The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: It is an event such as has rarely happened in the history of the world that two grand children of a living sovereign have been married into thrones. This felicity Providence has bestowed upon our most...

Document information

Physical location:

94.04.22a

Preferred Citation:

Speech to Turn Verein, Melbourne, 1894-04-22 [94.04.22a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1890-6/1894/94-04-22a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

MS not found. The text given here is from 'Marriage of his Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Hesse. A felicitous speech', Record (Emerald Hill), 26 May 1894, p. 2 (B94.05.01). It is introduced by 'The marriage of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Hesse took place at Coburg, on Sunday the 22nd. April 1894, and Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, K.C.M.G., the eminent and erudite Government Botanist of this Colony, who happened to be a guest at the Turn Verein, Melbourne, that night, made the following felicitious remarks upon the auspicious event:'

It is an event such as has rarely happened in the history of the world that two grand children of a living sovereign have been married into thrones. This felicity Providence has bestowed upon our most gracious sovereign Queen Victoria, by the marriage of her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria, second daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg (Edinburgh) to the Grand Duke of Hesse, at Coburg today. The telegraph lines have flashed to us that great preparations have been made for the nuptial and that on arriving at Coburg Her Majesty received a most brilliant reception, at which she became moved to tears.

See, for example, Age, 21 April 1894, p. 9: 'Her Majesty Queen Victoria in greeting and embracing the Grand Duke of Hesse and his betrothed, the Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg, was much affected, shedding tears over the royal couple.'

Nor was this to be wondered at considering the hallowed memories that must have been awakened by the visit to a spot so dear to the late Prince Consort, According to the difference between the time of this colony and that of England the festivities of the auspicious marriage were now in progress. It was only becoming on the part of a colony bear Her Majesty's illustrous name to pay homage to the Royal Bride and Bridegroom and to wish for the happiness of the rejoicing couple. It was further significant of the happy and prosperous reign of Her Majesty that co-incident with this marriage was the public announcement of the betrothal of a third Grand Daughter (the Princess Alix) to the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, the Czarawitch.

Tsarevich. The betrothal, on 20 April, was publicized in, for example, Age, 21 April 1894. p. 9.

So that in all human probability this Grand Daughter of our revered Queen would one day become the Czarina. This happy, event would, he

Although the text is in quotation marks, the phrasing here suggests at least some editorial intervention.

felt sure effect the mutual feeling of four great nations and would tend to their peaceful development, and thus exercise a most beneficial influence upon the peace and progress of the civilised world.

The end of the quotation is followed by: 'At the close of the Baron's speech, which evoked warm applause the whole audience rose and stood while the National Anthem and the German National Anthem were played.'