THE DEATH OF THE PRINCE CONSORT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1712, 1 April 1862, Page 5

THE DEATH OF THE PRINCE CONSORT.

(From the Times, December 16.) After the great calamity which has befallen the Queen and the nation, it is not easy to write with calmness. So sudden and terrible a blow produces a commotion of feelings which almost forbids the ordinary language of respect and sorrow. It is not too much to say that for the last 24 hoars the public has been stupified by the calamity which has befallen the h'gblygifted man who has been for so many years the Consort of the Sovereign. Nor will the intense feeling called forth by the event be confined to these islands. Wherever throughout the world the character and influence of the Prince Consort are understood, there will be regret and pity, astonishment and speculation, to the full as much as among ourselves. But let us for a moment, at least, forget, even at this critical time, the world and its doings, and, thinking 1 only of the bereaved wife and the fatherless children who are in mourning round the bed of untimely death, let us pay our tribute of sympathy and condolence. The expression of national sorrow is not a vain ceremony in the case of such a man as has just departed. Nor is it, on the other hand, a weak yielding to emotioqs which are useless, for a people is united and purified by a common regret. For Her Majesty the deepest sympathy will be felt on every side. The life of the Queen and her husband for nearly 22 years was so calm and happy and domestic, that we had been accustomed to look upon them as realising that ideal of earthly happiness which, it is said, seldom falls to the lot of Princes. Until within a-Jew months no severe family loss had troubled the Queen. All her children had lived ; she had seen her eldest daughter married to the heir of a great monarchy ; auother daughter was about to form an alliance prompted by mutual affection. The country, which on her accession was still shaken by political tempests, had become quiet and loyal to a degree which the most hopeful could not have expected; and the Queen had, moreover, the happiness of feeling that in every province of the Empire her personal character and that of her Consort were credited with many of the blessings which her subjects enjoyed. The death of the Duchess of Kent, though a heavy blow, was not calculated long to affect the Royal happiness. The departure of the aged is an event to which the mind gradually reconciles itself, and, happily for mankind, new affections spring up t<) obliterate the trace of past griefs. But in the loss of her devoted husband a dreadful blow has - indeed fallen upon our Sovereign. The world in general knew that in public affairs Her Majesty consulted her husband, but it is hardly appreciated how constant were the services, how unweared the attentions, which this position of ths Princa Consort involved. For years he hardly ever stirred from the side of the Queen ; and, knowing how much the direction of a large family, the management of a great Court, and the administration of public affairs must tax her strength, he gave her his help with an energy, an acuteness, a tenderness, and a solicitude of which there are few examples. He has been cut off just when bis mind was most vigorous, his experience verging on completeness, when his children ire at the age when a father's authority is more than evec necessary, and — by a singular fatality — at a moment when the country is threatened with a most terrible conflict. . It is no intrusive curiosity which the nation feels with respect to the last days of the Priuce Consort, and it is with no desire to satisfy such, a curiosity that we endeavour to give sime account of that sad time ; but the sorrows of Her Majesty have called forth such deep sympathy that it is but due to the public to acquaint them ' with events in which they take so lively an interest. We are the more willing to do so, since, with the announcement of the Prince's death, we can, happily, give the assurance of our bereaved Queen's health, and that she supports her great affliction with admirable fortitude The Prince Consort was taken ill some twelve days since. Symptoms of fever, accompanied by a general indisposition, made their appearance. For some days the complaint was not considered to be serious, but from the early part of last week tie medic ll men in attendance and the persons about the Court began to feel auxious. It became evident that, even if the disorder did not take a dangerous turn, a debilitating sickness would at least confine the Prince for some time to the Palace, It need

not be said that no statement was made which ould unnecessarily alarm Her Majesty or the public. It was not till Wednesday, when the fever had gaiued head and the patient was much weakened, that the first bulletin was issued, and even then it was saM that the symptoms were not unfavourable. In short, it was considered to be of an ordinary though severe case of gastric fever, from which a, person of the Prince's age and strength, aided by the skill of the first physicians in the country, might be reasonably expected to recover. The usual routine of the Court was consequently not departed from, and though, as we have said, much anxiety prevailed, it was not thought necessary to corrmunicate these apprehensions to the Queen. We believe, however, that the Prince himself had for some days a melancholy conviction that bis end was at hand. The recent death of bis relative the King of Poitugal from a similar disorder is understood to have had an unfortunate influence upon him, and possibly assisted the progress of the malady. It is said that as early as Wednesday morning the Prince expressed his belief that he should not recover. On Thursday no material change took place in his condition, and on Friday morning the Queen took a drive, having at that time no suspicion of immediate danger. When, however, Her Majesty returned to the Castle, the extremities of the patient were already cold, so sudden bad been the fresh access of the disorder. The alarming bulletin of Friday was then published. From that time the state of the Prince was one of the greatest danger. On Friday evening it was thought probable that he would not survive the night, and the Prince of Wales, who had been telegraphed for to Cambridge, arrived at the Castle by special train about 3 o'clock on Saturday morning. All night the Prince continued very ill, but in the forenoon of Saturday a change for the better took place. Un« happily, it was only the rally, which so often precedes dissolution ; but it gave great hopes to the eminent physicians in attendance, and was communicated to the public as soon as possible The ray of hope was fated soon to be quenched. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon a relapse took place, and the Piiuce, who from the time of his severe seizure on Friday hatl been sustained by stimulants, began gradually to sink. It was half-past 4 when the last bulletin was issued, announcing that the patient was in a critical state. From that time there was no hope. When the improvement took place on Saturday it was agreed by the medical men that if the patient could be carried over one more night his life would in all probability be saved. But j the sudden failure of vital power which occurred j in the afternoon frustrated these hopes. Congestion of the lungs, the result of complete exhaustion, set in, the Prince's breathing became continually shorter and feebler, and he expired without pain at a few minutes before eleven o'clock. He was sensible, and knew the Queen to the last. The Duke of Cambridge and the following gentlemen connected with the Court were present— General Bruce, Sir Charles Phipps, General Grey, Geueral Bentick, Lord Alfred Paget, Major Dv Plat, General Seymour, Colonel Elphinstojie, and the Dean of Windsor. It must have cheered the last moments of the . , illustrious patient to see his wife and nearly all his children round his bed. The Princess Royal, • who is at Berlin, was prevented by recent severe indisposition from travelling, and, indeed, the death of the Prince. followed too soon on the discovery of his danger for such a journey to have availed her. Prince Alfred is serving on board his ship on the other side of the Atlantic; but the Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice were by his side, together with several of the younger members of the family. Of the devotion and strength of mind showr. by the Princess Alice all through these trying scenes it is impossible to speak too highly. Her Royal Highness has, indeed, felt that it was her place to be a comfort and support to her mother in this affliction, and to her dutiful care we may perhaps owe it that the Queen has borne her loss with exemplary resignation, and a composure which under so sudden and so terrible a bereavement could not have been anticipated. This fact will, we are sure, give the greatest satisfaction to the country, and we may add that, after the death of the Prince, the Queen, when the first passionate burst of grief was over, called her children around her, and, with a calmness which gives proof of grei t natural energy, addressed them in solemn and affectionate terms, which may be considered as indicating the intentions of a Sovereign who feels that the interest of a great nation depend on her firmness. Her Majesty declared to her family that, though she felt crushed by the loss of one who bad been her compauion through life, she knew how much was expected of her, and she accordingly called on her children to give her their assistance, in order that she might do her duty to them and to the country. That her Majesty may have health and strength to fulfil these noble intentions, and that she may live many years in placid cheerfulness and peace of mind, alleviating the recollection of her loss by sharing the happiness of her children, will be the earnest prayer of all her subjects. Her Majesty and the Princesses will leave for Osborne to-morrow morning, and will remain there until after the funeral, which will take place this day week. m i