10 MARCH 1888, Page 1

Under the two Constitutions, the Crown Prince becomes at once

King and Emperor, and it is asserted that, whatever the risk, he will at once proceed to Berlin. His train, it is stated, has been ordered for Saturday morning. Even if be cannot perform all his duties—which is, of course, impossible—he can declare his will as to the persons by whom they are to be per- formed. As to his precise condition, the official accounts leave the world as much in the dark as ever. According to them, he is regaining strength, the expectoration tinged with blood has ceased, and he is able to drive or even walk abroad. On the other hand, a document, issued on March 6th, and published in the Official Gazette of Berlin, is signed by all the six physicians in attendance, and contains two ominous lines. They formally state that "as regards the nature and the diagnosis of the Prince's malady, no difference exists among them." As there is no probability that the five German doctors have surrendered the opinion they have maintained from the first, that the Prince is suffering from cancer, the sentence must be intended to intimate that Sir Morell Mackenzie now endorses that opinion. If that is the case, an improvement in general health is of comparatively little importance. According to the latest rumour, a new swelling has appeared in the Prince's throat, but nothing is said of his journey being postponed.