of August for the Highlands, and reached Balmoral on the 31st, after
spending a day and a night in Edinburgh. Writing to Stockmar a few days
after, the Prince Consort says they had "travelled for the first time by
night, straight through from London to Edinburgh, in order to gain a day
for that place. The experiment proved a complete success, and the Queen
was not at all tired. When in Edinburgh I had an educational conference
with all the persons who are taking part in the education of the Prince
of Wales. They all speak highly of him, and he seems to have shown zeal
and good will. Dr. Lyon Playfair is giving him lectures on Chemistry in
relation to Manufactures, and at the close of each special course he
visits the appropriate manufactory with him, so as to explain its
practical application. Dr. Schmitz, the Rector of the High School of
Edinburgh, a German, gives him lectures on Roman History. Italian,
German, and French are advanced at the same time; and three times a week
the Prince exercises with the 16th Hussars, who are stationed near the
city. Mr. Fisher, who is to be tutor at Oxford, was also in Holyrood.
Law and History are to be the subjects on which he is to prepare the
Prince."

All this shows the care taken in regard to the education of the Prince.
The Royal pupil had rather a stiff course of study in these days, but he
stuck manfully to all his work, which had been carefully planned by his
good father, who held that little relaxation should be allowed even
during holiday time. In a letter of 17th September, 1859, to Mr. Tarver,
who was still Director of Studies, he wrote, "I should be very sorry
that he" (the Prince of Wales) "should look upon the reading of a novel,
even by Sir Walter Scott, _as a day's work_." Fond as he was himself of
high-class works of fiction, the Prince held they should be sparingly
laid open to young people during years which should be devoted to
study.

In December 1859 the Prince Consort wrote to the old Duchess of Coburg,
who ever retained lively interest in all the family affairs, "The visit
of Prince Frederick William of Prussia and his Princess came to a close
on the 3rd. He has delighted us much. Vicky has developed greatly of
late, and yet remained quite a child,--of such is the Kingdom of
Heaven." With sad interest we recall this, after recent events. Also it
is written about the same time, "The Prince of Wales is working hard at
Oxford."

The year closed, and the new