The interest attached to the un timely fate of the Duke of Clarence is almost wholly due to the place he occupied in the succession. The young Prince has never taken any prominent part in the pub lic affairs of the nation, aud we are left largely to conjecture as to the character he. would have de veloped with increasing years .and responsibilities. It is the misfortune not only of the Heir-Apparent, but of all the members of the Royal Family who are in the direct line of suc cession, that they are precluded from becoming an active force in connection the political and with social movements of their country. A prince so situated takes his seat in the House of Lords on attaining his majority, but it is understood that he is to be a mere gilded figure, and not a leader in politics. No one ex pects him to inaugurate any scheme for the benefit of the people, or do anything else but record a silent vote.'

In social life the Prince who has his foot on the steps of the throne is simi larly handicapped. It is not sur prising, therefore, that during the early years of manhood, a young man thus' situated, unless possessed of unusual force of character, gives himself up chiefly to those social enjoyments that press upon him from every side! It'he Duke of Clarence has lived twenty eight years, but outside the circle of his own immediate associates, he was but little known to the people over whom in the course of nature he ex pected to reign. His. visits to these lands showed him to the. colonists as a quiet, amiable youth, whose virtues were chiefly of a negative order, and who, when his character was' shaped by the mellowing influences of time, might develop into a very respectable mem ber of the order of constitutional sovereigns.
