QUEEN VICTORIA.
(Daily Press, 23rd January.) To-day there is mourning throughout the vide realms of which the British Empire is composed mourning so deep and so pro found as this generation has not seen, such as it will not see again. For the greatest personality of our time, the grandest figure of the Nineteenth Century has passed away. VICTORIA the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, the Dominion of Canada, the new-born Commonwealth of Australia, and all the numerous British
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Colonies scattered over the face of the world, anxious to that
fully, from
success
of VICTORIA'S,
[January 26, 1901.
THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN.
:
be known, but the extent of her influence- based on world-wide respect-with the crowned heads and rulers of Europe could
(Daily Press, 24th January,) It is but eight months ago that Hongkong hardly be overrated, and it has had a res-
was celebrating, amid the rejoicing of the training effect in moments of passion or aberration that has successfully made British residents and the cordial co-opera- for peace when the leashes of the dogs tion of the people of so many nations who of war were being most strenuously have made this island their home, the strained. The same benign influence had eighty-first anniversary of the birth of Her its weight with her Ministers of State, Gracious Majesty Queen VICTORIA. To-day and not infrequently helped to smooth the whole Colony is plunged in grief on the Every receipt of the news that she is lying dead the troubled political waters. one of her Ministers learned to love and at Osborne, The sad event has come upon reverence the royal lady who was always so us with great suddenness. The first duty and do it faith tidings of Her Majesty's ill-health were
occasion when conveyed by a special telegram from our - and Empress of India (Keisar-i-Hind) has joined the majority. The most renowned Lord MELBOURNE waited upon her in Ken- London correspondent, dated the 18th inst., Queen in history, the noblest woman that sington Palace with the news of her acces which spoke of disquieting rumours about : ever adorned a throne, has vacated her high sion, to the latest conference with the Marthe Queen. REUTER's first message of the office on the summons that comes to all, quess of SALISBURY. Her Majesty's deeds same date mentioned numerous reports.con whether sovereign or servant. Her Majesty of mercy and charity shine like a string of cerning her illness and the summoning to was so well known to all her millions of pearls along the lengthened pathway of her Osborne of two physicians. Later, on the subjects of various races and religions that splendid history, and illumine it as no acts same day, followed the official statement that she had come to be looked upon as their of mere valour or chivalry, however dazzling, the great strain of the past year-of how great mother, gifted alike with all pervad-could irradiate the career of a hero King. great that strain has been the whole Empire has been witness as well as those whose lot *ing sympathy and with a marvellous grasp. The magnificent on life. They scarcely thought of her as reign is the finest triumph of her sex, and it has been to come in daily contact with Her mortal; they had been so accustomed, every woman in the British Empire has Majesty-had told upon the Queen's ner- through the long roll of years, to regard her the deepest reason to venerate her name and vous system, and that perfect quiet in the
house and abstention from all public busi as the embodiment of gracious dignity and to adore her memory. serene control; they had so sung for more This is not the place in which to setness had been enjoined. Then on Sunday than six decades the solemn anthem pray-forth the acts of Queen VICTORIA or to just at midnight the telegrams reached us, which we published in Monday morning's ing for her long life, that they had recite the manifold glories of her unparal issue, stating that the Royal Family had almost begun to think the blessing of her leled reign. The more salient incidents
been summoned to the bedside and that just rule might prove perpetual, But are in the memory or knowledge of most. when the century passed, the orilliant and But recently we celebrated the sixtieth H.I.M. the German Emperor was on his memorable reign of Queen VICTORIA was, anniversary of her accession to the Throne, way to Osborne. At last we were able to though we knew it not, also drawing to its when all her great though scattered domi-realise the terrible gravity of the situa close. The illness which struck down Hernions did glad homage to her meritorious ruletion. REUTER's telegrams which arrived Majesty was sudden and swift. Weakened and worn by all the trials and tribulations of the last year of the century, the Queen could not rally from the attack, and suc- cumbed to it quickly. The loss of her second son, the Duke of SAXE-COBURG, the serious illness of the Empress FREDERICK, and the long months of worry during which her feelings were harrowed by the news of the deaths of so many brave soldiers who went to fight the battles of the Empire in a righteous but much regretted war, came like blow upon blow upon her sensitive and sympathetic heart. No ruler perhaps ever felt so keenly the sorrows or troubles of the nation as did Queen VICTORIA, who in a hundred ways, on innumerable occasions, evinced so comprehensive a knowledge and so wide a sympathy for all who suffered for the State. None were too poor to receive her attention; none too obscure to gain her pity. Queen though she was, she had [learned in the school of sorrow, and had passed through it refined and glorified, melting at the woes of others, and ready to pour the balm of sympathy on the aching wounds of her people.
Not only was the Queen-Empress the right- eous ruler, living a pattern life amid the temptations of a gilded Court; she was a model wife and mother to all, from prince to peasant. Placed on a pinnacle such as few monarchs have climbed to, Her Majesty shed fresh lustre upon the august seat, and through more than half a century so com- ported herself, wearing the white flower of a blameless life, that the breath of calumny had no power to touch her, and in all times and places set so bright an example that to the generations yet unborn she will ever be lovingly quoted as the type of perfect womanhood, the realisation of the ideal ruler, Amid the joys and sorrows of her married life Queen VICTORIA never forgot the cares of State, and never failed to study the weal of the nation. How much the nation owes to her good sense, moderation, and calm wisdom, will perhaps never fully
on Monday brought additional details and stated that the Queen was in extremis at 8p.m. on Sunday and that her death was only a question of hours. But her wonder- ful constitution held out, and Monday night's bulletin, as telegraphed by our special correspondent, reported a slight im- provement, maintained throughout the day.
and unprecedented record. It is for the his- torian to write the chronicles of the longest, most prosperous, most glorious reign in the history of our race, and show how indissolubly our late Queen was connected with all the of that extended epoch-making events period. But we can and do rejoice to think that she was spared to cross the threshold of the Twentieth Century, to see still later bulletin also offered some the unhappy conflict in South Africa ground for hope, but the anxiety over the brought nearly within sight of its ter- brain-symptoms was not disguised. Then mination, to witness the birth of the came a period of suspense. Throughout Australian Commonwealth, and to feel that Tuesday night no news reached Hongkong in all the homes of the Anglo-Saxon race and it was not until after 8 a.m. yesterday there is a union of hearts which can survive that the first unofficial intimation reached disaster and defy defeat. Even the war the Colony. Acting on this the government clouds in the Far East had rolled back and offices, foreign consulates, business houses revealed a vision of restored peace, which and vessels in the Harbour half-masted must have been most welcome to her much their flags; but official confirmation was tried spirit. That tender spirit is now at wanting. At 11.15 a.m. our special tele- rest, and all that is mortal of the illustrious gram reached us from London, bearing the date of despatch 8.50 p.m. on Tuesday sovereign will soon be laid beside the re- mains of the husband she loved so faithfully night and stating simply: "The Queen is and mourned so unceasingly. The nation dead." At last we know the worst. In the eighty-second year of her age and the will do fitting honour to the beloved dead, but no monument can do her virtues sixty-fourth of her reign, the Queen who justice; her memory will, however, be en-has ruled over her great Empire so faithfully shrined in the hearts of the people who were born and have grown up under her bene- ficent sway. In this remote city, which has the rare distinction of bearing her queenly name, she will be mourned as sincerely as in the British Isles, for her charm and her influence have been felt equally wherever the Flag waves.
Renter's telegram dated the 23rd inst. says:- There will be no lying in state, but the servants of the household will be admitted to view the remains, which will probably be conveyed to Windsor to-day. The date of the funeral is not yet fixed. All Monday night the late Queen was very restless and the bedroom door was okel, only the doctors and nurses being allowed thin. It is understood that the family was thrice summoned to the bedside on Tuesday, the fast time being 3.30, after which they remained in constant attendance. Her Majesty was still conscious, but the end came in sleep.
and well has passed away. This is not the place in which to give a full account of her reign; that our readers have had in our special edition of yesterday. The mere facts of the late Queen's life are well known to all, Her. Majesty to give her her full title, VICTORIA ALEXANDRINA, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain aud Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Em- press of India was born on the 24th May, 1819; succceeded to the Throne on the
on the 20th July, 1837, was crowned on the 28th June,** 1838; married on the 10th February, 1840, to Prince ALBERT of Coburg and Gotha, who died on the 14th December, 1861 ; celebrated her Jubilee in 1887, and her Diamond Jubilee in 1897; and died on the 22nd January, 1901. The mere length of the reign, the longest in English history.
itself an eloquent testimony wonderful life. Though, since the
i
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