MARRIED LIFE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4263, 24 January 1901, Page 5

MARRIED LIFE.

I. . . . Love that hath the power to fore* iThe aP boUs and baulk the sentinels of Icaine'o’er tbe sea, and in ber April heart i Folded his wings. I A HAPPY UNION. 9 When the Queen opened Parliament in ■person mi fho 16th January, 1840, she ■announced her intention of marrying her ■cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-■Gotha—a step which she trusted would b* (conducive to the interests of her people, las well as her own domestic happiness. I Francis Charles Augustus Albert Emimanuel—the future Albert, Pnnce Conisort of England—was the second son of I Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, land of his wife, Louise, daughter of ■ Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Alten-Iburg. Ho was boru on the 26th of I August , r 1819, at the Roaenau, a I summer residence of iiis fathers, ■about four . miles from Coburg- ■ When tbe death of William IV r devolved ■somewhat unexpectedly upon the PnnSoess Victoria the-grave responsibilities ■of Queen of England, the Prmce, who (was then studying at Bonn, lost no tun* (in congratulating his “dearest cousin (on the great change which had taken (place in her life. On the 10th October, ■ 1839, the Prince and his brother arrived (at Windsor Castle. Tall and handsome (as they both were, Prince Albert was eminently handsome. The impression produced on the Queen is thus conveyed by ■her in a letter: —“Albert’s beauty is most Istriking, and he is most amiable and [unaffected —in short, very fascinating. lln a day or so all was made clear be[tween the parties, and on the 14th Ocjtober the Queen informed Lord Mol- | bourne of her intention to marry Prince [Albert Lord Melbourne showed the [greatest satisfaction at the announce[mont, adding the expression of his conjnotion that it would not only make the [Queen’s position more comfortable, but (would be well received by the country, who were anxious for her marriage. The Queen lost no time in communicating [to King Leopold what had passed between the Prince and herself. Great was his delight at th e accomplishment of the [cherished wish of years. The Duchess of Kent from the first took the Prince to Iter heart as a son. The nation hailed with pleasure the union of their sovereign with a Prince whom universal report proclaimed worthy of her choice. Nor was it less welcome because it promised to sever finally the connection be 7 | .ween England and Hanover, and the very unpopular Hanoverthn monarch, |,.-hm failing tbe Queen, would have ascended the English throne. In this connection it may not he out of place to mention that none of the several »t- ---| oompts made on the Queen’s life had my political significance. The marriage was celebrated on the 10th February, 1840, at the chapel of St. James’s Palace. FAMILY PARTINGS. - With the marriage of the Princess Royal, says Mrs Oliphant, a new era n the family life began. It is good when the hoys and girls grow up, and spread their new life over the world, carrying love and tender thoughts with :hom wherever they go; but there arepangs in it which fathers and mothers will always realise. A few years after :he pretty young Princess went forth to her new country, tbe Prince of "Wales began his work as an •hpprentico to the card trade of Royalty and representation it once of his parents aiid his Country. The time had now come to arrange for the fulfilment of a promise which had! been made (by the Queen te the Oanaliaus that the Prince of Wales should l pay a visit to their country. "The promise had been given during tbe Crimean war (for which Canada had levied and equipped a regiment of infantry) in answer to a • request that her Majesty would visit the American 'possessions. The promise was fulfilled in 1860, ■he Prince of AValcs was nineteen. About the same time, Prince Alfred, the sailor boy of the family, joined his ship, ind set out for the Cape. “It wiII be a itrange and noteworthy circumstance/’ writes Prince Albert, “that almost in he same week in which the_ elder hro. her is to open the great bridge across the St. Lawrence in Canada, the younger will lay'the foundation stone of ' the breakwater for the harbour of Capetown it the other end of the world. What a - harming picture is here of the progress ind expansion of the British race, and jf the useful co-operation of the Royal - Family in the civilisation, which England has developed and advanced!” . DEFENCE NOT DEFIANCE. The first of the great Volunteer Reviews was held /before the Queen on the 23rd June, 1860, in Hyde Park. .The raftering, which included detachments jf volunteers from the provinces, who aad come to London at their own ex- - oense, as well as the various corps of the "metropolis and the suburbs, formed a drilling illustration of the national de- ! termination to put the country into an |efficient r-tate of defence. “Defence, not Defiance.” was the motto of the (movement. It took two hours for the 20,000 men and upwards to defile past I the Queen. At the Trinity House dinner. the same evening, Prince Albert Laid: “We have witnessed this day a [scene which will never fade from the [memory of those who had the g»odfortune to be present —the representatives [of the independence, education, and in- | lustry of this country, in arms, to testify their devotion to their country, and [their readiness to lay down their lives jin its defence.” A few days later, on [the 2nd of July, the Queen testified her [interest in the National Rifle Association, a necessary complement of the [Volunteer movement, by opening its [first meeting on Wimbledon Common. [On the 7th August, 1860, the. Queen - [reviewed a force of at least 22,000 Scottish Volunteers at Edinburgh under the [windows of the ancient palace of Holyjrood. Throughout -her reign the Qmeen ■book a close interest in the doings of I the defenders of the Empire, both sailors land soldiers. I DEATH OF THE- PRINCE

CONSORT. The first domestic loss which her Majesty suffered was the loss of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, after a short illness, on the 16th March, 1861, followed by the sudden death of the Prince Consort, to the great grief of the'entire kingdom, on the 14th. December in the same year. The death of the Prince [Consort, lamentable in every way was, jiays Mr Justin McCarthy, especially to jbe deplored at a time when influential [counsels tending towards forbearance [and peace were much needed; in _Eugliand. But it may be said, with literal I truth, that when the news of the [Prince's death was made known, its posluble effect on the public affairs of Eng■land was forgotten or unthought of’:n Ibhc regret for the personal loss. The ■ Prince Consort was little more than Irorby-two years of age when he died. ■had always seemed to be in good, aiIthough not perhaps robust, health; and Ihe bad led a singularly temperate life,. ■So one in the kingdom seemed less iikelly to be prematurely cut off; and his ■ death came on the whole country ‘with ■ the shock of an utter surprise. The re_ I Tre t was universal; and the deepest rcI’ret was for the wife he had loved so llearly, and whom he was condemned so ■soon to leave behind. Every testimony ■has spoken to the singularly tender and Jsweet affection of the loving home the

Quoon arid Prince had made lor thornselves. A domestic happiness rare c*' ' n among the obscurest was given to la-mi. AVIDOWED. The death of her helpmate was a toirihlo blow- to the C,>itouii. H■> ellccfc !.-> convoyed in the poet’s, lines; "Leave mo awhile to linger with the (hud Weeping, Hlio said.” .... Wo nil know, wains Mr.-, Oliphant, how she tell under' the Plow-■■■dropped ■'-•'•■G as was :-o natural Irom all the pmas s--ness and hrightne.-v, 01 bbs c-vered net face, and shrank from the light. . ■ ■ After tiiis melancholy epoch the Quee.i .■> life was for a long time entirely elmmmd. and sho suli'erod inomentiinly Irom tno unjust, judgment of her Hie country complained of her lor too time; but ! l;o complaint 't-clt was .:n.' highest proof'of love and honour. Ibe ono r» proa oh that has hem. raised against hr.r MUc - : y is that w: her sorrow sho foil oul ol the practice or i.;at intercourse wil Si her people in w non the conn I ■■■/ deliyldml. Engl-nd grudge 1 her seclusion. her nmurii, ag. the true and prnfoi.-.'l gU S' of her widow non 1: although, at it. a im. Him', 'With very natural aval c.iioronehl.7 hnghsh, l ;, '; r ' < ' 1 " sity, the Mit'v • ovoml oi me l:t< hful sorrow whi m wrmh! not he cumfotled. More end mo,-, however, as e, was known what the Trim-e pad l-e-n to the Queen, the over.v.V.lining grie; <>t her widowhood wi;,; better understood. t has boon raid again and again, to her eternal honour, that she never faded in her ytleiT ion io huune--; t.n rough all these veer, of sorrow. Hut Imr -■m/.rago failed‘her fee the ol file, i<m ceremonials of Slide, and (hat olhcc ol social lead -r and head which no ono else could fill, but winch it is -u bard to undertake witle a sorrowful hear 1 . Even these duties, however, her Majesty by degrees, as she nx able lor too exertiou, to some* extent resumed. -''tut the marriage el the greater Jiilinhei ol lior children and ihe springing up ol new generations ahont the Royal .House restored more or less, as years passed, tho atmosphere ot L-heerluiuess and hope.