proceed, without interruption, to the most important portion of the Life of her late Majesty, it may not, however, be improper, first, briefly to go over some of the leading events and traits in the short life of her beloved and most amiable daughter, the late PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES AND SAXE-COBURG, confining myself, as much as possible, to those facts which refer principally to the conduct and character of the illustrious individual whose memoirs, in this volume, I am chiefly concerned to detail.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales, as I have already stated, was born on the 17th of January, 1796. Whilst the parents of this lovely infant were living apart in a state of mutual dissatisfaction with each other's conduct, she was gradually unfolding those amiable traits of character which, in hér more advanced life, rendered her the object of universal esteem and admiration. The rudiments of her education she received from her mother, assisted by an excellent and truly pious clergyman resident in the neighbourhood, the Rev. Dr. Watson.

She is said to have made very rapid progress in the acquirement of a knowledge of the alphabet, and in the art of reading; but what was of infinitely greater moment to the formation of her character, and to her happiness, her mother very early inspired her with a just sense of religion, and the duties and doctrines of the Christian faith. The late Dr. Porteus, the pious and excellent Bishop

of London, in his journal, left by him, gives the following account of this charming young Princess, when she was but just turned her fifth year:

“ Yesterday, the 6th of August, 1801, I passed a very pleasant day at Shrewsbury House, near Shooter's Hill, the residence of the Princess Charlotte of Wales. The day was fine, the prospect extensive and beautiful, taking in a large reach of the Thames, which was covered with vessels of various sizes and descriptions. We saw a good deal of the young Princess: she is a most captivat ing and engaging child, and, considering the high station she may hereafter fill, a most interesting and important one. She repeated to me several hymns with great correctness and propriety, and on being told when she went to Southend in Essex, (as she afterwards did for the benefit of sea-bathing,) she would then be in my diocese, she fell down on her knees, and begged my blessing. I gave it her with all my heart, and with my earnest secret prayers to God, that she might adorn her illustrious station with every Christian grace; and that if ever she became queen of this truly great and glorious country, she might be the means of diffusing virtue, piety, and happiness, through every part of her dominions."

Such was the early bent of her Royal Highness's mind, on that most important of all subjects, religion. The following anecdote will show what impressions her mind had received on that next valuable branch of human study, politics-By

religion and politics all mankind are governedBeing one evening present during a game of chess, one of the parties suddenly exclaimed "check mate." "What is that?" asked the Princess. She was answered, "it is when the king is en prise by any particular piece, and cannot move without falling into the hands of the enemy." "That is a bad situation, indeed, for a king," said the Princess; "but can never be the fate of the King of England, so long as he conforms to the laws; for then he will meet with the protection of his subjects."

Volumes might be filled with anecdotes displaying the very great tenderness of disposition and true goodness of heart which manifested themselves in the early life of this Princess. Charity, the darling virtue of her mother's breast, held a most conspicuous seat in her bosom. Yet she very soon discovered no small portion of that intrepidity of soul, mixed up at times with a considerable share of irritation, that supported her afflicted parent midst such a "siege of troubles," as in so short a space of time few persons, even of royal blood, were ever doomed to experience.

We have already seen, that ere she had attained her eighth year, she was taken entirely from under the care of her mother. She had always been remarkable for an honest expression of whatever she deemed fit to be remarked upon; and when she had attained to that age which enabled her to make a due distinction between right and wrong,

she often fearlessly and incautiously gave her opinion respecting the differences that existed between her parents; and, considering that she had been, till then, chiefly under the care of her mother; had experienced her maternal tenderness; and listened with delight to the lessons of wisdom and of pleasure which fell from her lips, it was perfectly natural that she should warmly espouse her cause, and repel with indignation every hint or whisper that the implacable enemies of the Princess of Wales might presume to utter in her presence, That those repulses were always made with judgment is, perhaps, under such circumstances, too much to expect. It, however, soon became visible to some of those who surrounded the house of her Royal Highness, that a more vigilant eye ought to be kept upon the conduct and principles of the young Princess; nor were there wanting persons ready to convey to the Prince of Wales such intelligence as induced him to change the system of education heretofore pursued. Lady de Clifford was, accordingly, appointed her governess. The King, who by the laws of the land is supposed to be the guardian of all infants, availed himself of his prerogative in this case, and appointed the Bishop of Exeter, whom he afterwards translated to the see of Salisbury, to be her private tutor. The Rev. Dr. George Frederick Nott, whose grandfather was a German, and had a situation in the royal household, and was a particular favourite of his Majesty's, was elected her sub-preceptor. Dr. Nott owed this