To Do me the justice to believe that I shall never cease to pray for your happiness, and to be

Your much devoted

(Signed)

CAROLINE."

May 6, 1796.

The princess of Wales's letter was written in the French language, of which the above is a correct translation. From the communication of her royal consort, it is evident that dissimilarity of dispositions was the only complaint; and we cannot but admire the prudence of the discarded princess, in not accepting of a verbal message on such a delicate point. From her royal highness's spirited, but submissive reply, it appears that all the bliss and harmony attending this royal marriage was confined but to three months at the most. We have before intimated that the princess was surrounded with female spies, whose chief delight was to render every mote a beam, and poison the ears of their employers.

His majesty was deeply concerned for the situation of his daughter-in-law, who was also his niece; and knowing well from experience, the feelings of a parent, he prevailed upon the prince of Wales to allow the royal child to remain under the care and superintendence of an affectionate mother during the first eight years of her life. It is therefore no wonder that the princess Charlotte became attached

to her mother, and acquired the same amiable disposition. The royal infant, however, was not solely under the protection of the princess of Wales, who, from motives of policy, only saw her occasionally, when she was five or six years old. Previously the princess was frequently seen in the carriage with her royal mother, who took great delight in showing her to the populace. They continually passed the turnpike gate at Lambeth Marsh.

Thus banished from Carlton house, her royal highness submitted to an humble retirement at Charlton. Shrewsbury-house, near Shooter's Hill, was the appointed residence of the princess Charlotte. For the first two or three years her only consolation was the royal infant, for she was particularly fond of children; and when deprived of her own, she took great delight in the company of others, an attachment which proved unfortunate for her royal highness, as will be hereafter seen.

Her royal highness, on leaving Carlton-house, was given to understand that her apartments therein should undergo a thorough repair, and be reserved for her. She was accompanied by Miss Garth, Miss Vernon, Mrs. Harcourt, and other ladies, and particularly by Mrs. Sander, a native of Brunswick, who came to England with her royal highness, for the purpose of being her dresser. Such was the happy disposition of this illustrious personage, that she could be as cheerful in the

country as in town; and being from her infancy accustomed to society, she received the visits of her friends with as much ease and good will, as if capable of receiving and entertaining them according to her high rank. Miss Garth was appointed subgoverness to the princess Charlotte.

CHAPTER VI.

Removes to Blackheath.-Becomes acquainted with Sir John and Lady Douglas.-Compe's description of her royal highness's rural and domestic economy-Of her royal highness's attention to education.-Filial affection of the young princess.-Ingenuity of her royal highness.

IN 1801 her royal highness made Montaguehouse, in Blackheath, her residence, where she became acquainted with Sir John and Lady Douglas, and was occasionally visited, during the temporary peace of 1802-3, by both foreign and English gentlemen; in the summer seasons she visited Margate, South and East Cliff, Ramsgate, &c. &c. Her English visitors were chiefly lord Hood, lord Amelius Beauclerc, sir Sidney Smith, captain Manby, &c. and her chief foreign visitor was Mr. Compé.

The following extract is from "Travels in England, in the year 1803, by Joachim Henry Compé." Speaking of the prosperity of the richness of the soil of England, this author observes, "What principally contributes to the promotion of agriculture in England, is the general and well founded esteem in which that most beneficial of all human occupations is held in that country. The first peer of

the realm, the nobility of every rank, even the king himself," meaning his late majesty George the Third, "do not consider it beneath their dignity to become attentive and industrious farmers. Ladies of the highest rank engage in the avocations of rural and domestic economy, by which they acquire the respect both of their own countrymen, and of enlightened foreigners. When I was at the princess of Wales's residence at Blackheath, she had the condescension to conduct me to a garden at some distance, which she had principally laid out herself, and which she superintended in such a complete sense of the word, that no person presumed to do any thing in it but what she herself directed. I admired the beautiful order, and the careful cultivation of even the most insignificant spot; the judicious combination of the useful with the agreeable, which appeared so delightful, whereever I cast my eyes. I was charmed with the neat borders of flowers, between which we passed, and was doubly rejoiced to find them so small; because, as the princess remarked, too much room ought not to be taken from the useful vegetables, merely for the purpose of pleasing the eye. I was transported with the elegance, taste, and convenience displayed in the pavillion, in which the dignified owner, who furnished the plan, and the direc tions for every part of it, had solved the problem, how a building of but two floors, on a surface of