looking over state papers, or in other affairs relating to the government of the country, having fortified her mind by prayer, and by the attentive and devout perusal of a portion of Scripture, which she invariably reads every morning in the privacy of her dressing-room. At ten, the breakfast hour, one of the attendants is desired to request the company of her dear mamma, who, be it observed, makes it a rule never to enter the royal presence without an especial summons. Then comes, perhaps, the most agreeable portion of the day-the social breakfast---almost the only opportunity her Majesty now enjoys of unrestrained intercourse with her beloved parent. The conversation always turns upon some topic interesting alike to mother and child,-on politics-never. Sometimes the Queen is benefitted by the Duchess's judicious remarks on the literary productions of the day, for her Royal Highness reads much, and with great discrimination. At about twelve o'clock, the ministers are admitted to audience; and her Majesty is now, for many hours, involved in a vortex of state business, sufficient of itself to turn so young a brain, were it not that she happily possesses a firmness of temperament and clearness of intellect by which she is enabled to smooth many difficulties that might otherwise overwhelm her. In the afternoon she takes an airing, either in an open carriage or on horseback, whenever the weather is favourable, and her indispensable engagements will in any way

permit; but it is the subject of general remark how very little time is allotted by the Queen for those light and graceful occupations so suited to her years, and so agreeable to her tastes. Yet her Majesty is observed to make use of every minute of the day, and to turn the briefest period of leisure to good account. Hers is not a mind to be for an instant idle. The moment a series of state duties have been despatched, the book, or the drawing, is resorted to; or perhaps there is only timethat is to say, a very few minutes, which are always sufficient, to prepare for a ride or a walk, as a few more invariably suffice for the demands of the toilette, on the return to dinner; and, even during the short time that her hair is dressing, she employs one of her ladies in reading to her, whilst she takes advantage of the opportunity to shut her eyes, thus giving them a little respite from their continual fatigue. In the evening her Majesty's recreation is complete. It is generally spent, whether at the theatres or at home, in the society of her mother, and the enjoyment of music; of which, particularly vocal music, she is enthusiastically fond, and in which she possesses, to a remarkable degree, the hereditary talent of her family. Her voice is a pure soprano, of considerable sweetness and extent; but with a maidenly modesty, highly commendable, her Majesty never sings when any gentlemen, other than those of the immediate household, are present.

THE CORONATION.

The gorgeous and imposing ceremonial, on which the eyes of the whole nation had been fixed in eager anticipation for many weeks, was at length enacted on the 28th of June, 1838; and never perhaps has England known a blither Jubilee, than that which witnessed the voluntary and solemn ratification of the compact which had been, for the past year, understood and acted upon between the Sovereign and her people. The sun broke forcibly through the heavy clouds, with which the atmosphere had been for some days portentously laden, to hail the glad occasion; and as the bright procession passed in all the pomp of state appertaining to the "fair vestal throned by the west," all that dazzled the eyes and took the senses captive in the splendour of the pageant, was as nothing in degree to the moral interest with which the spectacle was clothed; for who could behold, unmoved, the young and lovely Representative of a long line of Kings, whom Providence had called, at so early an age, to wield the sceptre of earth's mightiest empire, visibly affected by the mingled emotions which such a scene was calculated to inspire, and touched even to tears, while receiving the enthusiastic homage of her people? The great metropolis of England, crowded beyond any former precedent, poured forth her millions, not only to mingle in the various