Strangers "Within Our Gates.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1752, 25 September 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

Strangers "Within Our Gates.

The ' World.' in an article on Foreign Princes in England, says : —The Prince Consort was looked on by many as a foreigner, but in reality no one had a more thoroughly English heart; no one identified himself so completely with our interests; no one has left so strong an impress of his mind on English art and social life as Prince- Albert. We owe him much, and it is a matter alike of shame and regret that our gratitude should have been chiefly posthumous. Of all the strangers, indeed, to whom our gates have been opened not one has conferred such benefits on England. Let us, however, turn from the dead to the living. Of all these perhaps the best known is the stalwart general who commands the Home District. Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar came to England as n boy, and went through the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, like any other lad. He entered the Guards, and after a time became adjutant, which is no sinecure, especially in the Household troops. In the Crimea he shewed a courage, a presence of mind in emergencies, and a cheeriness under privations which became his rank, and earned him the respect and affection of all those who confronted death with him. His love match with a daughter of the house of Lennox completed the tie between Prince Edward and his adopted country. Another of the strangers within our gates is Prince Christian, brother of the head of that line with the curiously composite designation of Sles-vig-Holstein - Sonderburg-Augustenburg. Born in 1831, he married, when thirtyfive, the Princess Helena, some fifteen years younger than himself. A majorgeneral, a Knight of the Garter, and a Koyal Highness by warrant, he is officially an English pirnce. He is admitted by all who know him to be the most simple minded and mannered man living. His marriage has been a happy one and, the royal couple live in the most domestic, quiet, and unostentatious fashion at Windsor. I^ot given to taking his fair share in conversation, neither ill-natured nor foolish remarks have ever been attributed to him. Yet those who know him well like him greatly, and apply to him that thoroughly British commendatory phrase ' a good fellow' while those who merely see him on state occasions admit that he is manly and gentlemanlike in his bearing. All our princesses are popular, but not one is more universally liked for the genial, cheerful, kindly heart and manners which are the characteristics of the house of Cambridge than the Princess Mary. The cousins only of the Sovereign, the Commander-in-Chief and his sister have ever been less fettered by etiquette than the Queen's own daughters. Both have always taken an active part in promoting charities, and the Princess Mary has contributed by her patronage largely to the success of many bazaars for the benefit of the poor, sick, and miserable. Full of spirits, shewing her sunny heart iv her face, always amiable, and fond of fun, the Princess Mary was simply one of the most popular ladies in Europe, and she and her brother constituted a valuable link between the Court and the aristocracy. When, therefore, she contracted a marriage of affection every one was prepared to like the husband of her choice. His Serene Highness the Prince, now Dnke, of Teak, when he came to England in 1864, very favourably impressed all who met him. He was young, good-look-ing, and on public occasions his handsome figure and face were well set off by the becoming uniform of a lieutenant in the Austrian cavalry. It was said too that he had served in the field, and Englishmen are always disposed to like a prince who is a soldier in reality as well as in nams, Thus he was liked as much for his own sake as for that of his bride. The Prince of Leiningen, cousin of the Queen, G.C.8., post captain in the British navy, and commanding the royal yacht Victoria and Albert, is, outside the navy and the Isle of Wight, less known than some of the German princes who have made England their home. His relationship to her Majesty had no doubt something to do with his obtaining the Grand Cross of the Bath, but several medals proye that an order of chivalry is not out of place on his breast, and form a suitable setung for the star. Not only is the Queen's cousin a working sailor, but through his marriage with a Princess of Baden he is connected with the Duke of Hamilton, Of late those who study the doings of royalty mnsthave frequently noticed the name of Prince Louis of Battenberg as sharing the amusements of the Prince of Wales. This young prince —he is only twenty —is a in the Boyal Navy. His family history is somewhat romantic. His father, brother of the Grand Duke of Hesse and the Empress of Eussia, when paying a visit to' St. Petersburg, fell in love with one of his sister's maids of honour. This youne lady, daughter of a Polish nobleman, Count Haucke, 90 captivated the susceptible heart of Prince Alexander, that despite all opposition he married her. Every one likes young Prince Louis, and the report that there is a probability that he is destined some day to obtain the hand of the Princess Beacrice has been received with satisfaction. Our list closes with Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, better known as Count Gleichen. A nephew of the Queen/.he. as a boy, entered the royal navy,saw much active service,and eventually attained the rank of post-captain, when he retired. Simple-mannered, unassuming, clever, he is beloved by all who know him, and is perhaps one of the happiest princes living. Falling in love with the daughter of Admiral Sir George Seymour, father of the present Marquis of Hertford, he sacrificed everything to his affection, and married her. Being seriously ill at Devonport, where Sir George Seymour was admiral, his future wife shewed him such, womanly kindness during his sickness that when he recovered he asked his fair nurse to be his wife. Neither has ever had reason to regret the breach, of etiquette thus committed. He was not rich even for a private gentleman and her dowry was insignificant. Moreover, their marriage placed him, according to royal views, in a false position ; for a prince cannot contract other than a morganatic marriage with a subject. He sank the prince altogether, and assumed or was granted the title of Count Gleiehen. Unable to raise his wife to his own rank, he! voluntarily sinks to hers. Boyal chronicles contain few instances of such romantic affection; and the utter absence

of consciousness that he is doing anything out of the way has secured him the esteem and affection of all his relatives and friends. The Queen has granted him apartments in St. James's, and there he pursues the modest career of a sculptor, and if any one of our readers should like to possess a bust of him or her self by a royal artist of no mean talent, that wish can he easily gratified. To sum up Prince Victor is as fine a specimen of a thorough man in the true sense of the word as any country can produce, and England has reason to be piouithathe is her adopted son.