and exemplary domestic virtues, uniformly exhibited all the relations of life.* in Ever mindful of the true welfare of his children and their growth in every manly virtue, he devoted a good deal of his attention to their mental and moral training. The skill he had of giving in fewest possible words, a lucid account of even most difficult scientific matters, enabled him to impart to them useful knowledge at home with remarkable facility. His love towards them was alone equalled by his solicitude for their advancement in life as large-hearted and highmotived men. "In no relation of life," says one of his children, "did the goodness and greatness of his character appear more than in the management of his children. The most judicious, impartial, and loving of fathers, he was at once the friend and master ever by his example enforcing precepts he sought to instil."* The Prince Consort wrote to his eldest daughter, almost immediately after her marriage, counselling her, not to think of herself, but to think of duty and service. "If", he said, "you have succeeded in winning people's hearts by friendliness, simplicity and courtesy, the secret lay in this, that you were not thinking of yourself." Hold fast this mystic power, it is a spark from heaven.† I conceive that this Society (The Servants' provident and benevolent Society) is founded upon a right principle From Life and Character of Prince Albert-a Lecture by Gosto Behary Mullick. † From M. G. Fawcett's Life of H. M. Queen Victoria. as it follows out the dictates of a correct appreciation of human nature, which requires every man, by personal exertion, and according to his own choice, to work out his own happiness; which prevents his valuing, nay, even his feeling satisfaction at, the prosperity which others have made for him.* -THE PRINCE CONSORT. We are becoming, I hope, daily more civilized and religious, and, therefore, daily recognizing more and more, that the highest use to which we can apply the advantages with which an all-bountiful Providence has favoured us, is to extend and maintain the blessings of Peace. I hope, however, the day may never arrive which would find us either so enervated by the enjoyment of riches and luxury, or so sunk in the decrepitude of age, that, from a miserable eagerness to cling to our mere wealth and comforts, we should be deaf to the calls of Honour and Duty.* -THE PRINCE CONSORT. Our Heavenly Father, in His boundless goodness, has made His creatures that they should be happy, and in His wisdom has fitted His means to His ends, giving to all of them different qualities and faculties, in using and developing which they fulfil their destiny, and, running their uniform course according to His prescription, they find that happiness which He has intended for them. Man alone is born into this far nobler than the other creatures, of Him who has willed that there world with faculties reflecting the image should be beings on From The principal speeches and addresses of H. R. H. The Prince Consort. earth to know and worship Him, but endowed with the power of self-determination, having reason given him for his guide. He can develop his faculties, place himself in harmony with his divine prototype, and attain that happiness which is offered to him on earth, to be completed hereafter in entire union with Him through the mercy of Christ. But he can also leave the faculties unimproved, and miss his mission on earth. He will then sink to the level of the lower animals, forfeit happiness, and separate from his God, whom he did know how to find. Gentlemen, I say man has no right to do this--he has no right to throw off the task which is laid upon him for his happiness; it is his duty to fulfil his mission to the utmost of his power; but it is our duty, the duty of those whom Providence has removed from this awful struggle and placed beyond this fearful danger, manfully, unceasingly, and untiringly to aid by advice, assistance, and example the great bulk of the people, who, without such aid, must almost inevitably succumb to the difficulty of their task. They will not cast from them the aiding hand, and the Almighty will bless the labours of those who work in His cause. * -THE PRINCE CONSORT. steadily on all "To put the cup of this world's gladness to his lips and yet not be intoxicated-to gaze its grandeur and to be undazzled-plain personal desires, to feel its brightness and yet defy its thrall-this is the difficult and rare, and glorious life of and simple in * From The principal speeches and addresses of H. R. H. The Prince Consort, God in the soul of man." And to this the Prince, if any man, most surely attained.* HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY QUEEN AND The Duke declined to allow the congratulations that were showered on him at the birth of his child (Alexandrina Victoria) to be tempered by regrets that the daughter was not a son. In reply to a letter conceived in this vein from his Chaplain, Dr. Prince, the Duke wrote, "at the same time that I assure you how truly sensible I am of the kind and flattering intentions of those who are prompted to express a degree of disappointment from the circumstance of the child not proving to be a son instead of a daughter, I feel it due to myself to declare that such sentiments are not in unison with my own, for I am decidedly of opinion that the decrees of Providence are at all times wisest and best."t The Duchess of Kent made the suitable education of her child the one absorbing object of her life; and she seems to have realized that education does not consist in merely learning facts or acquiring accomplishments, but should also aim at forming the character and disciplining the whole nature, so that it may acquire conscientiousness and the strength which comes from self-government. Keeping this end ever in view, and aided no doubt by a responsiveness in the child's own nature, the little Princess was trained in those habits of strict personal integrity which are the only unfailing safeguard for truthfulness • From The early years of H. R. H. The Prince Consort, by Lieut-General The Hon. C. Grey. From M. G. Fawcett's Life of H. M. Queen Victoria. and fundamental honesty in regard to money and other possessions. All observers who have been brought in personal relationship with the Queen speak of her as possessing one of the most transparently truthful natures they have ever known.* During the time that she resided at Claremont she was in the habit of taking walks with her illustrious mother in the neighbourhood. In one of these excursions, while walking in a beautiful and shady lane not far from the park, they found themselves close to an encampment of the Egyptian tribe, and had not long been in sight before the youthful princess was addressed by a bright-eyed girl with the usual words "Tell your fortune, my dear, you were born to good luck you shall have a lord across the seas now; you shall have seven children and a carriage to ride in," the poor girl at the time little knowing to whom she addressed herself. The Princess was proceeding with the Duchess of Kent, when the girl asked for a trifle to assist her poor mother, who was very ill; with a heart ever touched by the cry of poverty, our interesting Queen quickly desired to be conducted to the poor woman, whom they found extended on a hard and comfortless bed, suffering much. After leaving a donation, they departed; but the following morning, notwithstanding its being a day of drizzling rain, saw the charitable young Princess at the gypsy's encampment, followed by an attendant, carrying blankets, warm clothes, a black bonnet, food &c., and appeared in no small degree delighted when the poor woman presented her with beautiful though swarthy infant, which had been born during the night. The Princess after requesting that the * From M. G. Fawcett's Life of H. M. Queen Victoria. a |