His majefty being this day prefent in council, was pleafed to make the following declarations, viz.

Having nothing fo much at heart as to procure the welfare and happinefs of my people, and to render the fame ftable and permanent to pofterity, I have, ever fince my ac celion to the throne, turned my thoughts towards the choice of a princefs for my confort; and I now, with great fatisfaction, acquaint you, that, after the fulleft information, and mature deliberation, I am coine to a refolution to demand in marriage the princefs Charlotte of Mecklenburg Strelitz; a princefs diflinguished by every eminent virtue, and amiable endowment, whofe illuftrious line has conftantly fhewn the firmeft zeal for the proteftant religion, and a particular attachment to my family. I have judged proper to communicate to you thefe my intentions, in order that you may be fully apprised of a matter fo highly important to me, and to my kingdoms, and which, I perfuade myself, will be moft acceptable to all my loving fubjects.

Whereupon all the privy counfellors prefent made it their request to his majesty that this his majesty's moft gracious declaration to them might be made public; which his majefty was pleafed to order accordingly.

W. SHARP E. The country of Mecklenburgh, which is about 120 miles in length, and 30 in breadth, is bounded on the north by the Baltick fea; by Bradenburgh, on the east by Lunenburgh and Brandenburgh, on the fouth; and by Holftein, on the weft. Its ancient inhabitants were the famous Vandals, who formerly made fo great a buftle in Europe,

and, at length, had their kingdom reduced to this dutchy, by the knights of the Tentonic order, the Poles, and the Brandenburghers. The Vandals were a rude, barbarous people, who had fettled in this country at least twelve hundred years before the birth of Chrift. They formed it into a powerful kingdom, and preferved its title and dignity till 1163; when its monarch, Pribislaus II. was compelled to embrace the Christian re ligion, by Henry Lyon, duke of Saxony and Bavaria, and one of our king's ancestors, affitted by the duke of Pomerania. At this time the title of king of the Vandals was extinguished, and that of the prince of Mecklenburgh substituted in its ftead; who became a vaffal to the duke of Bavaria. However, in 1349, the prince of Mecklenburgh, as he was called, was created a duke, and made a prince of the empire. The remnant of the Vandals united with the Mecklenburghers about the year 1429: after that time they were divided into three branches, viz. of Guftrow, Swerin, and Strolitz; but the extinction of that of Guftrow in 1688, occafioned a law fuit between the defcendants of the two other branches, about the fucceffion; which difpute continued till 1701, when a treaty of partition was made at Hamburgh, and ratified by the emperor in the following manner: that the dutchy of Guftrow fhould go to the duke of Swerin, and that the duke of Strelitz fhould have

the bishoprick of Ratzelburg fecularized, and 40000 crowns a year from the tolls of Boitzenbourg, and a voice in the diet of the empire.

The duke of Swerin's annual revenue amounts to 40,000l. and

that

that of the duke of Strelitz to 15,000l. befides his domain. The country is fruitful, but unhealthy, and exceffive cold in winter. It has often been the scene of war, particularly in the differences between Sweden and the empire, when its principal towns, viz, Roftock, (a fea port) Guftrow, Butzow, Wilmar, Swerin, Domitz, and Gaddebush, were feveral times taken by the Swedes, Danes, and Imperialifts, and fome battles fought near them. The country is able to raise a confiderable body of troops; but they never had a fufficient number to repel any invader. The titles of both dukes are the fame, viz. dukes of Mecklenburgh, princes of Wenden, Swerin and Ratzelburgh, lords of Rostock and Stargard; which laft was the name of the final branch of the Vandals. The established religion of the country is Lutheran. Imhoff, in his Notitia Princeps Germaniæ, gives a large account of the genealogy of this family, which he fays, is lineally defcended from the kings or leaders of the Vandals. Hubner, in his genealogy of the German princes, fays, this family, if not the most ancient in Europe, is certainly one of the most noble in Germany. The branch of Strelitz is the fecond branch of the house of Mecklenburgh; but its duke is one of the fecular princes of the empire, and takes his feat in the diet of Ratzlburgh. The late duke of Mecklenburgh Strolitz, Adolphus Frederick III. dying unmarried, was fucceeded by his nephew, (fon to his brother Charles Lewis, who is dead) Adolphus Frederick IV. born May 5, 1738, who is not yet married; but has the following brothers and fifters:

1. Chriftina Sophia Albertina, born Dec. 6. 1735.

2. Charles Lewis Frederick, now a lieuteuant-colonel in the Hanoverian foot-guards, born Dec. 10, 1741.

3. Erneft Gottlob Albert, born Aug. 27, 1742.

4. Sophia Charlotte, or Caroline, [our prefent most gracious queen] born May 16, 1744.

5. George Auguftus, born Aug. 3, 1748.

The mother of this illuftrious family, who died a little before the queen's marriage, was the princefs Albertine-Elizabeth, born Ang. 3, 1713, the daughter of Erneft Frederick,duke of Saxe-Hildbourghaufen.

What his majefty was pleafed to fay concerning the princefs Charlotte of Mecklenburgh, in his speech to the council, nay, his choice alone, being a fufficient character of her ferene highness, people were now obliged to look out for other topics of converfation; and those were principally the manner in which the king firft became acquainted with the extraordinary merit of her ferene highness, and her person.

In regard to the firft, a letter was immediately produced, which, it was faid her ferene highnefs had written to the king of Pruffia, on his entering the territories of her coufin the duke of Mecklenburgh Swerin, and which that monarch fent over to his late majesty, as a miracle of patriotifm and good fenfe in fo young a princefs. The letter is as follows.

"May it please yout Majefty, I am at a lofs whether I fhall congratulate or condole with you on your late victory; fince the fame fuccefs that has covered you with

laurels

laurels has overspread the country of Mecklenburgh with defolation, I know, fire, that it feems unbecoming my fex, in this age of vicious refinement, to feel for one's country, to lament the horrors of war, or with for the return of peace. I know you may think it more properly my province to ftudy the arts of pleafing, or to turn my thoughts to fubjects of a more domeftic nature; but however unbecoming it may be in me, I can't refift the defire of interceding for this unhappy people.

It was but a very few years ago, that this territory wore the moft pleafing appearance. The country was cultivated, the peafant looked chearful, and the towns abounded with riches and feftivity. What an alteration at prefent from fuch a charming fcene! I am not expert at defcription, nor can my fancy add any horrors to the picture; but fure even conquerors themfelves would weep at the hideous profpect now before me. The whole country, my dear country, lies one frightful waste, presenting only objects to excite terror, pity, and defpair. The bufinefs of the hufbandman and the thepherd are quite difcontinued; the hufbandman and the fhepherd are become foldiers them. felves, and help to ravage the foil they formerly occupied. The towns are inhabited only by old men, women, and children; perhaps here and there a warrior, by wounds or lofs of limbs, rendered unfit for service, left at his door; his little children hang round him, afk an hiflory of every wound, and grow themselves foldiers before they find ftrength for the field. But this were nothing, did we not feel the alternate infolence of either army as it

happens to advance or retreat. It is impoffible to exprefs the confufion', even thofe who call themselves our friends create. Even those from whom we might expect redress, opprefs us with new calamities. From your justice therefore it is that we hope relief; to you even children and women may complain, whofe humanity stoops to the meanest petition, and whose power is capable of repreffing the greatest injuftice.

I am, Sire, &c. I

As to the princess's perfon it is impoffible, as it would be impertinent to repeat all the descriptions given of it. However, we cannot but mention the mean and scandalous advantage taken on this occafion of the well natured credu lity of his majesty's fubjectsА print-feller was base enough to publifh, as the true portrait of the princefs, that of a celebrated Engs lifh beauty, whofe name he ftruck out of the plate to make room for that of her most ferene highness.

While the publick were thus employed in conning - over arbitrary defcriptions, and gazing on fpurious prints of the future confort of their beloved monarch, his majefty him-felf was giving the proper directions: for demanding and bringing over the princefs in a manner fuitable to his dignity, and his love for her ferene highnefs. Lord Har court was named to make the demand of her ferene highnefs; the dutcheffes of Ancafter and Hamil ton, and the countess of Effingham, to take care of her person, and lord Anfon to command a gallant fleet that was to convoy her over to the English fhore. The Carolina yacht was, with great ceremony, new named the Charlotte, in honour

of

P

her ferene highnefs, by the prin.. cipal lords of the admiralty and o. ther noblemen, as well as the barges which were to bring her moft ie rene highness down the Elbe, embellished with a profufion of carving and gilding, and manned with picked men, all richly and elegantly cloathed in a red uniform, at his majefty's private expence; and the chapel royal ordered to be newly furnished in the most splendid and fumptuous manner.

In the mean time the fleet appointed to bring over her most ferene highness put to fea on the 8th of August, and on the 14th lord. Harcourt and the other lords and ladies fent on this importantembafly arrived at Strelitz. The next morning at eleven, the earl of Harcourt performed the ceremony of afking in form her ferene highness in mar riage for the king his master. The moment the contract of marriage, was figned, the cannon fired. Her royal hignefs was afterwards complimented by the states of the country, and the deputies of the towns. She dined at a feparate table with the princefs of Schwartz-bourg, her grand aunt, and the princess Sophia, her fifter. Her royal highness was ferved by M. de Zefterfleth, grand marshal of the court, M. de Knefebeck, marfhal of the court, and the miffes Selteru and Rauchbar, ladies of the court. M. de Dewitz, pri vy counsellor of legation, did the honours of the table standing. His ferene highnefs the duke dined with the English minifter, and several ladies and gentlemen, at a large table in a faloon. Four tables of upwards of 160 covers were ferved in two other apartments. In the evening the gardens of the caftle were illuminated with above 40,000 VOL. IV.

lamps. Caftle-ftreet and the market were alfo illuminated. On the 16th there was a grand feftival and entertainment. In fhort, the fplendour of the court of MecklenburgStrelitz on this occafion was infinitely beyond the conception of thofe who attended the important occafion. Lord Harcourt was re ceived there with a grandeur eafier to be conceived than expreffed. His lordship never ftirred without a bo dy guard to attend him, which it is faid, confifted of remarkably tall men, who made a formidable and handfome appearance.

On the 17th, her highnefs, accompanied by the reigning duke her brother, fet out for Mirow, amidst the tears and prayers of all ranks of people, the poor in particular, whofe zealous patronefs fhe had always fhewn herself. The 18th fhe arrived at Perleberg, where he was complimented by the count de Gotter, in the name of his Pruffian majefty, who had or dered that no poft money fhould be taken for any of the horfes and carriages attending her highness; but when they got to the end of his territories, her moft ferene highnefs ordered a confiderable fum of money to be given to the Pruffian hunters who escorted her.

On the 19th, her moft ferene highnefs continued her journey by Leutzen for Ghorde, where the dined twice in public, and walked in the afternoon in the park. On the 22d, at feven o'clock in the evening, the arrived at Stade, under a general discharge of the cannon of the place, and amidst the acclamations of a vast number of people, both citizens and foreigners. The burgeffes of Stade were affembled under arms, and lined the

streets through which her moft ferene highness paffed. Some of the principal ladies of the town prefented her with verfes on her majesty's approaching nuptials on velvet cufhions. At nine o'clock the whole town was illuminated, and feveral triumphal arches were erected in the principal ftreets; on which were placed many fmall lamps and infcriptions analogous to the feat. The fame night their marks of public joy were reiterated. Next morning fhe fet out for Cuxhaven; and about ten, her moft ferene highness embarked on board the yacht, amidst the acclamations of the people, accompanied by the ducheffes of Ancafter and Hamilton, the earl of Harcourt and lord Anfon. She was faluted by the whole fquadron deftined to convoy her to England. They were ranged on each fide the yacht. The moment fhe entered her cabin, the faluted the officers of the different fhips, who had crowded the decks in order to have the pleafure of feeing her, and were all charmed with her affable and polite behaviour.

In the boat in which her majefty croffed a branch of the Elbe, was fixed a table, covered with all forts of fruit. When croffed, there being no houfe, huts were prepared for her attendants, and a grand tent for herself, where the dined. The dinner at this place was provided for three hundred people, by his majefty's cooks, who came from Hanover for that purpose.

At Buxtehude her moft ferene highness was addreffed by the fellowfhip of merchants adventurers of England, refiding at Hamburgh, and gave them a moft gracious anfwer.

On the 28th the fleet, having on

board her most ferene highness, put to fea, but as no difpatches were received from it from that time till its arrival at Harwich, the court was in fome concern left the tediousness of her voyage might affect her health; befides the day fixed for the coronation of his majesty, by a procla mation iffued from the fame council,in which his majesty had declared his intentions to demand her ferene highness in marriage, was drawing near, his majefty was defirous that the ceremony of the nuptials might precede that of the coronation, fo that fresh inftructions, it is faid, were difpatched to the admiral to fail at all events, and to land his charge at any of the ports of GreatBritain, where it could be done with fafety. At length, after three different. ftorms, and being often in fight of the English coaft, and often in danger of being driven on that of Norway, the fleet with her moft ferene highnefs on board arrived at Harwich, Sept. 6th. Her moft ferene highness, during her tedious paffage, continued in very good health and fpirits, often diverting herself with playing on the hapfichord, practifing English tunes, and endearing herself to thofe who were honoured with the care of her perfon.

As it was night when the fleet arrived at Harwich, her most serene highnefs flept on board, and continued there till three in the af ternoon the next day, during which time her rout had been fettled; and inftructions received as to the manner of her proceeding to St. James's. At her landing, fhe was received by the mayor and aldermen of Harwich, in their usual formalities. About five o'clock The came to Colchefter, and ftop

ed