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Editorial October 23, 1837

Morning Herald

New York, New York County, New York

What is this article about?

Satirical commentary on how English politicians from Liberal and Tory parties interpret Queen Victoria's actions to support their views, and how journalists fabricate her speeches and witty remarks for profit, portraying her as non-committal and likely liberal due to her upbringing.

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THE ENGLISH QUEEN.-It is exceedingly amusing in watching the spirit of the English journals, to observe the use made of the Queen's name by politicians, news mongers, and paragraph makers. Victoria is, in the words of Peter Pindar, an excellent subject, as well as a good Queen.

With politicians, and those who live in the sunshine of Court favor, her every look is watched, and like the renowned principal character in Sheridan's Critic, there is immense meaning in the nod of her youthful head, or the shake of her juvenile ringlets.

The party-political papers go a great deal further. They not merely interpret her words and looks, smiles and frowns, but they interpret her very thoughts, and on this point they have both come to one conclusion; they agree to differ.

The Liberals-the Ministerial party, say the Queen is with them, and will remain so-that her heart has been nurtured in liberal principles, and that it loves them.

The Tories, per contra, say that the young Queen is a Conservative; but finding the Whigs in when she came to the throne, she will leave them there till she can turn them out with decency, if they do not save her the trouble, by turning themselves out.

From these statements, attested by anecdotes most authentic, of course, how is it possible to come to a correct conclusion ? Not by believing both, certainly; the best way is to believe neither.

The fact is, that the young Queen is, at present, as perfectly non-committal as our inimitable Kinderhook Martin Van Buren. From her tongue-let her sex cry jubilate, for she has puzzled the savants-no conclusion can be drawn. It is most probable, however, that under the care of so good and inestimable a parent as the Duchess of Kent--her young heart is so rich in those feelings of right justice and liberality, without tending to romantic flights, wild fancies, and startling theories- that the Tory policy will find little to share in common with her.

The most amusing portion of the interpretations is furnished by the news-mongers—the penny-a-liners-who have great reason to cry, "God save the Queen," since many of them have got not gin slings-the penny-a- liners in England, dont drink gin slings-but beer-beer and cold victuals, by her, who otherwise might have gone to bed supperless.

These gentlemen, even in the limited and confined views of parties and politicians, who generally base their interpretations upon some slight foundation, or some circumstance that can be twisted into a foundation—go the whole hog divinely—as a greater man than Mr. Samuel Weller has said-and give to the world speeches—villanous bon mots and jeux d'esprit of the Queen, without any foundation whatever, save that which has been laid in their stomachs by the cold victuals aforesaid. O, truly it is a great thing to be great, seeing that it is unnecessary even to speak, and that excellently good things can be manufactured for such in garrets, over a pot of "heavy wet," and sent into the world emblazoned with the face of royalty. This system, by the by, is not misunderstood here. We have poets and authors out of number, who walk like Gabriel Ravel when he is on stilts—with legs made for them by other persons. We are promising chickens, truly-- some of us!

What sub-type of article is it?

Satire Partisan Politics

What keywords are associated?

Queen Victoria English Politics Liberals Tories Press Fabrication Political Satire Non Committal Monarch

What entities or persons were involved?

Queen Victoria Duchess Of Kent Liberals Tories Martin Van Buren

Editorial Details

Primary Topic

Satirical Critique Of Political And Press Misuse Of Queen Victoria's Image

Stance / Tone

Satirical Mockery

Key Figures

Queen Victoria Duchess Of Kent Liberals Tories Martin Van Buren

Key Arguments

Politicians Interpret The Queen's Looks And Actions To Fit Their Party Agendas Liberals Claim She Supports Liberal Principles Tories Believe She Is Conservative But Tolerating Whigs Temporarily The Queen Is Non Committal, Similar To Van Buren Her Upbringing Suggests Leanings Toward Justice And Liberality, Not Tory Policy Journalists Fabricate Speeches And Witty Remarks For The Queen To Sell Stories

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