The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-04-30 00:00:00

ROYAL PREFERENCES.

We have recently being reading one of the most
charming little volume that have ever come into our
hands. It is no less than the " Royal Preference Book,"
the pages of which are filled up by their Royal
Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and the
Princess Mary of Cauthridge. Tnis interesting record,
which I. an original and sthentio eompositme, into
scouet of the likings and disliking, of thesis who, next
to our gracious Majesty herself, command beyond all
others the affectionate homage and respect of all loyal
Englishmen and Englishwomen. And, as taste is an
Intro to character, • book of this kind gives., • greater
tonight into the disposition of the writers than as private
individuals we could possibly obtain in any other way.
Our readers are inertias aware of the general arrange-
ment of the work. In answer to the ant question.
"Who la your favourite Queen?" the Prince and
Princess Mary treat the question historically, and unite
in admiring Mazy Quern of Soots. The Princess of
Wass, on the other band, sleets a more modern
instance, and dutifully gives the preference to her own
royal mother. Upon the subject of Kings, there has
been • great difference of opinion. The Prince haa
written "Leopold, King of the Belgians." The
Princes is is favour of the warlike Cour de Lion;
while the Prince. Mary, with womanly pity for the
unfortunate, gives the palm to Charles I. Nelson,
Marlborough, and Wellington are the favourite heroes;
Shakspesre, the favourite poet of the Princes., and
Byron that of the Prince and Princess Mary. Raphael,
Reboot, and Sir Joshua Reyrolds are selected from the
lists of artiste. As an author the Prince prefers
Macaulay to all others, the ladies are unanimous in!
favour of Charles Dickens. The virtues of honesty and
charity receive hesety sympathy, as might well he
supposed, at the hanos of those to whom they have long
been familiar. The Prince's favourite colour is the
bizarre mixture known is "I Zingari ;" the two
Primness manifest • national partiality to "True I
Blur." When we Dome to the subject of the "inner
man" we and the Prince—with unquettionable taste—
recording his admiration of reefer, ear Perigord, an
opinion which we respectfully and moss heartily agree. !
The Princess, however, scorns "foreign kickshaws,"
and confesses • "weakness" for Yorkebire pudding.
The Princes Mary is equally in favour of French tart.
Among flowers, the Prince and Princess Mary are again
of the same mind. They select the rose, and the
Princes of Wales gives her vote to the modest little
! forget-me-not. The Princess Mary prefers her own
1 name to all other,; the Priestess of Widen her husband's
I second name, Edward ; the Prince himself selects
Louis. His royal highnees has answered the next
question, 'What is your favourite oceuration r in a
aioet moral and praiseworthy spirit,"lmproving my
mind." The ladies are not go severe in their taste.
" Playing on the piano: is the answer of the Princes ;
and " Reeding aloud, that of the Princes leery.
Hunting tiding, and driving ponies form the chief
asnuaeunnt of the royal trio in their "hour, of idle-
ness." Then we come to the mottoes. These are very
appropriately and gracefully skated from the armorial
bearings of the selector,: "lith 'lien ;" by the prigs;
"Hoot Boit qui nal y Dense," by the prin.; and
" Dieu et won droit," by the Princess Mary. The
Prince hates "cowardice raid avarice;" the Princess,
" slander," and the Princess Mary--bless her kind heart
—hu no particular dislikes. Ws hope and trust the
Prince will not go yet awhile to bis "favourite locality"
—the Sandwich Isles! And long may the Princess
remain in the land of her choice...." Great Brawn?.
And nowhere, we think, is the Princes lier 7 more
admired and beloved than "at home." Ambition Its
It. charms, but the moderate ambition of the Prins and
Princesses lead them to noharm: "To attain fans with-
out seeking it;" " Nonsinterferenen in other people's
business." The Princess Mary sensibly adds, "Not for
being last;" and so, with the signatures of the royal
writers these intending saunorands are brought to a
eloss.-7114 Dar,

THE VOLUNTEER REVIEW AT DOVER.
Tb• volunteer review at Dover on Easter Monday waa
• brilliant affair The various florin arrived in good
time and in excellent order. An immense multitude of
;Ninon' were present, and displayed the greatest
interest and sympathy with the prouedinge. The
weather waa fortunately favourable. The I,uke of
Cambridge saw the troop, march pest, and among the
other distinguished persons were Prince Teak and Earl
Granville. The appearance of the volunteers was all
that could be desired, and the spectacle of the sham
fight vu very fine. Several war vessels took part in
11,. mock fight battle. An invading army was aunix.sed
to hue tented on the spot whoa. Jalitaa Cseur's
invincible legion, after being • little daunted at the fierce
inks) and warlike array of the Britons, first made lood
their footing on these shoran. The defewling force,
supported by the guns of the castle, attacked t e enemy
and drove him heck, and managed by a skilful moment
to interpoae theinselves between him and the sea.
During this time the "enemy's deer cannonaded the
castle and the weatem heights. giving all the assistance
wasaibie to their land force., which, in the end, were
aseposed to encounter a diustmus defeat. The evolua
tions of the volunteers and their firing elicited the
warmeat enouninnis from the Duke of Cambridge.

MIL GLADSTONE'S LEADERSHIP.

The Daily telegraph is enabled to state, without
qualification or reserve, the report that Mr. Gladstone
has " reaigned the leadership of the Opposition" is
simply (roundlet&
. .

The Tines will not believe that the hon. sentlemaa
has withdrawn until it has received some authoritative
conllnnetion to that effect.

1 he Day hopes Mr. Gladstone will think better of the
step, and will not realiy 410 what that journal, perh•ps
prematurely, asserted that he had done, destroy a great
party.
The Sear says his retirement would only be • few
degrees less iIL judged and unfortunate than Von'.
seowsinn.

The Standard and Morning Herald asaert that the
letter is the composition of • hot tempered gentlemen
in the

The Olobe regard it as • threat to the Liberal party
that if they do not rally round their leader, he will
resign.
The London correspondent of the Munch eager
nor roe says Mr. Gladstone in • Domicil of friends a
few days ago expressed hi• readiness to waive all
p•rsorial preeedency or pref. rvnce if the interests of the
party were thought to require it, but the sugifcatiwu we.
proinnly and rinatiiinously put aside ea requiring no
consideration.