ceived with characteristic politeness which might be termed familiarity by those who were unacquainted with the manners and ceremonies of Brunswick. Her serene highnesss always expressed a partiality for the “good and brave English," as she always styled them. Some months after the French Revolution she had an interview with her cousin, his R. H. the Duke of York, and from that time, an alliance with this illustrious family began to be contemplated; which was strongly recommended by the duchess of Brunswick. The marriages of potentates, however, are generally brought about by motives of state policy; indeed the marriage of the heir apparent of the British crown has always been considered of the highest national importance. At this time his R. H. the Prince of Wales laboured under a load of pecuniary embarrassments; and his majesty peremptorily refused to discharge his debts. Greatly to the satisfaction of the nation, he consented to accept the hand of her serene highness; though it had been generally supposed that his Royal High ness was averse to marriage, and better satisfied with “ disencumbered, anti-matrimonial love,” as he had resisted for some time all proposals that were made to him on this subject. On the morning of the 30th of December 1794, the Princess of Wales (as her serene highness now became by contract) accompanied by the duchess her mother and attended by an immense retinue left Brunswick amidst the tears and acclamations of the populace. On their arrival at Piena the Duchess was taken ill, but soon recovered so as to be able proceed to the palace of Helinghousen, near Hanover, where their Royal Highnesses dined. By easy stages they reached Osnaburg on the 3rd. of January, 1795, where they were met by a messenger from Lord St. Helens, announcing the return of Commodore Payne's Squadron to England and the danger of entering Holland during the present critical epoch. The Bishop's Palace had been fitted up for the reception of the royal visitors. After a stay of a few weeks at Hanover, where their Royal Highnesses had been invited by the Regency for the sake of better accommodation, they proceeded to Cruxhaven; and having embarked on board his majesty's ship Jupiter on the 28th. of March, they sailed from thence the following morning with a strong convoy and on the 5th. of April, about noon, landed safe and in perfect health at Greenwich ; whence the Princess of Wales proceeded to his majesty's palace at St. James's where she arrived between two or three o'clock in the after · noon. Great preparations were made for the reception of her Royal Highness and a present of valuable jewels provided for the princess which was manufactured by Mr. Jeffreys, then one of the Prince of Wales's principal creditors. Those which the jeweller first submitted to the queen's inspection, were not deemed sufficiently costly for the purpose, and others of double their value were provided by her majesty's express desire. The marriage of the royal pair was anxiously looked for by all the people of the united kingdom—an event which, it was fondly anticipated, would tend to the happiness of the whole country. On Wednesday evening, the 8th of April, these royal nuptials took place at 8 o'clock : there was a very numerous and brilliant assemblage of nobility and gentry in the public apartments at St. James's, for the purpose of attending the marriage of his R. H. George Prince of Wales with the Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Those who were invited to the drawing room assembled at seven. About half past eight the necessary regulations having been made, and the arrangements formed for the occasion, the procession began to move, and proceeded with a solemn splendor to the chapel royal : Drums aud Trumpets, Kettle Drums, Serjeaut Trumpeter, |