WE are exceedingly well-pleased to be able to present our readers
with a portrait of an illustrious personage who has within the last few
days become an object of great interest to the people of the British em-
pire, from the circumstance of his having been authoritatively an-
nounced as the future consort of our young and Gracious QUEEN.
So long ago as August last it was pretty generally reported that such
would be the case; and, although positively denied by the ministerial
newspapers, the belief in the accuracy of the report gained fresh strength
from the visit to England, of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, and
the subsequent arrival here of the young Prince Albert himself.
Immediately after His Serene Highness's departure from this country,
Her MAJESTY caused all her privy council to be summoned for Saturday,
the 23d of November; and eighty-three members having assembled at
Buckingham Palace on that day accordingly, Her MAJESTY was graci-
ously pleased to make the following communication to them:
“I have caused you to be summoned at the present time, in order that
I may acquaint you with my resolution in a matter which deeply con-
cerns the welfare of my people, and the happiness of my future life.
"It is my intention to ally myself in marriage with the Prince Al-
bert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. Deeply impressed with the solemnity
of the engagement which I am about to contract, I have not come to
this decision without mature consideration, nor without feeling a strong
assurance, that with the blessing of Almighty God, it will at once se-
cure my domestic felicity and serve the interests of my country.
Dec.-VOL. LVII. NO. CCXXVIII.