NEWS OF THE WEEK.
QUEEN VICTORIA is again cultivating topographical knowledge, in a visit to Burghley House, Lord EXETER'S Northamptonshire seat. Queen ELIZABETH visited it ; Queen ELIZABETH sat there in a chapel; and Queen VICTORIA took the earliest opportunity of hearing prayers in the same chapel. People seem to think it flat- tering to the young VICTORIA to be likened to the ancient ELIZA• -BETH : but it is by no means so certain that the advantage was so far on the side of the Virgin Monarch. The illustrious old lady 'could talk Latin, but it was confessedly " rusty " : her taste was so low in some things, that she could not comprehend shadow in pic- tures: her dancing must have been ludicrous gymnastics : she was a musician—such as virginals could form : she ever hankered after what she had not the hearty courage to take to herself—a husbaud and she died in a thicket of self-disappointment and remorse, "no son of hers succeeding." VICTORIA is an artist, an accomplished musician, a happy wife, a proud mother. If the statesmen and au- thors of ELIZABETH'S time were greater, VICTORIA'S country is • greater a hundredfold—her possessions outrun the dreams of ELI- ZABETH. The youthful Queen may feel a satisfaction in historical associations, but there is little flattery in the comparison. SHAK- SPREE graced ELIZABETH'S day, but VICTORIA'S day is more worthy of &FARMERS.
Other incense has not been wanting. One Mayor is lost in ec- -stacy at the Queen's condescension, because she answered an ad- dress impromptu, without reading from a paper, and because she politely bowed to him !—he calls that almost " familiarity " ! He must have thought that the Queen could never speak except under direction of the Lord Chancellor, " keeper of the conscience" ; and that real queens stalk about like tragedy queens on the stage. Another Mayor is ecstatic because the Sovereign condescends to visit Northamptonshire ; forgetting that even Queens must have a loetts in quo to live, and that any part of England must be worthy to serve as a standing-place for one who derives greatness from England. At first these loyal effusions may tickle the ear, but a second thought must detect the sheer nonsense; and no one likes wittingly to be regarded as safe to talk nonsense to. Mayors should wrap up their foolery a little better, if they can : for al- though crowned Queens must speak according to form, all shrewd young ladies are addicted—" Oh word of fear ! "—to quizzing— =pleasing to elderly or to civic ear.
