tery of certain points could have been unravelled. Questions, wrapped in all the artful obliquity of doubt, were often put to her, from her answers to which, it was hoped, some important information could be obtained; but her Royal Highness saw through the deep-laid stratagem, and in her heart she despised the character of the individual, who could meanly take advantage of the simplicity of youth, to favour her own dark and sinister views.

The person, through whose hands the correspondence passed, is still living; and, therefore, for the most obvious reasons, her name must not be mentioned. She was an obscure individual, and a regular pensioner upon the bounty of the Princess Charlotte. Her pittance was paid her weekly, and always by the hands of the Princess Charlotte herself; and as her Royal Highness had many of these Pensioners, the stratagem succeeded; and not the slightest vestige of the correspondence was ever discovered.

The education of the Princess Charlotte, in a political sense, was now prosecuted with consider able assiduity. Her mind had received that tone and vigour which enabled it to embrace the deep and important points connected with the polity of nations; and too much applause cannot be bestowed upon her august father, for constantly instilling into her mind those true constitutional principles, which seated her family on the British throne.

The following speech of his Royal Highness on

the health of his daughter being drunk at the Pavilion, at Brighton, deserves to be recorded as a proof, that the above eulogium most deservedly belongs to him. In returning thanks for that mark of respect to the object of his pride and tenderness the Prince, in a short but eloquent address, said, "That he had made it his first care to instil into the mind and heart of his daughter, the knowledge and love of the true principles of the British Constitution; and he had pointed out to her young understanding, as a model for study, the political conduct of his most revered and lamented friend, Mr. Fox, who had asserted and maintained with such transcendent force, the just principles upon which the government under this excellent constitution ought to be administered for the true and solid dignity of the Crown, and the real security, freedom, and happiness of the people. He had the most heartfelt enjoyment in knowing, that, even in her present early years, his daughter had a just conception of the value of the precepts which had been implanted in her breast; and that he could say with confidence, that she would fulfil all the duties which she might be called upon to discharge, when his bones were laid in the grave."

When his Royal Highness reverts to the last passage of this speech, how forcibly must the im pression strike upon him of the precarious tenure of our earthly hopes. The being, whom he was then eulogizing was in the full bloom of beauty

and of youth; her bright blue eye was then sparkling with anticipation of the pleasures of a future life, and she was in the full enjoyment of that unsullied peace which a strict attention to the exercise of our moral and religious duties will constantly afford. But a dreadful page was written in the book of Fate-the awful hand of the Almighty had inscribed LET IT BE; the time was come, and the dreadful fiat was fulfilled.

Whilst the Princess Charlotte was pursuing her studies at Windsor, the inquiry into the charges brought against her mother was prosecuted with all the exterior forms of a trial, as counsel on the part of her Royal Highness was permitted to attend. The late Mr. Perceval, who, from the residence of his family at Blackheath, had long been honoured by an intimate and friendly intercourse with her Royal Highness, was selected by her for this delicate commission; and it is reported that he executed it with all that zeal and energy which a man of warm feelings must be supposed to exercise on an occasion so peculiarly interesting. When this very delicate commission had sitten for about two months, it was dissolved, after previously drawing up a report, which embraced the main features of the inquiry; this report fully exonerated the Princess from the foul and infamous charge of having an illegitimate child, but still attached great levity and indecorum to her conduct. It was immediately laid before the King, who directed it should

be destroyed, and every trace of the proceedings on the whole affair buried in oblivion; his Majesty, however, gave a gentle reproof to her Royal Highness, when he says, "he cannot forbear to express, on the conclusion of this business, his desire and expectation, that such a conduct may in future be observed by the Princess, as may fully justify those marks of paternal regard and affection which the King always wishes to shew to every part of his royal family.

In this situation, his Majesty is advised, that it is no longer necessary for him to decline receiving the Princess into his royal presence.

This pleasing intelligence was immediately communicated to the Princess Charlotte, who received it with every demonstration of joy; the tears streamed from her eyes-she fell upon her knees, and with pious fervour poured out the effusions of her grateful heart to that Being, to whom she always looked as the giver of every earthly good, and from whom in her afflictions she sought for consolation, and ever found it. "God is my shield and my protector," she cried, "the cry of the innocent reacheth to his throne, and passeth not away like the wind; but the voice of the guilty is an abomination to him, and he turneth away his ear from the supplications of the perjured."-If there be a moment in which a human being can command respect, it is in that of humiliation before the throne of Heaven, in gratitude for its singular mercy and goodness, in averting the

horrors of an overwhelming calamity; and never were the pure and sublime principles of religion more practically displayed, than in the actions of this truly Christian Princess. But God chasteneth those whom he loves, and that thou wert chastened, thou now sainted spirit, during thy fleeting sojourn on earth-the frequent tears on thy cheeks -and the convulsive sighs from thy bosom will testify. Thou wert tried, deeply tried in the school of affliction-but thy sufferings are at an end-and thou hast now received a crown of glory which fadeth not away!

Transitory indeed was the joy of the Princess Charlotte; it came upon her, like the moonbeam to the mariner breaking through the cloud of the tempest, soon to vanish for ever; the darkness of her sorrow returned, on which hereafter no sun of happiness was to shine.

The Princess of Wales, immediately on the receipt of the communication of his Majesty, addressed to him the following letter:

SIRE,

Montague-House, Jan. 29, 1807.

I have to acknowledge the receipt of the paper which, by your Majesty's direction, was yesterday transmitted to me by the Lord Chancellor, and to express the unfeigned happiness which I have derived from one part of it; I mean that, which informs me that your Majesty's confidential servants have at length thought proper to communicate to your Majesty their advice, that it is no longer necessary for your Majesty to decline receiving me into your royal presence; and I, therefore, humbly hope, that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to receive with favour the com