he
Monarch remains, subject to no changes of Parliament, above and aloof
from the strife of political parties, the steadying influence in
times of transition.

The Sovereign has three rights: "The right to be consulted, the right
to encourage, the right to warn." A comparison of the reigns of the
four Georges with the reign of Queen Victoria shows that it was only
during the latter's reign that the duties of the constitutional
monarch were well and conscientiously performed. The Queen worked
as well as her Ministers, and was their equal and often their superior
in business capacity. To conclude: "The benefits of a good monarch
are almost invaluable, but the evils of a bad monarch are almost
irreparable."

On the death of the Queen, Mr Arthur Balfour, speaking in the House
of Commons, described his visit to Osborne at a time when the Royal
Family was already in mourning. The Queen's desk was still littered
with papers, the inkstand still open and the pen laid beside it. "She
passed away with her children and her children's children to the
third generation around her, beloved and cherished of all. She passed
away without, I well believe, a single enemy in the world. Even those
who loved not England loved her. She passed away not only knowing
that she was, I had almost said, worshipped and reverenced by all
her subjects, but that their feelings towards her had grown in depth
and intensity with every year she was spared to rule over us."

_Appendix_

Victoria Alexandrina, only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth
son of George III. Born at Kensington, May 24, 1819. Became Queen,
June 20, 1837.

Married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Consort, born
August 26, 1819, died December 14, 1861.

Died January 22, 1901, after a reign of sixty-three years.

_Summary of Chief Events during the Queen's Reign_

1838. Commencement of the Chartist Movement.

1840. PENNY POSTAGE ESTABLISHED mainly through the efforts of
Rowland Hill.
War with China.

1841. Sir Robert Peel appointed Premier.

1842. War with Afghanistan. Peace with China. The Chinese cede Hong
Kong.

1843. Agitation in Ireland for the Repeal of the Union.
Arrest of Daniel O'Connell.

1845. War with the Sikhs.
Failure of potato crop in Ireland, which resulted in a famine
in the following winter.

1846. Repeal of the Corn Laws.
Lord John Russell appointed Premier.