A large His majesty always took a particular interest in the affairs of the Royal Academy, although it was a remark very common at the time, that Sir Joshua Reynolds, the president, did not appear to enjoy any high degree of the king's favour, with the exception of the knighthood. Sir Joshua was in many respects not fitted for the air of a court-there was too much of the stubbornness of the oak about him, whereas it requires the flexibility and pliancy of the poplar, in order to attain that degree of elevation which is the first and only aim of the courtier. His majesty's predilections were certainly in favour of West, but he was at that time too young an artist to fill the president's chair, although he exhibited those strong indications of genius, which afterwards rendered him so distinguished an ornament of his profession. It was notorious at the time, that the king was not pleased with the election of Sir Joshua Reynolds to the presidency, but at the same time he did not allow his prejudices to operate to the injury of the art itself. The proceeds of the exhibitions at their origin were not suffi-. cient to meet their expenses, and his majesty most generously stepped forward to supply the deficiency from his own private purse. This promise was most strictly and punctually fulfilled by annual disbursements, to the aggregate amount of about 5,000l. jesty showed a great deal of good sense, acute- | extravagance, it was a strong one. ness, and knowledge, as well as of good-nature part of the king's private income was employed and affability. At last, the king took out his in rendering that collection at once a personal watch, (for it was now almost three o'clock, his luxury, and a national ornament. 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 sat all the while, and the king stood, sometimes walking about a little. Her majesty speaks the English language with 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 in her smile, there is something peculiarly engaging." It was impossible, that with the king's love of exercise, his punctual attention to business, and superintendance of his children, he could add much to whatever learning he had acquired in his youth. He is said, however, to have had an admirable tact in acquiring what is called a knowledge of books, that is, in learning where to look for any knowledge of which he had immediate occasion. Had there been any ostentation or affectation in his character, the formation of a library, even that of Buckingham-house, would be no symptom of a love of letters. With his sincerity and his dislike of Although an apparent tranquillity reigned at home, yet the flames of one of the most disastrous wars which ever afflicted this country, were burning in secret. The American war commenced in 1773. This contest has been already subjected to the impartial scrutiny of history. It is evident that the war was ori ginally impolitic, and that it was unnecessarily prolonged. But although it has been the fashion to ascribe much of the perseverance in this calamitous contest to the personal character of the sovereign, it will be conceded that the abdication of so large a portion of his hereditary dominions, was no determination to be lightly or hastily adopted by the king of England. From the temper of the nation and the general unanimity of parliament, the government was encouraged to assume a bold and commanding tone, with respect to the misguided and turbulent Americans. All ideas of conciliation seemed to be abandoned, and nothing but coercive measures were resolved on. This was manifested in the appointment of general Gage, to be governor of the province of Massachussets, and his arrival was met with fearful apprehension and gloomy discontent. The resolutions that had been adopted by the British parliament, and the arrival of great numbers of troops, with the appointment of a military governor of Massachussets, added powerful fuel to the flame that had been so long burning; and the whole extent of the colonial settlements was actuated by one principle of deadly animosity. A general congress was proposed, and fixed upon to meet at Philadelphia, being composed of delegates from the different provinces. This assembly laid the foundation of American independence, for in its origin it was clearly illegal and opposite to the obedience that was due to the crown of England; its establishment was, therefore, the evident assumption of sovereign authority. Various declarations and addresses were drawn up in the name of this assembly against the conduct of Great Britain, and in justification of their own, which gave rise to considerable political controversies at home, amongst which the writings of Dr. Richard Price, a dissenting minister of some repute as a calculator, maintained the greatest share of celebrity. At this juncture a writer of sounder principles and more accurate knowledge than Dr. Price, entered into an examination of the dispute with the colonies, and asserted that the interest of Britain led to the total renunciation of them. Such a proposition was resisted with contempt and abhorrence by both sides. The advocates for America magnified her importance, and maintained that the very commercial and political welfare of this country depended upon holding her colonial settlements: the adherents of government defended the importance of those settlements, and urged the absolute necessity of preserving and subjugating them. Dr. Tucker, however, the learned and trating dean of Gloucester, proved upon commercial and political principles, that Britain would be no loser by the full independence of the colonies. But the demonstration of this plain truth was destined to be purchased at the expense of millions, and by all the horrors of a long and complicated war. pene It has been often remarked, that the opinion of a monarch on the different political questions of his government, is to be ascertained by the manner in which the adherents or the opponents of those measures are received by him in public. A gracious smile, or a marked coolness and reserve, will often speak more forcibly the inward sentiments of the monarch towards an individual, than the most studied speech; and the opinion of his late majesty respecting the alienation of the colonial settlements was gathered and publicly promulgated, by the manner in which the reverend dean of Gloucester was at this time received at court.-" Tucker, Tucker," exclaimed his majesty, when he was informed that the dean was to be presented to him at the ensuing levee," yes, yes, I have | soldier, solacing the evening of his days with heard of him, he wishes to persuade the king the story of his former adventures-his wellof England to throw away one of the brightest fought battles-his hard-earned victories-his jewels in his crown: go, go, and persuade the hair-breadth escapes-the heroes under whom dean that it is for his interest to resign all the he served-the enemies whom he conquered. emolument of his deanery." His majesty's heart glowed with delight on these occasions. He never disdained to be sometimes seen in these retreats of the aged-the infirm, the mutilated, valiant men, who had contributed whilst they were able, to the support and the renown of his kingdom-whose best blood, and whose best services, had been devoted to his country. A thinking man, and who will deny that character to his late majesty, will certainly find in these famed repositories of British warriors, a fund of reflections that must awaken every sentiment of patriotism, as well as of From this simple remark, was extracted his majesty's private opinion of the expediency or necessity of the measures which were then pursuing against the Americans: but, so little was the American war expected to assume a formidable appearance, that his majesty, at the opening of parliament in January 1774, in his speech from the throne, observes, that the state of foreign affairs then afforded full leisure for the legislature to attend to the improvement of our internal and domestic situation, and to the prosecution of such measures as more immedi-humanity. ately respected the preservation and advancement of the revenue and commerce of the empire. It does not, however, fall within the scope of the present work to enter into a diffuse statement of the political events which distinguished the long and momentous reign of his late majesty. The rise, progress and termination of the American war, are well known to every one in the slightest degree acquainted with the history of his country, and therefore a repetition of them in these pages can only appear as dull as "a tale twice told." It was not generally known that his majesty at this time, took particular pleasure in visiting incog, the great national foundations of Greenwich and Chelsea. There, in the happy concealment of his rank, he viewed them in those colours in which they are best arrayed, and in which their beauties are best discerned. To a generous, a sympathising, and a patriotic bosom, what can be more acceptable than the spirited, His majesty, in one of his visits to Chelsea, once fell into conversation with a veteran, who had only one leg; and on inquiring at what battle he lost his leg, his majesty was answered "At the battle of Dettingen, Sir; we fought well on that day." "Did you see the late king in the battle," asked his majesty. "I believe," said the soldier, "every man in the army saw him, for he was every where-but it was a glorious day-and as the late king had one leg, the present one shall have the other, whenever he calls upon me." His majesty was so pleased with this instance of loyalty in the soldier, that he made him a handsome present, and he never afterwards visited Chelsea without inquiring for the "loyal soldier." The king at this period was remarkable for rising early, generally before six, and his arrangements were formed in such a manner, that he could call the two succeeding hours his own. The following, was nearly the regular distribution of the day. At eight, the prince of He royal, and princes William and Henry, were | every capital chart, took the models of all the brought from their several houses, to Kew- celebrated fortifications, knew the soundings house to breakfast with their illustrious relations. At nine, their younger children attended to lisp or smile their good-morrows, and while the five eldest were closely applying to their tasks, the little ones and their nurses passed the whole morning in Richmond Gardens. The king and queen frequently amused themselves with sitting in the room while the children dined, and once a-week, attended by the whole offspring in pairs, made the little delightful tour of Richmond Gardens. In the afternoon the queen worked, and the king read to her; and, whatever charms ambition or folly may conceive as attendant on so exalted a situation, it is neither on the throne, nor in the drawing-room, in the splendor nor the toys of sovereignty, that they place their felicity; it is, next to the fulfilling of the duties of their station, in social and domestic gratifications, in breathing the free air, admiring the works of nature, tasting and encouraging the elegancies of art, and in living to their own hearts. In the evening all the children again paid their duty at Kew-house, before they retired to bed; and the same order was observed through each returning day. The sovereign was the father of his family; not a grievance reached his knowledge that remained unredressed; nor was a single character of merit or ingenuity ever disregarded; so that his private conduct must be allowed to have been no less exemplary than it was truly amiable. Though naturally a lover of peace, his personal courage cannot in the smallest degree be impeached; he exercised his troops himself, understood every martial manœuvre as well as any private centinel in his service, and had the articles of war at his fingers' ends. Topography was one of his favourite studies; he copied of the chief harbours in Europe, and the strong and weak sides of most fortified towns. could name every ship in his navy, and kept lists of the commanders. And all these were private acquisitions, and of his own choosing. The prince of Wales and the bishop of Osnaburgh bade fair, however, for excelling the generality of mankind in learning, as much as they were their superiors in rank: eight hours close application to the languages and the liberal sciences was daily enjoined them, and their industry was unremitting: they were all indeed fine children, and it does not then appear that parental partiality was known at court. Exercise, air, and light diet, were the grand fundamental in the king's idea of health and sprightliness; his majesty fed chiefly on vegetables, and drank little wine; the queen was what many private gentlewomen would call whimsically abstemious, for at a table covered with dainties, she culled the plainest and the simplest dish, and seldom eat of more than two things at a meal. Her wardrobe was changed every three months; and, while the nobility were eager to supply themselves with foreign trifles, her care was that nothing but what was English should be provided for her wear. The tradesmen's bills were regularly paid once a quarter for the expenses of the children's department, and the whole was judiciously and happily conducted. In the household, regularity was indeed said to amount to abstemiousness, but on this subject a thousand stories were circulated, though all really unfounded. The only real subject of complaint was on, the part of the maids of honour, who remonstrated against the disuse of suppers; and, although the king would not break through his previous arrangements, yet | common-hall assembled, to wait upon your mahe settled the business at once, by ordering an additional allowance of 70l. per annum in lieu. jesty, humbly to know your majesty's royal The malevolence of party at this moment did great injustice to the king's character, both private and public. Many of the leading demagogues, were men of most immoral conduct, and were either blind to, or felt themselves ashamed by the domestic virtues of their monarch, who, in spite of unmerited calumny, still shewed himself animated by the noblest intentions, and by the warmest affection for his people. But it was then the fashion of the day to represent him as despotic, inflexible, vindictive, and anxious to domineer both at home and in the colonies, by measures the most tyrannical and unconstitutional. His love of economy was called avarice-his attachment to retirement was denominated as rather seclu- In consequence of this reply, the livery met sion-his pleasures were misrepresented-his at Guildhall, when the lord mayor read the taste satirized, and even his harmless recrea- report of the sheriffs, and added, "As his mations held up to public ridicule-his religious jesty did not think fit to receive the address on principles were exposed to derision-and there the throne, he (the mayor) considered it to be was not a single shade in his character which his duty not to go up with it, and submitted the was not magnified into some moral delinquency. further proceedings to the consideration of the His fondness for gardening was seized upon by livery. As it might be expected, a warm alterour English poet Mason, as the text for a satire cation took place: some saw in this proceeding upon Chambers's Oriental Gardening; and per- of the common-hall only an attempt to annoy haps against the poet's wish, the ridicule in- and wound the feelings of his majesty, whilst tended for Chambers was thrown upon the others were most vociferous in what they were pleased to call it, a defence of their rights. One member descanted on the unanimity, spirit, and perseverance which at that most critical time, ought to influence the livery, as the only and effectual mode of obtaining, what they called, redress." This same person then read some resolutions, which were approved and ordered to be presented to the king; but in the mean time, the common-hall, or some officious person for them, caused the withdrawn address to be printed, in which were some forcible monarch. The year 1775 was remukable for a dispute, and not a very courteous one, which was carried on between his majesty and the city of London, concerning the mode and manner of presenting addresses. The sheriff's attended at court, at St. James's, in obedience to the king's appointment notified to them at Kew; and Mr. Sheriff Plomer, addressing the king, said, " May it please your majesty, we are ordered by the lord mayor, aldermen, and livery of London, in |