Bills providing for the separation of Sweden and Norway have
now been passed by the Legislatures of both countries*, and King Oscar in his speech proroguing the Swedish Parliament treats the "dissolution of the Union" as final. The terms of the Convention of Karlstad will be embodied in treaties between the two countries, and as soon as these are ratified the Norwegians will elect a King. These proceedings will be rapid, the Swedish statesmen greatly fearing that if the Norwegians declare a Republic the Swedes may be induced to follow their example. The King remains resolute in refusing to permit any Prince of his house to ascend the Norwegian throne, and the people appear to have fixed on Prince Karl of Denmark. His consent has hitherto been rendered uncertain by the reluctance of his wife, the English Princess Maud, to accept the new position, with its burdens; but this opposition has been withdrawn, partly, it is supposed, through the influence of King Edward, and partly through a Norwegian promise, guaranteed by some European bankers, to provide the new King, in the event of his resignation, with a considerable pension. The Kings of our day are always anxious about their pecuniary position; but it must be acknowledged that they have much work to do and many special risks to ribs, and that in providing for their pecuniary future they do but imitate the ablest of their subjects. They feel, too, the extraordinary advance in the scale of first-class incomes, which enables so many of their subjects to outshine them, and compels them when once disinherited to live as com- paratively poor men.
