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monarchs have no

more power than the

beggar, whose lowly petition could not reach his majestic earthly throne; that impartial eye which surveyed the work he had created; that just voice which declared good that which was meant for the happiness of man; that Almighty being who, for some wise purpose, allows one human being to possess higher power than another; the King of kings—will judge the monarch as His subject,—and how can the triumph of arms atone for sins of omission and commission.

The Augustine ages may be the boast of history, but how know we that those brilliant reigns may be worthy of the worldly praise we award to them? The motives of kings may appear traced on the pages of history; we take the words as we find them, but the heart of man is a sealed book, whose pages are revealed only to one Supreme Reader.

The

The

illustrious Homer, vaunting the adventures of Ulysses, is not really more fabulous than those who sing the praises of monarchs for the deeds of war achieved in their reign. laconic word Good prefixed to a monarch's name, is more comprehensive than the more generally understood adjective "Great."

The last words of Pericles sum up much of what a good monarch might exclaim, and the famed general and orator considered his conscience a higher praise than the eulogiums of the friends who surrounded his deathbed. "You must not forget the most meritorious circumstance of my life," he cried; "I never caused any one citizen to mourn account." And although his biographers deny this fact, by stating that the ravages of the Peloponnesian war caused the misery of thousands, yet the words used with justice are worthy of record. Romulus, brave Romulus,

on my

from thy time to ours, kings have continued to pride themselves upon that warlike fame which is the scourge of worlds. And yet, how different is that truer fame, which has religion, peace, and love, for its attributes! We would not seem fulsome, we would not utter one word for the sake of favour-but no regal favour being in this instance required, we will proudly affix Queen Victoria's beloved name, as that of a sovereign whose mild and gentle virtues speak to the heart and mind.

Many have been the feats of arms in India which our countrymen may boast of during this reign; but no ambitious schemes, no overturning quiet dominions, no displacing lawful monarchs, deteriorate from the real glory of victory. No glorious conqueror, a wanderer from the shores of his victories, has in this reign sought for mercy, and found

pitiless revenge.

Like some smiling infant lying upon the maternal bosom, Queen Victoria leans upon England's love, and passes her life in domestic peace. Her young mind, early trained to the high post which awaited her, moulded itself in truth and justice; and that gradual knowledge of mankind, which the intellectual only can acquire, has taught our Queen most wisely, to do no more than the woman can accomplish, and to rely upon the truth and honour of her loving subjects as the true guardians of her kingdom. bearing proclaims the Queen; her gentle observance of religion marks the soul-the soul of one who feels that, however great may be her position, the all-craving hand of Death will cast its unsparing touch as surely upon her fair form as on that of the lowliest in the land.

Her lofty

Truly, the philosophy of politics is felt by

our Queen; other nations, less truthful than ours, give us daily examples of the necessity of vigilance and care: plotting Spain, changing France, rebellious Ireland, form subjects of thought for a young and trusting Sovereign; and to the civilian does Queen Victoria bow her queenly head with the same regard as she would to the warrior. The praise of pens, like the praise of tongues, cannot be necessary to prove the truth of our assertion; Queen Victoria is as much above being unduly flattered, as we hope we are above bestowing our praise on an individual undeserving of it, though a Sovereign.

Who that hath heard her clear, firm, yet gentle voice in the council, can doubt the power of her high mind? Who that hath known her observance of the rituals, and her moral conduct with regard to holy precepts, can doubt the high and vital religion of her

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