Recollections of a Royal Parish (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III NEW BALMORAL "Know'st thou the land of the mountain and flood, Where the pines of the forest for ages have stood; Where the eagles come forth on the wings of the storm, And their young ones are rocked on the high Cairngorm?" Style of new castle and grounds--All directed by the Prince Consort--Improvements on the estate--Simple, happy life at Balmoral--Visit to Indego--Princess Royal--Princess Alice--Letter of the Queen on the death of the Grand Duchess of Hesse--Meeting of the British Association at Aberdeen--Fete at Balmoral--Ball at the castle--Old Highland customs--Statesmen: Lord Beaconsfield, Mr. Gladstone, Lord Palmerston, etc.--The Prince's last year--Mr. Anderson's presentiment--Changes caused by His Royal Highness's death--Character of the Prince not appreciated till later--Pyramid on Craig Laurachen--Letter of H.R.H. Princess Frederick William of Prussia--Statue of the Prince Consort--Prayer by Dr. Taylor--Improvement in the Queen's health--Spring visits to Balmoral--Personal management of the property--Purchase of Ballochbuie Forest--Letter of the Queen--Her sympathy--Letters and visits of condolence--The Queen's sense of humour--Ladies and gentlemen of the suite--The Duke of Albany--Retirement of my father--Letters from the Queen--Visit to Hopewell--My father's death--Letter and telegrams from Her late Majesty and our present King and Queen. The granite of which the new castle is built was quarried on the estate; the grain of the stone is very fine, and it is unusually white, the felspar which generally supplies the colouring matter in granite being in this case nearly colourless. The late Sir Charles Lyell, the eminent geologist, in an interesting letter to my father upon the geological features of the Balmoral property, says that...