Year: 1875

his brother, Oct. 10, 1859. The three years when
had elapsed since he was last IN Engiaua
had greatly improved his personal appear
ance. He was now cminently handsome


But there was also in his countenance gentieness
OF expression and peculiar sweetness In his smiie


with look of deep thought and high intelligence
in his clear blue eye and expansive forehead that
added charm to the impression he prodaceu III
those who saw him. far beyond that derived from
mere beauty or regularity of features" The impress


sion produced upon the queen is thus conveyed IN
letter to her uncle "Alberts beauty is most strK-
ing and he is most amiable and unafected-in short


very fascinahng" King Leopold was well satisfied


with the progress of the youthful lovers lie this
writes to the queen (Oct 15. 1850: Il am sure you


will like the cousins the the longer yousee them


They are of merit, and without thatp puppy
like afectatOn, which is 50 often found Win young
gentlemen of rank; and, though remarkably wen
informed, they are very free from pedantry Apoi'
is very agreeable companion. HIS manners are ~
gentle and harmonious, that one likes to nave nun
near oneself / always found him so when h'u


him with me- and think his travels have sui iui-
ther improved him. He is full OF talent anu iuu'
and draws cleverly l am glad to hear that tney
please the people who see them. Ihey deserve ~,
and were rather nervous about 1t. trust they WIZ


enyen your sojouIn in the old castle. and may Al





pathway of life of our good Victoria! He iS wen
qualified TO do So" -.


Meantime while the King was thus writing from
Brussels all had been made clear between Victoria
and Albert. The previous day she had informed
Lord Melbourne of her intention. He expressed the


greatest satisfaction at the announcement, declaring
that it would not only add to the happiness OF the
queen, but would be well received by the country


KiAg Leopold was Immediately informed of the
good news to his great delight at the accomplish
ment of the cherished wish of years.


The prince was the object of fcrvent congratula-
tions from his German friends. His happiness was
made moro intense by the purity and unselish-


ness of his nature But the brancy of his new po-
sition did not blind him for moment to It's sterner
features. He even fonnd q charm in the necessity
which they imposed of grappiing with difficulties


and subduing opposition. The marriage took place


ON Feb TO- 1870 in the chapel of ST. Jamess Palace.
The morning was wet and foggy but soon after The


return OF the bridal party from tie chapel the sun
broke out with unusual brilliaucy, presenting Il
| happy omen to the thousands who lined the roads
from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle.


There cannot exist dearcr, purer noblcr being IN
the world" were the queens words in writing to
the Old family physician Of King Leopold, Baron


Stockmar, the day after her marriage. This faith,
this devotion never failed the prince from that mo-
ment in sunshine in storm, and never did ther


worth become less precious to him than in these rsr
| hours of welded confidence"


After three days stay at Windsor Castle. the


queen and prince returned to London>for tho dis
| charge of tho necessary public duties. Amid the
| festivities which followed closely upon the royal


marriage. and were the means of introducing the


prince to the public life of the court there was


multitude of subjects of the Gravest Importance


which urgently called for his attention, and were
| likely to engage his most anxious study During


this period, he kept up the active practice OF the


arts of design, as well as OF music. He had acquired
| considerable skill both in painting and IN musical


composition, and in the etchers art, the queen and
| himself found an agreeable recreation fer their
scanty leisure To sing and play together was also
one of their greatest pleasures. Music was at all
times to Prince Albert source of supreme delight.
He found vent IN it for the world of deeper emo
tion for which few find an adequate expression
in words. His favorte instrument was the organ.
His hand was powerful, and he had sufficient execu


ton to mako this noblest OF instruments the elo-
| quent exponent of his thoughts and fancics


When Parliament rose on August II, the court re-
moved to Windsor Castle. Here the prince was in
| his element. He delighted in the change from the
smoky atmosphere Of London, to its sweet air and
| magnificent woodland scenery. At Windsor he


could give fuller play his love Of natural history,
! and to his genius for landscape gardening which


soon made Itself felt in the improved beauty of the
| pleasure. grounds around the castle. The cOmpara-
| tive repose of Windsor enabled him to commence


series of readings the laws and constitution Of


England with Mr.. Selwyn, a legal writer of distn-
| guished rcpute. While engaged in this study he
| read together with the queen, Nj. HalaIn's Con-


stitutional History of ENGLAND"


| On November 10, the court returned to Backing
| DaIo an tlan fia vol


was born. Daring the illness OF the queen, the
| princes care and devotion quite Incompatible
| he was never absent from his post, doing every


thing in his power for her comfort. He content
| to sit with her ia q darkened ROOM to READ to her.


or write for her. No but himself ever lifted her


from her bed to Der sofa, and he always helped TO
! wheel her on her bed OF sofa Into the next room


His care on this occasion rewarded by the rapid


recovery of the queen, and the court able to re-
! turn for the Christmas holidays to Windsor Castle.
Tie narrative is brought down in the present vol
ume TO the Spring of 1Si6 about Six months before
| the completion of Prince Albert'S twenty-ninth


year. 1t will doubtless be found instructive by the
,student of English political history for its lucid


sketches of public affairs during the decade of which


it treats but its principal attraction to the majority


of readers will probably consist in its charming pie


lures of the domestic life of English royalty show


ing the same play of human affection in the stately


palace in the lowly dwelling. Never was there a
| more devoted wife. more faithful mother than the
British queen. Her maidenly love for Albert


ripened into the reverent enthusiasm of matronS


womanhood. Nor was her glowing attachment to


the prince without a beautiful requital The ro-


nance of affection spread its purple light around


their welded lives, and strewed their arduous path


with thornless flowers No man had a higher de-


gree OF sound practical wisdom than the German