And know ye not that where a woman governs, the rule is in the power of men? For she gives heed to wise counsellors, and these gather round her. But where the distaff excludes from the throne, there is the government of females; for the women that please the king’s eyes, have his heart in their hand.” - Musaeus.

Considering all the surrounding circumstances - notably, the advanced age of the revered and distinguished monarch herself; the length of time, 39 years, which had elapsed since her last previous visit; and the cantankerous state of existing Irish public opinion consequent upon the feelings aroused by the Boer war, already alluded to - considering all these things, the visit of Queen Victoria to Ireland in April 1900 must always be regarded as a public event of the first importance.

In no sense of the word can it be considered as a mere regal ceremonial. It was the act of a great woman, undertaken upon her own initiative, triumphantly carried through upon her own responsibility, and productive of results which will grow more apparent as we recede from the event. The Irishman who could regard the action of the sovereign in the matter without a thrill of sympathy must be lost to all instincts of chivalry.

I had never seen Queen Victoria before. To me she had been something in the nature of a myth, an impassive constitutional sovereign, whose duty it was to ratify the acts of time-serving politicians - I use the adjective literally - of both and all political parties. I often sympathised with the position of the sovereign of the United Kingdom. A wise, far-seeing woman - standing aloof from the pettiness, the short-sightedness, the trumpery make-shifts which characterise the political careers of even the best and most high-minded statesmen - how often must she not have inwardly revolted against adopting the course suggested to her! Never before has a woman found herself placed, and for so long a time, in a position of such fierce publicity and overwhelming responsibility. Had any one with a fraction of a fibre of the fool in his or her anatomy occupied the Queen’s position for the past 63 years, that person would have found ready to his or her hand countless opportunities for the display of his or her folly. Not to have ever acted foolishly in such a position would, in itself, have been to, have scored a great success. Sense and self-abnegation have been, and are, I think, Queen Victoria’s most signal personal characteristics as a monarch; and the verdict of posterity upon her career will be that she attained the highest possible measure of success and distinction as a constitutional sovereign. It is happily obvious to any one who takes even a passing interest in their careers, that both the Prince of Wales [King Edward VII] and the Duke of York [The Prince of Wales] have inherited from the Queen and Prince Albert that extraordinary power of self-repression, that unequalled level of good sense which, to me, appear to place Queen Victoria on a pinnacle by herself amongst the great and historic sovereigns of the world.

Before I enjoyed any personal observation of the Queen, I always felt that she must have possessed truly great qualities to have inspired Tennyson to write of her as he did in his own unequalled verse:-

“Revered, beloved - O you that hold
A nobler office upon earth
Than arms, or power of brain, or birth
Could give the warrior kings of old.”

I believe that Tennyson was as much above hypocrisy as Shakespeare; he was a man full of the true fire of genius; and circumstances supplied Tennyson with a sovereign as worthy of his praise as ever Elizabeth was worthy of the high-sounding compliments of Shakespeare. That long expanse of three centuries of British progress, from Elizabeth to Victoria, from 1587 to 1887, will be bounded in history by two colossal, royal figures, everlasting pillars aere perennius - one representing the great deeds of the reign of Elizabeth, the other representing the achievements of the reign of Victoria. Elizabeth died childless, and her power and great opportunities fell into the hands of a fool, destined to be succeeded by many fools. Victoria, at the close of her great career, saw herself surrounded by her children and her children’s children, and the children of her children’s children. We, therefore, may happily and reasonably look forward to a long continuance of the good sense and wisdom which have illumined from above the affairs of this realm for the past 63 years.

“Her court was pure; her life serene;
God gave her peace; her land reposed;
A thousand claims to reverence closed
In her as Mother, Wife, and Queen.”

But these large considerations are outside the narrow scope of this book, and we must hasten to narrate briefly the events and incidents of her Majesty’s visit to Ireland.

Lord Cadogan once again displayed acumen in the method selected by him for conveying the announcement to the public. Nobody, outside those in the Queen’s confidence, expected that her Majesty would visit Ireland, and the intelligence of it took the entire country by surprise. Lord Cadogan, on the afternoon of the 7th of March, sent an official to all the newspaper offices in Dublin with a request that each editor would send a representative to the Castle at 10pm that evening, to receive a communication from his Excellency. At that hour Lord Cadogan informed the collected pressmen that the Queen intended to visit Ireland for the benefit of her health, “in the same way as her Majesty usually visited the south of France” at that season of the year. The newspapers of Dublin were, perhaps, never more taken by surprise, yet certainly they had never been treated with greater respect and consideration by a Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

On Sunday, the 1st of April, a splendid fleet appeared in Dublin Bay, embellishing that fine expanse of water to the delight of Kingstown and all the coast townships. In the interval arrangements had been made for the public decoration of the streets and leading sites of the city and townships, on a scale surpassing in completeness and magnificence anything ever previously attempted in Ireland.

The corporation had officially decided to welcome the sovereign; and the Lord Mayor, in consequence, found himself in a position to take the place which of right belonged to his office, and put himself at the head of all the proceedings. When the Victoria and Albert , having her Majesty on board, dropped anchor, amidst the booming of a hundred cannon, in the middle of Kingstown harbour, at quarter past two in the afternoon of Tuesday, the 3rd of April, the city of Dublin and its horseshoe of environs from Howth to Killiney, and its beautiful bay enclosed within the arms of that horseshoe, presented an appearance of rejoicing and expectation never before equalled.

When night fell, the beautiful town of Kingstown, which slopes up so picturesquely from the water level, was illuminated; all the craft in the harbour were also illuminated; and, outside the harbour, the illuminations of the immense fleet in the bay irradiated the face of the waters from Sandycove to the Bailey, and out even to the Kish.

The Queen slept on board the yacht that night. What must have been her thoughts, revisiting this island after 39 years? “I come to this fair country,” she said on the following day, in her reply to the corporation address, “to seek change and rest, and to revisit scenes which recall to my mind - amongst thoughts of the losses which years must bring - the heartiest recollections of the warm-hearted welcome given to my beloved husband and children.”

On the following day, Wednesday, the 4th of April, the Queen landed at the Victoria Wharf, and entered Dublin in semi-state. The day was observed as a general holiday, all places of business, including the banks, being closed. The city of Dublin was filled to overflowing with visitors from all parts of the three kingdoms, and our historic capital rose equal to the occasion in every respect. The public decorations in the streets, the private decorations in the houses, not only all along the line of route, but in every part of the city, reached their climax at the Grand Canal bridge, at Leeson Street, the point of the city boundary at which the Queen, having passed through the townships of Pembroke and Rathmines, was to enter Dublin.

It was about half-past eleven when the Queen landed at Kingstown, and entered the pavilion prepared for her reception on the wharf, where she found herself surrounded by some of the most distinguished personages in Ireland, headed by her able deputy, Lord Cadogan.

The Queen was escorted to her carriage by the Lord-Lieutenant, and there received the first popular address of welcome, that of the Kingstown township board, which was signed by: Chairman, T. W. Robinson, J.P., P.L.G.; vice-chairman, Colonel D. G. Beamish; W. G. Barrett, P.L.G.; Colonel B. W. Blood, M.In. C.E.; Major R. M. Blount; Edward Browett; Thomas Brown, P.L.G., M.C.C.; Frederick A. Buckley; John Carr; Henry J. Clarke; Fred. G. Coldwell, J.P.; Michael J. Collins; James Evans, P.L.G.; A. S. Findlater, M.A., J.P.; Philip P. Hynes; John M’Cullagh, J.P.; Thomas Ross; Alexander J. Taylor, M.A.; Frederick Thompson; and William Wallace - all of whom, with the town clerk, Mr. John Donnelly, and the solicitor, Mr. Gerald Byrne, stood beside the royal carriage. The chairman said: “May it please your Majesty, I have the honour to present to you the address of the Kingstown Urban Council.”

The Queen handed to the chairman a written reply in the following terms: “I thank for your loyal and dutiful address, and for warm welcome with which you have greeted me on setting foot again on Irish soil. I receive with heartfelt satisfaction your assurances of devotion and affection towards me. I am looking forward with much pleasure to my visit to this part of my dominions. I pray that God may bless Ireland with increasing welfare and prosperity.”

Her Majesty spoke the following words:

“I am very pleased to find myself in Ireland once more.”

Miss May Robinson, daughter of the chairman, then presented her Majesty with a bouquet, which was allowed to rest on the seat of the Queen’s carriage on the route to Dublin. Sailors and soldiers, with military bands at numerous points, lined the nine miles of road from the wharf to the Viceregal Lodge. Bunting of every description bedecked the highways. But better than naval or military display, more inspiring than the gayest banners, were the kindly faces of innumerable Irish men, women, and children who came out to see the Queen.

Those who have followed me up to this stage realise some of the difficulties and disadvantages under which poor Irish Roman Catholics labour; what a nightmare they are living through; what a morass of hypocrisy they have to wade across, until they reach firm ground either here, or, more generally, in the United States and the Colonies. To the everlasting credit of the Catholics of Dublin, they now received Queen Victoria as she ought to have been received. I pay no heed to the fountain of wild talk and wild writing which was allowed free play in Ireland immediately prior to and during the royal visit. It was well meant by those who spoke and wrote; it was all got up, as they thought, for Ireland’s good; but it was valued at its proper worth by the community, and little attention was given to it.

But one cannot so lightly pass over the alleged behaviour of certain priests. Archbishop Walsh was not to be seen or heard of personally in connection with the visit, a matter with which the public have no concern. But unchristian deeds were exultantly reported as having been done, and unchristian words were written, by priests and laymen who admit themselves to be subjects of Archbishop Walsh, and to which I shall allude.

With the exception of Bishop O’Callaghan of Cork, who attended a public luncheon given to the Duke of Connaught in that city, and Cardinal Logue, who accepted her Majesty’s invitation to dinner at the Viceregal Lodge, the priests not only did nothing worthy of them to make the visit a pleasant event, but they obstructed and sneered at any symptom of inclination evinced by the laity to take part in the celebrations.

The Cork episode is worth a moment’s consideration. A meeting of the Cork corporation was summoned to consider a proposal to present an address to the Queen, and the proposal was rejected. Nor was guidance wanting on the subject from the priests; for the public, including the corporation, were informed in the press that “a smart priest” had sent a public invitation to the corporation to attend vespers in his church on St. Patrick’s Day. It had just been announced that the mayor of Cork intended to take part on that day in the civic procession of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, whose corporation had decided in favour of an address, and the invitation was construed as a snub to the Dublin corporation. But, immediately afterwards, when the corporation of Cork had placed itself in a false position by refusing its address, the Bishop of Cork came forward, an unheard-of piece of activity, and attended a public luncheon given in Cork to the Duke of Connaught! That move in the game went to prove to the Government that the sacerdotal Codlin was the friend and not the lay Short.

In Dublin, luckily, our corporation was not deceived. But if the Dublin corporation had acted as the Cork Corporation did, and refused an address, it occurs to me that the priests would have found their cue in emphasising the disloyalty” of the laymen!

To resume our narrative, the procession started from Kingstown, and, in the words of that important but unsympathetic newspaper, the Freeman’s Journal, “the start was a signal for an outburst of cheering from the occupants of the stands within and without the enclosure, and which was re-echoed from the crowd outside.”

It consisted of four carriages.

In the first were the Earl of Denbigh, Sir Fleetwood Edwards, K.C.B., and Sir James Reid, Bart., K.C.B., private physician to the Queen. In the second were the Countess of Antrim, the Hon. Harriett Phipps, and Sir Mathew White Ridley, Bart., M.P., Secretary of State for the Home Department. In the third were H.R.H. the Duchess of Connaught, H.R.H. Prince Arthur, Princess Margaret, Princess Victoria Patricia of Connaught.

In the fourth carriage was the Queen herself, with Princess Christian and Princess Beatrice who both sat on the front seat facing the Queen. And it did the spectators good to see those two healthy, happy, naturally behaved ladies, apparently brimful of energy, and certainly beaming affability on all sides upon the countless thousands that lined, the long route. The Queen herself sat alone on the back seat of the carriage, with the large bouquet of flowers, before referred to, resting on the vacant space by her side.

Most of the residents along the route had erected stands or put up additional balconies in front of their houses to view the procession. Our friends and we had an excellent view from the front of our house in Upper Leeson Street, and I remember being struck at the moment by the contrast between the small bodily size of the Queen and the vastness of the forces which she had the power to set in motion. “In the domain of peace that small personage,” I reflected, “is powerful enough, without threat or compulsion, to set in motion as large bodies of men as was ’the little corporal’ himself in the domain of war.”

Accompanying her Majesty’s carriage, on horseback, were the Duke of Connaught, commander of the forces, with the following equerries-in-waiting: Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. W. Carrington, C.B.; Captain F. Ponsonby; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Arthur Bigge, K.C.B.; and the Duke’s staff.

At the magnificent structure at Leeson Street Bridge, specially designed for the occasion on the model of old Baggotrath Castle, which stood somewhere in the locality, entrance for the Queen was demanded by the Athlone Pursuivant-at-Arms. Advancing to the Lord Mayor, Athlone, mounted on a sorry nag, said: “Mr. Lord Mayor of Dublin, I seek admission to the city of Dublin for her most gracious Majesty the Queen.” The Lord Mayor replied: “On behalf of the city of Dublin, I desire to tender to the Queen a most hearty welcome to her Majesty’s ancient city, and on the arrival of her Majesty the city gates shall be thrown open on the instant.” The demand and reply were followed by loud cheers from the expectant crowds.

On passing under the arched gateway, Queen Victoria found herself in presence of as enthusiastic a gathering of her subjects as, perhaps, she had ever witnessed. The wives and families of the members of the corporation, and a host of leading citizens occupied places on an immense stand erected within the gate. The Lord Mayor and corporation stood on the Queen’s side of the roadway, facing Adelaide Road, the city marshal (Charles Stewart Parnell’s brother), with the keys on a cushion at the Lord Mayor’s left hand, and, on his right, the deputy sword-bearer, with the civic sword.

The following members of the corporation and officials were then present: The Lord Mayor, attended by Mr. Henry Campbell, town clerk; Mr. Fred. J. Allan, secretary; Rev. Wesley Guard, chaplain; Mr. John H. Parnell, M.P., city marshal; Mr. John Barlow, mace-bearer; Mr. Robert J. Burke, sword-bearer, specially appointed by the Lord Mayor for the occasion, in consequence of the sword-bearer’s refusal to act; the High Sheriff (Alderman Downes); Aldermen Joseph M. Meade, Sir Robert Sexton, William Ireland, W. F. Cotton, James Cummins, Michael Flanagan, and J. K. Hendrick; Councillors Daniel Burke, James Brady, Bernard Gorevan, Michael M’Govern, John J. O’Meara, James Lyons, James Dodd, John Irwin, Andrew Beattie, Patrick Monks, Thomas A. Joynt, Richard Jones, Patrick W. Corrigan, Philip Little, Dr. H. B. Kennedy, W. J. Crimmins, George Healy, Michael Murray, Henry Brown, George Macnie, E. L. Richardson, and T. J. O’Neill; to the many Catholics amongst whom, for their pluck and sense in attending, due praise must be given.

When the Queen’s carriage stopped, the Lord Mayor was presented to her Majesty by the Home Secretary, and he advanced, carrying the keys of the city on a cushion, saying, “I humbly tender to your Majesty the keys of the ancient city of Dublin” (cheers). The Queen directed the Lord Mayor to resume charge of the keys, and they were returned to the city marshal. A similar ceremony was observed with the civic sword, the Lord Mayor saying: “I also humbly tender to your Majesty the civic sword.” Her Majesty directed the Lord Mayor to resume charge of the sword, which was returned to the deputy sword-bearer. The town clerk then read the address, which was enclosed in a golden casket of ancient Celtic design, and rested on a cushion of green silk, trimmed with gold border and tassels.

Queen Victoria replied verbally as follows, in a low but perfectly audible voice: “I thank you for your loyal address and cordial reception. I am very pleased to find myself in Ireland again.”

The Lord Mayor then said, “For those gracious words I thank your Majesty.”

The Lady Mayoress then handed the Queen a silver basket, filled with red and white roses, lily of the valley, and asparagus fern, saying: “May I be allowed to present to your Majesty a few flowers, and to add the hope that your visit may be a very pleasant one amongst us.” The Queen accepted the basket, bowed to the Lady Mayoress and thanked her.

The procession then continued on its way after a brief interval, and, after it had moved off, the town clerk read aloud the Queen’s written reply, which had been handed to the Lord Mayor. I have quoted from it already, but its full text is as follows: “I thank you heartily for the loyal welcome and good wishes which you have tendered to me on behalf of yourself and fellow-citizens on my arrival in the ancient capital of my Irish dominions. I come to this fair country to seek change and rest, and to revisit scenes which recall to my mind - among thoughts of the losses which years must bring - the heartiest recollections of the warm-hearted welcome given to my beloved husband and children. I am deeply gratified that I have been able at this time to see again the motherland of those brave sons who have recently borne themselves in defence of my Crown and Empire with a cheerful valour as conspicuous now as ever in their glorious past. I pray that the Almighty may ever bless and direct you in the high functions which you exercise for the benefit of your fellow-citizens.”

The Queen, having passed through the most important streets in Dublin on her route, streets as straight and spacious, perhaps, as are to be found in any city in the United Kingdom, and having received a continuous ovation all the way, reached the Viceregal Lodge at two o’clock, where she was received at the entrance lodge by the Lord-Lieutenant and Countess Cadogan. Later on in the afternoon the Queen drove in the Phoenix Park, and that evening sent the following communication to the Lord Mayor of Dublin

”Sir Arthur Bigge presents his compliments to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and is commanded to thank his lordship for his kind message, and to inform his lordship that the Queen is not over-fatigued by this morning’s drive, and that her Majesty was deeply touched and gratified by the enthusiastic welcome which she received. Her Majesty much looks forward to her stay in Ireland.”

The illuminations in the streets that night surpassed anything ever previously beheld Ireland, and the myriads of spectators dispersed quietly to their homes shortly before midnight without any disturbance or unpleasantness.

A remarkable feature of the night’s demonstration was the number of special electric tramcars, chartered by the leading citizens, in which, accompanied by their guests, they made a tour through the principal streets and viewed the crowds and the illuminations. I shall ever remember the sea of faces in College Green as the people surged up against the tramcars which crawled at snail’s pace in endless life through the dense mass of humanity.

Thus passed April the 4th, 1900, an eventful day for Dublin and Ireland, in which it is computed that there were close upon a million people in the city.

Chapter XXXIII

Narrative of the Queen’s visit (Concluded) - clerical intriguers and the children’s treat.

The Queen was now safely lodged in the Viceregal Lodge, Phoenix Park-an indifferent home for royalty; while Lord and Lady Cadogan and their family had taken up their abode at that anathematised collection of buildings, the Castle, Dublin; and the Duke and Duchess of Connaught were occupying Lord Iveagh’s place, Farmleigh, on the outskirts of the Phoenix Park. The Queen remained there until Thursday, the 26th of April. Not a single Castle or Irish Government’s official was asked to take part publicly in any of the drives or other acts of the Queen. They apparently found their occupations gone for the ensuing three weeks. Every act of the Queen was done without local official prompting, so far as the public could judge; and the result was so satisfactory that’ the precedent is likely to be followed by subsequent sovereigns who come to Ireland.

The Queen was now safely lodged in the Viceregal Lodge, Phoenix Park - an indifferent home for royalty; while Lord and Lady Cadogan and their family had taken up their abode at that anathematised collection of buildings, the Castle, Dublin; and the Duke and Duchess of Connaught were occupying Lord Iveagh’s place, Farmleigh, on the outskirts of the Phoenix Park. The Queen remained there until Thursday, the 26th of April. Not a single Castle or Irish Government’s official was asked to take part publicly in any of the drives or other acts of the Queen. They apparently found their occupations gone for the ensuing three weeks. Every act of the Queen was done without local official prompting, so far as the public could judge; and the result was so satisfactory that the precedent is likely to be followed by subsequent sovereigns who come to Ireland.

There was no exhibition of force, or military; indeed there was, on the contrary, a marked suppression of force; yet not a solitary arrest or disturbance or unpleasantness of any kind occurred during the three weeks that this sensible lady stayed with us, following her own wise bent, trusting the honour of the Irish people completely! This fact should not be lost sight of by our fellow-citizens of Great-Britain when they consider the case of Ireland; for it was at a time when England appeared to be in a very real difficulty, and when much popular misdirection was being given to the people by their recognised guides.

On the second day, April the 5th, the Queen, accompanied by the Princesses Christian and Beatrice, drove round the Phoenix Park, which is one of the finest and most famous park drives in Europe. Had the visit occurred a month or six weeks later in the year, the park would have been looking much more emerald than it ever is in April.

On the third day, April the 6th, the Queen and Princess Beatrice went for a drive through Drumcondra and Cabra, a district of Dublin which is one of our quietest and perhaps the least frequented by visitors.

The 7th of April was what was called the children’s day, and a vast concourse of children, to the number of 50,000, from the city and the country, assembled in the Phoenix Park to see the Queen and to be seen by her Majesty. They were hospitably entertained at the expense of a citizens’ committee; at the head of which, or actively engaged in the good work, were the Lady Mayoress, the Countess of Fingall, Mrs. MT. J. Goulding, Mrs. Dallas Pratt, Mrs. Talerton, Lady Annette La Touche, Lady Martin, Lady Arnott, Mrs. Browne, Mrs. Dockrell, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Bulger, Mrs. Cooke, Mrs. and Miss Plews, Mrs. Henry Fitzgibbon, the Misses Fitzgibbon, Mrs. Mooney, Mrs. Egan, Mrs. and Miss Alston, Mrs. Graham Bailey, Mrs. Conolly Norman, Mrs. Kenny, Mrs. Arnold, Mrs. Crossley, Mrs. Richard, Miss Church, Miss Smith, Miss Barry, Miss Calderwood, Miss Isabel Sexton, Miss Rathbourne, Mrs. Dwyer, Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. and Miss French, Miss Royce, the Hon. Mrs. Foljambe, the Misses Montgomery, Miss Seymour, Mrs. and the Misses Jones, the Misses O’Farrell (three), Miss Towers, Mrs. Macaulay Fitzgibbon, Mrs. S. A. O. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Newcomen, Miss Carson Rae, Miss Young, and many others.

Amongst the men who interested themselves in the festival were: Sir Richard Martin; Frederick Falkiner; Charles Kennedy, J.P.; W. J. Goulding; Rev. Gilbert Mahaffy; T. W. Fair; John Cooke; MA.; H. B. Dawson; L. R. Strangways, M.A.; William Anderson; J. Malcolm Inglis; John Mooney; Hamilton Drummond; W. Lawrence; F. W. Crossley; M. J. Dunne; A. J. Nicholls; Charles Dickinson; William Fry; A. Hayes; W. E. Ellis; William Carty; J. Harrison; J. Counsel; J. B. Moriarty; S. A. O. Fitzpatrick; C. M. Coghlan; and several others.

Some of the donations from city firms to the children’s feast bear witness to the generosity of Irishmen. Messrs. Jacob & Co. gave one ton of biscuits; Messrs. William & Woods, one ton of jam and 10,000 bags of sweets; Messrs. J. Downes & Co., 1,800 buns; Messrs. Johnston, Mooney & O’Brien 3,000 buns; Messrs. Shuley & Co., 15,000 paper bags; Messrs. M’Cluskey & Co., 750 oranges; Messrs. Cleeve Brothers, Limerick, 7 cwt. of butter; Messrs. Shaw & Sons; Limerick, 1,250 lbs. of best ham; The Lucan Dairy, 300 gallons of milk; Mr Hamilton Drummond, 2,500 oranges; and there were several others whose names I do not remember.

“Her Majesty was received with the utmost heartiness and enthusiasm, the children singing, cheering, and waving flags as the Queen passed by. The royal carriage stopped at the Lord Mayor’s enclosure, where the Earl of Denbigh and Desmond, lord-in-waiting, was in attendance, while bouquets were presented to her Majesty by the young twin daughters of Sir John and Lady Arnott, who were accompanied by Master Walter Pile, son of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. The Lady Mayoress and Lady Arnott had the honour of being presented. The arrangements, which were safely and admirably carried out, were in the hands of the Lord Mayor, assisted by the ladies’ committee.” [Court Circular.]

It was in connection with this children’s treat that the Roman Catholic priests exhibited that churlish objection to mixing with their Protestant fellow-citizens which is so characteristic of them; and, to their disgrace be it said, many Catholic pressmen, who know far better, backed them up in their bigotry. We have heard Dr. Nedley, the distinguished Vincentian fellow-pupil of Chief Justice Russell, upon the “soupers,” and his sneer at the poor half-starved Catholics who “sowld their sowls for penny rowls, for soup and hairy’ A brazen attempt was made now - and successfully made-by some Dublin priests, up by their sycophant newspapers, to damn the children’s feast by calling it “souperism!” And Catholic ladies, many of whose names are mentioned in the above list, were sneered at in print for having dared to co-operate with the Protestant ladies in the matter. They found it necessary to send the following let to the press

“Sir, - Will you kindly allow us to state to the public that the breakfast to be given on the morning of the Queen’s entry is significant only of kindly thought and a desire to give pleasure to the children whose lives are not very bright. It cannot, surely, give offence to any one, whatever their creed or politics, to know that, out of tribute to the Queen’s womanly heart, an attempt is being made by kind-hearted citizens of Dublin to secure, if possible, that no child, however poor, shall go hungry that day. It is both uncharitable and untrue to attempt to give any other colouring to the proceedings. The two societies making the necessary arrangements were asked to do so because they are absolutely non-political and non-sectarian, and working solely for the well-being of’ children.

Eleanor B. Dallas Pratt, Vice-Pres., Etta Tolerton, Sec.”

But despite all explanation, the vast majority, indeed almost all, of the Catholic children, both at the male and female national schools, and at the industrial schools, were successfully coerced into absenting themselves and losing the sadly needed day of enlightenment and pleasure. It was monstrous, unchristian conduct; but one does not know which aspect of the incident to be most appalled at - the unscrupulousness of the clerical intriguers; or the helplessness of the poor lay Catholics; or the servile dishonesty of the Catholic press.

Mr. Joseph Mooney, J P., the Catholic chairman of the South Dublin Union, spoke words of manliness and common-sense on the subject when some of the inconsiderate Catholic extremists on that board wished to prevent the workhouse children from getting the benefit of the proffered treat. The workhouse children got their day’s pleasure, and Mr. Mooney deserves lasting credit for his action. I know nothing of Mr. Mooney’s opinions personally, but it is Catholic laymen such as he is that one hopes to see multiplied in Ireland; and it is to men of his stamp that a share in the management of the temporal affairs of the Catholic Church in Ireland should be voluntarily entrusted.*

It is idle to attribute the absence of the children in general to extreme political opinions as Mrs. Browne does in the appendix, in the case of the workhouse children. The schools are under sacerdotal management, and, had the priests wished it, the Catholic children have gone to the park. It was the “heritage of the faith,” and not political principles, that were at stake.

Some children were, no doubt, kept away in pursuance of a political principle, but those children were promised an outing to Wolfe Tone’s grave, in the June ensuing, instead of the day they had missed. And even this substituted outing was condemned in an expensively got-up anonymous pamphlet, circulated free by penny post, in which it was pointed out that Tone was “against the priests.” And such extracts as the following from Tone’s diary were set forth in bold type, under the satirical heading of “Maxims for Youth”

“The great bulk of the Irish Catholics are in the last degree of misery and want. Their own priests fleece them. ” - Wolfe Tone.

“Convents are most infernal institutions.” Wolfe Tone.

“Many a long century have the Popes been fleecing all Europe.” - Wolfe Tone.

In this manner Wolfe Tone was vilified all through the pamphlet, one of his chief enormities being that he was a Presbyterian! There can be little doubt as to the source from which that pamphlet emanated. Are Theobald Wolfe Tone’s words entirely inappropriate to-day? Have want and misery disappeared from amongst the Irish Catholics? Are convents admirable institutions? Have the priests ceased to “fleece”? Has the Pope ceased to fleece”? Ask any sensible Catholic business man, and he will endorse Wolfe Tone’s words in every particular today, if he trusts his questioner!

During the following days the Queen took a series of drives in the Phoenix Park vicinity, accompanied by one or both of the Princesses, the unostentatiousness of her turn-out exciting general comment and agreeable surprise.

On Monday, the 9th, the Queen drove through the city, along the North Circular Road, Sackville Street, across O’Connell Bridge, through Westmoreland Street, College Green, Grafton Street, Stephen’s Green, and by the South Circular Road home to the Phoenix Park. I saw her on this occasion from the stand at Trinity College, on which the Countess Cadogan and a party from the Castle were playing the role of ordinary spectators. Nothing could surpass the respect shown to the Queen by the vast crowds as the carriage passed along, and the marked absence of any display of force was exceeding pleasant to every one. On the same day the Princess Christian laid the foundation-stone of the new nursing home attached to City of Dublin Hospital, in Upper Baggot Street.

On Tuesday, the 10th, the Queen drove Lucan, by Chapelizod and Palmerstown, from which one of her many prime ministers took his title, and returned by the famous Strawberry Beds road to the Knockmaroon gate of the Park. On the same day their Excellencies Lord and Lady Cadogan and a large party of guests visited the fleet, which, slipping their cables, steamed out to manoeuvre in the bay. On the same day, Princess Beatrice and her children visited the Children’s Hospital, a nun-owned institution, in Temple Street.

The royal party were received by a mixture of clerics and laity: Dr. Donnelly, titular Bishop of Canea, but actually parish priest of Bray; the superioress of the Order (Mrs. Hodgens); the Rev. P. Keatinge, S.J., whom we met before; the Rev. W. Delaney, S.J., also previously mentioned; Father Conmee, S.J., an interesting lecturer; Sir Francis Cruise, before mentioned; Dr More Madden, Dr. Michael F. Cox, Dr. Michael O’Sullivan, Dr. John H. Davys, Dr. More O’Ferrall, Dr. John Lentaigne, Dr. Denis Kennedy, Dr. King Joyce, Dr. James A. Whelan, Dr. Herbert C. Mooney, and Mr. Joseph O’Malley Moore, secretary. There were also amongst the general public present: The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the High Sheriff, Sir Percy and Lady Grace, Lady Martin, Mrs. and Miss More Madden, Mrs. Browne, before alluded to, Judge and Mrs. Carton, Mr. Henry Hodgens, J. P. (Beaufort), Mr. John Mulligan, Mr. D. S. Bulger, Lady Arnott and the Misses Arnott, Lady Cruise, Miss Anketell Jones, Mrs. Tolerton, Miss Donoghue, Mrs. Staunton, Mrs. Egan, Thomas Woods, Mrs. P. J. Plunkett and Miss Plunkett, Mrs. Hodgens and Miss Hodgens, Miss Maude Geoghegan, Mrs. Aliaga Kelly and the Misses Kelly, Mrs. Fitzgerald Lombard, Mr. Joseph Halpin and the Misses Halpin.

On the afternoon of Saturday the 14th, the Queen paid a formal visit to the Lord-Lieutenant at Dublin Castle, calling on the way upon her son, the Duke of Connaught, at the Royal Hospital, which is the official residence of the commander of the forces. On the same day Princess Christian visited the Adelaide Hospital. She was received at the main entrance by Lord Iveagh (Vice-President); E. Ormsby, LL.D., chairman of the trustees; Dr. James Little, senior physician; Dr. Wallace Beatty; Miss Fitzpatrick, matron; and Miss Craig, assistant matron. Mrs. Ormsby, wife of the chairman, presented her Royal with a bouquet. She was conducted through the wards by Dr. James Little, Lord Iveagh Dr. Ormsby, Dr. Heuston, and Miss Fitzpatrick. In addition to those mentioned, the following were present: Mr. Hamilton Drummond, J. P.; Capt. R. Wade Thompson, J.P.; and Rev. Thomas Good, B.D., trustees; Mr. Joseph B. Pim; Rev. Maurice Day, M.A.; Mr. E. J. Figgis, J P.; Mr. Thomas Greene; and Rev. Gilbert Mahaffy, members of Managing Committee; Dr. T. Gordon; Surgeon Smyly; Dr. Peacocke; Dr. Gunn; and Dr. Horace Law.

On Easter Sunday, the 15th of April, her Majesty attended divine service at the Vice-regal Lodge private chapel. Archbishop Peacooke was the preacher, and the officiating clergyman, Dean Dickinson. The choir consisted of Mr. Thos. Marchant, Mr. Melfort D’Alton, Mr. Payne, and four boy singers from St. Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals.

On Easter Monday the Queen’s drive was through the village of Clondalkin; and on the morning of that day the Princesses Christian and Beatrice visited the Dominican convent for the deaf and dumb at Cabra.

On Tuesday the 17th the Princess Christian, accompanied by the Countess Cadogan, visited the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, before alluded to. On their arrival they were received by the superioress, Sister Mary Berchmans, Sir F. Cruise, Sir C. J. Nixon, both mentioned before; Doctors Joseph Redmond, John Murphy, M. Dempsey, T. More Madden, J. O’Donnell, M’Weeny, M. O’Sullivan, and J. Treston; Surgeons P. Hayes, C. Coppinger, A. Chance, J. Lentaigne, L. Werner, and A. Blayney; Mr. M’Donogh, Mr. O’Connor, and Miss M’Givney, superintendent of nurses. In addition to those connected with the hospital, the following were present: “The High Sheriff (now Sir Joseph Downes), Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. More Madden, Lady Nixon, Lady Cruise, Miss More Madden, Mrs. Joseph Redmond, Lady French and the Hon. Misses French, Mr., Mrs., and Miss O’Shaughnessy, Mrs. M’Weeny, Mr. J. Talbot Power, before mentioned, and Mrs. Power, the Countess of Mayo, Mr. H. Sweetman, Miss Fitzgerald, Mrs. Murphy, the Very Rev. Canon Ryan, P.P., the Rev. Edward Kelly, S.J., Rev. Patrick Ryan, Father Byrne, Father O’Callaghan, and Rev. Joseph Magrath, chap lain to the hospital.

On the same afternoon the Princess visited the National Museum, Library, and Gallery in Kildare Street, having lunched with Lord and Lady Iveagh at their residence in Stephen’s Green.

The Queen herself drove, on that afternoon, to visit the convent of the Sacred Heart at Mount Anville, Dundrum, visiting the Meath and Adelaide hospitals on her way, and driving through some of the poorest localities in Dublin to effect that object. She had visited the same spot in 1853, with the Prince Consort, when the house was the residence of the famous Mr. Dargan, organiser of the exhibition held in Dublin that year, and before the reign of the priest, the nun, and the monk had settled do over Ireland. [See “Priests and People.”] The entrance to the convent gate was spanned by an arch, with a motto of “Welcome.” Her Majesty was received by Rev. Mother Stewart, superior vicar of the different houses of the Order of the Sacred Heart in Ireland, England, and Scotland; Rev. Mother Roche, the local superioress ; Bishop Donnelly, before mentioned; Canon Mathew, P.P., Dundrum; Lord Chief Baron Palles; Rev. R. Keatinge, S.J.; Father Conmee, S.J.; Father William Delaney, S.J. - all mentioned before; Father Ivers, C.C.; Dr. Usher; Mr. Thunder,

and others. The girls sang “God Save the Queen” to an instrumental accompaniment.

Lord Denbigh presented to her Majesty the Rev. Mother Stewart, Rev. Mother Roche, Bishop Donnelly, and Canon Mathews. A beautiful bouquet of roses was handed to her Majesty by two of the pupils. There were about 400 pupils and lady boarders present, and 50 members of the community, representing the houses at Leeson Street and Dundrum. The boarders were attired in white, and carried large arum lilies, while the other children had bunches of daffodils. Her Majesty, who did not leave the carriage, “inquired as to the number of pupils and other details as to the institution, in which she seemed to take a keen interest.” [Freeman’s Journal.]

On Wednesday, the 18th, a host of addresses were formally presented to her Majesty in person in the large drawing-room of the Viceregal Lodge. That day the Queen drove through the Park to Lord Annally’s demesne at Luttrelstown. The Princess Beatrice visited St Vincent’s Hospital at Stephen’s Green, before mentioned, where she was received by Mrs. Cullen, the rectress of the hospital, and others of the Sisters of Charity in charge of the institution, and the following members of the medical board and staff: Dr. Cox, Surgeon M’Ardle, Surgeon Tobin, Dr. M’Hugh, Dr. Alfred Smith, Dr. O’Devaine, Dr. Dargan, Dr. Fegan, Dr O’Duffy, Dr. Shaw, together with the resident medical staff, Dr. Fitzgerald, Dr. Hackett, Dr. Jones. The ubiquitous Bishop Donnelly, parish priest of Bray, and Monsignor Molloy were also present.

On the 19th the Queen received 50 of the Victoria Jubilee nurses, who were accompanied by Lord Meath, Mr. R. O’Brien Furlong, Mr. L. Teeling, and Mrs. Power Lalor, who was mentioned before; and Countess Cadogan was also present on the occasion. In the afternoon the Queen drove through the township of Clontarf and called on Lord and Lady Ardilaun at their splendid place, St. Anne’s, before alluded to.

The guests of that night’s royal dinner part at the lodge included his eminence Cardinal Logue, whom we know something of; Sir Gerald and Lady Dease; the Earl and Count Cadogan; Viscount and Viscountess Powerscourt. I felt glad that the Queen had the opportunity of seeing Cardinal Logue for herself.

On that day also the Home Secretary, on behalf of the Queen, received a large number of additional addresses at the Castle. On the same day the Princess Christian opened the new buildings just added to the Alexandra College in Earlsfort Terrace, at which function Mr. Lecky said truly that Ireland would soon be “one of the most terribly educated countries in the world.” I think that “terribly” was rather an expressive qualification of the educational status quo in Ireland.

On the 20th the Queen visited Rathfarnham Loreto Convent, passing through Rathmines on her way. Her Majesty was received by the mother-general of the Order, Mrs. Corcoran, the members of the community, Bishop Donnelly, parish priest of Bray, and a large gathering of the pupils. The superior-general of the Order, Mrs. Corcoran, and the superior of York convent, Mrs. Pope, were presented to the Queen by Lord Denbigh, as were also Father Kennedy, P.P., Rathfarnham; Monsignor Fitzpatrick, P.P.; Monsignor Plunkett; and Canon Fricker, P. P., a very excellent man. Amongst those present were; Canon Dillon: Rev. Wm. Delaney, S.J.; Rev. John Connell, S.J.; Rev. Edward Kelly, S.J.; Rev. Father Murphy, Blackrock; Rev. Father O’Reilly, prior, Terenure; Lord Massey; Dr. Joseph Redmond; Rev. James. Dalton, S.J.; Father Thomas Wheeler, S.J.; Rev. Andrew Rourke, S.J.; Dr. Adye Curran; Rev. Joseph Burke, P.P.; Rev. J. B. Leybourne, O.C.C.; J. B. Kelly; Rev. J. Fogarty, St. Mary’s, Rathmines; Dr. Quinlan; J. B. Cullen; Dr. O’Devaine; T. B. Burke; Rev. William Murphy, Adm., Westland Row; W. L. Burke; J. P. Curran; Surgeon Croly; Mr. Lynch, and many others.

I take all the lists of names at these Catholic functions directly from the Freeman; and the reader will note how in many of them the laity are completely overwhelmed by the clerical element, although the clergy were not really talking much part in the proceedings! At the Protestant functions there is no such phenomenon. Nor at an institution managed, by persons of both religions, like the Donnybrook hospital for incurables, which Princess Christian visited on the same day, her Excellency Countess Cadogan being also present. The party were received at the entrance to the hospital by the chairman, Mr. William Fry, the solicitor before alluded to; Mr. Hugh Galbraith, hon. treasurer; Miss Percival; Miss Bradshaw, lady superintendent; Mr. John H. Chapman, F.R.C.P.I., visiting physician; Mr. John J. Cranny, F.R.C.P.I.; Mr. John Lentaigne, F.R.C.S.I., hon. consulting surgeons; Dr. Robt. J. Rowlette, resident medical officer; Mr. John J. Thompson, registrar; and by the following members of the committee of management: Messrs. E. J. Figgis, J.P.; Orlando P. Beater, M.D.; Orlando Beater; Henry Brown, J.P., T.C.; Vere Ward Brown, J.P.; J. Rawson Carroll; George W. Casson, J P.; Michael Dillon; Thomas ,Fitzgerald; William Fry, Junr., J.P.; Bernard Gorevan, T.C.; Very Rev. Canon Horris, P.P., a very unassuming priest; T. Pakenham Law, Q.C.; Marcus Tertius Moses, J.P.; Graves E. Searight; Charles R. Trouton; Thomas F. Pigot; Miss E. K. Drummond; and Rev. Henry Taylor. The Lord Chief Baron, Sir William Findlater, D.L., and Mr. A. T. Chatterton, vice-chairman, were unavoidably absent. How much healthier that list of names looks!

On Saturday the 21st the Queen visited the industrial school at Artane, more than once alluded to in this book. The royal party were received by the superior-general of the Christian Brothers, Rev. Brother Maxwell - a most superior man; Brother Butler, manager; Rev. Archdeacon O’Neill, P P.; the Chaplain Patrick O’Donnell, C.C.; and the members of the community. Amongst those present were: The Lord Mayor; Mr. Allan, private secretary; the High Sheriff; Dr. Lentaigne; Dr. Fegan, Inspector of Industrial Schools; The O’Conor Don; Mr. Chas. Kennedy, J.P.; Sir Thomas Brady; Sir Rowland Blennerhassett; the Rev. Brothers Swan, O’Neill, Whitty, Hayes, Murray, Nugent, Meagher, Stephens, Brophy, and O’Mahony.

On that afternoon there was a military review in the Phoenix Park, and the multitude of people who attended in the Fifteen Acres surpassed in magnitude any concourse of citizens ever assembled there within living memory.

On Low Sunday afternoon there was a drive in the vicinity of the Park, in the course of which I had an opportunity of seeing the Queen at very close quarters, and Castleknock College, before alluded to, was honoured by a visit during the drive.

In the ensuing week the lay and clerical members of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland, which was then in session, got an opportunity of seeing her Majesty.

On the 23rd the Queen drove in the Park, and also inspected and purchased several specimens of work done in the congested districts, the kind of work we have described at Foxford. The Princess Beatrice visited Bray and Lord Powerscourt’s place, before referred to; and Bishop Donnelly was to the front again with the urban district council (of which Sir Henry Cochrane, who is not a Roman Catholic, was chairman), being the only cleric reported as amongst the deputation which presented an address of welcome to the princess. I may as well say that I think it is a pity Dr. Donnelly has not got, and apparently will not get, a diocese in Ireland, when so many men inferior to him have got dioceses. One of the few instructive sermons I ever heard from a Catholic pulpit was preached by him.

On the 24th the Queen visited the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, and was received by the same people, clerical and lay, who received the Princess Christian. The same afternoon the Queen visited the Masonic Schools at Ball’s Bridge. Colonel Carrington presented the members of the governing body who were at the head of those who had assembled to greet her Majesty: Sir J. C. Meredith, D.G.M., before alluded to; Lord Justice Fitzgibbon; Dr. Bunbury, Bishop of Limerick; Archdeacon Irwin; Mr. Graves Eves, hon. sec.; Mr, Oliver Fry, and Miss Grant, the matron. There were handed to her Majesty two bouquets, one from the youngest child, Lily Flood, and the other from Marion Vance.

On Wednesday the 25th, her last day, the Queen drove in the Park. The Great Southern Railway works at Inchicore were visited by Princess Beatrice’s children; and, the workmen being mostly Catholics, it was the Rev. Father Ring of the Order of Mary Immaculate, and Fathers O’Brien and Brady, O.M.I., who accompanied the party over the workshops!

On Thursday, the 26th, in glorious weather, the Queen and her daughters left Kingsbridge by train for Kingstown, to the regret of all Dublin. When the Queen’s carriage arrived at Kingsbridge, the Indian attendant assisted her Majesty to alight. Their Royal Highnesses Princess Henry of Battenberg and Princess Christian having left the carriage, the sovereign, who looked exceedingly well, rose from her seat. She was supported on the left side by the turbaned Indian attendant and, resting on a stick with her right hand, alighted on the elevated platform. Her Majesty wore a large bunch of shamrocks on her breast.

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Mr. Joshua J. Pim, chairman of the Great Southern and Western Railway, and Mr. Frederic William Pim, chairman of the Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway, occupied positions to the right of her Majesty. Sir Arthur Bigge, who at this juncture was in immediate attendance on the Queen, presented the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to her Majesty.

”Her Majesty immediately turned with a pleased smile of recognition, and graciously bowed, saying, ’I am very sorry to leave Ireland. I have had an extremely pleasant time.’” [ Irish Times .]

Thus Queen Victoria left Dublin and Ireland.

In less than an hour she was steaming out of the harbour amidst a street of warships, and the great naval procession disappeared over the horizon in the following; order:-

In the Irish newspapers of the same morning appeared the following official announcement:-

“Viceregal Lodge, Phoenix Park,
“Dublin, April 25th, 1900.

“The Queen is very anxious before leaving Ireland, where she has spent a most agreeable time, to express, through the Lord-Lieutenant, to her Irish people, how very much gratified and how deeply touched she has been by her reception here. During the three weeks that the Queen has spent in this charming place she has been received by all ranks and creeds with an enthusiasm and an affection which cannot be surpassed. Each time the Queen came here before with her dear husband they were always kindly and warmly welcomed. But on this occasion, after a lapse of 39 years, her reception has equalled that at her previous visits, and she carries away with her a most pleasant and affectionate memory of the time she has spent in Ireland. The Queen earnestly prays that goodwill and harmony may prevail amongst all her people, and that they may be happy and prosperous.”

The following honours were also announced - The Queen has been pleased to confer the dignity of a baronetcy of the United Kingdom upon the following gentlemen:-

The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of Dublin - Sir T. D. Pile.
The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of Belfast - Sir R. J. M’connell.

The Queen has been pleased to confer upon the mayor of Cork the title of Lord Mayor; and to direct that the said title shall be borne by his successors in that office.

The Lord-Lieutenant will, with the approval of her Majesty, confer the honour of knighthood on the Mayor of Cork, Sir D. J. Hegarty, and on the mayor of Londonderry, Sir Wm. M. M’Learn.

Nothing could well have been better, from a popular point of view, especially the honour to the city of Cork. Thus ended the Queen’s memorable visit to Ireland, the most admirably conducted affair of its kind ever, perhaps, carried through in these realms.

On the Queen’s birthday, the 24th of May next ensuing, additional knighthoods were announced and the honours were conferred a few days afterwards on Sir Joseph Downes, High Sheriff of Dublin, a Roman Catholic and a sensible, industrious man, one of our largest Dublin bakers; Sir Alfred Graham Dobbin, High Sheriff of Cork, a successful merchant of that city; Sir Thomas Henry Cleeve, High Sheriff of Limerick, principal of the firm of Cleeve Brothers, which has done so much for the Irish export butter trade; Sir J. Malcolm Inglis, president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, a Dublin Scotchman and principal of one of our largest city coal houses; Sir T. W. Robinson, chairman of the Kingstown township board and partner in the important Dublin firm of Hayes, Conyngham & Robinson, pharmaceutical chemists; Sir J. W. Moore, physician, and Sir T. Drew, architect, both referred to in a previous chapter. Lord Morris and Chief Justice O’Brien were breated at the same time, but I am not aware that it was apropos of the royal visit.

On the day following the departure of the Queen and princesses, it was announced by Lord Cadogan that her Majesty had given him a cheque for £1,000 to distribute as he thought fit, among the charities and poor of Dublin. Thus Queen Victoria set us all an example of brotherly love, forgiveness of injuries, forgetfulness of past differences, and common-sense of the highest possible description; and that sensible lady, head of the State, left behind here in Ireland pleasant memories and agreeable thoughts which have not even yet found full utterance. She, in her turn, must have carried away with her the conviction that even the poorest of her people in Ireland can demean themselves as gentlefolk.