of giving an annual prize to the royal company of archers at Edinburgh, for the express purpose of restoring that manly and martial exercise to its original splendour: and the first prize was shot for in Bruntsfield Links by the company on the twentyeighth of July.

His regard for Bishop Hurd, as a family preceptor, was particularly manifested this year by the present of an elegant gold medal, which he bestowed upon him with his own hand at the Queen's Palace, having the royal head on one side, and on the reverse, taken from a seal belonging to the bishop, a cross, with the initials I. N. R. I. on a label, a glory above, and the motto below ÉK. MIETENE ; His Majesty having seen that seal in the bishop's possession, and approved of it so highly, that he had the present medal struck, to be given for the annual prize dissertation on theological subjects at the University of Gottingen.

Amongst various anecdotes of His Majesty at this period, was one relating to the law promotion which made the present Lord Eldon and Sir Archibald Macdonald, Solicitor and Attorney-Generals. When these gentlemen went to kiss hands on their appointment, Macdonald, with all due courtly deference, went through the usual ceremony of being dubbed a knight; but not so the worthy chancellor, who, when the officer in waiting was directed to bring him up to undergo the same ceremony,

begged leave to decline it. This, however, His Majesty did not choose to admit of, but exclaimed when the fact was disclosed to him-"Pho! Pho! nonsense! I will serve them both alike." A resolution which could not be got over.-Mr. Scott kneeled of course, and rose up Sir John.

A more dignified anecdote has been related of his lordship's appointment to the great seal, which states that His Majesty presented a watch to Lord Eldon the seal bore the figures of Justice and Religion, which were engraved under the particular directions of the King. "Let not Justice have any bandage over her eyes, as she is usually painted," said His Majesty. "Justice ought not to be blind, but should be able to see every thing." When the watch was given to the chancellor, it was accompanied with this address: "I hope, my lord, that all your decisions will be given under the constant influence of Justice and Religion."

His Majesty during this year evinced his great regard for literature, by his condescending attentions, to the venerable Dr. Maclaine, who held, for more than half a century, the respectable situation of minister of the English church at the Hague. The learned doctor was of a respectable Scottish family, but born in Ireland in 1723. Losing his parents at an early age, he was taken under the protection of a maternal uncle then residing in Holland, where, and under whose auspices, he was educated for that

station, upon which his life reflected so much honour. His publications were not very numerous, but they were excellent, consisting of two volumes of Sermons; a Series of Letters to Soame Jenyns on his Defence of Christianity; a Letter on the partition of Poland; and a translation of Mosheim's Church History, with notes and appendices. His excellent character, and the high respect in which he was held, rendered Dr. Maclaine familiar with many of the most distinguished individuals for rank and talent in Europe: and upon the occasion of his visit to this country, the King caused him to be introduced to a private interview, which took place at Windsor, when His Majesty conversed with him in the most affable manner, adopting the friend, without forgetting the monarch, and exhibiting traits of which the doctor always spoke with the highest veneration.

The feelings of the King on literary and political subjects were strongly marked by an occurrence connected with this visit. It seems that the doctor had in his possession a large collection of King William's Letters to the grand Pensionary Heinsius, which he always said impressed him with the highest idea of the probity, candour, moderation, and simplicity of that monarch's mind. Their style it is known is pithy and laconic; and the letters concise, seldom longer than a page and a half, but inconceivably clear and intelligent. This collection was in the hands of a descendant of Hein

sius, who had five copies of them transcribed, for the purpose of presenting them to several distinguished personages. He accordingly did present them to the Stadtholder, the Duke of Brunswick, and some one else; and intended another copy for Count Bentinck; but that nobleman dying the very day on which they were to be put into his hands, the descendant of Heinsius presented them to Doctor Maclaine, who wished much to complete the collection, by procuring copies of the answers likewise, which are in the royal library at Kensington. On his arrival in this country, coming over with our ambassador, Lord Dover, he asked his lordship whether it would be possible to get a sight of these papers?" Oh no," replied the ambassador: " you are too late. His Majesty is so offended with the use which Dalrymple made of the papers that he saw, that he is determined the collection shall never again be seen by any one."

In the early part of the summer the King's health was in rather an indifferent state; and a mineral course being thought necessary for his relief, Sir George Baker recommended the waters of Cheltenham; accordingly, on the twelfth of July, their majesties, accompanied by the three eldest princesses, set off from Windsor, paid a short visit to Lord Harcourt at Newnham, and arrived at the end of their Journey in the afternoon, passing through an immense concourse of people in each

town upon the road, who received them with every demonstration of loyalty and respect.

The King's great object in this visit was to keep off the gout, which had been flying about him for some time. This the physicians at first proposed to fix in one of the extremities by proper regimen; but His Majesty fearing thereby to lose his usual exercise, adopted the use of these mineral waters in preference.

Their majesties resided at Lord Fauconberg's delightful seat about a quarter of a mile from the town, and had their table kept in the plainest manner; so that when on a visit to Oakly Grove, where Lord Bathurst prepared a sumptuous dinner, they declined partaking of it, as in direct opposition to the plans of health laid down.

Here his time was occupied in drinking the waters, and in making excursions to all the places worthy of notice in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire; in which he was every where hailed with the most loyal acclamations. Amongst other visits, was one to Hartlebury Castle, the episcopal palace of the good Bishop Hurd; whither he was also accompanied by the Duke of York, who had arrived at Cheltenham on the preceding day. The royal party, attended by a small suite, set off at such an early hour, as to travel the distance (thirty-three miles) in time for breakfast, at half past eleven ; previous to sitting down to which, in the library,