Royal Highness, the confirmation of the Princess Charlotte should take place. Accordingly, on the 24th of October, 1813, her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales was privately confirmed agreeably to the forms of the Church of England. Her Majesty, the Prince Regent, and the whole of the royal family at Windsor attended at the appointed time in the private chapel, when the ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Archbishop of York, Bishop of Salisbury, Dean of Windsor, &c.

On the 7th of January, 1814, the Princess Charlotte having completed her 18th year, the auspicious day was kept with every display of festivity. In the morning her Royal Highness's tutors and principal attendants were introduced to her Royal Highness at Warwick-House, and paid their respects in due form. A number of nobility, persons of distinction, and her private friends called at the house, and left their respectful inquiries and congratulations on the return of the day. About half-past four o'clock, her Royal Highness, attended by the Duchess Dowager of Leeds, went to Connaught-Place, on a visit to the Princess of Wales, who received and conducted her into the house. One of the principal rooms, which is the library, had been completed since her last visit, with which her Royal Highness appeared extremely delighted. It contains six book-cases, the tops of each finished according to models made some years since by the Princess

of Wales. At the end of each book-case, a pedestal is placed with a figure supporting a rich cut-glass lamp; against the pier between the windows, are supported, on brackets, two statues, one of marble, representing a Cupid, of beautiful workmanship, and a figure of Psyche. Several marble busts and figures are also supported on brackets and a great variety of fine old paintings, are with much taste displayed in the same room.

The Prince Regent being at this time on a tour in Lincolnshire, the birth-day of the Princess Charlotte was deprived of a great portion of its usual interest and splendour, but the household of the Prince Regent paid all due honor to the return of the natal day of England's hopes.

The following very appropriate lines were written on the occasion by the Rev. W. Legrice:

In choral bands, ye festive throng,

Wear the gay dance, and raise the song;

Fill high the circling glass,

And bid th' electric ruby pass.

Hush'd is each boding fear of ill,

The anxious sigh of care is still.
Present is the promis'd pleasure:
Circling suns have fill'd the measure,

And bless'd is Albion in the happy hour,

Which marks the blooming of her fairest flow'r.

Hail the day, a day of glory;

Hail the maid, whose future story,

Shall rival great Eliza's name,

And mingle with Anna's fame.

The diadem's imperial rays.

The emerald's green, and sapphire's blaze,

Are wont with purer light to glow,
When radiant from a virgin's brow.
The dove-wing'd sceptre claims a holier sway,
And proud Submission triumphs to obey.
For waiting Beauty's soft command,
Love, Awe, and Admiration, stand.
Sweet influence the graces show'r,
And Virtue owns a sister pow'r;
While Chivalry his gauntlet throws,
In challenge vain for inmate focs,
And calls on Peace, with sweet employ,

Thro' cottag'd vale, to tune her joy;

Or, if the foreign trump of war he hears,
Uplifts the shield, and points his guardian spear.
So bright, O Charlotte! are the views,
Which bursts on the prophetic Muse!
Windsor! thy forest's mighty shade,
Shall ne'er embow'r so fair a maid,
Until (and ev'ry Briton's pray'r
Breathes wishes for the future pair)-
Until of her's and Nassau's love,

United bliss the union prove,

And give the admiring world renew'd to sce
Our Charlotte's virtues in her progeny.

The first public notice, of the intended marriage of the Princess Charlotte with the Prince of Orange, was on the 21st of April, when a member, (whose name has not been ascertained,) observed in the House of Commons, that as there had been reports spread respecting the intended marriage of the Princess Charlotte, he wished to know whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer had any communication to make to the House on this most important business.

Mr. Vansittart said "that it would be improper for him to say any thing on this delicate subject, as he had no command to make any communication respecting it. The communication would, of course, be made without delay, as soon as such a step became proper.

Mr. Whitbread observed, that it was extraordinary, that the important step which had been determined on should first have been communicated by a foreign prince to his subjects, before it had been noticed to the House of Commons. Taking it for granted, that the sovereign Prince of the Netherlands had not told an untruth, he hoped, that when the communication was made, (which, of course, must be made with a view to the necessary pecuniary arrangements,) it would be accompanied with a recommendation to adopt such legislative provisions as might secure her. Royal Highness from being taken out of the kingdom; and detained from it in a manner which might be extremely detrimental to the interest of the kingdom and which might occur without such

enactment.

The calm, which had apparently settled for some time around the heads of the royal family, was now doomed again to be disturbed, which ultimately led to the departure of the Princess of Wales from the country, and opened a fresh source of affliction to her illustrious daughter.

The extended visit of the monarchs of Russia and Prussia to this country, rendered it necessary

that a drawing-room should be held, and in consequence two were advertised, one of which was for the avowed purpose of introducing the Princess Charlotte. Various constructions were afloat as to the necessity of holding two drawing-rooms, when one might suffice; and, as it is necessary that some positive cause should be established by the journalists of the day for every action performed by any branches of the royal family, it was immediately ascertained that the reason of holding two drawing-rooms could be no other than to allow an illustrious female to appear at court without meeting her husband, and vice versa, that he might appear without meeting his consort; which would bear a comparison with the Dutch toy, in which, when the lady is within, the gentleman turns out, and when the latter chooses to enter, the lady briskly retreats. The conjectures, however, and all the fabrics which were constructed upon them, were suddenly thrown to the ground by the following communication from the Queen to the Princess of Wales, dated Windsor Castle, May 23, 1814 :

The Queen considers it to be her duty to lose no time in acquainting the Princess of Wales, that she has received a communication from her son, the Prince Regent, in which he states, that her Majesty's intention of holding two drawing-rooms in the ensuing month having been notified to the public, he must declare, that he considers that his own presence at her court cannot be dispensed with; and that he desires it to be understood, for reasons of which he alone can be the judge, to be his fixed and