The King seemed to delight in hunting, but it was less for the purposes of sport than for exercise. He was indeed a prudent rider; and instead of swimming the Thames after the deer, with the rest of the field, exhibited his great good sense by taking a circuitous route, and crossing at one of the bridges.

From his youth, the Monarch was addicted to military shows, and scarcely ever missed a review. On these occasions he despised the inclemency of the weather, and braved the snow, the sleet, or the rain, with all the ardour of a young captain of grenadiers. During the riots of 1780 he conducted himself with great bravery, and on all occasions exhibited becoming personal courage, and a self-possession that falls to the lot of few. This was fully exemplified, indeed, on two trying occasions: the one, when the knife of a female assassin was lifted against his bosom, on descending from his carriage at St. James's: the other, when the pistol of a second maniac was levelled at his head in Drury-lane Theatre.

It has been lamented, perhaps, that His Majesty did not exhibit, until late in life, the same partiality to the navy as to the army; but the position of the capital, and of his various palaces, for many years precluded this indulgence. It is but justice, however, to observe, that when opportunity served, the sovereign was always eager to enjoy the grand national spectacle of a British fleet. His residence at Weymouth too, towards the latter end of his reign, afforded a fine opportunity for several excursions, and he and his family made frequent cruizes in a frigate, which for grandeur, rather than safety, was usually escorted by a line-of-battle ship.

The royal establishment was calculated on a very extensive and magnificent scale. The lords of the bedchamber had been increased, and no court of Europe exhibited a greater number of officers of state. On the other hand, the table of the Monarch was frugal, and a marked economy, of

withstanding this, the royal debts were occasionally in a state of rapid accumulation; and His Majesty, on application, was frequently relieved by the bounty of parliament.

Soon after his first residence at Windsor, the King began to addict himself to agriculture. Perhaps the successful and prosperous example of Mr. Ducket, a celebrated farmer of that day, who resided in his vicinity, may have induced the royal inclinations to assume this direction. It will be seen, on a reference to the "Annals of Agriculture," that George III. could write on this important subject with a considerable degree of ability.

It was one of the great, and, indeed, chief objects of the royal farmer, to enable others to profit by his own example, which was exhibited on a moderate, but satisfactory scale. His Majesty was very zealous for the substitution of oxen to horses; an agricultural problem which has not yet been substantially solved. But it was on the possession of fine stock that the King prided himself most; and his passion for this pursuit very justly obtained for him the title of "the Royal Shepherd." He accordingly imported some of the finest Merino breeds, under the direction and superintendance of Lord Somerville. The great and little parks at Windsor, together with the rich adjacent meadows, afforded ample scope for an animal which, although gregarious, yet delights to rove, as in Spain, through unbounded pastures. After forming a choice and pretty numerous flock, the Monarch wished to bestow his supernumeraries on the best breeders among his subjects. But, after due consideration, it was resolved to put them up to sale. Accordingly, an auction annually took place at Windsor for this purpose, where Sir Joseph Banks presided and superintended the deliveries. At first this species of stock brought large returns; but, at length, either from the want of novelty or the falling off of this breed in the public opinion, the prices dwindled away to a mere trifle.

and Queen took great pains, and paid every possible attention in respect to the three essential requisites, of learning, exercise, and diet. The two eldest sons, (George, Prince of Wales, and Frederick, Duke of York,) spent eight hours every day with their governors, tutors, and instructors. The old palace at Kew, where they were brought up, in consequence of the vicinity of the gardens and of Richmond-park, afforded all the advantages resulting from a large range of country, superadded to a most excellent air. In respect to food too, a strict and sparing regimen was adopted; and when His Majesty beheld a late Duke of Buccleugh's children, and learned that their healthy looks were ascribed, by his Grace, to the free use of pottage, a quantity of oatmeal was ordered yearly from Scotland, for the express use of the royal family.

To inspire his two eldest sons with a taste for agriculture, their royal father was pleased to assign a portion of Kewgardens for their several labours; at his instigation, they dug, and sowed with wheat, a few poles of earth, from which they afterwards reaped the crop with their own hands: and, on being supplied with the necessary machinery, actually threshed, ground, and dressed their little harvest. This was afterwards baked into loaves, and distributed among the household.

In every thing relative to his own person, George III. carried his principles into full execution. Exercise, air, and a light diet were deemed essential to his health; and he practised these maxims with a rigorous and undeviating uniformity. All the resources of the vegetable kingdom were called in, to correct the too free use of flesh-meats: high-seasoned and made dishes were unknown at His Majesty's private table; the finest fruits, however, were enjoyed with a high relish, and

The only appearance of state, at His Majesty's private dinners, was the regular attendance of the master-cook, at the end of a long table, who always tasted every dish before it was carried away by the pages in waiting. The King was so fond of cheesecakes, that a dozen were regularly placed near him; while a cherry-pie was

the noble hot-houses, graperies, and conservatories at Richmond, Kew, and Windsor, presented a constant and copious supply. The King was accustomed to dine by himself, at an early hour; he afterwards contrived to be present at the Queen's desert, and repaired to bed while others were preparing for a ball. He rose at an early hour; and sent off his dispatches, if possible, before breakfast. No royal progresses, equally expensive and inconvenient, took place during this reign. His Majesty, however, paid frequent visits to Nuneham, the seat of Earl Harcourt; both he and his lady being great favourites with the royal family. Two journeys to Oxford, and a view of Blenheim, where they were entertained in a princely manner, seemed to give some little variety to the royal excursions. Being fond of military show, and martial evolutions, His Majesty visited Warley camp, and was entertained for several days, in the most sumptuous manner, by Lord Petre, an opulent Catholic peer. A royal visit was, at a much later period, paid to the late Earl of Romney, who, at an immense expense, assembled all the volunteers of Kent within his own park. A banquet was prepared on this occasion for the whole body; and His Majesty, on seeing so many loyal subjects, who regaled around him, felt himself particularly happy.

Soon after this, the Hertfordshire volunteers were reviewed by Their Majesties, in Hatfield Park, when the royal family partook of a sumptuous entertainment in "King James's room;" this having been once a royal residence.

Among other visits, occasionally paid by His Majesty, was one to the late Mr. Rose, at Cuffnels, in the New Forest; another to Lord Camden, in Kent; and also to the seat of Lord Boringdon; Lord Milton and Lord Mount Edgecumbe were also honoured with the royal presence. At the houses of the nobility and gentry, in the vicinity of Windsor, the royal family was accustomed to call frequently of a forenoon; and on these, and all other similar occasions, conducted themselves with great affability and condescension.

Of royal christenings we shall only mention two; the one

and Queen took great pains, and paid every possible attention in respect to the three essential requisites, of learning, exercise, and diet. The two eldest sons, (George, Prince of Wales, and Frederick, Duke of York,) spent eight hours every day

The old palace

with their governors, tutors, and instructors. at Kew, where they were brought up, in consequence of the vicinity of the gardens and of Richmond-park, afforded all the advantages resulting from a large range of country, superadded to a most excellent air. In respect to food too, a strict and sparing regimen was adopted; and when His Majesty beheld a late Duke of Buccleugh's children, and learned that their healthy looks were ascribed, by his Grace, to the free use of pottage, a quantity of oatmeal was ordered yearly from Scotland, for the express use of the royal family.

To inspire his two eldest sons with a taste for agriculture, their royal father was pleased to assign a portion of Kewgardens for their several labours; at his instigation, they dug, and sowed with wheat, a few poles of earth, from which they afterwards reaped the crop with their own hands: and, on being supplied with the necessary machinery, actually threshed, ground, and dressed their little harvest. This was afterwards baked into loaves, and distributed among the household.

In every thing relative to his own person, George III. carried his principles into full execution. Exercise, air, and a light diet were deemed essential to his health; and he practised these maxims with a rigorous and undeviating uniformity. All the resources of the vegetable kingdom were called in, to correct the too free use of flesh-meats*: high-seasoned and made dishes were unknown at His Majesty's private table; the finest fruits, however, were enjoyed with a high relish, and

* The only appearance of state, at His Majesty's private dinners, was the regular attendance of the master-cook, at the end of a long table, who always tasted every dish before it was carried away by the pages in waiting. The King was so fond of cheesecakes, that a dozen were regularly placed near him; while a cherry-pie was