8

BIRTH OF HIS MAJESTY.

announced to the public by the firing of the Tower guns, and in the evening there were splendid illuminations in different parts of the metropolis.

On the 28th of the same month, the Corporation of London waited on his Majesty at St. James's, with the following congratulatory address :

'Most gracious Sovereign,-We, your Majesty's ever loyal and faithful subjects, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the City of London, in Common Council assembled, humbly beseech your Majesty to accept our most sincere and dutiful congratulations on the safe delivery of the Queen, and the auspicious birth of another Prince.

The joyful event of an increase in your Majesty's illustrious Family, will always be gratefully considered by us as a further substantial security to the civil and religious liberties of this your Majesty's free and native country Every addition to your Majesty's domestic happiness fills our hearts with the highest pleasure and satisfaction: and fully confiding that your Majesty's royal sentiments ever coincide with the united wishes of your faithful people, we gladly embrace every opportunity of testifying our joy, and laying our congratulations at your Majesty's feet.

"Permit us, therefore, Royal Sir, to assure your Majesty, that your faithful citizens of London, from their zealous attachment to your Royal House, and the true honour and dignity of your crown, whenever a happy establishment of public measures shall present a favourable occasion, will be ready to exert their utmost abilities in support of such wise counsels as apparently tend to render your Majesty's reign happy and glorious.”

The answer of the King was as follows:

Your congratulations on the

"I thank you for this dutiful address. further increase of my family, and your assurances of zealous attachment to it, cannot but be very agreeable to me. I have nothing so much at heart as the welfare and happiness of my people; and have the greatest satisfaction in every event that may be an additional security to those civil and religious liberties, upon which the prosperity of these kingdoms depends."

The form, style, and reasoning of this address became the subject of much criticism and animadversion from the press. To the last paragraph, "Permit us to assure your Majesty," &c., it was objected, that the corporation told his Majesty, that unless his affairs were in a flourishing situation, he was never to expect the smallest support or assistance from the City of London. The second objection was, that the corporation also declared that, when

BAPTISMAL CEREMONY.

9

ever public measures should have an apparent tendency to the happiness and glory of their sovereign, "they would exert themselves in support of his Majesty's counsels." Taking a retrospect through the long vista of time gone past, and comparing this address dispassionately with its multitudinous brethren, it will not appear more slovenly than some thousands of its successors. There can be no doubt of the integrity of its meaning.

On the 20th of September, 1765, the infant Prince was baptized in the grand council-chamber of St. James's Palace, by the learned Dr. Secker, Archbishop of Canterbury. He received the name of William Henry, from his uncle the Duke of Glo'ster, who, with Prince Henry Frederick and the Princess of Brunswick, acted as sponsors. Besides their Majesties and the Royal family, there were present very many of the nobility. Bonfires blazed before St. James's, Carlton House, and Whitehall, A liberal allowance of porter was distributed to the multitude; and in the evening the windows of the principal streets were brilliantly illuminated.

Superstitious observers of hours, days, and years may remark, that the first three children of their Majesties were born in August, a month which had proved particularly auspicious to the House of Brunswick. On the first of August, 1714, corresponding with the twelfth of the new style, the death of the last sovereign of the family of Stuart, Queen Anne, gave George the First peaceable possession of the throne. On the 11th of August, 1737, Augusta, the eldest child of Frederick, Prince of Wales, was born; on the 1st of August, her husband, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, obtained the glorious victory of Minden over the French; in the same month were born Frederick, King of Bohemia, and his heroic consort Elizabeth, only daughter of James the

B

10

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.

First, from whom the present royal family are descended. And, lastly, Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV. was born in the month so propitious to the royal house.

In 1765, death struck down many branches of the royal families of Europe. On the last day of October in this year, the Duke of Cumberland, who had been in a declining state of health, expired of apoplexy, at the age of 45 years. The Duke, on the day of his death, appeared to enjoy more than usual good health: he attended court, dined with Lord Albemarle, drank tea with the Princess of Brunswick at St. James's palace, and withdrew to attend a council at his own house, in Upper Grosvenor-street. Soon after his arrival, he complained of a pain in his shoulder, with a fit of shivering: being laid on a couch, he muttered, "It's all over," and expired in Lord Albemarle's arms. Sir Charles Wintringham, the king's physician, was soon in attendance; but human art was then unavailing.

The Duke of Cumberland was the youngest child of the numerous family of George II. (Louisa Queen of Denmark excepted,) and being born in England, some years after the accession of the house of Hanover, was educated in England, and boasted a genuine English heart. His personal and public virtues rendered him an object of the people's respect; and his gallantry at Culloden and Fontenoy acquired for him a memorable name in the history of his country. On the circumstance of his English birth, he appeared to reflect with much pride and gratification. When not more than eleven years old, he accompanied his father, George II. to a review while passing along the line, one of the officers exclaimed, “What a charming boy!" This was indistinctly overheard by the young prince; who, mistaking the word "charming" for "German," turned

quickly about, and said, "Gentlemen, you are wrong, I am not a German boy; I'm an English boy, and I beg you will never call me so any more."

The Duke became extremely popular; and he deserved to be so, as well for his public conduct as his private virtues.

When at the head of the army in Germany, he was particularly struck with the ability and valour displayed by a sergeant belonging to his own regiment. Having often noticed the gallantry, and made inquiries into the private character of the man, his Royal Highness took occasion, on an exploit performed by him, to give him a lieutenancy. Some time afterwards, this person, so favoured, entreated his royal patron to take back the commission, and restore him to his former station. Surprised at so extraordinary a request, the Duke demanded the reason; and was told by the applicant, that he was now separated from his old companions by his elevation, and could not gain admittance into the society of his brother officers, who considered themselves as degraded by his appointment. "Oh! is that the case?" said the Prince, "let the matter rest, and I will soon find a way to give you satisfaction."

The next morning his Royal Highness went on the parade, where he was received by a circle of officers. While in conversation, he perceived the lieutenant walking by himself. On this, the Duke said, "Pray, gentlemen, what has that officer done, that he should be drummed out of your councils?" Without deigning to wait for an answer, he went up, took the lieutenant by the arm, and in that posture of familiarity walked up and down the lines, followed with all humility by the whole staff, much to their own mortification, and the amuse

12

WILLIAM DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.

ment of the privates. When the parade was over, Lord Ligonier respectfully requested that his Royal Highness would honour the mess with his presence that day. "With all my heart," replied the Duke, "provided I bring my friend here with me." His lordship bowed and said, "I hope so." After this no one presumed to treat the Duke's friend with contempt, but, on the contrary, all seemed eager to seek his acquaintance. He rose to the rank of a general; and, with more gratitude than taste, erected the gilded equestrian statue of his patron, which stands in Cavendish-square.

Some abuses having crept into the navy, particularly in the impress service, the Duke of Cumberland resolved to search into the truth of what had been reported. Accordingly, one morning, he went with an officer of rank, and both dressed as private sailors, to Wapping; where, entering a public-house, they desired the landlady to furnish them with a private room, having heard, since they came on shore, that the press was very hot. The treacherous hostess took the money with a low courtesy, and retired; but immediately sent for a pressgang, and related the whole story-observing withal, that one of the men was so fat, he was scarcely worth taking. The gang burst into the room; and, after a wellfeigned resistance, the Duke and his friend suffered themselves to be dragged on board the tender, where they were roughly interrogated, and reprimanded for daring to resist his Majesty's officers. The Duke replied, and inveighed against them in sharp terms, for using men so cruelly: upon which he and his companion were ordered below. With this, the prince refused to comply; on which the captain of the tender, exasperated at his firmness, said they should soon know who he was