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LIFE OF HER MAJESTY
QUEEN VICTORIA.

BY

MILLICENT GARRETT FAWCETT.

BOSTON:

ROBERTS BROTHERS.

1895.

Copyright, 1895,
By Roberts Brothers.

All rights reserved.

University Press:
John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U.S.A.

It would have been impossible, within the limits of this little book,to narrate, even in barest outline, all the events of the Queen’s longlife and reign. In attempting to deal with so large a subject in soshort a space, I have therefore thought it best to dwell on what maybe considered the formative influences on the Queen’s character in herearly life, and in later years to refer only to political and personalevents, in so far as they illustrate her character and her conceptionof her political functions. Even with this limitation, I am fully awarehow far short I have come of being able to produce a worthy record ofa noble life. I will only add that I begun this little book with afeeling towards Her Majesty of sincere veneration and gratitude, andthat this feeling has been deepened by studying more closely than I haddone before the ideal place of the Crown in the English Constitution,as a power above party, and the important part the Queen has taken nowfor nearly sixty years in making this ideal a reality. It is not toomuch to say that, by her sagacity and persistent devotion to duty, shehas created modern constitutionalism, and more than any other singleperson has made England and the English monarchy what they now are.

A list of the books referred to will be found after the chronologicaltable. Among them it is almost unnecessary[Pg 6] to say that I am especiallyindebted to “The Early Years of the Prince Consort,” by General Grey,and to “The Life of the Prince Consort,” by Sir Theodore Martin. I alsodesire to express my respectful thanks to H. R. H. Princess Christian,for help very graciously and kindly given in the selection of aportrait for this little volume.

MILLICENT GARRETT FAWCETT.