786. Memoirs of her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia. Memoirs of her Royal Highness the late Princefs Amelia-Sophia-Eleonora. (See her Portrait in our laft.) ·· ER Royal Highness Princefs Amelia was born on the 10th of June, 1711, nd died October 31, 1786, aged 75 years, months, and 21 days. She was the laughter of his late Majefty George the Seond, and confequently aunt of the preent King. She poffeffed many amiable qualities, and had a fhare of humanity which ndeared her to the world at large. On the death of King George II. Prin efs Amelia formed a refolution to pay a vitto her favourite nephew, Prince William f Heffe-Caffel, who was then about feven en years of age; but, after confidering the different terms upon which the Landegrave is father, had lived with the Princefs Mary, nd the resolution his Highness had taken to ake an open profeffion of the Catholic region, she altered her purpose, but conftantkept up an affectionate correfpondence, ith the Hereditary Prince and his brother harles. Her late Royal Highness the Princefs melia, not a long time ago, being fhewn piece of embroidery upon mullin (the ork of a clergyman's daughter, a child yout nine years old), was fo delighted ith the child's ingenuity, that fhe fent for er, and prefented her with a ring of Peruan emerald. The ring proved very fortuite to the child's family; for being encourged by the liberal reward, the completed veral other pieces of the most elegant patrns for ladies of quality; and by this means from a connection being formed) her faier got a living, which he now poffeffes Gloucestershire, of 300l. a year! This related by a correfpondent as a fact. When her Royal Highness was at Bath veral years fince, a felect party was every vening made up for her at whift, a game which he was remarkably fond. An Irish Entleman of fome fortune had been introiced by one of the Ladies of the Bed-chainr, and was by that means admitted three four times to the fame party with the rincefs. His vanitý being much gratified / this condefcenfion, he was at length iniced to believe that her Royal Highnefs Rually entertained a penchant for his n. A few nights after, when he had the onour to be partner to the Princefs at her vourite game, he turned from a convertion fhe had been holding with fome of r German attendants, and afked fudden,"What is de game; are not vee eight, ve ?" "Yes, my dear !" rejoined the irtner with the utmost complacency. The rincefs inftantly flung down her cards with look of indignation, and quitted the comny. per 629 Her Royal Highnefs had for a long time paft been in a very indifferent ftate of health fhe had a fingular predilection, that the fhould die in the month of October; it was the month that her father and her brother died. His late Majefly died on the 25th of October, `1760, and the late Duke of Cumberland died on the 31st of October, 1765, being the fame day of the month that her Highnefs died. Her lofs will be feverely felt by numbers of the poor, who experienced her charity and benevolence in a very extenfive degree. His Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales was almoft the laft perfon with whom the late Princefs Amelia held any kind of difcourfe; this was on Thursday morning previous to her demife, when the Prince fat near her bed fide above half an hour, and left her on the faculty coming to vifit. She took a very affectionate leave of him, telling him the fhould never fee him more. By her Highness's death his Majefty gains twelve thousand pounds per annum, which was paid to her out of the Civil Lif. Wednesday night, Nov. 1, in the prefence of the Earl of Beborough and Lord Pelham, the chofen executors of the Princess Amelia, her Highness's Will was opened at her houfe in Cavendish-fquare; when it appeared that her Highnefs had bequeathed Two legacies of 500l. each, to the poor of the parish of St. Mary-le-bone and Ealing, not receiving alms. The town houfe in Cavendifh-fquare, and the houfe at Gunnerfbury, with the furniture of each, are to be fold, and one moiety arifing from the fale is to be appropriated to the use of prince Charles of Helle Caffei; and, after a legacy of four thousand pounds to lady Elizabeth Waldegrave, and a farther legacy of four thousand pounds to lady Caroline Waldegrave, shall have been paid out of the remaining moiety, the residue of the money arifing from the two houfes, &c. is to be equally divided between her two nephews, prince Charles and Prince Frederic of Heffe Caffel. What fums the princefs had in the ftocks, To each of the executors for their proper ufe 1000l. L.20,000 20,000 2,000 Eight thousand pounds a year, the produce of other fums in the flocks, are to be paid in annuities to feveral ladies fpecified in the will; and after their deceafe to devolve to prince Charles of Heffe. Ladies of the bedchamber. Years in her Cool 630 Years in her fervice. Memoirs of her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia. £. 1 Lady Templetown, 2000 Bedchamber women. 35 Mits Howard for life, 100 per year. 8 Mifs Ruffel for life, 2 Mifs Onflow, 26 Colonel Rolt, and 300 ditto. 200 ditto. 100 100 roo Gentlemen ushers. 19 General Stephens, 19 Captain Wadman, Chaplain. 24 Dr. Bell, all her books, Page of honour. 1 Mrs. Kewley, Wardrobe women. 1Mrs. Wilfon, Stewards. 100 100 300 and 60l. for 15 Mrs. Mavor, 200 25 Mr. Turner, 500 and 150 for Years in her fervice. Four helpers. Ia 25 At 201. each, One footman. 2 Lady Waldegrave, ufed to have their fa- provided. Names Mary Cupit, Dec: of the No mourning mentioned for any fervants-but by petition to lord Befborou mourning was ordered for all the hou The noble lord was oppofed in his or but honourably said, if the prince of H refused to pay, he would defray the col of his own pocket. The reigning Landegrave of Helle Cal Years wages as followeth: the Prince to whom his aunt, the P 4-William Meale, Boufe-maids. 2 Eight houfe maids, gl. 30 30 72 each, Baker. The funeral ceremony of her late Royal Highnefs, the Princefs Amelia, was conducted in the following manner. The body was brought privately to the Prince's Chamber on Friday night, Nov. 10, and placed a little before the canopy, the room being hung and floored with black, canopy, fupported by eight Gentlemen Ufhers, and Grooms of the Chamber to his Majefty. Supporters to the Pall. Two Baroneffes on each fide. Sir Ifaac Heard, and lighted with wax candles. On each A Gentle-Kt. Garter Prin- A Gentle man Ufher. cipal King of Arms, with the Rod of his Office. Chief Mourner, a man Ufher. fide of the canopy were placed five high ftands, with large wax tapers. At the head of the coffim an elbow-chair for the chief mourner, and another chair on each fide for her two fupporters. On either fide of the corpfe, clofe to the wall, were five flools, placed for the ten aflitants, and below them two forms for the Ladies of the Bed-chamber. The coffin was covered with a fheet Ten Counteffes, affiftance to the Chief and black velvet pall, adorned with eight efcutcheons, and on the head of the coffin, the Princefs's Coronet, on a black velvet cufhion, with gold fringe and taffels. At the foot of the ftairs the body was received under a black velve canopy. The proceffion was made on a floor railed in, and lined with foldiers, to the foutheaft door of the Abbey, from thence round the choir, and up to the north aifle, to Henry the Seventh's Chapel, in the following order: Servants in Livery to her Royal Highnefs. Gentlemen, fervants to her Royal Highnels. Pages of the presence. Pages of the Back Stairs. Pages of Honour. Phyficians. Chaplains. Equeries. Secretary. Bed-chamber Women. Purfuivants of Arms. Heralds of Arms. Supporter A Duchefs Duchefs, her train) Supporter borne by a Baro- A Dutchefs net's Lady. Mourner. A Gentleman Usher. Yeomen of the Guards. At the entrance, within the church, the Dean and Prebendaries, attended by the choir, received the body, and fell into the proceffion next before Norroy King of Arms, and fo proceeded into King Henry the Seventh's Chapel; the body was placed on truffels, a little above the opening of the vault; the head towards the altar, the Coronets and cuhion laid on the coffin, and the canopy held over it; the Chief Mourner, and her two fupporters, fitting on chairs at the head of the corpfe, and the Ladies' affiftants, and the other Ladies on either fide. The part of the fervice before the interment being read by the Dean, the corpfe was depofited in the vault, the Dean having the Sub-dean on his right hand, and Garter on his left, ftanding at the lower end of the opening of the vault. The corpfe being interred, the Dean proseeded with the office of burial, which being ended, Garter King at Arms proclaimed her Royal Highness's ftile. The following are the name of the principal perfonages who attended the interment a Lady Mary Howard, Lady Barrymore, Sir G. Yonge, Bart. &t. Lords Duncannon, Milton, Pelham; Viscounts Hampden, Howe; Earls Hopetoun, Effex; Mis Pelham; the Ladies Waldegrave, and Duncannon; Vilcountefs Hampden, Marchioness of Lanfdown, &c. Earl of Salisbury. Pall-bearers, Lady Sydney. Supporters, Dutchefs of Northumberland, Dutchefs of Hamilton. Chief Mourner, Dutchefs of Bolton. Her train borne by Lady Yonge. Affiftant Mourners, Counteffes Effex, Chatham, Salisbury, Harcourt, Suffolk, ilope toun. The Ladies were drefied in great magni ficence of forrow. They did not forget in their reverence for the dead the defire nor The the means to attract the living. The chief performer, made feveral appearances at mourner, and alfo the ladies of the Bed- Covent-Garden. chambers and fome others, had veils, through which the two fifter Ducheffes, in particular, and the fifters Waldegraves, fhone with foftened but undiminished luftre. Of the affiftant mourners, Lady Salisbury was the most beautiful; and of the preceding ladies, the Viscountess Duncannon. The choir was very full, and the fervice was fung with great powers of voice and harmony-It was almoft without exception one of the moft grand compofitions of harmony, pathos, fublimity, and effect, that we can boaft of in mufic. ON The British Theatre. N Saturday the 18th of November, a new Comedy called, He would be a Soldier, was performed at Covent-Garden theatre for the first time. We are happy in pronouncing that this comedy was defervedly well received. Features of originality are perceptible in the characters of Sir Oliver and Lady Oldstock. Caleb is humouroufly fuftained, though rather overcharged, a fault that will readily be forgiven the author by all who love to laugh. The count, which appears rather to have been a character imagined for the fake of ftrengthening the caft by exhibiting Wewitzer at his forte, than neceffarily demanded as an aid to the progrefs of the plot, is happily hit off, and af. fords a favourable fpecimen of French levity mixed and blended with fomewhat of Englith good-humour. The colonel is a correct portrait, the marking features of which are, fenfibility and manly firinnefs, under circumftances that put all three feverely to the teft. Mr. Aickin's perforinance of this part juftly merited the applaufe he received. Ilis pathetic fcenes drew tears, and the impaffioned ones univerfal applaufe. Mrs. Pope looked moft elegantly, and gave Charlotte her full fhare of intereft; and Mrs. Wells performed the part of Harriot ably, excepting only one fpeech to Lady Lucretia, which the delivered in a tone too obviously canting and hypocritical. Wewitzer's count was mafterly. Mr. Farren, Mrs. Brown, and Mr. Fearon, played their characters as well as was necessary. The prologue was ferious, and conveyed an handsome compliment to Mr. Howard. It was emphatically delivered by Mr. Farren. The epilogue was pleafant, and in the ufual ftyle, partly laughed at the critics, and partly defied their vengeance, whilst it allo ridiculed the follies and extremes of fashiona ble drefs. Mr. Ryder, who has for a number of years effcemed in Ireland a first rate comic Mr. Ryder is certainly deferving of the encomiums beftowed upon him by his Hibernian friends, though we have ever found it highly detrimental to performers, either to draw comparisons or fpeak too warmly of them previous to an appearance before a London audience. Againft fuch ill-judged fervices, had Mr. Ryder to combat, and though they very evidently affected him, yet we are happy in pronouncing that he posleiks merit which rifes on the audience every time they fee him. It is a common remark, that actors ofte miftake their talents; we by no means intend to throw this allufion with its full force upon Mr. Ryder, but muft observe, that the character of Sir John Brute, in which h first appeared, pleafed lefs than any he ha fince performed. The impreffion Garris made on the town in the knight, is m erafed from the minds of a third of tho who fat as judges on Mr. Ryder; the very idea of giving the character a different co louring to the English Rofcius, created mumuring and an univerfal discontent among the prejudiced part of the audience, who guided alone by comparative merits, never call either their judgment or feeling in question. In this we think a ftage veteran.high culpable on a first appearance, even admitting him to play the part more from nature thr his favourite predeceffor, and the gentlema in queftion muft ere this be convinced of the propriety of the remark. We should not do Mr. Ryder julkku, were we to omit giving the public the vourable part of our opinion on his perfor mance. At the time Sir John Vanburgh wrote the Provoked Wife, this nation was neither refined in their ideas, or polished in their manners as at prefent. Garrick was awar of this. In his performance of Sir Jo Brute, he conformed to the times, without regarding the true ideas of his author, and thereby fhewed a fuperiority of judgmen which ever turned to his advantage; in this inftance we are by no means his a mirer. The author certainly meant the cha racter as he named it, Brute; and if y Mr Ryder gave it the proper colouring In the drunken fcenes he was inimitabak but this convinces us that his forte is le comedy. His Scapin proves the affertion; a bette piece of acting was never given on any stage, and we congratulate the public on fo val able a theatric acquifition. 1786, The Afflicted Irishman. The Afflicted Irishman. A Moral Tale. Ficta voluptatis caufa fint proxima veris. TH truth. Rosc. HE neceffity, the propriety, of patience under afflictions, is indifputably evident to every one; but notwithstanding it is fo, diurnal inftances occur of people abandoning themselves to the moft violent grief upon evils that have befallen them; fome run into fuch an excefs of defperation as to deftroy themselves, a conduct which the hardest fortune cannot excufe, and which is totally repugnant to the principles of morality and Christianity. If fo many then fall into this error, I have a fhadow for an excufe of deviating into it for a little time; but I had the fatisfaction of being cured of my despair, and by means of the remedy to entertain a proper idea of the happiness of my native country, and the felicity of that flate in which the goodness of Providence has placed me. Married to a woman poffeffed of every endowment that can ornament the perfon and adorn the mind, it was no wonder if her untimely death fhould difguft one not thoroughly initiated in the practice of philofophy. One wifh, one defire, ac tuated us both, nor did that inviolable love that fubfifted between us, ever flacken through a period of feven years. I returned from her funeral in a ftate of diftraction and despair, I retired to my chamber and murmured at the difpenfations of Providence. The light was odious to me; existence was the fame; but though I was fo culpable as to give way to fuch excefs of grief, yet I was not bad enough to attempt my life. I threw myself on my bed and reflected: I refolved the next morning to quit that country where I had fuffered a misfortune that could never be obliterated from my breaft. course of our difpute we grew hot, and he being very infolent and abufive, I ftruck him ; upon which he inftantly left the coffee-houfe, muttering as he went out that I fhould rue my behaviour to him. As I fufpected no other effect from his threat, than that he meant to have fatisfaction, I was not in the leaft alarmed; fo went home to my apartments, and retired to bed. About an hour after I was awoke, and alarmed by a violent noife at my chamber door. Upon my enquiring who was there, I received in anfwer," Immediately open the door." I apprehended on this that fome villains had broke into the house; and leaping out of bed, endeavoured to get out my piftols; but before I could accomplish this the door was broken open, and to my great furprize and aftonishment there enter ed a party of the guards. Refiftance would have been vain, nor indeed did I think it neceffary; confiding in my own innocence of any misbehaviour, I afked the caufe of this claim; and told them they were mistaken; but I could receive no other anfwer than that they knew they were right, and ordered me to dress myself and go with them. Perceiving all remonftrances vain, I accompanied them to a. coach which was at the door, and being attended by three of the guards and the officer in the carriage, who would not answer any questions I put to them, was fet down in about half an hour at a gate, which by the moon I too foon knew to be that of the Baftile. I was ushered into a difmal cell, about feven feet high, and twelve broad. I had now fome idea of my fate; it was in vain that I protefted my innocence, and enquired of the officer the caufe of this unexpected and undeferved ill ufage. He perfifted in fullen filence, and after fearching me, and taking away my papers and knife, left me in darkness and defpair. The return of morning enabled me to fee my apartment; the light I had, came through a fmall aperture, croffed by two I fet off on my journey, and soon arrived, iron bars, and enabled me to find as furniin France. The diverfity of objects, and ture, a fmall grate, an old chair, (which I change of place, a little affected my recent had fat in all night, for I could not fleep), lofs; I fettled myself at Paris, frequented a bundle of ftraw for a bed; and a rug and every place of public diverfion, and went blanket for covering; about noon the into every company; the more time that gaoler brought me a loaf of bread, fome waelapfed, of courfe rendered me the lefs unter, and a fmall piece of meat; but I did happy; and I congratulated myfelf not find any inclination even for this small for having taken a ftep which bid fair to ref- repaft; a fhort time afterwards I was indulg tore my peace of mind. ed with half an hour's walk in a small area which was furrounded by cells and by an amazing high wall. In this ftate I lived near two years, when being one evening at a coffee-houfe in the Rue de Richlieu, I happened to quarrel with a man, who, though meanly dreffed had a very fupercilious deportment. In the Hib. Mag. Dec. 1786. The goaler, who was a humane man, upon enquiry informed me, that perhaps I might never be enlarged from this dismal |