The Diaries of Robert Fulke Greville

Many of these extracts from the hitherto unpublished Diaries of Robert Fulke Greville, shortly to be brought out in their entirety by Messrs.- John Lane under the Editorship of Mr. F. McKno Blandon, and now appearing from week to week in the SPECTATOR, are of peculiar interest. Of the same blood as the famous Victorian gossip-monger, Robert Greville reveals a mind which makes a complete contrast to that of his illustrious kinsman.

Though he was the favourite equerry of George III he remained essentially a country gentleman, whose almost religious loyalty to the Crown did not apparently preclude complete indifference to the scandals of court life. His devotion to the person of the King was, intense, no detail of his illness is too small to chronicle, and none of the simple pleasures of his sane life appears childish in his eyes. He himself is pleased with simple things.

Last week we selected a description of the distresses of " the dear King." Our extracts to-day concern the pastimes of George III in the days of his sanity. The childish mischief of the kind-hearted King, the delight which he took in bringing off a surprise, in being " very troublesome to snug and quiet parties," in finding out about a guest's wig, &c., fill us with a sense of amusement, affection, and contempt. He is so much a child that we must like him, so little a King that we cannot respect him.

A SECRET EXPEDITION.

His Majesty hinted to Me his Intentions of taking a long ride tomorrow, & in consequence of this sudden resolve He took Me immediately with Him to his Stables, to give the necessary orders for the particular Horses He intended to take out.

By the time His Majesty reached his Stables He had devised a Plan, & an outline of his Intended Excursion for tomorrow, & for its arrangement He gave the following Orders.

Some of His Majesty's- Saddle Horses, with two of Mine, were to be ready to be sent on to Chalfont St. Giles's, Early in the Morning by way of Relays. Also four Horses for the Queens Landau were to be sent on at the same time as Relays— Sir John Dyer Equerry to the Prince of Wales & Coll. Digby corning to The Stables at this time; the plan of this long ride was communicated to Them, with strict injunctions to them, to keep it secret from General Elude.

At Eight o'Clock went to Chapel, & on prayers being finished about half past Eight H:M.ty found his Horses & the Carriages waiting— He mounted without delay, & We were all off upon our Secret Expedition in a moment— The unusual bustle & dispatch, soon occupied General Bude's Attention, & We who were in part of the Secret were excessively amused at his early perplexities & many guesses— After passing Eton it was not long before The General rode up to Me, & whispered, that He now knew where The King meant to go—To Lord Boston's at Hedsor near Taplow- But soon after having passed the Road which led to it, He was instantly abroad again—

We came next to Cashiobury Park The Earl of Essex's— rode through it, and proceeded on ; when at last after many a weary Mile, We arrived at The Grove The Seat of Lord Clarendon in Hertfordshire.

This little playful strategem against the General's comfort, succeeded admireably— The Secret was well maintained by all, & none enjoyed its variations & success more than His Majesty Himself— The gerieral embarrassment which such a Visit, so un- expectedly mark; occasioned at' the "Grove, was I must own another very amusing Incident of the day— The Lady of the House -quickly appeared, "dressed in a Dark Green Silk Gown-- Curtskirig in small, & quick semi circles ; Her head at the same time- gracefully waving, & Her Countenace brightned with-Smiles, She thus welcomed 'The Royal Pair, whose first request was to see the House, & into every corner of which they quickly spread— Lady Clarendon bustled -after Them doing the honors, describing-the Rooms, & shewing the Pictures— The 'Queen's notice was attracted by _some small pictures, whicli'viere immediately announced, as the Histories of Pastor Fido--1U.Intor &c &c— These Pictures & their Histories amused Her Majesty, & indeed both were sufficiently rid!• allow, as now introduced to Her—

Other occupations without doors afterwards engaged His Majesty's attention. It was proposed to Their Majesties to ride round The Grounds--The offer was accepted, & all our Horses, were after a short rest in the Stables, order'd out again on an Extra-duty.— Lady Clarendon on this occasion had the honor of driving the Queen M a low four Wheel Phaeton, drawn by a little fat long tail Horse, covered with a White Net—Lady Charlotte Villiers had the honor of " half driving " The Princess Royal in a low two Wheel Chaise, drawn by one Horse, whose Reins She held while a side Rein was held by a Postillion, who appeared to Me to monopolize nearly the whole Management.

The Princess Augusta & Lady Egremont were in a Post Chaise—

The Prince of Wales rode with His Majesty accompanied by both Their Suites.

In the course of this ride through the Grounds, a playful circumstance occurr'd. The Horse which Mr. Montague (Yeoman Rider to His Majesty) rode, was very ticklish, and so much so, that if a Whip touched his hind Quarter, it would set Him kicking directly— This propensity was not unknown to Many of Us, & in the course of this ride round The Grove, the Whip was not unfrequently, & quietly drawn across his Quarters— Its Effects were sudden, & annoying to its peaceful Rider, who did not often discover the Quarter from whence his repose was thus assailed— Had He discover'd all, He might have known, that these hints were from high Authority, as none were more active than His Royal Highness was in this Mischeif-

These proceeding's surprised Mr. George Villiers, a younger Son of Lord Clarendon— He longed to ask a question, but was diffident among so many merry Strangers. At length He fixed on one of more sedate appearance than the rest, & He thus accosted Him in gentle Accents— - " Pray Sir do they always hunt that Poor Gentleman so ?

Sir John Dyer The Gentleman to whom He thus addressed Himself, with that dry humour, which is inseperable from Him, thus answered Him, with the greatest gravity- " No Sir—Only twice a week when the Weather is hot " Young Villiers eyed Sir John with attention, but from the continued gravity of his countenance, left Him, without being able to ascertain, whether He was in Joke or Earnest

Returned to The Grove after viewing The Farm, & well kept Piggery. Excellent breakfasts were prepared for all, Sr Their Majesties were welcomed by merry Hand Bells frnm a neigh- bouring Village which by this time had assembled near the House—

Their Majesties now prepared to leave The Grove, on Their return to Windsor. His Majesty mounted his Horse, & We were quickly in readiness for as hard a ride on our return as We had had to this place.

By a little, after three o'Clock We reached The Queen's Lodge from hence, having had a ride, (taken altogether) of Fifty Miles The distance between Windsor & The Grove being 23 Miles, & it is not overcalculation, in fixing a distance of four miles, for our ride of an hour & a half in Lord Clarendon's Grounds.— We rode this Twenty Three Miles on our Return in Two hours & five Minutes changing Horses at Chalfont

St. Giles's included. * * *

A HOT DAY.

I met His Majesty this Morning about 7 o'Clock at his Stables— He intimated his Intentions to Me, of taking a gentle ride this day, as it was very hot—

Our Ride through Eton, extended by .Taplow & Cliffden, then passing Lord Boston's at Cliffden, His Majesty & The Queen alighted at Dropmore Hill, the Cottage Orne which was at this time advertised for Sale • by Mr. Christie— It belongs to Mr. Seawen late of The Guards—* I had heard much of the neatness & Elegance of this Cottage • Dropmoro Hill with considerable Surrounding Preperty is now become the distinguished Seat of Lord Grenville—R. F. G.

retreat, but I confess myself much disappointed with the place, as well as the Situation on an open Conimoa. The Rooms were small & very low. We measured the highest & it was just Eight feet— We found out, that by this sudden Visit We had disturbed a young Lady from her breakfast— She however escaped and during our stay I think She was hid in the Garret. We did not see Her, but by a Bill she had left on the breakfast Table in Her hurry ; We discovered that Her Name was Dalton, & that She bought Her Tea by the Quarter of a Pound—

I confess these Visits, tho' flattering & distinguished, are often very troublesome, to snug & quiet Parties—yet to say the truth the Incidents are often thought very amusing- * * * *

REVIEW OF ADMIRAL PARKER'S FLEET AT THE NONE.

This Evening I received His Majesty's commands to be in readiness to attend Him on Friday next, on his Expedition to see The Fleet at The Nore- After some hours stay at Sheerness His Majesty reimbarked on board The Augusta & which steered towards Admiral Parker's Fleet some of which had by this time come to an Anchor near the Nore, while others were still under sail to that Anchorage.

On the approach of The Augusta The Royal Standard at Her Main top-mast Head was saluted by all His Majesty's Ship at anchor at the Nore, & likewise by those who were still coming up. This was the most beautiful and animating Sight I ever saw ; The Seamen on the yards, loudly cheering in extacy, & giving welcome to Their King, from those Ships which they had so proudly defended in their late hard fought battle, & which at this time bore the many marks of hard service.

Great was the joy around at this glorious Sight—yet with regret do I observe it, that the willingness to be pleased, was not general. A canker'd spot nourished sulleness & disatis- faction in a Corner, & from whence I was sorry to perceive, it was spreading where it ought not— Even The gay appearance of The Princess Amelia with all her colours flying, Her Gallant Crew, shouting from Her yards & the most heavy & well served Salute from her batteries, could not extort one satisfied expression from that quarter, at her having reached Her Port in safety, & escaped from those imaginary dangers, which had so lately beset Her.

The Yatchts on their coming up with The Fleet, with their several Attendant Vessels sailed round every Ship in it, & distinguished among the rest in the Line appeared The Dolphin of 44 Guns which in the Action had gallantly & successfully sustained the Attack on Her from several principal Ships in the Enemy's Line.

The Augusta anchored near Admiral Parkers Flag Ship The Fortitude of 74 Guns—& His Majesty then dined— In the Evening His Majesty went on board The Fortitude, & was received on the Deck of that Ship with every mark of ceremony & high respect— The Officers of The Fleet were assembled on board The Fortitude on this Occasion—These were presented to His Majesty on the Quarter Deck & had the honor of kissing his hand.

The manner, and awkward Shyness of some of these gallant Men, unused to ceremonials of this nature, might possibly at another time, have occasioned somewhat of Mirth, perhaps of ridicule, but on an occasion like this, such ill-timed levity was unpardonable. I hope it was not so fully seen as I saw it—I was hurt at the moment, & shall ever be so, when I recollect the circumstance.

Awkward or uncouth as some might have appeared, I thought them, Men more distinguished, & more deserving of their country's thanks, than that Person who was now so seal a propos, indulging his natural turn for Satire on Them, & extending his subsequent comments in the same strain to The Prince afterwards.

From an attention too eager to whatever came from this Quarter, I was sorry to think, that prejudices might be established against that valueable profession, whose Services could best maintain the safety of this Country, & render his future Crown permanently glorious.

That Men should be thus willingly Mischeivous, is beyond My comprehension.

LORD LOTHIAN'S WIG.

On again approaching The Fleet under Admiral Parker, They took leave of His Majesty by a general Salute, with Yards Manned, & every throat strained in loudest acclama- tions.

The Yatchts now bent their course for The River from The Nore, & this night they again Anchored in Leigh Roads, under the protection of The Greenwich Man of War.

This Evening Sir Joseph Banks & My Brother (who had still kept company in Mr. Shuttleworth's Yatcht) had the honor of being invited on board The Per. Augusta by His Majesty.

The Sea at night bore a very uncommonly luminous appear- ance, & flashed with every oar which struck it— This appear- ance by no means uncommon, became subject of observation, & of conversation, & Sir Joseph by a small close net, took up many of those luminous little circular substances, in appearance diminutive Jelly fish, which stuck to it, whenever it was let down in the Water ; & by putting these in a goblet of pure Water, good opportunity was obtained, of seeing the formation of these little substances, Which in numberless shoals, give this extraordinary appearance in the Water, & whose bright- ness is equal to that of the Glow worm, & Fire Fly tribes— After His Majesty had retired to His Cabin, He frequently open'd his door, & looked into our Cabin, just as We were preparing for our Cots. He however at this time said Nothing, but it seem'd to indicate, that He had something in view— At last His Majesty called Me into his Cabin, & told Me, He was curious to know what Lord Lothian did at night with his carefully arranged Wig, & his long thick Pig tail--& how these were disposed of— I inforad Him, that His Lordship had the patience every night to go through the full arrangement of Curls &c as others with fine heads of Hair did—& that He slept with the Wig & long Pig tail, to make Colonel Townsend & Me Believe, that He wore his own Hair— Lord Lothian who had observed that The King had appeared to be desireous of finding something out, became suspicious that He was the object, He therefore on My being called in listened at the Door of H. M.ys Cabin—& He then heard the King's question to Me, & He heard Me tell The King, what He wanted to know—

Lord Lothian immediately on hearing My Answer, said in a loud Voice from without " It is all true Sir—" The King was much diverted with the detail, & afterwards joked His Lordship very pleasantly, the' He was a little sore for some time, at this discovery- * * * * * * * *

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

His Majesty observed to Me, that He did not think The Prince of Wales liked the expedition— It grieved Me to hear Him say so, but circumstances had been too palpable, not to have perceived as much.

I was silent on his remark—perhaps it might have been less prudent, than wrong, to have told Him My own opinion—but I said nothing—I regrett'd however, that He had Himself made some of those Observations, that I had, for these indeed had not been disguised -

At At Five o'Clock His Majesty's Post Chaise appeared at Erith, & with My Coach. Immediately He quitted The Augusta & stepped into his Chaise, commanding Me to join Him to- morrow at Windsor— Without delay Lord Lothian, Colonel Townsend & Myself got into our Coach, & arrived in Town entertained with His Lordship's satire on many, & his abuse of almost every thing which had occurred, from the beginning to the end of this expedition— Lord Lothian among others made this Observation to Me, " Mark you my words—The Prince has been kept out too long, & He will in future be disgusted—" I replied that I should be truely sorry, that any thing should disgust Him with so honorable a profession, but that I hoped every body who wished Him well, would fix the value of it, on his Mind.

We all arrived at. My Brother's House in St. James's Square from whence My Party spread to Their own homes- [Thcse extracts will be continued in our next two issues.]