in the person for whose sake I have received so many honours. I should make you an apology for saying so much of a Queen, &c. who prefer virtue to rank; but here I present you with both. Dec. 9. 1781. The Queen, &c. came about twelve o'clock, and caught me at my spinningwheel, (the work I am now reduced to,) and made me spin on, and give her a lesson afterwards; and I must say did it tolerably well for a Queen. She staid till three o'clock: and now I suppose our royal visits are over for this year. Bulstrode, Dec. 17. 1782. The Queen made a morning visit here about three weeks ago, and brought only Lady Dartrey with her. The Duchess paid her duty in return, at the Queen's lodge, and I had the honour of accompanying her. The Queen was quite alone in her dressing-room: her dress was simple and elegant, in a pale lilach satin. She added dignity to her dress by her most gracious manner of conversing. She was making fringe in a frame, and did me the honour to show me how to do it, and to say she would send me such a frame as her own, as she thought it was a work that would not try my eyes. We were dismissed at three o'clock, and as we were going to the chaise, we met, in the passage, the King and his greyhounds just returned from coursing. He told the Duchess that he could not part with her so; but we must both make him a visit, and opened the door for us to go with him into the drawing-room. The Queen soon came to us, and invited us back to her apartment, as the warmer place, and we staid till four o'clock. Bulstrode, Oct. 10. 1783. In a few days after our arrival here, the Duchess of Portland and I were sitting in the long gallery, very busy with our different employments, when, without any ceremony, his Majesty walked up to our table unperceived and unknown, till he came quite up to us. You may believe we were at first a little fluttered with his royal presence; but his courteous and affable manner soon made him a welcome guest. He came to inform the Duchess of Portland of the Queen's perfect recovery after her lying-in, which made him doubly wel come. Last Thursday, 2d of October, a little before twelve o'clock, word was brought that the Royal Family were coming up the Park: and immediately after, two coaches-and-six, with the King on horseback, and a great retinue, came up to the hall door. The company were, the King and Queen, Princess Royal, Princess Augusta, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Mary, and Princess Sophia. They were in the drawing-room before I was sent for, where I found the King and Queen and Duchess of Portland seated at a table in the middle of the room. The King, with his usual graciousness, came up to me, and brought me forward, and I found the Queen very busy in showing a very elegant machine to the Duchess of Portland, which was a frame for weaving of fringe, of a new and most delicate structure, and would. take up as much paper as has already been written upon to describe it mínutely, yet it is of such simplicity as to be very useful. You will easily imagine the grateful feeling I had when the Queen presented it to me, to make up some knotted fringe which she saw me about. The King, at the same time, said he must contribute something to my work, and presented me with a gold knotting shuttle, of most exquisite workmanship and taste; and I am at this time, while I am dictating the letter, knotting white silk, to fringe the bag which is to contain it. On the Monday after, we were appointed to go to the lodge at Windsor, at two o'clock. We were first taken into the Duchess of Ancaster's dressingroom; in a quarter of an hour after, to the King and Queen in the drawingroom, who had nobody with them but Prince Alverstaden, the Hanoverian minister, which gave me an opportunity of hearing the Queen speak German; and I may say, it was the first time Í not understand; but there was such a had received pleasure from what I did fluency and sweetness in her manner of speaking it, that it sounded as gentle as Italian. the Duchess of Portland and myself to There were two chairs brought in, for sit on, (by order of their Majesties,) which were easier than those belonging to the room.-We were seated near the The King directed them to play Handel door that opened into the concert-room. and Geminiani's music, which he was graciously pleased to say was to gratify me. These are flattering honours. subject, but. that I depend upon your should not indulge so much upon this considering it proceeding more from gratitude than vanity. The three eldest Princesses came into the room in about half an hour after we were seated. When the concert of music was over, the young Princess Amelia, nine weeks old, was sent for, and brought in by her nurse and attendants. The King took her in his arms, and presented her to the Duchess of Portland and to me. Your affectionate heart would have been delighted with the royal domestic scene; an example worthy of imitation by all ranks, and, indeed, adding dignity to their high station. St. James's Place, May 19. 1785. Since I last wrote to you, I have had an intercourse with his Majesty again by way of letter, on his returning the books of Mr. Handel's music, which my nephew, J. Dewes, had lent him. The King's letter was very gracious and condescending; much pleased with some music that was new to him among the books, and sent his acknowledgments to my nephew in the most obliging manner; adding, that he would not ask me to come and hear it performed at the Queen's house till the spring was so far advanced, that it might be safe for me to venture. On Thursday, the 9th of May, I received a note from Lady Weymouth, to tell me the Queen invited me to her Majesty's house; to come at seven o'clock with the Duchess Dowager of Portland, to hear Mrs. Siddons read "The Provoked Husband." You may believe I obeyed the royal summons, and was much entertained. It was very desirable to me, as I had no other opportunity of hearing or seeing Mrs. Siddons; and she fully answered my expectations: her person and manner perfectly agreeable. We were received in the great drawing-room by the King and Queen, their five daughters, and Prince Edward. Besides the royal family, there were only the Duchess Dowager of Portland, her daughter Lady Weymouth, and her beautiful grand-daughter Lady Aylesford; Lord and Lady Harcourt, Lady Charlotte Finch, Duke of Montague, and the gentlemen attendant on the King. There were two rows of chairs for the company, the length of the room. Their Majesties sat in the middle of the first row, with the Princesses on each hand, which filled it. The rest of the ladies were seated in the row behind them, and as there was a space between that and the wall, the lords and gentlemen that were admitted stood there. Mrs. Siddons read standing, and had a desk with candles before her: she behaved with great propriety, and read two acts of the Provoked Husband, which was abridged, by leaving out Sir Francis and Lady Wronghead's parts, &c. ; but she introduced John Moody's account of the journey, and read it admirably. The part of Lord and Lady Townley's reconciliation she worked up finely, and made it very affecting. She also read Queen Katharine's last speech in King Henry VIII. She was allowed three pauses, to go into the next room and refresh herself for half an hour each time. After she was dismissed, their Majesties detained the company some time, to talk over what had passed, which was not the least agreeable part of the entertainment. I was so flattered by their most kind reception of me, that I really did not feel the fatigue, notwithstanding I believe it was past twelve before we made our last courtesy. St. Alban's Street, Windsor, Sept. 20. 1785. On Saturday, the 3d of this month, one of the Queen's messengers came and brought me the following letter from her Majesty, written with her own hand: My dear Mrs. Delany will be glad to hear that I am charged by the King to summon her to her new abode at Windsor for Tuesday next, where she will find all the most essential parts of the house ready, excepting some little trifles, which it will be better for Mrs. Delany to direct herself in person, or by her little deputy, Miss Port. I need not, I hope, add, that I shall be extremely glad and happy to see so amiable an inhabitant in this our sweet retreat; and wish, very sincerely, that my dear Mrs. Delany may enjoy every blessing amongst us that her merits deserve. That we may long enjoy her amiable company, Amen! These are the true sentiments of 66 My dear Mrs. Delany's Queen's Lodge, Windsor, Sept. 3. 1785. P. S. "I must also beg that Mrs. Delany will choose her own time of coming, as will best suit her own con venience." the warmest duty and most humble respect, obey a command that bestows such honour and happiness on your Ma jesty's most dutiful and most obedient humble servant, "And subject, "MARY DELANY." my spirits, that I must decline the honour till I am better able to enjoy it : as they have the goodness not to press me. Their visits here are paid in the most quiet private manner, like those of the most consoling and interested friends; so that I may truly say, they are a royal cordial, and I see very few I received the Queen's letter at din people besides. They are very conner, and was obliged to answer it in- descending in their notice of my niece, stantly, with my own hand, without and think her a fine girl. She is deseeing a letter I wrote. I thank God I lighted, as is very natural, with all the had strength enough to obey the graci- joys of the place. I have been three ous summons on the day appointed. I times at the King's private chapel at arrived here about eight o'clock in the early prayers, eight o'clock, where the evening, and found his Majesty in the royal family constantly attend; and they house ready to receive me. I threw walk home to breakfast afterwards, myself at his feet, indeed unable to utter whilst I am conveyed in a very elegant a word; he raised and saluted me, and new chair home, which the King has said he meant not to stay longer than to made me a present of for that purpose.. desire I would order every thing that could make the house comfortable and agreeable to me, and then retired. Truly I found nothing wanting, as it is as pleasant and commodious as I could wish it to be, with a very pretty garden, which joins to that of the Queen's Lodge. The next morning her Majesty sent one of her Ladies to know how I had rested, and how I was in health, and whether her coming would not be troublesome? You may be sure I accepted the honour, and she came about two o'clock. I was lame, and could not go down, as I ought to have done, to the door, but her Majesty came up stairs, and I received her on my knees. Our meeting was mutually affecting; she well knew the value of what I had lost, and it was some time after we were seated (for she always makes me sit down) before we could either of us speak. It is impossible for me to do justice to her great condescension and tenderness, which were almost equal to what I had lost. She repeated, in the strongest terms, her wish, and the King's, that I should be as easy and as happy as they could possibly make me; that they waved all ceremony, and desired to come to me like friends. The Queen delivered me a paper from the King, which contained the first quarter of 300l. per annum, which his Majesty allows me out of his Privy Purse. Their Majesties have drank tea with me five times, and the Princesses three. They generally stay two hours, or longer. In short, I have either seen or heard from them every day. I have not yet been at the Queen's Lodge, though they have expressed an impatience for me to come; but I have still so sad a drawback upon St. Alban's Street, Windsor, Nov. 9. 1785. I have been several evenings at the Queen's Lodge, with no other company but their own most lovely family. They sit round a large table, on which are books, work, pencils, and paper. The Queen has the goodness to make me sit down next to her; and delights me with her conversation, which is informing, elegant, and pleasing, beyond description, whilst the younger part of the family are drawing and working, &c. &c. the beautiful babe, Princess Amelia, bearing her part in the entertainment; sometimes in one of her sister's laps; sometimes playing with the King on the carpet; which, altogether, exhibits such a delightful scene, as would require an Addison's pen, or a Vandyke's pencil, to do justice In the next room is the band of music, who play from eight o'clock till ten. The King generally directs them what pieces of music to play, chiefly Handel's. to. Windsor, July 3. 1786. 4 During my short stay in London in the winter, many alterations were made in my house here, which my great benefactors thought would make it more commodious to me; and indeed it is now a most complete, elegant, comfortable dwelling: and I am hourly receiving marks of attention and kindness that cannot be expressed. The constant course of my living at present, from which I vary very little, is as follows: I seldom miss going to early prayers at the King's chapel, at eight o'clock, where I never fail of seeing their Ma jesties and all the royal family. The. common way of going up to the chapel is through the great entrance into the castle, which is a large room with stone pillars, at the corner of which is a nar row winding staircase, which leads to the chapel; but their Majesties, with their usual goodness and indulgence, have ordered that I should be admitted through the great staircase, which is a very easy ascent. When chapel is over, all the congregation make a line in the great portico till their Majesties have passed; for they always walk to chapel and back again, and speak to every body of consequence as they pass: indeed, it is a delightful sight to see so much beauty, dignity, and condescension, united as they are in the royal family. I come home to breakfast generally about nine o'clock: if I and the weather are well enough, I take the air for two hours. The rest of the morning is devoted to business, and the company of my particular friends. I admit no formal visitors, as I really have not time or spirits for it, and every body here is very civil and very considerate. My afternoons I keep entirely to myself, that I may have no interruption whenever my royal neighbours condescend to visit me: their usual time of coming is between six and seven o'clock, and generally stay till between eight and nine. They always drink tea here, and my niece has the honour of dealing it about to all the royal family, as they will not suffer me to do it (though it is my place); the Queen always placing me upon the sofa by her, and the King when he sits down, which is seldom, sits next the sofa. Indeed, their visits are not limited to the afternoons, for their Majesties often call on me in a morning and take me as they find me, not suffering any body to give me notice of their being come. Great as my awe is, their Majesties have such sweetness of manners that it takes off painful sensation. An event has taken place lately which gives me great satisfaction: I am sure you are acquainted with the novel entitled Cecilia, much admired for its good sense, variety of character, delicacy of sentiment, &c. &c.: there is nothing good, and amiable, and agreeable mentioned in the book that is not possessed by the author of it, Miss Burney: I have been acquained with her now three years her extreme diffidence of herself, notwithstanding her great genius, and the applause she has met with, adds lustre to all her excellencies, and all improve on acquaintance. In the course of this last year, she has been so good as to pass a few weeks with me at Windsor, which gave the Queen an opportunity of seeing and talking with her, which her Majesty was so gracious to admit of. One of the principal ladies that attend the Queen's person as dresser is going to retire into her own country, being in too bad a state of health to continue her honourable and delightful employment, for such it must be near such a queen; and Miss Burney is to be the happy successor, chosen by the Queen without any particular recommendation from any body. I believe she comes into waiting next week. St. Alban's Street, Windsor, Sept. 24. 1786. I am sure you must be very sensible how thankful I am to Providence for the late wonderful escape of his Majesty from the stroke of assassination: indeed, the horror that there was a possibility that such an attempt would be made, shocked me so much at first, that I could hardly enjoy the blessing of such a preservation. The King would not suffer any body to inform the Queen of that event, till he could show himself in person to her. He returned to Windsor as soon as the council was over. When his Majesty entered the Queen's dressing-room, he found her with the two eldest Princesses; and entering, in an animated manner, said, "Here I am, safe and well!" The Queen suspected from this saying, that some accident had happened, on which he informed her of the whole affair. The Queen stood struck and motionless for some time, till the Princesses burst into tears, in which she immediately found relief by joining with them. Joy soon succeeded this agitation of mind, on the assurance that the person was insane that had the boldness to make the attack, which took off all aggravating suspicion; and it has been the means of showing the whole kingdom, that the King has the hearts of his subjects. I must tell you a particular gracious attention to me on the occasion: their Majesties sent immediately to my house to give orders I' should not be told of it till the next morning, for fear the agitation should give me a bad night. Dowager Lady Spencer was in the house with me, and went with me to early prayers, next morning, at eight o'clock; and after chapel was over she separated herself from me, and had a long conference with the King and Queen, as they stopped to speak to her on our coming out of chapel. When we returned to breakfast, I taxed her with her having robbed me of an opportunity of hearing what their Majesties said to her, by standing at such a distance. She told me, it was a secret; but she had now their permission to tell me what it was, and then informed me of the whole affair. I was commanded in the evening to attend them at the Lodge, where I spent the evening; the happiness of being with them not a little increased by seeing the fulness of joy that appeared on every countenance. Windsor, December 25th. 1786. Their Majesties were so gracious as to hint a wish of my spending some days at Kew when they were there, and to make it completely agreeable and commodious, engaged Mr. and Mrs. Smelt, who live there, to invite me to their house, a pleasure of itself that would have given me wings for the undertaking; and accordingly I availed myself of the command of one, and the invitation of the other, and spent part of two weeks there. We were appointed to dine every day at Miss Burney's table, at the Lodge, which we did almost every day. It is very magnificent, and the Society very agreeable: about eight or ten persons, belonging to their Majesties. Coffee was ready about six o'clock, which was immediately after dinner: about seven the King generally walked into the room, addressing every body with the most delightful condescension, and after that, commanded me and Mrs. Smelt to follow him into the Queen's apartment, where we drank tea, and stayed till near ten o'clock. It is impossible to describe the pleasure and satisfaction such a society bestowed. Princess Elizabeth, who, I thank God, is now perfectly restored to health, was not well enough at that time to make one of that society, so that her sisters took their turns of being with her. Windsor, August 11. 1787. .. The Queen has had the goodness to command me to come to the Lodge, whenever it is quite easy to me to do it, without sending particularly for me, lest it should embarrass me to refuse that honour; so that most evenings, at half-an-hour past seven, I go to Miss Burney's apartment, and when the royal family return from the Terrace, the : King, or one of the Princesses (generally the youngest, Princess Amelia, just four years old) come into the room, take me by the hand, and lead me into To Mrs. Frances Hamilton. 1:1 I left Mrs. Delany in perfect health; and, the day before, cut the two profiles I send you; the largest much the likest, and so much so, the Queen desired one. Mrs. Delany actually went on Wednesday last to MI. Locke's, twenty-two miles from Windscr, to spend some days. One little anecdote of the Queen struck me, as a stronger instance of her real tender feeling towards our dear old friend, than all her bounties or honours. As soon as the Duchess of Portland died, Mrs. Delany got into a chaise to go to her own house; the Duke followed her, begging to know what she would accept of, that belonged to his mother; Mrs. Delany recollected a bird that the Duchess always fed and kept in her own room, desired to have it, and felt towards it, as you must suppose. In a few days she got a bad fever, and the bird died; but for some hours she was too ill even to recollect her bird. The Queen had one of the same sort, which she valued extremely (a weaver bird); she took it with her own hands, and while Mrs. Delany slept, had the cage brought, and put her own bird into it, charging every one not to let it go so near Mrs. Delany, as that she could perceive the change, till she was enough recovered to bear the loss of her first favourite. This requires no comment, as it speaks strongly for itself. M. PRESTON, London, St. James's Place, Jan, 18th. 1788. The day before I intended to leave Windsor, when Mary Ann [Miss Port] |