Matrimonial Proposition.

55

ciency. On this subject we have heard an anecdote, highly honourable both to her own good sense and the probity of her reverend Preceptor. Sitting one day at the piano-forte, when the Bishop of Salisbury was present, the Princess requested his attention whilst she performed a difficult sonata. This she, perhaps intentionally, ran over in haste, slurring the finest passages, and disregarding the time; then turning to the Bishop, asked if he were not pleased with her execution? The worthy Prelate told her very candidly, that he was not; upon which she started up from the instrument, ran to him, and, seizing his hand, exclaimed, "Now I know you are my friend; for I have convinced myself that you do not flatter me when you are pleased to approve!"

Her musical talent at all times afforded great delight to her venerable Grandsire, one of whose sweetest pleasures was to listen to her performance on the piano-forte; she was proud of this notice, and amply requited it by her artless smiles, and by redoubled exertions to attain that excellence at which she finally arrived.

Soon after this period an event took place which has by many been supposed closely connected with the political considerations arising out of a projected matrimonial alliance, then openly talked of for the Presumptive Heiress of the British Throne :-we

56

Princess attains Maturity.

allude to the visit of the Dutchess of Oldenburgh, sister to the Emperor Alexander and now Queen of Wirtemberg, to this country. It is unnecessary to revive all the political conversation on that occasion, merely reminding our readers, that the Prince of Orange, who was almost a native of this country (having come hither when an infant), was destined to be her husband. For this purpose he was educated at the University of Oxford, and taught from early youth to consider himself as the intended husband of the Princess. Her Royal Highness, as it is well known, was in the constant habit of meeting him at Carlton House. In a word, the match was openly proposed to her by her Father, the Prince being introduced by him in person at Warwick House, on the 14th of December; on the day previous to which, the Princess had been permitted to pay the first visit to her mother, at her new residence in Connaught Place. After this, frequent parties were given, and every means used to bring the youthful pair together, but all without the wished for result.

The year 1814 now opened with the important era of her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte coming of age on the 7th of January, being then eighteen, the full age for royalty, as established by the Constitution of the realm. Though not kept with the etiquette of a court, yet this day was

Visits the Princess of Wales.

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marked with more public distinctions than had been shown on former anniversaries: her tutors and principal attendants were introduced to her in form; after which the gates of Warwick House were thronged with the equipages of nobility and persons of the first distinction, and of those who had the honour of being ranked in her private circle of friends;-all anxious to make courtly inquiries, and to leave their respectful congratulations on a day so auspicious. Courtly forms, however, yielded but little satisfaction to her feeling and intelligent mind; and she was happy to hasten in the evening, under the care of the Dutchess of Leeds, to pass away her natal hours on the bosom of maternal fondness, in a visit to her Royal Mother at Connaught Place, who received her at the entrance with all the ceremony due to the heiress of an empire: a ceremony which was soon exchanged for the more interesting and affectionate reception of a beloved daughter.

In this state of formal interviews, and restricted intercourse, a few months passed over; indeed it was loudly complained of by the Princess of Wales, that she had now been deprived of her daughter's society for the two preceding years; during which time, five or six months had passed in succession without any interview whatever being permitted. Nay, she complained that she had been re

fused an intercourse by letter, and that she was prevented even from speaking to her when meeting occasionally during a morning's ride; stating, that the Princess Charlotte's coachman was strictly forbidden to stop on such occasions, and directed to act as if he knew not the carriage of the Princess of Wales. Previous to this, a carriage interview had taken place in Piccadilly; simple in itself, but being witnessed, and certainly with great pleasure, by numerous spectators, that, which was the mere effusion of parental and filial affection, was attempted to be tortured into political meaning and manœuvre; so that a natural suspicion arose that further opportunities of this species of intercourse might be caught at for party purposes, without any regard to the happiness of the royal individuals. Whilst we lament, therefore, that such restrictions existed, we cannot be surprised that means, even of apparent harshness, were adopted to prevent a similar recurrence.

But the Public well remember these unhappy differences; and, therefore, though biographical accuracy obliges us to notice them, we shall pass on to that favourable change in the affairs of Europe, which, by the restoration of the BOURBONS to the throne of France, permitted a visit of two of the Allied Sovereigns to this country.

The marked attention which the Princess Char

Kindness to Royal Emigrants.

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lotte had paid to every member of the BOURBON family, especially to the DUTCHESS OF ANGOULEME, had previously excited a degree of grateful admiration highly favourable to our best hopes of future national friendship; and it was a very gratifying sight to the Public at large, to behold the open and dignified manifestation of her participation in the private and political joy upon the happy change of affairs, on the triumphal entry of Louis THE EIGHTEENTH, which took place on Wednesday, April 20, 1814. The Prince Regent had proceeded to Stanmore with his full state equipages, attended by a numerous suite, where he remained, and at the door of the Abercorn Inn, received and greeted the French Monarch on this happy The magnificent procession then proceeded towards London; and as the day was fine, with a serene air and a temperate sun, and not a cloud to obscure the sky, the effect was undiscribable by those who had the gratification to witness it wherever the eye ranged it fell on splen- ' dour and beauty, with countenances of loveliness and joy. The procession advanced down the Edgeware Road, and entered into Hyde Park through Cumberland Gate. On its opening into Piccadilly, the whole view was eminently striking. From the ascent near the Green Park, the total pomp lay under the eye, and the continuation of military

occasion.