of a civilized power. A statement of these | tion, and whose power is capable of repressing the atrocities was made to the princess Charlotte; greatest injustice.—I am, Sire, &c. &c.

she felt for the sufferings of the people amongst whom she was born, and immediately wrote the following letter to the king of Prussia:

May it please your majesty,

I am at a loss whether I shall congratulate or condole with you on your late victory; since the same success that crowns you with laurels, has overspread the country of Mecklenburg with desolation. I know, Sire, that it seems unbecoming in my sex, in this age of vicious refinement, to feel for one's country, to lament the horrors of war, or to wish for the return of peace. I know you may think it more properly my province to study the arts of pleasing, or to turn my thoughts to subjects of a more domestic nature: but however unbecoming it may be in me, I cannot resist the desire of interceding for this unhappy people,

The king of Prussia was at this time privy to the circumstance of negotiators being at several courts in Germany for the purpose of selecting a princess suitable to share the crown of England, and he despatched a copy of the above letter to the king of England, accompanied with this highly-flattering expression, that a princess who could make so powerful an appeal in behalf of an injured people, was worthy to sit upon the first throne of Europe; and, it is reported, that the youthful monarch had no sooner perused it, than he exclaimed to lord Hertford, "This is the lady whom I shall select for my consort; here are lasting beauties on which the man who has any mind may feast, It was but a few years ago that this territory wore the and not be satiated. If the disposition of the most pleasing appearance; the country was cultivated, princess but equals her refined sense, I shall the peasants looked cheerful, and the towns abounded be the happiest man, as I hope with my people's with riches and festivity. What an alteration at present from such a charming scene! I am not expert at de- concurrence, to be the greatest monarch in scription, nor can my fancy add any horrors to the pic- Europe." The negotiations for the marriage ture; but sure even conquerors themselves would weep were immediately entered into, and the earl of at the hideous prospect now before me. The whole Harcourt, his majesty's ambassador extraorcountry, my dear country, lies one frightful waste, pre-dinary and plenipotentiary, concluded the senting only objects to excite pity, terror, and despair. The business of the husbandman and the shepherd is quite discontinued; the husbandman and shepherd are become soldiers themselves, and help to ravage the soil they formerly occupied. The towns are inhabited only by old men, women, and children: perhaps here or there a warrior, by wounds or loss of limbs, rendered unfit for service, left at his door: his little children hang round him, ask a history of every wound, and grow themselves soldiers before they find strength for the field. But this were nothing, did we not feel the alternate insolence of each army, as it happens to advance or retreat. It is impossible to express the confusion which even those who call themselves our friends, excite. Even those from whom we might expect redress, oppress us with new The lord great chamberlain of England claimed at calamities. From your justice, therefore, it is that we the said coronation to carry the king his shirt and clothes hope for relief; to you even children and women may the morning of the coronation, and with the lord chamcomplain, whose humanity stoops to the meanest peti-berlain to dress the king. To have forty yards of crim

treaty on the 15th of August.

Whilst these circumstances were transacting abroad, the necessary preparations were making at home for the reception of the intended bride, and for the due observance of the formalities of the coronation. According to the proclamation which was issued by his majesty, the several claims were given in on the 21st for the services to be performed at the coronation, and which were in many respects similar to those claimed at the coronation of king James II. and his queen in 1684. They were as follows:

son velvet for a robe, also the king's bed and bedding, | Surrey, claimed to find a man to make a mess of grout and furniture of his chamber where he lay the night in the king's kitchen, and therefore praying, that the before, with his wearing apparel and night-gown: also king's master cook might perform that service.-Allowed, to serve the king with water, before and after dinner, and the said lord of the manor brought it up to the king's and to have the basins and towels, and cup of assay. table. Allowed, except the cup of assay. He received the forty yards of velvet, and the rest of the fees were compounded for 2007.

Dorset, claimed to serve the king with water for his hands, and to have the basin and ewer for his fee.-Not allowed, but left to make his application to the king, if he thought fit.

17. The duke of Norfolk, as the first earl of England, claimed to redeem the sword offered by the king at the altar, and to carry it before his majesty, in his return to his palace, and reservation of other rights and dignities, with fees, &c.

18. And also, as earl of Surrey, claimed to carry the second sword before the king, with all privileges and dignities thereto belonging.-Neither of which allowed, the claims not being made out, and the same being disallowed at the last coronation.

19. The earl of Exeter, As seized of several parts 20. Sir George Blundell, of the barony of Bedford, 21. Thomas Snaggs, respectively claimed to execute the office of almoner; and, as the fees of that office, to have the silver alms-basin, and the distribution of all the silver therein, and of the cloth spread for their majesties to walk on; as also the fine linen towel, a tun❘ of wine, &c. On reference to the king to appoint which of them he pleased, the earl was appointed, pro hac vice, with a salvo jure to the other two; but the silver dish, and the cloth from the throne in Westminster-hall to the west door of the Abbey-church, were only allowed.

26. The lord of the manor of Ashlee, Norfolk, claimed to perform the office of the napery, and to have all the table-linen when taken away.-Not allowed, because that he had not the evidence ready to make it out, but with a salvo jure.

27. The earl of Derby, as seized in fee of the isle and castle of Pelham, and dominion of Man, claimed to present the king with two falcons on this day.-Which was allowed, and the falcons presented accordingly.

28. The earl of Kent claimed to carry the great spurs before the king; but not being made out, was not allowed.

29. The same counter-claimed by the lord de Grey of Thyn, and allowed.

SO. The same counter-claimed by the duke of Norfolk, as earl of Surrey but disallowed for want of evidence, and because it was not admitted at the preceding coronation.

31. The barons of the Cinque-ports claimed to carry the canopy over the king, and to have the same with the staves and bells for their fees, and to dine in the hall on the king's right hand.-Allowed.

32. The lord of the manor of Scoulton, alias Bourdelies, Norfolk, claimed to be chief larderer; and to

22. The dean and chapter of Westminster claimed to instruct the king in the rites and ceremonies used at the Goronation; to assist the archbishop in divine service; o have the custody of the coronation robes; to have robes for the dean and his three chaplains, and for six-have for his fees the provisions remaining after dinner in teen ministers of the said church; the royal habits put the larder. Which office and fees, and also that of caterer, off in the church, the several oblations, furniture of the were likewise, church, canopy, staves, and bells, and the cloth on which their majesties walk from the west door of the church to the theatre, &c.-Allowed, except the custody of the regalia, and the fees referred to the king's pleasure.

23. The churchwardens of St. Margaret's, Westminster, claimed to have the cloth (lying in their parish) whereon the king goes in procession, for the use of the poor.

24. The vicar and churchwardens of St. Martin's-inthe-Fields, claimed a share in the said cloth for their poor. Which claims were only read, and not admitted.

25. The earl marshal of England claimed to appease

33. Counter-claimed by the lord of the manor of Eston at the Mount, Essex; and on reference to the king, it appearing that other manors were also severally held by the same service, the former was appointed pro hac vice, with a salvo jure to the other.

34. The lord of the manor of Worksop, Nottingham, claimed to find the king a right-hand glove, and to support the king's right arm while he holds the sceptre.Allowed.

queen.

36. The lord of the manor of Fyngrith, Essex, claimed to be chamberlain to the queen for the day, and to have the queen's bed and furniture, the basins, &c., belonging to the office; and to have a clerk in the Exchequer to demand and receive the queen's gold, &c.—Disallowed, because not made out, but left to prosecute it at law, if he thought fit.

37. The lord of the manor of Great Wymondley, Hertfordshire, claimed (as chief cup-bearer) to serve the king with the first cup of silver-gilt, at dinner; and to have the cup for his fee.-Allowed.

38. The lord of the manor of Heydon, Essex, claimed to hold the basin and ewer to the king, by virtue of one moiety, and the towel by virtue of another moiety, of the said manor, when the king washes before dinner.

Allowed as to the towel only.

London and Winchester being appointed to support the | ambassador, forgetting he was not at Algiers, or with all due consideration to the dignity of the important personage whom he represented, was before him in the procession, such being the very desirous of having the lion and tigers led custom, he declared, in his own country; his request, however, could not be granted; the fine horses and curious sheep were, however, admitted into the procession. But here another difficulty arose; he wished that the animals might actually be driven into the presence of the king, that he might report to his master, that he had delivered them with his own hands. On being informed that this could not be granted, as the horses could not ascend the stairs, he wished to be informed, whether, as the horses could not ascend to the king, the king could not descend to them-on this being answered in the negative, he was highly displeased, and he was not pacified until he was assured by the lords in waiting, that such a condescension on the part of his majesty was wholly contrary to the custom of the country. The animals were then driven into the royal garden, and his majesty viewed them from the window of the palace. The ambassador was then admitted into the royal presence, and he apologized to his majesty for his not being attended with the lion and the tigers; but his majesty, in a happy manner, diverted the discourse, by expressing his grief that his excellency had such a bad day for his public entry. No, Sire," said the ambassador, "it is not a bad day, it is a very fine, it is a glorious day for me, when I have the honour to behold so great a monarch as your majesty."

39. The duke of Norfolk, as earl of Arundel, and lord of Kenninghall-manor, Norfolk, claimed to perform by deputy the office of chief butler of England, and to have for his fees the best gold cup and cover, with all the vessels and wine remaining under the bar, and all the pots and cups, except those of gold and silver, in the

wine-cellar after dinner.-Allowed, with only the fee of a cup and ewer.

There are few circumstances of an interesting nature, respecting the private life of our late monarch, on which the historian can dilate just previously to his marriage and coronation. The war with Spain was forgotten in the interest which those two great events necessarily excited, and the ministry were able to carry on their plans almost unperceived and unnoticed by the people.

On the 3d of June, Omar Effendi, the new ambassador from Algiers, had his first audience of his majesty to deliver his credentials, and it was attended with some circumstances which afforded a high degree of amusement to his majesty. The ambassador brought over, as presents to the king, twenty-four fine horses, a

The following day being the anniversary of his majesty's birth-day, it was celebrated with the utmost demonstrations of joy. There never was a more brilliant court on any occasion. Most of the ladies' dresses were gold and silver

and perseverance of your majesty's land and naval forces: a conquest, which after more than one fruitless attempt in former times, seems to have been reserved by Divine Providence to grace the auspicious beginnings of your majesty's reign, and confirms our hopes of a long continuance of wise, steady, and successful measures.

A blow so humiliating to the pride and power of France, cannot, but impress that haughty nation with a due sense of the superiority of a patriot king, ruling over a free, brave, and united people; and will, we trust, convince them of the danger of delaying to accept such terms of peace as your majesty's equity, wisdom, and moderation, shall think fit to prescribe.

What, therefore, have we more to wish, but that your majesty may long, very long, continue the guardian and protector of the religious, civil, and commercial rights of Great Britain, and her colonies; and that your ma

and spirited councils; and your commands executed with no less ardour, emulation, and success?

That the freedom of this city be humbly presented to his royal highness Edward Augustus, duke of York and Albany, one of the rear-admirals of the blue squadron ofjesty's wisdom may ever be seconded by equally faithful his majesty's fleet, in a gold box of 150 guineas value, in testimony of the dutiful affection of this court for their illustrious sovereign, whose peculiar glory it is to reign over a free, happy, and united people, and as a pledge of the grateful respect they bear his royal highness for his early entrance into the naval service of his king and country, the noblest and most effectual bulwark of the wealth, reputation, and independence of this commercial

On our part, permit us humbly to assure your majesty, that your faithful citizens of London will, with unwearied zeal and cheerfulness, contribute to support a vigorous prosecution of this just and necessary war; until your majesty, having sufficiently vindicated the honour of your crown, and secured the trade, navigation, and possessions of your subjects, shall enjoy the blessing and glory of giving repose to Europe, of wholly attending to, and promoting, the virtue and happiness of your people, and of cultivating all the softer arts of peace.

His majesty's most gracious answer:

I return you my hearty thanks for this fresh mark of your affection to my person, and of your constant zeal for the lustre of my arms, and for the glory of my reign. Your repeated assurances of cheerful and steady support in the prosecution of this necessary war, are most highly pleasing to me, and cannot fail to promote the desirable object of peace, on just, honourable, and advantageous conditions. The city of London may always depend on my unwearied endeavours for the security and extension of their trade, navigation, and commerce.

At a very early period of his reign, his majesty testified great repugnance to affixing his