CONTENTS.

CHARLOTTE SOPHIA,

WIFE OF GEORGE III.

CHAPTER I.

THE COMING OF THE BRIDE.

Lady Sarah Lennox, the object of George the Third's early affections-The

fair Quaker-Matrimonial commission of Colonel Græme-Princess

Charlotte of Mecklenburgh-Her spirited letter to the King of Prussia

--Demanded in marriage by George the Third-Arrival in England

-Her progress to London-Colchester and its candied eringo-root

-Entertained by Lord Abercorn-Arrival in London, and reception

-Claim of the Irish peeresses advocated by Lord Charlemont-The

royal marriage-The first drawing-room-A comic anecdote The

King and Queen at the Chapel Royal-At the theatre; accidents on

the occasion-The coronation-Incidents and anecdotes connected

with it-The young Pretender said to have been present-The coro-

nation produced at the theatre

CHAPTER II.

COURT AND CITY.

The levée-The King goes to parliament-The first night of the opera

-Garrick grievously offended-The King and Queen present on the

Lord Mayor's day-Entertained by Robert Barclay the Quaker-

Banquet at Guildhall to the King and Queen-Popular enthusiasm

for Mr. Pitt-Buckingham House purchased by the King for Queen

Charlotte-Defoe's account of it-The Duke of Buckingham's descrip-

tion of it-West and his pictures-The house demolished by George

the Fourth-First illness of the King-Domestic life of the King

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and Queen-Royal carriage-Selwyn's joke on the royal frugality—

Prince Charles of Strelitz-Costume-Graceful action of the Queen

-Birth of Prince George

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CHAPTER III.

ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS.

Scenes, and personal sketches of Queen Charlotte-Her fondness for

diamonds-Visit to Mrs. Garrick-Orphan establishment at Bedford

founded by the Queen-Her benevolence on the breaking of the

Windsor bank-Marriage of Princess Caroline Matilda-Unfounded

rumours about the Queen-Hannah Lightfoot-The King's illness

-A regency recommended by the King-Discussions relative to it

-Birth of Prince Frederick-Failing health of the Duke of Cum-

berland.

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CHAPTER IV.

BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

Death of the Duke of Cumberland-His military career-The soubriquet

of the Butcher given him-Anecdotes of him-Marriage of Caroline

Matilda-Her married life unhappy-Dr. Struensee-Mésalliances of

the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland-The Duke of Cumberland

and Lady Grosvenor-The Royal Marriage Act-Olivia Serres-Lord

Clive's present of diamonds to the Queen-Disgusting correspondence

of the Duchess of Orleans and Queen Caroline-The Prince of Wales's

juvenile drawing-room-Simple life of the royal family at Kew-

Prince Frederick and his cottage beauty-Paton and his naval pictures

-Royal births-The custom of cake and caudle observed-Petty

larcenists-Sarah Wilson and her subsequent life-Death of Princess

Mary; and of Princess Augusta, the King's mother-The Earl of

Bute-Neglected education of George the Third-Petronilla, Countess

Delitz-The Countess of Chesterfield, her conversion by Whitfield

-Efforts of Lady Huntingdon to convert the gay Earl of Ches-

terfield Mr. Fitzroy-George the Third at Portsmouth-Jacob

Bryant's "golden rule" - Witty remark of Queen Charlotte-

Attendant bards on royalty; Mark Smeaton, Thomas Abel, David

Rizzio The Princes under the guardianship of Lady Charlotte

Finch-The Queen's benevolence-Satirists

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CHAPTER V.

PERILS, PROGRESS, AND PASTIMES.

The American war-Dr. Dodd-The Duchess of Queensberry and the

'Beggars' Opera "-Royal progresses-Royal visit to Bulstrode-

Mrs. Delany and Queen Charlotte-Birth of Prince Octavius—

Strange the engraver-The riots of London-Lady Sarah Lennox

-The Prince and his Sire-The Prince's Preceptors-Errors com-

mitted in the education of the Princes-The Prince's favourite,

Perdita Robinson-Marie Antoinette's present to her-Separate

establishment granted to the Prince- Lord North's facetious

remark-Parliamentary provision for the Prince-The Prince's pre-

sence in the House of Commons not acceptable-His pursuit of

pleasure-The Duke of Clarence described by Walpole-The Prince

of Wales overwhelmed with debts-Dissension in the Royal Family

-Marriage proposed to him to extricate him from his debts-The

Prince's connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert-The Prince's marriage

disclaimed by Mr. Fox-The Prince's behaviour to Mrs. Fitzherbert

-The Prince acknowledges his marriage to the Queen

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CHAPTER VI.

COURT FORMS AND COURT FREEDOMS.

Loss of the American colonies-Political struggle-The King's health

unsatisfactory-Life of the royal family at Windsor-Mrs. Delany

-The Queen and the widow-Early service in the Chapel Royal at

Windsor-Rev. Tom Twining and Miss Burney -Miss Burney's

reception by the Queen-Promenade of the royal family on the

terrace-The Queen's "dressing"-The Queen's partiality for snuff

-Country life of the royal family at Kew-Princess Amelia; the

King's great affection for her-Scene on the birthday of the Princess

-Margaret Nicholson's attempt to assassinate the King-The Queen's

dread-Her fondness for diamonds-Mrs. Warren Hastings-The

present from the Nizam of the Deccan-Unpopularity of the King

and Queen-Their affection for each other-The Queen's tenderness

to Mrs. Delany-Reconciliation of the King and the Prince-A

pleasant scene-Another court incident

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CHAPTER VII.

SHADOWS IN THE SUNSHINE.

The Princess Amelia-Her connection with the Duke of Grafton-Beau

Nash and the Princess-Her despotism as ranger of Richmond Park

-Checked by Mr. Bird-A scene at her loo-table-Her fondness for

stables-Inordinate love of snuff-Her eccentric costume-Her death

-Conduct of the Princess-The King's illness-Graphic picture of

the state of affairs-Lord Thurlow's treachery-Heartlessness of the

Prince-Deplorable condition of the Queen-The King delirious—

Particulars of his illness-Dr. Warren-Melancholy scene-The King

wheedled away to Kew-Placed under Dr. Willis-The Prince and

Lord Lothian eaves-droppers—The King's recovery-The King unex-

pectedly encounters Miss Burney.

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Inconsistency of the Whigs-The Tories become radical reformers-Party

spirit A restricted Regency scorned by the Prince-Compelled to

accept it-The King's rapid recovery-Incredulity of the Princes in

regard to the King's recovery-A family scene at Kew-Ball at

White's Club on the King's recovery, and unbecoming conduct of

the Princes-Thanksgiving at St. Paul's-Indecent conduct of the

Princes—Grief of the King-Expectations of the Prince disappointed

-Caricatures and satires

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CHAPTER IX.

ROYALTY UNDER VARIOUS PHASES.

Bishop Watson, a partisan of the Prince-The bishop's reception by

the Queen-The Prince's patronage of the bishop-Bishop Watson's

views on the Regency-Laid on the shelf-The Prince and the

bishop's "Apology"-Ball given on the King's recovery by Brookes's

Club; Mrs. Siddons, as Britannia-The Queen's drawing-room on

the occasion-Mrs. Siddons's readings at Buckingham-house-Gay

life of the Duke of York-Popularity of the Duke of Clarence-His

boundless hospitality at the Admiralty-Duel between the Duke of

York and Colonel Lennox-Littleness of spirit of the Princes-

Royal visit to Lulworth Castle-Assault on the King-Caricatures

of the day-Marriage of the Duke of York-Ceremonious royal visit

to the young couple-Caricatures of the Duchess of York-Unhappy

in her marriage-The Duchess and Monk Lewis-Alleged avarice of

the King and Queen-Dr. Johnson's opinion of the King-Etiquette

at Court The sailor Prince "too far gone" for a minuet-The

Royal family at Cheltenham-The mayor and the master of the

ceremonies-Questionable taste of the Queen in regard to the drama

-Moral degradation of England during the reign of the first two

Georges-Mrs. Hannah More's ideas on morality; and Rev. Sidney

Smith's witty remark on it-A delicate hint by the Queen to Lady

Charlotte Campbell-The Prince's pecuniary difficulties-The Prince

and affairs of the heart-Mésalliance of the Duke of Sussex

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CHAPTER X.

LENGTHENING SHADOWS.

The Prince of Wales's marriage to the Princess Caroline of Brunswick

-Her character-The Prince's behaviour at the marriage ceremony

-Lord Holland's two accounts of the Princess irreconcileable-The

Prince's hatred of the Princess-Propriety of the Queen's Court—

Unpopularity of the King-Pelted by the mob-Birth of the Princess

Charlotte Strict observance of Court etiquette-Marriage of the

Princess Royal to the Prince of Wurtemburg-First book stereo-

typed in England-The volunteer mania-Attempted assassination

of the King-Archbishop Cornwallis's drums and Lady Huntingdon's

efforts to induce him to discontinue-Her hot reception by Mrs.

Cornwallis-Lady Huntingdon induces the King to aid her-The

King's letter to the archbishop-Conduct of the clergy-Incident

of the drawing-room-The Prince a Radical-The King's illness—

His excitement-Feeling exhibited by the Duke of York-The

Prince of Wales incredulous of the recovery of the King-Conver-

sation between the King and Dr. Willis-The Queen's anxiety-

Particulars of the King's illness-Recovery of the King-Home

scene at Windsor Castle

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