'Last Monday night, all in a fright, Al out of bed did tumble. The German lad was raving mad, How he did groan and grumble! He cried to Vic, "I've cut my stick: To St. Petersburg go right slap." When Vic, 'tis said, jumped out of bed, And wopped him with her night-cap.' From _Lovely Albert!_ a broadside preserved at the British Museum; Martin, II, 539-41; Greville, VII, 127-9. [29] Martin, II, 540, 562. 'You jolly Turks, now go to work, And show the Bear your power. It is rumoured over Britain's isle That A---- is in the Tower; The Postmen some suspicion had, And opened the two letters, 'Twas a pity sad the German lad Should not have known much better.' _Lovely Albert!_ [30] Kinglake, II, 27-32. [31] 'Aberdeen spoke much of the Queen and Prince, of course with great praise. He said the Prince's views were generally sound and wise, with one exception, which was his violent and incorrigible German unionism. He goes all lengths with Prussia.'--Greville, VI, 305. [32] Ashley, II, 218. [33] Martin, II, 545-57. [34] Martin, II, 259-60. [35] Martin, II, 563-4. [Illustration: QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE PRINCE CONSORT IN 1860.] {185} CHAPTER VI LAST YEARS OF THE PRINCE CONSORT I The weak-willed youth who took no interest in politics and never read a newspaper had grown into a man of unbending determination whose tireless energies were incessantly concentrated upon the laborious business of government and the highest questions of State. He was busy now from morning till night. In the winter, before the dawn, he was to be seen, seated at his writing-table, working by the light of the green reading-lamp which he had brought over with him from Germany, and the construction of which he had much improved by an ingenious device. Victoria was early too, but she was not so early as Albert; and when, in the chill darkness, she took her seat at her own writing-table, placed side by side with his, she invariably found upon it a neat pile of papers arranged for her inspection and her signature.[1] The day, thus begun, continued in unremitting industry. At breakfast, the newspapers--the once hated newspapers--made their appearance, and the Prince, absorbed in their perusal, would answer no questions, or, if an article struck him, would read it aloud. After that there were ministers and secretaries to interview; there was a vast correspondence to be carried on; there were numerous {186} memoranda to be made. Victoria, treasuring every word, preserving every letter, was all breathless attention and eager obedience. Sometimes Albert would actually ask her advice. He consulted her about his English: 'Lese recht aufmerksam, und sage wenn irgend ein Fehler ist,'[2] he would say; or, as he handed her a draft for her signature, he would observe 'Ich hab' Dir hier ein Draft gemacht, lese es mal! Ich dächte es wäre