On the death of the Queen, Mr Arthur Balfour, speaking in the House of Commons, described his visit to Osborne at a time when the Royal Family was already in mourning.  The Queen’s desk was still littered with papers, the inkstand still open and the pen laid beside it.  “She passed away with her children and her children’s children to the third generation around her, beloved and cherished of all.  She passed away without, I well believe, a single enemy in the world.  Even those who loved not England loved her.  She passed away not only knowing that she was, I had almost said, worshipped and reverenced by all her subjects, but that their feelings towards her had grown in depth and intensity with every year she was spared to rule over us.”

Appendix

Victoria Alexandrina, only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III.  Born at Kensington, May 24, 1819.  Became Queen, June 20, 1837.

Married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Consort, born August 26, 1819, died December 14, 1861.

Died January 22, 1901, after a reign of sixty-three years.

Summary of Chief Events during the Queen’s Reign

1838.  Commencement of the Chartist Movement.

1840.  PENNY POSTAGE ESTABLISHED mainly through the efforts of
          Rowland Hill. 
      War with China.

1841.  Sir Robert Peel appointed Premier.

1842.  War with Afghanistan.  Peace with China.  The Chinese cede Hong
          Kong.

1843.  Agitation in Ireland for the Repeal of the Union. 
      Arrest of Daniel O’Connell.

1845.  War with the Sikhs. 
      Failure of potato crop in Ireland, which resulted in a famine
          in the following winter.

1846.  Repeal of the Corn Laws. 
      Lord John Russell appointed Premier.

1848.  Revolution in France.  Prince Louis Napoleon becomes President
          of the Republic. 
      Chartist Agitation in London.

1849.  Annexation of the Punjab.

1850.  Death of Sir Robert Peel.

1851.  THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

1852.  Death of the Duke of Wellington. 
      Louis Napoleon elected Emperor of France.

1853.  Turkey declares war against Russia.

1854.  Great Britain and France declare war against Russia. 
      THE CRIMEAN WAR. 
      Invasion of the Crimea.  The Battle of the Alma (Sept. 20). 
          Siege of Sebastopol.  Battle of Balaclava and Charge of the
          Light Brigade (Oct. 25). 
      Battle of Inkerman (Nov. 5).

1855.  Lord Palmerston appointed Premier. 
      Death of the Emperor Nicholas of Russia. 
      Fall of Sebastopol (Sept.).

1856.  Peace concluded with Russia by the Treaty of Paris.

1857.  THE INDIAN MUTINY. 
      The massacre at Cawnpore (July).  Capture of Delhi (Sept.). 
      Sir Colin Campbell relieves Lucknow (Nov.).