T HE great affection with which my dear Sister has ever been regarded in this country, and the universal feeling of sympathy shown at the time of her death, lead me to hope that the publication of this volume may not be unwelcome, containing as it does extracts from her letters to my Mother, together with a brief record of her married life. The short Memoir here translated from the German, with which the letters are interwoven, was written, as will be seen at a glance, not as presenting any thin

“I ever look back to my childhood and girlhood as the happiest time of life.”—( 13th June, 1869. ) P RINCESS ALICE, as she is ever called in England, was born at Buckingham Palace on the 25th of April, 1843. She was the third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort. At her christening, which took place at the Palace on the 2d of June, she received the names of Alice Maud Mary. Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester, niece of King George III., and sister-in-law to th

“Our life is a very, very happy one. I have nothing on earth to wish for.... To be able to make a bright and comfortable home for my dear husband is my constant aim.”—( 14th Feb.-1st March, 1864. ) M EANWHILE sorrow had fallen on the Grand Ducal family of Hesse also. Some weeks before the Princess’ marriage (May 25), the Grand Duchess of Hesse (Princess of Bavaria) had died—a woman beloved for her amiable and generous qualities, deeply regretted by her husband, the Grand Duke Louis III., and mou

“Life is meant for work, and not for pleasure.” ( August 29, 1866. ) T HIS year, which brought such important changes to the political life of Germany, was also in many ways full of sorrow and trouble to the Princess, and the hard and painful struggle through which Germany passed affected her very nearly. During the early part of the year, the new palace was completed, and in it the Princess had the satisfaction of seeing her wishes realized, and of feeling both comfortable and “at home.” She wa

Buckingham Palace , October 19th. I was so sad at parting with you yesterday. I could not half thank you for all your love and kind ness during those weeks. But you know how deeply I feel it; how truly grateful I am to you; how happy and contented I am to be allowed to be near you as in old days. Darling Mama, once more, thousand thanks for all and for every thing! The journey went quite well, and I am not particularly tired. Buckingham Palace , November 19th. Thousand thanks for your dear lette

“Life is serious—a journey to another end.” ( December 12, 1874. ) T HE state of the Grand Duchess’ health prevented her from accompanying the Grand Duke to Berlin on the occasion of the marriages of Princess Charlotte of Prussia (eldest daughter of the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany) to the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen, and of Princess Elizabeth of Prussia (sister to the Duchess of Connaught) to the Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg. Although she was unable to go out much into soc

W E must leave it to those who have read the preceding pages—mere chronicle of facts as they are, to form their own idea of the character and personality of the Princess. Still, the disjointed manner in which the whole subject has been treated seems to call for a few more additional remarks. The world has long been acquainted with the outward appearance of the Princess—with the delicacy of her features, the sweetness of their expression, and the dignity and gracefulness of her every movement. Th

T HE beautiful sketch which follows appeared in the Darmstädter Zeitung , dated “Christmas Eve, 1878”; and the annexed translation of it, by Sir Theodore Martin, appeared a few days afterward in the Times . A WATCHER BY THE DEAD. Long, long before daybreak on one of those gloomy December days of last week, an officer made his way hurriedly along the empty, silent streets of the capital. He was in full uniform, but its pomp and splendor were shrouded in a thick covering of crape, for he was afoot