most eager to emulate, since, like his father, he delighted in military parade, and would willingly have taken an active part in the field. In 1734 he petitioned the King to be allowed to serve a campaign in the Imperial army on the Rhine; and when the rebellion broke out in 1745, he warmly solicited the command of the royal army. What remains to be said of the Prince's character may be summed up in a few words. "His best quality," says Walpole, "was generosity; his worst, insincerity, and indifference to truth." He was obstinate, yet weak; fond of power, yet easily led; and from his love of flattery was always open to imposition. In a sermon, preached at Mayfair Chapel, on the occasion of the Prince's death, the clergyman is said to have drawn his character in the following words: "He had no great parts, but he had great virtues; indeed they degenerated into vices; he was very generous, but I hear his generosity has ruined a great many people. And then, his condescension was such that he kept very bad company." Extraordinary as this sentence appears, it certainly contains much that is true. In a word, it can scarcely be doubted, from a review of the Prince's character and conduct, that had he lived to succeed his father on the throne, England would have derived but a questionable advantage from his becoming the ruler of her destinies.

160

AUGUSTA,

PRINCESS OF WALES.

Daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Gotha.-Born in 1709.-Married to the Prince of Wales in her twenty-eighth year.-Nuptial ceremonies.-Her good conduct as a wife and mother.— Her agony on witnessing the Prince's sudden death. George the Second's kindness to her, and her children.— His visit to the Princess.-Discreet behaviour and popularity of the Princess. Her subsequent unpopulartity, after the accession of her son, George the Third, to the Throne.Her presumed liaison with Lord Bute.-Horace Walpole's and Wraxall's remarks on the subject.-The Princess pays off her deceased husband's debts.-Her strength of mind. Her sudden death in 1772.

THIS sensible and accomplished woman, whose misfortune it was to be the wife of Frederick Prince of Wales, and whose only fault was to be blind to his unworthiness, was the daughter of Frederick the Second, Duke of Saxe Gotha. She was born on the 19th of November, 1709, and at the period when she became Princess of Wales was in her twenty-eighth year. She arrived in England on the 25th of April, 1736, and two days afterwards we find her conducted from Greenwich to Lambeth in one of the King's coaches drawn by six horses. From Lambeth, (probably

with a view of sparing her the discomfort of being gazed at by a large concourse of people) she was conducted in one of the Queen's chairs to St. James's Palace, where George the Second and his consort were in readiness to receive her. The same evening she dined with the royal family, and at eight o'clock the marriage procession moved towards the Chapel Royal, where she was united to the Prince by the Bishop of London. At ten o'clock the royal party sat down to supper in the presence of a large crowd of spectators, and at twelve o'clock the Prince and Princess were put to bed. Company were then formally admitted to the nuptial chamber, and the indelicate ceremonials, which were permitted on such occasions during the last century, were duly performed. It may be mentioned, that the last instance of this kind of licence having been practised at a royal marriage in England was as late as 1797, at the marriage of the Queen of Wirtemburg, eldest daughter of George the Third.

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During the life-time of her husband we discover but few particulars respecting the Princess. "The Princess of Wales," says Lord Waldegrave, distinguished herself, during the life of the Prince her husband, by a most decent and prudent behaviour; and the King, notwithstanding his aversion to his son, behaved to her not only with great politeness, but with the appearance of cordiality and affection." The Princess," observes the Duchess of Marlborough, "speaks English much better than any of the family that

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have been here so long; appears good-natured, and civil to everybody; never saying anything to offend, as the late Queen did perpetually, notwithstanding her great understanding and good

ness."

She seems to have contented herself with discharging her domestic duties; with attending to the cares of her young and numerous offspring, and with maintaining the character of an affectionate and forbearing wife. Following the example set her by her mother-in-law, Queen Caroline, she quietly endured the presence of her husband's mistresses, rather than, by fruitless remonstrances, give occasion to perpetual bickerings. The merit of such forbearance may also in this instance with great propriety be called in question. But, on the other hand, the Princess must have been the best judge in such matters, and was probably aware, of what has often been suspected, that there was more of vanity than of real crime in her husband's predilections.

At the period of her husband's death the Princess was the mother of eight children, and in a few months was expected to give birth to another. These circumstances could not fail to render more painful a blow which, of itself, appears to have been almost overwhelming. So sudden, indeed, and so unexpected was her misfortune that, for as many as four hours after its occurrence (during which period she insisted on remaining with his dead body), no arguments could convince her that life was really extinct. It was not till six

o'clock in the morning that she could be prevailed upon to retire to bed; and even then, such was her determination and strength of mind, that she rose again at eight, and burnt such of her husband's papers as she thought it impolitic to

preserve.

The kindness which George the Second displayed towards the Princess and her young children, at the time of their bereavement, was highly creditable to his feelings, and was not the less gratifying because little expected. He immediately sent a message of condolence to his daughter-in-law, by Lord Lincoln, the lord in waiting, to whom the Princess expressed her strong sense of the King's kindness, adding, that she would write to him as soon as she was able, and in the meantime recommended herself and her children to His Majesty's care. At the end of the month the King himself paid her a visit. A chair of state had been prepared for him, but he refused to make use of it, and seating himself on a sofa by the Princess, kissed her, and mingled his tears with hers. When his eldest grandchild, the Princess Augusta, offered to kiss his hand, he prevented this common act of respect, and, after embracing her, placed her hand in those of her young brothers, telling the latter, "They must be brave boys, obedient to their mother, and deserve the fortune to which they were born." The King, moreover, selected the Princess to be the guardian of her eldest son; (whom he created, the following month, Prince of