The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall left Portsmouth last Saturday
at 11 o'clock in the Ophir.' The King and Queen accompanied their son to the vessel, and their parting is described as most affecting. The great overplus of writing about it, due to the reluctance of newspapers to be outdone by each other, must not blind us to the fact that the occasion was really a considerable one, the journey being intended both to mark and to strengthen the closer relation which the great Colonies and dependencies will henceforth bear to the centre of the Empire. All will come directly within the notice of the Crown, which is the true nexus of communities whose internal life is otherwise independent. The Canadians and Australians were subjects, but since they have voluntarily proved their readiness to die for the Empire, they are accepted as its children. The heir of the Monarchy travels south and north all over the world to tell them so, and in the fact that there is no doubt as to his reception there is much to encourage the Motherland, just now rather weighed down with an unaccustomed burden.
