Gift of Guinea Pigs for Queen from Laughton
October, 1839
A few days since a small hamper, the contents of which were secured by a linen cloth being carefully sewn over the top, arrived at Windsor, by coach, from Yorkshire, and addressed as follows:
"With care - To Her Majesty Queen Victoria, at Briton Palace, or wherever she may be. - with speed."
Upon the porter at Moody's coach office taking the package (the carriage of which was 4s.4d.) to the Castle at Windsor; it was refused to be received. The proprietor of the coach office, however, thinking there might be some mistake, sent it a second time to the Castle, when it was again refused, by the orders of the Master of the Household, the Hon. C. A. Murray. In the course of the same afternoon a curious squeaking noise (as the package was lying in the coach office) was heard to proceed from the hamper, resembling the stifled cries of a child; and as it was clear there was something in it alive, it was judged expedient, under the circumstances, to open the package, a thousand rumours having got abroad in the meantime as to the real nature of the contents.
At length the hamper was opened, and then there were discovered, crouched beneath some hay, a couple of very beautiful guinea pigs - a male and female; and a note addressed to Her Majesty, of which the following is 'a true and veritable' copy :-
Laughton-en-le-Morthen, near Rotherham.
"A Preasant of 2 Guinea Pigs to her Majesty from A little Boy 5 years old, that come in one day from Playing in the Street. Says Mother, I love the Queen because she is A Good queen. I wish to know ware she live, I would send her my two pigs. The child would not Rest till he had sent the Queen the only Treasure he posses. He shed a teer over is pigs, and told them they was Going ware they would have more plenty than he could have for them. I am Afraid your Royal Highness will be displeased at a Poor woman taking the Liberty to send them to your Majesty.
Your Majesty's Most Humble Servant,
Oct. 9, 1839. Elizabeth Eldridge.
The authorities at the Castle still refusing to admit the pigs, notwithstanding Master Eldridge told them before they left Laughton for "Briton Palace" that "they was going ware they would have more plenty," a gentleman in Windsor paid the carriage for the hamper from Rotherham, and the pigs, which he had christened Albert and Victoria (the latter of which will shortly introduce some new acquaintance to his family circle), are now carefully domiciled in a spacious hutch in the stable attached to his residence, in Gloucester Place.
