The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-20 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC 20.

Is an hour of affliction like the present it is as
fitting and natural to be sensible of our special
blessings as in the gayest times of prosperity ; and
it is probable, therefore, that a multitude of the
Qust,i's subjects have been thinking, within the
last few days, what a blessing it is at once to her
and to us that our form of society is a consti-
tutional monarchy, and that she is, sa we are
accustomed to say, the most constitutional monarch
who has occupied the English throne. In either
extreme of fortune, national or individual, it
is the greatest of privileges to live under
a supreme law,— to be subject to a clear
rule of duty about which all men agree, and by
which all abide. A month ago, when we consi-
dered ourselves altogether happy and prosperous,
when • valuable harvest was well housed, when
we were at peace with all the world, and when
our royal family was oomplete--parents and
children looking forward to a long future together
—in that recent happy time Sovereign and people
enjoyed the repose of mind which belongs to a
common dependence upon that majestic authority
of law which controls all waywardness in our
rulers, and precludes all dissensions between sove-
reign and people. And now, when war seems to
be impending, and when we are all grieving over
the loneliness in which our Qrtze Linda herself
standing, we find the strongest consolation we can
admit in the thought of her being guarded and
guided by the strict limitations of her powers and
her duties as Sovereign, and of her being thus
enabled to profit by the guardianship and guidance
of her Ministers, and, we might almost add, of all
her subjects.
It is a mistake to suppose that in the
proudest hour of the greatness of an absolute
sovereign, he is greater than a constitutional
ruler. If law does not confine him within felt
limits, circumstances do ; and those circumstances
in themselves coustitute • heavy care ; whereas,
the limitations prescribed by law give nothing but
repose to • conscientious mind. Where • despotic

ruler lavishes money without stint, and seems able
to do whatever ho wills, there is from the outset •
certainty of ultimate difficulty, debt, and disgrace,
besides the real, substantial burden of an unfixed
judgment, and of the gravest personal responsi-
bility. Where a constitutional ruler is on the
footing which exists in this country, there is no
room for any wavering of will, for wayward im-
pulses, for burdensome responsibility, or for future
remorse. While an Emperor and Empress are
spending millions on millions, without rendering
an account, they may seem to the vulgar to be
very great and happy ; but the real ease is with
t►e Kovereign who devolves the responsibility
on her Parliament and Ministers, and keeps her
expenses within the bounds of her own income.
There is no day of discredit sad confession and
irksome retrenchment in store for her, at the end
of a hug mune at emberramment, misgiving, and
dread- This it is, in regard to the possession and
nee of other powers than money. Where then is
a standard of law set up, to which ruler and
people absolutely defer, there is a unity of view
and feeling established between them which gives
a common ease, and • mutual understanding of
which no conception can exist in countries whore
another form of goventinent exists. It is this
which gives a really constitutional Sovereign in
this country a steady popularity and • permanent
hold on the national affections altogether unap-
preached elsewhere. It lightens the task of ruling,
and renders the cheerful obedience of the ruled •
matter of course. Thus, in quiet days, is there
peace in high places in our happy country ; ths
thorns are absent from the crown ; and Sovereign
and people run their course side by side, with.
out mystery, dirfroini or slionatiom This is
supposing that the Sovereign is moditistioaal by
conviction, and not from oompalsime ; sad (wild& is
the same thing) that the Sovereign is conecientions,
and not selfish and wayward. Happily, there
was nothing so striking in the Onion of our Qom
and her late COnsorr as their common conscien-
tiousness. In both, duty was the one strong in-
terest, the prominent consideration with one as
much as the other. It is well said that sincerity
is rare, because sincerity is made up of mveral
requisites, and belongs to • total cast of character.
It so happened that both had the requisites and
the cast of character. Sincerity marked their
Manners, and integrity was the substantial quality
of their lives. They were therefore qualiked to
enjoy the repose and freedom of allegiance to the
constitution, and their perfect deference to it re-
lieved them of a host of anxieties and apprehen-
sions which haunted almost every other pAlace in
Europe.

If such was the blessing in bright and easy
times, what is it not nowt The first thing that
everybody said when the news of the Qusza's
bereavement spread through the country was,
oh ! who is so lonely as she !" True as this is,
in one sense, it is also true that in no other coun-
try could she, in the same position, have been so
certain of co-operation, help, and guardianship, as
well as of affectionate sympathy. Her responsi-
bilities are shared and her counsels guided by her
Ministers, themselves instructed and guided by
the constitution. She can never be, like the
possessors of irresponsible powers, " the sport of
" chance desires ;" but her course is laid down
for her by an authority in which she and her
people alike trust. She propowss to live for duty,
as she has done hitherto ; and it is certain that
she and her people must be at one as to what her
duty is, because it is constitutionally prescribed.
Thus, she will have their sympathy, their hearty