MILITARY AND CIVIL. 77 
     
    
   
   
    
     aroused by the firing of the battery guns. On enquiry as to 
     
     this unusual salute it was ascertained that a Princess of 
     
     royal blood had became of age. Every garrison town in the 
     
     realm announced the joyful event by the booming of artillery, 
     
     the echoes of which were heard in every land. With the 
     
     foregoing event in mind, the reader is invited to look into 
     
     Kensington Palace in London, the abode of the young Princess 
     
     in question. On the morning of the 20th June, the most 
     
     illustrious members of Britain’s Privy Council were in waiting 
     
     to see the young Princess announced ; and being ushered into 
     
     their presence they informed her of the demise of her Royal 
     
     Uncle, and upon her devolved the cares of the state. Shocked 
     
     by this sudden news, the weeping girl retired to her room to 
     
     offer up a prayer to heaven. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In those days there were no fast steamers carrying mails 
     
     and passengers across the Atlantic, the only means of 
     
     conveyance being by sailing packet, consequently the 
     
     intelligence of the death of William the IV. and the accession 
     
     of his neice, which took place on the 20th of June, did not 
     
     reach here until August 18th. His Excellency the Lieut. 
     
     Governor then issued the Proclamation proclaiming the young 
     
     Princess as Queen. Accordingly a company of militia artillery 
     
     with field guns, under the command of Major Robinson, 
     
     and the troops of the garrison under Captain St. Quinton, 
     
     were drawn up in review order on Queen Square, while 
     
     magistrates, clergy and other gentleman crowded the Council 
     
     Chamber. At 2 o’clock, p. m., His Excellency arrived, when 
     
     the Herald then read the Royal Document, first within the 
     
     Chamber, then in public, at the conclusion of which the 
     
     spectators heartily cheered; the troops presented arms and the 
     
     artillery saluted with 21 guns. On the next day double salutes 
     
     were fired by the garrison, after which the flag was lowered to 
     
     half-mast, in memory of the departed Monarch, and 60 minute 
     
     guns were fired by the Battery. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The reader will undoubtedly recognize Queen Victoria as 
     
     the orphan above alluded to, she was the daughter of Edward 
     
     the late Duke of Kent, and Victoria his Duchess, and was 
     
     born on the 24th May, 1819. Her Grace the Duchess 
     
     continued in retirement at Kensington Palace, after the death 
     
     of her husband, where she with soothing voice so oft lulled to