The Education of a Royal Princess.
Volume 12, 1901, pgs. 162-168
From a Memoir published at the date of the Coronation
Possibly taken from the book, Anecdotes, Personal Traits, and Character Sketches of Victoria the First, by "A Lady"
(Continued from Volume 11 pg. 389.)
Captain Back's Interview
"It was shortly after the return of the Royal Highnesses to Kensington Palace, that they gave a new proof of their active interest in all matters connected with the welfare of the country, whether for the promotion of science, or the furtherance of any other national object. Captain Back, who was on the point of setting out on his chivalrous expedition in search of Captain Ross and his crew, having been requested to wait upon the Duchess and her daughter, had the gratification of explaining to them, by the aid of maps, the whole object of his enterprise, the route he proposed to pursue, and the part of the coast on which he entertained the best hopes of meeting with tidings of the Captain. The Princess was greatly interested in this communication, and by the intelligence of her inquiries, and the anxiety she expressed for the success of the expedition, completely gained the heart of her enthusiastic informant. On parting, her Royal Highness thanked Captain Back with the utmost sweetness for the trouble he had taken in laying his plans so fully before her, and, as well as her mother, presented him with a valuable and highly-finished nautical instrument, accompanying it with an urgent request that he would convey to them, from time to time, by letter, an account of every thing of interest that occurred to him in the prosecution of his enterprise. This request was most willingly complied with, and Captain Back was honoured with a second interview immediately upon his return; but the Princess, meanwhile, had the pleasure of receiving from Captain Ross himself a full account of the causes of his detention, and every particular worthy of note which his memorable voyage afforded.
"Mr. Montgomery Martin was also permitted an introduction to the Princess at about this period, to present her with a copy of his History of the British Colonies, which her Royal Highness received most kindly, expressing her great desire for the welfare of our colonial possessions; and her hope that the people of England would always duly appreciate the value of dominions which, rising with England's glory, had spread into every part of the globe, and mainly contributed to her honour and prosperity.
Tour of the Southern Coast
"The Duchess of Kent made use of the opportunity afforded by a four months' residence at Norris Castle, in the Isle of Wight, during the summer of 1833, to show her daughter a portion of the south-west country, in a tour of the coast which they made in the Emerald yacht as far as Plymouth; landing first at Weymouth, whence they proceded to Melbury on a visit to the Earl of Ilchester: and re-embarking at Lyme Regis landed at Torquay for a night, continuing their voyage to Plymouth on the following day; here their Royal Highnesses rested from Friday till the succeeding Tuesday, spending much of their time at Devonport, where they minutely examined everything connected with the Dock-yard, and saw much of the naval and military officers assembled at this station. On Saturday the Princess Victoria publicly presented a new stand of colours to the 89th regiment at the Hoe; and on Sunday attended Divine service at the Dock-yard chapel, Devonport. On Monday their Royal Highnesses sailed southward of the Eddystone Lighthouse, in order that the Princess might the better observe it, and they afterwards viewed the breakwater, attended by Mr. Stuart, the superintendent of the works, who explained to them the whole nature of this stupendous undertaking, presenting them with plans of it, and with specimens of the stone used in its erection. The Princess was highly interested, and repeatedly expressed her astonishment at the magnitude of the work, observing that, 'although she had heard much of it previous to her visit to Plymouth, her expectations were more than realized in the vastness and grandeur of the conception, and the skill with which it had been followed up.' On leaving Plymouth, the royal party proceeded in their yacht to Dartmouth, and thence by land through Torquay, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Exeter, Honiton, and Wareham to Swanage, where they again embarked and reached Norris Castle, East Cowes, in safety, after a delightful fortnight's tour, which in regard to the loyalty and affectionate feeling that everywhere greeted them, was but a repetition of such scenes as those already recorded in their more northerly excursion of the preceding year.
Providential Escape
"Their Royal Highnesses, it is observed above, arrived in safety at Norris Castle, but although in safety, not without hazard to the life of the youthful hope of England, which, by the interposition of Providence, and through the instrumentality of the master of the Emerald yacht, was spared for the future blessing of her people. The yacht, with their Royal Highnesses on board, proceeded up the harbour at Plymouth for the purpose of effecting a landing at the Dock-yard. Unfortunately, in rounding the Active hulk, which lay immediately off the yard, the Emerald ran foul of her consequence of not making sufficient allowance for the set of the tide, which was rapid at the time; the effect of the shock was that the mainmast of the royal yacht was sprung in two places, and her sail and gaff fell instantaneously upon the deck. The young Princess was standing almost immediately under it at the moment, and the most serious consequences might have ensued, but for the presence of mind of the master of the Emerald, who, perceiving the danger that threatened the life of his royal charge, instantly sprang forward, caught her in his arms, and respectfully, but with decision, conveyed her to a place of safety. The terror and consternation that prevailed throughout the vessel may be more easily imagined than described, especially the anxiety of the tender parent, who was for a moment unconscious of the safety of her beloved child; after a short pause, all parties having in some measure recovered from the alarm occasioned by this accident, it was discovered with the most heartfelt delight that the young Princess had been preserved from injury by the blunt but well-timed rescue of the honest sailor. Her Royal Highness, though somewhat agitated, evinced an admirable firmness throughout this trying scene; and having been relieved by the shedding of a few tears, was within the space of five minutes quite herself, and enabled to thank her preserver with grace and dignity for his timely exertions in her behalf; whilst it was evident that her heart was lifted up in gratitude to Heaven for her perfect and providential escape.
Visits to the Victory and Vestal Men-of-War
"During this residence at Norris Castle, the Princess had the gratification of witnessing at Portsmouth, for the first time, that exhilarating and magnificent sight, the launch of a British vessel of considerable magnitude; the brig Racer was christened, and afterwards glided majestically into the water, in the presence, and to the great delight of the heiress presumptive, who joined heartily in the cheers which hailed the ship's launch upon the bosom of the ocean. At the conclusion of the ceremony, her Royal Highness and her mother, accompanied by their suite, including the Duchess of Northumberland, who was with her in the island, purposely to lend her aid in turning these daily recreations to the formation of her royal pupil's mind, repaired on board the Victory; and here the young Princess was highly pleased with the novelty of inspecting the entire interior of a man-of-war. She was extremely minute in her inquiries into all matters connected with the ship and its service, but particularly into all that related to the heroic [Lord] Nelson; some observation being made upon the great interest which her Royal Highness seemed to take in the history of this celebrated man, she immediately replied that she had been lately reading Southey's beautiful memoir of him [The Life of Horatio Nelson], and that the circumstances of his last hours were fresh upon her memory. This incident led to further conversation on naval affairs; and her Royal Highness entered, to the surprise of some, and the great pleasure of all present, upon a rather enlarged development of her knowledge and opinions respecting the naval history of our country. She spoke with enthusiasm of the height of glory to which England had risen through its naval, in union with its military triumphs; and spoke, too, with a judgment and thoughtfulness far beyond her years, of the importance of that department of the sea service, by which our commercial and mercantile interests are upheld. This conversation, which took place between her Royal Highness and the rather numerous company of officers who attended her, was listened to with anxious interest by the assembled party, and formed indeed a rich treat to those who contemplated in the youthful, the delicate and diffident speaker, the future ruler, under heaven, not only of the naval, but of all the destinies of this great and mighty nation.
"Their Royal Highnesses having completed their interesting inspection of the Victory, seated themselves spontaneously at one of the mess tables, and desired the dinner intended for the seamen of that mess to be set before them; this being done, Princess Victoria, with her mother and all the ladies of her suite, drank of the grog, and partook of the beef and potatoes, served on wooden platters, and using the knives and forks belonging to the mess. The Princess declared that the dinner was much to her liking; and the delight of the sailors at this act of condescension exceeded all bounds. Never perhaps was huzzas more enthusiastic and sincere than those which greeted the future Queen on her quitting the Victory to return to the Emerald yacht. A few days afterwards, their Royal Highnesses visited, at Spithead, the Vestal man-of-war, equipped and in a perfect state for sea service, and remained on board her for seven hours and a half, during the whole of which time the young Princess paid the most accurate attention to the various evolutions which the ship successively performed, asking innumerable questions with extraordinary acuteness. She expressed herself highly delighted with her morning's amusement, for which she thanked the captain with her accustomed grace, observing at the same time that she should henceforth consider herself an accomplished sailor.
Confirmation
"On the 30th of July, 1835, the young Princess having lately completed her sixteenth year, the ceremony of her Confirmation was performed at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop of London, and in the presence of their Majesties and several members of the royal family.
"After the performance of the church service for the day, into the spirit of which the Princess Victoria appeared to enter with even more than her usual fervour, the chapel was cleared, no part of the congregation being permitted to remain, except such of the nobility as had seats appropriated to them; and the royal party, with their numerous attendants, descended from their closet and placed themselves in a semi-circle round the altar, the suite being accommodated in the nearest pews. The King led his niece to the altar, before which she knelt, his Majesty standing at her left hand, and the Duchess of Kent at her right. It was a most interesting and affecting scene: the service was performed with the utmost solemnity, and the Princess went through it with firmness, although her pallid countenance and quivering lip denoted her inward agitation. But when, at its conclusion, the Archbishop proceeded to address her in a beautiful, pathetic, and parental exhortation, upon the sacred engagements she had now voluntarily assumed; the awful responsibility her exalted station imposed upon her; the propriety of arming herself for that struggle which would undoubtedly arise between the allurements of the world and the dictates of religion and justice; and, above all, upon the absolute necessity of her looking up to the King of kings for counsel and support in all the trials that awaited her, her composure gradually gave way; in a short time she was drowned in tears, and at length, unable to subdue the violence of her emotion, she laid her head upon her mother's shoulder and sobbed aloud. The Duchess of Kent was scarcely less affected; the Queen and all the ladies wept frequently; and even the King himself was observed occasionally to shed tears. When the Archbishop had concluded his address, and the Princess had in some measure recovered her self-possession, his Majesty, having affectionately kissed her, led her to the Queen, who did the same, as well as all her aunts and uncles present. During the Confirmation her bonnet had been taken off, but her pretty simple cap remained; she also wore a beautiful lace dress over white satin.
"On the following Sunday their Royal Highnesses attended Divine service at the Chapel Royal in Kensington Palace, when an impressive and appropriate sermon was preached by the Archbishop, after which the young Princess, accompanied by her mother, received the Holy Sacrament for the first time, from the hands of his Grace, and of the Dean of Chester, her preceptor.
Visits to National and Infant Schools
"The Princess warmly patronized the various Charity Schools of Tunbridge Wells and Ramsgate during her visits to those places in the autumn of 1835, not only contributing to their funds, but bestowing her time and personal attendance upon them. At Tunbridge Wells, her Royal Highness and her mother honoured the Infant School with a visit, attended by a very small suite, and were received by the members of the committee, and the lady patronesses, who alone were present. The business of the school commenced with the repetition of the little poem--'This is the Tumbridge Wells' Infant School'; with which the Princess was so much amused and pleased that she desired to have a copy sent to her. After following the children through the whole routine of their infantine studies, she walked about in the play-ground for a considerable time, observing their sports and games; and charmed with the cleanly appearance and artless simplicity of the young ones, chatted familiarly amongst them, and even kissed several of their little rosy faces. On returning to the school-room, their Royal Highnesses conversed for some minutes with the mistress, making many inquiries respecting the state and regulations of the schools, and gratified the friends of the institution by entering their names in the visitors' book, with a testimony of their approbation. On their departure, many were the infant voices which joined with those of their maturer fellow-subjects in the fervent exclamations of 'God bless them.'
"At Ramsgate their Royal Highnesses, as usual, made handsome donations to all the charities of the town, but to the National School in particular, they presented the munificent donation of £200.
"The young Victoria paid during this visit the most especial attention to this Institution, visiting it frequently, and herself examining with unostentatious kindness and patient minuteness into the advancement of the different classes in the simple studies allotted to them. When the Princess was leaving Ramsgate she was deeply affected by the unexpected appearance of these children, lining the streets through which her carriage was to pass, dressed in the neat and clean costume of the school, decorated with ribbons, and curtsying a grateful farewell to their beloved patroness.
(To be continued.)
Proofread by LNL, May 2011