resort of royalty, that the manager found himself enabled, by crowded houses, to engage the first Thespian performers; accordingly Mrs. Siddons and Quick were both on his list, and added to the attraction of the scene. On the third of August the whole of the royal party went on board the Southampton, and proceeded to Lulworth Cove, from whence they visited Lulworth Castle, the seat of Mr. Weld, brother to Mrs. Fitzherbert, and a Roman Catholic, where they were received by that gentleman at the vestibule of the venerable castle, eight of his children dressed in uniform being placed on the steps leading up to it. An elegant collation, served up on gold plate prepared for the occasion, richly embossed, and each piece with the motto of "God save the King," was then partaken of; after which their majesties, &c. proceeded to the chapel, and were highly delighted with an anthem, which was excellently performed, both vocal and instrumental. The pleasure of the visit was so great, that the King prolonged it beyond his original intention; having commanded

play for the evening at Weymouth : so attentive was he, however, to shew a polite remembrance of those left behind, that finding his return at the proper time somewhat doubtful, he with the most marked condescension despatched a servant express, to desire that the farce should be performed at the usual time of opening the house, in order that the

audience might not be totally deprived of amusement until his return. This was strongly felt by the audience; and when the royal party made their appearance, the enthusiastic joy with which they were received was highly descriptive of the public sentiment. An equally magnificent and interesting reception, as at Lulworth, awaited the royal visitants at Sherborne Castle, the seat of Lord Digby, on the fourth, where they were met on their entrance into the park by two societies belonging to Sherborne, consisting of upwards of three hundred persons, displaying colours, and accompanied by a band of music. The concourse of people assembled of both sexes, well dressed and happy, from a circle of forty miles, was almost incredible; and the delight of their majesties was extreme, when on approaching the Castle they were received by a ladies' boarding-school, consisting of nearly forty lovely blooming girls, habited in white uniform, with royal blue ribbands, inscribed, "God save the King;" between whom a passage was formed for their entrance into the house, whilst the charming innocents strewed flowers in their path, like angels sent from heaven.

The King was now understood to have recovered his health in a surprising degree; and addresses upon this happy event poured in from every part of the kingdom: but in the midst of this blaze of loyalty from his own subjects, a most palpable in

sult was offered to him by those who had once been under his sway. On the sixth of August, being on board the Southampton, on a cruize in the offing, the royal standard flying, and accompanied by the Magnificent, a large American ship, proudly displaying her thirteen stripes, thought proper to pass close to the Southampton under a press of sail, not deigning to pay even the customary salute to a man of war, of lowering her topgallant sails. Of this insult, it was judged improper for the Southampton to take any immediate notice; but the Magnificent instantly made sail after the rude Columbian, and having fired a shot a-head of her, she thought proper to make more than the necessary reparation, by lowering both topgallant sails and topsails, as a mark of deference.

Some slight alteration in ministry took place at this period, by the Marquis of Graham coming in as joint paymaster of the forces, and Lord Chesterfield as master of the Mint; on which the whole of the cabinet, and other members of the council, arrived at Weymouth for despatch of business. The affairs of state being disposed of, the whole of the ministerial party accompanied the royal mariners in their usual cruize. The compliments paid to Mr. Pitt during the whole of his visit were highly marked; and the people every where evinced their sense of his recent patriotic exertions by repeated shouts of "The King and Pitt for ever!!!”

As usual, the church was regularly attended on the ninth of August; and in the evening of that day, their majesties, with the utmost condescension, accompanied by the princesses, and attended by their suite, drank tea at the assembly rooms, mixing in the most familiar manner with the nobility and gentry, to the number of upwards of two hundred, assembled there to receive them.

The King intending to visit Plymouth by land, the Southampton was ordered to proceed to that port, whilst the whole royal party set off on the thirteenth, stopping for a short time at Bridport, where they were received by the corporation, preceded by the union societies, consisting of upwards of three hundred persons, walking in procession with colours flying, bells ringing, and music playing before them "God save the King." Triumphal arches, elegantly ornamented, were erected at each end of the town, through which their majesties passed; and numerous emblematical devices of loyalty were exhibited on the church and other public buildings. On one of the arches, ornamented in a very good style with wreaths of roses, laurels, &c. was a complimentary inscription of "Health and prosperity to the House of Brunswick!" The same demonstrations of loyalty were manifested at Charmouth; at Axminster, where the royal party visited the celebrated carpet manufactory; and at Honiton, where, in addition to what was done at other

places, the woolcombers met their majesties, with all the insignia of their trade; whilst at the turnpike the royal carriages were surrounded by upwards of three hundred and fifty young ladies, all decorated with white ribbands—a sight which could not fail to be singularly interesting, and, in fact, drew tears of sensibility from every individual of the royal party.

In the evening their majesties arrived at Exeter, where they slept, and were received by the mayor and corporation, attended by bands of music, and surrounded by immense crowds, with every possible demonstration of loyalty. After stopping one day at Exeter, to see every thing worth notice, the royal tourists proceeded towards Plymouth, visiting Saltram, the seat of Lord Boringdon, where they remained during the Sabbath-day, the sixteenth, and were joined by the Duke of York and Colonel Fitzroy, and also by the Duke of Richmond and Lord G. Lennox. On the seventeenth, in the morning, His Majesty, with his family, arrived at Plymouth Dock, where they were received with all the honours of a garrison town, and immediately afterwards proceeded in barges, in grand naval procession, on board the Impregnable of ninety guns, Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton. The scene was much heightened by the novel exhibition of a very handsome inan of war's cutter, rowed by six young women, and steered by a seventh, all habited in