Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-02-15

that while 4 remain in my present, posi-
tien shall not attempt to retfaet or mod
ity the Emancipation Proclamation; nor
shall return to slavery any person who
is free by. the terms Of that proclamation,
or by any Of the acts OF, Congress If the
people should. by whatever mode or
smeAns, make it an executive duty to re-,
enslave snch persons, another, and not l,
must be tl,eir Instrument to perform it
In stating a single condition OF peace,
mean simply to say that the war will cease
on the part Of the government whenever
il shalt have ceased on the part of those
who began it. 80, '...... l...
THE LAST HoUIts or FRINGE ALBERT.
An English periodical contains the fol-
lowing interesting account of the last hours
Of the Prince Consort OF England, written
by u member of his household:
"There has reached us from abroad
most interesting extract from letter which
was written by member of the Queens
household shortly after the death of Prince
Albert. The extremely confidential posi-
ton which the writer held at the time, not
only gives the assurance of perfect relia-
blity, but invests the following lines with
a very special interest. After describing
the grief and fears of the whole household
for the Queen, the writer speaks of the
personal loss sustained in the death of
Prince Albert: How shall miss his con-
yersation abont the children lie used
often to come into the school-room to speak
about the education Of the children and
he never left me without my feeling that
he had strengthened my hands and raised
the standard was aiming at. Nothing
mean or frivolous could exist in the at
mosphere that surrounded him the con-
versation could not he trihing if he was in
the room. l dread the return of spring
for my dear lady. Itwas his favorite time
of the year-the opening leaves, the early
flowers, and fresh green, were such de-
light to him; and he So loved to point ont
their beauties to his children, that it will
be terrible to see them without him. The
children kept his table supplied with prim-
roses, which he especially loved. Tie last
Sunday he passed on earth was u very
blessed one for the Princess Alice to look
back upon. He was very i'll and very
weak, and she spent the afternoon alone
with him, while tile others were in Church.
He begged to have his sofa drawn to
the window, that he might see the sky and
the clouds sailing past. He then asked
her to play to him, and she went through
several OF his favorite hymns and chorals
After she had played some time, she look
ed reund and saw him lying back, his
hands folded as if in prayer, and his eyes
shut. He lay so long without moving that
she thought lie had fallen asleep. Pre-
| sently he looked up and smiled She said,
Were You asleep, dear papa? oh, no,
he answered 'only I have such sweet
thoughts During his illness his hands
were often folded in prayer; and when
he did not speak, his serene face showed
that the happy thoughts were with him
to the end. The Princess Aice's fortitude
has amazed us all. She saw from the first
that both her fathers and mothers firm.
ness depended on her frmness, and she sci
! herselfto the duty. lie loved to speak open.
ly of his condition, and had many wishes to
express. He loved to hear hymns and
prayers. oslo . -
Hecould not speak to the Queen of him
self, for she could not bear to listen, and
shut her eyes to the danger. His daugh
ter saw that she must act differently; and
she never let her voice falter or. shed d
single tear in his presence. She sat by
him, listened. to all he said, repeated
hymns, and then, when she could bear i,
no longer, would walk calmly to the door
and then rush away to her room, return
ing soon with the same calm and pale face
without any appearance Of the agitation
she had gone through. l have had sever
al interviews with the poor Queen since
Tile first time she said, You can feel fol
me, for you have gone through this trial.
Another time she said how strange j
seemed, when she looked back, to see how
much for the last six months the Prince
| mind had dwelt upon death and the future
state their conversation ha0 so often turn
ed upon these subjects, and they had rcae
together book, called Heeven our Home
which had interested him very much. i.
! He once said TO. her, we don't know
in what state we shall meet again; bu
that we shall recognize eacl, other and u
together i'll eternity, I am perfectly Ger
tain 1t seemed as if it l.nd been intend
ed to prepare her mind and comfort her
though Of course it did not strike herthen
She said she was wouder to herself au,
she was sure it was in answer to the pray
ers OF her people that size was SO sustained
She feared it would not last, and that time
OF agony were before her. She said
There's not the bitterness in this trial tina
I felt when I lost my mothsr-I was .
rebellious then; but now can see tn
mercy and love thai are mixed in my trial
Her whole thought now is to walk worth
Of him, and her grea test comfort to thin