WRAXALL'S POSTHUMOUS MEMOIRS.

THE period embraced in these Memoirs is brief; commencing in April 1784, with the general election following PITT'S disso- lution of' the Parliament supporting the Coalition Ministry, and ending with the King's recovery from Ins first attack of lunacy, in Mulch 1789. Their appearance too is somewhat late, if any

atti action was expected from contemporary feelings; for most of

the actors and spectators in the scenes Sir NATHANIEL describes have passed away. This lateness, however, was not without design.

Having had an action brought against him for libel, on the pub-

lication of his former work, and suffered both fine and imprison- ment for telling what he believed ta be the truth, our author de- termined to avoid any future contingencies of this kind, by post- poning the appearance of his book until his own disappearance from the stage. If any think themselves aggrieved, they must pursue Sir NATHANIEL to the shades, unless they are satisfied with his earthly representative, Mr. BENTLEY. The leading subjects of the work are in strictness two,—tbe political events of the time; and the genealogical, public, and per- sonal characters of the actors engaged in them ; Sir NATHANIEL WRAXALL, like Sir EGER:rote BRYDGES, having an old gentle- man's love for points of scandal and pedigree. The first striking incidents of the narrative are the celebrated Westminster election, when Fox, assisted by the charms of the Dutchess of DEVON- SHIRE, defeated all the power, popularity, and influence of Government ; and the princely and noble Whig fetes that fol- lowed the triumph. Springing out of this comes the arbitrary scrutiny, by which Peer sought to unseat his antagonist; and found that his majority, which no public principle could much, affect, was slipping away when he endeavoured to make them the instruments of private and ungentlemanly oppression towards one of themselves. Amongst the subsequent home matters of inferior note, the most remarkable are the debates which sprung from the then Duke of Rtctimosiris projects for fortifying Portsmouth and Plymouth, and what were called Pirr's Irish Propositions. The' most interesting foreign affair is that of the Diamond Necklace ; of which Sir NATHANIEL furnishes a clear and pleasant account.. But all these, and other events of a similar kind, sink into nothing compared with the accusations of HASTINGS and his legal tool Sir ELIJAH IMPEY, or with the debates and intrigues on the Re- gency Bill. The former, perhaps the most extraordinary senato- rial or forensic event that has yetoccurred, for the skill, dexterity,. and acumen of the debaters on each side, and the wonderful ora- torical displays by the supporters of the accusation. The latter,. one of the most shocking exhibitions of Whig greediness of office,. princely disregard of natural affections, and general political pro- fligacy, to be met with in a country possessing any thing like a reputation for public and private morality. There were- Fox and his followers, with selfish imprudence and indecent precipitation, striving to clutch office on any terms for any time, however uncertain, in defiance of the popular voice and public decorum, yet so misled by their own eagerness, and so managing their case, as to give PITT the opportunity of delaying the time, as it eventually turned out, till the King's recovery. There was the Prince of WALES, apparently regardless of the heaviest afffction that could befal his father and his Sovereign,. greedily devouring the physicians' reports, not as to recovery, but as to final eclipse,—consulting, caballing, and intriguing as to the way in which he could best compass his designs,—calling, as was the wont of those times, " fetnale influence" to his aid, and giving parties, where he seems to have dealt out his promises as liberally as his liquor ;" whilst the Duke of YORK, gained by the promise of the Commandership-in-Chief, was posting about to forward his brother's views. As the reports varied, and the prospects of King and Peer, or the Prince and Fox fluctuated, so did the divisions in Lords and Commons. Friends and supporters. trimmed or fell off; and TstueLow—a negotiation being opened— agreed to continue Chancellor and support the Regent, until the' treaty was broken off' by the Prince, in consequence of his engage- ments with Louou BOROUGH. Then, indeed, the " black-browed bully made a virtue of necessity, and uttered his celebrated excla- mation of "When I forget my King, may God forget me;" whilst PITT, acquainted with the Chancellor's Carlton House intrigue, but ignorant of its termination, and who entered the House of Lords expecting to hear THURLOW denounce himself, could no longer contain his indignation, but turning round to his immediate friends, exclaimed, "Oh, the rascal!" and WiLsts, as is well known, remarked, with more of point and profanity, "Forget you? he'll see you damned first." Of the principal persons who figure in these volumes, the names are familiar in our mouths as household words,—Louts the Sixteenth, Gzoaos the Third, the Queen, and the Royal Family, who, except bates in his time; HASTINGS and his wife, and his agent, Major THE LATE DUKE OF NORFOLK.

snfluence as a Commoner was supposed to be so considerable as to wise expressive of frankness and sincerity. • • " •

be greater than that of Perr himself, who was represented both Strong natural sense supplied in Lord Sorry the neglect of education ; and in and out of the House as a mere puppet in the hands of he 411splayed a Hort of rude eloquence, whenever he rose to address the House, Jasixtrisox. Of the mob of Members, gallants, and fashionables, analsgous to his fiwination of mind and body. In his yeuth,—for at the time We cannot attempt to enumerate the names, although all of in- of which I speak lie had attained his thirty-eight year,—be led a most licen- tious life ; having frequently passed the whale eight in excesses of every kind, fluence and distinction in their day,—setting modes, g toeing courts, and even lain down, when intoxicated, occasionally to sleep in the streets, or on making speeches that were not ineffective when delivered on the a block of wood. At the " Beefateak Club," wliere I have dined with him, same night as those of Fox and Prrr, or saying a good thing he seemed to be in his proper element. But few individuals of that society that told upon persons accustomed to the wit of SHERIDAN. could sustain a contest with such an antagonist, when the cloth wag removed. The outline form or skeleton of the work is a spirited nar- In cleanliness he was negligent to so great a degree, that he rarely made use of rative of Parliamentary debates, intermingled with brief biogra- water for purposes of bodily refiesliment and comfort. He even cart ied the neglect of his person au far, that his servants were accustomed to avail them- pbical sketches of the speakers, and Short historical notices selves of hia fita of intoxication for the purpose of washing him, On those of the measures introduced, in which their bearing, temporary occaisons being insensible to all that passed about him, they stripped him as effects, and general policy are discussed. These solid portions are they would have done a corpse, and performed on his body the net:errs:try ablu- filled in by-political gossip or on dits ; in which the secret motives thins. Nor did he change his linen more fiequently than he washed himself. that excited Ministers and their opponents. or the springs that Complaining one day to Dudley North that he was a martyr to the rheumatism, and had ineffectually tried every remedy for its relief, " Pray, my lord," said moved them, are stated as matter of fact or of inference. Actions he, "did you ever try a dean shirt?" and moiives naturally lead to actors; who are described at length,. Drunkenness was in him an hereditary vice, transmitted down, probably, by in the way alluded to in the preceding paragraph. All these Ms ancestors from the Plantagenet times, and inherent in his formation. His modes of structure are varied by the public events which occurred father, the Duke of Notfidk, indulged equally in it ; but he ilid not manifest abroad, or the public characters our author met with in his occa- the same capacities as the son in resisting the effects of wine. It iq a fact that

amid Sultry, after laying his father and all the guests under the table at the sional trips to the Continent; to which may be added, sketches of Thatched House Tavern in St. James's Street, has left the room, resealed to

the diplomatic corps, or gentlemanly stories about them. another festive party in the vicinity, and there recotumenced the untiuished It might seem, at first sight, that much of this, if readable, convivial rites. -would possess but little attraction : such, however, is not the One of the chief defections which Fox suffered in the early case. The lighter parts have a personal and a fashionable charm; part of Peres triumphant career, was that of EDEN ; whose po- the graver, dealing with great men and important events, have verty and large family compelled him to sell himself to the Minis- the interest, though not the connexion of history; and the whole ter, and go to Paris to negotiate a commercial treaty. This gave possesses an air of real ity,—for the statements, if not true, are evi- rise to some severe attacks from the wits of the Opposition, both dently thought so by the author. His " Debates," whist] might be in and out of the House. Here is thought useless, are unique. The writer was present at the greater A REPARTEE OF LORD NORTH'S. part of them as a Member of' the House. He does not at- Fox, Lord North, and Sheridan, might indeed display more eloquence, wit, tempt a mere dry report of what was spoken, but describes or humour, during a eommercial debate; but upon Eden principally devolved the impression which the whole scene left upon his mind. the task of dissecting answering, and refuting the arguments, calculations, or Writing at a distance of time from the occurrences, he is enabled, propositions brought forward by the Govet timent. His desertion left, therefore, a void not easy to fill, and pioduced a corresponding sentiment of indignation if not forced, to sink the grosser parts, and present only the more among hia firmer friends. It found vent in lampoons, epigrams, and ronileaus, pithy ; whilst he has this great advantage over any second-hand smite of which were most poignant. When Eden attempted an apology to Lord -describer, however gifted, that he remembers the effect which North for joining Pitt, and observed thit "it was not caused by any change of subordinate and half-forgotten speakers produced at the time, political attachment, hut merely arose from a temporary affair of trade, which although, historically speaking, perhaps, he may be inclined to he was appointed to negotiate," " You need riot trouble yourself to expi an the matter," replied that nobleman, "1 have always considered the whole transac- -overrate them. tion as a mere affair of trade." In the main, if his composition is not graceful or sprightly, it LORD CHESTERFIELD'S is not dull. Sir NATHANIEL, at the worst, is a tattler, not a Career would have been, on the whole, rather distinguished than otherwise, twaddler. And though he never can be said to rise to historical if .the circuinstanee of criminally- prosecuting his tutor, and the degree of corn- dignity, yet his studies of the great historians have enabled him iniaeration excited by Dadd'a ignominious cud, however deserved it might be, at times to make some approaches to it, as a valet catches some- had not operated to the disadvantage of the pupil. It was thought indicative thing of the air of his master. His morals are those of the gen- of too severe or unfeeling a disposition, at two-and-twenty, to surrender A clergyman, connected by such ties, to the public executioner. Such continues, tlemen of his time : vice is not a word in his vocabulary. Of even at present, to be the common sentiment of mankind respecting that trans- public principle and duty lie occasionally talks ; but it is clear, action. The late Earl of Berkeley, having either wounded or killed more than from his own showing, that he knew nothing. He believed Sir one highwayman, who attempted tu tub him when travelling, Lord Chesterfield ELIJAH IMPEY guilty of legal murder. His friends wished him i'w"NelY said to him in conversation, " Berkeley, when did you last despatch a to vote in favour of the accused, but this he was unwilling to do; a highwayman ?" "Chesterfield," replied he, "bow lung is it since you hung

so, to escape the dilemma, he went out of town. In regard to the

political opinions in the book, especially where principles of go- THE PUKE OF QUEENSBERRY. Among the distinguished individuals who at this time were created British vernment rather than practices of governing are in question, it is Peers, the Duke of Queensbeiry received the title of Baron Douglas. He is hardly necessary to warn the reader against implicit trust in Sir better known as Earl of Match, having passed his fiftieth year before he sac- N. W. WRAXALL. To his style the objections of diffuseness and ceeded to the dukedom of Queensberry. Few noblemen have occupied a more at fourscore, as he had done at twenty. After exhausting all the gratifications us, as it were, behind the scenes of the political and courtly stage, of human life, towards its close lie sate down at his residence, near Hyde Park and show us the actors stripped in some measure of the dignity .Corner, where he remained a spectator of that moving scene which Johnson which distance throws around them. We see the heroes of the denominated " the full tide of human existence," but in which he could no longer historical drama brought down to a level with common men, and take a very active part. I lived in almost daily habits of intercourse with him, -actuated by very common motives.

The value of the work in this and several other points must His person had then become a ruin; but not so his mind. Seeing only with

one eye, hearing very impel fectly only with one ear, nearly toothless, andla- rest, however, upon the opinions formed from an attentive perusal bouring under multiplied infirmities, he possessed all his intellectual faculties, of the whole. Partially read, it will only yield amusement or in- incluihng his memory. Never did any man retain more animation, or manifest dulge curiosity; and of such a nature must be the gleanings we a sounder judgment. Even his figure, though emaciated, still remained ele- -shall gather from the volumes. gant : his manners were noble and polished; his conversation gay, always en- PRIDE OF THE HEAD OF THE LOWTHERS. ing a strong, sagacious, masculine intellect, with a thorough knowledge of man. ir James Lowther received at the same time his recompense for having If I were emnpelled to name the particular individual who had received from enabled the first Minister to enter the political atena, where, in less than three nature the keene.t common sense of any person I ever knew, I should select the -years, he had raised himself to the summit of power. Overleaping the two Duke of Queensberry. Unfortunately, his sources of information, the turf, Inferior stages of the Peerage, as if beneath his claims, Sir James seated himself the drawing-room, the theatre, the great world, were not the most pure, nor at once on the Earls' bench, by the title of Lonsdale; an elevation which, it the best adapted to impress him with favourable ideas of his own species. Ins might have been thought, was in itself fully adequate to his pretensions formation, as acquired front books, he always treated with contempt ; and used and services. Yet, so indignant was he at finding himself last on the list of to ask me what advantage or solid benefit I had ever derived from the know- newly -created Earls,—though the three noble individuals who preceded him ledge that he supposed me to possesa of history,—a question which it was not were already Barons of many centuries 01(S—that he actually atttempted to easy for me satisfactorily to answer, either to him or to myself. Known to.be reject the Peerage, preferring to remain a Commoner, rather than submit to so immensely rich, destitute of issue, and unmarried, he fin med a mark at .wh.tch great a mortification. With that avowed intention he repaired to the House every newer. itouu man sad woman throughout the metropolis directed their aum perliaps the Prinee of WALES, are rather described than des of COMMUDS; where, to detiasce Oi al DI p .dio.ents, he would have pi oceeaed ve1oped; PITT, Fox. BURKE, SHERIDAN. and ERSKINE, who up the floor, and placed himself on one of tbe Opposition benchea, as Member fin. the county of Cumberland. if Colran and Clementson, the Sergeant and are shown in Parliamentary action, as well as drawn after the Deputy Sergeant at Arms, had not withheni . him by main force. Apprized of historical fashion ; the Duke of QUEENSBERRY, so notorious for his his determination, and aware of his having aire,24 kissed the King's hand at good-nature and his gallantries; the Dutchesses of DEVONSHIRE the levee on his being milted to the earldom, thousrth the patent had not yet and GORDON, so distinguished for their powers of fascination by passed through the necessary forms fur it completioiS. they grasped the hilts opposite means; and MARIA Aserotalwrrs,—all of whose lives are of thsir swords. restrained him from accomplishing his smrpose, and at length noticed, as well as their characters. by Sir NATHANIEL. Amongst snceeeded in obliging him to seat himself under the gallery, in the part of the House allotted to Peers when present at the deliberations of the Commons. the inferior orbs, are HARRY DUNDAS ; FRANCIS, one of the Ahrens were subsequently devised to allay the irritation of his mind, and to claimants for the authorship of Junius, and a distinguished des induce his acquiescence in the order of precedence adopted by the Crown.

SCOTT ; GREY, SIDMOUTH, and SCOTT, (Lord Eldon),—all just Nature, which cast hint in her coarsest mould, had not bestowed on him any then appearing in the political world; Tnutthow; the old Duke of of the external insignia of high devent. His person, large, muscular, and ' NORFOLK, though in 1784 Lord SURRY ; the first Marquis of' clumsy, was destitute of grace or dignity, though he possessed much activity. LANSDOWNE ; and the first Lord LIVERPOOL, whose backstairs He might indeed have been mistaken for a grazier or a butcher, by his dress

arid appeatanee; but intelligence was marked in his features, which were like-

be greater than that of Perr himself, who was represented both Strong natural sense supplied in Lord Sorry the neglect of education ; and in and out of the House as a mere puppet in the hands of he 411splayed a Hort of rude eloquence, whenever he rose to address the House, Jasixtrisox. Of the mob of Members, gallants, and fashionables, analsgous to his fiwination of mind and body. In his yeuth,—for at the time We cannot attempt to enumerate the names, although all of in- of which I speak lie had attained his thirty-eight year,—be led a most licen- tious life ; having frequently passed the whale eight in excesses of every kind, fluence and distinction in their day,—setting modes, g toeing courts, and even lain down, when intoxicated, occasionally to sleep in the streets, or on making speeches that were not ineffective when delivered on the a block of wood. At the " Beefateak Club," wliere I have dined with him, same night as those of Fox and Prrr, or saying a good thing he seemed to be in his proper element. But few individuals of that society that told upon persons accustomed to the wit of SHERIDAN. could sustain a contest with such an antagonist, when the cloth wag removed. The outline form or skeleton of the work is a spirited nar- In cleanliness he was negligent to so great a degree, that he rarely made use of rative of Parliamentary debates, intermingled with brief biogra- water for purposes of bodily refiesliment and comfort. He even cart ied the neglect of his person au far, that his servants were accustomed to avail them- pbical sketches of the speakers, and Short historical notices selves of hia fita of intoxication for the purpose of washing him, On those of the measures introduced, in which their bearing, temporary occaisons being insensible to all that passed about him, they stripped him as effects, and general policy are discussed. These solid portions are they would have done a corpse, and performed on his body the net:errs:try ablu- filled in by-political gossip or on dits ; in which the secret motives thins. Nor did he change his linen more fiequently than he washed himself. that excited Ministers and their opponents. or the springs that Complaining one day to Dudley North that he was a martyr to the rheumatism, and had ineffectually tried every remedy for its relief, " Pray, my lord," said moved them, are stated as matter of fact or of inference. Actions he, "did you ever try a dean shirt?" and moiives naturally lead to actors; who are described at length,. Drunkenness was in him an hereditary vice, transmitted down, probably, by in the way alluded to in the preceding paragraph. All these Ms ancestors from the Plantagenet times, and inherent in his formation. His modes of structure are varied by the public events which occurred father, the Duke of Notfidk, indulged equally in it ; but he ilid not manifest abroad, or the public characters our author met with in his occa- the same capacities as the son in resisting the effects of wine. It iq a fact that

amid Sultry, after laying his father and all the guests under the table at the sional trips to the Continent; to which may be added, sketches of Thatched House Tavern in St. James's Street, has left the room, resealed to

the diplomatic corps, or gentlemanly stories about them. another festive party in the vicinity, and there recotumenced the untiuished It might seem, at first sight, that much of this, if readable, convivial rites. -would possess but little attraction : such, however, is not the One of the chief defections which Fox suffered in the early case. The lighter parts have a personal and a fashionable charm; part of Peres triumphant career, was that of EDEN ; whose po- the graver, dealing with great men and important events, have verty and large family compelled him to sell himself to the Minis- the interest, though not the connexion of history; and the whole ter, and go to Paris to negotiate a commercial treaty. This gave possesses an air of real ity,—for the statements, if not true, are evi- rise to some severe attacks from the wits of the Opposition, both dently thought so by the author. His " Debates," whist] might be in and out of the House. Here is

a parson? "

conspicuous place about the Court and the town, during at least half a century.

minuteness might be urged. were these not inseparable from the 1 nature of the book, forming, indeed, one of its attract ions,—for his- under the reigns of George the Second and Third. Like Wilmot, Earl of torical gossip is the essential character of the Memoirs. They take Rochester, lie pursued pleasure under every shape; and with as much ardour when I was in London, during the last seven years of his prottacted career.

The value of the work in this and several other points must His person had then become a ruin; but not so his mind. Seeing only with tertaining, generally otigin i al, rarely instructive, frequently libertine; ntheat-

It is a fact, that when he lay dying in December 1810, his bed was covered with billets and letters to the number of at least seventy ; mostly, indeed, ad- dressed to him by females of et cry description and of every rank, from dutch- esses down to ladies of the easiest viltue. Unable, limn his extenuated atate, to open or to peruse them, he °Meted them, as they arrived, to be laid on his bed, where they remained, the seals unbroken, till he expired.

The picture of BURKE, as drawn in various places by Sir NATHANIEL, is the most melancholy perhaps in the book,—as showing the manner in which pecuniary difficulties and hopes deferred soured the temper, impaired the happiness, dashed the virtue, and perhaps, as some will consider, wrecked the fame for consistency of the great orator. The Wowing is a part of our author's remarks : he has previously been speaking of Fox.

But widely different was But ke's situation, and far It exhilarating were his prospects. His miginal patron, the Marquis of Rockingham, being dead, he could only look to the Duke of Port'and for future remuneration, if ever the party of which he constituted the head should again force their way into the royal closet. Linked with Fox, their destinies appeared to be inseparable ; nor did Burke foresee, at that time, how soon the ties which united them would be rent asunder. Still less did he anticipate that 'the " aspiring young man, sur- rounded by his merrymen, and mounted on Jenkinson's shoulders," would ex- tend support to his declining age, and smooth the evening of his day. Scarcely snore than six years elapsed, before I saw Burke seated on the Treasury bench between Pitt and Hondas. In 1787, he was verging towards sixty ; and could not, like Fox, extend his views to any remote futurity. His temper, naturally irritable and impatient of contradiction, became sharpened by disappointments. Nor could he find resources in the clubs of St. James's Street, in the boxes of Drury Lane Theatre, or in the orgies of Carlton House. At his retreat near Beaconsfield, he would indeed have tasted all the felicity which a classic mind could derive from retirement, lettets and a learned leisure; but contracted finances, together with the toil of Parliamentai y attendance, embittered his en- joyments. Of fame he had sufficient, and he was weary of political opposi- tion, yet unable to retire front Parliament, which to him had afforded no harvest except bays. So pressing, indeed, were his wants become in 1793, that I have been assured he sold the two pensions of eighteen hunched pounds each, for three lives, then granted him by the Crown, without almost a week's delay. They were put up to sale on the Exchange, and produced about thirty- six thousand pounds. The present Earl of Hard% icke is one of those three lives, as his son, the late Lold Royston, was another. To the French Revolu- tion and its sanguinary excesses he therefore owed the independence of his last years.

PITT'S POWERS OF SLEEP.

However violent might have been the previous agitation of his mind, yet in a very few minutes after lie laid his head on the pillow, he never failed to sink into profound repose. So difficult, indeed, was it to awaken him, that his valet usually shook him before he could be roused from his sleep. One of his private secretaries used to affirm that no intelligence, however distressina, had power sufficient to break his rest. On that account, he never locked or lathed the door of his bed-chainber. I recollect a circumstance which took place several years subsequent to this time—it happened in 1796—strongly corro- borative of the above facts. Pitt having been much disturbed by a variety of painful political occurrences, drove out to pass the night with Hondas at Wim- bledon. After supper, the Minister withdrew to his chamber, having given his servant directions to call him at seven on the ensuing morning. No sooner had lie retired, than Hondas, conscious how much his mind stood in need of repose, repaired to his apartment, locked the door, and put the key in his pocket ; at the same time enjoining the valet on no ronsideration to disturb his master, but to allow him to sleep as long as nature required. It is a both that Pitt neither awoke, nor called any person, till half- past four in die afternoon of the following day ; when Hondas entering his room, together with his servant, found him still in so deep a sleep that it became necessary to shake in order to awaken him. He had slept uninterruptedly during more than sixteen hours.

HARRY DUNDAS'S POLICY.

I have already remarked elsewhere, that Dundaa, beneath the appearance of unguarded, open manners, knew how to mature, and, when necessary, how to conceal, the most solid projects of ambitioir. Managing Scotland, while he controlled India, and looking for ward to the British peerage as his cettain reward, he kept his eye fixed invariably on Pitt. With consummate ability lie adapted his conduct, as well as his conversation, to the peculiar structure of that Minister's mind, on which adulation would only have produced effects injurious to his own plans. Dundas guided Pitt on many points, and in- fluenced him upon almost every meastne ; but he effected it by never dictating upon any matter. When discussing public business, he commonly affected to embrace ideas contrary to the opinion which lie knew Or believed Pitt to have formed upon the subject. After contesting the Chancellor of the Exchequer's arguments, Dundas usually concluded by adopting by sentiments, as if from real conviction. This ingenious species of flattery proved irresistible, under the control of judgment. The Dutchess of Gordon, who lived in habits of great intimacy with them both, entertained, about the same time, the project of marrying her eldest daughter to the first Minister. Lady Charlotte Lenox was then about eighteen years of age; and though not a Hebe, yet her youth, her high birth, and her accomplishments, might, not improbably, as her mother thought, effect his conquest. In fact, l'itt, however little constitutionally inclined to the passion of love, yet manifested some pal tiality towards her, and showed her many attentions. The Dutchess, desirous of improving so favourable a commencement, used to drive to Wimbledon, accompanied by Lady Chat lotte, at times when she knew that Pitt was there. But Hondas, than whom few men were mote clear-sighted, and who by no means wished his Wend to form a matrimonial connexion which must have given the Dutchess a sort of maternal ascendant over 'him, determined to counteract her design. For that purpose, he could devise no expedient more efficacious than affecting a disposition to lay his own person and fortune at Lady Charlotte's feet. Ile was then a widower, having been divorced front his first wife. Pitt, who never had displayed mure than a shalt inclination towards the lady, ceased his assiduities; and Dundee's object being answered, his pretensions, which never woe clearly pronounced, expired without producing any ostensible effect.

ROYAL WINES.

In consequence of his Majesty rarely di inking even a single glass, and of his well-known indifference about its flavour or quality, lie seldom had any good wine, though he paid for it the best price. During several years, the wines served at the equerries' table were very indifferent. As they did not, however, think proper to make any complaint on the subject, it might so have continued without redress, it by accident, the Prince of Wales, while on a visit at Windsor, had not chanced to dine with them. The instant that his Royal Highness tasted the claret, he pronounced sentence upon it. He did more; -tor he informed his father of the manner in which his wine-merchant treated him. The abuse was immediately corrected.

There are some singular anecdotes of the King after his reco- very.

If the fact relative to the Marquis of Lothian strongly proves the placability of George the Third's temper, the pal ticulars that I am about to recount will equally attest the enlargement anal serenity of his mind. During the first days of March, being at Kew, accompanied only by one of his equerries, while walk-

ing through the apartments of the Palace, the astonished eyes of the equerry were involuntarily emitted by a strait waistcoat that lay on a chair. Hastily averting his view from an object which recalled images so painful, he ends'. soured to conceal his embarrassment. But the King, who perceived it, and who

well knew the cause, turning to him, said, "You need not be afraid to look at it. Perhaps it is the best friend I ever had in my life." The gentleman in question was Mr. Robert Greville, brother to the late Earl of Warwick, who related it to Sir John Macpherson. Nearly at the same time, before the King quitted Kew to remove to Windsor, he received information that a poorhouse, or hospital, was constructing at Richmond ; without previously giving notice of-his design, attended only by Major Price, his equerry in waiting, lie entered the building, and inspected every part of it ; not omitting the rooms destined for the reception of lunatics, which he examined with minute and particular attention. Having gratified his curiosity, he left the hospital ; observing that he dei iced great pleasure from seeing so comfortable an asylum, and such ex- cellent accommodations, provided for persons labouring under the misfortune of insanity. After his complete recovery, on returning to Windsor, the windows of his apartments at the Lodge, which had limn nailed down (luring the first patoxyama of his malady, in order to guard against any sudden net if ft euzy,hy a censurable negligence of the domestics still remained in the same state; the King, not aware of the circumstance, attempted to throw tip one of the windows. Finding it fastened, the cause was explained to him. Ile expressed neither emotion nor initation on the occasion.

Besides the subjects already mentioned, there are some minor ones, which relate to Sir NATHANIEL himself. One concerns a pamphlet which he published anonymously, and excited great attention (as he tells us) at the time, although, in despite of every effort, the author was undiscovered; and whose revelation, we may add, comes now too late to gratify curiosity. The other regards a delicate negotiation in which he was engaged to effect a revolution in Denmark by means of the imprisoned Queen CAROLINE MA-. TILDA. The scheme was submitted to GEORGE the Third, and met his approbation. If successful, Sir NATHANIEL seems to think that it would have checked the future successes of the French Revolution and NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. But the plan failed, owing to the death of the Queen ; and the secret agent was neglected for several years, till Lord NORTH mentioned the circurn stances, by desire of his Majesty, and asked him what reward would he satisfactory ? Our author frankly asked 1000 guineas down, and an appointment. The money was paid upon the nail. The place was promised; but, as Lord NORTH very shortly after lost his own, Sir NATHANIEL got no advantage from his labours beyond the ready cash and the pleasure of telling the story to posterity.