ALBERT VICTOR & GLADSTONE.

Western Star, Issue 930, 14 March 1885, Page 4

ALBERT VICTOR & GLADSTONE.

. Prince Albert Victor received the following letter from Mr Gladstone on the'attainment of his majority. — “ Hawarden Castle, January 7. Sir,Ab the oldest among the confidential servants of Her Majesty, I cannot allow the anniversary to pass with nit notice, which will to-morrow bring your Royal Highness to toll age, and thus mark an important epoch in your life. Too hopes and intentions of' those whose lives lie, like mine, in the past are of little moment; but tiiey have seen much, and what they have seen suggests much for the future. There lies before your Royal Highness in prospect the occupation, 1 trust at ivdistant date, of a throne which, to mo at least, appears the most illustrious in the world, from its hi.-tory and associations, from its legal basis, from the weight of the cares it brings, from t ile'‘loyal love of the people, and from the unparalleled opportunities it gives, in so many ways and in so many regions of doing good to the almost countless numbers whom the Almighty has ijlabed 'beneath the sceptre of England. I fervently desire and pray —and there cannot be a more animating p.r&yer—tbat your Royal Highness may ''ever ‘grow in the principles of conduct, and may be adorned with all He qualities which correspond with lids great and noble vocation. And, Sir, if sovereignty has been relieved by our modern institutions of some of its burdens, it still, L believe, remains true 1 that there has been no period of the world’s history at which successors to the ‘ Monarchy could more efficaciously contribute to the stability of a great historic system, dependent even; !,Ihore upon love than upon strength, by devotion to their duties, and by a bright .examp'e to the country. This result we have happily been permitted to see, and other generations Avill, I tru-t, witness it anew. Heartily ..desiring that in the life of your Royal Jlighnes- e ery private and personal may be joined with every public bless-, iug, 1 hbve the honor to remain, Sir, your Royal Highness’s most dutiful ami faithful servant, W. E. Gladstone.” Air Gladstone received the following reply from Prince Albert \ictor:— Sandringham, Norfolk, Jan. 9,1885. — Dear Mr Gladstone,-! wish 1 were better able to answer your very kind

latter, convoying as it does not only the'best of good wishes but carrying with them reflections on the past and advice for the future, for which I wish to thank you. I assure you the letter shall' have that attention which words from yourself must deserve. It admirably describes much which demands my most earnest thought on this, perh ips, the most important birthday of my life. Believe me, lam very gratefuFfor your remembrance of me this day, and that, amongst the many offerings which have reached mo, J prize nothing more than the letter you have so kindly written, for which pray accept my most sincere thanks. lam glad to believe that your health is restored, and I trust your many friends will:hare no cause for renewed anxiety on your behalf. With my most kind remembrances to Mrs Gladstone, believe me, yours very sincerely, Album Victor.

L’he request (cabled), of Hon. Tlios. GK Hewitt, President of the Exposition to be held at Grafton, N.S.W., (commencing the latter part of March), Mr H. P. Hubbard, proprietor of the International Newspaper Agency, New Haven, Conn,, U.B. A., has forwarded for display on that occasion sample copies of over seven hundred leading papers, published in the various cities of the United States, Mexico, South America, the West Indies, British India, South Africa, Europe, etc. Probably such a collection of periodicals in various languages hss. never been seen before in Australia,; and possibly at no previous exhij bition in the world. Mr Hubbard regretted that the short time allowed him for making this collection, (only one d..y after receipt of Mr Hewitt’s cablegram), did not admit of the selection and arrangement of a very much larger representation of the Press of the World. The contribution sent, however, cannot fail to prove of great interest to all intelligent visitors to the Exposition, and especially to newspaper men and lovers of unique literature. It is almost exactly 31 years (writes a contemporary) since .Russia was the recipient of an ultimatum from EngImd, who on that occasion was supplied by France, by whom also the ultimatum was signed. The occasion, of course, was that which subsequently led to the Crimean War. The Anglo-French ultimatum was sent to fcit. P. tersburg on February 27,1854, The only response was contained in a dispatch of March 19 following, to the effect that the Czar did not judge it suitable to give an answer.” In the meantime, on March 11, the Baltic Hi j et had sailed under Bir (J. Napier, o.i March 12 tie treaty between j'iUgland, France, and Turkey was conclud' d, and on March 27 and 28 England ai.d France re pectively declared war against the northern Power. The hostilities that followed did not cease till February 29, 1856, and peace was declared in A pril fol lowing. In the course of a speech at Bi kenhead recently, the i.ighl H n . W. E. Gladstone made the following observations: “1 have seen the strength and power of this country increased beyond all previous anticipation and almost beyond the power of present belief. If you hear weak-minded pco),.e speak of the ac ual or possible a.cay of this empire, don’t listen for a momeut to such dreams and to such fables. The strength of the British Empire is increasing, and so far as human judgmem can anticipate, will increase. If other European countries have grown in power, th.s country has yet more grown in p-*wer. Be just, gentlemen, and fear not, and rely upou it the day has not come, and the day is not about to come, when you need fear, with justice at your back, t<? look into the face of any power, oy any country ja tfco world,"