such a quarter was possible at all showed to what unfortunate consequences Albert's foreign birth and foreign upbringing might lead。
But this was not all。 A constitutional question of the most profound importance was raised by the position of the Prince in England。 His presence gave a new prominence to an old problemthe precise definition of the functions and the powers of the Crown。 Those functions and powers had become； in effect； his； and what sort of use was he making of them？ His views as to the place of the Crown in the Constitution are easily ascertainable； for they were Stockmar's； and it happens that we possess a detailed account of Stockmar's opinions upon the subject in a long letter addressed by him to the Prince at the time of this very crisis； just before the outbreak of the Crimean War。 Constitutional Monarchy； according to the Baron； had suffered an eclipse since the passing of the Reform Bill。 It was now 〃constantly in danger of becoming a pure Ministerial Government。〃 The old race of Tories； who 〃had a direct interest in upholding the prerogatives of the Crown；〃 had died out； and the Whigs were 〃nothing but partly conscious； partly unconscious Republicans； who stand in the same relation to the Throne as the wolf does to the lamb。〃 There was a rule that it was unconstitutional to introduce 〃the name and person of the irresponsible Sovereign〃 into parliamentary debates on constitutional matters； this was 〃a constitutional fiction； which； although undoubtedly of old standing； was fraught with danger〃； and the Baron warned the Prince that 〃if the English Crown permit a Whig Ministry to follow this rule in practice； without exception； you must not wonder if in a little time you find the majority of the people impressed with the belief that the King； in the view of the law； is nothing but a mandarin figure； which has to nod its head in assent； or shake it in denial； as his Minister pleases。〃 To prevent this from happening； it was of extreme importance； said the Baron； 〃that no opportunity should be let slip of vindicating the legitimate position of the Crown。〃 〃And this is not hard to do；〃 he added； 〃and can never embarrass a Minister where such straightforward loyal personages as the Queen and the Prince are concerned。〃 In his opinion； the very lowest claim of the Royal Prerogative should include 〃a right on the part of the King to be the permanent President of his Ministerial Council。〃 The Sovereign ought to be 〃in the position of a permanent Premier； who takes rank above the temporary head of the Cabinet； and in matters of discipline exercises supreme authority。〃 The Sovereign 〃may even take a part in the initiation and the maturing of the Government measures； for it would be unreasonable to expect that a king； himself as able； as accomplished； and as patriotic as the best of his Ministers； should be prevented from making use of these qualities at the deliberations of his Council。〃 〃The judicious exercise of this right；〃 concluded the Baron； 〃which certainly requires a master mind； would not only be the best guarantee for Constitutional Monarchy； but would raise it to a height of power； stability； and symmetry； which has never been attained。〃
Now it may be that this reading of the Constitution is a possible one； though indeed it is hard to see how it can be made compatible with the fundamental doctrine of ministerial responsibility。 William III presided over his Council； and he was a constitutional monarch； and it seems that Stockmar had in his mind a conception of the Crown which would have given it a place in the Constitution analogous to that which it filled at the time of William III。 But it is clear that such a theory； which would invest the Crown with more power than it possessed even under George III； runs counter to the whole development of English public life since the Revolution； and the fact that it was held by Stockmar； and instilled by him into Albert； was of very serious importance。 For there was good reason to believe not only that these doctrines were held by Albert in theory； but that he was making a deliberate and sustained attempt to give them practical validity。 The history of the struggle between the Crown and Palmerston provided startling evidence that this was the case。 That struggle reached its culmination when； in Stockmar's memorandum of 1850； the Queen asserted her 〃constitutional right〃 to dismiss the Foreign Secretary if he altered a despatch which had received her sanction。 The memorandum was； in fact； a plain declaration that the Crown intended to act independently of the Prime Minister。 Lord John Russell； anxious at all costs to strengthen himself against Palmerston； accepted the memorandum； and thereby implicitly allowed the claim of the Crown。 More than that； after the dismissal of Palmerston； among the grounds on which Lord John justified that dismissal in the House of Commons he gave a prominent place to the memorandum of 1850。 It became apparent that the displeasure of the Sovereign might be a reason for the removal of a powerful and popular Minister。 It seemed indeed as if； under the guidance of Stockmar and Albert； the 〃Constitutional Monarchy〃 might in very truth be rising 〃to a height of power； stability； and symmetry； which had never been attained。〃
But this new development in the position of the Crown； grave as it was in itself； was rendered peculiarly disquieting by the unusual circumstances which surrounded it。 For the functions of the Crown were now； in effect； being exercised by a person unknown to the Constitution； who wielded over the Sovereign an undefined and unbounded influence。 The fact that this person was the Sovereign's husband； while it explained his influence and even made it inevitable； by no means diminished its strange and momentous import。 An ambiguous； prepotent figure had come to disturb the ancient； subtle； and jealously guarded balance of the English Constitution。 Such had been the unexpected outcome of the tentative and fainthearted opening of Albert's political life。 He himself made no attempt to minimise either the multiplicity or the significance of the functions he performed。 He considered that it was his duty； he told the Duke of Wellington in 1850； to 〃sink his OWN INDIVIDUAL existence in that of his wifeassume no separate responsibility before the public； but make his position entirely a part of hersfill up every gap which； as a woman； she would naturally leave in the exercise of her regal functionscontinually and anxiously watch every part of the public business； in order to be able to advise and assist her at any moment in any of the multifarious and difficult questions or duties brought before her； sometimes international； sometimes political； or social； or personal。 As the natural head of her family； superintendent of her household； manager of her private affairs； sole CONFIDENTIAL adviser in politics； and only assistant in her communications with the officers of the Government； he is； besides； the husband of the Queen； the tutor of the royal children； the private secretary of the Sovereign； and her permanent minister。〃 Stockmar's pupil had assuredly gone far and learnt well。 Stockmar's pupil！precisely； the public； painfully aware of Albert's predominance； had grown； too； uneasily conscious that Victoria's master had a master of his own。 Deep in the darkness the Baron loomed。 Another foreigner！ Decidedly； there were elements in the situation which went far to justify the popular alarm。 A foreign Baron controlled a foreign Prince； and the foreign Prince controlled the Crown of England。 And the Crown itself was creeping forward ominously； and when； from under its shadow； the Baron and the Prince had frowned； a great Minister； beloved of the people； had fallen。 Where was all this to end？
Within a few weeks Palmerston withdrew his resignation； and the public frenzy subsided as quickly as it had arisen。 When Parliament met； the leaders of both the parties in both the Houses made speeches in favour of the Prince； asserting his unimpeachable loyalty to the country and vindicating his right to advise the Sovereign in all matters of State。 Victoria was delighted。 〃The position of my beloved lord and master；〃 she told the Baron； 〃has been defined for once amid all and his merits have been acknowledged on all sides most duly。 There was an immense concourse of people assembled when we went to the House of Lords； and the people were very friendly。〃 Immediately afterwards； the country finally plunged into the Crimean War。 In the struggle that followed； Albert's patriotism was put beyond a doubt； and the animosities of the past were forgotten。 But the war had another consequence； less gratifying to the royal couple： it crowned the ambition of Lord Palmerston。 In 1855； the man who five years before had been pronounced by Lord John Russell to be 〃too old to do much in the future；〃 became Prime Minister of England； and； with one short interval； remained in that position for ten years。
CHAPTER VI。 LAST YEARS OF PRINCE CONSORT
I
The weak…willed youth who took no interest in polities and never read a newspaper had grown into a man of unbending determination whose tireless energies were incessantly concentrated upon the laborious business of government and the highest questions of State。 He was busy now from morning till night。 In the winter； before the dawn； he was to be seen； seated at his writing…table； working by the light of the green readinglamp which he had brought over with him from Germany； and the construction of which he had much improved by an ingenious device。 Victoria was early too； but she was not so early as Albert； and when； in the chill darkness； she took her seat at her own writing…table； placed side by side with his； she invariably found upon it a neat pile of papers arranged for her inspection and her signature。 The day； thus begun； continued in unremitting industry。 At breakfast； the newspapersthe once hated newspapersmade their appearance； and the Prince； absorbed in their perusal； would answer no questions； or； if an article struck him； would read it aloud。 After； that there were ministers and secretaries to interview； there was a vast correspondence to be carried on； there were numerous memoranda to be made。 Victoria； treas