1892 THE PRIVY COUNCILLORSHIP 255 



Great Western Hotel, 

 Aug. 25, 1892, 6.40 p.m. 



I have just got back from Osborne, and I find there 

 are a few minutes to send you a letter — by the help of 

 the extra halfpenny. First-rate weather there and back, 

 a special train, carriage with postillions at the Osborne 

 landing-place, and a grand procession of officers of the 

 new household and P.C.'s therein. Then waiting about 

 while the various "sticks" were delivered. 



Then we were shown into the presence chamber 

 where the Queen sat at a table. We knelt as if we were 

 going to say our prayers, holding a testament between 

 two, while the Clerk of the Council read an oath of 

 which I heard not a word. We each advanced to the 

 Queen, knelt and kissed her hand, retired backwards, and 

 got sworn over again (Lord knows what I promised and 

 vowed this time also). Then we shook hands with all 

 the P.C.'s present, including Lord Lome, and so exit 

 backwards. It was all very curious. . . . 



After that a capital lunch and back we came. Eibbles- 

 dale and several other people I knew were of the party, 

 and I found it very pleasant talking with him and Jesse 

 CoUings, who is a very interesting man. 



" Oh," he said, " how I wish my poor mother, who 

 was a labouring woman — a great noble woman — and 

 brought us nine all up in right ways, could have been 

 alive." Very human and good and dignified too, I 

 thought. 



He also used to tell how he was caught out when 

 he thought to make use of the opportunity to secure 

 a close view of the Queen. Looking up, he found her 

 eyes fixed upon him ; Her Majesty had clearly taken 

 the opportunity to do the same by him. 



Regarding the Privy Councillorship as an ex- 



