The Madisonian., 1840-01-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
MARRIAGE OF QUEEN VICTORIA

MARRIAGE OF QUEEN VICTORIA /.
WITH A COMPLETE
LIFE OF PRINCE ALBERT OF SAXoNY.
The subject Of the youthful Queen Of
Great Bri.ain's marriage has of late frequent
ly been mentioned, but never yet been fully
considered. We shall, therefore, to satisfy
public curiosity, state the constitutional prn-
clples which bear on it, and conclude with the
sketch of the life Of the consort apparent. AT
the outset, we may observe, that the question
of a matrimonial alliance Of the Queen is un-
doubtedly subject for the decision of herself
only; she may avail herself of the opinion of
Others or not, and may rely on the advice of
any ladies' or gentlemen, her relations or other
persons, whom she honors with her conf
dence. 1t will be remembered, that in an
nouncing to Parliament, that Princess Char
lotte had favored the suit Of Prince Leopold Of
Saxe-Cobourg, the then Prime Minister ex-
planned 10 Parliament, that Ministers had not
deemed it competent for them to interfere in
an affair entirely personal to the Princess !;
that the evil consequences of marriages from
political views only had become apparent by
the unhappy union Of George w., the father
OF the Princess, who had, therefore, neither in
terlered, but left the matter entirely for the
consideration and decision of his daughter;
finally, that it had been, indeed, the plan TO
marry the Princess Charlotte to the Grown
Prince OF the Netherlands, but he would on
future day, mount a foreign throne, and then
constantly reside abroad, whereas Princess
Charlotte was reluctant to quit her country.
She was consequently married to the prince
Of her choice, and lived with him happily until
death.
In forming matrimonial alliance, Princess
Charlotte was indeed guided by certain con-
stitutional principles, and, as to these, neither
can her present Majesty lose sight OF them.-
They are embraced in the instructions given
to English ambassadors, who in former
times, were sent over 10 the Continent in
search of royal consorts. The ambassadors
were directed to apply, to families Of the
Protestant faith; 2, not to one Of the Great
Continental Powers, in order TO prevent the
country being involved in foreign wars; 3, but
to pay their visits to princely families whose
dofninions were Oft more limited extent 4, at
the same time it was added, that it would be
desirable, il the future royal consort, in addi-
ton to good general education, was possessed
Of ornamental requirements, as drawing,
painting, VI H'usie'
II would, then, not be competent for her
Majesty to honor any of her subjects with
her hand Previous to her coronation, no
bic lord, then and now Governor of a Pro-
vince of the East Indies, was indeed spoken
of as favored by her Majesty, and likely to
obtain her hand. But no credit was ever
given hy legal gentlemen TO such rumor,
which, moreover, was 1aily and on authority
conradcted in morning paper, observing,
a, the same time, that her Majesty had never
had an opportunity TO exchange one word
with the noble lord referred TO- Formerly, as
in other countries, so likewise in England,
sovereigns chose their consorts from among
their subjects: but the paramount influence
which few families obtained thereby, cre-
ated the jealousy of others, of which internal
wars were the consequence also in this coun-
try To prevent then, jealouses and blood
shed, the inlermanying system has been
adopted by the sovereigns Of Europe, much TO
the benefit of their subjects. If her Majesty
chose an English lord, the Scotch and Irish
lords would feel sighted and if she chose
one Of the latter, the former would object
From the above constitutional principles,
and, in fact, from the general religious feature
of this country, neither would II be competent
for a Queen of England to marry Catholic
prince. She is, on the contrary, restricted TO
make her choice from such Protestant fami-
lies of continental princes as do not belong TO
the Great Powers; and the precedent OF
Princess Charlotte, heir 10 the throne, more
particularly directs her to the house of Sake
Coburg Now, it is evident that these con-
siituiona views would be exactly met il
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg became the
consort of Queen Victoria.
First, this matrimonial alliance would never
embarrass this country, when the marrying
prince of the great continental powers might
involve it in wars and quarrels foreign TO its
interest, on which ground the constitution
binds, as stated the British sovereigns gene
rally to choose consorts from priHcely families
not connected with the direction of the lnte
rests of Europe generally. OF this latter class
is the Prince Of Saxe-C Coburg- Saal6eld. The
territory Of this dnchy, though prosperous and
more productive than that Of Sake Meiningen,
the native country Of the Dowager- Queen, is
still not Of very considerable extent The
duchy of SAKE Meiningen contains al as
German square miles, and l4s,0!s inhabi-
tants the duchy Of SAKE Coburg- -Saal6eld, "a