, 1874-07-19

Kings Of the House OF Brunswick brought over
with them number OF notions about the great
distinction between them and the rest OF man.
kind, which had never before been heard OF in
England. change came in these matters when
the descendant Of the Walfs succeeded the
granddaughter Of Lord Chancellor Clarendon.
The change in nomenclature WAS an outward
sign. Englishmen we're taught, but only gradu-
lilly, to talk OF "Pripoess" Emily and
''Princess Caroline with tongues which had
been used to the Lady Mary and the Lady
Anne. Tho thing reached its climax, not 10
much in the so-called Royal Marriage Act y
itself, al in the feelings which led to
it, and in the popular Interpretation
put upon it. The common, though mis-
taken, saying-practically refuted by the good
sense OF our present Queen-that neither the
King nor any member Of his family can 's marry
royal family from the rest OF the world. The
practical 1esBening OF the royal power renders it
practically convenient that members OF the royal
family should abstain from that prominent part
in public affairs which was once open to them az
to other people. The now Continental notion
fostered the notion that there was something,
not as our fathers held, in the regal office. but
in the mere royal blood, which made its owner
something of different nature from other men.
Opposite to their origin, tho two doctrines work
to state OF things in which nobody is Sur
prised that, when the Queens Son is clothed with
rights and powers which he had not before, he
is at once warned that he must not think ct
using these rights and powers as other holders
Of them may.
For nearly three centuries '.royal' pezsonages
were 90 scarce in England that it was no won-
der that when they began to be moro common,
people began to look upon them 81 distinct
class from other people. All through tho six
teenth and seventeenth centuries the royal fami-
atsfa rf h1r
as in the reign Of Elizabeth, there could not 90
said to be my royal family at all Between
Henry " AID George L six sov-
eroisns only we're the fathers OF 4 Prince OF
fathers OF two Princes Of Wales. And in all
that time Charles I. as Prince OF Wales,
aud James H. a. Duke Of York, were
the only son or brother Of 3 King who had ever
the opportunity Of playing any part in ahairs.
The rest either died young or succeeded young.
were crowds of people who had contingent
claims to tho crown. but they were not people
whom anybody would have called royal The
- roya1 family" as WORKING Institution, really
takes & leap from the sod OF Horny ". to tho
son aud grandson Of George Lis it too bitter q
SARCASM to say, from John Duke Of Bedford to
Frederick Prince OF Wales Between these
here was only Prince or q Princess now and
then. It was no wonder then that, when tue
' royal family" began again, they started on
1ulte new Terms. AuQ A1teT Ill, no QUO has ever
odd US what is the royal family. No one has yet
ocen further of the relgning sovereign than
ust cousin. The status ct the more distant
sinsfolk has never been fixed, because no case
,as ever arisen to call for its being fixed. We
rust that the line Of the Dukes Of Connaught
nay not die out 80 soon az the lines Of SO many
,ther royal dukedolns have died out. But We
hould greatly like to know-it is not the first
ime that we have put the question-whAt the
on Of younger son Of the present Duke will
"a called. Unless the reigniug sovereign spo-
tally bestows some rank Or title on him, it LOOKS
cry much as it be will come into the world
Eithout even a surname. and Hill be nothing at !
aims pr07aoncn- |