Majesty that I had been all the morning preparing to wait upon him; but I replied, “No, Sire.”  “Why, don’t you love walking?” says he.  I answered that I was rather indolent in that respect.  He then bowed, and passed on.  It was more than two hours after this before it came to my turn to be presented to the Queen.  The circle was so large that the company were four hours standing.  The Queen was evidently embarrassed when I was presented to her.  I had disagreeable feelings, too.  She, however, said, “Mrs. Adams, have you got into your house?  Pray, how do you like the situation of it?” While the Princess Royal looked compassionate, and asked me if I was not much fatigued; and observed, that it was a very full drawing-room.  Her sister, who came next, Princess Augusta, after having asked your niece if she was ever in England before, and her answering “Yes,” inquired of me how long ago, and supposed it was when she was very young.  All this is said with much affability, and the ease and freedom of old acquaintance.  The manner in which they make their tour round the room is, first, the Queen, the lady-in-waiting behind her, holding up her train; next to her, the Princess Royal; after her, Princess Augusta, and their lady-in-waiting behind them.  They are pretty, rather than beautiful; well-shaped, fair complexions, and a tincture of the King’s countenance.  The two sisters look much alike; they were both dressed in black and silver silk, with silver netting upon the coat, and their heads full of diamond pins.  The Queen was in purple and silver.  She is not well shaped nor handsome.  As to the ladies of the Court, rank and title may compensate for want of personal charms; but they are, in general, very plain, ill-shaped, and ugly; but don’t you tell anybody that I say so.  If one wants to see beauty, one must go to Ranelagh; there it is collected, in one bright constellation.  There were two ladies very elegant, at Court,—­Lady Salisbury and Lady Talbot; but the observation did not in general hold good that fine feathers make fine birds.  I saw many who were vastly richer dressed than your friends, but I will venture to say that I saw none neater or more elegant:  which praise I ascribe to the taste of Mrs. Temple and my mantuamaker; for, after having declared that I would not have any foil or tinsel about me, they fixed upon the dress I have described.

[Inclosure to her niece]

My Dear Betsey: 

I believe I once promised to give you an account of that kind of visiting called a ladies’ rout.  There are two kinds; one where a lady sets apart a particular day in the week to see company.  These are held only five months in the year, it being quite out of fashion to be seen in London during the summer.  When a lady returns from the country she goes round and leaves a card with all her acquaintance, and then sends them an invitation to attend her routs during the season.  The other kind is where a lady sends to you for certain evenings, and the cards are always