or five yards long, shook the sides of majesty itself with hearty laughter. But every body above the lower classes knew that the king could delight in the serious drama, that he was a reader and an admirer of Shakspeare, and that he sent several times for Mrs. Siddons to the Queen's house, to recite tragic passages before the royal family. The truth is, that he went purposely to indulge in that broad open cheerfulness and mirth, English all over, which he could not find in the private chambers or the tapestried saloons of a palace. He went to refresh his spirits, and to excite his merriment. In the same way, he amused himself at the fêtes champetres at Frogmore, with Dutch-fairs, and a little company of actors-well enough remembered by Munden and Bannister, and where he particularly noticed Elliston. One advantage resulted from his play-going-he became personally as well known to all his metropolitan subjects as their next-door neighbours.

Though the regular course of the king's domestic living was so plain and unostentatious, he was

* This reminds one of George the Second, who preferred farces, pantomimes, and funny comedies; but then he did not understand English enough to enjoy Shakspeare. That Monarch liked such pieces as The London Cuckolds, &c., and used to laugh heartily at the mishap of an intriguing hair-dresser, in getting in at a lady's window in the morning, when the sweeps pass by, and blacken the gallant's posteriors. When he went to see Richard III., the bustle of which pleased him, he was struck with the prof. fered homage of the Mayor of London, and said, "Dat is goot Lord Mayor!" And when Richard was bellowing out in his distress in Bosworth field, his Majesty said, "Will not dat goot Lord Mayor come back again to help him ?”

not disinclined to that appropriate show which is befitting a British monarch, and which has been always displayed by our princes on particular occasions. He could never be induced to patronize the caprices of gaudy fashion, or the displays of pompous extravagance; but he never forgot that he was to support the character of a king, and he was pleased with the style and parade which justly appertained to his high office. Thus, all that was strictly connected with his regal state, was observed at those reviews, or processions, or public exhibitions which he attended. He was a good antiquary in all that is material in books or prints, concerning the forms and order of our ancient state ceremonials. He regarded not so much the brilliancy, as the fitness of the symbols and attributes of royalty, for the time, place, and object. When he patronized, on so superb a scale, the commemoration of Handel, he, with his wonted propriety of taste, fixed upon Westminster-abbey as the scene for sacred concerts: he was quite indifferent to the coarse and impudent attempts frequently made by the disappointed or the needy dishonourable to censure his conduct, or to burlesque it, by holding up his amiable peculiarities in a ridiculous light. This was shown in the case of Wolcot, a very profligate man, and an immoral writer, whose publications, under the assumed name of Peter Pindar, for several years, brought base profits to himself and his booksellers; though almost with the avowed object of exposing the domestic transactions of the royal family to derision. This mercenary adventurer of the pen,

who had been a physician, and afterwards somewhat of a painter, had a ready talent of rhyming, and a share of light ingenuity and point in putting together all sorts of offensive ribaldry. But Peter Pindar's works have long lost all interest, except what may arise from curiosity to see how far impertinence was tolerated. They produced no effect on the temper of a king, who was not daunted by the knife of Margaret Nicholson or the pistol of Hadfield. He sometimes read and laughed at them, not listening to recommendations of prosecutions. No mo narch was ever insulted by more coarse and scandalous caricatures, exhibited even in shop-windows within sight of his palace; but prints and pasquinades were alike treated with indifference. A pretty bold caricature was once shown to his majesty, in which Warren Hastings was represented wheeling the king and the chancellor in a wheelbarrow for sale, and crying, "What a man buys, he may sell." The inference intended was, that his majesty and lord Thurlow used improper influence in Hastings's favour. The king smiled at it, and observed, "Well, this is something new. I have been in all sorts of carriages, but was never put into a wheelbarrow before."

Difference in politics did not govern the king's conduct when he saw among those who opposed his measures a patriotic disposition in a trying emergency. Thus the part so manfully and elo

* The Duke of Cumberland, the King's uncle, though a jolly fellow, was not so good-natured. He could scarcely forgive Lord Townshend, for sketching with his cane on the snow an outline of his Royal Highness's buge frame.

quently taken by the late Mr. Sheridan during the naval mutiny drew from his majesty his repeated approbation in public and in private circles.

ANECDOTES." The king was one day passing in his carriage through a place near one of the royal palaces, when the rabble were gathered together to interrupt the worship of the dissenters; his majesty stopped to know the cause of the hubbub, and being answered it was only some affair between the town's people and the Methodists, he replied, loud enough to be heard by many, The Methodists are a quiet good kind of people, and will disturb nobody; and if I can learn that any persons in my employ disturb them, they shall be immediately dismissed.' The king's most gracious speech was speedily recapitulated through the whole town; and persecution has not dared to lift its hand there since that period."-Cobbin's French Preacher, 8vo. p.

129.

Upon an occasion when his late majesty was at his stables (it being almost his constant practice to walk from the Castle, and mount his horse at the Mews, to ride to his farms) he entered into conversation in the most familiar manner with a Mr. Smith, who was superintending the rebuilding of his house, which had been destroyed by fire. His majesty observed, that it would be a great improvement, if the external wall was carried out a few feet further; and upon Mr. Smith replying that it was his majesty's private property and of course he could not have presumed to have solicited such a favour, the king turned round, and said quickly,

went to the king's house, at Kew. We had been only a few minutes in the hall, when the king and queen came in from an airing; and as they passed through the hall, the king called to me by name, and asked how long it was since I came from town. I an. swered, about an hour. I shall see you,' says he, in a little.' The doctor and I waited a considerable time (for the king was busy), and then we were called into a large room, furnished as a library, where the king was walking about, and the queen sitting in a chair. We were received in the most gracious manner possible by both their majesties. I had the honour of a conversation with them (nobody else being present but Dr. Majendie) for upwards of an hour, on a great variety of topics, in which both the king and queen joined, with a degree of cheerfulness, affability, and ease, that was to me surprising, and soon dissipated the embarrassment which I felt at the beginning of the conference. We had much conversation on moral subjects; from which both their majesties let it appear, that they were warm friends to Christianity; and so little inclined to infidelity, that they could hardly believe that any thinking man could really be an atheist, unless he could bring himself to believe that he made himself a thought which pleased the king exceedingly, and he repeated it several times to the queen. He asked whether any thing had been written against me. I spoke of the late pamphlet, of which I gave an account, telling him, that I never had met with any man who had read it, except one quaker. This brought on some discourse about VOL. LXII.

the quakers, whose moderation and mild behaviour the king and queen commended. I was asked many questions about the Scots universities, the revenues of the Scots clergy, their mode of praying and preaching; the medical college of Edinburgh, Dr. Gregory (of whom I gave a particular character), and Dr. Cullen; the length of our vacation at Aberdeen, and the closeness of our attendance during the winter; the number of students that attend my lectures; my mode of lecturing, whether from notes, or completely written lectures; about Mr. Hume, and Dr. Robertson, and lord Kinnoul, and the archbishop of York, &c. His majesty asked what I thought of my new acquaintance, lord Dartmouth? I said, there was something in his air and manner which I thought not only agreeable, but enchanting, and that he seemed to me to be one of the best of men-a sentiment in which both their majesties heartily joined. They say that lord Dartmouth is an enthusiast,' said the king; but surely he says nothing on the subject of religion, but what every Christian may, and ought to say. He asked, whether I did not think the English language on the decline at present? I answered in the affirmative; and the king agreed, and named the Spectator' as one of the best standards of the language. When I told him that the Scots clergy sometimes prayed a quarter, or even half an hour, at a time, he asked whether that did not lead them into repetitions? I said it often did. That,' said he, I don't like in prayers; and, excellent as our liturgy is, I think it somewhat faulty in 22

that respect.' Your majesty knows,' said I, that three services are joined in one, in the ordinary church service, which is one cause of those repetitions.' True,' he replied, and that circumstance also makes the service too long.' From this, he took occasion to speak of the composition of the church-liturgy, on which he very justly bestowed the highest commendation. Observe, his majesty said, how flat those occasional prayers are, that are now com

surprising elegance, and little or nothing of a foreign accent. There is something wonderfully captivating in her manner, so that if she were only of the rank of a private gentlewoman, one could not help taking notice of her, as one of the most agreeable women in the world. Her face is much more pleasing than any of her pictures; and in the expression of her eyes, and her smile, there is something peculiarly engaging.

old ones.' We discussed a great many other topics; for the conversation, as before observed, lasted for upwards of an hour, without any intermission. The queen bore a large share in it. Both the king and her majesty showed a great deal of good sense, acuteness, and knowledge, as well as of good nature and affability. At last, the king took out his watch (for it was now almost 3 o'clock, his hour of dinner), which Dr. Majendie and I took as a signal to withdraw. We accordingly bowed to their majesties, and I addressed the king in these words I hope, Sir, your majesty will pardon me, if I take this opportunity to return you my humble and most grateful acknowledgments for the honour you have been pleased to confer upon me.' He immediately answered, I think I could do no less for a man who has done so much service to the cause of Christianity. I shall always be glad of an opportunity to show the good opinion I have of you.' The queen sate all the while, and the king stood, sometimes walking about a little. Her majesty speaks the English language with

TINE.

London, July 20th, 1787.

"I am just returned from Windsor, where I passed three days. I went thither, partly to see some friends, but chiefly that I might pay my respects to the king and queen. They both received me in the most gracious manner. I saw the king first on the terrace, where he knew me at first sight, and did me the honour to converse with me a considerable time.

"The king talked of various matters, particularly the union of the colleges. He asked whether I was for or against it. I told him I was a friend to the union. But lord Kinnoul,' said he, is violent against it (this, by-the-by, I did not know before). The king spoke jocularly of my being fat: I remember the time,' said he, when you were as lean as Dr. **** there,' pointing to a gentleman who was standing by. You look very well,' said his majesty to me, and I am convinced you are well, if you would only think so. Do, Dr. Heberden,? said the king, convince Dr. Beattie, that he is in perfect