Queen Victoria was perhaps one of the most remarkable women of the 19th century.  She was destined to become Queen of England during a time when England desperately needed a fair and honest ruler.  She was well educated in the social graces, and generally groomed from birth to sit on the throne of England, yet she managed to maintain certain domestic skills which held her family together regardless of what was happening in the world around them.  Of equal importance was her uncanny ability to befriend those around her, regardless of social position.     Victoria conducted herself in a civil and gracious manner regardless of circumstance and even multiple attempts on her life did not rob her of her regal bearing.  Victoria suffered the same tragedies as any other 19th century woman - the death of parents and other loved ones, widowhood and losing her precious Albert at a young age, the dangers of childbirth, etc., but also felt very keenly the responsibility for the deaths of English soldiers in various wars.   This hatred for war and death would later play an important part in her decision whether or not to become involved in the American Civil War.   Victoria's upbringing was a strange combination of frugality and extravagance.  Her diet consisted of bread, fruit, and milk and once when asked what she would like replied, "A small piece of stale bread."  Such fare would hardly seem appropriate for a child who possessed some 132 dolls each of which had real hair and elaborate costumes.  These dolls were meant to be company for a child kept in seclusion the majority of the time per palace etiquette.   Victoria rarely attended church as a child, but instead had a private service given for her at home.  Victoria married her cousin, Albert, an arrangement the palace claimed to be strictly her choice, however, we must wonder how much influence was put upon her by her grandmother who very much approved of the union.   Albert and Victoria seemed to the world to be the perfect couple.  He knew prior to the marriage he would forever play a minor role in the running of the country and that his marriage would be vastly different from the usual male dominated marriages of the 19th century.  He apparently was able to provide assistance to Victoria in subtle ways such as reading and rewording official letters so that the desired end was reached without overshadowing her role as ruler.   Victoria was a capable ruler, a fair ruler, yet she enjoyed a certain element of domesticity within her family circle.  She often prepared the tea time repast with her own hands and together with Albert helped to make the Christmas tree a recognized and much loved part of Christmas throughout many parts of the civilized world.   Victoria's gracious manner and respect for others regardless of class is her legacy to the world.  She was not perfect by any means, and probably would have been the first to admit so.  She felt very keenly the loss of every soldier who died in England's defense during her reign and along with the elder princesses and her Majesty's ladies knitted woolen comforters, mittens, socks and other items which were distributed to the soldiers.  In addition Albert provided a supply of warm coats and tobacco.   This hatred for war and death remained part of Victoria's life throughout her reign.  When the American Civil War was fought the cotton manufacturers in Manchester and other commercial and industrial leaders of the UK were supportive of the Confederacy, yet Victoria's loyalties lay within the Union.  She would not allow these parties to offer aid and comfort to the South when she could prevent it.   The Trent affair threatened the Queen's loyalty to the Union, however, and for a while it seemed that she might finally side with the Confederacy.  Victoria's support either in the form of troops or money to fund the Confederacy's desperate attempt at freedom would no doubt have brought about a very different ending to the war.   In October 1861 Jefferson Davis appointed John Slidell and James M. Mason diplomatic agents and granted them the power to enter into conventions for treaties with France and England.  They were charged with obtaining from these foreign powers recognition of the Confederate States government.  They set out first on the "Theodora", a blockade runner, which set sail past Union blockades out of Charleston, SC bound for Havana.  Upon reaching Havana, Cuba they were met by the British consul and placed aboard the "Trent", an English mail ship.   The "Trent" set sail for England on November 7, 1861 and the next day was overtaken by the "San Jacinto", Capt. Charles Wilkes, USN, commanding and Slidell and Mason with their assistants were forceably removed, put aboard the "San Jacinto" and taken to Fort Warren in Boston Harbor.  For his efforts Capt. Wilkes enjoyed a brief moment of recognition for his capture of the two Southern diplomats, but within days the praise quickly turned to criticism when U. S. leaders realized the action was considered hostile by England and could easily turn England's loyalties toward the Confederacy.   England demanded the release of the prisoners and set about preparations to send troops to the Canadian border along with a shipment of Enfield rifles and ammunition.  President Lincoln recognizing the seriousness of this action ordered the laws to be researched and to determine the extent of damage caused by Wilkes' actions.   Had Victoria ordered the troops to advance the U.S. would have been sandwiched between invading troops from the Canadian border and the Confederacy which was already their enemy at war, and which would certainly have received shipments of arms and ammunition from Victoria for its defense.     Mr. Seward hastily left to meet with Mr. Adams, the U.S. Minister at London where it was decided the official statement would be that Wilkes had acted of his own accord without orders in removing the four men from a British ship on the high seas.     W. H. Seward, U.S. Secretary of State, disavowed the action and "cheerfully liberated" the men in order to avoid England either declaring war on the U.S. or recognizing the Confederacy.  The Queen and Prince Consort could not ignore such an action with the rest of the world watching, yet they wanted to avoid entering into the war if possible.   Albert's last act was to rewrite dispatches dealing with the Trent affair so that the language was tempered yet effective.  He had been ill prior to this undertaking and remarked to the Queen when they were given to her that he was so weak he could hardly hold the pen.  He was convinced the U.S. did not want war with England and spent his last energy trying to avoid it.  He died only a few days later never having recovered his strength.   England and the U.S. clashed again in 1872 when the U.S. charged Great Britain with violation of neutrality because the Alabama and other Confederate cruisers departed British ports, in many instances outfitted with British munitions.  English commissioners Earl de Grey and Ripon sailed for Washington where they met with U.S. officials.  The outcome of these meetings is summarized in the Treaty of Washington.   The English government issued the following statement in reply to the charges, "Her Britannic Majesty has authorized her high commissioners and plenipotentiaries to express, in a friendly spirit, the regret felt by her Majesty's Government for the escape, under whatever circumstances of the Alabama and other vessels from British ports, and for the depredations committed by those vessels."   The matter was settled by five arbitrators, one to be appointed by the Queen, and the others respectively by the President of the U.S., the King of Italy, the President of the Swiss Confederation, and the Emperor of Brazil.  The tribunal met in Geneva and was authorized to decide by majority all the questions submitted.  The U.S. presented exaggerated claims for damages, but later withdrew the claims.  The arbitrators declared the claims invalid and contrary to international law.   After the claims were withdrawn the decision of the arbitrators was in favor of the U.S. and England was ordered to pay damages of some sixteen and a quarter million dollars when found responsible for the acts of the Alabama, Florida, and some of the acts of the Shenandoah.  England was not found responsible for the damage caused by other ships, and relations between the two countries gradually returned to normal.   If Queen Victoria had for whatever reason pledged her loyalties to the Confederacy would that have turned the victory in favor of the South?  It certainly would have given the South the money and men it needed to fight such a battle.  Confederate leaders must certainly have felt their hopes slipping away as tensions between England and the U.S. eased.   Queen Victoria remained in mourning for Albert for the remainder of her life.  Some claim this was not rational and that she was not in full control of her faculties, however, she certainly was not the only woman to mourn a departed husband for such an extended period and remained the beloved leader of her country until she, too, passed away in 1901.   Within sight of her death bed hung the portrait of her beloved Albert, and as she prepared for her journey to join him her extended family surrounded her bedside.  At half past six England's beloved leader peacefully and without pain passed away.  A horseman was dispatched who dashed through the crowds crying that the Queen was dead.   On behalf of the U.S. who had many years before almost come to blows with England and its beloved Queen President McKinley sent a message of condolence to King Edward who in turn replied.   Senator Allison offered the following resolution upon news of Victoria's death: "That the death of her royal and imperial Majesty, Victoria, of noble virtues and great renown is sincerely deplored by the Senate of the United States of America.   In the House of Representatives the following was issued: "Resolved.  That the House of Representatives of the United States of America has learned with profound sorrow of the death of her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and sympathizes with her people in the loss of their beloved Sovereign; that the President be requested to communicate this expression of the sentiment of the House to the Government of Great Britain; that as a further mark of respect to the memory of Queen Victoria, the House do now adjourn."   At 3:30 the flag at the Executive Mansion was lowered to halfmast, the first time in history such recognition was bestowed to a foreign ruler.   Victoria, even in death, was dressed in black and a beautiful gold cross rested on her breast.  Quantities of flowers were received.  The honor of being first to view the body of Victoria was bestowed on her personal attendantrs, footmen, housemaids, coachmen, stable-lads, and policemen all dressed in their Sunday best filed past paying their last respects for four full hours.   Formalities were dispensed with and the Queen could well have been any country lady whose tenants had grown up on the estate and regarded Victoria as a friend more than a queen came to say goodbye.   On the 25th of January, 1901 family members gathered for their last look at the Queen before King Edward ordered the coffin closed.  When all had filed out save for Edward and Emporer William (Victoria's grandson) the latter wept openly before he too finally retired leaving the King alone with the coffin.  After a few brief moments he ordered the coffin closed not to be opened again.   After Albert's death in 1861 Victoria had written out explicit directions for her own funeral.  She was the first English leader not buried at night by torchlight.  Her request was that her own funeral be conducted as closely as possible to that of the Prince, and her wishes were followed without question.   ***********************************************************************   For further information: James Murray Mason 1798-1871 was the grandson of George Mason 1725-1792, statesman of the American Revolutionary War.  James was a U.S. Senator from Virginia (1847-61).   John Slidell, 1793-1871, was an American politician and diplomat who served as Senator from Louisiana from 1853-1861.  He was Confederate commissioner to France.   Bibliography: The Life of Queen Victoria, and the Story of her Reign.  Morris, Charles, LL.D.  W. E. Scull.  Washington.  1901.   Queen Victoria:  From her Birth to the death of the Prince Consort.  Woodham-Smith, Cecil.  Alfred A. Knopf Inc.  New York.  1972.