jesty, that Mons. le Grand hath sent me a horse by a French gentleman, wherewith I hope your Majesty will be well pleased. The next week I mean to use the benefit of your Majesty's gracious favour of hunting in Waltham forest, the place appointed as fittest for the sport being Wansted. In the mean while and after, I will employ my time at my book the best I can to your Majesty's satisfaction; whereof hoping your Majesty will rest assured, I kiss most humbly your hands, as, Your Majesty's dutiful and obedient son, HENRY. A LETTER WRITTEN BY THE GREAT CONDÉ, IN HIS YOUTH, TO HIS FATHER. DOMINE MI Pater, ECIMO quinto kalendas Novemb. Morono redii ; dissimulare non possum sensus animi mei; cui enim candidius loquerer, quam Parenti optimo! Non sine dolore locum amœnissimum reliqui, cujus ne vel levissimum quidem fastidium fecerat trium propè mensium commoratio; invitabat quoque ad longiorem moram serenitas temporis, et adolescentis autumni jucunda temperies; at parare oportebat imperiis tuis, quibus toto vitæ decursu, cariùs mihi atque antiquiùs erit nihil. Cæterùm, satis valeo si vales, sum enim de tuâ valetudine sollicitus, cum à multis diebus nihil certi inaudierim: Deum precor ut te mihi servet incolumen. Vale, Domine mi Pater, Celsitudinis tuæ, Servus humillimus et filius observantissimus, Biturgibus, 1 Nov. 1635. Another. DOMINE MI PATER, QUA UÆREBANT à te priores litteræ, an latinâ linguâ in posterum adscriberem, an gallicâ; consuetum morem retineo, dum quid eâ de re constituas, expecto. Aliud etiam est quod petam, an pomeridianum tempus studiis liberum esse velis. Miraberis id a me quæri, neque me silentio uti tuo tanquam vacandi facultate; verùm non ita mihi studendi labor insuetus est, aut injucundus, quin admodum placeat, si jubeas ei me incumbere, neque ita jucundus, quin eum libenter dimittam si dimitti velis: itaque quidquid, eâ super re, statues, sequar, non invitus. Vale, Domine mi Pater, Celsitudinis tuæ, servus humillimus et Filius, semper observantissimus, Biturgibus, 8 Januarii, 1636. LUDOVICUS BORBONIUS. YOUNG GEORGE STAUNTON. YOUNG George Staunton, son of Sir George Staunton, when twelve years old, accompanied the embassy to China, as page, and was much noticed by the Emperor of China, for his knowledge of the Chinese language. During the voyage back to England, a large vessel hove in sight, and Sir George, imagining it might be a French man of war that would engage them, desired his son in Latin, the language in which they always conversed, to go below: "Mi Pater," replied the affectionate and spirited boy, "nunquam te deseram." THE DAUPHIN, SON OF LOUIS THE SIXTEENTH. EVEN while Marie Antoinette was yet surrounded by all the luxury and magnificence of a court, she paid unremitting attention to the education and well-being of her children. It was her habit, after superintending the lessons of the Dauphin, to amuse him, by singing to him little simple airs, which she composed on purpose for him, and which she accompanied on the harpsichord or harp: he loved music exceedingly, and had a very delicate ear. One even |