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sors, who, while absorbed in their lectures, "exhibited some striking peculiarities and odd

manners. Prince Albert could take these off "inimitably, and was enabled by his good

memory to reproduce whole sentences out of "their lectures to the general amusement of his company. At the same time the Prince's perfect good taste prevented his ever giving offence, even when he allowed the most un"controlled play to his fun.

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"The somewhat stiff military nature of the "Princes' governor, Colonel von Wiechmann, gave occasion to many disputes with the young Princes, and frequently led to the most comical "scenes. It is impossible to give an idea in

writing of the many trifling occurrences of this kind, for the ludicrous effect depended more "on the mimicry and accentuation, than upon the subject itself.

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Amongst those who, without knowing it, "contributed largely to our amusement, was Oberberg Hauptmann von Beust. He had a "very pleasant house, to which he often invited "us, and spoke with the most genuine Saxon "accent. He was a little, thick-set, very goodhumoured, but somewhat awkward man. One day he showed us a picture of Venice, and it

"is impossible to forget the gesture and accent "with which, pointing to a row of houses, he

'said, 'This is the Ponte Rialte.'

"Another person who afforded us much "amusement was Rath Wolff, in attendance on "the Count of Erbach: as for instance, when "one day tasting some red wine, he exclaimed, "This is not real Walportzheimer'-a very

simple remark, but which was for years brought up against him; or when, at another "time, he fell in a race, and had to look for his spectacles.

"Prince Albert had a great turn for "drawing caricatures, and amongst the scenes "of his university life of which he has thus perpetuated the memory, Professors Fichte " and Löbell, and the spectacles of Rath Wolff, "are favourite subjects.

"The Prince's humour and sense of the ludicrous, however, found a natural counterpoise in his other great and sterling qualities; 'and the great business of his later life, the many important duties he had to fulfil, soon "drove into the background the humourous part of his character, which had been so pro"minent at the university.

"As the Prince excelled most of his contem

poraries in the use of intellectual weapons, in "the art of convincing, in strictly logical argu"ment, so he was distinguished also in all "kinds of bodily exercise. In fencing and "the practice of the broadsword he was very "skilful. In fencing especially he excelled so

much, that once in a fencing-match he carried "off the prize from all his competitors.

"I recall with much pleasure our excursion "on foot to the neighbouring Siebengebirge, "so rich in legend; to the valley of the Aar, "where the celebrated Walportzheimer wine "is produced; and up and down the Rhine.

"Two fine greyhounds usually followed the "Princes, one of which, called Eôs" (already mentioned as having been brought by the Prince to England), "was remarkable for

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sagacity and beauty, and was so fast that she "could in the shortest time catch a hare and bring it back. On this account she was Prince Albert's favourite.

"Music- was also a favourite pursuit of the "students. To the despair of Colonel von Wiechmann, we learned several students' "songs, and even practised the Glocke' of Romberg for four voices. In spite of many "false notes, we went resolutely on, and passed

many an evening in song.

Prince Albert was

"looked upon amongst us as a master of the

"art.

Attempts were even made at dramatic 'performances, some scene or intrigue being "invented and spoken, and then at once represented. These improvisings had doubtless "little artistic merit, but they were not the less amusing. Prince Albert was always the 'life and soul of them, and acted the principal parts.

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He

"He entered with the greatest eagerness "into every study in which he engaged, "whether belonging to science or art. "spared no exertion either of mind or body; "on the contrary he rather sought difficulties "in order to overcome them. The result was "such an harmonious development of his powers "and faculties as is very seldom arrived at. WILHELM

"Kreuzwertheim on Main,

May 12, 1864."

"Prince Löwenstein."

CHAPTER IX.

1838-1839.

SEPARATION OF THE BROTHERS-THE PRINCE'S TOUR IN BARON STOCKMAR MAJORITY OF PRINCE ERNEST-PRINCE ALBERT DECLARED OF AGE AT THE

ITALY

SAME TIME-LETTERS.

THE brothers were now to be separated for the first time in their lives, and deeply was the separation felt by both. At the close of their university career the elder, Prince Ernest, was to go to Dresden to enter the Saxon service, while Prince Albert was to set out shortly afterwards for Italy, where he was to spend the winter, according to the plan which, as we have seen, had been already determined upon for him.

They had, however, still two months to spend together at Coburg before the final separation took place, and, attached to each