Chapter V.
Rocks Ahead.
The proverbial troubles that mar the course of true love were not realized in the case of the Queen and Prince Consort, at least so fas their personal relations were concerned. But there were some difficulties and annoyances in store for them from outside influences. A foolish attempt was made to circulate the report that the Prince was a Roman Catholic. When the announcement of the Queen's intended marriage was made to Parliament, it contained to reference to the Prince's religious faith, and the omission was severely commented on in both Houses. The Queen thought her subjects were as well informed as she was herself upon the history of the House of Coburg, and believed that the attachment of the Prince's family to the principles of the Reformation was notorious. In the susceptible state of the public mind at that time, and in the light of current events, it was perhaps an error of judgment not to mention the Prince's Protestantism in the announcement of the marriage. Even when it was demonstrated that the Prince was Protestant to the backbone, the Ministry were soundly accused of suppressing all mention of the fact in order to retain the support of the Irish Roman Catholic members in the House of Commons. The Whig Government was tottering to its fall, and Lady Holland's witty description of the political situation was that in the coming appeal to the country they had "nothing to rely on but the Queen and Paddy." Even the Duke of Wellington, who usually
