The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-23 00:00:00

PRINCES THEIR OWN FOOLS.

The Spanish royal family of the last century affords us
an instance of the Heir to the Throne not only being
his own fool, but of his raising his friends to the dignity
of folly by conferring on them its insignia. Lord Ligo-
nier, the husband of one of Alfieri's wor'hless idols, was
English Ambassador at the Court of Madrid during a
portion of the reign of Charles 111., which lasted from
1759 to 1788. After Lord Ligonier's introduction to the
King, he was conducted to the apartments of the Heir
to the Crown, the Prince of the Asturias. The latter
was, subsequen'ly, that Charles IV. who was his own
Queen's especial fool throughout the term of their
married lives. As Lord Ligonier approached the Prince's
chamber, he saw issuing therefrom a number of grandees,
each wearing, with proud gravity, a fantastic fool's cap.
On inquiring the meaning of such a pageant, he was in-
formed that his Royal Highness possessed the fancy of
distinguishing his most cherished friends as his " fools."
The Prince, too, was often pleased to confer this mark
of his favour on celebrated foreigners. Lord Ligonier
was alarmed.
" I represent," he said, "a great sovereign; and am
myself a foreigner not altogether unknown. I must
add, that my gracious master would be seriously offended,
if the Prince of the Asturias were to think proper to
cover the representative of the King of England with
this decoration. You had better go in, sir," said he to
his introducer, " and say as much to his Royal Highness."
The reluctant official undertook the mission ; but he
presently returned, with the intimation that the Prince
could not give up an old-established custom. Upon
which, Lord Ligonier turned on hie heel, declaring that
he would not visit a Prince who thus exposed an Am-
bassador to insult. The Court officials were thrown into
a state of amusing terror by this declaration ; they main-
tained, that if the Ambassador retired, it would be a
flagrant insult on the Prince. Ultimately, and after
many messages and countermessages had passed between
the Prince in his room, and the English Envoy in the
antechamber, announcement was made that the Prince of
the Asturias would not attempt to clap the fool's cap on the
head of Lord Ligonier. His lordship consequently en-
tered the apartment, but not without being more than
Usually vigilant against surprise. He found the sage
Prince with his back to the hearth, and with his hands
behind him. The Prince remained in that position, and
invited the Ambassador to approach. The English lord
obeyed ; but as he advanced, he perceived that the Prince
held a paper object, and the Ambassador stopped short
to converse with his Royal Highness at a very respectful
distance. At the conclusion of the interview, he had to
bow low ; but, as • sailor might say, his weather eye
was open, and he watched the Prince narrowly. The
latter was resolved upon effecting his object, and as
narrowly watched the Ambassador. The bow was almost
at its lowest, when the Prince, seizing the most favourable
opportunity, suddenly brought the fool's cap from behind
him, and endeavoured to fix it on the bead of Lord
Ligonier ; but the old soldier who, by one glorious action
at Laffeldt, had disconcerted all the projects of Marshal
Saxe, was not to be foiled by • foolish prince. As soon
as his eye caught sight of the cap, his hand was upon it,
and almost as soon it lay crumpled up beneath his feet.
His sudden action nearly threw the Prince out of hits equi-
librium; and leaving that illustrious fool's-cap maker to
recover himself as he hest might, the old warrior quitted
the apartment with a smile of scorn upon his lip.

The " History of Fools" may be a valuable
accompaniment to the " Things not Generally
Known" of Mr Ti►nbs, but that is the highest
p►wise we can award it.

A Handy Book on Property Law. In a Series
of Letters. By Lord St. Leonards. Lon•
don : Blackwoods.

THIS attractive.looking little volume is not a
new work, but is nearly identical with the
" Letters to a Man of Property " published by
its learned author some years ago. It has,
however, been thoroughly revised and cor-
rected, and adapted in all respects to the
alterations which have taken place in the law.
It consists of twenty-five letters, the first nine
of which relate to Sales and Purchases, and
contain the pith of the author's elaborate
work on the same subject. These are followed
by a sketch of the various interests which may