The Late Queen Victoria.

We have received the following communication I mm the Grand Secretary deprecating , under the circumstances mentioned , the transmission to the . King of letters of condolence from private lodges : " As a special meeting of Grand Lodge will shortly be held

for the purpose of voting a loyal and dutiful address to his Majesty the King expressive of the profound sympathy of the entire Craft on the lamented death of her late Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , private lodges will not be expected

to vote such addresses . E . LETCHWORTH , Grand Secretary . " Freemasons' Hall , 24 th January , igoi .

His Majesty King Edward Vii.

HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII .

In a supplement to the London Gazette Extraordinary , issued early this morning , the following appears ;

WHITEHALL , Jan . 23 , 1901 . On Tuesday afternoon , the twenty-second of January instant , at half-past six o ' clock , our late Most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria expired at Osborne House , Isle of Wi ght , in ( he eighty-second year of Her age , and ( he sixty-fourth year of Her

reign . This event has caused one universal feeling of regret and sorrow to Her late Majesty ' s faithful and attached subjects , to whom She was endeared by the deep interest in their welfare which She invariably manifested , as well as b y many signal virtues which marked and adorned Her character .

Upon the intimation of this distressing event , Ihe Lords of the Privy Council assembled this day , at S ( . James ' s Palace , and gave orders for proclaiming His present Majesty , who made a most Gracious Declaration to them , and caused all ihe Lords and others of the late Queen ' s Privy Council , who were then present , to be sworn of His Majesty ' s Privy Council .

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy Our late Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria , of Blessed and Glorious Memory , by whose Decease the Imperial Crown of the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is solely and rightfull y come to the High and Mig hty Prince Albert Edward : We , therefore , the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm , being here assisted with these of Her late Majesty ' s Privy Council , with

His Majesty King Edward Vii.

Numbers of other Principal Gentlemen of Quality , with the Lord Mayor , Aldermen , and Citizens of London , do now hereby , with one Voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart , publish and proclaim , That the High and Mighty Prince , Albert Edward , is now , by the Death of our late Sovereign of Happy Memory ,

become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Edward the Seventh , by the Grace of God , King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , Defender of the Faith , Emperor of India : To whom we do acknowledge all Faith and constant

Obedience , with all hearty and humble Affection ; beseeching God , by whom Kings and Queens do reign , to bless the Royal Prince Edward the Seventh , with long and happy Years to reign over Us .

Given at the Court of Saint James's , this twenty-third day of January , in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and one . ( Here follow signatures . ) A ( : the Court at Saint James ' s , the 23 rd day of January , 1901 . PRESENT , The KING'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council .

His Majesty being this day present in Council was pleased to make the following Declaration : Your Royal Highnesses , my Lords , and Gentlemen—This is the most painful occasion on which I shall ever be called upon to address you ,

My first and melancholy duty is to announce to you the the death of M y beloved Mother the Queen , and I know how deeply you , the whole Nation , and I think I may say the whole world , sympathise with Me in the irreparable loss we have all sustained .

I need hardly say that My constant endeavour will be always to walk in Her footsteps . In undertaking the heavy load which now devolves upon Me , I am fully determined to be a Constitutional Sovereign in the strictest sense of the word , and as long as there is breath in M y body to work for the good and amelioration of M y people .

I have resolved to be known b y the name of Edward , which has been borne b y six of My ancestors . In doing so , I do not undervalue the name of Albert , which I inherit

from my ever to be lamented , great , and wise Father , who by universal consent is I think deservedl y known by the name of Albert the Good , and I desire that his name should , sland alone .