THE COURT.
On the 7th of April, her majesty was delivered of a son. Her recovery was, as on similar occasions, speedy, and the country hailed the event with joy. On the 28th of June, the infant prince was baptized in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace. The splendour usual on such occasions was perhaps somewhat surpassed. Many foreign princes and ministers were present. The sponsors were the King of Hanover, the Princess of Prussia, the Princess Mary of Cambridge, and the Prince of Hohenloe-Lengenburgh. The child was named Leopold George Duncan Albert. The ceremonial was followed by a brilliant state banquet.
The court was not exempt from illness prevalent during a portion of the year. In July, measles attacked her majesty, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and others of the royal children. This event postponed the visit of the court to the Dublin Exhibition, and caused uneasiness for a short time both in Ireland and Great Britain.
On the 11th of August, her majesty reviewed a portion of her fleet at Spithead. It was a magnificent spectacle, affording one of the most gorgeous and glorious displays of naval power ever presented to the eyes of even a British sovereign. Her majesty wherever she appeared was received with the greatest enthusiasm; and, in this grand review, she was attended by the members of both branches of the legislature.
On the 29th of August, her majesty visited the Dublin Exhibition of Industry, an event which is more particularly noticed in the following section.
After her majesty’s visit to Ireland, she sailed to Holyhead, whence, on the 5th of September, she proceeded to Balmoral, to enjoy her Scottish Highland retreat. While at Balmoral an incident occurred illustrative of the character of the royal family. A fire broke out near the palace. Her majesty rendered prompt assistance, directing the efforts used to extinguish the fire, while Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales personally worked with ardour and assiduity to accomplish that object.
On the 14th of October the royal family arrived at Windsor Castle for a prolonged residence.
Thus the United Kingdom, in its capitals, great harbours, and even remote hills and glens, continued to witness the domestic happiness, private virtues, queenly goodness and dignity, and public usefulness and activity of their noble queen and her family. It might in truth be said that every heart in the British Isles felt the aspiration “God save the queen.”