We shall conclude this brief sketch of the life of our late Monarch, by one short extract from "the Annals of George III." This work, is professedly written by Dr. Aikin, a man of exemplary habits; moderate in his politicks; correct in his estimate of the human character; and imbued with all the good qualities, that constitute a most valuable as well as a most accomplished member of society. "The protracted existence and sufferings of the monarch were now fast drawing to a close. As early as the month of November, the hitherto firm health of His Majesty had undergone a sudden alteration; and though the immediately dangerous symptoms of the attack were removed, they were productive of a state of general feebleness and decay, which his immediate attendants soon perceived to admit of but one termination. No bulletins, except the monthly reports of the physicians to the council over which the Duke of York presided, were however issued; and the country received with a momentary feeling of surprise, the notification, that on the evening of the 29th of January 1820, King George III. had breathed his last without suffering and almost without a disease; having attained the 82d year of his age and the 60th of his reign. "The public conduct of this prince, and the tendencies of the political principles by which it was guided, might afford much scope for discussion, and will be differently estimated by opposite parties; but respecting his private and domestic character, little variance of opinion has at any time existed among his contemporaries. Probity, and a strict sense of religious obligation, formed the basis of his moral character; — moderation and simplicity, of his habits and manners, and benevolence, of his disposition. A faithful and affectionate husband, a fond and assiduous parent, and a kind, considerate, and affable master, he secured the respect and attachment of all who beheld him nearly, and was approved by the moral feelings of the whole nation. His intellectual faculties, originally of no high order, were permanently clouded by the con riod of his life. An inflexible persistence in the line of conduct which he had once judged it right to adopt, -an immoveable adherence to the maxims of government instilled into him by his earliest instructors, formed the leading characteristic of his mental constitution, and that which influenced in the most important manner the destinies of his kingdoms. "In literary taste, George III. was supposed to be somewhat deficient, though he collected one of the noblest libraries extant; but the fine arts, especially music and painting, he loved, patronised, and in a considerable degree understood. Agriculture also and some of the mechanic arts were among his pursuits; and hunting, till a late period of life, formed his principal amusement. "His firm attachment to the church of which he was the head, was totally exempt from bigotry; he uniformly insisted that no species of religious persecution should take place under his sway; all the relaxations of the penal laws affecting the catholics and the protestant dissenters, bear date from his reign, and were sanctioned by his beneficent and equitable mind; and a genuine scruple of conscience respecting his coronation oath, seems alone to have opposed his conceding to the former sect the full rights of citizens. "To the system of general education promulgated by Joseph Lancaster, His Majesty early extended his firm and liberal support; nobly disdainful of the scruples and alarms which it excited in other quarters. On this subject he once uttered the memorable wish, "that the day might come in which every poor child in his dominions would be able to read its bible." 66 Posterity will number George III. with the best men, though not the ablest monarchs, who have borne the British sceptre." IN GREAT BRITAIN; EARL OF DUBLIN, IN IRELAND; A FIELD MARSHAL IN THE ARMY, K.G. G.C.B. K.S.P. &c. &c. OF F this Prince we are enabled to treat with a considerable degree of accuracy, partly from personal knowledge, and partly from authentic and original documents. The latter part of his life exhibited one uniform scene of enlightened exertions in behalf of suffering humanity; and we shall frankly endeavour to point out the source, to which the errors, that obscured for a while the earlier portion of his existence, are to be fairly attributed. Edward-Augustus, the fourth son, and fifth child of His late Majesty, George III., by his consort, the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was born Nov. 2. 1767. Until the age of seventeen, he remained in his native country, and his education was commenced under able instructors. But it being determined to give him a military education, Germany was selected for that purpose; as there, youth of the most and inured to a degree of controul, not to say severity, that is but too well calculated to render them, by turns, both slaves and tyrants. Accordingly, at an early period of life, and before his mind had been formed and enlightened by an English education, His Royal Highness was sent to Lunenburg, a portion of the dominions of his father's electorate. Here he was placed under the inspection of a general officer, with the title of governor, and first did duty as a cadet. Thence he was removed, at the end of a year, to Hanover, the capital, and lodged in one of the palaces: but his allowances were intercepted, his spirit curbed, and his mind deteriorated by a rigorous and unabating attention to the duties of the parade and the drill. He was, however, complimented with the rank of colonel of the guards in 1786. It is not a little singular, that the next place of his abode should be Geneva, a city where the equal rights, and republican manners, of the inhabitants, formed a striking contrast to the inequality of conditions and the despotic nature of the governments he had witnessed in the course of his travels. Here he got acquainted with many young English noblemen of the same age as himself, and spent his time very agreeably; but, although a prince of the blood, his purse would not allow him to live at a similar expense; and he was daily and hourly mortified by comparisons of the most odious and degrading nature. At length, when His Royal Highness had reached his twenty-third year, he was recalled to England, where, during the course of the former spring, he had attained the rank and appointment of colonel of the 70th foot. As Prince Edward had now reached a mature age, he of course expected a dukedom—an appanage, and an establishment suitable to his rank in life, in the same manner as his brother, the Duke of Clarence. He also longed to remain for some time in the bosom of his family, to cultivate his early friendships, and survey the beloved country that gave him birth. But at the end of ten days he was suddenly ordered to Gibraltar; and as all remonstrance would have been in vain, with the most implicit obedience to paternal authority, he immediately proceeded thither. There he joined his regiment, and, after a short residence, in the summer of 1791, sailed along with it for Quebec. But instead of being subjected to all the rigour of a Canadian winter, he was now devoted to experience the sickly heats of the torrid zone, for he was soon after ordered to join the troops under the command of General Sir Charles, afterwards Earl Grey, destined for the conquest of the French West-India islands. This expedition proved completely fortunate, and His Royal Highness here, for the first time, drew his maiden sword against the enemies of his country. On this occasion Prince Edward proceeded through a portion of the United States, and in crossing the lake Champlain during the winter, experienced the loss of a large portion of his military equipment, by the breaking of the ice. Soon after his arrival at the place of his destination, his Royal Highness, greatly to his joy, obtained the command of the detached camp of La Coste, and displayed his gallantry at the attack of Fort Royal, in Martinique, which, out of compliment to him, was afterwards named Fort Edward. At St. Lucie and Guadaloupe, the subject of this memoir also distinguished himself in several perilous affairs, and by his bravery and good conduct obtained the praise and approbation of the commander-in-chief, whose dispatches fully testified the high idea entertained of his courage and good conduct. The purposes of the armament having been all duly fulfilled, His Royal Highness returned to North America, and was soon after rewarded with the government of Nova Scotia, to which was superadded (Jan. 12. 1796) the rank of lieutenant-general. During his residence at Halifax, in consequence of the fall of his horse under him, it was deemed necessary for Prince Edward to return to England, and he was called to the House of Lords (1799) by a patent creating him Duke of Kent and Stratherne, and also Earl of Dublin. It was surely full time to obtain a settlement, for His Royal Highness had now |