The Late Prince Consort.

it is one on which she feels strongly . The only thing the Queen ever heard about it , vas from the Duke of Newcastle , who suggested the possibility of an appropriate prayer being introduced into the Litany , in which the Queen quite agreed ; but he was strongly against a Day of Humiliation , in which the Queen also entirely agreed , as she thinks ffe have recourse to them far too often , and they thereby lose all effect . The Queen therefore hopes that this will be reconsidered carefully , and a prayer substituted for

the Day of Humiliation . " Were the services selected for these days of a different kind from what they are , the Queen would feel less strongly about it ; but they always select chapters from the Old Testament and Psalms which are so totall y inapplicable that all the effect such occasions ought to have is entirely done away with . Moreover , to say ( as we probably should ) that the great sinfulness of the nation has brought about this war , when it is the selfishness and ambition aud want of honesty of one man and his

servants which has done it , while our conduct throughout has been actuated by unselfishness and honesty , would be too manifestly repulsive to the feelings of every one , and would be a mere bit of hypocrisy . Let there be a prayer expressive of our great thankfulness for the immense benefits we have enjoyed and for the immense prosperity of the country , and entreating God ' s help and protection in the coming struggle . In this the Queen would join heart and soul . If there is to be a day set apart , let it be for

prayer in this sense . " Equally interesting is this little touch of personal regard and consideration manifested a few clays after the above letter : — " Though the Queen cannot send Lord Aberdeen a card / or a child ' s ball , perhaps he may not disdain comin g for a short while to see a number of happy little people , including some of his grandchildren , enjoying themselves . " Indeed her Majesty ' s personal regard for those of her able " servants , " whose names are historic to Englishmen of all parties , is well evidenced by the two following letters , which will be eagerly read by all : —

" The good news of the landing in the Crimea will have given Lord Aberdeen sincere pleasure . The Queen must now urge very strongly upon Lord Aberdeen the necessit y for his coming at once to Scotland . The siege of Sebastopol may be long , and it is when Sebastopol is ' once taken that the difficulties respecting what is to be done with it will arise , and then Lord Aberdeen ' s presence will be necessary in town . Besides , a week of our short three weeks' stay has already elapsed , and if Lord Aberdeen

delays longer , the reason for being near to the Queen ( which he would be at Haddo ) would no longer exist . The Queen must therefore almost insist on his coming speedily north , where he will in a short time take in a stock of health which will carry him well through the next winter and Session . . . . Lord Aberdeen knows that his health is not his own alone , but that she and the country have as much interest in it as he and Iris own family have . "

" The Queen has received Lord Clarendon's letter . It is with deep concern that we learn that the last sad scene is closed , and that Lord Clarendon has lost his beloved mother . Such a loss is one of those which can never be repaired . It is one of the links which is broken on earth , but at the same time one which , as it were , seems to connect us alread y with another and a better world . " It must be a consolation in the midst of his grief for Lord Clarendon to think that

the last days—indeed , the Queen believes weeks—of his dear mother ' s life were spent in happiness under his roof , surrounded by his children and cheered by the pride she must have felt in having a son who rendered such invaluable services to his country and his Sovereign . " Some of us may recall that most interesting and impressive spectacle , when the yueen distributed the Crimean medals to the officers and soldiers who had their

won decora tions at the Alma , Balaclava , and Inkerruaun . Her Majesty herself describes it "i a letter to her uncle King Leopold : — " Ernest will have told you what a beautiful and touching sight aud ceremony ( the H'st of the kind ever witnessed in England ) the distribution of the medals was . From