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"It will ever afford us satisfaction to remember this instance of regard and attention from the inhabitants of the borough of Southwark. We are assured of their interest in our happiness, and we receive their congratulations with every heartfelt satisfaction."

A numerous and highly respectable deputation from the bodies of the dissenting clergy of the three denominations, were introduced into the royal presence in due form. The reverend gentlemen were most graciously received; and the president having read the address, the Princess and Prince returned the following answer :

"Be assured we receive the congratulations of the protestant dissenting ministers of the three denominations, with every cordial satisfaction and pleasure. And, we are well assured, in those fervent hopes they express for our mutual happiness, and for the prosperity of His Majesty's kingdoms."

The Earl of Coventry, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Worcester, and the Recorder of the city of Worcester, and others were introduced, with an address of congratulation from that place, and the following answer was given by the Princess and Prince :

"We receive your assurances of regard with the greatest pleasure, and beg you to make known to the city of Worcester, with what satisfaction we must remember their congratulations."

Mr. Williams, the Recorder of Winchester, Richard Meyler, Esq., the member for that city, and Mr. Paulet Mildmay, were introduced to the Princess and Prince;

when the Recorder having read the address, her Royal Highness and his Serene Highness returned the fol lowing answer :

"We are much gratified with your assurances of regard, and we receive the congratulations of the city of Winchester with the greatest satisfaction."

All the noblemen and gentlemen composing the deputations who presented the addresses, were most graciously received.

upon

A strong trait in the character of the Princess Charlotte exhibited itself after the ceremony of presenting the addresses was over. The conversation turning the very high and bombastic strain of panegyric of the virtues of her Royal Highness, in which one of the addresses was couched, "I remember," said her Royal Highness; "an anecdote of a German count, who, according to the custom of his country, had a list of his wines; but as, for the most obvious reasons, his cellar was not well furnished, he wrote, List of the wines which I have, and afterwards added, List of the wines which I have not. Now," continued her Royal Highness, "I wish some of these good gentlemen would follow the example of the German count, and give me a list of the virtues which I have, and also a list of the virtues which I have not. And, I am afraid, that like the list of the wines, the latter would far exceed the former*."

* If, however, we direct our attention to the nuptial addresses which were at this time presented by our Gallic neighbours, on the marriage of the Duchess of Berri, the eulogiums contained

A few remarks on the general features and complexion of the addresses which have been lately presented to the throne, may not be considered as inappropriate or irrelevant; especially as from the general

in our addresses will be found cold, vapid, and insipid; and, it will prove that we are far behind our polished rivals in the art of panegyrising, or in other words, in giving divine perfection to human imperfection. We only took a portion of the cornucopia of virtue, wherewith to decorate our Princess Charlotte; they totally exhausted it, to shower the whole on the head of Son Altesse Royale la Duchesse de Berri. As to personal charms, all that we have heard of the fabled beauties of the mythological deities of a Venus in Heaven, of an Eve in Paradise, or an Helen in Troy; all falls short, very short, of the transcendent charms of her, who possessed a very slight portion indeed of them, until she was metamorphosed into the Duchess of Berri. In her walks, says one of her eulogists, she emits a sweeter fragrance around her than the roses of Arabia. The ground on which she treads is impregnated with fertility, and Sirius and Aldebaran must hide their sparkling heads, when her eyes twinkle. As a further illustration of the national character of the French, in opposition to that of the English, the following whimsical story will be sufficient. When the Princess Caroline landed in France, a little dog belonging to her, whined to follow her on shore; and the French newspapers translated his lamentations into a pretty and successful speech, praying to be taken with his mistress to partake in the happiness of France. A parish curate, in a small village, first addresses the Princess with an exhortation on the duties of matrimony; and concludes by telling her, that as he is convinced she is tired of his preaching, he will give her a song. His reverence accordingly, without changing his clerical habits, becomes a Troubadour, and sings so much con amore, that he ends at last with a dance. One of the prefects of the town through which she passed, thus closes his address:—He who unlooses your virgin zone, will have such a

tone of the sentiments contained in the public addresses, a just estimate may be formed of the existing state of the public mind, respecting the particular event which has given rise to them. It is certain, that party-spirit may do much in throwing a sombre hue over every event which does not immediately favor its own particular views; and it very seldom happens that the collected voice of a nation is unanimous in its expressions of congratulation on the termination of any remarkable event. On the subject, however, of the Princess Charlotte's marriage, there appeared to be but one opinion pervading the nation: all the addresses on this occasion were conceived in terms that do honor to those who voted them, for they were at once manly and respectful. They seemed to reject, on the one hand, every thing like arrogance; and, on the other, every thing approaching to selfdebasement. In fact, princes in general, and ours less so than any others, are far from requiring such humiliation; the latter are aware that the English are an observant race, scanning, but not too rigidly, the actions of their rulers, and overlooking every thing but that conduct which is calculated to excite their contempt.

Addresses, upon congratulatory occasions, are in general a disgusting compound of flattery and falsehood;

foretaste of Heaven, that when he arrives there he will find his bliss so poor, that he will wish himself again upon the earth→→→ avec votre Altesse Royale. We have much to learn in the art of flattery, before we can enter the lists with the framers of the French addresses.

in which a servile spirit is mistaken for humility, adulation for truth, and in which the great man is exalted almost to an equality with the Deity, and transformed by the metamorphose spirit of falsehood into a paragon of perfection, and the possessor of every virtue which adorns the human character*. Such sentiments are suited only for an Algerine slave, trembling before his despotic dey; or a mandarin of all buttons performing the ko-tou before that son of the sun, his imperial majesty of China. Princes, such as ours, and all others if they can reason, are most honored when they are addressed with a generous and respectful freedom. The maxim is universally just, that every one, who voluntarily undervalues himself, becomes the slave of him that would depress him; and, whenever he retires from the presence of his idol, leaves behind him impressions of contempt and groveling servitude, rather than of confidence and princely approbation. The patron can never fail to discern some deception in the cringing tool; there is always a suspicious fidelity in the allegiance of abject flattery. Hence it is, that the late addresses will be read with pleasure; wholly coinciding in the opinion of Zimmermann, " that the pride, so necessary for a nation, is invariably dependent on the love of country." Circumstances may occur by which the

* The inhabitants of Shrewsbury, in one of their addresses to James I., king of England, wished that his reign might last as long as the sun, moon and stars. The King replied with great affability," Gentlemen, if your wishes were fulfilled, my son would be obliged to reign in the dark.”

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