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Youthful Beneficence.

The active benevolence for which her Royal Highness became so remarkable, had already began to display itself in her attention to the wants of that small portion of the world permitted to come under her observation. Of this we have heard repeated instances, but shall content ourselves with two, of her considerate kindness to worth and genius in the person of Mr. Bryan Carly, botanist, a worthy and respected character, employed in the grounds of Lady De Clifford at Paddington Green, and whom she thus addressed whilst walking with that lady- "God bless you Bryan! I have not forgotten you." A few days afterwards, she requested her Governess to accompany her for the purpose of purchasing a case of instruments, which was done, without her Ladyship suspecting for whom they were designed, though she found out afterwards: the Princess, with a condescension equal to her consideration, delivering them to Mr. Carly with her own hands.

For the second anecdote of the same person, we are indebted to J. Cozens, Esq. of South Ville, Surry, (the friend and companion of the immortal HOWARD), recording a more particular instance of the grace and benevolence which shone forth at this early period of her life, and have been subsequently followed up by repeated acts of that virtue and benignity with which her mind was richly stored.

Excursion to Bognor.

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Having presented a quarto Oxford Bible to the above-mentioned Mr. Carly, she wrote in it the fol lowing lines, which, with elegant simplicity, mark the kindness of her Royal Highness, ought to be recorded as an example worthy of imitation by all ranks, and will remain as a lasting memorial of her exalted mind; similar to that of our venerated Monarch, who was heard many years since to say, he wished all his subjects to possess the Bible, and to be instructed by the Clergy with its contents:

"I give this good book to Bryan Carly, as a mark of my sincere regard and esteem; and which I hope he will always keep, as a remembrance of her, who is very truly his friend and well-wisher, CHARLOTTE.”

"May 15, 1808."

The health of her Royal Highness, for three successive summers, requiring sea bathing, her residence was fixed at Bognor, which was originally her own choice, and to which she became very partial. Here she was still under the superintendence of her Governess, Lady De Clifford, and permitted, in every point consistent with her rank, to follow the bent of her youthful disposition; an arrangement which suited well with the goodness of her heart, and tended to the developement of

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Rural Simplicity.

many virtues which might have lain dormant under the formal restraints of courtly etiquette.

She lived, indeed, secluded from all visiting society, except in one or two families of high rank, under the particular orders of her Royal Father, and her évenings were generally spent at home, engaged only in the lighter studies, as matter of amusement rather than of formal education: but her mornings were always actively employed. She bathed three or four times a week, and drove about to the hamlets and rides in the vicinity in a little market cart, drawn by her four favourite grey ponies, a paternal present, which she had learned to manage with grace and ability. At other times she rambled about on foot, free and uncontrolled, but always under the protection of proper persons at a respectful distance and on those occasions, drest as simply as the daughter of a country curate, the Heiress of the British Empire feared not to enter the humblest cottage, especially where she thought her purse might be of service. She knew of every sick person in the neighbourhood, and we know that she both expressed and felt for them the kindest and most rational concern, giving them specially in charge, particularly children, to Dr. J. B. Davis,*

* Dr. J. B. Davis, Physician to the Universal Dispensary for Children; whose pardon we must claim for the introduction of his name as corroborative of her Royal Highness's early benevolence.

Youthful Playfulness.

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who then made Bognor his usual summer residence,

as physician.

Such active benevolence excited the loyal partiality of all ranks; indeed, she was not only admired, but universally beloved for her charity, affability, and easy freedom of manners, that did not disdain running, upon many occasions, to assist in the common offices of life: nay, in her green habit and little straw hat, she has often stepped forward to open the gate of a Bognor cottage to persons on horseback, who knew not the rank of their smiling attendant!

In the midst of these rational and benevolent amusements, it would have indeed been surprising if the buoyancy of youthful spirits had not sometimes overcome the discretion of a child of thirteen years of age; we should therefore have passed over any little ebullitions of playful whim, were it not that some anecdotes of that nature have found their way to public notice. In order, therefore, to preserve a strict appearance of that impartiality and love of truth which have guided our pen throughout these sheets, we shall not think it below the dignity even of obituary biography to record, that

D

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Marine Excursions.

the spirit of sportive jest may have sometimes prompted the sprightly girl to amuse herself at the expense of the more matronly part of her establishment. Amongst others, it is said that her amiable Governess was sometimes the object of her merriment, but merriment without a sting, and which her Ladyship had the goodness to meet in the same spirit in which it was offered; espe cially in excursions with the little grey ponies, when accompanied with Lady De Clifford. On these occasions, a large field belonging to Sir Thomas Troubridge was often the scene of action, where the youthful charioteer gaily drove her preceptress over ruts, knolls, and all rugged places, jestingly boasting of it as affording additional exercise for her matronly companion.

It has been said, also, that her Royal Highness took great delight in rambling along the beach in the most tempestuous weather, for the ostensible purpose of collecting the berries of marine plants, which she afterwards formed into necklaces; but such an amusement may well be supposed to have afforded great delight to such a mind and disposi tion as hers, without any suspicion of those unsea