but it could be considered as a ruling passion only in the King, who, after viewing Lord Shelburne's magnificent mansion on the south side of Berkeley-square, observed, "his Lordship had just finished the finest house in England; and it will long employ his attention to furnish it suitably. I should be delighted to build the finest palace in Europe, and it would be a gratifying relaxation from the painful labours I have to encounter as a King: I know already what it is to erect a small edifice, though it be but the decorative temple of a garden; but in rearing a great and magnificent structure, there must be employment for the soul, as well as for the best affections of the heart. To see taste and genius, both ancient and modern, all collected in my service, and striving to excel each other in their various departments, is a situation that would make me look down with pity on my warlike brother of Prussia, reviewing his battalions at Potzdam."

The improvements made by the King in the palace of Windsor, during a succession of years, have been produced as incontestible evidences of their Majesties' taste and judgment. It is added, "That notwithstanding the cavils of many, who can bear nothing but the Roman and Grecian style, the unfinished castellated palace at Kew, will prove the extreme grandeur of the King's conception." With a persevering attention to the one great object of his reign, his Majesty tried to induce others to adopt the same feelings and pursuits. Some Noblemen he persuaded to purchase pictures, others to build; and lastly, by his example, to enter into agricultural pursuits and calculations. In Hanover also, after the conclusion of the war, he ordered that any person who chose to build, should be supplied with the necessary materials during three years, at the expence of the State.

In the third year of his age, the Prince of Wales was considered as being so beautifully formed for an infant, that a model was made of him for the King, by a celebrated artist of the time, of which the following description has been given: "This ingenious performance, which is a perfect resemblance of the young Prince, exhibits the whole figure entirely round, naked

Q

and lying on a couch of crimson velvet, as if just undressed. His left leg is drawn up, and his right extended; his right arm he holds up, while the left lies at his side, holding a drapery that appears to have been thrown off in play. The whole is covered with a bell glass, from the top of which, in the inside, hangs a ring by a small gold cord, in which is perched a dove with an olive-branch in its mouth, as emblematic of that peace which was about to dawn on the country: the infant appears to be looking anxiously at it. This beautiful specimen of art is executed in stained wax, giving all the animation, tincture, and softness of real nature. The frame of the couch is of silver gilt, wrought in a very elegant manner. At the back part of the head of the couch, is the Prince's name, with the time of his birth, surrounded by a garland of laurels. The couch stands upon an ebony plinth; and the stand for the whole is a massive piece of silver gilt plate, finally wrought into foliage, and other ornamental designs; over which in some parts hangs a drapery lined with white satin, and fringed with gold. On the top of the glass is the Prince of Wales's coronet.

On the 16th of August, about ten o'clock in the morning, her Majesty was happily delivered of another Prince, at her palace in St. James's Park; and the same maternal solicitude was manifested as before. On the 14th of September, his Royal Highness was christened at St. James's, in the Great Council-chamber, by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. His Royal Highness was named Frederick, and his sponsors were his Royal Highness the Duke of York, represented by the Earl of Huntingdon, Groom of the Stole; his Most Serene Highness the Duke of Saxe-Gotha, represented by Earl Gower, Lord-Chamberlain; and her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia in person.

On this occasion the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled, addressed his Majesty: and were graciously received. On the 5th of October died Frederick Augustus II. Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, at the age of sixty-seven.

SECTION IV.

Arrival of the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-His Marriage with the Princess Augusta-Departure of their Royal Highnesses from England-Anecdote-Motion respecting General Warrants-Amount of the Annual Supplies-Expected Rupture with Spain-Affairs in the East-Barbarous treatment of the British at Patna-Expulsion of Mr. Wilkes from the House of Commons-His retreat to France, and consequent Outlawry-Proposals for introducing the Stamp Duties into America-Fatal Consequences-Irruption of the Indians into Canada-Right of Taxation denied to the Mother-Country by the Americans-Peace between the English and the Seneca Indians-Letter from his Majesty to the new King of Poland. 1764-His Most Serene Highness the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lunenburgh having sailed from Helvoetsluys in his Majesty's yacht the Princess Augusta, on January 10, landed at Harwich on the 12th, and arrived in the evening of the 13th at Somerset-house, where he sat down to table about eight o'clock, with a company of twelve persons. On Saturday the 14th at twelve o'clock at noon, the Prince of Brunswick went from Somerset-house in one of the King's coaches to St. James's, preceded by one coach, in which was his Highness's Master of Horse; in the second coach was the Prince, and along with him a Nobleman; and two more coaches followed with two more Noblemen in each; where he waited on their Majesties. Afterwards they returned to Leicester-house; and lastly, to Prince William and Prince Henry's, and then back to Somerset-house. The Prince was dressed in blue velvet, embroidered with silver, with the ribbon of the Black Eagle of Prussia, and wore his hair with a bag. Behind his coach were four footmen, and before, two walking or running footmen, dressed in yellow liveries turned up with blue and silver lace. In going along the streets he was greatly huzzaed by the populace, and seemed mightily well pleased. There was the same

day a numerous appearance of Nobility and Gentry at Somerset-house, to pay their compliments to the Electoral Prince of Brunswick on his arrival in this metropolis.

On Sunday the 15th, there was the grandest Court at St. James's that has been known for many years, to compliment their Majesties on the arrival of his Serene Highness the Prince of Brunswick, who was there present, as likewise his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and a great number of the Nobility, Foreign Ministers, and Gentry.

In the afternoon there was a grand entertainment at Somerset-house, after the Court broke up, in honour of his Serene Highness the Prince of Brunswick, at which were present the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lord Viscount Weymouth, and several other Noblemen and persons of distinction.

On the 26th, about one o'clock, his Serene Highness the Prince of Brunswick, in a grand state coach, attended with several other of his Majesty's coaches, went to St. James's Palace from Somerset-house. Soon after his arrival the Marquis of Granby and a great number of the Nobility and Foreign Ministers came to St. James's.

In the evening the ceremony of the marriage of her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta with his Most Serene Highness the Hereditary Prince of BrunswickLunenburgh was performed in the Great Council-chamber, by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. His Majesty presented her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta with a diamond necklace worth 30,000l.; her Majesty with a gold watch of exquisite workmanship, set with jewels; and the Princess Dowager of Wales with a diamond stomacher of immense value. None but Peers and Peeresses, Peers' eldest sons, and Peers' daughters, Privy-Counsellors and their wives, and Foreign Ministers, were admitted to be present at the ceremony. Their Serene and Royal Highnesses remained at St. James's till nine, and then repaired to Leicester-house, where a grand supper was prepared, at which were present the King and Queen, the Prin

cess-dowager, Princes William and Henry, and the rest of the Royal Family.

The next day, their Majesties, her Royal Highness the Princess-dowager of Wales, and their Royal and Serene Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Brunswick, received the compliments of the Nobility and Gentry, which were followed by congratulatory addresses from both Houses of Parliament, and from the City of London.

On the 26th, in the afternoon, their Highnesses set out for Harwich, loaded with presents from their Majesties and the rest of the Royal Family, having left 5001. each for the relief of poor prisoners for debt.

On the 29th, they embarked in different yachts, and sailed the 30th; but, in consequence of bad weather, they did not reach Helvoetsluys till February the 2d. On the 19th of March, they arrived at Brunswick.

The following little anecdote is too affecting and too interesting to every English breast, to be passed over in silence. When the yacht made sail, in which was her Royal Highness the Princess of Brunswick, she was importuned by those about her to quit the deck, and partake of some tea or coffee that was prepared below : "No," said she, "in one half hour I shall be out of sight of England, and I will gaze at the last cliff of my dear native country, till I can see it no longer!" Their Royal Highnesses were four days at sea, and had very tempestuous weather all the time. To a person who stood near her when she thanked the ship's company for their care, she said, with a smile, "You may acquaint the King, that during the passage I behaved like an Englishwoman."

At a Chapter of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, held at St. James's, his Most Serene Highness, Adolphus Frederick, reigning Duke of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz, and the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax, were elected in the room of the late Earls Grenville and Waldegrave. This compliment to her Majesty's brother was the voluntary act of the King. About this time his Serene Highness, the Queen's youngest brother, was in England, and visited the Universities of Cam