If it were true that home duties and political duties were incompatible, the Royal children would have had a sadly neglected childhood; but it is a matter of experience that busy people are usually those who find time for everything, and the Queen and her husband were no exception to the rule. There is probably not a mother in England who has given more loving thought and care for her children's welfare than Her Majesty has done.*

One of the memoranda, written by Her Majesty herself in 1844, says: "The greatest maxim of all is that the children should be brought up as simply and in as domestic a way as possible; that (not interfering with their lessons) they should be. as much as possible with their parents and learn to place their greatest confidence in them in all things."

The religious training of the children was given, as much as circumstances admitted, by the Queen herself.*

When the fatal blow was struck, and the Prince was removed from this world, it is difficult to conceive a position of greater sorrow, and one, indeed, more utterly forlorn than that which became the lot of the survivor-deprived of him whom She Herself has described as being the "Life of Her Life."

To follow out his wishes-to conduct his enterprises to a happy loss as little felt as possible by a

realize his hopes-to issue-to make his sorrowing country

and fatherless children :-these are the objects, which since his death, it has been the chief aim and intent of Her Majesty to accomplish. That strength may be given

*From M. G. Fawcett's Life of H. M. Queen Victoria.

her to fulfil these high purposes, is the constant prayer of her subjects, who have not ceased, from the first moment of her bereavement, to feel the tenderest sympathy for her; and who, giving a reality to that which in the case of most Sovereigns is but a phrase, have thus shown that the Queen is indeed, in their hearts, the Mother of her people.*

The lady who sits upon the throne,
Is a Queen of a pure heart,

A light in darkness to all grieved ones,
A giver of hope to the hopeless,

The idol of the hearts of the religious,
The dread of unjust kings.

A good and renowned Queen enthroned.
In the hearts of her subjects,

She is the bright reflection of divine love,
Well fitted for the crown and the throne.
The sure support of religion and justice;
In whom rests the confidence of the world.
May thy years, the incidents of thy life,

Thy wealth, thy condition,

Thy family, thy descendants, thy fortune, thy throne

Remain secure in this world,

From generation to generation;

May thy years be happy,

The incidents of thy life propitious,

Thy wealth increasing, thy condition blessed,

May thy family prosper, thy descendants endure,
Thy throne be firm, thy fortune subservient to thy will.
-AN ODE IN PRAISE OF VICTORIA.†

• From the Introduction of "The principal speeches and addresses H. R. H. The Prince Consort."

+ By M. C. Munsookh, translated by W. H. Hamilton.

1. On God in all (our) affairs we rely; and through his apostles we seek our way to Him.

2. We observe the necessary worship for Him, who directed us to it, and towards Him we sot our hearts.

3. We offer our prayers to Him at all times with supplication, humiliation, and submission, (invoking) his beautiful attributes.

4. The bounties of the Lord of Creation are too many to be numbered; and thanks are due for them continually from us.

5. The greatest of them is what He conferred upon us through His beneficence; the mental faculties, whereby we could get to all unknown

matters.

6. (It is) by them that we could know God, Who is high, to the best reach of (our) knowledge in expression and in signification.

7. Among the greatest of (His) beneficence is what we are unable to thank Him sufficiently for, since He distinguished us with it, quite graciously (on His part).

8. It is (I mean) His giving the possession of these regions to an exalted Empress, before whom the highest of the people stands the lowest. 9. O to God, what a (high) monarch is She, since all the kings of the world submit to Her and all shower praises at Her mention.

10. They repair to Her court to gain their objects.

11. She is naturally created with an affection for Her subjects; much superior to what a parent could cherish for his child.

12. O how gifted is She, who attained all perfection, and many wonders appeared from Her, even when She had not yet much advanced in years,

13.

Such as the eradication of mutineers, by means of armies, who crushed the enemies in battle like lions of the forest,

14. (Consisting of) cavalry and infantry armed with guns, ammunitions, swords and pliant spears. 15. Security prevailed all over the seas, when she despatched Her men of war fraught with armies.

16. She put a stop to the slave-trade, and affectionately poured on them a shower of liberty. 17. All people enjoy extreme joy through Her agency, while, formerly, out of the fear of enemies, they never got rid of sorrow.

18. Each community is pleased and contented with its own condition all the time long, never lacking any security.

19. (Formerly) the countries of India were wild forests (where) you would find one party fighting with another continually out of malice.

20. Properties were robbed, souls were killed (in so much so) that on account of the prevailing anarchy this nation was threatened with destruction.

21. In the fire they used to burn women alive along with the dead,

22. But since She came to reign over these regions, they have got in exchange security and prosperity, and have gained largely in peace.

23. By sending (ruling) persons, She has ruled so wisely that the land of India has become a warbling orchard.

24. So also the kings of India (formerly) used to fight among themselves, and none could peacefully close their eyes.

25. But by the blessings of Her

Government, they have all become friends, hostility having

vanished from among them.

26. She invited them to the capital of Her Empire, to give them a chance of gathering there the most excellent fruits of knowledge.

27. She enjoyed superiority over all of them; while they gathered prosperity with their left and blessings with their right.

28. She has appointed for the two Houses (of the Parliament) of the Nobles and Commons, the

the best of Her Subjects, who have the most sound (political) views.

29. They framed the laws of Government by which they controlled the kingdom so (skilfully) that we fear no weakness in it.

30. So also She has established in these countries, out of mere kindness, hospitals for the medical treatment of invalids.

31. In Her time Colleges of learning were opened in each art and science not confined to any particular one.

32. So that many persons attained in (the various) branches of accomplishment (a standard) by which their edifice in excellence rose high.

33. Wonderful kinds of arts appeared in our land under her auspices, such as outrun our imagina