manner of great dissatisfaction; and the king every now and then went to her in a submissive way and spoke in a soothing sort of tone, for she has acquired the same sort of drilling over him that Willis and his men have— and the king's mind is totally subdued and in a state of the greatest weakness and subjection. It is given out even by the prince's friends that they observed nothing wrong or irrational in this visit, and it is material that they should not be thought to publish the contrary. It is not entirely true, however, as the king made several slips, one of which was that he told them he was the Chancellor. This circumstance is not to be mentioned for the reasons just given." Thus Sir G. Elliot.

These distressing conflicts show how the most trifling matter could be twisted into accusations. On one morning when the physicians had gathered for consultation and their usual wrangle, the party was at breakfast, and were detained some time finishing this meal after the queen had sent for them. It was given out that the queen was very angry at the delay, though it was proved that she really thought they had finished breakfast. Warren said to Mrs. Harcourt "that he was afraid he had offended her Majesty." She, thinking he was referring to the breakfast delay, said, "Oh no, the queen is very well satisfied." On which Warren artfully reported in town that the queen was now sorry for her behaviour and had apologized to him! This may have occurred, and no doubt there was some such purpose in the mind of the prince's set; but it will be understood

how easily party passion would exaggerate some trifling incident of the kind. It must be admitted there were proceedings of the queen and her following which were indiscreet and betrayed the fanatic passion which influenced the party. It should have been remembered on both sides that the struggle had taken the unseemly shape of a contest between mother and son, which, if unavoidable, ought to have been regulated by the greatest tact and decorum. When the royal party moved from Windsor to Kew, the prince very properly collected all his father's papers and jewels and sealed them up in a place of security. This proceeding was made the ground of an accusation that he had secured and appropriated the king's property.'

It is characteristic of the royal pair that even at this crisis they should have kept in mind their old serious pursuits and tastes. Thomas Willis was a clergyman, and gave his patient a sermon of his own to read, which both king and queen were so interested in, that they must send it at once to their friend Dr. Hurd. How unaffected is

the queen's letter :

"Feb. 7th, 1789.—When I was last night with the king, he inquired very anxiously after you, and seemed pleased to hear of your having been at Kew, to inform yourself after him. He also gave me the sermon for you of Mr Thomas Willis, and ordered me to send it as soon as possible, and to express how much he wished to know your

1 The list of articles, which consisted of a few jewelled orders, is now in the British Museum.

opinion about it. I am likewise to introduce this new acquaintance of ours to you, and I hope, nay, I am pretty sure that you will like him, as he really is a very modest man, and by his conduct in this house gains -everybody's approbation. My good sir, this letter was wrote yesterday, but no opportunity was found to send it; the consequence of which is that the sermon is brought by its author, whom I hope you will approve of meeting."

After this meeting between the king and his sons had been happily got over, the two princes continued their attempts to have further access. Early in March the Duke of York saw him again, and reported to all that the king's conversation was made up of childish remarks -such as, that he intended setting out for Hanover; that "he had given orders for the cabriolet for the queen to drive herself." Some time before the prince had given the queen some papers which he had drawn up for his own vindication, and which, he pressed, should be laid before the king. In the face of these worrying importunities, which were difficult to resist, the queen made a gallant stand. She knew—as her sons knew very well-that details of business were as yet highly dangerous for one in the king's state; nor did the young men note how inconsistent with the stories they were circulating of the king's "childishness" was the supposition that he could understand the papers they were forcing on him.

The Prince of Wales, however, continued to insist, pressing for an interview. "The queen," his partisans

repeated, "had sent some shabby excuse for not answering that day." She was, no doubt, waiting to consult the Chancellor. She said that she had mentioned the matter of the papers to the king, but he had not asked for them; but that should he do so, she would lay them before him. She passed by his request for an interview. On the same evening, however, came a letter from her Majesty, enclosing one from the king to her, "written with his own hand, but evidently dictated by Pitt, or some of his people."

Thus Sir Gilbert, who with the rest of the faction seems to have learnt of every step in the matter in a few hours after it occurred. The king in this letter referred to all the trouble he had given her, and that he would strive not to give her any further anxieties. . He therefore was not "inclined to enter on any business that might agitate him." These family letters were shown about at the club, and were pronounced "clumsy artifices." It was a transparent" put off." Why should the king, being in the same house with her, write to the queen? The resolution not to admit the princes seemed sensible enough, and were it only to prevent a relapse, which it almost seemed as though the opposing faction were eager to bring about, it was natural at least that such should be the opinion of the queen and her faction.

It must have been inexpressibly welcome to this faithful lady to find the king every day improving in health through her wakeful guard. The whole city was now illuminated and given up to rejoicings; the ambassadors

came to present congratulations, and the king bore these tests very well. The baffled princes, who had to look on and ruefully join in the rejoicings, presently lost all restraint. The prince "had a smart little tussle with his mother, in which they came to strong and open declarations of hostility. He told her that she had connected herself with his enemies, and had entered into plans for destroying and disgracing him and all her children; that she countenanced misrepresentations of his conduct to the king, and prevented the explanations he wished to give. She was violent and lost her temper, and her conversation ended, I believe, by her saying that. she would not be the channel of anything that either he or the Duke of York had to say, &c." However we may deplore these painful recriminations, we must have indulgence for the wife and mother, who felt that her hour of triumph had come, and was not inclined to spare her unfilial child. Even his henchman, Sir Gilbert, thought the prince's behaviour indecorous.

It must have been a fresh element in her triumph to see at all the festivals the ladies of the opposition almost compelled to sport in their caps the motto, "God save the King," and also to have to go to court and ruefully congratulate.