1837 AND 1901.
(To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—Probably many persons are now connecting promise with fulfilment, by gathering together notices of Queen Victoria's early days. Here is one such notice, taken from Frances Anne Kemble's "Records of Later Life" (Vol. I., p. 88) :—
" I was indebted to my kind friend, Lord Lansdowne, for the memorable pleasure of being presentpresent at the first meeting between Queen Victoria and her Houses of Parliament. The occasion, which is always one of interest, when a new Sovereign performs the solemnity, was rendered peculiarly so by the age and sex of the Sovereign. Every person woo, by right or favour, could be present, was there ; and no one of that great assembly will ever forget the impression made upon them The Queen was not handsome, but very pretty, and the singularity of her great position lent a sentimental and poetical charm to her youthful face and figure. l'he serene serious sweetness of her candid brow and clear soft eyes gave dignity to the girlish countenance, while the want of height only added to the effect of the round but slender person, and gracefully moulded hands and arms. The Queen's voice was exquisite ; nor have I ever heard any spoken words more musical in their gentle distinctness than the My Lords and Gentlemen' which broke the breathless silence of the illustrious assembly, whose gaze was riveted upon that fair flower of Royalty. The enunciation was as perfect as the intonation was melodious, and I think it is impossible to hear a more excellent utterance than that of the Queen's English by the English Queen."
These are the words of an able woman, who in her own person and by hereditary instinct was well acquainted with the best examples of public speaking and public recitation. And those who remember the Queen at any period of her life may well think of "the serene serious sweetness of her candid
brow and clear soft eyes."—I am, Sir, &c., A. 3. M.
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