This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI. CHARACTER AND LETTERS. Nothing is more remarkable in the course of this royal family than the affectionate union which, from beginning to end, was maintained between the mother and all her daughters. It is really an extraordinary thing, of which there are few instances in private families, that this should have continued for a period of some fifty years. It might, of course, be said that it would have been more prudent if these clever and intelligent young ladies had been established in life with suitable husbands. It was not until late that two of the princesses were thus provided for, one almost on the eve of the queen's death. It would not be fanciful to trace this to an affectionate reluctance in the daughters to quit the side of their mother in the tide of misfortunes and troubles which recurred with such persistence as to leave little opportunity for ever considering such things. To the last they were the same devoted children, and always found, for a span of nearly fifty years, beside her, comforting and supporting her. Not until the regency came were any of them inclined to set up separate establishments. The queen, as we have seen, must have been a vivacious, animated personage, taking a deep interest in all that was going on. She was keenly alive to the absurdities and humorous incidents of the social life around her. It might be said that she dearly loved a piece of " gossip," and kept herself well acquainted with all the little court stories that were in circulation. What she observed and what she learned she was not slow to communicate to her intimates, with such vivacious comments as occurred to her. These are marked by much shrewdness and sagacity, particularly in her letters to her forty years' confidante, ...