YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

MEMOIRS

ov

HER -MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
^opfna Cfmrlotte*

PART II.

FAC SIMILE
OF HER MAJESTY'S WRITING.

PLATES
WHICH ILLUSTEATE THESE MEMOIRS.
Portrait of Her Majesty, at the time of her Marriage
 to face the general title.
Palace of Strelitz  '  ..-:  Page 43
BUCKINGHAM HpV.SE,  >- H8
?p^T RA,it o£ Her Majesty in advanced life to face title to Part IT,
Portrait of the King  ;..  ::...;  2T5'

The Queen's Lodge, Windsor  (with the Letter-Press)  397
Windsor Castle  ditto  ". . 463
Frogmo re  ditto  502
Kew Palace   ditto  560
The Royal Vault, St. George's Chapel, Windsor, ditto  590

Since the printing of tbe last sheet, tbe author has been apprised of the
two following inadvertencies that have escaped him, and which he takes
this opportunity of correcting;
The first regards the sepulture of the late Duke of Gloucester, who, in
stead of being interred in the royal mausoleum constructed by the orders
of His Majesty, was buried in the vault previously occupied l>y the
remains of the infant daughter of his royal highness in the choir near the
sovereign's stall of St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
, The second is where Lady de Clifford is said to have given designs for a
set of porcelain, instead of having only selected them.

PART II.

CHAPTER XII.
Hiots in London.— Firmness of their Majesties.— Birth
of Prince Alfred.— Arrival of Prince William-Henry.
— Parting Scene between the two eldest Princes.—
Social Esteem. — Prince of Wales declared of Age. — Re
joicings on that Event.— Purchase of Kew. — Character
of the Queen.— Anecdote of Princess Mary. — Celebra
tion of Her Majesty's Birth-day in 1782.— Death
of Prince Alfred. — Arrival of thePrince of Meck
lenburg.— Story of Edward and Egwina.

The dreadful riots which laid a great part of the
capital in ashes, and struck terror through the na
tion, in the summer of 1780, broke put while their
majesties were at Buckingham House, for the cele-.
bration of the birth-day. But, while the magistracy
shrunk from their duty, and even the ministers of
state appeared paniq-struck, the King acted with
becoming coolness and energy. The Queen also,
though in a state of pregnancy, remained "at her pa
lace, when the ladies of the court were hurrying ou*
of town with their jewels'. His Majesty sat up two
nights with :the Guards, in the riding-house, which
he only left at intervals to give information to the.

2?6 BIRTH OF PRINCE ALFREC.
Queen, and to inspire her with confidence. To thi*
resolution of the monarch, the metropolis was in
debted for its deliverance ; for, having called a coun
cil to consider the questions, whether the military
could be authorized in dispersing the mob without
the previous form of reading the riot-act, the King
alone decided the point by signing an order to that
purpose. In consequence of this prompt measure,
Lord Amherst proceeded vigorously against the
rioters j and thus, in a short space, order was re
stored. After these disgraceful scenes, their majesties re~
moved to Windsor' Lodge, where the Queen, on the
twenty-second of September, being the anniversary
of the coronation, ' was delivered of a son, who was-
baptized on the seeond of the following month, at
St. James's, by the name of Alfred, the two elder
princes standing as godfathers, and the princess-
royal as godmother. •
On the twenty-sixth of December, the woyal fa
mily were gratified by the safe, arrival of Prince
William-Henry from the fleet % but this pleasure
was damped in some measure*, low days afterwards,
by the departure of his brother Frederick for Ger
many, where' his royal highness intended to con
tinue some years, for the completion of his military
studies. The parting scene at Buckingham House
was represented as a very moving one : the Kingr
and Queen shed tears on taking leave of a favour it*

SOCIAL AFFECTION* ty?f
son i and the Prince of Wales3iin particular, was so
much concerned at being deprived, for a long pe
riod, of the sole companion of his youth, that he
was several minutes unable to speak. This sensi
bility was not more indicative of innate goodness of
heart than it was an evidence of the care that had
been taken by , their majesties to cultivate in the
royal progeny a constant regard to the social af*
factions. Indeed* such was the attention paid to
this essential consideration, that nothing like warmth
of temper, or the quick expression of resentment,
was ever suffered in the royal presence. Both the
King and Queen, on all occasions, preserved the
utmost equanimity themselves ; and whenever either"
of them happened to be offended, it was seen at.
once by a certain gravity of mannef, and not dis
covered by an asperity of language. Hencea all the
children acquired a similar spirit of self-command i
and, what was of equal moment, they learnt frpm
parental example to cherish for each other that
esteem which has been the general characteristic of
the family- through life.
On the first of January, 17-81, his royal highness
the Prince of Wales was declared to be of age, and
as such he appeared at court, which was much '
crowded in consequence ; but more so on Her Ma
jesty's birth-day, when the assemblage of fashion
was splendid beyond what had been seen there for
several.years. In honour pf the same circumstance, .
T 2

2'78 BIRTH-DAY OF THE PRINCE.
the Queen, a month afterwards, gave a ball and sup
per at her palace, under" the immecRate direction of
the Earl of Aylesbury, recently. appointed chamber
lain of the household. The evening's entertain
ment was preceded by a concert, at which were
present, besides their majesties and the royal family,
a select party, only of the nobility. At ten o'clock
the company assembled, proceeded to the ball-room,
which was nearly filled by persons of fashion, and
a little after twelve the whole retired to supper in
another room, where three tables were laid. At
the first sat the King, the Queen, ladies of the bed
chamber, the master of the horse, the lord cham
berlain, and some other state officers immediately
about the palace : at the second sat the Prince of
Wales, with several" of the younger nobility of both
sexes ; and at the third the secretaries of state and
other persons of distinction.
But this festive scene was surpassed by the cele
bration of the Prince's birth day at Windsor, the
same year. On the morning of the twelfth of Au
gust, the roads were covered with carriages filled
with persons of rank and fashion, hastening to pay
their homage on the glad occasion ; and in th«
evening the terrace was so crowded, that their ma
jesties and the princesses were obliged to retire into
the castle, after walking about half-an-hour. The
next day there was a grand review in the park,
after which the royal family proceeded to St.

PURCHASE OF KEW. 279
George's Hall, .^yhere they dined with about eighty
of the nobility ; and in the evening there was a
grand supper and ball, which last did not break up
till five in the morning. The town of Windsor was
also illuminated, and the day closed with bonfires
and other demonstrations of joy.
Among other improvements that took place at
Windsor, under the direction of Her Majesty,.at this
time, was that of converting the gallery, called the '
Queen's closet, in the chapel, into a royal pew, for
the accommodation of herself and the King during
divine service — a point of duty, which, in their es
timation, was of the first consequence, and in the
discharge of which they were never known to fail.
Though Windsor had now the preference, KeW
was not altogether neglected; and in this year
the freehold of it was purchased for Her Majesty,
from the descendants of Sir Richard Lovett, ¦¦ by
whom it was bought in 1697. Up to the present
date it had been held on a long lease, granted ori
ginally to Queen Caroline. Kew House, the resi
dence for many years of Frederick, Prince of Wales,
and his widow, was also purchased of the dowager
Countess of Essex, by the King, on the expiration
of the lease, with the view of erecting an extensive
mansion on the scite, for the sole use of Her Ma
jesty, who might be able to call it her own in the
event of his demise.
About this time, Martin Sherlock, a literary cox
comb, indeed, but by no means an inaccurate deli-

*S80 SKETCH OF THE QUEEN".
neator of men arid manners, thus sketched the cna^
character of Her Majesty in a letter to his French
correspondent :
" Our Queen is neither a wit nor a beauty.
She is prudent, well-informed, has an excellent un
derstanding, and is very charitable. I spent three
months in the country where she was born; and the
people there have quick conceptions, and are well-
natured. Her Majesty has an elegant person, good
eyes, good teeth, a Cleopatra nose, arid fine hair.
The expression of her countenance is pleasing and
interesting : it is full of sense and good- temper.
She loves domestic pleasures; is fonder of diamonds
than the Queen of France; as fond of snuff as the
'King of Prussia ; is extremely affable, very pious,
and is praised by all the world, at home and
abroad." This lively writer might have added, that the
Queen of England did not affect splendour in
Tier apparel ; that she seldom wore jewels ex
cept on public ceremonies ; and that, so far from
devoting her hours to dress, she studied neat
ness and simplicity. Her conduct exactly resem
bled that of Cornelia, who, being asked by a Roman
lady of rank for a sight of her toilet, waved the
subject till her children came from schobl, and then
said: " These, Madam, are my ornaments." 1n
like manner did Her Majesty look upon the progeny
which surrounded her, as a circle more valuable
than diamonds ; and she made it her constant ob-

ANECDOTE OF PRINCESS MARY. 281
Ject to render them deserving of parental pride, by
instilling into their minds the purest principles.
The manner in which she trained them to know
ledge and application may be gathered from a single
incident which happened at this very period : when
the Princess Mary, now between five and six yearn
old, came running with a book in her hand, and
tears in her eyes, to the Queen, saying : " Madam,
I cannot comprehend it," Her Majesty, with true
parental affection, looked upon the child, and told.
her not to be alarmed. " What you cannot com
prehend to-day you may comprehend to-morrow j
and what you cannot attain to this year you may
arrive at the next. Do not, therefore, be frightened
with little difficulties ; but attend to what you do
know, and the rest will come in time."
On the eighteenth of January, 1782, the draw
ing-room held for Her Majesty's birth-day wa6 par
ticularly brilliant, on account of the first public ap-
|»earance of Ahe princess-royal, who opened the ball
with her brother. One feature worth. observing on
this occasion was the eircuiristance that his royal
highness wore that day a riehly embroidered waist
coat, embroidered by the hands of his august pa
rent, who had a double pleasure in this performance;
for, 'besides seeing'her son adorned with the work of
her own hands, she^brought tambour into fashion,
and thereby encouraged industry. Thus to her
might have been applied the euiogium of the vir-

282 DEATH OF PRINCE ALFRED.
tuous woman in sacred writ : " She laid her hands
to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff. She
stretched out her hand tothepoqr; yea, she stretch
ed forth her hand to the needy. She opened her
mouth with wisdom, and her tongue was the law pf
kindness. She looked well to the ways of her
household, and did not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rose up and called hef blessed ; her
husband also, and he praised her."
But while their majesties were thus rejoicing in
the introduction of the elder children on the theatre
of public life, they experienced. a damp in witness
ing the declining state of the youngest prince, who,
jn the beginning of the summer, was sent by the di
rection of the physicians tp the sea-side, without
receiving any benefit ; and, on the twenty-second
of August, he expired in the arms of Lady Charlotte
Finch, at Buckingham House, aged one year and
ten months.
On the twenty-seventh, between six and seven in
the morning, the body was conveyed in a private
manner to Henry the Seventh's chapel in West
minster Abbey, and there interred- in the royal
vault, the service being read by the dean. At the
time of this loss, the family was in mourning for
Her Majesty's sister, who died of a lingering con
sumption, early in the summer. At the beginning
of Oetober, however, the Queen received the unex-*
pected pleasure of seeing her brother, the Prince of

"EDWARD AND EGWINA. 283
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who, with his consort, came
over tp England, attended by some persons of dis
tinction, and remained here several weeks.
In closing this chapter, and the history of the
year, I am tempted to insert a little tale, which was
written at this time by one whose pen has been since
employed on many works of importance. The pre
sent is one of those narratives in which % slight
historic fact serves as a basis for the construction of
an interesting story. But, to proceed to the ro
mance. " In proportion as refinement proceeds, gallantry
increases. The reign of the illustrious Alfred was
not more favourable to heroism and science than to
love. His son Edward possessed a large portion
of his father's virtues ; and while he sat upon the
throne, cultivated those arts which Alfred had en
couraged. His heart was susceptible of the tender
passions, and of the power of beauty. In one of
his excursions he met with a lovely shepherdess,
named Egwina. The prince was captivated with
her charms. Honour governed his actions, and
. subjected his desires to the controul of virtue. He
wished to exalt her situation, not to debase her in
nocence. In short, he wished her for his queen.;
but this seemed impossible. He returned dejected
to. his palace: he regretted that high rank stood
as a bar to his happiness: he consulted his fa
vourite friend and minister : he urged the beauty,
the virtue, the genius of Egwina, but all in vain.

384 EDWARD AND EGWINA.
The reply was, that policy required him to seek a
union with some exalted character, allied to a pow
erful and wealthy prince ; and that if he were to
place a shepherdess on the throne, his nobles would
be disgusted, quit his court, and probably proceed
by open violence to resent the supposed insult to
-their dignity. The prince admitted that what was
said was too likely to be the fact, and reprobated
that pride which deemed an alliance with indigent
and untitled virtue disgraceful ; but he knew the
prejudices of his nobility were unconquerable. He
submitted, repining and reluctantly, to his fate ; yet
he frequently visited the shepherdess -t and her con
versation was his greatest delight. There was some
thing mysterious to him in her deportment and ac
complishments. She possessed the strictest appear
ance of innocence, without the least embarrassment.
Though iplainly attired, she stepped with superior
.grace ; and in every action exhibited courtly pro
priety and ease. Though her observations were
chiefly upon her flocks and rural happiness, yet she
would occasionally surprise the prince with remarks
upon astronomy, history, morals, and agriculture,
which bespoke a mind informed above the common
level. Thus engaging, it was not to be wondered- at
that every additional visit increased the admiration
and astonishment of the enamoured Edward. His
passions grew stronger every moment; his. dignity
was his torture : his friends and flatterers tried in
vain toidivert his thoughts or alleviate his>distres».

EDWARD AND EGWINA. 285
The greatest beauties of his palace courted his
smiles without effect : their charms served but to
remind him of the superior ones of his beloved
Egwina. Nothing induced him to retain existence
but the trying task of parting, perhaps for ever,
from his captivating shepherdess. He often thought
to ask her for the story of ker life, but dreaded that
the narrative would only confirm his misery.
" Upon one of his visits, he missed her at the ac
customed spot, but found a venerable old man at
tending on her sheep. The prince enquired eagerly
for Egwina, and was informed that she was at a
neighbouring cottage. She had acquainted her fa
ther that she often had a visitor when keeping her
flocks in the fields ; and from her description the
old man conceived the prinoe to be the person, and.
accordingly invited him to their habitation. Ed
ward, for a while, threw off his courtly ceremony,
and accepted of the invitation. He went on with
sorrowing steps, and yet would not have staid be
hind. The sight of the cottage damped him, but
that of its fair tenant cheared his spirits. He found
in the place neatness and rural elegance. He
would have gladly parted with his dignity and
power. He would' have been happy to have changes!
his sceptre for a shepherd's crook, and 'his splendid
palace for this humble residence. He was courted
to refresh himself ; but though the table was spread
with healthful rustic dainties, he could not partake
of the feast. 'EgWina's dharms and conversation

286 EDWARD AND EGWINA.
were his regalement. He derived momentary com-
* fort from the cause of his permanent misery. The
old man apologized for the homeliness of his fare,
imagining that to occasion the abstinence of his
guest, and said, ,' that once he could have enter
tained him better, but now he had little more to
offer than a hearty welcome.' At these words, the
hopes pf the prince were raised : his attention was
fixed to the story of their fortunes, which he begged
the father to relate. The old man proceeded thus :
' I formerly was Earl of Morcar. Our family was
of royal descent, and my possessions in lands, flocks,
and herds, exceedingly extensive and valuable. I
lived in becoming splendour ; honoured by my il
lustrious and royal master, Alfred, justly styled the
great. I was beloved by my neighbours, and happy
in my family. My estate was situated on the bor
ders of the Scottish lands, and frequently invaded
by the highland plunderers. For a long time, my
tenants and servants bravely repelled their attacks ;
but, at length increasing in their numbers, we were
overpowered. They spoiled and ravaged all our -
lands, and drove away our flocks and herds, save a
small portion, with which I hither flew to find secu
rity. Here have I since lived, suppressed my title
and passed myself fbr a poor old shepherd; this, my
humble but affectionate daughter, the comfort and
support of my declining years.' The prince struggled
to conceal the sweet emotions which he felt at this
narration, and asked the old man whether he had

EDWARD AND EGWINA. 357
applied at court for succour in his distress. His
question was answered thus : ' No ; myfamily, con
sisting but of myself and young Egwna, and my
desires confined to narrow bounds, by the wise dic
tates of philosophy, I thought it unjust to ask of my
country that support which industry could insure,
and thus deprive more useful subjects of their just
reward.' The prince admired the generous spirit of
the venerable sage, told him he had interest at
court, that the king wished to see him, and insisted
that he and his daughter should hasten thither,
which journey, after much hesitation^ they agreed
to undertake. It is Impossible to describe the trans
ports of young Edward on this occasion. He flew
back to his palace, eager to prepare for his expected
and welcome visitors. The scene was now changed
from the most deep despondency to the most com-.
plete joy and felicity. At the appointed time, the
old shepherd and his fair daughter arrived at court ;
and having recovered their surprise, the king intro
duced them in their rural habits. Time and dis
guise prevented the nobility from recollecting the
earl ; and Egwina had never been seen in public.
As companions of the prince, the courtiers were
obliged to receive them with civility; but their
affected politeness could not conceal their absolute
contempt. The court broke up, and the king again
engaged in conversation with the earl. He request
ed to know whence his daughter derived, so much
knowledge ; to which the earl replied : * From my

288 EDWARD AND EGWINA*
own poor stock : as she was my sole companion, I .
thought it my' interest as well as duty to teach her
every science I knew. She had a comprehensive"
mind,, and easily received instruction.' In a few-
days, the king assembled his courtiers again.. He
had previously advised with his councillors on the,
propriety of a marriage with an earl's daughter of
royal descent, and received a favourable answer.
He then introduced the old man as Earl of Morcar,
and the shepherdess as his daughter Egwina.
Shame seized the ungenerous nobility ; but the kind
ness of the offended parties soon removed their em*
barrassment. Matters being duly prepared and set-,
tied between the king, the earl, and his daughter,
Edward now declared his intention of espousing
Egwina, and the ceremony was immediately per
formed. In a few days the coronation took place, .
and the. royal shepherdess lived long, happy, and
beloved, the Queen of England. At her death uni
versal grief prevailed. But the people of thpse days
lived for posterity, not for themselves, and were con
soled by the prophecy of a favourite priest, which-,
has proved strictly true, c that in future times, a
Charlotte should arise that would restore to th*
English throne the majestic virtues of Egwina."

*82f

CHAPTER XIII.

Restoration of Peace. — Anecdote of the Queen.— Mr. Hut-
ton and Dr. Franklin. — Death of Prince Octavius. —
Birth of Princess Amelia. — City Address. — Mrs. Sid-
dons at Buckingham House. — Commemoration of Han
del. — Account of Mademoiselle Paradis.-r-Royal T(isit
to Nuneham and Oxford. — Death of Prince George of
Mecklenburg. — Anecdote of Royal Benevolence.

With the new year, 1783, came in the blessing
of peace, not more to the gratification of the public-
than pf their majesties : and here I may be per
mitted to observe, that though the Queen had scru
pulously avoided from the moment of her landing
in England all interference in politics, the American?
war gave her much concern, and she endeavoured,
with the knowledge of her royal consort, to procure
a termination of the differences between the two,
countries. ¦ JThe instrument employed in this good
work was Mr. James Hutton, a Moravian minister,
in Fetter Lane, who had free access at Buckingham:
House ; he being, in fact, Her Majesty's private al
moner. Charity was the darling object of this ex-

290 DOCTOR FRANKLIN AND MR. HUTTON.
traordinary man, whose whole life, which was pro
longed to a patriarchal extent, was devoted to the
benefit of his fellow-creatures. The benevolent dis
position of Mr. Hutton, and his religious principles,
rendered him a favourite at the Queen's house ; and
both their majesties delighted much in his cheerful
and pious conversation. The society also to which
he belonged was one for which the Queen ever en
tertained a predilection, as well on account of the
discipline observed, as the doctrines professed by
the United Brethren. The spirit of love which per
vades the whole system, indeed, could not but ren
der this branch of the Christian family acceptable
to one who made it her constant study to mould her
own temper after the purest of all patterns. Her
Majesty did not, it is true, avow any connexion with
the church of the brethren ; nor was it needful that
she should, since in faith, worship, and govern
ment, that community is in perfect unison with
the national establishment. But to return to Mr.
Hutton. This good man numbered among his
many acquaintances the celebrated Dr. Franklin,
with whom he had contracted an intimacy, when
that extraordinary character was nothing more than
a journeyman printer. Their friendship lasted
through life ; and it continued unabated even when
Franklin rose to the station of a public agent,
though in religious and political sentiments no two
men could be more dissimilar. After the acknow-

Death of prince octavius. 291
ledgment of the American states by the court of
France, and the admission there of Franklin as the
minister of the new republic, Mr. Hutton opened a
correspondence with him, with a view to Concilia
tion., On the same mission he also went over to
Paris by the way of Holland 5 but the man of politics
was too much for the honest Christian ; and the
latter saw at last that the simplicity of the dove is
no match when opposed to the cunning of the ser
pent. He was-completely deceived by glosing pro
fession's ; and all that he had to console him under
the disappointment was the approbation of his
illustrious employers, and the perfect conviction of
their sincerity* -
Happily, however,. the victory of Rodney in the
West Indies; and the defeat of the Spaniards before
Gibraltar, made the allied powers in Europe as de
sirous of peace as the people of this country could
be ; and the preliminary articles with France being
ratified, a general termination of this eventful and
sanguinary conflict soon followed*
Shortly after this, their1 majesties sustained a
severe shock in the loss of Prince Octavius, who died
of the small pox at Kew, on the third of May, 1783,
in the fifth year of his age. His royal highness was
reckoned one of the finest of the royal progeny; and
the portrait of him by Gainsborough warrants the
Opinion. He was besides remarkably docile in his dis
position, and so very good-natured, as to be almost
u

292 BIRTH OF PRINCESS AMELIA.
idolized by the domestics. On the tenth of the same
month the body was removed from Kew, attended
by General Carpenter and some of His Majesty's
household, to Henry the Seventh's chapel, and
there deposited near the remains of Prince Alfred.
The death of this engaging child had a very serious
effect upon the spirits of the Queen, who being then
in a pregnant state, felt the catastrophe more keenly
and that to such a degree, as to render her recovery
for some time exceedingly doubtful. At length,
the excellence of her constitution triumphed over the
malady, and on the seventh of August she was
happily delivered of a daughter at Buckingham
House. On the nineteenth of the following montliy at
seven in the evening, the ceremony of christening
the young princess was performed at St. James's
Palace. The peers and peeresses, foreign ministers
and their ladies, assembled in the Queen's drawing-
room sometime before the ceremony, and from
thence were introduced into the grand council-
chamber, where Her Majesty sat on an elegant bed
of white satin, under a superb canopy of crimson
velvet embroidered with gold. On the right side of
the bed stood the King, at the feet his royal high*
ness the Prince of Wales, the Princess-Royal, and
Princess Augusta; and on each hand the rest of tha
royal children, arranged according to their ages.
The great officers of state, the royal, attendants fo-

CITY ADDRESSES. 2g3
reign ministers,, peers, and peeresses, formed the
outer circle. The service was performed by
Dr. Moore, Archbishop of Canterbury ; the Prince of
Wales, Princess-Royal, and Princess Augusta being
sponsors ; the former acting as proxy for the Prin
cess Amelia, whose name was given to the royal in
fant. After the baptismal ceremony, Her Majesty
received the congratulations of the company, who,
on the King's retiring, withdrew to visit the royal
nursery, where, according to custom, they, were en
tertained with cake and caudle. The brilliancy of
this lively scene was heightened in effect by the
appearance of the royal offspring round their august
parents, forming altogether a spectacle not to be
equalled in any part of Europe. .
The corporation of London presented separate
addresses to the King and Queen, in which were
comprehended a threefold congratulation on the
birth of a princess, the recovery of Her Majesty,
and the attainment of the Prince of Wales to his
twenty-first year. In their address to the King,*the
body corporate paid the following compliment :
" We would express with more than ordinary ef
fusions of joy our feelings upon this occasion, that
Providence has been pleased to answer the prayers
and wishes of every order of your majesty's loyal
subjects, in preserving the invaluable life of our
gracious Queen ; a life so eminently useful, and so
conspicuously exemplary." •,
u 2

294 MRS. SIDDONS.
¦¦ The address to Her Majesty, which was carried
up to St. James's by the lord-mayor, sheriffs, and a
very numerous train of aldermen and common-coun
cil, ran in these words :
" We, the lord-mayor, aldermen, and commons
of the city of London, in common council as
sembled, humbly beg leave to approach your ma
jesty with the most sincere congratulations upon the
birth of another princess, and your1 majesty's happy
recovery. " Permit us further, Madam, to congratulate ydur
majesty upon his royal highness the Prince of Wales
having attained his age of twenty-one years ; and
We sincerely hope and trust that he will fill the im
portant station to which he is called with dignity to
himself and prosperity to his country."
To this address a suitable though short answer
was returned ; and all the gentlemen had the honour
to kiss Her Majesty's hand.
The celebrity of Mrs. Siddons, who at this time
•hone forth with extraordinary lustre as a tragic ac
tress in London,, frequently drew the royal family
tb the theatre ; but one night, while that great per
former was in a pathetic part of the character of
Euphrasia, the business of the scene was strangely
interrupted by a voice from the upper gallery, ex
claiming: "Your Majesty had the goodness to pro
mise me one of your blessed princesses in marriage."
An uproar ensued, but the fellow by some means

MUSICAL FESTIVAL. 2$5
or other escaped. Soon after this, Mrs. Siddona
had an interview with the Queen at Buckingham
House ; when, at the express desire of both their.
majesties, she undertook the honourable office of
instructing the two younger princesses in reading
and enunciation.
The next year was rendered remarkable by the
great musical festival instituted iri commemoration
of Handel, and conducted under the patronage of
their majesties. The design of this extraordinary
entertainment originated with two or three persons
of distinction, who wished for a periodical celebra
tion of that mighty master of harmony, in a public
performance of his works, the profits of which were to
be appropriated to the musical fund. This idea being
suggested to others, and particularly the directors
of the concert of ancient music* met with their en
tire approbation; but while the matter was yet in
embryo, the King hearing of it, immediately ex
pressed his resolution that the scheme should he
carried into execution. Accordingly, application
was made to Bishop Thomas, as Dean of Westmin
ster, for the use of the abbey; who readily granted
the request, on condition that a moiety of the profits
of the first day should be given to the Westminster
Infirmary. To this no objection could be made ;
and Mr. Wyatt, the arohitectj was directed to fit up
the abbey with all expedition, for the accommoda
tion of their majesties, the company, and the per-

9^S MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
formers. At first it was proposed to confine the
entertainment within two days ; but the King judg
ing very properly that this would be too limited,
signified his pleasure that the performance should
be prolonged to another day ; after which two more
were added, the last being at the express desire of
Her Majesty. The temporary building in the abbey
was comprised within the west aisle, and was large
enough to receive four thousand persons. At the
upper end, a throne was erected in the Gothic style,
with a center box for the royal family ; another box
on one side for -the bishops and dignitaries of the
church, and a third for the foreign ambassadors.
Behind the throne were seats for the royal attend
ants, and below the King's box was one for the di
rectors. The orchestra was built at the opposite
extremity, ascending regularly, from the height of
about seven feet above the floor, to forty feet from
the ground ; extending also from the centre to the
top of the side aisles, and so admirably constructed;
that Joah Bates, who presided at the new and mag
nificent organ, could see and be distinctly seen by
the whole of the numerous band. The intermediate
space was filled with level benches appropriated to
the subscribers, and the side aisles were formed
into long galleries ranging with the orchestra, and
ascending, so as to contain twelve rows on each
side ; the fronts projecting beyond the pillars, and
ornamented with crimson festoons. '; ;,

MUSICAL FESTIVAL. 297
On Wednesday, the twenty-sixth of May, this
grand festival began ; and before ten in the morning
the company assembled in prodigious numbers, so
that in about an hour the venerable pile was nearly
filled, chiefly with ladies. Their majesties arrived
about a quarter past twelve o'clock ; and when the
King came into his box, he stood for some moments
seemingly lost in astonishment at the sublimity of
the spectacle ; nor did the brilliancy of the appear
ance less affect the feelings of the Queen, who view.
ed it with rapture, and repeatedly expressed her ad
miration to those around her. The royal pair were
accompanied by prince Edward and the Princess-
Royal, who sat on the King's right, and the prin
cesses Augusta, Elizabeth, and Sophia, who sat on
the .Queen's left hand, all in one box, which was
most superbly ornamented with crimson velvet*.
The festival then began with the coronation an
them, in the execution of which were fully display
ed the amazing powers of the band, consisting of
more than five hundred performers. ' Mr. Bates,
who was the cpnduptpr of the whole, appeared
throughout so agitated and inflamed by the subject,
that > his instrument, though immense in its tones,
could hardly give utterance to his ideas. Such was
the first day's exhibition pf this splendid entertain
ment. On the fphowing evening, the festival was
renewed at th,e Pantheon, which presented a most
beautiful appearance j the dome being illuminated

298 MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
with seven thousand lamps, in compartments, and
terminating at the top of the cupola in a beautiful
figure. Over the entrance, and directly opposite the
orchestra, a gallery was erected, supported by six
Ionic columns ; and in the centre was placed the
royal box, lined with crimson satin, and mirrors
fringed with gold. About eight o'clock, their ma
jesties, accompanied by Prince Edward and three -of
the princesses, arrived ; soon after which the per
formance began, of which, it may be said, that if
the music in the abbey was the sublime, this of the
Pantheon was the beautiful, of Handel.
In this night's performance, Madame Ma^ra dis
played all the wonders of her voice, which reached
even the compass of an instrument, The selection
of pieces did infinite credit to the directors, and the
execution was such as to leave no room for criti
cism, Mr. Bates played the organ with the same
touch as he did at the abbeys and the harmony in
all the parts was complete, .
The next day was employed in the rehearsal of
the Messiah, which master-piece of Handel was
performed at. the abbey on the twenty-ninth ; and
though to common ears familiarity of sounds takes
away much from the effect produced hy.tbe charms
of novelty, yet, on this occasion, almost every spec
tator felt indescribable sensations. Their majesties
were attended by five princesses ; and it was evi
dent throughout the whole of the performance how

THE MESSIAH. 2§Q
much they enjoyed the delicious banquet, to which
might have been applied the language of the poet;
Such muaic (as 'tis said)
Before was never made,
But when of old the sons of morning sung,
While the Creator great,
His constellations set,
And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung.
On the third of June, the performance, by the
command of the King, consisted of a selection made
under the direction of His Majesty ; and on the fifth
of the same month the commemoration concluded
with the Messiah, by order" of the Queen, when,
though the crowd was less than on the preceding
occasion, the exhibition was more splendid. In
deed, as a spectacle, it was so magnificent to the
sight, and as a musical performance so mellifluous
and grateful to the ear, that it would have been no
less difficult for the mind's eye of those who were
absent to fprm an adequate idea of the show, than
for the mental ear to have formed any of the sounds
from mere description.
There was an ingenious device in the manner of
executing the music to " Lift up your heads, Q ye
gates," by causing the whole chorus from each side
of the orchestra, in conjunction with all the instnu
ments, to burst forth at once "He is the King
of Glory," which had such an admirable effect, a*

300 MADEMOISELLE PARADIS.
to Hbring tears into the eyes of several of the per
formers themselves. Nor was this effect confined to
the orchestra : the whole auditory felt a sympathetic
emotion ; and His Majesty was pleased to make a
signal himself for the repetition of this, and the
final chorus in the last part. Thus ended this
grand festival, the like of which had never been ex
hibited in any country ; nor is it probable that any
thing on such a scale will ever again recur.
The royal donation to the fund on this occasion
was five hundred guineas, and the receipts exceeded
twelve thousand' pounds, out of which six thousand
were given to the society for decayed musicians,
and one thousand to1 the hospital. '
Another festival took place at the abbey the fol
lowing year ; but though their majesties were pre-'
sent, and the spectacle, as well as the performance,
had an impressive effect, the entertainment fell some
what short of the former one, both in sublimity and
produce ; and after three or four exhibitions of the
same nature, they ceased entirely, owing, as was
alleged,' to apprehensions for the safety of the
church. The present subject naturally introduces the re
markable story of a blind lady, who, at the period
of which we are speaking, excited considerable at
tention in the musical world. This young person
was the daughter of M. Paradis,- aulic counsellor in
the imperial service. At the age of two years, and

MADEMOISELLE DE PARADIS 301
eight months she became suddenly blind, through
a fright ; and though the most skilful oculists in
Venice were applied to, the case was found to be
hopeless. At seven years old she discovered an
ear for music, which taste being encouraged, she
was able at the age of ten to accompany herself on
the organ in the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi, of which
she sung a part at St. Augustine's Church, in the
presence of the empress-queen, Maria Theresa, who
was so touched with her misfortune and perform
ance,, that she settled a pension on her for life, of
which provision she was afterwards deprived in a
most extraordinary manner. At the age of eigh
teen, the noted Dr. Mesmer, who pretended to cure
all ills by animal magnetism, undertook to restore
sight to the unfortunate Mademoiselle Paradis ; an
offer which was gladly accepted, and she was placed
under his care as a boarder. After some months
however, it was found that the professions of this
empiric were fallacious, and his patient was taken
from his house, which so exasperated Mesmer, that
he had the audacity and cruelty to charge the poor
girl with being an impostor, saying that she could
see as well as himself, and that she only counter
feited blindness to retain her pension. Strange as
it may seem, this abominable falsehood was be
lieved ; or, if not, it was made the pretext for with
drawing the pension ; in consequence of which,? the
helpless- victim of .quackery left Vienna with her

SOS ROYAL VISIT TO OXFORD.
mother, and after visiting several courts on the con
tinent, where her talents and misfortunes procured
her many favours, she came over to London, bring
ing with her letters of recommendation to -the Queen,
upon whom she waited at Windsor, and was receiv
ed with the utmost kindness. Her Majesty took a
most lively interest in the young stranger, who,
under such patronage, became an object of notice
among the nobility, and in consequence acquired a
handsome independence.
On Monday, the fifteenth of October, 1785, their
majesties, with the princes Ernest^ Augustus, and
Adolphus ; the Princess-Royal, princesses Augusta
and Elizabeth, paid a visit to Lord and Lady Har-
court at Nuneham, with the intention of returning
to Windsor the same evening; but the conversation
happening to turn upon Oxford, and the Queen say
ing she should like to see a place of which she had
heard so much, it was resolved to go thither in a
private manner the next day, Accordingly;, the
royal party slept at Nuneham that night, and on
Tuesday morning, about ten o'clock, their majesties,
•with their children and the Earl and Countess of
Harcourtj arrived ,at Oxford in five carriages ; and
passing through the fields behind Mertori College,
alighted at Christ Church, and entering the cathe
dral at prayer-time, took their seats during divine
service, after which they. were conducted to the
;haU, the dean's apartments, and the library. From

Royal VISIT To oxford. 303
Christ Churchy they proceeded to Corpus»Christi
College, where Dr. Dennis, the vice-chancellor, and
president of St. John's, preceded by the beadles
with their staves inverted, paid his respects to their
majesties, and attended them to Merton College,
and thence to the Radclivian library. Their majes
ties from henCe entered the public schools at the
eastern gates, and passing through the divinity-
School, were ushered into the theatre, where the
heads of houses, and the doctors in their several fa
culties, were already assembled. In the area of
this magnificent room the royal family were seated
for some time; and the vice-chancellor, with the se
veral heads pf colleges and the proctors, had the
honour of kissing their majesties' hands. The Bod
leian library was next visited ; and from thence the
royal party were conducted to the picture-gallery ;
after which, they saw the Ppmfret and Arundelian
marbles, and the music-school, where the professor
had the honour of kissing hands. On leaving
these public edifices, their majesties went to see
the chapel and library at New College; from
whence they passed through the gardens into the
.library, chapel, and hall of St. John's, and next to.
the observatory. From this place the family pro
ceeded to the council-chamber, where the mayor
;and corporation of Oxford attended to pay their re
spects to the royal visitors ; and the former had the
honour of knighthood conferred upon him. Their

804 &UEEN S BIRTH-DAY.
majesties from hence visited All Souls, Queen's,
and Magdalen^olleges ; and, having seen the cha
pels, libraries^ and whatever was mogt worthy of ob
servation, they quitted Oxford for Lord Harcourt's,
where an elegant cold collation waited their arrival ;
and they set out for Windsor about seven the same
evening. In the following winter, the Queen received the
afflicting news of the death of her youngest brother,
Prince George of Mecklenburg; an which account
the celebration of Her Majesty's birth-day was put
off to the ninth of February, when an elegant court
assembled early, to pay the usual marks of loyalty
and affection. In the evening- the ball-room was
highly splendid, and exhibited an uncommon dis
play of female beauty. The King and Queen sepa
rately addressed every lady within the circle assign
ed to the dancers ; during which period a prelude
was played, and also some of Handel's music. The
ball terminated between twelve and one, after
which their majesties and the princesses retired.
The prince remained some time in conversation
with the ladies, and on his withdrawing, the com
pany began immediately to depart ; but it was, not
till near three in the morning that the court was
entirely cleared. The most remarkable person at
the ball was the ambassador from Tripoli, attended
by his page of honour and secretary : all of them
were dressed in the habits of their country and

AFFECTING SCENE. 305-
appeared much delighted and astonished at the
crowd of beauties that surrounded thjm ; nor were
they less object* of wonder to our fair countrywo
men, who beheld with admiration the flowing beard
of tbe venerable Musulman.
From the scene of joy and splendour, the reader
will not be offended at being conducted to one of woe
and, wretchedness, where royalty will be seen in more
lustre than when surrounded by a circle of courtiers.
. The winter of this year was a very severe one ;
but though the snow lay thick upon the ground,
the King did not intermit his customary walks, in
which he was frequently unattended, even by a
single servant. One day, during this cheerless sea
son, he met two little boys, the eldest not more
than nine years old, who, without knowing whom
they addressed, jell upon their knees, and prayed
for relief, as they were very hungry and had nothing
to eat., His Majesty, shocked at the sight, tenderly
desired the? weeping suppliants to rise, and having
encouraged them to proceed, in their story, they
said that their mother had been dead three days,
and still flay, unburied ; that their father himself
was stretched by her side; upon a bed of straw, in a
sick and helpless condition, being totally destitute
©f money, bread, and fuel.
This little story of misery touched the heart of
the King, who ordered the boys to go before him
to their wretched hovel, where he found the whole

306 ROYAL BENEVOLENCE.
realized to the utmost extent of human misery — the
mother being dead, apparently from the want pf
common necessaries, and the father ready to perish
also, being unable to raise himself; but still en*
circling with his enfeebled arm the deceased part
ner of his woes.
The King dropped a tear at tlie sad spectacle,
left what eash he had about him. which seldom
amounted to much, and hastened back to Windsor^
where he related to Her Majesty What he had seen;
and servants were instantly despatched with a sup*
ply of provisions, clothing, coals, and every other
accommodation that might afford comfort to a fa
mily, groaning, as the King declared, under afflic
tions more piercing by far than he could have sup*
posed to exist iri any part of his dominions,1 and
which he could hardly 'believe to have any reality in
a Christian country, had he- not himself witnessed
them. Revived by the bounty of th* monarch; the poor
man soon recovered ; and his Majesty finished the
good work he had so graciously begun, by giving
orders that the childreA should be clothed, edu*
eated, and supported, at his expense, with the far
ther intention of providing for them as their con*
duct merited,

307

CHAPTER XIV*
.... vi,<,ties Sponsors for the Daughter of Lord Salis
bury. — Birth-day of the King. — Present of Jewels from
an Eastern Prince, -r Attempt to assassinate the King.—
Conduct of the Spanish A/nbassadpr. — Their Majesties'
visit to Nuneham, Oxford, and Blenheim. — Royal Pa
tronage of Sunday Schools. — Account of Mrs. Trimmer.
— Eionomy of Charity. — Gainsborough the Painter. —
Visit to Mr, Whitbread.— Private Theatricals.— Trial
of Warren Hastings, — Indisposition, of the King.—
Their Majesties visit Cheltenham.— Anecdotes. -r-Royal^
Wisit$ to Gloucester and Worcester. — Departure, from
Cheltenham.

The Countess of Salisbury being delivered of a
daughter, after an interval of sixteen years, occasioned
great rejoicings iri that noble family; and the chris
tening, which took place on the twenty-seventh of
April, 1786, at his lordship's house iri Arlington '
Street, was distinguished in a very remarkable man
ner, their majesties, with the princess-royal, attend
ing as sponsors in person.
The Queen received the child from Lady Essex,
and the archbishop from Her Majesty, who, at the
same time, gave it the name of Georgiana-CBar-
lotta; which was also inscribed on a superb salver,
X

308 ATTEMPT ON THE KING'S LIF£\
bf one hundred and twenty ounces weight, as a
" ^ioken of remembrance from the royal guests.
On this occasion Her Majesty was habited iri
dark green covered with silver gauze, and her head-1
dress appeared spangled with brilliants.
The King's birth-day this year was celebrated
With extraordinary magnificence, the circle being
enlivened by the presence of the Prince of Meck
lenburg, and other foreigners of distinction, among
whom the Tripoline ambassador attracted consider
able notice. Her Majesty on this day wore a robe
of royal purple, entirely covered with Brussels lace
of great value ; and on no similar occasion was she
known to have been so richly dressed ; but what
heightened the magnificence of her appearariCie was
a bouquet composed solely of brilliants. This was
a present recently sent over to the King from the
Nizam of the Deccan, and. riot, as wag malevolently
reported, an offering made to Her Majesty by that>
much injured man, the late Mr. Hastings. With
this bulse or packet of jewels, came over also six
'pair of crown birds pf the most beautiful desdrip^.
tion; and so very rare, that it was said they cost the
prince who sent them a sum little short of four
thousand pounds. W'v
, The attempt made Upon the Kings life by an in
sane woman, named Margaret Nicho|spn, on the se-
cpnd of August, this year, , drew rhore loyal ad
dresses to the throne than perhaps were ever known

Anecdote of.The Spanish ambassador ¦. 309
Upon ariy former occasion., Fortunately, the Queen
was unacquainted with what had happened till iri-
Formed of it by her royal consort himself. This- was
owing to an admirable presence of mind in the Mar->
quis del Campo, the Spanish ambassador, who,, the
moment he heard of the occurrence, went post to
Windsor, and obtained an interview of the Queen ;
not as a man of ordinary sagacity would have done,
to assure Her Majesty that jthe King had received
no injury from the knife of the assassin, hut solely
to engage her in conversation, and thereby to pre
vent her from hearing any thing of the transaction
till the King's arrival. In this design he happily
succeeded, and then took leave of their, majesties,
leaving the King.- to tell the stpry himself His
Majesty shook his excellency very heartily by the
hand, and assured him that he hardly knew any
man in the world tp whom he was BO much obliged.
On the fifteenth of the Same month, their majes
ties, with the three eldest princesses, paid a second
visit to Lord : and Lady Harcourt at Nuneham,
1 where they arrived about noon, and spent great parte
of the, day in viewing the new improvements carry
ing pn at tl$at. delightful seat, . . The next day being
Sunday, after attending divine service at Nuneham,
the King, Queen, and princesses, set out for Ox-
ford,-wherethey arrived about half past one o'clpck,
and were received by the viceTchancellor, the Duke
©fMarlbprojighj^and^e.pfficers of the University,
e ' x'a

310 their majesties visit oxford.
who ushered them into the divinity-school, from
whence in grand. possession they entered the theatre,
where the. King took the chancellors chair, the
Queen and the princesses being seated at his right
hand. After a voluntary had been played on the
organ, ¦¦ the vice-chancellor approached the. throne
with an address on His Majesty's happy deliverance,
to which the King made this reply :
" Such dutiful sentiments on my second visit to
this -90si of learning, accompanied by affectionate
congratulations on the protection of divine Provi
dence, manifested by the failure of the attempt on
my life, call forth my warmest thanks.- I am not
less sensible of your expressions towards theQueen.
The University of Oxford may ever depend on my
inclination to encourage every branch of science ;
as the more my subjects are enlightened, the more
they must be attached to the excellent constitution
established in this realm."
This unpremeditated reply, uttered in a very
feeling and impressive manner, had a sensible effect
upon all who heard it ; and indeed it must have
satisfied every one that the mind from whence-
such expressions flowed could be of no ordinary
character. On leaving the ifoeatre, the royal party went to
take a second view of the New College and its
beautiful windows ; after which they visited Wad-
ham and Trinity Colleges, a. which last they par-

AND BLENHEIM. 311
took of an elegant collation in the hall. From
thence they went to Lincoln and Brasenose Colleges,
and next to the council chamber of the city, to
receive the corporation with their address. After
inspecting the library and pictures at Christ Church,
the royal party returned to Nuneham to dinner,
about six o'clock. The next morning their majes
ties honoured the Duke of Marlborough with a
visit at Blenheim ; and on their entrance into the
park from Woodstock were saluted with the^iring
of eleven cannon, on the side of the Great Lake.
The duke and duchess, with their family, awaited
the arrival of the royal visitors on the steps of the
grand entrance, and conducted them through the
great hall, saloon, and suite of rooms on the west
side, to a splendid collation prepared for them in the
library. Their majesties proceeded from thence to
view the principal apartments of that noble monu
ment of national gratitude; after which they drove
round the park, and having, surveyed it at the most
striking points of view, they alighted near the cascade,
where they spent some time in admiring the improve
ments recently made by the duke, who received many
compliments from his august visitors on the excel
lence of his taste. The party then returned to the
house, where they spent some time in examining
the observatory, with its ample apparatus, and then
took leave of Blenheim for Nuneham.

312 ' DEATH OF THE PRINCESS' AMELIA.
On the thirty-first of October, the Princess
Amelia died at her house in Cavendish Square; in the
seventy-sixth year of her age. She was the second
daughter and last surviving issue of George the
Second, and his Queen Caroline. Her royal high
ness was born on the tenth of June, 1711, was never
man-ied, and had lived many years in rather a
private manner. She had a singular presentiment
that 'she should die in October, it being the month
that her father died : and it was not a little remarkable
that her favourite brother, the Duke of Cumberland,
should be carried off by an apoplectic stroke on the
very same day of the month. Jn the evening of the
eleventh of November, her remains were privately
interred in the royal vault in Henry the Seventh's
chapel at Westminster.
' The attention of the public about this time being
much excited by the success of Sunday schools,'
Her Majesty, who was ever ready to encourage all
practicable plans 'for the improvement of the rising
generation, expressed a desire to learn ; some parti
culars on the subjeot from Mr. Raikes, the founder
of those institutions. That gentleman accordingly
waited upon the Queen at Windsor, and in a long
conference developed the whole of the system, with
an account of the manner in which it originated.
Her Majesty was much interested. in the explana
tion; and at the conclusion observed that she envied

SUNDAY SCHOOLS, 313
those who had the power of doing good, by thus
personally promoting the welfare of society, in giv
ing instruction to the general mass. ¦»
Conformably to this benevolent and exalted sen
timent, when Her Majesty was informed that
Mrs. Trimmer, of Brentford, had laboured with great
success in the establishment of Sunday schools, and
schpols of industry, she signified her wish to see
that excellent woman, who in her Diary thus, notes
the circumstance : " November the nineteenth,
1 78.6. I have this day had the unexpected honour
of attending Her Majesty, and had inexpressible
pleasure in her sensible, humane, and truly Chris
tian conversatiori. May her pious design of
establishing Sunday schppls at Wmdspr be put in
execution','' Among other particulars in this edifying conver
sation, the Queen took notice of the want °f some
practical book on tile proper method of distributirig-
and regulating charity. Hortatory discPurses ori
the duty of benevolence and alms-giving, she ob
served, were sufficiently numerous ; but persons dis-'
posed to do good were at a loss for directions how
to carry their intentions into effect, in the most
satisfactory manner, without the danger of suffering;
by imposition.
The result of this discourse was a desire that
Mrs. Trimmer would publish a work on this express
subject; with which she readily complied, arid of

314 PATRONAGE OF MRS. TRIMMER.
which she afterwards gave this account, in a letter
to one of her friends :
" As you express your approbation of the Econo
my of Charity, I will give you a little history of the
occasion bf my writing it. Sometime in the last
autumn I received a message from the Queen,
desiring me to attend her at a certain hour; and I
accordingly waited on Her Majesty, who received
me with the most condescending kindness, and told
me she had heard of the success of the schools under
my inspection ; and being very anxious for their
establishment at Windsor, desired to have informa
tion from me on the subject. I was honoured with
a conference of two hours. It is impossible to do
justice to the charming manner in which the Queen
expressed the most benevolent sentiments, and the
tenderest regard for the happiness of the poor. My
Economy was written in consequence of this inter
view, and I was allowed to dedicate it to Her
Majesty." Mrs. Trimmer's correspondent says in her answer,
"Your favour rejoiced my heart, for I look on Her
Majesty's sending for you as a most happy circum
stance. Your abilities, the excellency of your heart,
arid your zeal for promoting virtue, are such that no
one could be more judiciously chosen. I hope in
God our beloved Queen will be the patroness of the
Sunday schools: it is an event most devoutly to be
wished: her example will cause them to be uni-

PATRONAGE OF MRS. TRIMMER. 315
versa! : they will soon be extended over the whole
kingdom." This good lady's wish was accomplished ; for the
Queen not only gave her name and sanction to
these institutions, but she took a lively concern in
them ; and it rejoiced her much that she had
found a woman so eminently qualified to assist her
benevolent intentions as Mrs. Trimmer was in
every respect.
The following letter to a lady, who enjoyed the
particular confidence of Her Majesty, shews how
sensible Mrs.' Trimmer was of the honour conferred
upon her, and With what ardour she laboured to
turn it most effectually into the means of promoting
the welfare of her fellow creatures :
" I return you many thanks," Says she, " for your
kind attentions in sending to Mr. Gainsborough's
the ticket which Her Majesty had the goodness to
give me for the abbey. I was very fortunate in
being seated agreeably to my wishes ; and need not
tell you that the entertainment far exceeded the
highest idea I had been able to form of it. I feel
myself particularly happy in the honour Her
Majesty does me, in desiring to have the plan of our
Brentford schools adopted at Windsor. Every
day's experience convinces me more and more of the
great national benefits which may be expected to
arise from this mode of giving religious instruction
to the poor; and as Her Majesty has graciously

3l6 SCHOOL OF INDUSTRY.
condescended to become a patroness to the institu
tion, in the place of her own immediate residence,
it would be a public misfortune should it fail there,
through want of vigilance in the conductors of it ;
the only circumstance, I think, that can render it
ineffectual. Whenever it is convenient for you,
Madam, I shall be happy to see you ; and if you
can point out any way in which my humble services
may be useful in promoting the accomplishment of
Her Majesty's benevolent wish for the success of
the Windsor schools,; I shall gladly embrace the
opportunity of exerting them. I have the happiness
to see the powerful efficacy of royal example, in. tlie
flattering attention paid to my Economy of Charitjr.
Numerous applications have been made since the
publication of it, by ladies who are blessed with the
means of doing good, for information respecting the
plans proposed in it; and as far as I have had an
opportunity of observing, a general, joy prevails
among the conductors of Sunday schools, that Her
Majesty deigns to give an additional proof of her
tender compassion for the lpwest of the people, by
noticing the institution."
The school of industry formed by Mrs. Trimmer
at Brentford, about this time, gave great pleasure to
their majesties, who visited it in person, and be
haved, in the kindest manner to the, children.
This charity, as its name imported, combined th©
two great objects of religious instruction and useftd,

ECONOMY OF CHARITY. 31JT
employment ; the latter consisting chiefly of spirit
ning flax with a wheel upon a new construction^
the mechanism of which was narrowly inspected,-
and much admired hy the King.
Of the excellence of the principle on which the
royal acts pf benevolence were regulated, a very
striking evidence appeared in the dresses worn at
court on new year's day, 1787, by Her Majesty and
the two elder princesses : the lace and materials
being the entire manufacture of the female establish
ment, supported at the sole expense of the Queen,
for bringing up in an accomplished manner the
daughters of poor clergymen and decayed tradesmen*
It should be here added, that besides this, and a
number of other schools, Her Majesty instituted
another about this time at Windsor, for the main
tenance of upwards of twenty girls, who on Easter
Sunday received new cloathing and presents, accord-^
ing to the progress which they had made, and the
character they bore upon examination. The object
pf this seminary was to train up young females as
household servants in good families.
Thus did the Queen regulate all her charities with
discretion, and direct them on a steady plan of
utility, for the benefit of the public, as well as of the
individuals who were assisted and supported by her
bounty. The charge of the archangel to the protoplast of

318 GAINSBOROUGH THE PAINTER.
the human race seems to have been ever in her
mind:

-Only add

Deeds tQ thy knowledge answering ; add faith,
Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love?
By name to come call'd Charity, the soul
Of all the rest ; then wilt thou not be loth
To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess
A Paradise within thee happier1 far.
The Queen continued to hold Mrs. Trimmer in
great esteem through life, on account of 'her talents,
and the use which she made of them1; but the par
tiality was increased perhaps by the circumstance
that the father, of this accomplished WOman, the
late Mr. Joshua Kirby, had the honour of teaching
both their majesties the art of drawing in perspective ;
and it should be mentioned also, that he was the
means of introducing Gainsborough to the royal
patronage, which that excellent artist ever remem
bered with gratitude ; and just before his death he
made it his request to be buried in Kew church
yard, near the grave of his friend.
Gainsborough appears to have been the favourite
painter of Her Majesty, for whom he executed an
admirable whole-length of the King; he painted also
most of the princes and princesses. The last com
mission which he received from the Queen was for a

VISIT TO MR. WHITBREAD. 310,
portrait of the Duke of York ; and this marked atten
tion Gainsborough always dwelt upon with great
delight and exultation.
On the twenty-sixth of June, this year, their
majesties, accompanied by the three elder prin
cesses, and the Dukes of Montagu and Ancaster,
went to view the porter-brewery of Mr. Whitbread
in Chiswell Street. They were received at the door
by Mr. Whitbread and his daughter ; when, after
politely declining the breakfast that had been pro
vided, they immediately went over the buildings.
The steam-engine took up their attention above
half-an-hour, during which time the King explain -
ed the leading movements of the machinery in a
manner that clearly shewed his scientific knowledge.
The stone cistern raised such wonder, that the
Queen and princesses would needs go into it, though
with some difficulty, as the aperture was very small ;
but the sight abundantly rewarded them for their
trouble, the vessel being of such capacity as to hold
four thousand barrels of, beer* . ,
After minutely viewing every part of the premises,
they retired to the dwelling-house, and partook of a
handsome cold collation, on a service of plate. The
board was furnished with every kind of wine ; and
there was that, without which the regalernent would
not have been complete, old porter poured from a
bottle of extraordinary: size; At two o'clock the
royal party left Chiswell Street, 4»i§hly gratifiei

320 PRIVATE THEATRICALS.
With their reception, and the plain, hospitable matt*
her of Mr. Whitbread, who was no less delighted
with the affability and condescension of his ill us^>
tnous visitors,
A very novel and agreeable entertainment took
place a feW days after this, at the Queen's housed
where, in the great cartoon chamber, Mr: John
Kemble and his sister read the whole of the comedy
of the Jealous Wife, in the presence of their .majes*
ties, and a select party of the nobility ; Mrs. Siddons
taking the -parts of Mrs. Oakley, Major Oakley,
Harriet, Russet, and Lord Trinket; her brother
reading Mr. Oakley, Paris, and John. The reading
commenced about nine o'clock, sand ended a little
before twelve; but, during the acts, the company
took refreshirients,- which were laid out abundantly
in the adjoining rooms*
It should be observed, that at this period there
was an extraordinary rage for private theatricals,
and many persons, of distinction were ambitious of
the sock and buskin. Several domestic theatres
were erected, where these amateurs of the , drama
displayed their histrionic talents to brilliant assem
blages of applauding friends. Among the nobility
who patronized this fashionable species of amuse*
ment, the late Duke Of Richmond was by far the
most prominent and spirited ; and his house may
truly be said to have, been completely crowded
through the season. .Their majesties, with five prin*

TRIAL OF HASTINGS;. &2j
cesses, honoured this theatre with their presence
more than once : the first time to see Murphy's
comedy of the Way to Keep Him, and the last
Mrs. Centlivre's lively play of the Wonder. At
the former exhibition, an appropriate prologue and
epilogue were spoken,, the latter written by General
Burgoyne, and delivered by the Honorable Mrs.
Damer, concluded, with the following allusive lines :
Such are the gifts th' attentive loves should bring ;
A hoop of gems to guard the bridal ring.
Need I here point to virtues more sublime ;
Unchang'd by fashion, unimpair'd by. time ;
To higher duties of connubial ties, '
To mutual blessings that from duties rise ?
Your looks, your hearts, the bright assemblage owtlj
Which Heav'n to emulative life has shown,
And plac'd in double, lustre on a throne.
This year was rendered remarkable by the Com
mencement of the trial of Warren Hastings ; at the
opening of which, the Queen, in a very plain dress,
accompanied by the princesses Augusta, Elizabeth,
and Mary, appeared in the gallery of the Duke of
Newcastle. It was indeed; a spectacle worthy of
royal curiosity, as well for the splendour of the
scene itself, as for the combination of talents which
it called forth ;¦ and yet who is there that now looks
back upon this pompous exhibition with any other
feelings than those of adrniratipn at a sight pro-

322 VISIT TO CHELTENHAM.
nounced by the ancient moralist as the sublimest
iri the world— that of a good man struggling with
adversity. Through life, the King had enjoyed an almost
uninterrupted state of good health, owing to habi
tual regularity and exercise ; but in the middle of
the summer, this year, he -began. to complain of
indigestion and bilious symptoms, for which ;he was
advised to try the waters of Cheltenham. Accord
ingly, Bayshill Lodge, built fpr the late Earl of
Fauconberg,« was taken for their majesties, who, on
the twelfth of July, with the Princess-Royal, Prin
cess Augusta, and Princess Elizabeth, set put, frpm
Windsor, a quarter before seven in thg, morning,
and proceeded to Lord Harcourt's seat.in Oxford
shire, wher,e they staid abOut two hours, and then
continued their journey tp Cheltenham^ which place
they reached a little before five in the afternoon.
The next day being Sunday, the royal family
attended divine service at the parish church, where
a sermon was preached by Dr. Samuel Hallifax,
Bishop of Gloucester. On the following morning,
about six o'clock, the King was upon' the.' Walks at
Cheltenham, and drank the water; which early hour
was his daily custom during his stay ; and after
breakfast he rode out with the Queen and prin
cesses, making excursions round the country," but
generally appearing again on the walks between six
and seven in the evening.

VISIT TO GLOUCESTER. 323
On the sixteenth, after going to the Spa, the
Toyal visitors, with their suit, Set out for Tewkes
bury, where they viewed the inside of the church,
with what else was worthy of attention, and re
turned to Cheltenham. As His Majesty rode into
Tewkesbury, the people stood upon the walls of the
bridge to see him pass ; on which, the monarch
observing the danger of the situation, humanely
addressed them in these words : " My good people,
I am afraid that some oftyou may fall. Don't run
such hazards for the sake of seeing your king. I
will ride as slowly as you please, that you may all
see him^v
On the nineteenth, their majesties and the prin
cesses went to Cirencester, and from thence to
Oakley Grove, the delightful and classical seat of
Lord Bathurst, with the beauty of which they were
highly pleased.
The city of Gloucester next had the honour of a
royal visit, where their majesties and the three
princesses were received at the episcopal palace by
the bishop, who, attended by the dean and chapter,
addressed the King on the occasion, as also did the
mayor and corporation, all of whom kissed the
King's hand, and were introduced by him to the
Queen. Their majesties afterwards visited the ca
thedral and the deanry, where the King entered
into a good deal of conversation with the venerable
Dr. Josiah fucker, the dean, who made many apo-

324 VISIT TO WORCESTER.
logiesfor the unprepared condition of his house, and
particularly the library, which was indeed in a ludic
rous state of confusion. From thence the royal party
returned to the palace ; and after waiting a short
time for the Carriages, returned in the afternoon to
Cheltenham '.' '
On the following Tuesday, their majesties arid
the princesses dined with the 'Earl Of Coventry,
who displayed all the hospitality'of the ancient
nobility in the reception of his illustrious guests ;
for, besides the splendid entertainment within' the
house, he caused the cellar doors to be thrown
open to regale the immense multitudes j^iat were
assembled on the outside.
At an early hour, on the second of August, the
King and Queen rode to Hartlebury Castle, the
episcopal residence of Bishop Hurd, with whom
they breakfasted; after which; they walked through
the grounds, and remained for some time upon the
terrace, to gratify the numerous spectators^ who
flocked thither from all parts of the country. ' On
the fifth, their majesties again visited the bishop at
his palace in the city, for the purpose of attend
ing the musical mep**flgof the three choirs of Wor
cester, Gloucester, and Hereford. The next morn
ing the King received the clergy in the great hall,
when the bishop,' after addressing His Majesty,
made a complimentary speech to the Queen, who
' replied in a very gracious hianner; after which, the

VISIT TO WORCESTER. 325
reverend body had the honour to kiss her hand, as
they also did that of His Majesty. At eleven the
cathedral service began, in which was introduced
the overture in Esther, Handel's Dettingen Te
Deum, arid the Coronation Anthem. Their ma
jesties sat upon an occasipnal throne, the nobility,
clergy, and magistrates, being disposed on each side.
Thursday morning the royal family were again
present at the cathedral, when a selection from the
music of Handel was most ably performed. On
Friday morning, the corporation, conducted by Lord
Coventry, as the recorder, waited ori the King, to
request that he would honour them with a visit at
the town hall, to which His Majesty graciously
assented, and a grand procession accordingly took
place ; the various trades with their streamers lead
ing the way, the maces borne by the aldermen, and
the mayor carrying the sword of state, After view
ing the pictures, the regalia, and every thing cu
rious, His Majesty was shewn into the grand par
lour, where an elegant cold collation was provided.
As it was known that the King never took any
liquor before dinner, the mayor asked him if he,
would be pleased to take a jelly, when His Majesty
replied : " I do not recollect ever drinking a glass of
wine before dinner in my life, yet, upon this pleasing
occasion, I Will venture." A glass of rich old moun
tain being then served by the mayor, His Majesty
immediately drank " prosperity to the corporation
Y 2

326 VISIT TO WORCESTER.
and citizens of Worcester." This was no sooner
made known to the populace, than a universal shout
of acclamation arose, which continued for several
minutes. v The King then addressing himself to the
corporation, asked whether there was any thing
that he could oblige them with ; upon which, the
Earl of Coventry, in his capacity of recorder, re
plied on the behalf of his fellow-citizens, " that
they tendered their sincere and grateful thanks for
the honour His Majesty had done the city of Wor
cester; and that if he would be graciously pleased
to sit for his picture, to be placed in their hall, he
would gratify their highest wishes." To this the
King answered, " Certainly, gentlemen, I cannot
hesitate to grant you that favour, or any other
which you can reasonably expect."
The picture was accordingly sent, and two others,
one of the King, and the other of the Queen, as
presents to the bishop, by whom they were placed
in thp great drawing-room of the episcopal palace,
with a commemorative inscription, written by his
lordship. The visit to the corporation being ended, the
royal family again repaired to the cathedral, where
the Messiah was performed, which concluded the
musical festival; and in the evening there was a
grand miscellaneous concert, which the royal visitors
honoured with their presence. The next morning
their majesties and the princesses left Worcester ;

DEPARTURE FROM CHELTENHAM. 327
and at going away, the Queen put fifty pounds into
the hands of the bishop for the poor of the city, in
addition to the same sum from the King, who also
gave three hundred pounds towards releasing the
debtors in the city, and county jails.
Early on Thursday morning, the sixteenth, their
majesties left Cheltenham, to visit Lord Ducie and
Sir George Paul, of which previous intimation had
been given. They passed through Painswick about
half after eight, and arrived at Stroud between nine
and ten. ? Every testimony of attachment that a
well-affected people could shew was evinced on this
joyful occasion ; and a very respectable party, of
gentlemen conducted the royal visitants through
the clpthing district, exerting themselves in exhi
biting the objects peculiar to this part of the
county. After a most condescending attention to
the whole process of the woollen manufacture, their
majesties and the princesses partook of a dejeune at
Hill House, and then proceeded to Spring Park,
the seat of Lord Ducie, where they were enter
tained with a cold collation.
On Friday evening, which was the last their ma
jesties spent at Cheltenham, they honoured the
theatre with a visit, and received the gratulations of
the audience with the utmost courtesy. Early the
ne*t morning they took leave of the town, which
had been enlivened by their presence ; and where,
during their stay, they endeared themselves to all

328 ANECDOTE.
ranks of people by their v condescension and good
ness. When the King first went thither, he was
asked what guards should accompany him, which
question he answered by saying; " I shall take none :
can I have better guards than my people ?"
One morning, when His Majesty was taking his
usual walk alone, after drinking the water, he met a
farmer in a great hurry. " So, friend^" said the
King, " you seem to be very warm." — " YesJ Sir,"
said the man, " I came a long way ; for I want to
see the King."— -" Well, my friend," observed His
Majesty, " here is something to refresh you after
your journey," giving him half a guinea. "But
where, worthy Sir," said the man, " can I see the
King?" — "Friend," replied the monarch, "you see
him before you.'' ,

329

CHAPTER XV.
Illness of the King. — His Majesty removed to Kew. — He
is entrusted to the Care of Dr. Willis. — Jealousy of the
other Physicians. — Resentment of Dr. Warren.— Dis
cussions in Parliament on the Regency. — Anxious Care
of the Queen. — Her Fortitude. — Recovery of the King.
-^-Address to Her Majesty. -^Illuminations.— Cowper's
Poem. — Drawing-Room.— Conduct of Bishop Watson.
—Anecdotes of Mr. Justice Hardinge. — Queen's Gala
at Windsor. — Visit to C&vent-Garden Theatre, -^Pro
cession to St. Pauls. — Princess-Roy aVs F&te. — Galas
of the French and Spanish Ambassadors. — King's Birth-
Day. — Singular Occurrence in the Ball Room.

The joy occasioned hy the apparent improve
ment of His Majesty's health was soon converted
into gloom on its being known that the royal func
tions were suspended.
On the twenty-first pf August, a drawing-room
was held at St. James's, which was very much
Crowded by the nobility, who offered their congra
tulations on the amended state of the King ; but
appearances were fallacious, and in the middle of
October His Majesty was attacked with fever and
other complaints of a bilious kind, but npt so as to
prevent him .from attending a leyee on the twenty-
fourth pf the same month, when the court was again
very numerous. In tlie evening of that day, the

330. _ THE KINGS ILLNESS.
King returned to Windsor, where the malady
increased to such an alarming degree, that at the
beginning of November Sir George Baker found it
necessary to call in Dr. Warren, and Mr. Battis-
combe, of Windsor ; the latter at the express desire
of His Majesty himself. On the arrival of Dr.
Warren at the Queen's Lodge, he found Dr. He
berden there, ' who, as residing near Windsor, had
been invited to the consultation by Her Majesty,
with whom that excellent physician was always a
great favourite. The result of this meeting was the
application of a blister to the head of the royal
patient, who as yet retained the possession of his
senses, though he complained much of an intoler*
able oppression on the brain, In spite of bleeding,
topical applications, and James's powders, the fever
Continued with unabated violence, and delirium
naturally ensued, Towards the end of the month,
however, advantage was taken of a temporary calm
ness to remove His Majesty from Windsor to Kew,
which journey he bore extremely well ; but the
disorder remained the same, or at least with very
little abatement, By this time it was 'Seemed
necessary to procure additional medical assistance ;
and among the rest Dr. Francis Willis, of Stretford,
near Grantham, in Lincolnshire, whose celebrity in
the treatment of mental diseases induced the Lord
Chancellor Thurlow to recommend him to Her Ma
jesty. The doctor was a clergyman, and rector of
St, John's, Wapping, Which living he obtained as.

ACCOUNT OF DOCTOR WILLIS. 331
an option, in right of his fellowship, from Brasenose
College, Oxford. Previous to this, he resided on a
small donative in Lincolnshire, Where, having a turn
for physic, he was enabled to be of service to his
parishioners. The success of his practice, particu
larly in disorders of the brain, increased the number
of his patients, which roused the jealousy of the
faculty to such a pitch, that they threatened him
with a prosecution. Indignant at such unworthy
usage, he proceeded to his bachelor's degree in
physic at Oxford, and thus became more than a
match for the Scotch doctors, who envied his repu
tation- After -this, he took a large mansion for the
reception of lunatics; and many, who had been pro
nounced incurable by men of eminence, were by
his treatment restored to reason and their friends.
But though Dr. Willis was neither an obscure
nor an empirical practitioner, his appointment in the
present instance excited much jealousy in some of
the royal physicians, particularly Dr. Warren, Who
could" not even conceal his resentment within mo
derate bounds. The difference in their opinions
respecting the disorder of the King, and its probable
duration, tended to inflame the passions of Dr.
Warren, who was naturally of a warm temperament^
and when he perceived that the person, whom he
looked upon as an intruder, possessed the confidence
of the Queen, he became irritated to excess. The
reason of this < partiality towards Dr. Willis was

332 MEDICAL DIFFERENCES.
sufficiently obvious, and amiable, since it arose fron\
the encouragement given by him to Her Majesty's
hopes in the assurance which he held out of a.
speedy recovery; whereas Dr. Warren took a gloomy.
view of the case, and at last pronounced it absolutely,
desperate. The rest of the physicians acted with
greater caution in the delivery of their judgment,
and with more liberality towards;Dr. WUlis, who,
however, found his situation extremely critical and
difficult under- such' peculiar- circumstances, and
amidst such jealous associates. /
In the mean time,, the situation of the sove
reign came necessarily under the consideration of
the two branches of the legislature, where the sus
pension of the royal functions, and the question of
supplying them in the present exigency, occasioned
more violence of debate than had ever been known
in the English annals since the disputes in the con
vention parliament on the abdication of the throne
by James the Second.
The examination of the physicians was <gbnducted
with an inquisitive minuteness, which reflected
little credit upon the dignity of a great assembly ;
and incidental circumstances were thus related,
which respect for private feeling and commen
decorum ought to have concealed. But what mo
deration was to be expected, when the first of ora
tors, in the vehemence of his passions, could dare,
without trembling, to say that thft Almighty had

PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION. 333
been pleased to smite the sovereign with his
hand, and that he had hurled him from the throne,
and put him in the condition of the meanest peasant
in the country ?
The language and allusion of this extravagant
flight were equally odious and revolting to the sen
timents of humanity : but the intemperate zeal mani
fested to uphold the opinion of Dr. Warren, on the
incurableness of His Majesty's complaint, carried
with it a far more malign appearance. What Was
still worse than all the rest, attempts were made to
create prejudices against the Queen, on account of
the confidence which she placed in the judgment of
Dr. Willis, preferably to that of his opponent, Dr.
Warren, who even went so far as to charge Her Ma
jesty, indirectly, with causing some of the reports
to be altered more favourably than the latter would
allow. In answer to this, Dr. Willis, when examined
before the committee of the House of Commons,
observed, that Her Majesty had an account of the
King's health every hour, and that this statement
must of necessity be frequently more favourable
than the St. James's account, which was only taken
in a morning, when the symptoms always appeared
the worst ; therefore, he considered this last to be
less favourable than strictly true.
Dr. Warren, who evinced through the whole of
this melancholy affair a most tenacious adhesive
ness to his firj£ opinion, next found fault with

334 ROYAL INTERVIEW.
Dr. Willis, for having introduced the Queen and1
some of the royal children to His Majesty, which
had produced a considerable emotion, though the
interview was but short. The answer to this was as
follows : " I am very sure that such occurrences
can scarce be too frequent, as it comforts the pa*
tient to think he is with his family, and that they
are affectionate to him : and upon enquiries of pa
tients who have been cured of the same indispo
sition, they have always mentioned those occur
rences as having given them the greatest comfort;
and, as they thought, helped very much towards a
recovery." Dr. Willis went on to describe the
meeting of His Majesty with the Queen and the
youngest princess, as extremely moving and affect
ing. ¦" The King," said he, " shewed the greatest
marks of paternal affection for the princess, and of
attention to the Queen, with whom he conversed
for the space of a quarter of an hour." But though
the doctor was present all the time of this interview;
he professed himself not a judge whether His Ma
jesty's conversation was disordered at the end or
not, as he spoke several sentences in German, but
at the conclusion of the meeting, the King took leave
of the Queen and princess very properly.
The scandalous reflection upon Her Majesty,
for having caused a favourable report to be issued
in regard to the improved state of her royal consort,
was repelled by Mr. Pitt in very indignant terms*

DEFENCE OP THE 0.UEEN. 33d
" If," he observed, " gentlemen intended to ground
any argument on that point, he hoped they would
be explicit, and rise superior to any insinuation
with respect to a great personage who had resided
near thirty years amongst us, and on whose cha
racter not even slander dared attempt to fix a
stain-" Into the history of the proceedings that took
place on the subject of the Regency, it is not here
necessary to enter any farther than as the Queen was
immediately concerned. Amidst all the acrimony,
however, which the agitation of that important mea
sure produced, an universal testimony was borne to
the meritorious conduct of Her Majesty; ahd though
the proposition for entrusting her with the sole
direction of the household, as well as the care of
the king's person, assisted by a council, met with
warm resistance, no one presumed to throw out
any imputation upon her integrity. Mr. (now
Earl) Grey, while he opposed the resolution for
vesting these powers in the Queen, " agreed with
every panegyric on Her Majesty: he loved her
virtues," he said ; " and what he loved her for par
ticularly, and what the country loved her for was,
that she had never joined any party, any cabal, or
interfered in politics : and such a character he did
not think Her Majesty would be very ready to
lose." Among other artful objections raised against this.

336 ADDRESS TO THE ftUEEN.

v

investiture, one of the most scandalous was the re
presenting it as tending to create differences between
the Regent and his mother; and it was even alleged!
that the bare proposition had already produced
that effect : on which the chancellor in the upper
house took occasion to assert that the Prinee of
Wales and the Queen were on the best of terms,
and that it was only those who wished for dissensions
who published the contrary — nay, he would go
further, and give it as his opinion, that whatever
influence Her Majesty possessed would be given
to her son, in forwarding all such measures as
tended to the benefit of the empire.
These were not random expressions, thrown out
in the heat- of debate, but the result of an intimate
acquaintance with the royal personages.
The resolutions, at length, were carried through
both houses, who joined in an address, humbly
desiring Her Majesty to take under her care those
important trusts, as soon as an act should be passed
for that purpose; to which the following answer
was returned :
'" My Lords and Gentlemen,
'*' My duty and gratitude to the King, and the
same I must ever entertain of my great obligations
to this country, will certainly engage my most
earnest attention to the anxious and momentous
trust intended to be reposed in me by parliament.

ROYAL ANXIETY. ¦ 337
It will be a great consolation to me to receive the
aid of a council, of which I shall stand so much
in need, in discharge of a duty wherein the hap
piness of my futrire life is, indeed, deeply in
terested,' but which, a higher object, the happiness
Of a great, loyal, and affectionate people, fenders
still more important."
In the debate on the clause relative to the privy
"purse df His Majesty, much was said about the
allowance of sixteen thousand a-year to the Queen
for purposes unknown to parliament, which elicited
this most satisfactory informatipn, that of this sum
twelve thousand pourids were to pay an established
list of Charities : and the remaining four thousand
to enable Her Majesty to continue benefactions
to persoris who were not ori the list, but who had
hitherto received the royal bounty to that amount.
Throughout this severe trial, the pious fortitude
• fof Her Majesty continued unshaken, and though
' she could not 'but suffer much acute anxiety under
the distressing visitation, nothing like impatience
or despondency appeared in her deportment. .
Mariy were the flights that she sat up, without
"taking any sleep at all ; and When at length she was
persuaded to retire to rest, her slumbers Were
short and disturbed by solicitous enquiries" about
' her afflicted consort.
In the day, the Queen was not less troubled,

33$ PARLIAMENTARY CONFLICTS.
as besides the painful concern which she felt for the
King, whose condition was reported to her some*
times twice in the hour, Bhe had to attend consul
tations on the proceedings then going on in parlia
ment. It was impossible in the course of these con
ferences to keep Her Majesty ignorant of the political
conflict to which this melancholy exigency had given
rise, and of the strenuous efforts that were making
to deprive . her of a trust to which she was so emi
nently entitled. That her sensibility was wounded
by these fierce disputes is certain ; and the wonder
Would have been if she had remained indifferent
under such ungenerous attempts to destroy her
hopes by weakening her influenoe. Providence,
however, rewarded the unremitting care and firm
ness of Her Majesty, by suddenly withdrawing the
heavy cloud that had so long eclipsed her comfort.
Just as the regency bill approached its last stage,
the mind of the King emerged from the obscurity
in which it had been for three months involved,
and he awoke, as it Were out of a dream, to the full
possession of his faculties.
"I have been in a strange delirium for some
days," said the King ; and on being answered that
the period was much longer, he paused, raised his
eyes in thankfulness to Heaven, and said no more
on the subject. This happy posture of the royal
mind was stated to the House of Lords by the chan
cellor, on the twenty-fourth of February, when an

PARLIAMENTARY ADDRESSES. 339
adjournment took place ; and on the tenth of the
following month a message Was delivered' from His
Majesty to both houses of parliament, anrionfticing
his perfect recovery. Addresses were in conse
quence moved to the King, foil of loyal sentiments,
oughts joyfril eVerit ; and each house sent a message
also of congratulation to the Queen, whose conduct
had endeared her to the country, and whose ex
emplary and brilliant virtues were looked Up to
with- the h%hest tteapect and admiration by every
prince and" every court of Europe* Such was the
language of the lower house,, on addressing: Her
Majesty, who replied as follows :
(f I thank youfbr this -signal mark of your atten
tion, Which affords me the highest satisfaction.
The evident marks of anxiety which were shewn
by die Mouse of Commons, and by the people at
large, during His Majesty's indisposition,, were the
best solace of my affliction ; and the joy and loyalty
which- have appeared in every rank of Has Majesty's
subjects on his recovery;' afford the best proof of the
attachment of a loyal, a free, and a generous people
to their sovereign."
It should be observed here; that before His Ma
jesty entered upon.' the^ discharge of any public
office* he thought it hid duty to attend divine wor*

340 PUBLIC REJOICINGS.
ship in the private chapel at Kew ; after which, the
King, Queen, and three elder princesses, received
the holy sacrament, with truly thankful hearts.
Never did this, or perhaps any other nation, mani
fest such enthusiastic transports of joy as were dis
played spontaneously on the restoration of the mo
narch to the exercise of the royal functions, and the
bosom of his family. The illuminations in and
about the metropolis, for several nights, particularly
that of the seventeenth of March, surpassed all de
scription. Every square, street, and alley, exhibitecj
testimonies of loyal affection, in ablaze of splendour;
while to heighten the spectacle, a throng of carriages
and foot-passengers paraded the streets all night long.
The palace at Kew was illuminated in a very
elegant manner, under the particular direction of
Her Majesty. Against the wall opposite the front
of the house was a most splendid arrangement of
variegated lamps ; in the centre of which spectacle
was a large transparency, representing Esculapius
holding up towards Heaven a medallion of the
King, on whose head Providence, in a female form
appeared in the act of dropping a laurel, while Bri
tannia, kneeling, seemed eager to receive the mo
narch, with a countenance expressive Of gratitude.
Over the picture was a pediment of lamps, sur
mounted by a crown, having beneath it this inscrip
tion : " G. III. the beloved father of his, peopled

ILLUMINATIONS. 341
Under all were the following lines :
Our prayers are heard, and Providence restores
A patriot king to bless Britannia's shores ;
But not to Britain is the bliss confin'd ;
All Europe hails the friend of human kind.
If such the general joy, what words can shew
The change to transport from the depths of woe,
In those permitted to embrace again
The best of fathers, husbands, and of men' ?
t
On each side of the picture was a pilaster of
lamps, and at each gate an arch of lamps, with
festoons and . coronets of the same, between the
arches and pillars, forming a tasteful display pf
light. The King on that day dined at Windsor, where
the joy of the people was unbounded on beholding
him once more among them ; but Her Maje3ty and
the three elder princesses remained at Kew, from
whence, in the evening, they proceeded to the
house of Lord Bathurst in Piccadilly, for the pur
pose of seeing the illuminations. Having taken
some refreshment; the royal party set off in a coach
belonging to one of the ladies of the household, for
the city; and after driving through the principal
streets and sqriares for about three hours, they
returned to Kew, where, to their great surprise,
though it was two o'clock in the morning, the
King appeared to open the door of the carriage,
z 2

342 POETICAL DESCRIPTION.
and to receive from them the account of their en
tertainment. Of this excursion, Cowper wrote a
poetical description, which, though not equal t©
his other works, merits insertion in this plape.
When long sequestred from his throne,
George took hi? seat again,
By right of worth, not blood alone,
Entitled here to reign 5
Then Loyalty, with all his lamps
New trimm'd, a gallant show !
Chasing the darkness and the damps,
Set London in a glow.
'Twas hard to tell of streets, or squares,
Which form'd the ehief display ;
The most resembling cluster'd stars,
Those the long milky way.
Bright shone the roofs, the domes, thp spires,
And rockets flew self driven,
To hang their momentary fires
Amid the vault of heaven.
Had all the pageants of the world
In one procession join'd,
And aU the banners been unfurl'd
That heralds e'er design'd ;
For no s^ob sight. h«wl England's Queen
Forsaken her retreat,
Where George recover'd made a scene
Sweet, always doubly sweet.
Yet glad she came that night, to prove
A witness undescricd,
Hpw much the qbject of Be a love
_Was lov'd by all bes$e.

POETICAL DESCRIPTION. 343
Darkness the skies had mantled o'er
In aid of her design-
Darkness, oh Queen ! ne'er call'd before
To veil a deed of thine.
On borrow'd wheels away she flies,
Resolv'd to he unknown,
And gratify no curious eyes
That night, except her own.
Arriv'd, a night life© noon she sees,
And hears the million hum,
As all by instinct, like the beesj
Had known their Sovereign come.
Pleas'd, she beheld aloft pourtray'd,
On many a splendid wall,
Emblems of health, and heavenly aid,
And George die theme of all: .
Unlike the terrors of that line
So difficult to spell,
Which shook Belshazzar at his wine
The night his city fell.
Soon watry grew her eyes, and dim,
But with a joyful tear ;
Worfe else, except in prayer for him,
George ever crrewfi'dm her;
Ifi was a scene in every part
Like those in fable feign'd,
Arid seem'd by some magician's art -
Created and sustain'd.
But other magic there she knew
Had been exerted none,
To raise such wonder in a view,
Save love of George alone.

344 qlueen's drawing-room.
That cordial thought her spirit cheer'd,
And through the cumbrous throng,
Not else unworthy to be fear' d,
Convey'd her calm alo rig.
So ancient poets say, serene,
The sea-maid rides the waves,
And, fearless of the billowy scene,
Her peaceful bosom laves.
With more than astronomic eyes
She view'd the brilliant show ;
, One Georgian Star adorns the skies,
She myriads found below.
Yet, let the glories of a night,
Like that, once seen, suffice :
Heaven grant us no such future sight,
Such previous woe the price !
The first drawing-room held by Her Majesty
this year was on the twenty-sixth of March ; and
one of equal brilliancy perhaps was never witnessed.
It was like the dawning of a beautiful morning in
spring, after a dark and tempestuous night. The
Queen wore round her neck a medallion, tied with
a double row of gold chain, and across her shoul
ders was another chain of three rows of pearls, and
five rows of diamonds, fastened low behind, to
which was suspended before a fine miniature of
the King, studded with diamonds. In the front
of Her Majesty's hair the words " God save the
King" were set in a rich cluster of diamonds. All

RESENTMENT OF BISHOP WATSON. 34&
the princesses and ladies present had some allusive
devices and mottoes of similar import. Her Ma
jesty sat in a chair of state, under a canopy very
richly laced; but it was observed, or fancied, that
in the reception of the company she appeared to
make a distinction according to the part the visitors
had respectively taken in the late crisis.
That the Queen felt agitated in the presence of
men who had so recently contributed to aggravate
her sorrows, may easily be conceived; and it would
have indicated either apathy or hypocrisy if she
had deported herself without seeming to know the
difference between tried friend's and time-serving
sycophants. Among the latter was Dr. Watson,
Bishop of Landaff, who has left in his posthumous
publication a most scurrilous invective against the
Queen, for having treated him with coolness,
amounting to disrespect, when he presented himself
at the levee. How far Her Majesty merited cen
sure, or whether in fact she was not perfectly justi
fied in acting as she did, a simple statement of the
truth will shew. When the indisposition of the
King became known, this restless and ambitious
prelate was at Cambridge, watching the issue; but
the instant he was informed of the death of Dr.
Shipley, Bishop of St. Asaph, he posted up to
town, and made his appearance in the House of.
Lords, where he delivered a- flaming speech in
favour of an unrestricted regency; besides which,

346 »IS POjUCY pEKEATED.
he joined in a potest against the powers granted to
the Queen and her council. The bishop was the
only man of k& order who took an active part in
this, delicate business for though Dr. WHson, of
Bristol,, voted On the same dde, he did it silently.
The motive <®f Watson was too ofesrioas to be mis*
taken; and had the King remawaBd in a state of
My>ral incapacity long enough for the. operation of
the regency biM, the desired translation wouJd,
beyond question, hme been the reward of bis zeal
and officioU'Sness. But his hopes were blasted by
the recovery, of the King; on which bis lprdship
drew up two addresses for his, clergy ; one to. His
Majesty, and the other to the Queen. In the latter
were these expressions ; " Sensible of the influence
©jf royal example;, we have always thought that
ypur majesty was entitled to: the thanks of the king^
4pm for the proofs you haye uniformly given,
during a long residence amongst us, of the. sincerity;
of your piety* of the amiableness aud purity of
your manners as a Queen, as a wife, and as a
mother. But if yonr majesty, could have claimed
qujt regard on any other, account the tenderness
andjeeneern you have>sltt©wfn foe a beloved monarch,
during his. late unhappy situation, would haye
secured to yon the, grateful attachment of a loyal
people," *SneJ*> was the tributary respect paid to the Queen
by this, bishop, on his. pwn behalf andi that of hi*

HIS DUPLICITY. 34JT
clergy; and yet at the time of his presenting it he
did not think Her Majesty deserving of the compli
ments which the address contained. By his own
account, therefore, he acted with the grossest dupli
city; but if his narrative be correct, his conduct
was still blacker, for he says, that the conclusion of
the address, in which he foisted the words that
there was "no diversity of opinion about the
necessity of protecting the rights of the sovereign,"
was intended as a personal insult to the Queen, who
conducted herself on the principle, "that the opposi
tion to the minister was an opposition to the King."
Here, then, according to his own declaration, he
was not only a double dealer, but a slanderer of the
worst description, for ib was neither in his power,
nor in that of any mortal, to know what the prin
ciple was which. influenced Her Majesty in the late
eventful' trial. But the bishop measured the royal
mind by his own; and being conscious, that the
prospect of higher preferment had alone stimulated
him to adopt the course which he did, it was his
wish to make it appear that the Queen also, acted
from, motives equally sordid. And yet, after all,
the malice of the man was greater than his power;
and the shaft, envenbmed as it was, fell short of its
aim, telum imbelle sine ictu ; for nobody but, this
meddling prelate ever thought of attributing the
conduct of Her Majesty to a spirit of ambition; nor
indeed is it likely that even the bishop, with all his

348 INSULT ON THE ftUEEN.
acrimony, believed in his heart what he asserted
with his pen.
That he wag capable of such deception, is evident
from the contradictions : contained -in this address,
and from the circumstance that he made the whole
body of his clergy instrumental to an insult upon
their sovereign, without one of them having the
least conception of such a design. There was not
a' single person whose signature stood affixed to this „
address that would not have thrown the paper back
into the face of his diocesan, had the latter honestly
explained his meaning instead of cloaking it under:
phrases liable to impose upon the understanding.
But " what will not ambition and revenge descend
to ?" The bishop, with all the deceivableness of
unrighteousness, most carefully concealed the sting
with which hp intended to wound the feelings of Her
Majesty from the knowledge of his flock, who, in
the simplicity of their hearts; persuaded themselves
that 'they 'were honoured by carrying: up to the
throne, not " the poisonous aconite, which grows
unknown, and is when knciwn refused," but a votive
offering of. joy and gladness wOrthy of the royal
acceptance. Thus it is that
Oft, though Wisdom wake, Suspicion sleeps
At Wisdom's gate, and to Simplicity *
Resigns her charge, while Goodness thinks no ill
Where n&.ill seems.

HtS SERVILITY. 34#
That the bishop was sorely hurt at his disap
pointment may readily be supposed, but he had
only himself to thank for it ; and even if his other
claims to advancement had been as just as they
were the reverse, the crooked way which he pur
sued to gain his object rendered him unworthy of
it. About three years before this, he had endea-^
voured to insinuate himself into the royal favour by .
a fulsome address to the Queen, prefixed to his
compilation of Theological Tracts for the use of stu
dents in divinity. Perhaps no collection could be
more improperly inscribed, for it consisted of an
heterogeneous mass of pamphlets, many of them
radically hostile to the confession of the established
church, and to the religious principles of Her Majesty.
But the aim of the bishop was to secure a step to
wards a translation » and the venerable Lowth being
then in a declining state, his lordship of Landaff
flattered himself with the hope that a little well-
timed adulation would not be unacceptable at court.
In this he was completely mistaken, for neither the
King nor th e Queen could endure addresses of this
sort ; and the drift of the obsequious prelate was
not only seen through by them, but by his old-ac
quaintance, Mr. Pitt, at whose recommendation,
aided by Her Majesty, Dr. Porteus was removed
from Chester to London.
If it be thought that too much has been said
upon this mass of posthumous calumny, let it be

3)&0 VISIT, OE M& HARBIN GE
considered, that were the assertions tiff suleh a ffian.
suffered to pas£ uncontradicted!, or unexplained*) the
silence would by many be cPnsttued into an ad
mission pf then- truth. The bishop might have
gone quietly into his grave, accountable only to
his maker for the improvement of his barren lands,
and the neglect of his still more barren diocese,*
bad he not left behind, him a mine of mischief to
lacerate the feelings of the living, and to destroy
the reputation of the dead, forgetting in his malig
nity the observation, that " He whose hatred is
covered by deceit,' shall have his wickedness) shewn
before the whole congregation.'' (Prov. xxvi, 26\)
MPre might have been said, and* justly, on thei
spirit and conduct of the vain-glorious hierophant ;
but here he shall be left for the present, brooding.
over his imaginary wrongs* like another Abiaithar
in the fields. of Anathoth,
A more agreeable companion is now to: be" in
troduced, with whom the reader cannot. fail to bet
delighted, The late Mr. (Jeorge Hardinge, one ol
the Welsh judges, was at that time solicitor-generai
to the Queen* and a member of the House of Comw
mora,, where he distinguished himself with: const.
derabils efoquenee on the regency question,, as his
uncle, the great Earl Camden,, did in the Lords.
Shortly after the recovery of the King> and a little
before the grand fete intended to be given by tfhe
Queen and the Princesfr-BRMjeal, on account of itfoat

TO THEIR MAJESTIES. 351
joyful event, Mr. Hardinge waited upon their ma
jesties at Windsor; of which interview he penned
the following interesting narrative :
" I arrived at the Queen's Lodge at twelve, and
was carried to the equerry's room. Colonel Digby
came to me, civil, and gentleman-like. He chatted
with me for half-an-hour, and when he left me,
said ' he would let the King know through General
Harcourt that I was there.' In a few minutes I
was gallanted up stairs into Madame Schwellcn-
bergen's dining-apartment. There I found General
Harcourt, who is a very agreeable man. He told
me, f that when the King (who was going to the
castle to receive the address of the clergy) should
come out of his apartment, he would let him know,
and receive his commands.'
*' In a quarter of an hour two royal coaches came
to the door ; and an equerry handed the Queen into
the first. The King followed her, without a
thought, apparently, of poor me. Prinseess-Royal
and Prinpess Augusta followed. This filled the first
coach. No. 2 had Princess Elizabeth and a bed
chamber-woman. Theni a foot, my friends Digby
and Harcourt. When they were flown, the porter
came to me, and said, ' General Harcourt had named
me to the King ; but that His Majesty being in a
great hurry, had said nothing. That, if I pleased,
I might wait till His Majesty's return, whichj' the

352 VISIT OF MR. HARDINGE
porter said, ' would be in one hour and an half.'
This, I thought, was as much as to say; ' If you
go, you will not be missed.' In half an hour
Mrs. Schwellenbergen's German footman came to
lay the cloth, and produced the dining apparatus.
For want of occupation, I formed an acquaintance
with him, and learnt that Madame Schwellenbergen
sat at the head of the table; the Misses Burney
and Planta right and left of her, and any visitor at
bottom. The room is pretty enough,' and clean,
but furnished with a cheap kind of paper, and linen
curtains. Observing a large piece of German bread*
I fell to, and ate a pound of it. The hour and a-
half having expired, the regals returned ; and then
I heard the Queen most condescendingly, say,- ' Do
find out Mr. Hardinge, and beg of him to come and
see us.' Her butler, out of livery, came to me, and
desired me to follow him. I went through a very
handsome apartment into another most beautifully
fitted up, with a ceiling of the modern work, ( done,'
as the King told me, ' in a week.' Into this room
I was shut, and found in it, standing by the fire,
without any form, the King, Queen, three prin
cesses, and this bed-chamber-woman, whoever she
was, for I have not made her out, but liked her
very much, because she seemed to like me. It is
impossible for words to express the kind and com
panionable good-humour of the whole party. I
almost forgot that any one of them was my supe-

TO THEIR MAJESTIES. 353
rior. The King looked fifteen years younger, and
much better in the face, though as red as ever. He
said a number of excellent things, and in the most
natural way. The Queen, with amazing address
and cleverness, gave a turn to the conversation, and
mixed in it just at the right places. You will not
believe me when I tell you that I passed half an
hour, at least, in the room.
" The princesses looked as they always do, the
pink of good-humour. The 'Princess-Royal had a
very fine colour, the two others were pale. The
King did a very odd thing by the Princess-Royal ;
but I loved him for it. He said, ' he would ask
me, as a man of taste, what I thought of the
ceiling ?* and then called upon the Princess-Royal
to explain the allegorical figures on the ceiling,
which she did, blushing a little at first in the
sweetest manner, with a distinct voice, and great
propriety in her emphasis. This one trait would of
itself demonstrate how very. kind they were. The
King began by asking me ' how I could run away
from London, and give up my fees ?' I told him
that I never minded fees, but less when they inter
fered with my sense of duty to him. The Queen
then came up to me, and said, ' You have less merit
in the visit, because a little bird has told me that
you are on your way to your circuit.'
" We then went slap dash into politics, Queen
and' all. The King laughed heartily at the rats.

354 VISIT OF MR. HARDINGE.
oy that name, and said, ' they were the boldest
rats he ever knew, for that all the calculation was
against them. Even  : said. It Was probable
I should recover : not that I am recovered, accPrd"
ing to some^oi them : and yet I have read the last
report of the physicians, which is tolerably good
proof that I am Well. By the way, your uncle is
considerably better, and I flatter myself that my
getting* well has done him good.' I then said, that
I had left him in some alarm how he was to wear
the Windsor uniform, with a tie wig over it, from
the fear that he should be mistaken for an old
general, that had fought at the battle of Dettingen*
The Queen said, ' Oh ! I plead guilty to that ; and
I see you enjoy it. I said Hardinge will, enjoy
it ; for though he is very good-natured, he loves* a
little innocent mischief.' The King then told me
the whole story of the conference with Pitt ; com
mended tbe House of Commons, and said, ' his
Ulness had in the end been a perfect bliss only to
him, as proving to him how nobly the people would
support him when he was confined.' This tempted
me toasay, that it was no political debate, but the
contest between^ generous humanity and mean cru
elty, and it interested human nature. Then* we
talked of Mrs. Siddons, Jordan, &c. and the Queen
said, ' Siddons was going to Germany, to make the
English find out by her absence that she was. good
for somethingi' Then we flew to Handeli; after

THE &UEEN*S GALA. 355
?
which the. King made me a most gracious bow, and
said, ' I am going to my dinner.' I was near the
door, made a low bow to the females, and de
parted." The pleasantry to which Her Majesty alluded was
occasioned by the notice that all the gentlemen in
vited to her gala on the second of April were
expected to appear in the Windsor uniform ; and
as a card to that effect had been sent to Lord Cam
den, he either imagined, or was persuaded by his
facetious nephew to believe, that the regulation was
general, and admitted of no exception.
This entertainment was confined to a concert and
grand supper, the former commencing at eight
o'clock, and the latter at one in the morning, when
His Majesty retired; but the Queen remained
above two hours longer, to enjoy the festive scene,
and do the honours of the table, supported on her
right by the Prince of Wales, and on the left by the
Duke of York. The spectacle in St. George's Hall
had a grand effect, and the feast was very magnificent,
though the company was rather select than numerous,
and consisted chiefly of those of the nobility, with
their ladies and families, who were emphatically
called the King's friends. Her Majesty distin
guished the Lord Chancellor Thurlow and Mr. Pitt
in a Very flattering manner, by causing their arms,
A a

356 AFFECTIONATE LOYALTY.
with appropriate devices, to form part of the orna
ments on the supper table.
On the fifteenth of April, the Queen, accompa
nied by the princesses Augusta and Elizabeth, ¦ ho
noured Covent-Garden with their presence, for
the first time after the recovery of the King. . As
soon as Her Majesty entered the box, which
she did a minute or two before Jaer daughters, a
joyful, peal of acclamation burst forth from every
part of the house ; and the curtain beihg drawn
up at the same instant, displayed a transpa
rency, exhibiting the royal arms, superbly embla
zoned, having a scroll above, with the words
Long live the King ; and another underneath,
May the King live for ever ! Two cherubs
supported the last, waving wreaths of laurel over
it ; and the whole painting was richly decorated
with a rich foliage of roses and myrtles. ' The exhi->
bition had a fine effect ; and Her Majesty was so
much moved by it that she burst into tears; in
which emotion her daughters sympathized; and the
whole, house felt the force of the scene, in a manner
that evinced general sensibility. After a short
pause, " God save the King" was called for, and
sung twice over, the whole audience joining in
chorus, and the Queen beating time with her fan*
At; the conclusion of the play the song was re
peated, and again encored,; but even this did npt

PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 357
satisfy the audience, for, after the farce, »it was
once more demanded ; and when the performers
hesitated in complying with the requisition, the
whole company stood up and sang it twice, without
their assistance, so that the loyaljair was sung no less
than six times in the course of the evening. That
His Majesty was not present with his happy family
at the theatre, was occasioned by the pious resolu
tion which he had taken of declining any public
appearance till he had first made his votive offering
of thanksgiving in the metropolitan church, agree
able to the notice sent tp both houses of parlia
ment. The day fixed for this solemn festival was
the twenty-third of April ; and never perhaps did
the annals of this country witness a spectacle -of
equal sublimity. Scaffoldings were erected on each
side of the awning under which their majesties were
to enter the church ; and innumerable others were
fixed against the churches and houses the whole
way from Pali-Mall to St. Paul's. These temporary
structures were filled with spectators, many of whom
sat up all the preceding night. The beginning of
the morning was unfavourable, and the rain poured
down in such a manner as threw a damp upon the
expectation ' of the multitude, who, however^ fear
lessly braved the weather, and waited with extreme
patience the coming of the King, at whose setting
out, about ten o'oclock, the sun shone forth with a
lustre that gladdened the day, and seemed to grace
a a 2

358 PROCESSION TO ST. FAUL*S.
its triumphs. At Temple Bar the sovereign was
met by the lord-mayor, who, after presenting the
city sword, and receiving it again, rode on horse
back, bare-headed, before the royal carriage to
St. Paul's, where their majesties alighted exactly
at noon, the Queen being handed out by her
august consort. At their entrance they were
struck with the sublime picture, of six thousand
children of different parishes, so situated as to be.
seen at one point of view, and saluting their bene
factors as they passed with an anthem to the great
Creator. This arrangement took place at the ex
press desire of Her Majesty, who was almost over
come with -admiration ; nor did the King enjoy it
less ; and, in fact, the whole royal family appeared
as if they could have remained on the spot, had
not their attention been* called to another scene of
more splendour. The children continued singing
part of the hundredth psalm, until their majesties,
the royal family, and their attendants, were seated ;
and then the service of the day began ; after which,
the Bishop of London delivered a plain but appro
priate sermon from Psalm xxvii, lo\ — " O tarry
thou the Lord's leisure: be strong, and He jshali
Comfort thine, heart : and 'put thou thy trust iu
the Lord."
In this discourse, the right reverend preacher care
fully abstained from all political allusions and
personal compliment ; the only part that had any

CHARITY CHILDREN. 359
reference to private feeling being an observation on
the firmness of the royal trust in Providence,
through the whole of the late distressing visitation.
After the sermon, an anthem,, selected by the King
himself, from the 1,39th Psalm, was sung by the
best voices in the choir, ahd the whole* concluded
with the offertory at the altar. As their majesties
left the choir, the charity children sung part of the
104th Psalm; and the pleasure which the Queen
received from this affecting' scene was sufficiently
expressed in her countenance. Indeed, the whole
congregation partook of the emotion ; and it was
with difficulty that the congregation suppressed
their plaudits. The royal family returned with the
same state to the Queen's Palace ; greeted as they
passed along by the joyful acclamations of the
people, who lined the streets and filled the houses.
This universal demonstration of loyalty, which
afforded art unequivocal proof that His Majesty
reigned in the hearts of his subjects, had a very
sensible effect upon the royal visitors. The Queen
in particular, through the whole of the day, shewed
in her' countenance "and manner an uncommon
elation of spirits; but His Majesty was rather placid
and serene.
The same day, eighty bf the Sunday-school chil
dren at Windsor were olothed by Her Majesty, and
attended divine service, following the mayor and^
corporation in procession. All of them wore in
their hats a garter blue ribband, with " Long live

<-

360 DONATION TO BETHLEM.
the King" in letters of gold; and to every child was
given a medal, which was hung round the neck by
an orange-coloured ribband.
A few days previous to the general thanks
giving, the governors of Bethlem Hospital re
ceived a seasonable benefaction from a person
unknown, accompanied with the following note :
" The governors of Bethlem Hospital are de
sired to apply the inclosed two bank-notes, of
fifty pounds each, to the use of that charity, being
the humble expression of the donor's gratitude to
Almighty God, for that signal act of his mercy to
these kingdoms which is to be publicly comme
morated on the twenty-third of April, 1789."
But though the communication was so managed
as to elude discovery of the benevolent source,
the general opinion attributed the donation to the
highest quarter.
On the twenty-eighth of this month, Her Ma
jesty gave another grand entertainment at Windsor,
to those of the nobility and gentry who were not
present at the Queea's concert. But the most
splendid fete of .all was the gala given by the Prin
cess-Royal on the first of May. The cards of invi
tation were in the name of her royal-highness to
the unmarried branches of the nobility, and other
persons of distinction ; while the married were in
vited by Lord Aylesbury, in the name of the
Queen. The company, consisting of two hundred and

FETE AT WINDSOR. 36l
twenty-eight persons, began to assemble about
eight o'clock in the ball-room, which by ten was
extremely full.
The King wore the Windsor uniform, as also did
the gentlemen ; and the ladies were dressed in
garter blue, covered with white tiffany, which by
candle-light gave to the whole an appearance of pur
ple. A large plume of white feathers, either plain
or tipped with orange, added grandeur to the head
dress, that had a very fine effect. Her Majesty and
the princesses did not differ from the general cos
tume ; and the whole female circle wore_bandeaus,
with the words " God save the King;" most of the
ladies also having rich medallions of the monarch,
some set in pearl, and some in diamonds.
The dances did not begin till ten o'clock ; their
majesties and the princesses being more than an
hour intermixed with the company, conversing in
the most affable manner with every person present.
During the dances, the King and Queen either sat
under the canopy, or walked round the room ; and
about a quarter before one the ball finished, when
the company went into St. George's Hall to supper,
which exceeded any thing of the kind ever given in
this kingdom. There were two long tables, sixty-
four feet each ; and at the upper end, opposite the
centre, a cross one was laid out for thirteen, and raised
above the rest, to which the King, with great dig-

362 SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT.
nity, led his consort ; and ;then, wishing the com
pany good night, retired.
At the royal table sat the Queen, having on her
right the Prince of Wales, the Princess- Royal, the
Duke of Gloucester, Princess Elizabeth, and Prince
William of Gloucester: on her left, the Duke of
York, Princess Augusta, the Duke of Cumberland,
Princess Mary, and Princess Sophia of Gloucester.
The whole service on Her Majesty's table was
gold ; and on the ground-works were the figures of
peace and plenty, with the olive branch and cor
nucopias — the accompaniments various, genii wear
ing wreaths of flowers, and the pedestals represent-
ng vases of fruits.
On one of the long tables the platform was
covered with dancing figures ; — the other had the
emblematical ones of Hope, Charity, &c. which
being done on sand, glistened with the reflected
light of the candles.
That part of the supper which was hot consisted
of twenty tureens .of .different soups, roast ducks,,
turkey-pouts, cygnets, green geese, land-rails,
chickens, asparagus, peas, and beans. The cold
parts of the collatipn were -the- same kind of poultry,
boned, and swimming or standing in the centre of
transparent jellies, where they, were supported by
paste pillars, not in circumference thicker than a
knitting needle. This, with the lights playing from

SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT. 363
the candles, and reflected by the polish of the
plates and dishes, made a most beautiful appear
ance. Cray-fish pies of all kinds Were distributed
with great taste; and the hams and brawn in mas
querade, swimming on the surface of pedestals of
jelly, seemingly supported but by the strength pf an
apparent liquid, excited general admiration.
The ornamental parts of the confectionery were
both numerous and splendid. . There were temples
four feet high, in the different stories ,of which
were sweetmeats ; the various orders of architec
ture being displayed in the same with exquisite
taste. The side tables contained large goblets of gold,
also an entire new service of gold, and silver plates.
The dessert comprehended all that the hot
house could afford, and indeed more than it was
thought art could have produced at that season.
There was a profusion of pines, strawberries, peaches,
nectorincs, apricots, cherries of every kind, plums,
and raspberries, with the best and richest preserved
fruits, as well those that are. dried as those in syrup.
There' were forty silver branches, each holding
two large wax tapers on the long tables, and six gold
branches on the Queen's table ; and at the side
boards were two magnificent candelabra, which
gave a very brilliant light.
The hall, besides, was elegantly illuminated, and

364

FRENCH GALA.

in a much superior style to what it had ever before
exhibited. The stone gallery on one side was hung with
transparencies executed by Rebecca, and on the
other with paintings by West, which had a fine
effect. On the twenty-ninth of May, the French am-'
bassador gave a magnificent entertainment to the
royal family, and the principal of the nobility, at
his house in Portman Square. In the grand saloon,
where the Queen was first received, a superb chair
was placed, near to which the princesses dBte
seated. After the first ceremonies, a gig|up of
dancers from the Opera House came forward,
dressed in pastoral habits, and presented to Her
Majesty - cornucopias of fruit entwined with
wreaths of roses, which they laid at Her Majesty's
feet. The effect was pretty enough, and reminded
the spectator of the pageants of former days. * On
each side of the saloon was a transparent painting ;
one representing the genius of France, congratu
lating that of England on the recovery of the King,
an excellent likeness of whom was held by Hygeia;
the other painting was a representation of the
Graces attending Her Majesty, upon whose head
an angel appeared in the act of placing a crown.
The dances continued till near one o'clock, when
the supper rooms were opened, and displayed a

SPANISH GALA. 365
profusion of luxury and magnificence. About
nine hundred cards of invitation were given out on
this occasion ; but by the express desire of Her Ma
jesty no person was present who had not been intro
duced at court. ,
Splendid, however, as this entertainment was,
that given by the Marquis del Campo, the Spanish
ambassador, at Ranelagh, on the second of June,
far exceeded it, The whole external front of the
house was illuminated in a novel manner ; and the
portico immediately leading to the rotunda was
filled on each side with rows of myrtle, aromatic
shrubs, and rose trees, intermixed with carnations
and pinks. The rotunda itself, at the first opening
to the sight, exhibited a most superb appearance ;
and the continued lamps spread around had a very
striking effect.
The lower boxes formed a Spanish camp, striped
blue and red ; each tent guarded by a boy dressed
in the Spanish uniform. The gallery formed a
temple of Flora, lighted by a number of gold
baskets, containing wax tapefs, ornamented with
roses and other flowers.
The Queen s box was hung with crimson satin
lined with white, which hung in festoons richly
fringed with gold ; andv at the top was a regal
crown. In the orchestra, which was converted into a

366 grand suppeu.
magnificent pavilion of white and gold, lined with
green embroidered satin, a table of eighteen covers
was laid for the royal family.
Opposite to Her Majesty's box was a light temple
or stage, on which a Spanish dance was performed
by children : at another part were beautiful moving
transparencies ; and in a third was a lottery of
valuable trinkets, consisting of six hundred prizes,
according to the number of ladies invited. The
greatest prize was an elegant gold watch, richly
ornamented with diamonds, which fell to the lot
of Miss Sturt. The Other prizes consisted of rings,
bracelets, fans, necklaces,. &c. Her Majesty drew
an etwee case with a beautiful medallion of the
King. Women, ornamented with wreaths of flowers,
made tea ; and one hundred valets in scarlet and
gold, and as many footmen in sky blue and silver,
waited on the company.
The fire-works in the garden were uncommonly
beautiful; and to give additional splendour to the
scene, the ambassador caused twenty pleasttre-boafs,
illuminated with lamps, to sail up and down the
river, letting off rockets as they passed.
After the dances, the Queen and royal family
retired to supper.
The service was entirely of gold ; and the decora
tions were of the most magnificent description,

ROYAL BIRTH-DAYS* 36?
the table-cloth alone having cost ninety guineas.
There were all sorts of the choicest wines and fruit,
some of which had been sent from Spain purposely
for the entertainment.
Her Majesty was handed to the table by his
excellency the Spanish ambassador; and there were
also present the four eldest princesses, and the Duke
of Gloucester, with his son and daughter.
After supper the dances were resumed, and con
tinued till past five in the morning ; but the Queen
and princesses withdrew about three.
Her Majesty's birth-day this year was kept at
Windsor, when the court was thronged with visitors ;
and in the evening there was a grand concert and
supper on a very extensive scale. The King's birth
day was celebrated at St. James's ; and the drawing-
room was so crowded, that, to prevent confusion,
the company passed in at one door and out at the
opposite, after making their congratulations. The
three younger princesses received the compliments,
of the visitors in the Queen's apartment;
Her Majesty's dress surpassed in point of rich
ness any that had ever been beheld on a like occa
sion. The pockets were laced all over, and orna
mented with large diamond bows, to each of
which there was a chain of brilliants that ran the
whole length; and about thirty large diamond
buttons and tassels were fastened? to the petticoat. s
Her head-dress was of thread lace, with two fea-

368 SINGULAR OCCURRENCE.
thers profusely ornamented with diamonds. The
stomacher was wholly of brilliants. The drawing-
room began to clear about five o'clock; and by eight
the resort to the ball-room was very generaU His
Majesty, however, was not present any part of the
day, owing to the shock occasioned by the duel
lately fought between the Duke of York and Colo-v-
nel Lenox, in which his royal highness may be said
to have had an, hair-breadth escape. The Queen
had in consequence to go through all the burthen
of the ¦ ceremonials without support ; but an event
occurred at the ball in the evening, equally unex
pected, disagreeable, and unprecedented.
Notwithstanding what had so recently happened,
and the established etiquette that no persons should
stand up at country-dances who had not previously
danced a minuet, Colonel Lenox appeared in the
circle with Lady Catharine Barnard. This the
Prince of Wales did not perceive till he and his
partner, the, Princess-Royal, came to the colonel's
place in the dance, when, struck with the impro
priety, he took the hand of the princess, just as she
was about to be turned by the colonel, and led her
to the bottom of the dance. The-Duke of York
and the Princess Augusta came next, and they
turned the colonel without the least particularity or
exception. The Duke of Clarence with the Prin
cess Elizabeth came next, and his . royal highness
followed the example of the Prince of Wales. The

ROYAL ANECDOTE. 369
dance proceeded, however, and Colonel Lenox and
his partner danced down : but when they came to
the' Prince and Princess, his royal highness took
his sister, and led her to her chair by the Queen.
Her Majesty then addressing herself to the Prince,
said, " You seem heated, Sir, and tired.'1' "I
am heated and tired, Madam," said the Prince,
" not with the dance, but tired of dancing in such
company." " Then, Sir," said the Queen, " it will
'be better for me to withdraw, and put an end to the
ball." " It certainly will be so," said the Prince,
" for I never will countenance insults given to my
family, however they may be treated by others."
At the end of the dance, accordingly, Her Majesty
and the princesses withdrew, and thus the ball con
cluded. The Prince, with his natural gallantry,
afterwards explained to Lady Catharine Barnard the
reason of his conduct, ahd assured her ladyship that
it gave him much pain to be under the necessity of
acting in a manner that might subject any lady to
a moment's embarrassment.

370

CHAPTER XVI.
Their Majesties'' Journey to Weymouth.— Arrfoal at
Lyndhur st. —Singular Tenure.— Visit to Southampton
and Lymington. — Reception at Weymouth.— Anecdote
of the King  Journal ofthelloyal Progress.— Aquatic
Excursions.— Quick's Benefit at the Theatre.— Visit to
Lulworth Castle. — Nautical Manoeuvres. — Their Majes
ties'* Journey to Plymouth. — Pleasing Spectacle at Ho-
iiiton. — Reception at Exeter. — Saltram House.— Ply
mouth.— Dock- Yard."— Accident. — Naval Reviews— Vic
tualling- Office. — Mount Edgecumbe. — Excursions I on
the Tamer. — Royal Donations. — Return to Weymouth>
—Divine Service on board Ship. — Milton Abbey. — Dej»
parturefrom Weymouth. — Longleat. — Tottenham Park,.
— Windsor.

,$ Though His Majesty was happily restored to
mehtal and bodily health, it was deemed adviseable
that he should try the benefit of sea-air and bathing,
for the complete invigoration of the system after
the severe shock which it had. sustained. Wey
mouth was selected for this purpose; and it was the
more eligible as the Duke of Gloucester had a lodge
there suited for the accommodation of his royal
brother and family. Accordingly, about seven in
the morning, on the twenty-fifth of June, their ma
jesties and the three eldest princesses left Windsor, -
and arrived at Lyndhurst a little after three in the
afternoon. They were attended by Lady Courtoun,

SINGULAR CUSTOM. Bfl
the two ladies Waldegrave, Lord Courtoun, Colo^
hel GPldsworthy, and Colonel Gwynrt ; and Were
followed in about an hour by the Duke of Glou
cester and bis suite. At Winchester and Rorrtney
their majesties were received as they passed with
cordial acclamations of joy ; and an immense num
ber of horsemen, who joined the royal travellers on
the road, proceeded with them to the end of their
journey. At the extremity Pf the New Forest they
were met by the lord warden and his deputy, the
- steward, bailiff, verdurers, regarders, royal and other
bowmen, agisters, and the various officers of the
forest, in their ancient uniforms, who preceded the
royal carriages to Lyndhurst ; where, upon His
Majesty's alighting in the court-yard of the King's
Hottse, he was presented by the Rev. Sir Charles
Mill, baronet, hereditary bailiff of the forest, with
a brace of milk-white greyhounds, having g6ld col
lars, and coupled with a green silk ribband, agree- ,
able to the ancient custom of the Manor of Cole-
berry, which obliges him to make such present
ment to every crowned head whenever he enters
the forest.
At Lyndhurst the royal family dined in a room
exposed to public view j after which they threw.
the windows open, and joined the populace in
the choruses of " God save the King'* and " Rule
Britannia." In ttje evening they condescended to
gratify the loyal wishes of the people, by walking

3^2 ' VISIT TO SOUTHAMPTON.
through the village,, attended by all their train,
-while the happy, rustics around cheered them with
loud acclamations.
The. next . morning their majesties honoured
Southampton with a visit, and were received in; the
.audit-room by the maypr and corporation, who, by
their town clerk, presented an address, which was
very graciously received. After partaking of re
freshments, the royal, party went to the quay, and
from thence walked round the platform, where
they expressed .much pleasure with the grandeur of
the views, the richness of which was considerably
heightened by a full, tide.. They then proceeded in
their carriages round the beach ; and after honouring
Colonel Haywood with a call, and taking chocolate,
returned much gratified - with their, excursion to
Lyndhurst., <t ¦.. ,-,,
On Saturday- their majesties and the princesses
visited the town of Lymington, where also they were
received with ;every demonstration of joy, and at
night the .place was .splendidly illuminated.
The following morning they heard divine ser
vice, and a sermon preached by pne, of the Duke
of Gloucester's chaplains, in the chapel belonging
to the - Lodge. Early on Monday, the whole.
of the royal family departed from Lyndhurst,
and in the afternoon passed through Salisbury*
where a triumphal arch, ornamented with festoons
of flowers amTlaurel wreaths, was erected, under

"WEYMOUTH. 373
which the entire cavalcade proceeded without stop
ping ; and the same afternoon, about four o'clock,
arrived at Weymouth. Their majesties were met
at the entrance of the town by the mayor, alder
men, and common-council, walking in procession,
with colours flying, and a band of music playing
" God save the King." When the King reached
Gloucester Lodge, a royal salute of twenty-one guns
was fired from the ships in the road, and answered
by the battery on the esplanade. His Majesty, on
viewing the bay of Weymouth, was so struck with
the beauty of the scene, that, turning to the Queen,
he said, " I never enjoyed a sight so pleasing."'
After dinner they walked on the sands for
two hours, surrounded by an incredible concourse
of people ; and when the mayor offered to pro
vide constables to attend the King in his excur-^
sions, the benevolent monarch thanked him for
his attention, but said he found himself sufficiently
well-guarded by his affectionate people. In the.
evening there was a" splendid display of fire-works ;
the town was also illuminated, and the night spent
by the enraptured inhabitants of Weymouth in
mirth and jollity.
The next day the mayor and corporation waited
upon the King and Queen with an address, which
was most graciously received ; and the gentlemen
had all the honour to kiss their majesties' hands.
On Wednesday morning the King rode out for
b b 2

3f4 WEYMOUTH.
two hours along the coast, towards Lul worth
Castle ; and in the evening he was present with the
Queen and princesses at a haul of fish upon the
beach; after which, the whole party went and
drank tea with Lady Sydney.
At a very early hour on Friday the King peram
bulated the beach by himself for a considerable time;
and after dinner the whole royal family appeared
on the sands, conversing freely with several per
sons, and evidently desirous of communicating hap
piness to all around them. The weather being
rainy on Saturday, their majesties did not venture
out, but diverted themselves at home with literary
conversation ; and in the evening they had a select
party at cards. On Sunday morning, between
seven and eight, the King was on the esplanade,
where he~ walked two hours unattended ; and after
'breakfast proceeded with all his family on foot to
church, at the door of which they were met by
.the mayor and corporation, who. conducted them
to their respective pews; that of the King and
Queen, in the centre aisle, being fitted up with
green silk curtains. A psalm at the opening of the
service, and an anthem at the conclusion, were per
formed by some of the best voices in the neighbour
hood. The sermon was preached by the Reverend
M/. Thomas Groves, the rector of JWeymouth.
After divine service their majesties and the prin-
eesses walked till dinner on the beach, to shew

AO.UATIC EXCURSIONS. 375
themselves to the immense crowds of affectionate
subjects whom curiosity had assembled from the
most distant parts of the country.
The King did not bathe in the sea for some days
after his arrival, owing to the unsettled state of the
weather ; but having once begun, he continued the
practice pretty regularly, and that evidently with
considerable benefit. He usually rose at six, walk
ed the parade till eight, breakfasted a little before
ten, then rode out till three, dined at four, and re
sumed the promenade with his Queen and daugh
ters till late in the evening, provided the weather
was serene. ,$J
On the ninth their majesties made an aquatic
excursion in the barge belonging to the Duke of
Clarence ; and as soon as they turned Portland
Point, in full view of the ships of war, a royal
salute was fired. So well were they pleased with
this trip, that on the thirteenth- they made another
excursion round the bay, though the weather, was
rainy and tempestuous ; but after attempting to
make the Southampton frigate, the barge was
'obliged to return ; and at half-past three their ma
jesties landed at the pier. The next morning, on
a signal .given, tlie royal family embarked at the
quay, and were rowed round the Magnificent to the
Southampton ; and as both ships were manned an(i
richly dressed, they made a fine appearance. The
Southampton, having received the royal visitors,
stood put of the bay for the Channel ; and after

376 WEYMOUTH THEATRE.
sailing round Portland, at half-past two returned to
her anchorage, when their majesties went into the
barge, and were landed at the pier.
On the fifteenth the weather was again too unfa
vourable for any excursion ; but in the evening
the whole 6f the royal family went to the play.
Mr Hughes, the manager, intended to have erectr
ed a superb box for their majesties ; but this being
positively dechned, three rows were raised in front
for their accommodation; and over the centre was-
placed a canopy of crimson satin fringed with
gold. Twenty-two places were taken for the royal
family, who all seemed much pleased with the
exertions of the performers.
The following day their majesties honoured
Lord Rivers with a visit, at his seat near Dor
chester^ and in the evening they went on board
the Magnificent in the barge.
Early on Sunday, the nineteenth, the King bathed
in the sea, as also did the Princess Elizabeth ; after
which both walked"some time on the sands. At
ten, His Majesty, the princesses, and suit, went to
church, where Dr, Samuel Glasse, one of the chap
lains in ordinary, preached. The Queen, however,
not being well, had prayers read in her private apart
ments. Very early on Monday morning their majesties
embarked in their boats, to, go on board the South,
ampton ; which they did not reach till ten o'clock',
owing to its hlowing fresh,, with a hollow sea. The

MARINE ADVENTURES. 377
frigate instantly got under weigh, and was soon out
of sight. The King and princesses experienced little
or no inconvenience; but Her. Majesty. was so much
indisposed, as to be kept with great difficulty from
fainting till she reached the shore, where she landed
about three, not quite so well pleased as with her
former excursions.
She was, however, not so much daunted as to
trust His Majesty to the perils of. the ocean the
next day without her friendly care; and at eleven
the royal family went again on board the South
ampton, when, after a pleasant trip of five hours,
they returned to Gloucester Lodge to dinner.
On Wednesday, the twenty-second, their ma
jesties had another pleasant cruize, with which the
Queen was much delighted; but the Honourable
Miss Townshend appeared very much alarmed by the
rolling of the ship; and on being asked whether she
was sea-sick, answered-^" No, only sick of the sea."
In the evening of the twenty-fifth the royal fa
mily went to see the King's old favourite, Quick,
perform the character of Touchstone, in " As you
Like it," for his own benefit, which "etf course proved
a bumper. On Monday morning, the third of August, the
whole royal party embarked in the Southampton,
for Lulworth Castle, the seat of Mr. Weld, where
they arrived about four in the afternoon, and were
met by an immense crowd of countryrpeople,

37* LULWORTH CASTLE.
assembled in sporting groups, and dancing before
them to the gates.
Here a still more agreeable spectacle presented
itself in the appearance of the eight children of
Mr. Weld, who were placed on the steps one above
another, and singing " God save the King" as their
majesties entered the vestibule. After partaking of
an elegant collation, the illustrious visitors were con
ducted into the beautiful chapel of that edifice, where
an anthem was performed in a style that drew from
their majesties warm expressions of admiration. On
leaving the castle a royal salute was fired; and about
nine o'clock the royal party .landed at the pier of
Weymouth, from whence they proceeded immedi
ately to the theatre^ having ordered a play for tha^
evening. While at Lulworth, a messenger had been
despatched to the manager with directions that the
farce should be performed for the amusement of the
company before their arrival,
The next day the royal family paid a visit to
Lord Digby, at Sherborne Castle; with which noble
mansion, and the surrounding scenery, they were no
less pleased than with the preparations made for
their reception,
On Thursday the whole party embarked on
board the Southampton, and stood out to sea, fol
lowed by the Magnificent ; when, after running six
or eight leagues, His Majesty expressed a wish to
stand in for the land ; on which the frigate was

DEPARTURE FOR PLYMOUTH. 379
put about, and passing the line of battle ship,
afforded a beautiful spectacle, the two vessels cheer
ing, and almost touching each other's sides. Du
ring this trip, an American vessel, bound to Eng
land, steered very near the frigate, without paying
proper -respect to the King's pendant. Captain
Douglas, having their majesties on board, would not
bring her to with a gun, for fear of alarming the
Queen and princesses ; which the Magnificent per
ceiving, altered her course, and letting fly an eigh
teen pounder, soon brought the republican to
good manners. The weather being fine, the breeze
gentle, and the sea a perfect mirror, rendered
this cruize most delightful, and about three in the
afternoon their majesties landed, very hungry, but
full of spirits.
The following day Lord Mount-Edgecumbe ar
rived at Weymouth, to invite the royal family to his
beautiful seat, in Devonshire, with which the King
readily complied ; and the noble viscount instantly
returned, to make the necessary preparations for the
reception of his' august visitors.
Accordingly, on Thursday the thirteenth, their
majesties and suite left Weynjputh for Plymouth \
all the respectable inhabitants attending them out
of the town ; and the Southampton sailing the same
day. On the arrival of the royal party at Bridport,
they were met by the principal people of the town,
who walked before His Majesty's carriage, singing

380 ROYAL PROGRESS.
'( God save the King," accompanied by a band ©f
music, with colours flying. Besides a kind pf
canopy, with a handsome crown, over the royal
coach, there were three triumphal arches erected ;
one at the entrance, another at the town-hall, and
the third at the west end of the town ; on all of
which were loyal inscriptions.
On .reaching Chadwick and Charmouth hills, His
Majesty got out of the carriage, and walked a con
siderable way with most of his attendants ; thus
affording the country-people a fine opportunity of ap
proaching the royal presence, which several of them
gladly embraced. With the persons nearest to him
the King talked familiarly, and on those at a greater
distance he smiled, and bowed in a most gracious
manner. The villagers at Charmouth had erected a
lofty triumphal arch of oaken boughs, decorated.
with an immense crown of laurel ; which rustic
trophy was viewed by their majesties and the
princesses with much pleasure. At Axminster the
royal party stopped to visit the carpet manufactory,
of which they examined the whole process. Her
Majesty gave an order for several pieces ; and on
leaving the place, a "liberal sum was left to be dis
tributed among the work-people.
On approaching Honiton, the illustrious travellers
were surprised at the turnpike with the appearance
of near four hundred female children, neatly dressed,
and headed by the young ladies of the boarding-

EXETER. 381
school, all in white ; which pleasing spectacle drew
tears of sympathy from the eyes of Her Majesty
and the princesses. •
From Honiton the royal party drove to Sir
George Yonge's, at Eastcot, where they dined ; and
after taking coffee • proceeded to Exeter, which
place they reached about seven in the evening. At
the boundaries of the liberties they were met by
the mayor and corporation, with an excellent band
of music ; and when they came to the city, the
keys, according to custom, were presented to the
King, who returned them to the mayor, saying:
" They were already in very good hands." Then
their majesties were conducted amidst a prodigious
concourse of people to the deanry ; and after shew
ing themselves at the windows, to gratify the anxious
populace, they partook of an elegant supper, which
had been provided by Dr. Buller, the dean. The
same, night a general illumination took place ; and
many elegant transparencies were displayed ; the
Guildhall, in particular, was lighted up with twelve
hundred lamps of various colours, which, with the
paintings intermixed, made a most beautiful ap
pearance. On Friday morning, about eleven, the mayor and
corporation attended with an address, and were very
graciously received. This was followed by another
from the clergy, which met with the same recep
tion. After these ceremonies, the royal visitors pro-

382 SALTRAM.
ceeded to the cathedral, where His Majesty was
much struck with the magnificent painted window
over the west door. The organ was finely touched
by the late ingenious William Jackson, and the choir
sang " Te Deum" in a masterly style.
From the cathedral the royal travellers went to
the episcopal palace; and after Walking on the pro
menade called the Northern Hay, they returned to
the deanry to dinner.
About nine oJclock on Saturday morning their
majesties and suite left Exeter ; and by three in the
afternoon reached Saltram, the seat of Lord Boring-
don, now Earl of Morley, where they were greeted
by a royal salute ; and in the evening the house was
brilliantly illuminated.
The next day, being Sunday, the royal family
went to Saltram chapel, and heard divine service
performed by the Rev. Mr. Mayow, domestic ;chap-
lain to Lord Boringdon, About two o'clock: the
same day the Duke of York arrived ; in honour of
whom royal salutes were fired from the citadel and
batteries. Their majesties after public worship visited the
grotto, bathing house, and orangery, while the
Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth took an airing
round Saltram Park.
After breakfast, on Monday, the royal party set
out for Plymouth, where the inhabitants had erected
at the entrance a triumphal arch, outside of which

PLYMOUTH. 38S
arrangements were made for a procession : the
band of the South Devon militia, preceded by con
stables, walked first ; then the mayor and corporation;
then the King, Queen, princesses, and royal suite.
The whole moved slowly through the town, amidst
a numerous concourse of people, with bells ringing,
guns firing, and the music playing. Their ma
jesties, who appeared in excellent spirits, shewed
every attention to the spectators ; and on taking
leave of the corporation, after passing the boundaries
of the borough, the King expressed his satisfaction
at the respectful manner, in which he had been
received. A daylight illumination at the mayor's
door attracted the royal observation, on account of
its singularity and pleasing effect. It Consisted
of His Majesty's arms, with a star emitting a con
tinued ray of light; the motto, " He Hveth and
reigneth." About eleven, the royal suite reached the Dock,
where they were received by the troops in garrison,
and saluted with &feu dejoye. The cannon on the
ramparts also fired, and Were answered by the fort
at Plymouth. Their majesties alighted at Com
missioner Laforey's, in the Dock Yard ; and after
taking some refreshment, proceeded to visit the
Impregnable, of ninety guns, Admiral Bickerton's
flag ship. The King's barge, which was steered
by Captain Byard, had the royal standard flying,
and was preceded by the admiral's barge: the rest

384 PLYMOUTH DOCK.
following in their different stations to the number. of
about forty; which, together with the various plea
sure-boats, and the beauty of the. day, formed the
finest sight imaginable. An exceeding handsome
cutter, rowed by six young women, and steered by
a seventh, all habited in loose white gowns, with
nankeen safeguards and black bonnets, each wear
ing a sash across her shoulders, of royal purple,
with " Long live their majesties," in gold letters,
kept close to the King's barge to and from the

As their majesties ascended the quarter-deck of
the Impregnable, a salute was fired as well from
her as from every ship in the harbour and Sound ;
the citadel and small forts joining in the same ; and
also the Lynx, a Dutch man of war, lately arrived
from the East Indies.
Their majesties remained on board about an hour;
and when they put off, the standard and admiralty
flags were hauled down, after which the ship was
dressed in less than a minute with the colours of
all nations. This appeared to attract the notice of
the Queen and princesses more than any thing they
had before seen ; and they lay alongside the ship for
some time to admire the novel spectacled
On landing, their majesties visited ^the ships in
the dock, particularly the Gibraltar, which had been
fitted up for their reception. This ship, taken by
Lord Rodney, in the presence of the Duke of

ACCIDENT. 385
Clarence, struck them wonderfully, being one of
the finest two-deckers in the service.
At half past three, the King, Queen, and prin
cesses, left the dock, and proceeded in state barges
up Cat-Water to Saltram. They were attended by
an immense number of sloops, barges, and boats ;
the forts j the ships at anchor, and, lastly, all the
guns in the park, saluting as they passed.
With such splendour and gaiety had the day
passed, when a dreadful accident happened to throw
a gloom over the general joy. A small sloop, with
out .ballast, lying off Mutton Cove, opposite the
gun wharf, was so overloaded with people that she
overset, and twelve persons were drowned. The
disaster did not occur till some minutes after the
passing of the royal barge, so that their majesties
were spared, the shock which such a melancholy
sight must have produced. On being informed of
it after their return, they made enquiries into the
circumstances, and ordered where assistance was
necessary that it should be supplied at their ex
pense ; at the same time promising to. provide for
such widows or children as might have been left by
any of the sufferers.
About eight on Thursday morning the King
went on board the Southampton, to witness a grand
naval review and mock engagement in the Sound,
the sight of which afforded him considerable plea
sure. On Friday, His Majesty, unaccompanied by

3S6 VICTUALLING OFFICE.
the royal family, went to the Victualling Office^ in'
order to examine the state of the provisions, but
without giving any previous notice of his intentions.
Here he ordered a cask of beef to be opened pro*
miscuously, and a piece to be taken out, which was
sent immediately to Saltram, with orders that it
should, be dressed that day for his own dinner.
The King then visited the lower fort, citadel,
ramparts, and storehouse, and last of all the subter
raneous works, into which only the Duke of Rich*
mond, the governPr, and ehief engineer, were suf*
fered to attend him.
When His Majesty mounted the upper part of
the garrison, he Was met by the mayor and corpo
ration of Plymouth, the invalids, and a detachment
of the South Devon" militia, who attended him in
his walk round the ramparts, the musifc playing
"¦ God save the King." At the governor's house, the
mayor and corporation presented a loyal address,
which was most graciously received ; and they all
had the honour to kiss the King's hand. His Ma*
jesty then left the fort, and proceeded by water
to the gun wharf, where he surveyed the
ordnance ; after which, the workmen, headed by the
chaplain, walked in procession before him accord
ing to their callings, and carrying the instruments
of their labour; with which sight the King was very
much amused.
The following day their majesties went to pay

MOUNT EDGECUMBE. 3g*
their promised visit to Mount Edgecumbe, where
they landed about ten o'clock, and were received
by tne noble owner of that romantic seat. Having
stopped to take a view of the house, the august
visitors perambulated the enchanting woods and
groves by which it is surrounded. This visit was,
indeed, marked with, uncommon magnificence and
taste. Sixteen young maidens, dressed in white,
preceded the royal party, strewing roses, carnations,
myrtles, and jessamines, in their path ; and when
they came to the steps leading to fhe grand arcade,
each female on her knee presented an elegant bou
quet to their majesties, by whom it was graciously
received. In the same walks, particularly upon
Maker Heights, the King was astonished at the
grandeur of the scene ; and the Queen andgprincesses
beheld it with equal rapture. The dinner and des
sert were in the most sumptuous and elegant style;
two tables were laid out in«the great hall, at the
first of whieh sat the royal family, and at the
second the Duke pf Richmond, and the other great
officers of state. The Queen was attended by the
young and beautiful bride of the honourable
Mr. Edgecumbe, the viscount's eldest son. Their
majesties staid to coffee, and at six left the house,
attended through the Sound up to Saltram by a large
fleet of boats and barges, highly delighted with
their day's entertainment. At night the mansion
c c

388 MARISTOW.
of Mount Edgecumbe was most brilliantly illumi
nated, which, when beheld from the opposite
shore, gave it the appearance of an enchanted
castle. The next day the royal family visited Maristow,
the seat of Mr. Heywood, but now of Sir Manasseh
Lopez, situated on the banks of the Tamar. Ta-
merton Woods, belonging to this estate, extend
nearly three miles along the river, in the most
striking and romantic situations, though in many
places the precipices have a tremendous aspect. Se
veral new roads were now cut through these woods
for the accommodation of the royal visitors, who
spent near two hours in surveying and admiring'the
sublimity of the scenery. In Bickley Wood, which
is about half a mile behind the house towards Ta->.
vistock, their majesties and the princesses amused
themselves till near five o'clock ; and having taken
some refreshment, they returned to Saltram, with
a promise of renewing their visit to breakfast on
the Monday following. Accordingly, at an early
hour, the whole party set out for Maristow, that
they might lose no time in exploring the variegated
beauties of a place with- which they had already
been so much delighted. Here they spent the
greatest part of the day in traversing the woods*
climbing rugged heights, and walking along, the
winding banks of the river, charmed at every turn

The tamaR. 389
With some new prospect that burst upon their view,
and the picturesque effect of which abundantly gra
tified them for their labour. At four in the after
noon the royal party took leave of Mr» Heywood,
and returned to Saltram to dinner*
The pleasure derived from the preceding excur
sions tempted their majesties to set out the next
morning for Saltash ferry, where the barges were
in readiness to carry them higher up the Tamar,
the prospects from which furnished amusement
sufficient to detain them till late in the afternoon.
On the following day, at an early hour, they again
went to the ferry and embarked, in order to ex
tend their navigation along the course of the river
to a still farther distance than they had hitherto
been ; and after a propitious voyage, which was
much enlivened .by the crowds who lined both
shores as they passed, the* royal party landed at
Kitley, an ancient demesne belonging to the Edge^
cumbe family, and situated about fourteen-miles up
the Tamar. The noble owner of this mansion was
in readiness to receive his royal visitants on their
landings and that with the becoming dignity of a
baron of old times. The rar^iparts of the castle
were occupied by his vassals ; and his lordship was
attended at the water-side by a numerous train of
tenantry and dependants^ who shouted " God save
the King." Suitable cars, with four wheels each,
c c 2

390 KITLEY.
and drawn by two .ponies, had been provided to
convey their majesties and the princesses to the
castle, which stands on a lofty eminence about a
quarter of a mile from the banks of the river. On
the arrival of their majesties at the outer gate,
twenty-one pateraroes were fired in honour of the
illustrious visitors. After viewing the antique cu
riosities of the castle, particularly the armoury, and
partaking of some refreshment, - which was highly
relished, by keen appetites, the whole party re-em
barked, with the intention of proceeding" to the
Salmon Weir, which for bold and picturesque
scenery far exceeds all the views on the Tamar;
but unfortunately, by stopping at Kitley, the advan
tage of the tide was lost, and their majesties were
obliged to return to Saltram about two in the after
noon, much gratified with this fresh- water naviga
tion, though disappointed in being under the neces
sity of shortening it.
The next day the King held a naval levee, when
he was pleased tp confer the honour of knighthood
on Captain Thomas Byard, who. had constantly
steered the royal barge ; several officers also received
promotion, and the following sums were distributed
by His Majesty's orders : viz. fifteen hundred
pounds to the artificers and labourers of the dock
yard, victualling-office, ' and gun-wharf; two hun
dred and fifty pounds to the poor of Plymouth,

ROYAL CONDESCENSION. 391
Stonehouse, and Dock ; and two hundred to the
crews of the barges that attended him during his
stay. If being known that their majesties would leave
Saltram the following morning, an immense multi
tude assembled in the park, eager to catch a glimpse
of the sovereign and his august consort ere they de
parted. Ever desirous to gratify the loyal wishes
of their subjects, the King and Queen placed them
selves near the windows, till curiosity became so
troublesome that they were obliged to retire. An
elderly woman, more forward than the rest, had the
effrontery to thrust a petition through the window
where Her Majesty stood. The paper fell on the
inside, at the Queen's feet, who hesitated a little,
then stopped and took it up, which act of extraor
dinary cpndescension greatly affected the populace.
This was an application for admittance into an asy
lum appropriated to decayed widows, and the daugh
ters of persons in the naval service ; and though the
manner of presenting the request was far enough
from being respectful, the favour was granted.
The next morning their majesties took leave of
their noble host, with many kind expressions for
the entertainment they had experienced during a
stay of twelve days, in all of which they had en
joyed, to use their own words, inexpressible delight.
The princesses left this part of the country with
regret; and the eldest was heard to observe to one

3Q2 RETURN TO WEYMOUTH.
of her sisters, while walking on the side of the
Tamar, <e We never before had the pleasure of
seeing nature in the perfection of beauty : our lives
hitherto seem to have been spent in a cloister rather
than in a kingdom abounding every where with
lovely prospects, and inhabited by a generous
people." At three o'clock in the afternoon the royal party
reached Exeter, Where they dined, and passed the
night with the dean. The next morning, at eight,
they proceeded to Weymouth, without stopping
any where on the journey ; and about four o'clock
their majesties alighted at Gloucester Lodge in high
spirits, and, to the universal joy of the inhabitants.
On the following Monday the weather, which for
some days had been unfavourable, cleared up, and
the royal family resumed their marine excursions.
About eleven in the forenoon, the King, Queen,
and princesses, accompanied by the Lords HoWe
and Chatham, with several other noblemen and
persons of distinction, went on board the South
ampton, and with a pleasant gale, sailed off and on
till near three in the afternoon, enjoying the breeze
with much pleasure. During this little cruize, the
frigate several times passed so near the stern of the
Magnificent as to touch the fly of her ensign. In
the course of the day, the Queen presented Captain.
Douglas with a gold medallion, representing the
ship which he commanded, and ' desired that ifc

DIVINE SERVICE ON BOARD SHIP. 393
should be Worn by hjs lady as an ornament round
her neck. A similar medallion was also presented
to each of the ladies of the royal suite.
Their majesties having long wished to be present
at the performance of divine service in a ship of
war, went for that purpose on board the Magni
ficent, in the morning of the sixth of September ;
when, as soon as the royal barge appeared,, the
yards were manned, and the marines received, the
illustrious visitants under arms. The King was
much pleased with their military appearance, nor
less so with the neatness of the sailors in their
Sunday dress. The arrangement was as follows:
the King, Queen, and, princesses, occupied the star
board side, under the quarter-deck awning. The lar
board side contained the nobjlity. In the centre of
the quarter-deck stood the officers of the ship ; and
behind them were placed the ship's company and
marines in the form of a crescent. Ensigns of dif
ferent kinds were hung round the deck. The
church service was performed by the reverend
Mr. Clifton, chaplain of the Goliath, who con-
eluded it with an excellent discourse, on these woros
of the psalmist : " Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works
to the children of men !"
. In his sermon the preacher took occasion to
touch upon the presence of the sovereign, who had
so recently been providentially restored to the

394 MILTON ABBEY.
prayers of his people. This appropriate allusion sen
sibly affected Her Majesty and the Princess Eliza
beth, who were observed to wipe the pearly drops
from their eyes : and when the service was over,
the King and Queen went most kindly up to the
clergyman, thanking him for his discourse, and
hoping that the length of the duty had not fatigued
him. Her Majesty, in particular, expressed the
pleasure which she had felt from the sermon, a
copy of which she condescended to request might
be sent to WindsPr. While the dinner was serving
out to the ship's cPmpany, the royal family retired
into the great cabin, except the Princess Elizabeth,
who remained on deck for the purpose of seeing
the sailors at their meal ; an act of affable courtesy
that gave the honest tars great delight.
Having taken some refreshment, the King de
sired the barge to be manned, and at two o'clock
. the royal family left the ship with the same honours
as distinguished their entrance.
The next morning their majesties and the prin
cesses visited Milton Abbey, where they were re
ceived by Lord Milton and Miss Darner; green
baize strewed with flowers being spread from the
door of the house to the carriages. After resting a
little, the royal visitors made an excursion over the
grounds ; the ladies in open carriages, and His Ma
jesty on horseback, accompanied by Lord Milton.
The ride was prolonged till four' o'clock, when the

MILTON ABBEY. 39*
whole party returned to the Abbey to dinner, which
in every respect did honour to the noble host, and
gave great satisfaction to his illustrious guests.
On the following evening their majesties had a
select party to a ball and supper-, in commemora
tion of their wedding-day, which anniversary they
never failed to keep while it could be enjoyed with
mutual pleasure :

-The seasons thus,

As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll'd,
Still found them happy ; and consenting Spring
Shed her own rosy garlands on their heads.
The period of the royal residence at Weymouth
being now nearly at a close, every day almost was
devoted to bathing and aquatic excursions, for
which last the whole party had conceived such an
enthusiastic affection, that no weather could deter
them from indulging in the amusement.
On Sunday, the thirteenth of September, after
divine service at church, whither the royal family
rarely ever missed going on foot, the King, Queen,
and princesses, with the French ambassador, and
other distinguished persons, walked on the espla*
nade a considerable time, surrounded by thousands of
spectators. The same day His Majesty was pleased
to confer the honour of knighthood on Captain
Andrew Snape Douglas, of the Southampton fri
gate.

"396 RETURN TO WINDSOR.
The next morning the royal party quitted Wey
mouth for the season, on a visit to the Marquis of
Bath at Longleat, taking Sherborne Castle in their
way, where they breakfasted with Lord Digby;
after which they proceeded to Stourton, the seat of
Sir Richard Colt Hoare ; the beauties of which de
lightful place occupied their attention some time.
About half-past five in the afternoon' they arrived
at Longleat, where many thousands of loyal sub
jects were assembled in the park, from every part of
the country, testifying the joy which they felt at
the sight of their sovereign, by singing " God save
the King," in the chorus of which Her Majesty and
the princesses took a lively part. On Tuesday
morning the King and Queen rode round the
grounds in an open chaise, to gratify the eager cu
riosity of the people ; many Pf whom were after
wards admitted into the royal presence, in the. apart
ments of the marquis's noble mansion,#where :a very
sumptuous entertainment was provided for the royal
guests. After breakfast on Wednesday morning, about
eleven, their majesties took leave of this hospitable
family, and continued their route to Tottenham
Park, the seat of Lord Aylesbury, where they ar
rived the same afternoon, and rested, according to a
previous arrangement,, till Friday, when they return
ed to the Queen's house at Windsor, in perfect
health, after an absence of twelve weeks, As. soon

RETURN TO WINDSOR. 3g7
as the King and Queen got out of their carriage,
they were welcomed home by the younger prin
cesses, whose embraces they received most affec
tionately, and at the same time appeared not less
pleased with the joy that their presence had lighted
up in the countenances of the domestics of the royal
household, and the surrounding spectators.

398

CHAPTER XVIL
Gala at Windsor on the Birth-Day of the Prince. — Visit
to Weymouth in 1791. — On Royal Progresses, and
those of Queen Elizabeth. — Arrival of the Duke and
Duchess of York. — Ceremonial of their Re-marriage.—
Extra Drawing-Room. — Question respecting Prece
dency. — Theatrical Visits. — Celebration of the Queen \s
Birth-Day, 1792. — Anecdotes of the Duchess of York.
— Another Visit to Weymouth. — Act of Charity. — War
with France.

The birth-day of His Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales, on the twelfth of August, 1 791, was cele
brated with great splendour at Windsor, where the ,
Queen gave a grahd gala, in a style of peculiar
elegance, and on an extensive scale.
The party was both numerous and brilliant, more
than three hundred persons of the first rank being
present. The ball commenced as soon as their ma
jesties were seated, wlrich was about eight o'clock,
and continued till twelve, when the whole company
adjourned to St. George's Hall, to partake of an
elegant entertainment. The royal family supped
on a throne erected at the upper end of the hall,
and their guests at two tables sixty feet long, which

ROYAL PROGRESSES. 399
were decorated in a most beautiful manner. In the
middle of one was a pedestal with a column, round
which were entwined roses and branches of flowers.
At the top was a flag, and. under it was figured a
resplendent glory, encircled with the order of the
garter, and the portrait of the Prince in the middle,
with the. crest and feathers. On the angles of the
pedestal were musical figures ; and a circular motion
was given to the whole by means of clock-work.
Nothing could have a more pleasing effect, which
was heightened by the fine illuminations in the
room. Soon after this entertainment, the King and Queen,
with three of the princesses, went to Weymouth for
a few weeks : but though the appearance of royalty
naturally drew a concourse of people thither, this
visit was npt marked with so much gaiety as distin
guished the former residence of their majesties at
this favoured watering-place.
While the sovereign and his august partner strove
to gratify the loyal wishes of the people by every
attention in their power, consistent with the. dignity
of their station, they carefully abstained from sucK
spectacles as might prove burthensome to their sub
jects. In this respect their progresses were widely
different from those of Queen Elizabeth, whose
visits bore so very heavy upon the persons honoured
with them, that they might,; without a quibble,
have been called visitations. Their majesties, how-

406 MARRIAGE OF- THE DUK.E OF YORki
ever, fully merited the encomium bestowed upon
that great princess, of whom an historian, who has
delineated her character with great accuracy, says,
" that in her progress she was the most easy to be
approached : private persons and magistrates, men
and women, country-people and children, came
joyfully, and without any fear, to wait upon- her,
and see her. Her ears were then open to the com
plaints of the afflicted, and of those who had been
any way injured. She would not suffer the meanest
of her people to be shut out from the places where
she resided, but the greatest and the least were
then in a manner levelled. She took with her own
hand, and read with the greatest goodness, the peti- •
tions of the meanest rustics ; and she would fre
quently assure them that she would take - a parti
cular care of their affairs ; and she would ever be as
good as her word. She was n'ever seen angry with
the most unseasonable or uneourtly approach : she
was never offended by the most impudent or impor
tunate petitioner."
This year witnessed an accession to the royal
family, in the marriage of the Duke of York to the
Princess Frederica Charlotta Ulrica, the eldest
daughter of the late King of Prussia, by his first
consort, the Princess Elizabeth Christina Ulrica,
of Brunswick Wolfenbuttle, and the only issue of
that union. His royal highness, during his resi
dence in Germany, had conceived an affectionate

HIS ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND. 40l
attachment to the princess; and the sentiment being
mutual, the consent of the parents on both sides
was soon obtained to the marriage, which cere
mony took place at Berlin on the twenty-ninth of
September. The duke and duchess left the Prussian
capital on the seventeenth of October ; and after
Stopping about a week at Hanover, and four days
at Osnabrug, they proceeded for England by the way
pf Brussels and Lisle to Calais. In this journey
they were very much annoyed by the brutal
mobs which then abounded in every town and vil
lage, committing the . most abominable excesses in
the name of liberty, and insulting, as aristocrats,
all persons wholiad a respectable equipage. At Lisle
their royal highnesses were exposed to considerable
danger, from the savage rout whom the arms on
the carriage had attracted, and who kept possession
of the vehicle till they had- completely satisfied
their revolutionary spirit, by obliterating the en
signs of royalty i Matters did not improve as they
advanced; and at Calais the illustrious travellers
had the additional mortification of being detained
from Monday till Friday the seventeenth of No
vember, by adverse winds. ~ Early in the morning
of that day, however, the packet got out of the har
bour, and after a boisterous passage, . landed the
duke and duchess with their suite on Dover beach
about. noon. -Owing to the fatigue which her royal
highness had undergone, she remained with her

402 ROYAL VISITS.
consort at Dover till the next day, when they set
out for town ; and between five and six in the after
noon reached York House, where the Prince of
Wales received his royal sister in the great hall,
and congratulated her in the German language on
her arrival in England.
The duchess being too much indisposed to be
presented that evening to their majesties, who were
then at Buckingham House, retired immediately to
rest, by the recommendation of the physician. On
Sunday at noon the duke, walked to Carleton
House, and returned with the Prince, who staid at
York House more than an hour. In the mean time
all the nobility in town continued to leave their
cards ; but of course no persons were introduced.
A little before four the Prince arrived again, and
within a few minutes afterwards his royal high
ness handed the duchess to his carriage, the Dukes
of York and Clarence following them. Upon their
arrival at Buckingham House, the Duchess of
York was conducted by the Prince of Wales on her
right hand, and the duke on her left, into the grand
drawing-room, where were the King, Queen, and
six princesses, all of whom rose and advanced into
the middle of the room to meet the stranger, who
dropped on her knees before their majesties, but
was instantly raised most affectionately between the
King and Queen, surrounded by their happy chil
dren.

RE-MARRIAGE. 403
On Tuesday evening their majesties, accompanied
by the Princess-Royal and Princess Augusta, in one
coach, and the Princesses Elizabeth, Mary, Sophia,
and Amelia, attended by Lady Charlotte Finch, in
another carriage, paid a visit to York House, where
they were received by the duke and duchess, the
Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Clarence, attend
ed "by the duke's household officers. After reci
procal salutations in the great hall, the royal party
were led to the lower apartment, fronting the park,
where the following ceremony was observed : Tea
and coffee, introduced by the servants in waiting,
were received by gentlemen of the duke's establish
ment, and handed primarily to His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales, who presented the same to
the King ; while the Duchess of York waited in a
similar manner on Her Majesty. At a quarter
past ten, the King, Queen, and princesses, returned
to Buckingham House ; the Prince, Duke and
Duchess of York, and Duke of Clarence, attending
their illustrious parents to their carnage.
The next evening, at seven o'clock, the Arch
bishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the
Bishop of London, came to the Queen's House ; the
archbishop attended by two pages and his train-
bearer ; and the chancellor in his full robes, with
the great seal carried before him, and his train sup
ported. »-
In about an hour afterwards, the Prince of Wales,
pd

404 RE-MARRIAGE.
the Duke and Duchess of York, and the Dukeof
Clarence, entered the palace, and were immediately
conducted to Her Majesty's drawing-rOOm. The
prelates and the chancellor were in a separate.apart-
ment, preparing the form of the register., At nine
o'clock, every thing being ready, the bishops and
the chancellor were admitted into the royal pre
sence; upon which, the procession, attended; by
the officers of the chapel- royal, proceeded to the
grand saloon, where books of the marriage cere
mony were delivered to all the royal, family.- At
the request of the archbishop, a table was placed in
the form of an altar, narrow enough for his grace to
reach across, and join the hands of the royal pair.
At half-past nine the ceremony, was performed by
the archbishop, .assisted by the, Bishop of London,
His Majesty standing at one end of the altar, and
the Queen at the other extremity ; the Duke and
Duchess of York, in the centre, the primate oppo
site to them, and the lord chancellor standing
behind him ; the Prince of Wales next to the
duchess, and the Duke of Clarence to his brother,
the Duke of York. The princesses were seated on
chairs at a distance from the altar. The Prince of
Wales gave away the bride, who, at the conclusion
of the ceremony, went to His Majesty, and attempt
ed to kneel, Which the King with some difficulty
prevented, and raising her in his arms, affectionately
saluted her, and presented her to the Queen.

EXTRA DRAWING-ROOM. 405
Tlie certificate of the marriage was then signed
by their majesties, the Prince of Wales, the Duke
of Clarence, and the chancellor ; after which his
lordship and the bishops retired.
The royal family returned to the drawing-room,
and at a few minutes before eleven the duke and
duchess Went to York House, accompanied by the
Prince and the Duke of Clarence, who were enter
tained with an elegant supper.
On the following day the Queen held an extraor
dinary drawing-room at St. James's Palace, for the
purpose of publicly receiving the Duchess of York,
who went in state, and on her arrival waited first
upon Her Majesty in her private apartment; after
which she passed through the guard-chamber into
the drawing-room^ where she paid her respects to
the King, and in the course of halfran-hour
returned to York House. On this occasion her
royal highness wore a bandeau of brilliants on her
head-dress, in which were three diamond pins
that had been given to her by the King. She also :
wore a rich pair of diamond ear-rings, and a neck
lace, the presents of Her Majesty^ with other orna
ments of great beauty. The whole of the, royal
family, except the bride and bridegroom, wore ele^
gant silver favours ; and the same day the Princess
Sophia was at the drawing-room for the first time.
This marriage having produced some speculation
and difficulty respecting ' the order of precedency,
D d 2

406 TftUESTION OF PRECEDENCY.
whether the Duchess of York was entitled to rank
immediately after the Queen, or the princesses, Her
Majesty wished to set the question at rest, by a
reference to the College of Arms. Accordingly,
the case was submitted to the consideration of the
Heralds' Office, who deeided, that rank dates from
birth, without any relation to marriage, and there
fore, that the princesses of England, as being in the
line of succession to the throne, in failure of male
issue, took precedence of a princess of Prussia.
This determination corresponds with the rule in
Blackstone, that all single ladies rank as their
eldest brother does in the life-time of his father.
This solicitude on the part of the Queen was not
only expressive of her maternal ¦ feelings, but an
instance of her great prudence, in taking care at this
early period to provide against any unpleasant dis-.
putes that might arise hereafter about points of
etiquette. Royal marriages, especially where many interests
are involved, too often occasion jealousies and in
trigues ; but never did one bring more harmony
with it than' the ^present, though in an essential
point it has not been crowned with the fruition
which the hopes of the family and the nation fondly
anticipated. On fhe twenty-eighth of December their majes
ties, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess-Royal,
the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke of Cla-

6,UEEN*S BIRTH-DAY. 407
ence, and the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth,
went to Covent-Garden Theatre, where the " Du
enna," and the pantomime of " Blue Beard," were
represented. The Queen was dressed in a rich
gold brocade, the ground scarlet, with a profusion
of diamonds; and the appearance of the whole royal
party afforded great pleasure to a crowded house.
But on the third of January a different scene oc
curred at the Haymarket Theatre, where the Drury
Lane company were then performing till the resto
ration of their own establishment. On that day
the royal family went to see the fourth representa
tion of " Cyrnon," which of course drew an im
mense assemblage of persons ; and the theatre being
small, the rush at the pit door was so violent, that
one person was trodden to death, and others were
severely bruised.
The Queen's birth-day, this year, exhibited a
most brilliant court, on account of the late addition
to the royal family.
Between twelve and one the company began to
assemble, occupying chiefly the three anti-cham
bers leading to- the drawing-room, into which, as the
assembly increased, some few persons passed, con
trary to etiquette, but compelled by the pressure.
A number of the first nobility came early, and
about two o'clock, the arrival of their majes
ties ^and'the princesses was announced, the lines
through which they passed being formed by six or

408 ftUEEN's BIRTH-DAY.
seven rows in each of the apartments. The King.
passed through this avenue, noticing the company
on each side, but without stopping for conversation.
The Queen, on the contrary, spoke for one or two
minutes to almost every person whom she knew,
particularly in the last anti-chamber, which was
nearly full of ladies, with whom she conversed sepa
rately, and with great affability, for some time.
The drawing-room filled immediately on the en
trance of their majesties, when the King remained
on the right side, and the Queen on the left, very
near to the doors, but without approaching the
throne. The crowd, now became so great, that
many ladies were more than an hour in passing
from the doors to the circles, though not distant
above, four yards, while some, unable tp support
the fatigue, went away. The pressure was chiefly
on that side of the room occupied by Her Majesty ;
for there were the princesses, and as many ladies as
could approach them, forming not s'o much a circle
round the Queen as a lane, extending on her left,
as far as the. Princess Sophia, the most distant of
their royal highnesses. The Duchess of York, du
ring the short time she stayed, remained with the
Queen; but, soon after her arrival she became in
disposed, and having walked into; the second anti- .
chamber, fainted away. Hartshorn and water were
immediately brought, and her royal highness was
soon sufficiently recovered to return home,

ANECDOTES OF THE DUCHESS OF YORK. 409
When the duchess set out from York House she
was saluted with the music of marrow-bones and
cleavers ; the discordancy of which startled her at
first ; and it was with great difficulty that her royal
highness could be made to believe that this curious
concert was intended as a compliment. On* its
being explained, she bowed courteously to the po
pulace, and ordered a present to be given to the
performers, who rent the air with acclamations.
Another instance of her affability appeared in the
manner with which she celebrated her royal con
sort's birth-day, the same year, when she gave a
grand dinner at Oatlands to all the duke's trades
men, allowing each of them two guineas for the
expense of a carriage from town. After the enter
tainment there was a dance, and the duchess opened
the ball herself, with the Prince of Wales. In the
course of the same summer, a company of strolling
players, having obtained leave to exhibit in a barn
at Wey bridge, petitioned her royal highness to
honour the performance with her presence, to which
she consented, and gave tickets to all her ser
vants. Soon afterwards, a methodist teacher came
to preach a charity-sermon in the same theatre, and
application was again made to the duchess to visit
the place, which she complied with ; but the ser
vants desired to be> excused, on the plea that they
did not understand English. " Oh!" said her royal
highness, " you had no objection to go to the

410 FRENCH REVOLUTION.
comedy, which you understood much less ; and so
you shall go to the sermon," The duchess accord
ingly went with all her train, and contributed hand
somely on the occasion, as well for them as for
herself. The conclusion of this summer was spent by
their majesties and the princesses in a private man
ner at Weymouth, for which place they seemed to
have a growing attachment. During this visit, the
royal party rode over to Dorchester, where, among
other objects, they inspected the new county gaol,
when a farmer, of the name of Pitfield, who had
been confined there seven years, for a debt amount
ing to two hundred and twenty pounds, incurred
by a lawyer's bill, presented a petition on his
knees to the King, who caused the money to
be paid ; and thus the poor man was immediately
restored to his liberty and friends. Such were
the acts of our gracious monarch, in which he had
always the cheerful concurrence of his beloved part
ner, both being most happy when contributing to
the^ happiness of others, and never feeling more un
easiness than when their means were inadequate to
the relief of human suffering.
With what acuteness of sensibility, therefore,
they must have contemplated the agonizing tra
gedy at. this time exhibited on the bloody theatre
of France, may be faintly conceived, but cannot be
described. The condition of the poor emigrants,

ITS C0NSE&UENCES. 41 i
thrown upon our shores, to escape the worse than
savage fury of their brutalized countrymen, excited
the tender commiseration of the whole royal family,
whose bounty, though secret, was extensively libe
ral, and delicately bestowed, particularly where the
objects of it had been precipitated from affluence to
wretchedness, incapable of digging for a livelihood,
and ashamed to beg for support.
But while there was a consolation in relieving
these exiles," who, with all their misfortunes, might
be considered as so many persons saved from the
fury of a tempest, the compassionate hearts of our
sovereign and his consort sorrowed deeply for the
illustrious victims who were left to perish in the
revolutionary storm, a melancholy sacrifice to that
accursed Moloch, the madness of the people.
When the Countess of Sutherland, now Marchio
ness of Stafford, arrived from Paris, and related to
their majesties a small portion only of the horrors
which she had witnessed, and, among other things,
mentioned the circumstance of her having sent
many articles of her own dress to the hapless
Maria Antoinette, as well as some of her son's for
the young dauphin, all of which were thankfully
received, the feelings of the King and Queen were
so completely overpowered, that they both wept
during the affecting narrative.
Shortly afterwards, the mildest monarch that ever

412 MARCH OF THE GUARDS.
sat on the throne of France, was murdered for his
virtues ; and before the expiration of the year, the
royal widow was dragged from her cell and bed
of straw, to glut the monsters with her innocent
blood. In the mean time, the insolence of the new
republic had compelled the English government to
arm for self-defence ; and whatever may be said by
those who are callous to revolutionary enormities,
nothing short of the prompt measures then adopted
could have saved this country from the horrors of
anarchy. There were then, as there are now, men
among us of such perverse dispositions, as to be in
different to all consequences, for the sake of a politi
cal change; men who hailed the savage march of the
French as the progress ©f liberty, and who gloried in
scenes that were a reproach to human nature. Had
the wishes and counsels of these persons prevailed,
the probability is that our own calendar would have
been marked in letters of blood, commemorating
another anniversary of royal martyrdom. Happily,
however, the fortitude of the sovereign, and the
energy of ministers, proved an effectual mound
against republican fury and internal faction. War
being inevitable, three battalions- of guards, des
tined for foreign service, marched off from before
Buckingham House, in the morning of the twenty-,
fifth of February, 1 793, Her Majesty and the three

ROYAL BENEVOLENCE. 413
eldest princesses honouring their departure with
good wishes, and a courteousness of behaviour that
sensibly affected both the private soldiers and their
officers. But this was not the only instance of royal good
ness manifested towards the brave men who were
palled out , in the service of their king and country
at this period : for, besides actively promoting the
subscription entered into among the ladies to pro
vide flannel waistcoats for the troops, the Queen and
all her amiable daughters actually condescended to
superintend the manufacture of those necessary ar
ticles of comfort.

414

CHAPTER XVIII.

Illegal ftfarriage in the Royal- Family.— Dreadful Oc~
currence at the Haymarket Theatre. — Their Majestiei
visit the Fleet at Portsmouth. — Death of the Duke of
Mecklenburg and his Sister. — Arrival of the Stadtholder
and his Family. — Reception of the Turkish Ambassa
dor. — Marriage of the Prince of Wales. — Visit of the
Queen to Lord Orford. — Tour to Weymouth.— At
tempts on the King's Life. — Violent Storm.— Injury
sustained by Her Majesty. — A Female Lunatic. —
Birth of the Princess Charlotte. — Domestic XJnhappi-
ness. — Reflections.

The year 1794 opened very inauspiciously to
their majesties, whose parental feelings were much
agitated by the recent marriage of Prince Augus
tus to Lady Augusta Murray, first at Rome, and
next by banns at the parish church of St. George,
Hanover Square, in express defiance of the statute.
It has been confidently said, that His Royal High
ness wrote a letter to his father, requesting per
mission to renounce any claims which he might
have to the succession, on condition that the alli
ance which he had formed should remain undis
turbed. This, however, was not in His Majesty's

DREADFUL ACCIDENT. 415
power to grant ; and the marriage was accordingly
pronounced by the proper legal court null and void.
Disquietudes of this nature are peculiarly afflict
ing Where they occur, though the bitterness of them
cannot easily be conceived by persons in humbler
life. Shortly after the discovery of this irregular con
nexion, the subsequent dissolution of which eviaced
its imprudence, their majesties were distressed by
one of the most dreadful accidents that ever marked
their appearance in public.
On the evening of the third of February the
royal family went to the little theatre in the Hay
market, which drew as usual, on such occasions,
an immense crowd of persons ; and some, who
were foremost in entering the pit, fell down, when
the rush behind, like a torrent, not only prevented
their recovery, but brought down others, over whose
bodies the multitude passed into the body of the
house, amidst screams and groans that were terri
ble beyond description. Fifteen persons were thus
crushed to death, and about twenty more suffered
so severely from the bruises which they received as
to be incurable. Fortunately, their majesties did
not witness the harrowing spectacle ; but when ap
prised of what had happened, they made a resolu
tion never to visit that place of amusement again.
A very different scene engaged the royal atten
tion in the following summer, on the arrival of

416 VISIT TO THE FLEET.
Lord Howe at Spithead, with the ships captured by
him in his hard-fought battle on the first of June.
This seasonable victory had the effect of relieving
the public mind from the depression produced by
the gloomy state of affairs on the continent; and,-
therefore, His Majesty very judiciously determined-
to invigorate the national spirit by honouring the
fleet with his presence. Accordingly, on Thursday*
the twenty-sixth of June, the King, Queen, Prince
Ernest, and the princesses, entered Portsmouth,
where Lord Howe and the governor were iu readi
ness to conduct.the royal party to the Dock-Yard,
from whence they all proceeded to Spithead. The
King carried in his own hand a valuable diamond"
hilted sword, which he presented to the noble ad
miral on board the Queen Charlotte, as a mark of his
satisfaction and entire approbation. His Majesty
also presented a gold chain to admirals Hood and
Gardner ; the like honour being likewise conferred,
on Sir Roger Curtis, first .captanvto Lord Howe.'
In the evening the royal family returned, and were
rowed up the harbour to view the six French prizes,
which lay there at their moorings;.' OnFriday the
King held a grand naval levee, when, marks of dis
tinction were bestowed upon several officers ; after
which* the party, dined with the commissioner of
the dock-yard. vv
The next day their majesties and: family attended
the launching of the Prince* of Wales, a fine ship of

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF MECKLENBURG. 417
ninety-eight guns ; after which they embarked to
go on board the Aquilon frigate, the Honorable
Captain Stopford, at Spithead. As the barges ap
proached the fleet, twp guns from the Queen Char
lotte were the signal for a general salute: when every
ship in consequence fired twenty-one guns, and the
.1
crews cheered. On their majesties entering the
frigate, and getting under sail, the salute was re
peated, and the bands of the different ships played
martial symphonies for the greatest part of the day.
The Aquilon, after sailing round the fleet, stoPd
away towards the Needles ; but there being very
little wind, she touched the ground in putting about
to the1 eastward pf Cowes Point. By this accident
the ship was delayed near two hours; and as the
night was coming on, their majesties and all the
royal party took to the barges.
On Monday morning the King and his family
went on board the Niger frigate, and sailed for
Southampton, where they landed in the afternoon,
and immediately proceeded in their carriages for
Windsor. The Queen on her arrival received the
tidings of the death of her eldest brother, Adol-
phus-Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz ; and
before the expiration of the court mourning on that
occasion, news came of the demise of Her Majesty's-,
sister, Princess Christina ; which renders it neces-r
sary here to correct an inadvertent slip in a former

418 ARRIVAL OF THE STADTHOLDER.
chapter, where the death of this princess is errone
ously stated instead of that of her aunt.
The aspect of the times was now exceedingly
dismal, , and the progress of the French arms be
came more alarming on account of the revoluti
onary principles which went along with the torrent,
like the degrading doctrines of Mahomet with the
swords of the Saracens. It was melancholy to
See with what readiness the people of the neigh
bouring countries fraternized with the republicans,
whose successes appeared to have obliterated the
horror produced by their crimes. Holland, which
had so often' repelled the ambition of monarchical
France, now seemed proud of being considered as a
province of that country. The stadtholder in con
sequence was under the necessity of seeking an
asylum in England, to escape the tender mercies of
the new disciples of liberty ; and on the twenty-sixth
of January, 1 795, his serene highness, accompanied
by the Princess Frederica-Louisa-W41helmina, his
daughter, and Prince William-George-Frederick,
his second son,"arrived in London^
The reception which the illustrious fugitives met
with was such as might have been expected, from
the characteristic generosity of the nation, and the
sympathetic feeling of their majesties. Immediate
orders were given to fit up the palace of Hampton
Court for their residence ; and in the mean time

TURKISH EMBAS8Y. 4ig
they were accommodated with apartments at Kew,
where the Queen frequently visited them, and con
trived by every means in her power to make them
forget the cruel persecution which had driven them
into exile.
Another remarkable visitor, who made his pub
lic appearance at the British court at this time,
was the ambassador from Constantinople. On the
fifth of February, his excellency and suite came to
town in grand procession, and the concourse of
people was so great, that when they arrived at St<
James's, the horse and foot guards had considerable
difficulty in clearing the way. The ambassador
addressed himself to the King in the Turkish lan
guage, which was translated by the dragoman ; and.
the same ceremony was repeated to the Queen/
after which the drawing-room commenced, and the
business of the court proceeded with the accus
tomed forms, i,,
The presents sent to the King by the Grand
Signior consisted of a pair of pistols, the stocks and
barrels of which were of solid gold ; four Arabian
horses, with bridles and saddles trimmed with gold,
and a gold dagger and belt, ornamented with pearls
and diamonds: to the Queen and princesses a chest
of silks, embroidered with gold, and a noble plume
of feathers united at the bottom by a band of solid
1, and ornamented at the top with diamonds;
E e

440 MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.
chests of ritefa silks also were presented to the Prince
of Wales, the Duke of Portland, and Lord Gren*
ville. Sooa after this an event occurred that diffused
great joy over the nation, and created high, expec
tations whieh were never realized. ' This was the
marriage of the heir apparent with his first cousin,
the Princess Caroline of Brunswick, which cere
mony was performed in the presence" of their ma
jesties, and a brilliant assemblage of the nobility,
on the evening of the eighth of April this year, at
tiie chapel royal.
.' At the beginning of July, Her Majesty, accompa
nied by her six daughters, the Duchess- pf York,
and the Princess of Orange, did the late Earl of
Qrford the honour of: a visit at Strawberry H1H,
where they remained three hours perfectly delight
ed with the curiosities of the mansion, the gardens,
and the prospect. In a letter written- to General
Conway a few days afterwards, his. lordship says,
(f The Queen was uncommonly condescending and
gracious, and deigned to drink my health when I
presented her with the last glass, and to thank me
for all my attentions. Indeed, my memory de veille
cour was but once in default. As I had been
assured that Her Majesty would be attended by
her chamberlain, yet was not, I had no glove ready
when I received her at the step of her coach; ; yet

VISIT TO- LORD ORFORD. 421
the honoured me with her hand to lead her up
(stairs ; nor did I recollect my omission when I led
her down again."
The hrtter part of the summer was spent by their
majesties and all the princesses at Weymouth, from
whence they did not return till the autumn, when
the situation of public affairs rendered an early call
of parliament necessary.
It being announced that the King would open
the session in person on the twenty-ninth of Qcto*
her, an immense crowd assembled in . the park*
many from mere curiosity, but others with the most
desperate designs of .mischief. As the state car*
riage passed along, it was with great difficulty the
guards could clear the way ; and near the Ordnance
Office a bullet, supposed to have been discharged
from an air-gun, perforated the glass, but happily
without doing any other injury.
His Majesty, with his characteristic coolness and
intrepidity, said to Lord Westmoreland, " That's a
shot ;" and instead of leaning back, or striving to
avoid the assassin, he pointed towards the round
hole in the window, and carefully examined it.
On entering the House of Peers, he said to the
chancellor, " My lord, I have been shot at:" but
immediately proceeded to the important business
before him, and having delivered his speech from
the throne, returned as if nothing had happened.
The same gang of ruffians, however, followed his
s e2

422 OUTRAGEOUS ATTACKS ON THE KING.
coach in great-numbers ; and as the carriage passed
oppesite Spring Garden Terrace, another stone
was thrown, which fortunately only struck the
frame-work between the windows. The crowd
now pressed so closely round the coach, that His
Majesty, in some agitation, waved his hands to the
guards on each side as a signal to keep off the mul
titude. In this way he proceeded on through the
park, and round by the stable; yard into St. James's"
Palace, at-the front gate. Here again a - fresh
tumult took place just as the King was about . to
alight; which proved too plainly the murderous
designs of the ferocious rabble ; but providentially
they were frustrated in ; their object, Which disap
pointment enraged them so much that they at
tacked the coach with stones, and did it considerable
injury ; continuing this species of mischief all ; the
way along Pall-Mali to the Mews. Notwithstand
ing these dreadful appearances, the King ordered
his private carriage to be brought up, *and in a few
minutes entered it to go to , the Queen's House,
.though surrounded by. a tumultuary and infuriated
horde, every one of whom seemed bent upon
assassination. There being now no guards to in
timidate them, the mob rushed upon the carriage
-With savage fury, and one miscreant attempted to
burst openthe door. This attack was made by
sixteen or seventeen wretches, who issued forth, from
the. great mass ; and then it was that the person

OUTRAG.EOUS ATTACKS ON THE KING. 423
of the- sovereign ;was in* the most imminent danger.'
A gentleman of the Navy Office, who stood by at
the time, put his hand into his pocket, and cocked
a brace of pistols which he had With him, when
seeing the life-guards at a distance, it immediately
occurred 'to him that their . assistance would be
more effectual than his own ; he accordingly ran
with the utmost speed, and brought them up to the
rescue pf their master ; but fortunately His Ma-i
jesty's. ¦coachman had already succeeded in extri
cating tlie carnage from the mob; and the ruffians
haying already mingled with the crowd, it was
impossible to mark any of them. One of the
guards,; however, on coming up, perceiving a fellow
as-he thought forward in assailing the King, • lifted
up his sword, and would* have cut him down, had
he not been "prevented from doing so by- the gra
cious interposition of His Majesty. • ;.
The situation of the Queen and Princesses during
these commotions,' some knowledge of which could
not be kept from them, may easily be conceived ;
and yet it is a fact tiiat His Majesty related the oc
currences to them with as much calmness as if his
life had not been any way endangered ; nay, more ;
confident in the attachment of his people,- and the
protection of Providence, he went with Her Ma
jesty and three of the princesses the very nextday
to Covent Garden Theatre. At the entrance of
the royal visitors, the house, which was thronged

424 VIOLENT HURRICANE.
in every part, resounded with, **God save the
King," and this loyal song was called for three
times during the evening.
Between the hours of one and four in the morn
ing of the sixth of November, a hurricane raged
with a degree of violence that perhaps was never
exceeded in England, unless in the great storm of
the year 1704. Their majesties, who were at
Buckingham House, arose from their beds, as did
many hundreds of families, in and about town ; for
such was the fury and pressure of the elemental
strife, that scarcely any fabric seemed capable of re
sisting; its force. ¦.. *¦ '
The moral <atmosphere was not less dismal alt this
period : and the historian of the present reign will
have to record, with serious concern, the fact, that af
ter the outrageous proceedings at the opening of the
session of parliament, when the monarch had nearly
been torn i» pieces by the populace, persons of rank,
calling themselves the Whig Club, published a
declaration to the people full of inflammatory
matter, and tending to blow discontent into rebel*
lien. The effect of this appeal to the worst pas
sions of the publi%was exhibited in little more
|han a week by another attack upon the person of
the sovereign; for en the night of the ficst of Fe
bruary, as the royal family were returning from the
theatre to Buckingham House, about half way up
Pall-Mall, a stone was flung at the coach, in which

ASSAULT ON THEIR MAJESTIES. 425
were their majesties, and the lady in waiting,
which, after breaking the window glass, and enter
ing the carriage, struck the Queen on the cheek,
and fell into Lady Harrington's lap. The King
took up the stone, and carried it with him to the
palace. An investigation respecting this act of
violence took place the next day at the office of the
secretary of state at Whitehall, but without eli
citing any discovery.
In less than a fortnight after this perfidious at
tempt, an extraordinary scene occurred at Bucking
ham House, into which a woman, genteelly dressed,
contrived to gain admittance one Sunday evening,
and was making her way to the Queen's apart
ments, when she was stopped by a female servant,
who* demanded her business, and where she was
goings The strange visitant replied that she was
going to her mother, Mrs..Guelph,the Queen, who
had got some writings belonging to her ; and that
if they were not restored she would commit some
horrible deed-
The woman upon this was- committed for the
night, and the nest day conveyed to Bow Street,
where^ in her examination, she persisted in saying
that her name was Charlotte'-Georgiana-Mary-
Anne Guelph, adding that the late Edward Duke
of York was her father,, that she was born at
Rome, and bad been sold to a gentleman in Spain,
with more incoherences of the same kind, which

426 BIRTH OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE.
left no room to doubt of her insanity, and proper
care was taken of her.
Amidst the gloom which overspread the kingdom
at this period, the birth of a daughter to the heir-
apparent afforded some beams of comfort to the
royal family and the people. This interesting event
took place early in the morning of the seventh of
January, 1796"; and on the eleventh of the fol
lowing month the baptismal ceremony was per
formed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the
presence of their majesties, who stood sponsors,
with the Princess Royal as the representative of the
Duchess of Brunswick. The Queen made the
responses, and gave the name of Charlotte-Augusta
to the royal infant ; but the christening was con
ducted without any parade or entertainment, and
at an early hour the company separated. The
pleasure, however, afforded by this addition to the
royal lineage was soon counterbalanced and alloyed
by reports of a rupture in that quarter where it was
reasonable tp expect that such a blessing would
have relumed even the dying apbers, of affection.
But the birth of the Princess Charlotte, instead of
bringing union, appeared to have the contrary efc
feet; and the coolness which had hitherto been
only suspected, was now visibly manifested in a
disjunction that assumed no disguise. Into a subr
ject of so delicate a nature, it is disagreeable to
enter ; and were it not for the odious mass of ca-

THAT EVENT CLOUDED. 427
lumny which malice invented, and party propagated
on that occasion, against th# most spotless character
in the kingdom, the whole should have been passed
over in silence. But the laws of biography would
not be observed, nor the ends of justice answered,
by a forbearance which has already, perhaps, been
carried to the excess of liberality. There is a line
beyond which moderation cannot go without ceas
ing" to be a virtue ; and however commendable it
may be to endure obloquy in patience, there can be
no alternative when integrity is to be justified.
What Johnson has observed in his account of Ad
dison is peculiarly applicable in this place. " The
necessity of complying with times, and of sparing
persons, is the great impediment of biography.
History may be formed from permanent monuments
and records ; but lives can only be written from
personal knowledge, which is growing every day
less, and in a short time is lost for ever. What is
known can seldom be immediately told ; and when
it might be told, it is no longer known. The deli
cate features of the m%d, the nice discriminations
of character, and the minute peculiarities of con
duct, are soon obliterated ; and it is surely better
that caprice, obstinacy, frolic, and folly, however
they might delight in the description, should be
silently forgotten, than that by wanton merriment
and unseasonable detection, a pang should be given
to a widow, a daughter, a brother, or a friend. As

42$ UNHAPPY DIFFERENCE.
the process of these narratives is now bringing me
among my contemporaries, I begin to feel myself
walking upon ashes, under which the fire is not
extinguished, and coming to the time of which it
will be proper rather to say nothing that is false,
than all that is true."
Scarcely was the hymeneal torch lighted than its-
flame went out almost before the altar, and withiw
a few days it might have been seen; that two minds
more discordant worldly policy never linked toge
ther. The moral atmosphere of the British court
had for above thirty years been so distinguished by
its purity, as to awe even libertines into deeorous-
ness of behaviour, and propriety of speech- What
ever, therefore, had a tendency to injure such a*
state, could not fail to create uneasiness ia those
who were most immediately interested in preserving
its high character uncontaminated. Though much
must be allowed for errors to which superior rank
is liable, there can be no excuse for voluntary de
gradation, or levities, that are destitute of the apo
logy of youth*. To specify jjbese would he needless,
since the lapse of years has only seryed to open the
eyes of the incredulous, and to confound the impu
dence of faction, by an exposition which ought to
make the people ashamed of their infatuation, and
party zealots blush for their violence. Perhaps,
however, the time is yet to come when prejudices
shall be wholly cleared away, and full justice rea-

A SEPARATION. 429
dered to those who have hitherto long suffered by
the grossest misrepresentation.
Immediately after the christening of the young
princess, a negotiation was carried on through the
medium of Lord Cholmondeley for an amicable
separation of the parents ; and before the endvof
April the terms were adjusted without demur or
reproach. But though the settlement was con
ducted with all possible respect and privacy, and
with every appearance of reciprocal candour, some
how or another, that double engine of extensive
good and indefinite mischief— the daily press,
quickly became the vehicle of the most malevolent
reports, calculated to inflame the public mind, and
to destroy the peace of the royal family.
Mysterious hints were thus thrown out to excite
commiseration for a helpless stranger, the victim
of a dark but powerful conspiracy ; and at length
the organ of scandal ventured to. insinuate that the
most exalted female in tlie kingdom had descended
to unworthy acts, in order to get possession of the
foreign letters of her diughter-in-law. Whisperings
of this sort find willing hearers, and forward re
porters, the one with a ready appetency to swallow
whatever tone's to sharpen curiosity, and the others
to gratify their malice or their vanity. Unfortu
nately it often happens, that the eagerness to refute
calumny only serves to give it a* wider circulation;
and so it was in. the present instance, for the com-

430 MYSTERIOUS LOSS.
mendable feeling of Lord Jersey, under the foul
charge covertly brought against his countess, of
having betrayed the confidence reposed in her by
the Princess of Wales, produced an epistolary dis
cussion, in which every thing was satisfactorily ex
plained, but the only point that required explana
tion. It was said that in the preceding summer a
packet of letters intended to go abroad was en
trusted to the care of Lady Jersey at Brighton, but
that the same never reached its intended destination
After the lapse of some weeks, inquiry was made,
when on the part of the lady it appeared that the
packet had not been committed to her charge, but
to another person, who sent it by the coach. Thus
far the case was simple enough, but how, or whe
ther the parcel was lost became the question, tq
which no solution ever was found, though a very
natural one might easily have been obtained had.a
discovery- been intended. But the indifference
with which the supposed loss was at first treated
where it should have been #ost sensibly felt, had
a very suspicious look, artd certainly it but ill agreed
with the importance afterwards attached to the
circumstance. In the one instance it had the ap
pearance of affectation, while in the other it bore all
the characteristics of design. That the whole, indeed,
was an artifice, is but too palpable, for the very sur
mise that the packet had been fraudulently arrested

ROYAL FORBEARANCE. 43i
in its transit indicated a disposition to form the
worst conclusions without data, or the shadow of
evidence, and consequently a mind capable enough
of devising the scheme on which the base accusa
tion was founded. The communication also of the
circumstance to the world through the daily prints
plainly shewed the dramatic character of the busi
ness, and the object it was intended to answer. From
what source the information came could not well
be mistaken,, -¦. and therefore this eagerness to excite
curiosity at the expense of private feelings, not
only marked a spirit ready to imagine evil things,
but one delighting in scattering firebrands of the
most deadly tendency, without caring for the con
sequences. The Queen was not unapprised of
these attempts to injure her in the public opinion,
and to sow discord in her family ; but with a forti
tude, beyond all praise, she maintained a perfect
equanimity and an absolute silence under , the most
scandalous, imputations. This was neither apathy
nor pride, but affection, and prudence. She felt for
those who were most dear to her ; and in a tender
concern for their tranquillity she avoided discussion
and suppressed resentment.'

432

CHAPTER XIX.

Death of Madame Sthwelknbergen.—Her Character.-**
History of the Princess Augusta-Caroline of BrunS*
wick. — Arrival of the Prince of Wirlemberg. — His
Marriage with the Princes* Royal. — Her Majesty's
FSte on that Occasion.— City Address. — Affecting Se*
paration.-r- Procession t6 St. Paul's on the Thanksgiving
Day. — Death of the young Prince of Orange. — Royal
Entertainments.— A Review in Hyde Park. — Visit to
Lord Romney.

The death of Madame Schwellenbergen, which
happened suddenly on the evening of the seventh
of March, 1797, was a severe shook to the Queehy
from whom she had never lived apart for the space
of fifty years, having been Her Majesty's attendant
at Mirow, her companion at Strelitz, and her most
confidential servant, as mistress of the robes, ever
since her arrival in England.
She was a well-educated and highly accomplished
woman, extremely courteous in her manner, much
respected by all the domestics of the royal house
hold, and devotedly attached to the illustrious fa
mily with whom she lived, who, in their turn, en
tertained for her the sincerest affection. .Madame
Schwellenbergen had been, however, most cruelly
and wantonly held up to public ridicule by a pro-

death of madame schwellenbergen. 433
fligate wit, whose delight lay in ribaldry, as a wo
man of a sordid disposition, than which nothing
could be more opposite to her real character; for
she Was ever ready to oblige all who applied to her
for assistance; and though, like her royal mistress,
she ehose to do good by stealth, her charities were
Very extensive* She had several pensioners who
subsisted almost entirely upon her bounty, and all
her interest with, the Queen was exerted on the
purest principle ©f disinterested benevolence. The
partiality which Her Majesty had for this good lady
Was perfectly natural, and highly commendable ;
for it resulted from a long experience of her excel
lent qualities and tried integrity. Soon after her
settlement in the English Court, indeed, she was
viewed with envy by some of the ladies in waiting,
who affected to look disdainfully upon her, which
induced the Queen to pay her particular distinc
tions; and in a little time these jealousies were
wholly removed by the prudent conduct and libe-
rafity of the person who had been the object of
them. Madame Schwellenbergen was of a most
cheerful temper ; and even in her declining years,
when afflicted by rheumatic and spasmodic com
plaints, she preserved her hilarity of spirits, and
fondness for the sociable amusement of the card-
table, in seating herself at which she fell back,
without any previous appearance of illness, and in
stantly expired. This melancholy event happened

434 ROYAL ALLIANCE.
at Buckingham House, Where their Majesties were
then making arrangements for a. festival, to which,
however, they had but little inclination; and, of
course, such an awful occurrence as the present
could not fail to increase the depression of their
spirits. At the beginning of the year, Frederic-
William, the Hereditary Prince of Wirtemberg
Stutgardt, made a formal offer of marriage to Her
Royal Highness the Princess Royal of Great. Bri
tain. In point of rank, no reasonable objection
could be made to his serene highness, but, there
were circumstances in his history which rendered
this application a very serious concern to the august
parents of theprincess. The King and. Queen so
tenderly loved all their children,., that, no induce
ment of mere policy could have tempted them to
consent to any union, however elevated it might
be, that did not appear likely to prove happy.
The hereditary prince had been noW an avowed
widower near nine years; but though the; fact of
his being so admitted of no doubt, there was still a
mystery hanging upon it of a very romantic de
scription, and one that in some degree affected his
reputation. His first wife was the eldest daughter
of the Duke of Brunswick Wolfenbuttle, who fell
at Auerstadt, to whom he was married in the year
1780, when that princess was sixteen, and himself
about twenty-six. Some years after, this alliance
the prince entered into the Russian service, his

PRINCESS OF WIRTEMBERG. 435
sister being married to the heir-apparent of that
empire. .On going to Petersburgh, he took his
wife and three children with him ; and the princess
being then in the flower of her youth, of a lively
disposition, and fascinating manners, soon became
a favourite with the Empress Catherine, whose
court and company were far from being favourable
to female morals. Into that vortex of dissipation,
however, did the prince imprudently draw his wife,
and there leave her when he made his campaign
against the Turks ; so that, in fact, he had no one
to blame but himself, when, on his return, he found
her principles contaminated, and her conduct the
subject of general observation. In this situation
the prince wrote to her father the Duke of Bruns
wick, informing him of his daughter's behaviour,
and requesting his advice how to act under such
circumstances. The result of this correspondence
was a resolution that she should be removed out of
Russia ; and the prince accordingly demanded leave
of: the empress to quit her dominions with his fa
mily. , Catherine readily allowed the prince the
permission he requested,, as far as related to himself
, and his children, but refused to allow the princess
, to: return to Germany. No remonstrances could in
duce the autocratrix to recede from her determi
nation,, and the prince, .with his sons and daughter,
quitted the Russian territories for Wirtemberg.
About a fortnight after their departure, the princess
rf

436 PRINCESS OF WIRTEMBERG.
was sent by an imperial order to the Castle of
Lhorde, about two hundred miles from Petersburgh,
having been first deprived of all her German at
tendants ; and before the expiration of two years
the prince received a letter from the empress, in
forming him of the death of his wife, similar infor
mation being sent also to the duke her father.
Thus terminates the history of the unfortunate
Augusta-Caroline, though, as is always- the case in
such dark transactions, there were not wanting
sceptics who called in question the veracity of the
empress, and would not believe the account which
she gave of the death of the princess. Many per
sons in Germany tenaciously maintained that she
was still living in a state of confinement, or an exile
in Siberia ; and this was the constant opinion of the
late Duchess of Brunswick, her mother, although
her husband and brother were satisfied of the
contrary. The conduct of Catherine in this instance is dif
ficult to be accounted for ; since, if, as is natural to
suppose, she was afraid that the princess would
suffer the vengeance of her offended relatives, and
therefore caused her to be detained out of regard to
her safety, this concern for a favourite is hardly to
be reconciled with her subsequent treatment. The
Princess of Wirtemberg could not have endured
more severity from her family than what she ex
perienced from her pretended friend and protector ;

Princess of WiRteMberg. 437
and the most probable conclusion then is, that the
empress, though far enough from concealing her
habits, was unwilling to have the particulars of
them disclosed in the German courts ; on which
account, and being conscious that the Princess of
Wirtemberg knew too much of her secret history,
she took the resolution of acting in this arbitrary
manner. Such is that amity, which, having no
other bond than the. reciprocity of licentious pro
pensities, is liable to be converted into jealousy and
hatred, either by the caprice of new attachments,
or through the fear of detection.
The cloud of obscurity that enveloped the cata
strophe of this princess naturally excited much
curiosity, and numerous conjectures, some of which
were extremely harsh and unfavourable to her hus
band, who was even suspected of having contri
buted to the severity with which she was treated.
This surmise was certainly unjust ; but there were
other circumstances connected with the history, that
could not 'be so easily cleared up ; and, as is usual
in such cases, the irregularities of the sufferer were
attempted to be palliated by recrimination.
When, therefore, the hereditary prince made an,
offer of his hand to the Princess-Royal of England,
His Majesty was very much affected, and more so
on perceiving that the overture met with a favour
able reception on the part of his daughter. The
King having before his eyes the tragical narrative
F f 2

438 ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE OF WIRTEMBERG.
of his unfortunate relative, as far as it was known,
felt an extreme repugnance to the proffered alli
ance, nor was the Queen less averse to it; but
their joint remonstrances were of no avail, nor
could even the marvellous fate of her cousin deter
the princess from giving an assent to the proposal.
Her royal father, however, deemed it. necessary to
make a very close inquiry into the particulars that
have been just detailed, before he. gave, his final
answer ; and having ascertained the fact of the
death of the Princess of Wiftemberg in Russia, his
consent was no longer withheld.
Matters being thus far settled, and her royal
highness remaining in the same state of mind, the
prince left Wirtemberg at the end of March ; and
on the fifteenth of April arrived in London, where
he was waited upon by several persons of distinc
tion ; and the same evening he was introduced, to
their majesties and his intended bride.
The marriage, however, did not take place till a.
month afterwards, and in the mean time the King
conversed much with his daughter on fhe subject,
offering, if her mind should alter before the so
lemnization of the ceremony, to break off the en
gagement, and take all the responsibility upon him
self. Such, was the paternal tenderness of one, who
in no instance was known to have ever violated the
slightest promise that he had made; but in the
present instance, feeling that his engagement was

THE MARRIAGE. 439
purely conditional, His Majesty hesitated, and
waited till the last moment for the final decision
of the princess, when finding that her determination
was irrevocably fixed, he said no more ; and the
union took place with circumstances of great pomp
at theChapelRoyal in the afternoon of theeighteenth
of May. The service was performed by the Arch
bishop of Canterbury, with the assistance of his
Grace of York, His Majesty giving away the bride ;
in doing which the whole audience observed how
greatly he was agitated, while the Queen and the
other princesses appeared overpowered with sorrow.
When the religious service in the chapel was con
cluded, Her Majesty held a drawing-room, which
was numerously attended ; and on breaking up, the
whole of the royal family, with the Prince and
Princess of Wirtemberg, left town for Windsor
Lodge. It should here be stated, that the reluctance of
the King to this marriage was increased by another
circumstance, which pressed very heavily upon his
mind ; and this was the fear that the example of
the reigning duke, who, had turned Roman Catholic,
might be followed in time by his son, the conse
quences of which His Majesty dreadedvas affecting
his daughter. Without wounding the feelings of
his highness on this delicate subject,, our excellent
monarch had some conversation with the prince
on religious topics, and it afforded him considerable

440 HER MAJESTY'S FETE.
relief to find that, as far as appearances could go,
there was no danger of his apostasy.
On the twenty -third of the same month, Her
Majesty gave a splendid fete, in honour of the mar
riage, at Frogmore, which seat was now become
her favourite place of retirement ; and this was the
second grand entertainment held here since its
completion, the first being on her own birth- day
two years before the present occasion.
At the drawing-room, two days afterwards, ad
dresses were presented by the Lord Mayor ahd
Corporation of London; that to the Queen containing
the following well-timed and merited compliment,
in congratulating Her Majesty on the marriage of
her daughter.
" The numerous and endearing virtues, native in
her royal mind, and cultivated with such exem
plary assiduity by the brilliant and eminent con
duct of her royal mother, form at once a subject
of exultation and regret, even on this joyful occa
sion ; of exultation, as we are satisfied that the
dignity of her high birth is proudly equalled by ,
her transcendently amiable qualities, which we have
long admired and revered ; and of regret, as by
this promising source of connubial felicity, the just
reward of these qualities, the fair daughters of Bri
tain will be deprived of contemplating, in the high
est rank, one of the most conspicuous models of
maiden excellence. We earnestly hope, Madam.,

DEPARTURE. 441
that an union of such exalted promise may be
crowned with every prosperity to the illustrious
pair that a mother's most sanguine wishes can
form ; and that the rest of your majesty's fair de
scendants may be heiresses to blessings commensu
rate to the exalted virtues with which they are en
dowed." To these gailant expressions, Her Majesty made
the following reply :
" I return you my thanks for this very dutiful
and loyal address of congratulation on the marriage.
of the Prineess-Royal with the Hereditary Prince
of Wirtemberg ; and for those sentiments, so very
favourable to myself, with which it is accompanied."
On Friday the second of June, their royal and
serene highnesses quitted St,- James's Palaceifor
Harwich, escorted by a party of light dragoons.
The princess was dressed in a blue riding-habit,
with the star of the Russian order of St. Catherine
at her breast. She endeavoured to appear cheerful ;
but the faltering accents with which she bade her
attendants and the surrounding multitude farewell
spoke her agitated feelings. None of the royal
family were present, as they had all taken leave the
preceding night at Buckingham House, *when the
scene was most affecting. Her Majesty and the
princesses were bathed in tears, and her royal
highness hung upon the neck of her father, over
whelmed with grief. At length, the prince, her

442 AFFECTING SEPARATION.
husband, took her hand, and persuaded her to go
with him, supporting her to the coach, whither they
were followed by the King to take a last farewell
of his beloved daughter; but his feelings .were so
much overpowered, that he could not even articu
late the word adieu. This, considering the affec
tionate manner in which the family had uniformly
lived together, was not to be wondered ; for what
could be more distressing than a separation which
approximated the nearest to the last awful disso
lution of the tender ties of nature ? In private life
the settlement of children by approved alliances
contributes to cheer the hearts of parents, and to
diffuse a brightness over their declining years, in
the pleasing prospect of sharing the happiness of
tifose they love ; but here,, on the contrary, such
is the heavy tax imposed upon royalty, the nuptial
festivities were mixed and shaded, as it were, with
funereal gloom ; since to their majesties this parting
from a child, who had never lived out of their pre
sence, even for a single day, was in all probability
a parting for ever.
The year closed, however, with a brilliancy which
could not have been augurised in the early part of
it; and His Majesty, with his wonted piety, re
solved to give a public expression of gratitude for
the signal blessings which the nation had received.
Accordingly, the nineteenth of December was ap
pointed to be ohserved as a day of general thanks-

PROCESSION TO ST. PAUL'S. 443
giving for our great naval victories; and a grand pro
cession to St. Paul's Cathedral, by the royal family
and the two houses of parliament, then took place.
The morning was remarkably fine, and the scene
had an impressive effect, particularly in the choir of
the church, on entering which their majesties were
seated under a crimson canopy of state, the King on
the right and the Queen on the left, with the prin
cesses formed in a circle by her -side. At the end of
the first lesson a naval procession commenced, to
choral music, from the body of the church to the
choir, when the British admirals advanced with the
colours taken in the three great victories gained by
Lords Howe, St. Vincent, and Duncan. These
flags were received from the gallant officers by the
dean and chapter, who ranged them on both sreres
the altar in consecrated order ; after which, a dis
course was preached by the Bishop of Lincoln ; and
the service being concluded, the procession returned
in greater state than it entered. Their majesties
were preceded by the male branches of the family,
the foreign ambassadors, &c, the Bishop of London
being qn the right hand of the King, 'and the Bishop
of Lincoln on his left. The sword of state was borne
by Earl Spencer, and that of the city by the lord
mayor. The King appeared in blue and gold, the
Queen in mazarine blue with a diamond head-dress :
the princesses in the same coloured vests, with

444 DEATH IN THE ORANGE FAMILY.
chained head-dresses of gold and white feathers.
The ceremony continued till half-past one, when
their majesties returned in their coach of state to
Buckingham House. No accident occurred to mar
the splendour of the day, which terminated with
great credit to all who had the direction of the
several arrangements.
The following year glided smoothly away without
any thing particularly remarkable. in regard to the
royal family, who spent the conclusion of the sum
mer, as usual, at Weymouth, where the King and
the princesses bathed in the sea regularly every
morning, when the weather permitted. While at
this gay place of resort, the news arrived of the
^splendid victory gained by Admiral Nelson over the
]03nch fleet on the coast of Egypt, which intelli
gence increased the gladness occasioned by the pre
sence of royalty, and contributed to furnish addi
tional festivities, in which their majesties cheerfully
participated. Of their readiness to enter into the sympathetic
feelings pf.pthprs, as well for sorrow as for joy, an
instance occurred at the end of January, 1799,
when the King, in reading a foreign newspaper at
Buckingham House, was suddenly struck with a
paragraph mentioning the death of the second son
of the Stadtholder, at Venice, where, in the capa
city of an Austrian officer, he fell a victim to the

ROYAL ENTERTAINMENTS. 445
punctual discharge of his duty, in attending the mili
tary hospital, which, at that time, was infected by
a contagious fever.
Their majesties were very much shocked at this
melancholy intelligence; and the Queen being fear
ful of its effects upon the Princess of Orange, imme
diately sent off a letter by a special messenger, to
Hampton Court, requesting her company for a few
days on some particular concerns. Without sus
pecting any thing of her misfortune, the princess
hastened to town, and thus, by the address of the
Queen, she was kept ignorant of the loss which she
had sustained, till the arrival of letters from Venice,
putting it beyond doubt the sad news was imparted
to her by gentler degrees, whereby her mind was
enabled to bear what otherwise might have been
attended with fatal consequences.
The remainder of this year had a more cheerful
aspect ;. and though the pomp and parade of war
prevailed, the military spectacles were so ipixed
with festivities as to present every where the ideas
of security and gaiety, rather than of alarm and ap-
prehension. Two entertainments given by Her Majesty were
of a domestic description, and tended in the reno
vation of joy to create expectations which were far
from being realized. The first was a private fete at
Frogmore, on the eighth of March, in grateful com
memoration of the recovery of the Princess Amelia,

446* ROYAL ENTERTAINMENTS.
whose life had been even despaired of for sortie time.
This, therefore, was a scene of unmixed gladness,
which could hardly be said of the other, for though
iri some respects it might have been termed a feast
of conciliation, it was more a sacrifice to duty thaa
affection. The King having long suffered much
anxiety about the separation of the Prince and
Princess of Wales, with a true paternal sensibi
lity, wished tp see the appearance, at least, of
restored harmony in his family. To gratify his
desire, it was agreed that the princess should be
recalled to court, on the ensuing birthrday ; previous.
to which, and to give a greater eelat to the circum
stance, Her Majesty, on the evening of the sixteenth-
of May, had a grand ball and supper at her palace.
fflaout two hundred persons, the flower of the no
bility, -assembled round their amiable sovereign on
this occasion; and it was grateful to see the blaze
of royalty eclipsing the lustre of- dress and the
sparkling of diamonds. The company began to
meet about eight, and at half-past nine the grand
saloon was opened for dancing, which commenced
with Scotch reels, the twa first hy the Duke of
Kent and the Princess of Wales. At one the sup
per rooms were opened, when twelve tables, covered
with a profusion of the choicest delicacies of the
season, were displayed to view. This entertain
ment being finished, the nobility again resumed
dancing ; and at four the company departed.

REVIEW OF VOLUNTEERS, 447
Never, perhaps, "during his long reign, did the
King witness a prouder day, or one more delight
ful, on all accounts, to his patriotic heart, than on
the anniversary of his birth this year, when he re
viewed the various associations of volunteers in
Hyde Park. These loyal troops assembled early
in the morning, and on the appearance of His Ma
jesty precisely at nine o'clock, a royal salute was
fired by the artillery company. The sovereign
then proceeded slowly along the line, and though
it rained heavily "all the time, he continued unco
vered during the review; after which, the several
corps, with the surrounding multitudes, made the
air resound with acclamations. Her Majesty and
the princesses, accompanied by the Countess of
Harrington and Lady Mary Stanhope, viewed this
sublime spectacle from the house of Lady Holder-
nesse in Park Lane, and that of Lord Cathcart,
Where they partook of refreshments. The sight
very much affected them ; and even the monarch
himself, as he surveyed this faithful cordon of sub
jects, walling him round as it were in lofty defiance
of all his foes, could not refrain from expressing
his feelings by a tear — but then it was the tear of
gratitude. The Queen- afterwards held a drawing-room,
which was one of the most splendid and crowded
that had been witnessed for several years.
During the procession of the mail coaches in the

448 DRAWING-ROOM;
front of the palace, the royal family appeared in
the windows, and were repeatedly greeted by the
populace ; but what gave the most touching effect to
the scene, was the Prince of Wales holding up his
child to view the shew, and then delivering the
young princess into the arms of her royal grand
father On the twenty-first of the same month, His Ma-
jes^ set out on a circuit in and about the metropo
lis to inspect the different corps of volunteers, and
about noon, joined the Queen and princesses at the
house of the Lord Chancellor Loughborough, in
Russell Square, where an elegant collation was pro
vided; after partaking of which, His Majesty again
mounted his charger, and proceeded to inspect the
corps assembled in the front of the Foundling Hos
pital. While the active monarch was thus engaged,
Her Majesty and daughters went into that noble
edifice, with which they were extremely pleased,
and particularly the performance of the children,
who greeted them in the chapel with the air of
" God save the King."
Another military spectacle, on a scale of splendid
magnificence in this season of lpyalty, was exhibited
by the Earl of Romney, at his seat near Maid
stone, where, on the first of August, the sovereign
and his family attended to witness a grand review
of the volunteers in that part of Kent. The an
nouncement of this grand entertainment drew to-

LORD ROMNEY's FETE. 449
gether thousands of eager spectators, not only from
the surrounding towns and villages, but from places
very remote. During the whole of the ^preceding
day Maidstone was in a bustle, which increased as
the evening came on ; and when night fell, no ac
commodation of any sort could be obtained for man
or horse.
Happy were those who could squeeze them
selves into a corner of the meanest alehouse;
but the far greater number of strangers were
obliged to bivouack with their cattle in the fields,
lanes, and streets.
To give peculiar pomp to the volunteers, they
marched into the town with drums beating and
colours flying, accompanied by bands of music. "
The royal standard was hoisted on the church,
and flags were displayed from many of the houses.
During the afternoon, the road tP Moat Park,
Lord Romney's seat, about a mile from Maidstone,
was thronged with people going to see the prepara
tions making for the reception of their majesties.
A pavilion was erected on a rising part of the lawn,
at the back of the house, for the royal family to
dine in, and another nearly adjoining for the attend
ant nobility. The former was decorated with fes
toons of flowers, and the ground was covered with
green baize ^ Ninety-one tables were placed near
the spot in two divisions, for the volunteers, upon
which cloths were laid, and knives and forks
placed for near six thousand persons.

450 LORD ROMNEY'S FETE.
The whole length of these tables amounted to
thirteen thousand, three hundred, and thirty-three
yards, or nearly seven miles and a half, and the
value of the wood-work exceeded fifteen hundred
pounds.. Though the royal family left Kew as early as
five in the morning, it was near twelve before they
arrived at Lord Romney's, haying. stopped to break
fast with. Lord Camden, and been otherwise delay
ed by the excessive badness of the roads.
The King came to the ground on his charger
amidst a heavy shower of rain, and Her Majesty,
with the princesses Augusta and Elizabeth, alighted
at the tent prepared fpr their .receptipn, into which
the Queen invited as many ladies as it would pos
sibly contain. As the volunteers and all the gen
tlemen present wore boughs of oak in their hats,
the royal family wished to decorate themselves with
some of the same, which were immediately brought,
and the Queen and princesses put them in their
.caps and in their bosoms.
After the review, a signal gun announced dinner
to the associations, and this sight, which for novelty
equalled all the rest, was viewed with admiration by
the august visitors, who sat down to a sumptuous
entertajnment in the pavilion, while the nobility
did; the same in a tent adjoining. The, royal party
^consisted of the King and Queen, the two prin
cesses, the Dukes of York, Cumberland, and Glou
cester, the Stadtholder, and the Countess Harring-

LORD ROMNEY's FETE. 45 1
ton as lady in waiting. They were attended during
dinner by Lord Romney, his son, and the honourable
Misses Marsham, the three daughters of his lordship.
The volunteers having finished their dinner, His Ma,-
jesty's health Was drank to martial music, by upwards
of six thousand men, all standing uncovered. Then
followed some other loyal toasts ; after which some
pf the officer? came up before the royal tent and sang
" God save the King." Abput half-past five the
several companies left the tables, got under arms,
and marched off }n different directions: on which,
the royal family returned to the house, where they
took Coffee, and at six o'clock Set off for town. To
commemorate the spot where this distinction Was
conferred on the men of Kent, a subscription was
entered into by the volunteers, for the erection of a
handsome pavilion of stone, the cupola of which is
supported by nine doric pillars, and the whole
building is formed after the model of the Temple
of the Sibyls at Tivoli, near Rome, and that of
Minerva at Athens.

452

CHAPTER XX.

Two Attempts upon the King's Life. — Royal Fortitude. —
Military FUe at Hatfield. — Splendid Entertainment at
Frogmore. — Excursion to Weymouth. — Anecdote of an
American Quaker. — Visit to the Island of Portland. —
Return to Windsor. — Christmas Festivity.

He that denies a particular providence in human
affairs will not easily be convinced by facts of an
extraordinary occurrence, even though they may
shake his scepticism, because he has a word of conve
nient ambiguity, ever ready to be appliedin all those,
cases which are out of the common course of events.
And yet ij; will sometimes happen, when nothing
short of incorrigible infidelity can ascribe that to:
chance which evidently-carries with it the marks of,
divine interposition. The truth of this was remark-;
ably evinced in the marvellous preservation of the
King twice in one day, when in both instances there
was not only a deliberate aim to take away his life,
but that too in situations extremely favourable to
the diabolical purpose.
On the morning of the fifteenth of May, 1 800,
while His Majesty was inspecting the evolutions of
the grenadier guards in Hyde Park, during. the

ATTEMPT TO pESTROY THE KING. 453
firings a ball-cartridge was discharged, which passed
very near his person, and penetrated through both
thighs of a young gentleman belonging to one of the
public offices, who happened to stand within a few
yards. of the King. flfr 0»y&y:Vciffi*u*~*r™'ri**&^,J>
The same evening the royal family went to Drury
Lane Theatre, and the King had scarcely entered the
state box, when two slugs were fired directly at him
from the pit. Her Majesty and the princesses were
at that moment stepping into the box; but the King,
apprehensive of the effect of the alarm upon their
minds, waved his hand, and said, " keep back ;
they are firing squibs for diversion." Such was the
admirable presence of mind of our venerable sove
reign, and such was his affectionate tenderness, in
an instant, when, for anything he knew, more fire
arms were about to be discharged from the same
quarter, and with the same nefarious object. Her^
Majesty, however, at length came forward, much
agitated, followed by her daughters trembling with
anxiety ; and on finding from tlie uproar that some
thing of serious import had occurred, they all join
ed in urging the King to return -home, but, with his
wonted fortitude^, he replied, " No; sit down and
be calm, for there is no danger ; we will stay an<#
see the entertainment out." They did so, and the
audience manifested by reiterated plaudits their
sense of this firmness, and their indignation agains£
the assassin. The unhappy man proved, upon in-
g g 2

454 ROYAL FORTITUDE.
diibitable evidence, to be a lunatic ; but consider
ing the position in which he had planted himself,
and the experience as a soldier which he possessed,
it was certainly little short of miraculous that one of
the balls had not a fatal effect. In both these attempts
the deadly design was manifest, and conducted in each
with the eye of practice ; the escape, therefore, of
the royal person under such peculiar circumstances,
cannot be regarded as fortuitous, without supposing
that the whole moral race are left destitute of govern
ment and protection, the slaves of fate, or the sport
of accident.
When the royal party returned to Buckingham-
House, and His Majesty was about to retire to rest,
he took a cheerful leave of his family, and said,
"I hope and pray that the poor creature who has
committed the rash assault upon me may enjoy as
sound a repose as I trust that I shall this night."
In none of the various assaults made upon him
did the King ever betray any thing like resentment
against the unfortunate or misguided beings, who,
frOm phrenzy or faction, presumed to commit acts
of violence upon his person ; nor could those re
peated outrages induce him to adopt any precau*
tions for his security. On the contrary, he rode
and walked as usual, sometimes without any attend
ant, and, at the most, with only one or two servants.
A nobleman, shortly after the serious attack in the
playhouse, took upon him to remonstrate with His

ANECDOTE. 455
Majesty upon this exposure of his person, when the
King answered, that the constant presence of a
guard would be an irksome restraint which he could
not endure, especially as indicating an unreasonable
jealousy of his subjects, of whose loyalty and affec
tion he entertained not the smallest doubt. " I
know;" said His Majesty, " that any man who
chooses to sacrifice his own life may easily take
away mine ; but I only hope that if any one at
tempts such an act, he will do it promptly, without
any circumstances of barbarity."
The twelfth of June, this year, was distinguished
by one of those displays of loyalty which happily
were not unfrequent at this period, and which
brought to recollection the days of old, when the
heads of -the baronial houses rallied their depend
ants round the. royal standard. This revival of the
ancient spirit of hospitality and chivalry gave
energy to patriotism! and drove faction to the den
of hypocrisy.
Among the nobility who took a leading part in
the national cause at this eventful period, the Mar
quis of Salisbury appeared with the characteristic
zeal, of his illustrious lineage. For near a month
his lordship's magnificent mansion was the seat of
busy preparations, to receive the royal family, at
the grand review of the Hertford volunteers in Hat
field Park. In this business above one hundred ser
vants and labourers were employed, under the per-

456 REVIEW AT HATFIELD.
sonal inspection of the marquis, who was indefa
tigable in his exertions to arrange the tents for the
accommodation of all the spectators. In the neigh ¦
bouring inns also all was bustle and confusion.
The cellars and larders were emptied of their liquors
and provisions, which were transferred to booths
erected in the park, and scattered among the distant
clumps of trees, commanding a view of the military
spectacle. Many of the visitors came on the pre
ceding evening, but the gates of the park were not
thrown open for carriages till seven in the morning,
When several waggons entered, decorated with oak
boughs, and filled with ladies dressed in white. At
nine their majesties, in a chariot with four horses;
entered through the principal lodge at the southern
extremity of the park, having been only one hour and
three quarters on their journey. Next followed a car
riage in which were the Princesses Augusta, "Eliza
beth, and Amelia. Then came the Prince and
Princess of Orange, and the Duke of York. In a
quarter of an hour after his arrival, the King mount
ed his horse, and was followed by the Queen and
three princesses in an open landau ; to which suc
ceeded another, containing the Princess Mary,
Princess of Orange, Countess of Harcourt, and the
Ladies. Georgina and Emily Cecil, The Prince of
Orange was in his own coach. These carriages
drove to the Queen's marquee, which was on a
rising ground, commanding a view of the whole

SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT. 457
line. It was boarded with oak in the most finished
style, and covered with a beautiful Brussels carpet.
Projected pannels of mahogany, with sash-doors,
commanded a full view of the eastern ahd western
front. Adjoining to this tent were two^others, one
for the ministers of state, and the other for the la
dies. An elegant breakfast was laid for their ma
jesties with a service of gold in the summer dining-
room. After the review the volunteers and their officers
sat down to a substantial- dinner in the park, as the
royal guests did to one of the most sumptuous de
scription in King James's room, in Hatfield House.
At the head of the table sat their Majesties ; on
the right of the King were the Puke of Gloucester,
the Prince of Orange, the Prince of Wales, and the
Dukes of York and Cumberland. On the Queen's
side were, the Princess of Orange, the Princesses
Augusta, Elizabeth, Mary, and Amelia. At the
lower end sat the Marquis and Marchioness of Sa
lisbury, the Countesses of Harrington and Chester
field, with Ladies Georgina and Emily Cecil.
Among the principal ornaments of the room were
two pictures, one a whole length of the King, with
these words in gold letters on a wreath — " Preserved
of God, belpved of his people •!" The other was of
Her Majesty, having this motto—" Favoured of
heaven, the glory of her sex !"
The cabinet ministers and general officers of state

458 FETE AT FROGMORE.
were entertained in another room. When the vo
lunteers had dined, they all drank His Majesty's
health, with three cheers, -and afterwards sang
te God save the King" in chorus. At half past four
the royal family set off in their carriages amidst loud
acclamation, the sound of martial music frpm the
bands, and The general salute of the guns. Almost
all the people of distinction in the country were as
sembled on this occasion ; and the concourse, in
cluding the different military bodies, could not be
less. than fifty thousand persons.
On the fourteenth of the following month the
Queen gave an entertainment of a new character in
Frogmore Gardens, the management of which was
entirely under the ^direction of the Princess Eliza
beth. About two o'clock the royal family repaired
from Windsor Lodge in their carriages to the house,
consisting of their majesties, the five princesses,
the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of
York, the Dukes of Clarence and Cumberland, and
the PrinCe and Princess of Orange ; after whom
came the company who were invited to dinner.
The royal party dined in the temporary room ; and
for the accommodation of the nobility, three tents
adjoining to this apartment were pitched in a direct
line, so that their majesties had a complete view of
the whole assembly. The dinner, consisting of
every delicacy of the season, was served up in great
style % and during the repast the band of the Staff-,

FETE AT FROGMORE. 459
ford militia played several martial airs. As soon
as dinner was over, the Princess Elizabeth con
ducted her royal parents and the visitors to the
grotto, where some of the principal vocal performers
entertained them with glees and songs. ^IJfhe com
pany then proceeded across the lawn tp afflbther part
of the gardens, - where a group, in the criaracter of
gypsies, made their appearance ; and on the ap
proach of their majesties, Mrs. Mills, who person
ated the" queen of the vagrant tribe, advanced from
behind a thicket, leading an ass bearing two chil
dren, and sang a gypsey song; after which she de
livered her poetical destinies of good fortune to the
several members of the royal family. The King
and' the royal dukes took great notice of the two
children placed on the ass, and His Majesty desired
that they might be led round for the Queen to see
them, as they belonged to two of the soldiers'
wives. Mrs. Mills and her gypsey throng having
concluded their part with a dance, retreated into
the thicket ; after which the princess led the way
to a space of ground near what is called the Her
mit's Cell, where a stage was erected, on which
one Du Crow, termed the Flemish Hercules, ex
hibited his wonderful performances on the slack
wire, and afterwards his extraordinary powers of
strength, such as balancing on his chin three large
coach-wheels, also a ladder, to which were affixed
two chairs witlijEwo children on them;, and beapng

4o"0 FETE AT FROGMORE.
at the same time on his hands and feet a table in
the form of a pyramid, with eight persons on its
surface. When ithese exploits were over, the company
walked towards the canal, where a large boat,
having the royal standard nyi"g, was placed on the
stocks, to" represent the Royal Sovereign ready for
launching. Here Mrs. Mills appeared, in the dress
of a sailor, while Mr. Fawcett, in that of the
St. James's association, delivered a loyal address.
On the return of their majesties to the lawn in front
of the grotto, six Hungarian hussars performed the
peculiar dances of their country ; after which, Faw
cett entertained the company with a humorous
song, on the conclusion of which the. company re
paired to the Princess Elizabeth's Thatched Barn.
In this beautiful arbour, which was fitted up for a
ball-room, seats were erected for the accommoda
tion of six hundred of the nobility, who were in
vited by tickets from Her Majesty, ndne others
being admitted. The entrance consisted of arched
colonnades of crystal lamps ; the room wa3 decorated
with flowers, and lighted up with chandeliers in
the form of a bee-hive, the upper part suspended
by a tassel resembling ears of corn. The ball
lasted till twelve o'clock, when their majesties re
turned to Windsor ; and the rest of the company,
after partaking of a cold collation, soon followed.
At the end of the month the royal family made

TOUR TO WEYMOUTH. 46*1
their annual visit to Weymouth, where they re
mained till the beginning of October, enjoying the
benefits of bathing, and mingling in the amuse
ments of the numerous visitors who were attracted
by the presence of majesty to that gay and pleasant
watering-place. Here, on tlie second day of their
arrival, they were met on the Esplanade by some
quakers, who accosted His Majesty, and requested
leave to introduce a young member of their society
from America, and who, they said, was extremely
desirous of seeing the King. The gpod-natured
monarch accordingly entered into conversation with
the stranger, who then retired to a little distance,
and taking off his hat, offered up a long prayer for
the King of the little island, blessing providence
for his late deliverance, and supplicating on his be
half a prolongation of years for the good of his
people. The scene was interesting, and much af
fected the persons who witnessed it, particularly
the Queen and her daughters.
Weymouth was never more thronged since it
became, a place of royal notice than at this season,
and their majesties appeared to make it their study
to render the residence there as pleasant to others
as it was to themselves.
They regularly visited the rooms, seldom missed
the theatre in the evening, and made frequent ex
cursions on the water, there being constantly one
or more vessels of war stationed in the roads during

462 ANECDOTES.
their stay. The principal families in the neigh
bourhood received occasional calls, but quite in a
friendly way; and they, in turn, were invited to
the Queen's parties at the Lodge. At this time the
Prince of Wales and his interesting child were at
Weymouth, a circumstance which contributed very
much to the general liveliness.
Among the various sppts to which the royal ca
riosity was drawn in these periodical tours, the Isle
of Portland came in for a considerable share of at
tention, on account of the shells, pebbles, and fos
sils, found in the sands and the cavities of the rocks.
The children in consequence made it their business
to search for these natural rarities; for which they
were certain of a liberal compensation, whenever
the Queen and princesses made their annual visit
to the island.
At the beginning of October the royal family left
the coast for Windsor, where Her Majesty kept the
Christmas-day following in a very pleasing' manner.
Sixty poor families had a substantial dinner given
them ; and in the evening the children, of the prin
cipal families in the neighbourhood were invited to
an entertainment at the Lodge. Here, among other
amusing objects for the gratification of the juvenile
visitors, in the middle of the room stood an im
mense tub with a yew-tree placed in it, from the
branches of which hung bunches of sweetmeats^
almonds, and raisins, in papers, fruits, and toys*

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITY.

463

most tastefully arranged, and the whole illuminated
by small wax candles. After the company had
walked round and admired the tree, each child ob
tained a portion of the sweets which it bore, together
with a toy, and, then all returned home quite de
lighted.

464

CHAPTER XXI.
Commencement of the Nineteenth Century. — King's Ill
ness.— Relieved by a simple Remedy. — Royal Visits. —
Weymouth. — Anecdote of the Queen — Fete at Frog
more. — New Year, and Peace, 1802. — Celebration of
the Queen's Birth-Day at Constantinople. — Christening
of Lord Chesterfield's .Daughter. — War renewed.—
Installation of Knights of the Bath. — Military Reviews.
, Presentation of Colours. — Queen's Birth-Day, 1804. —
Alarming Slate of the King's Health.— Recovery. — •
Tour to Weymouth. — dqualic Amusements. — Splendid
Entertainments. — Visit to Mr. Rose. — Royal Reconci
liation. — Translation of Freylinghausen.

The commencement of the new century diffused
cheerfulness over the country ; and the anniversary
return of the day appointed to be kept as Her Ma
jesty's birth-day was celebrated in consequence
with peculiar splendour, the performance of the ode
for the new year being reserved till that great court
festival. But ple.asure and pain are nearly allied ;
and within a few weeks after this scene of gaiety,
the royal family were greatly distressed by the
alarming state of the King, whose illness threatened
very serious consequences, particularly as none of
the regular medicines administered could induce
repose. In this emergency, when professional skill
was baffled, the casual observation of Mr. Adding-

ROYAL, VISITS. 465;
ton, now Lprd Sidmouth, upon the virtue of a
pillow of hops, was fortunately acted upon, and had
the effect of relieving "the royal sufferer from his
malady. To this circumstance Mr. Addington was
indebted for the jocular tifle of doctor, which,
though bestowed in the spirit of party, he was well
content to bear on an occasion so gratifying to his
own feelings and those of his sovereign, whose
sense of the benefit he had received was expressed
by a friendly visit paid to that gentleman at Wim
bledon, the day before the royal family left Kew-
for the coast.
On the twenty-ninth of June their majesties and
the princesses went to Quffnels, the seat of Mr. Rose,
where they remained three days, and then embarked
for Weymouth,, which place they did not reach till
twelve o'clock at night, owing to contrary winds ;
and wlxen they landed, there were no persons in
attendance to receive them at the pier or on the
beach, so that they were obliged to walk without
any escort to the lodge.
During the royal residence at Weymouth this
season, the Queen gave, as usual, a splendid enter-,
tainment at Radipole, but on a more extended scale,
under her own immediate direction and that of the
Princess Elizabeth. Among the persons employed
in the decorations was the wife of Mr. William
Penley, one of the performers belonging to the
Theatre at Weymouth ; and while she was thus.

466 aUEEVs BIRTH-DAY.
engaged, her little boy attracted the particular notice
of the Queen, who was so pleased with the livelU
ness of his parts, that she sent him to an eminent
school at Sherborne, where he remained solely at her
charge till he had completed his seventeenth year,
when a commission in the army was bestowed upon-
him, with three hundred guineas for an outfit.
Their majesties returned from this western ex
cursion at the beginning of October, and closed the
year with a brilliant entertainment at Frogmore, to
which only a select party of the nobility and gentry
in that neighbourhood were invited.
With the new year, 1802, came in the charm of
peace, which spread a radiance over the celebration
of the Queen's birth-day, and rendered, the circle "
more gay and numerous than it had been for a con
siderable time. That annual festival, however, was
Commemorated at Constantinople in. a manner thdre
pleasing to the feelings of humanity,' than in the
formal sound. pf presentations' and congratulatory
compliments. • The Ottoman government having directed that a
palace should be erected for the accommodation of
the English ambassador, Lord Elgin, then our mi
nister at that court, fixed upon this „ day for the
ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the
intended building. The spectacle was grand;
but what rendered it peculiarly and unspeakably
touching, was the circumstance of the liberation

INSTALLATION OF THE BATH. 4&f
of one hundred and forty Christian slaves, who were
presented to. the ambassador by the capitan pacha,
in honour of the Queen of England.
On the second of April their majesties and the
Princess Elizabeth stood sponsors in person to the
infant daughter of the Earl of Chesterfield, at his
house in May Fair. ,The Dowager-Marchioness of
Bath acted as chief nurse, and presented the child
to the* Queen, who delivered it into the hands of
Dr. Sutton, Bishop of Norwich, giving it the name
of Georgiana. After the ceremony, the Earl of
Chesterfield, on his knee, .presented a cup of caudle
to the King on a gold waiter of great value, which
had been given to his ancestor, the first Lord Stan
hope, by the King of Spain, for services in that
country, during the war of the succession.
The remainder of_this year passed without any
remarkable occurrences in the royal family, and the
next had scarcely begun, before the hoarse note of
preparation for war was heard, the formal declara
tion of which took place on the eighteenth of May.
The very day ^afterwards a grand Spectacle was ex
hibited in ;ihe installation of Knights of the Bath,
at which the Duke of York presided as great master.
This grand chivalric ceremony was viewed by Her
Majesty and the princesses from a box lined With
crimson, over Congreve's monument in the Abbey j
and as the knights passed in procession, they halt
ed to pay their obeisance, the whole of the cpm-
Hh

468 WAR RENEWED. -^MILITARY REVIEW.
pany in the nave of the church standing up, which
had a very fine effect.
The Queen and her daughters were all dressed in
white, as were most of the ladies present. After
the procession the royal party retired to the deanry,
where an elegant entertainment was prepared for
their refreshment.
The renewal of the war, though it portended an
arduous struggle^ so far from being attended with
any damp of the national spirit, seemed to have the
contrary effect of rousing the whole mass of popu
lation into energy. Of this, a striking proof was
given in the alacrity with which the volunteers flew
to arms ; and a prouder day perhaps was hardly
eve» witnessed than at the end of October, when
His Majesty reviewed these" loyal troops in Hyde
Park. On that occasion the scene was rendered
peculiarly interesting, by the appearance of the
French princes and several of their faithful adhe-
herents, in uniform, who joined in the royal train,
no doubt with mingled emotions of anxiety, admi
ration, and gratitude. Her Majesty, with the Prin
cesses Augusta and Elizabeth, followed the King in
one open landau, as the Princesses Sophia and
Mary did in another. The review lasted from
about ten o'clock till half-past one, when the royal
party, with the foreign princes and several officers,
proceeded to Buckingham House, accompanied all
the way by immense crowds of people, who, being

PRESENTATION OF COLOURS. 469
no longer restrained by the military, ran in all di-»
rections to catch a sight of their venerable sove
reign. The air resounded with shouts ; and His
Majesty shewed the sense which he entertained of
these expressions of loyalty, by repeatedly taking
off his hat, and giving other signs of his grateful
feelings. The whole number of persons, together
with the volunteers, could not be less than two hun
dred thousand; and many came to town from a dis
tance of above one hundred miles, purposely to
have a sight of this splendid array. Two days
afterwards, there was another review of the West
minster, Lambeth, and Surrey volunteers, which,
fell very little short of the former in grandeur and
general effect.
On the fourth of January, 1804, a brilliant scene
was displayed at Ranelagh, in the presentation of
eolours to the Queen's royal volunteers, About
noon, the trumpet announced the arrival of the
courtly party in three of His Majesty's carriages,
followed by others belonging to different noblemen.
The company having alighted, ^Lady Harrington
was conducted to her box by the vice chamberlain,
and followed by her attendants, exactly in the same
manner as the Queen would have been. She was
dressed in a black pelisse and a scarlet sash, with a
velvet hat highly ornamented ; and an antique neckr
lace of great value, with a fine cameo of His Ma
jesty, being a large and- beautiful onyi, set as, a nie-
h h 2

470 LADY* HARRINGTON S SPEECH.
dallion, which was presented to her- ladyship by the
Queen, as a memorial of the event. The countess
being seated, two pairs of colours were introduced j
and placed on each side of the royal box. The
King's colours of each regiment consisted of a plain
union standard ; but the regimental one, which was
designed and executed by the Queen and princesses,
was a superb piece of needle-work, the ground
being a rich purple silk, having in the centre Her
Majesty's arms, embroidered and surrounded with
sprigs of variegated tints and figures. At the lower
corners were the letters C. R. and under the armo
rial bearings the words " Queen's Royal Volun
teers." After prayers and a suitable discourse, the Coun
tess Of Harrington thus addressed the officers :
" Gentlemen,
"Her Majesty having' been graciously pleased to
confer upon me the honour of presenting to you
these colours, I am anxious to express how highly
I am flattered by this distinguished mark of the
Queen's favour. At a time Of- all others the most
awful, when our country is threatened with the un
provoked attack of a most implacable enemy, and
When you have evinced your readiness to stand for
ward in the defence of every thing that is most dear
to us all, what can be more gratifying or more ho
nourable toyou, than being peculiarly distinguished
by Her Majesty, and receiving your cqlours from

ILLNESS OF THE KING. 4?1
her? Animated as your hearts must be in gratitude
,tp the Queen, in addition to every other noble senT
timent that has guided you from the moment of the
first offer of your services, it would not only, be
superfluous, but presumptuous in me, to add any
thing more upon the occasion than the expression of
every fervent wish for your success in the extent of
the enemy carrying his threats into execution ; con
fident that no power, however strenuously exerted^
will ever wrest these colours from you, while there
is yet left a man in your corps to defend them."
To this neat and energetic speech a suitable
answer was returned by Lord Hobart, who express
ed in behalf of the corps, which had thus been ho
noured, the most patriotic and grateful sentiments,,
The festival commemorative of the Queen's birthr
day was observed this season with the usual de
monstrations of respect. In the morning the whole
family breakfasted together, according to custom on
these occasions ; but the King did not attend the
drawing-room, owing to a severe attack of the rheur
matism ; in consequence of which, Her Majesty,
instead of a ball, gave a concert in the evening at
Buckingham House, to a numerous party of the
nobility. The disorder with which the King was
afflicted assumed such an alarming aspect by the
middle of the following month, "as to 'require the
.constant attendance of three physicians for some
Jays, after which two others were called in, and

478 TOUR TO WEYMOUTH.
the public anxiety was excited to the utmost degree
©f distress by the unfavorable reports that were in
circulation. By the end of the month, however,
the violent symptoms were so far abated, that a
prayer of -thanksgiving was judiciously drawn up,
and ordered to be read in churches, for the purpose
of quieting the fears of the people ; and, at length,
the discontinuance of the official bulletins confirm
ed the hopes of the nation in the complete restora
tion of the King's health.
On the twenty- fourth of August, the royal family
and attendants left the Queen's Lodge for Wey
mouth, proceeding by Binfield and Wokingham to
the seat of Sir William Pitt, at Heckfield Heath,
where they dined. Having taken coffee, they went
on to Andover, and stopped for tea and supper at
the Star and Garter. His Majesty appeared in ex
cellent spirits, and handed the Queen out of the
carriage with the greatest gallantry, cautioning her
'against the number of steps. During the short stay
of the royal visitors, they became particularly at
tached to a beautiful infant about three months old,
with whose charms the princesses were extremely
delighted. About half-past ten o'clock, all the
party, except the Duke of Cambridge, set off for
Weymouth, which place they reached at five the
next morning, When they immediately retired to
rest, having 'travelled all night. His Majesty, how
ever, rose soon after seven, and having taken break-

VISIT TO PORTLAND. 473
fast, walked on the Esplanade, then proceeded to
inspect the stables, mounted his saddle-horse, and
rode out till his usual hour of dinner. In the even
ing the whole town was illuminated ; fire-works
were let off on board the ships as well as on the Es
planade ; the place was full of gaiety, and no lodgings
could be obtained at any price. The renovated state
of the King diffused joy among all classes ; and
they who had close and constant opportunities of
beholding him and his happy family were enrap
tured with his condescension. In his walks he
conversed with the farmer on agricultural affairs,
with the soldier on his military duties, and with
the sailor on the boasted preparations of the enemy.
The last subject never failed to draw from him some
pleasing remarks on the superiority of the navy ;
and one day, when going off to the yacht, an attend
ant in waiting, in delivering a musical instrument
to a man belonging to the barge, told him to take
care of it, on which the King turned round and said,
" Oh ! there is no occasion for that caution, every
thing is safe in the hands of a British seaman,"
On the third of September the royal family and
a large company embarked for the Isle of Portland,
famous for its quarries and romantic scenery. The
barge had the royal standard in her stern, and an
awning covered with beautiful silk, large enough to
shade the whole party, but sufficiently open on the
sides to give the numerous spectators in the sur-

474 GRAND FETE.
rounding boats a complete view of their majes
ties as they passed. Great preparations had been
making for several days before at Portland Castle,
for the entertainment of the royal guests ; and every
delicacy of the season was Gonveyed over from the
King's kitchen at Weymouth. A large platform
was raised for the royal family to land upon at the
beach, and the carriages and horses were taken over
in the ferry-boat.
Soon after their landing, Her Majesty and the
princesses, in two carriages, and the King with his
suite on horseback, took a most delightful excur
sion almost round the island ; and on their return
to the castle, sat down to a sumptuous dinner,
during which the inhabitants crowded from all parts
to see their sovereign. Shortly after dinner, the
whole party went on board the yacht, took several
trips in the offing, and returned to Weymouth time
enough for the theatre, which they rarely ever
missed, The ninth being the anniversary of the wedding
of their majesties, the same was celebrated with a"
grand fete, under the direction of the Princess Eli
zabeth. The King appeared first at the rooms;
and about two o'clock the Queen and the rest of
the family arrived, with a numerous company of
the nobility. The tables were set out in a style of
the greatest elegance ; and about three the dancing
commenced. All the roads leading to Weymouth

REMARKABLE FETE. 4/5
were thronged with carriages, post-chaises, and every
kind of conveyance, so great was the desire of the
people to see the monarch.
The inhabitants of Weymouth were much amused
by a succession of fetes during the residence of the
royal family on the coast this season ; but the most
curious of all these entertainments was an aquatic
one, in honour of the h^rth-day of the Duchess of
Wirtemberg, on the twenty-ninth of September;
at which above two hundred and fifty persons were
invited. The royal yachts were moored in the har
bour for this purpose ; and while their majesties,
with the princes and princesses, dined on board
one, a numerous party did the same on board
the other ; there being platforms laid, by which an
easy communication was maintained between the
two vessels. After dinner a Dutch fair was held,
both in the yachts and on shore, marquees and
booths being erected for the several dealers. The
whole had a most lively appearance, and infinitely
surpassed any of those ridiculous shews called mas
querades. On the tenth of October the royal family visited
Lord Dorchester, at Milton Abbey, from whence
they went the next day to view Stalbridge, the seat
of the Earl of Uxbridge, but which had not been in
habited by that nobleman for a number of years.
After inspecting this ancient and deserted place, the
party returned to the abbey ; but in going up a

476 DEPARTURE FROM WEYMOUTH.
very steep hill, two of the horses in a phaston got
entangled together, which caused the carriage to
overset ; and the two princesses who were in it fell
out, but happily without receiving any other injury
than that of being greatly frightened. The royal
family remained at Milton Abbey till the thirteenth,
when they returned to Weymouth, His Majesty on
horseback, and the Queen and princesses in car
riages. Early in the morning of the twenty-ninth of the
same month, their majesties and family left Wey
mouth on a visit to Mr. "Rose in Hampshire, pre
vious to their return to Windsor. After breakfast
ing with Mr. Drax Grosvenor at Charborough, they
proceeded to Wimbourne, and there changed horses ;
but the town was so crowded with volunteers and
visitors, that the royal carriages could scarcely pass
along. The windows were filled with ladies ele
gantly dressed, and all the tops of the houses were
covered, such was the eagerness of the country-
people to get a sight of the King and Queen. From
hence their majesties went on to Ringwood, where
a similar scene presented itself, and so it continued
all the way to Lyndhurst, where the volunteers
from Southampton and other places were assembled.
Numbers came from such a distance that they tra
velled in flying waggons ; and the streets in every
town through which they passed were filled with
coaches, chaises, gigs, carts, and an immense con-

VISIT TO MR. ROSE- 477
bourse of horse and foot travellers. The royal fa
mily reached Cuffnels soon after four the same afteiv
noon, and immediately sat down to a sumptuous
dinner, Which had been provided in expectation of
their arrival. ,-
On the first of November the corporation of
Southampton were honoured with a royal visit.
The King entered the town on horseback, but the
Queen and princesses went in carriages, and were
received in the audit room by the mayor and his
hrethren. A loyal address was then read to their
majesties by the recorder, to which the King re
turned a most gracious answer, expressive of, his
particular attachment to the town of Southampton,
having been, as he said, a member of the corpora
tion from his infancy. After this ceremony, the
royal family went to dine with Mr. Bulkeley, in the
'New Forest.
The next morning their majesties left Cuffnels,/
with many kind expressions of satisfaction to the
worthy owner of that hospitable mansion and his
family, and proceeded amidst the blessings of a
numerous assemblage of spectators to Farnham
Castle, the palaee of the Bishop of Winchester,
where an elegant dinner was provided for their en
tertainment. About four o'clock they took leave
of the bishop, and soon after six reached Windsor*
to the great joy of the inhabitants, who illuminated-

478 HAPPY RECONCILIATION.
their houses on the happy return of the royal
family. To heighten the gladness occasioned by the reno
vation of the King's health, an interview took
place between His Majesty and the. heir-apparent,
on the twelfth of this month, at Kew Palace. The
Queen and princesses were present at this interest
ing and most touching scene, which was marked by
every emotion of paternal kindness on the one part,
and of the most profound veneration on the other.
Her Majesty had long felt and deplored this un
happy breach and separation: but all her efforts
to bring about a reconciliation were ineffectual, till
the recent illness and recovery of the sovereign
gave her those opportunities of which she knew
how to avail herself for the accomplishment of an
object that was the nearest to her heart. : -
Another proof of Her Majesty's piety and maternal
attention appeared this year, in the publication bf a
volume at her expense, from the new stereotype
press of the late Lord Stanhope, being the first work
printed by that improved System . This book, which
is an imperial octavo, has for its title, " An Abstract
of the whole -Doctrine of the Christian Religion^
with observations, by John Anastatius Freyling-
hausen, Minister of St. Ulric's Church, and In
spector of the Public School at Halle, in Germany.
From a manuscript in Her Majesty's possession."

FREYLINGHAUSEN. 4J*£j
The work was never printed in its original lan
guage; but the Queen highly valued the manu
script, which she made the basis of her lessons of
instruction when teaching her daughters ; and hav
ing caused it to be translated, she desired the late
Dr. Porteus, Bishop of London, to revise it for
publication, in the hopes that it would be of service
to young persons as an elementary- book, exhibiting
a concise and comprehensive view of the whole
system of Christianity. The doctrinal, part is per
fectly orthodox, and as completely free from any pe
culiarity of sentiment as the practical division is
from enthusiastic flights or mystical reveries.
It 'is remarkable, 'however, that the editor of
Bishop Porteus's works, and the writer of his life,
should not have taken any notice of the concern
which that prelate had in the arrangement and pub
lication of the book. This extraordinary silence is
no more respectful to the memory of the bishop
than to the high character of his illustrious patro
ness. The preface to the work sufficiently shews
his lordship's opinion of its merits ; and, therefore,
his biographer ought to have noticed the share
which he had in the publication. There may be a
reason for this strange neglect ; but if there is, it
must be one of a private nature, since to have
assisted the Queen in the promulgation of religious
knowledge cannot be considered otherwise than as
redounding to the honour of the bishop. In the

480 FREYLINGHAUSEN.
judgment of another prelate, indeed, the perform
ance was far from being deserving of the distinc
tion which it received. But the censures passed
by Bishop Watson upon a treatise of orthodox divi
nity will not weigh much with those who have
seen that political ecclesiastic magnifying a garbled
version of the New Testament, published for the
avowed purpose of supporting and propagating So-
cinianism^ A theological work, esteemed by the
Queen, and revised by Bishop Porteus, was not likely
to meet with the approbation of such a man as the
late Bishop of Llandaff, who, by his Own account,
had no other predilection for the church of England
than a most hearty desire to attain her highest ho
nours and possess her richest temporalities.

481

CHAPTER XXII.
Magnificent File given by the King at Windsor Castle.—
The Queen's Breakfast at Frogmore. — Installation of
Knights of the Garter, — Splendid Celebration of Her
Majesty's Birth-Day. — German Theatricals. — Royal
Tour to Weymouth. — Death of the Duke of Gloucester.

When the royal family went to reside at Windsor
Castle, the King formed the resolution of giving what
has been generally termed among good old English
customs a house-warming: but the execution of
this design was delayed from time to time, till the
beginning of the year 1805, when it was carried
into effect in. a most splendid manner. This fete
might be truly called regal, as every thing was
done by the direction and under the superintend"
ance of His Majesty, from the preparations of the
rooms to the arrangements for the company. While
Mr. Wyatt was fitting up the works, the King was
giving his orders in every department. The new
service of plate prepared for the occasion cost be
tween twenty and thirty thousand pounds, and the
whole collection displayed at this festive, scene was
supposed to be the most magnificent in Europe.
A number of persons were employed for a consider-

48$ HIS majestys fete.
able time preceding, in hanging the silver chande->
liers and other ornaments that had been saved from
the French ravagers in Hanover. Glass chandeliers
and lustres, to the value of several thousand pounds,
were also purposely prepared in London ; and no
expense was spared to render this a truly royal ban
quet. Three hundred and ninety persons of dis
tinction were invited, besides the royal family, mi
nisters, and officers of state. Different cards Were
issued for. the concert and ball* The company at
the former consisted of about one hundred and fifty.
The five trumpeters belonging to the Oxford Blues
Were stationed -in the gallery, on the first flight of
stairs, in their full superb gold4ace uniform, and
played God save the King, in parts, when any of.
the royal family entered, which had a very grand
effect. As the company proceeded into the eastle,
they were introduced into the presence-chamber.by
the pages, the same as on a court-day; and after
paying their respects to .their majesties, they went
round to view the apartments, the appearance of
which filled every eye with astonishment.
At eight o'clock the coneertbegan in the Queen!s
anti-chamber, adjoining the ball-room. The per
formance, under the direction* of Mr. Rogers, was
the oratorio of Esther; the instrumental parts
consisted principally of Her Majesty's band, who:
attended in a balcony, near thej guard »room, in their„.
full dresses. The music ended about ten o'clock,

his majesty's FETE. 483
when the ball commenced, which was led off by the,
Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Augusta. The
floor, instead of being chalked, was painted with fan
ciful and appropriate devices by an eminent artist.
The attention of the company was chiefly arrested by
the novel appearance of four silver tables, between
the windows, two of which came from Hanover,
and had been beautified for the occasion. One of
the other two Was presented by the corporation of
London to King William, and the second by the
same . body to Queen Anne. The magnificent
effect of these massy pieces of plate was consider
ably heightened by four elegant pier glasses, one
over each table, with silver frames. These also
came from Hanover. At the fire-places were four
large beautiful dogs of solid silver, for burning wood
instead of coals, and similar to those used in the
time of Henry the Eighth. Cards were played in
several rooms. Dancing concluded a few minutes
before two, when supper was announced. Their
majesties, and the different branches of the family,
supped in the guard-room, at a table which was
elevated upon a temporary platform, raised about
nine inches from the floor, for the purpose of
enabling the royal family to behold their company
with the greater ease, and also to gratify the curi
osity of their guests. Two tables were laid on each
side of the room, each holding about sixty persons.
l 1

484 HIS majesty s fete.
The plate on the royal table was wholly of gold;
and nothing but silver was used at the other tables.
The beautiful damask cloths which covered the
tables had the royal arms woven in them, with
tasteful and elegant borders; but what rendered
them peculiarly attractive was the circumstance that
they were entirely of the workmanship of the
princesses. Eighty of the young gentlemen of
Eton school were present ; and it is a fact, that the
King went to the college himself purposely to invite
them to the entertainment. They supped in the
grand hall upon the ground floor. The number of
persons present at the supper could not be less than
five hundred. A little after nine o'clock, the princess
Charlotte of Wales retired with her governess, Lady
de Clifford, and the rest of the royal family withdrew
about half-past three in the morning ; but the com •
pany did not leave the castle tifl'past six. Her Ma
jesty's private rooms were illuminated with beautiful
Egyptian lustres ; and there were also between five
and six hundred silver branches for lights hung
in various parts of the royal building. At supper
upwards of two hundred and fifty dozen of silver
plates were used, and a similar number of silver
knives and forks.
Ostrich feathers, to the number of eight or nine,
were universally worn by the ladies, and diamonds
in prolusion ; and taste was stretched to the utmost

THE aUEEN's BREAKFAST. 485
in the invention of new dresses for this magnificent
entertainment, the expense of which was estimated
at fifty thousand pounds. The next day Her Majesty
gave a grand public breakfast at Frogmore, which
was attended by about two hundred persons of the
first distinction, who were waited upon by the royal
servants in full dress liveries. About three o'clock
dancing commenced, which continued till a little
after six, when the -company sat down fo an elegant
collation. Windsor exhibited another scene of royal splen
dour on Tuesday, the twenty-third of April, being
St. George's day, in the grand ceremony of the in
stallation of knights pf the garter.
During the whole of the preceding day, the road
from London was covered with one continued line
of carriages; many of which had six horses, and
•several outriders. . This sight naturally drew to
gether an immense number of spectators from the
neighbouring villages to the towns through which
they passed. The greatest difficulty was experienced
in obtaining a change of horses, and . in some in
stances- the nobility were obliged to get out and
Walk a considerable distance.
It was His Majesty's particular wish that as many
of the old customs should be kept up as possible ,
conformably with which he gave directions that a
baron of beef should be procured, Which was ac
cordingly done, It was cut nearly in the form of a
i i 2

486 INSTALLATION' OF THE GARTER.
saddle of mutton, weighed one hundred and sixty-
two pounds, and took ten hourg ih roasting. '">.
Tuesday morning was-ushered in with the ring*
ing of bells, and soon after seven o'clock the royal
horse guards marched from their barracks opposite
the grand entrance to the castle, where a pair of sil
ver kettle drums having been previously placed, His
Majesty came to the door, and addressing the colo
nel, said, " I -present these to you as a mark of my
esteem for the good conduct of the regiment upon
all occasions." The colonel then delivered a written
address of thanks to His Majesty on behalf of the
regiment; after which, a corporal lifted the drums
upon a grey horse, on which a black was preparing
to beat them, when the band, consisting of eight
trumpets, struck up " God save the King," con
cluding with aroyal salute, and then returned playing
" Britons strike Home,'' as they passed through
the town.
The ceremony of the procession and installation
lasted from eleven in the morning till five in the
afternoon, when the sovereign and the knights
returned from the chapel to St. George's Hall, where
a most sumptuous dinner was served up in all the
formal grandeur of the days of chivalry.
The preparations for this splendid festival were
upon the grandest scale, and executed with extraor
dinary elegance and rapidity. In the chapel, where
alone seats could be obtained by tickets, places were

ttUEEN S- BIRTH-DAY. 487
assigned for spectators in the three aisles, and within
the screen; but particular visitors had others allotted
them in the prgan-Joft, the Queen's closet, and the
chamberlain's gallery. On the north side of the
altar, a temporary gallery, surmounted by a canopy
of crimson velvet with a gold fringe, was erected
for the Queen and princesses ; and on the opposite
side was another for the lord chamberlain, officers
of state, foreign ambassadors, and ladies of distinc
tion. The banners of the knights were all sus
pended over the stalls, and above them their re
spective helmets, crests, and armorial ' bearings.
Exclusive of the knights' banquet in the hall, en
tertainments were also given in the castle, to the,
nobility and gentry, military officers, and others.
The chief of them was in the audience-chamber of
Her Majesty, where the concert was given at the
late grand fetp. It contained three tables, set out
in the most beautiful variety and taste for the
ladies ; the Dowager-Marchioness of Bath, with
the Countesses Cardigan and Harcourt, doing the
honours to the Queen's guests. The female bran
ches of the royal family dined with Her Majesty
in another apartment.
The nineteenth of- May being the real birth-day
of the Queen, when she completed her sixty-seeond
year, was ushered in with the ringing of bells at
Windsor. In the course of the day, the Prince, pt
Wales, and the whole of the royal family, paid their

488 GRAND ENTERTAINMENT.
respects to Her Majesty ; but the celebration of
the anniversary, on account of its happening on a
Sunday, was deferred till Monday, when it was ob
served with great splendour. Such of the company
as came in the morning from Lortdon and different
parts of the country dined at the equerries' tables ;
and about seven in the evening the whole began to
assemble in considerable numbers. At the top of
the stairs they were ushered 'info the royal apart
ments by the pages, dressed according to the
Windsor uniform.
A little before nine, their majesties, the prin
cesses, and other members of the royal family, en
tered the ball-room ; *and soon after the oratorio of
Athaliah commenced, at the conclusion of which
the dancing began, and was continued with great
vivacity till two o'clock in the morning, when the
company withdrew to a sumptuous supper, in St.
George's Hall, The royal family sat at a table
under the throne ; two large stools, covered with
crimson velvet, being placed for theirTnajesties' feet.
The table was upon a temporary platform, covered
with green cloth, three steps higher than the floor
of the room, down the sides of which Were laid two
tables, one accommodating seventy-six, and the
other seventy-seven persons. In the adjoining ele
gant room, called the King's guard-chamber, two
long tables were also laid, each holding eighty-six
persons. The ground-vtork for the whole of the

GERMAN THEATRICALS. 489
ornaments consisted of various coloured sand, dis
playing the most beautiful devices, emblematical of
the occasion ; and having the semblance of highly
coloured drawings. Along the sides of the boards
on which the sand was displayed were numerous
trinkets for the company. The silver dogs and
tables that had been used at the King's entertain
ment were again exhibited. In another part of the
castle, tables were laid for one hundred and four
teen young Etonians, but every thing was cold, and
no chairs were allowed in this room.
The following day Her Majesty gave a curious en
tertainment at Frogmore, consisting of two German
musical pieces of a comic description. The cha
racters were performed by two German girls and
two German boys ; and one of the latter was so
extremely humourous, as to produce bursts of laugh
ter even from those who did not understand the lan
guage. This exhibition took place in the building-
called the Barn, which was often fitted up as a tem
porary theatre; There were three scenes, which,
with the stage and decorations, were prepared by
an artist from London? A box was erected in front
for their, majesties and the princesses. About fifty
persons of quality sat in the pit; and along the
sides seats were placed for the accommodation 'of
the principal inhabitants of Windsor. Their ma
jesties were much pleased with the performances of
the juvenile actors, particularly with the boy who

4O0 DEATH OF THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.
personated a country barber and school-master.
Tea and lemonade were served round to the royal
party and their visitors in the intervals of the per
formance, at the conclusion of which an abundance
of wine and cake was distributed to the rest of the
company. In the same spirit of condescending generosity,
the Queen gave a sumptuous dinner ¦ shortly after
wards to the Windsor volunteers, for whose ac
commodation tents were erected in the grounds at
Frogmore, and in the evening the German thea
tricals were repeated.
On the breaking up of parliament, their majes
ties and the princesses went to Weymouth, where
they spent their time in the usual manner ; but a
damp was thrown upon their enjoyments, and the
gaiety of the place, by the death of the Duke of
Gloucester in August, which event, though natu
rally to have been expected, from the declining state
of his health, was sensibly felt by their majesties
and the whofe royal family, The people of Wey*
mouth also were much concerned at the loss of the
duke, whom they considered in some measure as
one of their principal patrons, not only by his fre
quent residence among them, but by his being the
means of bringing the King acquainted with the
beauties of the place,
At first it was intended that the remains of his
royal highness should be deposited with those of

INTERMENT. 4J)l
his ancestors in Westminster Abbey ; but after the
requisite preparations had been made for that pur
pose, contrary orders came from His Majesty, and
the interment took place in the new vault at Wind
sor, being the first body laid in that sepulchral
mansion, which our venerable monarch caused to
be set apart for himself and his family : thus, in
the midst of health, mindful of the last stage of
all earthly grandeur, when, in the language of the
poet, it will be found that
The glories of our birth and state
Are shadows, not substantial things.
There is no armour 'gainst our fate :
Death lays his icy hand on Kings.
Sceptres and crowns must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal laid
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.

4.92

CHAPTER XXIII.
Defect in the King's Sight.— His Majesty's Birth-Day,
J806. — Inquiry into the Conduct of the Princess of
Wales. — Prudence and Generosity of the Queen. — Me
lancholy aspect of Public Affairs. — The Queen's ^Birth-
Day, 1807 .—Return of the Princess of Wales to Court.
— Arrival of the Duchess of Brunswick. — Parliamentary
Settlement of Frogmore on the Queen. — Description of
the House and Grounds. — Her Majesty's Library and
Printing Press.

Though the year 1806 opened with the promise
of felicity to the royal family, in the renovated state
of the King's health, and the improvement of his
sight to a degree that enabled him to discern
minute objects at table, and distinguish persons at
a short distance, the aspect of things, public and
private, soon assumed a gloomy cast. As the sum
mer advanced, the complaint in His Majesty's eyes
increased ; in consequence of which, the fatigue of
the drawing-room on his birth-day devolved wholly
upon the Queen. In the morning, as usual, the
royal dukes breakfasted with their august relatives ;
and at about half-past twelve the Queen and prin
cesses left Buckingham House for St. James's, with-

THE PRINCESS OF WALES. 493
the customary escort, but at so quick a rate, that
two of the horses belonging to the life guards fell,
and threw their riders ; on which, Her Majesty
gave directions that for the future her carriages
should not be driven with such velocity.
After the royal party had taken some refreshment,
and dressed for the drawing-room, the Archbishop
of Canterbury was introduced into the private apart
ment of the Queen, to whom he delivered a con
gratulatory oration on the happy return of the day.
The concourse of visitors who were by this time
assembled in the adjoining room was so great that
the attendants had much difficulty in making a cleaf
passage. Soon after Her Majesty had entered the
room, the lord chamberlain waved his' wand, as a
signal for the performance of the birth-day ode,
the music to which was wholly taken from Handel.
This annual offering being finished, Her Majesty
continued to receive the company in her wonted
affable manner till near five o'clock, when she
found herself so extremely overpowered and fa
tigued as to be under the necessity of retiring, to
the great disappointment of numbers who had been
in waiting for presentation a considerable time, but
were prevented from getting forward through the
pressure of the fashionable crowd.
The exclusion of the Princess of Wales from
court, and the appointment of a committee to in
vestigate certain particulars of her conduct, raised

494 THE PRINCESS OF WALES.
public curiosity to the height of impatience at this
time ; and the secresy of the inquiry did not fail to
furnish the tongue of scandal with matterof malignant
insinuation against Her Majesty, as having taken a
part in the persecution of unprotected innocence.
Into the circumstances of the immediate case to
which the attention of the commissioners was di
rected, or the particulars of the evidence adduced
on the occasion, it would be needless- here to enter?
but the ends of justice require it to be observed, that
so far from shewing any enmity to the Princess of
Wales, or of countenancing the charges that were al
leged against her royal highness, the Queen most stu
diously avoided all conversation on the subject even
with the King, who acted throughout the whole affair
according to the spontaneous dictates of his own
mind. Nay, up to the time when the information
was made to the Prince, his royal mother and sis
ters were in the constant habit of visiting the prin
cess at Blackheath ; nor did they cease doing so till
the King himself laid a positive injunction upon
them to suspend the intercourse.
The result of this investigation, however satisfac
tory it might be in regard to the political object for
which it was instituted, could not be altogether gra
tifying to a mind animated by that delicate sense
of female honour which trembles at the slightest
whisper of reproach. What the feelings of Her
Majesty were on becoming acquainted with the dis-

PKUDENCE OF THE ftUEEN. 405
closures elicited in this inquiry will easily be con
ceived by those who reflect upon the peculiar situa
tion in which she stood, and the dignity which she
had to support.
In consenting to the re-admission of the princess,
after what had been developed, the Queen certainly
consulted prudence rather than inclination ; but her
affection for the King overbalanced all other consi
derations; and to keep his mind tranquillized, .both
Her Majesty and the Prince were disposed to make
very large sacrifices. The death of the Duke of
Brunswick, at the fatal battle of Auerstadt, and the
ruined state of his family, contributed also to this
exalted resolution.
The trouble of the Queen was increased at this
time by the disastrous state of her native country,
which, from its connexion with Prussia, had be
come a prey Jo an insolent victor, who seized upon
Strelitz, and committed dreadful ravages through
out the whole Duchy of Mecklenburg.
Amidst these cares and pains of royalty, the for
mal grandeur of the court was to be kept up, and
the smiling appearance of gaiety put on, while
perhaps the heart sickened under its assumed hila
rity, and grieved in secret without being able to
complain. >¦
As the eighteenth of January, 1 807, fell on a Sun
day, the celebration of Her Majesty's birth-day was
observed on Monday , 1 n the course of the morning,

496 HER MAJESTY'S BIRTH-DAY,
the royal dukes and other branches of the family at->
tended to pay their respects at Buckingham House
after which the Queen and princesses went to St.
James's, where forty boys, educated in Christ's
Hospital, attended, with their master, to exhibit the
books and drawings executed by them during the
preceding year, all of which were carefully ex
amined by Her Majesty, who bestowed upon the
youths many commendations.
The dawing-room was completely filled soon
after the entrance of the royal party ; but though
the circle was extremely crowded, the Queen went
through the fatigues of the day with a cheerfulness
in her manner that gave universal satisfaction,
while they who had the particular pleasure of her
conversation were delighted with her affability.
Though it was generally expected that the Prin
cess of Wales would have made her appearance on
this occasion, the public were disappointed ; and the
restoration of her royal highness to the honours of
the court did not take place till the middle of May,
when she was presented to the Queen by the Duke
of Cumberland, after which ceremony, and con
versing for a few minutes with Her Majesty, she
passed on to the princesses, and lastly received the
congratulations of the nobility, who were very
numerous. This was a prelude to the splendid gala on the
King's birth-day, when the entrance of His Ma-

GALA AT COURT. 4O7
jesty into the seventieth year of his age gave occa
sion to all ranks to vie in demonstrations of loyal
affection to their venerable monarch.
The multitudes of persons who gained admittance
into the palace exceeded what had been witnessed
for many years. Every room was full, and the ave
nues were crowded almost to suffocation. The com
pany continued to enter the court-yard from twelve
till past four, and the line of carriages extended so
far, that many persons of the first fashion got out,
and walked to St. James's ; though, even then it
was with much difficulty they could make their way
through the immense throng. The inconvenience
Was scarcely less within the palace, where a free
passage could hardly be made for the royal person
ages, such was the eagerness of the people to wit
ness the meeting of the Prince and Princess of
Wales in the presence of their august parents.
Unfortunately, however, the King was prevented
from making his appearance, in consequence of
the weakness of his eyes, though in other respects
his health was unimpaired. Soon after the entrance
of the Queen into the drawing-room, the Prince
came, and conversed with her for some minutes ;
and about three o^clock the attention of the com
pany was fixed upon the princess, who was elegantly
attired, in a style that reminded every person pre
sent of Mary Queen of Scots. After compliment
ing Her Majesty and the princesses, she entered

408 dUchess Of brunsWick:.
into conversation with the Prince, during which
there was a profound silence throughout the assem
bly, as though all present had felt the same senti
ment, and thought that the perfect' restoration of
harmony and future felicity depended upon this
interesting moment. But there was nothing in the
scene beyond the forms of politeness ; and whatever
might be the public wish,, there were not wanting
persons, who, from their opportunities of observa
tion, concluded that any further connexion was
impracticable. The arrival of the Duchess of Brunswick in the
following month had a considerable effect upon the
national sympathy ; and the interview between the
King and his sister, after a separation of forty years,
was the more affecting, from the circumstances of
these venerable personages, the one being almost
in a state of darkness, and the other a widowed
exile. On the part of Her Majesty, and indeed of the
whole royal family, the most studied attentions
were paid to the comforts of the aged princess, who,
as long as she resided with her daughter at Black-
heath, and ever after, experienced nothing but res
pect and kindhess from her illustrious relatives.
During this session of parliament, an aet was
passed, pursuant to a message from the crown, for*
the settlement of Frogmore, with other lands ihr
Berkshire and. Buckinghamshire, appertaining to

FROGMORE. 499
Windsor Forest, upon the Queen, for the period
of ninety-nine years, or the lives of Her Majesty
and the five youngest princesses.
This estate was sold, with other lands of the
crown, in the time of the civil war, but reverted
after the restoration, and ultimately became the
leasehold property of Mrs. Egerton, from whom the
Queen purchased it, and made great improvements,
both in the house and grounds.
Frogmore stands about half a mile east of New
Windsor, in a pleasant vale that separates the Little
Park from the Forest. It is surrounded by a num
ber of very fine old oaks and elms, many of which
are in the garden, a delightful spot of thirteen
acres, admirably laid out, and enriched with a vast
variety of plants, shrubs, and flowers, both indi
genous and exotic. Many fanciful buildings are
also interspersed between the trees and along the
walks ; but though art has done much, the whole
is made to assimilate most. judiciously With the ad
jacent forest scenery. The house is not large, but
plain, neat, and fitted up throughput in a style of
elegant simplicity. Most of the apartments, how
ever, contain very valuable cabinet paintings;
which, together with Mr. West's original sketches,
and, above all, the library, exhibit a striking memo
rial of the refined taste and solid judgment of Her
Majesty. Among the literary treasures here col
li k

£00 aUEEN'g PRINTING-PRESS.
Jected, are several important -works* illustrated at a
great expense ; and adjoining to tlie library, which
looks into the garden, is a room containing a
printing-press, and every necessary apparatus, from
whence have issued some small pieces, under the
immediate direction pf Her Majesty, who, on being
informed that the place must be entered according
tp act pf parliament, facetiously replied to the
librarian, " Well, let it be so : I believe there is
no danger of our being sent to Reading gaol for
printing libels."
Besides many single sheets on religious subjects,
there have been printed at this royal press sets of
cards, exhibiting chronological abridgments of the
history of Rome, Germany, France, Spain, and
Portugal, al} of them extremely Well calculated to
assist the memory and exercise the faculties of
young persons.
Two books only, of sixty copies each, have been
here printed, and both in the year 1812 : the first,
a small octavo of one hundred and eleven pages,
hearing this title, " Translations from the German,
in Prose and Verse," is thus inscribed : " The Gift
of the Queen to her beloved Daughters,. Charlotte-
AugustarMatilda, Augusta-Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary,
and Sophia: and with her permission dedicated
to their Royal Highnesses, by Ellis-Constantia
Knight." The pther is a foolscap quarto, of ninety

HYMN. 501
pages, with the simple title of " Miscellaneous
Poems." Both have an etching, by way of vig
nette, representing a garden view of the library.
All the translations in the first book are religious,
consisting of prayers, meditations, and hymns ; the
prose part being chiefly taken from the works of
Dr. Seiler, whose explanatory works on the Scrip
tures may be considered as models of rational and
enlightened piety, which are equally calculated to
improve the understanding and touch the heart.
The volume of " Miscellaneous Poems" consists
chiefly of fugitive pieces, which appear to have
struck the fancy of the selector, who has also in
terspersed some original versions from Italian and
German writers. The following " devotional piece,
to be sung to Pleyel's German hymn," will speak
for itself: Oh ! my God, thy servant hear ;
To my prayer incline thine ear :
When ruddy morning streaks the skies,
Tp thee I lift mine op'ning eyes.
When the sun conceals his head
Beneath the western ocean's bed,
Of thee, my God, I ask repose,
To calm with sleep my pains and woes.
When I press the bed of death,
Take, oh take, my parting breath !
Save me by thy gracious power
From all the horrors of that hour.
K k2

*02 HYMN.
When the righteous judge, thy Son,
Shall sit upon his glory's throne^
And all the angelic host shall see
The dead arise from earth and sea,
Oh ! then may I and mine rejoice
To hear the trumpet's awful voice,
And cloth'd in white robes, ever sing,
Hosannas to our heavenly king !

503

CHAPTER XXIV.
Private Life of the Royal Family.— Charitable Institu
tions patronized by Her Majesty.— Present to the
Princess Charlotte.— Care of the Education of Her
Royal Highness.— Work written for that Purpose by
Mrs. More. -'Present of eastern Animals to the Queen.
— Jubilee on the Commencement of the Fiftieth Year of
His Majesty's Reign. — Grand Entertainment at Frog
more. — Refections. — Death of the Princess Amelia. —
Illness of the King. — Tribute to the Memory of Miss
Gaskoin.

Though their majesties began now to feel the
infirmities of age, the King in a decay of vision,
and the Queen in the weakness of her feet, they
both enjoyed in other respects good health, and
that flow of spirits which accompanies the calm
remembrance of a life well spent. Their principal
residence was at Windsor, where, in the bosom of
domestic comforts, they passed the time with the
strictest regard to an economical distribution ; both
rising very early, the King constantly at six, and
the Queen- never exceeding seven, even in the depth
of winter. About nine they met the princesses at
the breakfast table ; soon after which they respec
tively separated, either for excursions or occupa
tions. The King took his plain dinner of beef or

504 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
mutton alone, without any wine, about one o'clock ;
and a little after four he joined the Queen and prin
cesses at fhe dessert table. The remainder of the
evening was spent in music, conversation, or cards,
and invariably at ten their majesties retired for the
night. Such was the general order observed through
put the year ; but though their majesties withdrew
themselves in a great degree from the pomp and
parade of royalty, they did not lead a secluded life,
or appear as if senility had rendered them discon
tented with the world. On the contrary, they were
still active, and even sportively cheerful in conversa
tion ; never more happy than in contributing to the
pleasure of others, and gladly embracing every op
portunity of doing good without ostentation.
To the Queen, nothing was more delightful than
institutions calculated for the improvement of the
rising generation; and these she liberally encou
raged, both by her own subscriptions, and by re
commending them warmly to the support of others.
About this time she patronized a school set up by
the Honorable Mrs. Harcourt, at Clewer ; and in
the same spirit of charity, she co-operated with the
Princess Elizabeth in an institution at Windsor, for
portioning out young women of good character in
marriage. The feelings of Her Majesty were
therefore highly gratified this summer, in two visits
to Oatlands, where a large assemblage of orphan
children dined under marquees on the green, all of

PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 505
them clpthed, maintained, and educated, at the entire
expense of the Duchess of York, who gave these
entertainments on her own birth-day and that of
the duke.
The harmony of the royal family was at this
time undisturbed ; and the intercourse between the
several branches of it was both frequent and
friendly. One interesting object that appeared to
concentrate these sentiments of amity more closely
was the Princess Charlotte of Wales, now advancing
upon the stage of public life, and exciting general
attention. In the spring of this year, her royal
highness caught the measles, during which illness
she was visited by the Queen, who presented her
with a superb service of china, manufactured on
purpose, from drawings executed by Lady de Clif
ford, the governess of the princess.
The education' of her grand-daughter engaged
much of Her Majesty's thoughts, and she made
constant inquiries on the subject, but Without ap
pearing to exercise the least authority in the choice
of instructors, or giving any directions relative to
the mode of teaching which she wished to be pur-
Sued. At her suggestion, indeed, delicately and
handsomely conveyed through the medium of the
Bishop of London, the first female Writer in the
kingdom undertook a work upon royal education;
the execution of which will ever redound to tlie

506 ORIENTAL PRESENT.
honour of the talents so employed, and the mind
that elicited them on this occasion.
In the summer of I809, Her Majesty was much
gratified by the arrival of three beautiful antelopes,
a male and two females, which were sent from
Delhi to the Prince of Wales, who had been long
desirous of obtaining some of these fine and rare ani
mals, to enrich the ornamental stock at Frogmore. .
On the twenty-fifth of October, that favourite
mansion of the Queen was the scene of splendid
festivity, to commemorate the entrance of His Ma
jesty into the fiftieth year of his reign. This na
tional jubilee was celebrated all over the kingdom
with the fullest demonstrations of loyal affection ;
the people every where vying with each other in
their expressions of joy, on an occurrence to which
no parallel could be found in the English history.
At Windsor the morning was ushered in by the
sound of the trumpet ; after which the drums beat
to arms, and the bells began to ring a merry peal.
Between eight and nine o'clock, their majesties,
the Princess Elizabeth, and the Dukes of York
and Sussex, attended divine service in the private
chapel ; on the conclusion of which, Turnerelli, the
sculptor, was introduced to the Queen and the
royal party, to whpm he presented the bust of the
King, for which His Majesty had lately. sat to that
artist.

THE JUBILEE. 507
But the refined entertainment was at night,
when the gates of Frogmore Gardens were thrown
open for the admission of company, who on their
entrance were struck with astonishment and delight
at the fanciful scene of variegated lamps, which, in
the shape of watchmen's lanterns, were suspended
through all the avenues and walks; while the lawns
adjoining to the house afforded a rich display of the
choicest shrubs and plants taken from the green
house. On the arrival of the Queen at ten o'clock
the fireworks began ; after which there suddenly
appeared, with a magical effect, on a beautiful piece
of water, two triumphal cars, each drawn by as many
sea-horses. In one of these cars sat the repre
sentative of Neptune ; and that which preceded it
was occupied by a band of music. On coming to
the temporary bridge erected over the canal oppo
site to the garden front, the battlements exhibited a
sudden display of transparencies, with the words,
" Rule Britannia,'' which tune was immediately
played by the band. On the mouat, opposite to
this, bridge, an elegant Grecian temple was erect
ed, surrounded by eight beautiful marble pillars.
The interior of this building was lined with purple,
and in the centre was a large transparency of the
eye of Providence, beaming with radiancy upon
the portrait of His Majesty, and surmounted by
stars of lamps. From the temple a double stair
case descended to the edge of the water ; and on,

"(OS THE JUBILEE.
the windings of this staircase were placed nine
altars burning with incense.
On the lawn were twelve marquees, where the
company partook of tea and coffee during the fire-
Works ; covers also were laid in the principal dining
rooms of the house, and at twelve the visitors sat
down to an elegant supper, consisting of all the de
licacies of the season. The frames were beautifully
done in emblematic figures, the chief of which re
presented Britannia kneeling by the lion, with the
eye of Providence above, and, underneath, this in
scription, written by Princess Elizabeth :
" Britannia, grateful to Providence, celebrates
the fiftieth year of a reign sacred to piety and

virtue."

On the island in the middle of the sheet of
water a temple was erected, being a square building
ornamented with Doric columns, surmounted by a
dome, bearing emblematical figures, descriptive of
the happy event now celebrated. Fronting the
vista, or grand promenade walk, leading from the
house to the lake, was a bridge, consisting of only
one arch, like the Rialto at Venice, decorated and
illuminated. In the centre of the temple Was an
altar, classically Crnamented in the allegorical style,
the designs of which were furnished by the Princess
Elizabeth. Fronting the altar was a female figure
pf Gratitude, kneeling, and exactly resembling the
Venus of Cleomenes. The temple and bridge

FETE AT FROGMORE. SOO.
were the only erections made at Frogmore expressly
for the jubilee festival ; and the contrivance was
such, that the figures in the former could be seen in
perspective, by means of open arches, from the
house and gardens on every side. The fanciful and
romantic bower, or rustic ball-room, built under the
superintendence of the Princess Elizabeth some
years before, but which for some time had been
suffered to fall into decay, was now repaired, orna
mented with laurel leaves,, and splendidly illumi
nated. On the lawn, and throughout the gardens,
tents were erected sufficiently capacious to accom
modate from twelve to fifteen hundred persons.
In the town of Windsor there were two grand-
triumphal arches, the first, which extended from
the Castle Inn over the high street, to the town-
hall, was decorated with obelisks and devices in
transparent colours ; and the second, in Sheet Lane,
which was put up at the sole expense of Mr. Tib-
bett^ carpenter to the Board of Works at Wind
sor,, had no less than two thousand variegated
lamps. The minuteness of these details will be excused
by him who reflects that such incidents are illus
trative of personal character, as well as of the age
in which they happened. The Queen has often
been stigmatized with the charge of excessive par-
simoniousness, than which nothing could be wider
from the truth, and these festivities alone, to say
nothing of her acts of benevolence, are an ample re*

510 REFLECTIONS.
futation of the calumny. And yet it is curious that
some of those very persons who industriously cir
culated the falsehood, respecting the disposition of
Her Majesty, should have reproached her for what
they inconsistently enough termed imprudent ex
travagance. It should be considered, however, that
this was an event of no ordinary occurrence ; and
that when the Queen compared the joy that now
abounded with what she had witnessed near fifty
years before, on her arrival in England, it was
hardly possible for her to avoid , sharing in the
general gladness.
But this great national feast of thanksgiving
was not attended with mere pageantry and
entertainments. It was distinguished also by the
substantial sacrifices of mercy and charity. Large
subscriptions were entered into for the relief of the
distressed ; and His Majesty, besides sending two
thousand pounds to the society for the discharge of
small debts in London, transmitted one thousand
to Scotland, and a like sum to Ireland, for the
same purpose. In the same spirit of kindness, he
caused all the prisoners of war then on their parole,
with the exception of the French, to be liberated :
and the only reason why the people of the latter
nation were excluded, was the barbarity shewn to
the English wherever Buonaparte could extend his
arbitrary mandate.
On the seventeenth of January, 1810, Her Ma
jesty held a private court at Buckingham House,

ILLNESS OF THE PRINCESS AMELIA. 5 LI
where the Persian ambassador was introduced with
his credentials and presents, which last consisted of
boxes of jewels, rich shawls of great value, and a
most curious carpet.
The day following was observed in the usual
manner at St. James's, the drawing-room being
attended by all the people of fashion in town, and
numerous presentations took place ; throughout the
whole of which fatiguing ceremony the Queen,
though now nearly sixty-six years of age, conducted
herself with perfect ease and condescension.
Yet, in the midst of gaiety, the heart is often
heavy, and even the effervescence of joy touches
upon the extreme of sorrow. Thus, at the present
time, while the appearance of felicity was kept up
by the British court, and while the feelings of a
Joyal people overflowed in the demonstration of
attachment to the best of sovereigns, the cloud of
trouble was about to damp the enjoyments of the
palace, and to spread consternation over the country.
The Princess Amelia, their majesties' youngest
daughter,, had long been in a declining state of
health ; for which, among other means employed,
the sea-air and bathing had hitherto prpyed most
beneficial, but without affording any flattering pros
pect of recovery. At the beginning of this year,
the disorder of her royal highness assumed a more
alarming aspect; and as the summer advanced^
symptoms arose which set all medical skill at de-

512 HER PATIENCE.
fiance. From her earliest youth she was of a very
delicate constitution, and was frequently attacked
with serious complaints, which increased as she
grew up ; and, though partially relieved, they never
failed to recur at certain periods, and generally
under new forms, with aggravated severity. At the
beginning of autumn, the princess was attacked
with St. Anthony's fire to a violent degree, which
Drought on such excruciating pains as could not
but shatter a frame naturally tender, and already
weakened by the repeated assaults of an incurable
malady. During the whole of her sufferings, which
language cannot describe, she displayed the noblest
Christian fortitude ; and this spirit of pious resigna
tion to the will of Providence increased in propor*
tion to her agonies, so that she truly overcame the
sting of death by the power of faith. While thus she
lay languishing in expectation of her last hour, the
King attended her constantly, administering to his
child every consolation that could be drawn from re
ligion, though his own heart suffered dreadfully in
witnessing the pains which he could not alleviate.
Nor did the Queen feel less acutely for her daugh
ter and husband, between both of whom, at this
awful season, her carts were divided. The whole
family, indeed, were depressed with sorrow; and
at the same time that every one knew there was
jio hope of recovery, all seemed to dread the
arrival of the moment of separation, which, to the

DEATH OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS. 513
royal patient herself, was that of desirable deliver
ance. For the last few days, the strength of the
princess rapidly wore away, and she died about
twelve o'clock on the second of November, without
the least convulsive motion, as one dropping insen
sibly and calmly into aigentle sleep. A short time
before her death, wishing to present her venerable
father with a token of filial duty and affection, she
caused a ring to be made, containing a small lock*
of her hair, inclosed under a crystal tablet, set
round with a few sparks of diamonds. When this
affecting memorial was completed, she kept it in
her hand till the King came to pay his usual visit,
when she placed it herself upon his finger, and
then said, as her fine though pallid features were
turned fondly towards the afflicted countenance of
her august parent, " Take this token, to remem
ber me."
The effect of this present on the paternal heart
of His Majesty, after so many severe trials during
his daughter's illness, was like that of an electric,
shock. He withdrew from the apartment, over
powered with grief, and never entered it again.'
The princess having thus gratified her anxious de
sire, resigned herself to the stroke of fate, and in
a few days expired, without knowing that her father
was ill, and that by her innocent endearment she
had been the cause of his malady.
In person, her royal highness was tall andslender,

414 CHARACTER. — FUNERAL.
with an air remarkably graceful and prepossessing,
although a long course of indisposition had im
pressed striking marks on her charming and expres
sive countenance. This frequency of ill-health pre
vented her from studying so deeply as her elder
sisters ; and yet she had cultivated the fine arts
with great success. In music and painting she was
a proficient; and few could equal her on the
piano-forte. Notwithstanding a long and agonizing
sickness, which, like the canker-worm, preyed in
wardly upon her constitution, she was generally
cheerful, and ever studied to conceal her sufferings
as much as possible, to avoid giving pain to her
friends and attendants. In performing the duties
of humanity she was indefatigable ; and in the re
lations of domestic life nothing could exceed her
attention, assiduity, and affection.
The remains of her royal highness were on the
night of the fourteenth privately interred in St.
George's Chapel ; and during the whole day on
which the funeral took place the shops in Windsor
and Eton were shut up : as a farther testimony of
respect to the memory of the princess, scarcely an
individual was to be seen in the streets who was not
attired in mourning.
The princess, by her will, directed that all her
jewels should be sold for the payment of what she
owed, and the discharge of a few bequests ; but the
Prince of Wales, who was left residuary legatee.

MISS GASK0IN. 515
gave the whole of the property to the Princess
Mary, who had incessantly watched the dying bed
of her sister, taking upon herself the responsibility
of settling all the claims. One extraordinary and
affecting testimony to the exalted virtues of fhe
deceased appeared in the effect produced by her
demise upon Miss Gaskoin, a favourite attendant,
who sorrowed for her loss to such a degree, that, in
a short time, she followed her royal mistress to the
grave. Out of respect to this excellent young lady,
His Majesty ordered that her remains should be
deposited as near as possible to the royal vault, and
a marble tablet to be placed on the right hand aisle
of St. George's Chapel, with the following in
scription : King George III.
caused to be interred near this Place
the Body of Maky Gaskoin,
Servant to the late Princess Amelia :
and this Stone
to be inscribed in Testimony of his grateful
Sense
Of the faithful Service and Attachment
Of an amiable young Woman to his beloved
Daughter,
Whom she survived only three months.
She died the 19th of February, 1811.

l!

516

CHAPTER XXV.

Illness of the King. — Parliamentary Proceedings. — Ad
dress to Her Majesty. — Hopes of Recovery. — Interview
with the Queen. — FSte at Carlton House. — Relapse. —
Birth-Day of the Princess Charlotte. — Parliamentary
Grant. — Drawing-Room. — Assassination of Mr. Per
ceval. — -State of Public Affairs. — Birth-Day of the
Prince Regent. — Death of the Duchess of Brunswick.
— A Maniac. — Consecration of the Bishop of London.

At the beginning of October, His Majesty be
trayed symptoms of nervous debility, which pro
ceeded from intense anxiety about the state of his
beloved child ; but though the disorder appeared at
first in a gentle form, it continued to increase till
the end of the month, when he became incapable
of transacting business. In the first week of No
vember, tbe mental irritability was so very great,
that the King had scarcely any clear idea of persons
or circumstances for two minutes together ; in con
sequence of which, parliament met without any
farther prorogation, but adjourned again for a fort
night ; at the expiration of which time, a farther
adjournment took place till the twentieth of Decern-

PARLIAMENTARY ADDRESS. 517
ber, when a warm debate ensued on the propositions
brought forward by the minister relative to the state
of the nation. The precedent in 1788 formed the
basis of the present proceedings, and while it was
proposed to commit the powers of government, with
limitations, into the hands of the Prince of Wales,
the care and guardianship of the King's person,
together with the entire appointment and direction
of the household, were to be entrusted to the Queen,
and the council appointed to assist Her Majesty in
the discharge of the weighty trust. It was not to
be expected that such a measure would pass without
opposition, and accordingly a fierce one was made
through all the stages of the propositions, which,
however, were carried, with modifications, through
both houses, who concurred in an address to the
Queen, expressing a hope that she would be gra
ciously pleased to undertake the important duties
proposed to be invested in Her Majesty as soon as
an act of parliament should have been passed for
carrying the resolution into effect. To this address
Her Majesty made this reply :
" My Lords and Gentlemen,
" That sense of duty and gratitude to the King,
and of obligation to this country, which induced
me in the year 1 789 readily to promise my most
earnest attention to the anxious and momentous
trust at that time intended to be reposed in me by
l 1 2

518 HOPES OF RECOVERY.
parliament, is strengthened, if possible, by the
uninterrupted enjoyment of those blessings which
I have continued to experience under the protection
of His Majesty since that period : and I should be
wanting to all my duties if I hesitated to accept the
sacred trust which is now offered to me. The
assistance, in point of counsel and advice, which
the wisdom of parliament proposes to provide for
me, will make me undertake the charge with greater
hopes, that I may be able satisfactorily to fulfil the
important duties which it must impose upon me.
Of the nature and importance of that charge, I
cannot but be duly sensible, involving, as it does,
every thing which is valuable to myself, as well as
the highest interests of a people endeared to me by
so many ties and considerations ; but by nothing
so strongly as by their steady^ loyal, and affectipnate
attachment to the best of kings."
During the progress of, the bill, His Majesty
became more tranquil, collected, and even inqui
sitive into the state of public affairs, sp as to hold
out the hopes of a speedy recovery. Still, how
ever, it was expedient that the regency should be
settled for the discharge of the proper functions of
government, and the Prince entered upon his high
office under the restrictions which the wisdom of
parliament had thought it prudent to impose. By
the middle of May, the King was so far restored to

FETE AT CARLTON HOUSE. 519
the possession of his faculties, that, on the nine
teenth, he went to Her Majesty's apartments in
Windsor Castle for the first time after his confine
ment, to congratulate her upon the return of her
birth-day. The scene was uncommonly interesting,
and the whole of the royal family were present, to
snare in the pleasure which it afforded. On the
following day, the inhabitants of Windsor were
gratified by the first appearance of their venerable
sovereign on horseback after his illness. His Ma
jesty rode between two equerries, one of whom
guided his horse, with a cane which had a crook
at one end of it, for the purpose of catching fhe
bridle. The King was accompanied in this excur
sion by the Princesses Augusta and Sophia, With
whom he chatted in his usual cheerful way,
On the thirteenth of the following month, the
Prince Regent gave a most splendid fete at Carlton
House, with a two-fold motive : first, in honour of
the birth-day of his august parent ; and, secondly,
to benefit the numerous classes of British artizans
and tradesmen, who, by the illness of the sove
reign, and the discontinuance of the aeeustomed
splendour of the court, had been deprived of many
advantages. His royal highness, therefore, deter
mined to exhibit a magnificent entertainment, not
out of ostentation,- but with a view to general
utility ; on which account he expressed his wish
that all the invited guests would attend in habits of

520 RELAPSE.
native manufacture. But this gleam of joy, occa
sioned by the amended state of His Majesty's health,
was suddenly extinguished, and before the expira
tion of a month, the disorder returned with sudden
and frightful violence. The immediate causte of
this repercussion was never made known to the
public ; but there can be little doubt of the fact,
that the being deprived of power, and an appre
hension of political changes, contrary to His Ma
jesty's sentiments, operated so strongly on his mind
as to produce an incurable exacerbation.
Nothing, of course, was left undone that could
possibly be thought of to tranquillize the royal pa
tient, to dissipate his fears, and win his confidence ;
but all these attempts only served to heighten the
disease, and towards the end of the year an official
report was made, in which it was stated, that
though some of the physicians did not absolutely
pronounce a recovery impossible, yet, that under
all the circumstances of the case, it was their una
nimous opinion that such an event was scarcely
probable. In this gloomy state of things, parlia
ment assembled on the seventh of January, 1812;
and as on that day the Princess Charlotte entered
the seventeenth year of her age, the same was ob
served with due distinction at Carlton House, where
Her Majesty, the princesses, and a selectparty,
were sumptuously entertained. A few days afters-
wards the chancellor of the exchequer proposed

DEATH OF MR. PERCEVAL. 521
and carried a motion for granting a permanent ad
dition of ten thousand a -year to Her Majesty's
income, which, however, was vigorously resisted by
the leaders of the opposition, as a measure rather
calculated to increase the ministerial influence,
than for the benefit of the royal family.
After a lapse of two years, the splendour of the
court was revived in a drawing-room, held by Her
Majesty at St. James's on the last day of April,
which was numerously attended; and in the evening,
the Prince Regent gave a grand entertainment to
the Queen, princesses, and a very large party of
the nobility.
The melancholy fate of that upright statesman,
Mr. Perceval, who fell by the hands of an assassin,
in the sanctuary of the constitution, made a deep
impression. upon the Queen, who, as well, as the
King, had ever entertained a great respect for his
eminent talents and unostentatious virtues. The
steady conduct of this excellent man in the settle
ment of the regency contributed to raise him still
higher in the estimation of Her Majesty, and
of almost every branch of the royal family. Such
indeed was the sterling worth, and engaging manners,
of Mr. Perceval, that no one could become slightly
acquainted with him, and forbear the wish to culti
vate a closer intimacy.
, Both the Queen and the Regent, therefore, felt this
loss very acutely, as one not easily repaired, and

522 ILLNESS OF THE KING.
which at that critical juncture of affairs was likely
to prove extremely injurious to the public interests.
Great changes in the political world were na
turally expected to be the consequence of this cala
mitous event, and for some weeks the executive go
vernment stood suspended, waiting the appointment
of new ministers in the room of those who then
acted, but who in fact had already resigned their
places. At length, however, after every honourable
effort had been made in vain to unite the different
leaders of the opposition, the Prince very judici
ously renewed the power of the administration,
which had received what was considered a death
blow ; and the nation had soon reason to applaud
the resolution.
In the mean time, the disorder of the King took '
a very unfavourable turn, and the paroxysms which
he suffered exceeded what had occurred since his
illness. Some of these attacks lasted without
intermission fifty or sixty hours, and at one time
the royal patient was left in a speechless state, so
as to create the most fearful apprehensions in the
minds of his medical attendants.
Nothing but the strength of a constitution invigOr
rated by temperance could have borne up against
this fearful conflict in the system, tlie agitation of
which, both in violence and duration, astonished
those who were called to the painful task of wit
nessing- the; scene. Sometime previous to this, the

STATE OF AFFAIRS. 523
Queen, accompanied by one or two of the prin
cesses, used to visit His Majesty for an hour or more
every day ; and though his discourse was rapid, with
frequent wanderings, yet upon the whole he was
ealm, and never failed to recognize the presence
of his family. But now this solace could be no longer
enjoyed : his mental aberrations were continual, and
a dark cloud seemed to have blotted out the remem
brance of all existing objects for ever. Still, amidst
this chaos, some of the most intelligent of the
faculty were not altogether without hopes of a par
tial recovery, in which idea they were encouraged
by what had occurred after former paroxysms.
This judgment received some confirmation ; and
though the royal sufferer did, not regain the powers
of intellectual discernment, his bodily health was
speedily recruited, and in a short time he was pro
nounced to be, in that respect, as well as he was
before the recent attack.
While the British nation was thus inwardly dis
tressed, she had the- consolation to see her exertions
successful in the deliverance of others ; and though
a dismal and cheerless gloom had entered into her
own palaces, the light of joy was beaming, by her
means, over distant lands. The struggle for inde
pendence in the Peninsula, aided by the powerful
operations of the British army under the illustrious
Wellington, now excited the attention and eager
expectation of all Europe. A mighty crisis was

624 HAPPY PROSPECTS.
evidently approaching, and even those, who had long
abandoned all hope of seeing a termination put to
the ambitious career of the usurper of the French
throne, began to think that his idol, Fortune, was
about to exhibit another instance of her incon
stancy. But they, who, mindful of deeper causes,.
calmly reflected that in the excess of power gained
by crime, the elements of self-destruction are neces
sarily accumulated with the means of oppression,
looked upon the passing scene as preluding an im
portant change for the repose of the world.
It was impossible that persons who viewed things
in this light could avoid turning their thoughts
with sympathetic concern towards the exiled family
of France, then enjoying on British ground that
security and hospitality which had . been cruelly
denied them every where else. .
Persecuted by the usurper of their inheritance,
and abandoned in their utmost need by the mo-
narchs of their own blood, they found a tranquil
asylum in this island, even when peace with the
oppressor might have been obtained by their ex
pulsion. Whatever reason, therefore, England has to be
proud of her achievements by land and sea, this
triumph of honour and humanity far exceeded in
solid glory all the splendour of her victories.
As such it was duly appreciated by both the
royal families ; and exquisite must have been their

ROYAL ENTERTAINMENTS. 525
mutual feelings when they met together at Oatlands
on the thirtieth of July, when the Duke and Du
chess of York gave a splendid entertainment, at
which were present, with the Queen and most of the
royal family, all the members of the House of
Bourbon then in England.
The birth-day of the Prince Regent was this year
publicly celebrated for the first time, on which oc
casion Her Majesty entertained his royal highness
and a numerous party at Frogmore.
On the twenty-fourth of March, 1813, the Du
chess-Dowager of Brunswick died, in the seventy-
sixth year of her age, having been ill only two
days, and in the following week her remains were
interred in the new cemetery at Windsor.
A short time after this event, an incident occurred
which greatly affected the Queen, and had like to
have proved of very serious consequence.
Miss Davenport, who was born in the household,
where her mother had for near forty years enjoyed
a respectable situation, fell into a desponding way
on the death of the Princess Amelia ; but as she
exhibited no symptoms of violent derangement,
little notice was taken of her eccentricities. She
slept in the tower over the Queen's bed-room ; and
about five o'clock in the morning of the second of
May Her Majesty was awakened by a loud knock
ing at the outward door of her chamber, accompa-

526' ATTACK ON THE &UEEN.
nied with frightful screams. Mrs. Beckendorf, the
Queen's dresser, who slept in the same room with
Her Majesty, instantly arose, and both for some
time hesitated about what was to be done. On
ascertaining a female voice, Mrs. Beckendorf slowly
opened the inner door, and ventured out into the
apartment from whence the noise proceeded, where
she was encountered by Miss Davenport with
extreme ferocity, demanding access to the Queen.
She had a letter in her hand, which she insisted
upon delivering to Her Majesty, who heard all that
passed, and was in great distress for Mrs. Beeken-
dorf, without being able to render her the least
assistance. After a long struggle, that lady suc
ceeded in keeping off the unhappy maniac till
Mr. Grobecker, the Queen's page, arrived with two
footmen; but even these three could not manage fhe
poor creature without calling Mr. Meyer, the porter,
who being a very powerful man, carried her up
stairs to her own room. Dr. Willis was then sent
for, by whose directions a straight waistcoat was put
on, and Miss Davenport instantly conveyed in a
posfc-chaise to an asylum for lunatics at Hoxton.
On Sunday, the third of October, this year, Her
Majesty and two of the princesses went to see
the solemnity of an episcopal consecration, per
formed in the chapel of the Archbishop of Can
terbury; Dr. Howley, the Bishop of London,

EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION. 527
was the prelate who received this distinction ; and
he is the only divine in the present reign who
has been so honoured. After the ceremony, which
made a deep impression upon the Queen and her
daughters, they partook of an elegant collation,
and at three o'clock returned to Buckingham
House.

528

CHAPTER XXVI.
Brilliant Aspect of Public Affairs. — Arrival of the Duchess
of Oldenburg. — Departure of the Royal Family of
France. — Correspondence of the Princess of Wales.—
Arrival of the Allied Sovereigns. — Anecdote of the King.
— Temporary Elopement of the Princess Charlotte. —
The Princess of Wales leaves the Kingdom. — Reflec
tions. — National Jubilee. — Grand FMe at Frogmore. —
Drawing-Room. — Princess Charlotte's Entertainment.

A century had now elapsed since the accession
of the house of Brunswick to the throne of these
realms ; and the year which completed the cycle
was distinguished by events that contributed to
heighten the national joy in the commemoration of
the interesting period.
The arrival of the Duchess of Oldenburg in Lon
don, at the end of March, seemed like the har
binger of a delightful spring, after a long and cheer
less winter. This amiable and accomplished prin
cess received from all ranks of persons the most cor
dial welcome ; and the Queen, with the whole of
her family, strove by every exertion to render the

DEPARTURE OF THE KING OF FRANCE. 52gl
stay of the illustrious stranger in England as agree
able as possible.
The departure of the King of France to take pos
session of the throne of his ancestors, accompanied
by the remaining branches of the Bourbons, who
had survived the revolutionary tempest, gave a
touching effect to this picture of providence ; for
such it was in all its parts, as well as in the general
issue. In contemplating the mighty change that
had taken place, and looking with astonishment
upon the sudden downfall of the colossal power that
had so recently defied and appalled the world, even
sceptical minds could scarcely avoid adopting. the
language of the philosophical orator : "Non est
humano consilio, ne mediocri quidem, Deorum im-
mortalium cura, res ilia perfecta, religiones me-
hercule ipssey quse illam belluam cadere'viderunt
commovisse se videntur, et jus in illo suum reti-
nuisse." No human wisdom, indeed, could have
foreseen or contrived such an event, which was alto
gether so far out of the ordinary course of things,
as almost to give to the scene an appearance of the
divine agency.
While Her Majesty shared in the general feeling,
and was deeply grateful for the blessings which pro
duced it, her spirits were damped, and her mind agi
tated, by a very unpleasant dilemma. It having
been announced that the Emperor Alexander and
the King of Prussia would visit England in the

530 ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE.
course of the summer, due notice was given of the
Queen's intention to hold two drawing-rooms at
Buckingham House, which of course excited a
considerable bustle in the fashionable world. In
the mean time, the Prince Regent transmitted a
communication to his august parent, in which His
Royal Highness observed, " that for reasons of
which he alone was* the judge, he had formed a
fixed and unalterable determination never to meet
the Princess of Wales upon any occasion, either in
public or private."
Thus situated, the Queen had no alternative; for,
as the presence of the Regent at court was indispen-
sible, and he had himself clogged it with a condi
tion, nothing was left to Her Majesty but to apprize
the princess that she could not be received at the
drawing-room. This communication was followed
by a correspondence, in which the princess intro
duced much irrelevant matter, not unmixed with
bitter reproach and indignant menace. In her
letter to the Queen, the princess, after beseeching
Her Majesty to acquaint the illustrious strangers
with the reason of her absence, very strangely sig
nified her intention of making the cause public to
all the world. In answer to this long note, the
Queen took notice of this curious request and decla
ration, in the following terms : " Her Majesty
could have felt no hesitation in communicating to
the illustrious strangers who #may possibly be

ARRIVAL OF THE ALLIED SOVEREIGNS. 531
present at her court, the circumstances which will
prevent the Princess of Wales from appearing there,
if Her Royal Highness had not rendered a com
pliance with her wish to this effect unnecessary, by
intimating her intention of making public the cause
of her absence." This drew a reply, in which the
princess endeavoured to reconcile the inconsistency
of asking the Queen to do that which she was about
to perform herself; but Her Majesty, in acknowledg
ing the receipt of the note, declined any farther discus
sion of the subject. The princess, however, was as
good as her word, and the letters not only made their
appearance in the daily prints, but were transmitted
by her to the speaker of the House of Commons,
which "produced some vehement speeches, and had
the effect of procuring for her royal highness a par
liamentary grant of thirty-five thousand a-year.
Amidst this ungracious business, the Queen and
the Prince were exposed to much obloquy ; and the
insults offered to them by the misguided populace
reflected disgrace upon those, who, from party mo
tives, took a pleasure in spreading a flame which
they ought to have extinguished.
During these heats, the allied sovereigns landed
at Dover; and may Englishmen ever remember
with honest pride the emphatic exclamation of the
Emperor, " God be praised! I have set my foot
upon the land which has saved us all '"
On the eighth of June, the day after their arrival in
M m

532 ANECDOTE OF THE KING.
London, a court, unexampled in point of splendour,
was held at the Queen's palace, expressly for their
introduction ; after which, Her Majesty, the prin
cesses, and their illustrious visitors, dined with the
Prince Regent at Carlton House. On the tenth,
the allied sovereigns, with a numerous train, went
to Ascot races, taking Richmond and Hampton
Court by the way ; and on the course they were
joined by the Queen and her family, With whom
they afterwards dined at Frogmore.
A detail of the entertainments which distinguished
this season of festivity would be perhaps amusing;
but it is here unnecessary, as Her Majesty had little
sharenn them, owing to her advanced period of life
and increasing infirmities. Nothing, however, was
omitted that could do honour to the imperial and
royal visitors, who left the kingdom, after a stay of
three weeks, strongly impressed with sentiments of
admiration and regard.
A circumstance happened at this period which
greatly afflicted the Queen, and made her almost
incapable of entering, with animated delight, into
the extraordinary spectacle then exhibiting, and of
which her family and court formed, as it were, the
central point of observation. While the allied sove
reigns were receiving and communicating pleasure,
our venerable monarch began to evince an appear
ance of returning reason, so far indeed as to be
made sensible of the great revolution that had taken

FLIGHT OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 533
place in Europe. The Queen being, of course, duly
apprized of this pleasing change, ordered that she
should be informed when His Majesty was in a
state capable of conversation. She was so ; and,
on entering into the room, she found the King
singing a hymn, and accompanying it on the harp
sichord; after which, he knelt down and prayed
most fervently for the Queen, his children, and the
nation, concluding with an earnest supplication for
himself, that it would please the great disposer of
all events to remove the heavy calamity under
which he laboured ; but if not, to give him the
spirit of patient resignation and humble submission
to the divine will. Having concluded this solemn
act of devotion, the aged monarch burst into tears :
the gleam of reason fled, and Her Majesty was too
much moved by what she had witnessed to disturb
him more by her presence.
Another occurrence, which at this period gave no
little uneasiness to the Queen, was the flight of the
Princess Charlotte on the evening of the twelfth of
July, from Brunswick House, to the residence of
her mother, in Connaught Place, Hyde Park Cor
ner. Notice of this strange elopement was instantly
despatched to Her Majesty, who had a card party
at Buckingham House, but which instantly broke
up in consequence of an event so utterly unex
pected and distressing to the parental feelings of the
Queen.
"M m 2

534 DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES.
Happily, however, the royal fugitive was soon
convinced of the error which she had committed ;
and at three in the morning she was restored to the
arms of her father at Carlton House.
While the public mind was agitated on account of
this singular affair, and every imagination was ex
ercised in wild conjectures respecting the cause of
it, another occasion of surprize and rumour arose
in the avowed declaration of the Princess' of Wales
to withdraw from the kingdom. No obstacle was
thrown in the way of this design on the part of
government ; and every thing that her royal high
ness could reasonably expect was readily granted
by the Regent, who was, however, most unge
nerously reproached' in a letter which the princess
left behind her for publication, " as her most inve
terate enemy, imposed upon by false accusers, and
enemies to her honour." fi^^/- ~~7.--.^,_. /?<- '¦>//£_
It is painful even to recur to these circumstances ;
but as they must necessarily form a part of the
national history, the interest of truth requires it to
be told, that the princess had no enemies but those
who were immediately in her confidence and about
her person ; that whatever trouble she suffered, was
brought upon herself by connexions which she
should have avoided, and an impetuous spirit that
it became her to have governed, instead of letting
it loose to the annoyance of the peace of her illus
trious and forbearing relatives.

NATIONAL JUBILEE. 535
No people upon earth are more easily led away
by their feelings than the English ; and thus it is,
that ninety-nine times in a hundred they are the
dupes of their credulity. The most extravagant
tale of woe moves their sympathy to the profuse-
ness of liberality, and an inflammatory speech of
invective at once rouses their indignation to an
excess of violence. In neither case do they stop to
enquire into the reality of the stories which operate
upon their passions, whence it frequently happens
that their pity is as unmerited as their resentment
is unjust. But popularity conferred by faction is of
short duration, and censure proceeding from igno
rance is unworthy of a wise man's concern.
Though the departure of the Princess of Wales
was a grievous disappointment to the stirrers of
mischief, and the zealots of party, it was a measure
of great public benefit, by giving the people an
opportunity of calming their temper and correcting
their judgment.
To commemorate the splendid events of this
wonderful year, it was resolved to celebrate a grand
national jubilee ; and the first of August, as being
the centenary of the accession of the Brunswick
family, and the day also distinguished by the battle
of the Nile, was most appropriately selected for
that purpose. The early part of the morning ap
peared very inauspicious to the wishes of the
anxious inhabitants of the metropolis, but towards

536 NATIONAL JUBILEE.
noon the sun shone out in all his glory, and in every
direction crowds were seen hastening towards the
seat of attraction in the three parks.
On this occasion Her Majesty invited the Regent
and two hundred and fifty persons of the first dis
tinction to dinner at Buckingham House. After
the exhibition of a naval engagement on the Ser
pentine, a curious entertainment was presented to
the admiring spectators in a display of fire-works
on the water, representing a variety of shifting
figures, the Protean forms and velocity of which
delighted the beholders. But the Green Park, in
which was the royal booth, was the principal object
of attraction, by having a castellated temple, with
a Chinese bridge thrown over Constitution Hill.
Here also a balloon was prepared, and completely
filled by six o'clock ; but the ascension was delayed
a few minutes that the Queen and the princesses
might witness the spectacle. As soon as it was
dark, the bridge and royal booth were illuminated ;
soon after which a discharge of artillery announced
the commencement of the fire-works, which were
on the grandest scale ever witnessed. This was
the triumph of the pyrotechnic art, and combined
all that the imagination could possibly conceive of
the sublime and beautiful, in tremendous effect,
and vivid representation. From the battlements of
the castle a number of rockets were sent up, and
at the same moment the walls exhibited a wonder-

NATIONAL JUBILEE. 537
ful variety of brilliant ornaments. Each rocket
contained several smaller ones, which at a great
height shot out innumerable glittering stars, that
threw an air of enchantment over the trees and
lawns beneath. These rockets then burst, when a
shower of fiery light descended to the earth, and
extended over a considerable space of ground.
After this, the fortress changed suddenly into the
Temple of Concord, moving upon an axis, and dis
playing a number of allegorical transparencies
suited to the occasion.
St. James's Park had all the appearance of Vaux-
hall on a full night. Over the Canal was erected
a bridge, elegantly ornamented with temples and
pillars, surmounted by a lofty pagoda. Along the
sides of the Canal numerous tents were pitched,
and on its bosom floated several wherries. About
ten o'clock, the bridge and its towering superstruc
ture became an object of singular beauty, and the
whole had the appearance of an edifice of golden
fire. Every part of it was covered with lamps, the
glass reflectors in proper places relieving the daz
zling splendour with their silver lustre ; the cano
pies of the temple throwing up wheels and stars,
the pillars covered with radiant light, every rising
tower sending forth showers of flame, while from
the lofty summit of the pagoda rockets ascended in
majestic flights, and with inconceivable rapidity.
The effect of this combination of light on the water

538 FETE AT FROGMORE.
which flowed beneath, and on the verdant foliage
of the surrounding trees, as well as on the scattered
tents, and moving groups on the lawn, surpassed
all power of description.
But this scene of magnificent amusement ended
tragically; and about midnight the pagoda exhi
bited an appearance that soon converted the pleasure
of the spectators into alarm. The upper towers were
enveloped in a sheet of flame, which resisted all
the efforts employed to extinguish it, and in a short
space the splendid structure was destroyed. The
catastrophe was much lamented by those who ad
mired the elegance of the building as a work of
taste ; but this disaster was nothing, when com
pared to the loss of two lives, and the injury sus
tained by several other persons who were employed
upon the works.
On the seventh of January, 1815, the queen gave
a grand entertainment at Frogmore, in honour of
the Princess Charlotte, who then completed her
nineteenth year ; and shortly afterwards Her Ma
jesty's birth-day was celebrated at the same place
in a similar manner with a concert, in which her
royal highness performed some difficult pieces of
music on the grand-piano to admiration. On the
eighteenth of May a drawing-room was held at
Buckingham House, which, on account of its being
the first since the departure of the allied sovereigns,
and, above all, as it was known that the Princess

ROYAL ENTERTAINMENTS. 53g
Charlotte would be there, attracted a numerous as
semblage of the nobility and gentry. At the end
of the same month the princess gave her first enter
tainment at Carlton House, which was attended by
all the female branches of the family, and a large
party of friends, who were delighted with the har
mony that breathed throughout the British court,
and the pleasing prospect which it gave of increas
ing felicity, little dreaming, while they contem
plated the gaiety of the scene, that she, who now
irradiated the circle, and inspired all hearts with joy,
would in a short space be shrouded in darkness.
Sic Stella noctu, per liquidum aethera,
Sublimis, ardens, conspicitur polo
Flammas coruscans ; mox, repente
Lapsa, petit peritura terras.

540

CHAPTER XXVII.

Return of Buonaparte. — Battle of Waterloo. — Feelings
of the Queen. — Marriage of the Duke of Cumberland. —
Letter of Her Majesty to the Duke of Mecklenburg. —
Justification of her subsequent Conduct towards the
Duchess. — Anecdote of the Queen.

While England, in common with the other
powers of Europe, was celebrating the restoration
of peace, and devising measures for the security of
that inestimable blessing, the disturber of the
world, instead of being thankful for the super
abundant liberality which he had experienced, and
endeavouring to atone by his conduct for the mi
series he had produced, was scheming to renew the
horrors of war. Alike callous to the sufferings of
humanity, the compunctions of conscience, and the
sense of honour, he returned with the malice of a
daemon, determined upon dominion, though aware
that in gaining it he must pass through an ocean of
blood. The crisis was fearful; and they whose
hopes were the strongest in favour of justice could
not conceal their apprehensions. The fate of suc
cessive generations appeared to be suspended on a

DOWNFALL OF BUONAPARTE. 54l
single thread, and all who had the happiness of their
fellow creatures at heart watched the issue with
intense anxiety.
Her Majesty, though naturally of a cheerful
temperament, and disciplined by religious principle
to a spirit of resigned submission to the divine will,
in all things, could not but feel a deep concern for
the result of the eventful scene which was then pass
ing before an astonished world.
Happily, however, the trial of fortitude was
short ; and the deliverance of mankind was effected
by a single stroke, so rapid, tremendous, and deci
sive, as to remind the serious observer of the pro
phetic triumph over the tyrant of Babylon : " How
art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! How art thou cut down to the ground
which didst weaken the nations ! They that see thee
shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee,
saying, * is this the man that did make the earth to
tremble, that did shake kingdoms ; that made the
world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities
thereof?" This was, indeed, a season for thankfulness, and
as such the Queen considered it, whose contempla
tive mind always gathered from the scenes which
excited the wonder of the multitude matter of
confidence in the dispensations of Providence.
Conformably to this principle, she studiously regu
lated her own actions by a conscientious attention

542 MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.
to the rule of moral obligation ; without suffering
the sense of duty to be compromised by motives of
policy or the power of persuasion. Of this firm
ness an instance occurred at the present period, on
the marriage of the Duke of Cumberland with his
cousin the Princess of Salms Braunfels, daughter of
the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz. A
considerable time before this alliance was entered
into, the Duke of Cambridge, with the consent of
their majesties, offered his hand to the princess, who
accepted the proposal ; and matters went so far that
the great seal was even put to the royal assent,
when suddenly, to the regret of the Queen, the
contract was broken off, owing, as Her Majesty then
understood, to some objections raised against the
marriage by the Princess of Salms, who had con
ceived an affection for the Duke of Cumberland.
Not being made acquainted with further particulars,
and far from suspecting that the King had concealed
any thing out of regard to her feelings, the Queen
was induced afterwards to sanction the proposed
union between her other son and the princess her
niece, to whom she wrote some letters for the regu
lation of their conduct, and one also on the subject
to her brother, the duke, of which the following
is a translation :

LETTER OF THE O.UEEN. 543
Windsor, October the 10th, 1814.
I can scarcely find words sufficiently strong to
express to you the joy I felt on receiving your letter,
with which my son's messenger was charged. The
excuses you make respecting your long silence, my
dear friend, are superfluous, knowing, as I do, that
the waters of Pyrmont will not allow of any appli
cation whatever, and as I agree with you that the
Princess of Salms could not, on this occasion, fore
see that you would not write. Thus, then, this
union is near its conclusion. God grant that the
brilliant perspective which both have formed may
be realized ; in the result of which, the age of both
authorizes the most flattering hopes, and in whieh
the character you trace of your daughter gives me
the greatest confidence. You may be. assured, my
dear brother, that I shall endeavour to render the
residence of the Princess of Salms amongst us as
pleasant and agreeable as circumstances will permit,
considering that my sedentary life prevents me from
contributing to the amusement of the princess, and
that the greater part of my -time is passed in the
country, where our society is very limited, and our
life uniform. She will, however, be always a wel
come guest when she comes ; and we shall endea
vour, my daughters and myself, to do our best to
entertain her. I have written to my son, the Duke
of Cumberland, my ideas relative to the children of
Salms. I thought this necessary, to correct a mis-

544 LETTER OF THE 6LUEEN.
understanding which had taken place on both sides.
I endeavoured, to the utmost of my poWer, to con
vince him how necessary it was to observe the pre
cautions which I suggested. The desire of prevent
ing inconveniencies in future to both parties in
duced me take this step.
As I have reason to believe that paternal ad
vice will have a salutary influence on your daughter,
I think I may confide to you what will be essential
for the princess on her arrival here. The usages of
this country being so different from what they are
on the continent, in every respect, I fear that my
son may not be sufficiently attentive to them. As
this is for you alone, I confide to you, that it is not
the fashion here to receive morning visits from gen
tlemen, to which she will be exposed, by the cir
cumstance of the Duke being colonelof a regiment,
unless he himself introduces them to her: she
should also be very circumspect in the choice of
ladies with whom she shall associate, which will
be so much the more necessary, as the Duke has
acquaintance amongst our sex, who, although not
actually of bad conduct, might, however, become
injurious to her in point of policy. I have found
that the advice of the dear King, " of being uni
formly polite to every one, of doing nothing in the
spirit of party, and of adhering closely to his family,"
has been my surest guidance during my long resi
dence here ; and I think I cannot do better than to

A CHANGE OF SENTIMENT. 545
transmit those sentiments to you, dear brother and
friend, as father to my niece and future daughter-
in-law, which you will make use of in such a man
ner as you shall judge proper.
I have sent by the messenger six pounds of tea
and two cheeses ; eat the latter to my health ; and
in drinking the tea, remember a sister whose attach
ment for you will not cease but with death.
Sir, my dearest brother,
Your very affectionate sister and faithful friend,
Charlotte.
When this letter was written, the Queen had no
reason to believe that the proposed measure would
have been at all disagreeable to the King, were he
then in a capacity to act as a father and a sovereign.
On the contrary, she was fully persuaded that in
giving her assent to the alliance she only did that
which he would have done himself, and to which
he would give his entire approbation in the event of
his recovery. Shortly afterwards, however, she was
undeceived, and more than one of her nearest rela
tives communicated information, which, as it con
vinced her of the tender affection manifested by the
dear king for her feelings, pointed out directly the
course which she had to pursue in a dutiful atten
tion to his. Her Majesty's situation was painfully
distressing ; but she could not endure the thought
of wounding that mind which was always ready to

54f> HER MAJESTY'S FIRMNESS.
make sacrifices for her tranquillity, and of which
the present instance was a striking proof.
Her feelings on this occasion were communicated
without delay to the Regent, in a personal con
ference, in order that the Duke of Cumberland
might be early apprised of the change which, had
taken place in Her Majesty's sentiments, and of
her fixed resolution never to receive the princess at
the English court. After this explicit declaration,
accompanied as it was by a statement of the reasons
on which the resolution was founded, the Queen
did not expect that the marriage would have taken
place. Notwithstanding this, the ceremony was
performed with great pomp in the church of
Strelitz, on the twenty-ninth of May following;
and at the end of the summer, the royal couple,
together with the Duke of Mecklenburg, arrived in
England, where the marriage was renewed, con
formably to act of parliament, at Carlton House,
though neither Her Majesty nor any of the prin
cesses honoured the nuptials with their presence.
With the same firmness the Queen resisted every
attempt made to shake the determination which
she had formed of excluding the duchess from her
court. Her reply to every remonstrance and im
portunity was uniform and consistent : (i I cannot
do that in the present state of the King, which I
would not venture to do in opposition to his judg
ment."

ANECDOTE. 547
This answer, so decidedly characteristic of a noble
mind, alive only to the sense of duty, renders all
further observation on the subject superfluous, and
any notice of the calumnies that were industriously
circulated on the occasion perfectly unnecessary.
At this time the Queen and her daughters
resided wholly at Windsor, where they received their
foreign visitors, as well as other friends, in a very
hospitable though private manner. One fine day
in the autumn, Her Majesty invited several of the
nobility to accompany her and three of the prin
cesses on a fishing party, to the Virginia Water,
where tents were erected for their accommodation.
Just after dinner the young ladies of the boarding-
school at Egham House happening to pass by, the
Queen affably desired them to approach and take
some refreshment, kindly noticed each individually,
and retained all of them some hours, during
which the band played, while fifteen couple danced
on the shaded lawn.

N n

548

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Stale of the King's Health.— Anecdote.— Arrival of
Prince Leopold. — File at Frogmore.— Marriage of
the Princess Charlotte.— Queen's Drawing-Room^—
Ascot Races.— Anecdote. — Marriage of the Princess
Mary.— Death of the Duke of Mecklenburg- Strelits.

Though the mental disease of His Majesty was
now so completely decided as to preclude all hope
of recovery, it was a consolation to find that his
geheral health was unimpaired ; and that amidst
the wanderings of a disordered imagination, his feel
ings were not worked up to a paroxysm of suffering
by the constant pressure of any ideal evil. For
some time, indeed, the sense of regal dignity, the
natural result of long habit, made him occasionally
impatient, but this gradually subsided; and al
though the consciousness of what he was could not
be entirely obliterated, it ceased to produce any
violent effects.
About the present period, the image of royalty
began to fade away altogether ; and as the sensory
could receive nothing new to fill up the vacuity, the
strange, but certainly not incongruous, persuasion
followed, that death had closed the scene here
below ; and accordingly, one day, the King, under

STATE OF THE KING. 549
that conviction, told his attendant to provide for
him a full suit of black, there being, he said, a
general mourning for George the Third.
From that moment the illusion operated with
greater force, till it settled in a complete belief:
but though the idea that disanimationhad taken
place became thus irrevocably fixed, it was neither
attended with personal neglect, an abstraction from
amusement, nor a forgetfulness of favourite objects.
While the mind, to its own perceptibility, was thus
removed into another sphere, the same associations
continued to cheer and exercise the thoughts that
had afforded delight in former days. Thus, a new
world, was in a manner created, peopled with recol
lected connexions, and stored with imaginary pros
pects, which, by inducing application, and exer
cising the fancy, saved the royal patient from suffer
ing through excessive irritability, or falling into a
gloomy despondency.
i Under all the circumstances, therefore, this might
be considered as a state which called for thankful
ness, „ and in that light it was viewed by the Queen,
to whom Dr. John Willis made a report every morn
ing after breakfast ; when, if it was deemed advise-
able, Her Majesty accompanied the physician down
a private staircase into the apartment occupied by
tbe King, with whom she sometimes entered into
conversation, no other person being allowed that
privilege.
n n 2

550 DISAPPOINTED HOPES.
From this awful spectacle of a noble intellect,
reduced like a magnificent temple to ruins, and yet
commanding veneration in its desolated state, we
must now turn our attention to a scene of life and
gaiety, where the effervescence of joy overcomes
every other sentiment ; and no one that takes a part
in the general gladness dreams of the day of dark
ness to which it leads.
Under the peculiar circumstances of the royal
family, the national hopes were centered in the
Princess Charlotte, for whose settlement and hap
piness the people felt so warm an interest, that
much concern was expressed when the rupture of
the projected union between her royal highness and
the hereditary Prince of Orange was announced.
The popular sentiment was certainly in favour of
that alliance on many accounts, particularly as it
was known to be a favourite measure of their ma
jesties ; and because the prince, from his having
been wholly educated in this country, was consi
dered as an Englishman. Nor was it ever suspected
that the princess herself had any objection to the
Prince of Orange, up to the arrival of the allied
sovereigns, when it was discovered that her mjnd
had taken an unaccountable impulse in opposition
to the marriage ; and her resolution being decidedjy
expressed, the negotiation ended.
Much as the heads of the family regretted this
disappointment of their wishes, they were too liberal

ARRIVAL OF PRINCE LEOPOLD. 551
to attempt, even by remonstrance, the effecting any
alteration in the sentiments of the princess : and
when afterwards it was discovered that she had
placed her affections upon the young Prince of Saxe
Cobourg, who happened to have visited England
just at that critical period, every thing was done to
meet her inclinations.
Accordingly, on the twenty-first of February,
1816, this favoured youth landed at Dover, and the
day following proceeded to Brighton, where Her
Majesty, with the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary,
were then on a visit to the Regent and his daughter.
The reception of the prince was most cordial on
every side; and on the fifth of the following month
the Queen and princesses returned to Windsor to
make preparations for the approaching nuptials,
which, however, did not take* place as soon as was
expected, owing to the* time necessarily occupied
in the settlement of preliminaries, and the severe
illness of Prince Leopold, who was confined at
Brighton till the middle of April. On the twenty-
sixth of that month, being the birth-day of the
Princess Mary, the Queen gave a grand entertain
ment at Frogmore, where the Prince; Regent was
received by his royal daughter, the Prince of Saxe
Cobourg, and several members of the family, at
tended by a numerous party of the nobility who
had been invited to dine with Her Majesty on this
occasion. In the evening the Regent returned to

552 JOYFWL PREPARATIONS.
London ; and three days afterwards the rest of the
family followed, to bein readiness for the nuptials;
the Princess Charlotte going to Carlton House,
Prince Leopold to the apartments of the ; Duke of
Clarence in. St. James's Palace, and Her Majesty,
with the princesses, to Buckingham House, where
the next day, being the thirtieth, a drawing-room
was held according to etiquette, for the purpose of
giving the young prince a formal reception at the
British court ; and there he met his intended bride.
The same evening the nuptial dresses were exhibited
to the Queen, the Regent, and the princesses, all of
whom made splendid presents on the joyful occa
sion to their illustrious relative.
At length the second of May, the day appointed
for the celebration of the marriage, arrived ; and
public curiosity having been long excited to an
event of so much national interest, the neighbour
hood of the court was early thronged with impatient
multitudes. At four o'clock, the Princess Charlotte went in a
carriage to the Queen's palace, to dine with Her
Majesty and the princesses ; but the crowd was so
great in Pall-Mall, that the coachman found it ne
cessary to return, and drive through the Park. -
At about half-past seven, the royal party set off
for Carlton House, the Queen, the Princess Char
lotte, the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth, in one
carriage, and the Princesses Mary and Sophia of

MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. 553
Gloucester in another, escorted by a troop of the
Life Guards, the populace cheering them all the way.
The royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Orleans,
and Prince Leopold, were conducted to the royal
closet, where they continued while the attendants
were busied in the necessary arrangements.
All things being in readiness for the procession,
Her Majesty left the closet, and moved with heF
attendants to the great crimson room, which was
fitted up for the ceremony, and on her entrance
the Prince Regent handed her to a state chair on
the right side of the altar.
The whole company being assembled, the Lord
Chamberlain first conducted Prince Leopold to the
altar; and next the Princess Charlotte, supported
on the arm of the Duke of Clarence. The mar
riage ceremony was then . read by the Archbishop
of Canterbury, and at the conclusion, the princess,
after embracing her royal parent, went and respect
fully kissed the Queen's hand. The new-married
couple and their august relatives then returned to
the private closet ; soon after which the former left
the palace for Oatlands ; but the Queen and the
Regent, with the princesses and the royal dukes,
passed, into the grand council chamber, where they
received the congratulations of the assembled no
bility. On the sixteenth of the same month, Her Ma
jesty held a drawing-room at Buckingham House,

554 DRAWING-ROOM.
which was crowded to excess ; and though it had
been stated that the court would not begin till
the hour of two, the company began to assemble
as early as twelve. The line of carriages at one
time extended from the palace to the end of Oxford
Street ; and many of the nobility who resided in
the neighbourhood of St. James's Square were
under the necessity of driving in that direction to
fall into the rank.
The royal pair came to the palace a little before
two; and precisely at that hour the Queen and prin
cesses entered the drawing-room, followed by their
respective suites. Her Majesty having taken her
usual station, the ceremony commenced, the com
pany first addressing the Queen with their con
gratulations, and then passing on to the Princess
Charlotte and her spouse.
The exterior of Buckingham House, as well as
the interior, had the most brilliant appearance ; for
as the company, after having paid their respects in
the drawing-room, could not leave the palace till
their carriages drew up, which they were prevented
from doing for a considerable time, the windows
were filled with elegant women, while many persons
of the first distinction, as bishops, judges, naval
and military officers, with ladies and gentlemen in
their splendid dresses, promenaded the court-yard
and grass-plat.
At ahout three o'cloek there was a complete ees-

AMUSEMENTS. 555
sation of progress, and the whole of the long pas
sage to the great hall was filled by a crowd of
persons of fashion, standing as close to each other
as they possibly could. At last, when this splendid
group came within a few feet of the door, no far
ther advance could be made, till an adjacent apart
ment Was opened, which restored something like
order ; and then the company began to move
towards the drawing-room ; but soon afterwards
there was a fresh check, and it became neces
sary to open another apartment. On going away,
many of those who were near the door remained
stationary above an hour before their carriages
could possibly get Up ; and if the weather had not
permitted the lawn to be resorted to, there must
have been numerous faintings : but, as it was,
nothing was exhausted except patience.
When the court broke up, which was not till six
o'clock, the Regent remained and took a family-
dinner with the Queen, and the Princesses Elizabeth
and Mary ; the Princesses Augusta and Sophia
being at Windsor, the former in attendance on her
father, and the latter confined by indisposition.
Though Her Majesty had now exceeded the or^
dinary period of human life, she continued to dis
charge the duties of her high station with great
alacrity, and appeared to take uncommon delight
in the amusements of the people. At the begin
ning of June, accompanied by three of her dauglfe.

556 ASCOT RACES.
ters, and the Princess Sophia of Gloucester, she went
to Ascot raees. As the royal intention had been
previously announced, the course was thronged with
genteel people ; and many came from a considerable
distance, drawn thither by the general expectation
that the Princess Charlotte and the Prince of Co
bourg would also have been present. In this, how
ever, they were disappointed, owing to the indispo^
sition of theprincess, which, though not serious, pre
vented her from gratifying the curiosity of the public.
As early as five in the morning the post-road
from the metropolis, as well as the cross ones lead
ing from the populous villages and towns in the
neighbourhood, were covered with vehicles, horse
men, and pedestrians, hurrying to the promised
scene of pleasure. In Windsor Park there was at
one time a continued line of carriages, extending
for three miles. At a quarter before one, Her
Majesty and the princesses, with their attendants,
arrived in two carriages on the race-course, where
they were received by the Duke of Gloucester and
the Marquis Cornwallis as the stewards of the
meeting. The liveliness of the scene, and the ex
cellence of the sport> afforded much pleasure to the
royal party; and indeed a gayer spectacle could
scarcely be imagined. The weather was fine, and
the sun shone out in all his brightness. On one
side of the course, extending nearly a mile in a
straight line, was a row of lofty stands, filled with

ROYAL CONDESCENSION. 557
ladies and gentlemen elegantly dressed; and at the
extremity were suttling-booths, with shops, shows,
and other attractions. On the right and opposite
side were arranged about three hundred carriages
filled with spectators. In the middle, between these
lines, and during the interval of the races, count
less numbers of both sexes promenaded on the
green-sward, which gave to the whole an appear
ance of hilarity that had a very fine effect; and even
royalty: itself was not exempt from its influence.
During the performances of the musical band,
Her Majesty, with a cheerfulness which youth
might have envied, beat time with her foot, while
more than one of the princesses, by the motion of
their hands, seemed, in imagination at least, to
accompany the minstrels on the piano.
A little incident also occurred, which evinced the
kind feeling of the royal party, and their willing
ness, by condescending courtesy, to reward the
humblest efforts that were made to afford them en
tertainment. An itinerant shewman, whose live
lihood consisted in exhibiting three dancing puppets
on a circular board, placed himself in front of the
royal stand ; and though the people around him
turned away with contempt, he continued his per
formance in the hope of attracting the notice of
Her Majesty, which at last he was fortunate enough
to obtain ; for his grotesque figures happening to

558 MARRIAGE OF PRINCESS MARY.
catch the eye of the Princess Mary, she whispered
to the Queen, who perceiving his object, deigned
to look, and appeared pleased with the amusement.
The effect of this attention was almost electrical-?
and the very persons who a few moments before
despised the entertainment, as they passed along,
now pressed as near as they could to become spec
tators : so that the poor fellow was for some time
encircled by a croWd of lords and ladies, who ap
plauded his performance, and rewarded him boun
tifully, in mere imitation of the royal example:
This humourous scene lasted about half an hour ;
after which, the royal party drove down to the bot
tom of the course, where two splendid marquees
were pitched, and abundance of refreshments pro
vided for their accommodation.
On the twenty-second of the following month,
the long-expected marriage of the Princess Mary
and the Duke of Gloucester took place in the grand
saloon at Buckingham House, when a numerous
assembly of the royal family and various persons of
distinction were present. About nine o'clock in the
evening the Queen took her station on the left side
of the altar in a state chair; the Princesses Augusta
and Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, and the Prin
cess Sophia of Gloucester, being on her left; while
on the opposite side stood the Prince Regent and
his royal brothers. The Duke of Cambridge intro*

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF MECKLENBURG. 559
duced the bride, and presented her to the Regent,
who gave her away in marriage. At the conclusion
of the ceremony the royal family retired to the
Queen's apartments ; and in the mean time a pro
fusion of refreshments was served round to the com
pany, among whom Her Majesty soon re-appeared
to receive their congratulations.
The remainder of this summer passed without
any thing remarkable ; but at the end of tbe year
Her Majesty received the tidings of the death of
her brother, the Grand Duke Charles-Louis-Fre
derick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This news was the
more distressing, as the preceding accounts from
Germany stated the grand duke to be in good
health, after having spent some months in travel
ling. But on the sixth of November, about five in
the morning, he was attacked by a fit of apoplexy,
which deprived him of his faculties ; and at four in
the afternoon he expired m the presence of his
second son, Duke Charles. He was born the tenth
of October, 1741, lived many years in the Hano
verian service, and in 1794 succeeded his brother
in the ducal honours and estates. The sovereignty
which the extorted Rhenish confederacy guaranteed
to him he did not exercise to the oppression of his
subjects ; and upon the liberation of the continent
he obtained the dignity of grand duke. He was
twice married, and to two sisters of the House of
Darmstadt. By the first alliance he left four chil-

>6o

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF MECKLENBURG.

dren ; namely, his successor, the Grand Duke
George-Frederick-Charles, born in 1 779, and the
wives of theDuke of Hildburghausen, the Prince of
Tour and Taxis, and the Duke of Cumberland.
By the second marriage he left one son, Duke
Charles-Frederick-Augustus.

56l

CHAPTER XXIX.
State of Her Majesty's Health. — Spasmodic Attack. —
Recovery. — Eton Montem. — Entertainment at Frog
more. — Case of the Reverend Mr. Roper. — Royal Visit
to Bath. — Death of the Princess Charlotte. — Its Effects
on the Queen, who returns to Windsor.— Calumny
refuted. — Reflections on that Event.

Though the infirmities of age were now percep
tible, Her Majesty's habitual equanimity of temper,
and general liveliness of spirits, prevented them
from being burthensome to herself, or irksome to
others, for which this reason was alleged by her
self, that she hardly knew what tedium was^ every
minute in the day being regularly occupied. This
was the constant antidote to the cares and troubles
of which the Queen had no common share for a
person in her high station. The recent death of
her brother, and the attack upon her son in his
return from the House of Lords on the twenty-eighth
of January, 1817, gave her considerable uneasiness,
and had a visible effect upon her health. No alarm
ing symptoms, however, were indicated till the
twenty-second of April, when preparations were
making for a drawing-room to be held on the

562 ETON MONTEM.
morrow, 'being St. George's Day. In the course of
the night Her Majesty was seized with a spasmodic
affection, which rendered a consultation of physi
cians necessary, and the following bulletin was
issued: — " The Queen has had a cold, attended by
some fever, and pain in the side : Her Majesty
found the pain severe in the night, but it is much
abated this morning." Though there was too much
reason to apprehend that an important viscus was
the seat of disease, such was the excellence of Her
Majesty's constitution, and the attention of the phy
sicians, that she recovered from this attack ; and
on the twenty-sixth of the same month her conval
escence was officially announced. Still it was
deemed adviseable that she should forbear the fatigue
necessarily attendant upon the ceremonies of a draw
ing-room, at least for some time ; and public notice
to that effect was accordingly circulated.
On the twenty-seventh of May, Her Majesty,
the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth, with their
attendants, went to Eton College to be present at
the Montem, a festival which had frequently before
been honoured by royal visits. Soon afterwards the
Prince Regent arrived from London ; and in a short
time the procession began to move, according to
the accustomed form, preceded by the bands of the
Guards, amidst the greatest assemblage of beauty
and fashion that had been known on a similar occa
sion for many years.

ENTERTAINMENT AT FROGMORE. 563
As the young gentlemen passed along, they re
ceived the usual gratuities, under the name of Salt,
from all the spectators ; the sum so collected
amounting to somewhat more than seven hundred
pounds, being an outfit for the captain of the
school, then elected off to the university.
On the following day, the scholars, in their mon
tem dresses, headed by their tutors, went in pro
cession to Frogmore, where they partook of - an
elegant entertainment in the gardens, in the pre
sence of the Queen, and a numerous party of Her
Majesty's friends, who were invited to the pleasing
scene. On the eighteenth of August, Her Majesty, the
Prineesses Augusta and Elizabeth, their Royal
Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester,
Princess Sophia of Gloucester, With several persons
of distinction, paid a visit to the Duke and Duchess
of Marlborough at White Knights, in Berkshire. The
royal party arrived about noon, and after taking re
freshment, proceeded in open carriages round the
gardens and pleasure-grounds of this delightful place.
The day, though cloudy, was pleasant ; and the park
and lawn were rendered very lively by groups of
company from Reading, and other places in the
neighbourhood. The duke's band of music was
stationed in the wopds ; and every thing was done
that could add to the enjoyment of the scene ; but
the extent of the grounds occupying much time in
o o

564 ROYAL BENEVOLENCE.
traversing, the rain began to fall before the royal
visitants could complete their excursion, which cir
cumstance obliged them to return to the mansion
sooner than they intended, where they were ushered
to a splendid collation, in which magnificence and
hospitality were combined for their entertainment.
A striking instance of amiable condescension and
genuine goodness of heart occurred some time after
this' in the case of Mr. Roper, one of the minor
canons pf Windsor. Her Majesty being informed
that this worthy divine was seized with a pulmonic
complaint, which rendered him incapable of dis
charging his public duties, ordered that he should
be attended by the royal physicians, and supplied
twice a-day with every thing necessary from the
castle. His malady, however, baffled all medical
skill ; and what rendered the circumstance of his
death painfully distressing was the state of his
widow, who had lain in only a week before of her
tenth child, and all living.
The Queen, immediately on hearing of the de
mise of Mr. Roper, sent a particular friend to con
sole the widow, with an assurance of her protection ;
and the same day she opened a subscription for the
family herself, beginning with five hundred pounds
the effect of which was such, that in a few hours
the contributions amounted to more than two thou
sand. A few days afterwards, Her Majesty, though
very weak, visited the house of mourning ; and after

VISIT TO BATH. 565
some interesting conversation with Mrs. Roper*
relieved herewith the promise that she would pro
vide for her daughters, and request the Prince
Regent to do the same for her sons.
This was at the end of October, just as Her
Majesty was preparing for her journey to Bath,
the physicians having considered her case as one
that stood little chance of an alteration for the bet
ter, without the aid of the salutary springs of that
celebrated place. Following this advice, the Queen,
accompanied by the Princess Elizabeth and the
Duke of Clarence, left Windsor Castle on the morn
ing of the third of November, and the same evening
reached Sydney Place, where three elegant houses
had been fitted up for the reception of the royal
party. The next day the Queen visited the pump-
room, drank the water, and afterwards took an air
ing on the Downs. Never did this city, the resort
of invalids and fashionable loungers, display " so
much bustle and gaiety. Visitors poured in from
all quarters hourly ; and the inhabitants, particu
larly the trading part, made large preparations for
an active and lucrative season, little thinking how
soon the cloud of public calamity would damp the
ardour of expectation, and cast a gloom over all
their enjoyments. <,
On Thursday morning, after drinking the waters.
Her Majesty received an address from the corpo
ration; and about four o'clock a messenger arrived
o o 2

566 DEATH OF PRINCESS CHARLOTTE.
with despatches from Lord Sidmouth, stating that
the Princess Charlotte had been delivered of a still
born male child, but that her royal highness was
doing extremely well.
There cannot possibly be conceived a greater ag
gravation of evil tidings than that occasioned by a
sudden extinction of hope after the previous removal
of anxiety. Thus it was in the present instance,
for though the first news was affecting, yet, as it
brought an assurance of safety in regard to the
state of the princess, the disappointment of other
hopes was less sensibly felt.
At six o'clock, therefore, the Queen sat down,
with her usual party of fourteen, to dinner, and ap
peared tolerably composed ; but in about an hour
another messenger arrived, with a despatch directed
to General Taylor, who was privately called out of
the room, a circumstance that struck the Queen as
very extraordinary, but on which she made no
remark till the Countess of Ilchester withdrew in
the same abrupt manner; and then her fears realizing
the cause at once, she exclaimed, " I know what is
the matter ;" and fell into a fit.
After some time, she was sufficiently recovered
to be led into her^rivate apartment, accompanied
by the Princess Elizabeth, whose distress was not
less than that of her venerable parent.
That night, and the following day, passed in silent
anguish, while it seemed all around as if each indi-

RETURN TO WINDSOR. 56f
vidual had been deprived of a bosom friend, and
that every family had lost a near relative.
Though the royal party left Bath as early as
seven on Saturday morning, they did not arrive at
Windsor till six in the evening.
The next day the Prince Regent came in a very
private way to see the Queen and princesses, who
Were soon after joined by the Duchess of Glouces
ter, forming a very melancholy group ; yet deriving
from this meeting, and the reciprocation of sorrow^
something like relief under the pressure of such a
heavy affliction.
From this time to the funeral, Her Majesty and
the princesses remained at the castle in a state of
seclusion, with the exception of about an hour every
day, when, by the special direction of the physi
cians, they took an airing in the little park ; though
this was done in the most private manner possible,
with no other attendant than a single footman.
The universal concern excited by this mournfuf
event did honour to the public feelings ; but the
sympathy which the affecting circumstances of the
case produced would have been more satisfactory
had it been unmixed with prejudices, and untainted
by calumny. When the people* lamented the ex
tinction of the national hopes, they should have^
gratefully remembered the bright example of virtue
which for so long a period had enlightened the
country. Of the future, no determinate judgment

568 CALUMNY REFUTED.
could be formed ; but the history of more than half
a century laid an obligation upon every individual
in the kingdom to think well, and speak reverently,
of the august personage whose uniform conduct
and purity of heart had for so long a period given
unexampled dignity to the British court. Slanderers,
however, rose in this hour of sorrow ; and what was
worse, their vile insinuations were so credulously
received, and industriously circulated, that it was im
possible to remove the ill impression which they
produced. The most ungenerous and cruel reflec
tions were made upon the Queen, on account of her
absence at such a critical juncture ; and some even
went the length of saying that the journey to Bath
was a measure of set purpose, that she might have a
pretext for being out of the way. Now the truth
is, the Queen, instead of hastening her departure,
delayed it on this very account ; and, notwithstanding
the urgent recommendation of the physicians, she
would not have gone thither till after the deli
very of the princess, if her royal highness had
not peremptorily declined the offer which Her
Majesty made to be at Claremont on that occa
sion. To this wish and intention the princess not
only appeared decidedly adverse, but she made
it a point of seconding the advice of the me
dical gentlemen, by saying that she should be most
unhappy if on her account the Queen protracted
what was deemed so necessary for her own health,

REFLECTIONS. 569
This is a simple statement of plain facts, the
verity of which it would be easy to prove by indu
bitable testimony ; and they who best knew the
princess will admit, that when on mature consi
deration she had once taken up her resolution, no
persuasion in the world could induce her to alter it.
In the present case, the propriety of the determi
nation cannot be questioned, for the suffering of the
royal patient would have been rather heightened
than abated by witnessing the anxiety of one whose
age and infirmities were so ill able to bear the fatigue
and wretchedness unavoidable on such occasions.
It should be observed, also, that there was nothing
in the previous circumstances of the princess to
give the slightest room for apprehension ; but that,
on the contrary, her constitutional energy afforded
the strongest grounds for the confident expectation
of a happy result. On this account, therefore, the
shock came with redoubled force, because it was a
catastrophe which no person could have dreaded.
That it was a national loss, and one which called
for general sorrow, the expression of the public
feeling sufficiently evinced ; yet, if amidst the la
mentation which it raised, the hand of Providence
was not acknowledged, there may be reason to fear
that this has been a stroke of the divine judgment
for benefits long abused, and only the prelude to
evils which a thankless people have too much de
served.

570 HISTORICAL COINCIDENCES.
The reader of history, who traces the causes
and consequences of great events, will find, in pe
rusing the annals of this country, that there never
yet occurred an instance bearing a resemblance to
the present, but what was productive of incidents,
the effects of which have extended to distant gene
rations. Thus, to name a few only: the death of Prince
Arthur, the eldest son of Henry the Seventh, occa
sioned the abolition of the papal authority in
these realms ;— that of Edward the Sixth, by giving
the same power a temporary revival, rendered it so
odious, that Elizabeth was enabled, through a long
life, and a vigorous administration, to establish the
reformed church of England on a steady basis ;— in
the succeeding reign, the demise of Henry Prince
of Wales gave the crown to his brother, the unforr
tunate Charles, and thus prepared the way for two
revolutions ;— and last of all, when the hopes of the
nation rested upon the young Duke of Gloucester,
the last child of Princess Anne of Denmark, his
premature removal left the succession open to the
House of Brunswick,— in which line of hereditary
right may the throne continue to flourish, under the
divine protection, till all earthly dominion shall
attain its consummation I

571

CHAPTER XXX.
Return to Bath. — Visit to Bristol.— Female Institution at
Bailbrook House. — Similar Establishments recom
mended. — Return to Windsor.— Marriage of the Prin
cess Elizabeth. — Her Majesty's last Drawing-Room. —
Examination of The National Schools.— The Queen
taken suddenly ill. — Partial Recovery. — More Royal
Marriages. — Residence at Kew. — Parliamentary Re
gulation. — Ineffectual Attempts to remove the Queen. —
Alarming Progress of her Malady. — Painful Suffer
ings. — Death. — Funeral. — Conclusion.

Her Majesty returned to Bath at the end of
November, and a few days afterwards made her
promised visit to the ancient city of Bristol, which
place had not received a Queen of England within
its walls since Anne of Denmark, the consort of
James the First. The romantic prospects in the
immediate vicinity, particularly the sublime view
from Clifton Hill, afforded a rich treat to Her Ma
jesty and the Princess Elizabeth, who, notwith
standing the keenness of the air, stood for some
time on the high cliff which overhangs the Avon,
and contemplated with astonishment the magnifi
cent spectacle which presented itself on every side.
From hence the royal party proceeded slowly tp
the mansion of Colonel Baillie ; and after staying

572 SOCIAL INSTITUTION.
there about two hours, set off again for Bath,
amidst the acclamations of thousands, who lined
the road all the way between the two cities.
But neither these enjoyments, nor the virtue of
Bladud's boasted springs, could renew an enfeebled
constitution, or ward off the encroachments of
disease. It was, however, pleasing to observe that
under much weakness there was a placidity of
mind, which, though it could not altogether subdue
pain, had the happy effect of rendering it less acute
and distressing. In all her cares and sufferings,
the Queen was never at a loss for subjects to exer
cise her thoughts, in diligent enquiry, and benevo
lent attention.
While at Bath, she repeatedly visited Bailbrook
House, an establishment of a very singular descrip
tion, and of which she was not only the immediate
patroness, but a liberal supporter. This institution,
which may be denominated without any impro
priety a reformed monastery, appears to have been
modelled upon the plan of a society formed in the
early part of the reign of Charles the First, by the
excellent Mr. Nicholas Ferrar and his family, at
Little Gidding, in Huntingdonshire. There are
also many communities of a similar kind in the
Protestant states on the continent ; and the Mora
vians, as they are called, have long been distin
guished by this species of social union.
The establishment of Bailbrook House offers a

AT BAILBROOK HOUSE. 573
desirable residence to. ladies of respectable charac
ter, whose birth places them in the rank of gentle
women : and the plan has been so arranged as to
suit those who have but a very moderate income ;
while at the same time it offers accommodation to
others, who, by their residence in the establishment,
contribute largely towards its support: but this
occasions no distinction among the inmates, for all
are, in fact, equally independent of pecuniary obli
gation either to the public or each other. The so
ciety live together as one family ; but none are ad
mitted who have any aversion to a retired life, or
who are unwilling to co-operate in promoting
works of charity and piety.
The institution is principally intended for the re
ception of the widows and daughters of clergymen,
and of officers of the army and navy. It is entirely
under the auspices of ladies of the highest rank ;
and a fund amounting to some thousands has been
already secured for its support. The Queen, who,
from its incipient state, was its warm friend and
zealous promoter, took great delight in looking over
every part of the building; and repeatedly ex
pressed her wish that there were more establish
ments of the kind in England. It deserves con
sideration, also, whether social institutions, con
structed on a like principle, would not be equally
advantageous to gentlemen in declining years, unen
cumbered, and of limited incomes. Certain it is,

574 RETURN FROM BATH.
that many persons in easy and independent circum
stances become miserable for the want of agreeable
companions, the reciprocation of sentiment, and a
friendly stimulus to beneficial exercise.
Such a sodality, therefore, as the one here re
commended, seems to be well calculated to render
the downhill passage of life comfortable, by freeing
the mind from the evil of inaction, which is the
great bane of existence, and too often the predis
posing cause of suicide.
Though it was hardly to be expected that the
Queen, at her advanced age, could derive any ra
dical benefit from the Bath waters, the malady,
which had entrenched itself too deeply in the system
to admit of an actual cure, was hereby suspended;
and she returned to Windsor apparently with re
cruited strength, which constant exercise and change
of scene contributed for some time to maintain.
But there is nothing, however innocent and neces
sary, in the pursuits of eminent persons, that the
evil-minded cannot turn into ridicule or reproach.
Thus the tongue of scandal ascribed the excursions
which Her Majesty made to Brighton, Bath, and
other places, to an unbecoming gaiety of disposition/
when it was sufficiently clear that health alone was
the object ; and that in these indulgences it was
not the love of pleasure, but the advice of medical
men that was followed.
In general, as age advances the attachment to

MARRIAGE OF PRINCESS ELIZABETH. 575
life becomes more tenacious, especially where a
long course of health has been enjoyed, and where^
many tender connexions exist, upon whose friendly
offices the mind reposes in the remainder of its
journey. The Queen felt as most do who have reason to
reflect upon the past with pleasure, and who still
possess an endearing tie that gives a charm to life,
even though it be worn to a state of almost imper
ceptible exility. The vale of years was cheered
by the presence and attention of affectionate chil
dren; but there was yet another relative, who,
though shut out from the world, was a world to
her, and for whose sake it was her wish to live,
that she might watch over him in his insulated
condition, and minister such occasional comfort as
the state of his mind could bear. Whenever,
therefore, Her Majesty left Windsor, it was with a
degree of reluctance; and on her return she inva
riably alighted at the entrance near the apartments
of the King, to see whom, she immediately went
with one of the physicians in attendance.
On the twenty-sixth of February, 1818, the
Queen was enabled to undergo the fatigue of a
drawing-room, at Buckingham House, which/being
the first after the death of the Princess Charlotte,
Was very numerously attended, though it had rather
a sombrous appearance.
Preparations were now making for the marriage

576 LAST DRAWING-ROOM.
of the Princess Elizabeth, with the hereditaiy
Prince of Hesse Homburg, a union that had re
ceived the sanction of Her Majesty and the Regent
some months before, but was prevented from taking
place in consequence of the late lamentable breach
in the family. Every point being satisfactorily
settled, the nuptials were celebrated at the Queen's
Palace on the evening of the seventh of April,
with cPnsiderable grandeur, in the presence of
Her Majesty, the Duke of York, in the absence of
the Prince Regent, giving away the hand of his
sister. On the twenty-third of the same month the
Queen held her last drawing-room, which was ex
cessively crowded in consequence of the recent
marriage; but it was evident to all that Her Ma
jesty made painful exertions, and sacrificed much
personal ease' on this occasion, to gratify her nume
rous visitors.
But though this was the last act of royal splen
dour in which the Queen engaged, it was not her
last appearance in public ; for on the following
week she Went to the Mansion House, to witness
the examination of the children educated in the
national schools. When the royal intention was
made known to the chief magistrate, intimation
was at the same time given that Her Majesty
wished to enter the city in as private a manner as
possible, and therefore desired that all form and

VISIT TO THE MANSION HOUSE. 577
ceremony should be omitted. Every precaution,
however, was adopted to preserve order in the
streets through which the carriages were to pass ;
and the Queen expressed herself highly pleased
with the reception which she had experienced in
this last visit to the metropolis. There were pre
sent in the Egyptian Hall, in the presence of Her
Majesty, several members of the royal family, the
lord mayor, aldermen, and a great number ot
persons of distinction, among whom were the Arch
bishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London.
The Prince ©f Hesse Homburg stood on the left
of the Queen, who was attended by the Earl of
Harcourt, the Earl of Morton, and the ladies in
waiting. The business commenced with the in
troduction of the children into the centre of the
hall, consisting of between two and three hun
dred girls, and more than double that number
of boys, making in all about one thousand of dif
ferent ages. When they were all arranged, they
sung a hymn, and repeated parts of the church ser
vice; after which the greater part was dismissed, and
each class then introduced in succession. On a
word being given, the children spelt the same, and
wrote it down on their slates. They then per
formed arithmetical exercises in a similar manner,
and read several chapters of the scriptures. The
whole had a very impressive effect, and afforded
much delight to Her Majesty, who conversed very

578 SUDDEN ILLNESS.
cheerfully with Mrs. Fry, the quaker, and several
other ladies ; as also with the clergymen who ex
amined the children.
To the funds of the society for carrying on this
noble work, the Queen presented five hundred
pounds ; and her example was followed by the
Prince Regent, the Duke of York, and others of
the family.
At this time Her Majesty appeared much better
than she had been for some months past; and when
the lord mayor went the next day to pay his res
pects at Buckingham House, he was agreeably in
formed, that so far from being impaired, the health
of the Queen was improved by her visit to the city,
and the pleasure which she had there received.
But this was merely one of the transient gleams
which occasionally brighten up the wintry day of
human life. About a week after this Her Majesty
suffered a sudden and violent spasmodic attack, as
she sat at dinner at the Duke of York's ; in conse
quence of which she was confined to her room till
the latter end of May, when, by the diligent atten
tion of Sir Henry Halford, she recovered suffi
ciently to witness the re-marriage of the Duke of
Cambridge and the Princess of Hesse. This cere
mony took place at Buckingham House, on the
first of June; and two days afterwards Her Majesty
had to undergo the severe trial of parting from
a beloved daughter, who, with the prince her

REMOVAL TO KEW. 579
husband, left town for Brighton, there to remain a
few days, that if in case the Queen should feel the
separation so acutely as to have a relapse, her royal
highness might return and wait the issue. Her
Majesty, however, with that self-command which
invariably distinguished her through life, endured
the sacrifice in a manner that surprised even those
who were no strangers to her habitual fortitude.
The struggle, indeed, was an arduous one on both
sides ; and it was embittered by the afflicting consi
deration, that they who had scarcely lived apart for
a single day, through a long course of years, would
see each other's face in this world no more. Thus
the Queen saw herself bereft of some of her
dearest connexions, when she stood in most need of
their consoling presence ; and though the settle
ment of her children afforded satisfaction, it was
under such circumstances as precluded the hope of
witnessing their felicity.
Being desirous of seeing the King, and spending
her last hours under the same roof with him, Her
Majesty left town for Kew, that she might be
nearer the object of her wishes, little thinking, that,
short as the distance was, she should never behold
Windsor any more.
The expected arrival of the Dukes of Clarence
and Kent, with their respective brides, delayed her
departure till it became impossible that she could
p p

5 SO more Royal marriages.
proceed any farther without running the risk of
dying oh the road.
On Sunday evening, the seventh of July, she
appeared much better, and expressed an inclination
to take a little excursion. Accordingly, the coach
was ordered, and the Queen entered it, accom
panied by the Princess Augusta, the Duchess of
Gloucester, and a lady in waiting. After a ride of
about an hour, Her Majesty was taken so Very ill
that the princesses Were obliged to stop the car
riage, while they endeavoured to relieve the suffer
ings of their revered parent. When the carriage
moved again, it went at a very slow pace ; and on
reaching the palace, the attendants had great dif
ficulty in conveying the Queen into the house,
where she lay near a quarter of an hour iu a most
distressing condition.
By the sedulous attentions of the physicians
however, the royal invalid was so far recovered as
fo be able to sit in the saloon on the following
Saturday, during the solemnization of the nuptials
of the Dukes of Clarence and Kent ; though she
was unable to dine with the company afterwards.
Thus were the hymeneal rites performed in the
anti-chamber of death ; and the Queen might have
said, as she contemplated the quick succession of
these new relations, " they come like shadows, and
so depart ;" for if they did light up a momentary
spark of delight in her mind, it was extinguished by

INCREASING ILLNESS. 581
the reflection that the sensation Would in a short
space be obliterated for ever.
The nature of the disorder under which Her Ma
jesty laboured was so unequivocally marked, as to
admit of neither doubt nor hope. The anasarcous
symptoms, indeed, had been so long apparent, and
the consequences foreseen, that ministers, before
the dissolution of parliament, thought it prudent to
bring in a bill to amend the regency act, with
respect to tlie custody of His Majesty's person, in
case of the demise of the Queen. But though it
was evident to every other person that this event
could be at no great distance, the royal patient her
self entertained hopes of at least a partial reco
very. With the anxiety of the dove, she panted
to take up her rest at Windsor ; and as this was
the only impatience she betrayed amidst all her
sufferings, it may be truly said to have supported
her under them, by having the effect of keeping
her thoughts in constant exercise and buoyant ex
pectation. To relieve her spirits, though with little idea of
being able to gratify her wishes, various mecha
nical contrivances were thought of for rendering
the motion of a carriage perfectly easy. None of
these schemes, however, were found, upon trial, to
answer the principal purpose for which they were
intended ; but the Queen obtained some benefit
from a kind of chair that ran upon cylinders, and
p p 2

582 FLUCTUATIONS.
in which she was occasionally drawn round the
gardens. A couch, constructed on similar prin
ciples, was also serviceable within doors, by the
facility with which it could be moved from one
room to another, and by its having a rising and
falling back, which enabled Her Majesty to take
repose without exertion, or the inconvenience of
being shifted by her attendants.
Through the remainder of July the Queen suf
fered very much from frequent paroxysms, which
exhausted her strength, destroyed the appetite, and
Deprived her of the refreshment of sleep.
At the beginning of August she seemed to be
somewhat better, and continued for about a fort
night to improve in such a manner, as to excite
some hopes that she would recover sufficiently to
bear a removal to Windsor : but these were mere
illusory appearances, which soon vanished ; and
before the expiration of the month, the spasmodic
attacks came on again with renewed violence, each
leaving the royal sufferer in a state of complete ex
haustion and debility. This warfare in the system,
between a constitution naturally excellent, and a
complication of ailments, springing from one dis
eased organ, went on without abatement till the
end of September, when the malady once more
subsided, through the skill and exertions of the
physicians ; and Her Majesty was again enabled
to bear a removal from the bed-chamber to the

DISTRESSING SYMPTOMS. 583
adjoining room, where she resumed something like
regular meals, and saw a few select visitors.
The arrival of General Campbell, with letters
from the Prince and Princess of Hesse Homburg,
contributed much to this temporary recovery,
which, however, was of short duration ; for, on
Mpnday evening, the nineteenth of October, the
Queen became extremely restless, with a consider
able degree of fever; and in the course of the night
the spasmodic attacks were rapid and excruciating.
Throughout the whole of the next day she suffered
exceedingly from a painful tension in the right side,
accompanied by a short hectic cough ; and the night
passed without any sleep. On Wednesday the
virulent symptoms increased, and another sleepless
night followed ; but about noon on Thursday the
paroxysms abated in some degree, and Her Ma
jesty sunk into a state of lethargic repose. The two
succeeding days went over without any severe
attack, and some relief was procured by the appli
cation of the warm bath to the extremities ; but it
was manifest that nothing more could be done than
to alleviate the sufferings of the royal patient as
much as possible, and to blunt the acuteness of the
shaft of death. Hence, opiates were administered
to induce repose ; and cordials were copiously given
to keep up the animal strength. The crisis, how
ever, was fast approaching, and the only wonder
was how it could have been so long protracted,

584 EXTREME SUFFERING.
under the many sharp and tremendous conflicts
which the royal patient had endured. In an early
stage of Her Majesty's illness, one of the physicians
gave it as his private opinion that she would not
outlive the first week in November; and at the
period predicted the disorder assumed an aspect of
deadly malignity, that evinced the correctness of his
judgment. On the night of the fifth, a great altera
tion took place ; and the fits of coughing were so
violent, tthat the medical attendants thought the
termination of Her Majesty's sufferings was at hand.
The Prince Regent, who had been dining with his
sisters on that day, did not, in consequence, leave
the palace till a considerable time after midnight,
when the irritation had somewhat subsided by
repeated applications of the warm bath and topical
fomentations. Throughout the remainder of the
night, however, and the whole of the next day, the
sufferings of the Queen were extremely distressing ;
and though, by the free use of opiates, a little tem
porary slumber was obtained, nothing like an alle
viation of pain could be procured. Thus, the ma
lady went on from day to day with increasing viru
lence; and whatever alteration occurred in the pro
gress of it only aggravated the afflictions of the
sufferer, who might have adopted the language of
the patriarch : '< I am made to possess months of
vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed unto
me : When I lie down, I say, when shall I arise,

FILIAL TENDERNESS. 585
and the night be gone ? And I am full of tossings to
and fro unto the dawning of the day." But if the
Queen was made to mourn, like Job, she had also
that spirit of meekness which enabled her to bear
the heavy trial without murmuring ; and through
the whole of this severe visitation not one com
plaining word ever escaped her lips. Here patience
had its perfect work ; and the triumph of faith was
never more strongly displayed during a long and
excruciating illness than it was in the present
instance. This was not stoical apathy, but pious
resignation to the divine will ; and as from early
youth Her Majesty had studied the principles and
practised the duties of religion, she now abundantly
experienced the power of its consolations in the
hour of need. Next to the support derived from
the promises of the gospel, on which she relied
with unshaken confidence, the Queen received the
greatest comfort from the unremitted attentions of
her children. Nothing could exceed the filial ten
derness and unwearied exertions of the Princesses
Augusta and Mary, who ministered day and night
by the couch of their afflicted parent; nor did
either of them once leave the palace during the
whole mournful period of care and sorrow.
The Prince Regent also was equally affectionate,
devoting as much time as he possibly could to the
same pious duty; and when he was necessarily
absent from Kew, messengers waited upon him

586 PIOUS RESIGNATION.
hourly with a report of the state of Her Majesty.
All indeed that could be done by sympathy or solici
tude, watchfulness and obedience, was readily and
anxiously performed, to ameliorate the sufferings oi
the royal patient,' who, on her part, feelingly
expressed her sense of the affectionate kindness
with which she was treated by the whole of her
family. But while on every countenance the look of
cloudy apprehension was strongly marked, that of
the royal sufferer displayed uncommon serenity, and
even cheerfulness.
When the lethargic symptoms disappeared, her
mind seemed to rise above bodily pain ; and the
powers of conversation were renewed with an energy
that surprised all her friends and attendants. The
most extraordinary thing of all, however, was
the persuasion which prevailed in Her Majesty's
thoughts almost to the very last that she should
yet recover, and once more have the satisfaction of
seeing the King. This was the cord which kept
its firm hold upon life, when' every hour gave
fresh indications of dissolution. Amidst convulsive
pangs, and the difficulty of finding rest, in a frame
worn out by disease, the mind continually pointed
in one direction, though the objeet of attraction
was in a state of desolation and darkness. As long
as this hope tended to cheer the spirits, it met with
no discouragement ; but when, from certain gan-

PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 587
grenous appearances, it became evident that the last
scene was near at hand, Her Majesty received the
respectful suggestion that it would be proper, to
delay no longer the final settlement of her tem
poral affairs. This was only the day before her
death ; but though at first somewhat shocked by
the intimation, she betrayed no symptoms of impa
tience. On the contrary, she immediately dictated
her will to General Taylor ; and having signed and
delivered the instrument in due form, she calmly
resigned herself to the approaching event. In the
afternoon she sunk into a lethargic state ; and so
little was any immediate change expected, that at
six o'clock Sir Henry Halford's carriage was order
ed to convey him on his usual visit to Windsor.
Scarcely, however, had the carriage drawn up to
the door, when Her Majesty manifested such an
increase of perturbation, as induced him to delay
his departure ; and soon afterwards the journey
was put off for the night. Letters were in conse
quence despatched to the Prince Regent, who;
accompanied by the Duke of York, arrived at the
palace about ten o'clock ; and after a short inter
view with the physicians, their royal highnesses,
with ttie princesses, went into the sick chamber to
see their august parent, who, however, was uncon
scious of their presence. From that hour till mid
night the symptoms of the disorder developed
themselves in such alarming succession, that the

588 LAST SYMPTOMS.
Regent determined to spend the night at Kew,
which design he abandoned on finding that an
abatement of suffering had taken place ; and he
returned with his brother to town. They had not
been long gone before a fresh attack came on ; and
throughout the remainder of the night the Queen
was almost in continual agony ; the physicians, with
Mr. Brande, remaining in the anti-chamber, and
the princesses in the room with their parent, till
the morning was far advanced.
At half-past nine, on Tuesday the seventeenth,
the bulletin was forwarded to town in the cus
tomary manner ; but the bearer had not left the
palace more than three quarters of an hour, wheu
Her Majesty became so much wprse, that a second
messenger was hastened to, Carlton House, to
request the immediate attendance of the Prince.
Couriers were also sent off to the Archbishop of
Canterbury, and several other persons whose pre
sence was desirable ; and every thing plainly indi
cated the immediate approach of the last awful
crisis. The Prince Regent and the Duke of York reached
the palace a little after twelve o'clock ; and imme
diately on their arrival Sir Henry Halford announced
to them and their illustrious sisters the speedy ter,
mination of all their affectionate cares, which ope
rated very ppwerfully upon their feelings, though
for several weeks they had been fully prepared for

DEATH OF THE ftUEEN. 589
the catastrophe. Their royal highnesses then moved
into the chamber of death, and surrounded the bed
on which their venerable parent lay reclined;
soon after which she became conscious of their
presence, held out her hand to the Prince, and
while in the act of grasping his, and smiling upon
them all, exactly at twenty minutes past one, with
out a sigh or a struggle, she breathed her last,
thus experiencing, after the most arduous trials
and perilous conflicts, at the end of her course,
A death-like sleep,
A gentle wailing to immortal life.
The same evening a special gazette, supplemen
tary to the regular one, was published in the fol
lowing words : Whitehall, Not. 17.
" This day, at one o'clock, the Queen departed
this life, to the inexpressible grief of the royal fa
mily, after a tedious illness, which Her Majesty
bore with the most pious fortitude and resignation.
The many great and exemplary virtues which so
eminently distinguished Her Majesty throughout
her long life were the object of universal esteem
and admiration amongst all classes of His Majesty's
subjects, and render the death of this illustrious
and most excellent princess an unspeakable loss to
the whole nation."

5go

interment.

On Tuesday, the first of December, the ceremony
of lying-in-state took place, though on a contracted
scale ; and the next day the mortal remains of Her
Majesty were deposited in the royal sepulchre at
Windsor, of which solemnities ample particulars
Will be found in the Appendix.

conclusion. 591

CONCLUSION.

Thus have we followed, from her birth to the
tomb, this illustrious personage, above fifty-seven
years of whose life were spent in the full view of
the British nation. Throughout the whole of that
eventful period not a single instance was ever ad
duced of her having exercised the least influence in
support of any particular line of politics, or in
promoting the interests of any set of favourites.
Faction itself, in the worst of times, was always
dumb in regard to the public conduct of the Queen,
while to her private virtues universal homage was
willingly paid. In the discharge of the relative
duties she stood unrivalled ; and if she kept up the
decorum of her court with unbending strictness,
she did it without prejudice or partiality. Neither
friendship nor consanguinity, power nor solicitation,
could obtain a relaxation of the rule which she had
laid down for the exclusion of improper persons
from the royal circle.
The great difficulty of observing this law in a
country where principle must often yield to expe
diency, is a proof of the integrity of Her Majesty,

592 CONCLUSION.
who, amidst all the violence of party, maintained
her stand with undeviating firmness.
On a similar ground she formed her household ;
and being once surrounded by persons whose virtue
she approved, no consideration could prevail upon
her to abandon them for new connexions. Some
attempts to this effect were made by a greedy admi
nistration ; but the resolution of the Queen soon
compelled the meddlers to recede from their purpose.
Hence it was that a train of domestics and attend
ants became grey in the royal service ; so that the
virtues cultivated there spread their influence in an
exemplary manner, but without ostentation, through
out the land. May we not, therefore, safely say,
that next to the decision of the national councils,
under the blessing of Divine Providence, these
realms are indebted for their preservation to the
character of the court ? — Certain it is, that while
this steady moral light irradiated Britain, the courts
on the continent, both great and small, exhibited
a very different picture ; the consequence of which
was, that when the revolutionary volcano exploded,
they wanted virtue to stem the torrent. It is true,
the retired life of their majesties was sometimes
reflected upon, as indicative of pride or parsimony,
but very unjustly ; for no persons of their supreme
rank could be more easy of access, or condescend
ing in their manners ; and though a splendid life

CONCLUSION. 639
did not comport with their inclination, they sup
ported their establishments with dignity, and were "
Constantly exercised in works of benevolence. A
more magnificent style might, indeed, have at
tracted the admiration of the thoughtless, but it
would neither have conduced to private felicity,
nor have suited the habits of the people. The
course which their majesties early adopted, and
invariably pursued, secured domestic happiness,
and general respect, though it could not escape
the ridicule of fools, and the censure of the wicked.
In this choice the King and Queen acted by a
conjunction of sentiment ; for as their hearts were
cemented by the purest affection, so they had a
perfect similarity of taste. Had it been otherwise,
the difference must have been seen in the course of
half a century ; and as nothing of the kind was
ever observed, or alleged, it is a proof that the
mind of the sovereign and that of his consort Were
in perfect unison. Such indeed was the harmony
which subsisted between them, that it is difficult, in
the estimation of character, to separate them from
each other. Great liveliness of temper distinguished
both ; and this cheerfulness appeared in the free
dom of their conversation, which was ever unre
served, except on politics, or where private repu
tation might be affected. In such cases they al
ways observed so strict a silence as to put a complete

594 CONCLUSION.
bar against flatterers and tale-bearers. Though
doubtless they had their attachments, and both
were well acquainted with the history of all the
great families in the kingdom, they made it a point
never to give cause of offence either to public
parties or private individuals.
How well the Queen, in particular, bore her
faculties, by steering clear of national concerns,
appeared conspicuously when the great question of
the regency was first agitated. Amidst the uproar
occasioned by the obscuration of the royal intellect,
Her Majesty evinced a mind of no ordinary vigour ;
and yet, while she watched with the most sedulous
attention over the suspended rights of her husband,
she intermeddled not with the public proceedings,
so as to wound the feelings of her son. This is a
fact, though a late right reverend biographer has
asserted the contrary, in a memoir of himself, so full
of contradictions, that the poison and the antidote
may commonly be found in the same page.
Subsequently she has been reflected upon as
having indulged too great a partiality for the Prince;
and they who pretended to have discovered that
fault, went so far as to charge Her Majesty with
widening a family breach which she should have
healed. Into the cause of that rupture it would be imper-i
tinent to make any inquiry ; but thus much may

CONCLUSION. 595
be affirmed, without any hazard of denial, that if
any one was injured more than another, it was the
Queen herself, whose patience underwent many
severe trials, which as none but Christiah fortitude
could have borne, so none but a Christian could
have forgiven.
But the accusation most strongly urged ahd ex
tensively accredited against Her Majesty was that
of excessive penuriousness. This allegation was so
often made, that at length numbers who wished
otherwise were almost afraid that it must be true.
The Queen was not ignorant of this aspersion, and
yet she took no steps to clear herself from it ; for
the soundest of all reasons, since, as she observed,
if she began to make a parade of benevolence, or
performed something out of the common course, it
would be said that this was done to remove a stigma,
Or to acquire popularity. She, therefore, very
judiciously, went on in her usual course, dealing out
charity liberally, but silently, and keeping close to
her Saviour's precept, " Not to let the left hand
know what the right hand did." To this rule, as
far as could be practised, she adhered all her life,
and nothing hardly ever gave her more uneasiness
than to have any act of her munificence made
known to the world.
Her constant injunction to those who had the
disposal of her bounty was to keep the quarter from
whence it came carefully concealed ; and a violation
aq

S96 CONCLUSION.
of this direction was the sure way to incur her dis
pleasure. A lady, who had been the bearer of a
considerable largess to a distressed family, was after
wards asked whether she had mentioned the matter
to any person ; and on being, told that only another
lady high in Her Majesty's confidence was made
acquainted with it, " Then," said she, " there is
one too many."
But though she could not endure the blazoning
of her good deeds, she was always happy when her
almoners exercised their discretion, by giving more
than their verbal commission apparently authorised
them to bestow.
The wife of a labouring man at Old Windsor,
with a large family, and in great distress, was
brought to-bed of twins ; which being communicated
to Her Majesty, she gave the informant twenty
pounds to be laid out for their benefit. In doing
this, the person found that the sum would be inade
quate to purchase clothing for all the children, and
to redeem the poor man's apparel and tools from
the pawnbroker's. Relying, however, on the Queen's
goodness, she ventured to add another twenty
pounds to the royal donation ; and on making her
report, which she did with some apologies, Her
Majesty stopped her by expressing the warmest
approbation of her conduct, and graciously saying
that she took it as a particular obligation.
All persons who knew the Queen felt the utmost

CONCLUSION. 597
confidence on approaching her with a narrative of
woe, because they were not only assured of meeting
with a willing audience, but of receiving an ample
contribution. In the year 1779, when the Quebec frigate,
Captain Farmer, was blown up after an action of
four hours and a half off Brest, and only seventeen
persons were saved, the Queen took a tender in
terest in the concerns of Mrs. Farmer, for whom,
and her family, she procured a pension of eight
hundred a-year. Another instance of her sympa
thetic feeling occurred at the same time, and con
nected with the same melancholy event. One of
the persons saved from the Quebec was Mr. William
Moore, the master's mate. But though he was
taken up alive, he was dreadfully wounded. The
pitiableness of his case being mentioned to Her
Majesty by Mr. Ashburner, her silk-mercer, she
caused her own physician and surgeon to attend
Mr. Moore, and on his recovery obtained for him
a lieutenant's commission; not long after which,
through the same interest, he rose to the rank of
master and commander.
The readiness of the Queen to receive applica
tions, and her promptitude to grant substantial
relief in cases of real distress, will appear from
another instance.
One day a female, wholly unknown to Her Ma
jesty, and without being introduced, presented a
a q 2

598 CONCLUSION.
petition at Windsor. The memorial stated that she
was the widow of an officer, and left With twelve
children wholly Unprovided for. The'* Qjieen di
rected the strictest inquiries to be madJtinto the
character of the applicant ; and the remit being
satisfactory, she took the whole of the children
from the mother, and sent them to school. Some
time after, however, the lady married a person in
opulent circumstances, on which Her Majesty very
properly sent back the children, that her bounty
might be transferred to objects who stood in real
need of it.
How wrongfully the Queen was charged with
being of a parsimonious disposition, the following
schedule of her annual payments in works of bene
volence will clearly shew. £. s. d.
In pensions and allowances to retired servants
and other persons, a total sum of. ... ....4,311 16 0
To the support of a female charity for needle
work, established in Bedfordshire, Her Ma
jesty contributed more than fifty years the
yearly subscription of  500 0 0
To the Ladies' Association (at Bailbrook
House)  100 0 0
St. Martin's Charity School  31 10 0
Cheltenham ditto  10 10 0
Westminster Infirmary  31 10 0
Infirmary for diseases of the eyes  52 10 0
Infirmary at Windsor  52 10 0
Queen's School at Windsor  120 0 0

CONCLUSION. 599
Ladies' School at the same place,  21
The Lying-in Society   25
Princess Mizabeth's School at Old Windsor 5
Charity S Aiool at the same place  5
The Bible^Society  10
The Benevolent Society.  10
The Penny Club ; an institution for encou
raging economy and frugality in children
and servants  11 11 0

*.

d.

0

0

0

0

5

0

0

0

10

0

10

0

£ 5,299 2 0

Besides these stated payments, there were fre
quent public subscriptions, casual donations to a
considerable amount, money laid out in school-
books for children, and a large distribution of
clothing, coals, and provisions, among the poor
every winter. The consequence of all this was, that
so far from having a balance in her favour at the
year's end, Her Majesty generally found that she
had exceeded her income. Parsimonious persons are
commonly well acquainted with their pecuniary af
fairs, and are very attentive in keeping their accounts.
This, however, was not the case with the Queen ;
and it was always more necessary, on the part of
those who had the management of her concerns, to
caution her against profuse liberality, than to en
courage an increase pf benevolence. While the
King retained his faculties, Her Majesty was ena
bled to exercise her charitable disposition more

600 CONCLUSION.
widely, and without much embarrassment, because
she never failed to meet with a supply for * that
purpose, whenever she stood in need of it; but
after his illness this source was dried up ; and in
addition to ber own pension-list, she had also the
private one of His Majesty to discharge out of her
pocket, unless she chose to abandon the objects
who had so long subsisted on the royal bounty.
This the feeling heart of the Queen could not en
dure, and of course for the last seven years her
expenditure was so very heavy, that it is not to be
wondered she should be incumbered with debts,
instead of leaving, what a censorious world anti
cipated, an accumulated hoard. It should also be
observed that the Queen incurred considerable ex
penses by the presents which she was in the habit
of making to friends and persons whom she wished
to oblige ; and as these gifts were always new pur
chases, Her Majesty's rule being never to part with
what she bought for herself, or had received in a
complimentary way from others, it accounts for the
extensive wardrobe and valuable jewels of which
she died possessed, and upon which so many invi
dious reflections have been made.
Such was the innate goodness of the Queen, that
she rather encouraged than repelled applications
for her favour and bounty. None were ever suffered
to pass unnoticed ; and the utmost solicitude was
always evinced to pay early attention to all repre-

CONCLUSION. 601
sentations, whatever might be the quarter from
whence they proceeded.
In like manner Her Majesty was always anxious
to express her sense of attentions shewn, or services
rendered to her, although the same were performed
byjpersons from whom she had a right to claim
them. The greatest kindness was uniformly manifested
to servants of all classes ; and whenever any of them,
through age or infirmities, were rendered incapable
of labour, they and their families were certain of
receiving an adequate support. To do good, and
diffuse comfort, constituted the chief pleasure of
Her Majesty, whose active mind continued on the
alert to the very last in devising measures of bene
volence. One of her first acts, after taking up her
residence at Kew, was to order a list of poor fami
lies in that neighbourhood to be made out, and
suitable clothing provided, according to the num
ber of persons in each. This was intended to be
given to them on her departure to Windsor ; but
Providence having ordained otherwise for her, the
royal bounty was bestowed upon the several objects
shortly after her decease.
Among the public institutions under the imme
diate patronage of Her Majesty, and which for
many years experienced her benefactions, were the
Magdalen Hospital, the Asylum for Female Or
phans, the Queen's Lying-in Hospital, the Royal

602 CONCLUSION.
Society for the Support of decayed Musicians and
their Families, the Westminster Hospital and In
firmary, the Ladies' Society for educating and
employing the Female Poor, and the Royal Infir
mary for Diseases of the Eyes.
The Queen was very fond of reading ; and her
libraries at Buckingham House, Windsor Castle,
and Frogmore, exhibited abundant testimonies of
her taste and judgment in the choice of books.
With the best authors in English, French, and
German, she was familiarly acquainted, and from
many of them she made copious extracts. The
Bible, however, was her chief favourite, and she
spared no expense in collecting works pf approved
value, which had for their object the elucidation of
the holy oracfes. From these publications she
made large transcripts; and her manuscript col
lections of this description, all in her own hand,
amount to several volumes.
Whatever tended to the diffusion pf religious
knowledge always met with liberal encouragement
from Her Majesty, who took great pleasure in the
company of such persons as applied their talents
to the confirmation of divine trnth, by defending
revelation, and clearing up its obscurities. Among
those who were thus honoured, the two venerable
sages, Bryant and De Luc, were most particularly
esteemed by the Queen, who often visited the
former at Cypenham ; and the latter, who enjoyed

CONCLUSION, 603
the situation of reader to Her Majesty above forty
years, addressed a series of letters to her on the
natural history of the Earth and of Man, which
were afterwards published in the French language.
Though Her Majesty did not, like Queen Caro>-
line, set up any pretensions to literature, she was
an admirer of female genius, and took a pleasure in
the company of ladies who had distinguished them
selves by their talents and writings.
One of these was the very ingenious Mrs. Delany,
the intimate friend of the Duchess-Dowager of
Portland, and celebrated for her extraordinary ac
complishments in embroidery, shell-work, painting,
and natural history. On the death of the duchess-
dowager, the King, who had frequently conversed
with Mrs. Delany, at Bulstrode, was graciously
pleased to assign her for a summer residence the
use of a house completely furnished in St. Alban
Street, Windsor, adjoining to the entrance of the
castle ; and, as a farther mark of the royal favour,
His Majesty conferred upon her a pension of three
hundred pounds a-year. The manner in which
this pension was paid added to the gracefulness of
the gift ; for to prevent the customary deductions,
the Queen herself, in the kindest, most conde
scending, and considerate manner, brought every
half year the bank-notes in her pocket.

604 CONCLUSION.
In the memoirs of the life of Mrs. Elizabeth
Carter, so well known for her erudition, is the fol
lowing anecdote :
" Mrs. Carter had the happiness of reckoning
among her most intimate and valued .friends, Lady
Charlotte Finch, and her two daughters, Mrs. Field
ing and Miss Finch, and Lady Cremorne. These
ladies, who saw the Queen frequently, and were
honoured by Her Majesty's particular regard, had
probably mentioned to her occasionally a friend to
whom they were so warmly attached ; and, indeed,
Mrs. Carter had had the honour pf seeing some of
the princesses in Lady Charlotte's apartments more
than once. Her Majesty was therefore pleased to
desire that Mrs. Carter should be introduced to
her by Lady Cremorne ; and in lfQl, she received
that distinguished honour at Lord Cremorne's house
at Chelsea. The Queen had the goodness to enter
into conversation with her, with such engaging
sweetness and condescension, as to put her very
soon at her ease. The conversation lasted for
about an hour, and turned, among other topics,
upon German literature. After that time, Her
Majesty was pleased often to enquire after
Mrs. Carter of Lady Charlotte Finch and Lady
Cremorne ; and several times did her the honour
of lending her German books, and of sending her
very flattering and obliging messages."

CONCLUSION. 605
The high opinion which Her Majesty enter
tained of Mrs. Trimmer and Mrs. Hannah More
has been already stated ; and in addition to those
ladies, it should be observed that Madame d'Arblay,
Charlotte Smith, Helen Maria Williams, and Miss
Cornelia Knight, were honoured with special marks
of the royal favour.
In her choice of friends, the Queen was particu
larly select ; but whenever she formed an attach
ment it became permanent, so that the circle of
her intimates at the last consisted almost of persons
nearly as old as herself. But, whatever might be
her private sentiments in regard to individuals, she
never manifested any thing in the shape of favou
ritism, by which prudent course she maintained
her own independence of mind, and avoided all
occasion of jealousy in others.
Though her late Majesty could never be called
a beautiful woman, she had an agreeableness of
person which made a strong impression upon those
who were admitted to her presence ; and this
pleasing appearance, with an uncommon liveliness
of the visual organs, continued even when the in
firmities of extreme senility, and the encroaching
ravages of an incurable disease, occasioned her to
stoop pretty much, and when, in the striking lan
guage of the royal moralist, she found " the grass
hopper to have become a burthen."

6o6 CONCLUSION.
The Queen was extremely conversable, and very
correct in her language, with little, if any thing, of
a foreign accent, though she retained to the last a
fondness for her native tongue ; nor could any
person please her better than by displaying an
acquaintance with German literature.
Whenever any thing very particular took her fan
cy, either in discourse or reading, she never failed to
make a memorandum of the occurrence, or to mark
the passage, for farther consideration and enquiry.
By this practice of taking notes of what she read,
her memory became stored with a great variety of
general knowledge ; and thus there were few sub*-
jeets, or even authors of any consequence, that had
eseaped her observation.
Till of late years, she amused herself very much
in drawing, for which she had a fine taste, as she
also had for music ; and Mary, the wife of William
of Orange, could not have been fonder of her
needle than the wife of George the Third.
She was, through life, exceedingly industrious;
and one of the principal complaints which she made
in her last illness was the want of employment.
As long as "health permitted, she had always some
design in hand ; and when her visitors frequently
wondered how she got through so much, the reply
was, that she never let a single hour pass unoccu
pied. But if ?he Queen had the carefulness of

CONCLUSION. 607
Martha, she did not suffer worldly things to engross
her thoughts, and to exclude the most important of
all considerations. She managed her affairs with
discretion ; every pursuit in which she engaged
had utility for its object. An habitual sense of
religion sanctified her conduct throughout life, and
she discharged its several duties with perfect ease
and uniform consistency. Her piety was neither
austere nor enthusiastic; but a mild and steady
principle, which governed her temper, enlivened her
conversation, and evinced its purity in all her
actions. Justly it is said by one who knew the
Queen most intimately, that no person could be a
more exact observer of any promise given, or en
gagement contracted ; none more cautious of be
traying a secret confided ; none more scrupulous in
the discrimination of property, or in claiming any
thing to which a clear right was not established ;
and none was more anxious to avoid calling upon
those about her for arty service, or act, which they
could not conscientiously perform.
To a Christian spirit like this, death could have
no terrors ; and hence it was, that though the pas
sage out of life Was dark and tempestuous, she
bore the conflict With fortitude, and passed her
dreary hours in prayer and meditation, the efficacy
of which appeared in the serenity that beamed upon
•her countenance as the mortal coil drew near its

608 CONCLUSION.
close ; and when the vital spark had fled, left an
impressive smile upon the features characteristic of
that joy into which the royal sufferer, like the
weather-beaten mariner, had at last entered.
After this extinction of a light which had shone
upon Britain nearly sixty years, with unvaried
brightness, an example of every practical virtue, it
might have been expected that the national feeling
would have marked a sense of the public loss by
something more than the external garb and formal
trappings of woe. The funeral of Her Majesty
did indeed excite public curiosity ; and in several
places of worship discourses were delivered suit
able to the occasion, some of which were afterwards
printed ; but even this token of respect was far from
being general ; and in one of the greatest parishes
within the precincts of the court there was neither
service nor sermon on that day.
Would, however, that this were the only instance
of disrespect and ingratitude of which the living
may justly complain, and at which posterity will
not fail to wonder.
All the world now knows that so far from
" making gold her hope, and fine gold her confi
dence," the late Queen impoverished herself in
" dealing out bread to the hungry, and clothing the
naked ; in supporting the poorv and the fatherless,
and in causing the widow's heart to sing for joy."

CONCLUSION. 609
By these good deeds, not casual ones, but con
stant and extensive, she has left a personal estate
encumbered with debts, for the discharge of which
painful sacrifices are making on the part of the re
presentatives of Her Majesty, certainly honourable
in the highest degree to themselves, but far other
wise as the case stands in regard to the nation.
That the personal effects of the Queen, and, above
all, the literary collections which constituted so
much of the pleasure of her life, should be scattered
abroad by a public sale, is discreditable in every
respect ; and particularly so when contrasted with
the enormous settlements that have been made by
parliament upon absolute strangers, for contingent
benefits that have been destroyed in the moment
of expectation, without leaving any thing behind
but painful remembrance and a heavy expenditure.
But this is a sickening reflection, from which we
turn, to close the memoir of departed excellence
with the consoling language of our great moral
poet :
When faith and love, which parted from thee never,
Had ripen'd thy just soul to dwell with God,
Meekly thou didst resign this earthly load
Of death, call'd life, which us from life doth sever.
Thy works and alms, and all thy good endeavour
Stay'd not behind, or,in the grave were trod;
But as Faith pointed with her golden rod,
Followed thee up to joy and bliss for ever.

610 CONCLUSION.
Love led them on, and Faith, who knew them best,
Thy handmaids clad them o'er with purple beams
And azure wings, that up they flew so drest,
And spake the truth of thee on glorious themes
Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid thee rest,
And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams.
Milton.

6n

APPENDIX.
PARTICULARS OF THE LYING-IN-STATE, AND THE
FUNERAL OBSEQUIES, OF HER LATE MAJESTY,

Tuesday, December -the first, being the day appointed
for admitting spectators to the ceremony of lying-in-state,
all who were favoured with tickets were desired to be at
Kew between ten and four o'clock. On entering the
funeral apartments, the reason of this limitation was im
mediately apparent ; for the house where the Queen
breathed her last is only an appendage to the palace, and
was used formerly as a royal nursery. Such a habitation,
therefore, however comfortable it might be, was ill calcu
lated for the pomp of state ; and a numerous train of do
mestics would only have incommoded the visitors. Yet,
the rank of the deceased required the observance of some
formalities ; and though the manager could not produce a
magnificent appearance, he judiciously contrived to give
to the scene a solemn effect.
The entrance was the front door of the palace, from the
vestibule of which the spectators immediately entered the
hall of state. This apartment was entirely clothed with
Roman draperies of black cloth, and round the sides were
placed a vast number of double wax lights in silver
sconces. The coffin wag placed on a raised platform, the head
under a canopied recess, and partially covered with a
superb black velvet pall lined with white satin, and with
three escutcheons on each side of it. Near the head was
placed the coronet, on a rich cushion of crimson velvet,
bordered with gold fringe, and having a large tassel of
gold at each corner. On the other side of the royal coffin
were three large silver candlesticks with wax lights, placed
on platforms. Under the canopy at the head were the
united arms, finely painted, on a lozenge-shaped hatch-
r r

6l2 APPENDIX.
ment of white satin. At the head of the coffin, imme
diately under the hatchment, sat the Countess-Dowager of
Harcourt, veiled with black crape, and supported by two
gentlemen ushers. On each side of the coffin sat two
ladies of the bedchamber, veiled also ; and around the
whole was a partition hung with black cloth, within
which were placed, at each corner, two yeomen of the
guard, in black cloth dresses, with the royal crown, and
the rose, thistle, and shamrock, embroidered in gold and
silver, on the breast and on the back, and having their
partizans entirely covered with crape. From the state
room the company passed on through another apartment,
fitted up in the same solemn manner, with black drapery
and silver sconces ; and thence through the passages to
the gardens at the back of the palace, and so out into the
carriage-road by the river.
Wednesday, the second, being the day appointed fb»
the consignment of the mortal remains of Her late Majesty
to their " kindred dust," the roads to Kew were at an
early hour crowded to excess with persons on foot, on
horseback, and in all sorts of vehicles, hastening to view
the melancholy procession. The public offices were all
shut up, and the shops in the metropolis were closed,
except those for the sale of the necessaries of life. At the
Exchange and the docks all business was suspended; and
all who could afford it were arrayed in decent mourning.
At Kew, the honorary guard, stationed at the palace
while the remains of Her late Majesty were lying-in-state,
turned out at about half-past seven o'clock. The officers
appeared v> ith crape scarfs and sashes : crape was also
placed round their caps, and round the hilts of their
swords. They remained on duty in the front of the palace
until the royal remains were removed. At eight o'clock,
a detachment from the 1 6th lancers made their appear
ance, slowly moving along the Windsor road, and ad
vancing towards Kew. They were stationed in two bodies
on Kew-Green. The road, in the vicinage of the palace,
was patrolled during the morning by small parties of the
same regiment. At half-past eight o'clock the hearse des
tined to convey the royal corpse to Windsor arrived at
the palace. It was accompanied by fifty undertakers'
assistants on horseback, in deep mourning, with silk scarfs,
hat-bands, &c. and escorted by a body of lancers. The

APPENDIX. 6l3
read, Kew-green, tbe path-ways, and every open space,
was crowded with spectators and carriages. At a quarter
after nine o'clock, an additional number of lancers- scoured
the roads, and prevented the approach of carriages, except
those belonging to persons who were to take a part in the
solemn ceremony. Soon after, the larger body of lancers,
who had been stationed on Kew-green, moved towards the
palace. A part of them formed on each side of the road,
obliging the spectators to fall back pretty close to the
Thames. The remainder of this body were subdivided
into two parties ; one to precede, and one to follow the
hearse. A t ten o'clock the procession was formed, and
the cavalcade set out at a slow and solemn pace. — The
i>rocession having crossed the bridge, slowly moved to the
eft, followed by an incalculable number of persons on
foot, and an immensity of carriages, by way of Brent
ford and Hounslow, towards Windsor. Her Majesty's
private carriages were filled with the ladies, noblemen, and
gentlemen, who occupied the principal situations in her
household. The procession did not reach Frogmore until seven
o'clock in the evening, when it was received by a captain's
guard of honour, with a standard, who mounted guard
early, in the day, and remained under arms- to receive His
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, who arrived at four
o'clock, accompanied by his equerries and Viscount Jo-
celyn. Shortly before- the arrival of the Prince flegent,
the Duke of York arrived at Frogmore, to dine with his
royal brother. A plain dinner was also provided, quite in
a private manner,- for the cabinet ministers, and some of
the principal personages engaged in the procession-. The
Duke of Sussex arrived- at Frogmore at six o'clock, after
having privately dined at Datchet.
At twenty minutes past seven o'clock in the evening, the
procession set out from Frogmore to St. George's chapel in
the following order :
Servants and Grooms of the Royal Family, Prince Regent,
His Majesty, and Her Majesty,
each bearing a flambeau.
Trumpets and kettle drums, mounted, and
the drums and fifes of the foot guards.
Knight-Marshal's Men on foot (with black staves.}^
a r 2

614 APPENDIX.
The coaches of the Royal Family, all led
by Servants in deep mourning.
One Coach drawn by six Greys;
another by six fine Black Horses ;
two drawn by six Greys,
and three by six Bay Horses.
These carriages belonged to His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, the Duke of Gloucester, and Prince Leo
pold, and contained some of the principal personages be
longing to the royal household.
Eighty Servants belonging to the junior branches of the
Royal Household on foot, two by two,
all in full mourning, with black staves ;
eight Earl Marshal's Men, in their red and gold uniforms,
with crape ;
and twenty-six Horsemen, in full mourning, preceded
The Hearse,
Drawn by eight of the late Queen's Horses,
driven by her Body Coachman.
One of the King's Carriages, drawn by a full set
of the King's Black Horses,
conveying the Chief Mourner and his two Supporters.
Twenty Yeomen of the Guard in mourning,
with partizans reversed, flanked the Hearse and Carriage.
One of the King's Carriages, drawn by six Horses,
conveying the Train Bearers of the Chief Mourner.
Carriages of the King, drawn by six Horses, conveying
their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York and Sussex.
An escort of Lancers flanked the Hearse
and the above attendant Carriages.
Carriages of the King, conveying the Train Bearers
of the Dukes of York and Sussex.
Carriages of the Queen which attended in
the procession from Kew.
Carriages of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.
Guard of Lancers which attended the Hearse
to Datchet Bridge.
Foot Guards, stationary, every sixth man bearing a
flambeau, lined the procession from Frogmore to St.
George's Chapel.
The whole state part of the procession consisted of
twenty-three carriages, the greater part of which were
drawn by six horses each. The yeomen of the guard* were
in full mourning, escorting each carriage.

APPENDIX. 6l j
At seven o'clock, the bell of the chapel began to toll,
as an intimation that the procession had moved from
Frogmore ; while the marshals and the persons belonging
to the Lord Chamberlain's Office began to call, over, and
to form those who were to precede the procession into the
choir. This was managed with great decorum, and so as
scarcely to disturb the general silence that reigned through
out the arcades of this noble building. The interval till
eight o'clock was thus occupied ; when the quick moving
of lights and general bustle discovered through the win
dows, announced the arrival of the funeral cavalcade.
When the procession had reached the south door of St.
George's Chapel, the servants and grooms, the trumpets
and drums, and the knight marshals' men, filed without
the door. The royal body was then removed by ten
yeomen of the guard from the hearsa, and placed upon a
car,* entirely covered with black velvet, which was then
drawn on by yeomfen of the guard, who worked at its
handles, but who were concealed from public view by a
large velvet pall, which was thrown over the coffin, and
hung down at the sides, so as to cover the men who drew
the car at each side. At this moment the notes of the
organ were heard, and the choir entered, each singer
bearing a lighted taper in his hand, and singing the well-
known anthem from Croft's burial-service. The strength
and completeness of this choral band, at least treble the
usual number allotted to the cathedral service, and the select
members of the principal choirs in and near the metro
polis, breaking in upon the silence which before prevailed,
produced an effect truly solemn and impressive. The
procession then entered by the south door of the chapel,
nearly in the following order :

* Constructed by Sir William Congreve. On all former occasions the
coffin was carried into the church on the shoulders of yeomen of the guard ;
but the w eight was often found insupportable; and after the interment of
the Princess Charlotte, it was said that one of the bearers had actually died
of the injury he sustained in the performance of this duty. To obviate not
only a recurrence of this injury, but even the unpleasant interruption which
the change of bearers to relieve each other necessarily occasions in the
church, during the*performance of the solemn ceremony, this car was co*.
trived, about five feet in height, and supported by three separate axle-
trees, which moved two small wheels each. The axles were constructed to
swing with facility, and make a short turn in a small circle, so as to make
its evolutions with ease on tbe platform.

6l6 APPENDIX.
Poor Knights of Windsor.
Pages of the Royal Family, Prince Regent,
King, and Queen.
H. F. Grobecker, Christopher Papendick, Wm. Duncan,
and Paul Robinson, Esqrs. Gentlemen Ushers.
Quarterly Waiters to the King and Queen.
Pages of honour to the King and Queen.
Apothecaries to Prince Surgeons to Prince
Regent, King, and Queen. ' Regent, King, and Queen.
Curates and Rectors of Kew and Windsor.
Grooms of the Privy Chamber to the King and Queen.
Gentlemen Ushers daily Waiters to the King.
Third Gentleman Usher Daily Waiter to the Queen.
Serjeant Surgeons to the King.
Physicians to theT*rince, King, -and Queen.
Sir Francis Milraan, Sir Henry Halford, and Dr. Baillie.
Clerks of the Closet to the Prince.
Household Chaplain (at Windsor) to the King.
Equerries to the Royal Family.
Military Secretary to the Commander-in-chief.
Equerries to the Prince Regent.
Clerk, Marshal, and First Equerry to the Prince.
Quarter-Master-General. Adjutant General.
Equerries to the King.
Clerk, Marshal, and First Equerry to the King.
Equerries to the Queen.
Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber
to the King and Queen.
Officers of the Duchy of Cornwall.
Chamberlain to the Great Steward of Scotland.
Grooms of the Bed Chamber to the King.
Master of the Robes to the King.
Pursuivants.
King's Solicitor-General and Attorney-General.
Queen's Solicitor-General and Attorney-General.
Comptroller and Treasurer of the King's Household.
Heralds.
Privy Purse and Private Secretary to the Prince.
Private Secretary and Treasurer to the King.
Lord Chief Baron. >
Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
Vice-Chancellor.
Master of the Rolls.

APPENDIX. 6l7
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
Lords of the Bed Chamber to the Queen.
Groom of the Stole to the King (Windsor Establishment.)
Vice-Chamberlain to the King (Windsor Establishment,)
on the right,
and Master of die Household to the King,
and Secretary to the Groom of the Stole
(Windsor Establishment), on the left.
Bishop of London, Bishop of Salisbury, Chancellor of
the Order of the Garter, on the right ; and Bishop of Exeter,
Clerk of the Closet to the King, on the left.
Heralds.
The Minister of State of Hanover.
The Deputy Earl Marshal.
His Majesty's Ministers.
The Archbishop of York.
The Lord Chancellor.
The Archbishop of Canterbury.
Norroy King of Arms.
Captain of Yeomen Captain of Gentlemen
of Guards. Pensioners.
Master of the Horse Groom of the Stole
to the Queen. to the King.
Master of the Horse to the Queen.
Lord Steward of the King's Household.
Master of the King's Household on the right,
and Secretary to Lord Steward on the left.
Choir of Windsor.
Prebendaries. Dean.
The Crown of the Queen borne on a black velvet Cushion,
by Clarenceux King of Arms.
Supported on the right by the First Gentleman Usher,
Daily Waiter to the Queen,
and on the left by the Second Gentleman Usher,
Daily Waiter to the Queen.
Secretary to the Lord Chamberlain.
Lord Chamberlain, King's Household.
Garter Principal King of Arms.
Gentleman Usher, of the Black Rod, on the right ;
And the First Gentleman Usher Daily Waiter to the King,
on the left.
The Lord Chamberlain to the Queen.

6*18 APPENDIX.
The Royal Body.
The Pall supported on the right by the Dukes ol New
castle, Montrose, and Beaufort ;
and on the left by the Dukes of Northumberland^ Dorset,
and St. Albans.
The Canopy supported on each side by five Gentlemen
of the Privy Chamber.
The Coffin was covered with a fine Holland Sheet
and a 'black Velvet Pall, adorned with ten Escutcheons,
drawn by ten Yeomen of the Guard,
under a Canopy of black Velvet.
The Royal Body was followed by the Prince Regent,
as Chief Mourner,
supported by the Marquisses of Buckingham and Win
chester ; and attended by the Marquisses of Bath,
Salisbury, Headfort, Cornwallis, and Camden,
as train-bearers;
next followed, as assistants to the Chief Mourner,
Earl Delawarr, Viscounts Lake and Bulkeley,
Lords Boston, Amherst, Arden, Greaves, Longford,
Beresford, Rivers, Grenville, St. Helen's, Henley, and Hill.
Princtes of the Blood Royal.
Train Bearers.
The Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen.
Mistress of the Robes.
Ladies of the Bedchamber.
Keeper of the Robes.
Women of the Bedchamber to the Queen.
Maids of Honour.
Women Attendants on the Qiieen.
Ten Gentlemen Pensioners with their Axes reversed.
Forty Yeomen of the Guard with their Partizans reversed.
As these severally entered the chapelj the van of the
procession moved forwards into the choir; the Windsor
knights, pages, ushers, and other officers, ranged them
selves around and on the steps of the altar. The members
of the royal family, and those noblemen on whomthe order
of the garter had been, conferred, stationed themselves in
their respective stalls; the great. dignitaries of the church,
of whom were present the Archbishops of York and Can
terbury, with the Bishops of London and Salisbury, occu
pied their respective places within the choir. The royal

APPENDIX. 6l9
body, having been carried to the steps of the altar, was
placed on the platform prepared to receive it : the pall was
removed, and the crown and cushion placed on the coffin.
The Prince Regent, as chief mourner, being seated in a
chair at the head of the corpse, surrounded by his sup
porters and train-bearers, standing, the funeral-service
commenced in the usual manner, as performed in cathe
drals, and at the demise of great and illustrious persons.
The first psalm having been chaunted by the choir, in the
same finished manner as the anthem with which the cere
mony commenced, the service was read by the Honourable
D». Hobart, Dean of Windsor, in that unaffected and
impressive manner which is required by this sublime
portion of our rubric. At the end of the first part, the
celebrated anthem by Kent, " Hear my Prayer," was in
troduced, and executed in a very finished manner. The
body of Her Majesty was then let down into the vault
prepared for it, and the solemnity was closed in the man
ner usual on these occasions, by the venerable Sir Isaac
Heard, who pronounced in a distinct voice, and standing
near the grave, the style and titles of Her late Majesty.
As the mourners and attendants on this striking ceremony
began slowly to separate, and to quit the chapel, the notes
of the organ again filled the edifice, and produced at once
the richest and most soothing effect. The numerous com
pany separated without the least disorder or inconve
nience; and in a few minutes after the obsequies of Her
late Majesty had closed, no vestige remained of the solemn
pageantry which had just passed before the eyes of the
spectators. The royal chief mourner was magnificently
attired in a large mourning cloak, decorated with a bril
liant embossed star. Above this appeared first the splen
did collar of the order of the garter, the collar of the Bath,
the collar of the golden fleece, and the collar of the royal
Hanoverian Guelphic order. His royal highness appeared
much dejected, and atone time sobbed aloud. The dis
tinguished personages who were present at this solemn
scene, deeply sympathized in this afflicting trial of filial
affection ; and the public demeanour throughout the
whole ceremony evinced a general esteem for the unos
tentatious benevolence, genuine virtues, and correct ex
ample which are now extinguished in the grave. During
the funeral service, the royal chief mourner alone was

620 APPENDIX.
seated. Lord Liverpool carried the sword of state before
his royal highness. The Prince withdrew from the sad
scene, accompanied by the Dukes of York and Sussex,
the Dukes of Montrose, Beaufort,! and Newcastle, at
twenty-five minutes before ten.
Two Persian princes were amongst the spectators in the
organ-loft. They were particularly remarked for the sor
rowful interest with which -they contemplated :the awful
scene, and also by the'richness and singularity of their cos
tume; Of His Majesty's ministers,, the following were present,:
Lords Liverpool and Sidmouth ; the Lord Privy Seal, the
Lord President, the Right Honourable C, Bathurst,
. G. Canning, and W. W. Pole.
The appearance of the metropolis was nearly similar to
that of. a Sunday. At several churches discourses were
delivered suitable to the occasion. The sessions at the
Old Bailey were opened pro forma, but out of respect to
the day, were immediately adjourned. The great bell, of
St. Paul's tolled at intervals up to the period of interment,
which was announced by the firing of the Tower and Park
guns. As far as we have learned, the day was observed
with equal respect in the country. The royal standard
was hoisted half-mast high, on board the men of war in
commission at the several put-ports ; and each ship fired
thirty minute guns. The same ceremonies were observed
aX all the garrisons throughout the united kingdom.

APPENDIX. 621

THE WILL OF HER MAJESTY.

This is the last Will and Testament of me, CHAR
LOTTE, Queen of the united kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland.
1 direct all my debts, the probate of my Will, and tes
tamentary legacies and annuities, to be paid out of my
personal property, or out of the value arising from the sale
of the personals, if there should not at the period of my
death be a sufficient sum in my treasury to provide for
such legacies and annuities.
My property consists of a real estate in New Windsor,
called the Lower Lodge, and of personals of various de
scriptions, those of chief value being the jewels in the care
and custody of ( ), or deposited ( ).
These jewels are classed as follows :
First. — Those which the King bought for fifty thousand
pounds, in the year , and gave to me.
Secondly. — Those presented to me by the Nabob of
Arcot. Thirdly. — Those purchased by myself at various periods,
or being presents made to me on birth-days and other
occasions. In the event of the King, my beloved husband, surviving
me, and if it shall please the Almighty to relieve him
from the dreadful malady with which he is at present
afflicted, I give and bequeath to him the jewels which His
Majesty purchased for the sum of fifty thousand pounds,
and gave to me as beforesaid ; but if the King should not
survive me, or if he should unfortunately not, previously
to his death, be restored to a sound state of mind, then,
and in that case only, I give and bequeath the said jewels
to the House of Hanover, to be settled upon it, and con
sidered as an heir loom, in the direct line of succession of
that house, as established by the laws and constitution of
the House of Hanover.
My eldest daughter, the Queen-Dowager of Wirtem
berg, having been so long established in Germany, and

622 APPENDIX.
being so amply provided for in all respects, I give and
bequeath the jewels received from the Nabob of Arcot to
my four remaining daughters, or to the survivors or sur
vivor, in case either or any of them should die before me ;
and I direct that these jewels shall be sold, and that the
produce, subject to the charge and exceptions provided
for in the first item of this my last Will and Testament,
shall be divided among them, my said four remaining
daughters, or the survivors, share and share alike.
, # give and bequeath my remaining jewels to my four
younger daughters aforesaid, or in the event of either or
any of them dying before me, to the survivors, to be
divided in equal shares between them, according to a valua
tion, to be made under the direction bf my executors, to
be hereafter named.
The house and garden at Frogmore, and the Shawe
estate, having been granted by act of parliament of 1807
to me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, for the
term of ninety-nine years, if I and my four daughters
residing in England, should so long live, I conceive that
these estates being so vested in me, I may dispose of them
by will, or by any other-deed in writing, and in any man
ner I may think proper.
I therefore give and bequeath ray right and property, jn
the lease and grant of the aforesaid estates of Frogmore
and Shawe, with the several buildings thereon, to my
eldest unmarried daughter, Augusta-Sophia ; but as the
expense of keeping it up may prove too considerable for
her means, it is my earnest desire and wish, and my will
and pleasure, that the possession of the said house and
buildings and estate should in that case revert to the crown ;
and that a due and sufficient compensation should be made
to my said daughter Augusta-Sophia, for the value of the
lease, and of the right and the property arising from the par
liamentary grant, and from this my disposal of this pro
perty. It is also my earnest desire and hope, that in the
valuation of such right and property, due attention may
be paid to the improved state of the house and grounds,
and of the estates, and to their value as now established.
In this expression of my wish and desire, as to the disposal
of the house and grounds at Frogmore, and of the Shawe
estate, 1 am anxious that it should be clearly understood,
that my object is that my daughter Augusta should receive

APPENDIX.. 623
in money the full value of thafproperty, estimated accord
ing to my lease of it, and the parliamentary grant, and
with a due consideration to the improvements made, whe
ther it shall please my beloved son, the Prince Regent, to
reserve the possession of the said house and grounds, and
estate, as an appendage to Windsor Castle, or to autho
rise any other disposal of them ; and provided also that
the arrangement by which the payment of the amount of
such valuation is secured to my said daughter Augusta-
Sophia, shall preclude any appropriation of the said hdfcse,
and grounds, and estate, which shall be directed or autho
rised, towards giving due and sufficient effect to this my
last Will, in respect to the same.
1 further give and bequeath the fixtures, the articles of
common household furniture, and the live and dead stock
within the said house at Frogmore, or on the said estate,
to my said daughter Augusta-Sophia.
I give and bequeath my real estate in New Windsor,
purchased of the late Duke of St. Albans, as specified in
the abstract of deeds annexed to this my last Will and
Testament, now commonly called the Lower Lodge, and
its appendages and appurtenances, to my youngest daugh
ter Sophia.
I give and bequeath my books, plate, house-linen,
china, pictures, drawings, prints, all articles of ornamental
furniture, and all other valuables and personals, to be
divided in equal shares, according to a distribution and
valuation to be made under the direction of my executors,
among my four younger daughters aforesaid, saving and
excepting such articles as shall be specified herein after,
or in a codicil to this my last Will and Testament, or in
a list annexed to it.
Having brought from Mecklenburg various property, as
specified in the list No. I, annexed to this my last Will
and Testament, it is my wish and desire, and my last will
and pleasure, that such property should revert to the
H6use of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz ; and I direct that it shall
be sent back to the senior branch of that House.
I give and bequeath, as specified in the list No. 2,
annexed to this my last Will and Testament, to be paid
out of the value of my personal property, within six months
after my death.
I nominate and appoint Charles-George Lord Arden

6'24 APPENDIX.
and M. Gen. Herbert Taylor, to be trustees for the pro
perty herein bequeathed to my daughters Elizabeth and
Mary, which property is hereby left to them independent
of any husbands they have, or may have, for their sole
benefit and use, and for which their receipts shall be a
full discharge to the said trustees.
I nominate and appoint Charles-George Lord Arden
and M. Gen. Herbert Taylor, to be executors to this my
Will; and I do hereby declare this to be my last Will and
Testament. In witness whereof, I, the said Charlotte, Queen of the
United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, have
to this, my last Will and Testament, set my Hand and
Seal this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.-
(Signed) CHARLOTTE R. (Seal.)
Signed, sealed, published, and declared, by
the said Charlotte, Queen of the United
Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland,
as and for her last Will and Testament,
in the presence of us, who, in her presence,
and at her desire, and in the presence of
each other, have hereunto subscribed our
names as witnesses hereof.
(Signed) H. TAYLOR,
FR. MILMAN,
HENRY HALFORD.

The blanks in the Will were occasioned by the want of
immediate recollection on the part of the testator, as to
the hands or places where the property mentioned was de
posited. Thus also it happens, that no such lists as those
stated by Her Majesty could afterwards be found after a
most diligent search, on which account the executors
found themselves necessitated to make a joint affidavit to
that effect in the Commons, as follows :

APPENDIX. 625
Appeared personally the Right Honorable Charles-
George Lord Arden, and Herbert Taylor, of Windsor,
in the county of Berks, Esquire, and being duly sworn to
depose the truth, made oath that they are the executors
named in the last Will and Testament of Her Most Ex
cellent Majesty Charlotte, Queen of the United Kingdoms
of Great Britain and Ireland, deceased, bearing date the
16th day of November, 1818. And the appearer Herbert
Taylor for himself saith, that immediately after the exe
cution of the said Will by her said Most Excellent
Majesty, it was delivered to him for safe custody, and he
thereupon sealed up the same in the presence of her said
Majesty in an envelope from which it had been taken,
for the purpose of being executed as aforesaid ; and the
said Will remained so sealed up in his possession until
the death of Her said Majesty, which happened on Tuesday
the 17th day of November, 181S. And both the appearers
for themselves say that on the following day, to wit, the
18th day of the said month of November, the said Will
was opened and read by them. And they then observed
the following clause in the seventh page of the said Will,
viz. " Having brought from Mecklenburg various property,
" as specified in the list No. 1, annexed to this my last
" Will and Testament, it is my wish and desire, and my
" last will and pleasure, that such property shall revert to
" the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz ; and 1 direct that
"it shall be sent back to the senior branch of that
" House. — I give and bequeath, as specified in the list
" No. 2, annexed to this my last Will and Testament, to
" be paid out of the value of my personal property within
" six months after my death."
And they further made oath, that no list of property as
stated to be annexed to the said Will under the mark
No. 1, or any list of request also stated to be annexed
under the mark No. 2, were found annexed to the said
Will, or contained in the envelope in which the said
Will was inclosed as aforesaid.
And the appearers further make oath and say, that they
have carefully looked over and inspected the papers left
by Her said Most Excellent Majesty, and that no such
lists as those referred to in the said clauses have been dis
covered or found by them, or either of them, and they do
verily and in their consciences believe that no such lists

626 APPENDIX.
were ever prepared by Her said Majesty, and that she
died without preparing the same, though it is within the
knowledge of the appearer Herbert Taylor, that Her said
Majesty had signified her intention to prepare the lists as
referred to in the said clauses under the marks No. 1 and
No. 2, and to have annexed them to the said Will, so as
to have formed part thereof. (Signed) ARDEN,
H. TAYLOR
The eighth day of January, 1819, the said
Right Honourable Charles-George Lord
Arden, and Herbert Taylor, Esq. were
duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit.
Before me, (Signed) S. B. BURNABY, Surrogate.
Present— ILTED NICHOLL, Not. Pub.
 *.
It should be here observed that the value of the personal
property sworn to in the probate was under one hundred
and forty thousand pounds ; that in consequence of the
verbal expression of the Queen's intentions, a very fine set
of garnets and brilliants has been considered as a legacy
to her eldest daughter, the Queen Dowager of Wirtem
berg, and sent to their sister by the princesses here ; and
that the whole of the wardrobe made and unmade has
been given by their royal highnesses to Her Majesty's
attached and faithful attendant Mrs. Beckendorff.

ERRATA.
Page 29, 1. ult- for "siifeenth," read "nineteenth."
65, 1. 1, in some copies, for " period," read "fallacious."
169, Miss Chudleigh was maid of honour to the Princess-Dowager of
Wales, and not to the Queen.
183, 1. 19, for " Lutheroan," read " Lutheran."
257, 1.22, for "suppers," read "supper-money."
THE END.

B. Clarke, Printer, Well Street, London.

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