Title: The Life and Times of Queen Victoria; vol. 4 of 4
Author: Robert Wilson
Release date: October 12, 2020 [eBook #63444]
Most recently updated: October 18, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images available at The Internet Archive)
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Contents. List of Illustrations (etext transcriber's note) |
THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES AND THEIR FAMILY.
(From a Photograph by Messrs. Russell & Sons, London.)
BY
ROBERT WILSON.
——
Illustrated.
——
VOL. IV.
colophon
C A S S E L L & C O M P A N Y, Limited:
LONDON, PARIS & MELBOURNE.
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]
| CHAPTER XVI.
THE ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES | |
|---|---|
| PAGE | |
| Effect of Prussian Victories on English Opinion—Sudden Changes of Popular Impulse—Demand for Army Reform—Opposition to the Princess Louise’s Dowry—Opening of Parliament—The Army Bill—Abolition of Purchase—Opposition of the Tory Party—Mr. Disraeli Throws Over his Followers—Obstructing the Purchase Bill—Mr. Cardwell’s Threat—Obstruction in the House of Lords—A Bold Use of the Queen’s Prerogative—The Wrath of the Peers—They Pass a Vote of Censure on the Government—The Ballot Bill—The Peers Reject the Ballot Bill—The University Tests Bill—The Trades Union Bill—Its Defects—The Case of Purchon v. Hartley—The Licensing Bill and its Effect on Parties—Local Government Reform—Mr. Lowe’s Disastrous Budget—The Match Tax—Ex luce lucellum—Withdrawal of the Budget—The Washington Treaty and the Queen—Lord Granville’s Feeble Foreign Policy—His Failure to Mediate between France and Germany—Bismarck’s Contemptuous Treatment of English Despatches—Væ Victis!—The German Terms of Peace—Asking too Much and Taking too Little—Mr. Gladstone’s Embarrassments—Decaying Popularity of the Government—The Collier Affair—Effect of the Commune on English Opinion—Court Life in 1871—Marriage of the Princess Louise—The Queen Opens the Albert Hall—The Queen at St. Thomas’s Hospital—Prince Arthur’s Income—Public Protests and Irritating Discussions—The Queen’s Illness—Sudden Illness of the Prince of Wales—Growing Anxiety of the People—Alarming Prospects of a Regency—Between Life and Death—Panic in the Money Market—Hopeful Bulletins—Convalescence of the Prince—Public Sympathy with the Queen—Her Majesty’s Letter to the People | 385 |
| CHAPTER XVII.
THE “ALABAMA” CLAIMS | |
| Thanksgiving Day—The Procession—Behaviour of the Crowd—Scene in St. Paul’s—Decorations and Illuminations—Letter from Her Majesty—Attack on the Queen—John Brown—The Queen’s Speech—The Alabama Claims—The “Consequential Damages”—Living in a Blaze of Apology—Story of the “Indirect Claims”—The Arbitrators’ Award—Sir Alexander Cockburn’s Judgment—Passing of the Ballot Act—The Scottish Education Act—The Licensing Bill—Public Health Bill—Coal Mines Regulation Bill—The Army Bill—Admiralty Reforms—Ministerial Defeat on Local Taxation—Starting of the Home Government Association in Dublin—Assassination of Lord Mayo—Stanley’s Discovery of Livingstone—Dr. Livingstone’s Interview with the Queen—Her Majesty’s Gift to Mr. Stanley—Death of Dr. Norman Macleod—The Japanese Embassy—The Burmese Mission—Her Majesty at Holyrood Palace—Death of Her Half-Sister | 414 |
| CHAPTER XVIII.
GOVERNMENT UNDER DIFFICULTIES | |
| A Lull Before the Storm—Dissent in the Dumps—Disastrous Bye-Elections—The Queen’s Speech—The Irish University Bill—Defeat of the Government—Resignation of the Ministry—Mr. Disraeli’s Failure to Form a Cabinet—The Queen and the Crisis—Lord Derby as a Possible Premier—Mr. Gladstone Returns to Office—Power Passes to the House of Lords—Grave Administration Scandals—The Zanzibar Mail Contract—Misappropriation of the Post Office Savings Banks’ Balances—Mr. Gladstone Reconstructs his Ministry—The Financial Achievements of his Administration—The Queen and the Prince of Wales—Debts of the Heir Apparent—The Queen’s Scheme for Meeting the Prince’s Expenditure on her Behalf—The Queen and Foreign Decorations—Death of Napoleon III.—The Queen at the East End—The Blue-Coat Boys at Buckingham Palace—The Coming of the Shah—Astounding Rumours of his Progress through Europe—The Queen’s Reception of the Persian Monarch—How the Shah was Entertained—His Departure from England—Marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh—Public Entry of the Duchess into London | 431 |
| CHAPTER XIX.
THE CONSERVATIVE REACTION | |
| Questions of the Recess—The Dissenters and the Education Act—Mr. Forster’s Compromise—The Nonconformist Revolt—Mr. Bright Essays Conciliation—Sudden Popularity of Mr. Lowe—His “Anti-puritanic Nature”—Mr. Chamberlain and the Dissidence of Dissent—Decline of the Liberal Party—Signs of Bye-elections—A Colonial Scandal—The Canadian Pacific Railway—Jobbing the Contract—Action of the Dominion Parliament—Expulsion of the Macdonald Ministry—The Ashanti War—How it Originated—A Short Campaign—The British in Coomassie—Treaty with King Koffee—The Opposition and the War—Skilful Tactics—Discontent among the Radical Ranks—Illness of Mr. Gladstone—A Sick-bed Resolution—Appeal to the Country—Mr. Gladstone’s Address—Mr. Disraeli’s Manifesto—Liberal Defeat—Incidents of the Election—“Villadom” to the Front—Mr. Gladstone’s Resignation—Mr. Disraeli’s Working Majority—The Conservative Cabinet—The Surplus of £6,000,000—What will Sir Stafford do with it?—Dissensions among the Liberal Chiefs—Mr. Gladstone and the Leadership—The Queen’s Speech—Mr. Disraeli and the Fallen Minister—The Dangers of Hustings Oratory—Mr. Ward Hunt’s “Paper Fleet”—The Last of the Historic Surpluses—How Sir S. Northcote Disposed of it—The Hour but not the Man—Mr. Cross’s Licensing Bill—The Public Worship Regulation Bill—A Curiously Composed Opposition—Mr. Disraeli on Lord Salisbury—The Scottish Patronage Bill—Academic Debates on Home Rule—The Endowed Schools Bill—Mr. Stansfeld’s Rating Bill—Bill for Consolidating the Factory Acts—End of the Session—The Successes and Failures of the Ministry—Prince Bismarck’s Contest with the Roman Catholic Church—Arrest of Count Harry Arnim—Mr. Disraeli’s Apology to Prince Bismarck—Mr. Gladstone’s Desultory Leadership—“Vaticanism”—Deterioration in Society—An Unopposed Royal Grant—Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Birmingham—Withdrawal of the Duchess of Edinburgh from Court—A Dispute over Precedence—Visit of the Czar to England—Review of the Ashanti War Soldiers and Sailors—The Queen on Cruelty to Animals—Sir Theodore Martin’s Biography of the Prince Consort—The Queen tells the Story of its Authorship | 457 |
| CHAPTER XX.
EMPRESS OF INDIA | |
| Mr. Disraeli recognises Intellect—Lord Hartington Liberal Leader—The Queen’s Speech—Lord Hartington’s “Grotesque Reminiscences”—Mr. Cross’s Labour Bills—The Artisans’ Dwellings Act—Mr. Plimsoll and the “Ship-knackers”—Lord Hartington’s First “Hit”—The Plimsoll Agitation—Surrender of the Cabinet—“Strangers” in the House—The Budget—Rise of Mr. Biggar—First Appearance of Mr. Parnell—The Fugitive Slave Circular—The Sinking of the Yacht Mistletoe—The Loss of the Vanguard—Purchase of the Suez Canal Shares—The Prince of Wales’s Visit to India—Resignation of Lord Northbrook—Appointment of Lord Lytton as Viceroy of India—Outbreak of the Eastern Question—The Andrassy Note—The Berlin Memorandum—Murder of French and German Consuls at Salonica—Lord Derby Rejects the Berlin Memorandum—Servia Declares War on Turkey—The Bulgarian Revolt Quenched in Blood—The Sultan Dethroned—Opening of Parliament—“Sea-sick of the Silver Streak”—Debates on the Eastern Question—Development of Obstruction by Mr. Biggar and Mr. Parnell—The Royal Titles Bill—Lord Shaftesbury and the Queen—The Queen at Whitechapel—A Doleful Budget—Mr. Disraeli becomes Earl of Beaconsfield—The Prince Consort’s Memorial at Edinburgh—Mr. Gladstone and the Eastern Question—The Servian War—The Constantinople Conference—The Tories Manufacture Failure for Lord Salisbury—Death of Lady Augusta Stanley—Proclamation of the Queen as Empress at Delhi | 482 |
| CHAPTER XXI.
THE REIGN OF JINGOISM | |
| Opening of Parliament—Sir Stafford Northcote’s Leadership—The Prisons Bill—Mr. Parnell’s Policy of Scientific Obstruction—The South Africa Confederation Bill—Mr. Parnell’s Bout with Sir Stafford Northcote—A Twenty-six Hours’ Sitting—The Budget—The Russo-Turkish Question—Prince Albert’s Eastern Policy—Opinion at Court—The Sentiments of Society—The Feeling of the British People—Outbreak of War—Collapse of Turkey—The Jingoes—The Third Volume of the “Life of the Prince Consort”—The “Greatest War Song on Record”—The Queen’s Visit to Hughenden—Early Meeting of Parliament—Mr. Layard’s Alarmist Telegrams—The Fleet Ordered to Constantinople—Resignation of Lord Carnarvon—The Russian Terms of Peace—Violence of the War Party—The Debate on the War Vote—The Treaty of San Stefano—Resignation of Lord Derby—Calling Out the Reserves—Lord Salisbury’s Circular—The Indian Troops Summoned to Malta—The Salisbury-Schouvaloff Agreement—Lord Salisbury’s Denials—The Berlin Congress—The Globe Disclosures—The Anglo-Turkish Convention—Occupation of Cyprus—“Peace with Honour”—The Irish Intermediate Education Bill—Consolidation of the Factory Acts—The Monarch and the Multitude—Outbreak of the Third Afghan War—The “Scientific Frontier”—Naval Review at Spithead—Death of the Ex-King of Hanover—Death of the Princess Alice | 513 |
| CHAPTER XXII.
PEACE WHERE THERE IS NO PEACE | |
| Ominous Bye-Elections—The Spangles of Imperialism—Disturbed state of Eastern Europe—Origin of the Quarrel with the Zulus—Cetewayo’s Feud with the Boers—A “Prancing Pro-Consul”—Sir Bartle Frere’s Ultimatum to the Zulu King—War Declared—The Crime and its Retribution—The Disaster of Isandhlwana—The Defence of Rorke’s Drift—Demands for the Recall of Sir Bartle Frere—Censured but not Dismissed—Sir Garnet Wolseley Supersedes Sir Bartle Frere in Natal—The Victory of Ulundi—Capture of Cetewayo—End of the War—The Invasion of Afghanistan—Death of Shere Ali—Yakoob Khan Proclaimed Ameer—The Treaty of Gundamuk—The “Scientific Frontier”—The Army Discipline Bill—Mr. Parnell attacks the “Cat”—Mr. Chamberlain Plays to the Gallery—Surrender of the Government—Lord Hartington’s Motion against Flogging—The Irish University Bill—An Unpopular Budget—The Murder of Cavagnari and Massacre of his Suite—The Army of Vengeance—The Recapture of Cabul—The Settlement of Zululand—Death of Prince Louis Napoleon—The Court-Martial on Lieutenant Carey—Its Judgment Quashed—Marriage of the Duke of Connaught—The Queen at Baveno | 562 |
| CHAPTER XXIII.
FALL OF LORD BEACONSFIELD | |
| General Gloom—Fall of the Tay Bridge—Liberal Onslaught on the Government—The Mussulman Schoolmaster and the Anglican Missionary—The Queen’s Speech—The Irish Relief Bill—A Dying Parliament—Mr. Cross’s Water Bill—“Coming in on Beer and Going out on Water”—Sir Stafford Northcote’s Budget—Lord Beaconsfield’s Manifesto—The General Election—Defeat of the Tories—Incidents of the Struggle—Mr. Gladstone Prime Minister—The Fourth Party—Mr. Bradlaugh and the Oath—Mr. Gladstone and the Emperor of Austria—The Naval Demonstration—Grave Error in the Indian Budget—Affairs in Afghanistan—Disaster at Maiwand—Roberts’s March—The New Ameer—Revolt of the Boers—The Ministerial Programme—The Burials Bill—The Hares and Rabbits Bill—The Employers’ Liability Bill—Supplementary Budget—The Compensation for Disturbance Bill—Boycotting—Trial of Mr. Parnell and Mr. Dillon—The Queen’s Visit to Germany—The Queen Presents the Albert Medal to George Oatley of the Coastguard—Reviews at Windsor—The Queen’s Speech to the Ensigns—The Battle of the Standards—Royalty and Riflemen—Outrages in Ireland—“Endymion”—Death of George Eliot | 581 |
| CHAPTER XXIV.
COERCION | |
| Lord Beaconsfield Attacks the Government—The Irish Crisis—The Coercion Bills—An All-night Sitting—The Arrest of Mr. Davitt—The Revolt of the Irish Members—The Speaker’s Coup d’État—Urgency—New Rules of Procedure—The Speaker’s Clôture—End of the Struggle against Coercion—Mr. Dillon’s Irish Campaign—Mr. Forster’s First Batch of “Suspects”—The Peers Censure the Ministry—Mr. Gladstone’s “Retort Courteous”—Abolition of the “Cat”—The Budget—Paying off the National Debt—The Irish Land Bill—The Three “F’s”—Resignation of the Duke of Argyll—The Strategic Blunder of the Tories—The Fallacy of Dual Ownership—Conflict between the Lords and Commons—Surrender of the Peers—Passing the Land Bill—Revolt of the Transvaal—The Rout of Majuba Hill—Death of Sir George Colley—The Boers Triumphant—Concession of Autonomy to the Boers—Lord Beaconsfield’s Death—His Career and Character—A “Walking Funeral” at Hughenden—The Queen and Lord Beaconsfield’s Tomb—A Sorrowing Nation—Assassination of the Czar—The Queen and the Duchess of Edinburgh—Character of the Czar Emancipator—Precautions for the Safety of the Queen—Visit of the King and Queen of Sweden to Windsor—Prince Leopold becomes Duke of Albany—Deaths of Dean Stanley and Mr. Carlyle—Review of Scottish Volunteers—Assassination of President Garfield—The Royal Family—The Highlands—Holiday Pastimes—The Parnellites and the Irish Land Act—Arrest of Mr. Parnell—No-Rent Manifesto | 610 |
| CHAPTER XXV.
ENGLAND IN EGYPT | |
| The Duke of Albany’s Marriage Announced—Mr. Bradlaugh Again—Procedure Reform—The Closure at Last—The Peers Co-operate with the Parnellites—Their Attacks on the Land Act—Mr. Forster’s Policy of “Thorough”—A Nation under Arrest—Increase in Outrages—Sir J. D. Hay and Mr. W. H. Smith bid for the Parnellite Vote—A Political Dutch Auction—The Radicals Outbid the Tories—Release of Mr. Parnell and the Suspects—The Kilmainham Treaty—Victory of Mr. Chamberlain—Resignation of Mr. Forster and Lord Cowper—The Tragedy in the Phœnix Park—Ireland Under Lord Spencer—Firm and Resolute Government—Coercion Revived—The Arrears Bill—The Budget—England in Egypt—How Ismail Pasha “Kissed the Carpet”—Spoiling the Egyptians—Mr. Goschen’s Scheme for Collecting the Debt—The Dual Control—The Ascendency of France—“Egypt for the Egyptians”—The Rule of Arabi—Riots in Alexandria—The Egyptian War—Murder of Professor Palmer—British Occupation of Egypt—The Queen’s Monument to Lord Beaconsfield—Attempt to Assassinate Her Majesty—The Queen’s Visit to Mentone—Marriage of the Duke of Albany | 630 |
| CHAPTER XXVI.
THE INVINCIBLES | |
| The Married Women’s Property Act—The Opening of Parliament—Changes in the Cabinet—Arrest of Suspects in Dublin—Invincibles on their Trial—Evidence of the Informer Carey—Carey’s Fate—The Forster-Parnell Incident—National Gift to Mr. Parnell—The Affirmation Bill—The Bankruptcy and other Bills—Mr. Childers’ Budget—The Corrupt Practices Bill—The “Farmers’ Friends”—Sir Stafford Northcote’s Leadership—The Bright Celebration—Dynamite Outrages in London—The Explosives Act—M. de Lesseps and Mr. Gladstone—Blunders in South Africa—The Ilbert Bill—The Attack on Lady Florence Dixie’s House—Death of John Brown—His Career and Character—The Queen and the Consumption of Lamb—A Dull Holiday at Balmoral—Capsizing of the Daphne—Prince Albert Victor made K.G.—France and Madagascar—Arrest of Rev. Mr. Shaw—Settlement of the Dispute—Progress of the National League—Orange and Green Rivalry—The Leeds Conference—“Franchise First”—Lord Salisbury and the Housing of the Poor—Mr. Besant and East London—“Slumming”—Hicks Pasha’s Disastrous Expedition in the Soudan—Mr. Gladstone on Jam | 652 |
| CHAPTER XXVII.
GENERAL GORDON’S MISSION | |
| Success of the Mahdi—Difficult Position of the Ministers—Their Egyptian Policy—General Gordon sent out to the Soudan—Baker Pasha’s Forces Defeated—Sir S. Northcote’s Vote of Censure—The Errors on Both Sides—Why not a Protectorate?—Gordon in Khartoum—Zebehr, “King of the Slave-traders”—Attacks on Gordon—Osman Digna Twice Defeated—Treason in Khartoum—Gordon’s Vain Appeals—Financial Position of Egypt—Abortive Conference of the Powers—Vote of Credit—The New Speaker—Mr. Bradlaugh Redivivus—Mr. Childers’ Budget—The Coinage Bill—The Reform Bill—Household Franchise for the Counties—Carried in the Commons—Thrown Out in the Lords—Agitation in the Country—The Autumn Session—“No Surrender”—Compromise—The Franchise Bill Passed—The Nile Expedition—Murder of Colonel Stewart and Mr. Frank Power—Lord Northbrook’s Mission—Ismail Pasha’s Claims—The “Scramble for Africa”—Coolness with Germany—The Angra Pequena Dispute—Bismarck’s Irritation—Queensland and New Guinea—Death of Lord Hertford—The Queen’s New Book—Death of the Duke of Albany—Character and Career of the Prince—The Claremont Estate—The Queen at Darmstadt—Marriage of the Princess Victoria of Hesse—A Gloomy Season—The Health Exhibition—The Queen and the Parliamentary Deadlock—The Abyssinian Envoys at Osborne—Prince George of Wales made K.G.—The Court at Balmoral—Mr. Gladstone’s Visit to the Queen | 671 |
| CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE NEW DEPARTURE | |
| An Annus Mirabilis—Breaking up of the Old Parties—The Tory-Parnellite Alliance—Mr. Chamberlain’s Socialism—The Doctrine of “Ransom”—Effect of the Reform Bill and Seats Bill—Enthroning the “Sovereign People”—Three Reform Struggles: 1832, 1867, 1885—“One Man One Vote”—Another Vote of Censure—A Barren Victory—Retreat from the Soudan—The Dispute with Russia—Komaroff at Penjdeh—The Vote of Credit—On the Verge of War—Mr. Gladstone’s Compromise with Russia—Threatened Renewal of the Crimes Act—The Tory Intrigue with the Parnellites—The Tory Chiefs Decide to Oppose Coercion—Wrangling in the Cabinet—Mr. Childers’ Budget—A Yawning Deficit—Increasing the Spirit Duties—Readjusting the Succession Duties—Combined Attack by Tories and Parnellites on the Budget—Defeat of the Government and Fall of Mr. Gladstone’s Ministry—The Scene in the Commons—The Tories in Power—Lord Salisbury’s Government—Places for the Fourth Party—Mr. Parnell Demands his Price—Abandoning Lord Spencer—Re-opening the Question of the Maamtrasna Murders—Concessions to the Parnellites—The New Budget—Sir H. D. Wolff sent to Cairo—The Criminal Law Amendment Act—Court Life in 1885—Affairs at Home and Abroad—The Fall of Khartoum—Death of General Gordon—Marriage of the Princess Beatrice—The Battenbergs | 697 |
| CHAPTER XXIX.
THE BATTLE OF THE UNION | |
| Mr. Chamberlain’s Doctrine of “Ransom”—The Midlothian Programme—Lord Randolph Churchill’s Appeal to the Whigs—Bidding for the Parnellite Vote—Resignation of Lord Carnarvon—The General Election—“Three Acres and a Cow”—Defeat of Lord Salisbury—The Liberal Cabinet—Mr. Gladstone’s Home Rule Scheme—Ulster Threatens Civil War—Secession of the Liberal “Unionists”—Defeat of Mr. Gladstone—Lord Salisbury again in Office—Mr. Parnell’s Relief Bill Rejected—The “Plan of Campaign”—Resignation of Lord Randolph Churchill—Mr. Goschen becomes Chancellor of the Exchequer—Riots in the West End of London—The Indian and Colonial Exhibition—The Imperial Institute—The Queen’s Visit to Liverpool—The Holloway College for Women—A Busy Season for her Majesty—The International Exhibition at Edinburgh—The Prince and Princess Komatsu of Japan | 724 |
| CHAPTER XXX.
THE JUBILEE | |
| The Fiftieth Year of the Queen’s Reign—Mr. W. H. Smith Leader of the Commons—Sudden Death of Lord Iddesleigh—Opening of Parliament—The Queen’s Speech—The Debate on the Address—New Rules for Procedure—Closure Proposed by the Tories—Irish Landlords and Evictions—“Pressure Within the Law”—Prosecution of Mr. Dillon—The Round Table Conference—“Parnellism and Crime”—Resignation of Sir M. Hicks-Beach—Appointment of Mr. Balfour—The Coercion Bill—Resolute Government for Twenty Years—Scenes in the House—Irish Land Bill—The Bankruptcy Clauses—The National League Proclaimed—The Allotments Act—The Margarine Act—Hamburg Spirit—Mr. Goschen’s Budget—The Jubilee in India—The Modes of Celebration in England—Congratulatory Addresses—The Queen’s Visit to Birmingham—The Laureate’s Jubilee Ode—The Queen at Cannes and Aix—Her Visit to the Grande Chartreuse—Colonial Addresses—Opening of the People’s Palace—Jubilee Day—The Scene in the Streets—Preceding Jubilees—The Royal Procession—The German Crown Prince—The Decorations and the Onlookers—The Spectacle in Westminster Abbey—The Procession—The Ceremony—The Illuminations—Royal Banquet in Buckingham Palace—The Shower of Honours—Jubilee Observances in the British Empire and the United States—The Children’s Celebration in Hyde Park—The Queen’s Garden Party—Her Majesty’s Letter to her People—The Imperial Institute—The Victorian Age | 733 |