INVENTION for DISENGAGING HORSES from CARRIAGES. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine. SIR, me I WISH much to be informed by any of your correspondents, if a patent has been taken out for an apparatus by which a carriage can be instantaneously disengaged from the horses at full speed. I have been told that some experiments have been made, but with what success I cannot learn. Perhaps some of your correspondents may be able to give some information respecting this invention, on what principle it acts, and whether any contrivance is made to keep the carriage on the road when it has a direction to run to one side at the time the horses are disengaged. I put this query in consequence of having lately seen in the country a very ingenious contrivance which seemed to combine every possible requisite. I am, &c. London, Nov. 17. J. E. PUNISHMENT for VOLUNTARY PERJURY. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine. SIR, I WISH to enquire, through the medium of your excellent Magazine, if there is a law in existence to punish persons who go voluntarily before a magistrate, and make oath to any particular circumstance, provided that oath can be falsified by counter oaths. The moral necessity of such a law, to me, appears evident, otherwise we appoint our magistrates to answer the purposes of any one who may wish to gull the public, either to prevent suspicion, or for sinister purposes. I am, &c. London, Nov. 14. W. E. CULTIVATION of MELONS. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine. SIR, ALLOW me to enquire of such of your correspondents as are in the habit of perusing extensive lists of publications, whether any of them can inform me, through your Magazine, of any modern tract on the inanagement of melons in frames. Your compliance will confera great obligation on Nov. 17, 1814. A CONSTANT READER. ORIGIN of "THREE CHILDREN SLIDING on the ICE." To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine. SIR, deceased friend, I was much astonished TURNING over the scrap book of a at finding in it the popular nursery tale, the ice, all on a summer's day," in ele"Three children sliding on beginning, gant Greek verse, I shall feel grateful to any of your readers who will inform me whether it was originally written in Greek or English, and who was the author, and who the translator. Yours, &c. London, Nov. 1814. LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHARLES FRAMP ΤΟΝ. LOGOS. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine: SIR, AS your entertainining and interesting miscellany is open for enquiries on general subjects, permit me, through its medium, to solicit information from any of your correspondents and readers who may be able to give it, respecting the latGen. Charles Frampton, of the foot ter part of the life and decease of Lieut.guards, who died in the year 1749, more particularly in regard to his family connexions and relations. I have underhut on this head, as well as the above, stood he died at Butley Abbey, Suffolk; I wish to obtain the most correct and certain information. I am, &c. Dec. 1814. INVESTIGATOR. MISCELLANEOUS QUERIES. To the Editor of the New Monthly Magazine, SIR, BEING a constant reader of your excellent magazine, you will much oblige me by inserting the following questions: 1. Has mankind a natural language? 2. Why does it never rain at Lima in Peru? 3. Why does a piece of bread take off the pungent smell of onions, mustard, &c.? CRITIQUER. ROYAL ANECDOTES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE PRIVATE HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN DURING THE PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED YEARS. NUMBER X. Variis locis dispersa, in unum fasciculum redegi. FAMILY ORDER. THE following article, drawn up in November, 1806, exhibits an exact picture of the economy of the royal family at Windsor, till the unhappy return of the king's malady disordered the system, and threw a gloom over that beautiful mansion, which for so many years had been the seat of harmony, and an object of affection and admiration to the whole kingdom. "Our sovereign's sight is so much improved since last spring, that he can now clearly distinguish objects at the extent of twenty yards: the king, in consequence of this favourable change, has discontinued the use of the large flapped hat, which he usually wore, and likewise the silk shade. "His majesty's mode of living is now not quite so abstemious. He now sleeps on the north side of the castle, next the terrace, in a roomy apartment, not carpetted, on the ground floor. The room is neatly furnished, partly in a modern style, under the tasteful direction of the Princess Elizabeth. The king's private dining-room, and the apartments, en suite, appropriated to his majesty's use, are all on the same side of the castle. "The queen and the princesses occupy the eastern wing. When the king rises, which is generally about half-past seven o'clock, he proceeds immediately to the queen's saloon, where his majesty is met by one of the princesses; generally either Augusta, Sophia, or Amelia; for each, in turn, attend their revered parent. From thence the sovereign and his daughter, attended by the lady-inwaiting, proceed to the chapel in the castle, wherein divine service is performed by the dean, or sub-dean: the ceremony occupies about an hour. Thus the time passes until nine o'clock; when the king, instead of proceeding to his own apartment, and breakfasting alone, now takes that meal with the queen and the five princesses. The table is always set out in the queen's noble breakfasting room, which has been recently decorated with very elegant modern hangings, and, since the late improvements by Mr, Wyatt, commands a most delightful and extensive prospect of the little park. The breakfast does not occupy half an hour. The king and queen sit at the head of the table, and the princesses according to seniority. Etiquette in every other respect is strictly adhered to. On entering the room the usual forms are observed, agreeably to rank. "After breakfast, the king generally rides out on horseback, attended by his equerries; three of the princesses, namely, Augusta, Sophia, and Amelia, are usu ally of the party. Instead of only walking his horse, his majesty now proceeds at a good round trot. When the weather is unfavourable, the, king retires to his favourite sitting-room, and sends for Generals Fitzroy or Manners to play at chess with him. His majesty, who knows the game well, is highly pleased when he beats the former, that gentleman be ing an excellent player. "The king dines regularly at two o'clock; the queen and princesses at four. His majesty visits, and takes a glass of wine and water with them, at five. After this period, public business is frequently transacted by the king in his own study, wherein he is attended by his private secretary, Col. Taylor. "The evening is, as usual, passed at cards, in the queen's drawing-room, where three tables are set out. To these parties many of the principal nobility, &c. residing in the neighbourhood, are invited. When the castle clock strikes ten, the visitors retire. The supper is set out, but that is merely a matter of form, and of which none of the family partake. These illustrious personages retire at eleven o'clock, to rest for the night. The journal of one day is the history of a whole year."--Nov. 15, 1806. DEDICATIONS. Two of the finest dedications are, that prefixed to Bishop Horsley's edition of Newton's works, to his majesty, in Latin, and that of Adams' on the Globes, to the king, in English. This last was written by Dr. Johnson, who received for it the present of a very handsome weather-glass, The relator of these ancs 1815.] Long Speeches-Barrow's Sermons, &c. dotes remembers a conversation which he had with the learned bishop abovementioned, who spoke in very high terms of his majesty's taste and judgment, particularly on the subjects of mathematics, mechanics, and natural philosophy. Several years after the first presentation of Dr. Horsley to the king, he had a closet audience, at which his majesty reminded him of his edition of Newton, and at the same time gently reproved him for not having published the life of that illustrious philosopher; of whom Johnson, who urged the doctor to write it in English, said, that if he had lived in ancient Greece, he would have been worshipped as a divinity." LONG SPEECHES. The king observed one day to a gentleman of high literary character, and of a distinguished political reputation, that oratory in this country was carried to a height far beyond its real use; and that the desire of excelling in this accomplishment, made many young men of genius neglect more solid branches of knowledge. "I am sure," said, his majesty, "that the rage for public speaking, and the extravagant length to which some of our most popular orators carry their harangues in parliament, is very detrimental to the national business, and I wish that it may not prove in the end injurious to the public peace." It is remarkable that the opinion of the king agrees exactly with that of Aristotle, who says, Maaλεσι μάλιςα δια των δημαγωγών ασελγειαν. "Nothing so effectually contributes to the ruin of popular governments as the petulance of their orators." (Polit. lib. v.) BARROW'S SERMONS. The sermons of that profoundly learned divine, of whom the witty Charles II. used to say that he was an inexhaustible preacher, constituted the favourite theo logical work of our excellent sovereign, who made it a rule to read a portion of them regularly in his family every Sunday evening. Sometimes his majesty would, with a pencil, mark the divisions of the sermons which he intended to read; and thus the entire collection, with a little variation, lasted the year round. The excellent Sir William Jones observes of Barrow, that " he would have been the sublimest mathematician, if his religious turn of mind had not made him the deepest theologian, of his age." RICHARD OWEN CAMBRIDGE. This worthy and ingenious writer, who is well known for his papers in the World and other collections, frequently had the NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 12. 529 honour of being admitted to the conversation of his majesty, who was much pleased with his lively and sagacious remarks on most subjects. Towards the close of this gentleman's life, the king met him one day riding gently down a declivity, on which he observed with his wonted good-nature, "Mr. Cambridge, you don't ride quite so fast as you used to do."-" No, please your majesty," replied he jocosely, "for now I'm going down the hill." THE CARD-MAKER. His majesty, in one of his rides near Richmond, observed a handsome house, which was either a new erection, or had been considerably altered; and being curious to know who was the owner, he made the necessary inquiries; to which he received for answer, that the mansion was the lately-purchased property of his card-maker. Indeed," said the king; "then I perceive that this man's cards have all turned up trumps." DUKE OF CLARENCE. Colonel Drinkwater, in his entertaining History of the Siege of Gibraltar, has the following anecdote. At an early period of the siege, when Prince William Henry, now Duke of Clarence, was there, and had made his first naval essay for its relief, the Spanish Admiral Don Juan de Langara visiting Admiral Digby, was introduced to his royal highness. During the conference between the admirals Prince William retired, and when it was intimated that Don Juan wished to return, his royal highness appeared in the character of a midshipman, respectfully informing the admiral that the boat was ready. The Spaniard, astonished to see the son of a monarch acting as a warrant officer, could not help exclaiming," Well does Great Britain merit the empire of the sea, when the humblest stations in her navy are filled by princes of the blood." THE BRITISH MUSEUM. en By the munificence of his present majesty the British Museum was riched, some years since, with a most valuable collection of 30,000 tracts relative to the history of England during the civil wars. The whole are bound in two thousand volumes, of which one hundred, chiefly on the royal side, were printed, but never published. This collection was intended for the use of Charles the First, and was carried about England as the parliament-army marched, kept in the collector's warehouses, disguised as tables covered with canvas, and at length lodged at Oxford, under VOL. II. 4 A 530 Duke of Montague-Lord Bruce-Bishop Hurd, &c. [Jan. 1, the care of Dr. Barlow, afterwards bishop of Lincoln. These tracts were offered to the library at Oxford, and were at last bought for Charles the Second by his stationer, Samuel Mearke, whose widow endeavoured to dispose of them by leave of the said king in 1684; but it is believed that they continued unsold till his present majesty bought them of Mearke's representatives. In a printed paper it is said that the collector had refused four thousand pounds for them. THE DUKE OF MONTAGUE, In Bishop Hurd's own narrative of the principal occurrences of his life, cominunicated by himself to Mr. Nichols, for the history of Leicestershire, is the following character of this amiable noble man: "May 28, 1790, the Duke of Montague died. He was a nobleman of singular worth and virtue; of an exemplary life, and of the best prineiples in church and state. As governor to the Prince of Wales and Prince Frederick he was very attentive to his charge, and executed that trust with great propriety and dignity. The preceptor, (i. e. Bishop Hurd) was honoured with his confidence; and there never was the least misunderstanding between them, or so much as a difference of opinion, as to the manner in which the education of the princes should be conducted." LORD BRUCE. The circumstances which led to the appointment of the Duke of Montague were remarkable. The Earl of Holderness having resigned the office of governor, Lord Bruce was chosen to succeed him, who, though he was a very good scholar for a nobleman, was far from being qualified to superintend the studies of the Prince of Wales. In a literary conversation between the governor and the prince some days after this new appointment, the student found occasion to correct the master. His lordship's deficiency in Greek was demonstrated by the prince, and it became the subject of merriment in the palace, that the pupil had puzzled the governor. Lord Bruce remained in office no longer than a month, and on being created Earl of Aylesbury was succeeded by the Duke of Montague, assisted by the shining talents of Hurd. him by their majesties and his royal pupil the Prince Regent. “In October, 1790,” says he, “I had the honour to receive from the king the present of two fine full length pictures of his majesty and the queen, copied from those at the queen's house, St. James's Park, painted by the late Mr. Gainsborough. These pictures are put up in the great drawing-room at the palace in Worcester, and betwixt them, over the fire place, is fixed an oval tablet of white marble, with the following inscription in gold letters : Hospes, Imagines, quas contemplaris, Ricardo Episcopo Vigorniensi 1790." DR. BALGUY. Such was the high estimation in which his majesty held this respectable divine, that of his own accord he nominated him to the bishoprick of Litchfield and Coventry; but Dr. Balguy, chiefly on account of his great age, obtained leave to decline the honour in favour of his friend, Dr. Hard, who thus handsomely noticed the fact in the dedication of his sermons to his venerable friend : "When, by his majesty's goodness, I was raised to that station of eminence in the church to which you had been first named, and which, on account of the infirmities of your health, you had desired to decline: it was honour enough for me, on such an occasion, to have been thought of next to you; and I know of no better rule by which to govern my conduct, so as not to discredit the royal hand which conferred on me so singular and unmerited a favour, than, in cases of difficulty, to put the question to myself, how you would have acted in the same situation? LITERANY PROJECT. A few years before his majesty was afflicted with blindness, he held a con versation with a gentleman of extensive literary connexions, and the subject on which the discourse turned was the His tory of England. The king observed that he had long wished to see such a work properly executed, and that he had men tioned it to several noblemen and others with a view of getting some persons of eminent talent to engage in the undertaking. It had been proposed to Dr. Robertson, and likewise to Lord Lyttleton, but neither of those writers ap 1815.] 爵 Assassins-A moderate Chancellor, &c. peared willing to embark in a concern of that magnitude, though all the assistance of government was freely of fered, and would, beyond all doubt, have been amply granted, for the purpose of enabling the historian to have completed his design in a manner equally creditable to himself, and serviceable to the country. At this time his majesty stated the outline of his plan, which was to have all the materials printed and manuscript collected, and the extracts made with the greatest care, by persons employed at the public charge, and that from these collections, aided by all the help of our public libraries, with all the lights afforded by foreign writers, espe cially those in the northern parts of Europe, whose productions have been too heedlessly passed over, the historian should draw up his connected narrative subject to the revision of different persons appointed to compare his performance with the authorities which he professes to have followed. Such was the project which his majesty suggested for the filling up a chasm in English literature; but as the conversation was rather long, and embraced many topics connected with this scheme, the sketch here given must be considered as necessarily defective, and affording but a very limited and imperfect view of the monarch's ideas on this great national desideratum. ASSASSINS. The attempts made upon his majesty's life was attended with some remarkable incidents. In 1786 a poor disordered female assaulted him with a knife while in the act of receiving a petition from her; on that occasion the Spanish ambassador, with great presence of mind, hastened to Windsor, and contrived to engage the queen in an interesting conversation till the arrival of his majesty in person prevented any alarm which might have been excited by a premature disclosure of the circumstance. For this considerate act his excellency was ever afterwards highly esteemed at the British court, and treated with particular marks of friendship on his return home to Spain. In 1800 two desperate attacks were made upon the sovereign in one day, that in the morning was in the park at a review, when two bullets were fired at the king, but, missing him, entered the thighs of a young gentleman who stood near him, and very nearly deprived him of life. It is some w hat extraordinary that no provision was in ade for this person who had so nar 531 row an escape, who by the accident was deprived of his situation in a public office, and who, from the nature of his wounds must pecessarily be a sufferer to the end of his days. That same evening a maniac, as it was proved, fired a pistol into the king's box at the theatre, just as the monarch entered, but happily without effect. When his majesty took leave of his family that night, be said, "I am going to bed, with a confidence that I shall sleep soundly; and my prayer is, that the poor unhappy prisoner who aimed at my life may rest as quietly as I shall." A MODERATE CHANCELLOR. On a change of administration, the party coming into power, proposed a private, but popular minister, to be chancellor. The king was astonished, and said to the minister, that it was a thing improper in itself, and, as far as he knew, contrary to all precedent, to confer so high a trust upon one whose practice had been confined exclusively to the Court of King's Bench, and who had never filled any preparatory office, to qualify him for such an important station. His majesty took some days to consider of it, and he appealed to the individual himself, whether such an advancement was proper? but though it was obvious that reason guided the king, ambition alone was predominant in the mind of the lawyer, who gained by his obstinacy, the seals, a peerage, and contempt. ROYAL MERCY. At the York assizes, in 1803, the clerk to a mercantile house in Leeds, was tried on a charge of forgery, found guilty, and condemned to death. His family, at Halifax, was very respectable, and his father, in particular, bore an excellent character. Immediately after the sentence was passed upon the unfortunate young man, a dissenting minister, of the Baptist persuasion, who had long been intimate with the father, presumed to address his majesty in a most moving petition, soliciting the pardon of the son of his friend. Fully aware that it had been almost an invariable rule with the government, to grant no pardon in cases of forgery, he had little hope of success; but, contrary to his expectation, his petition prevailed, and the reprieve was granted. That the solicitation of a private individual should have succeeded, when similar applications, urged by numbers, and supported by great interest, have uniforinly failed, may excite surprise, and deserves particular ob |