highness Adelaide Amelia Louisa Theresa Caroline, princess of Saxe
Meinengen, eldest daughter of his serene highness the late reigning
duke of Saxe Meinengen. The ceremony, as is usual on these occasions,
was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of
all the royal family. By this marriage his royal highness had one
daughter, who was born March 27, 1819, and died after a few hours. In
1823, his royal highness was made a general of marines; and within the
past year the duke has been appointed lord high admiral of England.

It is not our intention here to enter into the supposed causes of
the duke's long seclusion from public service, viz. from 1790 to the
present time, except a short interval in 1814. At the commencement of
the war with France, the late Duke of York took an early and active
part by land; hence the question arises as to the non-appointment of
the Duke of Clarence to a similar position by sea. The consequence has
been, that the most vigorous portion of the duke's life has been lost
to his country, whilst his royal highness has remained in comparative
obscurity, amidst one of the most brilliant periods of our naval
history. It is, however, gratifying to know that the duke's inactivity
cannot be attributed to apathy on his part. On the contrary, he was
anxious to be employed, and even sought appointment, as appears by the
following letter, written by his royal highness to Commodore Owen in
1812:--

"_Bath House, Saturday night._

"DEAR SIR--This evening I received your letter from Deal,
and in answer to it, I beg to observe, that I have made both
a public and private application to the king, that I may be
permitted to hoist my flag, and relieve Lord Collingwood in