ROYAL BEREAVEMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7541, 23 January 1896, Page 2

ROYAL BEREAVEMENT.

PRINCE HENRY OP BATTENBURG BEAD. A VICTIM OF THE ASHANTEE CAM. ' PAIGN. •DIED OF FEVER, London, Jan. 22. As Prince Henry of Battenburg did not show satisfactory improvement from the&l attack of fever, he was sent home to England^R£ with a view to receiving better medical V treatment, but he died on Monday when the steamer was off Sierra Leone. Prince Henry Maurice of Battenburg waa the husband of Princess Beatrice Mary - Feodora, youngest daughter of Queen Victoria. They were married on July 23, 1885, and their issue are : Alexander Albert (aged 10), Victoria Eugienie (aged 9), Leopold' Arthur (aged 7), and Maurice Victor (aged 5). The late Prince was born on October 5, 1858, and was therefore 33 years of age. The London correspondent of the Otago , Daily Times wrote on November 20th : — " A desire for something useful and practical to do is the impulse of an active brain and' a ' sound moral condition when. the aspirant is above want of any kind, and work bo under- ■' taken has all the advantage of enthusiasm, and this pretty brawl with the savage African king of Ashantee has given the new . chief of the army an arduous and delicate task of selection. Last week the Princess Beatrice and her Henry of Battenburg drove to the War Offico and were closeted with Lord Wplseley for over two hours. It sooa leaked out that the Prince had obtained his wife's consent to offer his services to the expedition to Ashantee,andthatthe Queen had also consented. The Prince is tired of the idle and subordinate existence he has to live ab Windsor, and now the opportunity serves, is eager to follow to the field some warlike ' leader. Lord Wolseley does not at all like the situation, as volunteers of that kind ars sadly hampering to the commanding officers, who, if any mischance should occur, are sure to be blamed for the want of caution, as in the case of the Prince Imperial. It is . still said that his life was needlessly exposed— that he should have been kept close in hand. Poor Prince Henry, if he had the chance* might revive the family traditions and addi another Battenburg to the r6le of martial' fame. Prince Christian also goes with thelittle force, which is composed of the pick of the resources at hand. Those in command feel somewhat hindered by the care of tha sprigs of Royalty ; but should adverse fata pop an African bullet into poor Henry's head he will leave plenty of hostages to posterity and a name to live in itself.