your neighbour as yourself, and do unto men as you would they should do unto you."

Care for their son's guidance at this critical period of his life was not confined by his parents to personal direction. His companions were selected after endless trouble and consultation with men in the higher spheres of education and of social life. The Prime Minister was not excluded from these deliberations, and indeed there was no important occasion during the Prince of Wales's minority when the most capable of her Ministers was not consulted by the Queen before any decision was finally taken affecting the career of the future King.

This was the ever-present idea, the haunting refrain, the dominant consideration, in everything relating to the Prince of Wales. He was not primarily in their view only the eldest son of the Queen. He was the eldest of the Children of England-les enfants d'Angleterre-as their old governess called them; and consequently his education was no private matter. It was a State question of first-rate importance, and merited grave consideration, in the gravest style, by grave statesmen. If boy companions were to be selected for the holidays or for a tour in the Highlands, emissaries were sent to the public schools, and head-masters were taken into counsel. If 'gentlemen' were to be appointed to wait on the Heir to the Crown, endless trouble was taken to see that the best possible choice was made, and that the persons chosen were adequately seized of their responsibility and duties. It is worth while to quote at length one of these 'papers of instruction' in order to show once more the care bestowed upon this precious charge.

Memorandum.

(Confidential for the guidance of the gentlemen appointed to attend on the Prince of Wales.)

'It appears to be desirable upon the first appointment of the gentlemen to attend upon the Prince of Wales, that their attention should be called to certain points, in which the sphere of their usefulness may be extended beyond the usual

limits of an Equerry's duties, and her Majesty the Queen has therefore authorized the communication to them, in confidence, of this memorandum, not as a code of instructions as to the services they will have to perform, but with a view to establish certain principles by which their own conduct and demeanour may be regulated, and which it is thought may conduce to the benefit of the Prince of Wales.

"The Prince of Wales has arrived at that period in his life when the state of transition commences from the habits, the dependence, and the subjection to control of a boy to the manners and the conduct and ultimately to the self-reliance and responsibility of a man. The most critical, the most important, and the most difficult period of a life-time; that which all parents watch with the greatest anxiety.

'The usual and the most efficient means adopted for ensuring a happy result to this state of transition is to take care that upon entering into contact with the world, the young may be placed in what is commonly called "a good set."

'If he falls into such a one at College, is placed in a Regiment distinguished for the gentleman-like conduct of its officers, or enters a public office most in request from the tone of the young men employed in it, the result of such association is usually to be traced in the character of the young man, and in the estimation in which he is generally held.

'The Prince, however, has no opportunity of mixing upon the same terms with young people of his own age, and of obtaining the same advantages of association, and yet more is expected from him than perhaps from any other young man.

'In selecting, therefore, the gentlemen to attend upon the Prince of Wales, the Royal Parents have chosen them, with great care, with a view to their supplying, in some degree, this want, and becoming themselves the representatives, as it were, of that "good set," by association with whom the Prince of Wales may acquire such a tone, and learn such manners and conduct, as may make him socially what his parents wish, and what the country will expect.

"The Prince of Wales must not only be a gentleman, but his rank and position point him out as the first gentleman in the country; he can hold no intermediate position; if not the first gentleman in England, he sinks at once to a level incompatible with his title of Prince of Wales.

'It is not intended in this memorandum to enter into the question of the higher attributes of mind and feeling of a gentleman, but merely to speak of the outward social deportment and manners.

'The qualities which distinguish a gentleman in society

are:

'1st. His appearance, his deportment and dress.

2nd. The character of his relations with, and treatment of others.

'3rd. His desire and power to acquit himself creditably in conversation or whatever is the occupation of the society with which he mixes.

1st. Appearance, deportment and dress.

'The appearance, deportment and dress of a gentleman consist perhaps more in the absence of certain offences against good taste, and in a careful avoidance of vulgarities and exaggerations of any kind, however generally they may be the fashion of the day, than in the adherence to any rules which can be exactly laid down. A gentleman does not indulge in careless, self-indulgent, lounging ways, such as lolling in arm-chairs, or on sofas, slouching in his gait, or placing himself in unbecoming attitudes, with his hands in his pockets, or in any position in which he appears to consult more the idle ease of the moment than the maintenance of the decorum which is characteristic of a polished gentleman. In dress, with scrupulous attention to neatness, and good taste, he will never give in to the unfortunately loose and slang style which predominates at the present day. He will borrow nothing from the fashions of the groom or the gamekeeper, and whilst avoiding the frivolity and foolish vanity of dandyism, will take care that his clothes are of the best quality, well made and suitable to his rank and position.

'The gentlemen will see how much of the examples upon which the young Prince will found his views of carrying out these principles, will naturally depend upon what he daily sees in them; and the Queen will hope that they will pay constant attention to what may appear trifles, but the aggregate of which go far to mark the outward characteristics of a gentleman.

'To all these particulars the Prince of Wales must necessarily pay more attention than any one else. His deportment will be more watched, his dress more criticised.

'There are many habits and practices and much in dress which might be quite natural and unobjectionable for these gentlemen at their own homes and in their ordinary life, which would form dangerous examples for the Prince of Wales to copy, and her Majesty and his Royal Highness would wish them in all their habits to have regard to these consequences, and without any formality, or stiffness of manner, to remem

ber both in deportment and in dress that they are in attendance on the eldest son of the Queen.

'2nd. Manners and conduct towards others.

'The manners and conduct of a gentleman towards others are founded on the basis of kindness, consideration, and the absence of selfishness. There can be no good manners when any one of these principles is sacrificed.

'A prince, particularly, should treat all around him with the most scrupulous good manners, civility and attention.

'He should return every mark of respect, not only with the most punctilious exactitude, but with an appearance of goodwill and cordiality. A salute returned with the air of its being a bore is rather an affront than a civility.

'A prince should never say a harsh or a rude word to anybody, nor indulge in satirical or bantering expressions, by which the person to whom it is addressed may be lowered. As soon as the conversation of a prince makes his companion feel uncomfortable he is sure to have offended against some of the laws of good breeding.

'Punctuality is another of the duties of a well-bred gentleman; no person should ever be kept waiting, but should circumstances render this unavoidable, an apology should always be made, and regret expressed at any inconvenience that may have been incurred.

'The gentlemen will hardly require to have it pointed out to them how much of these habits, so important to the Prince of Wales, may be inculcated and strengthened by association.

'Not only is it desirable that they should be most courteous and kind to all around, but they should quietly, yet steadily, mark in their manner any approach to want of civility or rudeness towards themselves; with every readiness to oblige the young Prince in what is for his benefit, they should always let him see that they maintain their self-respect, can be firm, and do not approve of any liberty being attempted with them. They should be themselves very exact in punctuality. They should never encourage, or themselves indulge in, ridicule of personal peculiarities or natural defects, children being very prone to laugh at others, and even supposing that they thereby establish for themselves a certain superiority.

'There are many habits and follies that may well be subjected to satire and even quizzing, but these should be as much as possible remarked upon, apart from individuals of whom nothing should be said hurtful or degrading. The fact becoming known that the Prince of Wales had laughed

at this or that person would give great offence and create for him many enemies.

'These remarks apply, of course, in a still stronger degree to anything approaching to a practical joke, which should never be permitted.

'3rd. The power to acquit himself creditably in conversation or whatever may be the occupation of society.

'A gentleman having gained the prestige in society of good dress and appearance, and courteous manners, must maintain the good opinion of his companions by showing intelligence in his conversation, and some knowledge of those studies and pursuits which adorn society and make it interesting. Mere games of cards and billiards, and idle gossiping talk, will never teach this; and to a Prince, who has usually to take the lead in conversation, the habit of finding something to say beyond mere questions as to health and remarks upon the weather is most desirable.

'Although, therefore, the Prince of Wales is to have all relaxation and recreation which is desirable (and which, indeed, is quite necessary), the gentlemen in attendance may be of great use if they can succeed by persevering example in inducing the Prince to devote some of his leisure time to music, to the fine arts, either drawing, or looking over drawings, engravings, etc., to hearing poetry, amusing books, or good plays read aloud; in short, to anything that whilst it amuses may gently exercise the mind. They must give this up if the Prince seems at first disinclined to such pursuits. It will not be within their province to direct what his Royal Highness is to do; but by persevering in such employments themselves, and encouraging and assisting the Prince when he shows the disposition to join them, they may do much to lead him to what is at present so desirable, and will through life conduce so much to his happiness.

'In detailing all these minute points to be attended to, the Royal Parents wish that these gentlemen should be made aware that her Majesty and his Royal Highness have entrusted to them a charge involving something beyond the mere attendance of an Equerry and the making themselves agreeable to his Royal Highness. If they will duly appreciate the responsibility of their position, and taking the points above laid down as the outline, will exercise their own good sense in acting upon all occasions upon these principles, thinking no point of detail too minute to be important, but maintaining one steady, consistent line of conduct, they may render essential service to the young Prince and justify the flattering selection made by the Royal Parents.'