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DEATH OF THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.

First, from whom the present royal family are descended. And, lastly, Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV. was born in the month so propitious to the royal house.

In 1765, death struck down many branches of the royal families of Europe. On the last day of October in this year, the Duke of Cumberland, who had been in a declining state of health, expired of apoplexy, at the age of 45 years. The Duke, on the day of his death, appeared to enjoy more than usual good health: he attended court, dined with Lord Albemarle, drank tea with the Princess of Brunswick at St. James's palace, and withdrew to attend a council at his own house, in Upper Grosvenor-street. Soon after his arrival, he complained of a pain in his shoulder, with a fit of shivering: being laid on a couch, he muttered, "It's all over," and expired in Lord Albemarle's arms. Sir Charles Wintringham, the king's physician, was soon in attendance; but human art was then unavailing.

The Duke of Cumberland was the youngest child of the numerous family of George II. (Louisa Queen of Denmark excepted,) and being born in England, some years after the accession of the house of Hanover, was educated in England, and boasted a genuine English heart. His personal and public virtues rendered him an object of the people's respect; and his gallantry at Culloden and Fontenoy acquired for him a memorable name in the history of his country. On the circumstance of his English birth, he appeared to reflect with much pride and gratification. When not more than eleven years old, he accompanied his father, George II. to a review while passing along the line, one of the officers exclaimed, "What a charming boy!" This was indistinctly overheard by the young prince; who, misaking the word "charming" for "German,” turned

quickly about, and said, “Gentlemen, you are wrong, I am not a German boy; I'm an English boy, and I beg you will never call me so any more.'

The Duke became extremely popular; and he deserved to be so, as well for his public conduct as his private virtues.

When at the head of the army in Germany, he was particularly struck with the ability and valour displayed by a sergeant belonging to his own regiment. Having often noticed the gallantry, and made inquiries into the private character of the man, his Royal Highness took occasion, on an exploit performed by him, to give him a lieutenancy. Some time afterwards, this person, so favoured, entreated his royal patron to take back the commission, and restore him to his former station. Surprised at so extraordinary a request, the Duke demanded the reason; and was told by the applicant, that he was now separated from his old companions by his elevation, and could not gain admittance into the society of his brother officers, who considered themselves as degraded by his appointment. "Oh! is that the case?" said the Prince, "let the matter rest, and I will soon find a way to give you satisfaction."

The next morning his Royal Highness went on the parade, where he was received by a circle of officers. While in conversation, he perceived the lieutenant walking by himself. On this, the Duke said, " Pray, gentlemen, what has that officer done, that he should be drummed out of your councils?" Without deigning to wait for an answer, he went up, took the lieutenant by the arm, and in that posture of familiarity walked up and down the lines, followed with all humility by the whole staff, much to their own mortification, and the amuse

12

WILLIAM DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.

ment of the privates. When the parade was over, Lord Ligonier respectfully requested that his Royal Highness would honour the mess with his presence that day. "With all my heart," replied the Duke, "provided I bring my friend here with me." His lordship bowed and said, "I hope so." After this no one presumed to treat the Duke's friend with contempt, but, on the contrary, all seemed eager to seek his acquaintance. He rose to the rank of a general; and, with more gratitude than taste, erected the gilded equestrian statue of his patron, which stands in Cavendish-square.

Some abuses having crept into the navy, particularly in the impress service, the Duke of Cumberland resolved to search into the truth of what had been reported. Accordingly, one morning, he went with an officer of rank, and both dressed as private sailors, to Wapping; where, entering a public-house, they desired the landlady to furnish them with a private room, having heard, since they came on shore, that the press was very hot. The treacherous hostess took the money with a low courtesy, and retired; but immediately sent for a pressgang, and related the whole story-observing withal, that one of the men was so fat, he was scarcely worth taking. The gang burst into the room; and, after a wellfeigned resistance, the Duke and his friend suffered themselves to be dragged on board the tender, where they were roughly interrogated, and reprimanded for daring to resist his Majesty's officers. The Duke replied, and inveighed against them in sharp terms, for using men so cruelly: upon which he and his companion were ordered below. With this, the prince refused to comply; on which the captain of the tender, exasperated at his firmness, said they should soon know who he was-

and ordered them to be stripped and flogged. The Duke exclaimed, "Strip me, if you dare!" This was not to be endured: the captain struck his Royal Highness with a cane, which was the sign for his men to strip their victim by force; but on taking off his blue jacket, they perceived the star. The tables were now turned-the Duke declared himself; and the whole party fell on their knees imploring forgiveness. His Royal Highness ordered the captain to be secured, while he went below; where a dreadful scene of savage barbarity presented itself:— some were bleeding from the repeated lashes they had received, and others were gasping for life, from the want of air. The Duke immediately returned to town, and laid the whole case before the Admiralty, which for a season had a good effect.

The Duke was Ranger of the Great Park at Windsor, where he kept a number of labourers in constant employ; but instead of paying higher wages than others, he chose rather to give less than the neighbouring nobility and gentry, in order that no improper advantage might be taken of his example. But he sufficiently made up for this trifling deficiency, by ordering the workmen, every day, at noon, table-beer with bread and cheese; besides which, he gave them once a week a substantial dinner. This he used to call old English hospitality.

A nobleman, remarkable for his penuriousness, took the liberty one day to tell the Duke, that his Royal Highness could do very well without so many labourers, who must put him to a prodigious expense. The Duke heard him out, and then said, "To be sure, as you say, I might do without these poor people; but can they do without me?" Scarcely had the Royal vault at Westminster closed over the remains of this patriotic prince, before it was

re-opened, to receive another branch of the Royal line, Prince Frederick William, the fourth brother of the King. He died of a dropsy, the 8th of December, in his sixteenth year.

These breaches in the Royal House were shortly after succeeded by the death of Edward, Duke of York, at Monaco, in Piedmont. He was of the naval profession; had distinguished himself in the attack on Cherbourg, under Lord Howe, by his spirit and gallantry; and his affability, added to a considerable share of information, acquired him popularity. The King felt the loss severely; but he had to endure many other trials of a painful nature, and such as required an uncommon exertion of fortitude. The agitated state of the metropolis, on account of the proceedings against Wilkes; the weakness and unpopularity of ministers; and the disturbances in the American colonies-shook the throne to such a degree, that men's hearts trembled for its safety. Amidst these external convulsions, the Royal Family exhibited a scene of harmony, and, like an oasis in the stormy desert, was calm and serene, while the surrounding horizon presented nothing but blackness and discord. Each returning year also gave an addition to this domestic happiness, by enlarging its circle. On the 24th of September, 1766, the Princess Royal was born; on the 2d of November, in the following year, her Majesty was delivered of a fourth son, Edward, who became Duke of Kent; and on the 8th of November, 1768, the Royal line received a further extension by the birth of the Princess Augusta.

It might have been expected that this increase in the family, and the exemplary manner in which the Royal household was conducted, would have brought the people to reason, and ha 'e made them ashamed of the delusive