The Prince

most constant and affectionate attendance. Regent, too, showed an extraordinary attention, and was constantly hurrying down to Kew. Fever now came on, with sleeplessness and much suffering, and it was clear that the end was approaching. On the day before her death, her trusty secretary, Sir Herbert Taylor, knowing her courageous nature, was emboldened to suggest to her that she should make her will, and though it was of an elaborate kind, with many dispositions requiring much thought and balancing of claims, &c., the queen did not shrink from the strain. As we can see from the paper itself, it is a most exceptional performance for a person then within a few hours of her death. Shortly after she sank into a sort of lethargy, which was not thought a serious symptom, and Sir Henry Halford was about to enter his carriage to go on to Windsor to visit his next patient, the king; a sudden change, however, was noticed, and he returned to her bedside. It was evident now that the last crisis was at hand, and expresses were sent for the regent, Duke of York, and other members of the family, who arrived at about ten o'clock. They proposed to remain, but finding that the dying lady was not getting worse, they returned to town. Next morning a fresh express summoned the family, who once more hurried to her bedside-the regent arriving about twelve o'clock. They were just in time. As they entered consciousness suddenly returned, and she greeted her son, holding out her hand and smiling upon her

children.

The next moment-it was about one-she had passed away.'

Such was this long and remarkable life, which, as I think, it would be impossible to follow without feeling admiration and respect. When we consider the series of trying situations in which she was so constantly placed, we find but little that can be censured. On the contrary, we find steady principle, an unvarying restraint, good sense and warm affection. Many years after her death an unworthy attack was made upon her memory, embodying all the vulgar topics of abuse-German narrowmindedness, stinginess, hatred, &c. This may have been the work of Brougham, but it drew forth an admirable defence from her secretary, Sir Herbert Taylor-an excellent analysis of character, and bearing conviction with it.

1 Mr. Croker gives this account of the queen's last moments, in a letter to Mr. Peel : 66 The queen died about five minutes to one. The prince, the Duke of York, the Duchess of Gloucester, and Princess Sophia were in the room; she had been breathing hard and loud for half an hour as she sat in her chair; suddenly she stopped and, drawing a long sigh, expired. Her hand fell over the arm of her chair, and her head and body fell towards that side on which she had not been able to lean during her illness. The prince was extremely affected, and they were obliged to give him some cordials to prevent his fainting." Croker probably had this account from the Duke of York. It is remarkable that she and two of her sons should have died in their chairs. The remains lay in state on December 1st, at Kew Palace. On the following day the funeral took place at about seven o'clock in the evening-a picturesque spectacle, carried out by torchlight. The procession set out from Frogmore to St. George's, Windsor, where the body of the venerated, much-tried lady, at last found rest in the royal vault.

1.66

Queen Charlotte," he says,' was a woman of excellent sense, and though her qualities were not brilliant, and had not been improved by early education, she had since acquired a general knowledge of most subjects which form the ordinary topics of general conversation. Her intercourse with many persons of information and talents enabled her to take a fair share in general conversation. Nor did she ever commit herself by what she said. She came to England with many German prejudices, which do not seem to have been entirely shaken off. I admit that she was plain in person, and that age, frequent childbirth and infirmities had destroyed the symmetry of a figure which those who had seen her Majesty on her arrival in England described to me in favourable terms. I deny that her manners and disposition rendered her unamiable. On the contrary, those who approached her found her courteous and obliging, and surprise was often expressed that her manners were so good as to cause one to forget that her figure was other than graceful. She was kind and considerate towards her attendants and servants, most of whom had passed many years in her service. She was ever disposed to encourage amusement and cheerful conversation, but, on the other hand, she adhered strictly to etiquette, and she knew how to check the approach to anything like familiarity of manners or too great freedom of conversation. Her court was most respectable. I grant that it was not a gay court, and if blame attached to the queen, it was for not sufficiently 1 Remarks on an article in the Edinburgh Review, 1838.

considering that her daughters had arrived at a time of life when greater indulgence and some relaxation of uniform routine would have been agreeable and reasonable; but that uniformity of routine had become habitually imperative, a sort of second nature, and allowance must be made for the circumstances in which she was placed by the recurrence of the king's lamentable illness."

CHAPTER XVI.

CHARACTER AND LETTERS.

NOTHING is more remarkable in the course of this royal family than the affectionate union which, from beginning to end, was maintained between the mother and all her daughters. It is really an extraordinary thing, of which there are few instances in private families, that this should have continued for a period of some fifty years. It might, of course, be said that it would have been more prudent if these clever and intelligent young ladies had been established in life with suitable husbands. It was not until late that two of the princesses were thus provided for, one almost on the eve of the queen's death. It would not be fanciful to trace this to an affectionate reluctance in the daughters to quit the side of their mother in the tide of misfortunes and troubles which recurred with such persistence as to leave little opportunity for ever considering such things. To the last they were the same devoted children, and always found, for a span of nearly fifty years, beside her, comforting and supporting her. Not until the regency came were any of them inclined to set up separate establishments.