Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-11-30

his will by ministers that he would hav,
got rid of If re cdsld. He succeeded II
losing the AuiericA colonies and carry
ing on a costly and unnecessary war with
France, which was terminated by a dis
honorable peace, in spite of anything tha
could be done to enlighten his obfuscated
intellect or restrain his pervcrse vilfulness
Premonitiors Of total eclipse OF his IA
ther dim intellect occurred in i.Ss, and a
once the two political parties fell to quar-
relling over the course to be pursued il
case of such gloomy event. The Prince
of Wales and the King were on the worst
possible terms, ofcourse. and the former
had coquetted with the Wing opposition
in the intervals Of the real business of hi:
life, which consisted in the widest dis~sps.
ton and most absurd eA,.ravagance Con-
sequently. the Wings were for clothing
the wild Prince with tie full pcwers Of
sovereignty at once; while the Tories "a
rored restriction of his powers, and the
creation of a special council The per-
verse king, as usual, disappointed all par
ties by recovering from what was delicate
~ STYLED his illness" and when the mala-
dy returned in 1910 there was no serious
opposition to the regency. For the next
ten year. the Prince of Wales was R.
geut, and in lS20 became King George ".
beng then already je years of age
George ". was strange combination
of incougruouS qualities, but the peculiar
traits of his family were CONSPICUOUS in
his composition. Like the old Hanover
ain electors, he was selfish and coarse in
his tastes and pleasures. aud yet he had
acquired polish for his vices which gave
him the name of the first gentleman OF
England. H. was not without talents,
and yet would play the fool in the most
august company. His domestic qualities
passed over the decorum of his father and
took up with the freedom and scnsuality
Of his remoter ancestors He dcspised his
father. that being a part ofthe family code
of morality, and spent his substance in
riotous living. Having privately married
a Mrs. FItzherbert. he afterwards cspous d
his cousin. Caroline of Brunswick, not be-
cause ne had any regard for her or was
constrained by reason of state, but that
he might have whcrewithal to pav his
debts, which the government would not
assume for him. Like the first Gcorcn
he came TO hate his wife, and if he had
possessed power as arbitrary as the swim
ISL old Elector had in his own dominion
he would probably have shut her UP for
an equal length of time but not having
the power TO do that he trumpel up char
ges against her which, if true, would not
have made her half as vile IS his own
avowed deeds made him, and set on foot a
trial for divorce which was the scandal Of
the time.
When the last of the Georges died, in
$50. withcu: any son TO hate him. the
crown passed to his brother William. a
bluff sailor who cared little for the glorics
of Sovereignty, and had few Of the king
II vices Of his family except selfish dis
regard of the comfort or suffering of 9TH
ers. William was the third of the sons Of
old George the III. both the cider hav-
ing died childlcss : and the fourth was
the Duke Of Kent When the throne be-
came vacant in l>31 Kent had been dead
many years. but had left one fair daugh-
ter who, according to the law of primo
geniturc prevalent in England. inherited
til" thronc--though hv the Sallic law
which was observed in Hanover, her faith
crs younger brother. the puke of Cum
bcrland, succeeded in the Electorate. and
thus the two crowns were forever separa-
ted
Victoria. as we I'll know, has been =
most v!rtUoUS Queen, and She has also
CAMEL name for uncommon wisdom. but
she had 4 husband WHO was one OF the
most discreet and sagacious men Of his
trlnc, and since his death there have been
some sad indications Of the narrow-minl-
cdncSs and ohstinacv of George Ill in the
composition of;hc beloved sovereign. Like
her grandfather. she has led most cxcm-
plary life. though i, is whispered that she
has not been wholly free from the family
weakness for luarrclling with the heir ar-
parent. In fact, her resemblance 10 the
the third George appears in many points
besides the tendency 10 insanity which now
we mourn. and there is no knowing Il
what extent his lack of wisdom and stub
born pcrSistency in 4 wrong course nigh:
have been repeated by her had not her
persona! power in the government been
reduced 70 almost nothing hv the changes
in the plastic constitution Of the country
and the ovcrswaying influence Of her hus-
band.
The Prince &C Wales. whose fortunes
are likely to resemble those ofGcorcc ".
II the people do not interfere between him
and the throne. Of his fathers. or rather
ais mothers fathers. has often been com.
pared 10 that polished and profisate mon.
arch IN character. He has appeared very
little in public affairs. and it Is difficult ,c
judge Of his capacity for the great ofIic,
which he may be called upon to ell. l.
rriva'c-where he has appeared quite a.
much as any young gentleman Of his tin.
his reputation certainly is not wi,hcu
blemish. but it is impossible fairly to IN.
putc TO him either the cruel disposition 81
gr"S> scn>uality Of his great uncle. r..
first gentleman of England" Naycrtha
less. there IS family likeness. and tn.
change in the times NAV explain som,
wis; the ditTtrcuce in the extent to wl,ci
the two worthless display their family ii
ccs.
Take the family as whole. !, has bee,
rather odd than great. showing a remark
able mixture of virtues ami vices. wbicl