Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-03-01
THE COBURGS.

Public opinion in England is excessively ex-
asperated against Prince Albert, charging him
with extending his influence from the royal
drawing room and chamber to the Cabinet Coun-
Gil, and even with divulging to his German kind
red and friends the secrets of the government
concerning the momentous Eastern question:
He is accused of being devoted to Russian inter-
ests, opposed to war, and cold with regard 10
the French alliance.
Prince Albert is charged with doing all this,
if not for the further aggrandlzement OF his lam
lily, at least for the consolidation OF The Coburgs
in the various positions occupied by them thro'-
out Europe.
These Coburgs are petty princes belonging
10 the innumerable sprouts of German ruling
families. who trace back their common origin TO
Wittikind the Saxon, for long years an undaunt-
ed antagonist of Charlemagne. The principal
branch is now fixed among the green hills ex-
tending on both sides of the Thurngian forest,
In the Dukedom Of Coburg and Gotha, over
which rules the eleder brother of the accused
Prince Consort. This monarchy is composed
of about 1876 square miles of land, with some
100000 inhabitants. The yearly revenues of the
State amounts to $4,000, with a promising
yearly deficit, and an old debt Of $l,7OO,00O.-
The military force consists Of from 1900 10
1000 men. The country is generally fertile,
well watered and cultivated. The Coburgs were
once a warlike race, and one of them was dis
tinguished commander in the German armies
during the wars in the last century between the
Emperors and the Turks. During the recent
commissions in Germany, the present regnng
Duke showed some martial impulses in the war
between Holstein and Denmark, in which he
took part. AS volunteer he commanded part
of the army and contributed to the capture Of
the Danish frigate Gefeon, which now forms the
principal strength of the Prussian navy.
The campaign had, however, an Interior pur-
pose. The German Imperial Crown had been
proclaimed vacant, and the Diet of Frankfort
was looking around for some one to offer it to-.
Coburg was simply trying to win the purple
with the sword in this popular war with Ho-
stein.
But the prominent qualifications Of the race
seem to consist mainly in furnishing fathers for
the breed froyal lineages in Europe The Co.
burgs are generally handsome, vigorous and well
proportional fellows. The first to start in this
new career was the present Leopold of Belgium,
who is now called the Ulysses of European
it is said, his political adviser. Leopold is now
60 years old. In his youth he married Charlotte
Augusta, daughter of George the WITH, King of
England and eventual heiress to the Crown
She died, however, in the year 1917. The sec
ond wife Of Leopold was q daughter of Louis
Philippe, who died nearly two years ago. His
son and heir has lately married an Austrian arch
Duchess
Prince Albert followed luckily in the footsteps
of his uncle. Born in 1919, after having tinish-
ed his studies in the University Of Benn, he went
in search of fortune, and landed in the royal
apartments of Windsor Castle. One of his un-
ces married in 1916 a princess Cohary, rich
Hungarian heiress, and from this marriage issu-
ed, first, Ferdinand, the husband of the deceased
Maria da Gloria of Portugal, now King regent
there; second, Auguste, married to Princess
Clementine. daughter Of Louis Philippe; and
third, the Princess Victoria, now the wife Of
Nemours. An aunt of Prince Albert was in
1876 married to the Grand Duke Constantine,
elder brother of the Emperor Nicholas and was
divorced in 1920.
For nearly forty years she has lived in Swift
zerland, with the advantages of considerable
income paid from Russia. She is 70 years old.
Another aunt Of Albert was the wife Of the
Duke of Kent, she is the mother of Queen Vic
tora, and this royal match was made between
two cousins.
All these intermarriages easily point out in
what direction they use their influence. 1t can
not suit them to strengthen Napoleon and thus
endanger the independence Of Belgium. They
must propitiate the good will Of Nicholas, and
at any rate avert general war whose result
must be deeply injurious to their tribe.
N. Y. Tribune.