The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-11 00:00:00

TIDE EXPRESS,

DEATH

or
THE KING OF THE BELGIUM

PAN& Dno. 10.
The Paris evening papers eminent in sympa-
thetic terms upon the news of the death of the
King of the Belgians. ... .
The Consghttionnel eulogises the high wisdom,
moderation, and ability of the late Sovereign, and
says :—" Thanks to King Leopold, Belgium has
seen her prosperity increase, and has reached such
a condition that the succession to the throne takes
place in the midst of the most perfect tranquillity.
Trained in this school Leopold 11. cannot fail to
continue the paternal tradition, and his accession
will be hailed with equal sympathy and confidence."
The Moaiteur d, Soir says :—" His Majesty
King Leopold has died at the age of 75 years, after
a reign of 34} years.

Leopold the First, King of the Belgians, was one
of the most distinguished amongst the many mem-
bers of the able and enterprising House of Coburg,
who, during the viciesitudee of the present century,
have made their way to a foremost place amongst
the princes of Europe. It is hardly necessary to
remark on the extraordinary tact, sagacity, and
insight which in recent times the representatives of
this successful family have displayed. Amongst
the many royal and ducal houses of Germany they
appear to be about the only one that has thoroughly
comprehended the modern world, that has been
able to appreciate the nature, necessity, and rule of
free institutions, and to act with firmness, modera-
tion, and honesty the part of constitutional rulers.
Four members of the family may be said
within the last thirty years to have at-
tained to this dignity—King Leopold, the late
Prince Consort, the present King of Portugal, and
the late King, his brother. The female branches of
the Gobargfamily have been equally distinguished.
One of King Leopold's sisters, it will be remem-
bered, married the Grand Duke Constantine of
Russia and another the Duke of Kant. The King
of the 'Belgians was the uncle both of her fdajosty
and her late Consort, Prince Albert.
Leopold, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe Coburg
Gotha, Margrave of Meissen and Landgrave of
Thuringia, was the third and youngest son of
Francis, late reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg Saal-
feld, and born at the ducal capital of Coburg, Dec.
16, 1790. He was fortunate in both his parents,
his father being a man of great intelligence, cul-
ture, and political sagacity, and his mother--a
of the ancient and celebrated House of
Crirlot Plavni—a woman of varied accomplish-
manta, tine taste, rare elevation of mind, and great
strength of character. All her powers were de-
voted to the education of her children, and the
peculiar attachment which in after life subsisted
amongst all the members of the Cobureamily is
justly attributed to her influence. The young
Prince Leopold received an excellent education, and
distinguished himself so much by his attainments
in science, literature, sod art, that he early ac-
quired the reputation of being one of the most
accomplished princes in Europe. He embraced the
profession of arms, to which his elder brothers were
already devoted, and which was in fact in the then
disturbed state of Europe the only course open to
a titled youth of spirit and ambition. Indeed, not
only his brothers, but his uncles were all military
men of mark, one of them, his uncle Frederick,
having a few years before acquired an European
fame. Being at length free to pursue his military
career, Prince Leopold in the year 1808 accom-
panied the Emperor of Russia and his brother-in-
law, the Grand Duke Constantine, to the interview
with Napoleon at Erfurt. The marriage of his sister
with the Grand Duke had decided him some years
before to enter the Russian service, and he had in
fact been made a general in the Russian army as
early as 1804, when he had been little more than a
year in active service. Napoleon, who kept a keen
eye on the Coburg princes, and watched with pecu-
liar jealousy their proceedings, formally demanded
that Prince Leopold should quit the Russian army.
Prince Leopold hastened to Paris to remonstrate in
person against this demand, but he was told that if
he hesitated any longer to comply, his uncle's pos-
sessions would be seized. He accordingly left the
Russian army silently, retaining his rank, by per-
mission of the Emperor, till he might be able again
to assume it publicly. Meanwhile he assiduously
devoted himself to business, to study, and to
travel. At first he assumed his place in the
management of the duchy, in 1811 he negotiated
with the King of Bavaria a future treaty of great
importance to the principality of Coburg, and in
1812 made a tour through Switzerland and Italy.
At the commencement of 1813 the three brothers
of the House of Coburg exerted themselves as far
as their situation permitted to prepare for the
emancipation of Germany, Leopold in particular
devoting himself with the greatest ardour, but at
the same time with characteristic caution, to the
spread and organisation of the movement. The
declaration of war against France enabled him
to resume his position in the Russian army, and as
a general of cavalry he greatly distinguished him- '
self in the campaigns that followed. He was pre-
sent and took an active part in the various engage-
ments that marked the progress of the allies, at
Lutzen, Bautzen, Kulm, and the more terrible and
decisive battle of Leipeic, where he displayed not
only signal coolness and courage, but great military
talent. His distinguished services were acknow-
ledged by the allied sovereigns, and for the part he
had taken in these engagements he was decorated
with the Orders of St. George and St. Marie-
Theresa. After the campaign of the ensuing spring
he entered Paris with the cavalry reserve, and
subsequently accompanied the allied sovereigns to
London, being specially attached to the Emperor
Alexander. It was during this visit that Prince
Leopold attracted the notice of the Princess Char-
lotte. That the prince should have made a deep
impression on the heart of the princess, and that
a strong mutual attachment should have speedily
sprung up between them, is certainly not surprising.
The Princess Charlotte united to rare purity and
elevation of mind a charming person, and a deeply
affectionate nature, while Prince Leopold had
almost everything that could recommend him to
such a nature—youth, manly beauty, rare accom-
plishments, sterling sense, as well as sentiment,
high spirit, and a military reputation won by
distinguished services in the field. He protracted
his stay in England some weeks after the departure
of the allied sovereigns, and though his proposal
for the hand of the princess was at first rejected,
she being at that time in fact affianced to the
Prince of Orange, he left with a strong hope of
ultimate success. In September he repaired to
Vienna in order to protect before the Congress his
own rights and the interests of his family. The
return of Napoleon from Elba, however, suddenly
recalled him to his post in the army, and be re-
joined his corps on the banks of the Rhine. After
the battle of Waterloo he proceeded on family
business to Paris, and thence to Berlin, where the
invitation of the Prince Regent reached him, for-
mally intimating the preference he had gained in
the affections of his daughter, the Princess Char-
lotte of Wales. The prince accordingly proceeded
forthwith to England, and on the 26th of March,
1816, a message of the Prince Regent to both
houses of parliament acquainted the with the
m
approaching marriage of his daughter, Which took
place on the 2nd of May. The prince bad been
previously naturalised, created Dnke of Kendal,
and invested with the rank of field-marshal. The
estate of Claremont, in Surrey, was purchased for
the royal couple, and Marlborough House, Pall-
mall, was assigned for their town residence, with
an allowance of 60,0001. per annum, which in case
Leopold should survive his consort was then to be
reduced to 50,0001. Though the country was at
that moment watching with intense jealousy over
the national expenditure, public opinion having
taken a strong and decisive turn in favour of rigid
economy, this munificent sum was voted almost by
acclamation. Not a single dissentient voice was
heard in parliament, nor the faintest murmur of
objection out of doom. This is one amongst many

other proofs of the extreme popularity of the mar-
It was known to be a union of affection,
pnd the high character of the prince and priucess
ersmeillas surest pledge not only of domestic happi-
Ullell/2 but of a weMed life so exemplary for its
private and public virtue that the future Queen of
England might well become a noble example to her
re. The marriage was accordingly hailed
throughout the country u • public blessing, and
the most sanguine hopes were entertained respect-
ing it. These hopes were suddenly and terribly
blighted. On the 6th of November, 1817, the
princess expired in childbirth. This terrible
calamity plunged the whole nation in deep and
universal grief. The virtues of the prinoess had
so endeared her to the hearts of the people that her
premature death excited not only the profoundest
sense of public loss, but the deeper and more
poignant emotion of private sorrow. The bereaved
Euaband suffered intensely with the bereaved
nation, and his deep and tender grief found, among
other forms, local • expression of a peculiar sad
striking kind. In the apartments commonly used
by himself and his royal consort every article re-
mained for many years by his direction precisely as
her own hand bad left it, and a small Gothic build-
ing erected in the grounds at Claremont, and des-
tined for the purpose of plesaure and recreation,
was converted by him into • monument to her
memory. For many years Prince Leopold con-
tinued to reside at Claremont, but in great seclu-
sion and retirement, taking hardly any part in

- .
public affairs.
The formation of the kingdom of Greece in the
year 1830, however, recalled Prince Leopold from
his long retirement, and prepared the way for his
once more taking an active and useful part in pub-
lic affairs. The three allied powers who had un-
dertaken the pacification of Greece offered his
royal highness the hereditary sovereignty of the
new state, and on the 11th of February he condi-
tionally accepted the offer. In the negotiations
that followed the prince displayed the caution as
well as the political wisdom and sagacity that has
so strikingly marked his subsequent career. Finding
that he could not obtain for the new kingdom
the boundaries necessary to secure its independence,
and that this disputed question excited a strong
feeling of dissatisfaction in the country itself, he
finally declined the offered crown in the May fol-
lowing. The wisdom of this decision has been
amply justified by the result, while the prince who
made it was soon rewarded for any temporary sacri-
fice it involved. The Belgian revolution of 1830
having successfully established the independence of
the country, and secured towards the close of the
year its recognition by the Western Powers, the
national congress appointed to frame a constitution
decided on a monarchical form of government, and
after a fruitless negotiation with the Duc de Ne-
mours, offered the crown to Prince Leopold. The
offer was made on the 4th of June, 1831, but there
were so many difficulties connected with the new
government, and so many points to be settled be-
fore the Belgian Congress could come to an un-
derstanding with the allies, that it could at first be
accepted only conditionally. Leopold, however,
gave the best proof of his good faith towards the
Belgians and his zeal in their cause by offering his
services to represent them in the London Confer-
ence, and to conduct the pending negotiation in
their behalf. His efforts, marked throughout with
characteristic wisdom, firmness, and moderation,
were successful. On the 26th of June he received
officially a deputation from the Belgian National
Congress, and urged them strongly to accept the
treaty of eighteen articles proposed by the London
Conference. After some oonaiderable discussion
this was agreed to, and the preliminary difficulties
being thus removed, Leopold accepted the new dig-
nity, made his public entry into Brussels on the
21st of July, and after swearing to maintain the
constitution was formally inaugurated King of the
Belgians. On assuming the crown he relinquished,
so long as he continued to wear it, the annuity of
50,0001. settled upon him by the British parlia-
ment upon condition that the government should
take upon itself the payment of the pensions granted
by himself and the Princess Charlotte, and the
expense of maintaining the mansion and park of
Claremont.
The two great parties of the state combined
to secure the liberal oonstitution which is the
glory of Belgium, and which, after long
and animated discussion, was voted and pro-
mulgated in 1833. The catholic demanded the
right of worship, the liberty of education, and of
religious association. The main points insisted on
by the liberals were the national sovereignty of
which the king is head and representative, reepon-
sible ministers, the equality of all in the eye of
the law, the liberty of the press and of association,
popular election, and the system of trial by jury.
These fundamental principles were secured by the
constitution, and throughout his long reign Leo-
pold devoted himself with exemplary fidelity as
well as with unfailing prudence, tact, and mode-
ration to the task of carrying them into effect. It
wag a task of extraordinary difficulty, and Leo-
pold's perfect success is the best proof of his prac-
tical wisdom and great ability. The main secret
of his success was his unswerving fidelity to con-
stitutional principles. The model of a constitu-
tional ruler, be never identified himself with any
party in the state, but uniformly strove to con-
ciliate hostile sections and bring them into working
harmony for the common good. It iv only just to
say that he kept the good of the nation constantly
in view, and manifested an enlightened and con-
sistent loyalty towards public opinion. He had,
however, a remarkable aptitude, partly natural and
partly acquired, for perceiving the various changes
of popular feeling ; in a word, for interpreting pub-
lie opinion, as well as a supreme tact in meeting
popular requirements before they became iuportn-
nate. Of this unfailing tact a dozen examples
might be quoted, bat one of the beat known will
be sufficient. The King safely tided over the diffi-
culty of 1848 by an act of courageous deference to
popular feeling, of daring confidence in the good-
will of his subjects. The revolutionary excitement
reached Brussels, and there was a clamour amongst
the disaffected for a republic. The King immedi-
ately came to the capital, and declared himself
ready to surrender the crown if his people wished
it. This public and unexpected announcement at
once dissipated the threatened storm, strengthened
the feeling of order, and established the King more
firmly than ever in the affections of his people. It
webby this remarkable fidelity to the popular cause
and interests, this rare constitutional patriotism,
that Leopold overcame all difficulties, gained the
enthusiastic attachment of his adopted people, and
dies in a good old age, eminently and universally
respected, beloved, and revered.
On assuming the crown of Belgium, Leopold
married the Princess Louise of Orleans, daughter
of the late Louis-Philippe. The children of his
second marriage are Leopold, Duc de Brabant,
heir-apparent to the throne, born April 9, 1835 ;
the Comte de Flandres, born in 1837 the
Princess Charlotte, born in 1840. The Duc de Bra-
bant led to the altar, in 1853, an Austrian arch-
duchess, daughter of the late Archduke Joseph,
Palatine of Hungary. There are two children by
this marriage—a daughter, born in 1858, and •
son, who in the course of nature will be Leopold
lIL , born June 12, 1859. King Leopold sought
an Austrian alliance for his daughter as wall as his
son, and she was espoused, in 1857, by the Arch-
duke Ferdinand Maximilian, brother of the reign-
ing Emperor, and himself, at the present moment,
"Emperor of Mexico."

AID FOR TIM AIITRICAN FRIIIRDIMT. —The Asso-
elation of French Ladies for helping the freed people of
America has just mut off eight more cam of clothing,
aostainieg 3.843 &dialer, woollen mid mottos dresser,
trousers, be. The value of the material was between
18,000 f. and 19.000 f. The sarociatiou has also sent 10.400 f.
additional, making in all, rim its formation is April last, I
rather mom than 50,000 f. la money aad clothing. The I
Perim to Ham Railway Company aod the Trinsetlastic
take ;be goods Derriere free. Francis G. Shaw, Req.,
sideot of the National Freedmen's Relief Aseociatioa, New
York, in acknowledgiag the receipt of the last masse, writes'
to the French ladies- thus :—" We thank you for the pro-1
, raise of future shipments. The winter is at au doors, sad
I we are amiss every exertion to supply • part of the grist
I destitution which mast is any event prevail among ow
poor refugees. Your end is arid will be most welcome ; and
the more we ma seneeiate la such work as this the better
for both ow ematrios."--Oalifeani.

DEPUTATION TO /MISTERS.
On Saturday a deputation from'the committee of
the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society waited °pap
the Right Ron.l. Cardwell to present munoriales the
subject of the Jamaica massacres The Right Ron. Em
Russell had appointed to receive the deputation at three
o'olook, jointly with Mr. Cardwell, at hie lordship's °Moral
residence in Downing-street, bat was prevented from doles
or in consequence of creational indispositios. The depute-
d= was so numerous that private application had to be
made to prepare for ha aceocazoodatioo, and Mr. Cardwell
meet courteously afforded all the facility in his power by
obtaining the used " Earl Russell's room" at the Treasury.
The deputation included delegates from the following
plus" :—Bristol (7), Brighton (8), Magruder (1), Bradford
(2), Maui:star (1), Reading (2), Sunderland (10), Birming-
ham (7), Liverpool (1), Manchester (1), Canterbury (4),
Worcester (1), Woburn (1), Oxford (4), Southampton (3),
Kendal (3), Southwick' (1), Rochester (3), Glasgow (1),
Warrington (1), Lewes (1), Hertford (2), Gravesend (2),
Chelmsford (I), Croydon (5), Turn& (2), Chatham (2),
Woodford (I). Nottingham (1), Stroud (1).
The following members of parliament were present :
Mr. Samuel Morley, IL P. ; Sir Thomas F. Baxtca, Bart.,
M.P., Lynn; Meese. G. Carr Glyn, ALP., Kendal;
Thomas Hugh" M.P., Lambeth; Peter A. Taylor,
M.P., ,Leicester ; Samuel Gurney, M.P., Poem ;
Chula Gilpin, M.P., Northrunptoo ; Camel Sykes,
M.P., Aberdeen ; Keens. T. W. M. Torrece,
IL P., Finsbury ; James White, IL P., Brighton.
The committee of the British and Foreign An
htiaavery
Society were represested by Maim% osep Cooper,
Thomas Bins', Josiah Forster, G. W. Alexander, W. 8.
been, Wiliam Allen, Edmund Sturge,tßobert Alsop, Charles
Wise, A. W. Bennett, Henry Starry, and Frederick
Wheeler. Upwards of 250 gentlemen, in all, attended,
The depalatios was introduced by Mr. Samuel Gurney,
M.P., President of the Anti-Slavery Society, who observed
that he did not think it was seceuary for him to make any
farther remark on that aocanoo than to say that he most
fully %mound m the purport Of the memorial 'boat to be
presorted.
Mr. Oxfam:Roma, secretary of the society, then read
the memorial.
Mr. Caumatovzos (addressing Mr. Cardwell) stated that
on the ptomaine evening, • special meeting of the corn-
mitteelhad been held, when it wee judged expedient to oar
eider an appendix to that memorial, a oopy of which was
forwarded to Earl Russell, sad which Mr. Charaerovsow
proceeded to read.
The Secretary, in addition to the foregoing addresses,
headed to Mr. Cardwell memorials adopted at public meet-
ings bald at Shotley.bridge, Durham, and at Canterbury,
and also • memorial from the Baptist church and congrega-
tion of Eythorne, Kest, in the name of the delegates pre-
eent•from thus places.
Mr. Alexander, the Rev. W. Arthur, and Alderman
Namibia, of Birmingham, having spoken,
Mr. T. 000158, M.P., said he did feel it was their
duty to urge imam the right hoe gentleman, in order that
the inquiry might be • fair one, that Lieutenant-Governor
Byre should—temporarily at least—while the inquiry was
going cm, be brought over to this country. (Cheers.) He
hoped the government would not allow the Indemnity Ast

to become operative.
Sir T. F. Burma said he had attended that day as pre-
sident of the Freedmen's Aid Society of Loudon, to express
their gourd sympathy with the address that had been
read ; and he desired to tender his own adhesion to the
opinion pronounced by Mr. Hughes in favour of the recall
of Governor Eyre—(theses)—am a step no lean required in
the interest of those who had lately suffered so grievously
than in his own. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. 'Tanana, M.P., joined in the request that Go"
vertex Eyre should be recalled, so that he might have
en opportunity of clearing himself and them from the terri-
ble sad unprecedented stigma which had been oast upon
their characters as Englishmen by the painful occurrences
that had taken place in Jamie.. Inter, bear.) His trial,
to be • fair one, must take place in this country.
Mr. P A. Tartan, MP., desired deo to express his own
claim that the honour of England and the security of the
goverwassat required the instant recall of Governor Eyre,
and everyone responsibly connected with the late events in
the island of Jamaica. (Hear, hear.)
The Rev. DAVID THOMAS, is chairman of the Congrega-
tional IJoioa of England and Wales, desired to say that no
words of his could adequately express the anxious and
intense feeling of the congregational churches of England
and Wales on this subject, and the attitude of expectancy
with which they were looking forward to the action of the
government at the present time. He would retest to a
remark made by Governor Eyre, in hie recent speech to
the legislature, that Jamaica had long been on the verge
of a volcano. He would ask whether, during the last six
months, Governor Erre had, is hie despatches, acquainted
the government with that fact. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CARDWELL said he was exceedingly sorry that indis-
position had prevented Earl Russell from being present to
receive the deputation. If be could have been present, he
would have told them as he (Mr. Cardwell) now told them,
that no weeds could express the pain and anxiety which
the consideration of this subject had given to him, and to
every member of his government. The request of the de-
putation was, that the government should take " imme-
diate steps for an impartial and a searchieg inquiry into the
deplorable 'waste which have recently occurred in Jamaica,
and' the causes which have occasioned them." (Hear,
hest) Her Majesty's government had anticipated that re-
quest (Cheers.) They had determined that there should
be forthwith • full, an impartial, end en independent in-
quiry. (Hear, hear.) The arrangements for conducting
that inquiry had already made some program They would
be completed with as little delay as was compatible with
their satisfactory completion. He hoped that his informa-
-1 flop respecting the progress that was being made in them
would go to Jamaica by the very next mail. (Hear, hear.)
' It was the object of the government that nothing should
' Weft undone that was calculated to secure the most com.
pieta and perfect knowledge upon the whine sub When
the inquiry wee over, the government would not be found
disposed to palliate or armee anything that wee deserving
of reprobation. (Hear, hear.) In the meantime, be was
sure the deputation would feel the necessity of saying
nothiag, and even of thinking nothing which was
incompatible with the freedom and fairness of that inquiry.
(Hear, hear.) He wished to say, with regard to Governor
Eyre, that that gentleman was not known personally to
him. He was known to him only by his reputation,
which had always been that of a man of courage and
humanity. /I he might judge of the distress which the
receipt of the intelligence from Jamaica inflicted upon a
Arson in his (Mr. Cardwell's) position, what must he think
of &person who found himself placed in the position in the
colony in which Governor Eyre had been placed. Whatever
the deputation might think, and whatever their feelings
might be upon the other parts of hie teacloth., they must
feel the deepest sympathy for any man placed in that
position. They must feel that if the disturbance that took
place bed not been immediately brought to a close, dis-
astrous consequeues of the worst kinmight have followed.
(No, no, end a cry of " Question.") ad come to ask
for a fair inquiry. He trusted that the spirit of fairness
would characterise the conduct of all who wets exeunt.
He felt it to be his bounden duty, after listening to so
many remarks respecting Governor Eyre, to say that which
he had just said. (Hear, hear.) He believed that Gover-
nor Eyre himself would be the firth person to welcome the
opportunity of such an inquiry as was asked for. He (Mr.
Cardwell) was desirous that the inquiry should be full and
complete, and by the result of that inquiry his conduct for
one should be guided.
In reply to a question put by the Rev. Dunn Taoithe,
Mr. CARDWELL said be had been is tiorresponduce with
Governor Eyre upon the subject of Jamaica during the
whole current year. That oorresponduce was already pas-
sing through the press for the purpose of being laid before
parliament at its meeting. (Hear, beer.)
Mr. Ctumreenrow thanked Mr. Cardwell, in the name of
the deputation, foe the uneasy he bed shown in making
arrangements for the seconueodation of so large • number
of gentlemen.
The deputation then withdrew.

THE JAMAICA INQVIRY.—The Obserrer, in TO-
barring to the =minima about to be sent leder:min. says:
—"We lime an authority to make any statermat ; bat
1104)11 names bare been =aniseed which new easily to
persons who are geed at penis . mid which would pro.
bebly be well neeived. Oes is Sir Edmund Head, who
hr bed the hugest expanses is the highest eases at
esiosial government The ether in Mr Healy Storks, for-
merly of the War-edtee. The third is Yr. Lashisgtow,
at the Chancery bar, a eon of Dr. Lushingtoa, Tap of the
Adminity Court, who hes always bean devoted to the
ialkdavory same