The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-29
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.


| -
An English Reply TO n Royal Lover.
I The manner in which the courtship be
tween Victoria and Prince Albert was con
Quoted Is still fresh in the memory of reader.
OF the Queens book and the copious extracts
thereirom which were published in almost all
the papers. 1t fappears that it is ore lof the
Queens prerogatives to make the declaration
which causes lovers so much embarrassment,
Prince Albert understood the authorized eft.
iquette Of the occasion, and made no demon.
stration until it pleased royalty to make
known its wishes. But i'm course OF time
it Happened, the good Prince Albert being
dead, that her Majesty had another lover.
Living in country where woman's sphere
OF action is somewhat circumscribed and her
duties limited TO washing the feet of her
spouse and the performance OF other menial
offices, King Theodore OF Abyssinia made
his proposals as he would to any other
eligible widow. According to the most au-
thentic accounts OF the matter he was not in
a situation to propose marriage at all, for
there was Mrs. Theodore still alive. That
lady, however, had lost favor In the eyes of
her husband by unreasonabIy objecting to
the imprisonment of certain chiefs who we're
Iestrained OF liberty on account of their at
tachment to her father, another chief whose
estates had been seized by King Theodore.
The latter was so indignant at his wfes dis
play OF filial affection on this occasion that he
"cuffed' her with his cwn hand as whole
some means Of enforcing domestic discipline.
The proud Toroneche could not brook snch
treatment, and from that day to this the re-
iations OF the royal pair have been the re-
verse of those which tradition tells us existed
between Darby and Joan. Theodore at once
began to lead rakish sort of life, and intro
dueed choice assortment of mlstresses into
his palace after the manner of their Most
Christian Majesties Of the houses of Stuart
and Guelph. Bnt in the fall OF 1862, having
heard of the death of. the Prince Co.isort
he made his proposals to the British Queen.
Alter the lapse of eighteen months the min
istiy, in behalf of the Queen. returned "a
tirm butrespectftll negative" Hence whole
Had OF woes. The Abyssinian monarch
seized the English Consul, Mr.. Cameron, with
the attaches OF the consulate and all the
missionaries he could find in his domains
and clapped them into prison, where they
have been ever since. In 1864 a special MS
sion under Mr.. Rassam was sent ont TO in
teTcede for the captives, but Theodore dis
posed Of the matter by sending the whole EN-
bassy to keep company with Mr.. Cameron
having first subjected them to special indig
mites. ~ sat ef ha-I far De- e, lfsf.
= So 1t has happened that for three year.
| twenty English subjects have been imprisoned
in foreign land. The British lion that tear.
and worries feeble adversarles so promptly
has been roaring "as gently as any suckine
dove" in th,s case of TheodOres. Only sup
plication and the most fulsome adulation hav,
been used thus far in endeavoring TO effec
the release of the captives, for the enemy i
protected by his mountain walls, his jungles
his unhealthy climate and, 1t is7thoaght. by a
considerable number Of troops. But at las
the British government has been forced +
take warlike measures. The world has begru
to laugh at the nation that permits hall
civilized African to defy its power. So wa
has been decided upon. An expedition ha
been fitted out in India under command G
Lteut.-General Sir Robert Napier, consistin
OF ten thousand troops and twenty thousan
camp followers. The troops are made up {
eight regiments Of Punjab infantry and thre
OF cavalry, two battalions OF Europeans an
two batteries Of Royal artillery. The Vicero
of Egypt is to furnish FIVE thousand camel
for the expedition. Mules, and bullocks ar
also to be provided for draught and ridin
purposes. 1t is proposed to enter the enemy
country sometime next month. The base
operations, will be Alden in Arabia. 1t liz
not yet been decided wnernrr Che expeuTIU
will lard at Massowah, Amphila Bay or Ed
on the Abyssinian coast, or at some point
Nubia, which lies jnst North on the Red Sc
but as the pioneer steamer has just sailed irol
Alden, this matter viii soon be decided. m
Meanwhile the greatest anxiety prevails i
England respecting the danger and expens
attending the expedition. French sdpdn
protesting to have an acquaintance with tn
country, enumerate either seriously or wit
a waggish desire to intensity the fears OF job
Bull. thousand difficulties that will beset th
enemy on its way inland to Goudor. the capita
They tell of deadly snakes, torinenting file
fatal worms, impenetrable jungles, dangerol
detiles and impossible mountains. They d
scant upon the valor and efficiency of Il
Abyssinian troops and the greatness of the
leader. Theodore is himself usurper wi
in 1856 overthrow King John, who was the
reigning. Ever since 1t has been his ambitic
to store the ancient Ethiopian. Empire, an
at one time he collected an army OF 10000
with that object in view. 1t should here
stated that the refusal of fEngland and Fran,
to cooperate with him In this proposed col
quest Of the Turks who surround him, an
the injudIcious efforts Of Consul Cameron I
bring about a reconciliation between him an
his neighbors, perhaps had more to do wit
his severity toward Europeans than any SCI
timental feeling respecting Queen Victoria
We have given the version OF the affair whc
is most commonly received, but the other G,
/ piduuttoh HOO pChudpS ulohO etutut do IL Sc
tainly has less romance Theodore and
subjects profess kind OF Christianity, and
would not be unnatural If the monarch felt
| little sore at any exhibition of tolerance f
his Mussulman ioes.
Although preparations for war have bee
actively pushed still another effort for pea
Is to be made. "A barrel-orsan was once sci
to Theodore with the happiest resnlts 1t
now thought that there is an avenue to h
heart by way of addressing him as a decsen
ant of the Queen. of Sheba. An old traditio
to the effect that this Queen gave birth to
son after her return from visiting Solomon
revived, and an embassy sent having it
charge to make special recognition OF tn
fact. 1t is supposed that this win delig
King Teeodore so much that he will make
point to release his prisoners at once. ),
don ai sqr Dominion Of Canada 9idld
THE COMMERCIAL BANK FAILURE bi
A good deal of excitement has been create