The reappointment of the Earl of Munster to be Constable
of Windsor Castle, is a circumstance which has occasioned a good deal of conversation during the week. The John Bull last Sunday copied from the United Service Journal a very pretty story about the late King and the Constable's baton— "On the morning of the 18th June, the anniversary of the battle of Water- loo," PO the legend runs, " William the Fourth at length felt himself sinking under his disorder ; and for the first time evinced to his family and attendants his knowledge of his danger, by observing to Dr. Chambers that he should not Fee another sun set; he soon after added—' But let me live to see out this me- morable day.' "
The Earl of Munster, who was at the Castle, thought the King might he pleased with the sight of the coloured standard brought yearly to the Sovereign by the Duke of Wellington, as the tenure by which Strath. lieldsaye is held. Dr. Chambers saw no objection to this. So,
"His Lordship plucked the trophy from its stand in the Hall of Chivalry, where it bad been placed early on that day by the Duke's agent at Windsor ; and, after ascertaining from the medical gentlemen in attendance that it would not create, in the King's enfeebled state, too much excitement, carries! it into his Majesty's room. Having waited by the side of his dying sire till he saw a it opportunity, his Lordship then laid the standard at his feet. The King at once brightened up, showed evident signs of gratification ; and saying, Ay, the day—the day !' desired Lord Munster to unfurl it ; placed his hand on the gilt eagle, which surmounts the trophy, as an acknowledgment ; and on the Earl's again laying it at his feet, said, • Quite right—quite right !' That Lord Munster had judged rightly of the King's feelings, was shown by the circum- stance remaining on his Majesty's mind, not only during the remainder of that day, but all the next—the last of his existence; as, within four hours of his de- cease, on the evening of the 19th, the dying Monarch suddenly raised himself and said to the Queen, ' Send for George—tell him to bring his Constable's nalf.' On the latter appearing before him with the baton of office, the King, decrying his son, said, That's enough.' If these were not the last words, this was certainly the last act of King William's life."
The office of Constable of Windsor Castle is one usually held during the life of the person appointed to it, and does not change hands with a change of Ministry, or at the death of the Sovereign ; but when Lord Munster delivered the Keys of Windsor Castle, pro forum as he supposed, to the Queen— "Her Majesty," says the John Bull," received them, but, instead of return. ing, laid them on a table. Nothing, we hear, could be kinder, personally, than her Majesty's conduct to Lord Munster upon the occasion—nothing more grati- fying than what she said : the Earl took his leave, and the keys remained where they were. This, however, is not all. Lord Melbourne having carried this point—not, we believe, without throwing out a hint that if the Earl of Munster would accommodate his political feelings to the views and designs of the present Ministry, he might still retain the office—proceeded to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, to offer him the appointment. It is most gratifying to us to bear testimony to the kindly feeling and generous spirit of a Prince towards whom no man entertains any but political hostility. His Royal Highness declined the office, and suggested the propriety and justice of its still remaining lathe possession of Lout Munster—not only on the score of the smallness of his Lordship's fortune, but on grounds of a more endearing and affectionate cha- racter. Lord Melbourne's reply., as we are given to understand, was, that his Royal Highness had better consider before he decided, as if his Royal Highness thought proper to refuse it, Ministers would abolish it as a sinecure."
In several particulars this account was incorrect. We happen to know that the Duke of Sussex became acquainted with the surrender of the keys by accident ; the Queen having herself, half sportively, offered his Royal Highness the appointment, saying, " There is an office for you." The Duke then toldlthe Queen what she did not know before,— not having spoken to Lord Melbourne on the subject, and having been taken by surprise by Lord Munster,—that it was usual to retain
the Constable in his office. The mistake was speedily rectified; and It was rather unfortunate for the John Bull, that two days before the finely got up story appeared, Lord Munster had kissed hands as Con- 'table. Lord Munster lost no time in contradicting the lubrication; but wrote, on Sunday, the following letter, which has appeared in the newspapers this week.
" Byam Home, Brighton, Gt h August 1837. "sir—May I beg of you, as the John Ball newspaper dues not :appear till Sunday, to cared Rn error the editor has fallen into, in a paragraph dated this day, respecting my rippointment as Constable of the Castle of Windsor.
" It states—"fhat hints were thrown 'out that if the Earl of Minister mould accum- mudate his political feelings to the views and designs of the present Ministers, he sight still retain his office.'
" In fairness to all parties,! beg to deny most explicitly that any hints were thrown ost that any conditions. political or otherwise, were offered, or that any exist ; while, SO the .contrary, I received an intimation I was to kiss bands on the Friday. even before I hut heard from or seen Lord Melbourne, who hail evinced an immediate desire
la correct the mistake the moment it was pointed out, through the kitalness of his
Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.
"I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Monism."
This is a stopper to all the John Bull's sentimentality about disre-
garding "the awfully impressive declaration coming from fro the mouth af a dying Monarch "—" disrespect for the last dying wish of King William," and so forth. The Morning Post pretends that a" rapacious Secretary" wished to consider the delivery of the keys of the Castle by Lord Munster as an intended resignation of the office of Constable, and that he was de- sirous of preventing his reappointment. This is very unlikely ; but, &ries being the order of the day, it might serve the turn instead of a better.
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