Seal.

ELATION OF NEWCASTLE

Newcastle's joy was notorious. "I never," writes Sir George Colebrooke, "saw the Duke in higher spirits than after Mr. Pitt, thwarted by the Cabinet in declaring war against Spain, gave notice of his resignation." But his elation was soon followed by marked anxiety. "Do not," said Lord Talbot to him bluntly, "die for joy on the Monday, nor for fear on the Tuesday."

CHAPTER IV

MARRIAGE AND CORONATION

"I PITY the young King," wrote Mary Wortley Montagu to a friend, "who in the season of life made for cheerfulness, and most exempt from care, has such a weight thrown upon him as the government at present. Dangers alarm the experienced, but must amaze and terrify the inexperienced."

If George felt the weight, he as yet bore it cheerfully. In the midst of the negotiations for peace with France he set about negotiations for his own future happiness. Lady Sarah Lennox being denied him, he would find another consort of whom his mother and the nation would approve. A suitable match for the sovereign was an urgent object of State policy. Augusta is said to have contemplated one of her own nieces, a Princess of the Saxe-Gotha family, but owing to some physical imperfection in the lady this plan could not be carried out. At George's request, Colonel Græme, a confidential officer, was despatched to the lesser German Courts in search of the future Queen. His instructions were to find a princess perfect in appearance and health, accomplished, particularly in music, the King being of a very musical disposition, and last, but not least, a princess of an amiable temperament.

COLONEL GRÆME'S MISSION

In his travels, of which it is a pity he has left no account, the worthy Colonel discovered the Princess Dowager of Mecklenburg-Strelitz at Pyrmont. To this secluded spa she had resorted with her two daughters, living simply and without ceremony. No difficulty offered to Græme's becoming acquainted with their habits and characters. After making some necessary inquiries, the usual formulas were gone through with, and in a few weeks the Princess Charlotte of Strelitz was recommended as the future Queen of England.

George frankly told Lord Harcourt he had now "found such a partner as he hoped to be happy with for life." Yet some weeks elapsed ere he let the kingdom into the secret. Not until 8th July 1761 did he formally announce to his Council that, "Having nothing so much at heart as the welfare and happiness of his people, and that to render the same stable and permanent to posterity, after the most mature reflection and fullest information, he had come to a resolution to demand in marriage the Princess Charlotte of MecklenburgStrelitz, a Princess distinguished by every amiable virtue and elegant endowment, whose illustrious line had constantly shown the firmest zeal for the Protestant religion and a particular attachment to his Majesty's family."

A week later it was proclaimed that the double Coronation would be solemnised on the 22nd September, and preparations were at once commenced in England to welcome the royal bride. Earl Harcourt, together with the two finest women of

L

the Court, the Duchesses of Ancaster and Hamilton, were sent to fetch Princess Charlotte, while the fleet of convoy was under the command of the celebrated Lord Anson.

Naturally the greatest curiosity was expressed in circles, both high and low, as to the personal appearance and character of the fair newcomer. The sensations evoked are very much the same in all countries; from duke to peasant the whole nation is prepared to greet their new queen with joyous acclaim. The royal stranger, whatever her real endowments, will be considered beautiful and amiable, and be sure at least of a temporary popularity.

According to one of the numerous loyal versifiers who celebrated the royal nuptials, we are told of Charlotte that:

She comes! I see her from afar,
Refulgent as the morning star,
Or as the midday sun.

Such extravagant encomiums, it is to be feared, were hardly justified in the Princess's person. Judging from the various portraits of her, what beauty she possessed was in expression, for her features were decidedly plain. Figure, carriage, and manner were, however, attractive, and of her amiability and goodness of heart there is a great weight of testimony.

"She is not tall, nor a beauty," writes Walpole, "pale and very thin, but looks sensible, and is genteel. Her hair is darkish and fine; her forehead low, and her nose very well, except the nostrils spreading too wide; her mouth has the same fault,

QUEEN CHARLOTTE

but her teeth are good. She talks a good deal, and French tolerably."

We are told that at his first glimpse of his consort an involuntary expression of the King's countenance revealed a slight disappointment; but it was passing cloud. He soon regarded the young Princess with interest, which rapidly ripened into tenderness, and their affectionate relations were never seriously interrupted for more than half a century.

The Princess stayed the night she arrived at the house of the Earl of Abercorn at Witham, in Essex. She left early the next morning, arriving the same day at St. James's Palace, where she was received by the King and the rest of the royal family. That same evening, at nine o'clock, 7th September, the Archbishop of Canterbury performed the marriage ceremony in the Chapel Royal.

Walpole supplies us with some entertaining chitchat relating to Charlotte, who was destined to a married life of fifty-seven years, and to bear her consort no fewer than fifteen children.

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"On the road they wanted her to curl her toupee: she said she thought it looked as well as that of any of the ladies sent to fetch her; if the King bid her she would wear a periwig; otherwise she would remain as she was. When she caught the first glimpse of the palace she grew frightened and grew pale; the Duchess of Hamilton smiled. The Princess said, 'My dear Duchess, you may laugh; you have been married twice, but it is no joke to me.' Her lips trembled as the coach stopped, but she jumped out with spirit, and has