A Sketch of how "The Diamond Anthem" was Sung around the World: The 60th Anniversary of the Accession Day of Her Majesty Queen VictoriaCumberland, Barlow
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A Sketch of how "The Diamond Anthem" was Sung around the World: The 60th Anniversary of the Accession Day of Her Majesty Queen Victoria
Cumberland, Barlow
National songs; Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901 -- Anniversaries, etc.
“MY DEAR SIR,—As you expressed a wish in your circular to hear
how the anniversary of the day on which Her Majesty began her
happy reign was observed in each locality, and also on board
passenger ships at sea, I hope you will be pleased to hear that
all your instructions were carried out here, as fully as
circumstances permitted, my situation here being unique. As this
is the connecting link between the western and eastern
hemispheres, it may happen that you will find by overlooking the
places where the ceremony was observed, that my endeavors were
successful in commencing or finishing the general celebration of
the world. Being only 54 minutes west of the meridian, all ships
passing either way ought to change the name of the day on their
reckoning while within sight of this island. I obtained the
correct astronomical time from the captain and officers of the
steamer that calls here every three months. A doubt being
expressed about the proper day, and as good action could not be
performed too often, I observed both the 20th and 21st June in
the same way. I also had a bonfire lit on both nights, so that
ships passing either eastward or westward could see that the
anniversary was being kept to suit either contingency. I would
have written you earlier but there has been no means of
communication between this island since the 16th of June last
until to-day.” ALFRED FFRENCH,
_Lighthouse-keeper_
Here the circle of the world was complete and the Anthem had come back
to the place of its beginning.
Thus have we Sons of England linked our fellow-colonists hand in hand in
one continuous line around the world, and changed the ideal but historic
“drumbeat” of the “Martial airs of England” into the absolute fact of
the “_Diamond Anthem_” with which we have encircled the earth, and
accompanied the hours throughout the Diamond Jubilee Accession Day of
our beloved Queen.
One of the great records of Her Majesty’s Reign is the marvellous
increase of her Colonial Kingdom; it is largely through her own personal
influence that during those sixty years it has been extended and cared
for. Gladly has this tribute of affection been given by her grateful
Colonists to their Queen by thus joining together in their rejoicings in
a way, “_Hands All Round_,” which was impossible at the beginning of her
reign, but which she has by her broad-minded advance, herself made
practicable, and which therefore has marked a record of her great life
work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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