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We have seen it stated, in reference to an anecdote of the much-lamented Princess Charlotte, that in the course of this year, a dignitary of the church, preaching before His Majesty, quoted a passage (on the government of the passions, we believe), with which the royal hearer was particularly pleased, and afterwards requested to know the name of the author quoted. This was given; and it was added, that he was a baptist minister in Yorkshire, of the name of Fawcett. His Majesty applied to the author, and the book was sent, accompanied by a modest and respectful letter. The King read the whole with great pleasure, and ex pressed to Mr. F. his wish to serve him in any way that might be agreeable. The author, being a dissenter, rested satisfied with expressing the high sense he entertained of the honour done him, without soliciting further favours. Some time after this, however, the son of one of Mr. F.'s most respected members, clerk to a mercantile house at Leeds, was convicted of forgery, when, sympathizing with the afflicted parent, Mr. F. determined to avail himself of his interest with the King, and wrote a very pathetic letter, requesting the life of the young man. A reprieve was immediately ordered, to the great surprise of all who did not know the previous circumstances; and we have had the pleasure recently to learn, that the young man, who was sent abroad, still lives to bless the clemency of his sovereign.

It was in the course of this year, also, that a fortunate detection took place of the treasonable designs of the unhappy Despard-designs which had in view the massacre of His Majesty, and the whole of the royal family.

1803.

On the Queen's birth-day, in 1803, the King was in good health and spirits, though lame with a complaint in his foot, which was pronounced by his physicians to be a slight affection of the rheumatic gout.

It was therefore thought adviseable that he should not attend the drawing-room at St. James's; and accordingly he did not leave Buckingham House, but received there the respects (of a great number of the nobility and gentry, who waited on him previous to the commencement of the state ceremonial; and he afterwards transacted business with several of the ministers.

The evening closed with a concert, at which His Majesty joined his family, and displayed great cheerfulness and affability to about one hundred and fifty of the first fashion, who had been invited to meet their majesties at the Queen's Palace.

On the seventeenth of May, the proclamation for reprisals against the French republic was issued ; soon after which, the King, anxious for his here

ditary electorate, caused a proclamation to be published in Germany, which, under the form rather of a memorial, stated, that the differences between England and France were of such a nature as to concern only the former, and could in no manner relate to His Majesty as elector, and a member of the Germanic empire.

The King therefore expressed his wish to abide by the treaty of Luneville, and stated his right to expect that the treaty would procure perfect safety for his Germanic states in a war foreign to the empire. He added, that the preparations he had made were therefore merely defensive; and that, in his quality of elector, he would take no part in the war.

This declaration, however, had no effect; for early in June the electorate was taken possession of by General Mortier, by a convention which gave up all the electoral property to the invaders, and exposed the people to the most horrid excesses of the French troops.

To describe the patriotic exertions of the people of England at this moment, at the commencement of a new war, their subscriptions, their energetic resolutions, in defence of their king and country, belongs more to history than biography: but we must state that it was most particularly felt by His Majesty, who manifested his sense of it on all occasions, but especially on the twelfth of August, when

he arrived from Windsor at St. James's, and thence proceeded to the House of Peers to prorogue the parliament. He appeared in most excellent spirits, full of confidence and energy, and was received with the most ardent acclamations by the tens of thousands who crowded the Park, and all the streets leading from thence to the Parliament House.

The King took great interest in the progress of the war, as indeed he had done during the preceding one, though not always agreeing with his ministers as to the mode of prosecuting it. The Egyptian expedition, in particular, did not meet with his assent when first proposed. To Mr. Dundas, the late respected Lord Melville, the country was indebted for the successes upon that excursion, which His Majesty, in this year, had the liberality to acknowledge; for having visited Mr. Dundas, upon some particular occasion, he took up a glass of wine, and gave as a toast, "The health of the man who had the ability to plan, and the fortitude to persevere in, the expedition to Egypt, against my opinion!"

The twenty-sixth of October was truly a proud day for this country. It presented the sublime spectacle of a patriot monarch, who reigned no less distinguished in the hearts of his people than on his throne, meeting the brave citizens of his metropolis armed in defence of his crown and of the British constitution, and with the characteristic virtue of

Albion's sons, resolved to continue free, or gloriously to fall with the liberty and independence of their country. Such a spectacle was certainly worthy of such a people-we trust that such a people will always be deserving of the superior blessings they possess.

To describe the general interest of the day, would be to fill a volume; suffice it to say, that the effect of this day's exhibition was to draw closer the ties which connected our gracious sovereign with his people, in consequence of the common danger with which an audacious enemy had dared to threaten both. In the immense crowds which filled Hyde Park, every countenance shewed that individuals were not prompted by a common curiosity to see a military review, but it was a deeper and more lively interest, as if the mutual affections which unite all ranks had been enhanced and it was particularly remarked, that, instead of those common testimonies of mutual regard which marked the meetings of the sovereign and his people on former occasions, there was on that day an uncommon ardour and earnestness in the salutations which His Majesty received from the public, and an extraordinary warmth in the manner in which he returned them, evidently excited by the unprecedented circumstances of the times.

On this splendid day of exhibition, also, the armed citizens of London came to shew to their

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