Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-22
The Royal AIIiance-'Prince Fred ("
Interviewed


A West Point correspondent Of the
World recently had conversation with
Fred Grant concerning the rumored con.
tract of marriage with Princess Beatrice.
He says: tsll Iu
This morning had quite an extended
interview with Prince Fred himself,
and he conversed with me very freely.
At first he denied all knowledge of the
matter, but a sly twinkle in the eye and
an amused expression about the mouth
led me to believe that he was not quite
so entirely ignorant as he pretended.
You have heard, / presume, Mr..
Grant" l said, of this rumored engage
ment of marriage between yourself and
the Princess of EnglandP' lsB
Yes" he replied, smiling.
Should be indiscreet in asking you
if it be trHe2" s..a ..
" You may ask.
" Well, what do you think Of the pro-
posed scheme2 Would you object2'
Perhaps not, under circumstances
1t might be the means of bringing about
most friendly state of feeling between
the two countries"
" / have heard it suggested that should
you become British subject, as must
necessarily happen were you to be ap-
pointed Viceroy of Canada, you might
be somewhat amenable to British inhu-
ence."
He drew himself up proudly and re-
piled: | am an American and sol
der. Small fear that should ever be
disloyal to my country to even the
slightest extent Besides, should this
plan be carried out, Canada before long
would be a part of the United States.
Who knowsl Perhaps England he
did not finish the sentence
Do you think that any of the great
powers of Europe would object2n 7
No; why should theyl France is
now, and will be for some time to come,
powerless. The Emperor of Germany
is relative of Queen Victoria, and
would, undoubtedly, favor any idea EN-
anating from her. Amadeus, the newly
elected King of Spain, is too shaky on
his throne to essay any remonstrances.
The Emperor Of Russia is too good a
friend to Prussia to object unless she
do. Victor Emmanuel can't object to
anything. Austria is busy with home
matters. The Turk does not trouble
himself about foreign matters. So the
political sky will be perfectly clear"
ALLOW me to compliment you upon
your acquaintance with the politics of
the world. When do you expect further
revelations2" Iti
1t is impossible for me to say at
present. In fact, | would not say if ]
could.
Taking this thing from the American
point of view, how do you like this
European system of arranging marriages
between people who have never seen
each other, for state reasonsY Ia
| don't believe in it, and lemphati-
cally) / came of age little while ago
and cannot be forced to do anything /
do not choose to. Tn twenty-one years
old"
But do you take into consideration
that your proposed union is with an
actual princess, a beautiful creature with
the poetic name of BeatriceP
Well, if she's beautiful, that's some
thing. Names don't count much"
Then you would hesitate over the
proposition2"
|" 1t takes two to make Bargain, and /
have not yet given my word to anything
A princess is all very well if she is good
looking and like her, aud she is well
fixed. That latter might have some
effect" r...
"Well, the children of the Queen of
England generally have a good share Of
the comforts of life to start housekeep-
ing with.
$50 have heard. But--there is time
enough yet to talk about that"
You, of course, having lived the as
cetic life of a cadet here for four years,
are fancy free, and ready to accept
Beatrice if she suits you, and the future
is all pleasantly arranged to meet your
independent views.
"That is rather a delicate question.
| cannot commit myselfat present. You
see there are many ties which |, as an
Independent American, of age and not
in the habit of being driven into any
thing, might regard as prior to any pos
sible advantages fromsa union with any
princess in the world But of that say
nothing" Here his hand wandered up
to his breast as if in search of button,
which was conspicuously and suspici-
ously absent from the glttering row of
its fellows on the full front of the cadet
uniform.)