grace
and reverent dignity of my dear young Master, whose manner was perfect.
And one other real thing--the Queen's sad face. I cannot tell you how
auspicious I consider this event or how happy it has made the little
knot of us (the Prince's Household in which he had recently become a
Chaplain) who love him because we know him. I hear nothing but golden
reports of the Princess from those who have known her long." A few days
later, on March 25th, Lady Waterford wrote to a friend that she had just
seen at a reception "the graceful, charming young Princess of Wales"
and that she had been in no way disappointed as to the beauty of which
all England was talking. "There was something charming in that very
young pair walking up the room together. Her graceful bows and carriage
you will delight in and she has--with lovely youth and well-formed
features--a look of great intelligence beyond that of a mere girl. She
wore the coronet of diamonds and a very long train of cloth of silver
trimmed with lace, pearl and diamond necklace, bracelet and a stomacher
and two love-locks of rich brown hair floated on her shoulders."


EARLY HOME LIFE OF THE ROYAL COUPLE

The Royal pair did not stay very long on the Isle of Wight and, after a
visit to Buckingham Palace and Windsor, entered their new home at
Sandringham on March 28th. Here the beautiful personality and character
of the Princess soon impressed themselves upon the life of the house and
its more public environment. She proved to be a model housewife, later
on a model mother, and always and everywhere a model of tactful action
and conversation. Pliability and adaptability were useful and important
qualities which she found more than serviceable in these early years of
her transition from a comparatively humble home to one of continuous
splendour and almost constant state. Difficulties there naturally were
of many minor sorts and formidable they no doubt were in the sum total.
New customs to comprehend and adopt; new intricacies of a not entirely
familiar language to become acquainted with; new and varied
responsibilities in both domestic and public life to understand and put
in practice; qualities of natural diffidence and reserve to overcome.
But these and other obstacles were conquered with an apparent ease which
concealed any real trouble in the struggle, and the Princess threw
herself into the life and work of her husband and the spirit of the
English people in a way which has ever since ensured to her the lasting
love of those in her immediate circle and the deep-seated affection of
the many-sided British public.

During the three or four immediately following years the public
appearances of the Prince and Princess of Wales were not numerous.
Philanthropic interests were taken up and maintained, but domestic and
home interests seemed to hold the first place. In August, 1864, a visit
was paid to the Highlands and some weeks spent at Abergeldie. Here, Dr.
Norman Macleod was amongst their guests and here they saw much of the
Earl and Countess of Fife, parents of their future son-in-law, the
present Duke of Fife. An autumn visit to Denmark followed and the Prince
for the first time saw his wife's early home. A good deal of shooting
was indulged in at and around Bernsdorff and from Elsinore, after a few
weeks, the Royal couple went in their yacht to Stockholm on a visit to
the King and Queen of Sweden. The infant, Prince Albert Victor, had been
with them up to this time but he was now sent home in charge of the
Countess de Grey and the Prince and Princess returned by way of Germany
and Belgium. A short stay was made with the Prince and Princess Louis of
Hesse at Darmstadt and another at Brussels. Sandringham was reached in
time to celebrate the twentieth birthday of the Princess.

An incident of this year was the personal subscription of £10,000 by the
Prince of Wales toward the erection of the Frogmore Mausoleum in honour
of his father and, it may be added, a very marked and significant
feature of all his speeches during these years was deep respect and
admiration for the Prince Consort's life and memory. In 1865 the Prince
made his first State visit to Ireland and on May 9th opened the
International Exhibition at Dublin. The weather was beautiful, the loyal
demonstrations in the streets were most enthusiastic, the great hall
where the ceremony took place was decorated with the flags of the
nations and filled with the most distinguished gathering which Ireland
could produce. The Duke of Leinster, the Earl of Rosse, and all the
leading noblemen of the country were there, as well as the Lord Mayor
and Corporation of Dublin in their civic robes, the Mayors of Cork and
Waterford and Londonderry, the Lord Mayors of London and York and the
Lord Provost of Edinburgh. When His Royal Highness took his place in the
Chair of State an orchestra of one thousand voices performed the
National Anthem and ten thousand other voices joined in song. After the
ceremony, during which the Prince made two brief speeches, he attended
in the evening a ball at the Mansion House given by the Lord Mayor.
Meanwhile the city was brilliantly illuminated. In the morning he
reviewed a number of troops in Phoenix Park and was received with much
enthusiasm by the enormous crowds gathered around the scene.

A little later, on May 19th, the Prince attended the opening of an
International Reformatory Exhibition at Islington and received and
answered an address from its President, Lord Shaftesbury. Three days
afterwards he opened the Sailors' Home in the East End of London and was
greeted by great crowds of cheering people. On June 5th, he marked his
liking for the Drama by inaugurating the Royal Dramatic College at
Woking and six days later received a banquet at the hands of the
Fishmongers' Company in London. On July 3rd he was distributing prizes
at Wellington College attended by the Bishop of Oxford, the Earl of
Derby, Earl Stanhope, Lord Eversley and others.




CHAPTER V.

Early Home Life and Varied Duties


During the years immediately succeeding his marriage the career of the
Prince of Wales was one of initiation into the responsibilities of home
life and the duties of public life. It was a period of moulding
influences and a round of functions--some perfunctory, some pleasant. It
was a time of trial for a very young man placed in a very high position,
and with temptations which might easily have led him into temporary and
even permanent forgetfulness of the responsibilities of the future.
Several causes, apart from his own natural strength of character,
combined to avert such a result. The sympathetic and gracious character
of his wife and the perfection of management and detail which she
introduced into the home life of Sandringham and the more public and
social life of Marlborough House, were factors of importance. The
recollection of his father's teachings and high ideals and the knowledge
of his Royal mother's character and devotion to principle were important
influences. The growth of family ties had its effect, and, finally, the
shock of a sickness in 1871, which brought him to the verge of death and
showed him the loving affection of the nation, completed the process of
education in that difficult and dangerous road which the youthful Heir
to a great Throne must always travel.

Of the Princess of Wales in these years it is hard to speak too highly.
Fond of domestic life, retiring by disposition and character, caring
more for husband and family than for all the glitter and glory of the
world's greatest functions or positions, she yet lived in the blaze of
a continuous publicity without possible or actual criticism and with a
ceaseless and ready charm of manner, a never-failing courtesy to high
and low, an ever-increasing popularity. Amid all the innumerable duties
and difficulties of her position there has never been a visible mistake
committed. The right people have been cultivated and encouraged; the
wrong people treated in a way which could not be resented nor
misunderstood. The right thing has been said so often that it has come
to appear the natural thing. An atmosphere of ideal refinement has
always surrounded her, and its subtle influence has pervaded many a
brilliant home and circle where other influences might easily have
prevailed. In a time when calumny would attack an Archangel, and when
its bitter barbs have been known to reach even the humanly perfect life
of Queen Victoria, no shadow has ever crossed the curtain of her
character. Of her tact--a quality which she possesses in common with the
Prince of Wales--stories are innumerable, and of her quiet,
unostentatious, continuous charity and natural kindliness of heart there
are as many more.


A BUSY MARRIED LIFE

The married life of the Prince and Princess was a busy one. Sandringham
had to be remodelled and various public duties attended to by the
Heir-Apparent. One of the first visitors at their country home was the
Rev. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, who had been so intimately associated with
the education and early life of the Prince, and who was destined to
always possess the privileges of a personal friend. Of this Easter
Sunday, following the wedding, Dean Stanley wrote in his _Diary_ that
"the Princess came to me in a corner of the drawing-room with Prayer
Book in hand and I went through the common service with her, explaining
the peculiarities and the likenesses and differences from the Danish
service. She was most simple and fascinating. My visit to Sandringham
gave me intense pleasure. I was there for three days. I read the whole
service, preached, then gave the first English Sacrament to this 'angel
in the Palace,' I saw a great deal of her, and can truly say she is as
charming and beautiful a creature as ever passed through a fairy tale."


THE PRINCE IN PUBLIC LIFE

One of the first public appearances of the Prince of Wales after his
marriage was attendance at the Royal Academy Banquet on May 2nd, 1863.
Sir Charles Eastlake, the President, proposed the usual loyal toast, and
in responding the young Prince is said to have spoken in a particularly
clear and pleasing manner. Of the important personal event to which
reference had been made he declared that neither the Princess nor
himself could "ever forget the manner in which our union has been
celebrated throughout the nation." Amongst the other speakers were Lord
Palmerston, Mr. W. M. Thackeray and Sir Roderick Murchison. The first
really important public event in the Prince's life at this period was
the presentation of the freedom of the City of London on June 8th.
Invitations had been issued to a couple of thousand of the most eminent
persons in the public, social and diplomatic life of the country and
exceedingly costly preparations were made for the reception, and for the
ball and banquet which followed. The Prince and Princess of Wales were
accompanied by Prince Alfred, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and
Princess Mary of Cambridge and other Royal personages. The Princess was
clad in white, with a coronet and brooch of diamonds and a necklace of
brilliants--the one her husband's wedding present and the other that of
the City of London. The reply to the address and presentation was very
brief but appropriate and the events which followed were remarkable for
their splendour and air of general joyousness.

A week later the Royal couple attended the Commemoration at Oxford and
the Prince of Wales was presented with the degree of D.C.L. in the
presence of a brilliant assemblage of Professors and visitors, and an
enthusiastic throng of students. The latter gave the Princess a
reception which made her flush with mingled nervousness and pleasure
though it could not affect her natural dignity of bearing. She had not
yet become accustomed to the overwhelming character which British
enthusiasm sometimes assumes and, indeed, is said to have never
absolutely overcome a personal shrinking from the publicity which was
inseparable from her position and popularity. However that may be, the
feeling was never shown to the people and, if a fact, can only be
considered as enhancing the graciousness of manner which has been so
marked a characteristic of her life in England. During this brief visit
to Oxford Their Royal Highnesses distributed prizes to the Rifle
Volunteers, opened a bazaar in aid of the Radcliffe Infirmary, inspected
the exhibits at the Horticultural Show, and went over the Prince's
one-time college residence at Frewen Hall.

A hasty visit to the North of England in August was made to include the
opening ceremony for a new Town Hall at Halifax and here the Royal
couple received a most hearty welcome. Another function was the opening
of the British Orphan Asylum on June 24th by the Prince, who became its
Patron and promoted large subscriptions to its work--one of which from
Mr. Edward Mackensie totalled $60,000. Though this was a very quiet year
in comparison with those of the future, His Royal Highness extended his
patronage, usually accompanied by liberal subscriptions, to eight public
charities, eight hospitals and asylums, five agricultural societies and
eleven learned and scientific societies--including the Society of Arts
of which he became President. His first work in this latter connection
was to promote and obtain a fund for sending a number of British
workmen to the Paris Exhibition with a view to improving their
mechanical and technical knowledge. He also associated himself with the
Mendicity Society by means of which all the innumerable appeals for aid
which came to him from time to time were investigated, sifted, and
reported upon before action was taken. On May 18, 1864 the Prince
presided for the first time at the Royal Literary Fund banquet and thus
commenced a long period of active patronage toward an institution which
has served a most useful purpose in England--the quick and secret
dispensing of aid to literary men who from some cause or other might be
destitute, or in need. Its objects were not local but international and
in his speech on this occasion His Royal Highness pointed how well and
quietly the work had been done.


THE PRINCESS AND HER FAMILY

Early in the year the first-born child of the Royal couple arrived on
the scene. The event had been expected for March 1864 but the infant was
born at Frogmore on January 9th and was christened on March 10th as
Albert Victor Christian Edward. From infancy the Prince was somewhat
delicate and, no doubt for that reason, was always supposed to be his
mother's favourite child. The Princess of Wales was, at this time, not
yet twenty but was devoted to her domestic duties and especially to the
new arrival in their home. She would rather visit the nursery at any
time than attend a State function or ball. Other children came in the
following years. Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert, afterwards
Prince of Wales, was born on June 3, 1865; Princess Louise Victoria
Alexandra Dagmar, afterwards Duchess of Fife, on February 20, 1867;
Princess Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary on July 6, 1868; and Princess Maud
Charlotte Mary Victoria, sometime to be Princess Charles of Denmark, on
November 26, 1869. In 1871 Prince Alexander John Charles Albert was
born, but only lived for one brief day.

As these children came one by one they found a most happy home circle
and a devoted mother. In all their little amusements and games the
Princess took part; in their training and education she took a watchful
share; in their lives as a whole simplicity was made the guiding
principle, as it had been in the Royal family of the past generation.
From all accounts which are open to us she delighted much more in the
nursery than in society. Dr. William Jenner saw the Royal children
whenever necessary but the "coddling" so often seen in modern homes was
unknown at Sandringham. The Prince believed as much in simplicity of
bringing up as did his wife and, by special order, the Household and
servants never used the prefix of "Royal Highness" to the children but
addressed them as Prince Eddy, or Princess Louise, or whatever the name
might be. The little girls, as their father always called them, had
their tea with the nurses and were given few toys and never allowed to
accept presents. No fuss was made over the little accidents inevitable
to childhood and in every way life was kept devoid of state formality,
or anything that would breed a sense of childish self-importance. When
the Prince and Princess were away from home, as they frequently had to
be, letters were daily exchanged with the head nurse. The result of this
general system and of the later plan of making the young Princesses more
and more companions of their mother and the boys, as far as
circumstances would permit, of their father, created and maintained at
Sandringham one of the most pleasant home circles in all England. An
illustration of the spirit in which domestic anniversaries and incidents
were approached may be found in lines composed by the Princess, on one
occasion, for Prince George when the family were commencing to celebrate
the birthday of the husband and father. The thought was admirable even
if the poetry was not quite perfect:

    "Day of pleasure, brightly dawning,
    Take the gift of this sweet morning,
    Our best hopes and wishes blending
    Must yield joy that's never ending."

During these years the Prince of Wales was gradually assuming many of
the duties and public tasks which would have devolved upon the Queen, or
in earlier days have been performed with such fidelity and care by the
Prince Consort. At this time the Queen was living in strict retirement
and for a long period still to follow she maintained the same sorrowing
seclusion in a more or less modified form. Toward the close of 1865 the
death of Lord Palmerston removed a statesman in whom the Prince had
found a personal friend and whom he had consulted and greatly trusted in
private matters. In February, 1866, the Queen made one of her rare
public appearances and opened Parliament, in person, accompanied by the
Prince and Princess of Wales. A little later came the cholera epidemic
which killed one hundred thousand people in Austria and caused a number
of deaths in England. To the Mansion House Relief Fund, which ultimately
reached the total of $350,000 and to another Fund, the Prince
contributed $17,500. In August the Royal couple visited Studley Royal,
the seat of the Earl de Grey and Ripon--better known afterwards as the
Marquess of Ripon--and were given a great reception in the City of York.
An incident of the latter occasion was a sudden downpour of rain during
which the Prince stood up in his carriage, bareheaded, so that the
people should not be disappointed.


VARIOUS PUBLIC FUNCTIONS AND EVENTS

A little before this, on May 9th, the President and Council of the
Institution of Civil Engineers entertained the Heir Apparent at a
banquet in London and amongst the other guests were the veteran Field
Marshal Sir John Burgoyne, the Dukes of Sutherland and Buccleuch, Earl
Grey, Lord Salisbury, Sir John Pakington, Sir Edwin Landseer, Sir
Richard Owen and many other eminent scientists and leaders of the time.
During his speech the Prince paid a tribute to the work of Brunel and
Stephenson and, in the latter connection, referred to the great bridge
across the St. Lawrence, in Canada, which he had inaugurated in 1860 and
to which he gave the credit for an opportunity to visit British America
and the United States. On June 11th His Royal Highness had also laid the
foundation of the new building of the British and Foreign Bible Society
in London. He was received formally by the President, the Earl of
Shaftsbury, the Lord Mayor, the Archbishop of York and others and, in
the course of his speech, pointed out that the Society had already spent
$30,000,000 in the promotion of its objects and in the translation of
the Bible into two hundred and eighty different languages and dialects.
After referring to the efforts in this cause by his grandfather, the
Duke of Kent, the Prince went on to say that "it is my hope and trust
that, under Divine guidance, the wider diffusion and deeper study of the
Scriptures will, in this as in every age, be at once the surest
guarantee of the progress and liberty of the mind and the means of
multiplying in the present time the consolations of our holy religion."

The next function shared in was the anniversary gathering of the Clergy
Corporation, attended by the Archbishops of Canterbury, York and Armagh,
the Marquess of Salisbury and other dignitaries. In his speech the
Prince pointed out that there were ten thousand clergymen in the United
Kingdom whose benefices were of less value than $750 a year and urged
the usefulness of an institution which distributed $20,000 per annum to
orphans and unmarried daughters of clergymen as well as temporary aid to
necessitous clergymen themselves. The result of his appeal was a
subscription of $6,000 to which he contributed $525 personally. On June
18th he inaugurated a Warehousemen and Clerks' School at Croydon at a
gathering presided over by Earl Russell and ten days later visited the
Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum in the suburbs of London. In August the
Prince and Princess of Wales made one of their first public appearances
in the County where they had made their country home and where the
Prince so well embodied the hearty, healthy life of the English
gentleman. During the month, therefore, they paid a visit to Norwich as
the principal town of Norfolk and, accompanied by the Queen of Denmark
and the Duke of Edinburgh, attended one of Sir Michael Costa's
oratorios, opened a Drill-hall, planted memorial trees and in other ways
helped to make the occasion memorable to the people of the ancient town.

A visit followed in the autumn to the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, at
their splendid Castle of Dunrobin, in the north of Scotland. In driving
twenty-five miles from the station to the Castle a most enthusiastic
welcome was received along the entire route. In reviewing the Sutherland
Volunteers during his stay the Prince expressed a wish that the Corps
would wear the kilt as their uniform and this was, of course, done with
the greatest pleasure. Shortly after the return from Scotland the Queen
of Denmark came again to England and stayed for some time at Sandringham
with her daughter. Late in the year (November) the Prince of Wales went
to St. Petersburg to attend in an official capacity the marriage of the
Princess Dagmar of Denmark--sister of his wife--to the Czarewitch who
afterwards became Alexander III. The cold was deemed a sufficiently
strong reason for the Princess not to accompany him. In his suite were
Lord Frederick Paulet, the Marquess of Blandford, Viscount Hamilton, and
Major Teesdale. He was welcomed at the station by the Emperor, the
Czarewitch and others of the Imperial family and given splendid
quarters at the Hermitage Palace. After the marriage he visited Moscow,
accompanied by the Crown Prince of Denmark, went over the historic
Kremlin and called on the Metropolitan, the highest dignitary in the
Russian Church, who received his Royal visitor in a cell and gave him
his blessing after a brief conversation.

The year 1867 was marked by a painful illness of the Princess through
acute rheumatism and inflammation of a knee-joint. During the serious
period of the illness the Prince devoted himself to the invalid, never
leaving her side unless compelled to do so and having his desk brought
into the sick-room so that he might carry on his correspondence in her
presence. It was not until July that the Princess was able to drive out
and during the rest of the year the Royal couple lived very quietly and
made as few public appearances as possible. It was in the beginning of
this year that Princess Louise, afterwards Duchess of Fife, was born.
Some functions had to be performed, however, and they included the
presiding at a meeting of the National Lifeboat Institution and at the
one hundred and fifty-second anniversary festival of the Welsh Society
of Ancient Britons, on March 1st; a visit to the International
Exhibition at Paris in May; and the presence of the Prince at the laying
of the foundation stone of the Albert Hall, in London, later in the same
month. On July 10th His Royal Highness inaugurated the London
International College, which had been organized by Mr. Cobden and M.
Michel Chevalier, as a branch of an international institution. At the
luncheon were the Duc d'Aumale, the Prince de Joinville and the Comte de
Paris as well as Professor Huxley and Dr. Leonard Schmitz, the head of
the institution. In his speech the Prince pointed out the usefulness of
a College which would more or less devote itself to the teaching of
modern languages at a time when the interests of varied nationalities
were becoming so intermingled.

[Illustration: THE CORONATION OF EDWARD'S QUEEN
  Queen Alexandra received her crown at the hands of the venerable
  Archbishop of York at Westminster Abbey, August 9, 1902, immediately
  after the crowning of the King by the Archbishop of Canterbury]

[Illustration: KING EDWARD VII AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA
  At the Opening of Parliament]

[Illustration: THE ROYAL LINE OF SUCCESSION AT THE TIME OF QUEEN
VICTORIA'S DIAMOND JUBILEE
  Queen Victoria, Prince of Wales, Duke of York and Prince Edward]

[Illustration: THE CORONATION CHAIR
  Containing the Stone of Scone on which traditional Irish Kings, Scotch
  Kings and British Kings have been crowned]

An interesting event occurred in July when Ismail Pasha, Khedive of
Egypt, visited England, as his father had done twenty-one years before.
At a banquet in the Mansion Home, on July 11th, a distinguished
gathering met to do him honour and amongst them were the Prince of
Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar and many men
eminent in politics and diplomacy. In his speech the Prince spoke of his
personal indebtedness to the late Khedive for kindness received during
his own visit to Egypt in 1862 and, also, of the national importance of
the facilities given by that country to England in the transit of troops
to India. He then referred to the illness of the Princess and to the
words in that connection used by the Lord Mayor. "I know I only express
her feelings when I say that she has been deeply touched by that
universal good feeling and sympathy which has been shown to her during
her long and painful illness. Thank God, she has now nearly recovered
and I trust that in a month's time she will be able to leave London and
enjoy the benefits of fresh air."


ROYAL VISIT TO IRELAND

The Prince of Wales early in his public life showed his sympathy with
the people of Ireland. He had already visited Dublin in 1865 and, on
March 17, 1868, while planning a State visit to that country, attended a
brilliant celebration of the anniversary of St. Patrick's birth, in
Willis's Rooms, London. Amongst those present were the Archbishop of
Armagh, the Bishop of Derry, the Earl of Longford, the Earl of Mayo and
Lord Kimberley. The Prince, in his speech, expressed the belief that
despite disagreeable occurrences of the past few years the people of
Ireland generally were "thoroughly true and loyal." On April 15th the
Prince and Princess of Wales landed at Kingstown and were received with
tremendous acclaim. With his usual tact the Prince asked that no troops
should be present in the streets. The Princess, who was dressed in Irish
poplin, was presented with a white dove, emblematic of peace, and fairly
captured the hearts of the populace. The visit lasted ten days and
included amongst its functions a gorgeous installation of the Prince as
a Knight of St. Patrick, when he used the sword worn by George IV. on a
similar occasion; his presence at the Punchestown races--where the Royal
couple appeared in open carriages and received an enthusiastic welcome;
attendance at the Royal Hibernian Academy's rooms and at the Royal
Dublin Society's Conversazione; a visit to the Catholic University and
the receipt of an LL.D.--together with the Duke of Cambridge and Lord
Abercorn, the Lord Lieutenant--from Trinity College; a visit to the
Cattle Show and a Royal review of troops; attendance at Sunday service
in historic Christ Church; personal visits to Lord Powerscourt's
beautiful place in Wicklow and to the Duke of Leinster at Carton; a
formal visit to Maynooth College and the unveiling in Dublin of a statue
of Edmund Burke.

The London _Times_ described the crowded life of those ten days in
rather interesting language: "There were presentations and receptions,
and receiving and answering addresses, processions, walking, riding and
driving, in morning and evening, in military, academic and mediæval
attire. The Prince had to breakfast, lunch, dine and sup with more or
less publicity every twenty-four hours. He had to go twice to races with
fifty or a hundred thousand people about him; to review a small army and
make a tour in the Wicklow Mountains, everywhere receiving addresses
under canopies and dining in state under galleries full of spectators.
He visited and inspected institutions, colleges, universities,
academies, libraries and cattle shows. He had to take a very active part
in assemblies of from several hundred to several thousand dancers and
always to select for his partners the most important personages. He had
to listen to many speeches sufficiently to know when and what to answer.
He had to examine with respectful interest pictures, books, antiquities,
relics, manuscripts, specimens, bones, fossils, prize beasts and works
of Irish art. He had never to be unequal to the occasion, however
different from the last, or however like the last, and whatever his
disadvantage as to the novelty or dullness of the matter and the scene."

On April 25th the Royal visitors returned to Holyhead and on their way
home stopped at Carnarvon, the birthplace of the first Prince of Wales,
where a banquet was received and a brief speech made by the living
successor of a great King's son. Among the incidents connected with this
visit was the fact that while the Prince was freely passing through and
amongst the people of the Irish capital his brother, the Duke of
Edinburgh, was shot at Clontarf, Australia, by an Irishman named
O'Farrell, while he was accepting the hospitality of a local Sailors'
Home. Another was the tact and judgment displayed by the Heir Apparent
in forwarding a cheque to the Dublin Hospital Sunday Fund after his
return home. This institution had then and has since exercised a most
beneficial effect upon Irish hospital affairs; but the marvel was that
the Prince should have found time amid his multifarious duties and
functions to look into its management and influence. May the 5th, saw
the Prince attending the sixty-second anniversary of the "Society of
Friends of Foreigners in Distress" and pointing out in a preliminary
speech that the Queen had taken deep interest in this charity ever since
her accession in 1837. In proposing the health of the Prince and
Princess of Wales, Sir Travers Twiss, the Advocate-General, said that
though it was not generally known, he would take the liberty of stating
that during His Royal Highness' Eastern travels he had passed through no
great city without visiting and helping any institutions which might
exist in aid of suffering humanity.

Eight days later the Prince presided at the annual banquet of the
Governors of St. Bartholomew's Hospital--after visiting and inspecting
the wards. During the same day His Royal Highness attended a great state
function in the laying of the foundation of St. Thomas' Hospital by the
Queen in person. The last important matter in which the Prince took part
before leaving for his second Eastern tour was the laying of the
foundation stone of new buildings for Glasgow University on October 8th.
They cost over two millions of dollars and in the stately proceedings
accompanying this event, the Princess of Wales was able to participate.
From November 1868 to May 1869 the Royal couple were in the distant
East, but, on the Queen's birthday in the latter year, the Prince of
Wales was able to be present at the anniversary banquet of the Royal
Geographical Society and to receive congratulations on having been
instrumental in effecting the appointment of his late travelling
companion, Sir Samuel Baker, to the government of the Soudan region in
Africa, under the control of the Egyptian Government and with the object
of suppressing the slave trade. His Royal Highness warmly eulogized Sir
S. Baker--who had also just received the Society's medal for the
year--and the events of the evening were considered to have made the
occasion memorable. Prince Hassan of Egypt was present and amongst the
speakers were Sir Roderick Murchison, Admiral Sir George Back, Professor
Owen, the Duke of Sutherland, Dr. W. H. Russell, Sir Francis Grant
P.R.A., and Sir Henry Rawlinson.

The next two or three years saw the Prince participating in many public
and more or less important events. Accompanied by the Princess of Wales
he laid the foundation of new buildings in connection with the Earlswood
Asylum, in Surrey, on June 28, 1869. An incident of this event was not
only the usual gift of a hundred guineas by the Prince but a procession
of ladies who passed up to the dais in single file and deposited
upwards of four hundred purses, which they had collected for the
Charity, under the influence of Royal patronage and encouragement. On
July 7th Their Royal Highnesses visited Lynn, inaugurated the new
Alexandra Dock, and took part in several local events. A state visit to
Manchester followed, on July 29th, and the Prince opened the annual
exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, of which he was
President, and was given a warm welcome in and around the city. On the
succeeding day he inaugurated a new dock at Hull.

Meanwhile, on July 23rd, the Prince had visited London in order to
unveil a statue of George Peabody, the distinguished American
philanthropist. At the ceremony Sir Benjamin Phillips, Chairman of the
Committee, addressed the Prince formally and thus concluded: "Let us
hope that this statue, erected by the sons of free England to the honour
of one of Columbia's truest and noblest citizens, may be symbolical of
the peace and good will that exist between the two countries." In
replying His Royal Highness spoke of Mr Peabody as a great American
citizen and of his gift of over a quarter of a million pounds sterling
to the charities of a country not his own, as being unexampled, and
concluded as follows: "Be assured that the feelings which I personally
entertain toward America are the same as they ever were. I can never
forget the reception which I had there nine years ago and my earnest
wish and hope is that England and America may go hand in hand in peace
and prosperity." Following the example of King William IV., when Duke of
Clarence, and of the late Dukes of Kent, Sussex and Cambridge, the
Prince of Wales presided on November 30th at the anniversary banquet of
the Scottish Corporation--or as it was popularly called the Scottish
Hospital--in order to mark his approval of an institution which had done
much to assist, by means of pensions, poor and aged natives of Scotland
living in London; to afford temporary relief to Scotchmen in distress;
or to educate poor Scottish children. On this occasion there was a
large gathering which included Prince Christian and the Duke of
Roxburghe and, after a speech from the Prince describing the objects and
work of the institution, it was announced that $12,500 had been
specially subscribed to the purposes of the Hospital--including $500
from the Prince of Wales himself.

Exhibitions, in the years between his coming of age and his accession to
the Throne, were always favourite objects of attention and support at
the hands of Heir Apparent. He had already studied closely his father's
conduct of the first great International Exhibition, and had himself
opened one of the same kind at Dublin, and been present at an
International Reformatory gathering and at the Paris Exhibition. On
April 4th, 1870, he presided at a meeting of the Society of Arts called
to promote an International Educational Exhibition for the succeeding
year. Resolutions were passed to this end, and after an explanatory
speech from His Royal Highness and, it may be added here, the Exhibition
was duly opened on May 1st, 1871, by the Prince of Wales, with imposing
pageantry and with details worked out by his assistant in various future
undertakings Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen. On May 16, 1870, the Prince
presided at the annual banquet of the Royal General Theatrical Fund,
established as far back as 1839, for the relief and assistance of
members, and of widows and orphans of members, of the dramatic
profession. During the evening, after a speech from the Royal chairman,
Mr. Buckstone, the well-known actor, spoke in warm words of the kindness
of the Prince in attending their function: "The duties he has to perform
are so numerous and fatiguing that we only wonder how he gets through
them all. Even within these few days he has held a Levée; on Saturday
last he patronized a performance at Drury Lane in aid of the Dramatic
College; then had to run away to Freemasons' Hall to be present at the
installation of the Grand Master; and now we find him in the chair this
evening; so what with _conversaziones_, laying foundation stones,
opening schools, and other calls upon his little leisure, I think he may
be looked upon as one of the hardest working men in Her Majesty's
dominions." This was a fact or condition not recognized very generally
in those days; in after years it became a truism in popular opinion.

St. George's Hospital received the combined patronage of the Prince and
Princess on May 26th. The former occupied the chair and made an earnest
appeal for aid to this most deserving institution. The Earl of Cadogan,
who was one of the Treasurers, announced a little later in the evening
that the Prince of Wales had handed him a check for two hundred guineas,
the Princess one for fifty guineas, and the Marquess of
Westminster--afterwards the first Duke of that name--one for two hundred
guineas. Amongst the other speakers on this occasion were Earl
Granville, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Carnarvon and Mr. W. H. Smith,
M.P. On June 21st, His Royal Highness opened a new building in
connection with Dulwich College in Surrey; nine days later he and the
Princess opened new schools for the children of seamen near the London
Docks; on July 1st they visited in state the ancient town of Reading and
laid the foundation stone of a new Grammar School. A week later the
Prince had the congenial task of giving the Albert gold medal of the
Society of Arts to M. de Lesseps. As President of the Society he
addressed the father of the Suez Canal, in French, and congratulated him
upon the completion of his great undertaking, not only in a public
capacity, but "as a personal friend." In his reply, M. de Lesseps said
that he had received much private encouragement from the late Prince
Consort in the early stages of his enterprise, and that he could never
forget that fact. It may be added here that the presentation of this
Medal was always a peculiar pleasure to the Prince of Wales, and that
amongst those in after years who received it at his hands were Sir
Henry Bessemer, M. Chevalier and Sir Henry Doulton.

On July 13th His Royal Highness, on behalf of the Queen, and accompanied
by the Princess Louise and the grand officers of the Household, opened
with elaborate ceremony the new Thames Embankment. Three days later he
opened the Workmen's International Exhibition at Islington in the name
of the Queen. During this year the war between France and Germany caused
the Prince and his family keen interest and many natural anxieties. He
arranged for a special telegraph service so that news might reach him at
once and took an active part in associations and subscription lists for
aid to the wounded on both sides. The Royal family had such close
relations with that of Prussia through the Princess Royal and with that
of France through long personal friendship with the Emperor and Empress
that the position of individual members, like the Heir Apparent, and his
wife could be easily understood.

The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences was opened with stately and
imposing ceremony by the Queen on March 29th, 1871. When Her Majesty,
accompanied by the Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal
family, had taken her place on the dais of a Hall containing eight
thousand people and an orchestra of twelve hundred persons, under Sir
Michael Costa, the Prince of Wales advanced and, as President of the
Provisional Committee, detailed the origin and history of the project.
He then, after receiving a formal reply, declared the Hall open in the
name of the Queen. On May 7th, following, the Prince presided at a
dinner in aid of the Artists' Orphan Fund and, after explaining its
useful objects, expressed the wish that further contributions would be
offered for the purpose in view. At the close of the affair the
Treasurer announced subscriptions to the amount of $60,000, of which a
check for $525 was from the Royal chairman. The Earlswood Asylum for
Idiots was again visited by the Prince on May 17th, when he presided at
the anniversary dinner of the institution in London and explained its
continued progress. Subscriptions of $21,000 were announced, of which
$525 were given by the Prince. The same result followed his chairmanship
of a dinner in aid of the Farningham Homes for Little Boys on June 2nd.
He pointed out that the institution was still in need despite a recent
anonymous contribution of $5000. Before the close of the evening some
$17,000 had been subscribed, including $750 from His Royal Highness.
Such incidents, often repeated, indicate better than many words the
value attached to the Prince's presence and support of deserving
charities, and they also afford some proof of the generous expenditure
of his private means for public benefit. On June 28th, the Prince acted
as Chairman of the anniversary festival of the Royal Caledonian Asylum
in London. There were three hundred and fifty guests present, mostly in
Highland costume, and amongst them were Prince Arthur and the Duke of
Cambridge, the Dukes of Buccleuch and Richmond, the Marquess of Lorne
and Marquess of Huntly, the Earls of Fife, Mar, and March.

On July 31st His Royal Highness again paid a visit to Dublin. He was
accompanied by the Princess Louise, the Marquess of Lorne, and the young
Prince Arthur--better known in later years as the Duke of Connaught. An
address was presented at Kingstown by the Lord Mayor and Corporation
and, on the following day, the Royal visitors witnessed a cricket match,
lunched with the officers of the Grenadier Guards and inspected the
cattle, horses, and sheep of the Royal Agricultural Society's annual
show. In the evening the Prince of Wales presided at a great banquet of
four hundred and fifty guests, with galleries thronged with ladies. He
made several brief speeches and a particularly happy one in proposing
the health of Earl Spencer, the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. A series of
engagements and entertainments followed, amongst which were a brilliant
military review in Phoenix Park and the installation of the Prince as
Grand Patron of the Masonic Institution in Ireland. This was the last
important event taken part in by His Royal Highness before the serious
illness which, a little later, so greatly stirred the nation and
affected himself.




CHAPTER VI.

Travels in the East


Before he came to the Throne the Prince of Wales had long been the most
travelled man in Europe. He had visited every Court and capital and
centre upon that Continent; he had toured the North American Continent
from the capital of Canada to the capital of the United States and from
the historic heights of Quebec to the great western centre at Chicago;
he had visited the most noted lands of the distant East.


FROM EUROPE TO AFRICA

In 1862, his first visit to Egypt and the Holy Land had taken place, and
now, six years later, he was to make a more imposing and important tour
of those and other countries in the company of his wife. On November
17th, 1868, the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by their three
eldest children and by Lady Carmarthen, General Sir W. Knollys,
Lieut.-Col. Keppel and Dr. Minter, left for the Continent and reached
Compiègne on the morning of the 20th inst., in order to pay a visit to
the Emperor and Empress of the French. An incident of the hunt which
took place that afternoon was the rush of a stag at the Prince who, with
his horse, was completely knocked over. Amongst the shooting party were
Marshal Bazaine, the Baron Von Moltke, the Marquess of Lansdowne and
other well-known men of the day. After a stay of a few days here and at
Paris the Royal party proceeded on their journey and reached Copenhagen
on November 29th. The birthday of the Princess was celebrated two days
later in her old home.

Stockholm was reached on December 16th, and a visit of some days'
duration paid to the King of Sweden. On December 28th the Prince and
Princess were back again with the Royal family of Denmark and attended a
State Ball at the Christianborg Palace. In the middle of January they
embarked in the yacht _Freya_, and at Hamburg the Royal children were
sent home in charge of Lady Carmarthen, Sir William Knollys and Colonel
Keppel. At Berlin, on January 17th, they were welcomed by the Crown
Prince and Princess of Prussia--the Princess Royal of England--and by
Lord Augustus Loftus, the British Ambassador. On the following day His
Royal Highness was invested with the famous order of the Black Eagle by
the King of Prussia. Amongst the limited number of Knights Grand Cross
who were present at the Chapter were the Baron Von Moltke, General Von
Roon, Count Von Waldersee, and Count Von Wrangel. From Berlin, where the
Prince and Princess were joined by those who were to accompany them on
their further journey and including Colonel Teesdale, V.C., Captain
Ellis, Lord Carington, Mr. Oliver Montague, Dr. Minter and the Hon. Mrs.
William Grey, the Royal party went to Vienna which was reached on
January 21st. At the station they were received by the Emperor Francis
Joseph and various members of the Austrian Royal family together with
Prince Von Hohenlohe and Lord Bloomfield, the British Ambassador. State
visits, dinners, the theatre, skating and a private visit to the King
and Queen of Hanover in their retirement at Hietsing, constituted the
programme of the next few days. Vienna was left on January 27th, and
from Trieste, on the following day, sail was made on board H.M.S.
_Ariadne_ and Alexandria reached on February 3rd.


TRIP UP THE NILE

After their formal reception at Alexandria by Mehemet Tewfik Pasha,
Shereef Pasha, Mourad Pasha, Sir Samuel Baker and others, the Prince
and Princess proceeded to Cairo where they were warmly welcomed by the
Khedive, and met by the Duke of Sutherland and his son, Lord Stafford,
Professor Owen, Colonel Marshall and the special correspondent, Dr. W.
H. Russell. The latter gentlemen joined the Royal party and were to
proceed with them on the journey up the Nile together with Prince Louis
of Battenberg and Lord Albert Gower. Before starting on this voyage,
however, the Prince and Princess were privileged in witnessing the
curious Procession of the Holy Carpet and the departure of a portion of
the annual stream of pilgrims for Mecca. The Princess and Mrs. Grey were
also invited, on February 5th, to dine at the Harem with the Khedive's
mother and the ceremonies, as described by Mrs. Grey in her _Diary_ of
the tour, were exceedingly interesting. A multitude of smartly dressed
female slaves in coloured satin and gold; services of silver and gold;
dishes of the most peculiar and varied composition and taste; music by
bands of girls and dances by other bands of women--some of whose motions
were described by Mrs. Grey as graceful and others as "simply
frightful;" drinks of curious character and pipes and cigarettes with
holders ornamented by masses of precious gems; costumes which partook of
both the Eastern and Western character; jewels and gold in every
direction and upon every possible kind of object--such were some of the
things seen during the visit. In the evening of the same day the Royal
couple and suite went to the theatre, and afterwards the Prince had
supper with the Khedive at the Palace of Gizerek, accompanied with
elaborate ceremonies and a succession of dancing spectacles.

Meanwhile, every care had been exercised by the Khedive in preparing
comforts for the Royal guests up the Nile. The chief barge was occupied
by the Prince and Princess and the Hon. Mrs. Grey, who was in attendance
upon the latter; a second was occupied by the Suite; a third by the Duke
of Sutherland's party; a fourth was used as a store-boat and contained
3,000 bottles of champagne, 20,000 bottles of soda-water, 4,000 bottles
of claret and plenty of ale, liquors and light wines. Sir Samuel Baker,
who was at this time Governor of the Soudan region, accompanied the
Prince and had with him an abundance of guns and nets for capturing
crocodiles, etc. During the slow progress up the river there was plenty
of sport, and His Royal Highness won fine specimens of spoonbills,
flamingoes, herons, cranes, cormorants, doves, etc.


THEY VISIT SITES OF ANCIENT CITIES

During the early part of the trip there was not much that was
interesting; apart from the shooting expeditions which were undertaken
from time to time. The sight of frightened children, timid women,
labouring slaves, mosques and villages of huts and occasional ruins of
more or less interest were all that was visible along the low banks of
the river as they passed. The caves, or grottoes, of Beni Hassan were
visited on February 10, and the life of ancient peoples seen in a
panorama of carved monuments. Then came a more beautiful, cultivated and
populous part of the region watered by the Nile. Thebes, Luxor, Karnak,
however, were names and places which made up for much. For two days,
ending February 19th, the heir to a thousand years of English
sovereignty wandered amidst these tombs and monuments of the rulers of
an African empire which had wielded vast power and created works of
wonderful skill and genius three, and five thousand years before. The
great hall and collonades and pillars of Karnac, the obelisk of Luxor,
the famous tombs of the Kings, the Temples of Rameses, the colossal
statues of Egyptian rulers, were visited by daylight, and, in some
cases, the wondrous effect of Oriental moonlight upon these massive
shapes and memorials of a mighty past was also witnessed.

Philæ with its interesting ruins, Assouan with its modern history,
Korosko, Deré, the early capital of Nubia, the great Temple at Aboo
Simbel, were seen, and, finally, after the Prince had killed his first
crocodile, on February 28th, and the party had made an uncomfortable
trip across a hot waste of desert, Wady Halfah was reached on March 2nd,
and the journey back was commenced. On their return a special trip was
made by the Prince and Princess to the Pyramids of Ghizeh, accompanied
by Mehemet Tewfik, the Khedive's son, with an escort from Cairo. The
Prince ascended the biggest of the Pyramids and the party was royally
entertained afterwards in a pavilion specially erected for the purpose.


INTERESTING RUINS ARE VISITED

The Prince and Princess also visited the Royal chambers in the great
Pyramid. A delightful drive to Cairo followed, and the party soon found
themselves comfortably installed in the Esbekiah Palace. On the
following day a visit was paid to the great Mosque where lie the revered
bones of Mehemet Ali, under an embroidered velvet catafalque. One of the
graceful minarets was ascended and a splendid panorama of the city seen.
On March 18 the Tombs of the Caliphs, with their picturesque but ruined
mosques, were visited, and in the evening the theatre was attended, in
company with His Highness, the Khedive. A visit to the Baulak Museum
followed and was rendered thoroughly interesting by the presence of the
learned Orientalist, Marriette Bey, who showed the Prince and Princess a
bust of the Pharaoh "who would not let the children of Israel go," and
one of the other Pharaohs, who was a friend of Moses. Sir W. H. Russell
is authority for the statement that the slightly incredulous smile of
the Princess brought out a most concise, learned and convincing
explanation of history and hieroglyphics in this connection.

On the evening of March 19th the Khedive gave a State Dinner in honour
of his Royal guests at the Garden Kiosk of the new Palace of Gizeh. The
grounds were brilliantly illuminated, those present included all that
was eminent in the life of Egypt, the viands were served upon the
richest plate, the native fireworks sent up afterwards were most
attractive. The Hon. Mrs. Grey, in her _Diary_, says that "standing in
the outer marble court, with its beautiful Moorish arches and its
pillars of rich brown colour, their bases and capitals profusely and
brilliantly decorated, and looking on every side at the tastefully
illuminated gardens, the effect produced was indeed most splendid and
carried one at once back in imagination to one of the scenes you read of
in the _Arabian Nights_. It is quite impossible to describe it, but I
shall never forget this beautiful sight." The writer then goes on to
describe the splendid architecture and tasteful furniture of the
building and rooms. Most of the latter were decorated in white and gold,
with myriads of mirrors, rich silk curtains and furniture with all the
soft and brilliant colourings of the old Arabesque style. There were
fountains everywhere, and the floors were inlaid marble, porphery and
alabaster.

Following this function came a visit to the British Mission School,
where the Princess greatly charmed the children; a state visit to the
races in a carriage drawn by six horses, and with coachmen and
postilions wearing most gorgeous liveries of scarlet and gold. The Suite
were also splendidly equipped in regard to carriages and outriders, and
the streets were lined with troops. The races were well conducted and
the general ceremonies of the occasion worthy of Ismail, the Khedive.
This was to have been the last function prior to departure for the Suez
Canal, but it was now decided to accept the pressing invitation of His
Highness and stay three days longer. Following upon this decision came a
series of visits paid by the Princess of Wales to the wives, or harems,
of certain distinguished Egyptian gentlemen, and, finally, to the harem
of the Khedive.

Amongst the places visited were the homes of Murad Pasha, Abd-el-Kader
Bey and Achmet Bey. On March 23d the Princess, with a couple of
attendant ladies, visited the Khedive's mother--the real ruler of his
harem. It was a sort of Eastern drawing-room function, with slaves in
brightly-coloured dresses everywhere about, and a number of Princesses,
or daughters and relations of the Khedive, present, together with many
other ladies of Egyptian rank and position. Mrs. Grey described them as
mostly pretty--which was not, in her experience, the case as a rule--and
as looking cheerful and happy. In the evening the Princess attended a
State Dinner given by the four wives of the Khedive at the Palace of
Gizerek. The presence of innumerable slaves, coffee and pipes, music and
cherry jam served on a large gold tray with a gold service inlaid with
diamonds and rubies, were the initial features of the entertainment. At
dinner the guests sat on chairs instead of on the floor, as at a
previous affair of the kind, but still had to pull the meat from the
turkey with their fingers, while the odour of garlic and onions in many
of the dishes was very unpleasant. There was some singing during the
meal, with music and Oriental dancing after it. Meanwhile the bazars had
been visited privately by the Princess; the people having no idea who
the inquiring and interested European lady was.


THE PRINCE ATTENDS THE KHEDIVE'S RECEPTION

On the same day the Prince of Wales attended in state at a formal
reception held by the Khedive, and thus conferred a somewhat marked
compliment upon one who was not actually an independent Sovereign. He
was accompanied by the Marquess of Huntly and the Earl of Gosford, who
had just arrived from India on their way home, and proceeded through
the streets in all the pomp of scarlet and gold outriders, troops in
brilliant uniforms and a general environment of state which compelled
unusual respect from the impassive Oriental onlookers. Royal honours
were given to the Prince on his arrival, and he was met by some 5,000
troops and the strains of the British national anthem, while the Court
itself was brilliant in blue and gold uniforms and rich in the
luxuriance of gold and gems upon every possible article of service or
personal use. In the evening the Prince dined with his Vice-regal host
on a yacht in the river, and the Minister of Finance gave a brilliant
banquet, at which were present the great officers of state, such as
Shereef Pasha, Zulfikar Pasha, Abdallah Pasha and others, together with
British visitors or members of the Royal suite, such as Lord Carington,
Lord Huntly, Lord Gosford, Prince Louis of Battenberg, Sir Samuel Baker
and Colonel Teesdale, V.C.

This event closed the visit to Cairo and, after formal farewells on the
following morning, the train was taken for Suez, where the Royal
visitors were received by the Governor and M. de Lesseps. In the morning
they left for Ismaila amidst all possible honours, and accompanied by
the great canal promoter. There a triumphal arch had been erected and a
crowd of people and troops were found lining the route through the city.
They were driven out to the Khedive's chalet on Lake Timsah, where
dinner was served and the night spent, and thence back to Ismaila, and,
in a steamer, down the Suez Canal to Port Said. The great enterprise was
not then completed, and, in fact, the opening of the canal did not take
place for many months, but the Royal tourists were fortunate in seeing
the pioneer activities of creation in full operation and of being able
to understand something of the immense initial difficulties which had
been overcome by the genius and energy of De Lesseps.

Alexandria was reached on March 27th, and visits were paid to
Ras-el-Teen, the old palace of Mehemet Ali, to Cleopatra's Needle and
Pompey's Pillar. Then the _Ariadne_ was boarded once more and a farewell
dinner given to Mourad Pasha, the representative of the Egyptian
Government, who had done so much for the comfort of the Royal guests;
the health of the Khedive was drunk and the last word said to the
ancient land of the Nile and the Pyramids. The impressions left by this
visit to Egypt were pleasant to the Prince of Wales and useful to his
country. Ismail, the Khedive, was at this time a most enterprising ruler
but the predominant influence in the country was French and there can be
no doubt that the stately reception given the Heir to the British Crown
proved a substantial service to the present and future residents of his
nationality in that part of the world. The Prince, himself, must have
benefited greatly by the insight into Oriental methods of government
which he obtained and by the curious efforts at an adaptation of western
ideas which were going on all around him; while the picture left upon
his mind of ancient traditions and the history of a mighty past could
not but have been impressive and interesting.

On boarding the _Ariadne_, off Alexandria, and starting for
Constantinople the Royal party lost Sir Samuel Baker, Lord Gosford, Sir
Henry Pelly and Lord Huntly, who were leaving for other points of
destination. During the next few days the vessel passed through the
"Isles of Greece" and by various famous or historic spots. Patmos and
Chios were seen for a time in the distance and, on March 31st, the
Dardanelles were reached and salutes fired from shore to shore--from
Europe to Asia--as the Royal yacht steamed between the Turkish forts.
Upon anchoring, the British Ambassador, the Hon. Henry Elliot, came on
board, together with Raouf Pasha, who attended to offer the earliest
compliments of his Imperial master the Sultan. At the next landing, off
Chanak, the Prince was formally welcomed by Eyoub Pasha, Military
Governor of the Dardanelles, and his staff and guard of honour. Salutes
from the Forts followed and the Prince returned to his vessel which
steamed up to Gallipoli, where another stop was made and a visit paid to
the French and British cemeteries of the Crimean War. Early on the
morning of April 1st the towers and minarets of Constantinople were
sighted and various tugs and boats containing British residents and
others surrounded the Royal vessel and joined in singing "God Save the
Queen" as the Prince and Princess appeared on deck. Their stepping into
a barge to row ashore was the signal for a general salute from the
Turkish iron-clads and, amidst flying colours, fully-manned yards and
swarming caiques and steam-boats the journey to the shore was made--with
some private speculation as to what would happen to the Life Guardsmen
of the Prince's suite if they should be upset in the water with all
their cumbrous "toggery" on.

When abreast of the Palace of Saleh Bazar the Royal barge was met by the
state caique of the Sultan, followed by other gorgeously decorated and
equipped vessels, containing the Grand Vizier, Aali Pasha, and other
officials dressed in blue and gold and wearing numerous ribands, stars
and crosses of knightly orders. Amidst cheers from crowded tugs and
boats and ships the Royal visitors were transferred to the caique and
thence to the landing place of the Palace where a guard of honour, a
crowd of officers and a gorgeous staff surrounded the Sultan who, like
the Prince of Wales, was in full uniform. His Majesty, after various
gracious greetings, which were translated by the Grand Vizier, led his
guests up the staircase of the Palace and then retired. Shortly
afterwards the Prince and his suite were driven to the Dolmabakshi
Palace where they were received by the Sultan with much state and, after
a brief visit, returned to Saleh Bazar. Luncheon followed and the Prince
and Princess called at the British Embassy. On their way back in the
Sultan's carriages the streets were lined with impassive people who
saluted in silent respect. At the Palace an admirable dinner was served
on gold and silver plate. During the entire stay of the Royal visitors
here they were supplied with every luxury and requirement--guards of
honour, carriages, saddle-horses, caiques, a band of eighty-four
splendid musicians and an immense staff always on duty and clad in
gorgeous uniforms of green and gold.

Every morning there were presents from the Sultan of most exquisite
flowers and the finest fruit. Mr. W. H. Russell thus described the
surroundings in one of his letters to the London _Times_: "The
_valetaille_, in liveries of green and gold, with white cuffs and
collars, throng the passages and corridors, and black-coated
Chibouquejees are ready at a clap of the hands to bring in pipes with
amber mouth-pieces of fabulous value, crested with hundreds of diamonds
and rubies, and coffee in tiny cups which fit into stands blazing with
similar jewels. The _cuisine_ cannot be surpassed and the wines are of
the most celebrated vintage. All the persons attached to the Palace
speak French or English. There are Turkish baths inside ready at a
moment's notice. Equerries, aides-de-camp, officers of the Body-Guard,
radiant in gold lace and scarlet, in blue and in silver lace, flit about
the saloons and corridors. Human nature can scarce sustain the load of
obligations imposed on it by such attention. If the Prince is seen on
the water guards are turned out along all the batteries and the strains
of music are borne on every breeze that blows. Yards are manned and
crews turned out on the slightest provocation. The least wish is an
order."

On April 2nd the Sultan went in state to the Mosque in honour of his
Royal guests. The streets were lined with five thousand troops and the
Prince and Princess, with their suite, were driven to the Palace of
Beshik Jool, from a beautiful room in which they could see the Imperial
procession pass by. The sloping ground on the opposite side of the road
was filled by groups of women clad in varied colours and looking from a
distance like animated flowers. The Sultan came, presently, preceded by
brilliantly garbed Circassian troops, announced by the blast of a
trumpet and the acclaim of the Turkish populace and riding a magnificent
horse, which an English spectator described as a "marvel of beauty." He
wore a splendid military uniform and his jewelled orders and sabre-hilt
shone brightly in the rays of the sun, while immediately before and
behind him were the officers of state. After the pageant had passed,
little Prince Izzedin--the eldest son of the Sultan and a delicate,
intelligent-looking child--came over to visit the Prince and Princess.
The troops then filed past the Palace windows. Later in the day a
deputation of British residents was received by the Prince and in the
evening a special performance at the Theatre was attended and witnessed
from the Sultan's box.

Early in the morning of April 3rd, the various foreign Ambassadors and
Ministers called on the Prince of Wales and were presented by Mr.
Elliot. Amongst them was General Ignatieff, of Russia. A visit to
Seraglio Point followed, and from its heights was seen that most
exquisite view which embraces the Sweet Waters, the Bosphorus, the Sea
of Marmora and its islands, the shores of Scutari, the minarets of the
city and a general mingling of sea and shore, of light and shade, of
softness and Eastern charm which is hardly equalled in the world. The
great mosque of St. Sophia was then visited. In the evening a state
dinner was given by the Sultan at Dolmabakshi Palace--the first ever
given by His Ottoman Majesty to Christian guests. The Prince and
Princess were received in the grand drawing-room by the Sultan and all
his Ministers. The Princess was taken in by His Majesty and Madame
Ignatieff by the Prince. The dinner-room was already renowned for its
exquisite candelabra and lustres in rock-crystal; and its other
decorations, combined with plate and flowers of the most beautiful kind,
made up a scene well worth remembering. Aside from this, however, it was
not very interesting, as none of the Sultan's Ministers--except the
Grand Vizier--had ever sat in his presence before and were apparently
too much astonished and afraid to speak a word to each other or to any
of the twenty-four guests who made up the banquet. After dinner the
Princess and Mrs. Grey visited the Harem, or rather the Sultan's wife
and mother. Mrs. Grey, in her _Diary_, declares the dullness and
stiffness of the occasion to have been indescribable. There were
innumerable slaves, but they were all "hideous," though loaded down with
jewels, while other incidents and surroundings were not very unlike a
similar reception at a European Court. The whole affair broke up at
10.30.


A VARIETY OF INCIDENTS

On the following day the Royal party attended service in the church of
the British Embassy, driving through silent and crowded streets. In the
afternoon they inspected the Cemetary at Scutari. On the following day
the Prince and Princess, attended by Mrs. Grey, and all garbed in the
humblest English clothes they could find, visited the Bazaar. "Mr. and
Mrs. Williams" seemed to enjoy themselves greatly, the former smoking a
long pipe; the latter buying quantities of curios and, as the merchants
soon found out, driving an occasional bargain with earnestness. They
took in all the entertainments, sipped sherbets and the various
unnamable drinks which are sold in such places, and revelled in a few
hours of freedom. Later in the day the Prince paid some formal visits
and in the evening they again attended the theatre. Meanwhile Sir Andrew
Buchanan, British Ambassador at St. Petersburg, had arrived with his
wife, on their way home to England, and were welcomed at the Palace. The
following day a visit was paid to Belyar Beg, some distance up the
Bosphorus, which has been described as "the most beautiful place in the
most beautiful situation in the world." Guards of honour were seen in
all directions as the Royal party passed in caiques up the river. The
luxury and elegance of the furniture at the Palace and the beauty of
both buildings and surroundings evoked expressions of admiration from
the Prince and Princess and, perhaps, they even regretted their refusal
to stay here in preference for the other and more accessible residence.
Tchamlidja, not far away, the summer residence of Mustapha Fazil Pasha,
brother of the Viceroy of Egypt, was then visited and a "luncheon"
served which proved to be almost wanton in its luxury--the choicest
fruits that Paris could produce and the finest wines of the east or the
west being served in profusion. Afterwards, the Princess and Mrs. Grey
visited the Harem, while the men smoked exquisite cigars and drank the
finest obtainable coffee.

The following day included a trip across the Bosphorus in the Sultan's
yacht and a state ball at the British Embassy in the evening, which was,
for a short time, attended by the Padishah himself. The Royal party did
not retire from the gathering until daylight. During the next three days
one function continued to follow another. A visit to the British
Memorial Church; attendance with the Sultan at a great special
performance in the Theatre through densely-crowded streets; a visit to a
cricket match in the suburbs; attendance at a state banquet given by the
British Ambassador; inspection by the Prince of a Turkish
ironclad--Hobart Pasha's flagship; a dinner at the country home of the
Grand Vizier. The day of departure fixed upon was April 10th, and, after
a stately breakfast with the Sultan at Dolmabakshi, and farewells
exchanged amidst all possible pomp and Oriental pageantry, the _Ariadne_
was boarded and slowly steamed away from the Moslem capital to the sound
of cheers and thundering guns from fleet and fort. They were soon in
the gloomy waters of the Black Sea on the way to the Czar's dominions.

Arrangements had been under discussion for some time in connection with
this visit to the Crimea and Sir Andrew Buchanan's opportune arrival
had, no doubt, a good deal to do with the matter. On April 12th
Sebastopol was sighted, crowned with its ruined bastions and replete to
the Royal tourists with memories of the Redan, the Malakoff, and the
Mamelon. Neither flags nor men were visible, however, upon the ramparts
as the yacht came to its moorings although elsewhere Russian soldiers
could be occasionally seen. Presently, General de Kotzebue, Governor of
New Russia and Bessarabia, came on board with his suite--a decorated and
energetic survivor of the great siege at which he had been Chief of
Staff to Prince Gortschakoff. After the four days programme for the
Crimea had been settled the Prince and Princess landed and went first to
inspect the Memorial Chapel and then to visit the great cemetery. A
drive to some of the scenes of battle during the Crimean conflict
followed, with an escort of Tartars and with carriage horses which at
times seemed to fly over the ground. General de Kotzebue knew every foot
of the soil and was, of course, a splendid host on such an occasion. On
this first day the field of the desperate Alma fight was gone over
carefully and on the succeeding morning the ruined ramparts and redoubts
of the once great Fortress of Sebastopol--not as yet restored--were
visited and studied. The Cemetery of Cathcart's Hill was visited and
here there were few in the party who did not find the names of friends
or relatives in this city of silent streets while the Princess found
very many around which associations of some kind were twined. In a small
farmhouse, close to the windmill which was almost a centre of battle on
the day of Inkerman, the Royal party took lunch.

Afterwards the Prince and some of the gentlemen rode over the ridge
around which the famous fight occurred and General de Kotzebue
explained the technical character of the struggle. The Malakoff was next
seen as well as the colossal statue of Lazareff--the father of the Black
Sea fleet and of that conception of Russian power which was shattered
for a time by the success of the Allies. On the 14th the French Cemetery
was visited and thence they went across country to the famous British
Headquarters--the home for so long of Lord Raglan, General Simpson and
Sir W. Codrington. The house was in perfect order and the Prince was
shown with care one of the rooms on the wall of which was a tablet with
the simple words: "Lord Raglan died." Balaclava was next visited and the
scene of the famous charge carefully studied by the Prince. A drive
followed through a country of varied and striking beauty to the Imperial
Palace of Livadia where the Czar's Master of Ceremonies, Count Jules
Stenbock, was waiting to receive the Royal visitors. A ceremonious
entertainment was given here in the highest style of refinement and with
the somewhat unexpected accompaniments of chamberlains in green and gold
and a mass of servants from St. Petersburg, together with every sort of
luxury. Here the Czar Nicholas had stayed in 1855 when he went to
reconnoitre the position of the Allies. A visit followed to Alupka, the
palace of Prince Woronzow and thence, after an exchange of telegrams
with the Czar, they went on board the _Ariadne_ once more.

April the 16th saw the Royal party once more in the Bosphorus with blue
lights burning along the shores and bands playing a courteous welcome.
On the following day the Prince, attended by Colonel Teesdale and
Captain Ellis, paid a last formal visit to the Sultan and this was
promptly returned by His Majesty amidst much ceremony. Meanwhile, the
Princess had taken a last fond "incognito" look at the Bazaars attended
by Mrs. Grey and Mr. Moore of the Embassy. The Ambassador came to the
yacht to luncheon and soon afterwards Sir Andrew and Lady Buchanan bade
farewell. Then, in the evening, came the second departure from
Constantinople, the _Ariadne_ passing through the lately increased
Turkish fleet, under Hobart Pasha, amidst a brilliant display of
rockets, coloured lanterns and blue lights.


A VISIT TO HISTORIC ATHENS

The Port of Athens was reached on April the 20th and here Sir A.
Buchanan once more rejoined the party, followed very soon by various
Russian, French and Italian officers and diplomatists. Next came the
King of Greece--George I., brother of the Princess of Wales--accompanied
by a suite and with sounds of distant cheering and the roar of guns
echoing around the vessel. After luncheon Athens was visited and found
to be gaily decorated and thence the Royal party passed by train to the
King's Palace in the country, a beautiful place surrounded by beautiful
scenery. In the distance were to be seen the green fields and olive
forests of the Attic plain, the Piræus and the Bay of Salamis, the
groves of Academus, the ancient Acropolis and Ilissus, and the modern
City of Athens. On the following day the Acropolis was visited and the
glories of that scene of historic greatness revived in the memories of
the Royal travellers. A state banquet followed in the evening and on the
next day a number of memorable sights and scenes were visited while the
evening was the occasion for a coloured and very striking illumination
of the mighty ruins of the Acropolis. Athens was left behind on the 23rd
of April and the Royal party, including the King and Queen of Greece,
proceeded to Corfu, which was reached on the following day and a more
kindly greeting accorded to the visitors. The stay here was a very quiet
one enlivened, so far as the Prince of Wales was concerned, by a hunting
party on the somewhat wild coast of Albania. May 1st saw a formal
leave-taking from the King and Queen of the Hellenes and a departure
from this pleasant old-world Island.

On the following day Brindisi was reached, and Turin on the 3rd.
Accompanied by Sir Augustus Paget, the Minister at Rome, the Royal party
crossed the mountains by the Mont Cenis Railway and reached Paris two
days afterwards. Here, until May the 11th, they remained in a succession
of visits, dinners, reviews and entertainments provided by the Emperor
and Empress, and on the following day arrived at Marlborough House after
a six months' absence from England. It had been a round of arduous duty
mixed with every form of honour and compliment, and including much of
genuine pleasure and useful experience, together with the acquisition of
practical and valuable knowledge. To the Heir Apparent it was one more
step in the training and education necessary for any Prince who is
destined to reign over the destinies of an infinitely varied and
scattered people.




CHAPTER VII.

Serious Illness of the Prince


Following his return from foreign travel and the fulfilment of a brief
round of public functions and duties came the now historic and really
eventful illness of the Prince of Wales. It was a critical period in his
career. Boyhood, youth and the first flush of manhood were gone; his
marriage had taken place and his family been born into a position of
present and future importance; his own training in public duties and
experience in foreign travel and observation had been completed up to a
very high point of efficiency. The one element which seemed to be a
little lacking was that of a full appreciation of his own responsibility
to the nation and the Empire. The brilliant light which blazed around
the Throne could find no fault in the actual performance of any duty;
but the critical eye and caustic pen had been prone for some years to
allege an overfondness for pleasure and amusement and the pursuits of
social life.

Whether true or false in its not very serious origin this impression had
been studiously cultivated in certain quarters at home which had an
interest in the theoretical flash-lights of republicanism; and
extensively propagated abroad by cabled falsehoods and magnified
incidents until actual harm had been done to the reputation and
character of the young Prince amongst those who did not know him and
could never actually expect to know him except through the journalistic
food upon which they were fed.

On the other hand, the English people had hardly learned to appreciate
the important place filled by the Prince of Wales in the community, in
the daily life of the nation, in the hopes of his future subjects, and
deep down in the hearts of the masses. Something was apparently needed
to develop those two lines of feeling--one personal and the other
national--and this came in the illness which struck down the Prince in
the closing months of 1871. During the Autumn he had paid a visit to
Lord Londesborough at Scarborough, and, although not feeling well,
nothing was supposed to be seriously wrong. From there the Prince had
gone to stay with Lord Carington at Gayhurst and thence returned to
Sandringham where he became decidedly ill. The _Times_ of November 22nd
was compelled to state that His Royal Highness was suffering from "a
chill resulting in a febrile attack" which had confined him to his room.
On the following day a bulletin signed by Doctors Jenner, Clayton, Gull
and Lowe stated that the Prince was suffering from typhoid.


ORIGIN OF THE ILLNESS

Amid the anxiety caused by this announcement every one wondered where
the disease had been contracted, and ere long it was known that all the
guests of Lord Londesborough at the time of the Royal visit had become
more or less indisposed; that the hostess herself was seriously ill;
that the Earl of Chesterfield, one of the recent guests, was down with
typhoid and, finally that Blegg, the Prince's groom, had caught the same
disease. Ultimately both peer and peasant died, and the seriousness of
their illness as it developed in the public eye added to the gradually
growing excitement over the condition of the Heir-Apparent.

The growth of popular feeling in the matter was evidently deep and
serious. Bulletins stating that the symptoms of the fever were severe
but regular continued for a time amid ever-increasing manifestations of
interest and, as the weeks passed slowly by and the Queen had gone to
the bedside of her son and something of the devotion of his wife to the
sick Prince became known, this feeling grew in volume. Meanwhile the
Princess Alice had also come to lend her brother the sympathetic touch
and knowledge of nursing for which she was so well known. For a brief
moment on December 1st, the patient roused from his delirium
sufficiently to remark that it was the birthday of the Princess, and for
a week thereafter the news of improvement in his condition was good.
Then came a crisis when the fever had spent itself while the patient had
also become worn out. It was impossible to say whether he could live
another day. The Royal family were summoned to Sandringham on December
9th, and on the following day (Sunday) prayers were offered up in all
the churches of the land and in many other countries, by request of the
Archbishop of Canterbury. In the morning, the Vicar at Sandringham
Church received a note from the Princess of Wales: "My husband being,
thank God, somewhat better, I am coming to church, I must leave, I fear,
before the service is concluded that I may watch by his bedside. Can you
say a few words in prayer in the early part of the service, that I may
join with you in prayer for my husband before I return to him?"


THE CRISIS AND THE RECOVERY

On December 11th the _Times_ stated that "the Prince still lives, and we
may, therefore, still hope." During the following days crowds in every
town surrounded the bulletins and waited in the streets for the latest
newspaper reports; and the Government found it necessary to forward
medical statements to every telegraph office in the United Kingdom as
they were issued. On the 14th of the month a favourable change seemed
apparent, and on the 16th the Prince had a quiet and refreshing sleep.
On the following day the Royal family went to church, where, by special
request, the Royal patient and his dying groom--Blegg--were prayed for
together. The latter died within a few hours, but not before the
Princess had found time to visit him and comfort his relations. Slowly,
but steadily, from that time on the Prince began to make headway towards
recovery, though it was not until Christmas Day that the danger was
thought to be past and his Royal mother could express her feeling to the
nation in a letter which was made public on December 26th: "The Queen is
very anxious to express her deep sense of the touching sympathy of the
whole nation on the occasion of the alarming illness of her dear son,
the Prince of Wales. The universal feeling shown by her people during
these painful, terrible days, and the sympathy evinced by them with
herself and her beloved daughter, the Princess of Wales, as well as the
general joy at the improvement of the Prince of Wales's state, have made
a deep and lasting impression on her heart which can never be effaced."


CELEBRATION OF HIS RECOVERY

The recovery of the Prince took the usual course of the disease and was
protracted in character; but on January 14th the last bulletin was
issued. The Princess of Wales and the Princess Alice had been his nurses
throughout this trying time, and they had never seemed to weary in their
devoted care. Nine days after the issue of the last bulletin Dr. William
Jenner was gazetted a K.C.B. and Dr. William W. Gull a baronet. There
were rumors at this time that the patient had been at one stage actually
_in extremis_, but had been saved by one of those sudden inspirations
which sometimes constitute so important a part of medical practice, and
which consisted in a vigorous and continuous application of old
champagne brandy over the body until returning animation had rewarded
the doctor's efforts. The 14th of December, the anniversary of the
Prince Consort's death and the day upon which the actual turning point
in the disease took place, was commemorated by a brass lectern in the
Parish Church of Sandringham, which bears the following inscription:

    To the Glory of God.
    A Thank-Offering for His Mercies.
    14th December, 1871.
    Alexandra.

    "When I was in trouble I called upon the Lord, and He heard me."

The good news from Sandringham was received throughout the country with
expressions of the most unbounded popular satisfaction; and the
announcement that an opportunity would be afforded of returning public
thanks to the Almighty for his mercy was universally approved. The day
for the National Thanksgiving was finally settled for February 27th, and
St. Paul's Cathedral as the place; but before that time came Dr.
Stanley--who had now become Dean of Westminster--suggested a private
visit to the Abbey and a personal expression of his feelings by the
Prince. This was done in absolute privacy, with only the Princess and a
few members of the Royal family present. A sermon was preached by the
Dean in which, as he told an intimate friend, he was able for once to
say what he wished to say.


THE NATION UNITED IN A COMMON SYMPATHY

Many of the papers of the country commented upon the event with much the
same freedom as the Dean was able to use on this occasion, and it seemed
to be felt that the unbounded solicitude and affection so evidently and
profoundly shown for the Prince had given a certain right of counsel to
the nation. It was generally admitted that the illness had disclosed to
the people as a whole something like an adequate knowledge of their own
convictions in connection with the monarchy and concerning its
maintenance as a permanent and powerful institution of the realm.
Whatever might be the abstract ideas held by individuals in times when
Mr. Bradlaugh and Sir Charles Dilke were preaching republicanism and Mr.
Chamberlain was suspected of harbouring the same opinions, it had become
apparent that the subjects of the Queen in Great Britain were
practically a unit in their preference for a constitutional monarchy and
in their personal devotion to the Crown and the Royal family. In
addition to the event having awakened the nation to the strength of its
own sentiment in this regard, it was also believed that an important
influence would be found to have been exerted upon the Prince of
Wales--a steadying sense of responsibility resulting from holding such a
place as he did in the hearts of his countrymen.


THE PUBLIC THANKSGIVING OF THE NATION

The _Illustrated London News_ well embodied this thought in the
following comment: "Doubtless what has occurred during the last few
weeks has also a meaning for the Heir Apparent to the Throne. No man of
the slightest sensibility can witness the emotional effusion of a great
nation towards himself without being deeply impressed with the
responsibilities of his position. The Prince comes back to the British
people from the brink of the tomb, and they who most pathetically
lamented his danger hail his return to health with devout thanksgivings
and acclamations of joy. Can there be a more powerful incentive to that
course of future action which will commend him to their approbation and
their love? That he will recognize and respond to it, we cannot allow
ourselves to doubt." One of the interesting incidents of the illness was
the fact that when the announcement was made that His Royal Highness
might only survive a few hours his obituary was, of course, prepared and
put in type in all the leading newspaper offices in the land to an
extent varying from the pages of a metropolitan daily down to the half
dozen columns of the Provincial press. Proofs of the obituaries were, it
is understood, afterwards collected and sent to the Prince, who had
them pasted into an immense scrap-book at Marlborough House.

The Thanksgiving Day celebration commenced on February 27th at 12
o'clock, when Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Prince and
Princess of Wales and the Princess Beatrice and Prince Albert Victor of
Wales, drove through the gates of Buckingham Palace. There were nine
Royal carriages in the procession, containing a number of ladies and
gentlemen of the Court, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Arthur, Prince
Leopold and Prince George of Wales. With the latter was the Marquess of
Aylesbury, Master of the Horse; Mr. Brand, Speaker of the House of
Commons; Lord Hatherley, the Lord Chancellor. H. R. H. the Duke of
Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief, headed the procession as it passed slowly
through Pall Mall, Charing Cross, the Strand, Fleet Street and Ludgate
Hill to St. Paul's Cathedral. The streets were lined with dense masses
of people, while every shop-window, doorstep, portico and available roof
were black with cheering throngs. Decorations there were of every sort
and range--squalid or simple or splendid--but all representing pleasure
and loyalty. Along Fleet Street and the Strand they took the form of an
actual canopy of banners, standards, streamers and strings of flowers.
Venetian masts, flying pennons, countless trophies and miniature
shields, with varied mottoes and many kinds of loyal wishes, were seen
all along the route. A band of school children numbering 30,000 sang the
National Anthem in Green Park, while soldiers lined the roadway from the
Palace to the Cathedral. Hearty and enthusiastic cheers greeted the
Royal party, and the Queen and Princess were described as looking bright
and happy, and the Prince as being pale, but not thin. The Queen wore a
black velvet dress trimmed with white ermine, the Princess of Wales was
in blue silk covered with black lace, and the Prince was in the uniform
of a British General and wearing the orders of the Garter and the Bath.

At Temple Bar the Queen was formally received by the Lord Mayor and
Sheriffs of London, and the city sword handed to Her Majesty and
returned in the usual way. At one o'clock the Royal party arrived at the
Cathedral and passed up a covered way of crimson cloth to the steps,
where they were received by the Bishop of London, the Dean and Chapter
of St. Paul's and the officers of Her Majesty's Household. The vast
interior of the building had been arranged to accommodate 13,000
persons, and was crowded to the doors. Space under the dome was reserved
for the Queen, the Royal family, the House of Lords, the House of
Commons, the Corps Diplomatique and the distinguished foreigners, the
Judges and the dignitaries of the law, the Lords Lieutenant and Sheriffs
of Counties, the representatives of universities and other learned
bodies. The choir was reserved for the Clergy, and the place assigned to
Her Majesty and their Royal Highnesses was slightly raised, made into a
kind of pew and covered with crimson cloth.

The Royal procession as it moved up the aisle included, besides the
members of the Royal family, such well known officials and members of
the Court as Major-General Lord Alfred Paget, Lieutenant-General Sir
John Cowell, Colonel H. F. Ponsonby, Major-General Sir T. M. Biddulph,
General Sir William Knollys, Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick Kerr, the
(late) Lord Methuen, General Lord Strathnairn, the Marquess of
Aylesbury, the Viscount Sydney, the Countess of Gainsborough, the Lady
Churchill, Lady Caroline Barrington, the Hon. Mrs. Grey, the Countess of
Morton and Lord Harris. Most of the great names and great personages of
England were present at this function. There were 200 Peers and
Peeresses; the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and fourteen Bishops;
nearly every member of the House of Commons. Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone
were there as were Mr. Disraeli and Viscountess Beaconsfield. Lord
Northbrook, Mr. W. E. Forster, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Chichester Fortescue,
Mr. Goschen, and Lord Granville were visible. Throngs of ladies,
brilliant in blue and mauve and crimson satin and gems were present,
and, as the sun suddenly shone through what had been sullen clouds, the
spectacle within those parts of the Cathedral touched by the stream of
light was beautiful indeed. It shone upon the bright blue of many
dresses--the Royal colour of the day--mixed up in a confusion of
effective shadings with the dark blue and burnished gold of the
uniforms, the scarlet and white plumes of the officers, the gorgeous
robes of the Peers, the white lawn of the Bishops.

After walking up the aisle on the arm of the Prince of Wales, with the
Princess on the other side, Her Majesty took her place in the special
pew with the chief members of the Royal family on either side. After a
brief special service of thanksgiving the Archbishop of Canterbury
preached the sermon for the occasion in words of tact and eloquence from
which one quotation may be made: "Just as in one of our own homes when
death threatens, the whole history of the loved object we fear to lose
comes back in the hours of waiting, so England was stirred by a hundred
touching memories when danger threatened the Royal house. And God
doubtless thus touched our hearts to deepen our loyalty and make us
better prize the thousand good things secured in a well-ordered State by
love to the head of the State." At the conclusion of the sermon a
Thanksgiving Hymn was sung and the benediction given. The following was
the concluding verse:

    "Bless, Father, him thou gavest
    Back to the loyal land,
    O Saviour, him Thou savest,
    Still cover with Thine Hand:

    O Spirit, the Defender,
    Be his to guard and guide,
    Now in life's midday splendor
    On to the eventide."

The Royal party then proceeded in due state to their carriages and the
procession returned through the streets of the city to Buckingham Palace
over the Holborn Viaduct, along Holborn and Oxford street to the Marble
Arch, _via_ Hyde Park to Piccadilly, and thence down Constitution Hill.
Enthusiastic cheering was heard all along the route and decorations were
seen everywhere in the greatest abundance. In the evening London was
brilliant with light. The dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Mansion
House, and the two large triumphal arches were particularly bright and
beautiful in their varied colours and illuminations. The Lord Mayor and
Lady Mayoress entertained the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Provincial
Mayors to a banquet at the Mansion House and, all over the United
Kingdom, celebrations of a popular or religious character, holiday
gatherings, crowded meetings and illuminations, marked the day and the
pleasure of the people. Addresses poured in by hundreds and rejoicings
were not confined to the Island portion of the Empire. An incident of
this celebration was the collection of a Thanksgiving Fund for the
completion of St. Paul's Cathedral. To it the Queen gave £1000 and the
Prince of Wales £500. Another feature of the event was the splendid
behaviour of the millions of people who lined the seven-mile route of
the procession and paid loyal tribute to their Queen and to the son who
was heir to all the traditions of his race and the greatness of the
Royal name. On February 29th Her Majesty wrote to Mr. Gladstone a
message intended for the nation:

     "The Queen is anxious, as on a previous occasion, to express
     publicly her own personal very deep sense of the reception she and
     her dear children met with on Tuesday, February the 27th, from
     millions of her subjects on her way to and from St. Paul's. Words
     are too weak for the Queen to say how very deeply touched and
     gratified she has been by the immense enthusiasm and affection
     exhibited towards her dear son and herself, from the highest down
     to the lowest, on the long progress through the Capital, and she
     would earnestly wish to convey her warmest and most heartfelt
     thanks to the whole nation for this great demonstration of loyalty.
     The Queen, as well as her son and dear daughter-in-law, felt that
     the whole nation joined with them in thanking God for sparing the
     beloved Prince of Wales's life."

Perhaps the most beautiful and effective presentations of popular
feeling and hopes in connection with this now historic sickness of the
Heir Apparent were the sermons preached by Dean Stanley. No one has ever
been closer in friendship and in personal knowledge to the Prince of
Wales than had this eloquent and saintly ecclesiastic. No one has been
more admired and respected in the Church of England in modern days than
he; nor has any of its clergy possessed a wider view or more generous
heart. Speaking in Westminster Abbey on December 10th, 1871, when the
nation was awaiting in deep anxiety the issue of a struggle which seemed
to be almost fatally and surely decided, he embodied the popular feeling
in beautiful and appropriate words: "On a day like this when there is
one topic in every household, one question on every lip, it is
impossible to stand in this place and not endeavour to give some
expression to that of which every heart is full. We all press, as it
were, round one darkened chamber, we all feel that with the mourning
family, mother, wife, brothers, sisters, who are there assembled, we are
indeed one. The thrill of their fears or hopes passes through and
through the differences of rank and station; we feel that, while they
represent the whole people they also represent and are that which each
family and each member of each family, is separately. In the fierce
battle between life and death, for the issues of which we are all
looking with such eager expectation, we see the likeness of what will
befall every individual soul amongst us; and the reflection which this
struggle, with all its manifold uncertainties suggests, concerns us all
alike."

The sermon which followed was a skillful presentation of thoughts
suggested by the text, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." It
concluded with an earnest hope that the Royal life which might so
greatly influence the national destinies might still be preserved--"a
life which, if duly appreciated and fitly used, contains within it
special opportunities for good such as no other existence in this great
community possesses; a life which may, if worthily employed, stimulate
all that is noble and beneficent and discourage all that is low and base
and frivolous." In these and other words he concluded a sermon which
could not but have had its influence in after days upon the life and
character of the Prince who so greatly respected and regarded the
preacher. A week later the cloud had lifted from Sandringham and the
life which had been so much prayed for in so many lands was slowly
passing into the region of safety and strength. It gave the opportunity
to Dean Stanley to speak again at the historic Abbey in a strain of
instruction and to draw a national moral from the events of the past few
months. He referred to the spontaneous outburst of every class and every
party which had, to his mind, proved the permanent supremacy of the
British Crown in a Christian State. "There are nations and there have
been times in which the devotion to the reigning family has been a thing
separate and apart from the love of country. There have been times and
places when the love of country has existed with no loyal feeling to the
reigning family. Let us thank God that in England it is not so. Loyalty
with us is the personal, romantic side of patriotism. Patriotism with us
is the Christian, philosophic side of loyalty. Long may the two flourish
together, each supporting and sustaining the other."

On the Sunday following the Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's--March
3rd--the Dean preached for the last time upon this subject in
Westminster Abbey. After stirring references to the wonderful scene of
national enthusiasm lately witnessed and to the gathering in St. Paul's
Cathedral of representatives of every creed and religious division in
Great Britain (except those of one exclusive body) to offer
thanksgivings in "the venerable forms of the National Church" he
expressed his belief that the demonstration as a whole was "the response
in every English heart to the sense of union--too subtle for analysis
yet true and simple as the primitive instincts of our race--which binds
the people of England to their Monarchy and the Monarchy to the people."
He dealt with the functions and character of that institution in most
striking words. "No other existing throne in Europe reaches back to the
same antiquity, none other combines with such an undivided charm the
associations of the past with the interests of the present. It is the
one name and place which, being beyond the reach of personal ambition,
beyond the need of private gain, has the inestimable chance of guiding,
moulding, elevating the tastes, the customs, the morals of the whole
community. It is the one name and place which, being raised high above
all party struggles, all local jealousies, over all classes,
ecclesiastical as well as civil, is the supreme controlling spring which
binds together in their widest meaning all the forces of the State and
all the forces of the Church. It is the one institution which by very
nature of its existence unites the abstract idea of country and of duty
with the personal endearments of family life, of domestic love, of
individual character."

It was the greatness of this national possession--one which had steadied
national progress and promoted peace in the midst of tumults and freedom
in the midst of disorder--which had, Dean Stanley thought, helped to
make the people pray that its destined heir should be worthy of his
noble inheritance. And then the speaker pointedly and clearly pictured
the increased and increasing responsibilities of the Prince of Wales
upon whom, henceforth, "as by a new consecration and confirmation,
devolves the glorious task of devoting to his country's service that
life which is in a special sense no longer his but ours, for which his
country's prayers, his country's thanksgivings, have been so earnestly
offered." The sermon concluded with a description of these great
responsibilities; an appeal to the Prince to begin life afresh and to
take the lead in all that was true and holy, just and good; a warning
that "of him to whom much has been given, much shall be required;" a
picture of a Christian England fighting evil in every form and in every
place and growing greater in all the elements of higher national and
individual life.




CHAPTER VIII.

The Prince of Wales in India


To make a Royal tour of the vast British possessions in Hindostan was an
inspiring idea. To constitute the Crown a tangible evidence of Imperial
power and a living object and centre of Eastern loyalty and respect was
a policy worthy of Mr. Disraeli and of the statecraft in which he had
once declared imagination to be an essential ingredient. To precede this
action by the purchase of the Suez Canal shares in order to safe-guard
the pathway to the Indian Empire and to succeed it with such an
impressive appeal to Oriental individualism and personal loyalty as the
proclamation of Queen Victoria as Empress of India were strokes of
statesmanship such as no other Englishman of that time was capable of
initiating.


INCEPTION OF THE PROJECT

In Bombay, when the project was finally in full fruition, the Prince of
Wales told a distinguished audience that "it had long been the dream of
his life to visit India," and there seems no room to doubt that it was a
part of the original plan mapped out by the keen perceptions of the
Prince Consort for the education of his eldest son. It was
unquestionably suggested to the former by Lord Canning, when
Governor-General of India in the wild days of the Mutiny, but the idea
necessarily slumbered until the young Prince was old enough to undertake
the heavy duties involved.

By that time his father had passed away; the old-time rule of the East
India Company was gone; a new and greater India had expanded in
territory and population; while the loyalty of its native Princes had
become a constant marvel to other peoples. Yet there were causes of
discontent and grounds for trouble. The myriad masses of Hindostan did
not yet fully understand who was ruling over them, nor had they ever
fully comprehended how the rule of the Company passed away. The word
"Queen" had to them an Eastern significance which did not exactly compel
respect, and that personal side of Government which means so much to the
Oriental mind had never been brought home to them. The assassination of
Lord Mayo proved the possibilities of greater trouble, and there was
always the danger of Russian aggression and the existence of border
warfare. In the winter of 1874, therefore, the question of a Royal tour
was seriously considered, and some correspondence passed between the
authorities concerned. To send the Heir to the Throne on such a visit
was a unique project, and there were various difficulties to overcome.
India was accustomed to visitors of the type of Alexander the Great, of
Timour, Baber, Mahmoud of Ghuznee and Nadir Shah; but a peaceful
progress of the foreign Heir to its Throne was another matter. Brief and
hasty visits to some of its Princes had been made in recent times by
Prince Adalbert of Prussia, the King of the Belgians and the Duke of
Edinburgh, but there had never been a state tour of the country with all
its accompaniments of splendour and costliness, the danger from fanatics
and the trying changes of climatic conditions.


ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TOUR

It was not an easy matter to arrange, and the probabilities are, that if
the Prince of Wales had not himself insisted that it was his duty to go,
the project might ultimately have been abandoned. He had by this time
come to fill so important a place in the public eye and in the external
functions of Sovereignty that his absence for six months, or more was a
serious consideration. The preliminary obstacles, however, were
overcome, and on the 16th of March, 1875, the Marquess of Salisbury,
Secretary of State for India, announced that the visit would take place,
and a little later the _Times_ stated that Sir Bartle Frere would
accompany His Royal Highness. The former was widely known in India
through administrative duties admirably performed in Bombay and the
North-West Provinces. The Duke of Sutherland, a much respected nobleman,
was selected as one of the suite, together with Lord Suffield, head of
the Prince's Household; Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Ellis, Equerry to the
Prince, and who had served in India; Major-General (Sir) D. M. Probyn,
V.C., who arranged the details regarding horses, transport and sporting;
Mr. Knollys, who has since been so well known as Sir Francis Knollys,
the Prince's Private Secretary; Lord Alfred Paget, an old man and most
attached friend to the Prince; the Rev. Canon Duckworth, who went as
Chaplain; and Dr. Fayrer, who attended in the capacity of guardian to
the Prince's health, and afterwards became a well known physician and
Sir Joseph Fayrer, Bart., F.R.S., etc.

The Earl of Aylesford, Lord Carington and Colonel Owen Williams were
invited, as personal friends of the Prince of Wales, to join the party,
while Lieutenant the Lord Charles Beresford, M.P., who had accompanied
the Duke of Edinburgh on his preceding hasty visit, also lent his
experience and unflagging gayety to the suite, and was aided by
Lieutenant Augustus Fitz-George of the Rifle Brigade. Mr. Sydney Hall
was the official artist of the tour; Mr. Albert Grey (afterwards Earl
Grey) was Private Secretary to Sir Bartle Frere; and the present Sir
William Howard Russell was a special correspondent with the nominal
duties of Honorary Private Secretary to the Prince. When Parliament met
various questions were asked as to whether the expenses of the tour were
to be charged to the British or Indian Governments; whether the Prince
would represent the Queen; whether he would supersede the
Governor-General for the time being, etc. On July 8th Mr. Disraeli made
a full statement for the first time in connection with the subject. He
alluded to the previous travels of the Prince of Wales and expressed the
opinion that they were the best form of education for a Royal personage.
But the rules and regulations and etiquette which sufficed for the
Prince in Canada and other countries would not do in India. One
important difference was the probably costly character of the ceremonial
presents which would have to be exchanged between the visitor and his
hosts amongst the native Princes. Money would have to be granted for
this, and the sum of £30,000 had been casually estimated for the
purpose. The estimate of the Admiralty for the expenses of the voyage
and corresponding movements of the fleet was £52,000. He would ask for a
vote of £60,000. The Prince would go as the Heir Apparent to the Crown
and be the formal guest of the Viceroy from the time of setting foot
upon Indian soil. The expenses of the tour were to be charged to the
Indian Budget. This statement created some criticism, while the very
small amount proposed for expenditure caused still more comment. As a
matter of fact, the Prince did not exceed, in the end, the comparatively
small amount voted.


THE JOURNEY COMMENCED

On Sunday, October 10th, a farewell sermon was preached at Westminster
Abbey by Dean Stanley, who expressed the hope that the visit might leave
behind it "on one side the remembrance of graceful acts, kind words,
English nobleness, Christian principles, and on the other awaken in all
concerned the sense of graver duties, wider sympathies, loftier
purposes." On the following day the Prince left London amid marked
popular demonstrations of respect and regard, and with every evidence of
a deep public interest shown by the press of the country. At Dover
thousands of people cheered the Prince farewell. He took the boat for
Calais, accompanied by the Princess, who, however, did not land, but
returned home next morning. At Paris he was accidentally met by
President MacMahon, who was leaving on the train for another place, and
welcomed to France; officially he was received by Lord Lyons, the
British Ambassador. On the following day His Royal Highness lunched with
Marshal MacMahon at the Elysée. This visit and the ensuing journey
through Turin, Bologna and Ancona to Brindisi was carried out in a
private and non-official capacity. Nevertheless, at every station there
were officials, guards of honour and crowds of people to see the special
go through and to do honour to the traveller. The bulk of the Royal
suite followed the Prince a little later, and on October 16th the whole
party met at Brindisi and the voyage proper commenced.


WELCOMED BY THE KING OF THE GREEKS

Later in the same day H. M. S. _Serapis_, under the command of Captain
the Hon. H. Carr-Glyn, accompanied by the Royal yacht _Osborne_, left
Brindisi, and two days later the Prince was being welcomed in Athens by
the King of the Hellenes--Otto I--and by a picturesque Court clad in the
attractive costumes of the nation. Visits to the Acropolis and to the
country house of the King were followed by a State banquet at the
Palace, which gathered together all that was eminent in modern Grecian
life, glittering with laces, orders and decorations, and including some
young men who have since become famous--Tricoupi, Delyannis,
Commoundourus and Zaimés. Illuminations of the city ensued, and in the
morning, after a Royal reception, the Prince left Athens through crowds
of people, who seemed a little more demonstrative than had been the case
at first. On October 20th the Piræus was left behind after a farewell
visit from the King and at dawn the next day Crete was in sight. The
ship steered steadily ahead and three days later was welcomed at Port
Said by Egyptian frigates on sea and Egyptian infantry on shore.

There was no cheering from the people but much curiosity. A formal
welcome was offered for the Khedive by Princes Tewfik, Hussein and
Hassan, who were accompanied on their visit to the _Serapis_ by the
well-known statesman Nubar Pasha, and other officers of the Court. The
Prince then transferred himself to a smaller vessel--the _Osborne_--and
with a Royal Standard floating over the ship for the first time since
the Empress Eugénie had opened the Suez Canal, he traversed that famous
waterway. At Ismaila, the Prince and his suite landed and took a special
train to Cairo, where His Royal Highness was welcomed by the Khedive in
person, with the towering form of the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia
standing behind, and a brilliantly uniformed Court around him. To the
Prince of Wales the Gezireh Palace was given as his temporary residence.
The succeeding day was occupied with ceremonials of various kinds, a
banquet being given by the Khedive at the Abdeen Palace in the evening,
when the Prince passed to and fro in a lane of light made by myriad
many-coloured lamps.

On October 25th, the Prince of Wales invested Prince Tewfik--afterwards
Khedive of Egypt--with the Order of the Star of India amidst all
possible state. In a letter he told His Highness that the honour was
conferred to mark British appreciation of the Khedive's friendship to
England, and his good work in promoting the safety of British
communication with India. The next day saw the Royal departure from
Cairo after a formal visit from the Khedive, the Princes his sons, and
his Ministers, who were again at the station to see him off a little
later. Suez was reached in the evening and, amid elaborate preparations
from the Pasha of that place, crowds of people and illuminated
men-of-war in the roadstead, the Prince and his party boarded the
_Serapis_ and, accompanied by the _Osborne_, proceeded on the voyage to
Aden. Perim, which has been described as "a gigantic blistered clinker,"
was reached and passed on October 31st, and from the ship the Prince got
his first view of Her Majesty's Indian troops. It is to be hoped that
the cheering Bombay Infantry drawn up on that vitrified surface, got a
fair view of the Prince in return. On the following day the
volcanic-like Island of Aden was reached, and its fortifications gazed
upon with interest. As the flag flew from the mast-head of the _Serapis_
to announce its arrival the ships and crags rang with the roar of
cannon. The Prince landed, clad in uniform of a somewhat mixed
character, with Field Marshal's insignia, and accompanied by his suite.
Upon, or around, the platform and triumphal arch erected at the
landing-place, was every variety of picturesque oriental costume with a
background of mountain and blistered rock and white, painted houses.
Chiefs from the mainland in gorgeous array, the King's Own Borderer's
Regiment, all the ladies of the island in European or Asiatic costume,
fierce-looking Arabs, meek-looking Hindoos, sleek Parsees, people from
all the regions between the Persian Gulf, Zanzibar and Arabia, were
there to welcome him.


THE PRINCE RECEIVES AN ADDRESS

A formal address was presented to His Royal Highness by the Resident--a
Parsee--and then followed a drive through decorated streets with
numerous arches and curious mottoes to the Residency. A Levée was held
here and later in the day the ship was again boarded and steamed away
from the Indian Gibraltar as it lay bathed in lines of light along all
its town and batteries.

Bombay was reached on November 8th, after a voyage which was upon the
whole pleasant--certainly as far as surroundings and comforts could
make it. For a few hours official visitors streamed on board, and then
in the afternoon Lord Northbrook, Viceroy of India, appeared on the
scene and was received with the honours due to his station. There had
been some idea abroad that difficulties might arise as to the respective
positions of the Heir Apparent and the Viceroy in State ceremonial, but
from the day of this first formal meeting there does not seem to have
been the slightest trouble upon the point. Each knew perfectly what
pertained to the position and rank of the other. Then came the Governor
of Bombay, Sir Philip Wodehouse, and with him the Commander-in-Chief of
the Presidency, Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Staveley, and the members
of the Council. Meanwhile the harbour was filled with ships and boats of
all kinds, flags were streaming everywhere, in the distance was a vast
triumphal arch spanning the waterway between two piers, and, as the
Royal and Vice-regal party stepped into the barge and started for the
landing-place, the cannon roared, bands played, guards saluted and crews
cheered.

As the Prince of Wales landed the scene was one of the most splendid
conceivable. Long lines of seats draped in scarlet cloth stood out under
the sides of the gigantic archway and upon them stood a multitude of
native notabilities--Chiefs, Sirdars and gentlemen, Parsees, Hindoos,
Mahrattas and Mohammedans--a crowd glittering in gems and bright in all
the brilliant hues of Oriental garb. Amongst them also were the officers
of the Government and Municipality, leading citizens and dignitaries,
and all the ladies who could be found within a radius of a hundred
miles. Flowers and shrubs and banners and flags were everywhere. An
address expressive of loyalty and pride in the British Throne was
presented from the Municipality and duly answered, and then the Prince,
with Lord Northbrook at his side, walked along a carpeted avenue,
speaking to various Princes and Chiefs as they were presented--the
first being Sir Salar Jung, the Prime Minister and representative and
famous statesman of Hyderabad. At the end of the avenue, where carriages
were taken for the procession of seven miles through the teeming streets
of the city, a band of Parsee girls in white were waiting to strew
garlands and flowers in the Prince's carriage and on the roadway.

There was no music in this wonderful night procession and its
surroundings are difficult to describe. Mr. W. H. Russell, the diarist
of the Royal tour, speaks of the spectacle as being absolutely baffling
to the eye. "There was something almost supernatural in these long
vistas winding down banks of variegated light, crowded with gigantic
creatures waving their arms aloft and indulging in extravagant gesture,
which the eye--baffled by rivers of fire, blinded with the glare of
lamps and blazing magnesium wire and pots of burning matter--sought in
vain to penetrate." The piled-up masses of human beings along these
miles of streets; the Parsee women in brilliant costumes, which vied
with the colours of the surrounding fires and lights; crowds of
Mohammedans; Hindoo temples with roofs covered by Brahmins and their
votaries; a Jew bazaar, an American store, a European warehouse, or a
Japan temple in close proximity to each other and all bearing a burden
of people in varied dress; flashed a picturesque and never-ending
variety of sight and colour and character to the gaze of the quiet,
dignified man who drove through it all as the central figure of a
spectacle whose like may never be seen again. A banquet followed in the
great hall of Government House, and a state reception closed the varied
proceedings of this first busy day in historic Hindostan.

Meanwhile, camp-fires blazed for miles around the city, the fiery
furnace of the streets settled into as much of silence as an Oriental
centre under such conditions could attain and all over India, in every
mart and village and town where a gun could be found, volleys had
announced the arrival of the heir to its Imperial throne. In the
morning a Royal reception was held at Government House and, amid
splendid surroundings and every form of dignity and severe etiquette
necessary to impress the visiting Princes and Chiefs and Rajahs of the
great Presidency of Bombay, His Royal Highness stood or sat for hours in
the intense heat, clad in a stiff uniform, laden with lace and buttoned
up to the throat. With him were the Duke of Sutherland, Major-General
Lord Alfred Paget, Sir Bartle Frere, Lord Suffield, Lord Charles
Beresford and the rest of his suite. The Oriental dignitaries, each in
great state, came with attendants and ceremonies and gifts in accordance
with his rank. Each Prince was treated along graded lines of cordiality,
courtesy or civility, as was supposed to become his position. The little
Rajah of Kolapore; the Maharajah of Mysore; the Maharana of Oodeypore;
the Rao of Cutch--who left a sick bed and returned home to die; the
little Gaekwar of Baroda, who was described as looking like a
crystallized rainbow and was accompanied by the famous statesman, Sir
Madhava Rao; Sir Salar Jung of Hyderabad; and the Maharajah of Edur;
were received one after the other and then a succession of less
important rulers with tremendous names, fierce-looking guards and more
or less gorgeous costumes.

At the end of what was a Durbar in all but name the Prince was only
beginning his functions for the day. The Viceroy had to be received and
many matters discussed; a visit was paid to the _Serapis_ where the men
were celebrating the Prince's birthday, as were many millions throughout
India; telegrams were exchanged with the Princess at Sandringham; every
step was marked by pomp and splendour; a state banquet was held in the
evening and another, but less formal, reception afterwards. Meantime,
the city, the shipping and the harbour were a blaze of light and general
illumination--the great bay looking as if it were filled with rows of
fiery pyramids and the streets as if all India were trying to pass
through them. On November the 10th the Viceroy bade farewell to the
Prince, who did not see him again until near the end of his tour. He
went on a journey himself to parts of India which His Royal Highness was
unable to visit. Another formal reception of lesser Rajahs and Nawabs
took place in the morning. In the afternoon the Prince drove into
Bombay, accompanied by Sir Philip Wodehouse and held a Levée in the
Government Buildings. Then followed a visit to the harbour where, in an
open space, seven thousand children of all castes, classes, colours and
creeds, dressed in brilliant hues and laden with flowers, sang patriotic
songs. They almost smothered the Royal guest in flowers as he ascended
to his place. State visits were then made to a number of the native
Princes who had been already received and, in the evening, a grand
European ball, given by the Byculla Club, was attended. Other Chiefs
were visited next day by the Prince--those who had not residences or
were not of sufficient importance being assigned reception rooms at the
Secretariat, or Government Buildings.


THE PRINCE'S POPULARITY AT BOMBAY

After this wearisome and almost unbearably hot business was over the
Prince attended a dinner given by the people of Bombay to the sailors of
the fleet and the vigorous cheering of these two thousand seamen as His
Royal Highness entered the hall must have been a relief after the heavy
and sustained etiquette of the past few days. Following this was the
laying of the foundation stone of the Elphinstone Docks with Masonic
ritual and ceremonies. Then came a visit to the Hyderabad Prime Minister
and deputation and to others and a busy day closed with the usual state
dinner and reception. On the evening of November 12th the famous Caves
of Elephanta were visited and a banquet received by the Prince of Wales
amongst these wonderful and massive efforts of distant ages to embody
what seemed to them the divine attributes. Returning to the city the
Royal barge passed between two rows of ships, discharging volleys, while
the hulls and riggings were brightly illuminated, coloured fires were
everywhere and earth and sky seemed merged in a tremendous display of
fireworks and rockets. A visit to Poonah followed and this included an
inspection of the Temple of Parbuttee, from one of the windows of which
the last of the Peishwas had seen his forces routed on the plains of
Kirkee below; a review of native troops; a reception in the city
characterized by the usual fireworks, triumphal arches, crowded streets
and revel of colour.

On the 16th, His Royal Highness was back at Bombay considering plans
which had been disarranged by the prevalence of cholera in Southern
India. Finally, it was decided to visit Baroda, the capital of a State
where the Gaekwar had recently been deposed for his crimes. It was felt
that danger might exist, as even the most evil of Eastern rulers has
fanatical followers, but the former Resident, Sir R. Meade, expressed
the belief that it could be done safely and would be of great service
and the authorities and Prince, after much discussion, approved the
change of programme. This last day in Bombay saw the presentation of
colours to a battalion of Native Infantry amidst an immense concourse of
people, and a ball given by the citizens at which natives, Chiefs and
gentlemen could see Europeans dancing and amusing themselves. The
presents received during this part of the tour numbered over four
hundred and included specimens of every variety of Indian
workmanship--tissues, brocade, cloths, arms, jewellery, gold, silver and
metal. The Rajah of Kolapore, in addition to the gift of an ancient
jewelled sword and dagger, had assigned £20,000, or $100,000, to the
founding of a Hospital to be called after the Royal visitor.

The journey to Baroda was commenced on November 18th and finished early
on the following morning. At the station the Prince of Wales was
received by the Gaekwar, Sir Madhava Rao, the British agent and other
officers, and outside were triumphal arches and a rolling sea of dark,
silent faces, topped by turbans of every colour in the rainbow. Outside
also was an enormous elephant, with a golden howdah on his back, and
into this the Prince and the Gaekwar presently entered. Everything was
cloth of gold and velvet. The procession started after a time with a
long line of gorgeously-caparisoned elephants following, a way was
cleared for them by an advance guard of the 3rd Hussars, while in the
rear were some of the Gaekwar's artillery and cavalry and a great crowd
of Sirdars and lesser chiefs. The three miles to the Residency was lined
by cavalry, and the spectacle must have been a superb one to see for the
first time. The whole of the route was bordered by a light trellis work
of bamboos, hung with lamps and festooned with flowers, while at certain
points were special arches and clusters of flags. On his arrival the
Prince held a sort of Durbar, paid a return visit to the Gaekwar and
went to the Agga, or arena for wild-beast combats, where he saw Eastern
wrestlers, an elephant fight, a buffalo fight, a struggle of fighting
rams, and a show of wild or curious animals. The night was brilliant
with illuminations, and the Prince accepted an invitation to dine with
the 9th Native Infantry--an honour of which they were very proud.

The next day was devoted to sport, and in the evening dinner was taken
with another Native regiment. On the evening of the 21st the Prince
visited the Gaekwar at the ancient Palace of the Mohtee Bagh, and on the
way crossed a bridge spanned by triumphal arches, with men holding
blazing torches placed along the parapets. Lamps and lights were
everywhere. A great banquet was held, in the course of which Sir Madhava
Rao expressed the thanks of the Gaekwar, and said that "it was now
their felicity to see that Prince who was heir to a sceptre whose
beneficent power and influence were felt in every quarter of the globe;
which dispelled darkness, diffused light, paralyzed the tyrant's hand,
shivered the manacles of the slave, extended the bounds of freedom,
accelerated the happiness and elevated the dignity of the human race. He
had come to inspect an Empire founded by the heroism and sustained by
the statesmanship of England; to witness the spectacle of indigenous
principalities relying more securely on British justice than could
mighty nations on their embattled hosts."


THE PRINCE TAKES PART IN A HUNTING EXPEDITION

After dinner, various Eastern performances in dancing and juggling were
given, and then they departed for the shooting grounds farther south,
where "pig-sticking" and other sports were enjoyed. His Royal Highness
succeeded in killing one wild boar. On November the 24th the Royal
visitor arrived again at Bombay and went on board the _Serapis_. On the
following day he landed to take leave of the Governor, and suddenly, to
the dismay of the local authorities who had lined his announced route
with troops, intimated his intention to attend the wedding festivities
of the son of Sir Munguldass Nuthoobhoy, a great native merchant. The
visit proved well worth the trouble, and the undisguised delight of the
host and those present was a privilege to see. A farewell incident was
the knighting of the energetic Chief of Police, Sir F. H. Soutar. At 6
P.M. the _Serapis_ was on its way to Goa.

The visit to this ancient Portuguese dependency was not prolonged and
the incidents of importance were few. But much that was curious was seen
and many historical memories revived. On November 28th the little
foreign strip of territory was left behind and Beypore was sighted on
the following day. It was found, however, that cholera existed along all
the routes which the Prince proposed to take in this part of the
country and the medical men would not take the responsibility of
advising a continuance of the tour in this direction. The Prince bore
his disappointment philosophically, though he had expected much pleasure
from the splendid shooting places of the Mysore country. What can be
said, however, of the disappointed people and authorities? The Mysore
Government had spent thousands of pounds in preparation; Ootacamund,
Bangalore, Travancore and other places had laid out much money and the
population for hundreds of miles was stirred with expectancy. A visit
was paid to the shore and a brief glance taken at the old-time land of
Tippoo Sahib, and then the voyage was resumed to Ceylon.

On December 1st the lights of Colombo were sighted, and soon the
familiar spectacle of British men-of-war dressed to welcome royalty was
seen. The sight at the landing-place was a pretty one, and the long
avenue of gaily-decorated and flower-garlanded boats through which the
Royal barge first passed was equally so. The Prince was received in a
beautiful pavilion under a striking archway and everywhere in sight were
arches and flags and palm-leaves, and massed displays of fruits and
flowers, and tier on tier of spectators. All the dignitaries of Ceylon
were there and the usual addresses and replies were given. Thence the
Prince passed to the Government Buildings and took a drive round the
town, meeting everywhere an enthusiastic and sincerely generous
reception and a wealth of decoration in fruits and flowers and ferns.
His Royal Highness gave a state banquet on the _Serapis_ in the evening,
while Colombo was illuminated and the ships were a blaze of light. Never
were the Cinghelese more happy than on that day and night, and
spectators found it hard to describe the revel of light, fantastic,
Eastern pleasure. On the following day the railway train was taken for
Kandy amid genuine British cheers from throngs of men clad in
petticoats and wearing combs in front of their _chignons_.

At this splendidly situated town--the ancient stronghold of Chiefs and
the seat of more than one rebellion against earlier British rule--the
Prince was received by a great number of queerly-clad but distinguished
personages and Buddhist priests. The Governor, Mr. W. H. Gregory, who
accompanied the Royal traveller, was unusually popular and this,
perhaps, helped in the success of the reception. Addresses were received
and in the evening the Governor held a state dinner attended by all the
notabilities of Ceylon and accompanied outside by the beating of native
drums, the blowing of myriad horns, the clang of mighty gongs and sounds
of distant cheering. Afterwards the Prince witnessed a grotesque and
extraordinary procession of elephants, dancers and priests of the
Temple. On the following day he visited the Royal Botanical Gardens and
in the evening held an investiture of the Order of St. Michael and St.
George at which the Governor was knighted and some lesser honours given.
The Chiefs and their stately and dignified wives were then formally
presented. From the audience hall he afterwards passed to the Temple and
was shown the famous "Sacred Tooth of Gotama Buddha"--an object of
veneration to many millions of the human race and of visible fear to the
priests who stood around the Prince or took it from its precious and
numerous cases. On December the 4th the Prince went on a visit to the
interior of this wonderfully beautiful country and enjoyed the
excitement of an elephant hunt and of killing some of those colossal
creatures of the jungle. Colombo was reached again, three days later,
and another state banquet attended in the evening. On the following day
the new Breakwater was inaugurated by the Prince and in the evening a
farewell banquet received and the city left amid scenes of brilliant
illumination and fantastic Eastern beauty.

The Prince of Wales and his suite landed in Tuticorin on the coast of
India, again, on December 9th, and proceeded inland by train without any
particular or formal reception. The Tamils were found to be a handsome,
mild-natured, respectful people and the land cultivated and apparently
prosperous. At Mainachy, a deputation of six thousand native Christians
and one thousand boys and girls, headed by the Rev. Dr. Caldwell and the
Rev. Dr. Sargent, presented an address and a handsomely-bound Bible and
Prayer-book in the Tamil language, to His Royal Highness. A native
"lyric" was then sung by the children including words of which the
following is a translation: "Crossing seas and crossing mountains, thou
hast visited this southern-most region and granted to those who live
under the shadow of thy Royal umbrella a sight of thy benign
countenance." Madura was reached a few hours later and found to be
profusely decorated, one of the arches being made of native work in
perforated paper, covered with talc plates and silver plaques in front
of a screen of red. The name of the town signified "sweetness" and it
turned out to be a place of great charm, imposing buildings and unusual
cleanliness. The Rajah of Pudducottah was duly received and during his
visit he showed the Prince a book consisting of original letters,
dispatches etc., which had passed between Clive and his own ancestor
during the times of French and English struggle for supremacy in
Southern India. The Prince visited some of the ancient buildings of the
place, including the Temple of Minakshee, where Nautch girls scattered
flowers before him and garlands were placed over his shoulders, and the
Tank of the Golden Lotus and received a number of interesting presents
from the Rajah and from the Ranee of Shivagunga. He left on December
11th for Trichinoply, where he arrived in a few hours.

Here, His Royal Highness, after his progress through flowers, arches,
crowds, officials and decorations of unusual richness and taste, visited
the famous Temple of Seringham which has been described as "a vast
bewildering mass of gate, towers, enclosures, courts, terraces and
halls." In one of the last-named there were one thousand columns of
granite each consisting of one block and carved with elaborate images of
deities. The next place seen was the ancient Palace of the Nawabs of the
Carnatic and here presentation of the notabilities of the city took
place and an address was received by the future European Emperor of
India in the very home of the olden Eastern power. The scene from this
place in the evening was very striking--immense multitudes below, a
great tank full of boats and blazing with coloured fires and lights,
Clive's historic home on the opposite side and, above and over all, the
vast pyramidical pile, the Rock of Trichinoply, with its Temple of
Ganesa crowning the famous precipice and towering above the city.


PRINCE WELCOMED IN MADRAS

On December the 12th, the Royal visitor was again travelling and on the
following day reached Madras, where he was formally welcomed by
Lieutenant-Governor the Duke of Buckingham, the Rajah of Cochin, the
Maharajah of Travancore, the Prince of Arcot, the Rajah of Vizianagram
and others. The procession then passed from the station to Government
House through the narrow streets of the native town and the wide
thoroughfares of the European quarters. A golden umbrella was held over
the Prince's head and thus the massed populace--more fortunate than that
of Bombay--was able to be certain of his identity. At the Wallahjah
Bridge some thousands of students and boys and girls were ranged on both
sides, each school with its distinctive banners and badges. The
audiences given afterwards at Government House to Native Chiefs, and the
return visits, were conducted in the same manner and style as those at
Bombay. In the afternoon a crowded Levée was held and in the evening a
state banquet given to which the Governor invited all the chief
personages in the City and Presidency. A brief reception followed and
then His Royal Highness drove out to the Duke's country residence where
he spent the following day in seclusion as being the anniversary of his
father's death.

The events of the succeeding day included fashionable and interesting
races at Guindy Park which all the Madras world attended under the
patronage of the Prince; and in the afternoon a Royal reception of the
Chancellor and officers and Fellows of the University; of the Grand
Officers of the local Freemasonry; of Commissions or deputations from
Mysore and Coorg and Coimbatore. Each of the latter bore gifts and all
presented addresses. Formal calls were made upon the principal Chiefs
and a memorial foundation stone of the new Harbour works laid. The
latter was an impressive scene and on his way home the Prince, despite
pouring rain, visited the historic Fort of St. George with its many
reminders of past struggle and conquest. Another state banquet and
reception followed.

On the following day the Prince enjoyed a spectacle of Indian jugglery
and saw feats performed which in a western land would be deemed
miraculous. December the 17th saw His Royal Highness lunching at the
Madras Club where he tested Indian curries in their highest state of
development and in the afternoon he was welcomed at the Park by
thousands of children. A little later he reviewed a body of troops
accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Paul Haines. With the latter
he dined in the evening and at ten o'clock drove to the Pier to see the
great event of the visit. This was an illumination of the sea. Mr. W. H.
Russell in his _Diary_ says: "Man will never see any spectacle more
strange--nay awful. Neither pen nor pencil can give any idea of it. It
was exciting, grand, wierd and beautiful." Fireworks from the ships
looked like volcanoes bursting from the deep, while multiplied
fireboats had an effect upon the stony ink-blackness of the surf, like
rolling flames pouring in upon the shores. At midnight the Prince passed
from this scene to a special Native entertainment in his honour. The
great railway station had been converted into a decorated theatre
crowded with many thousand natives. Upon the elevated platform the
Prince received an address and an exquisite gold casket and then watched
a programme of eastern dancing. At six in the morning the Prince was up
and away to attend a meet of the Madras pack and enjoy a few hours'
sport--and in the afternoon the _Serapis_ was again his home and Madras
was left behind.

After a pleasant voyage up the Bay of Bengal the Prince of Wales arrived
at Fort William, passed through a great fleet of vessels and prepared to
enter Calcutta, the capital of the great Eastern Empire. Meantime, many
eminent Indian officials and unofficial personages called to pay their
respects and finally, the Earl of Northbrook, Viceroy and
Governor-General. Amidst the thunder of artillery from fleet and forts
His Royal Highness then landed and was welcomed by a great multitude of
people, luxuriously seated in tiers of seats ranged beside two pavilions
draped in scarlet, the canopies of which were upheld by gold pillars
wreathed with flowers. Beyond was a massive arch of triumph and the
platform and landing stage was carpeted with red cloth. In the
surrounding crowd was the whole central machinery of government amongst
three hundred millions of people and Rajahs, Chiefs and authorities
innumerable. The procession through the "City of Palaces" was marked by
the same splendour, the same crowds, the same curious contrasts as had
impressed the observer at Bombay. But the absence of the night effect
and its wierd illumination and the presence of certain indefinable
elements made it more dignified; while the greater number of English
people gave a certain leaven of western enthusiasm which had been
wanting elsewhere. In the evening a magnificent banquet was given by
the Viceroy and the city was a blaze of light and the scene of general
festivity.

The day before Christmas saw a state reception more remarkable than any
yet held. The first native prince to be received was the Maharajah of
Puttiala--a melancholy-faced man who died soon afterwards. Then followed
the Maharajah Holkar of Indore who was said to have £5,000,000 in gold
stored away; the Maharajah of Jodhpore, who wore an indescribable
glittering mass of gems; the Maharajahs of Jeypore, Cashmere, Gwalior;
the Sultana Jehan, Begum of Bhopal, of whom little more than a shawl and
a silk hood could be seen; and the Maharajah of Rewah, a dignified
personage who was said by some writers to be suffering from leprosy. A
Levée was then held and the Prince, for two hours, with the Duke of
Sutherland on one side of him and Lieutenant-Governor Sir Richard Temple
on the other, stood in full uniform bowing to a steady stream of people.
Another state banquet in the evening, and then attendance at an
entertainment some miles out of town gotten up by Native gentlemen,
brought this Christmas Eve to a close. On the following day the Prince
attended service at the Cathedral accompanied by Lord Northbrook and
listened to a powerful sermon from Bishop Milman--who died of a fever
caught on his Episcopal tour a few weeks later. He then drove to the
harbour and went on board the _Serapis_, which was decked out in
imitation of winter, and here had a sort of Christmas dinner. The rest
of the day was spent at Barrackpoor, the Viceroy's country residence,
but better known as the place where the terrible first signs of the
Mutiny were detected. After church on the 26th (Sunday) the Prince made
an excursion to the little French territory of Chandernagore--one of the
remnants of historic empire.

On the following day His Royal Highness held another reception for
Chiefs attended by envoys from the King of Burmah, the Maharajah of
Punnah in person, an embassy from Nepaul, the noble-looking Rajah of
Jheend, the Maharajahs of Benares, Nahun, and Johore. This was the last
of the Chiefs, for the moment, and the Prince and his wearied suite
could rest from a succession of sights and ceremonies in which
dark-featured magnates with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls and an
infinite variety of Sirdar escorts, must have come to be a mere
picturesque and confused medley. Many splendid presents were received
and on the two following days return visits were paid in state. On
December 21st the Prince witnessed a tent-pegging exhibition by the 10th
Bengal Cavalry, made a round of the hospitals and asylums, and wound up
with a garden party at Belvidere and a dinner and grand ball at
Government House.

On New Year's Day the Prince of Wales held a Chapter of the Order of the
Star of India in place of the Durbar which could only be held by the
direct representative of the Sovereign. Opposite the entrance to
Government House a canopied dais was erected, carpeted with cloth of
gold, covered with light-blue satin and supported upon silver pillars.
Two chairs with silver arms were placed upon the dais and around it were
the marines and sailors of the _Serapis_ while on the left were infantry
of the line. At nine o'clock came the processions, each presaged by a
flourish of trumpets. First came the Companions of the Order, Native and
European, presenting a stream of picturesque uniforms and costumes. Then
the Knights Grand Cross entered the Pavilion followed in the case of
each Indian dignitary by a small procession of Sirdars in rich and
varied dress--the Begum of Bhopal, Sir Salar Jung, the Maharajah of
Puttiala, Lord Napier of Magdala, the Maharajah of Travancore, Sir
Bartle Frere, the Maharajahs of Rewah, Jeypoor, Indore, Cashmere, and
Gwalior. Then came the Prince of Wales wearing a white helmet and plume,
and a Field Marshal's uniform almost concealed by his sky-blue mantle.
Following him was the Viceroy and the two took the chairs placed on the
dais. His Excellency, as Grand Master of the Order, then went through
the ceremonial of opening the Chapter and then, from out the tented
field of, literally, cloth of gold which surrounded the Royal pavilion,
came one by one the Knights to be. Each in turn left his tent with
stately accompaniments, approached, bowed and knelt at the footstool of
His Royal Highness who spoke certain prescribed words and placed the
Collar of the Order around his neck. As he rose the number of guns to
which he was entitled thundered forth their salute. The Maharajahs of
Jodhpoor and Jheend were thus invested with the Grand Cross and a number
of others were made Knights Commander or Companions of the Order. The
proceedings closed with a procession to Government House which lacked no
element of Oriental splendour and displayed untold wealth in jewels and
unique characteristics in costume.

In the afternoon the Prince unveiled an equestrian statue of the late
Lord Mayo and afterwards attended a polo match. In the evening he drove
to see the illumination of the fleet and then attended in state a
theatrical performance with Charles Matthews as the central figure. On
January 2nd, church was attended at Fort William and the arsenal
inspected; the Botanical Gardens and Bishop's College visited; and an
amateur concert of sacred music listened to at Government House in the
evening. The next day's programme included the spectacle of tent-pegging
and polo-playing between rival regiments; the reception of an LL. D.
degree from the University of Calcutta; a visit to a Hindoo Zenana under
arrangements made by Miss Baring, Lady Temple and others; and a farewell
reception at Government House.

The Royal special train arrived at Bankipoor station, near Patna, on the
morning of January 4th and the Prince was duly welcomed by Sir Richard
Temple, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, his officers and a great
concourse of people. He was driven through an avenue of four hundred
elephants, all gaily caparisoned, to the Durbar tent, where, under a
canopy and in front of a sort of throne, His Royal Highness held a Levée
and marked in every way possible his approval of the splendid work
lately done by Sir R. Temple and his officials in stamping out famine.
Luncheon followed, and then the train was taken for Benares. Here he
arrived at dark and found the magnificent ghauts or terraces alive with
lights. The procession drove over the bridge of boats across the Ganges
and through crowded streets out to the camp of the Lieutenant-Governor,
Sir John Strachey, where a special and beautiful structure had been
prepared for the Prince. On the following day an address was presented
by the Municipality of Benares and answered, a Levée held, the
foundation-stone of a Hospital laid, the Rajah of Vizianagram visited,
the famous Temples inspected. At sunset the Prince embarked in a galley
and went four miles up the Ganges to the old Fort of Ramnagar, where he
was received at a carpeted and decorated landing-place by the Maharajah
of Benares and witnessed a beautiful spectacle of illuminated river and
battlements. Preceded by spearsmen and banners, carried in gold and
silver chairs, passing between lines of cavalry, accompanied by
elephants and the constant strains of wild music, the host and his Royal
guest then went to the Castle. From the roof was seen another charming
sight--the Ganges and its banks and terraces so lit up as to look like a
myriad of tiny stars passing between banks of flaming gold. More
presents were received and the drive back to the camp commenced.


THE PRINCE VISITS LUCKNOW

Next day, the journey was resumed to Lucknow, on the Oudh and Rohilcund
Railway. At that much-modernized city the Prince of Wales arrived on
January 6th and stayed at what was once Outram's head-quarters. Here,
next morning, he held two Levées--a Native and a European one--and then
drove to see the historic spots of the famous city. In the afternoon he
laid the foundation-stone of a Memorial to the Natives who fell in
defence of the Residency and the Empire during the Mutiny. Lord
Northbrook had succeeded in getting together many of the survivors from
all over India and they stood around His Royal Highness in their old
war-worn uniforms. A touching scene followed the Prince's impromptu
intimation that these veterans might be presented to him, and to each he
said a word of kindness. In the afternoon a Native entertainment was
given in his honour at the ancient Palace of the Kings of Oudh and a
crown set in jewels was presented with the formal address. A reception,
banquet, and fireworks, followed, and on the next day the Prince enjoyed
a little hard riding and "pig-sticking" sport, during which Lord
Carington had his collar-bone broken.

Sunday was spent quietly in visiting various interesting places, after
church, and on the succeeding day the Prince presented colours to a
Native regiment and watched a march-past of troops. In the afternoon
Cawnpore was visited, and then the train taken for Delhi, which was
reached on the morning of January 11th. The entry into the Imperial City
was surrounded with all possible pomp and circumstance. Lines of
soldiery kept the streets from the station to the Royal camp, where rows
of tents, avenues of shrubs and flowers, marquees and beautiful
enclosures, formed a temporary home for the visitor and his suite. The
first function was the reception of an address from the Municipality of
a city which for one thousand years had been the seat of dynasties and
native rule. A Levée followed and then dinner with Lord Napier of
Magdala in his own mess-tent. On the following day a grand review was
held and for an hour and a half a stream of horse, foot and guns flowed
past. Then came a great banquet given by the Prince to the generals and
officers and a ball at Selinghur in those "marble halls of dazzling
light" which have been so often described. During the next few days a
great sham fight was held; a visit paid to the Kootab, where the Prince
mounted the summit of the famous pillar and viewed the wide-spread scene
of ruin; the beautiful Mausoleum of Houmayoun was seen; and the
illumination of the ancient city witnessed.


A REMARKABLE SPECTACLE AT LAHORE

On January 17th the beautiful city of tents disappeared and the Prince
of Wales was on his way to Lahore. There, he was received with the usual
state and drove four miles to Government House under the shade of a
golden umbrella and in the gaze of a vast multitude of people. A
remarkable spectacle was presented on the way by the encampment of the
Rajahs of the Punjaub. In front of them stood a long line of elephants,
caparisoned in gold and silver and gems, with armed retainers and a
salute for the Royal visitor, which included all that the roll of drums,
blare of trumpets and clang and roar of many strange instruments could
produce. Amidst the elephants flashed lance and sword and cuirass and
other things reminiscent of the days of western chivalry. At Government
House an address was presented by the members of the City Council,
wearing turbans of gold tissue, brocaded robes and coils of gems around
their necks. A European Levée followed and then came the Native Chiefs.
Afterwards the Prince visited the citadel and watched the sun set over
the plains from a window once used by the Lion of Lahore in his days of
power.

The next day saw a return visit to the Chiefs in their picturesque,
costly and oriental encampments; the opening of a Soldiers' Industrial
Exhibition at Mean Meer; and a beautiful illumination of the exquisite
Shalimar Gardens in the evening. On January 20th the Prince left for
Jummoo to visit the Maharajah of Cashmere. Later in the day he was
welcomed by this ruler, some seven miles from his capital and, mounted
on an elephant preceeded and followed by a stately _cortege_, the Royal
visitor passed through two miles of winding streets, brilliantly lighted
and lined by Native troops, while piled-up masses of people showed many
types of the Cashmeres, Lamas, Sikhs, Afghans, etc. On the summit of a
great ridge was a specially constructed building created at enormous
cost for the visitor's accommodation. The usual reception followed
together with a great banquet. Sport was the occupation of the next day
and in the evening a procession took place through the illuminated city
to dine at the Palace with the Maharajah. A feature of the latter's
entertainment was an extraordinary sacred dancing drama by Lamas from
Thibet. The departure on the following morning occurred amid all the
state that Cashmere could present--and that was not little. At
Wazirabad, on the way back to Lahore, a brief visit was paid, a great
bridge inaugurated and a banquet accepted. Government House was reached
in the evening and, with Lieutenant-Governor Sir H. Davies, His Royal
Highness then attended a Native entertainment at the College and
witnessed fireworks lighting up all the forts and battlements and a sea
of heads in the distant darkness.

After a quiet Sunday at Lahore, the departure was made for Agra. On the
way Umritzur was visited and the route to the Fort was lined and arched
with artificial cypress-trees, gilded branches and garlands. An address
was presented from the Municipality in which Sikh, Mohammedan and Hindoo
united in expressions of fervent loyalty. Here the Golden Temple was
visited. At Rajpoorah a stop was made to accept a banquet from the
Maharajah of Puttiala in a beautiful palace of canvas. Early on January
25th Agra was reached and the usual Oriental reception and procession
followed. At the camp on the following day a Levée was held and a large
number of Native Chiefs presented. In the afternoon the troops of the
latter passed in review before the Prince--a mixture of thousands of men
and elephants, camels, horses and bullocks, and knights in armour.

The principal event of the ensuing day was a visit to the famous and
exquisite Taj Mahul--"too pure, too holy, to be the work of human
hands." During the next few days some time was spent in shooting with
the Maharajah of Bhurtpore; a grand ball was given at the Fort; a long
interview granted Sir Dinkur Rao, the Native statesman; local convents
and schools visited; the tomb of Akbar the Great--described as the
grandest in the world--seen at Sekundra; a visit paid to the loyal
Maharajah of Gwalior at Dholepoor. The next point visited was the famous
old fortress of Bhurtpore and then the beautiful city of Jeypoor. Here
the Prince went tiger shooting with the Rajpoot Chiefs and shot his
tiger and, in the evening of February 5th, saw illuminations in which
every Indian device appeared to have been exhausted. From the
hospitalities of the Maharajah the Prince, however, soon turned away
with his face towards the Himalayas and his heart in the prospective
period of sport and liberty. The land of Kumaoun was the scene and with
him was a camp which included twenty-five hundred persons without
counting a perambulating army of provision carriers. Bears, elephants,
tigers, wild boars and varied birds and game were amongst the trophies
of his gun during a period of splendid sport which lasted until March
6th.

On that day the Prince resumed his tour and his Royal state and
proceeded to Allahabad where he was met by Lord Northbrood and held a
reception and an investiture of the Star of India at which Major-General
Sir Samuel Browne, V.C., Major-General Sir D. M. Probyn and
Surgeon-General Sir J. Fayrer received the ensignias of knighthood. The
route was then continued to Indore and, on the way, the Prince stopped
long enough at Jubalpoor to see seven Thugs who had been in jail for
thirty-five years for having committed an immense number of murders--one
of them boasted sixty-five. At Indore, His Royal Highness was received
by the Maharajah Holkar with due state and went through the usual
programme of reception, visits and banquets--important in this case as
being the last. Bombay was reached on March 11th and two days later all
farewells were made and the future Emperor of India had left the shores
of that mysterious, tragic and historical land, after having travelled
in seventeen weeks seven thousand six hundred miles by land and two
thousand three hundred miles by sea; met more Chiefs and notabilities
than all the Indian Viceroys of the past put together; and seen more of
the country and its surface life and varied customs than any living man.


HE MEETS LORD LYTTON AT SUEZ

Before leaving the Prince addressed a letter to the Viceroy expressing
appreciation of the reception given to him and of the loyalty shown by
the people. On the way home news came that Lord Lytton, the first
representative of the Queen as Empress of India, was on the way out. As
a personal friend of the Prince of Wales it was fitting that they should
meet at Suez, where the new Viceroy came on board. At Cairo, the Prince
was welcomed by the Khedive and his suite and a new round of gaiety
commenced, including visits to the Pyramids and a little quiet shooting.
At Alexandria, on April 2nd the Prince entertained the Grand Duke Alexis
of Russia at dinner on the _Serapis_. The next point touched was Malta,
where the thunder of the saluting fleet and fortress made the heavens
ring. Here, seven addresses were presented and much enthusiasm shown by
the populace. A great banquet was given by Sir W. and Lady Straubenzee
and on April 7th new colours were presented by His Royal Highness to
the 98th Regiment. Other functions followed. On April 15th the Prince
was joined by his brother, the Duke of Connaught. The Island was _en
fête_, and one of the events of the visit was the reception of a
deputation from the Sultan of Morrocco. The festive proceedings of the
time were wound up with a great ball.


WELCOMED IN SPAIN

The Prince of Wales landed _incognito_ at Cadiz on April 20th and then
proceeded, with the Duke of Connaught quietly to visit Seville and
Cordova. At Madrid, which was reached on April 25th, the Royal party
were formally welcomed by King Alfonso XII. and attended a state
reception at the Palace. A military review was held by the King, and
then a train was taken for the Palace of the Escurial, where King
Alfonso acted as guide for his Royal guests amidst the bewildering
artistic and other treasures of that immense and historic pile. Various
functions of stately dignity followed the return of the Prince to
Madrid, and the departure of the Duke for London, and the incidents of
the period included attendance at a sitting of the Spanish Cortes, and
the spectacle of a bull-fight. On April 30th His Royal Highness departed
for Lisbon, where, on the following day, he was formally welcomed by
King Louis of Portugal, his Court, the Foreign Ministers and the British
Admirals of the fleet in the Tagus. There were no flags, or arches, or
decorations, or tokens of welcome in the streets of Lisbon, but there
was a vast mass of silent and respectful people. Many functions followed
during the next few days and on May 7th the _Serapis_ started once more
for England. Four days later the ship was met by a yacht bearing the
Princess of Wales and the Royal children and, in a few hours, the Heir
Apparent was again at home from his famous journey and receiving a
welcome at Portsmouth which was a fitting prelude to similar greetings
in London and elsewhere.

Such a tremendous experience as this tour had proved could not but have
a pronounced and important effect. The burden of a continuous succession
of events in which he was the central figure; the strain of a steady
succession of brilliant spectacles presenting a kaleidoscopic variety of
sight and sound and splendour and incident; the weight of a constant
burden of ceremonial and state observances in a land where the slightest
carelessness, or indifference, or cordiality--at the wrong moment--meant
mortal offense to some important dignitary, caste, or interest; the
physical trial of innumerable functions to a man clad in European
costumes in a tropical climate; the infinite variety of his duties, the
peculiar character of the hours maintained, the lack of sleep and the
continuous round of banquets; must have tried the mind and heart and
body about equally. In the end the experience must have broadened the
conceptions and ideas of the Prince; educated him in a better perception
of his immense responsibilities; trained him in an iron school of
etiquette and helped to teach him that inflexible routine of duty which
must ever face a British Sovereign.

To the people of India the tour brought home a clearer perception of the
personal power presiding over their destinies and a vivid picture of the
greatness of the authority before which all their greatest dignitaries
with the traditions of many thousand years, bowed in loyal obeisance. To
the imaginative Indian mind nothing more effective could have been
presented than the scenes of that brilliant and triumphal passage
through the stamping ground of ancient conquerors. To the people of
Great Britain it brought home a more realizable sense of the vastness of
their dominions and the equivalent greatness of their national duty and
responsibility. It helped to lay the foundation of that Imperial future
of which Disraeli then dreamed and for which others have since laboured
with a measure of success shown in the events preceding and following
the accession of Edward VII., King and Emperor.




CHAPTER IX.

Thirty Years of Public Work


During the years between 1872 and the end of the century the Prince of
Wales filled a place in public affairs not unlike that of the Prince
Consort in the later and ripest period of his useful life. He grew
steadily in the faculties which make for wisdom in council and action
while retaining and developing the qualities which make for popularity
and, in a Prince, may embody the characteristics and feelings of his
nation. In those thirty years he saw much and travelled far; met many
men of varied qualities and attainments and character; learned much by
personal experience and observation and much from other people's
experience; tested almost the pinnacle of earthly splendour in his
Indian tour and learned in private something of the suffering which
comes to all individuals whether great or little. He created the
position of Heir Apparent as now understood; gave it a significance and
value never before attained to; and filled it with a tact and ability
which no detraction or misrepresentation could practically affect, and
which in time made him the admittedly most all-round popular man in the
United Kingdom.

Before his illness the Prince had carried out a good many public
engagements and helped a great number of useful objects. After that
event and the outpouring of popular sentiment which found vent in the
National Thanksgiving he became still more devoted to his round of
public duties. On July 5th 1872, His Royal Highness visited the new
Grammar School at Norwich and inspected the Norfolk Artillery Militia
of which he was Honorary Colonel. At a banquet given by the Mayor he
referred to his late illness, in expressing thanks for local sympathy,
and added: "It is difficult now for me to speak upon that subject but as
it has pleased Almighty God to preserve me to my country I hope I may
not be ungrateful for the feeling which has been shown towards me and
that I may do all that I can to be of use to my countrymen." On July
25th, he reviewed four thousand boys of the Training ships and Pauper
Schools of the Metropolitan Unions at South Kensington, and distributed
prizes. The Prince was accompanied by the Princess of Wales and his
sons. A little later, on August 11th, the Breakwater at Portland was
inaugurated, the Royal yacht being accompanied from Osborne by a
splendid fleet of fifteen ironclads. At the conclusion of the ceremony
the Prince visited Weymouth, which was gaily decorated, and where he
accepted a public banquet.


THE PRINCE MAKES A VISIT TO DERBY

The next important English function of His Royal Highness was a state
visit to Derby on December 17th. The announcement that the Prince and
Princess were coming to Chatsworth to stay with the Duke of Devonshire
and would also visit Derby created much interest and on the appointed
day brought great crowds from Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield,
Nottingham and Chesterfield to swell the population of the city. After
driving through the decorated streets and cheering crowds various loyal
addresses were received and prizes presented at the City Grammar School.
On the evening of March 27th, 1873, the Prince presided at the annual
dinner of the Railways' Benevolent Institution. In a somewhat lengthy
little speech he explained its purposes and asked for aid in their
attainment. The result was a subscription of five thousand guineas to
which he himself contributed two hundred guineas.

A duty which was congenial in one sense and sad in another was the
unveiling of a statue of the late Prince Consort at the entrance of the
Holborn Viaduct in London on January 9th, 1874. A luncheon followed in
the Guild Hall attended by some eight hundred guests and at which the
Prince made a short speech. A few weeks later the Prince and Princess of
Wales were at St. Petersburg to attend the marriage of the Duke of
Edinburgh with the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia on January
23rd. The marriage ceremony was performed in much state with the
successive rites of the Greek and English Churches--Dean Stanley
presiding over the latter. Four future Sovereigns were present on the
occasion, the Prince of Wales, the Crown Prince of Prussia, the
Czarewitch of Russia and the Crown Prince of Denmark. During this visit
the Prince and Princess were treated with great distinction by the Czar
and a grand military review was held in honour of His Royal Highness.
The anniversary festival of the British Orphan Asylum was attended on
March 25th, in London, and a speech was made by His Royal Highness
explanatory of the useful objects of the institution. The subscriptions
announced during the evening amounted to £2400. An important incident of
the year was the visit of the Shah of Persia to England and the splendid
entertainments given in honour of an Oriental Sovereign whose
friendliness was of serious import in the event of trouble between Great
Britain and Russia. The Prince of Wales devoted considerable time to the
task of welcoming and entertaining the Royal visitor and gave one great
banquet, in particular, at Marlborough House which was remarkable for
its effective magnificence.

A dinner was given on March 31st by the Lord Mayor of London to
Major-General Sir Garnet Wolseley--afterward Field Marshal, Viscount
Wolseley--on his return from the successful Ashantee expedition and the
Prince of Wales made a tactful speech on the occasion expressive of the
thanks of the nation for the services of officers and men in that
arduous campaign. On April 22nd the Prince presided over a dinner in aid
of the funds of the Royal Medical Benevolent Hospital. The leading men
of the profession were present and, after a speech from the Prince,
donations of £1780 were announced by the Secretary with the usual one
hundred guinea subscription from the Royal chairman. A different kind of
function was His Royal Highness' attendance at a dinner of the Benchers
of the Middle Temple on June 11th. The Master of the Temple, the Rev.
Dr. Vaughan, presided and others present were the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the Lord Chief Justice. The Prince, as a Bencher, wore
the silk gown of a Queen's Counsel as well as the riband of the Garter
and made a brief speech in which he expressed the modest opinion that it
was a good thing for the profession at large that he had never been
called to the Bar. On August 13th the new Municipal Buildings and Law
Courts at Plymouth were opened by the Prince after a formal reception at
the hands of the Mayor and a procession through the artistically
decorated and densely packed streets of the city.


FIRST STATE VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM

An interesting event of this year and one which created considerable
discussion and comment was the first state visit of the Prince and
Princess of Wales to Birmingham. For half a century that city had been a
centre of Radicalism, of extreme democratic opinion and, in earlier
days, of Chartist turbulence. The Mayor, in 1874, was Mr. Joseph
Chamberlain who was then noted for democratic views which were supposed
in many quarters to extend to the full measure of republicanism. Doubt
was even expressed as to whether the Royal reception would be as cordial
as might be desired or the Mayor as courteous, in the sense of loyal
phraseology, as was customary. The visit took place on November 3rd and
a most cordial welcome was given by all classes of the people. Mr.
Chamberlain presented an address in the Town Hall and at a subsequent
luncheon spoke of the Queen as "having established claims to the
admiration of her people by the loyal fulfillment of responsible
duties." In reference to this and other speeches which he made as
chairman the London _Times_ of the succeeding day declared that
"whatever Mr. Chamberlain's views may be his speeches of yesterday
appear to us to have been admirably worthy of the occasion and to have
done the highest credit to himself." They were described as being
couched in a line of "courteous homage, manly independence and
gentlemanly feeling."

The annual dinner of the Royal Cambridge Asylum was presided over by His
Royal Highness on March 13th, 1875; the Merchant Taylors' School in the
Charterhouse was visited on April 6th; the German Hospital annual
banquet was presided over ten days later and donations of £5000 to its
funds announced during the evening--including one hundred guineas from
the Prince; the installation of the Heir Apparent as Grand Master of the
English Freemasons took place on April 28th. On June 5th he presided at
the yearly banquet of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution for
providing pensions or annuities for persons ruined by agricultural
depression. The Earl of Hardwicke in proposing the Royal chairman's
health said that "the position of the Prince of Wales is not one of the
easiest. He has no definite duties, but the duty he has laid down for
himself is of a very definite nature. It is to benefit, to the best of
his power, all his fellow-creatures." In the course of his speeches the
Prince made an earnest appeal for aid to the purposes of the institution
with the result that £8000 was announced as the total donation of the
evening--including the usual one hundred guineas from the chairman.

The next important event in his public life was the visit of the Prince
to India in 1875-6. On his return the Royal traveller received many
demonstrations of popular esteem and the City of London entertained him
at a great banquet and ball and an address of welcome, in a golden
casket of Indian design, was presented. During the remainder of the year
the Prince took a much-needed rest and interested himself largely in
matters local to his own county of Norfolk. He took in hand the
necessity existing at Norwich for a new Hospital and a large sum of
money was soon subscribed for this purpose. Later in the year he visited
Glasgow and laid the foundation of a new Post Office in that city. In
the spring of 1877 what may be termed the moral courage of the Prince
was put to a test in his invitation to preside at the annual banquet of
the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum. There were many protests made and at
least two hundred petitions presented urging His Royal Highness not to
patronize or help the liquor interest. He decided, however, that the
charity was a useful one and the widows and orphans of licensed
victuallers as deserving of succour as those of other classes in the
community, and that he could quite well afford to patronize an
institution in succession to his own father, the late Prince Consort.
Earl Granville was present, three Bishops and many members of the Houses
of Lords and Commons and the proceeds of the occasion were over £5000.
In one of his speeches the Royal chairman referred to the petitions
received from Temperance Societies and remarked: "I think this time they
rather overstep the mark because the object of the meeting to-night is
not to encourage the love of drink but to support a good and excellent
charity."

Early in 1878 the Prince unveiled at Cambridge (on January 22nd) a
statue of his late father, who for years had been Chancellor of the
University. On June 28th, together with the Princess of Wales, he
visited the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead and presided at the
luncheon which followed and at which were Her Royal Highness, the Duke
and Duchess of Manchester, the Bishop of St. Albans and Mrs. Claughton,
and a large gathering. In his speech the Royal chairman reviewed the
history of the institution and afterwards gave one hundred guineas to
its funds. As a result of his interest in naval matters the Prince had
already placed his sons on the training ship _Britannia_ and, on July
24th of this year, he and the Princess consented to distribute the
annual prizes and medals. An address was presented from the City of
Dartmouth, on board the Royal yacht _Osborne_, which had been
accompanied into the estuary of the River Dart by a large number of
war-ships, yachts, steam-launches and boats. Flags were flying
everywhere on sea and shore and in the evening the illuminations were
striking. At the _Britannia_ the Royal visitors were received by Mr. W.
H. Smith M.P. First Lord of the Admiralty and a distinguished gathering
amongst whom were Lord and Lady Charles Beresford and Sir Samuel and
Lady Baker. In his speech the Prince referred to the personal expression
of confidence in the institution by the Princess and himself in sending
their two sons to be trained there and expressed the hope that the
latter might do credit to the ship and to their country. A visit to
Dartmouth followed and then Prince Edward and Prince George were taken
home for their holidays.


THE DEATH OF PRINCESS ALICE

During this year the Heir Apparent had the misfortune to lose his
much-loved sister the Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse, to whose
careful nursing he had owed so much in his own serious illness and the
sad features of whose death--as a result of nursing her children through
an attack of malignant diphtheria--had proved such a shock to the
British public. The Prince and Princess spent some months in retirement
after this occurrence and had also to mourn the death of the gallant
young Prince Imperial of France, in whose career they had taken a deep
personal interest--not only on account of his loveable qualities, but
because of the long friendship between the Royal house of England and
the widowed Empress Eugenie, to whose lonely hopes and pride the loss
was so terrible. The Prince of Wales helped the stricken lady in the
details of the funeral, acted as the principal pall-bearer and showed
his sympathy in many ways, of which the wreath of violets sent from
Marlborough, with the following inscription, was an incident: "A token
of affection and regard for him who lived the most spotless of lives and
died a soldier's death fighting for our cause in Zululand. From Albert
Edward and Alexandra, July 12, 1879." His Royal Highness strongly
supported the proposal to erect a Memorial in Westminster Abbey, but
even his great influence could not overcome the international prejudices
which the suggestion aroused and he had to wait till January, 1883, when
the "United Service Memorial" was erected at Woolwich, and, accompanied
by his two sons and the Dukes of Edinburgh and Cambridge, he was able to
unveil the statue and fittingly eulogize the Royal French youth who had
fought and died for the country which had been so kind to his parents.

[Illustration: QUEEN ALEXANDRA
  The Queen Consort of Edward VII]

[Illustration: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, AT
BRUSSELS, APRIL, 1900]

[Illustration: FLEET STREET, LONDON

This is one of the most interesting thoroughfares of London. On all
great state occasions it is beautifully and lavishly decorated. In the
distance is seen the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, where a great
memorial service was held, attended by the Corporation of London, great
numbers of officials and great throngs of mourning people.]

[Illustration: ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, WINDSOR]

On May 5th, 1879, the Prince of Wales presided at the annual banquet of
the Cabdrivers' Benevolent Association. On May 23, 1880, he presided at
a dinner in aid of the funds of the Princess Helena College and the
result of his patronage and the careful speech delivered was a total
donation of £2000, to which he contributed his customary one hundred
guineas. On June 17th of the same year he visited the new Breakwater and
Harbour at Holyhead and, during the visit, there were loyal
demonstrations on sea and land and a banquet attended by gentlemen
representing most of the leading English and Irish railway companies.
During the same month the King of Greece visited England and the Prince
had an opportunity of returning some of the many hospitalities which he
had received from His Majesty and of presenting him to the Corporation
of London at a great banquet of welcome. As Duke of Cornwall he also
laid the first stone of Truro Cathedral in this month. Writing of this
and other functions on June 18th the _Times_ declared that the
representative duties of British royalty were heavier than the private
functions of the hardest-worked Englishman. "In these scenes and a
hundred like them a Prince's function cannot be discharged
satisfactorily unless he be at once an impersonation of Royal state and,
what is harder still, his own individual self. He must act his public
character as if he enjoyed the festival as much as any of the
spectators. He must be able to stamp a national impress upon the
solemnity yet mark its local and particular significance."


DISTRIBUTES PRIZES, PRESENTS AND COLOURS

New colours were presented to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers by the Prince as
they were embarking from Portsmouth for India, on August 16th. On May
24th, 1881, he presided at the festival dinner of the Royal Hospital for
Women and Children in London, contributed one hundred guineas to its
funds and was able to announce donations totalling £2000. At King's
College, London, on July 2nd, His Royal Highness, accompanied by the
Princess, distributed the annual prizes and pointed out the history and
merits of the institution. On July 18th the Prince, accompanied by the
Princess of Wales, laid the foundation of a City and Guilds of London
Institute, established for the technical training of artisans, and
delivered a speech of considerable range and length. He also accepted
the Presidency of the Institute. The seventh annual meeting of the
International Medical Congress was formally opened by the Prince,
accompanied by the Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia, on August 3rd. He
was received by a Committee composed of distinguished medical men such
as Sir W. Jenner, Sir William Gull, Sir James Paget and Sir J. R.
Bennett and, during the ceremony, spoke upon the progress made in late
years by medical science.

The death of Dean Stanley on July 18th of this year was felt as a
personal and severe loss by both the Prince and Princess. The former had
no warmer or wiser friend; the latter no greater admirer in the highest
sense of the word. It was fitting, therefore, that His Royal Highness
should take the lead in raising a suitable Memorial to the distinguished
Churchman and he attended and spoke earnestly at a meeting called in the
Chapter-house of Westminster Abbey, for that purpose, on December 13th.
Dean Bradley presided and there were also present Archbishop Tait of
Canterbury, the Marquess of Salisbury, Earl Granville, the Duke of
Westminster, the Marquess of Lorne, Mr. J. Russell Lowell, the American
Minister, Lord Chief Justice Coleridge and others. In his speech the
Prince spoke of his intimate friendship with Dean Stanley over a period
of twenty-two years, of their association in the East and of the great
charm of his companionship. "As the Churchman, as the scholar, as the
man of letters, as the philanthropist and, above all, as the true
friend, his name must always go down to posterity as a great and good
man and as one who will make his mark on a chapter of his country's
history."

During the next few years the public events of the Prince's career
continued along very much the same lines, varied by some rapid trip to
the continent, or visit to the country home of some noble friend, or a
shooting excursion to some place where game was plentiful and companions
congenial. The central events, aside from his promotion of the Fisheries
and other Exhibitions, were the visit to Ireland in 1885, the support
given to an Empire policy by his patronage of the Imperial Institute and
similar concerns, his active connection with the Masonic Order and his
conduct of the Jubilee of 1887. The International Fisheries Exhibition
grew out of a comparatively small affair at Norwich in which the Prince
of Wales had taken an active interest. In July 1881, as a result of his
initiative, a meeting was held in London, a committee was formed and the
preliminary work done. In February 1882 a second meeting occurred and
further organization was effected with the Queen as Patron, His Royal
Highness as President and the Duke of Richmond as Chairman of the
General Committee. The Exhibition was finally opened on May 13, 1883, by
the Prince of Wales, who had around him most of the members of the Royal
family, the Foreign Ambassadors, Her Majesty's Ministers and other
distinguished persons, His address defined the reasons for the
enterprise in a sentence: "In view of the rapid increase of the
population in all civilized countries, and especially in these sea girt
kingdoms, a profound interest attaches to every industry which affects
the supply of food; and in this respect the harvest of the sea is hardly
less important than that of the land." In results he thought the
Exhibition should enable practical fishermen to acquaint themselves with
the latest improvements in both their working craft and life-saving
systems. It was a great success. The total visitors numbered 2,703,051
and there was a financial surplus of £15,243. Of this, two-thirds was
put aside to assist the families of fishermen who had lost their lives
at sea, and £3000 was used to organize a Fisheries Society in order to
keep up the interest in the subject and encourage the study of ways and
means to help the fishermen.


THE PRINCE ENCOURAGES EXHIBITIONS

In replying to an address from the Executive Committee at the closing of
the Exhibition, on October 31st, the Prince had suggested that other
Exhibitions might very well be held dealing with the three great
subjects of Health, Inventions and the Colonies. The first subject dealt
with was that of Health. Owing to the death of his brother, the Duke of
Albany, on March 28th, 1884, the Prince could not do much more than
initiate the project but it was carried on by the Duke of Buckingham as
Chairman of the Committee. Its active progress was marked by the
inauguration of the work of the International Juries by the Prince of
Wales on June 17th. Like the Fisheries and the "Colinderies" which
followed it in 1886, the "Healtheries" proved ultimately a great
success. Meanwhile, minor incidents were occurring. On March 1st, 1882,
as Colonel of the Corps, the Prince presided over the 21st anniversary
dinner of the Civil Service Volunteers and spoke at some length upon the
importance of the Volunteer force. Others present on the occasion were
the Dukes of Manchester and Portland, Viscount Bury, Lord Elcho and
Colonel Lloyd-Lindsay. On March 10th, 1883, the Duke of Cambridge,
Commander-in-Chief, called a meeting in London to consider what could be
done with the neglected British graves in the Crimea and the Prince of
Wales, who had felt the matter keenly during his visit of years before,
moved a Resolution declaring that immediate steps should be taken in the
matter. He spoke with earnestness, contributed £50 toward the project
and was supported by General Sir W. Codrington, Admiral Sir H. Keppel,
General Sir L. A. Simmons and Lord Wolseley.

The new City School of London, on the Thames Embankment, was opened by
His Royal Highness on December 12th, 1882, accompanied by the Princess
of Wales. On May 21st 1883 crowded memories of his Indian tour were
revived by the opening of the Northbrook Club for the use of Native
gentlemen from the East Indies. In his speech the Prince referred with
gratitude to his "magnificent reception" in India and expressed his
strong approval of the establishment of a place where natives of that
Empire could meet together for purposes of relaxation and intercourse.
The City of London College, intended chiefly for young men who could
only attend evening classes, was inaugurated on July 8th of this year.
The Princess was also present. In the House of Lords on February 22nd,
1884, the Prince made one of his very few speeches in that
Chamber--although a frequent attendant at its sessions. It was in
connection with a motion presented by Lord Salisbury for the appointment
of a Royal Commission to inquire into the housing of the working
classes. His Royal Highness declared that a searching inquiry was very
necessary, expressed his pleasure at having been named a member of the
Commission, referred to his own experiments at Sandringham, and
expressed the hope that measures of a drastic and thorough kind would
result. Three days later, accompanied by the Princess, their three
daughters, and Her Royal Highness the Marchioness of Lorne, the Prince
of Wales visited the Guards' Industrial Home at Chelsea Barracks and
distributed the annual prizes.

On March 15th, not for the first time, he presided at the annual meeting
of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and spoke strongly of its
valuable and important work. Other speakers were the Dukes of Argyll and
Northumberland, Admiral Keppel and Lord C. Beresford. The Guilds of
London Institute was opened on June 25th and the speech made by the
Prince was more elaborate than usual. He was well supported by Lord
Carlingford and Mr. A. J. Mundella, M.P. An important and interesting
incident of this year was the action of the Prince of Wales in presiding
over a densely-crowded meeting in the Guild Hall, London, called to
celebrate the Jubilee of the abolition of slavery in British countries
and to consider the past and present work of the Anti-Slavery Society.
On the platform were many distinguished men in every sphere of the
national life and the speech of His Royal Highness was probably the
longest he had ever delivered. It was a succinct history of the
abolition of slavery in various countries and colonies and contained
many expressions of warm approval toward those who had worked to that
end--the extension of "the sacred principle of freedom." Sir Stafford
Northcote, Archbishop Benson of Canterbury, Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P.,
Cardinal Manning and others spoke, and it was afterwards announced by
the Lord Mayor that the Prince had consented to become Patron of the
British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.

The unveiling of the statue of Charles Darwin in the Museum of Natural
History on June 9th, 1885, evoked a brief speech and a reference to "the
great Englishman who had exerted so vast an influence upon the progress
of branches of natural knowledge." On July 4th the Prince and Princess
attended the opening of the new building of the Birkbeck Institution in
London and the former spoke upon its objects and character. On July 5th
of the previous year he presided at the annual dinner in aid of the
Railway Guards' Friendly Society and referred in his speech to its
nature and valuable work. More than £3300 was subscribed, to which the
Royal chairman gave his usual contribution. The Convalescent Home at
Swanley was opened on July 13th 1885 and the Prince was accompanied by
his wife and daughters. A visit was paid two days later to Leeds and the
Prince and Princess stayed at Studley, the seat of the Marquess of
Ripon. Various addresses were received at the Town Hall and from thence
the Royal visitors went to the Yorkshire College, which the Prince duly
inaugurated amid much state. At the succeeding luncheon he spoke of the
great importance of the industrial educational work which this
institution was carrying on. "I have for a long time been deeply
impressed with the advisability of establishing in our great centres of
population, colleges and schools, not only for promoting the
intellectual advancement of the people, but also for increasing their
prosperity by furthering the application of scientific knowledge to the
industrial arts."

The sad news of the gallant death of General Gordon affected the Prince
of Wales as only the loss of a friend who is greatly and personally
admired can do. He took much interest in the Committee which was formed
to promote a Memorial and finally summoned a special meeting at
Marlborough House, on January 12th, 1886, to promote the collection of a
fund looking to the permanent establishment of a Gordon Boys' Home.
Speeches were made by General Higginson, the Duke of Cambridge and Lord
Napier of Magdala, and ultimately the enterprise was fairly placed upon
its feet. A little later, with Prince Albert Victor and Prince George,
His Royal Highness went to stay with the Duke of Westminster at Eaton
Hall. From thence, on January 20th, they visited Liverpool and the
Mersey Tunnel was formally inaugurated after a drive through the city
and the reception of the usual addresses and popular welcome. A banquet
was also received and several speeches made by the Prince. The
Institution of Civil Engineers entertained the Prince of Wales at dinner
on March 27th and the Royal guest was accompanied by his eldest son and
the Duke of Cambridge. Sir Frederick Bramwell presided. On June 28th,
following, he laid the foundation-stone of the Peoples' Palace amidst
evidences of unbounded personal popularity in the East End of London;
with ten thousand people around him--including one thousand delegates
from the various Trade, Friendly and Temperance Societies in East
London; and with representative persons in attendance such as Dr. Adler,
the Chief Rabbi, Cardinal Manning, Archbishop Benson and Mr. Walter
Besant.

As a result of his deep and practical interest in agricultural matters
the Prince of Wales held a sale of Shorthorn cattle and Southdown sheep
at Norwich on July 15th of this year. The sale was a most interesting
and successful event from a technical as well as general standpoint and
fully proved the right of the Royal owner of Sandringham to be called a
farmer and to act as President of the Royal Agricultural Society of
England. A luncheon given to the agricultural celebrities of England
followed the sale. On March 12th, 1887, the Prince presided at the
Jubilee banquet of the London Orphan Asylum and defined its objects and
work while urging more financial assistance to its projects. Amongst
those present were the Duke of Abercorn, the Earl of Clarendon, General
Sir Donald Stewart and Sir Dighton Probyn. The subscriptions announced
during the evening were £5000, including one hundred guineas from the
Prince.

On March 30th he opened the new College of Preceptors in London,
accompanied by the Princess of Wales and the Princesses Victoria and
Maud. The opening of the Manchester Exhibition followed on May 3rd and
the Prince and Princesses came to the city from Tatton Hall, where they
had been staying with Lord Egerton. The usual hearty welcome was given
along the crowded route. On May 22nd the London Hospital's new buildings
were inaugurated, the Prince being accompanied by his wife and two
daughters and the Crown Prince of Denmark. Six days later Tottenham was
visited and the new portion of the Deaconesses Institution and Hospital
opened. The Shaftesbury House, or home for shelterless boys, was
inaugurated on June 17th and on November 3rd His Royal Highness visited
Truro, accompanied by the Princess and his two sons, attended the
consecration of the new Cathedral by the Primate of England and spoke
afterwards at a luncheon given by the principal residents of the Duchy
of Cornwall. On the following day he presented new colours to the Duke
of Cornwall's Light Infantry at Devonport.

On May the 8th, 1888, the Prince and Princess of Wales opened the
Glasgow Exhibition and the former spoke interestingly of the industrial
development of the time. The statesman whose advice and knowledge had
been so greatly appreciated by the Prince during his Indian tour was
fittingly commemorated by the statue on the Thames Embankment which His
Royal Highness unveiled on June 5th following. Sir Bartle Frere was
described in the speech accompanying the act as "a great and valued
public servant of the Crown and a highly esteemed and dear friend of
myself." On July 6th a new Gymnasium for the Young Men's Christian
Association was opened in London; on May 9th the Prince and Princess
visited Blackburn and were enthusiastically received; on May 14th His
Royal Highness, accompanied by his wife and daughters, Prince Charles of
Denmark and Prince George of Greece, opened the Anglo-Danish Exhibition
at South Kensington; on July 17th he inaugurated the new buildings of
the Great Northern Hospital at Islington and in the autumn of the year
paid a visit to Austria and some of the countries in Southern Europe.

The purely public events of following years may be briefly and partially
summarized. In June, 1889, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the
Paris Exhibition in a semi-private capacity, and were present at Athens,
on October 27th, at the wedding of the Duke of Sparta and Princess
Sophia of Germany. The great Forth Bridge was opened by the Prince in
March, 1890, and a short time spent with Lord Rosebery at Dalmeny; a
visit was paid to Berlin, accompanied by Prince George, on March 21st; a
statue of the Duke of Albany was unveiled at Cannes on April 6th; a new
nave in the ancient Church of St. Saviour, Southwark, was inaugurated on
July 24th; the new Town Hall at Portsmouth was opened on August 9th; the
City of London Electric Railway was inaugurated on November 4th. On
November 9th, 1891, the theatrical managers of London presented His
Royal Highness with a large gold cigar-box in honour of his fiftieth
birthday. In 1892 the Prince visited the Royal Agricultural Society at
Warwick with the Duke of York, laid the foundation-stone of the
Clarence Memorial addition to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, and
supervised the re-building of Sandringham after the fire which had
consumed a portion of it. One of the events of 1894 was a visit to
Coburg in April and attendance at the marriage of his niece and nephew,
the Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and the Grand Duke of Hesse.
Another was the opening of the Tower Bridge, London, in June, by the
Prince and Princess on behalf of the Queen.

On May 16, 1895, the Prince of Wales reviewed the Warwickshire Yeomanry;
on July 8th he laid the foundation-stone of new buildings at the Epsom
Medical College; in July he reviewed Italian and British fleets off
Portsmouth; on July 22nd he opened the new building of the Royal Free
Hospital, Grey's Inn Road, London; in November he presided at a lecture
in the Imperial Institute. In 1896 he was formally installed as
Chancellor of the University of Wales, and stayed at Balmoral in
September during the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Russia to the
Queen. In January, 1897, the Prince visited the Duke of Sutherland at
Trentham Hall; on May 22nd he opened the Blackwell Tunnel; in June he
participated in all the Jubilee functions, was created Grand Master of
the Order of the Bath and gave a banquet, in honour of the appointment,
to all living Knights Grand Cross of the Order, which was a unique
gathering of men distinguished in diplomacy, statesmanship, in the Army
and Navy, and in Imperial and civil administration. During the following
year he distributed prizes in June at Wellington College and laid the
foundation-stone of new buildings at University College Hospital; on
December 23rd he attended the opening service of a restored church at
Sherbourne. On June 19, 1899, His Royal Highness held a Levée at St.
James's Palace; on July 6th he received the freedom of the City of
Edinburgh; and on September 18th he presented new colours to the Gordon
Highlanders.

Such was the general character and scope of the Prince's public life.
There would have been little object served in elaborating the
description of these ceremonial events. They are of value and necessary
to a clear comprehension of the position and manifold duties of the
Prince of Wales, and quite enough have been given for this purpose.
During all these thirty years the work of the Heir Apparent increased in
its importance and multifarious character until every interest and
element in the population found a place in its performance. It was
arduous and unceasing, but the Prince never showed weariness and always
appeared with the same unaffected _bonhomie_ and natural dignity
whatever the extent of his work or the character of the function. The
end of it all was a popularity as unique as it was thoroughly and well
deserved.




CHAPTER X.

Special Functions and Interests


The Prince of Wales' connection with the Masonic Order was an early one
and had always been a close and sincerely interested one. He was first
initiated in 1868 by the late King of Sweden when staying at Stockholm.
He served several terms as Worshipful Master of the Royal Alpha Lodge,
which consisted of a number of Grand Officers, generally noblemen, and
in this lodge he personally initiated his eldest son, the late Duke of
Clarence and Avondale, in 1885. He was also permanent Master of the
Prince of Wales Lodge, to which he initiated the Duke of Connaught in
1874. When the Marquess of Ripon retired from the Grand Mastership of
English Freemasons in 1875 the Prince of Wales accepted the post and was
installed on April 28th at the Royal Albert Hall. The function was
perhaps the most memorable and imposing in the British history of the
Order. In the vast Hall there were more than ten thousand members of the
craft, of all ranks and degrees, and in costume suited to their Masonic
conditions. Many distinguished visitors and deputations from foreign
lodges were present in the reserved inclosure. The Earl of Carnarvon
performed the initial ceremonies and in the address to His Royal
Highness referred to the gathering around them: "I may truly say that
never in the whole history of Freemasonry has such a Grand Lodge been
convened as that on which my eye rests at this moment and there is,
further, an inner view to be taken, that so far as my eyes can carry me
over these serried ranks of white and blue, and gold and purple, I
recognize in them men who have solemnly taken obligations of worth and
morality--men who have undertaken the duties of citizens and the loyalty
of subjects."


THE PRINCE'S ADDRESS AS MASONIC GRAND MASTER

In his reply the Prince expressed an "ardent and sincere wish" to follow
in the footsteps of his predecessors and the belief that, so long as
Freemasons did not mix themselves up in politics, "this high and noble
Order will flourish and will maintain the integrity of our great
Empire." After deputations had been received from the Grand Lodges of
Scotland, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark the new Grand Master appointed
Lord Carnarvon to be Pro-Grand-Master, Lord Skelmersdale to be Deputy
Grand Master and the Marquess of Hamilton and the Lord Mayor of London
to two other chief offices. In the evening a grand banquet was held at
which he presided and made several tactful speeches. The Duke of
Connaught, the Duke of Manchester, the late Earl of Rosslyn and the
representatives of various Grand Lodges also spoke. On July 1st, 1886,
His Royal Highness was installed as Grand Master of the Mark Master
Masons in the presence of more than one thousand Grand, Past and
Provincial Officers from India and the Colonies as well as from the
United Kingdom. The Earl of Kintore presided in the early stages of the
function and was afterwards appointed Pro-Grand Master, with Lord
Egerton of Tatton as Deputy Grand Master and the Duke of Connaught as
Senior Grand Warden.

During the Queen's Jubilee, on June 13th, 1887, it was decided to
present an address to Her Majesty as Patron of the Order and of various
Masonic charities. The formal action was taken at an immense gathering
in the Royal Albert Hall, on the date mentioned, when some seven
thousand officers and members, representatives of the Lodges of the
Empire met and passed a Resolution to that effect. His Royal Highness
the Grand Master, who was accompanied by Prince Albert Victor and the
Duke of Connaught, presided and was able to announce, after this part of
the business had been disposed of and the National Anthem sung with
enthusiasm, that £6000 had that day been paid in by members and was to
be entirely devoted to Masonic charities for the children and the aged.
Two years later, on July 6, 1888, and in the same place, the Prince of
Wales presided over the centennial banquet of the Royal Masonic
Institute for Girls. With him were the King of Sweden and Norway, Prince
Albert Victor, the Earls of Carnarvon, Lathom and Zetland, Lord Egerton
of Tatton, Lord Leigh and many other eminent Masons. One of the speeches
of the Chairman was devoted to a history of the institution they were
trying to help and to a request for funds to erect additional buildings
and better accommodations. The response afterwards announced to the
appeal, made before and at this dinner, was £50,472 of which London
contributed £22,454 and the Provinces, India and the Colonies the
balance.


THE PATRON OF ART

Another subject in which the Prince always took a great and active
interest was that of Art--especially as embodied in the work of the
Royal Academy. His first appearance in this connection was at the annual
banquet on May 4th, 1863, and it has been noted that at the various
subsequent occasions of this kind at which he spoke, despite the
sameness of the toasts and subjects, there was always fresh material in
his remarks. At the banquet on May 5th, 1866, Sir Francis Grant presided
for the first time as President and amongst the speakers besides His
Royal Highness were his brother Prince Alfred, the Duke of Cambridge,
the Archbishop of Canterbury, Earl Russell and the Earl of Derby. In
1867 and in 1870 he also spoke and on the latter occasion the speakers
included Mr. J. Lothrop Motley, the American Minister, and Charles
Dickens. At the banquet in 1871 the Prince spoke and at that of 1874 he
drew special attention to the picture, "Calling the Roll," which
afterwards made Miss Elizabeth Thompson so famous, and to a statue by J.
E. Boehm which was the beginning of that sculptor's rise to distinction.

The Prince of Wales was again present in May, 1875 and then, owing to
other pressing engagements, missed four years. At the annual banquet on
May 3rd, 1879, which he attended, Sir Frederick Leighton was President
of the Academy and the Prince made kindly allusion to the memory of his
late predecessor. Amongst the other speakers were Lord Beaconsfield, Mr.
W. H. Smith and Lord Chief Justice Cockburn. At the banquet in 1880, Sir
F. Leighton paid his Royal guest an unusual compliment: "Sir, of the
graces by which Your Royal Highness has won and firmly retains the
affectionate attachment of Englishmen none has operated more strongly
than the width of your sympathies; for there is no honourable sphere in
which Englishmen move, no path of life in which they tread, wherein Your
Royal Highness has not, at some time, by graceful word or deed, evinced
an enlightened interest." In 1881, the central subject of toast and
speech was Sir Frederick Roberts, who had come fresh from the fields of
Cabul and Candahar; but the Prince of Wales did not forget an illusion
to the death of "that great statesman" the Earl of Beaconsfield. In 1885
His Royal Highness was accompanied for the first time by Prince Albert
Victor and in 1888 he was able to refer to the fact of this occasion
being not only the year of his silver wedding but the year which marked
a quarter of a century since his first appearance amongst them.

The Corporation of Trinity House, which in the time of Henry VIII. had
been a guild for the encouragement of the art and science of navigation
and had latterly come into the work of building lighthouses and
protecting ships along the coasts of England, was always an object of
interest and support to the Prince of Wales. In 1865 he declined the
post of Master--which had been held by men like Lord Liverpool, the Duke
of Wellington, the Prince Consort and Lord Palmerston--in favour of his
brother the Sailor Prince. He attended the next annual banquet, however,
together with the King of the Belgians, and two years later was
installed as one of the "Younger Brethren" of Trinity House. The Duke of
Richmond and Lord Napier of Magdala were amongst the other speakers. The
banquet of July 4th, 1869 was especially interesting from the eminent
men of all parties whom it brought together. The Prince of Wales
presided, in the absence of the Duke of Edinburgh, and the speakers
included Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright, Mr. Disraeli, Sir Stafford Northcote
and Sir John Burgoyne. He again attended and addressed the banquet of
Trinity House on June 24, 1871, and presided at that of June 27, 1874.
His speech upon the latter occasion contained various important facts
and opinions upon the improvement of navigation facilities. At the
dinner in 1877 the Prince again presided and in the proposing his health
the late Earl of Derby said: "His Royal Highness has not only now, but
for many years past done all that is in the power of man to do, by
genial courtesies towards men of every class and by his indefatigable
assiduity in the performance of every social duty, to secure at once
that public respect which is due to his exalted position and that social
sympathy and personal popularity which no position, however exalted, can
of itself be sufficient to secure." The most interesting event of this
occasion was the presence and very brief soldierly speech of General U.
S. Grant.

[Illustration: A NOTABLE GROUP OF ROYAL RELATIONS PHOTOGRAPHED IN KING
EDWARD'S HOME
  King Edward         Emperor of Germany   Queen Alexandra
  King of Spain       Queen of Spain       Empress of Germany
  Queen of Portugal   Queen of Norway]

[Illustration: KING EDWARD VII
  In Highland Garb]

[Illustration: THREE GENERATIONS OF ENGLISH SOVEREIGNS
  King Edward VII, seated between his son King George V and his
  grandson Edward, heir apparent to the throne]

[Illustration: THE MAUSOLEUM FROGMORE, WINDSOR]

The encouragement of Musical education and the promotion of a public
taste for music was one of the subjects in which the Prince of Wales
took a deep and practical interest. He believed in the humanizing and
civilizing effects of music and felt that amongst a people who had made
a home for Händel and who had in older days loved glees and madrigals
and choral compositions there was room, in a more hum-drum age, for the
encouragement of popular taste in this direction. The Royal Academy of
Music, founded in 1822, had done some good but limited service and, in
1875, he placed himself at the head of a movement to further the love
and practice of music amongst the people. A meeting was held at
Marlborough House on June 15th for the immediate purpose of establishing
free scholarships in connection with the proposed National Training
Schools for Music, near the Royal Albert Hall, and there were present
the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Christian, the Duke of Teck, the
Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Lord Mayor of London and many
Provincial Mayors, and a numerous company distinguished by public
reputation or position. The result of this action was most successful,
and in 1878, the Prince endeavoured to complete it by bringing the
Academy and the Training Schools into union.


ENCOURAGES MUSICAL EDUCATION

Failing in this, however, he presided on February 28th 1882 at a meeting
in St. James's Palace held for the purpose of founding a "Royal College
of Music" and attended by one of the most representative gatherings
which His Royal Highness had ever brought together. His speech was an
able and elaborate statement of the importance of a national cultivation
of music and the necessity for its promotion in the United Kingdom. "Why
is it," he asked, "that England has no music recognized as national? It
has able composers but nothing indicative of the national life or
national feeling. The reason is not far to seek. There is no centre of
music to which English musicians may resort with confidence and thence
derive instruction, counsel and inspiration." The plan was then clearly
outlined and enthusiastically accepted--Lord Rosebery, Mr. Gladstone
and Sir Stafford Northcote being amongst those who spoke and supported
the project presented by the Royal chairman. A little later, on March
23rd, the Prince invited a number of gentlemen connected with the
Colonial part of the Empire to meet him at Marlborough House in order to
discuss how best the benefits of the College might be extended and
applied to the more distant British countries.

On May 7th, 1883, the Royal College of Music was formally inaugurated
after an effort amongst its supporters which had included the holding of
forty-four public meetings throughout the country. With the Prince of
Wales were present the Princess, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the
Princess Christian and the Trustees, amongst whom were the Duke of
Westminster, Sir Richard Wallace, M.P., Sir George Grove and Sir John
Rose. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. Gladstone and many others were
also present. The Royal founder of the institution spoke at unusual
length, referred to the teaching and examining powers of the College,
asked for aid in establishing scholarships and extending its usefulness
and dilated upon the importance of the objects aimed at. "I trust that
the College will become the recognized centre and head of the musical
world in this country. Music is, in the best sense, the most popular of
all arts. If that government be the best which provides for the
happiness of the greatest number, that art must be the best which at the
least expense pleases the greatest number." The project proved most
successful and the Royal College of Music became one of the recognized
institutions of the Empire.


VISIT TO IRELAND IN 1885

The Royal visit to Ireland in 1885 was an important incident in the
public life of the Prince of Wales. It was seventeen years since he and
the Princess had visited that much-troubled country and many untoward
events had occurred since then. The proposal for another visit was not
popular with a section of the Irish press and politicians, but when it
was evident that the generous instincts of the Irish people were going
to make the occasion a demonstration of kindly feeling, if not of
loyalty after the English fashion, they changed their attitude and
recommended a "dignified neutrality." Even this advice was very largely,
however, lost sight of in the eventual result. On April 9th the Royal
couple, accompanied by Prince Albert Victor, arrived at Kingstown amid
the usual decorations and crowds and accepted an address of welcome. In
Dublin the address was presented by the City Reception Committee instead
of by the Lord Mayor and Corporation. An important clause in this
document to which the Prince made no reference in his cautious reply was
as follows: "We venture to assure you that it would be a great
gratification to Her Majesty's loyal subjects in Ireland if a permanent
Royal residence should be established in our country." A visit was paid
at the conclusion of these proceedings to the Royal Dublin Society and
the Agricultural Show.

Later in the day the Prince, attended only by his eldest son and without
notice of his intention, visited some of the poorest parts of the city
and saw for himself the condition of the people. It soon became known,
however, that he was amongst them and hearty cheers were given him
wherever the people caught a glimpse of their visitor. On the following
day thirty different addresses were received from various public bodies
and in replying to them the Prince said: "In varied capacities and by
widely different paths you pursue those great objects which, dear to
you, are, believe me, dear also to me--the prosperity and progress of
Ireland, the welfare and happiness of her people. From my heart I wish
you success and I would that time and my own powers would permit me to
explain fully and in detail the deep interest which I feel not only in
the welfare of this great Empire at large but in the true happiness of
those several classes of the community on whose behalf you have come
here to-day." The next event was the laying of the foundation stone of
the new Museum of Science and Art. The route was densely thronged, the
houses beautifully decorated and the cheers of the people enthusiastic.
An appropriate speech was made and then the Prince and his wife and son,
accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant and Countess Spencer, drove to the
Royal University where they were received by the Chancellor, the Duke of
Abercorn, and the Honorary degree of LL. D. bestowed upon the Prince and
that of Doctor of Music upon the Princess.

Succeeding incidents of the visit were a brilliant Levée at Dublin
Castle; a Drawing-room held by the Princess of Wales; a state ball given
by the Lord Lieutenant, which was a great success; a visit to the Arlane
Industrial School; an enthusiastic reception at Trinity College from a
great and representative gathering; the presentation of new colours to
the Cornwall Regiment, then stationed in Dublin, with a speech--as on
most of the other occasions mentioned--from the Prince. On April 13th
the Prince and Princess started for Cork and on the way thither, at
Mallow, there was some attempt at a hostile demonstration. An effort of
the same kind was made at Cork but was nullified by the cordial
hospitality of the masses of the people. The Royal visitors left Ireland
on April 17th well satisfied with the general loyalty and courtesy of
their reception.


HIS PART IN THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE

In two of the great events which characterized the closing years of the
Victorian era and his Mother's reign the Prince of Wales took a
prominent and most important part--the Queen's Jubilee of 1887 and the
Diamond Jubilee of ten years later. Upon no other occasion has his
actual executive ability been better tested than in the latter event.
Few, perhaps, can adequately realize the immense amount of work which
devolved upon, or was assumed by, the Prince in this connection. He
undertook many of the functions; he was present with the Queen at all
the events of a busy, crowded week; he directed most of the detail and
guided the complicated etiquette and procedure of the occasion; he
personally controlled the arrangements for the splendid procession
through the streets of London; he overlooked the plans for the service
in the Abbey and for the protection of the massed multitude in the
streets; he received and entertained many of the Royal personages who
came from abroad. In both of these great events the Prince of Wales
appreciated the new and peculiar significance added to the formal or
popular British celebrations by the presence of Colonial leaders and
troops and visitors. He had, in fact, to stamp the Imperial character
and standing of these great demonstrations.




CHAPTER XI.

The Prince and His Family


The home life of the Prince and Princess of Wales was never an
absolutely private one. It was lived in the light of an almost ceaseless
publicity. Not that the actual house of the Royal couple was, or could
ever be, unduly invaded; but that every visitor was a more or less
interested spectator and student of conditions and that every trifling
incident, as well as the more important matters, of every-day life were
remembered, repeated, or recorded as they would never be in an ordinary
household.


HOME LIFE OF THE ROYAL COUPLE

Memoirs of British statesmen, leaders in art, or literature, or
religion, or the Army and the Navy, teem with references, during forty
years, to the life of the Heir Apparent and his wife at Sandringham or
Marlborough and, without exception, they convey the impression of honest
domestic happiness and unity. Gossip during that long period there had
been, of course; unpleasant inuendoes had been uttered in a small and
unpleasant section of the press; peculiar and, for the most obvious
reasons, impossible stories had been cabled from time to time across the
Atlantic; but they were patiently borne by those who were the easy
victims of silly statements and they were more than controverted by the
tributes published from men who have lived on terms of intimacy with the
Royal family and whose death lifted, occasionally, the seal of secrecy
from their natural reserve and made the expression of their opinions and
experiences possible.

The steady growth of the Prince and Princess in popular favour and the
fact that even the most irresponsible or unscrupulous purveyor of news
to such sheets as Mr. Labouchere's _Truth_ had never dared to reflect
upon the Princess of Wales' beauty of character and life sufficed long
before the accession of His Royal Highness to the Throne to kill even
the surreptitious stories which always float upon the surface of society
regarding persons in Royal positions. In this connection may be quoted
the interesting reference to the subject made by Mr. G. W. Smalley, the
well-known American writer who for so many years acted as London
correspondent of the New York _Tribune_. He was dealing, under date of
January 17th, 1892, with the premature death of the young Duke of
Clarence and, after referring to the freshness of affection which
prevailed throughout the Royal family, he proceeded in these words: "It
is known to be strong and pure in all three generations--indeed there
are now four--which together make up the Royal family of England. * * *
The domestic traditions were followed just as faithfully at Marlborough
House as at Windsor. The Prince of Wales's has been not merely a good
but a devoted family. The Princess, whose whole life has been beautiful
is in nothing more beautiful than in her love for her children. She
passed from the bedside of her second son whose life she helped to
save--they say that Prince George never rallied till his mother returned
to nurse him--to the bedside of her first-born by whose grave she has
now to stand."

Sandringham Hall in Norfolk was the real home of the Royal couple and it
was there that the children of their marriage spent much of their
younger days and received much of the training which was to fit them for
lives of more or less public duty and the responsibilities which go with
public position. Marlborough House, in London, was the social centre,
the official environment, the public residence, of the Prince and
Princess of Wales. But the former place was always the one where they
liked to be, where the heart of the Princess always rested with most
interest and affection, where the enjoyment of the comforts of country
and home life came with most force to the Prince and to his children.
Around Sandringham the grounds and woods and park were not allowed to be
spoiled by art--the latter was used in just such a degree as would help
nature. The house, or palace, was concealed from view until the visitor
was quite close to it and its home-like simplicity has always been a
much-described quality. There was no elaboration of decoration, or
straining after an appearance of stately luxury. Comfort seemed to be
the aim and it was most certainly attained. The hall was designed
somewhat after the style of the old-fashioned banquetting halls, the
various rooms were arranged for convenience and comfort, the decorations
were beautiful without being gorgeous, the objects of interest, ornament
and curiosity in the drawing-rooms and elsewhere were, of course, simply
countless.

Above the porch in front of the Hall was the quaint legend: "This house
was built by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra his wife, in
the year of our Lord 1870". The place was originally purchased for
£220,000--saved from the revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall by the Prince
Consort's management--but further large sums had to be spent in order to
make the mansion comfortable and the estate the model which it
afterwards became. The former was practically rebuilt in 1870 but not
until every cottage or farm-house on the property had been first
rebuilt, or repaired. The house contained, particularly, the great hall
or saloon decorated with trophies of the chase in all countries and with
many caskets of gold and silver containing some of the addresses
presented to the Prince from time to time; the dining-room with its high
oak roof and great fire-place, walls covered with tapestry given the
Prince by the late King of Spain and a side-board covered with racing
and yachting prizes in gold and silver; the chief drawing room with
hangings of dull gold silk, furniture brocaded in soft red and gold,
large panel mirrors and quantities of exquisite Sévres and Dresden
china; the conservatory where tea was often served; a great ball-room
and handsome billiard and smoking rooms. The boudoir of the Princess has
been described as a dream of grace and simple beauty and everything
about the place was arranged with a view to combining comfort with charm
of appearance. The hundred servants employed in or out of the house had
everything that could make their lives pleasant and happy.


EDUCATION OF THE ROYAL FAMILY

Amidst these surroundings the sons and daughters of the Royal couple
were brought up. Upon the education of the boys the Prince of Wales
utilized his own knowledge of life as well as the traditions of his
father's training of himself. He is said to have believed that the study
of men and the ways of the world had not been sufficiently considered in
his own case and that he wished his sons, while escaping the
nervousness, constraints and adulation which surrounded the Court,
should also avoid the sycophancy and flattery which might be expected in
their cases at a public school--even of the highest. He therefore
decided that a training ship in early youth and the fresh air, vigorous
life and wholesome discipline of the Navy in immediately following years
would be the best system of education. Prince Albert Victor and Prince
George were, consequently, placed on board the _Britannia_ training ship
in 1870 and there they spent two years under conditions of study, work,
training, mess, discipline and dress exactly similar to those of their
shipmates. Their only dissipation was an occasional visit from their
parents and the usual holiday period at home. During the two years spent
on this ship they learned carpentering, the details of a ship's rigging
and a certain amount of engineering.

At the end of this period it was decided by the Prince to send his sons
for a prolonged cruise around the world as midshipmen on H.M.S.
_Bacchante_. They were to have the same duties and treatment as the
other midshipmen--except perhaps that their teaching would be more
careful and their studies more severe. Special instructors in
seamanship, gunnery, mathematics and naval conditions were appointed,
with the Rev. J. N. Dalton, M.A., as Governor, in charge while they were
on shore and with supervision over their ordinary studies when at sea.
Lord Charles Scott, Captain of the war-ship, was, of course, supreme
when the Princes were on board his vessel. The cruise of the _Bacchante_
commenced in September, 1879, and terminated in August, 1882. During
that period it traversed over fifty-four thousand miles and the Royal
midshipmen saw and visited Gibraltar, Madeira, Teneriffe, the West India
Islands, Bermuda, the Cape Verde Islands, Monte Video, the Falkland
Islands, Cape Colony, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and
Brisbane, Victoria and Melbourne, New South Wales and Sydney, the Fiji
Islands, Japan, Hong-Kong, Shanghai, Canton, the Straits Settlements,
Ceylon, Egypt and the Holy Land, Athens, Crete, Corfu and Sicily. In
1886 two handsome volumes, carefully edited by the Rev. Mr. Dalton, and
comprising the private journals and diaries of the young Princes, were
published in London and were found to contain many sensible reflections
and much garnered information upon the many countries visited during
this circumnavigation of the globe. It was not all serious study and
work, however, during this period, and in almost every place touched at,
where the Princes had anything like a chance, there is still to be found
some cherished anecdote of Royal jokes or pranks--especially on the part
of Prince George.

Meanwhile great care and thought had been devoted to the education of
the three daughters. From the nursery they passed into a school-room in
which French and German, music, history and mathematics were the studies
most interesting to their father, while the learning of dressmaking and
sewing in various branches, cooking, dairy work, the superintending of a
garden and the management of a house were carefully watched over by the
Princess of Wales. The Princess Victoria was said, in the days following
the completion of her education, to have the most domestic turn of mind
of the three sisters, together with a pronounced artistic taste.
Latterly she had taken over much of the supervision of household matters
at Sandringham and Marlborough from her Royal mother and is, in 1902,
the only unmarried member of the family. The Princess Maud was, as a
girl, merry, pretty and clever; a capital all-round sportswoman and fond
of horses, dogs, birds, yachting and riding; possessed at home of the
nick-name "Harry," and said to be the Prince's favourite daughter; fond
of _incognito_ experiences, charities and amusements. The Princess
Louise was a quieter and less striking character, and, like her younger
sister, was afterwards allowed to marry the man of her choice, although
he did not possess the high position which the Royal father might
naturally have desired.


MEMORIES OF PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR

Following the return of the two Princes from their cruise, Prince Albert
Victor was taken by his father to Cambridge, in 1883, and duly installed
as an undergraduate of Trinity College. There he read regularly for six
or seven hours a day, made himself thoroughly familiar with French and
German, and associated himself in a most marked way with the men of
intellect and character who were around him--nearly all his companions
afterwards becoming distinguished in one way or another. Always modest
and retiring he liked to entertain very quietly and to enjoy any
possible musical occasion which presented itself. Hockey, polo and a
little riding were his outdoor amusements. He came of age in 1885, the
University conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D., and, during
the next few years, he worked as an officer in the Army. It was on the
attainment of his majority that Prince Albert Victor received a most
interesting letter, under date of January 7th, from Mr. Gladstone. In it
the veteran statesman said to the prospective Sovereign: "There lies
before Your Royal Highness in prospect the occupation--I trust at a
distant date--of a throne which, to me at least, appears the most
illustrious in the world, from its history and associations, from its
legal basis, from the weight of the cares it brings, from the loyal love
of the people, and from the unparalleled opportunities it gives, in so
many ways and so many regions, of doing good to the almost countless
numbers whom the Almighty has placed beneath the sceptre of England." He
went on to express the earnest hope that His Royal Highness might ever
grow in the principles and qualities which should adorn his great
vocation.

During the Session of Parliament in 1889, the Prince of Wales was voted
£36,000 annually in trust for the use of his children, and at about the
same time it was decided to send Prince Albert Victor on a visit to
India. On the way thither, at Athens, on October 20th, the latter was
present at the wedding of his two cousins, the Duke of Sparta and the
Princess Sophia of Prussia, daughter of the Empress Frederick. In the
great Eastern Empire he remained until April, 1890; visiting Hyderabad,
Mysore, Madras and Calcutta, and meeting with a cordial reception which,
however, lacked the great state and ceremony of his Royal father's
famous tour. Lord Lansdowne was Viceroy and made a most admirable host
and mentor. On May 24th, following, the young Prince was created Duke of
Clarence and Avondale and Earl of Athlone, and commenced to take his
place in public life as Heir Presumptive to the Throne. In November of
the year 1891 Prince George who had, meanwhile, been pursuing his
vocation in the Navy, was taken ill at Sandringham. The Princess was
away but, pending her return, his father nursed him personally with care
and devotion. Typhoid--the disease which had carried off the Prince
Consort and so nearly killed the Heir Apparent, developed and the family
anxiety was very great. At this point, on December 8th, the engagement
of the Duke of Clarence to his cousin, the very popular and beautiful
Princess May of Teck, was announced amidst general congratulations.


DEATH OF THE DUKE OF CLARENCE

Then came one of the saddest events in the history of the British Royal
family. The young Duke had only been engaged a few weeks and
preparations had been commenced for the stately ceremonial of his
marriage, when it was announced that he had caught cold at the funeral
of Prince Victor of Hohenlohe and was confined to his room. With but
little notice pneumonia developed, the constitutional weakness of his
system was unable to throw it off, and within a few days he was
dead--January 15th, 1892. Prince George, in the meantime, had recovered,
but those who saw the Prince of Wales walking beside his eldest son's
body from Sandringham Church to the station, say that his obvious grief
was almost pathetic. As to the mother she never really got over the
sadness of that death and the removal of her favourite son. If there
was, at times, a sad expression in her eyes, years after the event, it
was no doubt due to the sudden shock and great loss which then came to
her.

Five days afterwards, the following telegram to Sir Francis Knollys was
made public: "The Prince and Princess of Wales are anxious to express to
Her Majesty's subjects in the United Kingdom, the Colonies, and in
India, the sense of their deep gratitude for the universal feeling of
sympathy manifested toward them at a time when they are overpowered by
the terrible calamity which they have sustained in the loss of their
beloved eldest son. If sympathy at such a moment is of any avail, the
remembrance that their grief has been shared by all classes will be a
lasting consolation to their sorrowing hearts, and, if possible, will
make them more than ever attached to their dear country." The affection
of Queen Victoria for this grandson, whom the _Times_ of January 19th
described as possessing "modesty, affectionateness, kindness, love of
order, the desire to render every man his due, and reverence for age and
greatness," is well-known to have been intense, and from Osborne, on
January 26th, Her Majesty issued the following letter:

     "I must once again give expression to my deep sense of the loyalty
     and affectionate sympathy evinced by my subjects in every part of
     my Empire on an occasion more sad and tragical than any but one
     which has befallen me and mine, as well as the Nation. The
     overwhelming misfortune of my dearly-loved grandson having been
     thus suddenly cut off in the flower of his age, full of promise for
     the future, amiable and gentle, and endearing himself to all,
     renders it hard for his sorely-stricken parents, his dear young
     bride and his fond Grandmother to bow in submission to the
     inscrutable decrees of Providence."

Meantime, on June 27th, 1889, the marriage of the Princess Louise had
taken place. Her engagement to the Earl of Fife was somewhat of a
surprise to a social world which does not like to be surprised. Though
the Princess was twenty-two and the groom forty they had known each
other for years and Lord Fife had been a frequent and welcome guest at
Sandringham, while the Prince and Princess of Wales had long been on
terms of intimacy with his parents. His was the only bachelor's house at
which the Princess of Wales had ever been entertained. It could not, of
course, be supposed that this first marriage in his family--the children
of which might be very close to the Throne--was quite as lofty a match
as the Royal father might wish, yet when he found that the matter was
settled so far as the couple were personally concerned, he accepted the
situation and asked the Queen's consent to the engagement. The wedding
was duly celebrated at Buckingham Palace in the presence of the Queen,
the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, the King of the
Helenes, the Crown Prince of Denmark, and the Grand Duke of Hesse. Lord
Fife, who was personally very wealthy, was created Duke of Fife and
Marquess of Macduff, and his wife shared in the subsequent special grant
given to the Heir Apparent for the proper maintenance of his children.
Afterwards, on the birth of the first child of the Duke and Duchess it
was decided that she should not assume Royal rank but be known by the
courtesy title due to her father's place in the Peerage. This
child--Lady Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise Duff--was born on
May 17th, 1891, and on April 3rd, 1893, the Lady Maud Alexandra Victoria
Georgia Bertha Duff was born. Meanwhile an interesting event had
occurred on March 10, 1888, in the celebration of the Silver Wedding of
the Prince and Princess of Wales. Illuminations in London and a ball at
Buckingham Palace marked the event.

Prince George of Wales was now Heir Presumptive to the Throne and upon
him were devolved the more or less arduous duties of that position.
Following his brother's death he gave up active service in the Navy and
on May 24th, 1892, was created Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron
Killarney. The importance of his marriage was now obvious and a year and
a quarter after the death of the Duke of Clarence the engagement of his
brother to the Princess May of Teck was officially announced. The
wedding took place on July 6th, 1893, and there could be no doubt by
that time of the popularity of the young couple and of the national
pleasure at their union. The decorations in London eclipsed those of the
Queen's ubilee and the crowds were equally great. The ceremony was
performed at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, instead of at St. George's,
Windsor, where the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Princesses Helena and
Louise and the Dukes of Albany and Connaught had been wedded. Amongst
the great gathering present at the ceremony were Her Majesty and the
Royal family as a whole, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, Lord Salisbury,
Lord Rosebery, Mr. Morley, Mr. Bryce, Mr. Chamberlain, Sir W. V.
Harcourt, Lord Ripon, Lord Spencer, Lord Herschell, Mr. Balfour, Mr.
Goschen, the Dukes of Argyll, Norfolk and Devonshire, Mr. Gladstone, the
Hon. T. F. Bayard, American Minister, several Indian Princes and many
others. The _Times_ of July 7th had the following comment upon the
event:

     "Few Royal weddings of our time aroused such unusual enthusiasm as
     the union of the Duke of York with the bride of his choice--an
     English Princess, born and bred in an English home, endeared to all
     hearts by the now softened memory of a tragic sorrow and richly
     endowed with all the qualities which inspire the brightest hopes
     for the future. Fewer still have ever been celebrated with happier
     omens, or in more auspicious circumstances than that of yesterday.
     The pomp of a brilliant Court, the acclaim, at once tumultuous and
     orderly, of the mightiest of cities, spontaneously making holiday
     and decking itself in its brightest and bravest, the simultaneous
     rejoicing of a whole people, the sympathy, unbought and yet
     priceless, of a world-wide Empire, the radiant splendour of an
     English summer day--all these combined to make the ceremony of
     yesterday an occasion as memorable as that of the Jubilee itself."

[Illustration: KING EDWARD AND HIS FAMOUS RACE HORSE MINORU, WHICH WON
THE DERBY IN 1909.

Minoru (Herbert Jones up), Mr. Richard Marsh (Trainer to
the late King), Lord Marcus Beresford (Manager of the late King's
thoroughbreds), King Edward.

King Edward was not only a great King, but a great sportsman as well. He
had a typically British love of outdoor pastimes as an active
participator and not a mere looker-on. At various times he was
associated with nearly every form of British sport. Yachting and
shooting were two of his favorites, but it was his close connection with
the turf which most appealed to the general public. Probably no other
breeder of thoroughbreds ever had such a trio of equine giants as
Florizel II, Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee. And in one year, 1909, he
won over £29,000. When his horse Minoru won the Derby in 1909, the
people in their enthusiasm surged all over the course after the race,
but the King went down amongst them, and himself led his horse in to the
paddock.]

[Illustration: FAMILIAR SNAPSHOTS OF KING EDWARD AS HIS SUBJECTS BEST
KNEW HIM.]

[Illustration: KING EDWARD'S MOST INTIMATE FRIENDS.

1. Lieutenant-Colonel George L. Holford, C.I.E., C.V.O.,
Equerry-in-Waiting to the late King. 2. Lord Burnham, K.C.V.O.,
principal proprietor of the "Daily Telegraph." 3. Count Albert D.
Mensdorff-Pouilly, the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador. 4. Lord Suffield,
P.C., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., Lord-in-Waiting to the late King. 5. Mr. Alfred
C. de Rothschild, C.V.O., Austro-Hungarian Consul-General. 6. Mr. Arthur
Sassoon, M.V.O., a member of a famous Anglo-Indian family. 7. The
Marquis de Soveral, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., the Portuguese Minister. 8. Lord
Allington, K.C.V.O., a great Dorsetshire landowner. 9. Sir Ernest
Cassel, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., the well-known financier and
philanthropist. 10. Lord Farquhar, G.C.V.O., Extra Lord-in-Waiting to
the late King, and formerly Master of the Household.]

[Illustration: KING EDWARD'S MOST INTIMATE FRIENDS.

1. Lord Esher, G.C.V.O., G.C.B., Deputy Governor of Windsor Castle. 2.
Lord Marcus Beresford, Extra Equerry and Manager of King Edward's
thoroughbreds. 3. Earl Howe, G.C.V.O., Lord-in-Waiting to the late King
and Lord Chamberlain to Queen Alexandra. 4. The Rev. Canon Edgar
Sheppard, D.D., C.V.O., Domestic Chaplain to the late King. 5. Sir
Donald Mackenzie Wallace, K.C.L.E., K.C.V.O., Extra Groom-in-Waiting to
the late King. 6. Lord Ilchester, who has written some delightful books
of biography. 7. Mr. William James, J.P., D.D., C.V.O., the well-known
traveler and landowner. 8. Sir Thomas Lipton, Bt., K.C.V.O., the
well-known sportsman and yacht-owner. 9. Lieutenant-Colonel F. Ponsonby,
Equerry to the late King. 10. Captain Sir David N. Welch, R.N., formerly
commander of the royal yacht.]

The bridesmaids were all relations of the young couple--the Princesses
Victoria and Maud of Wales, Victoria Melita, Alexandra and Beatrice of
Edinburgh; Margaret and Victoria Patricia of Connaught; Victoria of
Schleswig-Holstein; Victoria and Alexandra of Battenberg. The Duke of
York wore a simple Captain's uniform and was supported by his Royal
father and the Duke of Edinburgh. The bride was described in the papers
of the time as wearing silver and white brocade, with clustered
shamrocks, roses and thistles. On July 10th the Queen addressed one of
her usual tactful and gracious letters to the nation expressive of her
personal sympathy with the people and of theirs with her and her family.

The eldest child of this marriage--Prince Edward Albert Christian George
Andrew Patrick David--was direct in succession to the Throne after his
father and was born on June 23, 1894. The second child was Prince Albert
Frederick Arthur George, born on December 14, 1895. Princess Victoria
Alexandra Alice Mary, was born on April 25th, 1897, and Prince Henry
William Frederick Albert on March 31, 1900. The Prince of Wales was
greatly attached to his grandchildren and nothing in these later years
gave him greater pleasure than having around him the youthful scions of
the House of Fife, or that of York, and giving them presents and other
means of enjoyment. On July 22, 1896, his third daughter, the Princess
Maud, was married to Prince Charles, second son of the Crown Prince of
Denmark. The ceremony was performed in the private Chapel of Buckingham
Palace, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of the Queen
and most of the members of the Royal family. The Duke and Duchess of
Sparta, the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone
and Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain were amongst the guests. The bridesmaids
were Princesses Ingeborg of Denmark, Victoria of Wales, Victoria of
Schleswig-Holstein, Thyra of Denmark, Victoria Patricia of Connaught,
Margaret of Connaught, Alice of Albany and the Lady Alexandra Duff.




CHAPTER XII.

The Prince as a Social Leader


The influence wielded upon Society by the Prince of Wales, during nearly
forty years of public life, was so marked and important as to merit
extended consideration. Society, of course, in such a connection
includes much more than any particular set of persons however select, or
distinguished, or aristocratic; it means, in fact, all the varied social
circles, high and low, which have recognized principles of etiquette and
intercourse and common customs of amusement and fashion. Taken in this
wide sense of the word, no personage in the history of Europe during the
nineteenth century wielded so great an influence as His Royal Highness.
He helped to make the unbounded after-dinner drinking of a previous
period unpopular and socially un-orthodox; he encouraged in his more
youthful days and always enjoyed the pleasures of dancing; he introduced
very largely the popular fashion of a cigarette after dinner in place of
endless heavy cigars and their accompaniment of liquors; he did much to
encourage and popularize a love for music; he led the fashion in the
matter of men's dress and, upon the whole, society in most civilized
countries has to thank him for simple and dignified customs in this
respect; he supported the race-course with courage and persistence and
not only made racing more popular but helped to establish its code and
operation upon a high plane of honour--by far the highest and cleanest
in the world; he made charity and the support of its varied public
institutions popular and fashionable; he showed the gilded youth of a
great social world that work was a good thing for a Prince and a peer
as well as for a peasant; he, with his beautiful wife, presented for
many years a model home and family life to the nation and they,
together, discouraged many of the petty vices and small faults which
creep into all social systems from time to time.


LIFE AT MARLBOROUGH HOUSE

The official and social centre of this leadership in the British world
was at Marlborough House--a large and unpretentious residence in the
heart of London. That the place was exquisitely furnished and equipped
goes without saying; that it was comfortable in the extreme is equally a
matter of course to those acquainted with the taste and house-keeping
capacities of the Princess of Wales. It was filled with fine engravings
and paintings illustrative of the Victorian era; it teemed with
mementoes and memorials of past incidents, travels and friendships in
the lives of the Royal couple; it contained rooms suited for every
purpose required in the exacting life and multifarious public duties of
its occupants. The Prince's study, where only intimates were admitted,
has been described as the room of a hard-working man of business. When
at Marlborough House, His Royal Highness used to mark out his time, each
day, with care and precision and even then it was difficult to fill his
many and varied engagements. There were certain public functions such as
the Horse Show at Islington, or the Royal Military Tournament, to which
the Prince and Princess always went when in London. There were a certain
number of state dinners given in place of those which, under other
circumstances, would have been given by the Sovereign. Diplomatic
dinners were also incidents of the season at Marlborough House as well
as dinners which included the Government and Opposition leaders and
great banquets held from time to time in honour of foreign guests of the
nation or Royal relations visiting the country.

The dining-room at Marlborough was handsome but plain, the arrangements
of the table setting an example of simplicity which society, in this
case, did not always follow. The Prince of Wales never concealed his
dislike for the extremely lengthy banquets which were the custom in his
youth and succeeded, so far as private dinner-parties were concerned, in
revolutionizing the system. To the favoured guest Marlborough House was
a scene of historic as well as personal interest. It had been the home
of the great Duke of that name; the residence of Prince Leopold,
intended husband of the lamented Princess Charlotte, and afterwards King
of the Belgians; the dower-house of Queen Adelaide; the choice of the
Prince Consort for his son's London home. The general contents of the
house were worthy of its history. In one room were splendid panels of
Gobelin tapestry presented by Napoleon; in another were the rare and
wonderful treasures of Indian work, in gold, silver, jewelry and
embroidery, brought home from the Royal visit to Hindostan; elsewhere
was a beautiful vase given the Prince by Alexander II. of Russia,
enamelled work from the East, richly ornamented swords, trays of solid
gold, tables full of presentation keys, medals, trowels and memorials of
all kinds.

Socially, the drawing-room was the central feature of interest. Its
general effect has been described[6] as being white and gold and pale
pink, its floor of polished oak with an Axminster carpet in the centre,
and with an appearance of vastness modified by pillars of white and
gold. There were innumerable mirrors and the furniture was upholstered
in deep red, while rare china, flowers, photographs, statuettes, and
small ornaments of gold and silver and enamel were scattered in
profusion upon tables, cabinets and mantels. Here the most eminent men
and beautiful or clever women of Great Britain and the world have been
entertained and here, or in the well-kept grounds, the intimate friends
of the Prince and Princess have gathered from time to time.

The society received at Marlborough was always cosmopolitan in its
variety but it was never of the kind which slander sometimes insinuated.
No man has ever been more democratic, so far as mere class barriers are
concerned, than was the Prince of Wales, but no one knew better than he
where to draw the line in his entertainments. The Princess, for her
part, was at all times a model hostess, and each knew too well what was
due to the other to make the social life of the Palace anything more
than a correct embodiment and representation of the social life of
London. The liberality of the Prince was made evident in later years in
making cultivated and representative Americans or Jews welcome at his
functions. His very proper and openly-avowed liking for beautiful women
encouraged at one time a social class of "professional beauties," but as
soon as this patronage was found to have been misused and vulgarized in
certain quarters, he and the Princess quietly dropped those who were
making a trade of the Royal recognition. A story has been told
illustrating the capacity which the Prince of Wales always showed for
keeping people in their proper places. On one occasion, at a great
charitable bazaar in Albert Hall, which he had honoured with his
presence, he went up to a refreshment stall and asked for a cup of tea.
The fair vendor--there was no doubt of her beauty--before handing the
cup to His Royal Highness took a drink from it, saying, "_now_ the price
will be five guineas!" The Prince gravely paid the money, handed back
the cup of tea and said, "Will you please give me a clean cup?"

The Royal etiquette, as to social entertainments and the acceptance of
invitations to country houses, or city functions, was always very exact
and was carried out along lines fixed by the Prince and Princess in
their early married life. Outside of the aristocracy, or a small list
of personal friends, very few hospitable invitations were ever accepted
and as such acceptance meant certain admission to the higher ranks of
society the pressure upon personal friends or officials can easily be
imagined. The Prince always objected to the lavish and extravagant style
of such entertainments and this was one important reason for limiting
his circle of hosts and hostesses. At the country houses visited from
time to time, or at the private dinners to which he accepted
invitations, the Prince was supposed to usually see a list of the guests
and to always have the right of adding names to it. The delicate and
indirect task of attending to this matter was for many years confided to
Mr. Harry Tyrwhitt Wilson; who also had the arrangement of details in
connection with the visits largely in his hands. One incident of the
visits to country houses was an effort on the part of the Prince in
recent years to discourage and check the wholesale habit of tipping
servants. He took the method of leaving a moderate and suitable sum for
the purpose and this was distributed after he had left the place. It may
be added that whenever the Prince went anywhere he was always
accompanied by an equerry, his own valets, a footman to wait on him at
meals, and certain other servants.


FRIENDS AND COMPANIONS OF THE PRINCE

The Prince and Princess of Wales, separately or together as the case may
be, have visited most of the splendid homes of England. Chief amongst
those whom they delighted to visit were the Duke and Duchess of
Devonshire and Chatsworth; Hardwick Hall and Compton Place have,
therefore, more than once seen most brilliant entertainments in their
honour. Lord and Lady Cadogan were frequent and favourite hosts. Lord
and Lady Londonderry, the Earl and Countess of Warwick, the Duke of
Richmond at Goodwood House, the late Duke of Westminster at Eaton Hall,
all entertained the Royal couple upon more than one occasion. Lord
Alington, the late Duke of Beaufort, and Sir Edward Lawson gave the
Prince frequent and enjoyable shooting. The Duchess of Marlborough and
Mrs. Arthur Paget were two American ladies whom His Royal Highness
counted as friends and hostesses. Several members of the Rothschild
family entertained the Heir Apparent at homes which have been described
as models of comfort and museums of art, while Lord Penrhyn was a Welsh
magnate whom he once visited with great pleasure, and the late Baron
Hirsch, in his Hungarian shootings, gave him splendid sport upon more
than one occasion.

No phrase has been more conspicuous in recent years and none have been
more abused in meaning and application than that of "the Prince's set."
Properly used, it meant his personal friends or those who, along
specific and often very diverse lines of sport, society, work, or
travel, were necessarily intimate with His Royal Highness. Improperly
applied, it was supposed to designate a rather fast and very "smart" set
of wealthy social magnates. In this latter guise it had really no
existence. Those who were familiar with the Prince of Wales' career and
character knew that mere wealth was the last thing which ever attracted
him, and the one thing which was a most certainly uncertain basis upon
which to gain his patronage; to say nothing of his friendship. Many
disappointed millionaires can speak with accuracy upon this point--if
they wished to. On the other hand, honest love of racing, or shooting,
or yachting; brilliancy of conversation in man or woman and conspicuous
beauty or charm of manner in the latter; knowledge of the world and
capacity to do the right thing in the right way at the right time were
conspicuous factors in obtaining the friendship of the Prince of Wales.
Achievements in art, or distinction in the Army and Navy, or great
philanthropic interests and undertakings, were always elements of
recognized importance.

Deer-stalking in the Highlands made friends and hosts such as the late
Dukes of Sutherland and Hamilton, Mr. Farquharson of Invercauld and Lord
Glenesk. During his annual visits to Homburg, for many years, and in the
rest and liberty which he allowed himself there, the Prince's favourite
companion, as he was his most devoted friend, was the late Mr.
Christopher Sykes. Lord Brampton--the clever, witty and eccentric Judge
who was better known as Sir Henry Hawkins--the Right Hon. "Jimmy"
Lowther, M.P., Lord Charles and Lord William Beresford, and Sir Allen
Young were also special friends of the holiday season. Admiral Sir Henry
Keppel was a very old friend of the Prince and his family and this
intimacy also included Mr. and Mrs. George Keppel. Lord Rosebery, Lord
Beaconsfield, Lord Randolph Churchill and the late Lord Derby could all
claim the Royal friendship, while Lord and Lady Farquhar were delightful
and favourite hosts of both the Prince and his wife. Colonel Oliver
Montagu was a very old and dear friend, and the Earl of Aylesford, Lord
Cadogan, General Lord Wantage, Colonel Owen Williams, Earl Carrington,
Lord and Lady Dudley and Lord Russell of Killowen ranked in the category
of friendship. Lord and Lady Alington had the rare distinction of giving
dances to which the Princess of Wales used to take her daughters when
they were young girls.

Amongst hostesses other than those already mentioned whose
entertainments the Prince liked to attend were Mrs. Bischoffstein and
Mrs. Arthur Rothschild. Other personal friends were the late Earl of
Lathom, the bright and witty Marchioness of Aylesbury, Lord James of
Hereford and the late Sir Charles Hall. Amongst artists whom the Prince
greatly favoured were Sir Charles and Lady Hallé and the late Lord
Leighton. No closer and more devoted friends of the Prince could be
found than the members of his own Household, and the public was long
aware of this in the persons of Lord Suffield, Sir Francis Knollys and
Sir Dighton Probyn, in particular. The Prince delighted in doing honour
to those whom he accepted as friends. He marked his sorrow at the deaths
of Colonel Oliver Montagu and Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild by
personally attending their funerals--an exception to the rule which he
had set himself in this connection.

His Royal Highness frequently gave his powerful patronage to the
promotion of Memorials to those who had been honoured by his friendship
and who deserved honour upon national grounds. An early instance of this
was the case of Dean Stanley. A later one, on July 13, 1900, was the
gathering called at Marlborough House and presided over by the Prince
for the purpose of erecting a national memorial in Westminster Abbey to
the Duke of Westminster. In speaking, His Royal Highness said: "To me
personally the death of the Duke meant the loss of a life-long friend. I
had known him from his boyhood and there is no one whose friendship I
appreciated more than his. In my judgment there is no one whose public
services more fully deserve public recognition by his countrymen."

Fidelity to friends and appreciation of manly qualities and special
abilities were always characteristic of the Prince of Wales and,
combined with his tact and the unusual qualifications of the Princess as
a hostess, made Marlborough and Sandringham, in different ways, the most
ideal centres of social entertainment. Taken as a whole, the Prince's
leadership of society was emphatically for good. His approval and
patronage of the opera or the theatre, the race-course or the
shooting-box, may not have been agreeable to some people, but they
represented the popular opinion of the great majority. He took things as
they were, enjoyed them in a full-hearted and honest way, improved the
_morale_ of the social system and the practices in vogue in many
directions and left Society infinitely better and more honest than he
had found it.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] _Private Life of King Edward VII._ By a member of the Royal
Household. D. Appleton & Co. N. Y.




CHAPTER XIII.

The Prince as a Sportsman


In his devotion to the "sport of kings" the Prince of Wales followed the
excellent example of Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth, Charles I, Charles II,
William of Orange, Queen Anne, the Duke of Cumberland, George IV, and
William IV. He represented in this respect an inherent and seemingly
natural liking of the English people. With them the manly art of war,
the physical excitements of chivalry, and tests of endurance in civil
and foreign struggles, have been replaced by the games and sports of a
quieter and more peaceful period. Riding to hounds, steeple-chasing and
the amateur or professional race-course represent a most popular as well
as aristocratic phase of this development. The Prince of Wales, early in
his life, took a liking to racing in all its forms and encouraged
steeple-chasing at a time when it was neither fashionable nor popular.
He became a member of the Jockey Club in 1868. It was not, however,
until 1877 that his afterwards famous colours of purple, gold band,
scarlet sleeves and black velvet cap with gold fringe, were carried at
Newmarket in the presence of the Princess and before a great and
fashionable gathering. Five years later His Royal Highness won the
Household Brigade Cup at Sandown and thenceforward his interest in the
sport was keen, although it was not till some years afterwards that he
established his own racing-stable which, in 1890, was placed under the
efficient management of Lord Marcus Beresford.

During these years the Prince lost a good deal of money, though the
amount was never known or even truthfully guessed at, but in 1889 his
horses began also to win. In that year he won £204, in 1891 £4148, in
1894 £3499, and in the next four years a total of £57,430. In 1892 a
Royal stud was founded at Sandringham and there _Persimmon_ and _Diamond
Jubilee_ were bred. The Derby of 1896 was perhaps, the most historic of
English racing events. Attended by a crowd of three hundred thousand
people, raced in with horses owned by such generous patrons of the turf
as the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Westminister and Mr. Leopold de
Rothschild, watched with unusual interest by the crowd, it resulted in
the most popular victory in the history of English sport. The Prince had
fought hard for this blue ribbon of the turf, he had faced defeat and
discouragement again and again and it was known that he would prize
success more than anything within the limits of his ambition. When,
therefore, _Persimmon_ carried his colours to the first victory won at
Epsom by a Prince of Wales in a hundred years, the delight of the Royal
owner was evident. The great gathering of people cheered as if each
person present had himself won the race and their obvious enthusiasm was
an expression of personal liking as well as loyalty. This was a great
year for the Prince whose horses not only won the Derby, the St. Leger
and the £10,000 Jockey Club Stakes but also the Newmarket Stakes. In
1897 _Persimmon_ won the Ascot Cup and the Eclipse Stakes (worth
together £12,700) and was then retired from the turf. Trained by Richard
Marsh and ridden by John Watts, this horse had given his Royal owner not
only financial success but--what he valued infinitely more--great
victories in a sport which he loved.

From that time on the Prince continued to be lucky with his horses. At
the Derby of 1900 _Diamond Jubilee_ won in exactly the same time as the
Royal horse of 1896 had done. At this race, on May 30th, the Prince was
accompanied by a large number of noblemen and ladies and gentlemen
interested in racing. The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Rothschild, Lord
Cheylesmore, the Marquess of Londonderry, the Duke of Portland, Lord
Farquhar, the Earl of Chesterfield, the Earl and Countess of Crewe, the
Earl and Countess Carrington, and others, came from London in the Royal
special train. In the Royal box at the races were the King of Sweden,
the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Princess Victoria, the Duke of
Cambridge and other royalties. The success of the Prince's horse in two
minutes, forty-two seconds, was received with tremendous applause and
with general congratulation in a large section of the press while, in
the same year, the Royal colours were also carried to victory at the
Grand National and the Two Thousand Guineas. The whole record was a
unique one; the time at the Derby was the fastest in the history of the
course; the winner of 1900 was a brother to the winner in 1896; and
those who lost money appeared to be as glad that the popular Prince
should win as if they had themselves backed his horse.


RACING FRIENDS AND YACHTING EXPERIENCES

The part taken by His Royal Highness in sporting matters naturally
resulted in many friendships built around a mutual love of racing, of
riding, and of the horse. Conspicuous amongst the good sportsmen who
were also good friends of the Prince were the names of the Duke of
Portland, Sir George Wombwell, Sir Reuben Sassoon, the Rothschilds, the
late Lord Sefton, Mr. Henry Chaplin, the Earl of Zetland and Sir
Frederick Johnstone. Sir John Astley, Lord and Lady Claude Hamilton, Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur James, Sir Edward Lawson, Sir Edward Hulse, Lord and
Lady Gerard, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Sir William Russell and
Lady Dorothy Neville may be mentioned amongst other devotees of the turf
who ranked in later years as friends of the Prince of Wales in this
particular social "set." In this connection the annual Derby Day dinner
must be mentioned. From 1887 to the time of the Prince's accession this
Royal banquet to the members of the Jockey Club was an important
institution and a much looked-for event in racing circles. Latterly it
was the chief regular entertainment of the year at Marlborough House.
The function was elaborate yet not too formal. Evening dress and not
uniform was the custom; the guests included about fifty of the leading
patrons of the turf and there were generally half-a-dozen of the Royal
family present; the great silver dinner service ordered by the Prince at
his marriage was always used; and the dining-room with its side-boards
laden with gold and silver trophies of the race-course and attendants in
scarlet, blue and gold, was a brilliant sight. Dinner did not usually
last more than an hour and then the guests adjourned to the drawing-room
for whist. In 1896 and 1900 the toast of the Derby winner, which had so
often been proposed by the Royal host, had to be given to some one
else--greatly to the enthusiasm of the guests.

The Prince of Wales was always a fearless rider and was fond of it from
childhood. As an undergraduate at Christ-Church he constantly hunted
with Lord Macclesfield's pack and was then considered a hard rider; but
in after years his riding was mainly done in connection with military
and other functions and for exercise, in a milder way than that of
following the hounds. Akin, in some respects to the sport of racing, is
that of yachting and to this the Prince of Wales was almost equally
devoted. Naturally fond of the sea, trained in ocean travel in days when
it was no pleasant drawing-room experience to cross the Atlantic,
familiar with every part of a yacht and detail of its management, it was
only fitting that the Heir to the throne of the seas should be an
accomplished yachtsman. His first racing-yacht was the _Aline_ and his
next one, the _Britannia_, was for a time the most successful of large
racing-yachts. Many splendid cups and pieces of plate graced the buffets
of Sandringham and Marlborough and marked the victories of the Prince;
though any prize moneys won in this way were always handed over to his
Captain and crew as an addition to their already handsome pay.

His Royal Highness was a capital sailor. In returning from his Canadian
and American tour in 1860 his ship was driven out of its course by a
severe storm and so much alarm was caused by the delay that a British
fleet was sent out to search for it; but, different as were the
conditions of travel in those days, the Prince was not found to be any
the worse for his stormy experience. In after years when cruising along
the coasts of Europe, or traversing the Pacific and Indian oceans, he
met with many a storm and severe strain, so far as weather was
concerned, without effect. It is said, however, that he was troubled
somewhat by rough weather in the English Channel. As Commodore of the
Royal Yacht Squadron his patronage did very much in making the sport
popular and fashionable and in creating the Cowes Regatta as a great
yachting function. To this Royal Yacht Club every consideration in the
way of prizes was given and the Queen, the Prince, the Emperor William
of Germany, and Napoleon III. of France, offered prizes or trophies,
from time to time. As Commodore--which office he accepted in 1882--His
Royal Highness had as predecessors the Earl of Yarborough, the Marquess
of Donegal and the Earl of Wilton. The Vice-Commodore for many years was
the Marquess of Ormonde.


THE NAVY AND LOVE OF SHOOTING

On July 18th, 1887, the position of the Heir Apparent was recognized and
the Navy complimented through his appointment by the Queen as Honorary
Admiral of the Fleet. Some criticism was expressed in a portion of the
Radical press mainly, it was stated, through ignorance of the Prince's
real qualifications as both a seaman and yachtsman. Upon his accession
to the Throne no single action was more popular than King Edward's
retention of this latter title and the interest which he continued to
show in the Navy. His Majesty took as great interest in Sir Thomas
Lipton's efforts to win the America Cup as he had in the previous
attempts of Lord Dunraven. Sir Thomas was, apparently, a congenial
spirit in this connection and from both Prince and King he received a
good deal of favour. It was while cruising with him on board _Shamrock
II._, off Southampton, (May 22, 1901) that a heavy wind unexpectedly
strained the spars and gear too much and brought down the top-mast and
mainmast in a sudden wreck which crashed over the side of the frail
yacht. The danger to the King was very great and a difference of ten
seconds in his position would probably have given fatal results. The
visit to the yacht was, of course, a private one, but such an incident
as this made the affair very widely commented upon. The London _Daily
Express_ of the succeeding day embodied a good deal of public opinion in
the following remarks:

     "King though he be, he is resolute to live the frank and free life
     of an English gentleman, taking the chances of sport by land and
     sea as gaily as any undistinguished son of the people, whose life
     is of no smallest national import. That is the sort of King we
     want, the sort of King we will die for if need be--a King who holds
     his own in every manly exercise, loving sport all the more because
     it contains the element of danger that possesses such a subtle
     attraction for men of Anglo-Saxon blood."

Shooting was probably the favourite all-round sport of the Prince of
Wales and in this he heartily embodied one more characteristic of the
typical English gentleman. It has been described as a positive passion
with him and as being "the love of his life." His father had been a
thorough sportsman, though not a very good shot; the son became not only
a thorough sportsman but perhaps the best shot in the United Kingdom. At
seven years of age he was taught deer-stalking, at Oxford he frequently
did a day's shooting on neighbouring estates, and, in his American and
Canadian tour, a great pleasure to the young man was an occasional day's
sport. At Sandringham he early mapped out his estate into a series of
drives and soon combined with other famous shots to create and make
popular the big _battues_ which were afterwards so well known and which
came to constitute so important an event in the shooting seasons at his
Norfolk home. But His Royal Highness never confined himself to shooting
pheasants, hares, or rabbits. Deer-stalking and shooting grouse were
favourite pursuits, and he knew no greater pleasure than to spend a day,
or days, upon the moors, accompanied by friends and hosts such as the
late Duke of Sutherland, his son-in-law, the Duke of Fife, Mr. Mackenzie
of Kintail and Colonel Farquharson of Invercauld. Going out from
Abergeldie, or Balmoral, or Mar Lodge on a stalking expedition, the
Prince cared neither for exposure to bad weather, nor severe exertion,
so long as he could return with a bag of several head of deer. With the
German Emperor and the late Duke of Coburg he enjoyed splendid sport in
the vast forests of Central Europe from time to time, and with Baron
Hirsch, on his great Hungarian estates, he had hunted deer, chamois,
wild boar and roebuck, as he had shot game in America, hunted tigers and
elephants in India, shot crocodiles in Egypt and hunted in the forests
of Ceylon or Denmark.

[Illustration: THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER AND HIS UNCLE
  Photograph by Paul Thompson, New York.

The Rt. Hon. David Lloyd-George (on the right), whose Radical budget
made him the storm-centre of England at the time of King Edward's
illness and death, is here shown at his new Welsh home with his uncle,
Richard Lloyd, who adopted the future statesman after his father's death
and educated him.]

[Illustration: THREE PROMINENT MEMBERS OF KING EDWARD'S LAST CABINET
  Photograph by Paul Thompson, New York.

Descending the steps are: at the left, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., Foreign
Secretary; in centre, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer Churchill, President,
Board of Trade; at right, the Earl of Crewe, Colonial Secretary and Lord
Privy Seal.]

[Illustration: THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Who was designated by President Taft as Special Ambassador to represent
the United States at the Funeral of King Edward VII.]

[Illustration: KING EDWARD'S LAST TRIP ABROAD

This photograph was taken at the railway station in Paris when the King
was on his way to Biarritz (on the Atlantic border between Spain and
France). Only a few days after his return from this journey he was taken
fatally ill.]




CHAPTER XIV.

Habits and Character of the Prince


During forty years of his career as Prince of Wales, King Edward VII.
was probably the most talked-of man in the United Kingdom. Good-natured
stories, ill-natured anecdotes, criticisms grading down from the
malicious to the very mild, praise ranging from the fulsome to the
feeble point, falsehoods great and falsehoods small, have found currency
not confined to the English language and ranging through "yarns" of
gutter journals in London, Paris, Berlin, New York or Calcutta, in
varied languages, and in many degrees of fabrication. Outside of the
United Kingdom some of these stories have been more or less believed;
even in his own national home there were always people ready and willing
to accept the worst that they heard about a great public personage.
Where he was known best, however, the influence of these things upon the
reputation of the Prince of Wales was least and, in fact, so small as to
afford little or no excuse for dealing with them. Abroad, however, it
had always been different, and in the United States, thirty years before
his accession to the Throne, it was conspicuously so. With the passing
years, of course, and with growing knowledge of the Prince's position
and character, the situation greatly changed.

As a matter of fact the Prince of Wales, from the early days of his
manhood, was in his personal and private relations a jovial, honest and
honourable English gentleman; possessed of a full sense of his
responsibility in much burdensome work and ceremonial and with a
growing appreciation, as years passed, of his place as a sort of
impartial Empire statesman; possessed, also, of a large fund of animal
spirits and capacity for enjoying the pleasures of life. Within the full
limits of his rights and his position he lived his life of work and
pleasure, of public responsibility and of private rest and recreation.
Yet it was almost always in the blaze of a noon-day publicity and few,
indeed, were the times and seasons in which the Heir Apparent could
amuse himself in any genuine _incognito_. Attempt it he might, but if
any evil-minded critic were to seriously or conscientiously consider the
situation--both of which suppositions are improbable--he might have seen
that the best-known and most photographed man in the world would indeed
have been foolish to trust to an _incognito_ for any but the simplest
and most innocent of objects. The actual impossibility of the Prince of
Wales escaping from his _entourage_, his identity, and his surroundings,
were sufficient to make Continental fictions and foreign fancies about
him absolutely farcical to those who knew something of his daily
life--aside altogether from those who knew and understood his real
character.


THE MORDAUNT CASE

There was only one matter involving moral considerations which ever
emerged from the low region of back-door insinuation to the upper air
and it was threshed out in a _cause celebre_--that of Lady Mordaunt. Her
husband, an English baronet, sued for divorce before the Court of
Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, alleging the usual grounds, and naming
as co-respondents, Viscount Cole and Sir Frederick Johnstone. The case
was heard on February 16th, 1870, and following days, and the defence on
the part of Lady Mordaunt was insanity. The Prince of Wales, though not
specified in the indictment, was so widely gossiped about as being
connected with the case that he asked to be heard and swore positively
that there had been no improper relations between himself and the
defendant. Two of the Judges on Appeal--Lord Penzance and Mr. Justice
Keating--agreed with the jury's verdict that Lady Mordaunt was insane,
while Chief Baron Kelly differed. The woman in the case was for years
afterwards confined in a lunatic asylum, and it has long since been
quite well understood that the only basis for scandal was the fact that
a Royal visit which had been paid upon one occasion was made under the
invariable rule of etiquette, which prescribes that no other caller
shall be received while the visit lasts. Before and after the trouble
Lady Mordaunt's sisters, and especially the Dowager Countess of Dudley,
were amongst the Princess of Wales' warm friends, while the daughter of
the plaintiff in the case was, in later years, received at Sandringham,
and was given many beautiful presents by the members of the Royal family
upon her marriage to the Marquess of Bath. Such conditions would have
been absolutely impossible to imagine with the Princess of Wales had she
entertained the slightest belief in the stories floating about regarding
that famous trial. During the succeeding thirty years, however, there
was never even an apparent excuse for the repetition of such stories,
and the happy home life of the Prince and Princess was patent to all who
were willing to believe the evidence of their eyes and ears.

What may be said of the characteristics and habits of this many-sided
heir to Royal position? Probably his first and most pronounced quality
was one of difficult definition--tactfulness. Through its means he led
society without rivalry and with unique success; promoted reforms
without violence of agitation or the creation of antagonisms; carried
out countless varied and delicate duties, with noiseless celerity, in an
age of intense and active curiosity. In forty years of ceaseless
political change and frequently acute political crises not a whisper of
his private views became known to the million-tongued press or the
curious public. He had known every kind of partisan and been liked by
leaders of the masses as well as the classes--by Joseph Arch and Henry
Broadhurst, as well as by the Earl of Derby or the Marquess of
Salisbury. If he visited Mr. Gladstone at Hawarden on one occasion he
paid the same honour to Lord Beaconsfield at Hughenden at another time.
If Lord Randolph Churchill was a personal friend so also was Lord
Rosebery, or Mr. Balfour. His genial manner and sometimes cosmopolitan
view of society encouraged a popular opinion as to his natural
democracy; while a personal dignity, never forced, or assumed, but
always present, prevented the most courageous person from taking undue
advantage of the freedom from ceremonial which he sometimes liked to
encourage. His preferences in international matters were as little known
as his political opinions, and yet, at times, his influence in this
respect was very great.


SPORTING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRINCE

The next and perhaps most prominent characteristic of the Prince of
Wales was his love for sports and his embodiment of qualities which, in
everyday life, constitute the English country gentleman. Some reference
has already been made to his interest in racing, yachting and shooting.
But most of the lesser sports and games were also attractive to him at
different periods, and there was hardly one with which he was not more
or less familiar. Boating and riding in his University days and
fox-hunting at Sandringham from time to time in later years, were
incidents of this record. Croquet he was an expert in, but never very
fond of. Lawn-tennis, when first introduced and for years afterwards,
was a game to which he was very partial, and on the _Serapis_ when
traversing the route to India he played deck-tennis until everyone else
was exhausted. The bowling-alley at Sandringham was one of the best in
England and the Prince was always fond of a game of bowls. Quoits he
played well, and billiards he played with frequency and skill--his
daughters being also able to handle the cue with success. Hockey was a
favourite game, especially on the lakes at Sandringham, and of this
sport the other members of his family were equally fond. Skating and
hockey parties were frequent during severe winter seasons and the Prince
played in many specially arranged hockey matches--one of them against
members of the House of Commons in the winter of 1894-5 included Mr.
Balfour, Lord Stanley, Lord Willoughby de Eresby and Mr. Victor
Cavendish.

Fishing never appealed to him and was, apparently, too quiet and easy a
sport. He liked pigeon-flying, and bred some very fine birds at
Sandringham for this purpose. Tricycling he was very fond of and kept
good machines both at Marlborough and Sandringham. As soon as motor cars
came into use he could be frequently seen driving a smart carriage along
the country roads of Norfolk. Chess the Prince never mastered nor cared
for. In dancing he was an expert, as well as in skating, and was always
exceedingly fond of the amusement. At his Sandringham balls he was an
indefatigable dancer, and at great balls all over the world he delighted
many a partner and varied social circle by his obvious pleasure in the
entertainment. From Halifax to Montreal, from Toronto to New York, in
Canada and the United States, in Egypt and India, in Turkey and Greece,
in all the greater Courts of Europe, from the days of Napoleon III. at
Paris, to those of William II. at Berlin, he had been the central figure
of some such occasions. Golf was played by His Royal Highness on the
links of Musselburgh in early days and at a later time in Windsor Park.
Cricket he was fond of in his younger days, but latterly he only showed
his interest by patronizing matches as an onlooker. In these and other
pursuits the Prince represented in his mode of life and his manner of
enjoying himself the qualities of a distinct type amongst his
countrymen and a type most popular throughout the community.

Another characteristic of the Prince was his good manners. The "first
gentleman in Europe" always knew how to be pleasant without being
familiar, dignified without being pompous, genial without being free.
Myriads of stories are told in this connection. At the skating and
hockey parties on the Sandringham lakes the farmers' wives and daughters
were included and no Duchess in the land would be handed a cup of tea
with more courtly manner by the Royal host than would the wife of a
tenant on his estates. His servants, in houses and farms and stables, in
sport or travel, at home and abroad, were treated in such a way as to
make every one of them wish to serve the Prince for a life-time. No more
charming incident is on record than the way in which His Royal Highness
approached Mrs. Gladstone at the state funeral of her great husband,
bowed low before her and kissed her proffered hand. Whether in high
circles, or in those of ordinary people, in expected surroundings or
amid unexpected conditions, the Prince seemed to always retain this
faculty of politeness in the true sense of the word--a product of heart
and mind rather than of mere instruction or habit.

His manner and style of public speaking was an incident in the Prince of
Wales' career which exercised considerable influence upon his personal
popularity. The pronounced factors in his style were not oratory,
gestures, or brilliancy. Plain in matter and manner the speeches always
were; full of meat and substance they frequently were; neat and
effective they were generally considered. Mr. Gladstone once went
further than this description would seem to warrant when he declared
that there were few speakers whom he listened to with more pleasure.
"His speeches are invariably marvels of conciseness, graceful expression
and clear elocution". His voice was a good one, clear and distinct and
well-trained. Nervous in his younger days and accustomed to learn the
speeches off for delivery, he gradually changed with age and experience
into the delivery of _impromptu_ after-dinner remarks and speeches which
did not show traces of the midnight oil or earnest preparation--although
often full of facts and incidents about the immense variety of subjects
with which he had to deal.

Intimately connected with these characteristics of his was the
unquestioned ability to judge human nature. This quality enabled the
Prince to play his difficult part so well as he did, to keep him in
touch with all classes and the masses, to cultivate all the varied
elements of a changing national life, and to be as much at home amongst
business men as at the Royal Academy--amongst the aristocracy of London
as with the farmers of Norfolk. He was ever a good judge of the people
around him and, perhaps, no man in modern life was so well and
faithfully served. His memory for names and faces was extraordinary and
would remind Canadians of the unique faculty in this connection
possessed by the late Sir John Macdonald. He always hated affectation
and toadyism and liked sincerity and simplicity. Marie Corelli, writing
in 1897, used the following expressive words: "To entertain the Prince
do little; for he is clever enough to entertain himself privately with
the folly and humbug of those he sees around him, without actually
sharing in the petty comedy. He is a keen observer and must derive
infinite gratification from his constant study of men and manners, which
is sufficiently deep and searching to fit him for the occupation of even
the throne of England. I say 'even', for at present, till time's great
hourglass turns, it is the grandest throne in the world".

Patronage of music, art and the drama were characteristic incidents in
the life and work of the Prince. The day for helping literature had
perhaps gone when he came upon the scene and newspapers were then
supposed to do for budding genius what royalty and aristocracy did for
Johnson, Goldsmith, Swift or Pope. It is a curious fact of later-day
democracy that, with the obvious exception of Kipling, most of the
greater lights in literature--Browning, Rossetti, Tennyson, Mathew
Arnold or Swinburne--were born with fairly comfortable means. This in
passing, of course. Something has been said elsewhere as to His Royal
Highness's patronage of music and there is no doubt that he taught smart
society to support the opera, while his personal enthusiasm for Wagner
was pronounced and sincere.


THE THEATRE AND THE CHURCH

He patronized the theatre for many years with regularity and
discrimination; his taste in all matters of light comedy and opera was
known to be good; and it goes without saying that his approval of a play
or actor made many a reputation and fortune. He used to make his own
selection of theatre or play, pay handsomely for his own box, arrive
punctually on time and remain till the end, or very near it. His dislike
of ostentation soon did away with the old fashion of a manager walking
upstairs backward before royalty and his leaving a little early was to
avoid causing delay and confusion with their carriages amongst the other
guests of the theatre. Actors have greatly exaggerated the extent of his
patronage and friendship. But he more than once took supper with Sir
Henry Irving and it is understood to have been by his advice that the
great tragedian was knighted. He it was who encouraged the late Queen to
resume her patronage of the theatre and to begin by having Mr. and Mrs.
Kendal appear before her at Osborne. He never liked, however, the
appearance of members of the aristocracy on the stage and his daughters
are said to have never taken part even in private theatricals. He is
said to have enjoyed a private visit and smoke behind the scenes and
George Grossmith is stated to have been one of those who were most
patronized in this respect.

An interesting feature of his many-sided career and character was the
Heir Apparent's attention to his religious duties. At Marlborough and at
Sandringham prayers were read daily, in the morning, and guests, staff
and servants were expected, though not compelled, to be present. On
Sunday the Prince invariably attended morning service either at the
Chapel Royal in London, or at the quaint and beautiful little Chapel of
St. Mary Magdalene, in the country. The latter was filled with handsome
Memorial windows and tablets and there, for many years, worshipped the
future King with the humblest labourers on his estate. The only
distinction made was in the private entrance for the Prince and the
reserved pews for his guests and family. His daughters taught in the
Sunday School and the Princess had charge of the music. It has been said
that the Prince never attended Divine service on a Sunday in any but an
Episcopal church. Certainly the records of his travels and habits appear
to confirm this statement. Whether in Bombay, or Montreal, or New York,
he seems to have always attended the services of the Established Church
or its daughter Churches. Even in Rome, where he once spent Easter
Sunday, impressive ceremonies conducted by the Pope at St. Peter's did
not prevent him from attending a quiet little English church and
explaining that when members of the Church were in foreign lands they
should be especially particular in encouraging their own form of faith.

Of course, as a traveller of wide experience the Prince visited all the
great cathedrals of the Continent and was familiar with the splendid
Mohammedan mosques and Hindoo temples and sacred shrines which helped to
make the glittering East so attractive. But they were visited on
week-days. He was supposed to be broad in his principles as a Churchman
and certainly at state weddings and funerals in other countries he
shared in various forms of worship. The Princess of Wales was known to
have attended ritualistic services before her husband's accession to
the Throne, but she far more often attended Low or Broad Church
services. On Sundays at Sandringham the Prince used, in the afternoons,
to walk about the grounds with his family or guests, visit the kennels,
the bear-pit, the model farms or the Princess's lovely little dairy and
its suite of tiny attached rooms where tea would often be served. In
London he would sometime attend Divine service again or else pay calls
in his private hansom and then dine quietly with friends or have a few
of them to dinner at Marlborough. Sunday afternoons at Sandringham were
always greatly enjoyed by Sir Frederick Leighton and Lord Beaconsfield
but Mr. Gladstone is said to have best liked long, lonely rambles
through the woods of the estate.

An important part of the character of a man in the position so long held
by the Prince of Wales is the fact of moderation, or otherwise, in
eating and drinking. It is a vital factor in the lives of all men but
how much more so when great banquets are for months a daily function;
when every luxury, or delicacy, or combination of cookery known to the
civilized world and the barbaric East is at one time or another offered
for his delectation; when the power of rulers and the wealth of
millionaires are devoted to the furnishing of choice wines and
_liqueurs_ and drinks for his use. The good health always enjoyed by the
Prince was perhaps proof enough of his moderation at the table. His
habits in this respect became pretty well known. Tea at breakfast and in
the afternoon he always liked; Moselle cup he enjoyed and was rather
proud of possessing the receipt brought from Germany by the Prince
Consort; champagne for many years was almost his exclusive beverage
though afterwards claret took its place. Between meals he seldom drank
anything though a well-known "cocktail" in the London clubs is credited
to his invention. He always strongly disapproved of ladies drinking
anything but a little wine and this was well understood by his own
guests or by those at houses where he visited.

Reference must be made here to one unpleasant incident in the Prince of
Wales' later career--unpleasant in its results and in the comments of
the press and pulpit. To playing cards for an occasional evening's
amusement the Prince was always partial, but not to the extent which was
sometimes asserted.


CARDS AND THE BACCARAT AFFAIR

During his journeys abroad he seldom or never played and he made a
strict and early rule against playing in clubs. His friends say that he
used to frequently dissuade younger men or the sons of old friends from
forming a habit in this connection and as a well-known man of the world,
without affectation and with wide experience and a naturally commanding
influence, his views no doubt had great weight. Hence the most
regrettable feature in the famous Baccarat case of 1890 which was, for a
time, one of the most talked-of and preached-at incidents in modern
social life. To understand the matter it is necessary to look at the
Prince's environment. He was the leader of society and society, together
with a large proportion of people everywhere, saw no harm in a game of
cards, or even in the accompaniment of playing for ordinary money
stakes, any more than they saw harm in racing and betting upon the
results, or in dancing and its accompaniment of late hours and perhaps
frivolous dissipation. Yet to many people in the United Kingdom and the
Empire danger and evil lurked in one or all of these amusements and it
was a shock to them to find that the Heir Apparent actually indulged in
card-playing; although everyone had known that he patronized the other
two pursuits referred to.

The history of the affair may be told briefly. On September 8th, during
the Doncaster races, Mr. Arthur Wilson, a very wealthy shipowner, was
entertaining a large party at Tranby Croft, near Hull, which included
the Prince of Wales, Lord Coventry, General Owen Williams, Sir William
Gordon-Cumming, Lord Craven, Lord and Lady Brougham and Lord Edward
Somerset. When each day's racing was over and the company had returned
to Tranby Croft and finished dinner, Baccarat was introduced as the
amusement of the evening and played for a couple of hours. The stakes
were moderate--for such a party--and ran from five shillings to ten
pounds. About seventeen people, ladies and gentlemen, usually sat down
and the Prince of Wales was the life of the party, as he generally was,
whatever the occupation or sport. On the date mentioned, Mr. Stanley
Wilson, the host's son, thought he saw Sir W. Gordon-Cumming using his
counters fraudulently and informed Lord Coventry and General Williams of
his suspicions. On the third evening a committee of five--two ladies and
three gentlemen--watched the baronet and unanimously agreed that they
saw him cheating. He was privately accused of the offence, denied it
vehemently, and brought the matter before the Prince, who practically
acted as judge and regretfully told him that there could be no doubt of
his guilt.

It was, perhaps the most difficult position the Prince of Wales had ever
been placed in. To hand a friend and fellow-guest and well-known soldier
over to justice meant in this case ruin to the man himself, disgrace to
their host and his family and a considerable amount of discredit to the
Prince. Of the latter point it is probable that the Prince thought
least, as his fidelity to friends was always well-known. Yet to let the
apparently guilty man go without punishment or restriction was
impossible from every standpoint. The Prince, therefore, tried to square
his duty all round by a compromise and made Sir W. Gordon-Cumming sign a
pledge to never play at cards again. The natural result followed where
at least seven people hold a secret of much importance. It became known,
or rather rumored, the resignation of the baronet from the Army was not
accepted pending inquiry and, finally, he precipitated the issue by
sueing the committee of five--Mrs. Arthur Wilson, Mr. Stanley Wilson,
Mr. and Mrs. Lycett Green and Mr. Berkeley Levett--for scandal. Sir
Charles Russell acted for the defence and Sir Edward Clarke for the
plaintiff and, after a sensational trial, the action was dismissed.

The case created the most intense interest and for a time His Royal
Highness was the most criticised man in the United Kingdom. Press and
pulpit thundered forth denunciations of gambling and card-playing, and
lectured the Prince upon his duty to the nation and his responsibility
for public morality. Every extreme religious speaker or writer, every
Radical paper, or pamphleteer, or lecturer found the Heir to the Throne
an excellent subject for abuse, while the best papers abroad teemed with
reflections which could hardly be termed generous. Speaking of the
counters which had been used in these games and which were brought by
the Prince personally to Tranby Croft the New York _Tribune_ declared
that in them he had "fingered the fragments of the Crown of England."
Upon one point all the home papers were united and that was that in
trying to arrange and settle the matter the Prince had contravened the
Army regulations.

The better class of papers were very serious upon the subject. The
London _Times_ declared that the Heir Apparent could not put off his
responsibilities as he did his official dress and, while admitting the
assiduity and tact and good-humour with which he performed his dull
round of routine duties, it yet bitterly regretted the example he had
now set. The _Daily News_ thought that the Prince had only been guilty
of an indiscretion, so far as his action toward Gordon-Cumming was
concerned, but went on to say that what was blameless as an example in
meaner men, was very different in one of his exalted position. The
_Standard_ denounced the whole affair from beginning to end. "The Prince
of Wales is not as other men. His position demands a sobriety, a
self-restraint, and a dignity from which people of less exalted
position and lighter responsibilities are absolved." The religious press
put no bounds to its denunciation. The _Christian World_ spoke of the
matter as an "outrage to the public conscience" and the _British Weekly_
thought it "enough to sober the strongest supporters of the Monarchy."
Resolutions were passed at some Church meetings of a similar character.


AFTERMATH OF THE INCIDENT

Then the re-action came. His Royal Highness expressed to the Military
authorities and the House of Commons his apologies for an unintentional
infraction of Army regulations; it was pointed out that playing a game
of cards in a private house was not setting a public example and that
the situation was so unique that any man in the Prince's place would
have been pardoned in not knowing what to do; the cause of the trouble
was dismissed from the Army and expelled from his clubs. The _Daily
Telegraph_ pointed out that the carrying of the Baccarat counters, which
was apparently deemed the most serious part of the matter by many
commentators, was a very common habit with players of this game as the
symbols for money tended to moderation in playing, and were better in
every way than slips of paper. Years afterwards, Mr. Arnold White stated
it as a fact that these famous bits of pasteboard were actually a
present from the Princess of Wales. The public came to feel after the
first hasty judgment was given that, after all, the Prince had risked a
good deal for a friend and the _Observer_ went so far as to say that
"under the most difficult and trying circumstances His Royal Highness
has acted as ninety-nine Englishmen out of a hundred would have done."
The Rev. Dr. Charles A. Berry, the eminent Non-conformist divine,
declared that the people were not going to be unduly severe in their
judgment. "They recognize the fact that he does a great deal of public
work and is compelled to live almost continually a life of unnatural
pressure. It is, therefore, to say the least, understandable that he
should seek pleasure and relaxation in some form of excitement."

Then the issue cooled down as suddenly as the tempest had arisen, and
before long it would have been hard to recognize that so stormy a stage
of criticism had swept over the popular Prince's head. In the _Life_ of
Archbishop Benson, published many years afterwards, there appeared a
long letter from the Heir Apparent in answer to a note of sympathy
received at this time from His Grace. The Prince spoke of the "deep pain
and annoyance" which the Baccarat incident had caused him; of the recent
trial which had given the press occasion "to make most bitter and unjust
attacks upon me, knowing I was defenceless--and I am not sure that
politics were not mixed up in it." Speaking of the papers and the
Nonconformists, who had been especially strong in their remarks, he
added some interesting expressions as to his general view of gambling.
"They have a perfect right, I am well aware, in a free country like our
own, to express their opinions, but I do not consider that they have a
just right to jump at conclusions regarding myself, without knowing the
facts. I have a horror of gambling, and should always do my utmost to
discourage others who have an inclination for it, as I consider
gambling, like intemperance, is one of the greatest curses which a
country could be afflicted with. Horse-racing may produce gambling, or
it may not, but I have always looked upon it as a manly sport which is
popular with Englishmen of all classes, and there is no reason why it
should be looked upon as a gambling transaction. Alas, those who gamble
will gamble at anything."

Such were some of the characteristics and habits and social incidents in
the career of King Edward while he was Prince of Wales. They show how
entirely he shared in the life of the majority of the people--a fact all
the more illustrated in the occasions when he departed from his natural
and usual course and seemed to participate in matters outside of the
accepted and popular pursuits of the people. It is the picture of a man
who loved his England, liked life and its pleasures, hated humbug,
enjoyed sport, did his duty as it came to him and liked the play, the
race-course and all the sports of a healthy, hearty Englishman. They
prove the accuracy of that interesting description penned in his _Diary_
by the King of Sweden and which, somehow, became public: "The Heir
Apparent to the British Throne is Prince of Wales by name, Prince of
Society by inclination, Prince of Good Fellows by nature."




CHAPTER XV.

The Prince as an Empire Statesman


The breadth of view shown by the late Prince Consort was one of his
greatest and most marked qualities. He seemed to have the faculty of
seeing further into the future than most men and of preparing his own
mind for developments which were yet hidden from the view of
contemporary statesmen. Hence his famous Exhibition of 1851 and the
realization of the fact that to encourage trade and commerce some
knowledge of the world's products and resources was not only desirable
but necessary. Hence the early perception, which he shared with the
Queen, of the coming importance of the Colonies and of the necessity of
bringing the Crown into touch with those over-sea democracies which were
growing up to nationhood in such neglected fashion and with such little
practical concern in the Motherland. Hence the dislike of the Queen and
himself--because she had the statesman's understanding as well as her
husband--to the Manchester school, and their opposition to the line of
thought which said that Colonies were useless except for commerce and
not much good for that. Hence the Queen's long-after regard for Lord
Beaconsfield and her appreciation of his stirring and romantic
Imperialism.

The Prince of Wales unquestionably inherited this capacity for
statecraft from his parents. Natural and hereditary pride in his future
Crown and in the greatness of the United Kingdom was developed by
teaching and study and visits into an intense pride in the vast Empire
which grew so rapidly from year to year around his country and under
its Crown. Having a broader and saner outlook than many of those about
him, without the spur of ordinary ambitions, or the hampering influence
of partisan considerations, he was enabled to view this development more
carefully, wisely, and clearly than the busy diplomatist or the
much-occupied statesman. Hence the pleasure with which he saw the
Imperial Federation League formed in 1884 and watched the efforts of Mr.
W. E. Forster and Lord Rosebery to build upon the preliminary principles
already evolved by Lord Beaconsfield. It was not long before he saw an
opportunity to promote this sentiment of unity and encourage the
extension of Imperial trade. He had visited different parts of the
Queen's dominions and understood something of the immense possibilities
which were still lying dormant. His sons had since travelled over an
even larger portion of the Empire and had, no doubt, in private as well
as in their published journals, told him much of the more recent
progress of those great outlying communities. Contemporaneously,
therefore, with the founding of the League just mentioned, His Royal
Highness proposed the holding of a great Exhibition which should meet
the new needs of the time as his father's had done in 1851. Then, the
interests of British trade were cosmopolitan and Colonial development
slight and unimportant to the immediate concerns of England. Now,
British commerce was contracting with foreign countries and steadily
growing with British countries. Hence the new Exhibition should, he
thought, be confined to British resources and products and be Imperial
instead of international.

On November 10th, 1884, the Queen issued a Royal Commission to arrange
for the holding of an Exhibition of the products, manufactures and arts
of Her Majesty's Colonial and Indian dominions in the year 1886. The
Prince of Wales was to be President and Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen,
Secretary, of the Commission. The first meeting took place at
Marlborough House on March 30th, 1885, with His Royal Highness in the
chair. Amongst the members present were F. M. the Duke of Cambridge, the
Marquess of Salisbury, the Marquess of Lorne, the Earl of Derby, the
Earl of Dalhousie, Earl Cadogan, the Earl of Kimberley, the Earl of
Lytton, F. M. Lord Strathnairn, Mr. Edward Stanhope, Sir Stafford
Northcote, Mr. W. E. Forster, Sir M. E. Hicks-Beach, Sir H. T. Holland,
Sir John Rose, Sir R. G. W. Herbert, Sir Charles Tupper of Canada, Sir
Arthur Blyth of South Australia, Sir F. D. Bell of New Zealand, Sir Saul
Samuel of New South Wales, Mr. Charles Mills of Cape Colony, Mr. R.
Murray Smith of Victoria, Mr. James F. Garrick of Queensland, Sir W. C.
Seargeant, Sir G. C. M. Birdwood and many other distinguished
representatives of British, Colonial and Indian interests. In the course
of his somewhat lengthy speech detailing the objects of the movement and
the methods of operation, the Prince described the proposed Exhibition
as one by which the "reproductive resources" of the Colonies and India
would be brought before the British people and the different countries
concerned be able to "compare the advance made by each other in trade,
manufactures and general material progress". He pointed out the desire
of the Motherland to participate in the development of Colonial material
interests and then added: "We must remember that, as regards the
Colonies, they are the legitimate and natural homes, in future, of the
more adventurous and energetic portion of the population of these
Islands."

The Secretary announced that the preliminary list of guarantees provided
for £128,000, including £20,000 from the Government of India, £10,000
from that of Canada, £19,000 from the various Australasian Governments
and £1000 each from individual subscribers such as Lord Cadogan, Sir
Thomas Brassey, Sir Daniel Cooper, the Earl of Derby, Mr. Henry
Doulton, Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, Mr. Samuel Morley and the Earl of
Rosebery. This latter list indicated in a most marked manner the
personal influence of the Prince of Wales. On May 3, 1886, the eve of
the formal opening of the Exhibition was marked by a meeting of the
Royal Commission at which the Prince presided, sketched the history and
progress of an undertaking to which he had given much time and intimated
that the guarantee fund now amounted to £218,000, of which the City of
London had recently voted £10,000. In proposing a vote of thanks to the
Royal chairman, seconded by Earl Granville, the Duke of Cambridge said:
"It is not the first time that His Royal Highness has acted as President
in undertakings of this nature, and it is very difficult for any person
to praise him in his presence without appearing fulsome; but it is not
fulsome to say that he has always devoted his whole energies to bringing
everything to a successful issue with which he is connected."


OPENING AND SUCCESS OF THE EXHIBITION

The Colonial and Indian Exhibition was opened on the following day at
South Kensington by Her Majesty the Queen in the presence of an immense
gathering, representative of all parts of the British realm. It was, in
fact, the first of those great fêtes with which the people became so
familiar in the next two decades and which did so much to unify and
typify the power of the Empire. In the brilliant throng surrounding the
Queen and the Prince of Wales, as the latter read an elaborate address
of loyal welcome, were the members of the Government, the various
Foreign Ambassadors, distinguished men in every walk of life,
representatives of Colonies and British islands in all parts of the
world--Lord Salisbury, Lord Rosebery, Lord Cranbrook, the Earl of
Northbrook, the Dukes of Manchester, Buckingham and Abercorn, the Earl
of Iddesleigh, Lord Granville, the Earl of Kimberley, Lord Napier of
Magdala, Sir M. E. Hicks-Beach, Sir F. Leighton, Sir Charles Tupper and
Mr. Hector Fabre from Canada, Sir Alexander Stuart, Sir Arthur Blyth,
Sir Samuel Davenport, the Hon. James F. Garrick and the Hon. Malcolm
Fraser, from Australia, Sir Lyon Playfair, Sir Richard Cross, Sir
William Harcourt, Lord Wolseley, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. H. C.
E. Childers, the Maharajah of Johore, Rustem Pasha, Count Hatzfeldt,
Earl Spencer, and many others. Madame Albani sang that splendid ode by
Lord Tennyson beginning:

    "Welcome, welcome with one voice
    In your welfare we rejoice,
    Sons and brothers that have sent,
    From isle and cape and continent
    Produce of your field and flood,
    Mount and mine and primal wood,
    Works of subtle brain and hand
    And splendours of the Morning Land,
    Gifts from every British zone
    Britons, hold your own!"

The National Anthem was first sung in English and then in Sanskrit as a
compliment to the Indian visitors. The address read by the Prince of
Wales referred to the origin and progress of the project, to the
development of the Colonies, to the late Prince Consort's interest in
Exhibitions and to his own position as President of the present Royal
Commission, and concluded as follows: "It is our heartfelt prayer that
an undertaking intended to illustrate and record this development may
give a stimulus to the commercial interests and intercourse of all parts
of Your Majesty's dominions; that it may be the means of augmenting that
warm affection and brotherly sympathy which is reciprocated by all Your
Majesty's subjects; and that it may still further deepen that steadfast
loyalty which we, who dwell in the Mother Country, share with our
kindred who have elsewhere so nobly done honour to her name." The
Queen's reply expressed an earnest hope that the Exhibition would
encourage the arts of peace and industry and strengthen the bonds of
union within the Empire. An interesting feature of the proceedings was
the receipt of a telegram from Sir Patrick Jennings, Premier of New
South Wales, expressing that Colonial Government's "thanks and
appreciation to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the profound
interest" he had shown in the success of the great project now so
auspiciously opened. The London _Times_ on the following day spoke of
the "energy and devotion" of the Prince in this connection, and the
press as a whole at home and in the external Empire joined in
congratulating him upon the issue.

The Exhibition was a great success in every way. Over five and a half
million visitors were recorded and the Queen helped, personally, to
maintain public interest in it by herself visiting the various Sections
repeatedly. The final meeting of the Royal Commission was held at
Marlborough House on April 30th, 1897 and the Prince of Wales submitted
an elaborate and exhaustive Report which was afterwards published. In
his own remarks the President pointed out that the project had served
its main purpose in very largely promoting knowledge of the Empire's
resources and products and that, incidentally, its success had given the
management a surplus of £35,000. This sum, he suggested, should be
largely devoted to the advancement of the project for a permanent
Exhibition or Imperial Institute--"in the promotion of which the Queen
and I both take so warm an interest." Later in the evening the Prince
expressed the hope that as the late Exhibition had been, allegorically,
burnt that day, "the Imperial Institute may be a Phoenix rising out of
its ashes. I trust that it may be a lasting memorial not only of that
but of the Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen." Of the sum mentioned,
£25,000 was accordingly voted to the new project.

The proposal of the Heir Apparent--as first expressed in a letter to
the Lord Mayor on September 13, 1886--was that the idea evolved in the
Exhibition should be made permanent and be embodied in an Imperial
Institute which should be at once a visible emblem of the unity of the
Empire, a place for illustrating its vast resources, a museum for
exhibiting its varied and changing products and industries, a centre of
information and communication for all British countries, an aid to the
increase and distribution of national wealth, a medium for combining in
joint co-operation older and smaller institutions of tried utility, and
a fitting national memorial of the Queen's Jubilee. The movement
developed steadily and, on January 12th, 1887, a gathering was held at
Kensington Palace, upon invitation of the Prince of Wales, and was one
of the most representative over which even he had ever presided. Amongst
those present were Lord Herschell, Chairman of the Organizing Committee,
the Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Revelstoke, Lord Rothschild, Sir Lyon
Playfair, Sir H. T. Holland, Sir John Rose, Sir Henry James, the Right
Hon. H. H. Fowler, Sir Frederick Leighton, Sir Charles Tupper, Sir Saul
Samuel, Sir Edward Guinness, Sir Ashley Eden, Sir Owen T. Bourne, Sir
Reginald Hanson, Lord Mayor of London, Mr. J. H. Tritton, Chairman of
the London Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Pattison Currie, Chairman of the
Bank of England, Sir Frederick Abel, Mr. Neville Lubbock, Lord Campden,
the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Lord Mayor of York, the Mayor of
Newcastle and nearly two hundred other mayors, or chief magistrates, of
British towns.

The Prince of Wales was accompanied by Prince Albert Victor and spoke at
length upon the objects to be served and the progress already made in
the matter which he had so much at heart. "It occurred to me that the
recent Colonial and Indian Exhibition, which presented a most successful
display of the material resources of the Colonies and India, might
suggest the basis for an Institute which should afford a permanent
representation of the products and manufactures of the Queen's
dominions. I, therefore, appointed a Committee of eminent men to
consider and report to me upon the best means of carrying out this
idea." So much for the initiation of the scheme. The Report had been
duly submitted and accepted and he now invited co-operation and
assistance in establishing and maintaining the proposed "Imperial
Institute of the United Kingdom, the Colonies and India." His Royal
Highness pointed out that no less than sixteen million persons had
attended the four Exhibitions over which he had presided--the Fisheries,
Healtheries, Inventories and Colinderies, as they were popularly
called--and expressed the strong belief that they had added greatly to
the knowledge of the people and largely stimulated the industries of the
country.


INITIATION OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE

"My proposals are that the Imperial Institute be an emblem of the unity
of the Empire and illustrate the resources and capabilities of every
section of Her Majesty's dominions." The Colonies and Motherland would
thus teach other and emigration would also be greatly aided along
British channels. He believed that the work upon which he had entered in
this connection would be of lasting benefit to this and future
generations and, after a careful review of the whole situation, declared
that "from the close relation in which I stand to the Queen there can be
no impropriety in my stating that if her subjects desire, on the
occasion of the celebration of her fiftieth year as Sovereign of this
great Empire, to offer her a memorial of their love and loyalty, she
would specially value one which would promote the industrial and
commercial resources of her dominions in various parts of the world and
which would be expressive of that unity and co-operation which Her
Majesty desires should prevail amidst all classes and races of her
extended Empire."

A public meeting at the Mansion House followed with the Lord Mayor in
the chair and was addressed by Earl Granville, Mr. A. J. Mundella, Mr.
G. J. Goschen, and others. Strong resolutions of support and approval
were passed, many telegrams of sympathy with the object announced, and a
statement of initial subscriptions given which included the names of
Lord Rothschild, Sir W. J. Clarke of Australia and Lord Revelstoke.
During the next six years the project was steadily pressed forward;
large individual subscriptions obtained by the personal influence of the
Prince of Wales, supplemented by the growing sympathy with the Colonies
and with Empire unity; while grants were given by the British, Indian
and Colonial Governments. Gradually, the splendid building in South
Kensington, known over the world as the Imperial Institute, approached
completion and, on May 9th, 1893, was opened by the Queen amidst stately
ceremonial and all the trappings of regal magnificence. Nearly all the
Royal family were present and, in the progress through the streets, a
particularly enthusiastic reception was given to the Duke of York and
Princess May of Teck whose engagement had been very recently announced.
Around Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales, as the latter presented the
address of the Committee, were ranged the most representative men of
England, many Ambassadors, and Indian Princes and Colonial statesmen.
Lord Salisbury, Mr. A. J. Balfour, Mr. H. H. Asquith, Sir William
Harcourt, Lord Rosebery and Lord Randolph Churchill were there, but not
Mr. Gladstone. After a brief description, in the address, of the objects
and history of the Institute, the Prince continued as follows: "We
venture to express a confident anticipation that the Imperial Institute
will not only be a record of the growth of the Empire and of the
marvellous advance of its people in industrial and commercial
prosperity during Your Majesty's reign but will, also, tend to increase
that prosperity by stimulating enterprise and promoting the technical
and scientific knowledge which is now so essential to industrial
development." After some brief words from Her Majesty the great building
was declared open and another important project initiated by the Prince
of Wales had reached completion. The London _Times_ of the succeeding
day referred with accuracy, in this connection, to his "clear-sighted
initiative and untiring energy" and a member of the Executive Committee,
which had the enterprise in hand, wrote to the same paper that during
the past six years "every important step in connection with the
Institute has been taken under the immediate direction of the Prince of
Wales. By his energy men have been moved to action and difficulties
apparently insuperable have been overcome. The result of years of
devoted labour was accomplished to-day."


EARLY ADVOCACY OF IMPERIALISM

These were the two chief products of what may be called the Empire
statesmanship of the Prince of Wales. Long before either of them were
undertaken, however, he had shown a deep and sincere interest in the
unity of the Empire--a natural outcome of his training, his travels, his
individual abilities. For many years he acted as President of the Royal
Colonial Institute, accepting the position at a time when people were
only beginning to awake to the fact that Great Britain was more than an
Island and sea-power and when the Institute was the rallying ground and
centre for a small group of men like the late Duke of Manchester, Lord
Bury, Mr. W. E. Forster and Sir Frederick Young, who devoted much energy
and enthusiasm to the promotion of what long afterwards became known as
Imperialism. The patronage and support of His Royal Highness did very
much to give the movement, in its earlier days, a place and an influence
and to establish the Institute as the factor which history has since
recognized it to have been. It was in this connection, on July 16th,
1881, that the Lord Mayor of London--Sir William McArthur
M.P.--entertained the Prince of Wales at a banquet attended by many
representatives of the Colonies and distinguished guests. In his speech
the Prince referred with extreme regret to his not having been able to
visit all the Colonies, and especially, Australia. He had greatly
desired to accept the invitation extended to him two years before to
visit the Exhibitions at Sydney and Melbourne. "Though, my Lords and
gentlemen I have not had the opportunity of seeing those great
Australian Colonies, which every day and every year are making such
immense development, still, at the International Exhibitions of London,
Paris and Vienna, I had not only an opportunity of seeing their various
products then exhibited, but I had the pleasure of making the personal
acquaintance of many Colonists--a fact which has been a matter of great
importance and great benefit to myself."

A further reference was made to the sending of his sons to visit
Australia and memories of his own tour of British America were revived,
with an expression of special gratification at seeing his "old friend,"
Sir John Macdonald, Prime Minister of Canada, present on this occasion.
In August, 1887, the Prince of Wales showed further and practical
interest in Australia by accepting the post of President of the Royal
Commission appointed by the Queen, in England, to promote and help the
Melbourne Exhibition of 1888. The Earl of Rosebery acted as
Vice-President and much was done in making the British exhibit a good
one. Years before this, speaking at the laying of the foundation stone
of the first Melbourne Exhibition--February 19th, 1879--the Governor of
Victoria, Sir George F. Bowen, declared it to be well-known that the
Heir Apparent was animated by "a desire to visit the Australian Colonies
in person should high reasons of state permit." As illustrating the
opinions formed of him by colonial statesmen, the following may be
quoted from the autobiography of that uncouth, clever, patriotic
personality, Sir Henry Parkes: "I met His Royal Highness on several
occasions in London, and he struck me as possessing in a remarkable
degree the princely faculty of doing the right thing and saying the
right word."

Another matter to which the Prince of Wales gave an Imperial character
was the Royal College of Music which he initiated, organized and finally
inaugurated on May 7th, 1883. Upon the latter occasion he explained in
his speech that the institution was open to the whole Empire, that
scholarships had already been provided by Victoria and South Australia,
and that he hoped it might become an Imperial centre of musical
education as well as a British centre. "The object I have in view is
essentially Imperial as well as national, and I trust that ere long
there will be no Colony of any importance which is not represented by a
scholar at the Royal College." During the years which followed, up to
the time of his accession to the Throne, the interest of the Prince of
Wales in everything that helped Imperial unity was continuous and most
earnest. At the Jubilee periods of 1887 and 1897, he entertained many
Colonial statesmen, as he had done at other times when opportunity
served, and he was always delighted to meet them and to discuss the
affairs of their countries with men who naturally knew them best. It was
a process of mental equipment for the government of a vast empire which,
in addition to his early travels, must have made the experience and
knowledge of Queen Victoria's successor as unique as were the conditions
and greatness of his Empire.

During the last Jubilee the Prince presided, on June 18th, as President
of the Imperial Institute, at a banquet given to the Colonial Premiers
and other representatives in London. Upon his right sat Sir Wilfrid
Laurier, Premier of Canada, and upon his left Mr. Whitelaw Reid, the
special Envoy of the United States. Amongst others present were Lord
Salisbury, Sir Hugh Nelson, Premier of Queensland, the Marquess of
Lansdowne, Lord Rosebery and Mr. Chamberlain--all of whom spoke; while
Lord Ripon, Lord Dufferin, Lord Kimberley, the Marquess of Lorne, Sir W.
V. Whiteway, Premier of Newfoundland, Lord Rothschild, Sir Donald Smith
(Lord Strathcona) the Archbishop of Canterbury and a splendid array of
other representative men in Church and State, army and navy, art and
science and literature, were also present. In one of his tactful
speeches on this occasion, His Royal Highness referred to the enormous
growth of the Colonies during the Queen's record reign and expressed the
hope that present peaceful conditions might long continue. "God grant
it," he added, "but if the national flag is threatened I am convinced
that all the Colonies will unite to maintain what exists and to preserve
the unity of the Empire." In little more than a year these words were
fully borne out by events.

But the Prince of Wales was never content to make mere speeches in
advocacy of a principle. His aid to the Royal Colonial Institute and
organization of the Imperial Institute were cases in point. When the
Imperial Federation League was formed he could only help its aims
indirectly because there were political possibilities in its platform,
but when, in 1896, the British Empire League succeeded to its place and
mission, with a broader and more general platform, the Queen and the
Prince extended their patronage to the organization. On April 30, 1900,
a great banquet was given under its auspices to welcome the Australian
Delegates who had gone "home" to discuss the Commonwealth Act, and to
recognize the services rendered by Colonial troops in the South African
war. The Duke of Devonshire occupied the chair, with the Prince of Wales
and the Duke of York on either hand, and next to them again the Dukes of
Cambridge and Fife. The Marquess of Salisbury, Lieutenant Colonel
George T. Denison, President of the League in Canada, Mr. Chamberlain,
Mr. Edmund Barton of Australia and Mr. J. Israel Tarte of Canada were
amongst the speakers, and others present included the Right Hon. C. C.
Kingston, the Hon. Alfred Deakin, the Hon. J. R. Dickson, Sir John
Cockburn and Sir James Blyth of Australia, the Earl of Hopetoun, Lord
Lansdowne, Lord Wolseley, Lord Knutsford, Lord Strathcona, the Earl of
Onslow, the Earl of Jersey, the Earl of Crewe, Lord Kelvin and Earl
Grey. The Prince of Wales was enthusiastically received and
congratulated upon his recent escape from assassination at Brussels.
After some eloquently appropriate remarks upon this point, he welcomed
the Australians in kindly words and then referred to the war. "We little
doubt," he went on, "that in a great war like the one we are now waging
we should have at any rate the sympathy of our Colonies; but it has
exceeded even our expectations. We know now the feeling that existed in
our Colonies and that they have sent their best material, their best
blood and manhood, to fight with us, side by side, for the honour of the
flag and for the maintenance of our Empire." Such words may fittingly
conclude a brief record of the Prince of Wales' interest in Empire
affairs up to the time of his accession to the Throne.




CHAPTER XVI.

The Prince as Heir Apparent


The Heir to a Throne such as that of Great Britain has an exceptionally
difficult place to fill. He has to have the broad sympathies and
knowledge and training of a statesman without the right to express
himself upon any of the political problems and issues of his time; he
has to live in a never-ending blaze of publicity and be liable to
unscrupulous, or too scrupulous, criticism without the power of direct
reply; he has, perhaps, to suffer in private life and character from the
caustic shafts of men at home or abroad who do not like the institution
which he represents; he has to officiate in a ceaseless round of
functions and public ceremonial; he has to travel constantly from Court
to Court in Europe and, in the case of the Prince of Wales, he had to
act for several decades the part of the Sovereign in public life without
the resources or responsibilities which the actual ruler would naturally
possess.

There are, of course, important compensations. He has the foremost place
in every leading national event, the privilege of knowing as intimately
as he pleases the great men of his own and other countries, in every
line of statecraft and human attainment, the pleasure of travel in many
lands and amongst varied scenes and people, the opportunity of taking up
any matter of a non-political character which he deems useful to the
state, the people, or the Empire, with a reasonable certainty of
substantial backing. To succeed, however, in the position as did Albert
Edward, Prince of Wales, demands a peculiar combination of qualities
which very few men possess in any rank of life. Tact, self-restraint,
self-reliance, knowledge of human nature, energy, dignity, good
intentions earnest patriotism, are more or less necessary.

How seldom these qualities have all been possessed by Heirs to the
British Throne is plain upon the pages of history. There have been
amongst them seventeen Princes of Wales of whom the best, before the
chief of the line, was the Black Prince, and of whom only four have
reached the Throne since the time of Edward VI. They were Charles I,
Charles II, George II, and George IV., and the careers of the last two
consisted in the establishment of rival Courts, continuous disagreements
with their fathers, the headship of political factions, and the
possession of characters about which the least said the better. The
Prince who became Edward VII. may be said to have created the position
of Heir Apparent, as his Royal mother created that of a modern
constitutional Monarch.


NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE POSITION

He established himself as a sort of advisory statesman to the nation, an
absolutely impartial leader in questions of high, as distinct from party
politics, the first gentleman in the land in society, sports and
manners, the leader of philanthropic projects and social reforms. He
became the busiest man in England, the most popular personality in the
three kingdoms, the head and front of many important public
undertakings. Such a development was new to British institutions, but it
came about so gradually that only when he ascended the Throne did people
fully realize how large a place the Prince of Wales had held in public
affairs as well as in their affections. Mr. Chauncey M. Depew, the
eloquent American Senator, expressed the personal side of the matter
very well when he said, with some surprise, after first meeting His
Royal Highness: "I met a thoughtful dignitary filling to the brim the
requirements of his exalted position. In fact, a practical as well as a
theoretical student of the mighty forces which control the government of
all great countries and make their best history."

There were many sides to this career, and in some of them the Prince
never received the credit which he deserved. One was the essentially
business-like management of his financial affairs. From the time of
attaining his majority the Heir Apparent received £40,000 a year by
grant of Parliament; at his marriage a special grant of £10,000 was
given the Princess of Wales; when their children grew up the Prince was
given £36,000 to apportion amongst them as he saw fit. During his
minority the wise management of the revenues of the Duchy of
Cornwall--which is an hereditary appurtenance of the Prince of Wales--by
the late Prince Consort, gave the Heir Apparent a total of £600,000, of
which £220,000 were expended upon the purchase of Sandringham, and a
considerable sum upon improvements there. On the Prince's marriage he
was voted £23,455 to defray expenses and his allowance for the Indian
tour of 1875 was £142,000 of which £69,000 was for presents. Marlborough
House was given him by the nation, though he paid taxes upon it like any
other citizen. The Duchy of Cornwall was so well managed after it came
under his control that it yielded in 1897 a total income of nearly
£74,000, or almost double the value of the returns received forty years
before. Birk Hall, an estate inherited from the Prince Consort, was sold
to the Queen for £120,000. The total public income of the Prince of
Wales during many years was about £180,000, or nearly a million dollars,
and the management of his finances was always careful. The stories of
extravagance and indebtedness were absolutely without foundation. Yet
these tales of poverty were always widespread and were probably believed
by many millions of people.

The truth is that he was a first-rate business man in money affairs,
knew how to make his income go to its furthest extent, and had an
established system on his estates and in his palaces which combined
comfort and luxury with judicious economy. A few words upon this point
may be quoted, in passing, from an article in the well-known _Ladies
Home Journal_ of Philadelphia, written in July, 1897, by Mr. George W.
Smalley, an American critic of authority who lived in London for many
years: "It is not a subject which I care to touch upon, but I may refer
to the stories about the Prince of Wales' financial position. It is a
matter with which the American public has absolutely no concern.
Nevertheless all sorts of stories are printed here about his debts to
this person or that. Such stories were circulated when Baron Hirsch
died--so circumstantial that they must have either been based upon
minute knowledge or have been pure fabrications. They were not based
upon knowledge, minute or otherwise, because they were not true." These
stories were rendered more absurd by the fact that a rough calculation
of his receipts during forty years of public life would indicate a sum
of between thirty and forty millions of dollars.


CHARITIES OF THE PRINCE

Of course the expenses of the Heir Apparent were very great even when
those are excepted which the nation paid. His personal gifts to
benevolent institutions, educational concerns, religious interests,
objects of social, moral and physical improvement, hospitals and
infirmaries, asylums, orphanages, commercial and agricultural
organizations, the relief of children and foreigners in distress, deaf
and dumb and blind institutions, memorials and statues, Indian famines,
war funds, calamity funds of various kinds at home, in the Colonies, and
abroad, have been reckoned by an English student of statistics at £3,200
a year, or £128,000 in forty years--$640,000 spent in response to public
appeals alone without reference to the many private charities about
which little was known except that a very large amount of assistance
was given yearly by the Prince and Princess in response to all kinds of
private and authenticated requests. In this general connection Mr.
Gladstone, when Prime Minister, spoke very warmly during the
Parliamentary discussion of 1889 upon the Royal grants of that year. "It
will be admitted," he said in the course of his somewhat famous speech,
"that circumstances have tended to throw upon the Prince of Wales an
amount of public work in connection with institutions as well as with
ceremonials, which was larger than could reasonably have been expected,
and with regard to which every call has been honourably and devotedly
met from a sense of public duty."

Reference has been made in the preceding pages to the infinitely varied
public functions of His Royal Highness and the aid thus given to
charities and benevolent objects. A few instances only were quoted in
which many thousands of pounds were obtained for worthy objects through
his patronage. The fact is that the Heir Apparent gave his position a
rather unique characteristic in this respect by becoming a sort of Grand
Almoner of the nation. Almost any charity which he patronized or which
the Princess supported with his approval, became a success, and it is
probable that every thousand pounds which he gave away became a hundred
thousand pounds through the _prestige_ of his example and his often
vigorous and effective personal exertions. One of the interests to which
he was most devoted was that of the London and other hospitals.
Attendance at the festivals, or annual dinners, was frequent, and the
consequent subscription to their funds from time to time considerable.
During the Diamond Jubilee the Prince thought he saw in this cause a way
to fittingly commemorate that great event--as he had already marked that
of 1887 by the Imperial Institute.

Under date of February 5th, 1897, therefore, an elaborate statement and
earnest appeal appeared in the London _Times_ and other great papers
signed by the Prince of Wales, and asking for organized help in making
up the existing deficits of £100,000 in London hospitals. The Royal
writer pointed out that the efforts of individual institutions,
praiseworthy as they had been, failed to obtain more than a small number
of subscriptions from the great population of the metropolis; that the
reasons for this was partly the difficulty of choosing amongst so many
useful charities, partly the lack of definite opportunity for giving
annual subscriptions to the cause as a whole, partly a feeling that
small sums were not worth contributing; that it was proposed to
establish this "Prince of Wales Hospital Fund" in order to commemorate
the 60th anniversary of the Queen's reign by obtaining permanent annual
subscriptions of from £100,000 to £150,000. He also announced that Lord
Rothschild had accepted the post of Treasurer, that a commencement in
subscriptions had been made, and that the Lord Mayor had promised his
active assistance.

The success of the movement thus inaugurated by the Heir Apparent was
pronounced. The annual Report of the Council of the Fund, which was
issued on May 2nd, 1899, stated that during the past two years £89,000
had been distributed, and that the hospitals had been enabled to re-open
and maintain two hundred and forty-two beds. It had, however, not come
up yet to the requirements and, on March 1st, of this year, the Prince
made another effort to help the hospitals. He called a large and
representative meeting at Marlborough House, and placed before it a plan
for the establishment of an Order to be called the League of Mercy. Its
object would be to reach locally persons who did not subscribe to minor
Funds, or individual institutions, and to do this by offering an honour
in the form of this decoration, "as a reward for gratuitous personal
services rendered in the relief of sickness, suffering, poverty or
distress." These services would be apart, altogether, from gifts of
money, (although the latter would be gladly accepted) and must be
continued during five years. The Queen was to be head of the Order and
the Heir Apparent its Grand President. All names were to be submitted to
Her Majesty and the honour itself was not to confer any rank, dignity or
social precedence. The plan was approved, and its success marked despite
some caustic and unjust criticisms in certain Radical papers. On
December 1st (1899), following, the annual meeting of the Hospital Fund
was held at Marlborough House, with His Royal Highness in the chair, and
attended by Lord Rowton, Lord Iveagh, Cardinal Vaughan, Lord Lister,
Lord Reay, the Chief Rabbi and others. Lord Rothschild submitted a
statement which showed the year's receipts to be £47,000, the first
distribution from the League of Mercy to be £1,000, and the total amount
of the Fund to be £217,000. The meeting of December 18th, in the
following year, showed receipts of £49,468; of which £6,000 came from
the League of Mercy. In his speech upon this occasion Lord Rothschild
heartily congratulated the Royal chairman upon his "wisdom and
foresight" in forming this League. In passing, it may be said that
Grey's Hospital, London, was one of the individual institutions which
the Prince undertook personally to help, and at one special banquet, at
which he presided for this purpose, he was enabled to announce total
subscriptions to the extraordinary amount of £151,000.


THE PRINCE AND THE WORKINGMEN

There was no part of his public career more creditable to the Prince of
Wales than his sincere, unforced friendship and sympathy with the
workingman. Like his philanthropic work, it was the natural product of a
generous disposition, and won the honest liking of men who had always
looked with suspicion upon aristocratic, to say nothing of Royal,
efforts in their behalf. This was another illustration of the difference
between Heirs Apparent to the Throne. Imagination fails to grasp the
thought of the Stuarts or the Georges, when holding that position,
trying to help the poor or uplift the labourer! Speaking at a meeting in
London on January 12th, 1887, Lord Mayor, Sir Reginald Hanson, said:
"All those who have been engaged in this scheme (the Imperial Institute)
know that the Prince of Wales is one of the first in this country who
looks to the interests of the working classes." For many years, indeed,
he had been an annual subscriber to the Workingmen's Club and Institute
Union and to the Workingmen's College in Great Ormond Street. In the
Alexandra Trust, founded by Sir Thomas Lipton, at the instance of the
Princess, much interest was taken by the Heir Apparent as well as his
wife, and, on March 15th, 1900, they privately and unexpectedly visited
the Restaurant in City Road and inspected this praiseworthy effort to
supply wholesome food at low prices to the poor. After walking about and
speaking to many of the people, they enjoyed a "three-course dinner"
costing four pence half-penny, and left amid a scene of great
enthusiasm.

More than once the Prince aided workingmen's institutions by visiting
them. On one occasion he heard that an Exhibition in South London,
promoted by workingmen, was languishing for want of patronage and at
once arranged to visit it unofficially. He went through it carefully,
buying a number of articles and expressing much interest in the project.
There was no further neglect of the institution by the general public.
There was, perhaps, no single work in which he more appreciated the
opportunity of doing good than that connected with the Housing of the
Poor Commission to which he was appointed in 1884. He more than once
presided at its meetings and took an active part in the investigations
which were necessary. He attended every sitting and studied quietly and
privately the whole condition of the poor in the poorest quarters of
London and other cities. The Prince never hesitated to criticize those
who neglected their charitable duties, or to praise those who lived up
to the level of their opportunities, and in connection with an
institution which he opened at Deptford, in 1898, his condemnation of
the wealthy people in that neighbourhood was severe.

On March 4th, 1900, the working-class dwellings built in Shoreditch by
the City Council were opened by the Prince of Wales. They were largely
the product of the Royal Commission in which he had taken such interest
and whose proposals were the basis of so much progress in this
direction. His Royal Highness was accompanied on this occasion by the
Princess and Lord Suffield and was surrounded on the platform by Lord
Welby, the Earl of Rosebery, the Bishops of London and Stepney, the Earl
and Countess Carrington and others. In his speech the Prince was
expressive and vigorous upon the necessity of better housing for the
poor. "I am satisfied, not only that the public conscience is awakened
on the subject but that the public demands, and will demand, vigorous
action in cleansing the slums which disgrace our civilization and the
erection of good and wholesome dwellings such as those around us, and in
meeting the difficulties of providing house-room for the
working-classes, at reasonable rates, by easy and cheap carriage to not
distant districts where rents are reasonable." He concluded an elaborate
speech upon the question generally by expressing the hope that the
Legislature would deal with and punish those who were responsible for
insanitary property. Speaking at a banquet of the London County Council
on December 3rd of the same year, the Prince again urged attention to
the improvement of dwellings in various city areas. A part of this
generous desire to aid the poor was the Princess of Wales' dinner to
three hundred thousand persons in London at the Jubilee of 1897.
Contributions poured in unceasingly to the project and amongst others
was the gift of twenty thousand sheep from the pastoralists of New
South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. The organization of the dinner was
in the hands of the Lord Mayor of London and it proved a great success.

The gifts of a statesman were cultivated by the Prince of Wales upon
every proper opportunity. His Empire unity ideas and projects were
abundant evidence of this while a not less distinct proof of statecraft
was the apparent absence of it--the absolute non-partisan position of
the Heir Apparent. No one was ever able to say that he held political
views of any particular type. His delicate tact was particularly shown
in his kindness and courtesy to Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone. When the aged
statesman finally retired from politics the Prince visited him again at
Hawarden Castle and was photographed in a family group. He and the
Princess attended his funeral and showed the greatest respect for his
memory and services. When the time came, in 1900, for Mrs. Gladstone to
be laid beside her husband in Westminster Abbey one of the incidents of
a sad occasion was the wreath sent in by their Royal Highnesses with the
following inscription:

    _In Memory of Dear Mrs. Gladstone._

    "It is but crossing with abated breath
    And with set face, a little strip of sea,
    To find the loved ones waiting on the shore
    More beautiful, more precious than before."

In preparing a national memorial to the eminent Liberal leader the
Prince of Wales accepted the post of President of the General Committee
with the Duke of Westminster as Chairman of the Executive. With Mr.
Cecil Rhodes, he was long upon terms of intimacy and never concealed his
admiration for the great Imperialist's career and objects. There can be
no doubt that he knew much of South African affairs and was instrumental
in the Duke of Fife taking a place on the Directorate of the South
African Chartered Company. The only occasion upon which the Prince ever
withdrew from a prominent Club was his retirement from the Traveller's
because they had black-balled Mr. Rhodes. Not the smallest evidence of
statecraft which the Prince of Wales showed, in a semi-personal way, was
his warm sympathy with the emancipation of the Jews and his belief in
their absorption into the life and interests of England. His presence at
the marriage of Mr. Leopold de Rothschild caused, long since, a
sensation in Jewish circles but it was only the first of many
compliments which the Heir Apparent bestowed upon the "chosen people" up
to the days when one of them became Prime Minister and a daughter of the
House of Rothschild married a future Premier--the Earl of Rosebery. The
late Baron Hirsch, the present Lord Rothschild. Sir Reuben Sassoon and
Sir Moses Montefiore were amongst his personal friends and he made a
thorough study of the position of the Russian Jews--showing them
practical sympathy in various indirect ways. Of course, this partiality
was open to misconstruction and the rumour of indebtedness to Jewish
financial interests was so prevalent at one time that Sir Francis
Knollys had to write a correspondent, who directly asked the question,
an official statement as Private Secretary to the Prince, that the
latter had no debts worth speaking of and could pay every farthing he
owed at a moment's notice.

There is no question, however, that this friendship with a powerful
financial class, ruling great interests in every nation, gave the Prince
of Wales a much enhanced influence abroad. In the same way his obvious
liking for American men and women of standing and ability was marked and
did undoubted service in promoting good feeling between the two
countries--where it was not grossly and untruthfully misrepresented by
sensational journals. Really distinguished visitors from the United
States, whether rich or poor, always found a welcome at the hands of His
Royal Highness and amongst those whom he appears to have especially
liked were James Russell Lowell, Thomas F. Bayard, Whitelaw Reid and
Chauncey M. Depew. American women who have been absorbed into English
life and society like Lady Harcourt, Mrs. Chamberlain and the Duchess of
Marlborough were always treated with marked courtesy by both the
Princess and himself. His visit to the United States in 1860 had also
taught him something of conditions there which those around him were not
always fully aware of. Hence the value of the message which was sent to
the New York _World_ in the name of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of
York during the Venezuelan crisis. If it be true that a private letter,
a word spoken in season, or a brief drawing-room conversation, is often
more influential than a cloud of newspaper writing, then the Prince of
Wales was for years a potent force in promoting good-will between the
Empire and the Republic.

As a diplomatist there can be no doubt of the Heir Apparent's influence.
He succeeded, in fact, to much of the power held in that respect by the
Prince Consort. It was the post of an unofficial and secret personal
mediator between the Sovereign of Great Britain and those of other
countries. Thoroughly acquainted with the personality of foreign rulers,
related to the majority of those in Europe, knowing their degrees of
national influence and personal power, familiar with the statesmen's
position in Court and Legislature, associated more and more closely as
the years went on with Queen Victoria's personal view of foreign policy,
the Prince's position was one of very great indirect power. Through his
heirship to the British throne he was naturally upon terms of something
like equality with those whom he met as rulers at Berlin or St.
Petersburg, at Paris or Vienna, and more in sympathy with their point of
view than men of less than Royal rank. To quote Mr. George W. Smalley in
_McClure's Magazine_ of March, 1901: "His is a strange nature. He has,
very fully and strongly, the pride of Kings and what the pride of Kings
is, a republican who has lived all his life in a republic can hardly
conceive. He has behind him, moreover, the loyalty of an expectant
nation." Upon the other hand he knew more about the people and was more
of them than any other hereditary ruler or prospective ruler in the
world. Hence the strength of his position when conferring with a German
Emperor, or a Russian Czar, or talking quietly with some Foreign
Minister at a time of crisis.


INCIDENTS OF DIPLOMATIC INFLUENCE

This personal influence of the Heir Apparent was a factor often ignored.
"Again and again," says Mr. Smalley, from the point of view of one who
watched for years at the source of power in London, "the Prince has gone
abroad as--in effect, though of course never in name--an Ambassador from
the Queen to some Sovereign on the Continent. He has laid her views at
some critical moments before the German Emperor and carried home the
Emperor's response." This sort of personal intercourse must, many a
time, have solved vital and serious issues. When William II. visited
Windsor in 1899 and the Queen, with the aid of the Prince of Wales, Lord
Salisbury and Mr. Chamberlain, evolved the terms upon which the
countries were to stand in regard to the coming South African war, can
there be any doubt as to the place in these negotiations which the Heir
Apparent held, or as to the advantage which his many earlier visits to
Berlin in the days of Bismarck and the Kaiser's initiatory years of
rule, must have been to him? The result of this intercourse was, in the
end, the turning of a possible national enemy into a friend; the change
of the Emperor who wrote the famous Transvaal cablegram into the ruler
who took the first train and boat to Windsor and bowed his head at the
death-bed of Queen Victoria.

Another interesting incident in this connection may be found in the
friendship known to have existed between the Prince of Wales and the
Czar of Russia. Nicholas II. bore the same relationship of nephew to him
that was borne by William II. and, like the other Imperial ruler, came
to bear a similar feeling of respect and regard for his
uncle--sentiments not always felt between relations, royal or otherwise.
It was on August 31st, 1894, that the Princess of Wales received a
despatch from her sister, the Czarina, that Alexander III. was nearing
his end in the far-away Palace of Livadia. As rapidly as train and ship
could carry them the Royal couple travelled to Russia, but only in time
for the prolonged and splendid ceremonial of a state funeral. In this
great and solemn pageant, lasting a week, and extending from Livadia to
St. Petersburg, the Czar and the Prince were constantly together, in the
most intimate relations, at a moment when the former was just
emerging--as yet a young and inexperienced man--into the
responsibilities of perhaps the most difficult position in the world. It
was little wonder if the youthful autocrat of ninety millions took
counsel of his experienced and genial relative, and found in his society
comfort and knowledge and the basis of a lasting friendship. Let Mr. W.
T. Stead in the _Review of Reviews_, of January, 1895, describe the
situation:

     It was fortunate for every one that he stood where he did, as no
     one outside the Royal Castle could have been to the young Czar what
     the Prince was at Livadia, and afterwards. In the long and almost
     terrible pilgrimage to the tomb which followed, when the corpse of
     the dead Czar was carried in solemn state from the shores of the
     Black Sea to the tomb in the Cathedral that stands on the frozen
     Neva, the Prince was always at the right hand of the Czar. Alike in
     public or in private, the uncle and the nephew stood side by side.
     After the first gush of grief had passed, it was impossible but
     that thoughts of the relations between the two Empires should not
     have crossed the minds of both. These two men share between them
     the over lordship of Asia. To the Czar, the north from the Oural
     to the far Sagahlien; to the other, the south from the Straits of
     Babel Mandeb to Hong Kong. No two men on this planet ever
     represented so vast a range of Imperial power as the first mourners
     at the bier of Alexander the Third.

At St. Petersburg, the Duke of York joined the mourning group of Royal
personages, and there, on November 26th, the young Czar was married to
his cousin, Princess Alix of Hesse, and a still closer tie of
relationship formed with the Royal House of England. From this time
forward the diplomatic relations of Russia and Great Britain steadily
improved and there has never been any doubt amongst those in a position
to judge that it was very largely due to the close friendship between
the Prince of Wales and his Imperial nephew. In France, and especially
amongst its leading men, His Royal Highness was for long an influential
factor in keeping the wheels of international relations moving smoothly.
Personally popular, his tactful course at critical periods helped
greatly in maintaining official amity. The root of this wide-spread
influence and practical statecraft, in addition to elements already
indicated and covering more directly the personal equation, was well
described by Mr. Smalley in an article already quoted: "First of all,
the impression of real force of character. Next, that combined
shrewdness and good sense which together amount to sagacity. Third,
tact. Add to these firmness and courage, and base all of these gifts on
immense experience of life by one who has touched it on many sides and
you will have drawn an outline of character which cannot be much
altered. Add to it the Prince's constant solicitude about public matters
and his intelligent estimate of forces--which last is the chief business
of statesmanship. Add to this again the effect upon the hearer of
conversation from a mind full, not indeed of literature, but of life; a
conversation of wide range, of acuteness, of clear statement and strong
opinion, of infinite good humour."

To these varied lines of useful statesmanship and personal labour in
which the Heir Apparent was engaged for so many years, may be added the
personal influence which he exercised over men of the Empire from time
to time, and his constant inculcation of pride in country and of
patriotic principle. There will then be seen a total record worthy of
his later place as the hereditary ruler of vast dominions. In the former
connection one incident may be mentioned as told by a correspondent
during the Indian tour: "The Prince's tact is remarkable, and the news
of his friendliness soon spread over India; one officer of great
experience in Indian affairs declared that in asking the Maharajah
Scindia to ride down the lines with him at Delhi, His Royal Highness
performed an act which was worth a million sterling." Upon the latter
point his speeches during forty years to innumerable military
bodies--Militia, Volunteer, or Naval--may be mentioned. His earliest
deliverance of this character was in presenting colours to the 100th, or
Prince of Wales' Royal Canadian Regiment, at Thorncliffe, on January
10th, 1859. His first speech as an officer of the Army was, therefore,
of an Imperialistic character: "The ceremonial, in which we are now
engaged, possesses a peculiar significance and solemnity because in
confiding to you for the first time this emblem of military fidelity and
valour, I not only recognize emphatically your enrollment into our
national force but celebrate an act which proclaims and strengthens the
unity of the various parts of this vast Empire under the sway of our
common Sovereign." The fact that this address of the youthful Prince--he
was not eighteen--was probably revised and approved by the Prince
Consort and the Queen, illustrates how early his education in
Imperialism began, and how far in advance of public opinion the Queen
and her sagacious husband were.

Through the years that followed the Prince of Wales was never backward
in urging efficient military and naval protection for British
interests. Upon the question of the Navy two speeches, delivered in
1899, may be referred to as indicating the patriotic statesmanship of
the Heir of the Throne Speaking at the Middlesex Hospital banquet on
April 12th he said: "In this country it depends on our Navy and our Army
to uphold the honour and _prestige_ of our nation and to protect the
interests which have made it the vast empire it is. I rejoice to think
that Her Majesty's Government have thought fit to increase our Navy. I
realize by your applause how heartily you reciprocate what I have said,
and I believe that this feeling exists not only in this room but
throughout the length and breadth of Her Majesty's dominions. In
strengthening our Navy, God forbid that it should imply in any way that
we threatened other countries--just the reverse--for, in order to be at
peace, we must be strong. Therefore, the best policy is to strengthen
our first line of defence--the Navy. I hope the motto of which our
Volunteers are so proud may ever be retained by the Navy; that of
defence, not defiance." A little later, as President of the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution, he presided over a banquet in London on
May 1st. In proposing the toast of the Army and Navy he declared that
the country owed them much. "I am sure the desire of every Englishman is
to see both in a high state of efficiency and that he does not grudge
putting his hand in his pocket to maintain them, because he knows that
if he has a good fleet and a good army he is safe and the honour of the
Empire is safe."

An incident occurred on April 4th, 1900, which afforded abundant proof
of the popularity of the Prince of Wales and indicated the importance
his position had attained in the eyes of the world. He had been
travelling to Denmark accompanied by the Princess, and his train had
arrived at Brussels _en route_ from Calais to Copenhagen. The carriage
was a special one and was leaving the station at a slow, preliminary
rate when a youth named Sipido jumped on the foot-board of the car and
fired two shots, in rapid succession, point-blank at the traveller who
was just taking a cup of tea with his wife. He was about to fire a third
time, but was seized by the stationmaster, arrested and sent to prison.
The man turned out to be a Belgian, expressed no regret for his
attempted crime, said that he was willing to try again, and stated,
under cross-examination, that his object was to avenge the thousands of
men "whom the Prince had caused to be slaughtered in South Africa." He
was afterwards tried under the laws of Belgium and acquitted. After
sending dispatches to the Queen and the Duchess of York, containing
assurance of safety, the Prince and Princess proceeded on their way to
Denmark.

[Illustration: EDWARD VII AND HIS QUEEN ALEXANDRA CROWNED

On August 9, 1902, amidst all possible pomp and solemnity the Sovereign
of the British Empire and his beloved Consort received the joyful homage
of their subjects]

[Illustration: KING EDWARD VII WITH QUEEN ALEXANDRA GOING IN STATE TO
THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT]

[Illustration: THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY PAYS HOMAGE TO HIS SOVEREIGN

When the Primate came to do homage to Edward VII and was about to exhort
the King to "stand firm and hold fast" he was quite overcome, and his
Majesty to prevent his falling, stretched forth his hand to assist him.]

[Illustration: THE TOWER OF LONDON]

The event created a profound sensation in Great Britain and throughout
Europe and the British Empire. The first feeling was of astonishment
that one of the most popular members of the world's Royal circle should
be the object of such an attempt; the second that more care had not been
taken by those responsible for his safety in travelling; and the third
was admiration for the perfect coolness and obvious bravery which he
showed during and after the ordeal. Everywhere tributes of sympathy were
tendered in language of unstinted appreciation of the Heir Apparent's
public services and character. Speaking at Acton, on the same evening,
Lord George Hamilton, M.P., said: "What could have induced any foreigner
to raise his hand against the Prince of Wales passed his comprehension.
If there was one individual who had utilized his position and abilities
to promote the welfare of the poorer section of society it was the
Prince of Wales. No kinder, no more philanthropic, no more humane man
existed on the face of the earth." At other meetings which were going
on, sympathetic allusions were made to the event, amidst loud cheers, by
Lord Strathcona, Sir William Wedderburn, M.P., the Earl of Hopetoun, and
Sir Wilfrid Lawson. Telegrams poured in at Windsor and Marlborough
House from every point of the compass. Resolutions of congratulation
were passed in every portion of the Empire during the next few days, and
"God bless the Prince of Wales" rang loudly through the United Kingdom
and many a distant country.

King Leopold of Belgium was one of the first to express his deep regret
at the occurrence; the Governments of Victoria, South Australia, Western
Australia, Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, Cyprus, Mauritius and
Barbados, the President of France, the Portuguese Parliament, the Town
Councils of Ballarat and Bendigo in Australia and Durban in South
Africa, the Agents-General of all the Colonies in London, the Australian
Federal Delegates in London, the Masonic Grand Lodge of New Zealand, the
Corporation of London, the Government of Servia, the High Commissioner
for South Africa and the Hon. W. P. Schreiner, Premier of Cape Colony,
the Governor-General of Canada, the Governor of Malta, and some eight
hundred other Governments, public bodies, or prominent persons,
telegraphed messages of congratulation or formal Resolutions. The
references of the British and Colonial press were more than sympathetic.
The London _Standard_ thought that "the veneration felt for the Queen as
well as the general regard for the Prince's personal qualities and his
universal popularity might be supposed to give him absolute immunity,
even in these days of frenzied political animosity and unscrupulous
journalistic violence. The Prince is almost as well-known on the
Continent as he is at home, and his invariable courtesy and unaffected
kindness of heart have been appreciated and acknowledged in capitals
where his country is not regarded with affection." The London _Daily
News_ pointed out the utter absence of all excuse for such an attempt.
"The Prince had refrained with admirable tact and discretion from
interference with public affairs. All sorts of charitable and
philanthropic concerns have found in his Royal Highness a sympathetic
friend."

Returning home, on April 20th, the Prince of Wales was given a pleasant
surprise at Altona where, as his train stopped on German soil, he found
the Emperor William and Prince Henry of Prussia waiting with their
suites to welcome him to Germany and, at the same time, to offer
personal congratulations upon his escape. This occurrence created wide
comment in Europe generally, and was taken to mean a desire by the
German Emperor to express friendly national as well as friendly personal
feelings. When His Royal Highness arrived at Dover, the welcome was
immense in numbers and enthusiastic in character. The same thing
occurred at Charing-Cross Station, London, where he was met by the Duke
of York and the King of Sweden and Norway and wildly cheered by
thousands of people on his way to Marlborough House. As the _Standard_
put it next day: "No address of congratulation, presented by dignitaries
in scarlet and gold, could have been nearly as eloquent as that sea of
friendly faces and the ringing cheers of loyal men." In response to the
innumerable congratulations received, as well as to this reception, the
Prince of Wales issued a personal and public note of thanks in the
following terms:

"I have been deeply touched by the numerous expressions of sympathy and
goodwill addressed to me on the occasion of the providential escape of
the Princess of Wales and myself from the danger we have lately passed
through. From every quarter of the globe, from the Queen's subjects
throughout the world, as well as from the representatives and
inhabitants of foreign countries, have these manifestations of sympathy
proceeded, and on my return to this country I received a welcome so
spontaneous and hearty that I felt I was the recipient of a most
gratifying tribute of genuine good-will. Such proofs of kind and
generous feeling are naturally most highly prized by me, and will
forever be cherished in my memory."




CHAPTER XVII.

Accession to the Throne


The death of Queen Victoria and the accession of King Edward were the
first and perhaps the greatest events in the opening year of the new
century. Before the formal announcement on January 18th, 1901, which
stated that the Queen was not in her usual health and that "the great
strain upon her powers" during the past year had told upon Her Majesty's
nervous system, the people in Great Britain, in Canada, in Australia, in
all the Isles of the Sea and on the shores of a vast and scattered
Empire, had become so accustomed to her presence at the head of the
State and to her personality in their hearts and lives that the
possibility of her death was regarded with a feeling of shocked
surprise.

During the days which immediately followed and while the shadow of death
lay over the towers of Windsor, its influence was everywhere perceptible
throughout the press, the pulpit and amongst the peoples of the
Empire--in Montreal as in Winnipeg, in busy Melbourne and in
trouble-tossed Cape Town, in Calcutta and in Singapore. When the Prince
of Wales, on Thursday evening, the 22nd of January, telegraphed the Lord
Mayor of London that "My beloved mother, the Queen, has just passed
away," the announcement awakened a feeling of sorrow, of sympathy and of
Imperial sentiment such as the world had never seen before in such
wide-spread character and spontaneous expression.

Yet there was no expression of uneasiness as to the future; no question
or doubt as to the new influence and power that must come into existence
with the change of rulers; no fear that the Prince of Wales, as King
and Emperor, would not be fully equal to the immense responsibilities of
his new and great position. Perhaps no Prince, or statesman, or even
world-conqueror, has ever received so marked a compliment; so universal
a token of respect and regard as was exhibited in this expression of
confidence throughout the British Empire.


THE EMPIRE'S CONFIDENCE IN THE NEW KING

Public bodies of every description in the United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, India and other British countries rivalled each
other in their tributes of loyalty to the new Sovereign as well as of
respect for the great one who had gone. The press of the Empire was
practically a unit in its expression of confidence, while the pulpit,
which had during past years, expressed itself occasionally in terms of
criticism, was now almost unanimous in approval of the experienced,
moderate and tried character of the King. The death which it was once
thought by feeble-minded, or easily misled individuals, would shake the
Empire to its foundations was now seen to simply prove the stability of
its Throne, and the firmness of its institutions in the heart of the
people. The accession of the Prince of Wales actually strengthened that
Monarchy which the life and reign of his mother had brought so near to
the feelings and affections of her subjects everywhere.

On the day following the Queen's death the new Sovereign drove from
Marlborough House to St. James's Palace; accompanied by Lord Suffield
and an escort of the Horse Guards. He had previously arrived in London
from Windsor at an early hour accompanied by the Duke of Connaught, the
Duke of York, the Duke of Argyll, Mr. Balfour and others. The streets
were densely crowded with silent throngs of people; crape and mourning
being visible everywhere, and the raised hat the respectful recognition
accorded to His Majesty. Later in the day the people found their voices
and seemed to think that they could cheer again. At St. James's Palace
the members of the Privy Council had gathered to the number of 150 and
were representative of the greatest names and loftiest positions in
British public life.


THE KING ADDRESSES THE PRIVY COUNCIL

Members of the Royal family, the members of the Government, prominent
Peers, leading members of the House of Commons, the principal Judges and
the Lord Mayor of London--by virtue of his office--were in attendance.
Lord Salisbury, Lord Rosebery, Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Balfour; the Dukes
of Norfolk, Devonshire, Portland, Northumberland, Fife and Argyll; the
Earls of Clarendon, Pembroke, Chesterfield, Cork and Orrery and Kintore;
Lord Halsbury, Lord Ashbourne, Lord Knutsford, Sir M. E. Hicks-Beach,
Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Lord George Hamilton, Mr. St. John Brodrick,
the Marquess of Lansdowne, Mr. W. H. Long, M.P., Lord Ridley, Sir. H.
Campbell-Bannerman, Sir J. E. Gorst, the Marquess of Ripon, Lord
Goschen, Mr. H. H. Asquith, Lord Pirbright, Lord Selborne, Sir R.
Temple, Mr. W. E. H. Lecky, Sir Drummond Wolff, Sir Charles Dilke, Lord
Stalbridge, Sir M. E. Grant-Duff, Mr. John Morley, Earl Spencer and Earl
Carrington were amongst those present. After the Council had been
officially informed by its President of the Queen's death and of the
accession of the Prince of Wales, the new Sovereign entered, clad in a
Field Marshal's uniform, and delivered, without manuscript or notes, a
speech which was a model of dignity and simplicity. Its terms showed
most clearly both tact and a profound perception of his position and its
importance was everywhere recognized:

     "Your Royal Highnesses, My Lords and Gentlemen: This is the most
     painful occasion on which I shall ever be called upon to address
     you. My first melancholy duty is to announce to you the death of my
     beloved mother, the Queen, and I know how deeply you and the whole
     nation, and, I think I may say, the whole world, sympathize with me
     in the irreparable loss we have all sustained. I need hardly say
     that my constant endeavour will be always to walk in her footsteps.
     In undertaking the heavy load which now devolves upon me I am fully
     determined to be a constitutional Sovereign in the strictest sense
     of the word, and, so long as there is breath in my body, to work
     for the good and amelioration of my people.

     I have resolved to be known by the name of Edward, which has been
     borne by six of my ancestors. In doing so I do not undervalue the
     name of Albert, which I inherit from my ever to-be-lamented, great
     and wise father, who by universal consent is I think, and
     deservedly, known by the name of Albert the Good, and I desire that
     his name should stand alone. In conclusion, I trust to Parliament
     and the nation to support me in the arduous duties which now
     devolve upon me by inheritance, and to which I am determined to
     devote my whole strength during the remainder of my life."

After the oath of allegiance had been taken by those present, the
proclamation announcing the accession of the new Monarch was signed by
the Duke of York--now also Duke of Cornwall,--the Duke of Connaught, the
Duke of Cambridge, Prince Christian, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Lord Chancellor, the Lord Mayor of London, and the other Privy
Councillors present. The Houses of Parliament met shortly afterwards and
the members took the oath of allegiance, while all around the Empire the
same ceremony was being gone through in varied tongues and many forms
and strangely differing surroundings. There was wide-spread interest in
His Majesty's choice of a name, and the designation of Edward VII. was
almost universally approved--the exceptions being in certain Scotch
contentions that the numeral could not properly apply to Scotland as a
part of Great Britain. The name itself reads well in English history.
Edward the Confessor, though not included in the Norman chronology, was
a Saxon ruler of high attainments, admirable character and wise laws.
Edward I, was not only a successful soldier and the conqueror of wild
and warlike Wales, but a statesman who did much to establish unity and
peace amongst his people. Edward II. was remarkable chiefly for the
thrashing which the Scots gave him at Bannockburn while Edward III. was
the hero of Crecy, the winner of half of France, and a brave and able
ruler. Edward IV. was a masterful, hard and not over-scrupulous monarch,
and Edward V. was one of the unfortunate boys who were murdered in the
Tower of London. Edward VI. was a mild-natured and honest youth who did
not live long enough to impress himself upon a strenuous period, or upon
interests with which his character little fitted him to deal. The last
of the name had reigned, therefore, before the Kingdom of England got
out of its national and religious swaddling clothes; before the reign of
Henry VIII. had freed it from connection with Rome, or that of Elizabeth
had founded the maritime and commercial empire which, in time, was to
create the mighty realm over which the new Edward now assumed sway.


INCIDENTS SURROUNDING THE ACCESSION

The Proclamation of the King in the cities of the United Kingdom and at
the capitals of countries and provinces and islands all around the globe
was a more or less stately and ceremonious function, and the
Proclamation itself was couched in phraseology almost as old as the
Monarchy. "We, therefore, do now with consent of tongue and heart,
publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Prince, Albert Edward, is
now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only
lawful and rightful Liege Lord, Edward the Seventh." At the ceremony in
London, Dublin, Liverpool, Derby and other cities, immense crowds
assembled and "God save the King" was sung with unusual heartiness.
Meanwhile, following his address to the Privy Council, the King had
returned to Osborne with the Duke of Cornwall and York, and there he
found the German Emperor awaiting him. The latter had come post-haste
from Berlin and been in time to see the Queen before she passed away. He
had now decided to stay until after the funeral and thus to tender every
respect in his power to the memory of his august grandmother. Parliament
had been called immediately upon the King's Proclamation, and it met
hurriedly and briefly on January 24th to enable the members to take the
oath of allegiance while, all around the Empire, similar proceedings
were taking place in Courts and Legislatures and Government buildings.

On the following day Parliament met in brief Session and the Marquess of
Salisbury in the House of Lords and Mr. A. J. Balfour in the Commons
read a Royal message: "The King is fully assured that the House of Lords
will share the deep sorrow which has befallen His Majesty and the nation
by the lamented death of His Majesty's mother, the late Queen. Her
devotion to the welfare of her country and her people and her wise and
beneficent rule during the sixty-four years of her glorious reign will
ever be held in affectionate memory by her loyal and devoted subjects
throughout the dominions of the British Empire." In moving an address of
mingled sympathy and congratulation, in reply, Lord Salisbury spoke with
sincere and weighty words as to the qualities and power of the late
Queen, her position as a constitutional ruler and her "steady and
persistent influence on the action of her Ministers in the course of
legislation and government." Upon the position of the new Sovereign the
speaker was explicit: "He has before him the greatest example he could
have to follow, he has been familiar with our political and social life
for more than one generation, he enjoys a universal and enormous
popularity, he is beloved in foreign countries and foreign Courts almost
as much as he is at home, and he has profound knowledge of the working
of our institutions and the conduct of our affairs."

The motion was seconded by Lord Kimberley as Liberal Leader in the
House, and spoken to by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the Commons Mr.
Balfour referred at length to the great reign and character of Queen
Victoria and to the Sovereign's influence upon public affairs. "In my
judgment the importance of the Crown in our Constitution is not a
diminishing but an increasing factor." Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, the
Opposition Leader, seconded the motion, dealt with the late Queen's
personal character, referred to Queen Alexandra as having long reigned
in the hearts of the people, and paid high tribute to King Edward: "For
the greater part of his life it has fallen to him not only to discharge
a large part of the ceremonial public duty which would naturally be
performed by the head of the State; but also to take a leading part in
almost every scheme established for the national benefit of the country.
Religion and charity, public health, science and literature and art,
education, commerce, agriculture--not one of these subjects appealed in
vain to His Majesty, when Prince of Wales, for strong sympathy and even
for personal effort and influence. We know how unselfish he has been in
the assiduous discharge of all his public duties, we know with what tact
and geniality he has been able to lend himself to the furtherance of
these great objects."

The tactful and obviously sincere language of the King's address to his
Council had, meanwhile, won the warmest and most loyal commendation in
all parts of the Empire--the unanimity of approval being extraordinary
in view of the diversity of peoples and interests involved. Other
messages which followed from His Majesty were of the same statesmanlike
character. To the Army, on January 25th, he issued a special message, as
Sovereign and as constitutional head, thanking it for the splendid
services rendered to the late Queen and describing her pride in its
deeds and in being herself a soldier's daughter. "To secure your best
interests will be one of the deepest objects of my heart and I know I
can count upon that loyal devotion which you ever evinced toward your
late Sovereign." On the following day the Navy received a message of
thanks for the distinguished services rendered by it during the long and
glorious reign of the late Queen and concluding with these words:
"Watching over your interests and well-being I confidently rely upon
that unfailing loyalty which is the proud inheritance of your noble
Service."

An incident followed which once more showed the tactfulness of character
so desirable and important in a Sovereign. The presence of William II.
of Germany in England, at this particular period, was creating much
discussion abroad and his evident friendship for the King, whom he had
just made an Admiral of the German fleet and with whom he had been
having prolonged conferences--in company on one occasion with Lord
Lansdowne who had been hastily summoned to Osborne--increased this
interest. On January 28th the situation was accentuated by the
announcement that the German Emperor had been made a Field Marshal in
the British Army and his son, the Crown Prince, a Knight of the Garter.
In personally conferring the latter honour King Edward made a brief
speech in which he expressed the hope that the kindly action of the
Emperor in coming to London at this juncture and his own presentation of
this ancient Order to the Prince might "further cement and strengthen
the good feeling which exists between the two countries."

Between the time of the King's accession and the funeral of Queen
Victoria, on February 1st, the press and public of the Empire were busy
taking stock of the great loss sustained and measuring the character and
possibilities of the new Sovereign. There was, in both connections, a
curious and striking unanimity, as may be inferred from what has been
already stated. A few expressions of authoritative opinion about the new
King may, however, very properly be quoted here in addition to the
references made in Parliament. The London _Times_, on the day following
the Queen's death, spoke of the long training undergone by the Prince of
Wales, of his wide experience and his acquaintance with the ceremonial
functions of Royalty. "Endowed as he is with many of the most lovable
and attractive qualities of his mother--with warm sympathies, with a
kind heart, with a generous disposition, and with a quick appreciation
of genuine worth--the nation is happy in the confidence that, in spirit
as well as in form, it may count upon the maintenance of that conception
of Royalty which is the only one which most of us have ever known. To
these qualities the King adds perfect tact, wide knowledge of men and
the business virtues of method, prompt decision, punctuality and great
capacity for work."


KINDLY AND LOYAL WORDS

Speaking on January 24th at the City Temple, the Rev. Dr. Joseph Parker,
Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, spoke of the
King's great opportunities and personal powers. "As Prince of Wales he
has played a difficult part with strict sagacity and unfailing
good-nature. He is a man of great compass of mind. Let us welcome him
with our warmest appreciation." From across the Atlantic came the voice
of the Prime Minister of Canada, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in his eloquent
speech in Parliament on February 8th: "We have believed from the first
that he who was a wise Prince will be a wise King, and that the policy
which has made the British Empire so great under his predecessor will
also be his policy." From the still more distant Melbourne, Australia,
came the kindly and loyal words of the _Argus_ on February 1st: "In the
eyes of his subjects, near and far, he is clothed with the kindliness,
the tact, the sympathy with social progress, the practical intelligence,
the political impartiality, and the keen sense of duty he displayed
during the many years in which he helped his mother in the discharge of
the Royal tasks. His people know that he possesses the amiability, the
dignity, the clear vision and the industry which befit the occupant of a
most exacting as well as exalted position." From all over the world came
testimonies of similar feeling, and within British dominions the
opinions and tributes everywhere partook of one quality--that of trust
and confidence in the new Sovereign.

During this first week of his reign the work which devolved upon the
King was tremendous. The signing and consideration of necessary
documents which had been delayed during the illness of the Queen was
alone a serious task. The slight sickness of the Duke of Cornwall and
York detached him from the help which he might have given in many ways,
and the presence of the German Emperor increased the burden of
discussion and of questions to be dealt with. The King also took charge
of the large and complicated arrangements connected with the funeral
ceremonies and supervised the immense variety of details with his usual
business-like ability and energy. This great function, which eclipsed
the Jubilee in solemn splendour and exceeded any demonstration in
history in its unquestioned weight of public sorrow, commenced on
Friday, February 1st, when the remains of the Queen were removed from
Osborne to the Royal yacht _Alberta_.

The coffin was carried by Highlanders and blue-jackets, followed by the
King, the German Emperor, the Duke of Connaught, the German Crown
Prince, Prince Henry of Prussia, Prince Christian, the Duke of
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Arthur of Connaught, Prince Charles of
Denmark, Prince Louis of Battenberg, and then Queen Alexandra and the
Princesses. The _Alberta_ passed across the Solent to Portsmouth,
through a long and continuous avenue of saluting warships, and was
followed by another vessel with the Royal mourners on board. The members
of the Lords and Commons were on vessels placed amongst the warships.
On Saturday the body of the late Sovereign was brought from Portsmouth
to the metropolis and borne with solemn state to Paddington station
through millions of black-garbed, silent and mournful people, and
between lines, along the entire route, of thirty-three thousand Regular
troops and volunteers. It was followed by the King, the German Emperor
and the Duke of Connaught, riding abreast, the Kings of Portugal and
Greece, forty Princes representing every Royal House in Europe,
seventeen representatives of the Colonies, a long array of Ambassadors
and foreign representatives, the Queen, the Princesses, the King of the
Belgians, the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Roberts, Lord Wolseley. The coffin
was taken by train to Windsor where, in St. George's Chapel, the funeral
service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of
Winchester. The actual interment took place on Monday afternoon in the
Royal Mausoleum of Frogmore, where the remains of the great Queen were
laid in death beside those of the husband whose memory she had so long
cherished in life.

These prolonged obsequies--the most splendid and impressive in
history--passed off with a smoothness of procedure which, under the
circumstances of sorrow and crowding duties, indicated more than
ordinary powers of concentration and management in the new King, as well
as a most marvellous sentiment and sympathy amongst the people.
Throughout the Empire, as that solemn procession passed along the
purple-draped streets of London, funeral services were being held and
sermons of sorrow preached in an uncounted multitude of churches
darkened with all the habiliments of mourning. As the _Standard_ well
put it on February 5th: "The nation is conscious of its debt to the
King, whose tactful perception and devoted labour gave it so splendid an
opportunity of showing its reverence for the Sovereign who has just
passed away. The King on his side has found strength and comfort in
those eloquent demonstrations of the sympathy of his subjects which have
reached him, in innumerable ways, from all parts of his dominions."
Immediately after the last ceremonies had been performed the King issued
a series of Messages which, for tact and courtesy and kindliness, have
rarely been excelled--even by the experienced eloquence of his Royal
mother. They were all dated February 4th and the first was addressed "To
my People." It commenced by saying: "Now that the last scene has closed
in the noble and ever-glorious life of my beloved mother, the Queen, I
am anxious to endeavour to convey to the whole Empire the extent of the
deep gratitude I feel for the heart-stirring and affectionate tributes
which are everywhere borne to her memory." His Majesty proceeded to
speak of the recent magnificent display by sea and land and the
inspiration of courage and hope which the public sympathy had been to
him during the recent trying days. "Encouraged by the confidence of that
love and trust which the nation ever reposed in its late and
fondly-mourned Sovereign, I shall earnestly strive to walk in her
footsteps, devoting myself to the utmost of my powers to maintaining and
promoting the highest interests of my people and to the diligent and
zealous fulfilment of the great and sacred responsibilities which,
through the will of God, I am now called to undertake."

A second Message was addressed "To my People beyond the Seas." After
referring to the countless dispatches which had been received from his
"Dominions over the Seas" and the universal grief felt throughout the
Empire, the King spoke of the "heartfelt interest" always evinced by the
late Sovereign in the welfare of Greater Britain, in the extension of
self-government, in the loyalty of the people to her Throne and person,
in the gallantry of those who had fought and died for the Empire in
South Africa. He concluded as follows: "I have already declared that it
will be my constant endeavour to follow the great example which has
been bequeathed to me. In these endeavours, I shall have a constant
trust in the devotion and sympathy of the people and of their several
representative assemblies throughout my vast Colonial dominions. With
such loyal support, I will, with God's blessing, solemnly work for the
common welfare and security of the great Empire over which I have now
been called to reign."

The next and last of these historic documents was a letter to the
Princes and peoples of India in which His Majesty informed them that
through the lamented death of his mother he had inherited a Throne
"which has descended to me through a long and ancient lineage" and then
proceeded: "I now desire to send my greeting to the ruling Chiefs of the
Native States and to the inhabitants of my Indian dominions, to insure
them of my sincere good will and affection and of my heartfelt wishes
for their welfare." He spoke of his illustrious predecessor as having
first taken upon herself the direct administration of Indian affairs and
assumed the title of Empress in token of her closer association with the
government of that country; referred to the loyalty of its people and
the services rendered by its Princes in the South African war and by its
native soldiers in other countries; and concluded in the following
expressive words: "It was by her wish and with her sanction that I
visited India and made myself acquainted with the ruling Chiefs, the
people and the cities of that ancient and famous Empire. I shall never
forget the deep impressions which I then received and I shall endeavour
to follow the great Queen-Empress, to work for the general well-being of
my Indian subjects of all ranks and to merit, as she did, their
unfailing loyalty and affection."

Following these incidents came the return home of the German Emperor, a
letter of thanks from the King to Earl Roberts for his management of the
military part of the funeral arrangements, and a most enthusiastic
reception to His Majesty and Queen Alexandra during a rapid passage
through London to Marlborough House on February 27th. From this time on,
during weeks of crowded work and the assumption of new responsibilities
and functions, the King received many addresses of mingled condolence
and congratulation. One of the first was from the Royal Agricultural
Society of England which the King had done so much to aid as Heir
Apparent. The President, Earl Cawdor, in speaking to the Council on
February 6th, referred to "the keen personal interest which the King had
ever taken in all that related to the welfare of the agricultural
interests of the country at large, and especially of the Royal
Agricultural Society. They had made many and many calls upon his time
and thought." Canterbury Convocation referred to the pending visit of
the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Australia, New Zealand and
Canada. The County of Derby the Royal Society, the Benevolent Society of
St. Patrick--all sorts of organizations, political, financial,
commercial, religious, scientific, official, artistic, benevolent and
literary--expressed their admiration for the late Queen and their
loyalty to the new Sovereign.

[Illustration: A GROUP AT SANDRINGHAM PALACE

The favourite residence of King Edward while he was Prince of Wales. The
King is at right of the centre, and the Duke of Cornwall and York, now
King George V. at the left side of the picture]

[Illustration: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, WESTMINSTER]

[Illustration: THE HOUSE OF LORDS
  At Westminster, where the Peers of the Realm assemble in their
  law-making capacity]

[Illustration: THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AT OTTAWA
  The cornerstone was laid by King Edward VII in 1860]


RECEPTION OF LOYAL ADDRESS

On January 13th the King received, in state, at St. James's Palace, the
Corporation of London and the London County Council. In response to the
addresses His Majesty made a direct reference to the Housing of the Poor
Question, which he described as one in which "I have always taken the
deepest personal interest." At a meeting of the Mark Master Masons of
England on February 19th, with the Earl of Euston in the chair, the
usual address was passed, and then a letter was read from Sir Francis
Knollys, saying that the King felt it necessary to resign the
Grand-Mastership, but that he would remain a Patron of the Order. Five
days later the King received at St. James's the loyal address of the
University of Oxford, presented by its Chancellor, the Marquess of
Salisbury; of the University of Cambridge, presented by its Chancellor,
the Duke of Devonshire; of the General Assembly of the Church of
Scotland, presented by the Right Rev. Dr. Norman Macleod; of the
Corporation of Edinburgh and the Royal Society. Each of the deputations
presenting these addresses was large and distinguished in membership,
and to each His Majesty addressed a brief and tactful speech.

On March 12th another brilliant function was held at the same Palace,
when the King received addresses from the Convocation of Canterbury,
presented by the Archbishop, and that of the Northern Convocation
presented by the Archbishop of York; the University of London, the
English Presbyterian Church and the Society of Friends. Eight days later
the great event in this connection, amidst surroundings of state and
splendour, was the reception of over forty addresses from cities,
boroughs, institutions and various public bodies. Included in the list
of deputations presenting addresses were those from the Universities of
Edinburgh, Dublin, Victoria and Wales, the Dutch Reformed Church, the
Baptist Union, the Congregational Union of England and Wales, the
National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches, the Cities of York,
Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Belfast, Cardiff, Exeter, Chester and
Doncaster, the Bank of England, the Royal Asiatic Society, the
Incorporated Law Society of the United Kingdom, the Coal Exchange, the
United Grand Lodge of Freemasons and the Ancient Order of Foresters.
General replies were given to each address and to only a few separately.
Amongst the latter were the Freemasons, to whom the King said: "I have
felt much regret at relinquishing the high and honourable post of Grand
Master which I have held since 1874, and I shall not cease to retain the
same interest that I have felt in Freemasonry." He also expressed great
satisfaction at being succeeded by the Duke of Connaught.

Further addresses were presented in similar state on May 3d. The Roman
Catholic deputation was headed by Cardinal Vaughan and the Duke of
Norfolk and included Lord Llandaff and fourteen Bishops--a brilliant
picture in red and purple and black. Their address was of peculiar
interest and contained the following paragraph: "Your Majesty's life has
been spent in the midst of your people, sharing in their happiness and
prosperity, actively engaged in ameliorating the condition of the lowly
and in promoting their comfort in sickness and suffering. All classes of
the population--the leisured, the professional, the industrial and the
poor--have been the object of your sympathy and interest." A deputation
from the Jews of Great Britain included Lord Rothschild, the Hon. L. W.
Rothschild, M.P., the Chief Rabbi, Sir G. Faudel-Phillips, Sir Edward
Sassoon, M.P., Mr. B. L. Cohen, M.P., and Sir J. Sebag-Montefiore.
Addresses were also presented by the Presbyterian Church of England, and
on behalf of a large number of cities and towns.

Meanwhile, King Edward had been conferring honours or positions upon
some of his old friends and faithful servants, re-organizing his
Household generally for the still more onerous and important work now
before them, and not forgetting to conspicuously reward the best and
oldest servants of the late Sovereign. In this delicate task he showed
his usual tact and consideration. First in this respect, as she had been
for so many years wherever he could properly place her in the front, was
his wife--and to Queen Alexandra was given the first honour of the new
reign in her creation, under special statute, on February 12th, as Lady
of the Most Noble Order of the Garter--the greatest order of Knighthood
in the world. Three days later the Royal Victorian Order in its highest
form--G.C.V.O.--was given to the Duke of Argyll and the Duke of Fife.
Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton, Major-General Sir John Carstairs McNeill,
V.C., Sir Fleetwood Edwards and Sir Arthur J. Bigge, for many years
important members of Queen Victoria's Household, received the same
honour, as did the King's own devoted Secretary, Sir Francis Knollys.

On February 18th, a number of appointments were made to the Household
including Lord Suffield as Lord-in-Waiting with General the Right Hon.
Sir D. M. Probyn, Sir John McNeill, Lord Wantage, V.C., Sir Fleetwood
Edwards and Sir Arthur Bigge as Extra Equerries to His Majesty. General,
Viscount Bridport and General the Duke of Grafton were appointed
Honorary Equerries and Major-Generals Sir Henry P. Ewart and Sir Stanley
Clarke to other positions at Court. Queen Alexandra appointed the
members of her Household under date of March 8th and they included the
Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry as Mistress of the Robes, the
Countesses of Antrim, Macclesfield, Gosford and Lytton and the Lady
Suffield and Dowager Countess of Morton as Ladies of the Bedchamber,
Lord Colville of Culross as Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Gosford as
Vice-Chamberlain, the Earl de Grey as Treasurer, and the Hon. S. R.
Greville as Private Secretary. Numerous appointments of an honorary kind
in connection with the Army and Navy followed and on July 24th the Earl
of Pembroke was announced as Lord Steward of His Majesty's Household,
the Hon. V. C. W. Cavendish M.P. as Treasurer, Viscount Valentia M.P. as
Comptroller, Lord Farquhar as Master of the Household, the Earl of
Clarendon as Lord Chamberlain, Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis as
Comptroller of Accounts, the Duke of Portland as Master of the Horse,
the Duke of Argyll as Governor of Windsor Castle and the following as
Lords-in-Waiting: the Earl of Denbigh, the Earl of Kintore, Earl Howe,
Lord Suffield, Lord Kenyon, Lord Churchill and Lord Lawrence.

Many of these names may be recognized as amongst the friends or
officials of the King, in his later years as the Heir Apparent, or as
companions in some of his travels. On March 24th, following the custom
of British Sovereigns, several special Embassies were appointed and
announced to carry to European Courts the official intimation of His
Majesty's accession. That to Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Russia, Germany
and Saxony, included the Duke of Abercorn, the Earl of Kintore,
Major-General Sir Archibald Hunter and the Marquess of Hamilton, M.P.
and that to Belgium, Bavaria, Italy, Wurtemberg and the Netherlands,
included the Earl of Mount Edgecombe, Viscount Downe and Admiral Sir
Michael Culme-Seymour. Earl Carrington, the Earl of Harewood and others
were appointed to France, Spain and Portugal and Field Marshal Lord
Wolseley, Viscount Castlereagh and others to Austro-Hungary, Roumania,
Servia and Turkey.




CHAPTER XVIII.

The First Year of the New Reign


The first year's reign of a Sovereign must always be important, and when
that Sovereign rules over a third of the earth's surface and a quarter
of its population, it is more than usually so. King Edward VII., when he
came to the Throne, found himself the first of Mohammedan rulers, with
more Moslem subjects than the Sultan of Turkey; the first of Brahmin and
Parsee Sovereigns; the head of various Confucian colonies and the
possessor of the most sacred of Buddhist shrines; the ruler of Christian
sects and idolatries of every conceivable kind and variety. Almost every
race in the world was included in his Empire--English, Scotch and Irish
everywhere, French in the Channel Islands and in Canada, Italians and
Greeks in Malta, Arab, Coptic and Turkish subjects in Egypt, Negroes of
all descriptions in the Soudan and elsewhere, subjects of infinitely
varied Asiatic types in India, Chinese in Hong-Kong and Wei-Hai-Wei,
Malays in Borneo and the Malay Peninsula, Polynesians in the Pacific,
Red Indians in Canada and Maoris in New Zealand, Dutch, Zulus, Basutos
and French Huguenots in South Africa, Eskimos in Northern Canada. The
complicated issues involved in such a Government as that of the British
Empire, with its curiously non-centralized system, were certainly
sufficient to make a Sovereign inheriting the position, the
opportunities, and much of the capacity of Queen Victoria, feel that he
had, indeed, assumed heavy responsibilities.

His first step had been a most wise one, and in direct line with a
policy carried out as Heir Apparent--the cementing of close and cordial
relations with the German Emperor during his long and much-discussed
visit to the dying Queen and mourning family. To this friendship and the
enthusiastic and popular reception given William II. when leaving London
on February 5th, 1901, was undoubtedly due the restraining influence
held over a part of the press of Germany during the succeeding period of
vile abuse of England regarding the South African War. Following this,
on February 24th, was the departure of King Edward on a visit to his
sister, the Empress Frederick, at Frederichshof, near Cronberg, where he
was joined by the Emperor William. The King was accompanied by Sir Frank
Lascelles, Ambassador at Berlin, and by his physician, Sir Francis
Laking. The Empress was found to be very ill, but not dying, and after a
few days her Royal brother and son returned to their respective
capitals.


THE KING'S FIRST PARLIAMENT AND DECLARATION

The first Parliament of the new reign was opened by the King in
brilliant state and with much dignified ceremonial on February 14th. The
pageantry of the occasion was picturesque and splendid. The staircase in
Parliament House, up which the Royal pair passed in their progress, was
lined with a living hedge of men in blue and silver uniforms, topped
with red plumes and shining with the burnished steel accoutrements of
the Horse Guards. Before them were stately, robed officials, such as
Lord Salisbury and the Duke of Devonshire and some of the brilliant
colours of the Court. The King wore a short ermine cape over his Field
Marshal's uniform, and beneath the cape a sweeping cloak and train of
Royal purple. Queen Alexandra, beautiful always, was more than usually
sweet and dignified in her garb of mingled black and purple. In the
House of Lords the evidences of mourning for the late Queen were very
apparent. The ladies were dressed in black though they were permitted to
blaze with jewels. The Peers' robes of red and ermine, gave a little
colour to the scene, helped by those of the judges in black and gold, or
red and white, and the bright uniforms of the Ambassadors in a distant
corner. Hand-in-hand the King and Queen entered the Chamber and took
their places upon the chairs of state. The Commons were called in, and
their the Lord Chancellor presented and the King repeated and signed the
somewhat famous Declaration against the Mass and other Roman doctrines,
or observances, as provided by the Bill of Rights. It was as follows:

     "I do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God, profess,
     testify and declare that I do believe that in the sacrament of the
     Lord's Supper there is not any transubstantiation of the elements
     of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ at or after the
     consecration thereof by any person whatsoever; and that the
     invocation or adoration of the Virgin Mary or any other saint and
     the sacrifice of the mass as they are now used in the Church of
     Rome are superstitious and idolatrous, and I do solemnly in the
     presence of God, profess, testify and declare that I do make this
     Declaration and every part thereof in the plain and ordinary sense
     of the words read unto me as they are commonly understood by
     English Protestants, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental
     reservation whatsoever and without any dispensation already granted
     me for this purpose by the Pope or any other authority or person
     whatsoever, or without any hope of any such dispensation from any
     person or authority whatsoever, or without thinking that I am or
     can be acquitted before God or man, or absolved of this Declaration
     or any part thereof, although the Pope or any other person or
     persons or power whatsoever should dispense with or annull the
     same, or declare that it was null and void from the beginning."

The next proceeding was the reading of the King's speech to his
Parliament in strong, full tones which impressively and clearly filled
the Chamber. This part of the ceremony was rendered unusually
interesting, in view of the fact that the King was understood to have
had more to do with the wording of his speech than had been customary,
and to have changed the conditions by which it had become usual to give
an advance summary of its contents to the press. Reference was made to
the death of the Queen and to his own accession, to the progress of the
South African War, the Chinese troubles, the establishment of the
Australian Commonwealth, the sending of additional Contingents from the
Colonies to the front, the famine in India, the relief of the Coomassie
garrison, and to his intention to carry out the late Sovereign's wish
regarding the Imperial tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and
York. The whole function was of a solemn and impressive and splendid
character, in keeping with the traditions of the Crown and in harmony
with the known intentions of the King to assume the full ceremonial and
dignity of his position. The _Times_, on the following morning, referred
to the enthusiastic reception of the King and Queen as they drove to
Westminster and to the inspiring and exhilarating character of the scene
in the House of Lords. "The present generation has seen hardly anything,
not even excepting the processions of 1887 and 1897, at all comparable
in splendour and solemnity with the pageant yesterday at Westminster."

The session of Parliament which followed was closely and continuously
associated with subjects arising out of the King's accession. An early
and prominent topic was the Declaration taken against Roman Catholicism.
Under date of February 20th, Cardinal Vaughan issued a letter to his
Diocese declaring that "patriotism and loyalty to the Sovereign are
characteristic of the Catholics of this country and are to be counted
on, quite independently of passing emotions of pain or pleasure, because
they are rooted in a permanent dictate and principle of religion;" that
Catholics had, however, been made unhappy by the "recent renewal of the
national act of apostacy" in the Sovereign's branding by solemn
Declaration their religious doctrines as superstitious and idolatrous;
that the Catholic Peers had done well in protesting to the Lord
Chancellor against the continued use of this Declaration; that British
legislators in all parts of the Empire and the twelve million Catholic
subjects of the Crown throughout the world should take further measures
of constitutional protest; that the evil so greatly deplored was the
result of an anachronism and of a barbaric law which had remained
accidentally unrepealed; and that there was reason to hope that "this
remnant of a hateful fanaticism" would soon be removed from the
statute-book.

In Canada and Australia protests were prepared and presented through the
Cardinal--that from the Dominion being signed by all the members of the
Hierarchy. In the House of Lords a Committee was appointed, on motion of
Lord Salisbury, to deal with the matter although no Catholic Peers would
serve upon it. They reported early in July that a modification of the
Declaration might be made so as to omit the adjectives and objectionable
phraseology without affecting the strength of the pledge itself. A
Government measure was prepared along these lines and submitted to the
House. It was opposed by Lord Rosebery on August 1st, on the ground that
nothing could really bind conscientious convictions, that the King might
change his views and not be bound by this Declaration in future, and,
that it did not repudiate the temporal or spiritual supremacy of the
Pope. The Archbishop of Canterbury did not like the changes, the Duke of
Norfolk did not care for the new form and the Roman Catholics generally,
in and out of the House, objected to the compromise as useless. The
result was that Lord Salisbury eventually withdrew his measure and the
matter dropped out of public discussion for the time--although the
Canadian House of Commons and other public bodies in the Empire had
meanwhile protested against the continued maintenance of the
Declaration.


THE KING'S INCOME AND REVENUES

Another duty which faced the early consideration of Parliament was the
Civil List. Queen Victoria's Civil List had been £385,000, given as a
permanent yearly income for her reign, and in return for the formal
surrender of the revenues of the Crown Lands for the same period. In
this connection, the _Daily News_ of February 14th, pointed out that the
late Sovereign had received during her long reign £24,000,000 from the
people while the revenues of the surrendered Crown Lands had totalled
£20,000,000. Speaking for the Liberals and Radicals this paper declared
that there was "no disposition to deal grudgingly with a Monarch who has
fully borne the share that belongs to him in the country's affairs,"
that it might be well to adhere closely to the late Queen's Civil List,
and that the example of "a moderate and sober Court" would be of the
highest value to the nation. On March 11th Sir M. E. Hicks-Beach moved
the appointment of a House of Commons' Committee to deal with the
question, composed of Mr. Balfour, Sir W. Hart Dyke, Sir F.
Dixon-Hartland, Sir S. Hoare, Mr. W. L. Jackson, with seven other
members and himself, as representatives of the Government party and Sir
Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Sir William Harcourt, Sir Henry Fowler, Sir
James Kitson, Mr. H. Labouchere, and three others, as representing the
Opposition. The _Times_ of the following day said that there were two
reasons for somewhat increasing the sum to be voted--the fact of the
King having a Consort of whom the nation was proud, while Queen Victoria
was unmarried at the time of the former vote, and the fact, as the
Chancellor of the Exchequer put it to the House, that the King was now
the head of a world-wide Empire.

As finally decided in the Report of the Select Committee the new Civil
List was placed at £470,000 for the Sovereign--of which £110,000 was to
go to the Privy Purse in place of £60,000 received by Queen Victoria;
the Duke of Cornwall and York was to receive £20,000 annually, and the
Duchess £10,000--in addition, of course, to the £60,000 coming to the
Heir Apparent from the Duchy of Lancaster; the King's children, the
Duchess of Fife, Princess Victoria and Princess Charles of Denmark, were
each to have £6,000 a year for life; while the contingent annuity of
£30,000 provided in the event of Queen Alexandra surviving her husband,
was to be increased to £70,000 and a similar contingent grant of £30,000
arranged for the Duchess of Cornwall and York. The only apparent
opposition in the Committee to these proposals was from Mr. Labouchere,
who suggested certain variations and reductions. There was little
influential criticism of the changes proposed--the _Daily News_, from
which opposition might, perhaps have come, speaking of one special
increase of £50,000, as follows: "The Queen must have a separate
Household if the Monarchy is to be maintained, as most people wish that
it should be maintained, in its ancient splendour; and the gracious
kindness of Queen Alexandra, who has endeared herself to all the
subjects of her husband, will make the tax-payer in her case a cheerful
giver."

On May 9th Resolutions based upon these recommendations were presented
to the Commons by Sir M. E. Hicks-Beach and eventually carried by three
hundred and seven to fifty-eight--the latter being composed of Irish
members and Mr. Labouchere. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his
introductory speech, referred to the Monarchy as "the most popular of
all our great institutions" and then proceeded to enlarge upon the
situation as follows: "Throughout the Empire there has grown up a
feeling, and I think a very right and proper feeling, of the enormous
importance of the Crown as the main link of the relations with all the
people of which the Empire is composed. Therefore, I think it happened
that, in the brief debate in which this subject was dealt with at the
commencement of the present Session, there was no sign of any difference
of opinion as to the necessity of making a sufficient and adequate
provision for the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the Crown."
He mentioned the fact that the late Sovereign had bequeathed Balmoral
and Osborne House to her successor and that he had to maintain these
residences as well as his old-time home at Sandringham; that King Edward
had no personal fortune and that the late Queen's savings had been
willed to her younger children. He concluded by expressing approval of
the proposals as moderate and fair. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, on
behalf of the Opposition, declared them to be reasonable and added: "I
do not doubt at all that the prevailing desire in this House and in the
country is to see that a provision should be made for maintaining that
state and dignity of the British Crown which shall fittingly represent
the loyal attachment of the people." Mr. J. E. Redmond followed and
declared that not only had the Irish members refused to act upon the
Committee but they would now vote against the Resolutions because of the
unrepealed statute and Declaration regarding Roman Catholicism. Mr.
Labouchere spoke against them at length and was joined in speech and
vote by two Labour members--Messrs. Keir Hardie and Cremer--who, amidst
laughter and interruptions, declared themselves to be republicans and
expressed regret that the working classes liked Royalty.

The next subject discussed in Parliament, as it was also being discussed
throughout British countries generally, was that of the Royal titles. As
they stood when the King ascended the throne the only countries of the
Empire recognized were Great Britain, Ireland and India. It was pointed
out that Queen Mary in the days of Spanish marriage relations and power
possessed, with King Philip, titles which included England, France,
Naples, Jerusalem, Ireland, Spain, Sicily, Austria, Milan &c; that
Emperor Francis Joseph was not only Emperor of Austria but King of
Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Sclavonia, Gallicia, Illyria and
Jerusalem; that the three principal countries of the Empire were now
strong enough and prominent enough to be properly and permanently
represented in this way; that it would enhance the dignity of Great
Britain while placing Canada and Australia in a more equal and national
position within the Empire; that some such recognition had been
supported in 1876 by Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli in the House of
Commons; and that it had been proposed by the Colonial Conference of
1887.


ADDITION TO THE KING'S TITLES

Within a short time of the King's accession--on January 29th--a dispatch
was sent by Mr. Chamberlain to the Governors-General of Canada and
Australia saying that the moment was opportune to consider the matter of
the Monarch's titles, so as to recognize the "separate and greatly
increased importance of the Colonies" and suggesting, personally, the
phrase: "King of Great Britain and Ireland and of Greater Britain beyond
the Seas." Mr. Chamberlain also expressed the belief that there were
considerable difficulties in the way of such designations as King of
Canada and King of Australia, owing to the smaller Colonies which would
desire to be also specially mentioned. Lord Minto, in his reply,
expressed his Government's doubt as to the use of the word "Greater
Britain," their preference for the title "King of Canada" and their
willingness, in case of jealousies elsewhere, to propose that of
"Sovereign of all British Dominions beyond the Seas." Lord Hopetoun
stated that his Government preferred the designation of "Sovereign Lord
of the British Realms beyond the Seas." The Colonial Secretary then
communicated with Cape Colony, Newfoundland and New Zealand where the
Governments all favoured some general designation.

On July 27th, Lord Salisbury introduced a measure in the House of Lords
authorizing the Sovereign "to make such addition to the style and title
at present appertaining to the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom and
its Dependencies as to His Majesty may seem fit." Speaking unofficially,
the Premier intimated that the Royal title would probably be "Edward
VII., by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, and of all the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King,
Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India." During a short discussion in
the House, two days later, Lord Rosebery suggested the title of "King of
all the Britains" Lord Salisbury did not consider this admissible,
however, and the measure passed its second reason without opposition.
Eventually the bill became law and was the subject of general approval
at home and in the Colonies. The title was then officially proclaimed in
the terms mentioned by Lord Salisbury. Speaking of this action, Sir
Horace Tozer of Queensland told the _Daily News_ of July 31st that the
Commonwealth Act declared the desire of the Australian people, in its
first words, to unite in one indissoluble Commonwealth "under the Crown"
and he expressed the opinion that this action would "ratify and give
expression" to that deliberate decision.

On May 10th, a Dublin newspaper called _The Irish People_ published an
article about the King which was not only seditious in language but
abominable in its allegations and statements--they could hardly be
dignified with the name of charges. The paper was at once seized, and on
the following day the Irish members precipitated a debate in Parliament
upon the action thus taken. Mr. John Dillon pointed out that this paper
was the recognized organ of the Nationalist movement, claimed that the
action of the Government was grossly illegal, and declared that it was
a blow struck at the freedom of the press. Mr. W. Redmond took much the
same ground. Mr. George Wyndham, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, spoke
of the article as containing "outrageous, scurrilous, gross and coarse
remarks," and as using language more foul than that of certain foreign
papers which had been so complained of during the year. He had ordered
it to be seized because it was guilty of "seditious libel," because it
was his duty to prevent such a nuisance from being inflicted upon the
public, and because similar action had been taken in the past year upon
an article attacking the late Queen Victoria. Mr. John Redmond declared
that the action was taken too late, anyway, and that plenty of copies
had gone through the mail to America and the Continent. Mr. Balfour
supported Mr. Wyndham and asked, if "obscene libel" and "a foul and
poisoned weapon" were necessary aids to Irish agitation. He pointed out
that the Sovereign was incapable of replying to this sort of statement,
and declared that the publication was "a gross offense against public
decency and public law and loyalty." Mr. H. H. Asquith, on behalf of the
Opposition, took the ground that those concerned could appeal to the
Courts, if injured, and that he could not but accept the Government's
description of the article and support them in their action. Messrs.
Bryn-Roberts, Labouchere and John Burns criticised the Government, and
the vote stood two hundred and fifty-two to sixty-four in approval of
their action.

The debate in the Imperial Parliament was, however, not the end of the
matter. A newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, called _The Tocsin_,
republished the article in question, and its proprietor, Mr. E. Findley,
M.L.A., was at once expelled from the Victorian Legislature. The
discussion and vote took place on June 25th, when Mr. Findley disclaimed
responsibility as being publisher and not Editor, but defended the
newspaper's statement that suppression of the Dublin paper was an
illegal act. He expressed regret, however, that the article had appeared
in his journal, in view of its having given offence to the House. The
Premier of Victoria, Mr. A. J. Peacock, at once declared that no apology
was sufficient unless it included unqualified disavowal and disapproval
of the article in question, and moved the following Resolution: "That
the Honourable member for Melbourne, Mr. Edward Findley, being the
printer and publisher of a newspaper known as _The Tocsin_, in the issue
of which, on the 20th instant, there is published a seditious libel
regarding His Majesty the King, is guilty of disloyalty to His Majesty
and has committed an act discreditable to the honour of Parliament, and
that he, therefore, be expelled from this House."

Mr. Irvine, Leader of the Opposition, endorsed the action of the
Government, and declared that the republication--even to the appearance
of a second edition of the paper--was a deliberate attempt to give
currency to this "foul and scandalous libel" as being a fact. Many
others spoke, and Mr. Findley in another speech said he had no sympathy
whatever with the article, and was extremely sorry that it had appeared.
Orders had come from outside for thousands of copies of the paper and
had not been filled. The House, however, was determined to take action,
and he was expelled by a vote of sixty-four to seventeen. Mr. Findley
ran again as a Labour candidate in East Melbourne and was opposed by Mr.
J. F. Deegan--a man of no particular politics, but known for his
loyalty, and supported on the platform by both party Leaders. The latter
candidate was elected by a substantial majority. A very few other
Australian papers had, meanwhile, republished the article, and perhaps
half a dozen Canadian ones.

The first Parliament of the reign closed on August 17th shortly after
the King had suffered the loss of his distinguished sister, the Empress
Frederick. With this event, which occurred on August 8th, there passed
away what the _Times_ well termed "a life of brilliant promise, of
splendid hopes, of exalted ideals"--overruled with relentless rigour by
a hard fate which brought her liberal principles into conflict with the
iron will of Bismarck, nullified her capacity by the opposition of the
Court of Berlin, and removed her husband by death at the very moment
when the opportunity of power and position seemed to have come. The
King, accompanied by Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria, at once left
for Frederickshof. They were received at Homburg by the Emperor William
and conducted to the Castle. The funeral took place amid scenes of
stately solemnity on August 13th and the Emperor and the King were
present as chief mourners. While the obsequies were proceeding memorial
services were held in England at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, in St.
Giles's Cathedral, Edinburgh and in various other churches throughout
the country.


PUBLIC INCIDENTS AND FUNCTIONS

Meanwhile, various incidents illustrative of the King's tact and
influence upon public affairs had occurred. His well-known interest in
American affairs was shown on June 1st by an official reception given at
Windsor Castle to the members of the New York Chamber of Commerce who
were visiting England as guests of the London Chamber of Commerce.
Accompanied by Lord Brassey and the Earl of Kintore, some twenty-five
gentlemen were presented to His Majesty and Queen Alexandra. They
included General Horace Porter, Mr. Morris K. Jessup, the Hon. Levi P.
Morton, the Hon. Cornelius N. Bliss and Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan. Some of
the American expressions of opinion upon this not unusual courtesy to
distinguished foreigners were extremely amusing. Others, such as that of
the N. Y. _Tribune_ were dignified and appreciative. Immediately upon
hearing of the attempt on President McKinley's life on September 6th,
the King sent a despatch of deepest sympathy and instructed the Foreign
Office to keep him informed as to the President's condition. He was at
the time spending a week with the King of Denmark at Copenhagen and to
that place the bulletins were duly cabled from Washington.

On September 11th His Majesty telegraphed to the American Ambassador at
London: "I rejoice to hear the favourable accounts of the President's
health. God grant that his life may be spared." After Mr. McKinley's
death, three days later, the King immediately cabled the Ambassador:
"Most truly do I sympathize with you and the whole American nation in
the loss of your distinguished and ever-to-be-regretted President." In
his reply Mr. Choate declared that "Your Majesty's constant solicitude
and interest in these trying days have deeply touched the hearts of my
countrymen." The King ordered a week's mourning at Court and soon
afterwards received a message from Mr. Choate voicing Mrs. McKinley's
personal gratitude for the sympathy expressed. In replying, the King
declared that the Queen and himself "feel most deeply for her in the
hour of her great affliction and pray that God may give her strength to
bear her heavy cross." On September 27th the American Ambassador was
granted a special audience by His Majesty in London and presented the
formal thanks of Mrs. McKinley and of the people of the United States
for "the constant sympathy which you have manifested through the darkest
hours of their distress and bereavement."

During these months the King had not forgotten to show his continued
appreciation of many of the interests to which, as Heir Apparent, he had
given so much aid. At a General Council meeting of the Prince of Wales'
Hospital Fund on May 11th, presided over by the Duke of Fife and
attended by Lord Rothschild, Lord Farquhar, Lord Iveagh, Lord Reay, Mr.
Sydney Buxton and others the chairman stated that it was held by His
Majesty's wish in order to announce his resignation of the Presidency
and consent to take the position of Patron. The King's place was to be
taken by the Duke of Cornwall and York. Lord Rothschild spoke at some
length upon the importance of the work initiated in this connection by
the King and of the valuable aid which they had consequently been able
to give the hospitals and suffering poor of London. On June 10th a
letter was made public, written by Sir Dighton Probyn on behalf of the
King, expressing to the Royal Agricultural Society of England his
earnest hope that it would succeed in raising the £30,000 which was
needed for building purposes, subscribing two hundred and fifty guineas
toward this end, and expressing not only His Majesty's interest in its
future welfare but his pleasure at having been associated with it during
twenty two years of progress. On July 3rd the King and Queen Alexandra,
accompanied by Princess Victoria and the Duchess of Argyll, received at
Marlborough House some eight hundred nurses belonging to the Training
Institute inaugurated by the late Queen. Badges were presented by Her
Majesty to a couple of hundred and an address read and graciously
answered. An incident typical of the King's courtesy and thoughtfulness
was seen in his intimation to the Marquess of Dufferin, who, during the
early part of the proceedings was standing bare-headed in the sun, to
put on his hat--the King resuming his in order to create the
opportunity.

His Majesty took great interest during the year in the proposed National
Memorial to his Royal mother. He had early appointed a special Committee
of representatives to deal with the preliminaries and, on March 6th, a
Report was submitted by Lord Esher, as Hon. Secretary, recommending that
a statue of Queen Victoria should be the central feature of such a
Memorial, and the location be either the vicinity of Westminster Abbey
or that of Buckingham Palace. Accompanied by Mr. Balfour, Mr.
Akers-Douglas and Lord Esher, the King visited the suggested sites that
afternoon and finally approved a general position near Westminster
Abbey. Large amounts were subscribed toward the project during the
succeeding months. An interesting incident occurred on July 28th when a
small deputation of ladies, including the Countess of Aberdeen, Lady
Taylor and others connected with the National Council of Women in
Canada, were received at Marlborough House by Queen Alexandra and
tendered an address signed by twenty-five thousand women of the Dominion
expressive of their earnest loyalty to the King and affection for his
Consort. In replying, Her Majesty referred with special pleasure to the
tribute paid the late Queen and spoke of the beauty of the volumes in
which the address was incorporated.


ROYAL CHARITIES AND VISITS

Toward the end of the year it was announced in the _British Medical
Journal_ that a gentleman who did not at present wish his name
disclosed--afterwards understood to be Sir Ernest Cassel--had presented
the King with a donation of £200,000 for some philanthropic purpose to
be selected, and that His Majesty had decided to devote the money to the
erection of a Sanatorium in England for Consumptive patients. On January
22nd, 1902, the first Anniversary of Queen Victoria's death, the _Times_
paid the following well-deserved tribute to the new Sovereign: "During
the year that has gone by he has sedulously and successfully set himself
to fulfill all the duties of a constitutional Sovereign. He has spared
no pains to make himself familiar with his people, to study their needs,
to discover their wishes, to express their instincts and their ideals.
He has been able, in many ways, to promote national objects to a greater
extent than, perhaps, would have been possible even with Queen Victoria.
It is no secret that he is in cordial sympathy with the feelings of the
immense majority of his subjects on the supreme issues which now
dominate international politics. He has a high and keen perception of
the honour of the nation, so closely bound up with that of the Royal
House and with his own."

The succeeding six months were very largely devoted to preparations for
the Coronation, but the King, nevertheless, found time to do some
travelling and visiting in the country and to carry out some very
brilliant Court functions. As an illustration of the way in which he
sought to do every possible honour to his Queen-Consort, there may be
instanced a letter written, by command, in reply to an inquiry from the
Lord Mayor of London as to whether in drinking the second of the loyal
toasts at public gatherings the company should stand or not. Sir Dighton
Probyn observed in his letter that the King had no doubt as to what was
right, and that in his opinion the toast of "Her Majesty, Queen
Alexandra, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the other members of the
Royal family" should be received standing, with a few bars of the
National Anthem and "God bless the Prince of Wales." On February 11th
King Edward held the first Levée since his accession, and it was made
the occasion for a revival of much old-time splendour. The Prince of
Wales who had since his return home from the Colonies merged his title
of Duke of Cornwall and York in the more historic and familiar
designation, was present together with a great and representative
gathering. Bishops in lawn sleeves and scarlet hoods attended by
chaplains in long black gowns and white bands, great lawyers in wigs and
flowing robes, foreign officers and diplomatists in gorgeous and varied
uniforms, British generals and admirals, and the picturesque Windsor
uniforms of the Privy Councillors, lent a brilliant appearance to a
function at which most of the eminent men of the Kingdom were to be
seen.

Ten days afterwards His Majesty visited Lord and Lady Burton at
Rangemore, and while there inspected the famous Bass and Company
brewery and started a special brew to be called "the King's Ale"--only
to be used on special occasions. Early in the year it had been decided
by the King to pay what might be termed a Coronation visit to Ireland,
accompanied by his wife. Unfortunately, unpleasant conditions of local
agitation developed, and then came the outburst of Nationalist sympathy
for the Boers, in the House of Commons, when Lord Methuen's defeat was
announced. The result was that his Ministers advised the King not to
undertake the trip at the time proposed, and its postponement was
announced on March 12th, greatly to the regret of many in Ireland and
out of it. Commencing on March 7th the King and Queen Alexandra paid a
brief visit to the West of England and were loyally welcomed at
Dartmouth, Plymouth, Stonehouse and Davenport, where certain official
functions were performed.

On March 14th, King Edward and Queen Alexandra held their first Court,
and it was expected that the occasion would be the most stately and
splendid in the modern social history of the nation. It fully equalled
these anticipations, and the scene in the ball-room of Buckingham Palace
eclipsed even the traditions of the French Imperial Court in the days of
Napoleon III. It was well managed, it was attended by the greatest and
best representatives of English public and social life, it was unusually
brilliant in jewelry, in dresses and in uniforms, it was stately in its
setting and more animated and brighter in character than any similar
function of the late Sovereign's reign--since its early years at least.
The same success attended succeeding and similar occasions, and it might
be distinctly appropriate to quote here views expressed by the _Daily
News_ of February 15th, 1901, when it spoke of the new reign as opening
with splendid promise for the highest interests of the country and with
component elements in its Court for a period of extraordinary social
brilliancy. "King Edward," observed this Radical organ, "is one of the
most popular of Sovereigns, and his beautiful Queen sheds a lustre upon
his Court for which it would be difficult to find a parallel. Amiable,
tender-hearted, actively philanthropic, and possessing exquisite taste,
the Queen Consort is eminently qualified to be the bright particular
star in the shining galaxy of our Court. The Royal Princesses are most
highly accomplished and amiable ladies, each one of whom has achieved
for herself a high place in the affections of the nation."




CHAPTER XIX.

The Empire Tour of the New Heir to the Throne


If Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, had been enabled at different times
in his career to visit various portions of his future realms and to
create influences and receive impulses which have told for good in the
upbuilding of the British Empire, his son and heir was destined to make
a tour in 1901 which was still more impressive in character and
influential in import. The single visits of the Prince of Wales to India
and Canada were made in days when they partook of an almost pioneer
character, and they were chiefly important in moulding crude opinions
into a more matured and organized form. The tour of the Duke and Duchess
of Cornwall and York was, on the other hand, a result of clearly
developed conditions of Colonial power; an embodiment of existing
aspirations toward Empire unity; an expression of the loyalty existing
between Mother Country and the Colonies and toward the Crown and British
institutions.


ORIGIN OF THE TOUR

It was on September 17th, 1900, that the Colonial Office first announced
the assent of Her Majesty the Queen to the request presented by the
combined Australian Colonies that H. R. H. the Duke of York should open
their newly-established Parliament in the spring of 1901. It was stated
in this announcement that "Her Majesty at the same time wishes to
signify her sense of the loyalty and devotion which have prompted the
spontaneous aid so liberally offered by all the Colonies in the South
African war and of the splendid gallantry of her Colonial troops." After
the death of the Queen it was feared that the time might not be
considered opportune for so distant a journey by the Heir to the Throne,
but on February 14th, 1901, the King announced in his speech to
Parliament that the proposed Australian trip would not be abandoned, and
that it would be extended to the Dominion of Canada. "I still desire to
give effect to her late Majesty's wishes * * * as an evidence of her
interest, as well as my own, in all that concerns the welfare of my
subjects beyond the seas."


FROM PORTSMOUTH TO MELBOURNE

As finally constituted the Royal suite consisted of H. S. H. Prince
Alexander of Teck, brother of the Duchess; Lord Wenlock, a former
Governor of Madras; Lieutenant Colonel Sir Arthur Bigge, so well known
as the Private Secretary for many years of the late Queen Victoria; Sir
John Anderson, a prominent official of the Colonial Office; Sir Donald
Mackenzie Wallace, the eminent journalist and author; Captain, the
Viscount Crichton, and Lieutenant, the Duke of Roxburghe, who acted as
Military Aides; the Hon. Derek Keppel and Commander Sir Charles Cust,
R.N., who acted as Equerries; the Rev. Canon Dalton as Chaplain;
Commander Godfrey-Tansell, R.N., A.D.C., and Major J. H. Bor, A.D.C.;
Lady Mary Lygon, Lady Catharine Coke and Mrs. Derek Keppel as
Ladies-in-Waiting to the Duchess. Chevalier de Martino, a marine artist;
Mr. Sidney Hall and Dr. A. R. Manby were also attached to the staff. On
March 7th the Duke of York--who had now become also Duke of
Cornwall--left Portsmouth accompanied by his wife and his large suite to
make a nine-months' tour of the Empire; to cover a distance of 50,000
miles by sea and shore under the British flag; and to meet with varied
experiences and an enthusiasm of popular welcome which stamped the whole
journey as the most remarkable Royal progress on record.

Three days after leaving Portsmouth the _Ophir_, which was commanded by
Commander A. L. Winslow, most luxuriously fitted up and accompanied by
H. M. S. _Juno_ and the _St. George_, sighted the coast of Portugal,
sailed into sunny waters off the shores at Lisbon and reached Gibraltar
on March 13th, where the Royal visitors were welcomed by General Sir
George White, of Ladysmith fame, and who had been Governor for about a
year. From the Rock the _Ophir_ was escorted by two other ships of the
Royal Navy to Malta, where Admiral Sir John Fisher and the Mediterranean
fleet helped to render the welcome interesting and imposing, and from
thence to Port Said and through the Suez Canal to Aden. Here a
picturesque reception was given to the Duke and Duchess in a pavilion
festooned with lights and filled with Indian and Arab ladies in robes of
silks, officers in white uniforms, the Sultans of two tributary States
and their dusky retinues. Surrounded by a guard of honour from the West
Kent Regiment, with towering mountains of brown lava in the distance,
and with groups of Somalis, Arabs, Hindoos and Seedees gazing at "the
great lord of the seas," the Prince received an address of welcome. From
here, through sweltering days and heated nights, the Royal yacht
traversed the Indian Ocean until Ceylon--"the pearl set in sapphires and
crowned with emeralds"--was reached on April 12th.

At Colombo, amidst a revel of Oriental colour and a luxurious waste of
Eastern vegetation; with guards composed of planters in kharki, Bombay
Lancers in turbans, and Lascoreen troops in crimson and gold; surrounded
by dense crowds of dancing and shouting natives, His Royal Highness
received the official welcome of the Legislature and Municipal Councils
and the Chamber of Commerce. Thence the Royal party proceeded inland to
Kandy, winding their way upward through an exquisite mountain region
where the fantastic shapes and eternal green of the mountain sides and
the valleys and the gorges gleamed and radiated with colour from a
myriad tropical trees, gorgeous orchids, climbing lilies and enormous
ferns. The town itself was a bower of beauty, and here the visitors saw
the Temple of the Tooth, which is an object of adoration to hundreds of
millions in Burmah, China and India; the procession of the Elephants--a
weird portion of the Buddhist ritual; the devil dancers, who excel the
Dervishes of the Soudan in the fantastic nature of their antics. On the
succeeding day the Duke received an address from the planters of the
Island, enclosed in a beautiful coffer of ivory; presented colours to
the Ceylon Mounted Infantry, and medals to men who had returned from
South Africa; and in the evening held a Durbar, at which the native
Chiefs were presented.


A WILD SEA OF EASTERN COLOR

From Kandy back to Colombo went the Royal visitors, and at the capital
they found "the white streets and blood-red earth were rivers of light
and colour," as one picturesque correspondent described the scene. The
British flag was there, and British merchants and the British Governor
in the person of Sir J. West Ridgeway were there; but all else was a
wild sea of Eastern colour; a myriad-voiced tribute of the torrid and
brilliant tropics to the power of Western civilization. After a night on
board the _Ophir_, with the war-ships in the harbour a blaze of colour
and festooned with fire, the visitors left for Singapore on April 16th
and arrived there five days later. Through the Straits of Malacca an
experience was had of the most intense heat and keen tropical
discomfort. The Duke and Duchess were received at Singapore in a
pavilion hung with flags and flowers, by the Governor, Sir Frank
Swettenham, and by the Sultans of Pahang, Perak and Selangor. This
interesting trading centre, with its four hundred and fifty million
dollars' worth of commerce and its population of mingled Chinese, Dutch
and Germans, was ablaze with decorations and filled with holiday-makers.
A Royal reception was held in the Town-Hall on April 22nd attended by
Chinese, Arabs, Malays, Tamils and representatives of all the medley of
blood which makes up the East. There were a dozen deputations bringing
addresses and adding to the steadily accumulating caskets of gold and
silver and ivory and precious stones which the Duke was destined to
possess in a measure only excelled by his Royal father's collection in
the past.

The Malays contributed an elephant's tusk set in gold, the men of Penang
a great bamboo set in gold, and the Chinese of Malaya a fire-screen
worked with Oriental skill and beauty. After this ceremony, and
including dinner, the Duke and Duchess drove through the Chinese
quarters and in the evening witnessed the strange procession of figured
reptiles and demons, dragons and monsters of distorted fancy, which
marked Chinese pleasure and indicated the loyalty of the coolies as
their costly decorations and caskets and the presence at functions of
richly-dressed men and women had already illustrated the loyalty of the
merchant class. An incident of the afternoon was the singing by five
thousand school-children of mixed Eastern races and the presentation of
a bouquet to the Duchess. The effect of "God Save the King" in their
quaint, native accents was described as being strangely pathetic. On the
following morning the _Ophir_ steamed out of the harbour bound for
Australia and left eastern civilization behind for the forms and customs
of England transplanted upon Australian soil. The shores of Sumatra were
coasted, the Straits of Banka, the Sea of Java and the beautiful Straits
of Sunda were traversed; the Equator was crossed and His Royal Highness
willingly subjected to the quaint and immemorial usages of the occasion;
the Indian Ocean traversed and two thousand five hundred miles of this
part of the journey experienced before the shores of the
island-continent were sighted on May 1st.

The formal landing at Melbourne, for which all Australia was looking,
took place on May 6th and the splendour of the reception far exceeded
all expectations. For many weeks the people of the Commonwealth had been
legislating, planning decorating and preparing for the visit of the Heir
to the British Throne and his wife; the dormant loyalty of years,
aroused and developed by the events of the war and the despatch of
thousands of troops to the front, had grown to a white-heat of interest
and excitement; the completion of confederation and the union of the
Colonies in one great Commonwealth, which was now to be marked by the
opening of the first Federal Parliament and stamped through this visit
with Royal approval and British sympathy, enhanced the public interest.
There was a great and stately setting at Melbourne for the functions
which graced the occasion and, as the _Ophir_ rested in the waters of
the bay, surrounded by British and foreign warships, with roaring
salutes and a myriad of fluttering flags, there were excellent scenic
preliminaries to the impressive landing ceremonies. From the St. Kilda
Pier, through miles of beautiful, decorated streets, great arches and
hundreds of thousands of cheering people, the Royal couple passed to
Government House, welcomed also on the way by a gathering of thirty-five
thousand school children singing "God Save the King."

The whole spectacle was an extraordinary one. Mr. E. F. Knight,
correspondent of the London _Morning Post_ said that "it was a day of
splendid pageants, stirring and impressive, and the extraordinary
enthusiasm of the ovation given to the Duke and Duchess by the hundreds
of thousands of Australians who packed the streets along the entire
eight miles of route must ever stand out vivid in the memory of all who
witnessed it." Mr. W. Maxwell, the correspondent of the _Standard_,
declared that: "I have seen many Royal progresses but never have I seen
one more hearty and spontaneous than that of the multitude of
well-dressed men, women and children who thronged the streets daily for
nearly two weeks." The scheme of decorations was splendid, the triumphal
arches were authoritatively stated to be better and more numerous than
anything yet seen in London itself, the gathering of Australian troops
lining the streets was representative and effective, the spectators were
almost everywhere dressed in black or dark clothing as a tribute to the
late Queen, the evening illuminations were on a magnificent
scale--buildings and arches and decorations being a flashing, gleaming
mass of light and fire and varied brightness. A state dinner was given
at Government House by Lord Hopetoun in the evening and, on the
succeeding day, a great Levée was held and addresses received. All the
leaders of Australian life and society were presented and every form or
phase of loyalty was embodied in the addresses presented from public
institutions. Another state dinner followed at Government House and on
May 8th the University of Melbourne was visited and an honorary degree
conferred upon His Royal Highness. A great procession of various trade
and labour associations was then witnessed and the third day of the
visit concluded with a well-managed and stately Royal reception at
Government House.


OPENING OF THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT

On May 9th the central ceremony of the tour was performed and a new
British Commonwealth started upon its national course. The streets
through which the Royal progress was made were packed with enthusiastic
masses of people; the great Exhibition Building in which the Parliament
of Australia was to be formally inaugurated was filled with twelve
thousand persons, representative of every form of Australian life and
character and achievement; the scheme of decoration--blue and golden
yellow and chocolate--was effective and bright, the black and white and
purple of the universal mourning was brightened here and there amongst
the people by scattering bits of uniform in blue and scarlet and gold.
At noon, the distant sound of cheers and the blare of trumpets announced
the approach of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. Amidst the
strains of the National Anthem, and accompanied by the Governor-General
and Countess of Hopetoun, they took their places upon the dais. Around
the King's son and his wife were all the leaders of Australia; in front
of them, the Parliament, the classes and a substantial section of the
masses. The Earl of Hopetoun read some formal prayers and then gave
place to His Royal Highness who, in clear and distinct tones read his
speech to Parliament and the people. In it he spoke of himself as
fulfilling the wish of the late Queen Victoria and his father, the King,
and as representing their deep interest in Australia and warm
appreciation of Australian help in the war and loyalty to the Crown. Of
the future, His Majesty felt assured.

     "The King is satisfied that the wisdom and patriotism which have
     characterized the exercise of the wide powers of self-government
     hitherto enjoyed by the Colonies will continue to be displayed in
     the exercise of the still wider powers with which the United
     Commonwealth has been endowed. His Majesty feels assured that the
     enjoyment of these powers will, if possible, enhance that loyalty
     and devotion to his Throne and Empire of which the people of
     Australia have already given such signal proofs. It is His
     Majesty's earnest prayer that this union, so happily achieved, may,
     under God's blessing, prove an instrument for still further
     promoting the welfare and advancement of his subjects in Australia,
     and for the strengthening and consolidation of his Empire."

The Duke then declared the Parliament open in the name and on behalf of
his Majesty. He also read a cablegram just received from the King: "My
thoughts are with you on the day of the important ceremony. Most
fervently do I wish Australia prosperity and happiness." The members of
Parliament then took the oath of allegiance administered by Lord
Hopetoun. Meanwhile, as His Royal Highness declared the Houses of
Parliament open, and while the immense standing audience was making the
building echo with a mighty cheer, the Duchess touched an electric
button, and from every school-house in the Commonwealth there waved the
Union Jack as a sign that the great function was completed. Amidst
cheering multitudes the Royal couple then drove back to Government
House. In the evening a brilliant concert was given under the auspices
of the Commonwealth Government. On the following day fifteen thousand
Australian troops were reviewed in the presence of one hundred and forty
thousand people--infantry, mounted men, engineers, army service corps,
army medical corps, ambulance corps and cadets--representative of all
the States and of all branches of the system together with blue-jackets
and marines from the Royal Navy.

Then came a state dinner at Government House. On May 11th an afternoon
reception was given by the Victorian Government and Parliament at the
same place, and on Monday May 13th, His Royal Highness and the Duchess
visited the famous golden city of Ballarat, inspected one of its great
mines and laid the foundation-stone of a monument to Australian soldiers
who had fallen in South Africa. Tuesday saw an interesting
school-children's fête and a reception by the Mayor and Corporation of
Melbourne. On May 14th, Their Royal Highnesses presented prizes to the
scholars of the united Grammar Schools of Victoria, and the Prince spoke
to the boys of the stately and historical events of the past few days.
"Keep up your traditions and think with pride of those educated in your
schools who have become distinguished public servants of the state, or
who have fought, or are still fighting, for the Empire in South Africa."
To another great gathering of twenty thousand children the Duke was both
eloquent and impressive. "May your lives be happy and prosperous, but
do not forget that the youngest of us have responsibilities which
increase as time goes on. If I may offer you advice I should say: Be
thorough, do your level best in whatever work you may be called upon to
perform. Remember that we are all fellow-subjects of the British Crown.
Be loyal, yes, to your parents, your country, your King and your God."

After a rousing farewell from the people of Melbourne, a special train
was taken on May 18th by the Royal couple for the capital of Queensland.


AT BRISBANE AND SYDNEY

Every town, or settlement, or mining camp on the way contributed its
cheers and shouts from crowds of sturdy Australians, and on May 20th,
Brisbane was reached and an enthusiastic welcome received in the drive
through crowded and beautifully decorated streets. At Government House,
where the Royal guests were received by Lord Lamington,
Lieutenant-Governor of the State, twenty-two deputations attended to
present addresses--as compared with forty-eight at Melbourne. In the
evening, a brilliant illumination of the city marked the event. On the
following day a review of troops took place, and the Duke and Duchess
enjoyed the patriotic singing and happy sports of some five thousand
children. The evening saw an aboriginal Corrobberee performed for their
benefit, and on the 23rd of May, the foundation-stone of a new Anglican
Cathedral, which was being erected as a memorial to the late Queen
Victoria, was laid by His Royal Highness amid appropriate and dignified
ceremonial. In the afternoon the Agricultural Exhibition was visited and
a splendid demonstration of welcome received from over thirty thousand
people. The following and last day at Brisbane included a Levée, an
afternoon reception and a concert. Each evening had seen a formal state
banquet.

On May 24th the route was taken for Sydney, and a stop was made
near Combooya for a picnic in the bush, or "billy tea." Newcastle
gave the Royal couple a rousing reception, and at Haukesbury the
_Ophir_ was boarded and the trip up the splendid harbour of Sydney
commenced--escorted by warships and welcomed by the roar of cannon from
ships and shore. As the Duke and Duchess landed amid cheering sailors,
pealing bells and the shouts of a massed concourse of people stretching
far back from the landing-place, they were received at a sort of
graceful portal, decked with flags, flowers and semi-tropical foliage,
by the Governor-General, the Federal and State Governors and Premiers,
the Mayor and others. The procession then passed along a three-mile
route to Government House with bands at intervals playing the
ever-present National Anthem, with beautiful decorations and arches, and
with cheering crowds, fluttering handkerchiefs and waving flags in every
direction. In the evening there was the usual state dinner and more than
usually striking illuminations. Of this reception the Sydney _Morning
Herald_ said the next day: "The acquisition of territory is a triumph of
national achievement; but it is a small thing beside this re-creation of
a new Britain in another hemisphere. The demonstration in Sydney
yesterday embodied the message to this effect which our people desire to
transmit by favour of the Duke and Duchess to the centre of Empire."

The ensuing event was a Royal review of nine thousand troops with the
presence of one hundred and fifty thousand people as observers. Then
came a brilliant Reception at Government House, and on the morning of
May 29th a Levée attended by two thousand citizens and at which
twenty-four addresses were received--including the various
denominations, the Masons, and the Orangemen. That of the city was in a
beautiful gold and jewelled casket. To these His Royal Highness replied
in eloquent language, and then knighted the Mayor of Sydney, Dr. James
Graham, as he had already done the Mayor of Melbourne. A state dinner
followed with continued evening illuminations. The naval depot at Garden
Island was visited in the morning, and in the afternoon a naval review
witnessed. A second Reception followed at Government House, and on the
succeeding day the commemoration-stone of a Queen Victoria Memorial
addition to the Prince Alfred Hospital was laid by the Duke. In his
speech he expressed a doubt "whether anymore fitting memorial to that
great life could have been chosen, for sympathy with the suffering was
an all-pervading element in the noble and beautiful character of her who
was your first Patron and with whose name the Hospital will now be
associated for all time." At the University of Sydney the Royal visitor
was given an honorary degree amid the amusing chaff of a reception which
was as hearty and enthusiastic as it was hilarious. A Citizen's Concert
followed in the evening, and on the next day His Royal Highness
conferred fourteen hundred medals upon volunteers who had returned from
the war. In the afternoon there was a brilliant garden party at
Government House. On Sunday a sermon was listened to at St. Andrew's
Cathedral, preached by Archbishop Saumarez Smith, and Monday being the
Duke's birthday was observed as a public holiday. In the afternoon a
visit was paid to the Young People's Industrial Exhibition where five
thousand school children sang a special Ode for the occasion. In the
afternoon the Duke departed for a couple of days shooting, and the
Duchess visited the neighbouring Blue Mountains.

On June 6th, after a very cordial "send-off" from the people, the Royal
party boarded the _Ophir_ and started for Auckland, New Zealand. Five
days later they found that loyal city alive with enthusiasm, crowded
with people and decorated to the extreme limit. They were welcomed by
the Governor, Lord Ranfurly and the Premier, Mr. R. J. Seddon. The
latter presented an address in a superb casket made of New Zealand wood
and gold, silver, and enamel, in the shape of a Maori war canoe. The
ceremony of presentation and the reply occurred on board ship.
Immediately upon landing the Duchess touched the key of a telegraph
instrument, and flags waved and guns roared a welcome in every city and
town of New Zealand. The popular welcome in the streets was tumultuous
and the arches particularly impressive, while one of the incidents of
the Royal progress to Government House was a living Union Jack composed
of two thousand children dressed to fit the design. In the afternoon
eleven addresses were received, and during his reply the Duke said: "I
look forward to making known to His Majesty how strong I have found the
feeling of common brotherhood and readiness to share in the
responsibilities of the Empire, and earnestly trust that the results of
the journey maybe to stimulate the interest of the different countries
in each other, and so draw even closer the bonds which now unite them."


ROYAL WELCOME IN NEW ZEALAND

A state dinner followed this event and an evening Reception. The
succeeding day a Royal review of forty-three hundred troops occurred,
with twelve thousand spectators, and was followed by a luncheon to four
hundred veterans of the South African and Maori wars, at which the Duke
of Cornwall and York made one of the several _impromptu_ speeches
delivered during his tour. Speaking of the combination of old veterans
and young soldiers he said: "There is nothing like a chip of the old
block"--to which some one responded with "You're one yourself"--"when
one knows that the old block was hard, of good grain and sound to the
core, and if, in the future, whenever and wherever the Mother-hand is
stretched across the sea, it can reckon on a grasp such as New Zealand
has given in the present." This speech evoked tremendous cheering.
Later, the foundation-stone of the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls
was laid, and in the evening, after a state dinner at Government House,
the Royal visitors attended a Reception given by the Mayor, and drove
through splendidly illuminated streets. The next few days were spent
amongst that most picturesque, gallant and chivalrous of native
peoples--the Maoris. Expressions of the most intense and unaffected
loyalty and contentment with British rule were universal. Most
interesting sights were witnessed and Maori customs studied--including
war and other dances, songs of welcome and of challenge to enemies, and
mimic battles fought with native skill and zest.

Wellington was reached on Waterloo Day (June 18th) and the route to
Government House was spanned by a dozen handsome arches--two of which
had been erected by the enthusiastic Maoris. After the conferring of
some knighthood honours the Royal visitors in the afternoon watched a
procession of Friendly Societies and laid the foundation-stone of a new
Town Hall. In the evening there were the usual state dinner, Reception
and illuminations. On the following day three hundred medals were
presented to South African veterans and seventeen deputations received.
A state Reception was attended at the Parliament Buildings in the
evening and the next day was devoted to visiting certain great
industries and charitable institutions. On June 20th the
foundation-stone of new Government Railway offices was laid amid
torrents of rain and then the departure was made for Christchurch which
was reached in a few hours amid the welcome of pealing bells, cheering
people and roaring guns. Here the foundation-stone of a statue of Queen
Victoria was laid in the presence of a great throng of people. The
Sunday sermon of next day was preached by the Bishop of Christchurch
and, on Monday, June 24th, a review of eleven thousand troops was held
(including three thousand cadets) in the presence of sixty thousand
spectators. A feature of the drive to the review ground was a welcome
sung by eight thousand school children. A luncheon to the war veterans
was also given here and militant New Zealand was well represented in the
speeches.

Dunedin was reached by train on the following evening and in the Royal
saloon the Hon. John Mackenzie--whose health had prevented him attending
the formal ceremony at Wellington--was knighted by the Duke and
personally invested with his Order. The city was found to be spanned
everywhere with arches. Several functions were combined here and His
Royal Highness received addresses in a special pavilion, presented
medals and inspected the veterans. The Corporation address was in a box
modelled after a Maori meeting-house and made of gold, silver and
bronze. Another military luncheon followed and in the afternoon a
children's demonstration was attended and the Pastoral and Horticultural
Shows visited. At Lyttleton, on the following day, another
foundation-stone of a Queen Victoria statue was laid and then the Royal
couple left for Tasmania after the Duke had issued a farewell address
speaking of the enthusiasm of his reception, the loyal and military
spirit of the people, the splendid qualities of the Maoris and the
exquisite beauty of New Zealand scenery.

The Hobart welcome was given on July 3rd and a most tasteful, loyal and
enthusiastic one it was. There were a dozen triumphal arches and the
civic address was presented in a beautiful pavilion specially erected.
The usual state dinner and Reception followed. In the morning a Levée
was held and thirty addresses received from the Churches and Friendly
Societies, the Freemasons and the Orangemen, the Half-castes and the
Chinese. During his reply the Duke referred to the Island's entry into
the Commonwealth and said: "I trust that the hopes and aspirations which
prompted her people to enter this great national union may be fully
realized in the future prosperity of the Commonwealth and in the
greatness, power and solidarity of the Empire." In the afternoon the
foundation-stone of a statue to Tasmanian soldiers who had fallen in the
war was laid by the Duke and an eloquent speech delivered in which
reference was made to the event as being a testimony to "that living
spirit of race, of pride in a common heritage and of a fixed resolve to
join in maintaining that heritage; which sentiment, irresistible in its
power, has inspired and united the peoples of this vast Empire." A
log-chopping contest was then witnessed followed by an _impromptu_ visit
to inspect an arch in a poor and squalid part of the city. Another
Reception was held in the evening accompanied by illuminations on sea
and land. The succeeding day saw a review of two thousand troops, the
presentation of war medals, a children's demonstration, a trades'
procession, a Reception by the Mayor in the City Hall with the singing
of a special Ode, and illuminations and a fire brigade procession in the
evening. Sunday was spent quietly and then the Royal yacht sailed for
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.


IN SOUTH AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Here the Duke and Duchess were formally received on July 8th by the
Lieutenant-Governor, Lord Tennyson, and his Ministers, and
enthusiastically welcomed in crowded and tastefully decorated streets,
bathed in a bright and genial sunshine. There were four arches--though
£2000 of the grant had been expended on the poor instead of on temporary
decorations. At the Town-Hall an address was received and at the the
same time twelve hundred homing pigeons were liberated to carry news of
the Royal arrival to all parts of the State. A state banquet followed in
the evening and after the Levée on the next day a number of addresses
were received. Meanwhile the Duchess visited the two local hospitals.
Her Royal Highness also attended a football match in the afternoon and
received a brilliant assemblage of people in the evening--the Duke
being compelled to have a tooth extracted. On the succeeding day the Art
Gallery was visited and a bust of the late Lord Tennyson unveiled and an
honorary degree accepted from the Adelaide University by His Royal
Highness, who also laid the corner-stone of a new building in connection
with this institution. Later, a demonstration of six thousand children
was attended and a Reception held in the evening. The next day was
devoted to shooting and to seeing an exhibition of sheep-shearing,
bullock-riding and buck-jumping, with a military Tattoo in the evening
and the usual spectacle of brilliant illuminations. The last day, but
one, in South Australia included in its programme the laying of a
foundation-stone for a Maternity Home in memory of Queen Victoria, and
the review of four thousand troops with a state concert at night. On
Sunday, a recently-completed Nave in St. Peter's Cathedral was dedicated
by the Bishops of Adelaide and Newcastle and a tablet to South African
heroes unveiled by the Duke.

The voyage was then resumed for Freemantle and Perth, in Western
Australia, but stress of weather on July 2nd caused the _Ophir_ to put
in at Albany, instead, and there the surprised and delighted people gave
the Duke and Duchess a rousing welcome as they took the train for Perth.
The State capital was reached two days later and, amid perfect weather,
through great crowds and a dozen splendid arches, the Royal progress was
made to the Town Hall where the inevitable address was received. In the
evening there was the usual state dinner given by the Governor, Sir
Arthur Lawley, and ensuing Reception. On the following day the programme
included a Levée, the reception of addresses, the laying of the
foundation-stone of the State's monument to its sons lying on the South
African veldt, the presentation of war medals and a civic Reception and
state concert. The last two days of the visit were devoted to attendance
at a state service in St. John's Cathedral where the Duke unveiled a
brass tablet in memory of South African heroes, laying the
foundation-stone of a new building connected with the Museum, a visit to
the Mint, an enthusiastic welcome given by a children's demonstration
and a visit to the Zoological Gardens. Before sailing for South Africa
on July 26th, the new Heir Apparent addressed a formal farewell to the
people of Australia in the form of a letter to the Earl of Hopetoun.
Reference was made at some length to the twenty-five thousand troops
reviewed during the visit, to the educational systems of the States, to
the loyalty exhibited to the King and the generous personal reception
given by the people, to the hospitality of Governments and the good
management and kindness of officials. Finally he said:

     "We leave with many regrets, mitigated, however, by the hope that
     while we have gained new friendships and good will, something may
     also have been achieved towards strengthening and welding together
     the Empire, through the sympathy and interest which have been
     displayed in our journey both at home and in the Colonies. The
     Commonwealth and its people will ever have a warm place in our
     hearts. We shall always take the keenest interest in its welfare,
     and our earnest prayer will be for its continued advancement not
     only in material progress, but in all that tends to make life noble
     and happy."

The response of the press to this Message was pronounced and may be
represented by the statement of the Melbourne _Argus_ on June 29th, that
from first to last "the Australasian visit was a success, in every way
worthy of its statesmanlike conception and purpose." The Royal couple
came from King and Empire, and their mission was personally performed
with unique success. "Everywhere they were received with demonstrations
of delighted loyalty. They were living symbols of British unity. From
all they will take back a reciprocal message to King and Empire. There
is not a single blemish upon the record of the visit. Not one imprudent
word was spoken, not one slight left a stinging recollection."

Mauritius was reached on August 4th, and the brightly-decorated streets
of the capital were crowded with Creoles, Mohammedans, Hindoos, and
Chinese, while the French language was everywhere, and the English
tongue seldom heard. Tropical flowers and foliage were brilliant and
plentiful in the plans of decoration, and the streets were lined with a
combination of Bengal Infantry, Royal Artillery and Engineers. At
Government House the first investiture of knighthood in the Island's
history was held and various addresses received. The foundation-stone of
a statue of Queen Victoria was then laid, a procession of Hindoo and
Chinese children witnessed and a drive taken through the town. The next
four days were spent in strict privacy at the residence of Sir Charles
Bruce, the Governor, with the exception of a state dinner and Reception
on the first evening.


ROYAL RECEPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

War-tossed South Africa was sighted on August 13th and the landing took
place at Durban, where the welcome was enthusiastic. There were many
arches and excellent decorations, eleven thousand singing children,
crowded streets and shouting spectators who included Zulus, Kaffirs of
all kinds, Indian coolies and the whole white population. In a Royal
pavilion, specially constructed, addresses were presented and answered,
and the train was taken to Pietermaritzburg after luncheon with the
Mayor and a distinguished gathering. A deputation of ladies had,
meanwhile, presented the Duchess with a table-gong made of pompom shells
mounted on a rhinoceros horn. The railway to the capital of Natal was
patrolled by mounted troops, and the drive through the illuminated city
and densely-packed streets to Government House was done at night. On the
following day the place was found to be handsomely decorated with many
arches and the first function was the Royal inauguration of a new Town
Hall. The cheering of the people was intense and continuous in the
streets. Afterwards addresses were presented--that of the Corporation
in a singularly beautiful casket of ivory and gold. In his eloquent
speech the Duke referred to the events and sacrifices of the war. They
had not been in vain. "Never in our history did the pulse of Empire beat
more in unison; and the blood which has been shed on the veldt has
sealed for ever our unity, based upon a common loyalty and a
determination to share, each of us according to our strength, the common
burden." An address was also presented from Johannesburg and specially
replied to.

In the afternoon there was an extraordinary assemblage, composed of the
dignitaries of political and social life and the pick of the great
British army in South Africa--a quarter of a million fighting men. It
was a gathering of eleven holders of the V.C., and forty-three holders
of the honour next in degree for bravery in the field--the D.S.O. These
famous medals were conferred by the Duke of Cornwall and York, and then
a great deputation of Zulu Chiefs, clad in barbaric war paraphernalia,
presented loyal congratulations. A reception was held in the evening and
the city illuminated. The next day the voyage was resumed, and Simon's
Bay reached on August 19th. After landing, through a guard of one
thousand bluejackets, and receiving an address from the Mayor, the
special train was taken to Cape Town. There the formal reception was
given by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the President of the
Legislative Council, the Archbishop, the Chief Justice, the Mayor, the
President of the Africander Bond and other officials or public men. The
reception in the streets was enthusiastic, and it has been said that
more Union Jacks were displayed than at any other point on the tour. A
Levée was held in the afternoon at the Parliament Buildings and two
thousand citizens were presented, while addresses were received from
many public bodies in Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, and Rhodesia.

A memorable event occurred on the succeeding day, when in the
Government House grounds, His Royal Highness and the Duchess received
over one hundred native chiefs who had come from all parts of South
Africa, laden with unique and peculiar gifts, clad in extraordinary
costumes and led by Lerothodi of the Basutos and Khama, the famous Chief
of Bechuanaland. Short speeches were interchanged, and then the Duke and
Duchess drove to Grootschur, to visit Mr. Cecil Rhodes. On the following
day the Duke accepted an honorary degree from the University of Cape
Town--of which he was already Chancellor--and in the afternoon received
some six thousand school children, Colonial and Dutch, who sang an Ode
of welcome and presented a gift of Basuto ponies for the Royal children
in far-away London. There was also an evening reception and the same
splendid illuminations which had graced the previous night. The last day
of the visit included the laying of the foundation-stone of a Nurse's
Home in memory of the late Queen, and of the corner-stone of the new St.
George's Cathedral. Despatches were interchanged with Lord Kitchener,
and a letter written by His Royal Highness to the Governor, Sir Walter
Hely-Hutchinson, expressive of the deep gratitude of his wife and
himself for their reception and the earnest hope that peace would soon
be restored. An investiture of knighthood was also held, and on August
23rd the Royal couple were once more on the _Ophir_ heading for distant
Canada.


ARRIVAL AT HISTORIC QUEBEC

After a voyage in which every kind of ocean weather was experienced, or
suffered, the mighty St. Lawrence was reached, and finally the City of
Quebec, on the 15th of September. The arrival was the commencement of a
continental tour which proved a fitting crown to the whole splendid
Empire progress and a more than appropriate continuation of the King's
visit of forty years before--in which he had touched only the smaller
central Provinces of the great railway-girdled Dominion which now
welcomed his son and his son's Consort. On Monday, September 17th, the
Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, accompanied by the Earl of Minto,
Governor-General, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Prime Minister--who had
gone down the river to meet them--set their feet upon Canadian soil. The
Dominion Ministers were present to join in the welcome, and the
procession then passed through the city, many thousands of people lining
the streets, and three thousand French children at the St. Louis Gate
singing "O Canada, Land of Our Ancestors." At the Parliament Buildings,
the Hon. S. N. Parent, Mayor of Quebec and Premier of the Province, read
a lengthy address which referred to this visit as a proud privilege,
expressed the renewed devotion of the citizens to the Crown and person
of their Sovereign, and spoke of French-Canadians as "a free, united and
happy people, faithful and loyal, attached to their King and country,
and rejoicing in their connection with the British Empire and those
noble self-governing institutions which are the palladium of their
liberties." In his reply the Duke referred to the success of the
Canadian troops at Paardeberg, and spoke with sorrow of the death of
President McKinley. "It is my proud mission to come amongst you as a
token of that feeling of admiration and pride which the King and the
Empire feel in the exploits of the Canadians who rushed to the defence
of the Empire."

A Royal procession to the Citadel followed and in the afternoon the Duke
and Duchess visited Laval University, where they were received by
Archbishop Bégin, the Rector, and five hundred clergymen of the
Arch-diocese. In the address which was read by the Archbishop reference
was made to the late Queen, to the accession of the present Sovereign,
to the triumphal welcome on the banks of the mighty St. Lawrence which
was being prepared for the nation's guests, and to the pleasure of the
Church in sharing that welcome. "To the history of our Catholic Church
belongs the honour of having forged between the English Throne and a
French Canadian people solid bonds which neither adversity nor bribery
can sever." Faith in the Church and loyalty to the Crown were the
lessons they desired to inculcate. The University address was then read
by the Rev. O. E. Mathieu, the Rector. His Royal Highness in replying
and accepting the honorary degree of LL. D., paid a high tribute to
Roman Catholicism in Canada. "I am glad to acknowledge the noble part
which the Catholic Church in Canada has played throughout its history;
the hallowed memories of its martyred missionaries are a priceless
heritage; and in the great and beneficial work of education and in
implanting and fostering a spirit of patriotism and loyalty, it has
rendered signal service in Canada and the the Empire." In the evening, a
state dinner was held at the Citadel.

During the ensuing morning the Royal review took place on the Plains of
Abraham. It rained during the greater part of the proceedings and this,
together with the cancellation of the proposed Reception, for which
fifteen hundred invitations had been issued, threw a measure of gloom
over the City. But neither the rain nor the sad death of the President
of the United States could be helped and certainly the Duke never
flinched from the discomforts of the former. There were some five
thousand troops on the ground under command of Major-General
O'Grady-Haly assisted by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. M. Aylmer as
Adjutant-General. After the parade was over, His Royal Highness
distributed the South African medals to the men and presented
Lieut.-Colonel R. E. W. Turner, of the Queen's Own Canadian Hussars,
with his V.C. and D.S.O. and a sword of honour from the City of Quebec.
In the evening, as on the previous one, the city was brilliantly
illuminated and the ships and river showed sudden blazes of light amid
the blackness of surrounding night and through the flash of fireworks
and gleam of electricity. The Royal couple gave a farewell dinner on the
_Ophir_ to a select number and in the morning started for Montreal. The
journey was made in the splendid train built by the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company for the special purposes of this tour and destined to
carry the Royal visitors all over the Dominion. Their immediate train of
cars was preceded, as elsewhere throughout the country, by one bearing
the Governor-General and Lady Minto.


RECEPTION AT MONTREAL AND OTTAWA

Very few stops took place on the way to Montreal, where some change in
the programme was to be made owing to the President's funeral. At Port
Neuf, Three River's and Lanoraie, however, a few minutes' pause had been
arranged. At the Montreal station the Royal couple were received by Mr.
Raymond Prefontaine, M.P., Mayor of the city, in gorgeous official
robes. With him were Archbishop Bruchési, Vicar-General Racicot,
Archbishop Bond, Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, Mr. T. G. Shaughnessy,
Senator Drummond, Rev. Dr. Barclay, Principal Peterson, Sir William
Hingston, Sir W. C. Van Horne and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The Civic address
was read in French and the Duke replied in English. Other addresses were
presented from the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, the Daughters of
the Empire and the Baron de Hirsch Institute. There was an immense crowd
present and the proceedings concluded with the introduction of a number
of Indian chiefs to His Royal Highness and the presentation of medals to
the South African veterans.

The procession through the streets to Lord Strathcona's house, where the
Royal visitors were to stay, was a rather swift drive and the throngs of
people were not given very much time to see the Duke and Duchess.
Elsewhere in Canada the rate was slower. Several beautiful arches
decorated the route. The cheers of the Laval students and the enthusiasm
of five thousand school children on Peel Street were the most marked
incidents of this parade through gaily decorated streets. In the evening
Lord Strathcona entertained at dinner in honour of his Royal guests and
the whole city was a blaze of light from electric illuminations and the
fireworks on Mount Royal. The Reception in the evening was cancelled
owing to the President's funeral. A visit was paid to the mountain in
the morning and then followed the formal functions of a busy day. At
McGill University an address was read by its Chancellor, Lord
Strathcona, and an honorary degree received. Then followed an address
from the Medical Faculty, read by Dr. Craik, and including the
presentation of a casket of Labradorite--a native Canadian product. The
Duke also formally opened the new Medical building.

At Laval University the decorations were most elaborate and there was a
great assemblage of local clergy. Archbishop Bruchési extended a verbal,
instead of written, welcome and informed the Duke that the clergy and
Professors devoted themselves to training the youth of the University
"in science and in arts, in loyalty to the throne, as well as in love of
religion and country." An honorary degree was also given and accepted.
Another place visited was the Royal Victoria Hospital which, like McGill
University and its Medical Faculty, owed much to Lord Strathcona. At the
Diocesan Institute an address was presented from the assembled
Provincial Synod of Canada by the Lord Bishop of Toronto. In the
afternoon the Duke and Duchess drove out to the Ville Marie Convent
where they were received by the Archbishop of Montreal, the Lady
Superior and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. An address was presented and, as at
Laval, the Duke replied informally though here, for the first time, he
said a few words in French. A torchlight procession of the people,
general illumination of the city and more fire-works, followed in the
evening. At nine o'clock on the succeeding morning the Royal couple
started for Ottawa.

They remained in Ottawa from September 20th until September 24th. On the
way to the capital a brief stop was made at Alexandria and an address
received. The arrival at Ottawa and the Royal progress through the city
was marked by brilliant decorations, cheering crowds and finer weather
than had been the case either at Quebec or Montreal. The Civic address
was read by Major W. D. Morris in a pavilion erected on the Parliament
grounds and eighteen other addresses were received. The reply of His
Royal Highness was sympathetic and eloquent in language. It was, he
said, impossible for him not to think of the difference between forty
years ago and the present time. "Ottawa was then but the capital of two
Provinces, yoked together in uneasy union. To-day it is a capital of a
great and prosperous Dominion, stretching from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean, the centre of the political life and administration of a
contented and united people. The Federation of Canada stands permanent
among the political events of the century just closed for its fruitful
and beneficent results on the life of the people concerned." He hoped
that mutual toleration and sympathy would continue and be extended to
the Empire as a whole and that, more than ever, the people would remain
"determined to hold fast and maintain the proud privileges of British
citizenship."

On leaving for Government House the Duke and Duchess were greeted with
"The Maple Leaf," sung by thousands of school children and were given a
great cheer by the students of Ottawa College. In the afternoon a visit
was paid to the Lacrosse match between the Cornwalls and Ottawas and at
night a state dinner was held at Government House. The city was
illuminated on this and subsequent evenings in a way to rival the
famous effects of the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo. On the
following morning an investiture of knighthood was held at Government
House followed by a drive through Hull. At noon the statue of Queen
Victoria on the Parliament grounds was unveiled amid the usual
surroundings of state and soldiers and crowds. South African medals were
presented by the Duke and to Lieutenant E. J. Holland was given his V.C.
as well as medal. His Royal Highness was then lunched by a number of
prominent gentlemen at the Rideau Club and in the afternoon a garden
party was held at Government House. In the evening there was a quiet
dinner and drive through the city to see the illuminations.

On the following day, Sunday was quietly observed and Christ Church
Cathedral attended in the morning by the Royal couple and the
Governor-General and Lady Minto. Bishop Hamilton officiated and the
sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Kittson. The morning of September 23
was notable for the entertainment given by the lumbermen of Ottawa. The
Duke and Duchess travelled on a special electric car to their
destination, went in canoes with _voyageurs_ through the rapids,
descended the famous lumberslides of the Chaudiére, witnessed a race of
war canoes, saw tree cutting and logging, watched the strange dances of
the woodsmen, ate a lumbermen's lunch in a shanty, heard the jolly songs
of the _voyageurs_, and listened to a speech from a _habitant_ foreman
which made them and all Canada laugh heartily. In the evening a
brilliant Reception was held in the Senate Chamber.

At noon on the following morning the Royal couple left for Winnipeg
through crowded streets and cheering people. Before her departure the
Duchess of Cornwall was given a handsome cape by the women of Ottawa.
The presentation was made by Lady Laurier, on behalf of the
contributors, at Government House. In Montreal a beautiful gift had also
been made to her in the shape of a corsage ornament composed of a spray
of maple leaves made of enamel and decorated with 366 diamonds and one
large pearl. It was presented by Lady Strathcona and Mrs. George A.
Drummond. The Royal journey across the continent commenced with the
departure from Ottawa and, between the capital of the Dominion and the
metropolis of the West, a number of places were passed at a few of which
the Royal visitors paused for a brief time. At Carleton Place there was
a cheering crowd and gaily decorated station and singing school
children; at Almonte the town was _en fête_ and cheering could be heard
from even the roofs of the distant cotton mills; at Arnprior the whole
population turned out and the decorations were extensive; at Renfrew and
Pembroke the same thing occurred; at Petawawa and Chalk River crowds of
country people had gathered; at Mattawa and North Bay the stations were
gaily decorated and bands played their welcome.

Everywhere in the wilds of Algoma and along the rocky shores of Lake
Superior little groups of settlers might be seen at the lonely stations
watching for a sight of the Duke and Duchess. At Missanabie, a stop was
made to see a Hudson's Bay post and stockade and at White River, the
coldest place in Canada east of the Yukon, a picturesque party of
Indians was seen. A stop was made at Schrieber, and the whole population
turned out to see an address presented to the Duke and a bouquet to the
Duchess. Late in the evening of the 25th Fort William was reached and
the school children of the town sang "The Maple Leaf" from an
illuminated stand at the station. At Port Arthur the Duke accepted a
case of mineral specimens. Winnipeg was reached at noon of the next day
after a quick journey through the "Lake of the Woods" district and a
splendid welcome was accorded the Royal visitors. Flags flew everywhere
and decorations abounded throughout the city. At the station about a
hundred of Manitoba's leading men were gathered. The Governor-General
and Lady Minto and Sir Wilfrid Laurier were also present to assist in
the welcome, as their trains had preceded the Royal party to Winnipeg.
The same order was observed in this connection throughout the Canadian
tour.


IN WINNIPEG AND THE WEST

The Royal procession then passed along the wide main street of the city,
through splendid arches of wheat, to the City Hall, where Mayor
Arbuthnot presented the address to the Duke. Archbishop Machray then
presented an address from the Church of England in Rupert's Land,
expressive of welcome and attachment to the Throne and Empire.
Archbishop Langevin, on behalf of the Catholics of Manitoba and the
West, in his address dwelt upon the French pioneer labours in the
Northwest, and declared the pride felt by the people of his Church in
having defended England's noble standard, even at the expense of their
blood. "We thank God for the amount of religious liberty we enjoy under
the British flag." In his reply, the Duke of Cornwall and York spoke of
the marvellous progress made by Winnipeg--"the busy centre of what has
become the great granary of the Empire, the political centre of an
active and enterprising population in the full enjoyment of the
privileges and institutions of British citizenship." Then followed the
presentation of South African medals and a luncheon at Government House
attended by many leading citizens. In the afternoon the University of
Manitoba was visited and an address read by Archbishop Machray,
Chancellor of the University. A state dinner was given in the evening at
Government House and about ten o'clock the Royal visitors passed through
the crowded and illuminated streets of the city to the train, followed
by a torchlight procession and the sound of many cheers.

At Regina, on September 27th, a loyal welcome was received. The
procession to Government House was followed by the reception of twelve
addresses from Territorial centres and the distribution of South African
decorations. A luncheon was given by Lieutenant-Governor Forget, and at
3 P.M., the Royal visitors departed for Calgary. There, on the following
morning, they witnessed a thoroughly typical Western scene and received
a Western welcome. The streets were gaily decorated and many cheers
followed the Duke and Duchess as they proceeded to Victoria Park, where
a review of 240 Mounted Police was held, medals presented to the South
African veterans and Major Belcher decorated with his C.M.G. At another
point near the city the Duke then met a large party of Indians and
received from them an address which recited their past privations and
present progress and expressed the hope that when His Royal Highness
should accede to the Throne it would be "to long reign over us, our
children, and the other many peoples of the British Empire in peaceful
security and abundant happiness."

Speeches were made by a number of the Chiefs and the Duke replied in
most picturesque terms. "The Indian is a live man, his words are true
words and he never breaks faith. And he knows that it is the same with
the Great King, my father, and with those whom he sends to carry out his
wishes. His promises last as long as the sun shall shine and the waters
flow. And care will ever be taken that nothing shall come between the
Great King and you, his faithful children." Indian children then sang
the National Anthem, and, after witnessing an extraordinary spectacle of
broncho busting and cow-boy riding, the journey was resumed to the
Rockies towering up on the horizon. Sunday was spent in traversing the
marvellous panorama of nature which spreads out through the Rockies and
Selkirks, the mighty glaciers, rushing rivers, lightning changes of
colour and varied splendours of scene. A stop was made at Banff and at
Laggan and Field, the stations were tastefully decorated with evergreens
and flags. Revelstoke was passed, the lower levels of the mountains
traversed, the plains reached, and on the morning of September 30th the
Royal train drew into Vancouver.

Mounted Police and blue-jackets from the fleet were there and as the
procession left for the Court House, where addresses were to be
received, the deep-mouthed guns of the fleet in the harbour, the ringing
bells of the city churches and the cheers of the people sounded a
combined welcome. Through several arches and gay decorations--the
Japanese and Chinese arches being noteworthy--the parade proceeded, with
the Premier of Canada in a carriage at its head. At the pavilion, in
front of the Court House, the Royal visitors were received by Mayor
Townley, an address was presented and a bouquet given to the Duchess as
well as a handsome portfolio of British Columbia views from the Local
Council of women. The Duke was very brief in his reply. The next thing
on the programme was the opening of the new Drill-Hall and the
presentation of South African medals. The Boy's Brigade was also
inspected. After luncheon a visit was paid to the Hastings Saw-Mill, and
a drive taken through the splendid trees and vistas of Stanley Park. At
Brockton Point a drill of school children was held in sight of some
seven thousand persons and a grand stand full of children looking on.
Here the Duke presented a silken banner to the school which had won the
prize for drilling and was given an enthusiastic reception. As the C. P.
R. steamer, _Empress of India_, with the Royal party on board, passed in
the evening across the Bay of Victoria the waters were illuminated with
multitudes of lighted craft and the city was a vision of golden light
with a background of surrounding blackness.

Accompanied by five warships, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall arrived
at Victoria on the morning of October 1st and were greeted by
Lieut.-Governor Sir Henri Joly de Lotbiniére as they landed. The drive
through the decorated streets to the Parliament Buildings was the scene
of much cheering and at the destination Their Royal Highnesses were
received by the officials of the Province and an immense surrounding
crowd. Mayor Hayward presented the Civic address and various deputations
followed him. In his reply the Duke made no allusion to the
international relations mentioned in one of the addresses but declared
that Canadian sacrifices in South Africa had "forged another link in the
golden chain which binds together the brotherhood of the Empire." Medals
were distributed and the school children inspected. A drive followed
through the gay streets of the city out to Esquimalt, where a barge was
taken to the Admiral's flagship and luncheon served, with Real-Admiral
Bickford as the host.

In the afternoon the Agricultural Exhibition at Victoria was opened and
in the evening the city and Parliament Buildings were brilliantly
lighted up by electricity and fireworks. After a state dinner at the
Lieutenant-Governor's residence a Reception was held at the Parliament
Buildings. The following day was a very quiet one. Her Royal Highness
called on Mrs. Dunsmuir, wife of the Prime Minister, to express sympathy
over a terrible disaster which had occurred at the Extension Mines and,
after luncheon, the Duke and Duchess visited the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
During the day the latter was presented by the miners of Atlin with a
bracelet of gold nuggets. Late in the afternoon farewells were made and
the voyage back to Vancouver commenced. From Vancouver they departed in
the morning, the Duchess going to Banff where she stayed for a couple of
days and the Duke going on to Poplar Point, Manitoba, forty miles from
Winnipeg, where he enjoyed a couple of days' shooting with Senator
Kirchhoffer. Winnipeg was reached on October 8th. They were cordially
welcomed again and a visit was paid to Oglivie's Mill--said to be the
largest in the Empire--and the direct journey for Toronto was then
commenced. From North Bay, through the Muskoka region and on to the
capital of Ontario, there were cheering crowds at every station.
Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Gravenhurst were marked in this respect. At
Orillia, Barrie and Newmarket short stops were made and, amidst gay
decorations, singing children and cheering throngs, the Duke and Duchess
appeared on the platform, received a few presentations and in the case
of Her Royal Highness accepted bouquets of flowers.


MEMORABLE RECEPTION AT TORONTO

The occurrences at Toronto during the Royal visit were of a character to
make history. The morning of October 10th, when the Duke and Duchess
arrived was gloomy and later on the rain poured with steady and
depressive persistence. But it did not seem to affect the patience of
the waiting crowds or dampen the enthusiasm of the reception. A special
and beautiful station had been erected at the head of St. George Street
and here, amid the patriotic songs of 6000 children, the Royal visitors
were received by the Hon. G. W. Ross, Premier of Ontario and a number of
his Ministers. The Vice-regal party and Sir Wilfrid Laurier had, as
usual, arrived first. The procession followed through miles of decorated
streets and throngs of cheering people until the City Hall was reached
and a scene of colour and serried masses of people witnessed such as
Toronto had never known. The streets were lined with ten thousand troops
stretching from the station to the Hall and the Alexandra Gate, erected
by the Daughters of the Empire, and the Foresters' Arch, erected by the
Independent Order of Foresters, were notable features of the welcome. At
the City Hall the Royal couple were received by Mayor O. A. Howland and
welcomed by the singing of a large trained chorus of voices. An immense
crowd was present and addresses were handed in by eleven deputations and
replied to at some length.

During the afternoon a presentation was made to the Duchess by Miss
Mowat, daughter of the Lieutenant-Governor, on behalf of the women of
Toronto. It consisted of a writing set made of Klondike gold and
Canadian amethysts and chrystal. The case was made of Canadian maple. A
state dinner was given at Government House in the evening by Sir Oliver
Mowat and the Royal couple afterwards attended a Concert at Massey Hall
where Madame Calvé and others sang. The streets were filled with
enthusiastic crowds far into the night and the illuminations were
something unequalled in the history of the city and unexcelled by any
others during the Royal tour in Canada. Powerful search-lights from the
top of the City Hall tower were an unique feature of the demonstration.

On the following morning--October 12th--the Royal review took place on
the Exhibition grounds. It was unquestionably the most brilliant and
effective military spectacle ever seen in Canada. Nearly eleven thousand
men were mustered under command of Major-General O'Grady-Haly. Before
the review commenced His Royal Highness presented the South African
medals to a number of the soldiers and the V.C. to Major H. C. Z.
Cockburn. To the latter also was given a sword of honour on behalf of
the City Council. Colours were presented to the Royal Canadian Regiment
of Infantry and the Royal Canadian Dragoons in the name of the King and
as a mark of appreciation for their services in the war. The march past
then took place. There were said to be twenty-five thousand people on
the grounds and the streets and approaches were lined with many other
thousands. In the afternoon the Duke and Duchess visited the Bishop
Strachan School and the Duke planted a tree in Queen's Park and reviewed
the Fire Brigade. Then came the state visit to Toronto University, the
presentation of an address by the Chancellor, Sir William Meredith, and
the bestowal of the honorary degree of LL. D.

In the evening a Reception was held in the Parliament Buildings when
two thousand people shook hands, amid brilliant surroundings, with the
Heir to the Throne and his wife. Prior to this a very large state dinner
had been held in the halls of the same building with His Excellency the
Governor-General as host. The city was again most brilliantly
illuminated and filled with waiting throngs anxious to see and cheer the
Royal visitors. Early in the following morning they left Toronto for a
rapid trip through Western Ontario. As the Royal train rushed through
the populous centres, or quiet villages of this rich section of the
country, every railway station was crowded with cheering people anxious
for a sight of their future Sovereign and his Consort. At Brampton a
short stop was made, and a mass of beautiful roses, carried by eight
children, was presented to the Duchess from the well-known rosaries of
the town. At Guelph a platform had been erected near the station, and
here two thousand school children sang patriotic songs. At Berlin there
was another chorus and another exquisite bouquet of flowers for the
Duchess. There was a great crowd of people at this point, and the
children carried branches of maple leaves, as well as flags, which they
waved while the singing was going on and the presentations were being
made by Mayor Bowlby. The City of Stratford had a gaily decorated
station, eight thousand cheering citizens and children singing "The
Maple Leaf." An arch had been erected festooned with evergreens and
flowers. The visit to London was a matter of more formality and length.
The city was packed with people from outlying points, and the reception
to the Royal couple as they drove through decorated streets to the
Victoria Park was most enthusiastic. There an address was proffered by
Mayor Rumball. After the Duke's reply colours were presented to the 7th
Regiment and the departure took place through the same kind of cheering
throngs which had previously lined the streets.

From London the route was taken up to Niagara. Every station was
crowded with people, and in the vineyard and fruit region a brief stop
was made at Grimsby. Finally, the Royal train ran into the historic
village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and there, at the Queen's Royal Hotel,
the visitors found elaborate preparations for their comfort during the
ensuing day of rest. Masses of flowers and fruit were displayed as
further proof of the diverse productions of the Dominion. Sunday was,
however, a busy day in some respects. In the morning the steamer was
taken to Queenston, and from thence a special electric car conveyed the
Royal couple along the banks of the mighty Niagara, past Brock's
monument and the scene of the historic conflict upon Queenston Heights,
and on to the famous whirlpool where half an hour of sight-seeing was
spent. In Queen Victoria's Park there were crowds of people waiting to
see the Duke and Duchess, but only a few minutes' glance at the Falls
was taken. A visit to Loretto Convent followed with songs from the
pupils and luncheon afterwards. Archbishop O'Connor of Toronto assisted
in the reception. The rest of the day was spent in viewing and admiring
the ever-changing glories of Niagara Falls, and the return took place in
the evening. On the 14th of October Hamilton was visited and three hours
spent in receiving one of the most enthusiastic welcomes of the whole
tour. Thousands had gathered in the spacious grounds surrounding the
station and in the streets, and the cheering was hearty and continuous.
The usual address was presented by Mayor J. S. Hendrie at the City Hall.
The Royal visitors then lunched at "Holmstead," the residence of Mr.
William Hendrie, and afterwards the Duke presented new colours to the
13th Regiment. The departure took place amidst the cheers of thousands.

At St. Catharines there was a short stop and the whole city turned out,
business was suspended and the colleges and schools attended in a body.
There was a guard of honour at the station, cheers from eight thousand
throats, a beautiful bouquet presented to the Duchess and a few citizens
introduced by Mayor McIntyre. Brantford had its station handsomely
decorated, and three thousand children massed on the platform to sing
patriotic songs as the train rolled in. Another bouquet for the Duchess
was presented and also a casket containing a silver long-distance
telephone from Professor Bell, the father of its inventor, who was born
in Brantford. Their Royal Highnesses here signed the Bible which was
given in 1712 by Queen Anne to the Mohawk Church of the Six Nations and
which already contained the autographs of the King and the Duke of
Connaught. A very brief stop was made at Paris, where the school
children were gathered and a large crowd cheered the Royal couple. At
Woodstock the whole population turned out and the train entered the
station amid the cheers of ten thousand people. Mayor Mearns presented
some of the citizens and his little daughter handed a beautiful bouquet
of roses to the Duchess. A thousand school children waved flags and sang
the National Anthem.


FROM WESTERN TO EASTERN ONTARIO

From the West to the East travelled the Royal train during the night,
and on the morning of October 15th reached Belleville, where some eight
thousand people had assembled to welcome the Duke and Duchess.
Presentations by Mayor Graham, a guard of honour, cheers and a bouquet
for the Duchess, with singing school children, were the familiar
features of the reception. An address from 250 deaf and dumb children
was, however, an interesting exception. At Kingston the Royal couple
drove through the crowded and decorated streets to a pavilion in front
of the City Hall, where three thousand children sang, cheered and waved
flags, while flowers were given to the Duchess and several addresses
presented to the Duke. Following this ceremony the Royal procession
passed on through the historic city to Queen's University where his
Royal Highness was given an honorary LL.D. and presented with an address
by the Chancellor, Sir Sandford Fleming. In replying to the latter the
Duke expressed the regret of himself and the Duchess at the absence
through illness of the Very Rev. Principal Grant. He then laid the
corner-stone of a new building donated to the University by the citizens
of Kingston. There was tremendous cheering from the students and gay
decorations along the route which was then taken to the Royal Military
College.

At the College the Royal visitors witnessed a march past and gymnastic
display from the Cadets. A spontaneous and unexpected incident occurred
in the private visit of Their Royal Highnesses to Principal Grant at the
General Hospital. They talked with him a few minutes and then the Duke
personally conferred upon him the C.M.G. which had been recently granted
by the King. About one o'clock the Royal party reached the wharf where
they embarked on the steamer _Kingston_, which had been most elaborately
decorated and fitted up for the occasion, and started for a trip through
the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence. At six o'clock the steamer
arrived at Brockville, and the Duke and Duchess were greeted with a
brilliant display of fireworks from the shore. At the landing-place they
were met by Mayor Buell, Senator Fulford and other prominent citizens. A
bouquet was given the Duchess and the procession from the wharf to the
station passed through cheering people and the departure was made in a
blaze of fireworks. At Cornwall, which was reached on the morning of
October 16th, there were some four thousand people at the station, and
Mayor Campbell presented the Duke and Duchess with a complete set of
lacrosse sticks for the Royal children. They were enclosed in a
gold-mounted case. The next stoppage was at Cardinal, where thousands
had assembled from the same surrounding country and the school children
sang national songs.

On the way from Ontario to the Provinces by the Atlantic a pause was
made at Montreal on October 16th to visit the Victoria Jubilee Bridge--a
reconstruction of the one into which His Majesty the King had driven the
last rivet when visiting Canada in 1860. The Duke of Cornwall and York
was now presented with a gold rivet by Mr. George B. Reeve, General
Manager of the Grand Trunk Railway system, as a souvenir of that event
and of his present visit. The Bridge, which was called one of the
wonders of the world at the time of its construction, now had a double
track and double roadway. During the afternoon half-an-hour was spent at
Sherbrooke, where the station was gaily decorated. Mayor Worthington
presented the address and during his reply the Royal speaker declared
that "among the many pleasant experiences of our delightful visit to
Canada one will remain most deeply graven in our memories--the solemn
declaration of personal attachment to my dear father, the King, and of
loyalty to the throne of our glorious Empire." A beautiful bear-skin was
then presented to the Duchess by Mrs. Worthington on behalf of the
ladies of Sherbrooke. Some South African veterans were decorated with
the medal and a delegation from the Caughnawaga Indians received.

From Sherbrooke the Royal party then travelled straight through to St.
John, New Brunswick, which they reached in the afternoon of October
17th. After they had arrived and the echoes of the roaring guns had died
away the Royal procession was formed and passed through the usually
crowded and decorated streets to the Exhibition Buildings where Mayor
Daniel, in his official robes, welcomed the Duke and Duchess and
presented an address from the City as did Mayor Crocket from Fredricton.
Some nine other local addresses were also presented and replied to. His
Royal Highness then presented colours to British Veterans from
Massachusetts. There was to have been a review of troops in the
afternoon but, owing to some mistake in the arrangements, a Royal
presentation of South African medals, of colours to the 62nd Battalion,
and of a sword of honour to Captain F. Caverhill Jones, comprised the
proceedings. The return from the Exhibition grounds to Caverhill Hall,
which had been specially fitted up by the Provincial Government for the
visitors, was through crowds of more or less enthusiastic people. In the
evening there were fireworks and electrical displays and a Reception at
the Exhibition Building attended by a large representation of New
Brunswick society. Late in the afternoon a deputation of ladies waited
upon Her Royal Highness and presented her with a beautiful mink and
ermine muff on behalf of the women of St. John. At noon on the following
day the Duke and Duchess left the city amid much cheering and the
farewells of a representative gathering at the station. On the way to
Halifax the City of Moncton, N. B., celebrated the arrival of the Royal
tourists with a half holiday, a decorated station and a mass of cheering
people. Mayor Atkinson presented a number of prominent people and the
Duchess received a couple of handsome bouquets. At Dorchester, as the
train arrived it passed through a gaily decorated station, cheering
crowds and local officials ranged along the platform. At Amherst, N. S.,
a short stop was made.


FROM NEW BRUNSWICK INTO NOVA SCOTIA

When Halifax was reached, on the morning of October 19th, the reception
was beautiful and impressive as well as loyal. Thousands of soldiers
with glittering bayonets lined the streets, together with hundreds of
sailors armed with cutlasses and rifles, and many thousands of crowding
and cheering citizens. As the Royal visitors arrived at the station they
were welcomed with a roar of guns from the magnificent citadel heights
and defences of Halifax and from the vessels of the most formidable
fleet of war-ships which, it was said, had ever graced a Canadian port.
They were received by the Vice-regal party, Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick
Bedford and his staff, Colonel Biscoe and his staff, Lieutenant-Governor
the Hon. A. G. Jones, of Nova Scotia, Lieutenant-Governor P. E. McIntyre
of Prince Edward Island, the Hon. G. H. Murray and the members of his
Government, Mayor Hamilton of Halifax, the Mayor of Charlottetown and
various other officials and representative men. At the platform in front
of the station various addresses were presented amid cheers from an
immense gathering. The Duke, in replying, did so separately to the
Prince Edward Island welcome and to that from Nova Scotia. To the former
he expressed the "true regret" which they felt at not being able to
visit that well-remembered Province, and to the latter he made a really
eloquent response. "It is perhaps fitting that we should take leave of
Canada in the Province that was the first over which the British flag
waved, a Province so full of moving, checquered, historic memories, and
that, embarking from your capital which stands unrivalled amongst the
naval ports of the world, we should pass through waters that are
celebrated in the annals of our glorious Navy." He also spoke of the
"affectionate sympathy" with which they had been received throughout the
Dominion.

Following this function the Royal couple passed through streets lined
with troops and sailors and cheering crowds and at times presenting the
appearance of a net-work of colour, a canopy of bunting. In the grounds
of the Provincial Building His Royal Highness laid the foundation-stone
of a monument erected by the Government and people of Nova Scotia in
honour of the Provincial heroes who had fallen in South Africa. The
procession then passed on to a handsome arch, guarded by a detachment of
Royal Engineers, where the Duke inspected the members of the British
Veterans' Society who were drawn up on parade. Conspicuous amongst them
was a negro holder of the V.C. Thence the parade continued to the
Dockyard where the Royal couple went on board the _Ophir_, which had
come up from Quebec during the long inland tour. In the afternoon a
great review and massing of many thousands of soldiers and sailors,
infantry, cavalry and artillery, was held on the Halifax Common in the
presence of a crowd of spectators--probably twenty-five thousand in
number. The troops were under the supreme command of Colonel Biscoe, and
the Royal Naval Brigade included four thousand sailors from twelve of
Britain's most modern cruisers. It was a sight such as had never been
witnessed in Canada before and the review eclipsed in effect the
previous military spectacle at Toronto; while the environment of great
fortifications and a harbour full of war-ships enhanced the character of
the scene. Near the Royal pavilion was a stand containing six thousand
school children who sang patriotic songs.

After the review the Duke presented colours to the 66th Princess Louise
Fusiliers and was informed by the Lieutenant-Governor that H.R.H. the
Duke of Kent had conferred a similar honour upon the Regiment in the
early part of the preceeding century. His Royal Highness then handed the
war medals to the South African veterans and presented a sword of honour
to Major H. B. Stairs. In the evening a state dinner was given by the
Lieut.-Governor at Government House when occasion was taken by the Duke
to present the Hon. Dr. Borden with the medal won by the gallant son who
had lost his life in South Africa. A Reception was held afterwards in
the Provincial Buildings amid scenes of striking beauty and brightness.
The city and fleet were brilliantly illuminated and the spectacle one of
the most beautiful of the whole Canadian tour. The next day was Sunday
and was spent very quietly on board the _Ophir_. At night the Duke dined
with Vice-Admiral Bedford on board his flag-ship. On the following
morning the Royal visitors left the shores of Canada in their yacht,
accompanied by the fleet of battleships and with the cheers of many
thousands of people, the roar of guns and the sound of bands playing on
sea and shores, echoing out over the waters of the harbour.


THE ROYAL FAREWELL TO CANADA

Before leaving Halifax, and under date of October 19th, the Duke of
Cornwall and York sent a communication to the Earl of Minto expressive
of the regret felt by the Duchess and himself at bidding farewell to "a
people who by their warm-heartedness and cordiality have made us feel at
home amongst them from the first moment of our arrival on their shores."
He referred to the loyal demeanour of the crowds, the general
manifestations of rejoicing and the trouble and ingenuity displayed in
the illuminations and street decorations. They were specially touched by
the great efforts made in small and remote places to manifest feelings
of kindness toward them. "I recognize all this as a proof of the strong
personal loyalty to the throne as well as the deep-seated devotion of
the people of Canada to that unity of the Empire of which the Crown is
the symbol." Thanks were tendered to the Dominion Government, the
Provincial authorities and municipal bodies and to various individuals
for the care and trouble bestowed upon the varied arrangements. Of the
Militia His Royal Highness spoke in high terms. The reviews at Quebec,
Toronto and Halifax had enabled him to judge of the military capacity of
the Dominion and of the "splendid material" at its disposal. Their
hearts, he added, were full at leaving Canada and their regrets extreme
at having to decline so many kind invitations from different centres.
"But we have seen enough to carry away imperishable memories of
affectionate and loyal hearts, frank and independent natures, prosperous
and progressive communities, boundless productive territories, glorious
scenery, stupendous works of nature, a people and a country proud of
its membership in the Empire and in which the Empire finds one of its
brightest offspring."

On the way home Newfoundland was visited and an enthusiastic reception
given by the people of St. John's and the Government of the Island. The
usual addresses, decorations and functions followed and then the _Ophir_
steamed away over the last stretch of ocean in this long, strenuous and
memorable Royal progress of over fifty thousand miles on sea and land.
When in sight of English shores again the King and Queen and the Royal
children, accompanied by the Channel squadron of thirteen warships, met
the travellers and escorted them to Portsmouth. After eight months of
separation the Royal family of three generations were again together.
The popular welcome at Portsmouth was brilliant and enthusiastic as well
it might be. As the _Times_ put it on November 1st--the day of the
arrival home--"The Duke and Duchess have made the greatest tour in
history; they have accomplished an act of high statesmanship without
statecraft but by simple arts which are better than any statecraft; they
have been under many skies and seen many strange, lovely and impressive
sights; they have been greeted and acclaimed by many peoples, races and
languages." In his speech to the Civic deputation waiting upon him on
the following day His Royal Highness stated that their journey had
covered thirty-three thousand miles by sea and twelve thousand five
hundred by land. "Everywhere we have been profoundly impressed by the
kindness, affection and enthusiasm extended to us and the universal
declarations of loyalty to the Throne; and by the conscious pride in
membership of our great Empire which has constantly displayed itself."

A dinner was given by the King and Queen on board the yacht _Victoria
and Albert_ in honour of the Royal travellers' return and, in the course
of a speech of welcome, His Majesty referred to the cordiality and
loyal enthusiasm of their reception everywhere. "The accounts of their
receptions, regularly transmitted to me by telegrams and letters and
amply confirmed in my conversations to-day, have touched me deeply and I
trust that the practical result will be to draw closer the strong ties
of mutual affection which bind together the old Motherland with her
numerous and thriving offspring". The special train was then taken to
London and from Victoria station to Marlborough House the Royal couple
drove through numerous crowds of cheering people and gaily decorated
streets, with little Prince Edward beside them--for the first time
making a public appearance and accepting the acclamations of the public
with becoming gravity. It was a triumphal ending to a triumphant
progress. A sort of climax to this termination was afforded, however, in
the great banquet given by the Lord Mayor of London at the Guild Hall on
December 5th, to him who had been created Prince of Wales on the 9th of
November preceding by his father the King. There were only four
toasts--the King, proposed by Sir Joseph Dimsdale, the Lord Mayor and
chairman; Queen Alexandra and the Royal family, responded to by the new
Prince of Wales; the Colonies, proposed by the Earl of Rosebery and
responded to by Mr. Chamberlain; the Lord Mayor and Corporation proposed
by the Marquess of Salisbury.

Besides the speakers and the members of the Royal suite during this
famous tour there were present the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Mrs.
Chamberlain, Lord James of Hereford, Mr. John Morley, Lord Knutsford,
Lord and Lady Tweedmouth, Lord and Lady Lamington, Lord Brassey, Lord
Avebury, Sir Frederick Young and many other interesting or important
personages. The speech delivered by the Prince of Wales was one which
startled England from its directness of statement and its eloquence of
style and delivery. It was not merely a clear, or good description of
the tour; it was the utterance of one who was both statesman and
orator. His Royal Highness referred to the historic title which he now
bore, to the voyage, unique in character and rich in experience, to the
loyalty, affection and enthusiasm of the greetings everywhere, to the
special characteristics of the visit in each country. He analysed
Colonial loyalty as being accompanied by "unmistakable evidences of the
consciousness of strength; of a true and living membership in the
Empire; and of power and readiness to share the burden and
responsibility of that membership". He spoke of the influence of Queen
Victoria's life and memory, of the qualities of the sixty thousand
troops whom he had reviewed, of the openings for better commercial
interchange. "I venture to allude to the impressions which seemed
generally to prevail among our brethren across the seas that the Old
Country must wake up if she intends to maintain her old position of
pre-eminence in her Colonial trade against foreign competitors". The
need of more population in the Colonies was referred to and an urgent
appeal made to encourage the sending out of suitable emigrants. "By this
means we may still further strengthen, or at all events, pass on
unimpaired, that pride of race, that unity of sentiment and purpose,
that feeling of common loyalty and obligation which knit together and
alone can maintain the integrity of our Empire".




CHAPTER XX.

The King and the South African War


No event in many years has created such keen interest amongst, and been
so closely followed by, the Royal family of Great Britain as the war in
South Africa. Apart from Queen Victoria's natural and life-long dislike
of the horrors of war, there was the earnest sympathy which she felt in
the last two years of her reign with thousands of her subjects who had
suffered in the loss of husband, or brother, or father, or friend; and
the womanly sorrow which she herself felt for the many promising young
officers whom she had personally known or liked, or whose relations and
friends had been upon terms of intimacy with members of the Royal
circle. The matter was still more brought home to her, in a personal
sense, by the death of her grandson, Prince Christian Victor, who, after
months of hard campaigning and with the reputation of an able, modest
and hard-working officer, succumbed in the autumn of 1900 to enteric
fever, and was buried, at his own request, upon the South African veldt.
But these personal considerations had never been so potent with the
Queen as had her broader sympathies for her people, and there can be no
doubt the gloomy days of Colenso and Spion Kop told severely upon the
sensibilities of a Sovereign who was as proud of the nation's position
and as keen to feel national humiliation, or sorrow, as was the humblest
and most loyal of her subjects. And the fact that her duty to the people
and the Empire lay in supporting her Ministers and pressing, if
necessary, for a still more vigorous prosecution of the struggle, could
not but have its effect upon the constitution of a Queen who felt her
responsibilities very keenly and who was an aged woman as well as a
great ruler.

Where she could help in keeping behind her Ministers a united people
Queen Victoria did her utmost. Early in March, 1900, the Royal
recognition of Irish valour in South Africa, shown in the order to the
soldiers of the Empire to wear the Shamrock on St. Patrick's day, was as
tactful and wise a step as statesmanship ever initiated. The ensuing
postponement of Her Majesty's spring visit to sunny Italy and her
prolonged stay in Dublin during the month of April were pronounced
appeals to Irish loyalty. Her Christmas present of chocolate to the
troops in the field, her ever-thoughtful telegrams, and occasional
letters and speeches upon public occasions, were also of great value to
the cause of national unity and action in differing degrees. Meantime,
the Duke of Connaught had volunteered early in the period of trouble
which eventually developed into war, but the Queen did not wish him to
go to the front and, though he had offered to waive his rank and
seniority in order to do so, his mother's wishes, of course, prevailed.


DUTIES OF THE HEIR APPARENT

The Prince of Wales was exceedingly active during this period in paying
every possible compliment to departing troops, in welcoming home the
veterans of the war, in conferring medals and in helping the many
charities, hospital interests and military organizations which the
situation evoked. As soon as the war broke out the Princess of Wales had
commenced to organize a hospital ship for the care of the wounded at
Cape Town and, on November 22d, 1899, Her Royal Highness visited the
vessel prior to its departure. She was accompanied by the Prince with
Princess Victoria, the Duchess of York and the Duke and Duchess of Fife.
Badges and gifts were presented to the nursing sisters and the men of
the Royal Army Medical Corps and St. John Ambulance Brigade and a brief
speech delivered by the Prince. To this object, it may be added, the
Princess had given £1000, and a Committee formed by her and composed of
Lady Lansdowne, Lady Wolseley, Lady Wantage, Sir Donald Currie and
others, had raised the large additional sum required. At Windsor, on
December 15th, the Prince of Wales, accompanied by his wife, the Duke of
Cambridge and Prince Christian, presented to the Grenadier Guards the
medals they had won in the Soudan. On January 26th, 1900, he reviewed
six hundred officers and men of the Imperial Yeomanry under command of
Colonel, Lord Chesham. He thanked them for making him their Hon.
Colonel, and then added: "You have all, like true men, volunteered for
active service to do your duty to your Sovereign and your country. I
feel sure that when you leave your homes and country you will feel that
a great duty devolves on you--to maintain the honour of the British
flag--and that you will ably assist the Regular forces of Her Majesty
abroad and do credit to your country and your corps."

A little later, on February 9th, another contingent of Yeomanry, under
Colonel Mitford, were inspected by the Prince ere they departed for
South Africa. "Most heartily" he said to them, "do I hope that the
services you intend to render your Sovereign and your country will bring
credit upon yourselves. I feel sure that, under your commanders, you
will know that one of the first principles is good discipline. Then, I
hope you are good shots and good riders." In the afternoon, at
Devonshire House, His Royal Highness received the one hundred and fifty
nurses and men connected with the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital. When the
Princess of Wales' Hospital Ship returned with its sorrowful burdens of
wounded men the Prince and Princess were the first to visit it and do
what was possible by kind thought and word and action to soothe the
suffering of the soldiers. Netley Hospital they visited again and
again, and more than one Canadian or Australian, or other Colonial
soldier of the Queen, will always speak of the gracious personal
kindness of the Royal couple.

When the Naval Brigade returned in triumph from its achievements at
Ladysmith there was added to the seething, cheering, enthusiastic
popular welcome the formal reception and inspection by the Heir
Apparent, accompanied by the Princess and other members of the Royal
family and the Lords of the Admiralty. After brief speeches from Mr.
Goschen and His Royal Highness the former, as First Lord of the
Admiralty, entertained the officers of the Brigade and the Prince of
Wales at luncheon. On November 2nd, following, the Prince presided at a
great banquet given in London to the officers and men of the Honourable
Artillery Company and the City Imperial Volunteers. Colonel Mackinnon of
the latter force sat on the right of the Royal chairman and the Lord
Mayor on the left. In his speeches the Prince gave a brief history of
the origin and the war achievements of the Artillery and the City
Imperial Volunteers, congratulated many of the officers by name, spoke
of the opportunity they had been given of taking part in "a great and
important war and of maintaining the honour of the British flag," and
referred in pathetic terms to the death of Prince Christian Victor--who
had been through five campaigns and was under thirty-four years of age.

When the Composite Regiment of the Household Cavalry went to war in
November 1899 they had been inspected by the Heir Apparent. Upon their
return, December 3rd 1900, he paid them the same compliment, accompanied
by various members of the Royal family and leading officers of the Army.
He expressed pride at being Colonel-in-Chief of a corps which had so
greatly distinguished itself--in the distant past as well as the near
present. Following them came the Royal Canadian Regiment, commanded by
Colonel W. D. Otter. To them the Prince made a neat and patriotic
speech. "I am well aware of what you have gone through and the splendid
way in which you have served in South Africa and I deeply regret and
mourn with you the loss of so many brave men." Ever anxious, like the
Queen and her own husband, to promote the well-being of the soldiers and
sailors the Princess of Wales had acted since the beginning of the war
as President of the Soldiers and Sailors' Families Association and, on
December 31st, 1900, reported through the press that £500,000 had been
directly subscribed to their purposes, £190,000 given through the
Mansion House subscription, and £50,000 through a special Lord Mayor's
Fund. The whole of this sum had now been expended in caring for the
wives and families of those at the front and distributed through the
voluntary services of eleven hundred ladies and gentlemen throughout the
United Kingdom. At least £50,000 was still being expended monthly and
Her Royal Highness made and personally signed an earnest appeal for the
further funds required.

When Lord Roberts left to take command in South Africa, the Prince of
Wales personally saw him off at the station--accompanied by the Duke of
Connaught, who had been again praying the Military authorities to allow
him to go to the front in the new crisis which had arisen and who had
even obtained Lord Roberts' approval to his taking a place upon his
Staff. But the War Office would only say that with so many general
officers out of the country His Royal Highness could do better service
by remaining with the Army at home.

There were many reasons for the Prince of Wales taking a keen interest
in the war apart altogether from the natural and patriotic reason. A
peculiarly large number of the sons of personal friends were at the
front and many of them were fated to fall from time to time. The
reputation of the officers engaged in the struggle was necessarily very
dear to him. He knew them all and had many associations with their
regiments and themselves. A blow to Sir George White, a disaster to Sir
Redvers Buller, a danger to Col. Baden Powell, a threatened illness in
the case of Lord Roberts, were all matters of personal concern to him as
well as of national or patriotic interest. The central figure in the
beginning of the war--the great personality of Mr. Cecil Rhodes--had
long been a friend and had been received by the Prince upon a kindly
social footing. Through the Duke of Fife's connection with the South
African Chartered Company, the Prince must have been closely interested
in all the earlier developments of the struggle and it could only have
been by special permission that his son-in-law held a Director's place
up to the actual outbreak of the war. Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Milner
were both men who had been closely associated with his own Imperialistic
projects and ideals and there can be little doubt--though it was never
publicly expressed--that the Prince of Wales sympathised with the policy
which has since made South African expansion and empire possible.

The Prince of Wales had seen Lord Roberts off upon his career of
successful action; on January 3rd, 1901, accompanied by the Princess,
the Duke and Duchess of York and the Duke of Connaught, he welcomed him
home and on behalf of the Queen received him as a Royal guest at
Buckingham Palace. A magnificent banquet followed, given by the Prince,
in honour of the Field Marshal--who had just been created an Earl and a
Knight of the Garter--and six months later as King of Great Britain, he
was able to send a special message to Parliament recommending a grant to
Earl Roberts of £100,000. Shortly after this reception came the
much-mourned death of the Queen and the accession of His Royal Highness
to the Throne. It was not long before the King was showing his
appreciation of South African soldiers by inspecting or addressing them
before their departure, or upon their return. On February 15th,
accompanied by Queen Alexandra, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the
Duke of Cambridge, Princess Louise, the Duchess of Argyll, the Duke of
Argyll, Lord Roberts, Sir Redvers Buller, Lord Strathcona and Mr.
Chamberlain, he inspected Lord Strathcona's Regiment of Horse and
presented a King's colour to Colonel Steele. His Majesty's speech to the
officers and men was tactful and gracious: "I welcome you here on our
shores on your return from active service in South Africa. I know it
would have been the urgent wish of my beloved mother, our revered Queen,
to have welcomed you also. That was not to be; but be assured she deeply
appreciated the services you rendered as I do. It has given me great
satisfaction to inspect you to-day, to have presented you with your
war-medals and also with the King's colour. I feel sure that in
entrusting this colour to you, Colonel Steele, and to those under you,
you will always defend it and will do your duty as you have done in the
past year in South Africa and will do it on all future occasions. I am
glad that Lord Strathcona is here to-day, as it is owing to him that
this magnificent force has been equipped and sent out." The King then
presented Colonel Steele, personally with the M.V.O. decoration.


PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE WAR

Following this and other similar events came the re-organization of the
Army, in which the King no doubt took a great deal of interest though it
would only be shown the form of advice or expressions of opinion. By Mr.
St. John Brodrick's scheme, as outlined on March 9th, and ultimately
accepted in the main, it was decided to have the military forces so
organized that three Army corps could be sent abroad at any time; that
the artillery and mounted troops should be increased and the medical and
transport service reformed; that officers should be better trained, with
less barrack-square drill and more musketry, scouting and
individuality. It was proposed also to "decentralize administration,
centralize responsibility;" to increase the Militia from 100,000 to
115,000, to increase the pay of the soldiers, to utilize the Yeomanry
and to affiliate, if possible, the Colonial forces. The new arrangements
would provide, it was hoped, a home force of 155,000 Regulars, 90,000
Reserves, 150,000 Militia, 35,000 Yeomanry and 250,000 Volunteers--a
total of 680,000 men.

Meanwhile, peace negotiations had been progressing. On February 28th a
long interview took place between Lord Kitchener and General Louis Botha
who, according to the British general's despatch, "showed very good
feeling and seemed anxious to bring about peace." The question of
government, grading from a Crown Colony system up to full
self-government, was discussed; the licensing of rifles for protection
and hunting; the use of English and Dutch languages; the enfranchising
of Kaffirs; the protection of Church and trust funds and the guarantee
of legal debts and notes of the late Republics; the question of a
war-tax on the farms and the time of return of prisoners of war;
pecuniary assistance to the burghers, so as to enable them to start
afresh; the question of amnesty and the proposal to disfranchise Cape
rebels; were all freely discussed. After considerable interchange
between Lord Kitchener and Mr. Brodrick and Lord Milner and Mr.
Chamberlain, a definite statement of terms was offered General Botha and
by letter, dated March 16th, declined. The details of this cabled
correspondence and the proposed terms were, of course, submitted to the
King and approved by His Majesty, and it is certain that had the war
then ended the Coronation would have taken place at an earlier date than
was afterwards fixed.

The question of honours conferred by the Crown in peace or war has
always been one of considerable discussion in Colonial, if not in home
circles. How far the Sovereign acts in this connection with, or without
the advice of responsible Ministers, cannot be exactly known. The action
is unquestionably guided by circumstances based primarily upon the
admitted fact that all honours and titles, constitutionally as well as
theoretically, lie in the hands of the Sovereign. It is probable that
the recommendations made are generally accepted; that the name of any
one known to be disapproved of by the King would never be submitted;
that the slightest hint of disapproval would suffice for any name to be
at once dropped; that any suggestion made by the Sovereign is at once
included in the official list as a matter of course; that the interest
taken by the Sovereign in the honours bestowed depends somewhat upon
whether they are conferred in the ordinary way for routine services or
granted for special reasons of action or state; that Colonial honours
are seldom changed as they come from the hands of the Governor-General
or Viceroy.

On the other hand it may be reasonably assumed that King Edward took
more interest in this subject than did the late Queen. His many years of
active association with public life and men of all classes and political
opinion had made him keenly and impartially aware of personal claims and
merits and more than usually able to judge amongst the great numbers who
desire or deserve Royal recognition from time to time. His Majesty's
first Honour List dealt with services in the South African War under
terms of a multitudinous catalogue submitted by F. M. Lord Roberts up to
November 29th, 1900. Amongst those who were made Knights Commander of
the Bath, or K.C.B. were Lieut.-General Charles Tucker,
Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen, Major-General Reginald Pole-Carew,
Major-Generals W. G. Knox and H. J. T. Hildyard, Lieut.-General Ian S.
M. Hamilton, Major-General Hector A. Macdonald, Lieut.-General J. D. P.
French, Brigadier-Generals Henry S. Settle, Edward Y. Brabant and J. G.
Dartnell--all well-known officers in the South African conflict. The
Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George, or G.C.M.G. was conferred
upon General Sir Redvers Buller, Lieut.-General Lord Kitchener,
Lieut.-General Sir Frederick Forestier-Walker and General Sir George
White. The K.C.M.G., or Knight Commandership in the same Order, was
given to Major-General Sir C. F. Clery, Major-General Sir Leslie Rundle,
Major-General E. T. H. Hutton, Lieut.-Colonel E. P. C. Girouard and
others. A number of minor honours were bestowed upon British, Canadian,
Australian, New Zealand and South African officers and men and an
Investiture of various Orders was held at St. James's Palace on June
3rd, 1901. In such a list much discrimination was necessary and it is
probable that the tact and knowledge of the King would have a very
controlling influence apart altogether from his constitutional rights
and powers.


VARIOUS CEREMONIES AND INCIDENTS

On May 24th, His Majesty helped to make the welcome home to Sir Alfred
Milner splendid and impressive and worthy of the statesman who had
toiled amidst personal danger and depressive surroundings, public
disasters and continuous misrepresentation, to maintain British rights
and justice in South Africa. The High Commissioner was received at the
station by Lord Salisbury, Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Roberts, Lord
Lansdowne, Mr. Balfour and many others. Thence he was driven to
Buckingham Palace and received by the King in a prolonged and private
audience. The honour of a peerage was conferred upon him and on the
following day Lord Milner was entertained at a large luncheon given by
the Colonial Secretary and Mrs. Chamberlain and attended by the most
eminent public men of the Metropolis--outside of the Liberal party
ranks. On the same day the King presented colours to the Third Scots
Guards.

On June 13th a most imposing ceremony was held by His Majesty on the
Horse Guards Parade when thirty-two hundred officers and men from South
Africa were presented with war medals by the King amid scenes which had
not been duplicated since the memorable function when the late Queen
Victoria and the Crimean soldiers had been the central figures. The
Royal platform was covered with crimson cloth and in its centre was
spread a beautiful Persian silk carpet above which a canopy of crimson
and gold, supported on silver poles, had been erected. Around the
platform was a bewildering display of splendid uniforms and, after the
arrival of the King and Queen Alexandra, accompanied by Princess
Victoria, the distribution of the medals lasted over two
hours--Major-General Sir Henry Trotter handing them to His Majesty who,
in turn, presented them to the officer or soldier as he filed past. The
first recipients were Lord Roberts, Lord Milner and Sir Ian Hamilton. A
most brilliant and successful function concluded with cheers and the
National Anthem.

[Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. HERBERT HENRY ASQUITH. K.C., D.C.L., M.P.
  Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland at the time of King
  Edward's Death]

[Illustration: THE MOST REVD. DR. RANDALL T. DAVIDSON, P.C., G.C.V.O.
  Ninety-fourth Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of England under King
  Edward, 1903-10.]

[Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. SIR WILFRID LAURIER, P.C., G.C.M.G., M.P.
  Prime Minister of Canada during King Edward's Reign]

[Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL GREY, P.C., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.
  The King's Representative in Canada, 1904-10]

The war now dragged on its weary way. Victories and occasional defeats
marked the stages of attrition by which the bravery and obstinacy of a
determined foe was gradually worn down. On August 16th, 1901, Lord
Kitchener issued his proclamation banishing all Boer leaders taken in
arms after September 15th: three days later the Duke of Cornwall landed
at Cape Town; on August 27th Lord Milner returned to take up his arduous
duties. Mr. Cecil Rhodes died on March 26th, 1902, and on April 9th Boer
delegates met at Klerksdorp under safe conducts from Lord Kitchener, and
there Mr. Steyn, General Delary and General De Wet, and others,
conferred upon the possibilities of peace. Three days later they
proceeded to Pretoria and were given every facility for discussion and
consultation by the British authorities. On April 18th they temporarily
dispersed to consult their Commandos after being given the terms and
concessions which it was decided to grant. There were supposed to be, at
the most liberal computation--London _Times_ of April 25th--some 10,000
Boers in the field at this time, while the women, children and Boer
residents of the refugee camps, who were being fed and cared for by the
authorities, numbered 110,000.

The keenest interest had been taken by the King in the course of the war
during this period and in the negotiations which ensued. He had been
hoping for its termination before his Coronation and, some months prior
to this, on January 15th, had addressed a re-inforcement of the
Grenadier Guards in rather sanguine terms: "I trust that the duties you
will be called upon to perform will be less arduous than those of some
of the men who have gone before you and that the war will shortly be
brought to a close. But, whatever duties you may be called upon to
perform, I am sure you will fulfil them efficiently and will keep up the
old spirit and traditions for which the Guards are famous." His wishes,
like so many entertained throughout the Empire, were not speedily
realized, but it is safe to say that His Majesty would no more have
unduly hurried the course of negotiations or changed their effective and
final character in order to attain his natural desire for a peaceful
celebration of the Coronation--as was asserted in some sensational
quarters--than he would have cut his own hand off.

It is sometimes forgotten that the King not only embodies the authority
of his vast realm in his position, but must concentrate in his own
person a natural strength of pride in his Empire so great as to be far
beyond the possibility of a reflection upon its patriotism. He would
hardly be human in his qualities if the most intense patriotic pride in
the unity and power of his realms was not the first and strongest
instinct of his nature. But this in passing. Lord Salisbury illustrated
the attitude of both the Sovereign and his Ministers when speaking at
the Albert Hall, London, on May 7th, during the pending negotiations: "I
only wish to guard against misapprehension which I think I have seen, to
the effect that the willingness we have shown to listen to all that may
be said to us is a proof that we have retreated or receded from our
former position and are willing to recognize that the rights we claimed
are no longer valid. There is no ground for such an assertion. We cannot
afford after such terrible sacrifice, not only of treasure but of men,
after the exertions, unexampled in our history, that we have made--we
cannot afford to submit to the idea that we are to allow things to slide
back into a position where it will be in the power of our enemy again,
when the opportunity suits him and the chance is favourable to him, to
renew again the issue that we have fought this last three years."


TERMINATION OF THE WAR

Meanwhile the negotiations were proceeding. At first the Boer delegates
proposed that the two Republics should merely concede what had been
demanded before the outbreak of the war. When this was refused, even as
a matter for consideration, and they were referred to previous
statements as to terms, the request was made that some of the leaders be
allowed to consult their friends in Europe, or at least to have one of
the European refugee leaders come over and assist them in their
decision. To this Lord Kitchener gave an instant veto, and intimated
that unless their proposals were to be serious the negotiations had
better drop. Then they asked for an armistice in order to consult the
burghers in the field, but Lord Kitchener would not stop military
operations a moment further than to allow the delegates to hold meetings
of their Commandos. But in that event they were to return to Pretoria
armed with full powers to conclude peace--if they returned at all. As a
result of this decision the leading officers of the Boer forces met
their respective Commandos, and delegates were duly appointed to a total
number of one hundred and fifty. These met on May 16th at Vereeniging
and spent a couple of weeks in discussion, in obtaining absolutely final
terms for acceptance or rejection from the British authorities, and in
presenting these again to the Commandos. The opponents of peace during
these preliminaries were generally believed to include Mr. Steyn and
Commandants Wessels, Muller, Celliers and Herzog, while Generals Delarey
and De Wet were in favour of accepting the British terms. Finally, on
May 31st, the conditions of surrender were signed. Mr. Steyn was the
only important absentee from the final conferences at Pretoria.

Thus ended a war in which Great Britain had spent £200,000,000, raised
and equipped some three hundred thousand men, of whom one-sixth were
Colonial troops, and performed the unparalleled feat of supplying quick
and satisfactory transport and subsistence for this great body of troops
to a distance of seven thousand miles from the seat of Government. The
people had never wavered, the Government had, apparently, never
hesitated, the credit of the country had not been affected, even the
prosperity of Great Britain had not been touched. Speaking of the
conduct of the people in this connection the _Times_ of July 2d paid the
following personal tribute: "A splendid example of patriotism and
devotion was set them by our late Sovereign Lady, and they nobly
followed it. It is worth recalling now that, while she deplored the
necessity of war, she never wavered to the end in her conviction that it
must be fought through. It is to her, perhaps, above all others, that we
owe the calm dignity of temper with which the peoples of her Empire have
passed through the greatest ordeal they have been called upon to undergo
since the days of Napoleon. Her son, King Edward, has inherited her
spirit and kept before his subjects the ideals she held up to them."

The terms of peace included the promise by Great Britain of
self-government in gradual stages and "as soon as circumstances will
permit"; the exemption of burghers from civil or criminal proceedings in
connection with the war (with certain specified exceptions); the
recognition of English as the official language, and the promise that
Dutch should be taught in the schools when desired; the granting of
arms, under license, to the burghers and the postponement of native
franchise questions until the period of free government had arrived; the
grant of £3,000,000 to be expended by Commissioners in the work of
repatriation and the supply of shelter, seed, stock, etc., to the
returning burghers; and the reference of rebels to their own Colonial
Courts for trial, with the proviso that the death penalty should not in
any case be inflicted.

The settlement was well received by the burghers, of whom fully twenty
thousand came in and gave up their arms in the course of a week or two.
Many of the Commandos fraternized with the British troops and joined
them in singing "God Save the King." As soon as the decision for peace
had been ratified Lord Kitchener paid a visit to Vereeniging and
addressed the assembled Boer leaders. He congratulated them upon the
splendid fight they had made. "If he had been one of them himself he
would have been proud to have done as they had done. He welcomed them as
citizens of a great Empire and hoped they would do their duty to the
Sovereign as loyally as they had to the old State." Messrs.
Schalk-Burger and Louis Botha had, meanwhile, written farewell letters
to the burghers which concluded by asking them to be obedient and
respectful to their new Government.

Immediately on receipt of the information that peace had been signed
King Edward issued the following message: "The King has received the
welcome news of the cessation of hostilities in South Africa with
infinite satisfaction, and trusts that peace may be speedily followed by
the restoration of prosperity in his new dominions, and that the
feelings necessarily engendered by war will give place to the earnest
co-operation of all His Majesty's South African subjects in promoting
the welfare of their common country." At the same time His Majesty
cabled Lord Milner: "I am overjoyed at the news of the surrender of the
Boer forces and I warmly congratulate you on the able manner in which
you have conducted the negotiations." A similar despatch went to Lord
Kitchener, with hearty congratulations on the termination of
hostilities: "I also most heartily congratulate my brave troops under
your command for having brought this long and difficult campaign to so
glorious and successful a conclusion." The King also announced that he
had created Lord Kitchener a Viscount and promoted him to be full
General. Following the public announcement of peace on Sunday, June 1st,
came a flood of congratulatory telegrams to the King from public bodies
and private individuals, and celebrations were held all over the United
Kingdom and the British Empire.

On June 8th, by order of the King, a special thanksgiving service was
held in St. Paul's Cathedral and His Majesty attended in person
accompanied by Queen Alexandra, Princess Victoria, the Prince and
Princess of Wales, Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark, the Duke and
Duchess of Connaught, the veteran Duke of Cambridge, and other members
of the Royal family. A great gathering of representative Britons was
present in the crowded Cathedral, including most of the members of the
Houses of Lords and Commons and the Corporation of London. Amongst many
other notabilities were the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Mr. Balfour, the
Earl of Rosebery, the Marquess of Lansdowne, Earl and Countess Roberts,
Earl and Countess Carrington, Lady Macdonald of Earnscliffe, Sir Redvers
and Lady Audrey Buller. A short and eloquent sermon was preached by
Bishop Winnington-Ingram, of London, in which he referred to the
blessings of peace for the people and the completion of the causes for
rejoicing at the approaching Coronation. Meanwhile, on June 4th, the
King had followed up the honours already conferred on Lord Kitchener by
sending a special message to the House of Commons at the hands of Mr. A.
J. Balfour, the Government Leader, to the following effect: "His
Majesty taking into consideration the eminent services rendered by Lord
Kitchener and being desirous, in recognition of such services, to confer
on him some signal mark of his favour, recommends that he, the King,
should be enabled to grant Lord Kitchener £50,000." The vote was carried
by a majority of three hundred and eighty-two to forty-two and marked
the final stage in the war--its prolonged struggles, its negotiations,
its honours and its rewards. To the King this result was the one thing
needful and seemed to leave a fair field, a peaceful Empire, a loyal
people, waiting without a shadow on the sun to share in the splendid
celebration of his approaching Coronation. To the Lord Mayor and
Corporation of London and the London County Council His Majesty
addressed, on June 13th, some words in reply to their expressions of
loyalty and congratulation at the conclusion of peace, which may
appropriately be quoted here:

     "I heartily join in your expression of thankfulness to Almighty God
     at the termination of a struggle which, while it has entailed on my
     people at home and beyond the seas so many sacrifices, borne with
     admirable fortitude, has secured a result which will give increased
     unity and strength to my Empire. The cordial and spontaneous
     exertions of all parts of my dominions, as well as of your ancient
     and loyal city, have done much to bring about this happy result."

     "You give fitting expression to the admiration universally felt for
     the valour and endurance of the officers and men who have been
     engaged in fighting their country's battles. They have been opposed
     by a brave and determined people, and have had to encounter
     unexampled difficulties. These difficulties have been cheerfully
     overcome by steady and persistent effort, and those who were our
     opponents will now, I rejoice to think, become our friends. It is
     my earnest hope that, by mutual co-operation and good-will, the
     bitter feelings of the past may speedily be replaced by ties of
     loyalty and friendship and that an era of peace and prosperity may
     be in store for South Africa."




CHAPTER XXI.

Arrangements for the Coronation


The preparations for the Coronation of the King were of a character
which eclipsed anything in the history of the world. It was
unquestionably his aim and intention to make the event an illustration
of the power of the British Empire, the loyalty of its people and the
unity of its complex races. The pride of the King in his great position,
the knowledge which he had acquired of the Empire in his innumerable
travels, the statecraft which he had inherited and developed, were all
factors in the determination to make this occasion memorable. Connected
with the splendour of the event, as planned, was the personal
relationship and friendship of most of the Sovereigns of Europe with and
for His Majesty and, associated with every detail of its anticipated
success, was the enthusiastic loyalty of Indian Princes and great
self-governing British dominions beyond the seas. Finally, the end of
the South African War came as if to add the one thing wanting to the
entire success of the most magnificent Coronation in all history.
Preparations went on apace from the beginning of Spring, 1902. The mere
material evidences of the coming event transformed busy and commercial
London into a forest of boards and poles and platforms. Westminster
Abbey was changed inside and out and a special entrance was made for the
King and Queen Alexandra to enter through, and so made as to harmonize
with the general architecture and character of the building.

A thousand great beacon lights were built over the United Kingdom so
that from shore to shore the news of the crowning of the King might be
flashed in flames of light to the people. In London and other centres
every kind of device for electrical display and illumination was
prepared and, toward the middle of June, flags and bunting in myriad
forms began to show themselves. In other parts of the Empire almost
every city and town and village arranged for some kind of demonstration.
Banquets and garden parties and band concerts and processions and
military reviews and all the varied means by which the English-speaking
person expresses his feelings were in full tide of preparation as the
time of the Coronation grew near. India had its own unique and Oriental
modes of expressing loyalty and the feeling there was enhanced by the
news that the new Prince of Wales was going to repeat the state visit of
his father, the King, in December of this year and see the people of
practically the only part of the British realms which he had not yet
visited. South Africa was to celebrate peace and loyalty at the same
time and the great centres of Australia were not behind the rest of the
Empire despite the existing gloom of draughts and sheep famine.

The guests invited to attend the great function might be divided into
two classes--those who came to a common centre for the celebration of
their Sovereign's crowning, for the presentation of a picture of
Imperial unity, and for the discussion of questions incident to the
wide-spread dominions of the King; and those who came from foreign
nations as a tribute to the position of Great Britain in the world and
as a token of their friendship for its people as well as their respect
for its ruler. In the first list the first place may be given to India
because of the element of gorgeousness and Oriental pomp which its
representatives were to bring to the function. Calcutta was to be
represented by Maharajah Kumar Tagore; Bombay by Sir Jamsetjee
Jeejeebhoy, the scion of a series of great merchants; Madras by Rajah
Sir Savalai Ramaswami Mudaliyar; Bengal and the Presidencies of Bombay
and Madras by distinguished gentlemen of long names and varied titles;
the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh by the Hon. N. M. D. F. Ali Khan,
who had served in both the Provincial and Supreme Councils, and by Rajah
Pertab Singh; the Punjab sent two representatives of whom Sir Harnman
Singh Ahluwalia belonged to the Viceroy's Legislative Council and
represented indirectly the native Christians; the Central Provinces,
Assam, Burmah and the new North-West Frontier Province also appointed
representatives. Other guests from India included the Sultan Muhammad
Agha Khan of the Khoga Community.

The special Royal guests from the Colonies were General Sir Francis W.
Grenfell, representing Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus; Sir Joseph West
Ridgeway, representing Fiji and various Eastern Colonies and
Protectorates; Sir Walter J. Sendall, for the West Indies, Bermudas,
British Honduras and the Falkland Islands; Sir William MacGregor,
representing the West African Colonies and Protectorates; the Right Hon.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister, representing the Dominion of
Canada; the Right Hon. Edmund Barton, Prime Minister, representing the
Commonwealth of Australia; the Right Hon. Richard J. Sedden, Prime
Minister, representing New Zealand; the Right Hon. Sir J. Gordon Sprigg,
Prime Minister, representing Cape Colony; Sir Albert H. Hime, Prime
Minister, representing Natal; and Sir Robert Bond, Prime Minister,
representing Newfoundland. Other British guests were His Highness the
Sultan of Perak and Lewanika, Chief of the Barotzes, in Africa. There
were many invitations accepted outside of the list of special names
mentioned who were privileged as the King's guests and as such were to
be put up in state at the Hotel Cecil and be provided with Royal
carriages and servants and escorts. Governors of various minor Colonies
and dependencies; Native Princes of India apart from the official
representatives of its Cities and Provinces; Premiers of Australian
States and Canadian Provinces; were all invited to be present and many
of them came to grace the occasion. Amongst those from Canada who
accepted the invitation and were in London, with the others already
referred to, as the day for the ceremony approached, were the Hon. G. W.
Ross, Premier of Ontario, the Hon. H. T. Duffy, representing the Premier
of Quebec, the Hon. R. P. Roblin, Premier of Manitoba, the Hon. James
Dunsmuir Premier of British Columbia, the Hon. L. J. Tweedie, Premier of
New Brunswick and the Hon. G. H. Murray, Premier of Nova Scotia.

Every foreign country or state of importance had its official
representative appointed and they poured into London and were received
with varying degrees of state and ceremony as the eventful day
approached. Prominent amongst them were the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, special
Ambassador from the United States and, in an unofficial capacity,
Senator Chauncey M. Depew. From Russia came the Grand Duke Michael, Heir
Presumptive to the Throne; from Italy His Royal Highness the Duke
d'Aosta; from Greece the Crown Prince and Heir to the Throne; from
Bulgaria, the reigning Prince Ferdinand I.; from Belgium, Prince Albert
of Flanders; from Germany, Prince Henry of Prussia; from Denmark the
Crown Prince Frederick, Heir to the Throne; from Roumania the Crown
Prince; from Austria the Arch-duke Francis Ferdinand, Heir Presumptive;
from France, Admiral Gervais, special Ambassador; from Rome, Mgr. Merry
del Val; from Abyssinia, Ras Makonnen, the victorious general and
special envoy of the Emperor Menelik; from Bavaria, Prince Leopold; from
Sweden and Norway the Crown Prince; from Portugal, the Crown Prince.

Other foreign representatives were Duke Albert of Würtemberg, Prince
Waldemar of Denmark, General Dubois of France, Field Marshal Count Von
Waldersee and Admiral Von Koeter of Germany, Prince George, Prince
Nicholas and Prince Andrew of Greece, the Grand Duke of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Prince Danilo of Montenegro, the Duke of
Saxe-Coburg and Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg, Prince George of
Saxony, the Prince of the Asturias from Spain, Prince Chen of China,
Prince Mohamed Ali of Egypt, Prince Akihito Komatsu of Japan, Prince Yo
Chai-Kak of Korea, Baron de Stein of Liberia, the Prince of Monaco, the
Crown Prince of Siam and special Ministers from Luxemburg, the
Netherlands, Turkey, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Persia,
Servia and Uruguay.

Soldiers of the King from all parts of the Empire were present in
England for the occasion. The Indian troops, quartered at Hampton Court,
numbered nine hundred strong and represented every phase of the military
and native life of Hindostan. Sikhs, Dogras, Jats, Pathans, Mohammedans
from the Punjaub, the Deccan and Madras, Mahrattas, Rajpoots, Garwhal's,
Gurkhas, Afridis, Tamils, Moplahs, Hazaras and Beloochis, were each
represented in uniforms of their local regiments. Scarlet, yellow, blue,
grey, green and red, were some of the colours to be seen. At the
Alexandra Palace were soldiers from a great variety of countries. Canada
sent six hundred and fifty-six men, representative of all its regiments,
under command of Lieut.-Colonel H. M. Pellatt and Lieut.-Colonel R. E.
W. Turner V.C., D.S.O.; Australia sent one hundred and forty men under
Colonel St. Clair Cameron C.B.; New Zealand seventy-nine men under
Colonel Porter; Cape Colony one hundred and fifty under Major-General
Sir Edward Y. Brabant; Natal, ninety-nine under Lieut.-Colonel E. M.
Greene; Rhodesia twenty-six, Ceylon fifty-four, Malta forty-six, and
Cyprus fourteen men. Native contingents included variously coloured and
clad soldiers from the Gold Coast of Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,
Lagos, British Central Africa, British East Africa, Uganda, Somaliland,
Straits Settlements, Bermuda, British Borneo, the West Indies, Fiji,
Hong-Kong and Wei-hai-Wei. The Colonial troops, with their interesting
war record, their varied and striking uniforms, their varieties of race
and colour and country, their differences of physique and appearance,
were not the least remarkable of the Empire contributions to a great
function. The Duke of Connaught was in command of all the Forces for the
occasion and with him were associated Lord Roberts, Lord Wolseley, Sir
Francis Grenfell, Sir William Butler, Major-General W. H. Mackinnon, Sir
Edward Brabant and other officers connected with the late war. Colonel
and Maharajah Sir Pertab Singh represented India on this Staff and
Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Hunter was in immediate command of the
Colonial Contingents.

Various Foreign regiments were to be represented including the 1st
Prussian Dragoons of Germany, the 12th Hussars of Austria, the Guard
Hussars of Denmark and the forces of Russia and Portugal. All the great
British regiments were to be included, either in the procession as
cavalry, or along the route as infantry. Preparations for the great
Naval Review were elaborate. The Channel, Home and Cruiser squadrons
were to be in attendance with Admiral Sir Charles Hotham as
Commander-in-Chief. Besides a number of Foreign warships, which were
specially sent to participate in the function, the British battle-ships
numbered twenty-one, the cruisers twenty-six, the torpedo gun-boats
seventeen, the torpedo boat destroyers twenty-eight and the sea-going
training vessels ten. Amongst the Foreign contributors to the Review
were Germany, the United States, Russia, Sweden and Norway, Denmark,
Greece, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Chili,
Austro-Hungary and the Argentine.

All the complex arrangement of the details in connection with these and
other elements of the Coronation festivities were in the hands of an
Executive Committee appointed on June 28th, 1901, at a meeting of the
King and his Privy Council and attended by most of the members of the
Cabinet, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Dukes of Norfolk,
Portland and Fife, the Earls of Rosebery, Selborne and Carrington, Earl
Roberts, Earl Spencer, Lord Alverstone, Sir W. V. Harcourt, and Sir
Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Amongst the members of this Executive of
fifteen were the Duke of Norfolk (chairman) Lord Esher, the Bishop of
Winchester, Lord Farquhar, Mr. Schomberg K. McDonnell, Colonel Sir
Edward Bradford, Sir Francis Knollys, Sir Edward W. Hamilton, Colonel
Sir E. W. D. Ward, Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis and Rear-Admiral W. H.
Fawkes. Later on Sir Montagu Ommanney, Sir William Lee-Warner, Sir
Kenelm Digby, Lieut.-General Kelly-Kenny, and others, were added. Their
work was, of course, closely overlooked by the King who was in constant
communication with the Duke of Norfolk and Sir Francis Knollys. The
following programme of leading events was finally announced as approved
by His Majesty:

     June 23 State Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

     June 24 The King and Queen to receive Foreign Envoys and
     Deputations. State Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

     June 25 Royal Reception of Colonial Premiers. Dinner by Prince of
     Wales to Princes and Envoys at St. James's Palace.

     June 26 The Coronation.

     June 27 Procession through London, Luncheon at Buckingham Palace.
     Dinner at Landsdowne House to King and Queen. Lady Lansdowne's
     Reception.

     June 28 The Naval Review.

     June 29 Ambassadors and Ministers give Dinners to their respective
     Princes.

     June 30 The King and Queen proceed from Portsmouth to London. Gala
     Opera.

     July 1 Royal Garden Party at Windsor Castle.

     July 2 Dinner at Londonderry House to the King and Queen.

     July 3 The King and Queen to attend a Special Service at St. Paul's
     Cathedral and a Luncheon at the Guildhall given by Lord Mayor and
     Corporation.

     July 4 Reception at the India Office in honour of the Indian
     Princes to be attended by the King and Queen.

     July 5 The King's Coronation Dinner to the Poor.

Many other functions developed around these central ones until the weeks
before and after the event were to be crowded with every sort of
festivity and celebration--partly in honour of the occasion, partly as
evidences of hospitality to Colonial, Indian and Foreign visitors. At
Portsmouth arrangements were made for a banquet in the Drill-hall, on
June 26th, to one thousand men from the Foreign war-ships, with five
hundred British seamen and marines as hosts. On the following day there
were to be athletic sports for the sailors and a garden party by the
Mayor and Mayoress for the officers of the fleets and distinguished
visitors. Following the Review, on June 28th, arrangements were made for
a garden party at Whale Island, for an Admiralty ball in the Town-Hall,
for a luncheon to the officers, a Civic entertainment to the men and a
ball given by the Mayor and Mayoress. In London a Coronation bazaar, in
aid of the Sick Children's Hospital, was announced with various stalls
in charge of Princess Henry of Pless, the Duchess of Westminster, Lady
Tweedmouth, Mrs. Harmsworth, the Countess of Bective, Mrs. Choate, the
Duchess of Somerset and Countess Carrington. The King's Dinner to the
Poor of London was planned upon an enormous scale and His Majesty stated
that he would spend £30,000 in thus entertaining half-a-million of his
poorer subjects. Sir Thomas Lipton, who had been in charge of a smaller
affair at the Diamond Jubilee, was given control of the details. Similar
preparations, upon a minor scale of course, were going on all over the
Empire and in New York a Coronation Ode was issued by Mr. Bliss
Carman--a Canadian by birth--which did the subject noble justice and
commenced with the following verse:

    "There are joy-bells over England, there are flags in London town;
    There is bunting on the Channel where the fleets go up and down;
    There are bon-fires alight
    In the pageant of the night;
    There are bands that blare for splendour and guns that speak for might;
    For another King of England is coming to the Crown."

Meanwhile, a Colonial Conference had also been arranged to take place
during these weeks of celebration and the delegates were to be special
Royal guests for the Coronation--Sir Francis W. Grenfell, Sir Wilfrid
Laurier, Mr. Seddon, Mr. Barton, Sir W. J. Sendall, Sir William
MacGregor, Sir Gordon Sprigg, Sir Albert Hime, Sir Robert Bond, and Sir
West Ridgeway--together with Mr. Chamberlain and the Earl of Onslow,
Under-Secretary of the Colonies. The official programme, published a few
days before the date set for the Coronation, gave the details of the
Royal procession on that and the following days. On June 26th, in
passing from Buckingham Abbey, there were to be eight carriages
containing the Royal visitors and members of the Royal family, the
Prince and Princess of Wales and then the state coach with the King and
Queen--having the Duke of Connaught riding to its right and a
considerable staff and brilliant escort of Life Guards behind.

The procession of the following day was to be essentially an Imperial
pageant and was to pass over a popular city route. The Colonial portion
came first on the programme, headed by Lieut.-General Sir A. Hunter, and
with detachments of Canadian artillery and cavalry and Australian
cavalry preceding a carriage containing Sir Wilfrid and Lady Laurier and
Mr. and Mrs. Barton. Then followed carriages with Sir R. Bond and Mr.
and Mrs. Seddon, Sir Gordon and Miss Sprigg, Sir Albert and Miss Hime,
Sir W. Ridgeway and Sir F. Grenfell, Sir W. Sendall, and Sir W.
MacGregor, the Sultan of Perak and King Lewanika--each preceded or
followed by detachments of New Zealand, Cape, Natal, Ceylon, Trinidad,
Cyprus and other Colonial cavalry, in accordance with the country
represented. Then was to come the Indian portion of the procession
including varied detachments of Native cavalry, and with carriages
containing the Maharajahs of Jaipur, Kolapore and Bikanur. Following
these was to be a long line of British artillery and Aids-de-Camp to the
King, representing the Volunteers, Yeomanry, Militia and Regular forces
and the Marines. The Head-Quarters staff came next, then Field Marshals
in the Army, Foreign naval and military attachés, deputations of Foreign
officers, then Indian Aides-de-Camp to the King--the Maharajahs of
Gwalior, Gooch and Idur--and several members of the Royal family on
horseback. Then came thirteen carriages containing Royal visitors,
special Ambassadors and members of the Royal family, followed by special
escorts of Colonial and Indian troops and Royal Horse Guards. The King
and Queen were to come next, in a splendid state coach drawn by eight
horses, with the Duke of Connaught riding on one side of them and the
Prince of Wales on the other.

[Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. SIR HENRI E. TASCHEREAU, P.C.
  Chief Justice of Canada, 1902-1906]

[Illustration: THE HON. WILLIAM STEVENS FIELDING, D.C.L., M.P.
  Finance Minister of Canada during King Edward's Reign]

[Illustration: THE HON. RODOLPHE LEMIEUX. K.C., M.P.
  Postmaster-General and Minister of Labour in Canada during King
  Edward's Reign]

[Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF MINTO, P.C., G.C.M.G.
  The King's Representative in India, 1905-10]

[Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF ABERDEEN, K.T., G.C.M.G.
  The King's Representative in Ireland, 1905-10]


THE KING'S PRELIMINARY WORK AND ILLNESS

Some of the incidents connected with the Coronation as preliminaries
were carried out by the King with apparent energy and in the midst of
what were known to be very heavy labours. On May 30th His Majesty
presented colours to the Irish Guards, received the Maharajah Sir Pertab
Singh, held an investiture of the Garter in great state, visited
Westminster Abbey to see the Coronation preparations, and gave a large
dinner party. During the next three days he presented medals to the St.
John Ambulance Brigade and held a Levée and investiture of the Bath. On
June 4th he gave audiences to various Ministers, proceeded with the
Queen to the Derby, gave a dinner to the Jockey Club and then joined the
Queen at the Duchess of Devonshire's dance. On June 6th the King
received the Indian Princes at Buckingham Palace and afterwards, with
Queen Alexandra, held a stately Court function. Two days later the King
and Royal family attended a service of thanksgiving for peace at St.
Paul's Cathedral. Other incidents followed and on June 14th His Majesty,
accompanied by Queen Alexandra, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the
Duke and Duchess of Connaught, Princess Victoria and Princess Margaret,
of Connaught, visited Aldershot to inspect the forty thousand troops
which had been slowly gathering there for weeks. A stormy and wet day
changed to brightness as the Royal party arrived and the town was found
to be prettily decorated and filled with enthusiastic people. A great
Tattoo was held in the evening with massed bands and myriad
torch-lights, but with not very pleasant weather.

On the following day it was announced in the _Times_ that the King could
not attend church owing to a slight attack of lumbago caused by a chill
contracted the night before. Queen Alexandra attended the service,
however, and in the afternoon visited several charitable institutions.
Monday the 16th saw His Majesty still too much indisposed to take his
part in reviewing the troops and this function was fulfilled by the
Queen, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales. In the afternoon
the King and Queen returned to Windsor and in the evening His Majesty
was able to be present at a dinner party in the Castle. On the following
day the _Times_ expressed editorial pleasure at the King's apparent
recovery but urged caution and suggested that, despite the
disappointment of the people, it might be better if Ascot were not
visited by him on that day and the next but a substantial rest taken
instead. The same idea seemed to occur to the Royal physicians because
not only was the visit to Ascot cancelled but also a long-expected visit
to Eton which had been arranged for June 21st.

Other functions were postponed or cancelled and it was announced that
His Majesty was resting quietly and preparing himself for the essential
and heavy functions of the Coronation week. Such was the apparent
position of affairs in connection with this great event as massed
myriads of people roamed the streets of London and the other and varied
millions of the British Empire threw themselves into the final stages of
preparation. Such was the position on June 21st when the Toronto
_Globe_, in a very fitting editorial, embodied the popular feeling of
Canada. It declared that on the following Thursday the historic Abbey of
Westminster and the streets of London would see "the greatest ceremonial
which our times have known"; that no King "ever ascended a throne with
the more universal consent of the governed than does Edward VII."; and
that the British people had never been fickle in their feelings toward
him who was once Prince of Wales and was now King. "Their affection for
him has never faltered and they will feel gratified on Thursday that the
concluding ceremony of Coronation has fixed him firmly on the most
glorious of earthly thrones".




CHAPTER XXII.

The Illness of the King


If the almost fatal sickness of the Prince of Wales in 1871 was
historic, from the sympathy it evoked and the influence it wielded, that
of the King in June 1902 was infinitely more memorable. At the latter
period the attention of the whole civilized world was focussed upon the
figure of the Sovereign who was about to be crowned amid scenes of
unprecedented splendour; the press of the Empire and the United States
was filled with the record of his movements; the representatives of the
Courts of Europe had arrived or were arriving; the Prime Ministers of a
dozen countries and the Governors of many other countries of his
far-flung realm were in London; dense crowds were swarming through the
streets of the gaily-decorated metropolis; the approaching day was being
looked forward to by many millions of people in many lands as an
evidence, in its successful splendour, of the power and prosperity of
the Empire. Three days before the 26th of June the King and Queen
Alexandra had arrived in London from Windsor and the Coronation
festivities proper had commenced. His Majesty had looked well and had
smiled and bowed freely to the welcoming multitudes along the line of
route. Rumors of his having caught cold had prevailed, it is true, and
in certain sensational quarters there had been statements as to serious
illness and even allegations of paralysis.

But the evidence of that drive through the cheering streets of London
was deemed conclusive and during that afternoon and the next morning
the crowds increased and the excitement grew until sober-minded
observers who had seen the celebrations of the Queen's Jubilee and the
Diamond Jubilee and knew something of the millions then gathered
together were dismayed at the prospect of the massed multitudes of
Coronation day. It was at 12.45 P.M. on June 24th, when the streets were
packed with moving, happy, holiday crowds and the decorations were
nearing completion and their full effect and force becoming apparent to
the on-lookers, that an official bulletin was posted at the Mansion
House which seemed to reach every one in London at the same instant--so
rapidly was the news spread. News that almost on the steps of the
throne, within a day of the mightiest festival ever designed by human
government and helped by a willing people, the King had been stricken
down! It appeared incredible. The people of England and of the Empire
were almost as dumb-founded as the masses on the streets of the
Metropolis. But there was no way of getting beyond the simple words of
the bulletin signed by Lord Lister, Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Francis
Laking, Sir Thomas Barlow and Sir Frederick Treves: "The King is
suffering from perityphlitis. His condition on Saturday was so
satisfactory that it was hoped that with care His Majesty would be able
to go through the ceremony. On Monday evening a recrudescence became
manifest rendering a surgical operation necessary to-day."

The trouble approximated to the disease known in the United States and
Canada as appendicitis and was of a character which made certainty as to
recovery quite impossible and left the widest scope for fears and
discussion and speculation. It was analysed by Dr. Cyrus Edson, a
well-known New York physician, as follows: "Perityphlitis is
inflammation, including the formation of an abscess of the tissues
around the vermiform appendix and hence it is very hard to distinguish
from appendicitis. Usually an operation is necessary to ascertain
whether the appendix or the surrounding tissue is diseased." The King's
physicians gave the public all the information they wisely could. The
operation was performed by Sir Frederick Treves, the most eminent living
surgeon in this connection, shortly after the first bulletin was issued
and at six o'clock it was announced that "His Majesty continues to make
satisfactory progress and has been much relieved by the operation." Five
hours later the physicians stated that the King's condition was "as good
as could be expected after so serious an operation." It would be some
days, however, they added, before it would be possible to say he was out
of danger. The doctors remained at Buckingham Palace all that night and
but little news crept out from the silence surrounding the great pile of
buildings to that stirring outer world which had grown so suddenly and
strangely quiet.

Following the startling announcement of the King's illness came the
necessary statement that the Coronation ceremony was indefinitely
postponed and the further intimation that the King himself had asked
that celebrations in the Provinces outside London might be continued. In
London, he had specified his wish, before the operation took place, that
the dinner which was to be given to half-a-million of poor people should
not be postponed and His Majesty had expressed keen sorrow, not at what
he had already suffered himself or was likely to suffer, but at the
disappointment which his people would everywhere feel. Gradually it came
out that for over a week he had been ill; that the pain had been very
great at times; that the physicians had acceded to his determination to
go on with the ceremonies and the Coronation until longer delay in
operation would have made the result fatal; that the King's one anxiety
had been not to disappoint the millions who would be in London and the
millions who would look on from abroad during the long-looked for event.

The story of the illness as it developed was made known by the _Lancet_
on June 27th. It seems that on Friday June 13th His Majesty had gone
through a particularly arduous day and next morning was attended by Sir
Francis Laking who found him suffering from considerable abdominal
discomfort. In the afternoon he felt better and went to Aldershot where
the unfortunately wet and cold weather at the Tattoo caused a distinct
revival of the trouble in the early morning accompanied by severe pain.
Sir F. Laking was sent for and in turn telegraphed Sir Thomas Barlow. On
the 15th, the Royal patient had a chilly fit but on Monday returned to
Windsor and bore the journey well. Two days later he was seen by Sir
Frederick Treves who found symptoms of perityphlitis. These, however,
gradually disappeared and on Saturday, the 21st, His Majesty was
believed to be on the road to rapid recovery and to be able to go
through the Coronation ceremonies.

"Sunday was uneventful. On Monday the King travelled from Windsor to
London. Next day the necessity for an operation became clear." The
_Lancet_ gave no reason for this sudden change in condition and it may
have been the excitement and strain of the drive through cheering masses
of the London populace. "At ten o'clock Tuesday morning (24th) the
urgency of an operation was explained to His Majesty. Recognizing that
his ardent hope that the Coronation arrangements might not be upset must
be disappointed he cheerfully resigned himself to the inevitable. Before
the actual decision upon an operation was arrived at Sir Frederick
Treves took the advice of two other sergeant-surgeons to the King, Lord
Lister and Sir Thomas Smith. They, as well as Sir Thomas Barlow and Sir
Francis Laking, came to the unanimous conclusion that no course but an
operation was possible in all the circumstances. To delay would, in
fact, be to allow His Majesty to risk his life." Such appears to have
been the plain statement of this serious incident. Following the
operation the course of the disease was steadily towards recovery and
without serious complications of any kind. Danger at first there was and
neither physicians, nor family, nor the public could feel anything like
assurance of recovery.


PROGRESS TOWARDS RECOVERY

The London _Times_ went out of its way to warn the people against
over-confidence in the result, and the bulletins were cautious in the
extreme. On June 25th the King was said to have been very restless and
without sleep during the early part of the night. He was, however, free
from pain, and his five physicians declared that, under all the
circumstances, he might be described as "progressing satisfactorily." On
June 26th they reported His Majesty's condition as satisfactory, his
strength as having been well maintained, and the wound as doing well.
The reports of June 27th showed a normal temperature, no disquieting
symptoms and, finally, a substantial improvement. On the next day the
five physicians issued the following bulletin: "We are happy to be able
to state that we consider His Majesty out of immediate danger. His
general condition is satisfactory. The operation wound, however, still
needs constant attention and such concern as attaches to His Majesty's
case is connected with the wound. Under the most favourable condition
His Majesty's recovery must of necessity be protracted." The bulletins
thenceforward were regular in their statements of slow and steady
improvement. On July 2d it was announced that the wound was beginning to
heal; then only daily reports were issued; and finally, on July 13th,
the Royal patient was taken by private train from Buckingham Palace to
his yacht at Portsmouth and, during the next few weeks, while it was
anchored or quietly cruising off Cowes, the King was steadily growing
stronger and better.

The bare details of an illness such as this can give no idea of the
burden of apprehension which it entailed upon millions of people, the
financial losses which it meant to thousands of merchants and others in
all parts of the world, the dislocation of a political, social, and
general character which it involved in London, the consternation which
it naturally caused in every centre in the Empire. The first effect of
the King's illness was to create a new tie of sympathy between himself
and his subjects. Human suffering borne so patiently during that week of
concealed sickness and with such earnest determination to go through
what must have come to appear the frightful ordeal of the Coronation
appealed strongly to people everywhere in the Empire, while the
externally dramatic passage from preparations for the greatest of
national festivities down into the valley of the shadow of death came
home to the hearts of every one with peculiar force. This was
particularly apparent in Westminster Abbey where the last rehearsal of
the great Coronation choir, in the presence of the Bishop of London and
under the musical direction of Sir Frederick Bridge, was proceeding at
noon on June 24th. Suddenly, Lord Esher entered and told the sad news to
the Bishop, who, in a few words, turned the service of national
rejoicing into one of solemn intercession. Everywhere there were similar
services and similar sudden changes. Coronation day, despite the King's
kindly wish that demonstrations and functions outside of London should
proceed, was turned into a season of special service and prayer in Great
Britain and in the many other countries of the Empire.

A pathetic service was held in St. Paul's Cathedral on the evening of
the announced illness, and the Bishop of Stepney spoke in most
impressive terms. "As the days have passed, our thoughts and, I trust,
our prayers have been centred in the King as he has moved to his
Coronation watched by millions of eyes. Only yesterday we welcomed him
to London with heartfelt joy. All around us is the glamour of
preparation for a splendid festival. The very air is vivid with the glow
of popular enthusiasm. From all parts of the earth our brethren have
come to rivet anew the links which bind them to our ancient Monarchy.
And now come the tidings that this King is laid low with sickness and
that the great day has been postponed. We are bewildered. We cannot
realize, except in imagination, the dislocation of the life of a whole
Empire." Meanwhile, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York had asked
their clergy to hold intercessory services on June 26th, and Cardinal
Vaughan, for his Church, had given similar orders. "The finger of God,"
he wrote to his clergy, "has appeared in the midst of our national
rejoicing and on the eve of what promised to be one of the most splendid
pageants in English history. This is in order to call the thoughts of
all men to Himself. The King's life is in danger. Danger being imminent,
let us have immediate recourse to the Divine mercy and by public prayer
seek His Majesty's recovery." The Chief Rabbi held special Jewish
supplications and the Chairman of the Congregational Union of England
and Wales telegraphed to Sir Francis Knollys their hope that it might
please God to spare the King's valuable life so "that he may rule for
many years over his devoted people."

Telegrams of inquiry and sympathy poured into the Palace, the
Departments of the Government, and the Guildhall, for days after the
eventful incident of the operation. On the day that should have
witnessed the stately splendour of the Coronation, St. Paul's Cathedral
was the scene of a solemn service of intercession for the recovery of
the King. The Bishops of London and Stepney, the Archdeacon of London
and Canons Holland and Newbolt were the officiating clergy and with them
were the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and a dozen other Bishops.
The Lord Mayor of London was present officially and the Duke of
Cambridge and Duke of Teck. So were the special missions of France,
Spain, Germany, Mexico and other countries, the Hon. Whitelaw Reid and
Mr. Choate, the American Ambassador. Lord Selborne, Lord Cadogan and Mr.
Ritchie represented the Cabinet while the Premiers of Canada, Australia,
Cape Colony, Natal, New Zealand, Western Australia, and South Australia,
with the Sultan of Perak, the Rajah of Bobbili, Sir Jamesetjee
Jejeebhoy, and others represented the Colonial and Indian Empire. A
large number of the leaders in the public, social and general life of
the country were also there. At the same time a similarly impressive
service was held in Margaret's, Westminster, the official church of the
House of Commons, attended by the Lord Chancellor and Speaker, the Duke
and Duchess of Devonshire, Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, Lord and Lady
Londonderry, and many members of both Houses of Parliament. A multitude
of other churches held intercessory services at home and abroad on this
day--notably, perhaps, one arranged by the National Council of Free
Churches and held in the City Temple. Orders were given by the heads of
all kinds of denominations in all kinds of countries to pray for the
King on the succeeding Sunday and, in most of the great Colonies of the
Crown, that day was specially set apart for the purpose.


EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY

Meanwhile, the messages continued to pour in from Governments as well as
individuals or institutions. General Sir Neville Lyttelton for the Army
in South Africa, Lord Hopetoun for the Government and people of
Australia, Sir Edmund Barton, the Premier of Australia, the Legislature
of New South Wales, the Governors of the other Australian States and New
Zealand, the Governors of Fiji, Gambia, Cape Colony, Mauritius, Bermuda,
Newfoundland, and Gibraltar, the Administrators of Sierra Leone,
Seychelles, Ceylon, Hong-Kong and Wei-hai-Wei, the Governor of the
Straits Settlements and the Premier of Natal sent despatches of
sympathy and regret. In the United States much kindly feeling was
expressed. Papers such as the New York _Commercial-Advertizer_,
_Tribune_ and _Post_ were more than kindly and generous in their
regrets; others were merely sensational. The President hastened to cable
an expression of the nation's sentiments and, at Harvard University on
June 25th, said: "Let me speak for all Americans when I say that we
watch with the deepest concern and interest the sick-bed of the English
King and that all Americans, in tendering their hearty sympathy to the
people of Great Britain will now remember keenly the outburst of genuine
grief with which all England last fall greeted the calamity which befell
us in the death of President McKinley." Prayers were also offered up for
His Majesty in the Senate and House of Representatives. Germany was
largely silent in its press but outspoken and warmly sympathetic in the
person of its Emperor. Austria was more than friendly and at Rome a
Resolution passed unanimously through both Houses expressing earnest
wishes for "the prompt recovery of the head of the State which has long
been Italy's best friend." The French press was moderately sympathetic
and dwelt upon King Edward's love of peace, while the leading Russian
newspapers paid tribute to the same elements in his character and laid
stress upon his high qualities as a man and a Sovereign.

On the Sunday following the serious stage in the King's illness the
metropolis was the scene of many special services. At Marlborough House
Chapel, Queen Alexandra, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other
members of the Royal family were present in the morning, together with a
crowded gathering of members of the Court and old friends of His
Majesty. Bishop Randall Davidson of Winchester preached a sermon of
eloquent retrospect--a picture of the events of the past few days and
weeks. Almost from his seat on a great throne their Sovereign had passed
to a hushed sick-room; during a crowded week the people had passed from
bouyant expectancy to crushing disappointment, from loyal admiration of
a splendid occasion to personal sympathy with a stricken King. At the
Chapel Royal the Bishop of London preached and drew a lesson of humility
from the tragic event, while in St. Paul's Cathedral the Bishop of
Stepney preached to an audience which included various Indian Chiefs and
King Lewanika of Barotze. Mgr. Merry del Val, the Papal Envoy to the
Coronation, addressed a gathering at the Brompton Oratory attended by
Sir Wilfrid and Lady Laurier and Mr. Justice Girouard of Canada, Sir
Nicholas O'Conor, British Ambassador at Constantinople, Lord Edmund
Talbot, Lord Walter Kerr, first Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Howard
Glossop and Lord Clifford of Chudleigh. The Reverend Bernard Vaughan, at
the Warwick Street Roman Catholic Church, dwelt upon the great loyalty
of his people to the Throne and declared that much might and should be
done by Roman Catholics "to build up and consolidate an Empire where
every man could breathe the air of freedom, claim his share of justice
and practice his religion in peace."

Amongst the special incidents of the day were prayers for King Edward in
all the principal towns of Greece as well as in the churches of Athens
and prayers and sermons upon the subject in many of the churches of New
York. On July 3rd Cape Town was brilliantly illuminated as an expression
of pleasure at the King's recovery. Four days later the Prince and
Princess of Wales visited Grey's Hospital and His Royal Highness in
speaking to the institution, for which the King had done so much when
Heir Apparent, referred to the occasion as the first on which he had
been able to attempt an expression of the unbounded gratitude which they
all felt for "the merciful recovery of my dear father, the King." He
spoke of the important work undertaken by the Hospital and then
proceeded: "I wish to take this first opportunity to say how His
Majesty the King, the Queen, and whole of our family have been cheered
and supported during a time of severe trial by the deep sympathy which
has been displayed towards them from every part of the Empire. And I
should like to say that we who have watched at the sick bed of the King
fully realize how much, humanly speaking, is due to the eminent surgical
and medical skill, as well as to the patient and highly-trained nursing
which it has been His Majesty's good-fortune to enjoy".




CHAPTER XXIII.

The Coronation


In the middle of July it was announced that the Royal patient had
recovered sufficiently to be able to fix a date once more for the
Coronation ceremony and that, with the advice of his physicians, August
9th had been decided upon. Many of the events surrounding and connected
with the central function originally proposed for June 26th had already
taken place by special wish or consent of the King. Deeply regretting
the disappointment of his people and keenly thoughtful, as he always had
been, for the feelings and anticipations of others, His Majesty had
specially ordered the carrying out of two incidents of the Coronation
festivities upon the date arranged--the Dinner to the London poor and
the publication of the Coronation honours. In both cases much
disappointment would have followed delay though it would necessarily
have been different in degree and effect. On June 26th, as already
decided upon and expected, the Honour List was made public and the names
of those whom the King desired to especially compliment were announced.
The promotion of the Earl of Hopetoun to be Marquess of Linlithgow, was
well deserved by his services as Governor-General of Australia and the
creation of Lord Milner as a Viscount by his work in South Africa. A
number might almost be called personal honours. Sir Francis Knollys, the
veteran and efficient Private Secretary became Lord Knollys; Lord
Rothschild and Sir Ernest Cassel, old friends of the King when Prince of
Wales, were made members of the Privy Council; Lord Colville of
Culross, Chamberlain to the Queen Alexandra since 1873, was made a
Viscount; Sir Francis Laking and Sir Frederick Treves, the well-known
surgeons, and Sir Thomas Lipton, the King's yachting companion upon more
than one occasion, were created baronets; the Earl of Clarendon, Lord
Chamberlain to the King, and General the Right Hon. Sir Dighton Probyn,
so long the faithful official of his Household, were given the G.C.B.;
Viscount Esher was made a K.C.B. General H. R. H. the Duke of Connaught,
brother of the King and Commanding the Forces in Ireland, was made a
Field Marshal, and H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, was created a General.


CORONATION HONOURS AND INCIDENTS

In the more general list every rank and profession was represented--the
Army and the Navy in honours conferred upon a large number of officers;
Art in the creation of Sir Edward Poytner as baronet, and the knighting
of Sir F. C. Burnand and Sir Ernest Waterlow; Literature in the
knighting of Sir Conan Doyle, Sir Gilbert Parker and Sir Leslie Stephen;
Medicine and Surgery in the same honour conferred upon Sir Halliday
Croom, Sir Thomas Fraser, Sir H. G. Howse and Sir William Church;
Science in the person of Sir Arthur Rucker; Music in that of Sir Charles
Villiers Stanford; Architecture in that of Sir William Emerson; the
Stage in that of Sir Charles Wyndham, The Colonies were amply honoured.
Australia saw knighthoods bestowed upon Sir E. A. Stone, Sir J. L.
Stirling, Sir Henry McLaurin, Sir A. J. Peacock, Sir Arthur Rutledge,
Sir John See, Sir A. Thorpe-Douglas, Sir N. E. Lewis. In New Zealand,
Captain Sir W. Russell-Russell and Sir J. L. Campbell received their
knighthoods. Sir John Gordon Sprigg of Cape Colony, received a G.C.M.G.,
as did Sir Edmund Barton of Australia. In Canada, Sir D. H. McMillan,
Sir F. W. Borden and Sir William Mulock received the K.C.M.G. The King
also announced the establishment of a new Order of Merit, restricted in
numbers and for the purpose of special Royal recognition of
distinguished and exceptional merit in the Army and Navy services, and
in Art, Science and Literature. The first list of members included Lord
Roberts, Lord Wolseley, Lord Kitchener, Lord Rayleigh, Lord Lister, Lord
Kelvin, Admiral Sir Henry Keppel, Mr. John Morley, Mr. W. E. H. Lecky,
Admiral Sir E. H. Seymour, Sir William Huggins and Mr. George Frederick
Watts.

A very important event connected with the Coronation--though not exactly
a part of it--and which proceeded in spite of the King's illness, at his
earnest desire, was the Colonial Conference composed of General Lord
Grenfell, Sir J. W. Ridgeway, Sir W. J. Sendall and Sir William McGregor
representing the lesser Colonies, Protectorates and Military posts and
the Premiers of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Natal, Cape Colony and
Newfoundland. It was called by Mr. Chamberlain, largely as a result of
so many Colonial leaders being in London at this time, and partly
because of negotiations between Australia and Canada looking to a
discussion during the Coronation period of such questions as trade
relations between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, the establishment
of a fast mail service, the organization of a better steamship service
between Canada and Australia, the establishment of a line of steamers
from Australia to Canada _via_ South Africa, and the position of the
Pacific Cable scheme. The Conference met a few days after the King's
illness was announced and proceeded to discuss these and other questions
in secret session during the next few weeks.

A great many of the functions surrounding and forming part of the
Coronation festivities took place during the period immediately
following the Coronation day, which was to have been, and these
increased in number and brilliancy as the days of actual danger passed
away. On June 26th it was determined not to disappoint the twelve
hundred children from Orphanages and Homes who had been looking forward
for many weeks to an entertainment promised them by the Prince and
Princess of Wales in Marlborough House grounds. They were according
received on that day and another twelve hundred on the succeeding day,
and enjoyed their feasts and games to the uttermost. On July 1st, amid
perfect weather, immense and enthusiastic crowds and in the presence of
Queen Alexandra and the Prince and Princess of Wales, a parade of
Colonial troops took place at the Horse Guards. The route was lined by
Regular troops and the Colonial force of about two thousand men was
headed by General Sir Henry Trotter and the Canadian Contingent. The
Duke of Connaught commanded the whole and was supported by a brilliant
staff.

The Queen came first on the review ground accompanied by many members of
the Royal family, and soon afterwards there appeared a glittering
cavalcade headed by the Prince of Wales in general's uniform. With him
were Lord Roberts, Commander-in-Chief, the Duke d'Aosta, the Crown
Princes of Denmark, Greece, Sweden and Roumania, the Grand Duke of
Hesse, Prince Nicholas and Prince Andrew of Greece, the Duke of
Saxe-Coburg, Prince Akihitu Komatsu of Japan, Prince Christian and
Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein and two Indian Princes. After the
inspection the Prince of Wales personally conferred the Distinguished
Service Order, the Victoria Cross, the Companionship of the Bath and the
Distinguished Conduct Medal upon a number of Colonial officers and men
who had won them in the South African War. The parade followed and men
from Canada and Australia, New Zealand, Cape Colony and Natal, Ceylon,
Cyprus and many other parts of the British world filed past the Queen
and the Heir Apparent--special cheers greeting the gallant Sir Edward
Brabant of Cape Colony. Well might the _Times_ in its description
express the keen regret of all at the absence of the King, and then add:
"Perhaps never in the whole history of the world has there been such a
display of Empire power as was witnessed yesterday. Here we had men of
every colour, creed, denomination and descent, all answering to the same
word of command, all performing the same manoeuvre, all animated with
the single object of paying homage to the head of the greatest Empire
the world has ever seen."

Meanwhile, on June 30th, some fifteen hundred Colonial officers and men
and one thousand Indian troops had embarked on special transports to see
the great fleet at Spithead and to obtain an insight into that mighty
naval power of England which the Coronation review was to have brought
before the world once more. In the evening a multitude of bon-fires
around the Kingdom, intended to celebrate the Coronation, were fired to
mark the King's having passed the danger-point in his illness, and they
afforded a most weird and striking effect. On the evening of July 1st a
number of important festivities took place. At the Inner Temple the
Colonial Premiers and distinguished visitors were banquetted. Amongst
the guests were the Lord Chancellor, Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Cross, Lord
Davy, Lord Macnaghten, Lord Lindley, Lord Knutsford, Lord Robertson, and
Sir Edmund Barton of Australia, Sir John Forrest of Australia, Sir
Robert Bond of Newfoundland, Sir Albert Hime of Natal, Sir West
Ridgeway, General Sir Francis Grenfell, Sir W. J. Sendall, Sir John
Carrington, Sir William MacGregor, Sir Julian Salomons, Mr. Justice
Girouard of Canada, the Hon. Arthur Peters and Hon. F. W. G. Haultain.
The Premiers of Australia, Newfoundland and Natal spoke and paid loyal
tributes to the King and the Empire. In his speech Mr. Chamberlain
referred to Sir Albert Hime's statement that the Colonies would be glad
to join the Councils of the Motherland. "If that be their feeling, I
say--and I know I speak the view of the whole of the people of Great
Britain--we shall welcome them. They have enjoyed all the privileges of
the Empire; if they are now willing to take upon themselves their share
of its responsibilities and its burdens we shall be only too glad of
their support." The Canadian Dinner, to celebrate Dominion Day, was held
the same evening; as was Lady Lansdowne's Reception. At the
first-mentioned event, the speakers included Lord Strathcona, Sir
Charles Tupper, the Hon. G. W. Ross, the Earl of Dundonald, Sir F. W.
Borden, the Earl of Minto, the Duke of Argyll, Sir W. Mulock and Mr.
Seddon.


ROYAL AND COLONIAL FUNCTIONS

Lady Lansdowne's function was given in the magnificent drawing-rooms of
Lansdowne House in honour of the special Envoys to the Coronation and
the Colonial and Indian guests of the King. Nearly all the Colonial
Premiers were present at some period during the evening and the Crown
Princes of Roumania, Sweden, Japan and Siam, Mgr. Merry del Val, King
Lewanika, the Duke and Duchess d'Aosta, the Maharajahs of Gwalior,
Jaipur, Kolapore, Bikanur, and Kuch Behar, Sir Pertab Singh, and Mr. and
Mrs. Whitelaw Reid. The Ambassadors of France, Austria, Turkey, Spain,
United States, Germany, Persia, Belgium and half the countries in the
world were also in attendance on what had been originally intended to be
a reception by the Foreign Secretary and his wife in honour of the
Coronation. After the Dominion Day banquet Lord Strathcona also held a
Reception in Piccadilly attended by a great gathering of Canadian and
other Colonial celebrities.

The Review of the Indian Coronation Contingent on July 2nd by the Queen
and the Prince of Wales was a brilliant spectacle, the enthusiasm of the
reception accorded the members of the Royal family as great as on the
preceding day, the massed crowds even larger than on that occasion, the
kaleidoscopic colour and glittering splendour of the scene even more
marked. The ordinary incidents of the parade were much the same as in
that of the day before but British officers from British countries were
superseded by a staff of native Princes blazing with gems, while the
white soldier in ordinary British uniform, with only an occasional
contingent of Houssas, or Fiji troops, or some other dark-coloured
Colonial subjects, were replaced by an Oriental combination of varied
uniform and complex colours. They numbered twelve hundred strong and the
Eastern side of the display was one which the stricken King--deeply
sensitive to the Imperial significance of the Coronation as he
was--would have greatly appreciated and understood. The _Times_
description was an eloquent one: "To those sitting in the stands it
appeared as if a great rich ornamental carpet of kaleidoscopic colour
had been suddenly unrolled across the gravel of the parade-ground; a
line of dazzling tints, before which the impressive grandeur of
Household uniforms with attendant cuirasses, bear-skins, scarlet and
bullion, dwarfed into insignificance. The front of the Asiatic line was
crested with fluttering lance pennons, and beneath these flags were
stalwart frames in vermillion, rich orange, purple-drab, French-grey,
and gold-tipped navy-blue, dressed shoulder to shoulder, making a nether
border of snow-white or orange breeching."

One after another the representatives of famous Indian regiments passed
by and no Roman Emperor, or conqueror of old, ever had such a triumphal
gathering in victorious procession through his ancient capital as this
which passed the windows of the room where the Emperor-King lay slowly
verging toward recovery. Finally, they had all passed--Rajpoot, Sikh,
Pathan, Afridi, Jat, Hazura, Gurkha, Dogra, Multani, Madrassee, Baluchi,
Dekani--and, after a great cheer for the Emperor of India and to the
strains of the National Anthem and personal cheering of another kind,
the Queen and Princess of Wales drove from the grounds followed by the
Prince and the rest of the Royal family.

In the evening a ball was held at the Crystal Palace, the proceeds of
which were to go to King Edward's Hospital Fund, as a sort of Coronation
tribute to His Majesty's well-known interest in this subject. The
function, which had been managed by Mrs. Arthur Paget, Lady Maud
Wilbraham and others was a great success. During the same day Mr. W. H.
Grenfell M.P. entertained the Colonial Premiers and visitors, on behalf
of the British Empire League, at a water-party on the Thames and a
luncheon at Taplow Court. The King's Dinner to the poor people of London
took place on July 5th and constituted probably the most remarkable
event of the kind in all history. A statistician estimated that six
hundred thousand persons sat down at ninety miles of tables served by
eighty thousand voluntary waiters. The cost of the occasion was about
_£_30,000 and how the guests enjoyed their substantial meal of meat,
potatoes, bread, cheese, pudding, beer, lime-juice, chocolate,
cigarettes and tobacco can be better imagined than stated. There were
eight hundred separate feasts and eighteen thousand people entertaining
the guests while thirteen members of the Royal family devoted themselves
to representing the King and giving the pleasure of their presence to
the crowded and happy multitudes.

The day was beautiful, the arrangements, which had been so largely in
the hands of Sir Thomas Lipton, were excellent, and the assistance
abundant. The Coronation mugs gave tremendous pleasure and it would be a
problem in psychology to say why the mere sight of Royalty should give
the intense satisfaction which it unquestionably afforded the
crowds--especially the women. Decorations were everywhere and the Prince
and Princess of Wales drove in semi-state all through East London. The
final climax to the day was the physicians' announcement from the
Palace that the King was out of danger. Princess Christian, the Duke and
Duchess of Connaught, the Duke and Duchess of Fife, the Prince and
Princess Charles of Denmark, the Duchess of Albany, the Duke and Duchess
of Argyll did more than their duty in visiting the various points and
giving the feasters a glimpse of those who represented, even indirectly,
their Royal host. On the following day Lord Knollys wrote the Lord
Mayor, by command of the King, expressing the greatest satisfaction at
the success of the affair and at the energy, foresight and skill
displayed by those who had taken it in hand. "I am further commanded",
he wrote, "to repeat how sincerely His Majesty regretted his inability
to be present at any of his dinners and how deeply also he has been
touched by the loyal and kind feeling so universally displayed when the
bulletin of yesterday morning was read at the various dining-places."

On the following day and at various times and places in the succeeding
weeks the Queen entertained thousands of young servants at tea. Mayors
and other officials or prominent persons presided, and each guest, after
listening to a musical programme, was sent away happy with a box of
chocolate bearing Queen Alexandra's portrait in colours. A function of a
different character was the great state dinner given by the Prince and
Princess of Wales at St. James's Palace on July 8th in honour of the
Colonial guests and visitors. The leading members of the suite during
the late Empire tour were present together with the Countess of
Hopetoun, the Earl and Countess of Onslow, the Earl and Countess of
Minto, the Lord and Lady Lamington, the Lord and Lady Strathcona, Mrs.
Chamberlain, Sir Wilfrid and Lady Laurier, Sir Edmund and Lady Barton,
Mr. Seddon, Sir Gordon and Miss Sprigg, Sir Albert and Miss Hime, Sir R.
Bond, Sir John and Lady Forrest, General Sir Edward Brabant, Sir W.
Mulock, the Hon. Mr. Fielding and Hon. Mr. Paterson. During this week
the Countess of Jersey gave three garden parties at Osterley Park in
honour of the visitors, and Lady Howard de Walden entertained the
Colonial and Indian dignitaries at a reception and concert on July 7th.
Three days later the Queen opened the Imperial Coronation Bazaar which
was held on behalf of the Ormonde St. Hospital for Sick Children. Her
Majesty was accompanied by Princess Victoria, the Duke and Duchess of
Connaught, the Princess Christian and other members of the Royal family,
and the occasion was successful despite a storm of wind and rain. In the
evening the Prince and Princess of Wales held a Reception of some nine
hundred more or less distinguished people at St. James's Palace in
honour of the Colonial visitors. Most of the members of the Royal family
were present as well as Royal representatives of Roumania, Denmark,
Greece and Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Colonial Premiers and other
officials or visitors from the outside Empire. It was a really brilliant
function, delightful in its surroundings, decorations and illuminations,
and elaborate in its final incident of supper. On the preceding day a
detachment of troops from Australia and New Zealand, under arrangements
made by Lord Carrington and the Duke of Argyll, visited Windsor Castle
and were given luncheon in the town with the former nobleman as host.
About the same time twelve thousand Kensington school-children were
entertained under the auspices of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll,
and revelled in a pleasure such as had perhaps never come before to the
most of them.

There were various functions and incidents of interest in the second
week following the postponed Coronation. One of the most picturesque
scenes ever witnessed in London occurred on July 3rd, when the Fijian
soldiers, who had come to the Empire capital for the great event, were
being driven around the city. On reaching Buckingham Palace they
expressed a wish to sing an intercessory hymn for the King. With their
bare heads, legs and feet, their long and frizzy hair, their white
cotton skirts and quaint tunics, they made a most unique appearance as
they turned toward the Palace and chanted words of which the following
is a rough translation:

    "The King is great, and noble, and good.
    May he find favour in the sight of the Ruler of Kings;
    May he wax strong and stay the tears of us all, for his people are sad.
    Mighty is the King and his people shall be glad."

Other parties of West African and Indian troops were driven up and
cheered the bare walls of the Palace with fervour. The Duke of
Connaught, and afterwards the Duke of Cambridge, visited the Indian
troops at Hampton Court. On July 9th, Colonel Lord Binning and the
officers and men of the Royal Horse Guards provided an entertainment for
the Colonial contingents at the Albany Barracks. Entertainments for the
Colonial Premiers were almost continuous. The Duke and Duchess of
Westminster gave an afternoon party in their honour at Grosvenor House;
Lady Lucy Hicks-Beach gave a garden party at the official residence of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer; parties of the King's Indian guests
were taken at different times by Lord Esher and Lord Churchill to see
Windsor Castle; Sir Gilbert Parker gave a dinner in honour of the
Premiers of Australia and Canada; Lady Wimborne gave a dinner and
reception for the Colonial Premiers; the Constitutional Club on July 7th
entertained the guests from the Colonies at a banquet presided over by
the Duke of Marlborough. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in the course of his
speech, made a notable declaration: "The bond of the British Empire, let
me tell you this my fellow-countrymen, and accept it from a man not of
your own race, the bond of union of the British Empire is allegiance to
the King without distinction of race or colour." The Primrose League in
London entertained the visiting Premiers at a banquet; and the
Fishmonger's Company did the same. An interesting incident was the visit
of Mr. R. J. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand, and his wife and daughters
to Windsor Castle whence, on July 3rd, they were driven to Frogmore
Mausoleum and placed a wreath of lilies and rosebuds on the tomb of the
Queen and on behalf of the people of New Zealand.

The Empire Coronation banquet was the great event of these weeks in the
way of dining and speaking, although Mr. Chamberlain's unfortunate
accident and absence created a serious void. The Earl of Onslow
presided, and amongst the speakers were Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the
Maharajah of Kolapore, Sir Gordon Sprigg and Sir Edmund Barton. Earl
Cromer and Lord Lansdowne, Lord Minto, Lord Kelvin and the Maharajahs of
Bikanur and Cooch-Behar were also present together with a distinguished
array of Colonial dignitaries.

An event of historic importance occurred on July 11th when the Marquess
of Salisbury waited upon the King and tendered his resignation of the
post of Prime Minister. The fact that His Majesty was able to receive
him and deal with the questions involved also served to indicate his
progress toward recovery. Mr. A. J. Balfour was at once sent for and,
after an interview with Mr. Chamberlain, accepted the task of forming a
new Ministry. It had been pretty well understood that Lord Salisbury
intended to resign when peace had come and the Coronation ceremonies
were disposed of. Delay had naturally occurred owing to the King's
illness, but His Majesty's progress toward recovery and the fact of the
principal Coronation functions having been disposed of--outside of the
event itself--induced the Premier to feel that he could now lay down his
burdensome position. Mr. Balfour was received again by the King on July
12th and a little later in the day General Lord Kitchener, after passing
in triumphal procession through the streets of London on his return from
South Africa, was also admitted into audience by the King and
personally decorated from his couch with the special Coronation
honour--the new Order of Merit. Lord Kitchener then dined with the
Prince of Wales, as representing His Majesty, at St. James's Palace.

Meanwhile, the King had been winning golden opinions from all sorts and
conditions of men. His plucky conduct at the beginning of the illness,
his thoughtful consideration for others through every stage of its
continuance, his evidently strong place in the hearts of his subjects,
combined to increase the personal popularity of the Sovereign at home
while enhancing or promoting respect for him abroad. As the New York
_Tribune_ put it on the day before the Coronation: "The King is showing
himself 'every inch a King' in some of those respects which are most
prized and cherished by all men of his race, and which unfailingly
command admiration among all men and all races. Those are the qualities
of unselfishness, and indomitable and uncomplaining pluck." He had
struggled long and earnestly against the malady--not for his own sake,
because safety and ease would have early been found in surrender to its
natural course. When that became finally necessary, and recovery then
succeeded the period of suspense, his whole desire seemed to be the
re-assuring of the popular mind and the relieving of public
inconvenience. On August 6th the King and Queen Alexandra had landed at
Portsmouth from the Royal yacht and proceeded to London. The stations
were profusely decorated, and dense crowds were awaiting their arrival
in the capital. At the Metropolitan station the King walked easily to
the end of the platform and to his carriage, helped the Queen to enter,
and followed himself without any apparent difficulty. The route to
Buckingham Palace was lined with great throngs of people, and His
Majesty acknowledged the continuous cheering with a most cheerful
expression and by frequently raising his hat. He was described as
looking better than for a long time past--while the Queen appeared
positively radiant. On the evening of August 8th, the King issued an
autograph message of thanks and appreciation to the nation, through the
Home Secretary, couched in the following terms:

     "To My People:--On the eve of my Coronation, an event which I look
     upon as one of the most solemn and most important in my life, I am
     anxious to express to my people at home and in the Colonies and
     India, my heartfelt appreciation of the deep sympathy they have
     manifested towards me during the time my life was in such imminent
     danger.

     "The postponement of the ceremony, owing to my illness, caused, I
     fear, much inconvenience and trouble to all those who intended to
     celebrate it, but their disappointment was borne by them with
     admirable patience and temper.

     "The prayers of my people for my recovery were heard, and I now
     offer up my deepest gratitude to Divine Providence for having
     preserved my life and given me strength to fulfil the important
     duties which devolve upon me as Sovereign of this great Empire.

     EDWARD R. I."

While this tactful and sympathetic letter was being written by the
Sovereign, his people in London were preparing for the great event of
the morrow. The streets were crowded with moving masses of people; the
decorations, though not as numerous or imposing as in June, were
nevertheless effective; the streets were illuminated to a considerable
extent, and the stands were nearly all sold out of their seating
capacity. During the afternoon the King walked in the grounds of
Buckingham Palace and held an Investiture, at which he gave the Order of
the Garter to the Dukes of Wellington and Sutherland and of the Thistle
to the Duke of Roxburghe and the Earl of Haddington. A little later, he
received in audience Ras MaRonnen, the Abyssinian Envoy. Two interesting
announcements were also made at this time--that Lord Salisbury was
unwell and would be unable to attend the Coronation, and that Bramwell
Booth had been granted special permission by the King to appear at
Westminster Abbey in Salvation Army garb. The first incident marked the
closing of an era of statecraft; of an age marked by the name and fame
of Queen Victoria and her Ministers. The other illustrated the tact of
the Sovereign as it proved the existence of a religious toleration and
equality characteristic of the new period in which the new reign was
commencing.

On August 9th the great ceremony finally took place. Though shorn of
some of the International splendour of the first arrangements and
without some of the military and naval glory which would have then
surrounded the event its Imperial significance was in some respects
enhanced and there was a deeper note in the festivities and an even more
enthusiastic tone in the cheering than would have been possible on the
26th of June. The solemn ceremony in the ancient Abbey--which had not
been used or opened to the public since that final practice of the
choir--was brilliant in all the colours and shadings and dresses and
gems and uniforms of a Royal function while it presented that other and
more sacred side which all the traditions and forms of the Coronation
ceremony so clearly illustrate. The enthusiasm of the people in the
streets can hardly be described but the spirit and thought and feeling
were well summed up in the words of a Canadian poet--Jean Blewett:

    "Long live the King!
    Long live the King who hath for his own
    The strongest sceptre the world has known,
    The richest Crown and the highest Throne,
    The staunchest hearts, and the heritage
    Of a glorious past, whose every page
    Reads--loyalty, greatness, valour, might."

The day opened with brilliant promise and bright sunshine, but became
overcast and gloomy by the time the Royal progress from the Palace had
commenced. The crowds gathered early, and soon every seat in the many
stands were filled with expectant and interested people who numbered in
the end fully half a million. Picked troops, chiefly Household Cavalry
and Colonial and Indian soldiers of the King, to the number of 30,000,
guarded the route, with a picturesque line of white, black, brown and
yellow men of many countries and varied uniforms. When the King and
Queen appeared in their gorgeous state coach from out the gates of
Buckingham Palace they were greeted with tremendous cheers from the
multitude, and these cheers continued all along the way to the Abbey. In
the Royal procession were the Prince and Princess of Wales with
thirty-one other members of the Royal family. The Princess was beautiful
in a long Court mantle of purple velvet trimmed with bands of gold and a
minever cape fastened with hooks of gold over a dress of white satin
embroidered in gold and jewelled with diamonds and pearls. Then followed
Lord Knollys and Lord Wolseley and Admiral Seymour, Lord Kitchener and
General Gaselee and Lord Roberts, with many other notabilities. The
Indian Maharajahs, who acted as Aides-de-Camp to the King, were
brilliant in red and white and brown and blue and gold and jewels.
Immediately in front of the King was the Royal escort of Princes and
Equerries with a body of Colonial and Indian troops. The arrival at the
Abbey was marked by great enthusiasm in the massed multitudes
surrounding the famous building and seated in the crimson-covered stands
which had been built on every side.

The scene in the interior was indescribable. The blend of many colours
in costume mixed with the time-mellowed harmonies of shade and substance
in the mighty structure, while the air was permeated with the solemn
sounds of the recently sung Litany and the slowly pealing bells of loyal
welcome. Around were the greatest men and noblest and most beautiful
women of Great Britain, and in the stalls was a veritable roll-call of
fame in a world-wide Empire. Lord Salisbury was practically the only
British personage of historic repute who was not present while the
veteran Duke of Cambridge appeared as one of the two living links
present between the Coronation which had marked the beginning of the
Victorian era and that which was now to illustrate the birth of a new
period. Into this scene of splendour and revel of colour came the King
and the state officials of his realm.

The procession as it passed from the west door of the Abbey through the
standing and brilliantly-garbed gathering was one of the most stately
spectacles recorded in history. First came the Clergy of the Abbey in
copes of brown shot with gold, the Archbishops in purple velvet and
gold, the gorgeously-clad officers of the Orders of Knighthood, and the
Heralds. Then came the Standard of Ireland, carried by the Right Hon.
O'Conor Don, the Standard of Scotland by Mr. H. S. Wedderburn, the
Standard of England by Mr. F. S. Dymoke and the Union Standard borne by
the Duke of Wellington. Various great officials and nobles followed, the
coronet of each borne by a beautifully dressed page. They included the
Lord Privy Seal, the Lord President of the Council the Lord Chancellor
of Ireland, the Lord Archbishop of York, the Lord High Chancellor, the
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Then came the Earl of Gosford as Lord
Chamberlain, Lord Harris carrying the Queen's regalia and the Duke of
Roxburghe carrying Her Majesty's Crown. The Queen herself followed in
robes of exquisite character and splendour and looking as only the most
beautiful woman in England could look. On either side of her were the
Bishops of Oxford and Norwich with five gentlemen-at-arms to the right
and left of them and Her Majesty's train was borne by the Duchess of
Buccleuch assisted by eight youthful personages of title or heirship to
aristocratic position. The Ladies of the Bedchamber followed and then
came the King's regalia, carried by the Earl of Carrington, the Duke of
Argyll, the Earl of Loudoun, Lord Grey de Ruthven, Viscount Wolseley,
the Duke of Grafton and Earl Roberts.

The next personage in this splendid procession of rich-robed noblemen
and gorgeously-clad officials was the Lord Mayor of London and then came
the Marquess of Cholmondeley, as Lord Great Chamberlain, the Duke of
Abercorn as High Constable of Ireland, the Earl of Erroll as High
Constable of Scotland, the Earl of Shrewsbury as Lord High Steward of
Ireland, the Earl of Crawford as Lord High Steward of Scotland (Deputy
to the Duke of Rothesay and Prince of Wales), the Duke of Norfolk as
Earl Marshal of England, the Marquess of Londonderry carrying the Sword
of State, and the Duke of Fife as Lord High Constable of England.
Following these high officers of state came central figures in the
procession--the Duke of Marlborough as Lord High Steward carrying St.
Edward's ancient Crown, the Earl of Lucan carrying the Sceptre, and the
Duke of Somerset bearing the Orb. The Bishop of Ely followed bearing the
Patina, the Bishop of Winchester bearing the Chalice, the Bishop of
London carrying the Bible and then, behind him came the Sovereign of the
mighty little Islands and of an Empire girdling the world in power and
wealth and service to civilization.

His Majesty was clad in Royal crimson robes of state and wore the Order
of the Garter. His train was borne by the Earl of Portarlington, the
Duke of Leinster, the Marquess Conyngham, the Earl of Caledon and Lord
Somers, with Viscount Torrington and Hon. P. A. Spencer, as Pages of
Honour and Lord Suffield, Master of the Robes. On either side of the
King walked the Bishop of Bath and Wells and the Bishop of Durham and
beside them again ten gentlemen-at-arms. Following the bearers of the
Royal train came Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, the Duke of
Portland, General Lord Chelmsford, the Duke of Buccleuch, Earl
Waldgrave, Lord Belper, various Lords-in-Waiting, Lord Knollys, Sir D.
M. Probyn and Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis.

The services and ceremonies in the Abbey were beautiful and impressive
in the extreme. Enriched with a thousand years' traditions, moulded upon
ancient forms of a sacred and essentially religious character,
symbolizing and expressing a solemn compact between the Sovereign and
his subjects, registering by forms of popular acceptance, homage and
ecclesiastical ritual the final consecration of the King to the
government of his nation, it was a ceremony of exceeding solemnity as
well as of impressive splendour. The great Abbey had been transformed by
tier above tier of seats, covered with blue and yellow velvet, and so
arranged as to form one dazzling mass of brightness and colour when
filled with the peers in their gorgeous robes and peeresses in their
crimson velvet mantles, ermine capes and beautiful gowns. As the King
and Queen entered the Abbey on this eventful day and moved toward their
chairs the choir of trained voices sang with exquisite feeling and sound
the anthem: "I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into the
house of the Lord." The King at different times during the ceremonies
was clad in vestments combining an ecclessiastical character with Royal
magnificence. The dalmatic was a robe of cloth of gold, the stole was
lined with crimson cloth and richly embroidered, the alb, or sleeveless
tunic of fine cambric, was trimmed with beautiful lace. The whole effect
was one of harmonized colour and splendour.

After brief prayer, kneeling on faldstools in front of their chairs, the
King and Queen took their seats and then the Archbishop of Canterbury
turned north, south, east and west and, while the King stood, he said to
the people: "Sirs, I here present unto you King Edward, the undoubted
King of this Realm; wherefore all you who have come this day to do your
homage, are you willing to do the same?" Ringing acclamations of "God
save the King," to the sound of trumpets strongly blown, greeted this
part of the ceremony. The Bible, Patina, Chalice and Regalia were then
borne to the Altar, and the Communion service of the Church of England
proceeded with. Then followed the taking of the Coronation Oath, the
Archbishop of Canterbury first asking His Majesty if he was willing to
do so and receiving an affirmative reply. The questions and answers were
as follows, the King holding a Bible in his hands:

     _Archbishop._ Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the
     people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the
     Dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in
     Parliament agreed on and the respective laws and customs of the
     same?

     _The King._ I solemnly promise to do so.

     _Archbishop._ Will you to your power cause law and justice, in
     mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?

     _The King._ I will.

     _Archbishop._ Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the
     laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant
     Reformed religion established by law? And will you maintain and
     preserve inviolably the Settlement of the Church of England and the
     doctrine, worship, discipline and government thereof as by law
     established in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and
     Clergy of England and to the Church therein committed to their
     charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do, or shall
     appertain to them or any of them?

     _The King._ All this I promise to do.

His Majesty, when he had said these words passed to the Altar, knelt
down and with his hand on the Bible said: "The things which I have here
before promised I will perform and keep. So help me God." After signing
the Oath the King returned to his chair. A hymn, a prayer by the
Archbishop and an anthem followed. Meanwhile His Majesty, after being
relieved of his crimson robes by the Lord Great Chamberlain and of his
cap of state, proceeded to King Edward's Chair, near the Altar and, and
while four Knights of the Garter in their magnificent robes and
insignia--the Earl of Rosebery, Earl of Derby, Earl of Cadogan and Earl
Spencer--held over him a Pall of golden Silk, the Archbishop, assisted
by the Dean of Westminster, anointed him with holy oil on the crown of
the head, on his breast and on his hands. His Grace of Canterbury
concluded this part of the ceremony with the words: "And as Solomon was
anointed King by Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet, so be you
anointed, blessed and consecrated King over this People whom the Lord
your God hath given you to rule and govern. In the name of the Father,
and the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen." The King, after a brief prayer by
the Archbishop then resumed his place in King Edward's Chair and was
robed by the Dean of Westminster with cloth of gold and symbolic girdle.


INCIDENTS OF THE CEREMONY

Various typical or symbolic functions were then performed. The Lord
Great Chamberlain touched the King's feet with a pair of golden spurs as
constituting the ancient emblems of Knighthood; a Sword of State, with
scabbard of purple velvet, was then handed with elaborate ceremony to
the Archbishop who, after placing it upon the Altar and delivering a
short prayer proffered it to His Majesty about whom it was girt by the
Lord Great Chamberlain, His Grace of Canterbury giving the following
injunction: "With this sword do justice, stop the growth of iniquity,
protect the Holy Church of God, help and defend widows and orphans,
restore the things that are going to decay, maintain the things that are
restored, furnish and reform what is amiss and confirm what is in good
order; that by doing these things you may be glorious in all virtue; and
so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life that you may
reign for ever with him in the life that is to come." The King then
placed the Sword upon the Altar from which it was presently taken and
held drawn from the scabbard before him during the rest of the
ceremony. The Dean of Westminster then invested His Majesty with the
Armilla, or gold bracelets, and with the Imperial mantle of cloth of
gold, while the Archbishop presented the Orb of Empire--a golden ball,
made originally for Charles II. with a band covered with gems and a
cross set in brilliants. As he did so His Grace said: "Receive this
Imperial Robe and Orb; and the Lord your God endow you with knowledge
and wisdom, with majesty and with power from on high; the Lord clothe
you with the robe of righteousness and with the garments of salvation."

The next incident was the placing of a gold ring--carried off by James
II. in his flight, and afterwards recovered in Rome by George IV.--upon
the fourth finger of the King's right hand with an Episcopal injunction
to receive the ring as "the ensign of kingly dignity and of defence of
the Catholic faith." Then came the presentation of the Sceptre by the
Archbishop as the ensign of kingly power and justice, and the rod of
equity and mercy, while the Duke of Newcastle as Hereditary Lord of the
Manor of Worksop, had the privilege or right of placing a glove upon the
King's hand. Following this came the central and most dramatic feature
of the ceremonies--the placing of the Crown upon His Majesty's head by
the Archbishop of Canterbury. As the action was performed the venerable
Abbey shook with the acclamation of "God Save the King" while the
trumpets blared and the scene, already brilliant with varied splendours,
flashed in added beauty when the Peers and Peeresses put on their
glittering coronets. A brief prayer and the presentation of a copy of
the Bible by the Archbishop followed with a benediction ending in the
words: "The Lord give you a fruitful country and healthful seasons;
victorious fleets and armies and a quiet Empire; a faithful Senate, wise
and upright Counsellors and magistrates, a loyal nobility and dutiful
gentry; a pious and learned and useful Clergy; an honest, industrious
and obedient community."

After the _Te Deum_ was sung by the choir, His Majesty for the first
time took his place upon the Throne surrounded by the leading officials,
nobles and clergy, and listened to a brief exordium from the Archbishop,
ending with the hope that God would "establish your Throne in
righteousness that it may stand fast for evermore." Then came the
impressive ceremony of Homage. First the Archbishop of Canterbury,
kneeling in front of His Majesty with all the Bishops in their places,
repeated an oath of allegiance. Then the Prince of Wales, taking off his
coronet, knelt in front of the King and the other Princes of the blood
royal knelt in their places and repeated the quaint mediæval formula in
which they swore "to become your liege man of life and limb and of
earthly worship, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and
die against all manner of Folks." At this point occurred an abbreviation
of the ceremony as well as an _impromptu_ change in the proceedings. As
the Prince rose from his knees touched the Crown on his father's head
and kissed his left cheek in the the formal manner prescribed, the King
rose, threw his arms round his son's neck for a moment and then took his
hand and shook it warmly. After the homage of the Heir Apparent each
Peer of the realm should have followed the traditionary form in the
order of his rank and touched the Crown and kissed the King's cheek.
This was modified, however, so as to enable each grade of the nobility
to perform the function through its representative of oldest patent--the
Duke of Norfolk, the Marquess of Winchester, the Earl of Shrewsbury, the
Viscount Hereford and the Baron de Ros. After this had been done the
trumpets once more sounded their acclaims and the audience joined in
shouting "God save King Edward."

A short but stately ceremony of crowning the Queen then followed. The
Archbishop of York officiated and four Peeresses upheld the Cloth of
Gold over Her Majesty as she was anointed upon the head. A ring was
placed upon her finger with a brief prayer, and a sceptre in her hand
with the following words: "Grant unto this thy servant Alexandra, our
Queen, that by the powerful and mild influence of her piety and virtue,
she may adorn the high dignity which she hath obtained, through Jesus
Christ our Lord." Her Majesty was then escorted from the Altar to her
own Throne, bowing reverently to the King as she passed him to take her
place.

The King and Queen then passed to the Altar together, taking off their
Crowns and kneeling on faldstools and His Majesty formally offered the
Sacrament of Communion to the Archbishop. After thus indicating his
headship of the National Church, the King returned with his Consort to
their chairs and listened to some brief prayers. Thence they returned to
the Altar, received Communion from the Archbishop of Canterbury and then
passed into the Chapel of Edward the Confessor accompanied by a stately
procession. There they were arrayed in Royal robes of purple and velvet,
in place of the mantels previously worn, and passed with slow and
stately dignity down the nave, out to their carriage and thence through
masses of cheering people to Buckingham Palace.

There were several incidents in connection with the Coronation
ceremonies which deeply impressed the onlookers. One was the spontaneous
and obvious sincerity of the King's affectionate greeting to his son.
Another was the enfeebled condition of the aged Archbishop of
Canterbury. With his massive frame, brilliant intellect, and piercing
eyes Dr. Temple had lived a life of intense mental activity and
religious zeal, but in these declining days the massive form had become
bent and trembling, the memory and the eyes found difficulties in the
solemn words of the service, and his shaking hands could hardly place
the Crown upon the head of his King. But the latter's solicitude and
anxious care to save the Primate any exertion, not absolutely essential,
were marked and noticed by all that vast assemblage. The Royal patient
was transformed, by kindly sympathy, into a guardian of the Archbishop's
weakness. When tendering his homage as first of all the subjects of the
King, the aged Primate almost fainted and was unable to rise from his
knees until His Majesty assisted him. Prior to the actual Coronation,
Mr. Edwin A. Abbey, R.A., who had been commissioned by the King to paint
a picture of the historic scene, was allowed to take note of the
surroundings. Another incident of the event was the presence of the
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz--placed by desire of Queen Alexandra in
a seat at the exact spot which she had held during the Coronation of
Queen Victoria.

On the day following the great event a final bulletin was issued by Sir
F. Laking and Sir F. Treves, which stated that "His Majesty bore the
strain of the Coronation ceremony perfectly well, and experienced but
little fatigue. The King has had a good night, and his condition is in
every way satisfactory." Being Sunday, special services were held in the
St. James's Chapel Royal, at St. Paul's Cathedral, in Marlborough House
Chapel, and at St. Margaret's, Westminster. On Monday, a Royal message
to the nation was made public through Mr. Balfour, the Prime Minister.
Dated on Coronation Day, it described the Osborne House estate, on the
Isle of Wight, as being the private property of the Sovereign, and
expressed his wish to establish this once favourite residence of the
late Queen as a National Convalescent Home for Officers of the Army and
Navy--maintaining intact, however, the rooms which were in her late
Majesty's personal occupation. "Having to spend a considerable part of
the year in the capital of this Kingdom and in its neighbourhood, at
Windsor, and having also strong home ties in the County of Norfolk,
which have existed now for nearly forty years, the King feels he will
be unable to make adequate use of Osborne House as a Royal residence,
and he accordingly has determined to offer the property in the Isle of
Wight as a gift to the nation." Following the Coronation came multitudes
of editorial comments upon the event, and one of the most concise and
expressive was that of the London _Times_: "The significance of the
Coronation ceremony on Saturday lay in its profound sincerity, as a
solemn compact between the Sovereign and his subjects, ratified by oath,
and blessed by the highest dignitaries of the National Church. It was a
covenant between a free people, accustomed for long centuries to be
governed according to statutes in Parliament agreed on, and their
hereditary King, and a supplication from both to God that the King may
be endowed with all princely virtues in the exercise of his great
office. Though the details of the ceremony do not mean to us all they
meant to our forefathers, the ceremony itself is a no less strong and
enduring bond between the King and subjects. The most striking feature
of the Coronation was that it was the first to be attended by the
statesmen of self-governing Colonies, and by the feudatory Princes of
India."

With the event also came an Ode from Mr. Alfred Austin, entitled "The
Crowning of Kingship." On August 11th the King held a Council at
Buckingham Palace, attended by the retiring and new members of the
Cabinet; invested many distinguished personages with their Coronation
honours; and gave an audience to Sir Joseph Dimsdale, Lord Mayor of
London, who presented the City's Coronation gift of $575,000 toward the
King Edward Hospital Fund, in which His Majesty had so long taken so
deep an interest and to which, on this occasion, there was contributed
20,000 penny donations from the poorest quarters of London.

Various functions of a Coronation character or connection ensued. On
August 12th some 2000 Colonial troops who were present at the event, in
a representative capacity, from British dominions beyond the seas, were
received by the King on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Under the
Royal canopy were the Queen and the children of the Prince of Wales, and
in attendance were Earl Roberts, Lord Kitchener, Mr. Chamberlain and
various Colonial Premiers, including Sir Wilfrid and Lady Laurier. After
the march past, the King pinned a Victoria Cross on the breast of
Sergeant Lawrence, and the Prince of Wales conferred Coronation medals
upon the officers and men. His Majesty then addressed the troops as
follows: "It has afforded me great pleasure to see you here to-day and
to have the opportunity of expressing my high appreciation of your
patriotism and the way you distinguished yourselves in South Africa. The
services you have rendered the Mother-Country will never be forgotten by
me, and they will, I am sure, cement more firmly than ever the union of
our distant Colonies with the other parts of my great Empire."

On the following day the Indian troops sent from the great Eastern realm
to honour the Coronation of its Emperor were reviewed at the same place.
His Majesty wore a jewelled sword which cost some $50,000, and had been
presented to him on the previous day by the Maharajah of Jaipur. The
scene was a most brilliant and picturesque one. The British notables
present wore military or Levée dress; the great lawn of the Palace was a
splendid spectacle in red, yellow, green and blue; the Eastern Princes
were gorgeous in jewels and many-coloured raiment, and the little
Princes Edward and Albert of Wales constituted themselves Aides of the
King and brought several general officers up to have an audience. After
the march past and the distribution of medals at the hands of the Prince
of Wales, His Majesty addressed the troops in the following words: "I
wish to convey to all ranks the high satisfaction it has given me to see
this splendid contingent from India. I almost feared, owing to my
serious illness, that I would be prevented from having the advantage of
seeing you, but I am glad to say that by God's mercy I am well again. I
recognize among you many of the regiments I had the advantage of seeing
at Delhi during my tour of India." During the next few days various
minor functions took place, and the Colonial leaders especially were
feasted and entertained in every possible way.

On August 17th the final event occurred in connection with the
Coronation. It was the mighty greeting of a great fleet to the Sovereign
of a wide-flung realm. It was the inspection of a naval force which a
generation before could have dominated the seas of the world and put all
civilized nations under tribute. Gathered together from the Home
Station, the Channel squadron and the Cruising squadron; without the
detachment of a ship from foreign waters or Colonial stations, it
included 20 battleships, 24 cruisers and 47 torpedo crafts, with an
outer fringe of foreign vessels contributed in complimentary fashion to
honour the occasion. From Spithead to the Isle of Wight the horizon was
black with great grim vessels of war decked out with flags, and as the
King's yacht approached the first line of ships, a hundred Royal salutes
made a tremendous burst of sound such as probably the greatest
battle-fields of history had never heard. As the King, in Admiral's
uniform, stood upon the deck of his vessel and passed slowly down the
lines, a signal given at a certain moment evoked one of the most
impressive incidents which even he had ever encountered--a simultaneous
roar of cheers from the powerful throats of 50,000 enthusiastic sailors.
The sound rolled from shore to shore, and ship to ship, was echoed from
100,000 spectators on land and sea, and repeated again from the
battleships. The King was deeply moved by this crowning tribute of
loyalty, and at once signaled his gratification to the fleet and an
invitation to its flag officers to come aboard his yacht and receive a
personal expression of his feelings. In the evening electric and
coloured lights of every kind and in countless number combined with
flashing searchlights to illuminate the great fleet and to cast a
glamour of fairy land over the splendid scene.

Meanwhile, in the morning, His Majesty had received on board his yacht
the celebrated Boer Generals, Botha, De Wet and De la Rey. Afterwards,
in company with Lord Kitchener and Earl Roberts they had returned to
London greatly pleased with the cordiality of their reception and
especially gratified at the kind manner of Queen Alexandra. Following
the official Naval Review, the King on the next day visited the fleet in
a stormy sea and watched it go through certain manoeuvres of a
practical kind before being dispersed to its different local stations.
On his return to London he found the Shah of Persia a guest of the
nation and awaiting formal reception at the hands of its Monarch. And
thus King Edward took up again his unceasing round of duty and
ceremonial and high responsibility. In the past year or two he had gone
through every variety of emotional experience and official work and
brilliant ceremony--his mother's death and the consequent mourning of a
nation and empire; his own assumption of new and heavy duties; the
special labours of an expectant period; the time of serious illness and
the anxieties of complex responsibility to a world-wide public; the
realization of his Coronation hopes; the change from an old to a new
period stamped by the change in his national advisers and the presence
of his Colonial Premiers. He now entered upon his further lifework, with
chastened feelings in a personal sense but, it is safe to say, with high
and brilliant hopes for the future of his own home country and its
far-flung Empire.




CHAPTER XXIV.

The Reign of King Edward


The history of this reign--not long in years--is yet crowded with
events, rich in national and Imperial developments, conspicuous in the
importance of its discussions and international controversies. The first
brief months, which have been already reviewed, saw the completion of
the memorable Empire tour of the new Prince of Wales and the settling
down of Australia to a life of national unity and progress; the
conclusion of the South African War and the beginning of an
extraordinary process of unification which was in a few years to evolve
the Union of South Africa; the almost spectacular incidents of the
Coronation and the important proceedings of the Colonial Conference of
1902. In July of this latter year the Marquess of Salisbury retired and
was succeeded in the Premiership by his nephew, Arthur J. Balfour. To
the King this meant the removal of a strong arm and powerful intellect
and respected personality from his side and increased the importance of
his own experience and _prestige_ as a statesman.

Something has already been said of the qualities with which King Edward
entered upon his task and with which it was conducted to the moment when
in passing to his rest he said: "It is all over, but I think I have done
my duty." The unique feature of his career in a personal sense was his
amazing popularity, the real affection with which every class in the
great community of the British Isles regarded him. In the days of his
unofficial labours as Prince of Wales, Lord Beaconsfield greatly
esteemed him and Mr. Gladstone was "devotedly attached" to him. At the
latter's funeral the Prince went up to Mrs. Gladstone and in a spirit of
spontaneous courtesy bent over her hand and kissed it with an air of
sympathy so great as to be beyond the expression of words. It was little
acts such as this that won unstinted liking for the man as well as
loyalty to the King. It was this magnetism of the kindly heart, this
instinctive courtesy of character, coupled with a remarkable dignity of
bearing at the right moment and in the right place, and a rare memory
for faces and incidents and peoples and places, that made King Edward so
truly the Sovereign of his people. In this connection a religious orator
of the Radical type in London--Rev. R. J. Campbell--told an audience in
Toronto, Canada, on July 22, 1903, that "Queen Victoria is gone but her
son remains and I would not exchange King Edward, with all the criticism
that has been directed against him, for any Sovereign ruler on the face
of the earth or any President of any Republic on either side of the
water."

Following the visit to Paris of this year, which paved the way for
better relations in the future between Britain and France, the King made
a successful tour of a part of Ireland--July 21st to August 1st--and
impressed himself upon the mercurial temperament of the sons of Erin. In
September came the memorable retirement of Mr. Chamberlain from the
Balfour Government; his declaration of devotion to the new-old ideal of
limited protective tariffs for the United Kingdom _plus_ preferential
duties in favour of the external Empire; the split in the Conservative
party and the presentation of a great issue to the people which,
however, was clouded over by other policies in either party and had not,
up to the time of the King's death, won a clear presentation to the
people as a whole. Mr. Chamberlain's letter to Mr. Balfour dated
September 8th expressed regret that the all-important question of fiscal
reform had been made a party issue by its opponents; recognised the
present political force of the cry against taxing food and the
impossibility of immediately carrying his Preferential policy; suggested
that the Government should limit their immediate advocacy to the
assertion of greater fiscal freedom in foreign negotiations with a power
of tariff retaliation, when necessary, as a weapon; and declared his own
intention to stand aside, with absolute loyalty to the Government in
their general policy but in an independent position, and with the
intention of "devoting myself to the work of explaining and popularizing
those principles of Imperial union which my experience has convinced me
are essential to our future welfare and prosperity." In his reply the
Premier paid high tribute to Mr. Chamberlain's services to the Empire,
sympathized personally with his Imperial ideals and agreed with him that
the time was not ripe for the Government or the country to go to the
extreme length of his Preferential policy.

Mr. Chamberlain's action and policy gave a thrill of pleasant
hopefulness to Imperialists everywhere; it stirred up innumerable
comments in the British, Colonial and Foreign press; it made Germany
pause in a system of fiscal retaliation and tariff war into which she
had intended to enter with Canada--and with Australia and South Africa
if they presumed to grant a tariff preference to Britain. Meanwhile, the
King had suffered the loss, a personal as well as national one, of Lord
Salisbury's retirement from office and his death not long afterwards;
the Balfour-Chamberlain Government had struggled along until the Tariff
Reform movement, as above described, broke in upon and dissipated the
party's unanimity of opinion and uniformity of action; a long series of
Liberal victories at bye-elections reduced the Conservative majority
from 134 as it was in 1900 to 69 in November, 1905; Mr. Balfour, in his
Newcastle speech of November 14th, defined his fiscal policy as (1)
Retaliation with a view to compelling the removal of some of the
restrictions in Foreign markets and (2) the calling of a Conference of
Empire leaders to arrange, if possible, a closer commercial union of the
Empire. As to himself he had never been and was not now "a
protectionist." In December he resigned and the King called on Sir H.
Campbell-Bannerman, the Liberal Leader in the Commons, to form a
Government.

A general election followed in which the Liberals swept the great towns
of the country--excluding London and Birmingham--and came back with the
largest majority in modern English history; the total of the Labour,
Home Rule, Liberal and Radical majority being 376 over the supporters of
Tariff Reform. The result, however, evoked on February 14, 1906, a
declaration from Mr. Balfour in favour of "a moderate general tariff on
manufactured goods and the imposition of a small duty on Foreign corn,"
and this united the Conservative or Unionist party with the exception of
about sixteen Free-trade members who still followed the Duke of
Devonshire. The rise of the Labour Party began at this election; the
serious illness of Mr. Chamberlain followed and hampered Conservative
work and progress; the retirement of the Premier took place early in
1908 and, on April of that year, the King called on Mr. Asquith to form
the Ministry which carried its election in 1910 by so small a Liberal
majority. The reconstruction of 1908 was notable for the rise or
promotion of the fighting, aggressive, youthful elements in the new
Liberalism--men like David Lloyd-George, Winston Churchill and Reginald
McKenna. There followed the establishment of Old-Age Pensions at an
initial expenditure of $40,000,000 a year; the prolonged and ultimately
successful struggle to increase the taxation upon landed interests,
property, and invested income by means of the much-discussed Budget of
1909; the natural resentment of the Lords, the Conservatives, and many
who were neither--as illustrated in the subsequent wiping out of the
Liberal majority in England itself; the constitutional issue which the
Liberals so cleverly forced to the front with the House of Lords as
their chief antagonists and which relegated Tariff Reform temporarily to
the background; the prolonged period in which King Edward took minute
and anxious and personal interest in the question.

There can be no doubt as to this interest or as to the natural and valid
reasons for it. A House of Lords, either abolished or existing without
power in the constitution, would leave no check upon the Commons except
the King and this might be bad for both the Commons and the Sovereign.
Over and over again in English history the people have reversed the
action or vote of the Commons but if this was ever to be done in future
it could only be through the interjection of the King's veto, and the
bringing of the Crown into the hurly-burly of party struggle. This would
be the very thing which all parties had hitherto endeavoured to prevent
and for at least seventy years had been successful in preventing. Then
came the general elections of 1909-10, with their continual query as to
what the King would do if the Liberals did win. Would he accept the
Government's policy and the proposed Commons legislation as to the Lords
and thus take an active part in the destruction of one portion of the
constitution which he was pledged to guard--through and by means of the
creation of hundreds of peers to swamp the Conservative vote in that
House? Or would he take the situation boldly in hand and insist on
another election with this question of practical abolition of the Lords
as the distinct issue before the people? It was little wonder that His
Majesty's physicians should declare after his death that the political
situation had been one of its causes! It must be remembered that in all
countries the Upper House and the aristocracy are natural and
inevitable, if not necessary, adjuncts to and supporters of a Throne.
Where, as in Britain, that House and that aristocracy have upon the
whole much to be proud of in personal achievement, much to be credited
with in social legislation and still more to be approved of in the
individual public work of its Salisburys, Roseberys, Devonshires, and a
multitude of other historic personalities with, also, a close and vital
interest in the country through large landed responsibilities, the
situation can readily be appreciated. Not that the Monarchy was an issue
in itself; but there can be no doubt, despite such speeches as the
following quotation from Mr. Winston Churchill's address at Southport on
December 8, 1909, that King Edward felt the danger of weakening his
immediate, natural and fitting environment of (with certain exceptions)
an energetic and patriotic aristocracy surrounding a popular Throne:

     "There is no difficulty in vindicating the principle of a
     hereditary monarchy. The experience of every country and of all the
     ages show the profound wisdom which places the supreme leadership
     of the state beyond the reach of private ambition and above the
     shocks and changes of party strife. And, further, let it not be
     forgotten that we live under a limited and constitutional monarch.
     The Sovereign reigns but does not govern; that is a maxim we were
     all taught out of our school-books. The British monarchy has no
     interests divergent from those of the British people. It enshrines
     only those ideas and causes upon which the whole British people are
     united. It is based upon the abiding and prevailing interests of
     the nation and thus, through all the swift changes of the last
     hundred years, through all the wide developments of a democratic
     state, the English monarchy has become the most secure, as it is
     the most ancient and the most glorious monarchy in the whole of
     Christendom."

While all this political change and controversy was going on the King
was performing a multitude of personal and social and State duties.
There was always the vast amount of detailed study of current
documents--all of which he looked into before signing as had Queen
Victoria before him; there was the strenuous and incessant round of
State functions including the reception of visiting Sovereigns and
ambassadors, and special deputations, visits to cities and towns and the
private houses of his greater subjects, State dinners to men and women
of every school of thought and life in its higher branches, frequent
trips to the Continent and continuous conferences with public men. In
this connection it is interesting to note that just before the General
Elections--towards the close of 1909--he did what no Sovereign had done
for many a long year and did it not only without criticism but with
public approval when he called Lord Lansdowne, Lord Rosebery and Mr.
Balfour into quiet conference regarding the political situation. How
many others of all parties he may have invited to similar discussions in
the privacy of Buckingham or Windsor only such a personage as his
faithful and old-time Secretary, Lord Knollys, really knows. Military
and Naval reviews were amongst the more important general functions of
these years coupled with gracious and conciliatory visits to Ireland in
1904 and 1907. In this latter year he reviewed a magnificent fleet of
warships at Portsmouth eleven miles long, headed by the first of the
Dreadnaughts, and manned by 35,000 officers and men. Upon another
occasion in 1909, the greatest fleet ever gathered together in any
waters in the history of the world was also reviewed by His Majesty as,
perhaps, a comment on the recently revealed crisis caused by German
Naval construction. As to this the King was intensely concerned and we
can safely assume that if one cause of his latter ill-health was
political worry another cause may well have been the Naval rivalry of a
Power which boasted 4,000,000 of a trained Army to Britain's 250,000
men.

With all these varied home duties and his many diplomatic efforts King
Edward never forgot his own external Empire, never overlooked his vast
interests overseas. To India in 1908 had gone a vivid and statesmanlike
Royal Message, on November 2d, which recalled to the minds of its
Princes and peoples their fifty years of progress under the Crown, the
obligations which they were under to the liberty-loving rule of Britain,
and the pride of their Emperor in governing so vast a congeries of races
and interests. To them also in 1906 he had sent the Prince and Princess
of Wales in a tour which repeated his own triumphs of 1876. To South
Africa, upon frequent and appropriate occasions, came expressions of the
King's interest in the people's welfare, in their strivings for unity,
in their efforts to retrieve the misfortunes of war. It was King
Edward's Imperial policy that dictated the sending of the Prince of
Wales to open the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa--a
policy which his own death rendered impossible--as curiously enough, it
had been Queen Victoria's last public duty to send the Duke of
Cornwall--as he then was--to open the first Parliament of the Australian
Commonwealth. It was the King who sent the Duke of Connaught to visit
East Africa in 1906 and Prince Arthur of Connaught to return from Japan
_via_ Canada in the same year. To the people of Australia Lord
Northcote, the new Governor-General, on January 28, 1904, conveyed a
Royal Message of greeting and then proceeded to say that: "Every
constitutional process having for its object the linking together of the
different component parts of this great Empire is sure to be
sympathetically regarded by our Sovereign and I know his hope is that
his people who live outside the narrow seas of Great Britain may believe
that His Majesty regards them primarily, not as inhabitants of colonies
or dependencies of the Mother-country, but as equally valued component
parts of one mighty nation."

As to Canada and King Edward much might be said. On July 22, 1905,
His Majesty was at Bisley and presented the Kolapore Cup to the
proud Canadian team which had won it and to whose Commander,
Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Hesslein, a few kind and tactful words were
addressed. About the same time it was announced that the London Hospital
Fund in which the King had for many years taken a deep personal
interest, and in the maintenance of which he was really the chief power,
had received a gift of $1,000,000 from Lord Mount Stephen of Canadian
Pacific Railway fame. In 1906 His Majesty showed special interest in
Canadian affairs. A cablegram through Lord Elgin, on January 2d,
expressed the King's regret at the sudden death of the Honorable R.
Prefontaine; he received Canadian delegates to the Empire Commercial
Congress at Windsor on July 13th, when Sir D. H. McMillan, Sir Sandford
Fleming, Messrs. R. Wilson-Smith, G. E. Drummond, F. H. Mathewson, J. F.
Ellis and W. F. Cockshutt were presented; a deputation of Indian chiefs
from British Columbia was received by him on August 13th and submitted
an address and a petition; a number of shire-horses were lent by His
Majesty in the autumn for exhibition at Toronto and as a proof of his
interest in that branch of Canadian development. But the chief event of
the year in this respect was Canada's invitation to the King, and Queen
Alexandra, to pay the country and its people a visit. In the House of
Commons on April 18th, the Hon. N. A. Belcourt, seconded by Mr. W. B.
Northrup, moved a Resolution expressive of Canadian loyalty and devotion
to the King's person and of the hope that His Majesty and the Queen
would be pleased to visit Canada at such time as might be found possible
and convenient.

In his short speech the Prime Minister laid stress upon the King's
personal qualities and his work in the cause of peace. Sir Wilfrid
Laurier then made a reference which was probably of more consequence in
the final decision than was supposed at the time, "I believe it is the
opinion of all who sit in this House that if the King were to visit
Canada--and he could not visit Canada without visiting the United States
also--the effect would be to bring more closely together than they are
at the present time--and they are more so than ever before--the two
great branches of the Anglo-Saxon race on both sides of the Atlantic."
This additional suggestion involved tremendous considerations of travel,
functions, ceremonial, time, and responsibility. After being spoken to
by men of such opposite opinions as Colonel S. Hughes and Mr. H.
Bourassa, as well as warmly endorsed by the Opposition Leader, the
Resolution was passed unanimously, as it was later in the Senate. All
the Provincial Legislatures, then in session, joined in this invitation,
while centres such as Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Quebec, Three
Rivers, St. Hyacinthe, Valleyfield, Hamilton, London, Guelph, Woodstock,
Halifax, Sydney, St. John, Fredericton, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver,
Victoria and about forty others warmly endorsed the request; as did
every newspaper of standing in Canada. In reply Lord Elgin, Colonial
Secretary, under date of July 7th wrote a long despatch to the
Governor-General in which he expressed the King's appreciation of the
invitation, his pleasant memories of the Royal visit to Canada in 1860,
and his comprehension of the wonderful growth of the country since that
time, and continued:

     "I need scarcely remind Your Lordship of two circumstances which
     must not be overlooked in the consideration of these proposals. In
     the first place the current business of the Empire, which is
     continuous and incessant, imposes a heavy tax on the time and
     strength of its Sovereign and it is well known that the absence of
     His Majesty from this country for any length of time is difficult,
     if not impossible except under very definite limitations and
     restrictions; even when considerations of health and the need for
     comparative rest can render it expedient. In the second place it
     must be remembered that there can be practically no limits within
     the habitable globe of the distance which must be traveled to reach
     all parts of the British Empire and that it would be very difficult
     to visit one important part and decline to visit the other. In
     spite of the many and strong inducements which prompt him to
     gratify the loyal wishes of his Canadian subjects, I am to say that
     the King feels unable at present to entertain the idea of a journey
     to Canada."

It would be quite impossible to indicate here the great regret expressed
by the Canadian press, and the people generally, at this result of the
invitation. Many reasons were adduced, other than those given in the
despatch, and including diplomatic requirements in Europe, Royal visits
and delicate negotiations then pending, Eastern troubles and
complications, Australian jealousy if omitted from such a tour, as well
as the difficulties involved in any possible visit to the United States.
During the year a full-length portrait of the King was received at
Government House, Ottawa, painted by Luke Fildes, R.A., and the
portraits of the King and Queen, specially painted by J. Colin Forbes,
the Canadian artist, were also received and hung in the Parliament
Houses. In 1907 King Edward visited the Canadian pavilion at the Dublin
Exhibition of that year and inspected its exhibits while Queen Alexandra
accepted from one of the Departments the gift of a rug made by
French-Canadian women. In the next year much practical appreciation was
shown in Canada of His Majesty's special arrangement under which the
"Life and Letters of Queen Victoria" was offered for sale at a low
popular price; a Royal cablegram of sympathy was sent to the sufferers
by the Fernie (B. C.) fire; the Edward Medal, established by the King
for the recognition of courage in saving or trying to save life in
quarries or mines, was extended to Canada and all parts of the Empire.
In the last year of his reign the King's third Derby victory was a
popular one in Canada and throughout the Empire and his establishment of
a Police Medal for the recognition of "exceptional service, heroism or
devotion to duty" was also applied to Canada and all the British
Dominions. During the year His Majesty presented a gift of money to T.
L. Wood, a blacksmith at Port Elgin, N. S., and accepted a horse-shoe of
exquisite workmanship which had been wrought by him while lying on a
sick-bed; visited and praised the exhibition of British Columbia fruit
at Islington on December 6th.

On October 21, 1909, a Tuberculosis Institute, established at Montreal
by Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Burland, was opened by the King through
special electric communication between the Library of West Dean Park,
Colchester, where he was staying, and the Institute at Montreal, with a
cablegram which read as follows: "I have much pleasure in declaring the
Royal Edward Institute at Montreal now open. The means by which I make
this declaration testifies to the power of modern science and I am
confident that the future history of the Institute will afford equally
striking testimony to the beneficent results of that power when applied
to the conquest of disease and the relief of human suffering. I shall
always take a lively interest in the Institute and I pray that the
blessing of the Almighty may rest upon all those who work in and for it
and also upon those for whom it works. Edward R. & I." On November 20th
His Majesty sent a personal despatch to Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the
following terms: "Let me express my hearty congratulations to you on the
anniversary of your birthday. I hope you will be spared for many years
to come to serve the Crown and Empire, Edward." The Premier replied with
an expression of "humble duty and deep gratitude."




CHAPTER XXV.

The King as a Diplomatist and Peace-Maker.


In the olden days Kings used to very often be their own Generals; in
these modern times King Edward has set an example by means of which they
may well be their own Ambassadors. He had every qualification of
capacity, intellect and trained experience to serve him in such
conditions. If Queen Victoria, remaining very largely at home, could
wield an immense and undoubted personal influence in Europe, partly
because of an ability which made the late Lord Tennyson describe her as
"the greatest statesman in Europe" and the Earl of Rosebery say that in
matters of foreign policy she advised her Minister of Foreign Affairs
more then he advised her,[7] how much more was King Edward entitled to
personal _prestige_ in Europe and fitted for diplomatic work amongst its
rulers. His Royal Mother had known many Sovereigns and seen many Kings
and statesmen come and go; he had also met and known many of them more
intimately than she could possibly do in the semi-seclusion of her quiet
Court. He was uncle to the German Emperor, the mother of the Russian
Czar was Queen Alexandra's sister, the King of Norway was a son of Queen
Alexandra's brother the King of Denmark, the King of Spain was married
to his niece and King George of Greece was his wife's brother. Even more
important were the friendships which, as Prince of Wales, the King had
made in all the Courts of Europe, the statesmen whom he knew like a
book, the policies of which he understood the origin and every detail of
development.

In 1902 King Edward had received the German Emperor in England and had
entertained other visiting monarchs and statesmen and diplomats. Early
in 1903 he visited Rome, was received by His Holiness, the Pope, and by
the King of Italy, and managed the difficult situation of the moment
with a delicacy and tact which prevented even a hint of unpleasantness;
and served to greatly increase the traditional friendship of Italy and
Britain while sending a glow of appreciation throughout the Roman
Catholic world which lives under the British flag, and helping to settle
troubles which had arisen in Malta between the Government and the
Italian residents. A little later he was in Portugal and proved a prime
factor in promoting an understanding in Lisbon which substantially
facilitated arrangements at far-away Delagoa Bay which, in turn, were of
great advantage to South Africa. Then, on May 1st, came his famous visit
to Paris and the commencement of an era of new and better feeling. It
was not an easy task or one entirely without risk. French sentiment had
been greatly excited during the South African war, the Parisian populace
had not been friendly to Britain, the press had, at times, been grossly
abusive and relations were undoubtedly strained. Through all the formal
ceremonies of this visit, however, the King showed his usual tact and
powers of conciliation. A difficult situation was successfully met;
ill-feeling engendered by the misrepresentations of the War period were
greatly ameliorated; the friendly settlement of controversial questions
rendered probable. In his speech to the British Chamber of Commerce in
Paris, on May 1st, His Majesty touched the key-note of the visit:

     "A Divine Providence has designed that France should be our near
     neighbour and I hope always a dear friend. There are no two
     countries in the world whose mutual prosperity is more dependent
     upon each other. There may have been misunderstandings and causes
     of dissension in the past but all such differences are, I believe,
     happily removed and forgotten, and I trust that the friendship and
     admiration which we all feel for the French nation and their
     glorious traditions may in the near future develop into a sentiment
     of the warmest affection and attachments between the peoples of the
     two countries. The achievement of this aim is my constant desire."

Such an incident, followed by the cordial expressions of the French
press and by a visible _rapprochement_ between the two countries, could
not but be of special interest to the French-Canadians of Quebec.
Naturally monarchists at heart, the incident seemed to increase the
personal loyalty already existing there. The Toronto _Globe_ of April
20, 1903, voiced a strong feeling in Canada when it hoped for a future
Royal visit to the Dominion and declared that "it would be a mistake to
suppose that Edward VII. is merely an urbane gentleman, not to say a
lover of the common people; he is a statesman and diplomat of breadth of
view, depth of insight, and quickness of intuition. He knows how to time
his visits in the interest of the peace of the world for which he
humanely and seriously labours." From July 6th to 9th President Loubet
of France was the guest of the King and his reception in London tended
to still further promote good feeling. On October 14th came the
signature of an Arbitration Treaty between England and France. In this
connection much praise was accorded to the King as one of the chief
factors in its evolution. Mr. W. R. Cremer, M.P., the well-known
Radical, made the following comment in the _Daily News_ as to this
victory for Arbitration: "It has been the privilege and joy of others to
do the spade work in this beneficent movement, but to King Edward the
opportunity was, at the psychological moment, presented to complete the
work of thirty years. How well and how nobly His Majesty performed his
part the history of the past nine months clearly shows. Indeed, the King
seems likely to distinguish himself by efforts of a character not
recorded in the reigns of any other English or Foreign monarch."
Addressing a British Parliamentary Delegation to Paris on November 26th,
the Premier, M. Combes, eulogized King Edward and toasted him as the
sovereign to whom they owed the treaty. At the annual banquet of the
British Chamber of Commerce in Paris on December 3d, its president, Mr.
O. E. Bodington, made a similar reference to the King. To the Montreal
_Witness_ on December 7th, Senator Dandurand, who had just returned from
England, paid the following French-Canadian tribute to His Majesty: "The
King is the most popular crowned head in Europe to-day. He is beloved at
home, he is admired and praised in France, he is respected by every
Power on the Continent."

But the Continental tour of 1903 by King Edward did more than effect
great results in France. The signing of a Treaty of Arbitration with
Italy in January, 1904, with Spain in March, and with Germany on July
12th--following upon the King's visit to Berlin in June--were supposed
to be largely due to His Majesty's personal influence with the rulers of
those countries and to a popularity with the masses which, in two cases
at least, helped greatly in soothing current animosities. On April 8th
of this year a Treaty was signed with France, in addition to the
Arbitration Treaty already mentioned, which disposed of all outstanding
and long-standing subjects of dispute and as to which, while Lord
Lansdowne was the negotiator, King Edward was a most potent factor.
Under this arrangement Egypt was freed from foreign control and
practically admitted to be British territory, while Newfoundland was
finally relieved of its coast troubles and conflicts of a century. On
November 9th, preceding, Sir W. McGregor, Governor of Newfoundland,
had, during a banquet at St. John's, conveyed a personal message from
the King which assured the people of that colony of his earnest
endeavours to promote a settlement of the French Shore question. To
Canada this matter was also one of the most vital importance, because of
its large French population. In the controversy with Russia over the
Hull fishing fleet outrage of October 23, 1904, which so nearly plunged
the Empire into a great war, it may be said that the King's influence,
coupled with the statecraft of Lord Lansdowne, as exhibited in the
latter's historic speech of November 9th, alone held the dogs of war in
leash. The remark of a member of the Trades' Union Congress at Leeds on
September 7th of this year that in his opinion "King Edward was about
the only statesman that England possessed" was significant in this
connection even if it was unfair. Still more significant was the
description of His Majesty in the Radical _News_ of London, on November
10th, as "the first citizen of the world and the chief Minister of
Peace."

During 1905 King Edward continued his public services along these lines
of international statecraft. On April 30th he paid an unofficial visit
to Paris, accompanied by the Marquess of Salisbury as Minister in
attendance. A great banquet was given at the Elysée by President Loubet
and there followed a general press discussion of the _entente_ between
England and France. In June the King of Spain visited England and at a
state banquet given by King Edward at Buckingham Palace, on June 6th,
the latter said: "Spain and England have often been allies; may they
always remain so; and above all march together for the benefit of peace,
progress and the civilization of mankind." On August 7th a French fleet
arrived in the Solent and its men fraternized with those of the British
cruiser squadron while the King gave a banquet on board the Royal yacht
to the chief French officers. On the following day His Majesty reviewed
two fleets which together made a splendid aggregation of seventy
warships; while the press of the civilized world commented upon the new
friendship of the two nations and very largely credited King Edward with
the achievement.

Early in 1907 the King's visit of two months' duration in Europe did
more service in the cause of international friendliness; later on the
German Emperor visited England, as did the King and Queen of Denmark,
and the King and Queen of Portugal. In June a triple agreement was
concluded between Great Britain, France and Spain for the joint
protection of their mutual interests in the Mediterranean and on the
Atlantic. This arrangement and the improved relations with Germany were
credited largely to the efforts of King Edward, just as the _entente
cordiale_ with France had previously been conceded to be greatly due to
his tact and popularity. In October he was able to crown his work by
accepting a Convention with Russia which dealt primarily with the
affairs of Persia, Afghanistan and Thibet, but really made future war
between the two Powers a matter of difficulty. The year 1908 saw state
visits to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Christiana in April; the King's
opening of the Franco-British Exhibition in London on May 26th and
reception of President Fallières of France; his visit, with Queen
Alexandra and a large suite, to Russia--the first of the kind in British
history--and a meeting with the Czar at Revel on June 8th; his
conference with the German Emperor at Cronberg on August 11th and with
the Austrian Emperor at Ischl on the 12th. During the last year of his
reign, King Edward's personal intercourse and diplomatic meetings with
other rulers were undoubtedly conducive to continued peace and to better
mutual understandings. His Majesty met the German Emperor at Berlin on
February 8, 1909, the French President at Paris on March 6th, the King
of Spain at Biarritz on March 31st, the King of Italy on April 29th, the
Emperor of Russia at Cowes on August 2d. Just as Britain was an
American Power at this time because of Canada, an Asiatic Power because
of India and an African Power because of many possessions, so Canada was
an European Power because of its connection with Great Britain, and
Australia an Eastern Power because of its proximity to China and Japan,
and a European Power because of the nearness of Germany in New Guinea
and of France in New Caledonia. Hence, to all these countries and for
obvious reasons of common interest, the importance in an Empire sense of
the King's personality and diplomacy during these years.

King Edward's training was of a nature which fitted into his personal
characteristics in this respect. His Royal mother had cultivated his
boyhood memory for faces and names most carefully; from the days of his
youth he was thoroughly conversant with many foreign languages; from his
coming of age he was in constant touch with the best of British and
European leaders. He had not reached maturity before experiencing the
difficulties of a tour of Canada and the United States in days when
there was no royal road mapped out by precedent for the management of
the tour and at a time when Orange and Green were in frequent conflict
in the British-American provinces and feelings of international
kindliness were not quite so strong in the United States as they were at
the close of his reign. In 1876 he had toured India amidst gorgeous
ceremonial and amid an infinite variety of racial and religious
occasions, or incidents, which only rare tact could successfully meet.
How much exercise there was of this Royal statecraft behind the scenes
during his nine years of sovereignty only the distant future can reveal
and then but partially. His Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs,
Lord Salisbury, Lord Lansdowne and Sir Edward Grey, were all men of
exceptional capacity and rare experience.

It is probable, in view of the broad statecraft and high standing of
these Ministers and the uniformity of policy which they pursued, that
advice was frequently given by the King and consultations continuously
held. They were only too glad, as was Lord Rosebery during the late
Queen's reign, to benefit personally by his knowledge and experience;
they were only too happy that the Nation and other nations should
benefit by his tactful conduct of delicate negotiations with monarchs
and rulers abroad. The alliance with Japan may or may not stand to his
credit; the probabilities are that it does, in part at least. It
safeguarded British interests in the East, checkmated the, at that time,
dangerous ambitions of Russia, put up a barrier against certain efforts
of Germany. The French _entente cordiale_ and subsequent treaties gave
British interests in the Mediterranean and Northern Africa an ally
against German plans and settled the Newfoundland troubles while
solidifying Britain's position in Egypt. Italy was partially separated
from its German alliance; Spain was brought close to Britain by the
young King's marriage with the Princess Ena; Russia was swung into the
circle of a friendship which not even the Japanese alliance has broken;
Norway made King Edward's son-in-law its King. If Germany did not become
one of this circle of friendly nations it was not due to any lack of
diplomacy, or effort, or desire on the part of the British Sovereign; it
was because of national ambitions and an aggressive personal leadership
by the Kaiser which had other ends in view. Nominally, at any rate, the
friendly relations existed, and it is safe to say that there was no
greater admirer of King Edward's character and statecraft in Europe than
the Emperor William.

FOOTNOTES:

[7] Personal statements made to the writer of these pages.




CHAPTER XXVI.

The Death of King Edward


There had been rumours flying around London early in 1910 as to the
King's health, but it would seem that only a limited circle understood
that, while there was no serious disease involved, there was a general
weakness of the system which rendered great care necessary and made it
easy to see danger in any otherwise trifling illness. Occasional
cablegrams to this Continent were largely disregarded and looked upon as
more or less sensational and little was thought of the attack of
bronchitis at Biarritz in March. There seems small reason to doubt that
the political situation hastened the end though it did not actually
cause the sad event. The conditions of weakness were there; the worry of
a great and urgent responsibility was added to the King's normal work
and subjects of thought. Though the constitutional crisis was probably
not as serious as the press and politicians made out, it must
undoubtedly have had its effect upon a ruler conscientiously devoted to
his duty. On May 5th, it was announced that the King was again ill with
bronchitis and that his condition caused "some anxiety;" a few hours
afterwards it was officially stated that "grave anxiety" was felt; on
May 6th, near midnight, there came the sorrowful announcement of his
physicians that the King had passed away in the presence of Queen
Alexandra, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal [Duchess
of Fife], Princess Victoria and the Princess Louise [Duchess of Argyll].

So unexpected was any serious or immediate issue of His Majesty's
condition that the Queen was still on the Continent when he was taken
ill and the King himself was transacting state business in an arm-chair
the day before he died. A pathetic incident of the latter date was the
bearing of the well-known purple and gold colours to victory at Kempton
Park Races by "The Witch of the Air." When the news came it was hard to
believe. People throughout the Empire were entirely unprepared. In
Britain, Canada, Australia, etc., public functions and social
arrangements were at once cancelled; black and purple drapings rapidly
covered the important buildings--and many that were even more important
as representing individual and spontaneous feeling--of the British
world; mourning was seen everywhere in the United Kingdom and to a
lesser extent in the other countries; papers appeared universally draped
in black. In Canada, H. E. the Governor-General cabled to Lord Crewe an
official expression of regret--one which was real as well as official:
"The announcement of the death of King Edward VII, which has just
reached Canada, has created universal sorrow. His Majesty's Canadian
Ministers desire that you will convey to His Majesty, King George, and
the members of the Royal family, an assurance that the people of Canada
share in the great grief that has visited them. In discharge of the
duties of his exalted station His late Majesty not only won the respect
and devotion of all British subjects, but by his efforts on behalf of
international harmony and good-will he became universally esteemed as a
great Peacemaker. Nowhere was this gracious attribute of Royal character
more deeply appreciated than in His Majesty's Dominion of Canada."

Every kind of loyal tribute was paid to the late King by the Press and
in the pulpit of all the countries concerned, while from the United
States came expressions of admiration and respect very little short of
those dictated by the natural loyalty and knowledge of his own subjects.
In Canada the Premiers of the Provinces were amongst the first to
express their feelings. At Quebec Sir Lomer Gouin, supported by the
Opposition Leader, moved the adjournment of the Legislature on May 6th:
"Those who love in a Chief of State the greatest qualities, peace,
goodness, nobility and _entente cordiale_, all feel his loss. It is for
that reason that we cannot do otherwise than suspend our sittings, and I
am convinced that all the Members of this House will endorse this
proposal for adjournment."

In Toronto Sir James Whitney, the Provincial Premier, declared that "it
would be difficult to express the feeling of love, respect, and
admiration entertained by British peoples for their late sovereign, who
in his comparatively short reign, has so borne himself and has so done
his part, that the whole human race has participated in the benefit
resulting from the wisdom shown by him. Probably no wiser monarch ever
reigned over a nation." To the New Brunswick press the local Premier,
Hon. Douglas Hazen, said: "King Edward's reign was a comparatively short
one, but the verdict of history will undoubtedly be that he was one of
the wisest and greatest rulers that ever sat upon a throne. He took a
most keen and active interest in all his country's institutions,
endeavouring at all times to promote the well-being of his subjects and
to show his appreciation of the British Dominions beyond the Seas." The
Hon. A. K. Maclean, Acting-Premier of Nova Scotia, stated that "to his
pacific tendencies and his powerful mediation is due the existence of
friendly relations between Great Britain and other nations and the
removal of many long-standing differences and historic prejudices." The
Conservative leader at Ottawa, Mr. R. L. Borden, gave eloquent
expression to his feelings:

     "The tidings of sorrow which have just been flashed across the
     ocean come to the people of Canada with startling suddenness.
     Words of foreboding had hardly reached us before the last message
     came; 'God's finger touched him and he slept.' To the people of the
     overseas Dominions the Crown personifies the dignity and majesty of
     the whole Empire; and through the Throne each great Dominion is
     linked to the others and to the Motherland. Thus the Sovereign's
     death must always thrill the Empire. But to-day's untimely tidings
     bring to the people of Canada the sense of a still deeper and more
     personal bereavement. They gloried in their King's title of
     Peacemaker, and they believed him to be the greatest living force
     for right within the Empire. In him died the greatest statesman and
     diplomat of Europe."

The Hon. R. Lemieux, Postmaster-General and a Liberal leader in Quebec,
added this succinct description: "As a peacemaker and as a
constitutional king he had no equal in the history of modern times." He
expressed the hope that "in the common sorrow of his subjects at the
death of an exemplary Sovereign the ties making for unity and common
interest throughout the Empire may be strengthened and his influence for
good find continued fruition." The Hon. G. P. Graham, Minister of
Railways, also touched on the Empire thought: "His part in the growth
and increasing solidarity of the Empire in matters of defense, of trade,
of common effort for the common interest, must bulk large in history.
Since his assumption of the throne there has been a steady growth in
Canada's loyalty to the Sovereign based on esteem for his personal
character, confidence in his judgment and statesmanship, and pride in
his commanding position among the world's sovereigns." From Mr. Richard
McBride, Premier of far-away British Columbia, came the declaration that
King Edward was infinitely tactful and always patient, the first
gentleman and best beloved monarch of his time; that he was "an
unusually gifted ruler who performed unostentatiously and with inspired
ability his part in the making of British history." To Archbishop
Bruchési of Montreal he was "a great and good King;" to the Rev. Dr.
Carman, Canada's Methodist leader, he was "royally born and ruled
royally over a free, loyal and loving people;" to Archbishop McEvay
(Roman Catholic) of Toronto he was a ruler "trusted and loved by all his
subjects;" to President R. A. Falconer, of Toronto University, there was
a special appeal in his "experience, sympathy and broad humanity."

There is no need to largely quote the tributes of Britain, Australia or
South Africa. Their people thought and felt and acted as Canada's did.
Great Britain felt the loss, of course, in a more strictly personal
sense than the Dominions beyond the Seas. The reverent crowds with bared
heads, and every sign of severe personal grief, standing outside
Buckingham Palace grounds could hardly be exactly duplicated abroad,
though the scenes in countless churches, as memorial sermons were
delivered and memorial services held amidst tokens of obvious and
sincere sorrow, came very near to it. In particular, was the open-air
service in Toronto facing the Parliament Buildings and attended by
silent masses of people, with respectful and sympathetic addresses, with
drapings and evidences of mourning on every hand, with the solemn
strains of muffled music from many bands, and the presence of thousands
of loyal troops, an indication of the popular feeling shown throughout
the Dominion on May 20th, which was appointed to be a day of mourning, a
holiday of sorrow for the people. But this is anticipating. Perhaps, in
England, the tribute of Mr. Premier Asquith, at the special meeting of
Parliament on May 11th, was most significant of the innumerable tributes
of earnest loyalty and appreciation expressed at the passing of one who
was not only a great King but a much-loved personality.

After pointing out the nature of events in recent years, the growth of
international friendships and new understandings and stronger safeguards
for peace, together with the ever-tightening bonds of corporate unity
within the British realms, Mr. Asquith went on to say that: "In all
these multiform manifestations of national and Imperial life, the
history of the world will assign a part of singular dignity to the great
ruler Great Britain has lost. In external affairs King Edward's powerful
influence was directed not only to the avoidance of war, but to the
causes of and pretexts of war, and he well earned the title by which he
will always be remembered, the Peace-maker of the World." Continuing,
the Premier said, that within the boundaries of the Empire his late
Majesty, by his broad and elastic sympathies, had won a degree of
loyalty and affectionate confidence which few Sovereigns had ever
enjoyed. "Here at home," he added, "all recognized that above the din
and dust of their hard-fought controversies, detached from party, and
attached only to the common interest, they had in the late King an
arbiter ripe in experience, judicial in temper, and at once a reverent
worshipper of their traditions, and a watchful guardian of their
constitutional liberties." King Edward's life as a devotee of duty, as a
sportsman in the best sense of the word, as an ardent and discriminating
patron of the arts, as a good business man at the head of a great
business community, possessed of intuitive shrewdness in the management
of men and difficult situations, as a keen social reformer with "no self
apart from his people," was then dwelt upon. It would be impossible in
any limited space to analyze the views of the British press. The _Times_
declared that "his people loved him for his honesty and kindly courtesy.
To all he was not merely every inch a King but every inch an English
King and an English gentleman. His influence was not the same as that of
Queen Victoria, but in some respects it was almost stronger." The _Daily
Mail_ considered that "to his initiative his subjects and the Empire
owe the pacification of South Africa and the final reconciliation with
the Boers. The system of understandings with foreign powers which is our
security to-day was in a great part his handiwork." To the Radical
_Daily News_ he was "the supreme example of a people's King by common
consent" and this the Liberal _Morning Leader_ echoed with a further
tribute to "the sheer instinctive deference paid to his proved wisdom,
his large-minded statesmanship, his unequaled knowledge of the world,
and the tact that never failed him in the greatest or the least
occasion."

A notable incident of this first week of mourning, during which the
people were waiting to pay their final tribute of loyal sympathy on the
day of the Royal interment, was the unanimous Resolution of the
Legislature of Quebec. Coming from a French-Canadian people, amongst
whom special interest had been aroused by King Edward's creation of the
_entente cordiale_ with France, something earnest and sympathetic as
well as loyal in expression might have been expected and, if so, the
hope was certainly realized. The Legislature in its address to King
George V. (May 10th) put the feelings of the people of the Province in
the following expressive words:

     "We mourn the loss in him of a monarch whose chief aim was to draw
     all the nations closer together and to promote universal peace.
     Ever mindful of the great principles of the British constitution,
     through his broad-mindedness, his tolerance, and the exquisite
     charm of his personality, he succeeded in creating a potent bond of
     union between the various parts of our common country, and in
     closely consolidating the different branches of the greatest Empire
     that ever existed. Representing as we do the Province of Quebec it
     gives us pleasure to recall that the development of the idea of a
     powerful Canadian nation, devoted to the interest of the
     Mother-Country, was favoured by that great King. Imbued with the
     grandeur and nobility of his mission he won our admiration and our
     love through his solicitude in respecting our laws and our dearest
     traditions, aspirations and liberties."

The individual utterances of the Ministers were equally patriotic in
terms. Sir Lomer Gouin spoke along the lines of his earlier tribute and
declared that King Edward's reign had been "a glory to his people and a
blessing to humanity." Mr. J. M. Tellier, the Opposition leader, joined
the Premier in expressing the "confidence and sincere affection" of his
people for this "the most powerful King of the most powerful of Empires"
and in presenting to the new King "the allegiance, the faith and the
heartfelt wishes of Canadians." Mr. H. Bourassa, the Nationalist
representative, Hon. P. S. G. Mackenzie, the English-speaking member of
the Cabinet, and Hon. J. C. Kaine and Hon. C. R. Devlin, the Irish
Ministers, joined in these tributes.

The view of Foreign countries was unique in its friendliness, in its
expressions of admiration for the great qualities of heart and head in
the late Sovereign, for appreciation of his broad sympathies and
international statecraft. One of the earliest official telegrams of
sympathy to King George was from President Fallières of France: "I
learnt with emotion of the death of your beloved Father. The French
Government and the French people will regret profoundly the demise of
the august Sovereign who upon so many occasions has given them evidence
of his sincere friendship; and associate themselves fully in the great
grief which his unexpected loss brings to you, the Royal family, and the
entire British Empire. It is with a heart full of sadness that I ask
Your Royal Highness to accept my personal condolences, those of the
French Government and of all France." From the President of the United
States came a prompt message of condolence to Queen Alexandra, and from
the American Congress a unanimous Resolution of adjournment and
expressive words of sympathy with the British people "in the loss of a
wise and upright ruler whose great purpose was the cultivation of
friendly relations with all nations and the preservation of peace"; from
ex-President Roosevelt, speaking at Stockholm on May 8th, came words of
regret and of regard for the people "who mourn the loss of a wise ruler
whose sole thought was for their welfare and for the good of mankind,
and the citizens of other nations can join with them in mourning for a
man who showed throughout his term of Kingship that his voice was always
raised for justice and peace among the nations."

From United States newspapers, the exponents of public opinion in a
great kindred nation, came a wonderfully unanimous and kindly expression
of real feeling. To the New York _Herald_ the late King appeared as
blessed with "a genial personality, a kind heart and a strong common
sense, together with that highest quality of supreme importance in a
ruler and statesman--tact"; to the Buffalo _News_ King Edward was "the
ablest Royal ruler England has known in centuries;" to the Baltimore
_American_ "he was, and the world to-day generously accords him the
distinction, the first diplomatist of his time, the man who beyond all
others shaped the policies of the world." To the Indianapolis _News_ he
had "served his country and the world wisely and well, and will go into
history as one of the most successful monarchs that England has ever
had." The New York _Journal of Commerce_ paid special and high tribute
to King Edward's diplomacy and, after dealing with the French _entente
cordiale_ went on as follows: "Even more marvelous than the closing of
the secular feud with France was the termination of that with Russia,
which seemed more bitter and more hopeless of adjustment. The seemingly
impossible was, nevertheless, accomplished, and the power which but a
few short years before had been the chief menace to the safety of
British India became one of the guarantors of its immunity from attack.
It will be reckoned one of the miracles of history that Russia could
have been induced to abandon a policy which she had steadfastly
supported and been ready to concede that the affairs of Afghanistan were
purely a British interest and those of Korea exclusively Japanese."

In most of these tributes of regard and respect--British, Imperial or
Foreign--there was a reference of affectionate admiration for the Queen
Consort who, at this moment, allowed it to be understood that she would
like in future to be known as the Queen Mother. The far-famed beauty of
person, the charm and graciousness of manner, and nobility of mind and
character, which had won a way so quickly and permanently into the
hearts of the British people and had been such potent forces in the life
of King Edward and of her own family, brought to Queen Alexandra at this
time a world-tribute of sympathy and regard. British subjects all over
the Empire, multitudes outside of its bounds, were ready to echo those
famous words of Lord Tennyson, applied to the similar sorrow of Queen
Victoria:

                        May all love,
    His love, unseen but felt, o'ershadow Thee,
    The love of all Thy sons encompass Thee
    The Love of all Thy Daughters cherish Thee
    The Love of all Thy people comfort Thee
    Till God's love set Thee at his side again.

Few more touching words have been written than the Queen's Message to
the Nation which was made public on May 10th: "From the depth of my poor
broken heart," she wrote, "I wish to express to the whole Nation and our
own kind people we love so well, my deep-felt thanks for all their
touching sympathy in my overwhelming sorrow and unspeakable anguish. Not
alone have I lost everything in him, my beloved husband, but the nation,
too, has suffered an irreparable loss in their best friend, father, and
Sovereign thus suddenly called away. May God give us all his Divine help
to bear this heaviest of crosses which He has seen fit to lay upon us.
His will be done. Give to me a thought in your prayers which will
comfort and sustain me in all that I have to go through. Let me take
this opportunity of expressing my heartfelt thanks for all the touching
letters and tokens of sympathy I have received from all classes, high
and low, rich and poor, which are so numerous that I fear it would be
impossible for me ever to thank everybody individually. I confide my
dear Son to your care, who I know, will follow in his dear Father's
footsteps, begging you to show him the same loyalty and devotion you
showed his dear Father. I know that both my dear son and daughter-in-law
will do their utmost to merit and keep it."

It may be added that the surviving children of King Edward and Queen
Alexandra at the time of the King's death were his successor--George
Frederick Ernest Albert, Prince of Wales; Princess Louise, Duchess of
Fife, who was born in 1867 and married in 1889; Princess Victoria, who
was born in 1868 and was unmarried; Princess Maud, Queen of Norway, who
was born in 1869 and married in 1896 to Charles, then Crown Prince of
Denmark. King Edward's only surviving brother was H. R. H., the Duke of
Connaught, who was born in 1850. His surviving sisters were Princess
Helena, married to Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein; Princess
Louise, married to the Duke of Argyll; and Princess Beatrice, widow of
the late Prince Henry of Battenberg.




CHAPTER XXVII.

The Solemn Funeral of the King


The death of King Edward was an event of more than British importance,
of more than Imperial significance. His funeral was a stately, solemn
and splendid ceremony preceded by two weeks of real mourning throughout
his Empire, of obvious and sincere regret throughout the world. In
London and Cape Town, in Melbourne and Toronto, in Wellington and Dawson
City, in Ottawa and Khartoum, in Calcutta and in Cairo; wherever the
British flag flies, efforts were made to mark the funeral as one of
individual and local and national sorrow. All the great cities of the
Empire, the smaller towns, and even the hamlets, had their drapings of
purple and black. In every church and chapel and Sunday meeting-house
during the two weeks of mourning at least one service was given up to
the memory of the late King. In all foreign countries preparations were
made for the formal expression of the general admiration which the
qualities and reign of the dead monarch had aroused. Formal resolutions,
public meetings, the appointment of national representatives to the
coming funeral were world-wide incidents.

At home in London the casket to contain the Royal remains was fashioned
of British oak from the Forest of Windsor and on May 14th, the body of
King Edward was removed from the room in which he died to the Throne
Room of Buckingham Palace, and there placed on a catafalque in front of
a temporary altar where it was guarded night and day by four Royal
Grenadiers. On May 16th, amidst a solemn and imposing but preliminary
pageant the late King was carried from the Palace where he died to
Westminster Hall, where the remains were to lie in solemn state. A
farewell family service had been held by the Bishop of London and then
the body at 11.30 in the morning was transported to its new
resting-place between double lines of red-coated soldiers, flanked by
dense and silent masses of mourning people, with buildings on every hand
heavily draped.

Preceded by the booming of minute guns, the slow pealing of bells and
the roll of muffled drums the procession passed to its destination. It
included the Headquarters Staff of the Army with Lord Roberts leading,
the Admiralty Board, the great officers of Army and Navy, dismounted
troops, Indian officers. These preceded the plain gun-carriage on which
rested the Royal remains, the coffin covered with a white satin pall and
the Royal Standard, on which rested the Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre.
Drawn by eight magnificent black horses and flanked by the King's
Company of the Royal Grenadiers the bier was followed by King George on
foot with his two eldest sons and behind them were the Kings of Denmark
and Norway, the Duke of Connaught, various visiting royalties, or
representatives, and the household of the late King. A mounted escort
succeeded and then came a carriage containing the Queen-Mother, her
sister the Dowager Empress of Russia, the Princess Royal and Princess
Victoria, another with Queen Mary, and others with the Queen of Norway
and various members of the royal family. Last of all came a body of
mounted troops. All along the route, which was scarcely half a mile in
length, the attitude of the uncounted multitude was one of deep personal
grief. No word was spoken and after heads had been uncovered, the masses
of people were described as looking like an assembly of graven images.
At the noble Hall, famous in British history for more than 800 years,
the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Norfolk received the coffin
and preceded it to the catafalque. No attempt at funeral decoration
marred the noble simplicity of the grand interior. The spacious floor
was laid with dull grey felt. In the centre, on a slightly elevated dais
spread with a purple carpet stood the lofty purple draped catafalque. No
flowing draperies softened its outlines and it appeared like smoothly
chiselled blocks of purple granite.

[Illustration: Above--The west front of Buckingham Palace, showing the
windows of the room in which King Edward died. (Nos. 1 and 2, King
Edward's bedroom; No. 3, Queen Alexandra's bedroom.)]

[Illustration: Below--The Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace, where the
family service was held on the Sunday following King Edward's death.]

[Illustration: Photo by Paul Thompson. N. Y. Monarchs in the funeral
procession of King Edward. King George, the German Emperor and the Duke
of Connaught are seen in the center of the photograph.]

[Illustration: The funeral procession of King Edward passing the Marble
Arch. The gun carriage bearing his body is seen in the foreground,
followed by the late King's horse with empty saddle.

Photo by Paul Thompson, N. Y.]

[Illustration: King Edward's funeral procession moving into Edgeware
Road, flanked by thousands of military and tens of thousands of
mourning citizens.

Photo by Paul Thompson. N. Y.]

Slowly and quietly a great company assembled and then the Westminster
Abbey choir of men and boys clad in white surplices and scarlet
cassocks, took its position. On the left, preceded by the mace-bearer
with his glittering mace, came the Speaker of the House of Commons in
his flowing robes of black and gold, followed by 400 members of the same
House led by the Prime Minister. All the members of the Cabinet were
there while Radical, Labour and Unionist members mingled behind the low
purple barrier. A little later the Lord Chancellor, wearing his
full-bottomed wig and black and gold gown and preceded by the
mace-bearer, led the Peers down the staircase in front of the choir to
an enclosure on the right side of the catafalque. On bars immediately
opposite each other rested the masses of the House of Commons and the
House of Lords. Behind each there was arranged a nearly equal number of
Commoners and Peers. Between them stood the catafalque. Presently, amid
a deep hush, great military and naval officers led the procession into
the hall. Proceeded by the Garter King-at-Arms, and Heralds they marched
slowly and ranged themselves in a glittering array over the steps below
the choir while the coffin was borne in by soldiers. Behind it was
carried by other soldiers the covering of the coffin on which rested the
crown, sceptre and orb. Very gently the heavy coffin was raised to the
catafalque and the glittering emblems of royalty replaced on its top.
Then, leaning on either side of the catafalque, and resting on the
ground, were placed two plain wreaths of cypress. Behind the coffin
followed the Queen Alexandra, King George and the Dowager Empress Marie
of Russia, each holding one of her arms. The purple carpeted dais was
occupied by the dead King's family and royal visitors. A short service
followed and the first part of the royal funeral was over while from the
heart and pen of the great poet of the Empire--Rudyard Kipling--came
verses addressed to and representing the people of which a few lines may
be quoted:

    And God poured him an exquisite wine, that was daily renewed to him
    In the clear welling love of his peoples, that daily accrued to him.
    Honour and service we gave him, rejoicingly, fearless;
    Faith absolute, trust beyond speech, and a friendship as peerless.
    And since he was master and servant in all that we asked him
    We leaned hard on his wisdom in all things, knowing not how we
      tasked him.

    For on him each new day laid command, every tyrannous hour
    To confront, or confirm or make smooth some dread issue of power.
    To deliver true judgment aright at the instant unaided
    In the strict, level, ultimate phrase that allowed or dissuaded;
    To foresee, to allay, to avert from us perils unnumbered;
    To stand guard at our gates when he guessed that our watchman had
      slumbered;
    To win time, to turn hate, to woo folly to service, and mightily
      schooling
    His strength to the use of his nations; to rule as not ruling.
    These were the works of our King; earth's peace is the proof of
      them.
    God gave him great works to fulfil and to use the behoof of them.

Following these events Westminster Hall for two days was thrown open to
the public and a continuous procession of half a million mourners passed
the coffin and looked for the last time upon the face of their
well-loved Sovereign. Into Windsor, meanwhile, there poured innumerable
evidences of the peoples' sympathy from the costliest tribute of wealth
and aristocracy to the thousands of simple green wreaths sent in by the
poorer classes. To Westminster Hall, on May 19th, the Emperor William of
Germany, soon after his arrival, proceeded with King George, stood for a
while in the private enclosure as the countless stream of people passed
slowly by, then descended to the floor of the Hall--the Kaiser carrying
a wreath of purple and white flowers--and together knelt within the
rails while the stream of passers-by was temporarily suspended. When the
two monarchs arose the Emperor William held out his hand which King
George clasped and held for some moments.

By May 20th the preparations were all in readiness for the final
functions and splendid ceremonial. The streets were draped from
Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, and thence to Paddington Station,
in great masses of purple and white and black; Venetian masts lined the
route on which hung masses of funeral wreaths from the people;
half-masted flags were everywhere. The town of Windsor was almost buried
from sight in the purple trappings of grief and royalty. On the day
itself solemn, silent multitudes of men and women, estimated at from
three to five millions, were massed along the route of the procession
with 35,000 soldiers lining the streets and a parade which even London
had never equalled for mingled splendour and solemnity. At 9:10 a. m.,
the deep-toned bell of Westminster announced the beginning of the royal
obsequies. King George, Queen Mary, the Queen Mother, the royal family
and the visiting monarchs and representatives of the powers and the
Empire, left Buckingham Palace and proceeded with a small escort to
Westminster Hall amidst the tolling of bells and the firing of minute
guns. Only Queen Alexandra, the Princess Victoria, the King and the
Emperor William entered the Hall and saw the body removed from the
catafalque to the gun-carriage outside where it rested under conditions
similar to those of the earlier removal from Buckingham Palace. Outside,
the Queen Mother entered her coach and, as the body-guard of Kings
wheeled around and passed her carriage, three by three, each saluted her
with silent reverence.

The procession left Westminster at 9.30 headed by a long column of
troops and bluejackets and the greater officers of the Army and Navy.
Bands of the Household cavalry, the new Territorial troops, Colonial
soldiers, were first and then came various volunteer corps, the
Honourable Artillery Company, officers of the Indian regiments in their
picturesque uniforms and turbans, followed by detachments of infantry,
Foot Guards, Royal Engineers, Garrison, Field and Horse Artillery. Naval
representatives came next with the military attaches of the foreign
embassies, the officers of the Headquarters Staff of the Army and the
Field Marshals and massed bands playing solemn funeral marches. Then
followed the chief officers of State, followed by the Duke of Norfolk
and succeeded by a single soldier carrying the Royal Standard; the
gun-carriage carrying the mortal remains of the King came next and just
behind it walked a groom leading his favourite charger and another with
his favourite dog "Caesar"; King George followed, riding between the
German Emperor and the Duke of Connaught, all clad in brilliant uniforms
with a long and unique line of nine Monarchs, Princes of great States
and special Ambassadors and Imperial representatives. They rode in the
following order:

The Duke of Connaught, King George and the Emperor William.

King Haakon of Norway, King George of Greece, and King Alfonso of Spain.

King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, King Frederick of Denmark and King Manuel of
Portugal.

Prince Yussof Zvyeden, the Heir Apparent of Turkey, King Albert of
Belgium and Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of
Austro-Hungary.

Prince Sadanaru Fushimi of Japan, Grand Duke Michael of Russia, the Duke
of Aosta, representing Italy, the Duke of Sparta, Crown Prince of
Greece, and the Crown Prince Ferdinand of Roumania.

Prince Henry of Prussia representing the German Navy, Prince Charles of
Sweden, Prince Henry of Holland, the Duke of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha, the
Crown Prince of Montenegro and Crown Prince Alexander of Servia.

Prince Mohammed Ali, Said Pasha Zulfikar, Watsen Pasha of Egypt and the
Sultan of Zanzibar. Then followed the Princely and Ducal representatives
of a dozen German States, the members of the British Royal family, the
Duc D'Alencon, and Prince Bovaradej of Siam.

The mounted group was followed by twelve State carriages. The first was
occupied by the Queen-Mother, Alexandra, and her sister the Russian
Dowager Empress Marie, the Princess Royal and the Princess Victoria; the
second carriage contained Queen Mary of Great Britain, Queen Maud of
Norway, the Duke of Cornwall, heir to the British Throne, and the
Princess Mary; the next four carriages carried Royal ladies and
ladies-in-waiting; the seventh carriage contained Prince Tsai-Tao of
China and his suite; the eighth carriage was shared by Special American
Ambassador Theodore Roosevelt, M. Pichon, French Foreign Minister, and
the representative of Persia; the ninth carriage was occupied by Lord
Strathcona, High Commissioner for Canada, Sir George Reid, High
Commissioner for Australia and William Hall-Jones, High Commissioner for
New Zealand.

The train to Windsor contained a funeral car upholstered in purple and
white silk with a catafalque on which the casket was placed and around
it were grouped the near members of the Royal Family and eight
Sovereigns of Foreign States. From Windsor station to the Castle the
procession formed in the previous order except that the Royal mourners
walked while sailors drew the gun-carriage to the famous home of
Britain's monarchs and to the entrance of the historic St. George's
Chapel. Here, where King Edward was christened and married and shared in
so many stately functions, the final religious ceremonies were performed
by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. While the coffin rested on a
purple catafalque before the altar, which was almost buried in floral
emblems, and minute guns boomed and bells tolled, the briefest service
of the Church of England--at Queen Alexandra's request--was proceeded
with and the body slowly, reverently, lowered into the vault. A prayer
was then uttered for the new King and the Benediction pronounced by the
Archbishop of Canterbury.

What can be said of the day elsewhere? A full record would fill many
volumes. In Canada, in Australia, in South Africa, in New Zealand, in
Newfoundland, in all British countries and territories, there was a
great similarity of solemn and popular demonstration. Everywhere
factories and financial institutions and commercial establishments
closed their doors. Wherever that was impossible in Canadian factories
work was stopped at a certain stage in the funeral ceremonies and every
man stood in silence, with bared head for the time arranged; on all the
great railways of Canada at the moment when the King's body was lowered
into his grave, and for three minutes, everything stopped, every kind of
work ceased, every one of at least 40,000 men stood in reverent silence.
Military parades took place with muffled drums and passage through long
lanes of silent people, in Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Chatham, London,
St. Catharines, Kingston, Woodstock, Ottawa, St. Thomas, Winnipeg and
Victoria, and other places. Memorial services were everywhere held; in
Ottawa, Vice-Royalty and the Ministers took part in a great open-air
ceremony in front of the Parliament Buildings, with troops and massed
bands and superb drapings, to still further emphasize the solemnity of
the occasion. Toronto had 100,000 people attend a similar service under
the auspices of the Government in front of its Parliament Buildings and
so with other centres. It may be added here that besides Lord
Strathcona, Canada had as representatives at the funeral ceremonies Hon.
A. B. Aylesworth, Minister of Justice; Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court; Hon. C. Marcil, Speaker of the House of
Commons; Hon. S. A. Fisher, Minister of Agriculture; Sir D. M. McMillan,
Lieut.-Governor of Manitoba; Mayors Geary of Toronto, Sanford Evans of
Winnipeg, and Guerin of Montreal.

In other parts of the Empire similar scenes occurred. Throughout South
Africa the most solemn memorial services were held and attended by vast
congregations. There were scenes of heartfelt sorrow and hundreds of
magnificent wreaths were deposited on the statue of the King at Cape
Town. Funeral services were held throughout India, the Hindus joining in
the services in a remarkable manner. All military trains were halted for
fifteen minutes. In Australia the Governor-General and all the Ministers
assembled on the great tier of steps at the Parliament Buildings,
Melbourne, in the presence of perhaps the most solemn assembly ever
gathered together in that country. For a long space there was a reverent
silence and the crowd then sang the National Anthem. The day was
observed as a day of mourning in Sydney, bells were tolled from noon to
sunset, and salutes of sixty-eight minute guns fired in the afternoon.
A hundred thousand persons attended the memorial service in Centennial
Park at Wellington, New Zealand. Services were general throughout that
Dominion while every outpost of the Empire flew the Union Jack at
half-mast and paid a tribute to the dead Sovereign's memory.

Thus there passed away and was buried a great King, a man of
whole-souled, genial and honourable type, a character rich in graces
granted to few in this world, a ruler who combined intellect with heart
and knowledge with discrimination, a Briton who could love and believe
in the greatness of his own country and Empire without antagonizing the
legitimate pride and aspirations of other nations, a diplomatist made by
nature's own hand to soothe international acerbities and embody the
ideal of peace in an age of preparation for war.

[Illustration: Funeral procession of King Edward VII from Buckingham
Palace to Westminster Hall for the public lying-in-state. King George,
Prince Edward and Prince Albert are seen following immediately behind
the gun carriage.

Photo by Paul Thompson, N. Y.]

[Illustration: Bearing the Coffin of King Edward into St. George's
Chapel, Westminster. The Dowager Queen Alexandra and other royal
mourners following the body.

Photo by Paul Thompson, New York.]

[Illustration: The lying-in-state of King Edward VII at Westminster
Hall.

Photo by Paul Thompson, N. Y.]

[Illustration: The gun carriage bearing King Edward's body drawn by
sailors from Windsor Station.

Photo by Paul Thompson, N. Y.]




CHAPTER XXVIII.

The New King and His Imperial Responsibilities


In assuming the burden of his great position and manifold duties King
George V had the disadvantage of succeeding a great monarch; he had also
the advantage of having been trained in statecraft, diplomacy, and the
science and practice of government, by a master in the art. He was young
in years--only forty-five--strong, so far as was known, in body and
health, equipped with a vigorous intelligence and wide experience of
home and European politics and, what was of special importance at the
time of his accession, instinct with Imperial sentiment and acquainted,
practically and personally, with the politics and leaders of every
country in the British Empire--notably India, Canada, South Africa and
Australia. He was not known to the public as a man of genial temperament
but rather as a strong, reserved, quiet thinker and student of men and
conditions. Great patience and considerable tact, common sense and
natural ability, eloquence in speech and fondness for home life and
out-door sports, he had shown as Prince of Wales or Duke of Cornwall. He
spoke German, French, and, of course, English with ease and accuracy; he
had seen much service in the Royal Navy and was understood to be
devotedly attached to the wide spaces of the boundless seas; his Consort
was beautiful, kindly, and graceful in bearing, with a profound sense of
the importance of her place and duties and a sincere belief in the
beneficence and splendid mission of British power.

The Prince of Wales became, of course, King at the moment of his
Father's death; on May 7th His Majesty met the Privy Council, signed
the proclamation relating to his Accession and accepted the oath of
fealty from the Lords and gentlemen assembled. To them he delivered a
brief address expressive of his personal sorrow and sense of his onerous
responsibilities: "In this irreparable loss, which has so suddenly
fallen upon me and the whole Empire, I am comforted by the feeling that
I have the sympathy of my future subjects, who will mourn with me for
their beloved Sovereign, whose own happiness was found in sharing and
promoting theirs. I have lost not only a Father's love, but the
affectionate and intimate relations of a dear friend and adviser. No
less confident am I of the universal and loving sympathy which is
assured to my dearest Mother in her overwhelming grief.

"Standing here, little more than nine years ago, our beloved King
declared that so long as there was breath in his body he would work for
the good and amelioration of his subjects. I am sure that the opinion of
the whole nation will be that this declaration has been fully carried
out. To endeavour to follow in his footsteps, and at the same time to
uphold the constitutional government of these realms will be the earnest
object of my life. I am deeply sensible of the heavy responsibilities
which have fallen upon me. I know that I can rely upon the Parliament
and on the people of these Islands and my Dominions beyond the Seas for
their help in the discharge of these arduous duties and their prayers
that God will grant me strength and guidance. I am encouraged by the
knowledge that I have in my dear wife one who will be a constant
helpmate in every endeavour for our people's good."

This speech, delivered with obvious feeling and indicating a real
understanding and appreciation of his late Father's character and
career, made a most favourable impression upon the Council, the Nation,
and the Empire. It was followed by others--all showing tact and a clear
grasp of the fundamental conditions of the time and of his new
responsibilities. To the British Army King George issued the following
Message: "My beloved Father was always closely associated with the Army
by ties of strong personal attachment, and from the first day he entered
the service he identified himself with everything conducive to its
welfare. On my accession to the Throne I take this earliest opportunity
of expressing to all ranks my gratitude for their gallant and devoted
service to him. Although I have been always interested in the Army,
recent years have afforded me special opportunities of becoming more
intimately acquainted with our forces both at home and in India, as well
as in other parts of the Empire. I shall watch over your interests and
efficiency with continuous and keen solicitude and shall rely on that
spirit of loyalty which has at all times animated and been the proud
tradition of the British Army." To the Royal Navy His Majesty's Message
was issued with special and personal interest. He was devoted to that
arm of the service. From the year 1877 when he entered as a Cadet of
twelve years old, and 1879 when, with Prince Albert Victor--afterwards
Duke of Clarence--he went around the world in H. M. S. _Bacchante_, and
1885 when he became a Midshipman, he had delighted in the Naval service,
imbibed the free air of the seas of the world and become instinct with
pride in England's naval record and achievements. He had been attached
to and served in several great battleships; in 1888 he commanded a
torpedo boat and in 1890 the gunboat _Thrush_; in succeeding years he
held more important commands and finally in 1897 had become an Admiral.
To his Navy King George spoke as follows:

     "It is my earnest wish on succeeding to the Throne to make known to
     the Navy how deeply grateful I am for its faithful and
     distinguished services rendered to the late King, my beloved
     Father, who ever showed great solicitude for its welfare and
     efficiency. Educated and trained in that profession which I love so
     dearly my retirement from active duty has in no sense diminished my
     feelings of affection for it. For thirty-three years I had the
     honour of serving in the Navy, and such intimate participation in
     its life and work enables me to know how thoroughly I can depend
     upon that spirit of loyalty and zealous devotion to duty of which
     the glorious history of our Navy is the outcome. That you will ever
     continue to be, as in the past, the foremost defenders of your
     country's honour I know full well, and your fortunes will always be
     followed by me with deep feelings of pride and affectionate
     interest."

Parliament met in special Session on May 11th to tender its combined
condolences and congratulations to the new Sovereign. The Addresses from
both Houses were identical in terms and referred eulogistically to the
great work of the late King in building up and maintaining friendly
Foreign relations. To them His Majesty replied briefly as to his
personal grief and the national sorrow and then added: "King Edward's
care for the welfare of his people, his skill and prudent guidance of
the nation's affairs, his unwavering devotion to public duty during his
illustrious reign, his simple courage under pain, will long be held in
honour by his subjects both at home and beyond the Seas." Meanwhile an
infinite variety of articles were being written about the new King. In
Canada and the United States the same despatches, practically, came to
the leading papers; in Canada were reproduced many of the attractive
articles written by special American correspondents in England. Some of
them could hardly have come from personal knowledge; others contained
much of current gossip, passing stories, hasty impressions; all were
interesting. A remarkable feature of nearly all that was written
regarding His Majesty was the absence of serious criticism or the
slightest cause for condemnation in a life of forty-five years lived in
the continuous white light which beats upon Royalty with such merciless
precision.

The facts are that King George was and had been essentially a sailor
Prince; that he had in his younger days been open-handed, free, and
possessed of a certain natural and bluff and pleasant geniality which
was, however, quite different from the urbane, charming, courtly
geniality of King Edward; that something of this characteristic had
disappeared from public view after the death of his brother, the Duke of
Clarence, and his own assumption of public duties and public work as
heir presumptive--functions greatly enlarged by the accession of his
father to the Throne; that in his travels through the outer spaces, the
vast Colonial Dominions, of the Empire he was too hedged about with
etiquette, too much surrounded by a varied, and constantly changing, and
bewildering environment to exhibit anything except devotion to the
immediate duty of the moment; that under the circumstances of his
Imperial tours, amidst political conditions wherein a wrong word or even
an unwise gesture might, upon occasions, evoke a storm, where not even
his carefully-selected suite could be expected to understand all the
varied shades of political strife and the infinite varieties of public
opinion, it would have been more than human for him to show continuous
geniality--as that word is interpreted in democratic countries; that
upon many occasions and despite these obstacles he did thoroughly
indicate a personal and unaffected enjoyment very different in manner
from that of a prince receiving a formal address--notably so in his
drives around Quebec during the Tercentenary; that the responsibilities
of his position, the personal limitations of his environment, the
difficulties always surrounding an heir to the throne, had however, and
upon the whole, sobered the one-time "jolly" Prince into a serious and
thoughtful personage--a statesman in the making; that he was, what none
of the Royal family had ever been, something of an orator as he proved
by his splendid speech in London upon returning from the Empire tour of
1901 and by his delivery of otherwise routine addresses upon many
occasions; that there could be absolutely no doubt as to his love of
home, his devotion to wife and family, his personal preference for a
quieter life than that which destiny had given him. King George was
married to Princess May of Teck, on July 6, 1893, and the children of
the Royal pair at the Accession were as follows:

  H. R. H., Edward Albert      Born June  23, 1894
  H. R. H., Albert Frederick     "  Dec.  14, 1895
  H. R. H., Victoria Alexandra   "  April 25, 1897
  H. R. H., Henry William        "  March 31, 1900
  H. R. H., George Edward        "  Dec.  20, 1902
  H. R. H., John Charles         "  July  12, 1905

Of the new Queen Mary much might be said. Unspoiled by the social
adulation, the personal power of her environment; devoted to her home,
its duties and its responsibilities, and believing her children to be
the first object and aim of a woman's study and attention, she yet found
time to master the underlying principles of her future position, to
become thoroughly conversant with all the details of sovereignty--not
only in the ordinary sense but in that new meaning which has come to
stamp the British Monarchy with such an international and Imperial
prestige. The future Queen had some special qualifications for her
position. She was British by birth and training and habit of
thought--the first Queen-Consort who could claim these conditions in
centuries of history. A great-granddaughter of George the Third she was
the popular child of a popular mother--Princess Mary of Teck--and was
born in Kensington Palace on May 26, 1867, in a room adjacent to that
in which Queen Victoria first saw the light of day. Interested in the
theatre, in music, and the drama, charitable by nature and incessant in
her work for, and amongst, the poor, a cheerful though not exactly eager
participant in social affairs and presiding at the Marlborough House
functions with tact and distinction; winning during her tour around the
Empire the unstinted liking and respect of the people; the mistress and
careful head of her household, a constant friend and adviser and
associate of her Royal husband, a loving and devoted mother; the
Princess of Wales before she entered upon her inheritance of power had
well proved her right to help in holding the reins of a greater position
and in setting the example of leadership in her natural and important
share of the duties surrounding the throne of Britain and its far-flung
realm.

[Illustration: KING GEORGE V
  Son and successor of Edward VII upon the throne of England]

[Illustration: QUEEN MARY, CONSORT OF GEORGE V]

[Illustration: THE KING AND QUEEN AT TORONTO
  King George V and the Queen when they visited Toronto, Canada, October
  10, 1901, as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York]

[Illustration: KING GEORGE V LEARNING TO SPLICE ROPE

In this interesting old photograph King George (on the left), and his
older brother, the Duke of Clarence (on the right), are shown as boys on
the "Britannia," where they were thoroughly taught the principles of
seamanship. The Duke of Clarence, who was Heir to the Throne, died in
1892 at the age of 28 years, leaving the right of succession to his
younger brother.]

[Illustration: THE ROYAL CHILDREN OF KING GEORGE V AND QUEEN MARY
  Photograph by Paul Thompson, New York.

Reading from left to right: Their Royal Highnesses, Henry William;
Albert Frederick; Edward Albert, Prince of Wales; John Charles; Victoria
Alexandra, George Edward.]

What can be said of the future? It may be assumed that King George V
will know his people well. He is thoroughly English in life, character,
feelings; he knows Europe and the Empire better perhaps than any other
living man; he is in sympathetic touch with rich and poor alike and has
taken for many years deep interest in philanthropic and other schemes
for the betterment of the poor; he has been trained in the school of
constitutional monarchy by the personal teachings of his father and the
potent example of Queen Victoria. The London _Daily Telegraph_ said of
him at the time of his accession--speaking probably with the knowledge
of Lord Burnham, its proprietor, who had for many years been on intimate
terms of friendship with the Royal Family--that the new King had
undergone sedulous training and been educated to rule by learning to
obey. "The country will discover in him what those admitted to his
confidence have always realized--admirable traits of kindliness and
strength; wise common sense, practical judgment of affairs; shrewd
insight into character; and a singularly upright and lofty conception
of his kingly duty. He has a frank, generous, unspoiled nature, is
quick in apprehension, deliberate in thought, careful in expression,
controlled by a far-reaching consciousness of duty and is animated by a
vivid sense of his exalted mission. He is a keen sportsman, an admirable
father and husband, and a lovable man."

King George has also been trained Imperially. He has trod the soil of
his empire in every part of the globe and visited seas and lands which
no other British sovereign ever saw; he has seen the courage and
commercial skill and success of his more distant peoples, the pioneering
activities and growing civilizations of new states and territories
thousands of miles apart; he has obviously learned from them lessons of
great import. It required considerable courage in 1902 to make that
speech of "Wake up, England," to a people who do not readily take advice
from their rulers and who notoriously dislike being hurried along the
lines of their development. In other directions there is much to be
hopeful for. His Majesty has chosen his friends well. They are said, in
an intimate sense, to be few in number, but the fact of Lord Rosebery
being one of them augurs well of the others. He has a strong sense of
duty, his addresses indicate the principle of Imperialism in its best
sense, his life has commanded the respect of his people. It may well be,
and surely will be in his case, as with the late Queen, with Wellington
and Nelson and King Edward himself, that

    "Not once or twice in our fair Island's story
    The path of duty was the road to glory."

To the political situation at his accession, therefore, King George
brings a trained intelligence, detailed and intimate knowledge, a keen
perception of the basic interests and feelings of his people. No one
knows, no one can know, what are his political opinions. The
probabilities are that his principles are not those of any so-called
party. If they were closely analyzed in the light of environment,
education, instincts, and natural predelictions the King's policy might,
perhaps, be found to be something like this: (1) The maintenance of
British power, including a strong Navy and a United Empire; (2) the
maintenance of the Monarchy in all its essential rights and privileges
and absolute independence of party. These two lines of ambition would
really be, and are, one, as in his opinion and, indeed, in that of most
thinking men who are not blinded by passing party phantoms the interests
of Great Britain, of the Empire, and the Monarchy, are identical.

In the political crisis of 1910 two questions are uppermost--a
constitutional change and a fiscal change. In order to defeat the latter
proposals the Liberals in part have created the former situation. The
King can act only upon the advice of his Ministry unless tacitly and by
unusual agreement, as latterly was the case with King Edward, he acts as
a conciliatory force. If the Government asks him to create 300 peers so
as to compel the acceptance of legislation curbing and crippling, if not
abolishing, the Upper House, he can either assent or refuse. Assent
means the destruction of a portion of the Constitution--and a portion
very close to the Throne and which acts as a real buffer against the
hasty action of an impetuous and sometimes imperious Commons. Refusal
means that the Ministry must resign or go to the country on an issue in
which it is quite possible the people will not support them.

Against the Government, also, in this contest will be urged the full
force of the growing fiscal feeling, the desire for Tariff Reform, the
development of an Imperial sentiment which wants some means of giving
the Colonies a preference in the British market, the pressing need for
some weapon of retaliation upon highly protective foreign nations.
Whatever course the King takes under all these conditions will bring
the Crown into the conflict--either as yielding to the Liberals and thus
antagonizing the Conservatives, or by refusing the demands of the
former, raising up a party--small but vehement--against the Monarchy
itself. There is another element in the situation to be remembered.
England, "the dominant partner," is not really behind the Asquith
Government. Its majority at the recent elections was infinitesimal; what
there was came from Wales and Ireland and Scotland; and that of Ireland
was divided upon the fiscal issue. The whole situation is, therefore,
very much clouded to the eye.

So far as one writer can estimate the end of such a crisis it will
probably be one of compromise. Almost everything in the British
constitution is in the nature of a compromise. Constitutional monarchy
in its essence is a half-way house between Autocracy and Republicanism
and its great advantage to the minds of its supporters is that the
system has the extremes of neither, the best qualities of each, and all
the advantages of that strength and permanence which moderation and
toleration always afford. In Britain the system certainly has the
affection and devotion of the great mass of the people. Mr. Asquith is
not an extremist, Mr. Haldane and Sir Edward Grey are moderate forces in
the Cabinet, and though Messrs. Lloyd-George and Winston Churchill are
more heard of it does not follow, and it certainly is not the fact, that
they are more influential. They hold the same place in Liberalism that
Mr. Chamberlain with his republican tendencies (which they do not
profess) and his "three acres and a cow" held to Mr. Gladstone and the
Liberal leaders of thirty or forty years ago. The Conservatives, also,
are not desirous of pushing the issue too far. They believe in and have
tested the affection of rural England for the aristocracy and the
preference of nearly all England for a second Chamber of some kind. But
they do not intend to fight the issue on the hereditary principle. The
acceptance, by a very large majority, of Lord Rosebery's motion in the
Lords declaring that "the possession of a peerage should no longer, of
itself, give the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords," removes
this point from the actual conflict and leaves the Conservatives as
urging a strong, reformed and democratised Upper House against the
Liberal policy of a weakened, emasculated echo of the House of Commons.

[Illustration: THE YOUNG PRINCES AT THE WALL OF MARLBOROUGH HOUSE
WATCHING THE PROCLAMATION OF THEIR FATHER AS KING; AND TEXT OF THE
PROCLAMATION.

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late
Sovereign Lord King Edward the Seventh, of Blessed and Glorious Memory,
by whose Decease the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty
Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert:

We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being
here assisted with these of His late Majesty's Privy Council, with
Numbers of other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Citizens of London, do now hereby, with one Voice and
Consent of Tongue and Heart, publish and proclaim, That the High and
Mighty Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert, is now by the Death of our
late Sovereign of Happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful
Liege Lord George the Fifth by the Grace of God, King of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions
Beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India:

To whom we do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all
hearty and humble Affection; beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do
reign, to bless the Royal Prince George the Fifth with long and happy
years to reign over Us.

GOD SAVE THE KING!]

[Illustration: PROCLAIMING THE ACCESSION OF KING GEORGE V TO THE CROWDS
IN LONDON.

The third proclamation by the Heralds was made from the Royal Exchange
and was witnessed by an enormous crowd. The ceremony opened with a
fanfare of trumpets, after which Somerset Herald read the proclamation.
He then lifted his hat and cried, "God save the King." Three cheers were
then given for King George V, followed by three more for Queen Mary.]

[Illustration: Reading from left to right--Sir Almeric Fitzroy (Clerk of
the Privy Council), Earl Beauchamp (Lord Steward), Viscount Althorp
(Lord Chamberlain), the Earl of Crewe (Lord Privy Seal), the King,
Prince Christian, Lord Loreburn (the Lord Chancellor), the Earl of
Granard (Master of the Horse), the Duke of Fife, the Duke of Argyll, the
Archbishop of Canterbury.

KING GEORGE'S FIRST OFFICIAL ACT.

According to ancient procedure a meeting of the Privy Council was held
at St. James's Palace on Saturday, May 7th, the morning after King
Edward's death. After the Earl of Crewe had officially informed the
Council of the death of the late King, and of King's George's accession,
His Majesty entered the Council Chamber and after addressing the
Councillors, took the usual oath for the security of the Church of
Scotland.]

Genealogical Chart

SHOWING DESCENT OF KING GEORGE V, FROM EGBERT (A. D. 827)

  1. Egbert. 2. Ethelwolf. 3. Alfred the Great. 4. Edward the Elder.
  5. Edmund. 6. Edgar. 7. Ethelred. 8. Edmund Ironside. 9. Edward
  (not a king). 10. Margaret, wife of Malcolm, King of Scotland.
  11. Matilda, wife of Henry I. 12. Matilda or Maud, Empress of Germany,
  and wife of Geoffrey of Anjou. 13. Henry II. 14. John. 15. Henry III.
  16. Edward I. 17. Edward II. 18. Edward III.
                                      |
             ----------------------------------------------------
             |                        |                         |
    19. Lionel, Duke               Edmund                 John of Gaunt,
      of Clarence               Duke of York           Duke of Lancaster,
             |                        |              m. Catherine Swynford
        20. Phillippa,                |        (issue afterwards legitimated)
  m. Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March   |                         |
             |                        |                         |
  21. Roger Mortimer, Earl of March   |                  John Beaufort,
             |                        |                 Earl of Somerset
  22. Anne Mortimer.......m........Richard,                     |
             |                Earl of Cambridge           John Beaufort,
             |                        |                  Duke of Somerset
             --------------------------                         |
                        |                                       |
                  23. Richard,                              Margaret.
                  Duke of York                          m. Edmund Tudor,
                        |                               Earl of Richmond
                 24. Edward IV                                  |
                        |                                       |
                 25. Elizabeth............married............Henry VII
                        |                                       |
                        -----------------------------------------
                                        |
   James IV...m....26. Margaret Tudor.....m.....2ndly, Archibald Douglas,
   of Scotland              |                         |    Earl of Angus
                 27. James of Scotland        Margaret Douglas
                            |                 m. Earl of Lennox
                            |                         |
              28. Mary, Queen of Scots.....m....Lord Darnley
                            |                         |
                            ---------------------------
                                         |
                    29. James VI of Scotland (James I of England)
                                         |
                    30. Elizabeth m. Frederick, Elector Palatine
                                         |
           31. Sophia m. Ernest Augustus of Brunswick, Elector of Hanover
                                         |
                32. George, Elector of Hanover, afterwards George I
                                         |
                                  33. George II
                                         |
                          34. Frederick, Prince of Wales
                                         |
                                 35. George III
                                         |
                            36. Edward, Duke of Kent
                                         |
                                  37. Victoria
                                         |
                                 38. Edward VII
                                         |
                                  39. George V

There is plenty of room for compromise in this, and there is every
possibility that something will be done along the lines of, perhaps,
restricting the financial veto of the Lords, leaving the other questions
open, and, meantime, reforming the structure of the House. Whatever the
developments of the future, the new King may be depended upon to
preserve the general principle of a second chamber; to conserve the
legitimate interests and influence of the aristocracy and landed classes
in the state--when, of course, they do not conflict with the well-being
of the people as a whole; to stand for stability and gradual reform
rather than change for the sake of change; to prefer and enforce
evolution rather than revolution. In all this His Majesty will voice the
deliberate and well-known opinions--instinct it may almost be said--of
his people in general. Be it also said, in conclusion, that these
thoughts are generalizations; that the King's opinions are his own and
are not known to the people; that newspaper writers in England, the
United States, or Canada, who proclaim an intimate acquaintance with his
views, and hidden qualities, and private conversations, only betray
their absolute ignorance of actual conditions. King George is an honest,
honourable and patriotic Englishman, guarding the greatest birthright
that a man can have, watching over the evolution of the greatest of
world-empires, sitting at the heart of vital and powerful political
movements. The steps he takes, or does not take, will be carefully
considered, and all public knowledge of the new King's character and
life leads one to believe that they will be wisely taken--in this
respect following the precedents left by his august father and
grandmother and realizing the principles and training and looming
responsibilities of a lifetime.


Transcriber's Note:

The scan of page 287 is unclear, but it makes sense for the text to be:
"The King was accompanied by Sir Frank Lascelles, Ambassador at Berlin,
and by his physician, Sir Francis Laking."





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