when the most licentious scrutiny could only fix upon an incident that would have induced any of his subjects to act with equal domestic rigour.

We have seen it stated that the hostility of Wolcot arose from His Majesty having taken a fancy to a picture at the Exhibition, for which the painter would have had a hundred guineas from a private person, and then sending him but fifty pounds for it; which appears a second version of the anecdote respecting Opie. It was reported also that Pindar derived his jokes from the cook to the Prince of Wales; who, being in habits of intercourse with the cooks at St. James's, readily furnished the materials for the Lousiad. It is likewise said, that although the King himself magnanimously forbade the prosecution of Wolcot, laughing heartily at his jokes, yet Her Majesty, though less magnanimous, was unwilling to provoke the Doctor to a justification. Most of the stories had some foundation, but underwent embellishments from the author's fertile genius.

Let us turn from this, however, to a more grateful subject, to record an instance of royal beneficence in the steps taken for transplanting the breadfruit of the South Seas to our West-India settlements; and which, though hitherto unattended by the expected beneficial results, is not the less praiseworthy, and may, even at a future period, be of considerable importance, if our colonists will

avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded them to cultivate a never-failing source of food for the negro population.

Nor is the less merit due to His Majesty, because the idea may not have originated with himself, but was only a gracious compliance with a request of the merchants and planters interested in our colonies. This voyage is indeed the more remarkable, because the object of all the former ones, undertaken at the express desire of the King himself, had been the advancement of science and the increase of knowledge, whilst Bligh's expedition may be considered as the first, the intention of which was to profit by those discoveries.

Of a similar nature was the formation of a settlement in New South Wales, the first expedition to which sailed in December, this year: a plan said to have been first suggested by His Majesty to his ministry, and adopted by them in its fullest extent.

1787.

It was early in January, 1787, that His Majesty addressed to Arthur Young the letters more particularly mentioned in another place, respecting the agricultural improvements of this country. In this year also he marked his attention to literature by knighting John Fenn, Esq. who had dedicated to him his two quarto volumes of original letters of

the reigns of the 6th and 7th Henries, containing numerous state anecdotes of England and France, &c.

Bishop Porteus too was another instance of the King's regard for merit; though it has been said that his promotion to the London mitre originated with Her Majesty. Porteus, however, records that he certainly received a letter from Mr. Pitt, announcing his episcopal appointment, in which that minister stated that it was himself who recommended that worthy divine to His Majesty—a recommendation which instantly met with the royal approval.

In the course of this year His Majesty lost his sole surviving aunt, the Princess Amelia.*

The King, ever anxious to see whatever was curious in mechanism or in art, announced his inten

This princess, who was the last surviving child of George the Second, died at an advanced age. She was of a masculine turn of mind, which appeared in her dress and manners, for she generally wore a riding habit in the German fashion, with a round hat; and delighted very much in attending her stables, particularly when any of the horses were out of order. Her practice was to rise very early; and she always drank her coffee or chocolate in a standing posture, or walking all the while about the room. She took snuff immoderately, and was very fond of cards. Being at the public rooms one evening at Bath, a general officer seeing her box stand open on the table, imprudently ventured to take a pinch from it, which her royal highness observing, she ordered her servant to throw the remainder of the contents of the box into the fire.

tion of paying a visit to Mr. Whitbread's brewery in Chiswell Street, which accordingly took place on the twenty-sixth of May. The time appointed was ten in the morning; but curiosity and courtesy outran the clock, and their Majesties, with three of the princesses, were there a quarter before the time, when they were received by Mr. Whitbread and his daughter, who requested their partaking of an elegant breakfast then provided. This their majesties politely declined, and immediately proceeded to view the works, to which they dedicated a couple of hours.

The great steam-engine first attracted the royal attention, which the King rapidly but judiciously explained to Her Majesty and the princesses in all its parts. The great store, containing three thousand barrels of beer, was next examined: and the Queen and princesses were so much amused with the storecistern, that they went into it, though the aperture was so small as scarcely to admit their entrance into a cavity capable of containing four thousand barrels.

Mr. Whitbread at this time was possessed of a horse remarkable for his height; and the horsekeeper, who had charge of eighty horses employed in the works, was so elated with the presence of royalty, and the vanity of office, that he boldly told the King he would "show His Majesty the highest horse amongst his subjects." The good King

smiled to see the poor fellow on his high horse, went to see the animal, and with good-natured condescension permitted the horse-keeper to expatiate upon his qualities. He even went so far as to guess at the height of this curiosity, which was upwards of seventeen hands, and to examine him critically, noticing that his muscle was not in proportion to his bone.

Passing on towards the cooperage, a gratifying scene ensued on the King looking out of a window into the street, where he was first seen by the people, who had by this time assembled in considerable numbers, and now gave breath to their loyalty by repeated huzzas.

The Queen, on this, manifested much sensibility; and, after tenderly turning to felicitate her consort on the contentment of his people, took her daughters by the hand, and advanced herself to the window, when she was also saluted by repeated cheers.

Great pains had been taken to render this visit a comfortable one, as matting covered every part of the route that could be wet or dirty, whilst lamps were lighted wherever necessary; and when every thing was seen, the walk ended at the dwellinghouse, where a magnificent cold collation was served up on a complete service of plate, accompanied by all varieties of wine, and, more characteristically, by an immense bottle of the very best porter.

To this collation the royal party cheerfully sat