"A Short History of English Commerce and Industry," by L. L. Price, Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, published by Edward Arnold, is a successor to the same author's short "History of Political Economy in England."

R. F. Fenno & Co. "Mistress Penwick," a charming romance, which has had a good sale, has been dramatized for one of Charles Frohman's companies. 'With Ring of Shield," also issued by this

firm, is in great demand.

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Another new historical novel is "Friend or Foe," by Frank Samuel Child. It is a tale of Connecticut during the War of 1812, and one of its characters is Aaron Burr. The work is issued by Houghton, Mifflin & Co.

In view of the Alfred Millenary, which will be celebrated in England this year, Messrs. J. M. Dent & Co. are issuing a new volume, entitled "Alfred, the West Saxon, England's King," by the Rev. D. Macfadyen, M. A.

Messrs. A. Constable & Co., London, have just issued "The Fight with France for North America," by A. G. Bradly, which should be read by all to whom the Parkman histories are not available.

Volume five of Mr. John Murray's definitive edition of Byron's Letters, edited by Mr. Rowland E. Protheroe, will be on the market very shortly. It deals with the period of Byron's stay in Italy.

This year promises to be an active one in England's literary life and many books of importance in all lines are promised.

Dr. Conan Doyle is adding to his history of the Boer war, of which 40,000 copies have been sold in England.

Groescup & Dunlap. "Tales of Ex-Tanks " is a story for collegemen and writers which is having a good sale.

THE

ANGLO-AMERICAN

MAGAZINE

March, 1901

TILULN ru +

IN

THE QUEEN'S REIGN

BY DRAPER E. FRALICK

any exhaustive review of the late Queen Victoria's reign, comparison with the notable reigns of other countries is inevitable. The record shows that no reign in the annals of any country compares with hers, and especially is this true when the material and intellectual progress under the reigns of various sovereigns is taken into consideration. Nor can any critical estimate of the Queen's reign be made without giving a full exposition of the many wonderful qualities of the Queen herself. Therefore, for the present it is impossible for any reviewer of the Queen's life and reign to render full justice in limited space to the remarkable qualities of the lamented sovereign.

When the Queen came to the throne, kingship in England was not rated highly. Her immediate predecessors had not lent luster to the Crown, and at her accession she had to rely to a great degree upon the loyalty that her almost defenceless position would inspire. From the day that she became Queen of England to the day that her remains were laid at rest she aroused in Englishmen the most fervent loyalty and affection to the Crown, making

England's monarchy respected and loved at the same time that popular government was coming into full flower.

It was a happy thought on the part of her parents to take up their residence in England so that the young Princess should be born in the country which she might one day be called upon to rule, for the daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George III., at her birth had only her uncle, who was childless, between herself and the throne; yet her advent was not considered at the time of great importance. Her father died five days before his brother, the Prince Regent, ascended the English throne as George IV. The little Princess Victoria, as she was christened, was brought up with a view to her possible station in life. Her mother, a woman of great force of character, was ever devoted to the interests of her child, and the Princess herself owed much to the affectionate care of her uncle, Prince Leopold of Coburg, afterward King of the Belgians. George IV. had certain ideas regarding the education of the little Princess which did not commend themselves either to the Duchess of Kent or to Prince Leopold. The Duchess had never concealed her dislike for the character of George IV. nor her contempt for his associates of both sexes, and she also made an enemy of the Duke of Cumberland. It was fortunate for her that the great Duke of Wellington took the part of the Duchess in these domestic squabbles, and to his influence and confidence in Prince Leopold the Princess Victoria was indebted for her escape from the influence of George IV. and his associates; and it is noteworthy that, while her education was very carefully attended to, it was not until she was twelve years of age that she knew she was destined to wear the Crown. She had, of course, the best masters, and in all her studies was diligent, exhibiting a special aptitude for modern languages, music, and drawing; she grew up to be a good linguist, she sketched cleverly, and sang prettily and intelligently.

In 1830 George IV. died, and William IV. having

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ascended the throne, the Princess Victoria became his heir. A Regency Bill was introduced into Parliament by Lord Lyndhurst, and it was judged that the Princess ought now to be told of her proper place in the order of succession. The manner in which this was done is very prettily described in Sir Theodore Martin's "Life of the Prince Consort." One day her governess put a genealogical table into her pupil's English history. "The Princess opened the book and perceiving the additional paper said: 'I never saw that before.' 'It was not thought necessary that you should, madam,' answered her governess. 'I see I am nearer the throne than I thought,' continued the Princess, and after some moments resumed: 'Now, many a child would boast, but they don't know the difficulty. There is much splendor, but there is more responsibility.' The Princess, having lifted up the forefinger of her right hand while she spoke, gave the Baroness her little hand, repeating: 'I will be good. I understand now why you urged me so to learn even Latin. My aunts, Mary and Augusta, never did; but you told me Latin is the foundation of English and of all elegant expressions, and I learned as you wished it, but I understand all better now,' and the Princess gave her hand, repeating : 'I will be good.' The governess then said: 'But your Aunt Adelaide is still young and may have children, and, of course, they would ascend the throne after their father, William IV., and not you, Princess.' The Princess answered: And if it were so, I should not be disappointed, for I know by the love Aunt Adelaide bears me that she is fond of children.'

William IV. was affectionately inclined toward his niece, but unfortunately he took offence at the Duchess of Kent for declining to let her child come and live at his court for several months in each year, and through the whole of his reign there was strife between the two. The history of the squabbles surrounding the early years of the Queen is an ignoble one, but she seems to have been happily preserved from being mixed up in them, although she was un

doubtedly their cause. The stout-heartedness of her mother, who was keenly alive to the dignity and position of her daughter, preserved her from all that was degrading in these as in other matters. William IV.'s resentment against the Duchess of Kent increased and was fed by mischievous busybodies, who accused the Duchess of attempting to undermine his power and authority. Later years have shown how false these charges were.

In 1837 the King died. In recording his death, the Times of June 20th said: "He was not a man of talent or of much refinement, but he was diligent and labored at that which he considered his duty to comprehend. Sincere in his declarations and of inoffensive nature, he displayed no gross, nor great, nor memorable attributes. But he had a warm heart and it was an English heart." Posterity has ratified this judgment.

The King died about 2 A. M., and immediately the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Marquis of Conygnham started for Kensington to notify the Princess Victoria. The young Queen was roused and came downstairs in a dressing gown to hear herself for the first time addressed as "Your Majesty." The young Queen shed tears on hearing the Archbishop's announcement, and for a few moments stood weeping in silence with her face resting on her mother's shoulder. The Queen's first care on regaining her composure was to write a letter of condolence to Queen Adelaide, and she addressed this letter to "Her Majesty the Queen." Somebody had the bad taste to suggest that the word "Dowager" should be added. "But," answered the Queen, “I will not be the first to remind my aunt of the great loss she has sustained," thus evincing at the outset of her reign the kindly tact which ever distinguished her public and private conduct.

At the time of the Queen's accession Lord Melbourne's second ministry had been in office two years, and Lord Melbourne was the Queen's first preceptor in statecraft. His