she was persuaded to go to bed, she arose after two hours' rest, and took the precaution of burning all the Prince's papers. A short time after His Royal Highness had breathed his last, Lord North went to announce the intelligence to the king, whom he found placidly enjoying a game of cards. His Majesty immediately stood up and went to his mistress, Lady Yarmouth, looking pale and shocked, but the only expression he gave utterance to was, 'Il est mort.' When he was called next morning he was already up, dressed, and walking about his room, silent and agitated. He afterwards went to pay a visit of condolence to the Princess, when he embraced her, wept, and told his grandsons they must be brave boys, obedient to their mother, and deserve the fortune to which they were born. His Majesty's grief, however, was of a fleeting nature; so fleeting, indeed, that before a month had passed he was able to go and see the 'Beau's Stratagem' played at Drury Lane. The Prince left eight children behind him, and the Princess gave birth to a ninth a few months after his death. She was wise enough in her generation to fling herself on the protection

6

WHAT THE PREACHERS SAID.

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of the king; and he, pleased with this act, behaved with kindness both to her and her children.

When the Duke of Cumberland was told of his brother's death, he remarked satirically, 'It is a great blow to the country, but I hope it will recover it in time.' Laments on the Prince's fate were soon written and printed, long-winded elegies were sold in the streets, and funeral orations were preached from the City pulpits. One of the most singular pieces of oratory which the event called forth was delivered at Mayfair Chapel, when the preacher said His Royal Highness' had no great parts, but he had great virtues; indeed, they degenerated into vices; he was very generous, but I hear his generosity has ruined a great many people; and then his condescension was such that he kept very bad company." This was much nearer to truth than Dr. Newton's statement made in St. George's, Hanover Square, that

never was there in a person of such eminence more humanity and condescension to the lowest, more pleasing courtesy and engaging address to the highest, more beneficent to all within his

sphere, or more benevolent to all without it.” The reverend doctor, in his oration, looked beyond the present to the bright and glorious future when a mitre might repay his eloquence.

The lampooners were likewise busy, and on this occasion saw an opportunity of having a hit at the reigning family. One of the verses set afloat at the time took the form of an

epitaph, and ran as follows:

:

The Prince's funeral, Doddington says, 'was far short of that for any son of a king.' The heralds had orders to form it on the plan of the funerals of the Duke of Gloucester and Prince George of Denmark; but private orders were

IN MOTHER EARTH.

123

afterwards given, and Prince Fred was carried to the grave with but little ceremony. With the exception of the lords who were appointed pall-bearers and attendants on the chief mourner, and those of his own domestics, there was but one English and one Irish lord present, whilst the bishops were conspicuous by their absence. Moreover, the service was conducted without either anthem or organ.

In this way Frederick, Prince of Wales, was laid in mother earth.

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CHAPTER IV.

William Duke of Cumberland-His first Campaign-Made Commander of the Forces-Battle of Fontenoy--Defeat at Laffelt-Culloden-' Billy the Butcher '-His Last Battle-Indignation of the Nation-His Amusements-The Princess Royal-Her Marriage with the Prince of Orange-Curious Court Custom-Her Reception in Holland.

HE Duke of Cumberland, born in 1721, was the

THE

second surviving son of George II. When six years old he was created Baron of Alderney, Viscount Trematon in Cornwall, Earl of Kennington in Surrey, Marquis of Berkhamsted, and Duke of Cumberland. The history of his life may be said to be written in the records of war. When quite young he exhibited an interest in everything connected with the army, and soon became a soldier by profession, serving his first campaign when he was two and twenty.