those names, applicable to the design of her Royal Highness. The box was intended as a present to Prince Leopold. "To Claremont's terrac'd heights and Esher's groves, "By the soft windings of the silent Mole, "O vale of bliss! O softly-swelling hills! "And joys to see the wonders of his toil." These lines are to be found in the Poem on Summer, and the name Charlotte is substituted for Pelham. For some months after it was generally known, that her Royal Highness was likely to become a mother, she continued her usual walks and rides with Prince Leopold in the neighbourhood of Claremont ; and it was not until a short period before her accouchement, that she confined such agreeable excursions to her own grounds within the park. During the former period her diet was low, eating little or no solid food, and drinking scarcely any wine. As her Royal Highness had the advice of Sir Richard Croft, Dr. Baillie, and Dr. Hockman, the latter of whom is resident physician to Prince Leopold, this peculiarity of diet must have had their sanction, as most suitable to her situation. During the progress of her pregnancy, her Royal Highness was frequently blooded. Sir Richard Croft, who attended her, as it would appear, had an hereditary claim to that honor, his father having assisted to bring her Royal Highness into the world. It has already been stated, that according to the opinion of a medical gentleman, well informed upon the subject of the obstetric art, he predicted, that it was possible her Royal Highness's accouchement might take place so early as the 7th of October, but that it was very likely to happen in the seven subsequent days. This statement being generally reported, and not being contradicted, came, it is said, at last to the ears of the Queen. Sir Richard Croft was, by this time, accustomed to make reports to her Majesty of the actual condition of the Princess; and it has been stated, that her Majesty, apprehending a possibility that the inedical gentlemen who visited Claremont might be mistaken in their calculations, determined upon visiting the Princess. This visit of her Majesty stands, however, upon very questionable authority; and although it might have been looked for, for various reasons, previously to the departure of her Majesty for Bath, yet the certainty of it is by no means authenticated. As this subject will be further enlarged upon in the course of these Memoirs, when the actual facts come to be examined, relative to the situation in which her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte appears to have been left by the Royal Family, in the most critical and important period of her life, we shall proceed to the narrative of those events which immediately preceded her accouchement. For various reasons, it was suggested to Prince Leopold, that the accouchement of the Princess Charlotte should take place in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis; and every necessary measure was taken to complete the negotiation which had been entered into a few months back with the Duke of Marlborough, for his residence in Pall-Mall. The difficulty which formerly existed was known to be, the incompetency of the Duke to make a legal assignment of the premises. That difficulty, however, having been overcome by a decree of the Court of Chancery, the negotiation was renewed; and the Duke lowered the valuation made by his surveyors, to 3,000l. per annum, being only 500%. more than had been tendered by the Princess Charlotte. At this rent the mansion was taken, and the leases were ordered to be executed. It was to be thoroughly repaired and beautified. The expense of the whole was estimated at 10,000l. In consequence of this arrangement, all idea of occupying Buckingham-House was abandoned. The commencement of the repairs of Marlborough-House was postponed, but some additions were to be made in the meantime to the furniture. On the 20th of September, his Serene Highness Prince Leopold arrived in town for the express purpose of surveying Marlborough-House, with a view of ascertaining how far it could be rendered suitable for the reception of the Princess Charlotte during her approaching confinement. His Highness went into every one of the principal rooms; and it was not till after his observation of their unfitness, that the arrangements were finally made with Lord Castlereagh for the continuance of her Royal Highness at Claremont. It was expected that the accouchement of the Princess would take place at a time when it was not usual for more than one cabinet minister to remain in town. It was, however, regulated that the state officers should be on visits at places in the neighbourhood of Claremont; at the Duke of York's, Lord Sidmouth's, or, perhaps, Windsor-Castle. It occasioned, indeed, no inconsiderable regret to observe that at this momentous period Prince Leopold had frequent relapses of the rheumatic affection in his head; a complaint with which he was attacked soon after his arrival in England; occasioned, as it is supposed, by travelling part of the way in an open carriage when the wind was severely cold; and he was in consequence obliged to have several teeth drawn. In other respects, his Serene Highness enjoyed an excellent degree of bodily health. The wife of a respectable yeoman in the vicinity of Claremont, was engaged as wet nurse for the expected royal infant. The young woman obtained the appoint ment by the account she gave of herself in a letter to Sir Richard Croft, written with so much simplicity, yet with so correct a communication of the particulars which would naturally be required, that Sir Richard immediately sent for her. From his house she was directed to another, where several of the medical advisers of the Royal Family had formed a sort of Board for her examination. After she had answered several questions, the medical gentlemen began to converse in French. It happened that she had a knowledge of the language; and, as she supposed it to be intended that she should not understand their conversation, she had the ingenuousness and the modesty to say, that perhaps she had better withdraw, as French was not unknown to her. On her return she was informed that the Board would recommend her for the office she solicited, if they were satisfied with the appearance of her children. She has three, and these were subsequently examined. Soon afterwards she received a message from the Princess Charlotte, desiring to see her and her children. On her attendance at Claremont, the Princess and Prince Leopold passed three hours in the room with her and her children, to the latter of whom the Princess gave abundance of sweetmeats. Prince Leopold took one of them upon his knee, and said, "Well, you and I shall probably be much better acquainted." The young woman was charmed with such condescension and affability. She was then near her own confinement: the Princess told her that she should be well accommodated at Claremont, if she chose to stay, but that it was wished she should do exactly as she pleased. She candidly said, that she should prefer returning to her husband's house. There she, in a few days, became the mother of a hearty boy, concerning whom and herself inquiries were daily made from Claremont. It has been before said, that this young woman is the wife of a respectable yeoman near Claremont. The appointment is no slight acquisition. What the whole recompense is, in case of the birth of a Princess, we have not learned; but, in case of a Prince, it is |