Mrs. Delany congratulated him, and then inquired after the whooping-cough.  The children, he said, were better, and were going to Kew for some days, to change the air.  He and the queen had been themselves, in the morning, to Kew, to see that their rooms were fit for their reception.  He could not, he said, be easy to take any account but from his own eyes, when they were sick.  He seems, indeed, one of the most tender fathers in the world.

I cannot pretend to write this meeting with the method and minuteness of the first ; for that took me so long, that I have not time to spare for such another detail.  Besides the novelty is now over, and I have not the same inducement to be so very circumstantial.  But the principal parts of the conversation I will write, as I recollect.

Our party being so small, he made all that passed general; for though he principally addressed himself to Mrs. Delany, he always looked round to see that we heard him, and frequently referred to us.

I should mention, though, the etiquette always observed upon his entrance, which, first of all, is to fly off to distant quarters - and next, Miss Port goes out, walking backwards, for more candles, which she brings in, two at a time, and places upon the tables and pianoforte.  Next she goes out for tea, which she then carries to his majesty, upon a large salver, containing sugar, cream, and bread and butter, and cake, while she hangs a napkin over her arm for his fingers.

When he has taken his tea, she returns to her station, where she waits till he has done, and then takes away his cup, and fetches more.  This, it seems, is a ceremony performed in other places always by the mistress of the house; but here neither of their majesties will permit Mrs. Delany to attempt it.

Well; but to return.  The king said he had just been looking over a new pamphlet, of Mr. Cumberland’s, upon the character of Lord Sackville, 316

I have been asking Sir George Baker,” he said, “if he had read it, and he told me, yes, but that he could not find out why Cumberland had written it.  However, that, I think, I found out in the second page.  For there he takes an opportunity to give a high character of himself.”

He then enlarged more upon the subject, very frankly declaring in what points he differed from Mr. Cumberland about Lord Sackville; but as I neither knew him, nor had read the pamphlet, I could not at all enter into the subject.

Mrs. Delany then mentioned something of Madame de Genlis,(197) upon which the king eagerly said to me,

“Oh, you saw her while she was here?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And—­did she speak English?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And how?”

“Extremely well, sir; with very great facility.”

“Indeed? that always surprises me in a foreigner that has not lived here.”