then entirely unacquainted with the secret inclination of his beloved Daughter in favour of her destined husband, produced a great depression of Her Royal Highness's spirits, especially as every thing seemed then to wear a very unfavourable aspect medical advice was therefore procured, after which the following certificate was published:

"Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales, being still not altogether free from the complaint in her right knee, and Her Royal Highness's general health being considerably impaired, we recommend a residence on the sea-coast for two or three months this autumn; as the means most likely to restore her general health, and to cure what remains of the local affection.

July 6, 1814.

(Signed)

M. BAILLIE.

H. CLINE.

R. KEATE."

In consequence of this medical recommendation, the Princess repaired to Weymouth, a place which, in addition to its natural advantages, preferred a strong claim to her attention and regard, in having been the favourite resort of His Majesty; thither Her Royal Highness immediately repaired: on the 9th of September she left London, and arrived at Gloucester Lodge on the following day; a great concourse of people were assembled on the Esplanade awaiting her approach, who greeted the amiable Princess with reiterated cheerings, which she immediately returned with her usual affability and condescension.

Early on the 12th instant the royal standard was displayed at the Custom House, while colours were hoisted at Harvey's Library on the Esplanade, and on the shipping in the harbour. The

worthy Mayor having announced that this day the arrival of the Princess Charlotte was to be celebrated, in the evening a general illumination followed, which was the most brilliant that had ever been seen at Weymouth.

Two days afterwards, the following loyal and appropriate Address was presented to Her Royal Highness, by the Mayor, Aldermen, and principal Burgesses, of Weymouth :

"We, the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs, and principal Burgesses, of the borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, entreat permission to address to your Royal Highness our humble congratulations on your safe arrival here, and to express our earnest wishes for the re-establishment of your health.

"We regard the auspicious appearance of your Royal Highness amongst us, not only as a happy omen of the future prosperity of the town, but as a revival of the joyful sensations we formerly experienced on the visits of your august grandfather, the paternal Sovereign of a grateful people.

"May the many public and private virtues which adorn with peculiar lustre the character of our revered Monarch, shine with undiminished splendour in the persons of his illustrious descendants.

"Madam, we beg leave to assure your Royal Highness of our strenuous exertions to preserve peace and good order, and by wishes." every means in our power to anticipate your

Her Royal Highness most graciously replied:

“Gentlemen, the Royal Family have so repeatedly experienced the loyalty and good-will of the inhabitants of Weymouth, that they need no additional assurance of their affection and duty.

"It will, however, I am sure, afford them very sincere satisfaction to find, that time and absence have produced no alteration whatever in their sentiments.

"To you, Gentlemen, who have shown me this particular mark of attention, and have so kindly expressed vour wishes for the res

toration of my health, I feel more especially indebted; nor can I, ou this occasion, omit my very sincere acknowledgments to all the inhabitants of this town, for the very flattering tokens of regard which they have universally shewn me, and which I consider as a proof of their undiminished attachment to my dear Father, and the rest of the Royal Family.

"Believe me, Gentlemen, it will ever be my anxious wish to merit your good opinion."

The Princess was exceedingly gratified by the picturesque scenery with which the neighbourhood of Weymouth abounds, and took her morning rides upon the beautiful hills and downs in its vicinity. Her favourite drive is however said to have been to the pretty village of Upway. These excursions produced a visible improvement in her health; but the latent cause of her indisposition, the disappointment which had occurred to delay, if not wholly prevent, the completion of her wishes, could not be thereby removed, though its unfavourable effects upon her health were for a time mitigated.

It appears that this was not the first visit Her Royal Highness had paid to Weymouth; for, notwithstanding the burden which oppressed her own mind, the amiable Princess, upon being requested to extend her bounty to the family of a tradesman, who had been removed by sudden death soon after the second arrival of Her Royal Highness at Weymouth, immediately recollected that he had been employed by her during her first residence at that place, and feeling deep concern for their melancholy condition, made very particular inquiries concerning the circumstances of the widow and her fatherless children; and learning that one

of them was a promising lad, signified her gracious intention of assisting his distressed relatives by patronizing him. It is a very common and dangerous, though certainly, on the part of benevolent persons of high rank, a very amiable error, that, in endeavouring to forward the interests of deserving persons in low circumstances, they generally forget, that by suddenly elevating them out of the humble sphere of life in which they have been accustomed to move, they expose the objects of their profuse generosity to great hazards; which have, in many instances, entirely defeated their own kind intentions. The youthful Princess appears to have been perfectly aware of this general mistake; and provided for the advancement of the boy, whom she had thus taken under her protection, with a depth of judgment which would have done honour to riper years, and of which the deserving object of her discriminating charity is a living and a happy witness. He was first put to school, by Her Royal Highness's command, where he received an education adapted to his station in life; and after that was completed, the Princess gave a premium of sixty guineas with him, as apprentice to a most respectable tradesman, with whom he now is; having hitherto conducted himself remarkably well, and affording, as his employer assures us, every reason to conclude that he will continue to be an useful member of society, and an honour to the benevolence and good sense of his royal and lamented Patroness.

The Island of Portland, which lies to the southwest of Weymouth, soon attracted the attention of the Princess Charlotte, who undertook an excursion, for the purpose of viewing its natural curiosities. After a tedious passage, owing to an unfavourable wind, she landed upon the island, and was surprised to find it an immense mass of sterile rock; abounding, however, in quarries of freestone, ten thousand tons of which are annually exported, for building

the most magnificent structures; such as the Cathedral of St. Paul's, at London, which is all of Portland stone. The places where the Halsewell and Abergavenny East Indiamen were lost, being pointed out, the Princess requested to be informed of the particulars of those dreadful shipwrecks: but it is said, that none of her nautical attendants were able to answer her inquiries; but with how little probability of truth, the notoriety of all those distressing circumstances makes it wholly unnecessary to state. Her Royal Highness at length reluctantly quitted the island; and, owing to the rapidity of the tide, which had turned against them, the Royal Party did not arrive at Gloucester Lodge till late in the evening.

Abbotsbury Castle, the seat of the Dowager Countess of Ilchester, possessed great attractions for Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte, during her residence at Weymouth; nor was the politeness and kind attention of its noble possessor the least of those attractions. The inquisitive mind of the Princess soon led her to inquire the history of this remarkable domain; with the whole of which she soon became acquainted. The village called Abbotsbury, the Princess was informed, once belonged to a monastery of monks, of the Benedictine order. These gentlemen, being lords of the manor, and rather partial to good living, were particularly tenacious of the rights and immunities attached to the estate, and to those especially which tended to procure a continual supply of delicacies for their tables. In what manner their consciences disposed of the austere rules of abstinence which they pretended to observe, it would not be of much use to inquire. All the fishermen, however, on this estate were, by law, obliged to supply the monks every morning with the first caught fish; for which they were promised a suitable price: but it appears that the fixing of the price was left to the monks them