From the year 1770, to his Majesty's illness in Misfortunes of the Queen of Denmark-Death and SECTION IV. From the King's recovery in 1789, to his last illness Recovery and Rejoicings-Thanksgiving at St. Paul's - Melancholy Situation Lucid Intervals Death of the Duke of Kent-King's Death and Character, from MEMOIR OF HIS LATE MAJESTY GEORGE III. BIOGRAPHY has advantages over every other department of literature, not only from its generally mingling a considerable portion of entertainment with instruction, but chiefly from its embodying instruction by example, and animating the precepts of morality and religion, in a form that shews at once their practicability and excellence. In all ranks this is more or less the case; but as the subject of the historian is elevated in society, his example becomes the more conspicuous and the more influential, as we naturally and justly look above, and not beneath us, for examples. The chief danger, in this case, is the temptation to panegyric, and to varnish over errors and fol B lies, which therein present themselves to imitation; whereas they ought rather to be thrown into the shade, as the blemishes of character, which, though they may render the opposite virtues more striking, should in themselves excite only humiliation and regret. For a long time, however, a subject has not been presented to biography, at least in the ranks of royalty, which affords so little occasion for flattery, or which so completely disarms satire of its sting. The materials before us are also so copious, and so interesting, as to require little talent beside that of selection and abridgment; for to compress the events of a reign of threescore years within the limits of a pocket volume, it is obvious that the most prominent facts only can be sketched; and, in selecting them, we shall generally prefer those which exhibit the religious, moral, and philanthropic character of the venerable deceased: not neglecting, however, any event of great political importance in which he was personally concerned. His late majesty was born on the 24th of May, 1738, which, by the alteration of the style in 1752, became the 4th of June. He was the first son, but second child, of Frederick prince of Wales, and his consort the princess Augusta of Saxe Gotha, whom he had married in 1736. to But, before we proceed, it may be necessary advert briefly to the character and circumstances of his royal father. This prince was educated in German, and not coming to England till after he was of full age, and with an imperfect knowledge of our language, found himself under many disadvantages, and justly considered it proper to cultivate the good opinion of the nation, over which, at some future time, he expected to be called to reign. This was considered as courting popularity, and excited jealousy in the breast of his royal father; while, on the other hand, the son cherished the seeds of discontent, and went so far as to join the party in opposition to the king's administration. Under these circumstances there existed a mutual coolness, which accounts for a neglect of etiquette, otherwise mysterious: the princess of Wales's first pregnancy was not announced till within her last month, nor was she brought to her apartments at St. James's till within two or three hours of her delivery, and then without proper notice. At this his Majesty was so much of fended, that he desired the princess might be removed so soon as circumstances would admit; adding, that unless his royal highness withdrew from the confidence of his present advisers, he could not be permitted to reside within the palace. Accordingly, at the end of the month, the prince and his family removed to Kew, and soon afterwards to Norfolk House, where the royal subject of this brief memoir was born on the day above stated.-June 22d (O. S.) the young prince was baptized by Dr. Secker, then bishop of Oxford and rector of St. James's parish, by the names of George William Frederick *. It is not necessary to our purpose to enter at * The prince being but a seven months' child, was so weakly at his birth, that it was much feared it would be impossible to rear him ; it was judged necessary, therefore, to provide him with a wet-nurse, for which purpose a fine healthy young woman, wife of one of the royal gardeners, was selected, every way adapted for the purpose, except that she was a plebeian, on which account an objection was made to the royal infant sleeping with her; to which she instantly replied-"Not sleep with me!-then you may nurse the boy yourselves!" On this occasion, however, it was wisely judged better to give up a point of court etiquette, than to risk the life of the royal infant. The good woman justified the confidence placed in her, and the prince remembered her with gratitude for many years.-Geo. III, his Court, &c. vol. i. p. 70. N. |