THE PRINCE OF WALES TO THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 700, 20 August 1870, Page 3

THE PRINCE OF WALES TO THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

The following letter is going the round of the American Press. It purports to be dated London, March 4: — " My Dear Alfred, — We were delighted to have your long letter from Calcutta. It seems so strange to hear from you in India. I have not much cared to go to India myself, but now you bave been there and like it so well, I hope I may go, too, some day — provided always that la Mere approves. I am so glad that you were well treated by Mayo. He used to come here to dinner now and then, and Bertiebus was fond of bim, but I did not see very much of him. One cannot hope to know everybody well. The Countess is a quiet petite body, with not much to say, yet pleasant — she is rather a crony of Alex. The photos you have sent are very pretty and well done. That one of the Parsee Baronet, Geeupboy Jampot, or some such name, is capital. But what a hat; how is it stuck on ? Some of the swell chiefs are not over pretty, and I hope Mayo will keep his eye on one or two of them who have a nasty scowl on their brows. Tennyson dined with us last night, and when I showed him the pictures, he raised his eyes to the chandelier and — spouted. What be said was good of its kind, and went a long way. Blandford affirms the whole lot of chiefs are duffers, but Blandford is a rather hasty observer sometimes. Lawrence, then, had a look, and you'd have laughed, as did Alex., at seeing bim scowl at the scowling-looking natives, whom he recognised as a possibly troublesome acquaintance of old. Lawrence could be a rather nasty customer at times, I fancy. He is as shabby as ever in his seedy frock and bags, that would drive poor Poole into fits. Do all old fellows in India look so cross and crusty, and do they all affect such shocking bad hats ? It always seems to me that those who return home are clever-looking men, and all that, but are not aa pleaaant as they might be. There's George Campbell, now, he came here the other day, as Argyll asked me to invite him. He is a very tall, lean man, and looks awfully wise, but he frowns like mad, and could not smile, I fancy, if he tried. Bertiebus called him " bogey " to his face, and Alex, blushed crimson, and sent him to bed to prevent similar remarks on ' men of the period.' " Huntley deolares solemnly that people in India work all day, and amuse themselves by working all night, and get up before dawn to work again. If so, India would not quite suit me, nor a certain brother of mine in the Horse Marines, who shall be nameless and blameless. " Blameless ! People here say I am not. That Mordaunt busmess has given us a great deal of annoyance, as you may imagine. But, as I had done nothing to be ashamed of, I did not see why I should have my mouth gagged. La Mere begged Mordaunt to leave my name out of the proceedings. He wouldn't, though, and I am not sorry now, as all kinds of rumours got abroad, which I pumped out of Harris with difficulty. So I told Gladstone I wished to be examined when the case came on, and he consulted the other Ministers, and went to Windsor, and so on, until at last it was agreed that tbe beßt course would be to take the publio into our confidence. It was rather an unpleasant ordeal in Court, but not so bad as I expected, as Penzance was civil, and so were the lawyers. I told tbem exactly the truth, keeping in mind Hatherley's advice to be brief and to the point. The papers have been down upon me, of course — the Times thinking it worth while to read me a leoture. But I am getting accustomed to this kind of thing ; and, if it pleases the [tapers, they are welcome. Alex, doesn't ike it; but she can't suggest a remedy for the . nuisance any more than I can. . If I hunt and . shoot I ara called a butcher or a dolt, and, if I exert the least influence in public matters, I am told tbat I am not yet entitled to do so. Then poor father's name is constantly held up, and I am told to follow his example, just as if my position is the same as his was. I must not do tbis or that — I must always be goody, because be was so good. I wonder if other men are always thinking of their fathers who died long ago. I know some fellows who do not seem quite certain whether tbey ever had a father. Yet here, nine years after my poor father's death, I am still expected to sit in sackcloth and ashes, in his memory. Really it is hard lines, and I am getting weary of it. and so is Alex. You often say you would like to change places with me. But you would regret doing so, old boy, could we get our friends — and foes— at Westminster to agree to the little arrangement. I assure you I often tbink, when I am in the train hurrying past the snug houses of the gentry round London, and see how jolly they themselves look, that they need not envy me my lot. Nor need you, for, as that pert Thyra says, 'Alfred is toogood to be a king.' You bad a narrow shave once, and George rushed in where you feared to reign. Poor George ! the Greeks are a tiresome lot, and don't know when thoy are well off. " lam glad you are going to Madras. I don't know much of Lord Napier, but his handsome wife is intimate with la Mere, and is a

very agreeable and well-informed person. India must be a grand place ; and by the time Bertie, Jr. is in his teenß, I dare say there will be a direct railway to take him there; and go he shall soon enough, but on one condition, namely : that he is not mounted on an untamed steed on his arrival at Calcutta. It waa too bad of Mayo risking a spill in their case. He goes across country himself in fine style, but perhaps after a cruise half round the world, he might find his sea legs a trifle stiff when astride of a restive Arab. Had you had a purl in such goodly company, the Times, as sure as fate, would have read you a lecture. But possibly they have no carriages in Calcutta, and the choice lay between a palankeen, like that at the British Museum, and horseback. I don't know nearly so much about Calcutta or Bombay as Ido of Madras. Harris needs little inducement to talk about it. He sayß the newspapers there are simply abominable, and complains bitterly of their joking him about being too ' haristocratic !' He speak b in high terms of the quarters you will occupy, and is sure Napier will make you comfortable. You must let me know all about the place when you get there. " Nothing much is going onjhere. We often go to the theatre, and 1 bunt and shoot now and then. There's some idea of our going to Ireland in the Autumn, but Alex, doesn't like it, as she says we are not called upon to run in the way of being shot. Ireland is in a bad way, and Gladstone is very anxious about it all. I dare say tbat tbe Irish know what they want, which is more than I do. It is a pity that they are so discontented, and the shooting at landlords from behind hedges is really too bad. For all tbat, I would willingly spend the Summer or Autumn in Ireland, and knock about a bit, and take my chance, if it would do any good. I can't see if there are any Irishmen who would like to shoot me, why they should not do so in London, instead of waiting until I take tbe trouble of visiting their own country. I don't mean to say I'd like to be shot; far from it, as I am a great believer in unbroken bones; but one can't be over nice now-a-days. Besides, lam getting a bit tired of my life here, and I would like to assist in making friends with the Irish, who are excellent fellows at heart, and the best soldiers in the world. Are they equally 'good sailors, think you ? Childets does not think so, and I suppose he ought to know all about it. You will, I hope, be at home by July, and if we are then in England you must contrive to warm your new room at Sandringham. The house is nearly finished, and will be very nioe, indeed. We are as fond of it as ever, the neighbourhood is so quiet, and one can go about without any danger of pulling off tbe brim of one's hat in returning bows ere returning home. The plantations are growing up rapidly, and tbe banks of the new lake are already covered with grass. In tbe centre of the lake is an island with a Chinese Summer-houße, my special resort in the evening, as Alex, dislikes tobacco smoke as much as ever. The billiard room is a great improvement on the old one, and is large enough for three tables. Tbe stables are rather too far from the houae, I, think, and too near the Bachelor's Lodge; but Alex, would have them placed in a corner where they would look pretty, and the effect from the lake is certainly good. She has a capital taste. We have good news from Artbur. He seems to like tbe Yankees. The climate of Canada suits him, and as he is so fond of skating he does not find time pass slowly. Canada is one of the places, I believe, that Alfred, the Great Traveller, has not seen. You should go there some day. I like the place and people much. But how glad you must be to tbink you have not yet seen quite all the world. Birch always growled over your ignorance of geography; but now you should be able to birch Birch. He is a dear old fellow, and seems so bappy in his new living. He is not ambitious, but one of these days I hope he will be made a Bishop, if a mitre won't spoil him. We'll get him over to Sandringham when you come back, and you shall drive him mad with geographical puzzlers, while I'll smoke you both dry — and then we'll all liquor up on the island. Alex, sends her love, so does Bertiebus, who is getting so cheeky that I have serious thoughts now and then about calling in the Usher of the Black Rod to do the needful— but be assured the execution, if unavoidable, shall be intramural. Joking apart, he is a good little chap, and grows apace as do the other chicks. But I know you happy bachelors cannot sympathise with, a parent of five bairns. Alex, says, " bachelors are so selfish," and I agree with her, but Tbyra won't hear a word against your order. But of course you care not a fig what Thyra says, and you will pardon the simple-minded-ness of " sweet seventeen.'-' She grows prettier tban ever, but more like Dagmar than Alex. Bon voyage. Regards to Fitz-George, and take care of yourself, old fellow. Your I affectionate brother, Bebtm.