, 1864-04-30
MAnRIAGE OF ROYAL WIDOWS.

A subject of considerable gossip and
speculation, some weeks since, was the ru'
mored contemplated marriage of Queen
Victoria to strong. broad-shouldered
Scotchman named Alexander Murry. The
English press was sorely exercised, and
waSed indignant at the idea Of their sover,
eign mating with an untitled subject, as.
serting that the statutes Of England forbid
the King or Queen contracting such a
marriage. A writer in Boston journal
after slight historical search, discourses
in the following pleasant strain on the sub,
ject:
The English of the present day do not
fancy the re-marriage of royal ladies, though
that kind Of thing is not unknown to their
annals. Adelicia of Louvailne, second wife
of Henry |. took second husband in the
person OF William de Albini, and the mar.
riage was a very happy one. Isabella Of
AngOulenle, wife Of King John, Of unbiessed
memory, took second husband in the
Comte lie 10 Marche, Lusignan, and bore
him eight children. Isabella Of Valois,
second wife Of Richard ii, had for hei
second husband her cousin, the Duke Of
Orleans, poet of much renown. Katha.
rine Of Valois, wife and widow of Henry v
the hero of Shrewsbury and Agincourt
grew tired Of single life and married Ow.
en- Tudor, handsome young Welchman
whose face was his fortune, and who had
fought as a common soldier in her royal hus.
band armies.
This was most important marriage, and
has colored history for well nigh four ecu.
turies; for if it had never been cOnsum.
mated, the house of Tudor never would
have had place in the list OF dynasties
and the influence of that house on the
worlds history, though, as royal line, il
existed less than lis years, is OF unparal.
leled character. Katharine, like sensible
woman, married for comfort, being in love
with brave mau; but the consequences
Of her venture, as old Mr.. Weller would
say, were such US never could have visited
the dreams Of even ZenObia or Semi.
rdmis. Katharine Parr, the last Of Henry
vIIl's SIX wives, married Lord Seymour
OF Sudley, and she had more than once
married before she became Queen CUnsOrt
II is believed that Henrietta haria, widow
Of Charles 1, was secretly married TO Harry
Jermyn. No English qucen-dOwager ha:
been suspected Of marrying second time
since Henrietta Maria death.
Of English queens-regnant previous Il
Victoria, there were malr.ed, namely, Mary
1, Mary II, and Anne, but none OF them
had second husband. Uf Eng,ish kings
Henry 1, Edward 1, Richard II, Henry iV
aud James ii, were twice married. Henry
Tvs first marriage and wldowhood oc
Cured before he had any prospect of be
coming king, and his second wife, Joanns
Of Navarro, was Duchess UUwager Of Brit
tany, aud was the first widow who ever wore
the crown matrimonial OF England Eliza
beth WoodvIlle, vile vi Edward Nv, being
the second, and Katharine Of Arragon anc
KatharIne farr the third and fourth. Jane.
lis marriages were both made while h,
was heir presumptive to the crown. Henr,
VIII married and murdered and divorced
women until he could say that he had proved
fatal " live women, ana hoped 70 dispose
OF a sixth but death thought that so good
purveyor TO his NAV deserved himself t.
be taken, and 50 tvok him before he could
take oil the head Of his third Kate, ths
savage aud unrelenting Petruchio that b,
was. OF the four queens-regnant, two
Anne and Victoria, became widows. Ann,
was widowed in her forty-fflh year, anC
she was asked by Parliament TO marry
again, to which she made dignifed reply
In these days no Parliament would thinl
Of asking Queen Victoria to marry. Mod
ern ideas are more delicate than those o
old times. The English Of Anne's da,
would have been as much pleased had thef
sovereign married second time, as the Eng
lish Of to-day would DO displeased werv
Victoria to bestow her fair hand upon soln'
fortunate man but Prince Albert was
very different sort of man from Prime,
George OF Denmark, and his memory is re
vered. Then people rs well as sovereign
have become more exclusive, and queer
is considered to be more sacred personag,
in England now than she was even in tn
divine right days. There would not be III,
slightest impropriety in the queens marry
ing second time, but If she were 50 /,
marry, no matter how worthy should b,
her choice--and she is not the woman Il
make bad choice-the proceeding woulC
60 far to destroy her well won popularity
In this country we should take a very differ
cnt view Of the matter, aud heartily shoulI
we conxratulate n female sovereign. had W,