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“ He has no other children, except a very young daughter, and no male collaterals; and while the Constitution of Holland does not provide for a female succession, the custom of the German Empire definitely prohibits it. Holland will, therefore, de jure, lose Luxemburg and Limburg, — just as England, or rather her kings, lost Hanover, and as Denmark was held by German jurists to have lost Schleswig-Holstein. ”

“ The Dutch, who have an intense feeling of nationality, and have carefully cultivated a knowledge of their history, would almost certainly, if left to themselves, modify their Constitution, and proclaim the king’s little daughter, as a princess of the direct stem of Orange, queen of the Netherlands, with a regency to direct her steps, and, possibly, it is rumored, an English bridegroom. ”

“ The desire for colonies, though undoubtedly strong with a section of the German people, is believed not to be shared by their statesmen, who are very well aware that dependencies are seldom profitable, and are most averse to increasing the permanent and unavoidable calls upon the treasury and the army. It has been the policy of the Hohenzollerns to avoid such complications, and to seek trade outlets rather in eastern Europe than in Asiatic possessions. ”

“ WE are not very fond of prophetic politics, the drift of events being constantly deflected by unexpected accidents; but it is sometimes necessary to notice possibilities still more or less in the air. it is said, and said in especial at great length by a diplomatist whose ideas are published in the Times, that many of the governments of Europe — and especially those governments which are influenced by dynastic feelings — are greatly preoccupied with the situation in Holland, which is growing curiously like the situation in Denmark before King Frederick died. ”

“ Her people will not enter the empire voluntarily, and Germany would not commence a war of pure aggression. The people do not want the consequent suffering, and the princes do not want the “solidification” which might follow a successful campaign. In the second place, there is no clear evidence that even if the failure of the Netherlands dynasty gave them a pretext for interference, or negotiations about Luxernburg roused popular passion, either the German chancellor or the German people desire to conquer Holland. ”

“ Their right to do this if they please is by European custom indefeasible, and any interference with it would be as great an act of aggression as if we had invaded France on behalf of Charles X., or to suppress the republic when proposed by M. Thiers. The smaller States of Europe are, however, no longer completely free, except when protected by alliances, and the great powers will more or less claim a right to interfere. Holland, as it stands, is a treaty-made power, and the States interested in the treaties may claim — and we fear will claim — a veto upon any departure from the accepted law. ”

“ They have eaten neither German Austria nor German Russia, but have endeavored, with apparent sincerity, to keep the peace. They would hardly care to trust their fleet to a disaffected population, or to add to their troubles a people who for years, possibly for centuries, would consider their independence violently brought to an end. ”

“ On the following day, when the result of the division in the House of Lords adverse to the removal of the statue became known, it was too late to stop the works, the head being then half off, and the derricks in position for lowering it to the ground. On Wednesday morning the head with its cocked-hat and plumes was carefully and safely deposited on the ground, and placed in a corner of the enclosure on some blocks of wood. A curious discovery was then made in the interior of the duke’s cocked hat, in the shape of a perfect bird’s nest of twigs, evidently built by some industrious starling. ”

“ We take it to be an axiom characteristic of the whole class that they never quite trust the dynasties, never believe that royal persons will willingly forego territory, and never doubt that the dynasties are contending quite as much as the statesmen, and are even hungrier for aggrandisement. ”

“ In Holland, as in Denmark, there is fear of the extinction of the dynasty. Little hope is now entertained of the recovery of the Prince of Orange — a man, it is said, of the type with which great families end ”

“ Aye, it is well-nigh overed;
An’ I’se none so loth to go,
One can’t make much of fourscore year,
Though one tantle ‘em never so!
I’se pretty nigh tired out, I say,
Of the wakesome night, an’ the weary day ”

“ It will be fully a month before the monument is ready for starting for Aldershot, and it will be some time on the road, as a circuitous route will have to be taken to avoid weak bridges, hills, and archways. ”

“ Where we ha’ done wi’ the fret an’ care,
That vex us as through t’ world we fare;
An’ if my Sally wer’ standing there,
I reckon she’d none forbid.
For all comes right i’ heaven,
Where love has never a thorn ”