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

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LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 11, 1865.

The news wraich was yesterday received from
Belgium will be received with general regret
though scarcely -with astonishment. The death of
King LEoroLD, lull of years and honours, has long
been apprehended ; for although his age was not
extremely advanced, yet for several years his health
has, been in a precarious condition. Since the last
attack there has been little hope that he could sur-
vive much longer, but nevertheless the sorrow felt
for his loss will be as sincere as it is general. We
in this. country will naturally regard the melancholy
event with especial concern, as affecting our gracious
SOVEREIGN, who has thus lost a near relative, and
one who from his age, experience, and position,
was invaluable as an adviser, and a guide in any
time of uncertainty or perplexity. The uncle both
of Her MAJESTY: and of the late PRINCE CONSORT,
connected with this country by many endearing
memories, King LEOPOLD has always taken a warm
interest in the personal fortunes of our Royal
Family, and has been able to understand and ap-
preciate in a great measure the character of the
English people. The days of his brightest hopes,
the prime of his career, and the promise of his most
brilliant fortunes were associated with this country,
and though the generation whose acclamations hailed
the wedding of 1816, and who mourned over the catas-
trophe of the following year, has welinigh passed
away, still the name of Prince LEOPOLD belongs to
our national history, and his memory is cherished
among us like that of one of the most popular mem-
bers of our Royal Family. The silent chamber at
Brussels witnesses the close of a career in which the
strange vicissitudes of life were especially remark-
able. Born in 1790 in the midst of wars and
tumults, Prince LEOPOLD was not devoid of those
military talents which in such days were almost in-
dispensable to success. 'Very early in life he began
to play his part in -war, in government, in diplo-
macy. He shared the perils of the great war which
at the beginning of this century desolated Germany,
lie conducted the Government of his native duchy
during his brother's absence, and after the marriage
of his sister to the Russian Grand Duke v ri
ONSTAN-
TINE he accompanied the Emperor ALEXANDER to
Erfurt, where he was present at the famous meet-
ing of 'the two Emperors. He held the rank of
general in the Russian army, which, however, he
was forced to resign at a hint from NAPOLEON, who
it maybe observed, had formed no mean opinion of his
military talents. He consequently resumed his posi-
tion. However, when after successfully accomplishing
a P°l*almission of great importance to the Emperor

ALEXANDER, he distinguished himself 'in the cam-
paigns of 1818.1tand finally entered Paris with
the Allies.

The next prominent event in the life of King
LEOPOLD was his visit to this country. He early
entered the lists as a candidate for the hand of the
Princess CHARLOTTE, but at that time her marriage
with the Prince of ORANGE was in contemplation.
Nevertheless, the obstacles to his suit were not of
very long duration, and the wishes of the young
Princess herself were believed to be on his side.
Early in 1816 Parliament received a message an-
nouncing the intended marriage, which was univer-
sally popular. The votes for the dowry of the
Princess and the income of the royal pair were
unanimous, and joy and gladness prevailed through-
out all classes, though loyalty was not then so
strong a sentiment as now. Every one knows the
mournful conclusion to so bright and hopeful a
beginning. The curtain of death fell on the gay
and smiling scene, and filled the homes of Eng-
land with tears instead of laughter. Great
as was the loss to the nation, the calamity
was a hundredfold greater to Prince LEO-
POLD. The shock for the time completely
overwhelmed him, and when he had in some degree
recovered it he devoted his time principally to study.
The next 12 years of his life passed in retirement
and comparative obscurity, and very probably be
thought himself, and others thought of him, that
the story of his public life was told, and that he
had missed his chance of the gifts of Fortune. But
a change came over the scene, and after the decision
of the Five Powers to erect Greece into an indepen-
dent kingdom, the crown was offered to Prince
LEOPOLD. The Greek question in our own day has
excited comparatively little interest. We have be-
come accustomed to the chronic condition of Minis-
terial crises and general political disturbance. But
in those earlier days the dream of Greek indepen-
dence was the vision of statesmen and reformers, of
philanthropists and poets. The pages of BYRON
and CAMPBELL reflect the feelings with which Great
Britain watched the struggle, and when, in 1829,
the crown of the new kingdom was offered toPrince
LEOPOLD, the selection seemed in every way suitable
and appropriate. However, though the Prince
at first accepted it, he soon found reason to retire
from a position which offered so many difficulties,
with regard to the Greeks themselves, as well as
with regard to the very uncertain attitude assumed
by the protecting Powers.
Fortune had yet another chance in store for her
favourite. He had missed the hope of sharing the
greatest throne in Europe, he had refused the crown
of Greece, but yet he was to be a King closely con-
nected with the crowned heads of Europe. The
impossibility of reconciling the antagonistic ele-
ments of Holland and Belgium led, in 1830, to the
erection of a separate monarchy for the
latter state, and after much difficulty, owing
to the entanglement of political relations and the
conflicting interests and prejudices of the time,
Prince LEOPOLD was selected to fill the vacant
throne, and by his marriage with the daughter of
Louis PHILIPPE to reconcile the French interest.
Thus his singular fortune attended him in his
domestic relationships, for both his marriages were
with princesses of the very highest rank. His
career since that time is familiar enough to most
politicians. He has steered his course safely and
wisely amid the various difficulties and perplexities
of his position, and though sometimes temporarily
unpopular, he succeeded in winning and• pre-
serving the affections of his people, by whom his
death is regarded as a national calamity. He has
occupied in European politics a position whose im-
portance was due to his own individual character,
certainly not to the size or strength of his kingdom.
As an arbiter and referee, as a mediator and con-
ciliatory interpreter he was without an equal ; and
while his talents could, perhaps, have been easily
matched, and his character never rose into great-
ness, he was frequently instrumental in affecting the
destinies of Europe, and his influence extended to both
hemispheres. But the long story is at last told, and
the inevitable " Finis" inscribed on the leaf ; the
play is played out, and the actor has left the stage.
His successor's position is not altogether an enviable
one, and already the political horizon is dark and
stormy. The unsettled condition of European poli-
tics at this juncture renders the death of King
LEOPOLD a subject of great anxiety and uneasiness,
as well as of personal regret ; and while we may
well grieve that another of the prominent names
that linked the past and the present is silenced, we
must also feel that the removal of King LEOPOLD
opens a chapter of possibilities and perplexities
which may darken and disturb the future.

Mr. CARDWELL was put upon his mettle on Saturday
when he received a most numerous deputation of the
Anti-Slavery and other kindred Societies, who came
to present a memorial, praying for an inquiry into
the conduct of Lieut.-Governor EYRE concerning
the late disturbances in Jamaica. The deputation
was introduced by Mr. SAMUEL MORLEY. Upon
the plea of demanding justice, the members of the
deputation made known their wishes, and conducted
themselves in the most intolerant manner through-
out the whole proceedings. Such vehemence of
manner, and such exhibition of prejudice is rarely
witnessed on the occasion of a deputation appearing
before a Minister of State. Mr. CARDWELL ac-
quitted himself admirably of his difficult task, but he
had hard work with the turbulent assembly. In the
memorial presented the most extraordinary views
are expressed concerning the events that have re-
cently taken place in Jamaica. In short, the Com-
mittee appear to have condemned all the chief acts
of the authorities, from first to last. The Volunteers
should not have fired upon the mob, martial law
ought not to have been proclaimed, and deserved the
" strongest reprobation." A drum-head court-
martial ought never to have been constituted to
try Mr. GORDON for " a civil offence," and, indeed,
these sapient judges seem to question the propriety
of arresting Mr. GORDON at all. Such a step might
or might not have been necessary they say, and the
circumstances of the case might have justified the
Governor in -violating Mr. GORDON'S privileges as a
member of the Assembly, as if at such a juncture,
and under such auspicous circumstances, there was
any reason to consider if the offender were a mem-
ber of Assembly or not. Justice does not recognise
distinction of rank or possession of privilege when
treason and insurrection are the crimes laid to the
charge of the culprit, and the argument is not
strengthened by the introduction of such obser-
vations. _ _

. _
Were it not for the gravity of the affair, it would
be almost ludicrous to notice the terms employed
by the Committee in expressing their views. They
believe it to be highly desirable in the interests of
justice and humanity, law and public order, " that
there should be a full, searching, and thoroughly
impartial inquiry into these deplorable events."
Meanwhile, not a vestige of impartiality was dis-
played by the members of this numerous deputa-
tion, nor does any fair play animate the language
of the memorial. On the contrary, we find a bitter,
virulent, and indignant tone pervade all that is said
or written, to a degree that totally ignores the
ordinary rules of courtesy complied with on such
occasions, and that violates the principles of strict
order, and
calm judgment $0 ney. ssary to be

practised in an argumentative Assembly.
The conclusion of the memorial is couched in terms
highly appropriate to follow the preceding para-
graphs. The Committee admit that " great dissatis-
faction" existed in Jamaica. And why? Because of
the mal-administration of justice, the numerous
"vexations" to which the people were subjected, and
their privations owing to two years' drought, but they
deny that the emancipated classes are " disloyal,"
and " still less" do they admit that there are any
grounds for believing that there is any evidence of
a wide-spread conspiracy. The Committee further
think that the island would be very different if it
were properly governed ; " its resources might be
developed to an almost unlimited extent, and its
population rendered " prosperous and happy."
Certainly these last conditions are great desidera-
tums, but it is strange that so pious an assemblage
as the members of this Committee should overlook
the fact that no race, black or white, can be really
" prosperous" or truly " happy" unless they con-
form to the principles of right; but all these solemn
truths, recognised in divine and human statutes, are
trivial and secondary considerations to those who
have wound themselves up to fight the battle of in-
tolerance and carry out their schemes to the utter-
most, reckless of reason and indifferent to proofs
that tell against them.

It is perfectly useless to expect to make any im -
pression upon such one-sided arguers as those
referred to ; but the worst of it is that they will not
allow others to have their own opinions, and are
very indignant when any obstacle is put in the way
of the prosecution of their plans. Mr. CARDWELL
was assailed by a torrent of inquiries as to matters
which should not then have come under discussion,
and when the deputation had entered upon discus-
sion the spirit of intolerance ran high. Indeed
some went so far as to suggest that Governor EYRE
should be at least temporarily removed during the
progress of investigation I—bald when another mem-
ber of the deputation dwelt upon the advisability
of recAlling or "suspending" the Governor, a voice
exclaimed, " Yes, by the neck !" Such conduct
would be beneath contempt, were it not for the evil
influence which such misguided and mischievous
politicians sometimes gain over weak-minded per-
sons, who are led away under the specious pretence
of humanity, and think they are aiding the cause
of justice, when they are in reality impeding its
progress. As for the proposal to recall the Gover-
nor it would be prejudging the case in a most
unparalleled or unpardonable manner, and alto-
gether a course quite inconsistent with the character
of the English nation.
After the remarks of the indignant members it is
quite a relief to peruse Mr. CARDWELL'S straight-
forward and temperate statement, which, however,
found no favour in the sight of those to whom it
was made. The right hon. gentleman said that he
regretted the absence of Earl RUSSELL through in-
disposition, but had he been present he would have
told the deputation that he and every member of
his Government felt pain and anxiety respecting
the matters that all referred to. Mr. CARDWELL
then declared that those before him requested an
inquiry to be made of an impartial and searching
nature, but that this request was anticipated by
her MAJESTY'S Government, and they had already
made some of the necessary arrangements, and as
soon as possible they would be completed. A
proper reproof was conveyed to the intolerant
men who sat in judgment and passed sen-
tence without hearing the witnesses of both sides,
when Mr. CARDWELL declared that when the in-
quiry was over, and they had full and perfect know-
ledge, the Government would not be found ready
to palliate or excuse whatever merited reprobation.
"Meanwhile," said the right hon. gentleman, "if the
inquiry is really to be of that character, a sense of
duty imposes on every man, especially on one in-
terested as I am, the necessity of saying nothing,
and even of thinking nothing, incompatible with
the fairness and freedom of inquiry." Nothing can
be better felt than this, and well might those
who heard the statement have laid it to heart,
but nothing was further from their intention or
their desire. Referring to the remarks made upon
Governor EYRE, Mr. CARDWELL said that he was
not known to him personally, but by reputation, and
it " had been all along the reputation of a man of
courage and determination." When he went on to
expatiate upon the distressing circumstances in
which the Governor had been placed, Mr. CARD-
WELL tested the temper of his audience, and they
did not come out creditably from the trial. The
right hon. gentleman went on to say that if he felt
deeply the occurrences alluded to, what must a per-
son have done who was placed in the midst of such
events. " You must all feel deeply, whatever may
be your opinion of the occurrences which have taken
place, the deepest sympathy for a man in that po-
sition. You must all feel that if the disturbances
had-not been brought to a speedy close that disas-
trous consequences of the worst kind must have fol-
lowed. At this portion of his speech Mr. CARDWELL
was interrupted by cries of " No, no," and " Ques-
tion ?" Upon this unseemly manifestation of inter-
ference and prejudice, the right hon. gentleman re-
marked, " Gentlemen, you have come here to ask for
a free inquiry, and I therefore hope that the spirit
of fairness will characterise all your proceedings."
As for Governor EYRE, he said, he would be the first
to welcome the inquiry about to be instituted in an
impartial manner. Again, the virulent spirit which
animated the majority of the deputation was ex-
hibited by several members calling out that they
had had no answer on the question of recall. Mr.
CARDWELL said that the arrangements were
in progress for an inquiry, and he thought
those who came in the spirit of fairness
should be content with one announcement and
not " persist in pressing for the recall of Go-
vernor EYRE." Even this plain speaking on the
part of the Colonial Secretary did not succeed in
putting down the hydra-headed monster of perse-
cution before him, and Mr. THOSIAS complained
that his question was not answered. He had asked
if the Government at home had received any intel-
ligence during the last six montbs which might make
them think that the " Government of Jamaica was
sitting on a volcano ?" Mr. CARDWELL answered
this interrogatory by stating he had been in
correspondence with Governor EYRE on the
condition of affairs in Jamaica for the last year, and
that that correspondence, now in the hands of the
printer, would be laid before Parliament when it
met. Thus closed the interview of the deputation,
which stands out apart from others as a specimen of
prejudice and prejudging rarely met with in a
civilised country. Seldom has an English Minister
been brought face to face with so large a body of
men
influential soi
albued with the spirit of intolerance, and
so bent on working out injustice under the plea of
impartiality.
These men, however, represent an
class of the people, and the Parliament
of England must treat them in the manner which
they deserve.

ton, and valuables into the sea-coast towns. What
grounds exist for this apprehension are not stated,
but they are probably connected with the plot dis-
covered in Jamaica, which was intended to culminate
at Christmas time. At any rate, it is well for
all parties to be on their guard, since, if the
rumours should be unfounded, the precautions
taken will do no harm while they will certainly
serve to avert or mitigate the danger should it
really exist. There have been tragedies enough
enacted on the American soil during the last few
years, and it is fervently to be hoped that no such
terrible addition to the sorrows and sufferings of
both races, as a negro insurrection would occasion,
may be in store for the country. Meanwhile it is
gratifying to learn that 1,200 negroes have left
Charleston to return to the employment of their
former masters on Lea Island, which is good news
for the cotton trade. The Fenians are making
themselves busy in mischief as usual. In Canada
the official returns number them at 70,000, and
the Canadian authorities are proportionately
busy in preparing for any possible outbreak. The
Fenian flag has been hoisted over the headquarters
in Union-square, but we do not hear that the illus-
trious brotherhood have been attempting anything
more formidable.

It is reported that the PRESIDENT'S speech will
be pacific as regards Mexico, even while disclaiming
any indifference on the subject. There is, indeed,
quite enough to do within his own States, where
there still remain several troubled questions to deal
with. We shall soon have an account of the tone
adopted by the Congress, which have several matters
of vast importance submitted to its deliberations.

-~-

The Persia, from New York on the 20th brings
us news that great apprehensions are felt respecting
a negro insurrection in several parts of the South
about Christmas. So strong are these fears that
the military authorities in:Mississippi have thought
it advisable to take precautionary measures, while
the planters in Texas have sent their families, cot-

rHE SUN; LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER

are "things that come home to every man," they are
not usually the most welcome of Christmas visitors.
This pleasant volume of lively tales by a group of
favourite authors must, however, we presume, be
regarded as the exception to the rule.—We have
taken up our books at random, or we should already
have mentioned one of the most charming Christ-
mas books of this season—a new edition of Hans
Christian Andersen's exquisite " Picture Book with-
out Pictures." In this instance we have the picture
book gracefully sketched and gorgeously coloured by
the pictorial fancy of the artist-poet ; but we have
the picture book and the pictures also ! The graceful
pencil of A. W. Bayes, and the skilful graver of the
Brothers Dalziel, have--not in vain—endeavoured
to illustrate and emulate the beautiful imaginings of
the Danish dreamer. What the Moon Said (Rout-
ledge) is the title of this new series of the tales of
Andersen, a companion volume to the " Stories
and Tales" of the same author, published last year.
Together they form a complete collection of the
tales of Hans Christian Andersen—the Fairy Tale-
Teller of Modern Days, the Poet of the Play-room!
—Another gift-book which now makes its seasonable
appearance, a gift-book which, for that matter,
should be always in season is the Standard Poetry
Book (Routledge), a concise collection of those
standard poems ',which are household words with
us all. Grey's Elegy, Campbell's Mariners of
England, Goldsmith's Deserted Village, Milton's
Sonnet on his Blindness, and others of equally world-
wide celebrity.—Among writers for the young, espe-
cially for boys, Anne Bowman is a deserved favourite.
Her tales of peril and adventure are always de-
lightfully sensational and romantic. She has
been fortunate in the selection of a theme for her
Christmas book. The Boy Pilgrinzs (Routledge),
beautifully embellished with golden camels traversing
the desert on the exterior, and very effectively
illustrated by some spirited sketches of " the
Fight with the Ibex," " the Landing at Beyrout,"
" the Leopard at the Watch-fire," and many others.
We have here a very interesting account of the
extensive travels of two schoolboy friends who
make a tour of the Holy Land, and meet with
most marvellous adventures. It may readily be
supposed how, in skilful hands, as are those of
this popular authoress—this theme may be pro-
ductive of much instruction as well as of no small
entertainment to the youthful reader.—Another
charming volume, The Butterfly's Gospel (Jackson,
Walford, and Hodder), contains three beautiful
tales of Frederika Bremer, very happily translated
by Mary Howitt. These stories, one of which
tells about " a little girl who is worth her weight
in gold" are also contained in Old Merry's Annual
(Jackson, Walford, and Hodder), together with
a pleasant variety of articles, some gay and some
grave and serious—the object of the compiler bein gto
illustrate the motto " Merry and Wise." Another plea-
sant children's miscellany is Beeton's Annual (Warne
and Co.) Among the illustrations of this volume
is a coloured picture of the Indian Suttee, which is
rather an alarming subject of contemplation for a
youthful reader !—Sundays at Encombe (Warne and
Co.), by the Rev. H. C. Adams, is intended as a
book for Sunday reading, and contains stories illus-
trative of the narratives of the Old Testament.--
Lost and Found: a Pastoral, by J. Crawford Wil-
son (Freeman), is a sweetly pathetic little poem,
which may rank with the Christmas books, as its
theme, though tender and tearful, is full of charity
and love.—Among the boys' books we have omitted
to class Ernie Elton, the Lazy Boy, by Elizabeth
Eiloart (Routledge). This work is dedicated
to her own boys by the authoress, who says that it
is the amusement which they have derived from it
that has induced her to publish the volume.
Happily for other little boys she has done so,
for Ernie Elton is a capital book, full
of amusement and adventure. The appear-
ance of Ernie in Martha'S dress, after he has
been stripped by the gipsies, is ludicrous in the ex-
treme, and the whole account of that adventure will
be read with breathless interest.—To add new mer-
riment to the Christmas gathering, the delightful
author of " A Trap to Catch a Sunbeam " has
arranged some New Charades for the Drawing-room
(Routledge). These charades are very cleverly
contrived, a separate scene being devoted to each
syllable of the word selected, and all these scenes,
taken together, forming a little romance in them-
selves.—Another amusing little volutnette, entitled
Double Acrostics (Routledge) gives a series of ori-
ginal and ingenious acrostics, each question having
a double illustration.—Reminiscences of a Raven, by
James Greenwood (Warne and Co.), gives the won-
derful adventures of a raven who has mingled in
rather dubious company. London Society and
Chambers's Journal have each as usual their Christ-
mas number, each containing several interesting
tales. The cover of London Society gives a beau-
tiful representation of Old Christmas, with his fir
tree in his hand, out in a snow scene, which is
most felicitously depicted.—Sam Spangles; or, The
History of a Harlequin, by Stirling Coyne (Rout-
ledge), illustrated with some ridiculous engravings,
will afford much merriment to boys and girls.—
The Boy's Wonder Book, No. 1, edited by Dr. Prim-
rose (Kent and Co.), is one of the best boy's serials
we have seen, and it commences auspiciously at
Christmas time.—From what we have said it will
be seen that there is no lack of amusement provided
for this Christmas season.

West Coast of Africa.

The West African mail steamer Macgregor Laird,
Capt. R. J. Loury, arrived in the Mersey on Satur-
day morning, with dates from Benin to the 25th
of October ; Fernando Po, Nov. 1; Cameroons,
Oct. 30 ; Brass River and Lagos, Nov. 8 ; Accra,
10th; Cape Coast Castle, 12th ; Cape Palmas, 14th;
Sierra Leone, 19th ; Bathurst, 23d ; Teneriffe, 29th ;
and Madeira, Dec. 2. The following are her ad-
vices :

At Fernando Po, Cameroons, Old Calabar, Brass,
and Benin trade was moderate and the climate
healthy.
At Bonny trade was almost at a standstill in
consequence of a dispute between the Bonny trad-
ing natives and those in the interior. It is, how-
ever, expected to resume its usual briskness in the
course of a fortnight. No sickness in the river.
At Lagos trade was brisk, and the health good.
The steamer Thomas Bazley, which left about four
months ago on an expedition up the Niger, under
direction of Mr. M'Coskry, of Lagos, arrived here
on the Bth inst. She had been very unsuccessful,
so far as trade was concerned, and brought down
Lieut. Bourchier, R.N., and Mr. Robins, who suc-
ceeded the late Dr. Bakie, of Lukoja, about four-
teen months ago, and who had remained at that
place ever since, having had no communication with
white people during that time. Mr. John Whit-
ford, of Liverpool, accompanied the expeditiOn,
who, with Mr. M'Coskry, enjoyed first-rate health.
Several of the crew of the Thomas Bazley died of
African fever.

Cape Coast was very healthy, no case of sickness
having occurred among the Europeans for some
time. A transport is expected daily to convey the
troops at present stationed here to Sierra Leone,
and those at Sierra Leone to the West Indies.

MADEIRA.—On the 13th ult. her Majesty's ship
Racoon arrived, having his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred on board. She remained eight days, and
then proceeded to Gibraltar. Twenty invalids, sent
out by the Brompton Hospital, arrived at Madeira
on the 20th ult. by the Maria Pia. Not nearly so
many visitors have arrived this as on previous years,
in consequence of the stringent quarantine regula-
tions. On the 4th inst. the Macgregor Laird passed
her Majesty's ship Constantine, in lat. 37 37 N.,
and long. 13 30 W.
The Macgregor Laird brings 19 passengers, 13
distressed British subjects, and 2,1084 oz. of gold
dust. The following is a list of passengers :—J.
Matton ; Lieut. E. B. P. White, 4th West India
Regiment ; Lieut. Bourchier, R.N. ; Robins ;
Dr. G. St. A. Campbell, R.N. ; W. D. Toull, R.N. ;
K. H. Varlet ; A. B. M'lntyre ; Hon. G. W.
Nicol ; H. Ireland; Deputy-Assistant-Commissary-
General Squarey ; Captain Marshall, 3d West India
Regiment; Staff-Surgeon Bradshaw; Mrs. Poitiers ;
and Sutherland.

AMONG THE ECHOES OF THE WEEK is a very
cruel rumour— (without, we believe, any footing or foun-
dation)—to the effect that Mrs. Beecher Stowe—(Mrs.
Beecher's toe)—has got the gout.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

ditary possessions. Prince Leopold then paid a short
visit to his native place, and in 1808, during the ab-
sence of his elder brother in Russia, undertook the
government of the principality, though he was but
a boy of 18. Returning again to Russia, he appeared
by the side of the Emperor Alexander during that
monarch's interview with Napoleon at Erfurt. He
was not, however, permitted to remain long at rest.
Napoleon having quarrelled with the Czar required,
as Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, that
Duke Ernest should resign his Austrian, and that
Prince Leopold should resign his Russian command.
Bowing to necessity, Leopold went to Paris, and, if
Napoleon's statement to O'Meara be correct, applied
to become one of his aides-de-camp. "He was very
near being one of my aides-de-camp," said the Em-
peror, in 1817, " to obtain which he had made inte-
rest, and even applied ; but by some means, very
fortunately for himself, he did not succeed, as pro-
bably if he had he would not have been chosen to
be a future King of England." " Most of the young
Princes of Germany," continued he, " solicited to
be my aides-de-camp, and Leopold was then about
18 or 19 years of age." The fact, however, seems
doubtful. Napoleon's accuracy in his late years was
open to question ; and from what we know of the
foresight and astuteness of Prince Leopold, not to
say his patriotism, it does not seem likely that he
would have been willing to change sides thus sud-
denly, and, above all, to side with the bitter foe of
his family, of his country, and of his most powerful
friend. Certain it is, however, that he spent some
time in Paris and in Imperial society, where, accord-
ing to Napoleon, he was accounted " one of the
handsomest and finest young men of his time." He
formed intimate friendships with many of the most
illustrious personages of the empire, among whom
Queen Hortense is especially mentioned. .
The next two years of his life were uneventful.
In 1811 we find him at Munich concluding a treaty
with the King of Bavaria as to the boundaries of
that kingdom and the Duchy of Coburg. In 1812
when Napoleon's Russian designs became apparent,
he offered his services to the Emperor Alexander,
but they were declined. This refusal may be ex-
plained in two different ways. Either the Czar gene-
rously wished to prevent the young Prince from
placing himself in a position of difficulty with Napo-
leon ; or, what is more likely, he was offended with
him for having too easily abandoned the Russian
service and for having formed French connections.
Whatever the cause may have been, Prince Leopold
remained in comparative retirement, travelling in
Austria, Switzerland, and Italy till the eventful year
1813, when Germany rose as one man against Napo-
leon. Leopold was then selected as the fit person to
communicate the state of German feeling to the
Emperor Alexander. He accordingly joined the Czar
in Poland, and whatever temporary estrangement
existed seems to have entirely disappeared. He re-
turned to active service, and commanded a Russian
corps at the battles of Lutzen, Bautzen, and Leipsic.
He entered Paris with the Allied Sovereigns, and he
accompanied them to London. There he met the
Princess Charlotte for the first time, and was so
fortunate as to attract her regards. Returning once
more to the Continent he was present at the Congress
of Vienna, where he managed to obtain an increase
of territory for his brother. The unexpected return
of Napoleon recalled him to the Army of the Rhine,
and with it subsequently he re-entered Paris. It was
during his stay there that he received an invitation
to revisit England, and to revisit it as the accepted
suitor of the heiress to the throne. Sudden as the
lightning the most splendid destiny flashed upon the
obscure Prin3e of a petty German province. Leopold
won without an effort the bride who seemed destined
to the Prince of Orange, as some years later he ob-
tained without seeking half the Kingdom of the
Netherlands. It was a strange fortune which thus
fell to him that he should supplant the Prince of
Orange in the affections of the most coveted Princess
in Europe, and that, again, he should supplant both
him and his father in the possession of half their

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

BELGIUM.

MINISTERIAL PROCLAMATION TO THE

PEOPLE.

BRUSSELS, DEC. 11.

The Council of Ministers have issued a procla-
mation which, after announcing the death of his
Majesty King Leopold, says :—" The Belgian people
will await with confidence the approaching day
upon which the representatives of the nation will
receive the,constitutional oath from the heir to the
Throne. Until this oath shall have been taken the
constitutional powers of the King will be exercised
in accordance with Art. 79 of the Constitution, in
the name of the Belgian people, by the Ministers
assembled in Council, and under their responsi-
bility.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 10, Evening.
The following proclamation, announcing the death
of King Lepold, was posted during the day in the
streets of this capital :

" Inhabitants of Brussels ! The King is dead !
His Majesty succumbed at 11.45 this morning, at
his residence of Laeken, to tee attacks of the malady
from which he has so long suffered.
" All Belgians will deplore the loss of the Sove-
reign who has been associated for 34 years with the
destinies of Belgium.

" The high sagacity and striking personality of
him who carries our eternal regrets with him to the
tomb have favoured the development of a happy,
prosperous, and free nationality, whose existence has
become a pledge of security and peace to Europe.
" History will tell that the founder of our national
dynasty has bequeathed to posterity the pattern of
the most loyal development of our free institutions,
and has secured the indissoluble alliance of the
Throne with liberty.
" The country places its destinies with confidence
in the hands of the worthy son of a model King—
of the Prince who, born upon Belgian soil, partakes
our sentiments and our wishes, as we share his pro-
found grief.

" T. ANSPACH, Burgomaster.
" Done at tha Hotel de Ville, Dec. 10, 1865."

(From the Tinzes)

Not only for the last few days, but also at inter-
vals for years past, the telegrams have been busy
about the health of the King of the Belgians; so
that the calamity of his death, which we announce
to-day, can scarcely be unexpected. He had been
long afflicted with a distressing malady, 9f which,
however, to the honour of British surgery, he was
completely cured about two years ago. It had defied
the leading surgeons of the Continent, but yielded to
the skill of Mr. Henry Thompson, who successfully
performed the operation of lithotrity. After this
remarkable cure it seemed as if the King, notwith-
standing his great age, might still count on the en-
joyment of not a few years of life. He had a strong
constitution, and easily underwent fatigues which
many young men may shrink from. He delighted
in walking, and to the dismay of his attendants used
to think little of 20 or 30 miles a day. Only in
January last, while shooting at his chateaus in his
Forest of Ardennes, he might be seen for six hours a
day on 10 successive days tramping through the snow
and defying fatigue, although he had then entered
his 75th year. He was, indeed, too confident of
his strength and took liberties with it. Just before
coming to England last spring he had a slight
paralytic seizure; although he was subject to a
bronchial weakness, he came to visit the Queen,
careless of the weather, and he left our shores,
against all advice, equally careless. Since then we
have had more than once the painful task of report•
ing on the doubtful state of his health, and now
there comes the saddest task of all—to record that
he is dead.

Leopold of Belgium, if not a great monarch, was
the wisest of his time. His intellect was more dip-
lomatic than legislative, and he wanted the ambition
of imperial minds ; but few men that care so little
for power have enjoyed more. He had one of the
smallest of kingdoms, yet he was one of the most
powerful Princes 'in Europe, and certainly he was
the most trusted. His life was wonderfully calm,
yet it is one of the most extraordinary romances in
history. He was the youngest and least of his family,
yet ho was its real head, and he lived to see it
dominate in the councils of the great powers. Before
his time, although the name of Coburg was well
known in Europe, his family was of small account.
The name first of all became prominent towards the
end of last century, when the grand-uncle of Leopold
held high command in the service of the Emperor of
the West, and had his name conjoined with that of
Pitt as leader of the contest against the French Re-
volution. Pitt and Coburg were then regarded as
the saviours of Europe, but unfortunately the Prince
of Saxe-Coburg proved to be a dull general, who
obstinately adhered to the old system of dividing
his forces, and-covering an immense tract of country
with his communications. He utterly failed ; the
name of Coburg lapsed into obscurity, and no one
anticipated that it would again become more power-
ful than ever, and would be associated in jest or in
earnest with the salvation of Europe. Yet in our
day we have read such a verse as this—
Si par Dieu, le grande juge,
Ce globe est eondamne,
Qui d'un autre (Mingo
Sera l'autre Nod ?
C'est Coburg, Coburg, Coburg !"

—the mock earnestness of which is a tribute to a
great fact. If we remember rightly, it is M. de La-
gueronniere who described King Leopold as le Juge
ds Paix de l'Europe. He displayed in a very marked
manner the judicial character, and his grave, serious,
reserved temperament, his reflective and balanced
intellect—above all, his devotion to Liberal ideas
and to the cause of human progress, are hereditary
gifts which may be said to belong less to himself
than to his family. He was not the man to make
events ; he was the man to whom events offer, and
to whom they are not offered in vain. Now he gets
an offer of the most splendid alliance in the world,
and now he gets the offer of kingdom after kingdom.
Leopold. George' Christian Frederic, Prince of
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, was born on the 16th of De-
cember, 1790, the eighth of a family of nine chil-
dren, of whom two died in infancy, so that he was
the youngest survivor. Older than he, were, among
others, Prince Ernest, the father of our Prince
Albert; Prince Ferdinand, grandfather of the pre-
sent King of Portugal ; and the Princess Victoria,
afterwards Duchess of Kent, and mother of our.
Queen. The kingdom which the wisdom and pru-
dence of Ernest the Pious had made a Power in
Germany had not only become insignificant by re-
peated divisions, but that portion of it which re-
mained in the Coburg-Saalfeld branch of the family
had also suffered severely from the injudicious ad-
ministration of Leopold's grandfather, Duke Ernest
Frederic, during whose reign a considerable debt
had been accumulated, to add to other misfortunes.
Leopold's father, Duke Francis, did not much im-
prove the state of affairs, and before his death war
had come to aggravate domestic miseries. We get
our first glimpse of the future monarch whilst his
country was suffering the most terrible of calami-
ties, and he himself one of the bitterest of do-
mestic bereavements. When, in 1806, the French
army crossed the Rhine and entered the terri-
tory of Saxe-Coburg, Leopold was watching
alone by his dying father's side, his two elder
brothers being then engaged—the one in the Aus-
trian, the other in the Prussian army. Saalfeld was
attacked, taken, and pillaged in October, and two
months afterwards the unfortunate Duke Francis
died, having lived only to see the fatal battle of Jena
place Germany at the mercy of the conqueror. His
eldest son was recognised as his heir by the Treaty
of Posen, but his dominions were seized by Napoleon.
Prince Leopold was thus driven from his native land,
and entered the service of Russia, where he soon
attained the rank of General in the army, a favour
which doubtless he owed to the marriage of his third
sister, Julienne, with the Grand Duke Constantine.
The Peace of Tilsit in 1807 effected a favourable
change in the fortunes of the Saxe-Coburg family,
for by the arrangements concluded between France
and Russia Duke Ernest was restored to his here-

kingdom.

On the 16th of March, 1816, the Prince Regent
sent a message to Parliament announcing the in-
tended marriage of his daughter to Prince Leopold.
On the 27th of the same month the fortunate Prince
was naturalized ; he received the title of Duke of
Kendal and the rank of General in the army, and
on the 2d of May the marriage was celebrated at
Carlton-house. A year and half of domestic hap-
piness and repose followed, which must have been
peculiarly grateful to one whose whole youth had
been exposed to continual vicissitudes. He took
no active part in public affairs, devoting himself en-
tirely to study and domestic enjoyment, and fore-
shadowing in miniature that policy of reserve which
his nephew in the more prominent position of
Prince Consort most successfully adopted. We
need not dwell on the sudden blighting of his
hopes. His calamity was no less sudden than his
good fortune. The Princess Charlotte died in De-
cember, 1817 ; but he had so identified himself
with the nation, and had so won their confidence,
that even after the bond which attached .him
personally to England had been severed he con-
tinued to be regarded by the nation as one of them-
selves. He resided at Claremont in the closest re-
tirement, and before long it happened that a new
object of interest arose for him. His sister had
married the Duke of Kent, and in 1819 a daughter
was born to her, who, under certain not improbable
contingencies, would succeed to the British throne.
He gave his sister the benefit of his advice and ex-
perience. The Duchess of Kent came to England
comparatively ignorant of its language and manners,
and her position hero, left as she soon was a widow,
with the responsibility, of training up the heiress of
the Crown, might have been insupportable had her
brother not been at hand to assist her. For him it is
difficult to imagine a history more strange or more
full of vicissitude. In one day he is master of the
most splendid position in the world. In one day he
is removed from his pride of place and falls back into
his original security. In one day, again, there gleams
upon him the hope that his sister is to be the mother
of an English Sovereign, and that through her his
family may rise to the first place in the eyes of
Europe.

Prince Leopold did not remain many years in
obscurity. In February, 1830, he was offered the
kingdom of Greece. He accepted it on certain con-
ditions which we need not recapitulate, as it was
impossible to comply with them. The result of non
compliance was that he remained in retirement at
Claremont. It has been asserted that when he thus
declined the Crown of Greece he had some know-
ledge of the better fortune which was awaiting
him. This, however, is quite impossible. The
Greek Crown was declined on the 21st May, and
the Revolution at Brussels did not take place till
the following September. When that revolution
broke forth it was not until after the claims of
the Duke of Leuchtenburg and of the Duke of
Nemours were interdicted—the former by France
and the latter by England that the Bel-
gian people turned towards Prince Leopold.
In June, 1831, he was elected their King, and in
July he solemnly swore to observe the constitution
and to preserve the independence and integrity of
the country. He hid first, however, to fight for his
crown, for the Dutch had not yet consented to the
severance of Belgium. King Leopold had to fight
the Dutch ; he was beaten at Louvain, and he was
compelled to seek the assistance of the French. An
army of 50,000 men came to his relitf, and the sing
of the Netherlands withdrew his troops. In Sep'
tember King Leopold opened for the first time the
Legislative Chambers, and then commenced the
most arduous of tasks, the organisation of a new
kingdom. In less than a year the nation was con-
stituted, an army of 80,000 men was ready for the
field, credit was established, and a national loan of
80,000,000 florins was negotiated. In order Aill
further to consolidate his position the King married
in August, 1832, the Princess Louise, eldest (laugh-
ter of King Louis Philippe. In the same year, the
Netherlands being still reluctant to acknowledge
the independence of Belgium, active measures vver_
taken to enforce a recognition, and Leopold, Wit',
the assistance of a French army, laid siege to an
recovered Antwerp. The result was that in 1‘13Y.:
1833, a provisional treaty with the Netherlands Was
signed, though it was not made final and definite
till some years afterwards. Henceforward the .ng
devoted himself unceasingly to the developnlent,_%
the internal resources of the country, and with AV.It
success those who know the high position Beign'