garter king at arms, going before them. When | Lunenbergi, Ducis Cornubia, Rothesay & Edenburgi, they had placed themselves near the vault, the Marchionis Insula de Ely, Comitis Cestria, Carrick & corpse being laid upon a machine even with the Eltham, Vice Comitis Launceston, Baronis Renfrew & pavement of the chapel, was by degrees let Snaudon, Domini Insularum, Seneschalli Scotia, Nobidown into the vault, when the bishop of Ro- lissimi Ordinis Periscelidis Equitis, & a Sanctioribus Conciliis Majestati Regia, Academia Dubliniensis Cancelchester proceeded with the service; which belaris; Filii primogeniti Colissimi, Potentissimi & Exceling ended, garter proclaimed his late royal high-lentissimi Monarcha Georgii Secundi, Dei Gratia Magnæ ness's titles in the following manner : "Thus it hath pleased almighty God to take out of this transitory life to his divine mercy, the illustrious Frederick prince of Wales, &c. &c. The nobility and attendants returned in the same order as they proceeded, at half an hour after nine; so that the whole ceremony lasted an hour. The utmost decorum was observed; and, what is remarkable, though the populace were extremely noisy before the procession began, there was, during the whole, a silence, that, if possible, added to the solemnity of so awful a sight. The guards, who each of them held two lighted flambeaux during the whole time, behaved so well, that no accidents happened among the spectators. As soon as the procession began to move, two rockets were fired off in old palace-yard, as a signal for the guns in the park to fire, which was followed by those of the tower; during which time the great bells of Westminster, and St. Paul's cathedral tolled, as did those of most of the churches in London. The soldiers were kept on guard all Saturday night, and on Sunday at the south door of the abbey, and on the scaffolding in palace-yard. The following inscription was engraved on a silver plate, and affixed to the coffin of his royal highness the prince of Wales. DEPOSITUM. Illustrissimi Principis Frederici Ludovici Principis Wallia, Principis Electoralis & Hereditarii Brunsvici & S Britannia, Francia & Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris. Obiit Vicesimo Die Martii Anno MDCCL. Etatis sua XLV. Though the life of a prince depends on as slender a thread as that of any other mortal, yet the prospects, hopes, and expectations, attached to the continuation of it, are so numerous and great, that it is impossible for any person not to feel himself affected in a peculiar manner when that thread is suddenly snapped asunder. But where the natural disposition of a prince, the bias it had taken from his education, and the inflexible bent it had contracted by long habitude, were such, that there was the most well-founded reason to believe that he was formed and improved most especially to promote the felicity of that people, over whom he was, in the course of nature, destined one day to govern: the stroke, therefore, that deprives a whole nation of such a security for its future well-being, must be regarded as a most serious affliction. That his royal highness had very extensive views of the interests of Great Britain, depending on liberty and industry at home, and on commerce abroad, is undeniable. Almost every public step which he took for the last twenty years of his life, places this matter beyond all dispute; and a temper which could, with equal decorum and dignity, pass through all the vicissitudes to which the rage and artifice of factions occasionally exposed him, could not be suspected of any design to encroach on those liberties of which he always appeared in fact, as well as in words, to be a constant and from appearing in that exalted light which was zealous assertor. That he was heartily convinced the felicity of a prince depends on the love and affection of his people, was evident from the means which he took, in addition to those which constantly operated in his presence, and were inseparable from his constitutional character to procure and cultivate that love and affection. His several tours to different parts of the kingdom, the information he took pains to acquire from manufacturers and artificers of different kinds; the gracious manner in which he received and answered every address; the placid and satisfied countenance with which he looked upon every individual, are such irrefragable proofs of an honest heart, humane inclinations, and an ambition of the most laudable kind, as can scarcely be suspected by the most malignant interpreter of other men's actions of the least equivocation. The polite and ornamental arts which long enjoyed his patronage and encouragement, on the first of subjects, had the greatest reason to rely on his protection and nurture, if Heaven had permitted him to become a sovereign; that he possessed a most refined taste, as well as an entire love of those arts; and, at the same time, that he was fully sensible of the advantages they bestow on a polite and opulent people, every professor of eminence of that period was ready to testify. His character, as a husband, was unimpeachable; as a father, he was most tender and indulgent. The partial historian has endeavoured to prove, that his young and princely offspring could not lose by the decease of a father, such as it was the aim of the hostile party to depicture him; but it was the base calumny of the times which detracted from his merit, and which used every endeavour to prevent him so justly his due. If we trace the early character of our late sovereign, we cannot discover. a single lineament which would entitle us to conclude, that his parent had neglected him; the precepts, indeed, of a parent are instilled with an efficacy which seldom attends other instruction, and, the instruction of a prince should consist of such noble and elevated lessons, that the youth, who is born to royalty, must be peculiarly happy if he has a royal tutor. One of the most celebrated historians of the age in which Frederick lived, has transmitted to us the following short outline of his character: "As the condescending sweetness of his manners enchanted all who had the honour to approach him; se that sweetness arose from a source of benevolence and philanthropy which seemed inexhaustible. How many individuals has his charity relieved! How many his munificence rewarded! How many families whose wellbeing depended on his bounty, are already in sack-cloth and ashes for his irreparable loss! How high a place had he assigned the arts and sciences in his esteem! What royal notions had he entertained of royal munificence! How studiously had he considered the difficulties and distresses of this declining country! How anxiously had he sought a remedy! And how determined was he, to apply it when found, if ever the power of applying it fell into his hands! His very foibles, when traced to their origin, fall very little short of praise; for they proceeded from an over-ardent desire to please and to excel, from too fond and eager a passion for glory, and too impatient an ambition to be distinguished as much by his importance as by his rank; which was no otherwise in his power than as he had the dexterity and ingenuity to create his own opportunities." It may be affirmed without fear of contradiction, that, in the delineation of the character of Frederick prince of Wales, neither cotemporary historians, nor those of a later period, have done that justice to it which it deserved. It appeared, indeed, to be the fashion of the histo Edward of Windsor, long afterwards illustrious by the style and title of king Edward III., had got a blemish in his princely character, from which indeed he was early removed, but which nevertheless throws him at a distance in the comparison with Frederick There is no excuse for him but his youth, for the act which advanced him to sovereignty. The assumption of a crown during the life-time of a legal possessor, especially if it be a son who assumes it from the father, must always be considered as one of those great state crimes, which nothing but a life of the most illustrious royal merit can afterwards efface. Here, instead of looking for traits of simularity which it would be impossible ever to find, let us only consider the modest and submissive deportment of Frederick under all those shades through which he was obliged to pass, during the intervention of those malignant bodies which continually intruded themselves between him and the light of that countenance in which he rejoiced. rians of his own time, to throw all his bright | the people of this country had to contemplate qualities into the back-ground, and to paint, in during the life of the father of our late monarch. the most conspicuous colours, those frailties which he possessed as a human being, and from which his exalted station did not render him exempt. The character of his royal highness, his behaviour in all his domestic relations, as well as in those, the exercise of which he assumed as a prince and a patriot, have been most largely expatiated on, and approved and admired by all his cotemporaries of every rank and deg ie, with the exception of those who were immediately connected with a particular party, a id who found it their interest to magnify his faults and depreciate his talents. It would be diverging from the truth to invest the character of his royal highness with splendid abi ities, with great classical acquirements, or with that commanding genius, from which alone can proceed an original mode of thought or action; but I think there is a comparative light in which his royal highness has not been viewed, and which will redound not only to his advantage, but to the discomfiture of those who have been induced, by party motives, to ascribe to him such an extraordinary degree of moral turpitude. The comparison I mean is, with the most eminent of his predecessors, as princes of Wales, on whose virtues and abilities the felicity of the nation has so materially depended for the last 500 years. Edward of Carnarvon, the first English prince of Wales, has no claim either to that quality, nor in the royal one to which he afterwards attained, to be here brought upon the list. The name of Frederick, prince of Wales, should not be mentioned with a prince who so shamefully and disgracefully abused the conjugal state. There are but few examples, not only amongst princes, but amongst men in general, of such Edward the Black Prince is acknowledged to make the most exact parallel with Frederick prince of Wales In all those relations of life which they tried in common, it is difficult to say which was the most virtuous and admirable. Goodness of heart was the principle by which alone they both were influenced, from which it results that their transactions with mankind could not be widely different. Edward indeed had the advantage on the side of fortune, by being early intrusted with the command of armies, admitted to the most secret and important councils, and appointed to the government of provinces, which in those days were little inferior to England itself. If modern policy does not permit an heir stage. We will here take notice of the little blemishes which some curious and critical eyes, in the plenitude of their penetration, were pleased to discover in the conduct of Frederick. These, to make the most of them, can never be extended beyond the unguarded overflowings of an excellent and unsuspicious nature. It has been considered by many who cannot permit exalted rank to lose an iota of its dignity, that the condescension and affability which Frederick generally displayed, betrayed matters, it does not therefore follow that Fre- | on this occasion may be brought upon the derick prince of Wales was deficient in those talents for any trust or employment that was consistent with his exalted station. It is indeed true, that he was very seldom called upon to take an active part in the administration of the affairs of the country, but this ought to be attributed more to the repugnance which he felt in co-operating with the ministers of the day, than to an actual want of talent. It should, indeed, not be forgotten, that on several occasions wherein his own rights and those of the people were either openly disputed or fallaciously undermined, Frederick disco-him into the neglect of that dignity which vered a firmness which would have conferred honour on the most distinguished character; by which he obtained the full possession of what was originally given to support his dignity, but which the corrupt and insolent tools of power would have diverted apart to their own nefarious purposes. By these means he contributed so largely to repel the pestilence of ministerial infection from those parts of the kingdom where he had immediate authority, that to him must be principally ascribed the measures which were taken by the house of commons to overthrow the leviathan of power, and which began, but had not perseverance to complete, an inquiry into several years of an administration which no one had the effrontery nor the assurance to say was not corrupt. princes ought to observe even in their diversions. But ought the popular and innocent excursions of Frederick prince of Wales to be mentioned, when we reflect on the extravagant outrages committed by Henry of Monmouth, in concert with the vilest and meanest outlaws amongst his father's subjects. It is net, however, meant to screen Frederick from that censure which is justly due to him, in having on several occasions taken his children on his excursions, from which no possible good could accrue to them; but this is to be attributed more to an error of judgment than to an actual dereliction of moral principle; and, certainly perfection belongs no more to the prince than to the peasant. Edward, the son of Henry VI. appears to have been a prince of great spirit, but having been villanously cut off in the bloom of life, before his character was completely formed, it is perhaps sufficient to mention him in this summary manner. The same may be said of the other young Edwards, the sons of Edward Passing by Richard of Bourdeaux, the next prince of Wales worthy of mention is Henry of Monmouth, afterwards the celebrated conqueror of France, king Henry V. When Englishmen talk of their Edwards and Henrys, Edward III. and Henry V. are the names they love to commemorate; if then on a compa- | IV. rison with either of these, Frederick should Henry VII. and James I. were the two kings not be a loser; we need be under no appre- of England who gave each of them two princes' hension from the remaining characters which of Wales to their respective generations Arthur was a prince of some hopes, but died very early. Henry Stuart was farther advanced towards manhood, and discovered as many great and sublime qualities, as perhaps ever appeared in a prince of the same age. Whether it were a jealousy of the operation of those qualities, or only the natural attack of a disease that deprived his country of a prince of so much hope, is not here the question. It is merely sufficient to state, that he did not live to an age that might entitle him to be put in comparison with prince Frederick. By the death of Arthur and Henry, their younger brothers Henry Tudor and Charles Stuart, (both of them designed by their fathers for the priesthood,) came to be possessed of all their rights, and severally succeeded to the crown. Their characters in the administration of government are well known. and that any of the family should have a real taste for letters or the arts, would be little short of a miracle." It is, indeed, very true, that Frederick quarrelled with his father, and George II. quarrelled also with his, but that is no reason why they should be "worthless sons," as Horace Walpole expresses himself; and, it should be taken into consideration, that the father of Frederick seldom forgave an injury, or an affront*. We have only to refer to the genealogy of the Brunswick family, to convict this consummate courtier of the most deliberate falsity. One of the first acts which claimed the attention of government after the decease of the prince of Wales, was the probability of the demise of the king at his advanced stage of life, before prince George, then prince of Wales, should have attained to years of maturity, This comparative sketch of the characters of and consequently, as heir apparent to the the princes of Wales, has been undertaken crown, the reins of government might devolve merely with a view of rescuing the character to him at an age when he would be incapaof the father of George III. from that obloquy citated to perform the functions of the sovewhich malice or ignorance has attached to it. reign, and thereby involve the country in all There is no writer who has attempted to deli- the anarchy and confusion which are in general neate his character, that has been so flagrantly the attendants of a protracted minority. Taking guilty of wilful misrepresentation as Horace therefore this important subject into considerWalpole. His pen appears to be dipped in gallation, the following message was sent by whenever he mentions his royal highness, and his majesty to parliament, on the 26th of no one can read the following character which April 1751. Horace Walpole draws of the illustrious ancestors of Frederick, without feeling a high degree of pity for the ignorance which it displays: "I recollect," he says, in one of his letters, "none of his ancestors eminent in arms, GEORGE R. His majesty, having it entirely at heart to secure the future welfare and happiness of his people, has maturely considered, that nothing can conduce so much (under the protection of divine Providence) to the preservation of • This is particularly exemplified in the behaviour of George II. to Miss Ballenden, of whom, when he was prince, he was highly enamoured; but on the other hand, he was cordially hated by her. She was indeed exquisitely beautiful, and was the ornament of his father's court, as her countrywoman Miss Stuart had been of that of Charles II. She married colonel Campbell, afterwards duke of Argyle. After her marriage, her former royal lover, piqued by her disdain, seldom failed to step up when at court, and utter such cruel things to her, that she was often obliged to retire. This was most ungenerous conduct, and very unlike that of Henry IV. of France, who praised the lady for saying to him, "That the only path to her chamber, lay through the church." |