His late Majesty,

George the Third.

[In placing on the record of our pages some account of the late King, we have been variously embarrassed by a desire to do what our readers would expect, and, at the same time, to do this with good taste. As a King, the history of his life is the public history of his reign, for which we have not room; and, as a man, so much fable is mixed with so little fact, and the public have been so glatted with newspaper details, that we have been afraid of degenerating into vulgar common-place. Under these different considerations, we have judged it best to consult every thing which has appeared in the newspapers, to glean according to our best judgment, and to add to these gleanings some facts within our own knowledge, or derived from unquestionable authority, The whole, for the sake of precision, has been classed under heads; and, taken altogether, may afford a tolerable notion of the character of the late King, about which the present and future ages cannot fail to be inquisitive.

These details will be further illustrated by the very curions article which commences the present Number.]

HIS EARLY LIFE.

HE Princess of Wales, his mother,

was a violent Tory. His father was an easy man, of dissipated habits and small understanding, who lived in hostility with his father, George II.

Horace Walpole writes thus, in his date: Letters to Mr. Montagu, of the same

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The young king has all the appearance of being amiable. There is great grace to temper much dignity, and extreme good-nature, which breaks out upon all occasions. For the King himself, he seems all good-nature, and wishing to satisfy every-body ; all his speeches are obliging. I saw him again yesterday, and was surprised to find the levec-room had lost so entirely the air of the lion's den. This sovereign does not stand in one spot, with his eyes fixed royally on the ground, and dropping bits of German news; he walks about, and speaks to every body. I saw him afterwards on the throne, where he is graceful and genteel, sits with diguity, and reads his speeches well."

His amour with a fair Quaker, who mysteriously disappeared, on his marriage; and his passion for Lady Sarah Lenox, have often been the object of notice.

HIS EARLY PRINCIPLES.

His first speech announced that he

ing character of Prince George, at the age of seventeen. The passage is in Doddington's Diary. She said, that "he was shy and backward; not a wild, dissipated boy, but good-natured and cheerful, with a serious cast, upon the whole; that those about him knew him no more than if they had never seen him. That he was not quick; but with those he was acquainted with, applicable and intelligent. His education had given her much pain. His book-learning she was no judge of, though she supposed it small or useless; but she hoped he might be instructed in the general understanding of things." This remarkable purity of the young Prince's mind and conduct is to be attributed, not only to his good natural disposition, but to the affectionate solicitude of his mother to preserve him from the contagion of bad example, who, whatever were her faults in regard to her son's tutor, discharged the part of an affectionate mother. His education was chiefly controlled by her, and she was a shrewd and busy woman; and also by the Earl of Bute, who

to the fact, that the two preceding sovereigns were Germans.

When the Parliament was dissolved, six months after his Majesty's accession, he took an carly opportunity of informing all his ministers, that no money should be spent to procure the election of members favourable to the government; saying, at the same time, that "he would be tried by his country.” .

Yet no sovereign could be more unpopular than he was in the first ten years of his reign; and he never became truly popular, till, in 1788, he was bereaved of his reason.

HIS MIDDLE LIFE, IN 1779.

Their Majesties, (says a contemporary writer,) rise at six in the morning, and enjoy the two succeeding hours, which they call their own. At eight, the Prince of Wales, the Bishop of Osnaburgh, the Princess Royal, and Prince William Henry, are brought from their several houses to Kew to breakfast. At nine, the younger children attend to lisp or smile their good-morrows: and whilst the eldest are closely applying to

their tasks, the little ones and their nurses pass the whole morning in Richmond Gardens.

The King and Queen frequently amuse themselves with sitting in the room while the children dine; and once aweek, attended by the whole offspring in pairs, make the tour of Richmond Gardens. In the afternoon the Queen works, and the King reads to her. In the evening, all the children again pay their duty at Kew-house before they retire to bed; and the same order is observed through each returning day.

Topography is one of the King's favourite studies; he copies every capital chart, takes the models of all the cele brated fortifications, knows the soundings of the chief harbours in Europe, and the strong and weak sides of most fortified towns. He can name every ship in his navy, and their commanders.

Exercise, air, and light diet, are the grand fundamentals, in the King's idea, of health and sprightliness; his Majesty feeds chiefly on vegetables, and drinks little wine; the Queen is what many private gentlewomen would call whimsically abstemions, for at a table covered with dainties, she culls the plainest and the simplest dish, and seldom cats of more than two things at a meal.

HIS HABITS OF BUSINESS.

In 1808, a sheriff of London, in describing the court-gala at St. James on the 4th of June, the King's birth-day, used the following language, in a letter to a friend:

"The King was not present, and the cause of his absence created general regret. His eyes, it is well known, have long been failing him, and the opacity is now so much increased, that he has for some time been able to distinguish objects in the mass only, and even that with the corner of but one eye. In this manner he now traces the features of persons who are first introduced to him; but he can call most persons by their names who have formerly been introduced to him, on hearing their voices; and he still enjoys, in other respects, that power of accurate retention, which, through his long reign, have so emimently characterized him. In his general health, he never was better, and he main tains his wonted good spirits, and that fondness for small-talk and anecdote, which have always rendered him agree able to his courtiers, and the life and soul of the drawing-room.

"The character of this monarch is how

ever not well understood. He is by no means a trifler; and, though he is generally gay in public, he has his regular hours of business, in which he dispatches the affairs

of state with great exactness and ability. These are early in the morning, generally from four to seven. About midnight, the red boxes from the different ministers are forwarded from London to Windsor, and about four o'clock they are deposited in his Majesty's private closet. Formerly he read all his papers, and transacted all the business alone; but latterly, he has been assisted by Col. Taylor, a gentleman recommended to this onerous situation by the Duke of York. About seven o'clock his answers, (ably written, when he wrote them,) his signatures to public documents, &c. &c. are all placed in the several boxes, and at ten are delivered at the offices of the respective ministers in London. The King, in this way, is understood to conduct his government and direct the proceedings of his ministers on every public occasion with great ability and precision.

"His Majesty afterwards regularly goes to chapel, and then rides out, or otherwise anuses himself through the day, except on Wednesdays, when he holds a levee in London, or when he is interrupted by an express from London, to which he generally returns an immediate answer.

Such has been the uniform and steady carcer of the life of this prince since his accession to the throne. He has in this

way directed all the affairs of his extensive empire; and, in his correspondence with his ministers, has generally exhibited complete information, and the most accurate discrimination on every subject. Those who judge of his mind from his manners in hours of levity, or even from the style of his grave conversation, know nothing of his real character. One who knows him well, describes him to me as uniting the ablest mind with the awkwardest manner of any person in his dominions."

THE AMERICAN WAR.

It is believed that the King was deluded by his ministers and others during this bloody conflict. He one day told Mr. West the painter, that he under stood his countrymen did not like their old King George, but wanted to have a

new

one in George Washington, of whose clevation to the throne the next ships would bring the account. Mr. West, struck with the observation as a probable royal cause of persevering in a war, took the liberty to assure his Majesty of the error with such earnestness, that the King agreed he should think better of the Americans, if West's assertion proved true. The Queen, who sat by, observed however, that Mr. West, she feared, would be found to be too partial to his countrymen. The next ship proved, however, that George Wash

ington was not proclaimed; and the King dismissed his ministers, and immediately opened negociations for peace.

HIS RECEPTION OF THE AMERICAN

AMBASSADOR.

The British court was now to see among its ambassadors one of the men whom it would have hung up but a short time before as a rebel. The King had very properly confessed in his speech, that, in acknowledging the independence of the colonies, he had yielded to the wishes and opinions of the people. He repeated as much to the American ambassador, Mr. Adams, telling him, that, as he had been the last to sheath the sword, he would be the first in zeal to see it kept so. This was at least judicious; and was the most graceful way of getting out of an awkward pertinacity. This first interview with the ambassador had been related by Mr. Adams himself, who acknowledges his own share of embarrassment, but evidently felt that his Majesty had the greater. After the ice was broken, the King, in his abrupt way, told Adams with a laugh, that he understood him to be a favourer of the French, who had then began to evince revolutionary symptoms. Mr. Adams says, that the indiscreetness of this remark was obvious, and that he could not let it pass by. He therefore put on a very firm, though respectful look, and answered, that, as an ambassa dor, he knew of no country but one, which was his own: to which the King replied, blushing, and as quick as lightning, "An honest man knows no other!"

THE ROYAL MARRIAGE ACT.

This Act, which flowed from the leaven of German pride, was alien to the best feelings of humanity. It was passed in resentment of the conduct of the Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland, who had recently united themselves to lovely English women. The Royal brothers, in consequence, held no personal intercourse for many years; and their reconciliation took place in Hydepark, on the alarming occasion of the riots of 1780. Much unhappiness in his family has resulted from this law; for, as no women in the world are equal to those of England, so the princes found it difficult to suit their tastes abroad; and, as no country is tolerable to those who have lived in England, so our Princesses found few attractions in foreign courts to induce them to leave their own.

HIS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE.

The following Windsor anecdote (says Bishop Watson) was told me by

the late Dr. Heberden. The clergyman there, on a day when the Athanasian creed was to be read, began with “Whosoever will be saved," &c. The King, who usually responded with a loud voice, was silent. The minister repeated, in a higher tone, his "Whosoever.” The King continued silent. At length the Apostles' Creed was repeated by the minister, and the King followed him throughout with a distinct and audible voice.

Lord Mansfield, on making a report to the King of the conviction of Mr. Malowny, a Catholic priest, who was found guilty, in the county of Surrey, of celebrating mass, was induced, by a sense of reason and humanity, to represent to his Majesty the excessive severity of the penalty which the law imposed for the offence. The King immediately answered, “God forbid, my lord, that religious difference in opinion should sanction persecution, or admit of one man within my realms suffering unjustly; issue a pardon immediately for Mr. Malowny, and see that he is set at liberty."

HIS PIETY.

The habitual piety of the late King formed a striking part of his character, Those who have been with him at bis regular morning devotions, at the private chapel at Windsor, will never forget the fervency of his responses during the service. This constant sense of religion doubtless contributed to the invariable firmness and serenity of his mind. When one of the young princes was hourly expected to die, the King was sitting on a Sunday reading a sermon to his family. An attendant came in, with the tidings of the child's death. The King exchanged a look with him, signifying he understood his commission, and then proceeded with his reading till it was finished.

HIS CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLES.

Numerous attempts were made during his reign to obtain the emancipation of the Catholics, by removing the disabilities under which they labour, and to confer upon them various offices in the army and navy; and, although the spirit of toleration by which the King was actuated prompted him to grant them several concessions, yet his conscientious regard to the solemnity of an oath effectually deterred him from yielding to any further demands. Of this adherence to his engagements, the following declaration affords a striking example:

"My Lord-I am one of those who respect an oath. I have firmness sufficient

to

to quit my throne, and retire to a cottage, or place my neck on a block or a scaffold, if my people require it; but I have not resolution to break that oath which I took in the most solemn manner at my coronation."

His Majesty's munificence to the late Cardinal York is well-known, as is also the posthumous honours bestowed upon his remains by his present Majesty George IV. and which occasioned the gallant Captain Stuart, of Invernahoyle, upon being taunted for holding a commission under bis Majesty while he was a professed jacobite, to express himself in the following manner: By heavens! the King himself is a jacobite, and every son that he has: there is not one of them, if he had lived in my brave father's days, but would have been hanged to a certainty."

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HIS POLITICAL TOLERANCE.

In one of his morning strolls through the streets of Windsor, in 1792, he turned into the shop of a bookseller, who was still in bed. He amused himself in looking round the shop, while the boy stole up stairs to call his master. In the meantime the King had stumbled on some copies of Paine's Rights of Man; and, scating himself on the counter, was employed in reading it, when the bookseller bustled into the shop. see ing the obnoxious work which the King was perusing, be considered himself lost; and, as the King kept the book close to his face, and was intently engaged in reading, he found it impossible to disturb him, though he coughed loud, knocked the bundles about, and changed the places of all the chairs and tables. At length, arriving at a period in the sum or argument, the King looked up, and seeing the bookseller, entered into familiar chat, and laying the book open on the counter, presently retired in his usual good-humour. The bookseller was nevertheless uncasy; but he never afterwards observed any difference in the conduct of the King towards him, though, on turning up the pamphlet at the place where the royal reader had paused, there was found in that page the famous passage in which Paine unceremoniously asserted, that the King had not sufficient capacity to make a parish constable.

The following anecdote from the recent volume of Jacobite Relics, by James Hogg, is truly characteristic: His Majesty having been told of a gentleman of family and fortune of Perthshire, who had not merely refused to

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take the oath of allegiance to him, but had never permitted him to be named as King in his presence. "Carry my, compliments to him," said the King; but-what-stop-no-he may perhaps not receive my compliments as King of England; give him the Elector of Hanover's compliments, and tell him that he respects the steadiness of his principles."

HIS LITERARY ACQUIREMENTS.

A few years before he was afflicted with blindness, he held a conversation with a gentleman of extensive literary connexions, and the subject on which the discourse turned was the History of England. The King observed, that he had long wished to see such a work properly executed, and that he had mentioned it to several noblemen and others, with a view of getting some persons of emincut talents to engage in the under- . taking. It had been proposed to Dr. Robertson, and likewise to Lord Lyttleton, but neither of those writers appeared willing to embark in a concern of that magnitude, though all the assistance of government was freely offered, and would, beyond all doubt, have been amply granted, for the purpose of enabling the historian to complete his design, in a manner highly creditable to himself, and serviceable to the country. At this time his Majesty stated the outline of his plan, which was, to have all the materials printed, and manuscripts collected, and the extracts made with the greatest care, by persons employed at the public charge; and that from these collections, aided by all the help of our public libraries, with all the lights afforded by foreign writers, especially those in the northern parts of Europe, whose productions have been too heedlessly passed over, the historian should draw up bis connected narrative, subject to the revision of different persons appointed to compare his performance with the authorities he professes to have followed.

He observed one day to a gentleman of high literary character, and of a distinguished political reputation, that oratory in this country was carried to a height far beyond its real use; and that the desire of excelling in this accomplishment, made many young men of genius neglect the more solid branches of knowledge. "I am sure," said his Majesty, "that the rage for public speaking, and the extravagant_length to which some of our most popular orators carry their harangues in Parlia ment, is very detrimental to the national

business,

business, and I wish that in the end it may not prove injurious to the public peace."

The King possessed many of the more attractive qualifications of an educated and accomplished gentleman. With the love of the fine arts he was deeply embued his taste for music was chiefly indulged in the frequent performances which he encouraged of the works of Handel and other old composers; aud his preference for their compositions was grounded, not merely on a sense of scientific knowledge which they displayed, but on a reverence for the sublime character which pervaded them, and for the solemn occasions to which they were devoted. The Royal Academy, established by George III. will also afford some lasting monument to the memory of its illustrious founder. His advances in Roman literature were not such as to afford him a lively enjoyment of its beauties. Of the Greek he knew still less. But he spoke various modern languages with ease and elegance; and he studied early, and correctly understood, the history of modern times, and the just relations of England with the other states of Europe.

HIS GENERAL TALENTS.

If George the Third had reigned but twenty years instead of sixty; his life would have created no interest; for no single twenty years of his reign exalted him above ordinary princes.

In the discussion of public affairs, the King was astonishingly fluent and acute; and his habits of business enabled him to refer with ease to the history and bearings of every subject. His successive ministers have each borne testimony to the dignity of his manners, as well as the quickness of his address, when he put on the character of the sovereign. Nothing which was submitted to him was passed over with indifference or haste. Every paper which came under his eye contained marks of his observation; and the notes, which he almost invariably inserted in the margin, were remarkable for their strong sense and pithiness. He was very minute in his attention to the Recorder's reports, but his policy varied at different periods of his reign; sometimes hanging from one to two hundred per annum, and at others not more than twelve or twenty. He was not a great reader; indeed, he scarcely ever took up a book. But he had particular skill in obtaining information; and employed persons of ability to read books, and convey their substance to him.

MONTHLY MAG. No. 337.

"At a levee, soon after the experiments on gunpowder had been made, I happened (says Bishop Watson,) to be standing next to the Duke of Richmond, then master-general of the ordnance; and the duke informed his Majesty that they were indebted to me for a great improvement in its fabrication. On my saying that I ought to be ashamed of myself, inasmuch as it was a scandal in a Christian bishop to instruct men in the mode of destroying mankind, the King answered, "Let not that afflict your conscience; for, the quicker the conflict the less the slaughter:" or in words to that effect. I mention this, to do justice to the King, whose understanding it was the fashion to decry.. In all the conversations I had with him, he appeared to me not to be at all deficient in quickness or intelligence."

The King's powers of letter-writing are so well known to his friends, that the Duke of York once told Mrs. Clarke, that, if the sentiments were not so adverse to those of the King, he should conceive that no other man in his dominions besides himself could have written the Letters of Junius.

The late intelligent Earl of Bute once shewed the Editor of this Miscellany a volume of Letters, which he said were from the King to his father; and most elegantly written, said he, they are. The same nobleman, as well as Mr. Dutens, the confidant of that family, used to assert, that the intercourse of the King with Lord Bute, after he became minis ter, was a political fable. For nearly twenty years they never saw each other. Neither of them, however, affected to deny the intimacy of the tutor with the princess dowager; and an unpublished letter of Lady M. W. Montagu to Lady Bute, condoles with her daughter on the subject, and advises her to bear with patience a circumstance so flattering to the ambition of her family..

HIS PRIVATE LIFE.

In the 93d No. of this Miscellany, (Nov. 1802,) the editor reported the result of his personal observations during a month's residence at Windsor, in the following terms: "The private life of his Majesty not being generally known, it maybe interesting to observe, that he is an early riser, and a constant attendant every day at eight o'clock on divine service, which is performed in the King's chapel, in the upper court. Except on the days on which public business calls. bim to London, he generally rides out till dinner in the Great Park, to his farm, T accompanied