Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-09

The telegraphic dispatches from London
leave but little hope that the Prince of
Wales survived through last night. Although
the Prince of Wales is still iii the very
prime of life, his constitution has been sub
jected TO the enervating influences which
are incident to free and easy" sort of
life, such as, according to common report,
the Prince has been leading for several
years past, and hence bis inability
to rally from his late attack.
The malady from which he is reported
10 be dying seems to be much the same
type as that which carried off his father
while still comparatively young man.
Prince Albert, it win be remembered, died
after an Illness of only few hours dura--
ton, of gastric fever. To judge from the
tone of even the conservative English jour-
nals, his demise would not be greeted with
extravagant regrets by the English pee pie.
His life has not been such as TO
inspire them with any very high
opinion Of his character, and he has
given no redeeming promise Of great
talents which would make him a b loved
and able occupant Of the British TN ona. Il
is, indeed, difficult to forecast the exact re-
suit of such an event at the present time.
The heirship of the throne will Of course,
descend to his eldest son, Prince Albert
Victor Christian Edward, who was bor-
Frogmore Lodge, Windsor, on the ..l. =
January, 1864, and is conseque ar. -
nearly eight years old. The -, ~"
sion to the British throne provides $ that the
crown shall descend 20 tbs direct til linaaI S.
male heir. The ,h.,oa. 81 a. L-o.,,o~n o'.,
Vi ''i' ! ii''N Of Wales to inherit the throne
@e' VII ,refore, very slender. Between
I u -4oe Alfred, the Queens second son, and
tbe crown there stand five lives, enly one of
the Prince Of Wales six children having died
and the chance Of male children to Prince
Albert Edward the younger. Two sons
and three girls are still alive to the Prince
of Wa5es, and it is hardly probable that
they will all die prematurely. 1t is reason
'abE TO suppose that the immediate effect of
Ske death of the Prince of Wales, at this
time, will be to postpone the rumored
intention OF the Queen to abdicate
the throne, which she would, in that event,
most likely keep until the infant heir-ap-
parent should reach manhood. Should she,
however, persist in her purpose to resign
the cares Of State, or should she herself die,
a reasncy would necessarily be the result
unless unforeseen circumstances should step,
in at that critical juncture and materially
modify affairs in Great Britain. If regen-
cy should be established, it would scarcely
be very popular. The Duke Of Cambridge
who enjoys an unenviable rep
utation, or Prince Alfred, whose
visit to Australia developed many
very unpopular traits of character, would
probably be appointed regent. Either Sc
lection would be very unacceptable to the
English people. What would be the ulti-
mate result, it is, Of course, vain to con-
lecture; but there is a strong and powerful |
movement in England toward Republican |
form Of government, which would, perhaps,
see its opportunity in the unpopularity of
such a regency. The revolution, we be-
leve, would be a peaceful one; very different |
from the spectacle which has been so fire. |
quenily presented in France.