Year: 1867

QUEEN VIcToRIA's book, giving the lite and
character of the late Prince Albert, attracts the
greatest attention in England and will be read
with interest everywhere. Her affection for
his memory, has induced her not only to abau-
don much of the mystery which usually en-
v;rons throne, but even to acrifice something
of the privacy which is often cherished in pri-
vate life; and we have full details of the court
shin, &C. This volume is but the first OF series
in which the whole life Of the Prince will be
described; but it carries US as tar as the first
year of the Queen marriage and the birth OF
the Princess Royal. 1t appears that, as usual
with young ladies, the Queen coquetted little
with the Prince, talked about delaying the
marriage and all that. In this connexion we
find the following naive confession:


''Nor can the Queen now think without IN
dgnation against herself, of her wish 10 keep
the Prince waiting for probably three or tour
years, at the risk of running all his prospects
for life, until she might feel inclined to marry.
And the Price has since told her that be came
over in 1889 with the intention OF telling her
that if she could not then make up her mind,
che must understand that he could not now
wait tora decision, as he had done at a former
nerod, when this marriage was first talked
about. The only excuse the Queen can make
far herself is in the fact that the sudden change
from the secluded life at Kensngton to the In
dependence of her position as Queen Regnant,
at the age of eighteen, put all ideas OF marriage
out of her mind, which she now most bitterly
repents. A worse school for a young girl, or
one more detrimental to all natural feelings and
affections cannot well be imagined, than the
nosition of queen at eighteen, without eXpe
rience and without husband to guide and
support her. This the Queen can state from
painful experience, and she thanks God that
none of her dear daugh hters are exposed to such
danger.


What Prince Albert himself felt on the sub
iect we can learn from his own letters He
thus wrote to his grandmother:


'The subject which has occupied us SO much
of late is at last settled The Queen sent for
me alone to her room few days ago, and de-
cared to me in the genuine outburt sof love
and affection, that [ had gained her whole
heart, and would make her intensely happy
if | would make her the sacrifice Of
sharing her life with her; for she said she
looked on it as a sacrifice; the only thing which
troubled her was that she did not think she
was worthy of me. The joyous openness OF
manner in which she told me this quite en-
chanted me, and [ was quite carried away by
it. She is really most good and amlable, and
I am quite sure Heaven has not given me into
evil hands, and that we shall be happy to-
gether. .....-..


''Since that moment Victoria does whatever
she tancies should wish or like and we talk
together great deal about our future life,
which she promises me to make as happy as
possible. Oh, the future does it rot bring
with it the moment when I shall have to take
leave of my dear, dear home, and Of you? L
cannot think of that without deep melancholy
taking possession of me. 1t was on the 18th
of October that Victoria made me this decara
ton. and have hitherto shrunk from telling
you but how does delay make it better p


To his college friend, Prince LoWensten, ne
wrote thus: .,


Eyes am actually bridegroom, and about
the 4th of February hope to see myself united
to her love.


''You know how matters stood when | last
saw you here After that the sky was dark
ened more and more. The Queen declared to
myuncle of Belgium that she wished the at
fair to be considered as broken off, and that
for four years she could think OF no marriage.
went, therefore, with the quiet, but firm res
olution to declare, on my part, that also,
tired of the delay, withdrew entirely from the
affair. 1t was not. however, thus ordained by
Providence; for on the second day after our
arrival the most friendly demonstrations were
directed towards me, and two days later l was
secretly called to private audience IN which the
Queen offered me her hand and heart.


TO BAKE APPLES.