Any one who could see the engagement book of the Prince of Wales during a season would think there is little exaggeration when it is said he is one of the most busy and hard-working of public men. If it cannot be said nulla dies sine lineâ, there are few days on which some important business has not to be attended to, besides his personal or private affairs in town and country. In one of his early addresses, he said that, being excluded by his position from taking active part in political life, he would devote his time to "duties connected with works of charity and of public utility." How far this resolution has been carried out, the readers of this volume have the means of judging.

In many of his speeches the Prince has, in grateful and touching terms, referred to the useful and beneficent services rendered by his revered and lamented father, whose example he desires to follow. That example also influenced the character and the life of the late Emperor of Germany, "Frederick the Noble." In the introduction to the brief biographical memoir of 'Frederick, Crown Prince and Emperor,' recently published by Mr. Rennell Rodd, the widowed Empress—our own Princess Royal—expresses a hope that the book will make his name better known to the English public, and give him a place in their affections beside that of her father, the Prince Consort, "for whom he had so great love, admiration, and veneration." The words of Lord Tennyson are thus recalled with new power:—

"Dear to thy land and ours; a Prince indeed
Beyond all titles, and a household name
Hereafter through all times—Albert The Good."

SPEECHES AT ROYAL ACADEMY BANQUETS.

The first appearance of the Prince of Wales at the annual dinner of the Royal Academy, with the short speech made on the occasion, has been given under the date, May 4th, 1863. In many subsequent years the Prince has been a welcome and honoured guest, and has been called to address the company. Instead of giving these speeches in the years when they were delivered, it seems better to group them together. The guests at the banquet are in the main the same year by year. After the Royal and official personages, and notable public men always present, and the Academicians and their friends, there remains not much room for variety in the invitations. If any very distinguished stranger is in London at the time, or some hero of the day, he is pretty certain to be invited, and the speech of such a guest is a distinctive feature in the yearly record of the banquets. There is also effort made to secure some eloquent speakers to reply to some of the toasts given from the Chair. But on the whole there is considerable sameness in the reports, the same toasts being always given, and often the same speakers responding. The Prince of Wales has been more than once complimented for his being able to find fresh material for his speeches at these dinners. The simple art in effecting this is that he takes some topic which is before the public at the time, or refers to his own public acts, which interest the audience on account of his personal popularity. We cannot give all the speeches on these occasions, but the following show the general spirit of them, and the variety of subjects touched by him.