or sang aloud,—and this she could do almost en artiste; or she took share in a homely game at cribbage, and closed the innocently spent day with a dance. "And so to bed," as Mr. Pepys would say,-without supper.

The routine was something changed when her Majesty's brother, Prince Charles of Strelitz, became a visitor at the English court in February, 1762. He was a prince short of stature, but well-made, had fine eyes and teeth, and a very persuasive way with him. So persuasive indeed, that he at one time contrived to express from the King 30,000l. out of the civil list revenue, to pay the debts the Prince had contracted with German creditors.

In the mean time, matters of costume, as connected with court etiquette, were not considered beneath her Majesty's notice. Her birth-day was kept on the 18th of January, to make it as distinct as possible from the King's kept in June, and to encourage both winter and summer fashions. For the latter anniversary a dress was instituted of "stiff-bodied gowns and bare shoulders;" and invented, it was said, "to thin the drawing-room." "It will be warmer, I hope," says Walpole, in March, "by the King's birth-day, or the old ladies will catch their deaths. What dreadful discoveries will be made both on fat and lean! I recommend to you the idea of Mrs. Cavendish, when half stark!" The Queen's drawing-rooms however were generally crowded by the ladies, and no wonder, when seventeen English and Scotch, unmarried, dukes might be counted at them. The especial birth-day drawing-room on the anniversary of the King's natal day was, however, ill attended, less on the King's account than on that of his minister, Lord Bute. Meanwhile, court was made to the Queen by civilities shown to a second brother who had come over to visit her, allured by affection, and the success which had attended the elder brother. Lady Northumberland's fête to this wandering Prince was a "pompous festine;" "not only the whole house, but the garden was illuminated, and was quite a fairy scene. Arches and pyramids of lights alternately surrounded the enclsoure; a diamond necklace of lamps edged

the rails and descent, with a spiral obelisk of candles on each hand; and dispersed over the lawn with little bands of kettledrums, clarinets, fifes, &c., and the lovely moon who came without a card." She knew how to perform a graceful action gracefully, as well as any Queen who ever shared the throne. Thus, Lady Bolingbroke having been trusted by the Duchess of Bedford with a superb enamelled watch to exhibit to her Majesty, the latter desired her to put it on, that she might the better judge of its ornamental effect. She was obeyed, and thereupon she made a present of it to the happy lady, remarking, that the watch looked so well upon her "it ought to remain by Lady Bolingbroke's side."

But the great event of the year was the birth of the heirapparent. It occurred at St. James's Palace, on the 12th of August. In previous reigns, such events generally took place in the presence of many witnesses, but on the present occasion the Archbishop of Canterbury alone was present in that capacity.

The royal christening will be, however, of more interest than details of the birth of the Prince. The ceremony was performed in the grand council chamber, the Archbishop of Canterbury, "the Right Rev. midwife, Thomas Secker," as Walpole calls him, officiating. Walpole, describing the scene, on the day after, says:-" Our next Monarch was christened last night, George Augustus Frederick. The Princess (Dowager of Wales), the Duke of Cumberland, and the Duke of Mecklenburgh, sponsors. The Queen's bed, magnificent, and they say, in taste, was placed in the drawing-room; though she is not to see company in form, yet it looks as if they had intended people should have been there, as all who presented themselves were admitted, which were very few, for it had not been notified; I suppose to prevent too great a crowd. All I have heard named, besides those in waiting, were the Duchess of Queensberry, Lady Dalkeith, Mrs. Grenville, and about four other ladies."

It was precisely at the period of the christening of this royal babe, that the marriage of her who was to be the mother of his future wife, was first publicly spoken of. In September,

VOL. II.

E

Walpole expresses a hope to his friend Conway, that the hereditary Prince of Brunswick is "recovering of the wound in his loins, for they say he is to marry the Princess Augusta." Walpole, however, would have nothing to do with the new Prince of Wales. "With him," he says, "I am positive never to occupy myself. I kissed the hand of his great, great, grandfather; would it not be preposterous to tap a volume of future history, of which I can never see but the first pages ?"

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 bankMarriage 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 Cumberland.

THE life of Charlotte was of so essentially a domestic character as to afford but few materials for the historian. For the less dignified sketch of scenes and personal traits, the salient points in the Queen's career furnish more incidents. With these, I have more to do, as being rather a story-teller than a historian, dealing more with anecdotes of persons than with parties and politics; and affording, I humbly hope, not much less amusement to my readers than if I had been twice as ambitious,and, therewith, perhaps, infinitely more tedious.

In 1761, not a more gorgeously attired queen, in presence of the public, was to be found than ours. But we learn that in 1762, the first thing of which the Queen got positively weary was her jewels. At first seeing herself endowed with them, if such a phrase be admissible, her joy was girlish, natural, and unfeigned. But the gladness was soon over. It was the ecstasy of a week, as she herself said, a quarter of a century later; and there was indifference at the end of a fortnight. "I thought at first," she said, "I should always choose to wear them; but the fatigue and trouble of putting them on, and the care they required, and the fear of losing them; why, believe me, madam, in a fortnight's time, I longed for my own earlier dress, and wished never to see them more."

This was said to Miss Burney, subsequently her dresser and reader, who adds that the Queen informed her, that dress and shows had never been things she cared for, even in the bloom of her youth; and that neatness and comfort alone gave her pleasure in herself as in others. If this good taste had been, and indeed if it were now, common in the middle classes of society, how much fewer names would be in the Gazette, and how much fewer claims would be made on the prudent portions of families by the extravagant, who so coolly apply to them! To return to the Queen, however, she herself confessed that "the first week or fortnight of being a Queen, when only in her seventeenth year, she thought splendour sufficiently becoming her station to believe she should choose thenceforth constantly to support it. But it was not her mind," says Miss Burney, "but only her eyes that were dazzled, and therefore her delusion speedily vanished, and her understanding was too strong to give it any chance of returning."

This is pretty, but it has the disadvantage of not being exactly true. The Queen may have been indifferent for a while to the wearing or the value of diamonds, but later in life, if she did nurse a cherished passion, it was for these glittering gewgaws. The popular voice, at least, accused her of this passion, and before many years elapsed, it was commonly said that no money was so sure to buy her favour as a present of diamonds. That she could, however, condescend to very simple tasks, is well known. This is illustrated by her visit to Mrs. Garrick, at Hampton. The Queen found the ex-actress engaged in peeling onions, and Charlotte sat down, and by helping her in her employment, saved her from the annoyance of being ashamed of it.

In 1763, the country hailed the advent of peace, and the retirement of Lord Bute from office. The Queen's popularity was greater than that of the King, and even men of extremely liberal politics greeted her "mild and tender virtues." She now encouraged trade by her splendid fêtes, and was one of those persons who, by enjoying festive grandeurs calmly, acquire a reputation for calmly despising them. In August, 1763, she