Election, the, 212 Fragments of voy: ges, 266 Glencoe, 49 German Grammar, 267 Tower of London, the, 160 History of the Popes of Rome, 158 Tour through Armenia, 213 Hymns in verse, 268 Introduction to insects, 212 Journal in Circassia, 325 Jane Shore, 323 Journey-book of Berkshire, 267 Kensington Gardens, 49 Views in the Isere, 48 Voice of conscience, the, 102 213 Young prima donna, the, 267 POETRY. Acrostical stanzas, 124, 189 Address, an, 32 Advice, 29 Another's bride, 14 Anacreontic ode, 80 Annie in tears, 163 An appeal, 288 Lines on a portrait, 32 Love lives on flowers, 22 Love, 45 Lover's seat, the, 193 My beauteous bride, 229 Now thou'rt again my own, 13 Origin of music, the, 255 Our mother's grave, 174 Past, the, 172 Answers to enigmas, 262, 297, Poet's rest, the, 232 322 Lucubrations of Bachelor Junto, Answer to riddle, 32 102 Poetical partiality, 72 Progress of the seasons, the, 113 Sea of life, the, 246 She never told her love, 298 Song of Deborah, the, 135 Charades, 112, 127, 142, 265, 275, Sonnets, 14, 45, 116, 174, 262, 298 289,305 Christmas song, a, 322 Didst thou imagine, 207 Enigmas, 199, 249 King of the storm, the, 288 Lines in an album, 18 Spells of childhood, the, 22 Starlight, the, 228 Star of Ocean, 232 Sunlight, 244 Stanzas, 68, 82, 128, 142, 185, 197, 202, 232, 238, 259, 288, 297, 312 Tear of joy, the, 72 Thoughts in absence, 172 Thekla's song, 255 To the ivy, 206 To a younger sister, 113 To Emma Agusta, 72 Translation of an epitaph, 22 Tributary stanzas, 45 Twilight, 172 Upbraid me not, 262 Village Sabbath day, 298 Warder, the, 29 Where art thou, 14 When wilt thou meet me, 72 262, Wreath, the, 116 Words for music, 197 Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk Street, Strand, London. AMELIA, ADELAIDE, LOUISA, THERESA, CAROLINE, OF SAXE MEININGEN, QUEEN DOWAGER OF ENGLAN d. The illustrious widow, whose portrait we present to our readers this month, was born on the 13th August, 1792. She was the eldest daughter of George, Duke of Saxe Cobourg Meiningen, Prince of Hohenloe Langenburg; who, dying when the princess was only eleven years old, left her and a younger brother and sister to the care and affection of their mother, Louisa, daughter of Christian Albert, Prince of Hohenloe Langenburg. The early years of her Majesty-passed in retirement under the superintendence of her mother-were devoted to that education and mental culture, the effects of which have been so beneficially conspicuous in this country. The Princess Louisa resided during the education of her children, alternately at the ducal residence in Meiningen and the Castle of Allenstein. At the latter place the summer months were usually spent, the mineral springs of Liebenstein being in the neighbourhood. During this period the young princess acquired a proficiency in general literature and music, which, joined with her amiable disposition, (the admiration of every person who had the good fortune to know her,) attracted the attention of Queen Charlotte, who was not long in discerning that the Princess Adelaide would be well calculated to render one of her sons happy in the bonds of wedlock, and the Duke of Clarence was so fortunate as to be selected as her future husband. Meantime negociations were in progress to effect a marriage between his Royal Highness's brother Edward, Duke of Kent, and the Princess Victoria, of Saxe Cobourg, the illustrious mother of our gracious Queen. It so happened that the formal preliminaries were brought to a close for both marriages nearly simultaneously, and it was resolved that the illustrious couples should be married in the same apartment. Accordingly, on the 11th of July, 1818, preparations were completed at Kew Palace for the double ceremony. An altar was fitted up in Queen Charlotte's drawing-room. At four o'clock the whole of the officials having arrived, her Majesty Queen Charlotte, took her seat at the right hand side of the altar, attended by the Prince Regent, followed by the rest of the royal family, and the great officers of state. The Dukes of Clarence and Kent, and the brides, having been introduced in due form, took their stations at the altar, and the ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop of London. At five o'clock the Prince Regent and the rest of the company sat down to a sumptuous dinner, after which the Duke and Duchess of Clarence repaired in a travelling chariot to St. James's Palace, where apartments had been allotted to them. The happy choice which H. R. H. the Duke of Clarence had made, was not long in evincing itself. His consort soon became conspicuous for acts of kindness and benevolence, while her mild disposition ensured the most perfect domestic happiness. ii. When the royal pair took possession of their | to keep up before the King, while sorrow seat at Bushy Park, the Duchess of Cla- was preying at her heart!" rence busied herself in establishing and supporting schools for the education of the children of the poor, and in numerous acts of private charity. Such is the testimony of an eye-witness, the highest dignitary of the church. It needs no comment. His Majesty died in a gentle sleep, his From this pleasing and honourable re-head resting upon the Queen's shoulder, tirement, however, the Duchess was soon to and her Majesty supporting his breast-a be removed. On the 26th June, 1830, the position which the Queen had maintained Duke of Clarence became King of Eng- for an hour before her fatal loss; and inland, and his amiable consort, if she deed, during nearly all the king's hours of exchanged the quiet of domestic enjoy- sleep for the last fortnight of his Majesty's ment, for the less congenial pomp and illness. circumstance of state, had at least the con- It is said that the interview between her solation of finding the sphere of her active present Majesty and her bereaved aunt was benevolence extended. one of the most affecting scenes ever, per"The mere record of her Majesty's con-haps, witnessed within the cold precincts of duct as Queen of England," says Mr. Jer- a Court. The attendant who witnessed it dan, in the Portrait Gallery, "would more was scarcely less affected than his Royal nearly resemble panygeric than we would mistress. venture to offer; but rather with a view to example than to eulogium, we cannot but point attention to the undeviating propriety of conduct, both observed and expected by her Majesty; to her conscientious perform-" ance of all the duties of religion, and to her numberless acts of benevolence." The hopes of an heir were more than once disappointed. The Princess Elizabeth, born while her Majesty was Duchess of Clarence, only survived a few months, and Chantrey was selected to execute one of his beautiful, but melancholy memorials, and he produced a most lovely figure. In June 1831, the coronation took place, and the grace and dignity of Queen Adelaide's demeanour excited a more general feeling of respect and admiration than has been rarely evinced for any sovereign. After enjoying the utmost popularity and respect, for seven years, a bereavement was inflicted upon her Majesty, on account of which she attracted the warm sympathy of the whole nation. William the Fourth having almost completed his 72nd year, resigned his life, after a short illness of four weeks, at Windsor Castle, on the 19th of June, 1837. "For three weeks prior to his dissolution," said the Archbishop of Canterbury, in his speech at a meeting of the Metropolitan Friend Society; "for three weeks the Queen sat by his bedside, performing for him every office which a sick man would require, and depriving herself of all manner of rest and refection. She underwent labours which I thought no ordinary woman could endure. No language can do justice to her meekness and to the calmness of mind which she sought When the violent emotions of grief had in some degree subsided, her Majesty, at the earnest entreaty of her medical advisers, adopted that oft-sought resource for the mind diseased," change of scene. She embarked in the line of battle-ship "Hastings," for the island of Malta; whence, after a short stay she returned to her present residence, Marlborough House. At the nuptials of Queen Victoria with H.R.H. Prince Albert, Queen Adelaide took her station on the left hand side of the altar in St. James's Chapel. The moment the ceremony was concluded the royal bride hastened to her illustrious aunt, and kissed her with all the warmth of a pure and heartfelt affection. Her Majesty, the Dowager Queen of England, again resides in that retirement which is so congenial to her disposition. Indeed we have heard, from one who had the honour of frequently attending upon her Majesty when surrounded by the trammels of State, that the Court had, in its hours of retirement, all the charms of a quiet, well regulated domestic circle, where all was happiness and rational enjoyment. To notice the taste her Majesty has displayed in the fine arts, the industry and ingenuity which she evinced in the articles she made and supplied to the numerous fancy fairs her benevolence suggested to aid the flagging funds of various charities; to recapitulate a tithe of her numerous virtues would be superfluous; for well we know that we shall find an echo in every heart when we conclude with a prayer for the long life and happiness of Queen Adelaide! |