, 1874-12-27

influence was natural and unavoidable, it
| should bo regarded with some suspicion by
placed between their own Ministers and the
Sovereign. On the other lnna, the Ministers had
the security OF being able to appeal to Par
Lament to support them On any question. It
| appears that the Princes ambition at one time
| aimed at being made not only Prince ConsoEt.
| but Commander. .in-Chief; but both Sir Il. Peel
and the Duke OF Wellington pointed ont the
danger and disadvantages Of occupying such a
position, and be had himself the good sense to
see that it would never do.
Ono OF the most amusing chapters OF this
volume is that which describes tho general an-
| aIchy which peryaded tho
DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS OF THE SERVANTS.
One section Of the palace was supposed to be
under the Lord Chamberlain's charge; another
| under that Of tho Lord Steward while,
business it was to look after it. Again,
those who were responsible for the i'll
side Of the building had nothing to do with tho
outside; that Was left to the Office OF Woods and
inside cleaning OF the windows belonged to tho
Lord Chamberlain's department. the degree OF
light admitted to the palace depended on good
understanding between the lord Chamberlain'a y
oiiico and that OF Woods and Forests. as an
other illustration Of tlis strange conflict and
confusion Of jurisdiction, it is mentioned that
the Lord Steward had 10 fluid the fuel and lay
the fire; but it was the Lord Clamberlain's . duty
to see to its being lighted. And, similarly. the
Lord Chamberlain provided all the lamps but
the Lord Steward had to clean. trim, aud Light
item Before pane Of glass or Cupboard
door could be mended the sanction of SO many
officials had to be obtained, that often months
elapsed before the repairs were made. More
over, as neither the Lord Chamberlain nor the
Master OF tie Horse had regular deputy resid-
ing in the palace, more than twothirds Of all the
male and female servants were left without 8
master in the house. They could come and go
as they chose, OF commit any excess OF lEresu-
iaritv. for there was no ONO to observe. correct.
or reprimand then- THIS was grievance which
THE PRINCE TooK up WARMLY,
as be had right to do. - Much as am in
cliued :" he wrote to Peel, " to treat tue House.
hold machine with q eort OF reverence, from its
antiquity, still remain convinced that IL is
clumsy in ita original construction, and works
so i'll that as long al its wheels are not mended
there can be neither order nor regularity. COM
fort, security, nor outward dignity, IN the
Queens palace" The fact that, inspired by
morbid curiosity, a little chimney sweep called
Jones-Inigo Jones, the wags called him-threa
or four times penetrated into the Queens pri-
vate apartments, and WIS found now uudcr
gofa now hid behind 4 screen, and so on, suli-
cieutly proves the neglected condition OF the
palace
Il was owing to the Princes persistence and
business capacity that this absurd and y1xa-
tious state OF things was put IN end to by the
appointment OF resident and responsible OH
ca to direct all tie arrangements.of of the palace;
aud there can be no do'lht that IN other ways
the Prince also WAS great comfort and support
to the Queen There is one unfortunate polot
which llad better have been left untouched in
the LIE. We are told that in order to encourage
fresco- painting s'the Prince determined to have
it applied in the decoration Of summer-houso
or pavilion. in the garden of buckingham
Palace. Z. Landseer. btacliae, Hewius, Eastlake,
Sir W. Ross, Dyce, and Stanhe!d. received COM
missions and We'd with each other in producing
series Of eight lunettes IN lilustrauon Of slll-
tou's 'Comus.'" The truth ii that the artlats
VALUABLE PICTURES FOR NOMINAL PRICE,
and that some OF them folt SO much !n5u1.ed by
the paltry sums that Were onered them ny the
Prince, that they sent back his checks. indeed,
throughout big Whole hte, artists were IN terror
lest he should take fancy to picture, as it
song And this is SAID to have happened even
when the pictures had been already sold at
good figure With musicians. fancy, he got on
better than With painters; but With the latter he
supercillousness, and especially lis ignorance OF
art, always in bad odor.
The lifo is. OF course. uniformly and extern
Hlvelj laudatery' bnt 1t Is lnposslole altoSethes
to conceal some OF the weaknesses OF 'ls charac-
ter. He was undoubtedly good husband and
father, he was patient and Industrious IN the
discharge Of Troublesome duties, anu Ae LED an
amiable and decorous life. lie was loyal in hls
devotion to his wife, managed ler household
affairs efficiently aud economically, and gener-
ally gave her very sensble advlce II ne had
been greater or stronger man he Would. per-
hars, have been less successful IL filling his Pc
cullar position. He was OF
COLD, Pn1oGIsH. FRosF CHARACTER
And deficient IN animal eotr1ts. He knew
nothing. for instance, OF the 6ports1naus pas
sion. He went out ssag-slooting with the same
placid cqnani.nitv as that with which ho played
cards Or. bhi1aris. The Queen vas very
angry that on one occasion. when 10 went
hunting, it should have been matter OF general
remark and astonisllment that he rodo boldly,
but this surprl"e Indicated characteristic defect
which 1t w2~<mposslble to ignore.
From Zle first there were symptoms OF weak
ness and eHemlnacT IN tho Prlnce's character
F:f.cy young man about to be married to
nice young woman, who happens to be also
Queen, bemoaninG his sad fate IN the way the
Prince does to the queen Just before ne quits
home: Think OK my position an leaving
my home, with o.! lts old assoclat1on., al my
bosom friends, aud going to country in which
everything is new aud strange to me-men,
language. customs. modes OF life. position. Ex-
cert yourself, have no ono to coniaue H.. 1t IS
evident that ne was very mnch "nat IS caied
missy young man. ana as he grew
older, this side OF his character was DC,
veloped by the want OF maie 1nende' ana