The American War--Dr. Dodd--The Duchess of Queensberry and the ‘Beggar’s Opera’--Royal Progress--Royal Visit to Bulstrode--Mrs. Delany and Queen Charlotte--Birth of Prince Octavius--Strange, the Engraver--The Riots of London--Lady Sarah Lennox--The Prince and his Sire--The Prince’s Preceptors--Errors committed in the education of the Princes--The Prince’s favourite, Perdita Robinson-- Marie Antoinette’s present to her--Separate establishment granted to the Prince--Lord North’s facetious remark-- Parliamentary provision for the Prince--The Prince’s presence in the House of Commons not acceptable--His pursuit of pleasure--The Duke of Clarence described by Walpole--The Prince of Wales overwhelmed with debts-- Dissension in the Royal Family--Marriage proposed to him to extricate him from his debts--The Prince’s connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert--The Prince’s marriage disclaimed by Mr. Fox--The Prince’s behaviour to Mrs. Fitzherbert--The Prince acknowledges his marriage to the Queen 31 CHAPTER VI. COURT FORMS AND COURT FREEDOMS. Loss of the American Colonies--Political Struggle--The King’s health unsatisfactory--Life of the Royal Family at Windsor--Mrs. Delany--The Queen and the Widow--Early service in the Chapel Royal at Windsor--Rev. Tom Twining and Miss Burney--Miss Burney’s Reception by the Queen-- Promenade of the Royal Family on the terrace--The Queen’s ‘dressing’--The Queen’s partiality for Snuff--Country life of the Royal Family at Kew--Princess Amelia; the King’s great affection for her--Scene on the birthday of the Princess--Margaret Nicholson’s attempt to assassinate the King--The Queen’s dread--Her fondness for Diamonds --Mrs. Warren Hastings--The present from the Nizam of the Deccan--Unpopularity of the King and Queen--Their affection for each other--The Queen’s tenderness to Mrs. Delany--Reconciliation of the King and the Prince--A pleasant scene--Another Court Incident 54 CHAPTER VII. SHADOWS IN THE SUNSHINE. The Princess Amelia--Her connection with the Duke of Grafton --Beau Nash and the Princess--Her despotism as Ranger of Richmond Park--Checked by Mr. Bird--A scene at her Loo-table--Her fondness for stables--Her eccentric Costume--Inordinate love of Snuff--Her Death--Conduct of the Princes--The King’s Illness--Graphic picture of the state of affairs--Lord Thurlow’s treachery-- Heartlessness of the Prince--Deplorable condition of the Queen--The King delirious--Particulars of his Illness-- Dr. Warren--Melancholy scene--The King wheedled away to Kew--Placed under Dr. Willis--The Prince and Lord Lothian eavesdroppers--The King’s Recovery--The King unexpectedly encounters Miss Burney 72 CHAPTER VIII. THE ‘FIRST GENTLEMAN’ AND HIS PRINCIPLES.