THE PROTESTANT MAGAZINE. JANUARY 1, 1862. THE LATE PRINCE CONSORT. It THE death of Prince Albert is felt as a public loss. will long be so. His manner of life since he came amongst us was such as to have won for him "golden opinions from all sorts of people." What more can be said of the lamented Prince, in addition to what has been said by preachers and writers both at home and abroad? Yet what can be said enough? His exalted position-his many public and private virtues-his devotedness to the Queen and his childrenhis care for the public good, combined with a rare but wise abstinence from undue interference in public matters, have combined to raise him above the ordinary level of great men. We believe there is not within the memory of living men any instance to be found, where the death of one person has caused so universal, so deep, so abiding a sense of sorrow as the death of Prince Albert, unless it be in the case of the lamented Princess Charlotte, when the nation heard at once of the illness and the death of her, whom they had fondly regarded as their future Queen. The nation will long mourn their loss in the death of this excellent and exemplary Prince. But they sorrow for their Queen also. They sympathize with her and the Royal children in their sad and afflictive bereavement, and the prayers of thousands and hundreds of thousands have been put up from loyal and feeling hearts to the throne of grace, for a blessing upon her and them in this time of sad trial and affliction. And though it be sometimes said, that, as the traveller who ascends some lofty range of mountains finds himself at each ascent in a colder atmosphere, so in social life, the highest is the coldest; yet, here, all have seen a striking contradiction of such VOL. XXIV. New Series, No. 255. B theory. The devoted attention, the heartfelt sympathy, the deep sense of bereavement manifested and felt by our widowed Queen, and the Royal orphans, mingled with humble but sublime resignation to the Divine will, exhibit such a picture as is rarely, perhaps never to be met with, and render the Royal sufferers more dear, more precious than ever to the subject, whether in the cottages of the poor, or in the mansions of the rich. We cannot forbear inserting the short extract which follows, from the pen of a foreigner, as given in some of the daily papers. The brilliant writer, M. About, is at present a contributor to the feuilleton of the "Constitutionnel." The following passage is from an article in that journal, which bears his signature: "Have you remarked that phrase in the official publication of the English Government after the death of Prince Albert'It is expected that all persons will assume a decent mourning.' "How much is said in a few words! A whole treatise might be written on them. The Queen of a great nation has just lost her husband, and she hopes that in her three kingdoms every person will assume a decent mourning. This is neither a decree, nor an ordinance, nor a command sent down from on high; it is a simple appeal to public sympathy, and at the same time a reminder of a social obligation. There is in the formula a mingling of dignity, confidence, and familiarity. You feel, from the very first word, that the dynasty which speaks is in the most courteous, if not the most intimate relations with its subjects; that no one disputes its rights; that it has no declared enemies in the nation; that it may rely, on all occasions, upon that loyalty without meanness which the English display. You perceive a Queen who reigns and who does not govern; a people which manages its own affairs, and fears all the less to appear humble and submissive because it is sure to remain free; a country of tradition, of decency, and of decorum, governed by manners even more than by laws. .... "We, of course, are proud of being French-that is all settled. But there must pass away many years before our political manners are elevated to the high tone of those of England. 66 .... Suppose that our old ancestors had not left to us the Salic law, and picture to yourselves a queen of France, young and fair, choosing for her husband a foreigner who would not be king. What a delicious dream for this young prince! but also what an awakening after the honeymoon of his popularity! What pamphlets, what couplets, and what caricatures! One of two things must happen-either this unfortunate man must shame |