father, he contributed to diffuse the blessings of education through all classes of society. There is scarcely a charitable institution in the metropolis that did not profit by his presence and patronage. He filled the chair, on public occasions, with a princely dignity, and enforced the calls of benevolence with an eloquence peculiarly appropriate. A grateful public, long conscious of his merits, has not proved ungrateful to his memory; for a statue has been voted to perpetuate the remembrance of him, the greater part of whose life has been devoted to the cause of humanity and the consolation of his fellow-creatures! T No. III. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK, AND OF ALBANY, &c. &c. HIS Princess is the last of five members of the royal family of Great Britain, who have submitted to the stroke of fate, within the short space of a few months. Such a sudden and unexampled demise of great personages, has not been witnessed in the annals of this country during some centuries *; and we trust, will not speedily occur again. Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherine, Duchess of York and Albany, is a descendant of the House of Brandenburgh, which has attained, almost within our own time, partly by successful wars, and partly by well-timed negociations, a high rank among the states of Europe. The Princess, of whom we now treat, was born at Berlin, on the 7th of May, 1767. She was the daughter of the late Frederic William II., King of Prussia, by his first marriage with Elizabeth Christina Ulrica, a princess of the House of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttle, and consequently half-sister to his present Majesty. As the reformed religion had extended to Prussia, the young Princess was, of course, brought up in the principles of the Protestant faith, according to the Lutheran creed. Her Royal Highness's education, was superintended by a kind and affectionate mother, and no opportunity was lost, to render her both virtuous and accomplished; notwithstanding the court of Berlin of that day, according to report, does not appear to have been over-scrupulous on the important point of morals. * 1. His Majesty. See Art. I. in this volume. 2. The Queen. See a former volume. 3. The Duke of Kent. See Art. II. in this volume. 4. The Princess Charlotte of Wales. See a former volume. And, 5. The Duchess of York. father, he contributed to diffuse the blessings of education through all classes of society. There is scarcely a charitable institution in the metropolis that did not profit by his presence and patronage. He filled the chair, on public occasions, with a princely dignity, and enforced the calls of benevolence with an eloquence peculiarly appropriate. A grateful public, long conscious of his merits, has not proved ungrateful to his memory; for a statue has been voted to perpetuate the remembrance of him, the greater part of whose life has been devoted to the cause of humanity and the consolation of his fellow-creatures! No. III. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK, THIS Princess is the last of five members of the royal family of Great Britain, who have submitted to the stroke of fate, within the short space of a few months. Such a sudden and unexampled demise of great personages, has not been witnessed in the annals of this country during some centuries *; and we trust, will not speedily occur again. Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherine, Duchess of York and Albany, is a descendant of the House of Brandenburgh, which has attained, almost within our own time, partly by successful wars, and partly by well-timed negociations, a high rank among the states of Europe. The Princess, of whom we now treat, was born at Berlin, on the 7th of May, 1767. She was the daughter of the late Frederic William II., King of Prussia, by his first marriage with Elizabeth Christina Ulrica, a princess of the House of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttle, and consequently half-sister to his present Majesty. As the reformed religion had extended to Prussia, the young Princess was, of course, brought up in the principles of the Protestant faith, according to the Lutheran creed. Her Royal Highness's education, was superintended by a kind and affectionate mother, and no opportunity was lost, to render her both virtuous and accomplished; notwithstanding the court of Berlin of that day, according to report, does not appear to have been over-scrupulous on the important point of morals. 1. His Majesty. See Art. I. in this volume. 2. The Queen. See a former volume. 3. The Duke of Kent. See Art. II. in this volume. 4. The Princess Charlotte of Wales. See a former volume. And, 5. The Duchess of York. Meanwhile, the Duke of York, who had received some portion of his education in Germany, was attracted to Prussia, partly by the high reputation of Frederic the Great, who then sat on the throne, and partly by a laudable wish to become acquainted with the new system of tactics introduced by that monarch. He was destined to command the army of England, and it was not only very necessary, but very commendable, that he should become familiar with the best models then known in Europe. It was during this first excursion, that His Royal Highness saw, and became enamoured with, the subject of the present memoir; but it was not until a second, which occurred soon after, that a formal demand of the Princess in marriage took place. Accordingly, during the summer of 1791, the consent of all parties having been previously obtained, the necessary preliminaries were adjusted, and on the 29th of September, the ceremonial took place at Berlin, in presence of the royal family, and all the principal ministers of state. The sum presented under the name of a portion was not great; and indeed this might be considered as a rare occurrence, being a match of affection. Care was taken, at the same time, to obtain from the august bridegroom a solemn renunciation of all claim to the throne of Prussia, in case of the failure of heirs male on the part of the reigning dynasty. Soon after this, the happy pair set out on their journey to England. Having left the Prussian capital, after passing a week at the palace of Herenhaussen, and a few days at Osnaburgh, they proceeded by Brussels, to Lisle; at this period the French revolution had commenced, and the name and ensigns of royalty were deemed peculiarly odious. Accordingly, on their reaching the latter city, the illustrious pair, on account of their high descent, were not a little annoyed by the populace, and we are sorry to add, that the royal armorial ensigns on the carriage were defaced and nearly obliterated. At length, however, the Duke and Duchess reached Calais, where there was a yacht ready to receive them; and having embarked |