One day during this gloomy period, as has been ably and correctly described, the King, regardless of the weather, and never more happy than when in action-it may be added, too, never more delighted than when doing good,-was taking a solitary excursion on foot, and unbending his mind from the cares of government, when he met two pretty little boys (the eldest seemingly not more than eight years of age), who, though ignorant it was the King they were addressing, fell upon their knees before him, deep as the snow lay, and wringing their little hands, prayed for relief-the "smallest relief," they cried, for they were "hungry, very hungry, and had nothing to eat." More they would have said, but for a torrent of tears, which, gushing down their innocent cheeks, actually choaked their utterance. The King, struck even to horror with this heart-rending sight, tenderly desired the weeping supplicants to rise; and having, at length, with that amiable affability which always distinguished his character and conduct, encouraged them to proceed with their story, they added that their mother had been dead three days, and still lay unburied; that their father himself, whom they were also afraid of losing, was stretched by her side upon a bed of straw, in a sick and helpless condition; and, in fine, that they had neither money, nor food, nor firing, at home.

In this brief detail of woe, ingenuously as it was

given, there was a somewhat more than sufficient to excite pity in the royal bosom; and the question with His Majesty now was, whether, simply as the tale had been told, there could possibly be any truth in it.

He accordingly ordered the two boys to proceed homeward, and, following them till they reached a wretched hovel, he there found the mother, as mentioned, dead-dead too apparently from a total want of common necessaries-with the father, literally as described, ready to perish also, but still encircling with his feeble arm the deceased partner of his woes, as if unwilling to remain behind her.

The good King now felt a tear start from his eye; nor did he think his dignity degraded by giving a loose to his sensibility on the occasion; and accordingly leaving behind what cash he had about him, which rarely, however, amounted to much, he hastened back to the Lodge, related to the Queen what he had seen, but declared himself totally incapable of describing what he had felt, and instantly despatched a messenger with a supply of provisions, cloathing, coals, and every other accommodation which might afford immediate sustenance and comfort to a hapless family, groaning, as he declared, under afflictions more piercing by far than he could have supposed to exist in any part of his dominions, or even conceived to be possible, had he not himself witnessed it.

It is pleasing to add, that, revived by the bounty of his sovereign, the unhappy father recovered his health; when His Majesty, anxious to give happiness to the children, as well as health to the parent, finished the good work he had so meritoriously begun, by giving orders that, until the years of maturity, they should be cloathed, educated, and supported at his expense, with the hope of having such preferment bestowed upon them afterwards as their conduct might justify.

Well was it remarked, that on other occasions His Majesty might have acted more like a king: but upon no occasion, perhaps, did he act more like

a man.

1786.

The celebration of the Queen's birth-day was put off in the year 1786, from the usual day to the ninth of February, when an elegant and most numerous court attended the drawing-room.

In the evening, the ball-room was highly splendid, and exhibited a display of fine women, such as no court in the universe could equal. The King and Queen seemed particularly delighted; and separately addressed every lady within the circle assigned to the dancers, whilst the prelude was playing by the royal band.

So numerous was the

company upon this occa

sion, that the ball-room was crowded before their majesties entered; and soon after Lord Aylesford found it necessary to give directions that no more persons should be admitted, and that the door should be locked.

The most remarkable person at the ball was the Tripoline ambassador, attended by his page of honour and secretary; all of whom were dressed in the costume of their country, exciting great attention whilst they, in return, appeared much delighted, and astonished at the crowd of beauties that surrounded them.

Both the King and Queen were at this period very attentive to theatrical performers of merit. Early in February, Mrs. Siddons was no sooner recovered from lying-in, than their majesties expressly ordered the part of Mrs. Lovemore for her first appearance, which they went to see, joining heartily in the demonstrations of welcome exhi bited by the audience towards that admirable performer.

A few nights afterwards Mrs. Billington made her first appearance, in Rosetta, in Love in a Village, announced as from the Dublin Theatre, but, in fact, by Her Majesty's special command, as this young performer had for some time assisted at the royal private concerts, where she was very much admired, and indeed met with equal applause on her histrionic debut.

Whilst thus participating with condescending familiarity in all the amusements of his subjects, His Majesty felt gratified in the due observance of splendid etiquette, especially whenever he honoured their mansions with a private visit; an instance of which occurred on the twenty-seventh of April, on the birth of a daughter to the then Earl of Salisbury, on which occasion the ceremony of baptism was performed with a degree of eclat unprecedented in this country, their majesties and the princess royal, in person, standing as sponsors for the little lady.

The ceremony was performed in the evening at his lordship's house, in Arlington-street, where every preparation was made to grace the occasion with the utmost splendour.

Their majestics and the princess having arrived in their chairs, they were ushered into the baptismal chamber, where, according to etiquette, the countess sat up in bed to receive them: this bed was of green damask, with flowers in festoons, and lined with orange-colored silk, the counterpane of white satin.

Her Majesty was dressed in dark green, coloured with silver gauze, and ornamented with the greatest profusion of diamonds, perhaps, ever seen at one time, with which, indeed, her head was literally covered; and His Majesty was also superbly dressed.