and charming, but, nevertheless, did not succeed in gaining the affections of her husband. As might have been foreseen, the union proved as unhappy as the first. Perhaps the influence of the lady alluded to above, whom the crown-prince had met at Berling's house, contributed to it. At all events, the purpose for which this second marriage had been concluded was not accomplished-it remained childless. Another divorce took place, at which, as his reason for demanding it, the husband gave the same as at the first want of children. It was, however, a public secret that the fault lay with him. The princess, indignant at certain proposals made to her, suddenly left Denmark, and returned to her father's home, insisting from there on the divorce (1846).

Towards the end of the following year died Christian VIII., and his son succeeded him. We pass over the troubles that broke out immediately afterwards, over the insurrection in Schleswig and Holstein, and the war with Germany.

Peace having been restored, King Frederick VII. fulfilled a promise, probably given some time before: he conferred the title of "Countess Danner" on Mademoiselle Rasmussen, and married her. Berling was made private secretary, chamberlain, and travelling marshal to the king, continuing in favour up to his sovereign's death.

Like the life of many an interesting person risen to notoriety in court history, that of the Countess Danner is enveloped in some mystery, several versions existing respecting her antecedents and her first acquaintance with Frederick VII. One of these versions has been given above. Another, according to the Altona Reform, a paper published in 1850, states that the crown-prince, as was his wont, one evening went to the theatre before its commencement, to divert himself behind the scenes with looking at the preparations, for a new ballet. Being in his usual good humour, he stepped suddenly into the middle of the ballet-girls, demanding, "Who would drink a bottle of champagne with him ?" All stood abashed, but Louisa Rasmussen came forward, fetched herself, in tricot and tulle petticoats, the desired nectar from a wine merchant in a neighbouring street, and had the honour of emptying it with the princely visitor.

A third version is, that at a fire in the house where she lived, the crownprince saved her from the flames, carrying her in his arms, in a fainting state, from her bed into the street.

Whichever of these stories may be true, they all agree in adding that, probably by Mr. Berling's advice and assistance, Mademoiselle Rasmussen, tired of ballet life, went to Paris, studying there for two years the art of superior millinery. Returned from the "centre of civilisation," she opened in the "Oestergade," the "High-street" of Copenhagen, a firstrate milliner's shop, and many a fashionable lady in the northern capital preserve, as curiosities, millinery-bills receipted by the spouse of their sovereign.

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As an indisputable fact among the piquant and romantic stories quoted, appears that the prince had known this fascinating lady at least ten years before he became king. Having gradually become accustomed to her, so as to feel her society a necessity, her influence increased in the same ratio, becoming at last strong enough to lead him to the extraordinary step of making her his third wife.

It is said that some days after the wedding, at which none of the royal relatives had been present, the king and his morganatic spouse paid a visit to his stepmother, the widowed Queen Caroline Amalie, but were received with such decided coolness, that similar attempts to introduce the Countess Danner into the family circle were given up, the more so as the other queen-dowager, the widow of Frederick VI., then still alive, had peremptorily refused to receive a similar visit.

This marriage then forced the king into a more isolated position than before. From that time (1850) up to his death, he had a circle of his own, at which Mr. Berling played a prominent part. None of the Princesses of Denmark have, since then, ever condescended to appear at court. The balls, concerts, &c., which the Countess Danner gave, were visited by few people of distinction. The princes of the younger branches, the Princes of Hesse-Rumpenheim, of Glücksburg, &c., only came to diplomatic dinners where no ladies were present, and where, consequently, "the countess" was absent.

The king, when at the capital, lived at the palace of Christiansborg; the "countess," with her "court,” in a house near to it. On the same fine square at Copenhagen, Amalia-place, lived some of the other members of the royal family in their palaces-the queen-mother, Prince Ferdinand and the Princess Caroline, Prince Christian of Denmark (the present king); and close by, in Norgesgade, Prince Frederick William of Hesse. These four households might be considered as so many separate courts, apart from the royal circle. They lived in harmony, forming a centre for the best society of Copenhagen.

As to the Countess Danner, we have been assured by those who had the curiosity and advantage of being presented to her, that, whatever her station, struggles, and adventures in early life may have been, she possessed the manners and bearing of a lady of the world. She spoke Danish, French, and German, fluently and correctly, and was fully competent to converse upon the usual topics of society. At the time of her marriage she was near the age of forty. Though short, and inclined to corpulence, and though never handsome, her appearance is described as not disagreeable. She had preserved the freshness of her complexion, and her sharp, penetrating eyes indicated a clever, spirited, and intriguing

When the king travelled to the provinces his wife usually accompanied him. The representation of royalty, denied to her in the capital, found fewer obstacles in the small towns of the interior. Here she appeared at the king's side, gave audiences, sat at his right hand at all state dinners, and insisted, even at out-of-the-way places, on having the small officials, or well-to-do tradesmen, accompanied-bon gré, mal gré-by their wives, presented to her. Of the popularity enjoyed by the king among shopkeepers and peasants, she had "a per-centage." They were pleased by her wit and charming condescension, and did not object to her sharing in the ovations prepared for the democratic ruler. No wonder that she often assured these good people how much she preferred being in their midst to living among all the splendour of her "court" at the capital!

Such, then, were the domestic relations of the last of the Oldenburgers, once a proud race! As to his doings in political matters, it is not our purpose to enter upon them. Suffice it to say, that he observed his

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duties, respecting the constitution, and governing according to law. this honesty and good faith, so different from most continental monarchs, he owed his popularity as much as to his good nature and joviality.

But the fate of the royal house has now been accomplished. The seed sown a century before had come to fruit. The wish of old Juliane Marie, of seeing the line of Christian VII. and Caroline Mathilda extinguished, had now, as if by a decree of destiny, turned against her own descendants, and in her great-grandson the last male heir to the crown of Frederick V. was carried to the grave.

Let us conclude with some anecdotes and characteristic traits of the last Oldenburger, mostly related to us by eye-witnesses.

Frederick VII. was scarcely of the middle height, and during the latter years of a full habit. His face was good natured, but not inexpressive; he had dark brown hair, and wore a full beard on lips and chin. It was his custom always to wear his head covered; it was said in consequence of a nervous affection. In public he usually wore a hussar uniform and cap; while at the theatre he appeared with a Turkish fez. On such occasions his head had some resemblance to that of the Sultan.

He was very fond, not only of the pleasures of the cup, but also of tobacco. His long German pipe was so pleasant to him that he would never deny himself its enjoyment if he could possibly help it. On a visit to the court of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, during the time of his marriage with the Strelitz princess, he rose from the grand-ducal state dinner, re-entering with his long pipe duly lighted. The grand-duke, immensely taken aback at this sight, could not possibly show any discourtesy to his guest, a Crown-Prince of Denmark, and with great presence of mind ordered cigars and lights to be handed to all the cavaliers participating in the state dinner-an event quite unprecedented in that ceremonious little court circle, and never to be forgotten in the annals of Schwerin.

The pipe accompanied the king everywhere. When at the country palace of Glücksburg, near Flensburg, where he spent some time nearly every summer with "the countess," his favourite pastime was fishing. During that exciting occupation, six or seven long German pipes, ready stuffed with the narcotic weed, had to be kept in readiness by a servant standing near, for handing one after the other, lighted before handed to his majesty, so that smoking and fishing should not suffer one moment's interruption.

At the festivities given in honour of the august sovereign in the good town of Flensburg, or similar places, by the loyal citizens, a similar arrangement was made, the king enjoying an uninterrupted succession of pipes and glasses of punch before supper, while after that repast the effect of the civic hospitalities often manifested itself in no common degree, and on one late occasion he stepped into the middle of the dancers, telling them that they did not dance properly, and showing them the figures.

Visiting on a tour through Schleswig the small town of Garding, near the western coast, his majesty, entering the Town-hall, observed the civic balance hanging there. Inquiring what it was for, he was told that it served for weighing grain or other merchandise for the people. "Oh," replied the condescending monarch, "if that is the case, just weigh me!

I have grown very fat lately, and should like to know how much I weigh now!" And he was duly put on the scales and weighed, to the great glee and wonder of the Gardingers.

When the Greek deputation, in the spring of last year, came to Copenhagen to invite the young Prince George of Glücksburg to accept the crown of the Hellenes, the gentlemen composing the deputation were duly received by the king in audience. It was cold weather, and the sons of Attica, appearing with red noses and bluish cheeks, gave unmistakable signs of the influence of the northern climate. After their introduction, the king, struck by their frozen-out appearance, said to them: "I suppose you feel very cold here?" The descendants of Miltiades and Epaminondas could not deny that they did, however much else they might be pleased with the hospitable Copenhageners and the fair Danish damsels. "Ay, I thought so!" resumed his majesty. "But I suppose you wear no flannel jackets?" The cream of the Hellenic nation could not say that they were provided with that useful garment. "Then," continued the monarch, "you must get yourselves some; it is absolutely necessary in this country. Look here"-turning up his sleeve "this is the thing you want. You buy the flannel at Mr. So-and-So's, in the Oestergade; it costs so much an ell; go there to-morrow and get it!"

Whether the Greeks followed the advice is not known to us, but we have been told that they were highly pleased with this sort of sans façon conversation, favourably contrasting it with the stiff and monosyllabical way of expression of their departed Otho.

On his last visit to the duchy of Schleswig, where death overtook him, Frederick VII. appeared in his usual good spirits, following his wonted enjoyments.

From his residence at Glücksburg, he made, scarcely a week before his end, an excursion into the neighbourhood, passing on his return along the long and narrow inlet of the Baltic, extending inward. The wooded banks, and the deep blue, smooth water, make that part of the country very pretty. The king walked along the edge of the Schley, where plenty of flat pebbles are to be found, picking them up and amusing himself with making them "skip" on the smooth sheet before him. During this interesting sport his feet became wet. Not noticing the inconvenience, he returned leisurely to his country palace. But he had caught a severe cold. On the following Wednesday it showed itself as erysipelas in the head, increasing till the following Sunday, when he expired.

Thus died the last of the Oldenburgers of Denmark.

NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

THE HOLY CITY.*

Ir is not a little remarkable that almost everything that belongs to Jerusalem is more or less involved in obscurity, and has been, and still is, the subject of controversy or dispute. It is so with its name and its origin, with its history, with its Holy Temple, with the sites sanctified in our eyes as connected with the Gospel narrative, and even with the teachings and doctrines that have emanated from the place.

If Jerusalem is the Kadash of the Amorites besieged by Sethos II. of Egypt, recorded under that name in hieroglyphs, and the Kadutis, or Cadytus of the father of history, we can understand how it was also the Kadatha of the Syrians, and is now the Al Kuds of the Muhammadans. But if it were also the Salem of Melchizedek, as most people opine after a passage in Psalm lxxvi., there must have been two Salems. The Salem where John baptised in the mountains east of Shechem, where Van de Velde found abundant waters, and where the nuns of the palace of the high priest dwelt in the time of St. Jerome; as well as the Salem of the Israelites.

When the children of Israel came to the Promised Land, Jerusalem was a city of Canaanitish Jebusites, under their high priest Adonizedek. The name Jerusalem first occurs in Josh. x. 1, and to the present moment it is a disputed question whether the name is a modification of Salem of the Jebus; of Jehovah-jireh and Salem; or of Yarash-Salem, "the City of Peace."

As to the history of the Holy City," and so-called "City of Peace,' it is one continuous record of strife and contest. Besieged by Sethos in the remotest historical times, the Jebusites, who were engaged in a succession of wars with the Kings of Egypt, maintained possession of their stronghold, the capital of their tribe, for upwards of five centuries after the coming in of the children of Israel under Joshua. Captured by David, and adopted by Solomon as the metropolis of the Jewish king

* Jerusalem Explored: being a Description of the Ancient and Modern City. By Ermete Pierotti, Doctor of Mathematics, Architect-Engineer to his Excellency Surraya Pasha of Jerusalem. Translated by T. G. Bonney, M.A. Bell & Daldy. The Siege of Jerusalem by Titus, with a Journal of a recent Visit to the Holy City, and a General Sketch of the Topography of Jerusalem, from the Earliest Times down to the Siege. By Thomas Lewin, Esq. Longman and Co.

Horeb and Jerusalem. By the Rev. George Sandie. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas.

Proposed Water Supply and Sewerage for Jerusalem, with a Description of its Present State and Former Resources. By John Irwine Whitty, C.E., D.C.L., LL.D., M.A. Oxford and Dublin. W. J. Johnson, 121, Fleet-street. 2 c

April-VOL. CXXX. NO. DXX.