The last time he was in London, Queen Victoria invited him to an interview with her at Windsor Palace; and after lunch was served to him and his party, he was ushered into the presence of the Queen, in the great drawing-room of the palace, where all the lords- and ladies-in-waiting had been gathered in. The interview was a most interesting one. When she told him that she was glad to see him, and spoke appreciatively of his services, he responded easily and frankly:-- “I am glad to see you, my sovereign, and to be so graciously received by you. But I do not forget that I am an alien, and that I was a slave. I came flying for life and liberty to your dominion; and when my weary feet touched the soil over which you reign I was a free man. I knelt reverently, and kissed the earth, and thanked my God that wherever your flag floated the slave was free and safe. I desire to assure your Majesty, that among the millions of your subjects, although I am one of the humblest, there are none more true and loyal than Josiah Henson.” Her Majesty was visibly moved. Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice, two of her children, were on either side of her during this interview, which lasted for some time. She took from the hand of Beatrice a little package and handed it to him, saying:-- “Accept this as a small token of my appreciation of your valuable services to the slaves in America, and as a token of my interest in your race, especially those who have settled in Canada.” The package contained a small picture of herself set in gold, resting on a gold easel. As that was kept in the safe at the bank I did not see it; but I did see the oil painting of “Uncle Tom,” as everybody called him, presented to him by the Anti-Slavery Society of Boston, about the time Mrs. Stowe’s book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” came out. SECRETARY STANTON’S GENEROUS GIFT. In October, 1863, I came up from the hospitals in the front, to attend a sanitary convention at Muscatine, Iowa. As I was legally commissioned the sanitary agent of the State by Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, having been elected to that position by the Legislature of Iowa, my presence was greatly desired by the workers. The convention was large and representative. But my own heart was greatly burdened with touching messages from dying soldiers to their wives and children. In the midst of the convention I boldly announced my purpose to try to establish a home for soldiers’ orphan children. The proposition was received with the wildest enthusiasm; and the convention took action at once, not only indorsing the movement, but pledging financial support. There was no precedent to follow, as there was no institution of the kind in all the world. I was elected president of “The Orphans’ Home Association,” but declined, and Governor Stone, the newly elected governor of the State, was chosen. The ablest men and women of the State were brought into the organization, and the Home was duly opened in a rented house.