The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-16 00:00:00

THE PRINCE CONSORT.

Yesterday morning the nation awoke to learn
that the serene unbroken happiness of • long reign
had been clouded with the deepest sorrow. The
most illustrious family in the had, until then en-
tire, had been invaded by death. Her Majesty the
Queen had sustained the most cruel bereavement,
and the royal children were orphans. Throughout
London the sad intelligence spread with electric
rapidity, uniting the whole population in sympa-
thetic grief. Men unknown to one another
stopped and talked of it in the streets. each
could remember some good trait of the Prince,
and all bad words of respectful affection
for the Queen. Every congregation met under the
influence of the eveut. In some it gave a tone and
character to the whole service, and in all its effects
were apparent. A shock was felt in the omission
of • well-known name from the petition for the
Royal Family in the Litany, and a weight of mean-
ing was thrown on the supplication for "the widow
and the fatherless and all who are desolate and
oppressed." Prayers more hearty and sincere were
never offered than thee° which yesterday went
up as the voice of a whole people invoking the
consolations of Heaven upon the Queen.
It seems but a little while since people began
to talk of Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg as
the future husband of the Queen, and curiosity
was intent upon every circumstance that
promised to throw light on his character.
That he was young, having been born in 1819, and
handsome was only becoming. It was remarked
with satisfaction in Parliament that he was de-
scended from that very Elector whose name stands
at the head of the memorable Protest from which
the name of Protestant is derived. The presence
of the Prince more than confirmed the fame which
had preceded him. Be was profoundly instructed
in the knowled,gisof the schools, and in the physical
and natural sciences which Germany had already
included among the elements of a liberal education.
The Couucillor Florschtttz and the University of
Bonn divided the houour of having directed his
studies. The royal marriage took place in February,
1440, au act having been passed three days before
providing that as soon as he should Lave taken the
oaths of supremacy and allegiance, he should be held
and esteemed to be • natural born subject of this
realm. In the following winter the union was
blessed with the birth of the Princess Royal. Be-
fore the christening an accident betel the Prince
from the breaking of the ice while he was skating,
end placed him for a moment in danger, from which
his unaided efforts would not have sufficed todeliver
him.

His Royal Highness took at onoe that high place
in the esteem of the nation which lie never for a
moment forfeited ; but it was not until he had lived
among us some years that he came forward, as was
afterwards his custom, to co-operate actively in
the enterprises of social progress. His first
care was to acquaint himself thoroughly with
the character of the nation with whose fortunes
he had united his own. It is well known that
after his marriage heread • course of English con-
stitutional history and law with an eminent hi.rrister.

[TWOPEN

When at length the Prince came more prominedll
before the public, be manifested a delicate apprecia-
tion of his position in abstaining from questions of
party politics ; but occasions arose when he showed
that he bad penetrated the spirit of our insti-
tutions. The speech in which during the
war be apokeof constitutional governi
"on its trial" is not, we believe, inch.
lection of his addresses, -
Arts. The expression was __-
and has since been mentioned
prejudice. Looking back at th
membering the disasters which,
heroism of our soldiers attended
Pr
ince -
doubt • see that the
sato the issue of that '
minding his audience how mut
government, and the probabilit
abroad, depended on the effoi
thou called to make. Against
the speech at the Trinity Hon
speech at St. Martin's Hall, r
tribute to the excellence
vernment prevailing in
country belongs the
«add in the mighty
nations an still wrestling—the
ailing, as far es the State is
plasaLindividual liberty r
stadimiss Mho WE of Ow
of making its political ooue
'elation to the world.'
did not love topics which brought
political questions. All his public
governedly excellent taste sr..'
the moment," be mid
I was -unified to the
had become my privilege
existence, I felt -I
could
nation at large." Although
with arguments to &load 1
against possible objeotionsd
mate himself with endeavourer
improvement, on principles
On such occasions he showed
the structure of society in tf
a born Englishman lacked.
speeches was made at a meeting
encouraging and assisting "-
make a provision for old ag
vexed at the meeting of the
meet of the Condition of the
philanthropist could plead
Prince Consort for works
political economist could peroeii
the importance of not urging t/
which they would subvert iudi\
and self-reliance. "Depend
say, " the interests of classes,
are identical, and it is only ignorance
vents their uniting foe each other's e"
dispel that ignorance, to
man, notwithstanding the c
ised society, ought to be th,
but it is more particularly
under the blessing of Divine
station, wealth, and -
created man imperfect,
many wants, as it were to
*dual exertions andto make ai
united exertions and oombinet
imperfections can be supplied
mended."
To the promotion of
cultivation of the fine arta ,
ardour and industry.
special
which-night never have
out his seal and perseverance, ti
taint of a sense of plans and
method, charades of our pi
to the level of the best pro
finest. Nor did the Prince
to uits in which his sir
eminence. The interest h
was shown not only at Windsor,
thins at which be submitted
produce of his farm in competition
subjects.
But it is the manner in
in his relations to our Sovereign
that has above all seamed him the,
as each one dna for himself begin
affection of the nation. For e
memory of the Prince under
in this realm has uniformly
private and social virtue.
a generation when manners
theories of social obligations
rity and influence of the Ito:
active to maintain a high
Surely it was a beneficent 1
our Princes a father so well
nobility and virtue.
There was every reason
Consort would long remain
and adviser of the Queen.
two years of age, strong, •
stitution. It was only
the public were made Aiwa,
ment in the Court Circular
in the enjoyment of his
then made known that hi
apartments for a week,
cold, with pains in his
symptoms had increased,
tinue some time longer.
published on Wednesday, ai
Thursday, was of a nature
mind ; but on Friday it wa
Royal Highness had passed
that the symptoms bad become
Saturday morning • favornal
taking place. The royal p
quieter night, and the 'pm]
Towards the middle of the
provement began to give a-
a too evident aggravation
had assumed a typhoid k
rapidly. At ten minutes
Highness expired, in the
Se . -
Prince of Wales, the Princess Alms. and
Princess Helena. The heart of the whole nation
in the silent chamber with those august moarners.
His Royal Highness Francis Albert At,
Emmanuel, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe
Gotha, K. 0., K.T., K.P., 0.0.8., C.C.'
D C.L., Ph.D., ka, was the sewed sea of b.,
of Sam Coburg and Gotha, by his first wife
Louisa, Princess of Saxe Gotha. His Royal nightie/a
hors at Ressmaa, August 28, 1819, and his marriage
Queen Victoria took place on the 10th of February
The act of parliament wider which the Priam was
limed wee the 3rd Vie., cap. 1 and 2. The income
by act of parilameot was 30,00 W. Hs received hii
Royal Highness by patent, detect Feb. 6, 1840, and
powered to quarter the royal arms ac 7th of Februa
same year. Os the following day he received his
dm es Field Marshal, and he was made Colonel of
or Prince Albert's Own Hussars on the 30th
In April, 1842, he reosived his commission as
Soots Fusilier Guards. In August, 1850,
Colonel-in•Ohisf of the 00th Rifles, and on the
timber, 1852, he was appointed Colonel-in-Chief
Rifle Brigade and Colonel of the Grenadier Gr
the death of the Duke of Wellington. His Royal
was granted letters of precedence next after'
co the sth March. 1840, and was
a member of the Privy Council on the 11th of .
1840. He was aappppodappointed Grand Ranger of Windsor-,
1841, and recitir the Order of the Golden Fleece in
of that rear. la April, 1842, he received the air
of Load Wades of the Stannaries and Chief Star
Amity of Cornwall. He became Governor and
of Wiedsor Castle in May, 1843, aid dent and
Knight Gomel Crass sod Actin Great Master of i
of the Bath is June, 1843. He was also made Higl
of Plymouth in June, 1843, and CaptainOr
Colonel of the Artillery Company in September,
His election as Chancellor of the University of
took place on the 27th of February, 1847. He 1101
Steward of New Windsor in July:1850, and Preii
the Zoological Society is July, 1851. Go the 19th
her, 1852, he was nominated Master of the Trinity
Is February, 1856, he was made Knight of the Order
Seraphim thaK-Ing of Swedes. His creatioe as
Cowart by
was Wooled by letters patent, dated the
July, 1857 ; sad he was sleeted President of the /'
tuna Beaty is idnary, 1858.

which (luring the Orimean
tional government m • ••• • '4
believe, included in the • • -
published by the Society o
was sure to attract notice.
rationed at intervals to his
ok at the period, and se-
re which, in spite of • •
attended our arms, we can
rince was not expressin .4
hat " trial," but rather re-
iw much the credit of •
robability of its adoption
se efforts the nation
gainst the ambiguities • •
y Hone. may be set •
all, a distinct and hearty
ace of the form of go-
in England. "To tlf
honour of having s• •
r task with which • •
thing—the task of •
to is concerned, the p
ty and of &Regime's 1
ihe sommanite; sad
constitution an &jest,
orld." But the • • ,
I brought him within range • •
his public appearances
ate and judgment. " From
d on one oimasio% "
sovereign to whom
ilege to devote my wh • '
odd belong only to th
though ready on cockatoo
dead the course he book
time, he preferred to
smuts to promote sec'
maples commonly accepted.
!owed an acquaintance wi •
in this country which man
ked. One of his ear '
meeting of the moiety f •
king domestic servants
Id age. The first was deli
the Society for the Improy
the Labouring Masses. N.
lead more heartilythaa
orbs of this order, and
ild perceive more cloud
urging them to a point
,rt individual
e ind rdan
lepend upon it," ewo •
damest too often con •• •
only ignorance which p
each other's advantage.
to show how man can hel •
he complicated state of lA,'
e the aim of every person ,
srly the duty of those who,
Divine Providence, enjo
d education. God has
et, and left him wi
to stimulate each to iodi,
nakeafi feelthat it is on] •
combined action that th
supplied and these wan
I adult education and •
iris the Prince dedicated
Instry. The Exhibition • •
r have become a reality wi
ranee, was but the common
as and exertions to raise •
our principal manufactu
at productions of the • •
Prince (Joanne his sates • •
his station secured him p
est he took in agricultu
Windsor, but in the exhibi
bmitted speoimens of
competition with his fellow
in which he bore •
Sovereign Lady the Q •
ed him the esteem, and now
melt begins to find, the
For ever honoured be •
order whom the first fame
sly been au example of ev
le. It is something that •
men are relaxed, and • •
lions are current, the &nth
e Royal Family have bee
high standard of purity.
rat Providence which gay
well fitted to form them
ion to hope that the Prin •
main to be the companion
men. He was only forty
og, and of unimpaired con
ily this day week t •
le aware by an anon • •
Circular that he was n
usual health. But it
he had been confined to •
, suffering from a feveris•
limbs, that the fees
d, and were likely to emi-
r. The first bulletin w
y, and, like the next, da •
iture to assure the publi
it was announced that • •
stied a reifiess night, an •
become unfavourable. 0
Durable change seemed to •
ral patient had passed
symptoms were less severe.
the day the deceitful ire
way, and wag succeeded b
in of the disease. The fey=
form, and the Prince sank
rotes before 11 his Roy
ce of the Queen, th
frr:enceaa Alice,. and th
heart of the whole nation '
ith those august mourners.
ads Albert Augustus
ty, Prime of Saxe Coburg
'., 0.0.8., 0.C.K.G.,
be seined us of Erma., Dub
se., by his first wife Doroth
lathe. His Bard Matinees
8, 1819, and his minims with
on the 10th of February, 1840.
7wahoichtherrilici nature
i d 2. ne income Irran
10001. He received his title
dated Feb. 6, 1840, and was em
1 arms On 7th of February in th
ag day be received his commis
ie was made Colonel of the llt
lan ou the 30th of April, Dl4O.
be commission as Colonel of lb.
a August, 1850, he herein
Alfieri, and on the 28thof Se
lilted Colonel-in-Chief of th
if the Grenadier Guards, on
'ldling-ton. Hie Royal Hicbne
'cadence next after the 9uee
LB4O, and was nominate.
ell on the 11th of. September,
rand Ranger of Windsor-park i
it of the Golden Fleece in Ap
42, he received the appointmen
mares and Chief Steward of th
same Governor and Constabl
1843, and first and principa
snag Great Muter of the Orde
He was also made High Stews
43, and Captain-General an
ripen. in September a/ that year.
4 the University of Cambrel
' February, 1847. He was nig•
July:1850, and President
al y! 1861. Os the 19th of t
1 Master of the Trinity House.
made Knight of the Order of th
wades. His creation as Pris•
Letter" patent, dated the 'Lad
meted President of the liorticul-
-1858.
MiIEMBEMMEEMENI