The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 381: what you’re looking at

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376 ros tnvolving the true spirit of Republicanism, were ap- plied to Casteleicala, the regular police-force had been abolished ; and no necessity arose for its revival, Such was the aspect of the capital of Castelcicala —that model State where Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality wero acknowledgod principles, practically known and duly appreciated, On the ensuing morning the Grand Duke Ricardo proceeded to the Chamber of Deputies, where the Senators wero also assombled on the occasion. Theo galleries were crowded with ladies and gentlemen; and the whole of tho diplomatic corps wero in the soats allotted to thom. Even though all present were in deep mourning for the late sovereign, the aspect of the spacious hall was far from gloomy, though solemn and imposing. The arrival of the new Grand Duke was oxpected With the most intense interest. It was well known that not only had he suggested the principal re- forms which Duke Aiporto had applied to Castelci- cala, but that he was even far more liberal in his political opinions than his departed father-in-law, It was consequently anticipated that on tho present occasion he would enunciate the line of policy which it was his intention to adopt; and every one felt convinecd that this would prore a day memo- rable in the history of Castelcicala. We should obserro that on the platform of the Chamber, instead of the throne being placed for tho reception of the Grand Duko, a simple arm-chair | Was raised about threo feet higher than that occu: pied by tho President of the Deputies; and instead of the royal standard flowing with its graceful drapery over-head, the tricolour was suspended self; and all present were aware that his Sovercign Highness was not the man merely to displaco tlie symbols of royalty without having some congenial and practical object in view. At half-past ten o'clock tho Ministers entered and took their seats amidst loud applanse from tho galleries; for this was tho samo Cabinot that Ricardo bad nominatod five years previously, during his bricf Regency; and its policy ,had been such as to gain for it the enthusiastic affection of the nation and the admiration of the whole civi- lised world. Shortly after the arrival of thoso high function- aries, the Royal Family appeared in the Chamber, amidst deafening cheers, and took their seats upon the platform, behind the President’s desk; andina fow minutes the roar of tho artillery ov the ram- parts announced to thecapital that the Grand Duke had quitted tho palaco on his way to the legislative assembly, It was precisely at oleven that Ricardo, attended by his staff, entered the hall; and his presence was the signal for a moro hearty renowal of the cheering, while the ladics in the galleries waved their snowy handkerchiefs in unfeigned welcome. But it was almost immediately noticed that tho Grand Duko appearcd—not in tho royal robes worn on such occasions by all his predecessors—but in round his Castelcicalan Order of Knighthood, and did not oven THE BYSTERIES oF LONDON, i to the wall. These changes, ig was well kuown, had beon effected by order of the Grand Duke him- the uniform of a Field-Marshal, with a black crape left arm in token of mourning for the late monarch. He was decorated only with the wear upon his breast the star that denoted his sovercignrank, Thesocircumstances gave a sharper edgo to the keenness of curfosity; and whon the eed —_—— ot, cheoring, which was joud and long, died away - beneath tho lofty roof of the spacious hall, the Silence that ensued was deep and solemn as tbat of the tomb. Then the Grand Duke, rising from tho arm- chair which he had fora few moments occupied, addrossed the assembly in the following manner: ““My Lorps anp GENTLEMEN,—You have re- cently experienced a great and grievous loss in the death of a wise, enlightened, and virtuous Sovereign, whose brief but glorious reign was devoted to those measures best calculated to ensure the hap- piness, prosperity, and morality of the Castelcicalan People. The name of Alberto will live in history s0 Jong as the world shall endure; and his memory will bo cherished in the hearts of this and all suc. ceeding generations of the inhabitants of that climo which his wisdom and_ his example have so su- - premcly blessed. “Had I consulted my own private feolings, I should have allowed some time to elapse ero 1 appeared before you to shadow forth that line of policy which it is my duty to recommend to your deliberations: I should have craved leisure to weep over tho loss of my illustrious father-in-law, and meditate upon those grand lessons which his me- morable reign have taught us. But I feel that the welfare of an entire people is too solemnly important and too sacred a thing to be for oven a moment lost Sight of; and that when the head of a State is called away to the tomb, his successor must devote no time to a grief which cannot recall the departed, but must at onco take up without intermission tho grand work of reform that was progressing at the period of Death’s arrival. For it is a great and flagrant wrong for thoso who aro entrusted with power, to interpose delays in tho proper exercise thereof; and that man is a traitor to his country and deserves cxecration who dares to intimate that there is no need of haste in accomplishing a great national good. “Theso are the motives which have induced me to appear thus before you even at so early a period that tho remains of my lamented predecessor can scarcely bo said to have grown cold in tho tomb: bat I repeat that if men accept the responsibilities of power and office, they must permit no considera- tions to retard them in the performance of their duty and the fulfilment of their high vicarious mis: sion. “Last evening I assembled the Ministers around mec, and submitted to them the views which I had some time ago matured, and which I proposed to put into practice so soon as the natural course of ovents and the will of the Sovereign People should place mo at the head of affairs. The Ministers wero unanimous in adopting thoso views, and cheerfully undertook to lay them in the usual manner before the Legislative Assemblies. But in the meantime, it behoves mo briefly to detail tho naturo of theso plans which are thus deemed suitable to the it terests and in accordanco with the just rights of tho Castelcicalans, “In tho first place I propose that the form of Government shall be Republican, not merely in ig stitutions, but likewise in namo; and in order tha: this idea may be fully carried out, it will be neces sary that certain sacrifices should bo made in par- ticular quarters. I now especially allude to tho class denominated the nobility. Tho oxistence of aristocratic titles is totally incompatibie with the ‘ clooolks (CO) (CO)