4 FEBRUARY 1871, Page 2

The opposition to the grant of a dowry to Princess

Louise seems to increase in force. At Nottingham it was condemned by a mass meeting, which separated with shouts for the English Republic, and at Birmingham Messrs. Dixon and Mintz coald hardly obtain a hearing for their defenced it.. We have taken some trouble to inquire• into the origin of this extraondinary agitation, and are convinneT that among tha workmen, at least it is due to the idea at which we last week hinted. The Queen's persistent retirement has worn out her popularity. The people, unaware of the amount of work Her Majesty gets through, and of her close watch- fulness of some departments, believe that she retires altogether from the duties of her position, and are fixed in the resolve to vote the Royal family no more money. "If the Queen," they say, " prefers private life, let her do as other private people do." So immovable is this feeling, and so widespread, that it would be well if the Ministry inquired into it, and communicated the result of their inquiries to the Court. The explosion of anger at Bir- mingham, in the teeth of popular members, is a symptom not to be lightly passed over.