Hark! what sound is that conspiring, Oh! what act of direful madness! Such was my first exclamation, "To arms! to arms!" the cry went forth From LINCOLN's proud and lofty post. "Wake! East and West and South and North! Spring, spring to arms, a mighty host! "Our flag insulted bids you come; As when the mighty river's banks The nation's capital their aim, They moved at once in grand array, As line on serried line they came Their noble chieftain to obey. A brief suspense, and then they start Now, soon is heard the clash of arms, That spread, like fire, from door to door. Too late! the fatal shot was fired When aimed in hate at Sumter's shield; Almost, alas! all hope expired When patriots fell on battle-field. Too late! too late! the war goes on Until defeat o'erwhelms the WRONG. Peace now resumed her rightful sway; Those hateful clouds have disappeared; DISUNION Sank with them away, And UNION her proud ensign reared. Flag of our free, united land, Float on! float on! o'er sea and strand! PART V. CHAPTER I. QUEEN VICTORIA-INTERESTING INCIDENTS IN HER LIFE. Ar sunrise on a beautiful morning, the 24th of May, 1819, in an old palace looking out upon Kensington Park, Alexandrina Victoria was born. The privy councillors and great officers of state, near by, were immediately called in as certifying witnesses, and "the Duke of Kent, with his own hand, signified the joyful news to all his relatives both at home and abroad before he retired to rest." It was regarded as "an omen of goodly import that the day and hour which ushered the future sovereign into the world was the same which had eighty-one years before given birth to her revered grandfather." The event was the more joyful from the fact that the British nation had but recently been called to mourn the sudden death of the beautiful Princess Charlotte, wife of Leopold I., of Belgium, and heir to the throne. The British people will never cease to cherish with the warmest affection the memory of this lamented Princess, who so suddenly, with her new-born infant, fell asleep to awake no more on earth. A touchingly beautiful white marble monument in St. George's Chapel at Windsor, representing her reclining figure, is gazed upon with melancholy interest by all beholders. The Duchess of Kent was a true mother to her infant princess, whose baptism and initiation into the church in the names I have given were performed "with all the pomp of circumstance" when she was four weeks old. Instead of taking what was said to be the usual course of the nobility and turning her royal babe over to a third person for daily sustenance, with maternal tenderness she nursed the child herself, greatly to the satisfaction of the English people. Never, probably, were parents happier in the possession or prouder of a promising and lovely child than were the good Duke and Duchess of Kent with their little treasure. It is said of the Duke, who in a few short months was snatched by death from the amiable Duchess and her infant offspring, that he used with exulting joy to present his "smiling cherub to each succeeding guest, and listen with unwearied delight to their perpetually repeated praises of its activity, intelligence, and beauty." It was unfortunate, not to say cruel, for so kind and devoted a parent to be wounded in feeling as he was on the occasion of a grand review which took place on Hounslow Heath not long after the christening. At this review "The Prince Regent was present, attended by a splendid train of military officers, among whom was the Duke of Kent. The Royal Duchess was on the heath in her carriage, accompanied by the Princess Victoria and her attendants. The Regent is said to have objected to this early display of parental pride, and, turning to the Duke of Kent, asked, with some displeasure, "Why was not that infant left at home? She is too young to be brought into public." The unkind rebuke evidently cut to the quick, since we are assured that "into the public the royal babe was brought no more during the short period of her father's life; and it is believed that to this expression of the Regent's opinion may in some measure be attributed the extreme retirement in which the first ten years of the young Princess's life were passed." Except this unpleasant episode, nothing appears to have occurred to disturb the current of happiness, during the following summer, at Kensington Palace. The Duke and Duchess were often to be "seen walking arm and arm in the beautiful grounds which surrounded the palace, min gling with pleasure among their delighted countrymen. The interest of the scene was much increased by the presence of the royal infant, who, in the arms of her nurse, would answer with her innocent smiles to the occasional caresses of her fond parents, and the more respectful notice of the spectators," no strangers, however, being permitted to approach her too closely. During the ensuing winter months "their Royal Highnesses had removed into Devonshire for the benefit of its milder climate, but had scarcely domesticated themselves in their beautiful retreat, Woolbrook Cottage, Sidmouth, before the illustrious Duke was seized with severe indisposition, the effects of a neglected cold, which, defying all the efforts of medicine, terminated fatally within a fortnight from the first attack. The Duchess was immediately withdrawn from the scene of her bereavement," and returned to Kensington Palace, where she received the kindest attention of friends, including Prince Leopold, the Duchess of Clarence, then the amiable Queen Dowager, and other members of the royal family. 66 This touching incident is related of the Duke of York's first visit to his afflicted sister-in-law. Having inquired for his infant niece, she was no sooner, in compliance with his desire, brought into the room, than, recognizing, it is supposed, his great resemblance to her deceased father, she stretched out her little arms towards him and called him Papa." The Duke was greatly affected, and, clasping her to his bosom, promised to be indeed a father to her. "This promise, as far as circumstances would admit, he always faithfully observed;" and his fatherly care and kindness were repaid by her infantile love and gratitude, particularly exemplified in his last illness, when she visited him daily, always carrying in her hand a beautiful bouquet of choice flowers, with which the Duke delighted to decorate his private sitting-room, until it was replaced on the following day by a fresh supply from her store of sweets.” 6. |