Life and Times of Her Majesty Caroline Matilda, Vol. 3 (of 3): Queen of Denmark and Norway, and Sister of H. M. George III. of EnglandWraxall, Lascelles, Sir
History
Life and Times of Her Majesty Caroline Matilda, Vol. 3 (of 3): Queen of Denmark and Norway, and Sister of H. M. George III. of England
Wraxall, Lascelles, Sir
Caroline Mathilde, Queen, consort of Christian VII, King of Denmark, 1751-1775; Denmark -- History -- Christian VII, 1766-1808
The virtues of this unfortunate princess were many of them concealed with
as much art as if they had been her reproach. She had a ready and quick
apprehension, a lively and strong imagination, with a large compass of
thought. She excelled in an uncommon turn for conversation, assisted by
a natural vivacity, and very peculiar talents for mirth and humour. She
loved a repartee, was happy in making one herself, and bearing it from
others. And as this talent was rendered not only inoffensive, but amiable
by the greatest good-nature and cheerfulness of disposition, she was
the life of the company, and the delight of all that had the honour to
approach her. And though it generally requires much care and resolution
to govern any extraordinary degree of life and spirit, she had no pains
of that sort to overcome, having been blessed with a natural serenity and
calmness of mind that was inexpressible, and is hardly ever accompanied
with such uncommon share of vivacity; but in her it had so much the
ascendant, that it was invariably the same, and constantly remained with
her through the whole course of her misfortunes, so that she had reason
to express her thankfulness to God, as she often did, that he had given
her a temper which enabled her to support herself under the load of
injuries she sustained.
Her gentleness of nature showed itself in every instance, both in public
and private, and inclined her to study all the ways of making herself
agreeable, and of suiting her discourse to the persons with whom she
conversed. But though her general manner of receiving company in public
was very obliging and gracious, she knew how to distinguish persons of
real merit, and had an effectual way of making those for whom she had any
particular regard fully sensible of the distinction she made. The same
softness of behaviour, and the same command of herself that appeared in
the drawing-room, went along with her into her private apartments, and
delighted every one that was about her, down to her meanest attendant.
Her generosity was extended in the most impartial manner to persons of
different sects and parties; but her principal regards were paid to such
as were in the greatest distress, to those who were under the disability
of receiving a maintenance from the public, as well as to the widows
and children of clergymen and officers whose families, by their deaths,
were reduced at once from a state of plenty to a want of the common
necessaries of life.
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