encouraged by your royal consort's, and your own, noble sentiments and conduct, we hope this example will be duly followed by your majesty's loyal subjects. "That you may long remain a pattern of conjugal fidelity and happiness, and see a numerous offspring grow up as tender plants under your maternal influence, to be a blessing to their royal parents, and to this nation, are the sincere and ardent wishes of your majesty's most dutiful and devoted subjects,

" THE LADIES OF ST. ALBANS."

This address, from its singularity, excited general observation and some amusement, and gave rise to a jeu d'esprit, purporting to be a petition to her majesty from the maidens of these realms, of thirty years of age and upwards, praying for a tax on bachelors, to be appropriated to the support of neglected and superannuated virgins.

EARL OF ABERCORN.

When the queen landed from Germany, the Earl of Abercorn had the honour of receiving her at his house, where her majesty and suit slept. Soon after, his lordship went to St. James's, when the king thanked him for his attention to her majesty, saying, he was afraid her visit had given him a good deal of trouble. "A good deal indeed," replied his lordship.

No man of his time was, perhaps, more remarkable for the independent character of his manners, than this noble earl; but it was an independence united to much vain pomposity, and repulsive bluntness. In his youth, he was said to have made the tour of Europe in so perpendicular an attitude, as never to

have touched the back of his carriage. Although at one time much about court, he was no courtier in the gainful acceptation of the term---He never booed. His brother, who was a churchman, once solicited him to apply for a living which was vacant, and in the gift of the crown. His lordship returned the following

answer:

"I never ask any favours---Inclosed is a deed of annuity for £1000 a year. Yours,

ABERCORN."

He generally visited his seat at Duddingstone, in the vicinity of Edinburgh, once a year, where he remained five or six weeks; but, contrary to the maxims of Scottish hospitality, he was highly offended if any person presumed to visit him without the formality of a card of invitation. Dr. Robertson, the celebrated historian, not aware of this, went to pay his respects to the noble earl, and found him walking in a shrubbery which had been lately planted. The doctor, wishing to pay a compliment to the soil, observed, the shrubs had grown considerably since his lordship's last visit. 66 They have nothing else to do," replied his lordship; and immediately turning on his heel, left the doctor, without uttering another word.

THE ROYAL DOWER.

The parliament proceeded, like loyal subjects, to make provisions for the queen, in case of his majesty's decease. Her majesty was allowed a jointure of one hundred thousand pounds, with Somerset House, and the lodge at Richmond Old Park, for her town and country residence. When the act passed, her majesty,

who sat on a chair of state on the king's right hand, rose up, and made her obeisance to the king, not to the representatives of the people; perhaps unconscious that it was the nation, and not the sovereign, who bestowed upon her this fiberal grant.

THE QUEEN'S FOLLOWERS.

If popular rumour may be credited, all the women of rank in the Duchy of Mecklenburg Strelitz, either hoped to accompany or follow the Queen of England into the land of promise; and, perhaps, in the goodness and youthful openness of her heart, her majesty might have been induced to hold out some distant expectations of future favour and protection. But soon after her arrival, on studying the genius of the nation, and contemplating the consequences likely to ensue, the queen perceived the necessity of restricting her patronage almost entirely to the ladies of her adopted country. In order, however, to render the disappointment less severe to her country women of Mecklenburg, the king furnished her with a considerable sum of money, which was divided by way of indemnification among a numerous body of titled expectants; and, with the exception of Madame Schwellenburgh, we hear but little of German attendants, and find the young queen placing her entire confidence in English ladies of distinguished families.

THE MECKLENBURG PENSION.

A pension was shortly afterwards granted to the court of Mecklenburg, on the Irish Establishment, which gave rise to a good deal of daily clamour; yet when calmly and generously viewed, it must be regarded as an act less of profusion than of justice. The real facts were these. The Duchy of Mecklenburg had suffered so much during the recent war, from the spoliations of the Prussians, that for a considerable time, the inhabitants were incapable of paying the usual taxes. And many of those who farmed the ducal demesnes, from which the best part of the evenues of the duchy arise, were unable to pay either rent or taxes. In this state of impoverishment, a royal marriage was all that was wanting to complete the ruin of the ducal treasury. Three years income, at least, of this little principality, was required for the outfit of the royal bride, and the presents and entertainments provided, with no unsparing hand, on the occasion. Was a brother to suffer by a sister's elevation? Was it fit that an event, calculated to add lustre to his family, should at once prove its honour and its ruin? His majesty felt all the force of these considerations, and decided on them as became his honour and dignity.

BIRTH OF THE PRINCE OF WALES,
NOW GEORGE IV.

Those who augured a glorious reign to George III. from the circumstance of his ascending the throne on the anniversary of the victory of Agincourt, thought it an equally auspicious circumstance, that an heir

apparent should be born on the forty-eighth anniversary of the accession of the House of Brunswick to the British throne. His present majesty, George IV., was born on the 12th of August, 1762.

The king presented tlie person who acquainted him with the safe delivery of the queen, with a bank-note of the value of £500.

Immediately on the announcement of this event, and whilst the cannon were firing in the Park, a long train of waggons was passing down St. James's Street, containing the treasure of the Hermoine frigate, one of the richest captures recorded in the annals of the British navy. His majesty and the nobility were invited to the windows over the gateway of the palace, to view the cheering procession, and joined in the acclamations of the populace.

For the gratification of the public, it was announced, before the young prince was twelve days old, that his royal highness was to be seen at St. James's, from one until three o'clock, on drawing-room days. The crowd of ladies whom this offer tempted to flock to court to see the royal infant, and taste her majesty's caudle and cake, soon became immense; the daily expense for cake alone, was estimated at £40, and the consumption of wine was more than could have been conceived. All persons of fashion were admitted to see the prince, under the following restrictions, viz., that in passing through the apartment, they stepped with the greatest caution, and did not offer to touch his royal highness. For the greater security in this respect, a part of the apartment was latticed off in the Chinese manner, to prevent curious persons from approaching too close.