The Life and Times of Queen Victoria; vol. 1 of 4Wilson, Robert
History
The Life and Times of Queen Victoria; vol. 1 of 4
Wilson, Robert
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901; Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901
complaining that death is now attended with a fresh terror from Campbell
writing the life of a deceased person as soon as the breath was out of
his body.” One wonders if the Queen would have wasted much sympathy on
Campbell, or much indignation on his enemies, had she known that they
“sat at table till near eleven,” and that, as “Lyndhurst was stepping
into his carriage, he was overheard to say to Lord Brougham, ‘I wish we
had such a Council as this once a month.’”
It is pleasing, however, to record that those who had to deal not only
with the hereditary but private revenues of the Sovereign had proved
themselves this year able and faithful servants. On that topic Mr.
Charles Greville writes in his Journal, on the 8th of March,
1847:--“George Anson told me yesterday that the Queen’s affairs are in
such good order, and so well managed, that she will be able to provide
for the whole expense of Osborne out of her revenue without difficulty;
and that by the time it is finished it will have cost £200,000. He said
also that the Prince of Wales, when he came of age, would have not less
than £70,000 a year from the Duchy of Cornwall. They have already saved
£100,000. The Queen takes for his maintenance whatever she pleases, and
the rest, after paying charges, is invested in the Funds or in land, and
accumulates for him.”
The death of Lord Bessborough in June left the Viceroyalty of Ireland
vacant; and there was some difficulty about selecting his successor.
Lord John Russell would have abolished the office and appointed a
Secretary of State for Ireland, but for the menaces of the Repealers and
Orangemen. The two favourite candidates for the post were the Duke of
Bedford, who was afraid to take it, and Lord Clarendon, who was anxious
to have it; but who desired to make the world believe that he was making
a great sacrifice
[Illustration: THE CUSTOM HOUSE, DUBLIN.]
in accepting the office. He was ultimately appointed, and for five years
ruled Ireland well, with a firm and neutral hand.
The death of O’Connell on the 15th of May, at Genoa, “made little or no
sensation here,”[74] says Mr. Greville. He had quarrelled with half his
followers, and the younger Repealers had grown sick of his policy of
fruitless agitation. But in Dublin, when the news was posted in
Conciliation Hall, vast crowds of mournful patriots assembled and
silently read the placards. The Catholic chapels tolled their dismal
death-knells, and the Corporation met and adjourned for three weeks as a
mark of respect for the Liberator’s memory. In the famine-stricken
districts the anguish of public sorrow sharpened the pangs of popular
distress. His remains were laid in Glasnevin cemetery with imposing
funereal pomp and pageantry. Indeed, no funeral in Ireland has ever been
more numerously attended, for it was reckoned that at least 50,000
persons marched in the procession of mourners. Few people of high rank
and station were there; but the middle and lower classes of the
populace
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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