A rare and original issue of "The Morning Chronicle" newspaper for May 26 , 1836.
This venerable "Whig" publication was founded in London in 1769 and ceased to operate in 1862
At this time Andrew Jackson was the President of the United States, and William IV was on the throne of Great Britain . The future Queen Victoria would inherit the throne in the following year. The paper had employed Charles Dickens two years earlier who was also writing in his own time under the pseudonym of "Boz"
This large-format issue of 2 pages, 4 sides features fascinating advertisements, international steamship listings, new railway company investments as well as political news, police reports, theatre reviews, auction notices and horse racing fixtures. Much attention is given to the social engagements of the aristocracy and royalty.
This issue is particularly interesting in that it reports on the Queen's State Ball arranged to coincide with the 17 th. birthday of her daughter Princess Victoria. The invitation list includes Prince Albert of Cobourg and this was the first occasion of their meeting - see scan and below
International news is reported from Spain where the British Legion forces had recently defeated the Carlists at San Sebastián - see scan. In sporting news the latest racing results are given plus a report on gambling over distance walking!
An extensive list of "Morning Concerts" is published including the vocalists and musical scores to be performed - see scan
Brittle but generally good condition with minor damage at the central fold from binding cotton - see scan. Page size 25 x 20 inches .
Note: International mailing costs in a tube start at $21 - the offered rate of $8 assumes the paper is lightly folded and mailed in an envelope
PRINCESS VICTORIA
By 1836, Victoria's maternal uncle Leopold, who had been King of the Belgians since 1831, hoped to marry her to Prince Albert,[24]the son of his brother Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Leopold arranged for Victoria's mother to invite her Coburg relatives to visit her in May 1836, with the purpose of introducing Victoria to Albert.[25] William IV, however, disapproved of any match with the Coburgs, and instead favoured the suit of Prince Alexander of the Netherlands, second son of the Prince of Orange.[26] Victoria was aware of the various matrimonial plans and critically appraised a parade of eligible princes.[27] According to her diary, she enjoyed Albert's company from the beginning. After the visit she wrote, "[Albert] is extremely handsome; his hair is about the same colour as mine; his eyes are large and blue, and he has a beautiful nose and a very sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of his countenance is his expression, which is most delightful."[28] Alexander, on the other hand, she described as "very plain".[29]
Victoria wrote to King Leopold, whom she considered her "best and kindest adviser",[30] to thank him "for the prospect of greathappiness you have contributed to give me, in the person of dear Albert ... He possesses every quality that could be desired to render me perfectly happy. He is so sensible, so kind, and so good, and so amiable too. He has besides the most pleasing and delightful exterior and appearance you can possibly see."[31] However at 17, Victoria, though interested in Albert, was not yet ready to marry. The parties did not undertake a formal engagement, but assumed that the match would take place in due time.[32]
British Auxiliary Legion
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The British Auxiliary Legion, also called the British Legion (La Legión Británica) or Westminster Legion, existed from 1835 to 1837. It was a British military force sent to Spainto support the Liberals and Queen Isabella II of Spain against the Carlists in the First Carlist War.
History
Under the Quadruple Alliance, Great Britain had controlled maritime traffic along the Cantabrian coast since the beginning of the war.
In 1835 the war was not going well for the Liberal side and they asked their allies to become more involved in the war. The French sent their Foreign Legion which landed at Tarragona on 17 August with around 4,000 men and was renamed the Spanish Legion. Although the British refused to send troops directly, in June 1835, they decided to form a "military volunteer corps", and that became designated an auxiliary to the Spanish Legion. The corps was to be funded and their soldiers paid by the Spanish crown.
By the end of the summer of 1836 a force of 10,000 men under the command of De Lacy Evans had assembled in San Sebastian (Basque Country). They fought near Hernani and Vitoria, but were pushed back and had to hold the fort on Mount Urgull de San Sebastian, to prevent the Carlists from taking the city.
In November 1836 they were put under the command of Baldomero Espartero and helped to lift the siege of Bilbao.
In 1837 the Legion suffered a serious defeat in the Battle of Oriamendi, but later they led a successful offensive on the Carlist rearguard along the Biscay coast, launched in response to the Expedición Real, an attempt by the Carlists main force to march on Madrid. In the course of the offensive, Legion and Spanish loyalist forces managed to take over Irun on 17 May.
The volunteers had signed on for a tour of two years and by July 1837 most of the men had returned home. The transport Prince Regent carried some 520 men to Greenock. The transport Parmelia carried 200 to Portsmouth.
Some 1,500–1,700 men remained under the name of New Legion, commanded by Brigadier-General Maurice O'Connell. Their casualties were so heavy, especially during their defeat at the battle of Andoain on 14 September, that in practical terms the new unit ceased to exist as an operational force after this action. Prince Regent carried some 600 men to Cork and Greenock. The New Legion was formally disbanded on 10 December 1837.[1][2][3]
In total a quarter of the force – some 2,500 men – died, only half of them in combat.[3] Their presence had not been well received by the Carlists; one former soldier wrote