queen victoria-第27节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
punishment upon the nation。 Colonel Sibthorpe； in the debate on the Address； prayed that hail and lightning might descend from heaven on the accursed thing。 The Prince； with unyielding perseverance and infinite patience； pressed on to his goal。 His health was seriously affected； he suffered from constant sleeplessness； his strength was almost worn out。 But he remembered the injunctions of Stockmar and never relaxed。 The volume of his labours grew more prodigious every day； he toiled at committees； presided over public meetings； made speeches； and carried on communications with every corner of the civilised worldand his efforts were rewarded。 On May 1； 1851； the Great Exhibition was opened by the Queen before an enormous concourse of persons； amid scenes of dazzling brilliancy and triumphant enthusiasm。
Victoria herself was in a state of excitement which bordered on delirium。 She performed her duties in a trance of joy； gratitude； and amazement； and； when it was all over； her feelings poured themselves out into her journal in a torrential flood。 The day had been nothing but an endless succession of gloriesor rather one vast gloryone vast radiation of Albert。 Everything she had seen； everything she had felt or heard； had been so beautiful； so wonderful that even the royal underlinings broke down under the burden of emphasis； while her remembering pen rushed on； regardless； from splendour to splendourthe huge crowds； so wellbehaved and loyal…flags of all the nations floatingthe inside of the building； so immense； with myriads of people and the sun shining through the roofa little side room； where we left our shawlspalm…trees and machinerydear Albertthe place so big that we could hardly hear the organthankfulness to Goda curious assemblage of political and distinguished menthe March from AthalieGod bless my dearest Albert； God bless my dearest country！a glass fountainthe Duke and Lord Anglesey walking arm in arma beautiful Amazon； in bronze； by KissMr。 Paxton； who might be justly proud； and rose from being a common gardener's boySir George Grey in tears； and everybody astonished and delighted。
A striking incident occurred when； after a short prayer by the Archbishop of Canterbury； the choir of 600 voices burst into the 〃Hallelujah Chorus。〃 At that moment a Chinaman； dressed in full national costume； stepped out into the middle of the central nave； and； advancing slowly towards the royal group； did obeisance to Her Majesty。 The Queen； much impressed； had no doubt that he was an eminent mandarin； and； when the final procession was formed； orders were given that； as no representative of the Celestial Empire was present； he should be included in the diplomatic cortege。 He accordingly； with the utmost gravity； followed immediately behind the Ambassadors。 He subsequently disappeared； and it was rumoured； among ill…natured people； that； far from being a mandarin； the fellow was a mere impostor。 But nobody ever really discovered the nature of the comments that had been lurking behind the matchless impassivity of that yellow face。
A few days later Victoria poured out her heart to her uncle。 The first of May； she said； was 〃the GREATEST day in our history； the most BEAUTIFUL and IMPOSING and TOUCHING spectacle ever seen； and the triumph of my beloved Albert。。。 It was the HAPPIEST； PROUDEST day in my life； and I can think of nothing else。 Albert's dearest name is immortalised with this GREAT conception； HIS own； and my OWN dear country SHOWED she was WORTHY of it。 The triumph is IMMENSE。〃
It was。 The enthusiasm was universal； even the bitterest scoffers were converted； and joined in the chorus of praise。 Congratulations from public bodies poured in； the City of Paris gave a great fete to the Exhibition committee； and the Queen and the Prince made a triumphal progress through the North of England。 The financial results were equally remarkable。 The total profit made by the Exhibition amounted to a sum of L165；000； which was employed in the purchase of land for the erection of a permanent National Museum in South Kensington。 During the six months of its existence in Hyde Park over six million persons visited it； and not a single accident occurred。 But there is an end to all things； and the time had come for the Crystal Palace to be removed to the salubrious seclusion of Sydenham。 Victoria； sad but resigned； paid her final visit。 〃It looked so beautiful；〃 she said。 〃I could not believe it was the last time I was to see it。 An organ； accompanied by a fine and powerful wind instrument called the sommerophone； was being played； and it nearly upset me。 The canvas is very dirty； the red curtains are faded and many things are very much soiled； still the effect is fresh and new as ever and most beautiful。 The glass fountain was already removed。。。 and the sappers and miners were rolling about the little boxes just as they did at the beginning。 It made us all very melancholy。〃 But more cheerful thoughts followed。 When all was over； she expressed her boundless satisfaction in a dithyrambic letter to the Prime Minister。 Her beloved husband's name； she said； was for ever immortalised； and that this was universally recognised by the country was a source to her of immense happiness and gratitude。 〃She feels grateful to Providence；〃 Her Majesty concluded； 〃to have permitted her to be united to so great； so noble； so excellent a Prince； and this year will ever remain the proudest and happiest of her life。 The day of the closing of the Exhibition （which the Queen regretted much she could not witness）； was the twelfth anniversary of her betrothal to the Prince； which is a curious coincidence。〃
CHAPTER V。 LORD PALMERSTON
I
In 1851 the Prince's fortunes reached their high…water mark。 The success of the Great Exhibition enormously increased his reputation and seemed to assure him henceforward a leading place in the national life。 But before the year was out another triumph； in a very different sphere of action； was also his。 This triumph； big with fateful consequences； was itself the outcome of a series of complicated circumstances which had been gathering to a climax for many years。
The unpopularity of Albert in high society had not diminished with time。 Aristocratic persons continued to regard him with disfavour； and he on his side； withdrew further and further into a contemptuous reserve。 For a moment； indeed； it appeared as if the dislike of the upper classes was about to be suddenly converted into cordiality； for they learnt with amazement that the Prince； during a country visit； had ridden to hounds and acquitted himself remarkably well。 They had always taken it for granted that his horsemanship was of some second…rate foreign quality； and here he was jumping five…barred gates and tearing after the fox as if he had been born and bred in Leicestershire。 They could hardly believe it； was it possible that they had made a mistake； and that Albert was a good fellow after all？ Had he wished to be thought so he would certainly have seized this opportunity； purchased several hunters； and used them constantly。 But he had no such desire； hunting bored him； and made Victoria nervous。 He continued； as before； to ride； as he himself put it； for exercise or convenience； not for amusement； and it was agreed that though the Prince； no doubt； could keep in his saddle well enough； he was no sportsman。
This was a serious matter。 It was not merely that Albert was laughed at by fine ladies and sneered at by fine gentlemen； it was not merely that Victoria； who before her marriage had cut some figure in society； had； under her husband's influence； almost completely given it up。 Since Charles the Second the sovereigns of England had； with a single exception； always been unfashionable； and the fact that the exception was George the Fourth seemed to give an added significance to the rule。 What was grave was not the lack of fashion； but the lack of other and more important qualities。 The hostility of the upper classes was symptomatic of an antagonism more profound than one of manners or even of tastes。 The Prince； in a word； was un…English。 What that word precisely meant it was difficult to say； but the fact was patent to every eye。 Lord Palmerston； also； was not fashionable； the great Whig aristocrats looked askance at him； and only tolerated him as an unpleasant necessity thrust upon them by fate。 But Lord Palmerston was English through and through； there was something in him that expressed； with extraordinary vigour； the fundamental qualities of the English race。 And he was the very antithesis of the Prince。 By a curious chance it so happened that this typical Englishman was brought into closer contact than any other of his countrymen with the alien from over the sea。 It thus fell out that differences which； in more fortunate circumstances； might have been smoothed away and obliterated； became accentuated to the highest pitch。 All the mysterious forces in Albert's soul leapt out to do battle with his adversary； and； in the long and violent conflict that followed； it almost seemed as if he was struggling with England herself。
Palmerston's whole life had been spent in the government of the country。 At twenty…two he had been a Minister； at twenty…five he had bee
