an princes to welcome
proposals which would lead to a unification of Germany.

It is notable that the line has produced many of the most enlightened
of the German princes; and nowhere in the whole of Germany were the
advantages of the division into numerous small States so clearly seen,
and the disadvantages so little felt, as at Weimar, Meiningen, Gotha,
and Coburg.

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF COBURG]

The House of Coburg had gained a highly conspicuous and influential
position, owing, partly, to the high reputation for sagacity and
character which the princes of that House had won, and partly to
the marriage connections which were entered into about this time by
members of the Coburg House with the leading Royal families of Europe.
Within ten years, Princes of Coburg were established, one upon the
throne of Belgium, and two others next to the throne in Portugal and
England, as Consorts of their respective Queens.

By the first marriage of the Duchess of Kent, the Queen was also
connected with a third class of German princes--the Mediatised, as
those were called who during the revolution had lost their sovereign
power. Many of these were of as ancient lineage and had possessed as
large estates as some of the regnant princes, who, though not always
more deserving, had been fortunate enough to retain their privileges,
and had emerged from the revolution ranking among the ruling Houses of
Europe. The mediatised princes, though they had ceased to rule, still
held important privileges, which were guaranteed at the Congress
of Vienna. First, and most important, they were reckoned as
"_ebenburtig_," which means that they could contract equal marriages
with the Royal Houses, and these marriages were recognised as valid
for the transmission of rights of inheritance. Many of them had vast
private estates, and though they were subjected to the sovereignty of
the princes in whose dominions these lay, they enjoyed very important
privileges, such as exemption from military service, and from
many forms of taxation; they also could exercise minor forms of
jurisdiction. They formed, therefore, an intermediate class. Since
Germany, as a whole, afforded them no proper sphere of political
activity, the more ambitious did not disdain to take service with
Austria or Prussia, and, to a less extent, even with the smaller
States. It was possible, therefore, for the Queen's mother, a Princess
of Saxe-Coburg, to marry the Prince of Leinin