The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-07-11
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victim Of that pride. These influences prob
ably aided in giving republican tone to his
character. Tho friends Of reform, glad to
avail themselves Of an illustrious leader, raj.
lied around the young Duke of Kent, and
thus he found himself actually at tho head
Of tho opposition to his fathers government.
Tho embarrassment of this situation. and the
economical habits he was compelled TO form,
added to his natural disposition to seek o
secluded life. At public dinner he uttered
the following noble sentiments:
al am o friend Of civil and religious lib
erty all the world over. am an enemy to
all religious tests. I am supporter Of q
general system Of education. AL men are
my brethren, and hold that power is only
delegated for the good Of the people. These
principles are not popular now, that is, they
do not conduct to place or Office. An the
members Of the royal family do not hold the
same principles. For this I do not blame
them but we claim, for ourselves, the right
of thinking and acting rs We think best,
and wo proclaim ourselves members Of bis
majesty's royal opposition"
Edward married Victoria Maria Louisa,
daughter Of the Duke Of SAKE Coburs, and
sister Of Leopold, who had married the Ia
mcnted Charlotte, only child Of George Nv.
The ancestral line of this princess ran far
back into the dark ages. But though there
was this priceless blood in the veins, the
good old duke found 1t difficult to maintain
tho dignity of his station, from the very
limited revenue of his dukedom. The young
princess Victoria Maria brought her spouse
beauty Of person and loycliness Of character,
though n slender dowry.
The life of this princess had been sadly
romantic. When but sixteen years OF age,
she was married to rich old dcbauchee, the
Prince Of Lcincnscn, then forty.four years
old. IIo soon became tired of his child
bride, and she became rs wretched rs timid,
aflectionatc woman could be made, by ne.
clect and brutality. With hounds and wine
and dcbauched companionship he spent his
days. No redecmips traits soltencd the
dark shades Of his character.
Victoria Maria thus passed several years
Of unmiiigatcd misery. But these Affections
subducd and sanctifcd her spirit. "whom
tho Lord loveth he chastencth." She be-
camo exceeding patient, gentle, childlike-
never answering back. Her sweet disposi.
ton and winning manners secured the love
of all except her uncongenlal spouse. After
fifteen years Of this martyrdom, the wretch
cd prince was deposited in the grave. She
was thus left, at the ago Of thirty-one, q
beautiful widow, and childlcss. The Duke
of Kent chanced to meet her. Their con.
genial natures Immediately blended, result
ing in tho strongest attachment. In two
years after the death of her husband, Vic
toria Maria became Dutchcss Of Kent. by
marrying out Of Germany, she forfeited the
annuity settled upon her Of $4,000 year,
and thus she went almost pcnniless to her
spouse.
With her unambitious husband she retired
to modest home, in which, with tho am
plc competence Of $4,000 year, which
would not enable them to assume any prince
ly splendor, she found all the happiness
which can be found in this world, where
some thorn Is planted in every pillow. In
about year after marriage, on tho 2lth Of
May. 1919, their happiness was greatly in.
creased by the birth Of AlcIandrina Victoria,
the present Victoria, Queen of England.
Immediately upon her birth she wa, recog.
nizcd rs tho undoubted hoiress to the throne
of England. It is little remarkable, that
when she was born, though George iii. had
left six sons, and most Of them were still
living, not one had living child. Char
lotts, the daughter and only child Of George
w. had died two years before. William
was childlcss. Consequently tho crown
would pass from George, through William
to Edward, her father, and thence to Vic
toria, his Oldest child.
OF course, this added greatly to her public
Importance and to the consideration with
which her father began to be regarded. But
in two years after her birth, the Duke Of
Kent, good man, fell asleep, VIC trust, IN
Jesus, and Victoria was again n widow,
weeping the bitterest tearv Of anguish, aud
her daughter an orphan. There was then
but one intervening link in the chain which
connected her with the throne, and that
was her uncle William. The eyes Of oil
England were now turned to Victoria. The
ari.tocntic party were glad that Edward
was dead, for liisrepublican proclivities were
we'll known, and they dreaded to zee the
sceptre in his hands. Great solicitude was
manifested to discover the childish develop
msnts Of the princess, and the influences OF
education which were brought to bear upon
her. But she had truly noble mo,her-a
warm.heartsd, sensible, matronly, Christian
woman. Her mind, her heart, and her
physical frame were alike regarded.
In the year 1889, when Victoria was
eleven wear, Of age, George w. died. VII.
liam ". now alone interposed between her