VICTORIA-ALEXANDRINA.
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21, 1871 ; 7. H.E.H. Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connanght, born May 1, 1850, married March 17, 1879, the Prin- cess Louise Mai^aret Alexandra Victoria Agnes, third daughter of Prince Frederick Charles of Prus- sia; 8. H.B.H. Prince Leopold George Duncan Albert, Duke of Albany, born April 7, 1853, mar- ried April 2, 1882, the Princess Helen Frederica Augusta, daugh- ter of the Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont; and 9. H.E.H. Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore, bom April 14, 1857. Her Majesty is the pattern of a woman in all the relations of Uf e, as a queen, as a daughter, as a wife, and as a mother. The first domestic grief which she suffered was the loss of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, after a short illness, March 16, 1861, followed by the suddeii death of the Prince Consort, to the great grief of the entire kingdom, Dec. 14. Her Majesty's intense sorrow for her irreparable loss, although it has in a great degree dis<^ualined her from appearing in pubho, and at court ceremonials, and has imposed on her the habits of a life of compara- tive seclusion, has, however, never been allowed by her to interfere with the performance of her important du- ties as a sovereign. Neither has it checked the exercise of that anxious interest which she has ever since her accession to the crown stead- fastly manifested for the social wel- fare of her people ; nor caused her to relax her efforts to encourage and reward subjects distinguished for their talents and merits ; espe- cially those whom her late lamented consort loved to honour for the zealous co-operation with him in his high endeavours to promote the ad- vancement of undertakings which have for their object the moral, so- cial, intellectual, and artistic pro- gress of the nation. It is a source of great pride to her subjects, and miast doubtless tend in no small -degree to assauge her abiding grief.
that not only in her own vast domi- nions, but throughout the civilized world, her name is never mentioned save in terms of sympathy, admira- tion, affection, and respect, as a Christian woman and as a queen. It would occupy much more space than our limits admit to give even a brief outline of the political events of Her Majesty's reign, and we can therefore merely glance at its more prominent features. On succeeding to the throne. Her Majesty found the Whig and Conservative parties nearly evenly balanced in the House of Commons. Lord Melbourne and his colleagues continued to hold office until Sept., 1841, when, owing to their increasing unpopularity, arising mainly from a want of finan- cial ability, or at least of financial success, they were obliged to give place to the late Sir lS)bert Peel. Although he was pledged to main- tain the corn-laws, he fooind himself compelled, in 1845, to acquiesce in their repeal, which was carried into effect at his instance in 1846. The effect of this change in Sir Robert Peel's policy caused a disruption in the Conservative party, and led to the accession to power of Lord John Bussell, who was succeeded, in Jan., 1852, by the Earl of Derby. In the following Dec, the Conservative party, beaten on their budget, re- signed, and gave place to Lord Aberdeen and the Coalition Cabinet, which, in Feb., 1855/ was dismissed for having mismanaged the Russian war. It was succeeded by Lord Palmerston's first administration, which was defeated on the Conspi- racy to Murder Bill, in March, 1858, and Lord Derby held power for the second time, until June, 1859, when Lord Palmerston formed his second Cabinet. On his death, Nov., 1865, the ministry was remodelled. Earl Kussell assuming the post of pre- mier. His ministry having decided upon introducing a Reform Bill, the duty of conducting it through the House of Commons devolved upon Mr. Gladstone. Having been 3 z
