on the occasion of my marriage; and it gives me peculiar satisfaction that they take so warm an interest in this event. I am much gratified by the expressions of their affectionaté attachinent, which convey so strong a proof of their loyalty to the king, and of their zealous regard for my happiness."

His royal highness received them with the greatest affability and respect; and having returned his answer, they were all admitted to kiss his royal highness's hand, they were afterwards introduced to his royal consort, to whom they presented the following address:

To her Royal Highness the Princess.

May it please your Royal Highness,

"We, his majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council assembled, take the earliest opportunity to congratulate your royal highness on the happy occasion of your marriage with his royal highness the prince of Wales.

"Added to the intrinsic virtues of your royal highness, the high station you are so well qualified to adorn,and your alliance with so distinguished a prince, the heir apparent of these happy realms, your royal highness has also powerful claims to the affection of a grateful people, nearly related as you are to our most gracious sovereign, the father of his subjects.

"Permit then, madam, the faithful subjects of

the best of kings, to assure your royal highness of their most sincere veneration and esteem, and to believe, that as your interest is now united with that of our amiable prince, your happiness will be by them considered and consulted as one.

Long may your royal highness share the joy of so splendid an union, and may our latest posterity receive from you a continuation of those blessings which only can be experienced under the government of a beloved and virtuous king.

(Signed by Order of Court)

"RIX."

Her Royal Highness's Answer. "My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen,

"I return you many thanks for your congratulations upon an event so interesting to my happiness, and so grateful to my feelings. My senti ments will ever be the same with those of the prince, and they have been already better expressed to you by him."

They had also the honour to kiss the hand of her royal highness, whose interesting and animated countenance delighted every spectator. Indeed, the looks and manners of her royal highness evidently evinced an ardent inclination to render herself agreeable. To gratify the populace, she often appeared at the window in St. James's palace, and expressed the highest admiration of the English, who were so good and brave.

CHAPTER III.

The Princess of Wales and Royal Family visit Covent Garden Theatre-Fete at Frogmore in Celebration of the Nuptials-Provision granted

Parliament for their Royal Highness's, and for the Discharge of the Prince's Debts-Remarks by the Duke of Clarence-The Prince's Economy-False Reports of the Day-The Prayer for the Royal Family altered by Authority-Its Inaccuracy.

A FEW days after the royal marriage, the prince and princess of Wales accompanied their majesties and five princesses to Covent Garden theatre, to see "Life's Vagaries," and "Windsor Castle." As it was the first time of the princess of Wales's appearance in public, every part of the theatre was crowded as soon as the doors were opened. Their royal highnesses entered about a quarter past six, and the princess was received with the loudest acclamations of joy and congratulation. The princess of Wales seemed very highly to enjoy the scene: she was highly gratified with the heartfelt tributes of applause, which she received for the first time from a British audience, and which she repaid by the most enchanting affability and condescension

In celebration of the royal nuptials, the queen gave a grand fete at Frogmore, on the 21st of May. At six o'clock in the evening, their majesties and the princesses went there, and at half past nine they were joined by the prince and princess of Wales, and the duke and duchess of York. The ball immediately commenced: eleven tables were laid for. supper, and at 12 o'clock one hundred and seventy persons sat down. The room was beautifully decorated with artificial flowers, interwoven with bay leaves running up the pillars. The upper part of the room where their majesties sat, was ornamented with three beautiful paintings of flowers, executed by the princess Elizabeth. The ball room was elegantly decorated with artificial flowers, and the cieling was painted in imitation of the firmament, the effect of which was uncommonly fine. In the centre of the room was an elegant white and silver feather, with the initials, G. C. P. and the centre of the supper room was decorated with a beautiful transparent star, with a number of variegated lamps, in festoons. The dancing recommenced after supper, and the rest of the company did not separate till near four in the morning.

The ladies were universally dressed in white, with white feathers in their heads, intermixed with diamonds The gentlemen were generally in blue

and gold.

At this time the greatest harmony prevailed, and

Both the nobility as well as the populace fondly anticipated that theroyal couple would have enjoyed together much uninterrupted felicity. Some days after the nuptials, a message was received from his majesty, on the subject of an establishment for their royal highnesses, suitable to their rank and dignity, and which would enable his royal highness to extricate himself from his pecuniary embarrassments. The consideration of his majesty's message occasioned some debates in the house of commons, as parliament had previously (May 1787) paid his royal highness's debts, when "his majesty had received from his royal highness the strongest assurances that no such embarrassment should again occur."

The chancellor of the exchequer proposed an augmentation of 65,000l. a year, 25,000, of which should be appropriated to the extinction of his debts, with 13,000l. a year arising out of the duchy of Cornwall, to be erected into a fund of compound interest. He also proposed 25,000l. for completing Carlton house, 28,000l. to defray the preparatory expenses of the marriage, and 50,000l. as a jointure to her royal highness, which did not exceed what was formerly granted on similar occasions. He then stated the claims on his royal highness amounted nearly to 630,000l. On the nature and amount of these debts, he dwelt with much becoming seve rity, though he lamented the necessity he was un