The Queen has directed that the Albert medal, now given
for -gallant actions at sea, should be given also for such actions on land, and be distributed first of all to those engaged in the rescue of the miners at Pontypridd. One of the most suggestive in- cidents in connection with that affair is the sort of enthusiasm expressed by the Welsh miners for the Queen, because she felt an interest in the fate of the buried men. One of them im- mediately after he was rescued said they little thought when they were buried there that the Queen was in- quiring after them, as if that would have been a direct comfort ; and a sort of representative congregation of 1,500 Welsh miners, engaged in a service of praise, rose instinctively en muse when the preacher mentioned the message from the Queen. There are depths of loyalty for the Sovereign, apart altogether from institutions, still remaining in English life, of which the edu- -cated take too little heed. A passion of that kind, so long as it continues real, helps to bind the nation together. We may remark, en passant, that a Welsh editor, who must be curiously, ignorant of the Spectator, accuses that " Voltairian " journal of ridiculing or slighting the poor miners' faith, as shown in their fervent prayers. He has mistaken, probably from his misconception of the object of this journal, appreciation for -satire.
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