things at a meal. Her wardrobe is changed every three months; and while the nobility are eager to supply themselves with foreign trifles, her care is that nothing but what is English shall be provided for her wear. The tradesmen's bills are regularly paid once a quarter for what comes under the children's department, and the whole is judiciously and happily conducted."

LITERARY PURSUITS.

The king was not a great reader; but what he read, he remembered tenaciously. In his historic recollections, he showed himself always particularly prompt and accurate. A curious proof of this is extant, in the fine copy of the second folio edition of Shakespeare's Works, which is in the Royal Library, and which originally belonged to Charles the First.--The book was purchased by Dr. Askew, at Dr. Mead's sale, for two guineas and a half; and, at the death of Dr. Askew, Mr. Stevens became the purchaser of it for £5. 10s. In a leaf of this book, Charles the First had written with his own hand, "DUM SPIRO SPERO, C. R." And Sir Henry Herbert, to whom the king presented it the night before his execution, has also written," Ex dono Serenissimi Regis Car. Servo suo Humiliss. T. Herbert." Mr. Stevens has added, "Sir Thomas Herbert was master of the revels to King Charles the First." The book being subsequently purchased for the King's Library at eighteen guineas, his majesty on inspecting it immediately observed, that there was an error in this last note of Mr. Stevens; and taking a pen, he wrote beneath it

these words: "This is a mistake; he (Sir Thomas Herbert) having been groom of the bed-chamber to King Charles I.; but Sir Henry Herbert was master of the revels."

Topography was one of his majesty's favourite studies. He copied every capital chart; took the models of all the celebrated fortifications; knew the soundings of the chief harbours in Europe, and the strong and weak sides of most fortified towns. And all these were private acquisitions, and of his own choosing.

AMUSEMENTS.

The king's chief amusement in private, was music, of which he was passionately fond. It was music of the highest character, for grandeur and sublimity of conception; by which he not only gratified a welltuned ear, but exalted his devotional feelings. For the meretricious bravuras of the Italian stage, he had no relish; and still less for the fantastic and bewitching movements of its ballet. He loved dancing, but strictly in the old style of mingled stateliness and vivacity; the voluptuous waltz was unknown; and had it sought for admission at court, would assuredly have sought in vain. Of his majesty's fondness for dancing, we have the following pleasing picture, in a letter from Daniel Wray, Esq., formerly Deputy Teller of the Exchequer.

"We found all the world gaping at the King of Denmark. At the queen's ball, after several country dances, he asked his brother monarch (George III.) whether his majesty was tired? Not at all, replied the

king, and called for The Hemp Dressers, which he continued for two hours. At Carlton House, the same question was returned upon the Dane, who confessed himself abattu, and cried quarter."

His majesty disliked the Opera, and never honoured it with his presence; but he loved with all his heart, to go and see, and enjoy, an English play, as often as he could make it convenient. Although known to delight in the serious drama, and to be a reader and admirer of Shakespeare, he appeared in public to be always more particularly pleased with exhibitions of a comic or even farcical description. Whimsical transformations, and such deceptions as Follet the clown swallowing a carrot four or five yards long, have been known to make his majesty laugh so heartily, as to attract the general attention of the house. More than once the queen has been heard to whisper to his majesty," not to laugh so loud." The truth is, that the king went to the theatre purposely to refresh and exhilirate his spirits; to indulge in that joyous mirth, English all over, which he could not find in the private chambers or tapestred saloons of a palace.

DOING HOMAGE.

Mr. Carbonel, the wine merchant who served his majesty, was a great favourite with the king, and used to be admitted to the royal hunts. Returning from the chase one day, his majesty entered affably into conversation with his wine merchant, and rode with him side by side a considerable way. Lord Walsingham was in attendance; and watching an opportunity, took Mr. Carbonal aside, and whispered something

to him. "What's that, what's that, Walsingham has been saying to you?" enquired the good-humoured monarch. "I find, sir, I have been unintentionally guilty of disrespect; my lord informed me, that I ought to have taken off my hat whenever I addressed your majesty; but your majesty will please to observe, that whenever I hunt, my hat is fastened to my wig, and my wig is fastened to my head, and I am on the back of a very high-spirited horse; so that if any thing goes off, we must all go off together!" The king laughed heartily at the whimsical apology.

THE CARD MAKER.

His majesty in one of his rides near Richmond, observed a handsome house, and being curious to know who was the owner, he made the necessary enquiry. He received for answer, that the mansion was the lately purchased property of his majesty's card maker. "Indeed," replied the king; "then this man's cards have all turned up trumps!" !"

RUSTIC SIMPLICITY.

The king in his walks about his farms, was often alone, and many pleasant little incidents occurred on meeting with rustics, to whom he was sometimes unknown. One day he had to pass through a narrow hedge-gate, on which sat a young clown, who showed no readiness in moving. "Who are you, boy?" said the king. "I be a pig-boy," answered he. "Where do you come from? Who do you work for here?" "I be from the low country; out of work at present." "Don't they want lads here?" said the king.

"I

doan't know," rejoined the boy, "all belongs here abouts to Georgy." "Pray," said his majesty, "who is Georgy?" "He be the king, and live at the castle, but he does no good for me." His majesty immediately gave orders at his farm hard by to have the boy employed; and when he saw him, told him to be a steady lad, and "Georgy" might do some good for bim.

MR. HARTLEY'S EXPERIMENTS.

In the year 1776, the public attention was attracted to an invention for the security of buildings against fire, made by a Mr. Hartley. This gentleman had a house on Wimbledon Common, where he exhibited experiments illustrative of his plan, and was one day honoured with a visit from royalty to witness them. The king and queen, with the Prince of Wales, the Bishop of Osnaburgh, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Augusta, attended by Lady Charlotte Finch, General Desaguliers, and Colonal Hotham, formed this august party. Their majesties, with the prince and princesses, first breakfasted in one of the rooms; the tea-kettle was boiled upon a fire, made upon the floor of the opposite room, which apartment they afterwards entered, and saw a bed set on fire, the curtains of which were consumed, with part of the bedstead, but not the whole, the flames, from the resistance of the floor, going out of themselves. Their majesties then went down stairs, and saw a horse-shoe forged in a fire made upon the floor; as also a large faggot lighted, that was hung up to the ceiling instead of a curtain. After this, two fires were