tracted in character; but on January 14th the last bulletin was
issued. The Princess of Wales and the Princess Alice had been his nurses
throughout this trying time, and they had never seemed to weary in their
devoted care. Nine days after the issue of the last bulletin Dr. William
Jenner was gazetted a K.C.B. and Dr. William W. Gull a baronet. There
were rumors at this time that the patient had been at one stage actually
_in extremis_, but had been saved by one of those sudden inspirations
which sometimes constitute so important a part of medical practice, and
which consisted in a vigorous and continuous application of old
champagne brandy over the body until returning animation had rewarded
the doctor's efforts. The 14th of December, the anniversary of the
Prince Consort's death and the day upon which the actual turning point
in the disease took place, was commemorated by a brass lectern in the
Parish Church of Sandringham, which bears the following inscription:

To the Glory of God.
A Thank-Offering for His Mercies.
14th December, 1871.
Alexandra.

"When I was in trouble I called upon the Lord, and He heard me."

The good news from Sandringham was received throughout the country with
expressions of the most unbounded popular satisfaction; and the
announcement that an opportunity would be afforded of returning public
thanks to the Almighty for his mercy was universally approved. The day
for the National Thanksgiving was finally settled for February 27th, and
St. Paul's Cathedral as the place; but before that time came Dr.
Stanley--who had now become Dean of Westminster--suggested a private
visit to the Abbey and a personal expression of his feelings by the
Prince. This was done in absolute privacy, with only the Princess and a
few members of the Royal family present. A sermon was preached by the
Dean in which, as he told an intimate friend, he was able for once to
say what he wished to say.

THE NATION UNITED IN A COMMON SYMPATHY

Many of the papers of the country commented upon the event with much the
same freedom as the Dean was able to use on this occasion, and it seemed
to be felt that the unbounded solicitude and affection so evidently and
profoundly shown for the Prince had given a certain right of counsel to
the nation. It was generally admitted that the illness had disclosed to
the people as a whole something like an adequate knowledge of their own
convictions in connection with the