For what is warld's worthless gear, While roun' us, like the ivy sweet, GLASGOW, 1817. Juvenis. TO HOPE. FOND Hope now strews my fancy's walk Through flow'ry paths, to future hours, Not shaddowed by dark pensive bowers, So float pure days to a calm night, J. K. MONTHLY REGISTER. British Compendium. Death OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES, PRECEDED BY THE BIRTH OF A STILL-BORN CHILD. THE afflicting details which we have to communicate this month, are rendered mournfully impressive by their coming upon us so suddenly, and while we were prepared for the receipt of intelligence of the most opposite and gratifying description; little anticipating that fatal blow which has, at once, deprived the country of a Princess, amiable, beloved, and cherished, as the destined sovereign of these realms, and of the hope of having her virtues transmitted, in her descendants, through a series of happy ages: 65 ९ Insatiate archer! could not one suffice?" The union of her Royal Highness with the Prince of Cobourg, was marked by the most felicitous prospects; and if the reputation of the illustrious Princess stood high in general estimation previous to that period, it now received increased lustre, and gave birth to new and more flattering expectations, by the unequivocal demonstrations which that union elicited of her conjugal and domestic virtues. Of these no one in her exalted sphere, and at an age when the frivolities of the busy world seem so full of allurement, ever displayed so many, or such irresistible proofs. In short, in which ever way we contemplate her character, the consideration is associated with the same feelings of veneration for the bright qualities of her head and heart, and unfeigned sorrow for the loss of their illustrious possessor. [FROM THE LONDON PAPERS.] The hopes of the country are dashed to the earth. Instead of tidings of great joy, instead of proclaiming the birth of a future Sovereign of these Realms, "of Britain's future hope and glory," we have to perform the painful task of announcing that her Royal Highness, having been delivered of a still-born male child, expired in a few hours afterwards! This grief has occurred so suddenly, it has so weighed down every faculty, that we fear we shall not be able to give any thing like a clear and collected account. The Bulletin issued early on Wednesday seemed to pro mise a favourable result. A second Bulletin, which we insert, still further fed our hopes : "Claremont, Nov. 5, 1817, Half-past 5, P. M. "The labour of her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte has within the last three hours considerably advanced, and will, it is hoped, within a few hours be happily completed. "M. BAILLIE, JOHN SIMS." But at ten o'clock, the hope encouraged by the preceding Bulletin was destroyed by the following announciation: "Claremont, Nov. 5, 10 o'clock, P. M. "At nine o'clock this evening, her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte was delivered of a still-born male child. Her Royal Highness is doing extremely well. "M. BAILLIE, "J. SIMS." R. CROFTS, The delivery of a still-born child was melancholy intelligence; but it fades away before that which follows. The annexed letter from Claremont, we believe, will be found correct in all its most interesting, painfully interesting details :- me. Оп "Claremont, six o'olock, Thursday morning. "I had hoped to have sent you very, very different tidings: and yesterday, when I dispatched my last letter to you, I felt confident that my next would have announced the consummation of our wishes, in the birth of a future heir or heiress. That next! -However, I will endeavour to write all I have heard, as well as the general grief and consternation will allow Monday in the night, or about 3 on Tuesday morning, her Royal Highness was taken ill, and expresses were sent off to the great Officers of State, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of London, desiring their immediate attendance, Earl Bathurst, Lord Sidmouth, the Lord Chancellor, together with the Archbishop and Bishop immediately attended. Dr. Baillie and Dr. Croft were the medical attendants. During the whole of Monday the labour advanced slowly, but without the least appearance of danger. The Princess Charlotte shewed uncommon firmness, and the greatest resignation. Towards evening the labour still lingered; it was deemed advisable to send for Dr. Sims, who arrived in the middle of the night. Nothing could be going on better, though too slowly; and the excellent constitution of the Princess gave every assurance that she would not be too much exhausted by the delay. No language, no panegyric can be too warm for the manner in which the Prince Leopold conducted himself. He was incessant in his attendance, and no countenance could more deeply express the anxiety he felt. Once or twice he exclaimed to the medical attendants, "that the unrepining, patient endurance of the Princess, whilst it gave him comfort, communicated also a deep affliction at her sufferings being so lengthened." About six o'clock yesterday the labour advanced more ra pidly, and no apprehensions were entertained of any fatal result And the child was ascertained to be still living. At nine o'clock her Royal Highness was delivered of a male child, but still-born. Throughout the whole of this long and painful labour, her Royal Highness evinced the greatest firmness, and received the communication of the child being dead-born with much resignation.-Prince Leopold exclaimed to the medical attendants, as soon as the intelligence was communicated to him-" Thank God! thank God! the Princess is safe." The child was perfect, and one of the finest infants ever brought into the world. The Princess was composed after her delivery, and though of course much exhausted, every hope was entertained of her doing well, This pleasing intelligence being communicated to the great Offi cers of State, and the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, they left Claremont about 11 o'clock; the medical attendants of course remaining. A little after 12 a change was observed in her Royal Highness-her quiet left her she became restless and uneasy-and the medical attendants felt alarmed, Expresses were sent off, I believe, to the Officers of State, stating the change that had taken place. From half past 12, restlessness and convulsion increased, till nature and life were quite exhausted, and her Royal Highness expired at half-past 2 this morning. Prince Leopold was with her Royal Highness at this agonizing moment.” To the above most painful communication from Claremont, we have to add some farther particulars of the deepest interest. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent had been for a week or ten days past in Suffolk. As soon as the illness of the Princess Charlotte was pronounced, an express was sent to apprize bis Royal Highness, who immediately, with all a parent's affection and anxiety, returned to town, on his way to Claremont. His Royal Highness, in his journey to town, stopped two messengers on the road with dispatches to him. They announced the slow progress of the labour; but added that no danger was apprehended. A third messenger, with an account of the delivery of a still-born child, passed him in the night. His Royal Highness arrived at Carlton House about four o'clock in the morning, with the intention of proceeding, without alighting, to Claremont, when the Duke of York, and one of the Ministers, arrived with the fatal intelligence which has blasted his and the nation's hope, and involved the whole British family, from its most exalted to its humblest members, in the deepest affliction. In what way his Royal Highness received the dreadful tidings, can only be conceived by those who have known what it is to lose an only daughter and child in the bloom of youth and health. Equally impossible would it be to describe the grief of the husband, of Prince Leopold-for they were so admirably matched, their hearts were so united, their union had presented so inter rupted a scene of British comfort, their minds and tastes were so congenial, it had been such a home of happiness, and there was 80 large a promise of many, many years' continuance of that happiness, that the dreadful and sudden event which has beat down and blasted all this fair prospect, and all those hopes, which has for ever severed from his arms, and shrouded in death, a wife and consort so loved, must have struck his heart with the overwhelming force of a bolt from Heaven. The Princess was in her 22d year. She was born on the 7th of January, 1796, and married the 2d May, 1816. As soon as the fatal event had been conveyed to his Majesty's Ministers, they hastened to town, where they arrived about half past five. Lord Sidmouth immediately dispatched the following letter to the Lord Mayor. Whitehall, Nov. 6, Six, a. M. "MY LORD-It is with the deepest sorrow that I inform your Lordship, that her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte expired this morning at half past two o'clock. (Signed) I have the honour to be, &c. “The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor." “SIDMOUTH. The great bell of St. Paul's was ordered to be tolled, an order which it is the office of the Lord Mayor to give. It tolled from twelve o'clock to ope. Lord Sidmouth sent also to the different theatres, commanding them to be shut; and the following Extraordinary Gazette was published about one o'clock. LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY. WHITEHALL, NOVEMBER 6. "Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte Augusta, daughter of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and consort to his Serene Highness the Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg, was delivered of a still-born male child, at nine o'clock last night, and about half-past twelve her Royal Highness was seized with great difficulty of breathing, restlessness and exhaustion, which alarming symptoms increased till half-past two this morning, when her Royal Highness Expired, to the inexpressible grief of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, of her illustrious consort, the Prince Leopold, and of all the Royal Family." Wednesday evening, the 19th, is fixed for the Funeral of her Royal Highness-particulars in our next. Prince Leopold continues inconsolable. Our limits do not permit us to notice, in detail, the foreign intelligence of this month; and indeed the consideration of it is lost in that of the heavy domestic affliction before us. We may shortly observe, that the most recent advices from India dissipate every idea of a war with the native powers.-From South America we learn that the affairs of Chili go on prosperouslyTwelve of the conspirators against the Portuguese Government, at the head of whom was General Freire, have been executed. |