however, clearing up soon after twelve, Her Royal Highness took her usual airing, and proceeded towards the farm-yard, the pleasure-grounds, &c. About half-past one the Princess returned to the house, accompanied by Prince Leopold, having been hastened in her return by another shower. The rain continuing to fall during the afternoon, prevented His Serene Highness from taking the diversion of shooting.

Thursday, October 30. A letter from Claremont stated, that it had blown a strong gale the whole of the last night, and during the morning: at twelve o'clock it cleared up, and the sun shone remarkably bright, which enabled Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte to take her usual exercise of walking and riding in the pleasure-grounds and Park. Her Royal Highness remained out from half-past twelve till within a quarter of an hour of two o'clock. Prince Leopold, after accompanying his beloved royal Consort, went out to take the diversion of shooting, attended by Baron Hardenbrock. The Princess was living completely retired, and did not see any visitors, not even her most intimate friends. Their names were left in the hall, as was the case when Lord and Lady Ashbrooke called on Tuesday.

The day following, the windy weather continued, and it rained incessantly till noon; when the Princess Charlotte took an airing in the Park; but the rain returning, Her Royal Highness could only remain out an hour, during which she was accompanied by Prince Leopold and several attendants.

The last Sabbath which the Princess Charlotte was permitted to see, the weather being remarkably fine, Her Royal Highness took her usual airing in her chaise, and continued out for about two hours; after which, the Princess and Prince, for the last time, assembled their principal attendants, and all their domestics, to attend the morning service,

which was performed by the Rev. Dr. Short. Soon after the service, the Princess again took a ride in her small chaise, in the Park, accompanied by Prince Leopold. The next morning, at eight o'clock, the Queen set out on her journey to Bath, where Her Majesty had been long and anxiously expected, in order to take the waters for the reestablishment of her health.

Many illiberal and groundless censures have been passed upon Her Majesty for leaving Town at the time when the accouchement of her Royal Granddaughter was hourly expected to take place. It is not, however, usual for any of the female branches of the Royal Family to be present on such occasions; nor could it fail of being as unpleasant to themselves, as it would be useless, if not detrimental, to the pregnant female, to add to the already too great number of personages who are obliged, by the laws of the realm, to be present at and attest a royal birth. Had Her Majesty remained in Town, it would have been difficult to point out in what way her stay could have benefited the lamented Princess, at whose own birth no female whatever was present, except the Ladies of her Royal Mother's bedchamber, and the necessary attendants. It cannot, therefore, even be fairly asked, whether Her Majesty's absence did not imply an existing coolness, or at least some degree of inattention; for it is well known, that on such occasions, the legal regulations must be implicitly complied with; and they are such as would, of course, deter any delicate female, except mere attendants, from being present, except in such cases of absolute necessity, as in all probability never occur. Some, who are of course entirely unaware of the excellent understanding subsisting between the Queen and the Princess, since the marriage of the latter, allege that Her Majesty's absence was a proof of the continued misunderstanding: and that

the Queen ought to have been at hand on the occasion: whereas, admitting their supposition, it is plainly ridiculous to suppose, that the presence of even a relative, with whom she was not upon the best terms, could have been at all acceptable to the Princess Charlotte in so very critical a juncture.

At noon, on the same day upon which the Queen left Town for Bath, Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte took an airing in her open chaise, in Claremont Park, for the last time; she remained out an hour and a half, and was attended by Prince Leopold, who afterwards took the diversion of shooting, attended by Baron Hardenbrock; and then little apprehended the dreadful shock, with which, in a few hours afterwards, he was overwhelmed.

Before we proceed to narrate the painful particulars of this most distressing dispensation, we shall conclude this chapter with the following beautiful Poem, from the elegant pen of Edmund L. Swift, Esq. which was published on the very day on which Her Royal Highness was taken ill, and alluded to the long period in which the nation had been anxiously waiting for the appearance of a Royal Heir, under the title of "The Quarrel of the Months for the Royal Infant:"

Three MONTHS had a Quarrel:-the first was SEPTEMBER, The next was OCTOBER, the last was NOVEMBER;

To old father TIME the dispute was referr'd,

And each for himself in his order was heard.

The demand was a bold one; no less than his leave,
The greatest of honours and joys to receive;
Which to some Month or other must come in the end,
And each to the favour did stoutly pretend.

They prayed, that his worship forthwith would assign
That long-wish'd for day, by permission Divine,

When CHARLOTTE should give a young Heir to the Crown;
And say which among them should have the renown.

SEPTEMBER spoke first; and presum'd 'twas expedient,
Since AUGUST had cheated him out of the REGENT,
He should have the next turn, and be recompens'd now,
By adding this wreath to the pride of his brow.

Besides said poor SEPTY-the vintage of which
The growth is so needful in making me rich;
Will all be required, your Worship's aware,
For drinking the health of BRITANNIA's young Heir.

Stand back, cries OCTOBER; your foreign libation,
In taste or in principle, suits not the nation :-
Let the Infant be mine; and a Birth-day so dear
True Britons shall drink in my very best beer.

So posed was the Judge with the beer and the wine,
Which this way and that way the scale did incline,
That SEPTEMBER, for judgment, no longer could stay,
And OCTOBER was off with his thirty-first day.

Since my rivals can't wait for your final decree,
Says ancient NOVEMBER-the better for me:~
Few pleasures are mine: I am cheerless and old;
And I want a fur-mautle to keep out the cold.

But if to my wish you this young one bestow,

My heart shall expand with the summer's warm glow;
And though keen are my winds, and my storms are severe,
I'll not envy the most smiling Month of the year.

Judge TIME sealed the writ, and ordain'd that the child,
Should be born in the winter, a Rose in the wild :-
But he promis'd, in case of delay in NOVEMBER,

For our best Christmas-box, it should come in DECEMBER.

CHAP. VI.

Accouchement of the Princess Charlotte.-The Royal Infant still-born.--Attempts to restore it to animation.-Patient Resignation, sudden Illness, and unexpected Death, of the Princess.—Indescribable Distress of Prince Leopold.-Universal Public Alarm and Mourning.-The Embalmment.—Preparations for Interment.-Funeral Procession.— Addresses of Condolence.-State of the Succession to the Throne.

It

HAVING followed the illustrious and lamented Subject of these Memoirs through the different stages of infancy, childhood, and youth, up to maturity, it now remains to survey the final scene. The extremely interesting relation in which she stood towards the nation at large, had excited the public attention to such a degree, that information concerning her was sought for with unexampled avidity as the important crisis approached. would, indeed, be a great derogation from the merits of the Princess, to ascribe the general anxiety to any other cause; for though her genuine worth and excellence were well known to her friends and dependents, and to the objects of her perpetual benevolence, it was not until the cold hand of death withdrew the veil which she had gracefully interposed, that the beautiful lineaments of her lovely character were distinctly seen and appreciated.

The Princess Charlotte having herself arranged every thing that related to her confinement, fixed on Sir Richard Croft for her accoucheur; in addition to whom, she had the advice of the justly celebrated Dr. Baillie, and of Dr. Stockmar, the