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lieir to the Crown had been increased by the expression in the life of the nation and his wide interests may be of his satisfaction at his son’s union to an Englishwoman. illustrated by his establishment (1897) of the “Prince of On 6th July 1893 the broken thread was reunited by the Wales’s Hospital Fund,” his devotion to the cause of marriage of the princess (popularly known as Princess Masomy (he was first elected Grand Master of the FreeMay) to the brother of the deceased prince, George masons of England in 1874), and his position as a Bencher of the Middle Temple, where he also became (1887) Frederick, duke of York. The year 1894 was a busy one for the prince of Wales, Treasurer. It was on the occasion of his first appearance who became a member of the Koyal Commission on the at “Grand Night,” that the students were for the first Housing of the Poor, opened the Tower Bridge, attended time allowed to follow the Prince’s example and to smoke the Welsh Eisteddfod and was duly initiated, and paid in Hall; and this was only one instance of the influence two visits to Russia—one on the marriage of the Grand in this respect which the Prince’s taste for tobacco had Duchess Xenia, the other on the death of the Tsar, his on English society. On the death of Queen Victoria on 22nd January 1901, brother-in-law. In 1896 he became first Chancellor of the University of Wales, and his first act after his installation the question what title the new king would assume was at Aberystwith was to confer an honorary degree upon speedily set at rest by the popular announcement that he the princess. He had already been for some years a would be called Edward the Seventh. The new reign trustee of the British Museum, and participated actively began auspiciously by the holding of a Privy Council at in its administration. On 22nd July 1896 the prince’s St. James’s Palace, at which the King announced his third daughter, Princess Maud, was married to Prince intention to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps and to Charles of Denmark. The arrangements for the Queen’s govern as a constitutional sovereign, and received the oaths Jubilee of 1897 depended upon the prince even more than of allegiance. On 14th February the King and Queen those of the corresponding celebration in 1887 : he rode opened Parliament in state. Shortly afterwards it was on the Queen’s right at the great procession to St Paul’s, announced that the visit of the duke and duchess of York and as an Admiral of the Fleet presided at the naval to Australia, in order to inaugurate the new Commonwealth, review at Spithead, a spectacle unparalleled in the history which had been sanctioned by Queen Victoria, would be of the world. In July 1898 the prince had the misfortune proceeded with; and on 16th March they set out on board to fracture his knee-cap while on a visit to Baron Ferdinand the Ophir with a brilliant suite. The tour lasted till de Rothschild, but completely recovered from the effects of 1st November, the duke and duchess • having visited the accident. In December 1899, while passing through Australia, New Zealand, the Cape, and Canada; and on Brussels on his way to St Petersburg, he was fired at by a their return the King, on 9th November, created the duke miserable lad named Sipido, crazed by reading anarchist prince of Wales and earl of Chester. In the meanwhile Parliament had settled the new Civil List (q.v.) at literature. Fortunately, no injury was done. It was the especial distinction of Albert Edward, prince £470,000 a year. On 22nd May the King had a narrow of Wales, to have been an ornament and support of the escape in Southampton Water, on board Sir T. Lipton’s throne before he was called upon to fill it himself. This yacht Shamrock II. (which was to compete for the cannot be said of any of his predecessors except Edward America Cup). The yacht had her masts, spars, and entire the Black Prince. Most princes of Wales have either died spread of canvas carried away in a squall; but the King or attained the regal dignity too early to leave any con- suffered no injury. The question of enlarging the Royal spicuous mark in history as princes. Since the days of title to include specific mention of the colonial empire had the Black Prince only two have enjoyed a popularity com- been discussed during the year, and on 30th July Parliaparable to Prince Albert Edward’s—Henry of Monmouth ment passed a Bill to enable the King to style himself and Henry, the son of James I. The glories of Henry Y. “Edward VII., by the grace of God of the United Kinghave cast a veil over the irregularities of Prince Hal; and dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of all the British the popularity of the Stuart Prince Henry arose in great Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, measure from his suppressed antagonism to his father, and Emperor of India.” The Coronation was fixed for 26th the expectation that he would reverse the latter’s policy. June 1902. Two days earlier, however, the King was The other two princes of Wales who have filled a con- announced to be suffering from perityphlitis, and on 24th spicuous place in the public eye, Prince Frederick and June an operation was performed by Sir Frederick Treves. George IY., were neither dutiful nor popular. It was The Coronation was consequently postponed. On 27th reserved for the son of Queen Victoria to show what June the King was pronounced “ out of immediate danger,” strength an heir-apparent exemplary in the discharge of the and up to 1st July, when this volume was printed, he was duties of his station can bring to a monarchy, and how stated to be progressing favourably. The grandchildren of King Edward VII. are—children of the important1 a place, even with the most scrupulous abstinand princess of Wales—(1) Prince Edward Albert Christian ence from party politics, he can fill in the life of a self- prince George Andrew Patrick David, born 23rd June 1894 ; (2) Prince governing nation. He was a keen patron of the theatre, Albert Frederick Arthur George, born 14th December 1895 ; (3) and made it his business to know and remember all the Princess Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary, born 25th April 1897 ; distinguished men of the time in arts and letters. His (4) Prince Henry William Frederick Albert, born 15th March thoroughly British taste for sport was as pronounced as 1899. Children of the duke and duchess of Fife—(1) Lady Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise Duff, born 17th May his inclination for most of the contemporary amusements Alexandra 1891 ; (2) Lady Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha Duff, of Society. The “Tranby Croft Case” (1890), in which born 3rd April 1893. Sir William Gordon Gumming brought an unsuccessful Edwardsville, capital of Madison county, Illinois, libel action for having been accused of cheating at a U.S.A., on Cahokia creek, at an altitude of 554 feet. It game of baccarat, caused some comment in connexion has three railways, the Wabash, the Toledo, St Louis, and with the Prince’s appearance in the witness-box on be- Kansas City, and the Chicago, Peoria, and St Louis. half of the defendants. But it did him no disservice Population (1880), 2887; (1890), 3561; (1900), 4157 with the people to have twice won the Derby with his Edwardsville, a borough of Lucerne county, horses Persimmon (1896) and Diamond Jubilee (1900), and his interest in yacht-racing was conspicuously shown Pa., U.S.A., in the anthracite coal region, on the north at all the important fixtures, his yacht Britannia being branch of the Susquehanna river. The official name of one of the best of her day. In other respects his activity the post office is Edwardsdale. Population (1900), 5165.
